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Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere? Photo: Valle de Las Leñas in Mendoza, Argentina.

Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

As the snow season is to start in South America, we who are born and bred there – (not necessarilly all living there anymore, but many of my friends are doing double seaason- in Chile or Argentina and then Aspen or Vail usually), always tend to think that the snow in the Northern Hemisphere is correlated with the snow in the Southern Hemisphere, mostly when the season is going to start down under.

Summer what Summer?

In Southamerica, specifically in Chile there is a saying: “Abril lluvias mil” that can be translated as: “in April we will have lots of rain”, but this has changed over the last 10 years or so.

There have been lots of Aprils without any rain in the cities, and no snow up in the mountains.
In the High Andes, due to the rocky formation of the mountains, you need a good month of natural snow to cover well all the mountain. Lately, all ski areas have been proactive and started installing snowmaking cannons and guns as Mother Nature is not reliable.

Valle Nevado picture on 14 June. Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?
Valle Nevado picture on 14 June. Does the snow in the Northern Hemisphere correlates with the Southern Hemisphere?

Chile had the driest start of the year from January to May so far in the last six decades. If there is no rain, there is no snow. There is a front coming now, not sure how much will leave at the high Andes and how much at the lower ones – Accuweather does not show too much in this respect.

Snow-Forecast is a bit more optimistic! I As per Snow-Forecast, Las Leñas has received 42 cm in the past week and is expecting 19 more cm in the next three days. Others that benefited are Puma Lodge with 59 cm, Nevados de Chillan with 56 cm, Corralco with 55 cm and Villarrica-Pucón with 47 cm. Antillanca also got 32 cm, Volcan Osorno 30 cm, Caviahue, in Argentina got 19 cm, Catedral 16 cm and Valle Nevado 16 cm.

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Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.

Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders flow.

Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.

The two new chairlifts are part of the $35 million investment of Vail Resorts into four mountains including Stevens Pass.

These upgrades are aimed at slopes for beginners’ skiers and boarders.

This summer the chairlifts and loading terminals on both the Daisy and Brooks trails are receiving a complete overhaul as part of an investment by owner Vail Resorts.

Stevens Pass: A Frame is being lifted up for Daisy lift. Photo: Vail Resorts. Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders flow.
Stevens Pass: A Frame is being lifted up for Daisy lift. Photo: Vail Resorts. Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.

Tom Pettigrew, GM of Stevens Pass Ski Resort said “We listened to what the team had to say about what we could do from an improvement standpoint. This seemed to be where we could focus our investment to have the greatest on-mountain experience change in a positive direction.”

The new quad chair on the Daisy lift access beginners’ terrain and will improve uplift capacity by 33% more. An updated loading area is designed to help beginners loading the lift.

The Brooks terminal is being regraded so skiers have a downhill approach and the chair will be now a quad, doubling the capacity of the double that stand there before.

Continue reading “Summer Works at Stevens Pass to get a better skiers’ and boarders’ flow.”

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A Quick Guide to Indoor Skiing & Dry Slopes In The UK

A Quick Guide to Indoor Skiing & Dry Slopes In The UK. Photo courtesy of Ridestore Magazine.

A Quick Guide to Indoor Skiing & Dry Slopes In The UK

The winter season here in the Northern Hemisphere is over, but that is no need to fret, this opens up the chance to brush up on your skills, dust off the cobwebs of the spring and basically spend the Summer building up to the Winter enjoying time at one of the many Indoor Skiing & Dry Slopes In The UK. The UK is home to many indoor and outdoor slopes, trust us, there is one near you.

Of course, the Summer is lovely, for the 1.5 days that it lasts here in the UK. We are under no illusions that we are akin to the likes of the Olympians who need to train for the Winter 7 days a week BUT wouldn’t it be great to build some muscle, get in some cardio and enjoy spending time with your family on the slopes.

Bearsden Ski and Board Club in Glasgow. Photo courtesy of Ridestore Magazine.
Bearsden Ski and Board Club in Glasgow. Photo courtesy of Ridestore Magazine. A Quick Guide to Indoor Skiing & Dry Slopes In The UK

Okay, let us set the scene, it’s the first day of your ski holiday, you haven’t booked lessons, thinking you will “get your ski legs back first”. You take the ski lift to the top of this expensive resort, you barely make it off the chair lift, as you seem to have forgotten how to disembark. Then as you place your goggles over your eyes and crouch into position as if you are about to take off then low and behold your legs go to jelly. Then you spend all of apres ski nursing your mulled wine while your leg muscles scream!

Instead, what if we told you – you could simply glide into your skis and show that red run who’s boss!

All you need to do is visit your local ski slope. From North to South, the UK has a ski slope near you that offers a fantastic experience, quality time with the family, excellent instructors and a chance to prepare. Maximising your time now, to make the most of your time on the slopes.

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National Schools Snowsport Week is Back This Month

Winter Olympians, British snowboarder Aimee Fuller and British alpine skier Dave Ryding and Paralympic gold medallists Menna Fitzpatrick and Jen Kehoe and Ski Sunday's Graham Bell join over 30 lucky pupils at a National Schools Snowsport Week launch event at The SnowDome in Tamworth. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday April 16th, 2018. Photo credit should read: Rui Vieira/PA Wire. National Schools Snowsport Week is Back This Month.

National Schools Snowsport Week is Back This Month

This is a great effort to introduce kids to snow-sports in the UK – to many that could not imagine to ever see one pair of skis or snowboard. Our business need desperately new comers, and we need to introduce the young, as the majority of us fanatics, are getting older by the day. I do hope my kids’ school takes up the program. I’ve passed it to our Headteacher- you should do the same if leaving in England.

The USA has a similar program – the Learn to Ski and Snowboard Day – that was a success.

Paralympic gold medallist Menna Fitzpatrick joins over 30 lucky pupils at a National Schools Snowsport Week launch event at The SnowDome in Tamworth. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday April 16th, 2018. Photo credit should read: Rui Vieira/PA Wire. National Schools Snowsport Week is Back This Month.
Paralympic gold medallist Menna Fitzpatrick joins over 30 lucky pupils at a National Schools Snowsport Week launch event at The SnowDome in Tamworth. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday April 16th, 2018. Photo credit should read: Rui Vieira/PA Wire. National Schools Snowsport Week is Back This Month.

National Schools Snowsport Week is back this month (24th to 30th June) at clubs and ski slopes across England, aiming to encourage children to try skiing and snowboarding. 

National Schools Snowsport Week, organised by Snowsport England, is in its fourth year and is set to reach over 75 schools and 3,500 young people, making it the biggest yet.

Many dry and indoor slopes across the country will be running free or discounted taster sessions to give young people from all backgrounds the chance to take up snowsports.

Tim Fawke, CEO of Snowsport England, commented: “For many young people this will be their first time on skis or snowboards and for others it will be an opportunity to try a different snowsport discipline, for example freestyle, racing or ski/snowboard cross.

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Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont

Okemo Resort picture. SkiVermont.com - Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont.

Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont

Thanks for early and late snow, Vermont got the best season in four years.

The Vermont ski areas association 50th Annual Meeting at Jay Peak on June 5-6 gathered members, supporters and friends of the Vermont ski and snowboard industry. Thanks to good snow in the beginning and end of the ski season, this past season was historic.

Smugglers Notch powder. SkiVermont.com Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont.
Smugglers Notch powder. SkiVermont.com Over 4 million skier visits for Vermont.

Vermont saw 207K more skier and rider visits this season than last, an increase of 5.2 percent. The 4,178,533 total skier visits were the highest since the 2014-15 ski season and a 1.2 % higher than the 10-year average seen at the Vermont’s ski areas.

The state’s history early openings with large amount of skiable terrain allowed the season to have these great numbers. Killington opened on October 19, three weeks ahead of opening day and was the earliest opening in the East. Mount Snow Resort had its earliest opening in its 64-year history, opening on October 27. Smuggler’s Notch Resort opened on November 23 with the most skiable terrain on an opening day – 58 of its 78 trails were opened.

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Epic Australia Pass Now Includes Unlimited, Unrestricted Access to Hotham Alpine Resort with Sales Deadline Extended to 18 June.

Photo: Hotham Resort. Epic Australia Pass Now Includes Unlimited, Unrestricted Access to Hotham Alpine Resort with Sales Deadline Extended to 18 June.

Epic Australia Pass Now Includes Unlimited, Unrestricted Access to Hotham Alpine Resort with Sales Deadline Extended to 18 June.

  • The 2019 Epic Australia Pass and 2018-19 Epic Pass will now provide unlimited, unrestricted access to Hotham Alpine Resort, in addition to Perisher Ski Resort and Falls Creek Alpine Resort in Australia
  • Additional world-class access on the Epic Pass and Epic Australia Pass includes Whistler Blackcomb, Vail, Park City and more in North America and Hakuba Valley and Rusutsu in Japan
  • Purchase deadline for the 2019 Epic Australia Pass is now extended to Tuesday 18, June
Glorious mountain views at Hotham Alpine Resort to end Autumn & start winter 2019. Epic Australia Pass Now Includes Unlimited, Unrestricted Access to Hotham Alpine Resort with Sales Deadline Extended to 18 June.
Glorious mountain views at Hotham Alpine Resort to end Autumn & start winter 2019. Epic Australia Pass Now Includes Unlimited, Unrestricted Access to Hotham Alpine Resort with Sales Deadline Extended to 18 June.

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) announced that the 2019 Epic Australia Pass and 2018-19 Epic Pass will now provide unlimited, unrestricted access to Hotham Alpine Resort, in addition to Perisher Ski Resort and Falls Creek Alpine Resort in Australia. To celebrate the best Australian snow conditions in almost 20 years, the deadline to purchase a 2019 Epic Australia Pass has been extended to Tuesday 18, June.

Thanks to nearly a metre of snow across Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham over the past week, these early season conditions have set up the strongest season opening since 2000. Perisher was able to open for the 2019 season one week early with a 31 May early opening and the new $4.2 million Leichhardt Quad Chairlift is set to make its debut this Thursday. Hotham opened this past Friday 7, June and Falls Creek opened on Saturday 8, June.

Continue reading “Epic Australia Pass Now Includes Unlimited, Unrestricted Access to Hotham Alpine Resort with Sales Deadline Extended to 18 June.”

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Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season

Aspen Snowmass photo. Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season.

Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season

Aspen Mountain will open for another bonus weekend of skiing and riding Jun. 15-16 over Food & Wine Weekend

Aspen Snowmass announced today two additional days of skiing and riding as part of summer operations over the popular Food & Wine Classic this weekend, Jun. 15-16. making this one of the longest skiing and riding seasons in Aspen history. Skiers and riders will enjoy around 100 acres on a 30-inch base depth.

Group of skiers at Aspen Resort, Aspen, Colorado. Aspen Snowmass. Photo: Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season.
Group of skiers at Aspen Resort, Aspen, Colorado. Aspen Snowmass. Photo: Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass to Celebrate 168 days of Skiing and Riding this Season.

“We love that we can celebrate this historic season of snowfall with both skiing and summer activities in Aspen,” says Katie Ertl, senior vice president of mountain operations. “This is the perfect time of year to get outside, and get in two or even three sports in a day, with skiing, biking, hiking, golfing and more.”

The Silver Queen Gondola will be open for sightseeing and the Sundeck, located at the top of Aspen Mountain, will offer food and beverage options as well as a DJ on the deck Saturday. The first Bluegrass Sunday of the summer season will kick off Jun. 16.

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What is new at Ski Portillo – expanded snowmaking, room renovations and special weeks

What is new at Ski Portillo – expanded snowmaking, room renovations and special weeks. Photo: Adam Clark. Ski Portillo.

What is new at Ski Portillo – expanded snowmaking, room renovations and special weeks

Ski Portillo is starting its 70th ski season in June. They are expecting to open, if snow arrives and snowmaking starts soon, on June 22 and close on October 5.

This year Ski Portillo has invested in new snowmaking. Portillo has invested US$ 3.5 Million dollars in an expanded snowmaking system. They are adding 25 automated snow machines – both fixed and mobile – so they can now cover more than 25 acres of terrain including nine runs (David’s run, Princesa, Conejo, Corralito, Plateau, Cumbre, Escuela I, II and III).

Ski Portillo with a TechnoAlpin fan gun. What is new at Ski Portillo – expanded snowmaking, room renovations and special weeks.
Ski Portillo with a TechnoAlpin fan gun. What is new at Ski Portillo – expanded snowmaking, room renovations and special weeks.

“Portillo is upgrading its snowmaking system to ensure good conditions at the beginning and end of the season even in low snow years. There is so much that is new in snowmaking, and we want to have the best and most environmentally friendly system available.” – Henry & Miguel Purcell

Ski Portillo has chosen TechnoAlpin for this project. In the future it will be possible to cover the entire surface of the slopes with snow within 70 hours – a fivefold increase in output. The entire water management system has been extended and automated to this end.

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Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors

Taiga - Aspen's route. Photo by Taiga Motors. Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors

Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors

For the 2019-20 winter season, Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) enters a new partnership with Taiga Motors that will introduce electric snowmobiles to the resort with the goal of efficiently accelerating the transition to more sustainable mountain operations vehicles.

Taiga Motors Eikko specs. Photo: Taiga Motors. Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors
Taiga Motors Eikko specs. Photo: Taiga Motors. Aspen Skiing Company Announces New Partnership with Taiga Motors

ASC was selected to participate in the Flagship Partner Program which gives rights to test out a new, Taiga Motors electric snowmobile. The program helps showcase the commitment of ski resort brands leading the charge towards increased winter sports sustainability.

“We are thrilled to be at the forefront of a new wave of sustainability and are looking forward to someday having a full electric fleet of snowmobiles at our resort,” says Greg Hoffman, lift maintenance director, Aspen Skiing Company. “The electric sled is a great fit for a ski area since we are going downhill close to half the time and the batteries charge when going downhill. When the battery charges it slows the sled down which keeps the operator from riding the brakes and causing a potential failure.”

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50 Years of PistenBully

Pistenbully 300 Kandahar. 50 Years of Pistenbully.

50 Years of PistenBully

50 years of PistenBully. 50 used vehicles. 50 percent discount.

On the occasion of their anniversary, PistenBully is offering the impressive number of 50 used PistenBully vehicles at very special prices – including new tracks and a spare parts package.

Used vehicles on sale by PistenBully on ocassion of their 50th anniversary. 50 Years of Pistenbully.
Used vehicles on sale by PistenBully on ocassion of their 50th anniversary. 50 Years of PistenBully.

Attractive packages
Among these 50 vehicles, there is one for every need. With each of these used vehicles, the customer will receive a new set of combi tracks – both together with a discount of 25% off list price. This comes with a tailored spare parts package. The customer can individually compile this package up to a total list price value of €10,000 from the spare parts summer promotion parts scope and will receive a 25% discount off the regular list price. As part of PistenBully’s promotion, in addition to all this, if you trade in a PistenBully from the 300 model series built after 2001, you will be rewarded with a special bonus of up to €5,000 extra on top of the price featured in Schwacke (Germany’s “blue book” of automotive prices) – depending on condition.

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