Month: October 2018

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Taos Regional Airport Launches Taos Air- an Air Service to Dallas, Austin

Skiing in Taos - Photo credit: Ski Taos. Taos Regional Airport Launches Taos Air – an Air Service to Dallas, Austin

Taos Regional Airport Launches Air Service to Dallas, Austin

Taos Air to increase accessibility to Northern New Mexico region, improve economic and tourism opportunities for Taos.

After its worst winter in 100 years, instead of flying to be bought by Alterra  (even though it is now offered in the IKON pass) – or being bought by Vail Resorts and being part of the EPIC Pass, Taos decides to buy an airline! This is definitely not where the industry is going, but this completely got me hooked to learn more about it!

A red sky in Taos - Photo: Ski Taos.Taos Regional Airport Launches Taos Air – an Air Service to Dallas, Austin
A red sky in Taos – Photo: Ski Taos.Taos Regional Airport Launches Taos Air – an Air Service to Dallas, Austin

Getting to Taos Ski Valley has never been easy. The resort is located in the Sangre de Cristos mountains, a subrange of the Rockies in the north of New Mexico. The nearest airport is Albuquerque, three hours away. Santa Fe is only two hours away but has little regional flights, while Denver is a whooping 5 hours drive.

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New investments in Whistler Blackcomb to enhance the guest experience will be ready for the 2018-19 ski season

Whistler- The effect that looks like a sea of clouds- Photo by Paul Morrison - Whistler Blackcomb - Vail Resorts. New investments in Whistler Blackcomb to enhance the guest experience will be ready for the 2018-19 ski season
  • Whistler Blackomb, owned by Vail Resorts, has invested CAD66 million (USD 52 million) at Whistler Blackcomb, including a new gondola-to-gondola-to-gondola connection.
  • This historic investment accelerates the Renaissance plan’s mountain improvements, with a focus on the heart of the resort, and defers consideration of new water park

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) announced last year that the historic investment of CAD$66 million (USD$52 million) at Whistler Blackcomb for the 2018-19 season which focused on three new lifts at the heart of the resort. This transformative investment featured the addition of a new gondola on the Blackcomb side of the mountain, as well as several other lift infrastructure upgrades, providing quicker, easier access to all levels of terrain. The plan also represented the largest single-year capital investment program in the resort’s history, and the Company’s decision to accelerate the mountain improvements included in the Renaissance plan, while deferring consideration of the new water park.

A family uses the Peak to Peak Gondola in Whistler Blackcomb. Photo by John Entwistle- Whistler Blackcomb- Vail Resorts. New investments in Whistler Blackcomb to enhance the guest experience will be ready for the 2018-19 ski season
A family uses the Peak to Peak Gondola in Whistler Blackcomb. Photo by John Entwistle- Whistler Blackcomb- Vail Resorts. New investments in Whistler Blackcomb to enhance the guest experience will be ready for the 2018-19 ski season

A new 10-passenger gondola is replacing the Wizard and Solar chairlifts and ascend from the base to the top of Blackcomb Mountain, terminating adjacent to the existing PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which transports guests to and from Blackcomb and Whistler. Upon completion for the start of the season, the new gondola will offer guests a more comfortable and weather-protected experience in the first three-gondola connection in the world, enhancing the longest continuous lift system. The new gondola is expected to represent a 47-percent capacity increase and move 4,000 people per hour, the highest capacity in North America.

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What is new in Gstaad for the 2018-19 ski season

Gstaad in winter. Quarantine Rules Removed in Switzerland as of 4 December

Gstaad is getting ready for the 2018-19 ski season and here is what is new in the resort.

LIFTS AND SNOW

A new gondola is commencing operations in Gstaad- The new Saanemöser-Saanersloch gondola will start running in the winter of 2018/19, and will transport in a quick and comfortable way skiers and boarders to the ski area and the Saanersloch ridge. This is a “D-line” gondola made by Swiss manufacturer Garaventa-Doppelmayer, a world’s first in its roof construction. The gondola is surrounded by glass, giving passengers amazing views of the Swiss Alps.

Rellerli- Skifahren- What is new in Gstaad for the 2018-19 ski season. Photo: Gstaad tourism office.
Rellerli- Skifahren- What is new in Gstaad for the 2018-19 ski season. Photo: Gstaad tourism office.

Fun in the snow at Weyerli – a little ski resort in the heart of Bern
When it is foggy in winter in the lowlands, Gstaad wants to encourage kids in Bern out into the snow with a children’s ski area that has a magic carpet allowing children access to snowsports in winter. The area opens end of November until the end of January/early February at the Weyermannshaus outdoor pool. This area is in association with the adjacent Weyermannshaus artificial ice rink where a small skiing and toboggan run has also been introduced.

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Snow in the Alps this weekend and the week to come

Driving with snow- check if you need snow tyres and/or snow chains. Photo Adrian- Unsplash. Skiers Face Winterisation and Ski Rack Charges Adding up to £179 On Car Hire Bill.

It has been snowing hard this weekend in the Alps, finalising the summer time as the clocks turned.

As per SWI – Swissinfo.ch – Arosa got over 70 cm and the Eastern Alps were affected in particular with snow in low altitudes.

Parts of Graünden got 30 to 70 cm of snow at over 1,200 m over sea level.

You can see here the difference in Davos from Saturday to Sunday, twitted by SRF

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1056179352503808000

SRF is also warning of large snowfalls and rainfalls between Monday and Tuesday

SRF Meteo photo - They caution that on Monday and Tuesday there are risks of large rainfall across some Alpine regions.
SRF Meteo photo – They caution that on Monday and Tuesday there are risks of large rainfall across some Alpine regions.
SRF Meteo announces heavy rain from the Upper Valais over the Ticino to Southern Grisons.
SRF Meteo announces heavy rain from the Upper Valais over the Ticino to Southern Grisons.

Arosa got the highest snowfall at 72 cm.

Lenzerheide webcam - Bergfex cameras.
Lenzerheide webcam – Bergfex cameras.

Snow also fell down at 500 meters in some places, such as Zurich airport. But snow needs to fall at over 700 meters above sea level to stay. Southern Valais got 20-30 cm of powder snow and the Jura also got some snow, as you can see with these cows trying to find grass to eat.

Cows trying to find the grass under the snow at the Vallée de Joux in Jura- Photo Keystone -Jean-Christophe Bott- Swiss.ch.
Cows trying to find the grass under the snow at the Vallée de Joux in Jura- Photo Keystone -Jean-Christophe Bott- Swiss.ch.

WeathertoSki reported that there was lots of precipitation this weekend across the Alps, mixed with rain and snow from 600 meters up. Mostly the snow sat from 1000m to 1500 across the north-western half of the Alps, and between 1500 and 2500 across the south-eastern half. 

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What is new in equipment for the 2018-19 ski season –Finches Ski Emporium and Rossignol – as found at the The Telegraph Ski and Snowboard Show

Head Vector Ski Boot 2019- sold at Finches Emporium. Telegraph Ski and Snowboard Show. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

The Telegraph Ski and Snowboard Show always indicates the start of the Northern Hemisphere ski season – or at least that it is coming closer! I love going to the show, now in its third year at the Battersea Park site. I choose to go on the Thursday, when it is more the trade day, and you can have a chat with all exhibitors, and also then I return on the Friday with my boys and husband, as an annual outing. The Ski Show is always a great place to see what is new in equipment – in this post will highlight some ‘pearls’ found at Finches Ski Emporium and the Rossignol stand.

London Ski Show, a bit of what you get when you visit. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
London Ski Show, a bit of what you get when you visit. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

What caught my eye at Finches Emporium

Boots:

Rossignol Pure Pro 100 Women’s Ski Boots – The 2019 Rossignol Pure Pro 100 women’s alpine ski boot is specifically designed for women’s physiology. It has a slim fit to provide foot support for performance skiing. It comes with a liner that can be customised – heated and moulded during the ski boot fitting process. The liners are fully lined in merino wool, which is very soft and warm.

A flex of 100 makes these boots great for all mountain skiing and for experienced and strong skiers. The flex of 100 is on the stiffer end of the scale for women’s boots to support fast skiing in all types of terrain.
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Continuity of Grandvalira guaranteed for the long term with the addition of Ordino Arcalís to their skiing experience.

Continuity of Grandvalira guaranteed for the long term with the addition of Ordino Arcalís to their skiing experience. - Photo: Grandvalira.

The Continuity of Grandvalira guaranteed for the long term with the addition of Ordino Arcalís to their skiing experience.

 An exciting new period for the ski sector and the Principality of Andorra has opened up with the biggest resort in southern Europe combining with the field of snow in Ordino to offer a pioneering ski experience with a total of 240 skiable kilometres

Nevasa will continue with brand marketing and communication, integrating the Arcalís products into their work. 

Grandvalira after a snowstorm. The continuity of Grandvalira guaranteed for the long term with the addition of Ordino Arcalís to their skiing experience. - Photo: Grandvalira.
Grandvalira after a snowstorm. The continuity of Grandvalira guaranteed for the long term with the addition of Ordino Arcalís to their skiing experience. – Photo: Grandvalira.

Yesterday good news came through for Grandvalira and Ordino Arcalís with the continuation of the agreement between the two companies that compose Grandvalira – SAETDE and ENSISA. The two have announced in 2017 that they were going to split, giving uncertainty to the Grandvalira umbrella brand, where one lift was used for the areas of Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, Soldeu, El Tarter, Canillo and Emcamp. It was more a pity, as Grandvalira is a very successful brand that have increased the quantity of skiers days a lot in the last years. And I know the team behind Grandvalira, and they work their socks off! So I am glad, that thankfully, the two sides could come to an agreement, and what is also super exciting is that Ordino Arcalis have come along to their ski offer. Many locals that leave in Andorra la Vella or in the bases of Grandvalira, go on the weekend to ski Ordino as its freeskiing terrain is incredible. That is why Ordino Arcalis is a proud host of the Freeride World Tour.

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Zermatt Must-READ Guide

Zermatt Village - Photo copyright: Leander Wenger - Zermatt Tourist Board. Zermatt is a high-altitude resort that will not suffer much in the future with less snow thanks to its altitude. What does Climate Change will mean to a Mountain Nation such as Switzerland by 2060.

Zermatt Must-READ Guide

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

Zermatt’s History:

Zermatt is all what you have thought of and more….it is a chocolate-box village – quintessentially Swiss, that have been hosting guests for many years – mainly those trying to reach the peak of the Matterhorn. The area had human traces from 8,000 to the 1,800 BC with the “Schwarze Tschugge” shelter at Schwarzsee, a cup-marked stone at Ofenen, above Zmutt and a stone axe blade from the Theodul Pass. The Theodul Pass was used as a crossover and trade route for the Romans for finding coins and the Romanised Celts.

Zermatterhof in Dorfstrasse - Old Zermatt.
Zermatterhof in Dorfstrasse – Old Zermatt.

On the 8th century the Alemannic took possession of Upper Valais and German replaced Latin. But speed the time forward to 13th August 1792 when Genevese scholar Horace Bénédict de Saussure climbed the Klein Matterhorn. From the Theodul glacier, he determined the height of the Matterhorn to be 4,501.7 m (today 4,477.5 m) using a 50-foot-long chain spread out on the glacier and a sextant.

In 1813 the Breithorn is the first four-thousand-metre peak to be climbed.

In 1839 Zermatt surgeon Lauber opens the first inn (hotel Cervie) with three beds. Today is Hotel Monte Rosa.

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What’s new in Chamonix for the 2018/19-ski season.

Le Brevent in Chamonix - ski with the views to the Mont Blanc. OT Vallée de Chamonix - Photo by Salome Abrial. What's new in Chamonix for the 2018-19-ski season.

What’s new in Chamonix for the 2018/19-ski season.

Chamonix is the capital of skiing, and it does not cater only to the daredevil, extreme skier, but also to families and beginners. Its different areas have something for everyone. Chamonix is a long valley within tall mountains, with a series of ski resorts on both sides of this valley.

Ready for the adventure - Vallée Blanche, Chamonix- what is new for Chamonix's 2018/19-ski season - Never ski the Vallée Blanche without a ski guide. Photo: Salome Abrial. OT Chamonix.
Ready for the adventure – Vallée Blanche, Chamonix- what is new for Chamonix’s ski season 2018-19 – Never ski the Vallée Blanche without a ski guide. Photo: Salome Abrial. OT Chamonix.

With 13,000 inhabitants Chamonix is a lively town that caters to tourists in all seasons. 400 shops opened all days, all year round and 130 restaurants can entertain the most discerning client, and those who don’t want to spend their bonuses. There are plenty of options for everyone.

Located in the border of France with Italy and just very near Switzerland, one can stay in Chamonix and ski the three countries with the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass. If you want to only ski in the Chamonix Valley Ski Areas, then purchase the Chamonix Le Pass.

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CheckYeti enters a strategic partnership with Skiset.

CheckYeti enters a strategic partnership with Skiset. Photo CheckYeti.

Austrian start-up company CheckYeti enters a strategic partnership with Europe’s biggest ski and snowboard rental provider Skiset

The successful start-up company for winter sports, CheckYeti (www.checkyeti.com), with 1.5 million users and counting, has entered a strategic partnership with Skiset, Europe’s biggest ski and snowboard rental provider. With over 6000 offers in over 500 ski resorts, CheckYeti is the leading booking platform for winter-sports activities. Each year, the French company Skiset offers high-quality equipment to over 2 million clients in over 800 rental shops all over 400 different locations in Europe and North America. Together, CheckYeti and Skiset cover 80% of the Alps and thus allow all winter-sports enthusiasts to easily choose their skiing holidays online and to book completely stress-free. 

Ski, skiers, sun and winter fun - skiers enjoying ski vacation. Photo CheckYeti/Skiset. CheckYeti enters a strategic partnership with Skiset.
Ski, skiers, sun and winter fun – skiers enjoying ski vacation. Photo CheckYeti/Skiset. CheckYeti enters a strategic partnership with Skiset.

Thanks to winter-sports innovators CheckYeti and Skiset, booking a skiing holiday has never been easier. Their common goal is to help clients leave for the winter holidays completely stress-free through easier online-booking options. Courses, instructors, winter-sports activities and even the necessary equipment – all can be booked prior to the arrival at the ski resort. Consequently, queuing at the local ski rental shop as well as looking for the right ski school are now a thing of the past. Vacationists now can easily book their skiing holidays from home and thus make their first turns on the slopes already shortly after their arrival at the ski resort.

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How not being scammed when contracting your ski chalet holiday

One of the chalets at Crans Luxury Lodges. How not being scammed when contracting your ski chalet holiday. Photo Crans Luxury Lodges.

How not being scammed when contracting your ski chalet holiday

Each year there are lots of skiers and boarders that travel to the ski resort where they have chosen to take their holiday to find out that the ski chalet that looked so perfect and with such a great rate does not exist. These are tips compiled by our friends at Chamonix All Year so you don’t finished up being conned out of a booked ski chalet.

As Chamonix All Year says: … “if you feel that something just isn’t quite right, follow the steps below and check out your gut feeling before parting with your money, to give you peace of mind”

Auberge de la Maison - Courmayeur - another of the special properties offered by The-Ski-Guru TRAVEL. How not being scammed when contracting your ski chalet holiday.
Auberge de la Maison – Courmayeur – another of the special properties offered by The-Ski-Guru TRAVEL. How not being scammed when contracting your ski chalet holiday.

Chamonix All Year has been operating for 15 years, which makes them pretty knowledgeable in giving advice on what you have to look so you are not disappointed.

So, what to take into account when looking for your special ski chalet. Ask you these questions: these are all tips of Chamonix All Year

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