The Three Valleys lift company, and its corresponding resorts, has announced plans to offer a discounted rate on lift passes to groups of three or more skiers/snowboarders travelling together.

The world’s largest ski area announced that they will be increasing their lift passes from €244 to €260 for next season, representing a 6% increase. This isn’t a surprise considering the two new gondola lifts being put into the Meribel Valley, the new Funival in Val Thorens and the new chairlifts in Courchevel. At €260 for a six days pass, Les Trois Valleys will become one of the most expensive lift passes in Europe.

Meribel’s forthcoming lift upgrade will look something like this.

In order to help combat the price and to encourage groups to the region, the lift company has announced plans for group discounts for groups of as little as three people. Three people will be able to purchase the new Tribu pass — which is essentially three full area passes — for €735, which is €245 per person, additional passes can also be purchased for just €245pp. This brings the price down to the current season’s price.

Though the lift tickets may seem a little steep, you are getting the largest linked ski area in the world and the opportunity to ski in Courchevel, Meribel, St. Martin de Belleville and Val Thorens all under one pass and with one of the most efficient lift systems in the world. The recent upgrades to new, faster gondolas over the past two years, the addition of new cable cars and Funival lifts in Val Thorens and the planned upgrade of some of Courchevel’s chairlifts, show that the resorts are investing this money back into the skiing too.

With the Euro at the best rate for years (currently over €1.25 to the £1 18/05/2012), the lift passes with the group discounts will actually work out a little cheaper than last season, so a win-win for any groups of three or more planning to ski in the Three Valleys next season.

The Tribe pass will also be available of local lift passes, for those who prefer a single valley pass — ideal for beginners and those relatively new to skiing. For example a ticket for the Belleville Valley (St. Martin & Les Menuires) will cost €564, which is only €188 each! At €57 less than the full area pass, the local lift ticket is one of the best value out there for an area that still offers world class skiing — just on a smaller scale. At today’s exchange rate you’d be paying £150 per ticket, that’s not bad when you think about it!

The Three Valleys is continuing to keep pace with the rest of the world’s top resorts, therefore lift pass prices are going to rise, but this little 6% discount they are offering will go a long way to retaining skiers’ faithful to the area, as well as attracting new skiers and boarders.

Written by Charlie Hamilton-Beaufort
© Igluski

Two Paralympic snowboard events have been announced as part of the schedule for the 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics in Russia.

The specifics of the events have yet to be disclosed, but adding snowboarding to the bill is already building up some positive support and is bound to increase interest in the 2014 games.

World Snowboard Federation President, Gunnar Tveit, said: "The WSF are thrilled by the decision to include Para-snowboard in the Paralympic programme of the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. Together with the IPC, the WSF National Snowboard Associations and riders, we have been working towards this goal for the last six years."

Back in February, Orcières 1850 in France hosted a two day World Championships where 40 para-snowboarders from 10 different countries competed. The success of the tournament have may influenced the inclusion for the forthcoming Winter Paralympics, but either way, the sports inclusion is bound to be a huge plus.

The IPC’s Chief Executive Officer, Xavier Gonzalez, said: "Snowboarding is a fast paced and extremely exciting sport and we are delighted that it will form part of the program at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games… I would like to thank Sochi 2014, NPC Russia , Russian Government, the World Snowboard Federation and the IPC Athletes’ Council for all supporting the inclusion of these two extra medal events."

Support from within the Sochi 2014 committee appears to be as strong as that from within the IPC and the snowboarding community. Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, added: "Snowboarding is a young and exciting sport and one which is attracting new audiences and participants everywhere… Its inclusion in the Paralympics programme will give a further boost to the promotion of Paralympic sports across Russia and highlights the opportunities that sport provides to everyone. It also reflects our determination to deliver the most innovative and successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in history.

Knowing that the riders will have the chance to compete in the sport they love in 2014 is rewarding not only because the athletes will be recognised for their hard work but also because the inclusion of Para-snowboard in the Sochi Winter Games will provide an unprecedented level of exposure to the sport."

If the World Championships held this winter are anything to go by, we could be in for some fast paced boarder cross as one of the disciplines included in the games. I have to say, anyone who participates in boarder cross, able bodied or not, deserves recognition, and its inclusion in the Paralympic Winter Games will surely be a massive hit.

Written by Stephen Adam
© Igluski

The organisers of the Relentless Freeze Festival, which takes place at London’s Battersea Power Station, have announced the dates for next season’s festival — 26th & 27th October 2012 — and are already building up the hype, by releasing the first wave of tickets this coming Tuesday (8th May).

Each year the Freeze Festival has grown and with 2012 set to be the fifth year of the skiing, snowboarding and music weekender, it will surely be the largest event yet. Previous seasons have seen the British and International skiers and snowboarders of the highest calibre hit the slopes, including the likes of Scotty Lago, Seb Toots, Danny Kass, Jossi Wells, Jon Olsen, as well as Brits Jamie Nicholls, Billy Morgan, James Woods and Jenny Jones.

The Freeze Festival’s main snowboarding competition has been a longstanding part of the FIS World Cup, with the skiing competitions also bringing in world class athletes, along with a whole host of music acts. The last two events have seen Pendulum, Groove Amada, Roni Size, Rizzle Kicks and Jett Black take to the stage, as well as Cyprus Hill and The Streets headlining.

The Freeze Festival has managed to combine a growing snowsports scene with great music and has even hosted the UK premiere of Jeremy Jones’ Deeper, the launch of Shaun White Snowboarding and more. With an aprés ski feel to the day, bars pumping out party music and Jägermeister and a great selection of shops offering winter sports apparel, it’s the closest thing to an alpine festival in the UK.

Having been to the three of the four previous festivals, I am already looking forward to this year’s offering. With the sequel to Deeper, Higher, set for release this winter, hopefully it will make the bill, and maybe this year Jamie Nicholls or James Woods can pick up a win for the UK on the slopes.

Expect great music, loads of skiing, snowboarding and, of course, entertaining hosting from Tim Warwood and Christian Stevenson. Two things you can be assured of, once we have more news, it will be here and there will be plenty of the Iglu team hitting up the bar and enjoying the fun throughout the weekend!

Following on from last week’s news about the new lifts and resort upgrades in the Three Valleys resort of Meribel, La Plagne — part of the nearby Paradiski ski area — is also set for a couple of upgrades to their lifts this summer.

Plagne Centre, the resort’s main hub, will benefit from one new lift and an extension to another lift, to improve the uphill capacity and the speed at which you can get back up the mountain. La Plagne’s lift company plan to replace Becion, the current four-man chairlift, with a new six-man chairlift. In order to fit in the new chairlift, the Biolley drag lift will have to be moved, though details are to be confirmed.

As part of work being done to the Mont Saint Sauveur piste two drag lifts, Cadri & Z, are to be removed. In order to compensate for this, the Colorado chairlift will be extended downhill to accommodation skiers heading down the piste. There is also work being done to improve the layout and size of some of the pistes. Work includes aforementioned Mont Saint Sauveur piste, which will be widened, hence the removal of the drag lifts, and a new beginners zone between the extended Colorado chairlift and the Funiplagne.

There will also be a remodelling of the Jean Luc Cretier stadium and the moving of the stadium building to the Verdons piste— adding an additional 30% of ski terrain to the area.

The Office du Tourisme in La Plagne said: "The object of these works is to completely reorganise the snow front in Plagne Centre to improve skier comfort in this sector."

Written by Stephen Adam
© Igluski

Meribel and Meribel Mottaret are both set for lift upgrades this summer, following last summer’s first stage improvements of the Saulire gondola. With Meribel only rivalled by Val d’Isere for the number of Brits in resort each winter, new, faster lifts are always good news.

Work started on the Saulire gondola last summer, with the first stage of the lifts completed and running throughout the season, the second phase of the new lift system is due for completion by December 2012 and will whisk skiers from the main lift hub in Meribel, le Chaudanne, to the top of the Saulire in just 12 minutes — previously the lift took 22 minutes.

In order to improve the lifts for this season the lift company completed the second half of the gondola, Saulire Express 2, last summer — which meant skiers looking to head back to the top of the mountain from the mid-station were treated to a high-speed lift first. Once the Saulire Express 1, based in le Chaudanne is complete, the links to ski over to the Courchevel Valley — with arguably some of the best skiing — or Mottaret, will seem lightning-quick to Meribel regulars. The new lift will have cost €20 million by the time of completion, but will boast a capacity of 2,400 skiers per hour and 2,800 per hour during peak season.

In addition to the new high-speed gondola, the Platiers lifts from Meribel Mottaret up toward Les Menuires and Val Thorens is set for a huge upgrade this summer. The existing 28 year old Platiers 1 & 2 will be replaced by a single high-speed gondola and the first 10 seater gondola in the Three Valleys. The lift will cut the previous travel time of 22 minutes down to 9 minutes and will again boast a capacity of 2,800 skiers per hour.

The new Platiers lift will boast a new base station in Meribel Mottaret, across from the current lift, and will cost a whopping €17.2 million. Though Platiers 1 & 2 is being replaced, the current Platiers 3, apart from some new gondola cabins, will remain as is.

Another lift set for an upgrade this summer is the Ourson rope tow at the foot of Mottaret’s slopes. The beginners lift will be upgraded to a more modern magic-carpet lift, for the moderate cost of €70,000. Another development for beginner skiers in Mottaret is the re-shaping of the Matre piste — one of the main runs back into the resort — which will see its steepest section given a more gentle gradient. The work on 60m section of slopes is expecting to cost around €2 million.

With the three new lifts and the changes to piste, Meribel will have invested upwards of €40 million on the slope’s infrastructure by December this year — and that doesn’t include the new-ish Platiers 3 lift. This is a real sign from the resort and that the money is being reinvested to remain among the worlds best. With large sums being invested in the neighbouring resort of Val Thorens — new lifts, hotels, apartments and Wi-Fi on the slopes, the Three Valleys is still the place to be on your skis.

Here are last summer’s articles on the Three Valley upgrades, including the Saulire Express and the new lifts and accommodation in Val Thorens.

Written by Stephen Adam
© Igluski

The world renowned resort of Val Thorens, in France’s Three Valleys ski area, has announced plans to introduce free Wi-Fi connectivity to the slopes. The resort has decided to deploy free Wi-Fi internet access at a variety of lift stations.

SETAM, The resort’s lift company, added Wi-Fi to the Péclet Funitel, the Cairn & Caron gondola and the Cime Caron cable car last season and following its success it plans to open up the system across as much of the resort as possible. As of next season Wi-Fi should be available at the Plein Sud, Moraine and 3 Vallée 2 chair lifts, along with the Bouquetin cable car.

Eric Bonnel, Sales and Marketing Director of ski lift company SETAM, said "We want to offer visitors the best services to facilitate their stay in the resort. We are anticipating their needs by offering them access to Wi-Fi on the ski lifts."

Having free Wi-Fi access on the slopes will be a massive pull to skiers, meaning people can access digital piste maps and instantly upload photos on the slopes, massively reducing the need to use expensive data roaming. For those set-up to do so, people will also be able to Facetime and Skype friends to find out where they are, or to show off to their friends at home.

There are also rumours the resort intends to extend the Wi-Fi network even further, with Orelle — nicknamed the Hidden Valley— in line to also benefit from access at their lift stations in the coming seasons. This modern approach to skiing is great idea and will no doubt be a pull for many people planning their 2012/13 ski holidays.

With completion of the new Funitel lift station, the new hotel, new luxury apartments and new chalets next season, Val Thorens is making strides forward as a resort and is beginning to appeal to a former local who has since holidayed in Meribel (me) once again.

Written by Stephen Adam
© Igluski

Photo: © OT Val Thorens

Following another sunny spell in the Alps, the snow is set to return at the beginning of next week, just in time for Easter. Thanks to record-breaking snow in the first half of the season and regular snowfall since, the slopes are in fantastic shape for the time of year, but some late season snow is always welcome.

The biggest dumps next week are looking like they will fall on Tuesday, with snow beginning to fall on Monday. For those who have been enjoying a week of skiing in Austria, there is also a light dusting expected today, great for the last day or two on the slopes. The highest snowfall is reaching nearly 30cm in the next five days, though the nine days forecast is estimating snow all the way through until next weekend.

Switzerland is the main benefactor from this spring snow. Saas Fee is expecting a cracking 28cm of April pow wow, while down the road in Zermatt 24cm of fresh snow is on the radar. The quaint resorts of Zinal and Grimentz are forecast 20cm of snow, ideal for their cheeky little powder stashes, off-the-beaten-track tree runs and easily-accessed powder bowls. Murren and Lauterbrunnen are forecast around 16cm, while Verbier should receive around 11cm of fresh snow.

France is also set for some decent snow during next week, with the Tarantaise Valley and the typical, high-end and high-altitude resorts benefitting from the most snow. With 1cm forecast on Monday, most of the snow is expected on Tuesday, Val d’Isere, Tignes, Val Thorens, Les Arcs and La Plagne all forecast around 12cm in a day. As mentioned above, there is also snow set to fall on Wednesday until Friday, with up to 10cm a day arriving on the slopes.

The rest of France is also set for snow next week, with Alpe d’Huez, France’s sunniest resort, benefitting from 4cm on Monday, 4cm on Tuesday, 8cm on Wednesday, 6cm on Thursday and 3cm on Friday. A similar pattern is expected in the nearby resort of Les Deux Alps too. Up in the Haute Savoie, Chamonix is set for 12cm of snow on Tuesday, with snow continuing throughout the week. Morzine and Avoriaz are also set for good snowfall with 4cm on Tuesday, 4cm on Wednesday and a dusting on Friday.

Austria is getting some snow too next week, though in slight lesser proportions. St. Anton, Lech, Mayrhofen and Ischgl are all forecast around 5cm, while the higher resort of Obergurgl should benefit from around 9-10cm of fresh snow.

Last, but by no means least, Italy is benefitting from similar weather to France and Austria, with up to 20cm falling on Tuesday and snow continuing until the weekend. Cervinia’s forecast shows the most snow with 19cm in the next five days and more to follow, with Sestriere and Sauze d’Oulx in the Milky Way are set for around 12cm of snow.

our snow forecast data may only show the next five days, but the long range weather forecast is showing the high resorts could all be in for upwards of 50cm of snow by time the Easter weekend arrives! When was the last time you were skiing of perfect slopes followed by a cold glass of rosé on a sun terrace? The last couple of winters have seen plenty of spring sun, but not nearly as much snow as this year.

With chalet deals from £299 per person, it’s been a long time since Easter skiing was this good.

The Snowman

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Most people love spring snow, it’s hard, fat corduroy first thing in the morning and soft, forgiving snow in the afternoons, with the occasional bit of slush as the season’s end approaches.

France is set for a typical end of March week filled with sunshine, but with the recent snowfall the slopes are anything but typical for this time of season. The weather pattern for this time of year sees warm days, reaching in excess of 5°C, but with cold nights of temperatures lower than -5°C. So, this means great skiing conditions all day, and snow cannon-friendly weather over night.

The weather in Austria over the next week or so is a little different. The weekend’s forecast sees up to 5cm of snow falling, followed by a week of the same freeze-thaw conditions in France. Next weekend, however, has up to 20cm of fresh snow on the long range weather forecast in the likes of St. Anton (see right), keeping Austria’s typically lower slopes in great shape.

Switzerland is also in for a week of sunshine, warm days and cold nights. With the many resorts being among the highest in Europe and their yearly snowfall being among the best in years, the slopes are in great shape for spring. The long range weather forecast is also showing some good news with up to 10cm of fresh snow on the horizon.

It’s dumping again this week in Canada, with 41cm forecast in Whistler and upwards of 10cm falling across the board. Whistler, one of the few resorts that can really compete with the likes of Val d’Isere, Meribel and St. Anton, continues to boast the best snow in North America, in what is turning out to be another record breaking winter. The US is also getting upwards of 10cm in several resorts, offering a strong end to the season on other side of the Atlantic.

The conditions are looking great and the slopes are still well covered in snow considering the fact spring has arrived and the sun is shining. With the light dustings of snow forecast for next weekend and the incredible snow depths on offer, it looks like we’ll be skiing all the way to May this season. If you don’t believe me, here’s a clip taken by some of our sales team in Val d’Isere last week, as they are skiing from the top of the Toviere into Val Claret:

So, pack your sun cream, book your last trip to the snow this winter and enjoy the wonderful skiing that is on offer as spring approaches, without the need for waterskis!

The Snowman

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© Igluski.com

Vail resorts have announced that their season pass, the Epic pass, which covers all of their resorts is on sale for next season.

You may think it’s odd that we’re talking about a full season pass, but if you are planning to ski in Colorado or California next winter, then this could be the lift pass for you. The resorts covered by the Epic pass are Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Keystone & Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, and Heavenly, Northstar-at-Tahoe & Kirkwood in California.

At $649 for the season — approximately £420 at the current exchange rate — this Epic pass is the most cost effective way of skiing any of these resorts if you are planning at least eight days on the slopes, and especially if you intend in skiing more than one of the resorts above. With the Epic pass you could take one trip to Colorado, skiing as many of the mentioned resorts as you wish, then head to Tahoe later in the year for another trip all on one lift pass.

Lift pass prices in the USA tend to be higher then Europe, with many resorts charging in excess of $90-a-day to hit the slopes. So if you are thinking of skiing in North America, it’s definitely worth doing a longer break to make the trip worthwhile. If you manage 12 days of skiing, the Epic pass becomes comparable to two weeks in France.

The $649 price is only guaranteed until April 15th, and US resorts often increase their prices as the season approaches. To book the lift pass you only have to pay a $50 deposit, with the final payment due in September.

Kirsten Lynch, Chief Marketing Officer of Vail Resorts, said: "With the addition of Kirkwood, this year’s season pass line-up offers our guests an epic value with access to the best resorts in Colorado and Lake Tahoe. "

As you can see, it’s not just the holiday and flights that are better value to book early, lift passes are too.

Written by Stephen Adam
© Igluski

Monday morning and it’s back to the ritual that is usually exclusive to January — writing about a weekend of snow — with more on the way. Okay, so the snow may not be falling in the epic proportions that it did earlier in the season, but it is definitely snowing enough to keep us smiling for a few more weeks.

Whistler is benefitting from a massive amount of snow this week, with 45cm on the radar. The resort has now surpassed the yearly average snowfall, with a month or so to spare. This is the third year in a row the British Columbian resort has boasted record snow, and it looks like there will be powder skiing for weeks to come.

Europe is also having an cracking winter and after record snowfall in January, the slopes have benefitted from regular top-ups. This weekend saw between 5-30cm of snowfall across the Alps, and this week is set for a similar pattern, with snowfall today and Saturday.

The webcams show it’s dumping in France, and though all the snow expected in the next five days is forecast to arrive today, it already looks like more than the 5cm forecast across France has fallen. Meribel (above) is sitting in a blanket of snow, while La Plagne has enjoyed a decent top-up. Alpe d’Huez (below) is also forecast at least 5cm, with the village benefitting from a dusting to bring back some winter charm. Val d’Isere, Tignes, Les Arcs, Courchevel, Val Thorens, Morzine and Avoriaz are all expecting around 5-10cm of powder today.

Austria is set for a little more snow with St. Anton and Lech (below) set for around 10cm of snow. Kitzbuhel (see right) is enjoying a late season dump, while the likes of Obergurgl, Mayrhofen and Soll are all forecast snow throughout the day. The week should see some sunshine too, before more snow arrives at the weekend.

Throughout the season Switzerland has boasted great snow and this week is no different. Between 5-20cm of snow is forecast across the country today. Flims Laax is among the highest snowfall with 16cm, Davos & Klosters should benefit form around 12cm, while Verbier will see around 7cm of snow. Though looking through our webcams this morning and it looks like that much has already fallen on a few terrace picnic tables!

There is also some decent snow forecast toward Spain and the Pyrenees. Formigal, a fantastically modernized resort, is forecast around 22cm of fresh pow this week, while the Andorran resorts of Pas de la Casa, Arinsal and Soldeu el Tarter are all forecast a dusting.

This year has been fantastic for skiers, and with a week that includes a couple of days of snow and a few days of sunshine, this really is a season that just keeps giving. From powder days to goggle tans, if you haven’t already hit the slopes this year, you really are missing out!

The Snowman

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© Igluski.com