Month: April 2019

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Vail Resorts Reports Certain Ski Season Metrics for the Season-to-Date Period Ended April 21, 2019

Vail Village. Photo: Chris McLennan- Vail Resorts. Vail is the fourth resort on the list of Cheaphotels.org as the most expensive resorts to ski in the USA. The most expensive ski resorts in the USA.

Vail Resorts Reports Certain Ski Season Metrics for the Season-to-Date Period Ended April 21, 2019

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today reported certain ski season metrics for the comparative periods from the beginning of the ski season through April 21, 2019, and for the prior year period through April 22, 2018. The reported ski season metrics are for their North American mountain resorts, and the metrics exclude results from our Australian resorts and their urban ski areas in both periods. The data mentioned in this release is interim period data and is subject to fiscal quarter end review and adjustments.

A family takes in the scenery and enjoys a day of skiing in Keystone, CO. Vail Resorts Reports Certain Ski Season Metrics for the Season-to-Date Period Ended April 21, 2019.
A family takes in the scenery and enjoys a day of skiing in Keystone, CO. Vail Resorts Reports Certain Ski Season Metrics for the Season-to-Date Period Ended April 21, 2019.
  • Season-to-date total lift ticket revenue at the Company’s North American mountain resorts, including an allocated portion of season pass revenue for each applicable period, was up 9.3% compared to the prior year season-to-date period.
  • Season-to-date ski school revenue was up 6.5% and dining revenue was up 7.0% compared to the prior year season-to-date period. Retail/rental revenue for North American resort store locations was up 6.2% compared to the prior year season-to-date period.
  • Season-to-date total skier visits for the Company’s North American mountain resorts were up 6.8% compared to the prior year season-to-date period.

Commenting on the ski season to date, Rob Katz, Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased with our overall results as the 2018/2019 North American ski season concludes, with strong growth in visitation and spending compared to the prior year. The results from the key holiday weeks through the spring were largely in line with our original expectations as we saw strong destination visitation following the challenging early season period. Our results throughout the 2018/2019 North American ski season highlight the growth and stability resulting from our season pass, the benefit of our geographic diversification, the investments we make in our resorts and the success of our sophisticated, data-driven marketing efforts.”

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Vallnord Pal Arinsal is ranked as one of the top 9 bike parks in the world by Red Bull.

World Cup Vallnord Pal Arinsal 2018. Photo: Vallnord Pal Arinsal. Vallnord Pal Arinsal is ranked as one of the top 9 bike parks in the world by Red Bull.

Vallnord Pal Arinsal is ranked as one of the top 9 bike parks in the world by Red Bull.

In a ranking put by Red Bull about 9 bike parks that are worth to ride in the world we find Vallnord Pal Arinsal that has been recognised as one of the top bike parks, thanks to its Annual World Cup downhill and cross-country races. This adding to the fact that the small state of Andorra is a tax-heaven and it has drawn mountain tourism lovers with the pristine Pyrenean peaks. Commencal is also based here. Vallnord offers also numerous downhill and freesytle tracks, endure options, pumptrack, 4x track and kids’ ride area making it a fantastic destination for all gravity-centric riders. Accommodation is very good and good quality for money, and the favourable weather gives Pal Arinsal a long season. The season goes from May to October.

World Cup Vallnord Pal Arinsal 2018. Photo: Vallnord Pal Arinsal. Vallnord Pal Arinsal is ranked as one of the top 9 bike parks in the world by Red Bull.
World Cup Vallnord Pal Arinsal 2018. Photo: Vallnord Pal Arinsal. Vallnord Pal Arinsal is ranked as one of the top 9 bike parks in the world by Red Bull.

The other parks in the Red Bull list are Whistler, Canada; Portes du Soleil, France; Åre, Sweden; Queenstown, New Zealand; Sölden, Austria, Bike Park, Wales, UK; Coast Gravity Park, Canada; and Evo Bike Park, France.

This year’s World Cup will take place from the 2nd to the 7th of July in Vallnord, Pal Arinsal. Last year’s World Cup gathered 63,000 visitors during 9 days of MTB in Vallnord Bike Park La Massana with the last category of DHI and the categories of M30 and M40 of XCO. The Sunday of the event, the resort hosted 22,000 viewers.

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A new ski resort project for Malargüe, Mendoza Province

Photo: Valle de los Molles, in the same department of Malargue, but more near Las Leñas ski resort.

A new ski resort project for Malargüe, Mendoza Province in Argentina.

From Sitio Andino

A new ski resort project in Malargue will be located in the area of ​​Baños de El Azufre (Sulfur), in the Valenzuela River Valley, on Provincial Route 226 that leads towards the Planchón Vergara International Pass. The resort will consist of a mountain village with two thousand beds and six means of elevation. The place chosen by the investors guarantees five months of snow, with a base at two thousand four hundred meters above sea level, and a summit at four thousand meters.

A new ski resort project for Malargüe, Province of Mendoza, Argentina
A new ski resort project for Malargüe, Province of Mendoza, Argentina

José Beccar Varela, one of the investment partners said that the idea “is in a project phase, and they have the property title to be able to invest.”

“Meanwhile we continue to study the terrain,” and advance research on snow behaviour related avalanches, considering that the settlement of a mountain village is projected, and choose the exact location for the location.

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Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.

Whistler was the site of MTS 2019. Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap. Photo courtesy of MTS.

Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.

Just came a couple of weeks ago from the Mountain Travel Symposium, an event I have been working for the past six years and which I enjoy every moment of it. I noticed however, that as I am getting old, it is taking me longer to feel back human again.

Trentino attendees having fun at the top of Whistler Mountain. Photo: Mirta Valentini - Trentino Marketing. Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.
Trentino attendees having fun at the top of Whistler Mountain. Photo: Mirta Valentini – Trentino Marketing. Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.

The Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS for short) is not a sprint, definitely is a marathon – An event that lasts one week and for me makes me be twelve days away from home from my husband and kids. MTS is the largest mountain and ski gathering of suppliers from all over the world – ski resorts, hoteliers and service providers, with tour operators that sell skiing, also from all over the world, and ski clubs and ski councils from the USA and Canada, that travel internationally.

I am in charge of the international market and on widening the international attendees year on year. This is a part-time, but yearlong job for me. Now I have a couple of weeks to get ready and close all things from this past event before we open the early bird registration for MTS 2020. MTS 2020 will be in Squaw Valley, at the Resort of Squaw Creek, in North Lake Tahoe, CA, USA from March 29 – April 4, 2020. In May we’ll be opening registration, with the best rates available for one month only. Then rates go up four times during the year, so whoever can register early, get rates that are USD 800 cheaper than the last published rates!

The French delegates at the Trade Exchange Reception. Photo: Mountain Travel Symposium. Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.
The French delegates at the Trade Exchange Reception. Photo: Mountain Travel Symposium. Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.

But, getting back to MTS 2019, the event was in Whistler, BC. Canada. We have been In Whistler also in 2015, but the event took the Fairmont in Blackcomb. This year the event was at the Whistler Village Conference Center. I was an attendee at MTS being at the same place in 2002, when I was having my own incoming tour operator Ski Patagonia, where I was selling trips to Argentina and Chile.

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Cerro Bayo to create a new chairlift departure at 1400 meters

Cerro Bayo gondola - Photo courtesy of Roberto Thostrup- Cerro Bayo. Cerro Bayo to create a new chairlift departure at 1400 meters.

Cerro Bayo to create a new chairlift departure at 1400 meters

Cerro Bayo in Villa La Angostura, Neuquén province in the Lake Region of Argentina, is to create a new chairlift departure, 100 meters higher than were it was before, now at 1,400 meters.

Excavating the ground to place the new start of the quad chairlift. Photo courtesy of Roberto Thostrup- Cerro Bayo. Cerro Bayo to create a new chairlift departure at 1400 meters.
Excavating the ground to place the new start of the quad chairlift. Photo courtesy of Roberto Thostrup- Cerro Bayo. Cerro Bayo to create a new chairlift departure at 1400 meters.

This is due to the snow line getting higher over the years (the snow line is the linw from where the snow naturally falls each season). This chairlift is a double chairlift, that, even it is not new, it will modernise the area and give more uphill capacity, specially to the younger skiers. In this way, the resort of Cerro Bayo can secure the use of this ski circuit area at the end of its ski season in the month of September.

The ski season in Cerro Bayo goes from June 23rd to September 23rd, if snow conditions allow. Cerro Bayo is known as a boutique resort, with amazing views of the Lago Nahuel Huapi and proximity to Villa La Angostura, one of the more exclusive areas of the Lake Region in Patagonia with lovely hotels, cabins and gourmet restaurants. Close to the San Carlos de Bariloche airport, this small resort is for the discerning client that want something great for their families and something exclusive as well.

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Dangerous avalanche conditions are expected ahead of Arctic Man

Dangerous avalanche conditions are expected ahead of Arctic Man

Dangerous avalanche conditions are expected ahead of Arctic Man

From KTVA

Next week, hundreds of snowmobiles will descend upon the Hoodoo Mountains north of Paxson for the annual Arctic Man event, and avalanche forecasters want them to know that conditions are especially unpredictable this spring.

“The mountains are shedding.” warned Debra McGhan of the Alaska Avalanche Information Center. “It might be stable in the morning, but by afternoon things are letting go.”

Dangerous avalanche conditions are expected ahead of Arctic Man
Dangerous avalanche conditions are expected ahead of Arctic Man

On Saturday, two brothers were buried in an avalanche while riding not far from where Arctic Man takes place. No one was hurt, but it was a reminder of the dangers.

It’s a transitional year for Arctic Man, which will not be hosting its classic ski races this year. The unusual race has been held nearly every year since 1986, but interest has slowed. After 33 years, the popular Arctic Man Race of teams of two – a skier and a snowmobile, is ending.  The race had the skier in each team, going down the mountain, being towed by the snowmobile uphill again and then skiing back down for a second time.

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