General News

People returning to England will now need to take a lateral flow test rather than a PCR test. It follows the ending of the traffic light system and has given a further boost to people booking a ski holiday.

The International Ski Federation has had just four presidents in its 97-year history. That is about to change. Also more women will need to be on the ruling council.

That’s the claim from the Post Office Travel Money Ski Resort Report by the UK’s largest ski operator, Crystal Ski Holidays. PlanetSKI has been given a peak of it ahead of the main annual report in December. UPDATED

12-year-old Louis Watkiss was seriously injured in an accident at the end of last month. The slope has reopened after an investigation was carried out.

The government says it hopes PCR tests will not be needed by the end of the October half term break. The UK traffic light system has already gone. It means restrictions will largely be eased for vaccinated people wanting to take a mountain break. UPDATED

The UK’s largest ski tour operator has a simple message for next winter – REMEMBER THE FEELING: LET’S GET BACK TO THE MOUNTAINS. Who are we to disagree?

The announcement has been made by the government and other measures will be considered in the coming weeks. The government declared some weeks ago that the resorts would open this winter & some start later this month.

The expansion will support self-employed ski instructors in Scotland as working legislation is affected by Brexit. Many ski instructor jobs in Europe have now gone for British instructors as the free movement of labour ends.

The optimism found after the government announced an easing of the travel rules in time for winter is continuing. Is it justified? Some operators advise people to book now as supply is limited. Are they right? UPDATED

Covid-19 and Brexit have turned traditional chalet holidays upside down. So Ski France has come up with a new concept, Contactless Catered Chalets, ready for the 2021/22 ski season.

The indoor ski centre in Staffordshire cannot resume full operations following orders from the Health & Safety Executive. The child who died has been named as Louis Watkiss from Sutton Coldfield. Investigations are continuing. UPDATED

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee has said that all athletes competing at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics must be vaccinated against Covid-19. NEW

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Victoria with Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Falls Creek all feeling its force.  It was felt as far away as New South Wales where the country’s other resorts are located.

It will come as a relief to the US ski industry and opens up the prospect of skiing next winter. We have reaction from ski areas in the USA. Canada has already lifted its restrictions with double vaccinated people allowed in without quarantine. UPDATED

It is the result of a country wide policy as Italy becomes the first European country to make it compulsory for all workers to have a Covid ‘green pass’. Cases remain low and stable, but the authorities have decide to be on the side of caution.

Ski companies report a sharp rise in bookings following the government announcement that PCR Tests and Traffic Light System will be axed. New rules come into force in October.
UPDATED

Court proceedings are beginning in Vienna in a civil case against the Austrian government over its alleged mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak at the ski resort of Ischgl in March 2020. It is seen as a test case for many other cases. UPDATED

The resorts in Victoria were allowed to open to locals only earlier this month, now the lifts are firing up in New South Wales. NEW

Cases are rising with the number of people in intensive care growing, though the figures remain relatively low compared to other European nations. Worries are growing as the ski season approaches with some resorts already open and others firing up lifts in the coming weeks. NEW

This week Switzerland increased its restriction as Covid-19 continues to surge and there are growing fears for next winter with some tighter rules. UPDATED

A Eurostar Ski Train will run every week this winter from London to Moutiers & Bourg St Maurice in France. Compagnie Des Alps, a major ski lift company, has chartered the train from Eurostar and tickets will only be for people heading on a package to its resorts.

An announcement is expected shortly and it will be welcome news for the snowsports and wider travel industry that has been hit hard by the restrictions. The traffic light system is also expected to go. If confirmed there will likely be a rise in ski holiday bookings. UPDATED

As many countries are easing restrictions Switzerland is tightening its rules and they will last into the ski season. There are fears that hospitals might be over-stretched, with some beginning to worry about what the winter may bring. UPDATED

A Eurostar Ski Train will run every week this winter from London to Moutiers and Bourg St Maurice in France. In an unusual twist Compagnie Des Alps, a major ski lift company for French resorts, has charted the train from Eurostar and tickets will only be for people heading on a package to its resorts.    UPDATED

It will have an impact on travel to the ski resorts this coming winter and could lead to a surge in bookings according to some. The precise details are somewhat less clear. So, what might we expect to happen?

The Austria Health Minister has submitted a proposal to restrict nightclubs and apres ski venues only to those who have been vaccinated. The measure could be in place next month as a handful of resorts are open in October.

Gone is the more traditional GB sticker, and in comes a UK one. GB number plates will still be valid within the EU as long as drivers display a UK sticker on the rear of their vehicle.

The company had been operating for more than two decades but says the double hit of Brexit and Covid-19 means its future is untenable. It joins a number of other operators that have been forced to call it a day. NEW

It will incorporate the business that operates in British Columbia, Canada into CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures.

Italy lifts the 5-day quarantine for travellers arriving from Britain that was introduced back in June. Here on PlanetSKI we also look at current arrival rules in the main ski nations of Europe. Covid-19 continues to spread rapidly in the UK. UPDATED

It means people travelling from the three ski nations will not have to be jabbed to avoid quarantine. Austria, Norway & some others are on the green list, while the majority of ski nations are on the amber list. We look at which UK list the ski nations are on. UPDATED

The stark warning comes from the federal government as cases continue to surge. The health authorities describe the situations as ‘very worrying’ and new containment measures are being considered. In a surprising move the UK has put Switzerland on its Green list. UPDATED

The local council has decided to end an agreement with the developer. There were plans to turn the derelict slope and area into a major sport and leisure destination.

There has been double the number of cases compared to last week with some scientists expressing growing concern. Hospital cases are rising and the government has launched a campaign to encourage more people to get vaccinated ahead of winter. UPDATED

New South Wales has imposed a state-wide lockdown meaning resorts such as Perisher and Thredbo have shut. Previously they had been open to locals. Ski resorts in Victoria remain open, but only for local skiers and snowboarders.

Norway will accept the English and Welsh NHS COVID Pass from today, 12th August. It means fully vaccinated people will be able to enter Norway without quarantine required. Norway is on the UK’s ‘green list’ of countries. UPDATED

27-year old Catrin Pugh suffered 96% burns and was given a one in 1,000 chance of survival after the crash in 2013 descending from Alpe d’Huez.

The UK’s largest ski operator, Crystal Ski Holidays, is running a 2 for 1 lift pass offer. Offer ends at midnight on 9th August 2021.

The 68-year old Scottish mountaineer, Rick Allen, was attempting to open a new route on the southern face of K2. UPDATED

Mike Wiegele developed heliskiing in British Columbia in Canada in the 1970s and a whole new area of adventure skiing spread across the remote mountains of the world. He was 82. PlanetSKI looks back at his life and his legacy. UPDATED

The partner of Australian snowboarder Alex Pullin has announced she is pregnant after retrieving his sperm when he died a year ago.

With some ski companies out of business and others cutting their offerings for next winter a handful are taking on new properties in the Alps. One such company is Ski France.

It was due to have taken place this October but uncertainties over travel restrictions and Covid-19 rules have led the organisers to put it back. A snowsports party will take place this November instead.

Ski resorts in the USA had their fifth best season on record in 2020-21, according to the latest figures produced by the National Ski Areas Association. Some areas had their best season ever. UPDATED

It is much higher than previous years and is nearly double the average over the past 50 years. Covid-19 restrictions, the growth in ski touring and unstable snow are to blame.