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My Top 3 Ski Resorts….by Steve Pangli, Powder N Shine
Our guest blog today comes from Steve Pangli, one half of Powder N Shine who run Chalet Flocon des Neiges in the Three Valleys. Steve and his partner Francesca have over twenty years ski experience between them. Here Steve gives us the lowdown on his favourite places to snowboard.
My Top 3 Ski Resorts
This is obviously not an easy choice, both because I have been to a number of ski resorts in Europe and North America, but equally, because there are of course hundreds of resorts I am yet to experience! Therefore, the views expressed are my own and unlikely to tally with anybody else’s opinion!!
That caveat out of the way, in reverse order, my three favourite ski resorts are as follows:
3. Mayrhofen, Austria
My love of music was the key to my discovering this little Austrian gem. Mayrhofen makes my list as it is the venue for one of the most fun and different events in the music festival calendar, and certainly the biggest to combine winter sports with dance music, Snowbombing. Having wanted to go to this event for years, I eventually made it happen in 2008 and it was suitably unforgettable.Initially a music festival for those seeking electronica and dirty bass, the festival evolves annually, attracting artists from across the musical spectrum, ranging in 2010 from Doves and Editors to Cuban Brothers, 2ManyDJs and Fatboy Slim. The 2011 line-up is just as strong and fortunately I have seen Prodigy live (Glastonbury ’09), otherwise I would be considering neglecting my chalet running responsibilities and heading over in April!
Partying at the top of the world is a unique experience and many thanks to Mayrhofen for making that happen for me and thousands of others.
2. Whistler/Blackcomb, Canada
I am fortunate enough to have family not far from the resort in Vancouver, so I have ‘boarded in Whistler/Blackcomb a few times. My firefighter brother, who is also a snowboarding enthusiast (perhaps he needs to cool down in the snow after working hard in the traditionally timber-built city!) introduced me to the joys of Whistler in 2001.For me what really differentiates the resort from European ski resorts is the incredible feeling of freedom. European resorts can be over-crowded with lengthy queues for lifts, whereas in Canada, I have hardly ever had to wait to jump on a chair. Add in the free guides that show you every explorable corner of the resort and overcrowding really becomes a thing of the past.
The other aspect of the resort that I found to be a real novelty was the evening ‘boarding. Having floodlights to illuminate the park was exceptional – and a rarity in my experience. OK, so maybe they need to provide evening entertainment as the après-ski isn’t as lively as in Europe, but with a group of friends, a nice log fire and a couple of smuggled bottles of Jägermeister, we were almost transported back across the pond!
1. Les Trois Vallées, France
Not only the largest skiable area in the world, but now also my home. Lots of people who have skied in Europe know (or think they know!) the Three Valleys, but I stumbled upon a real find, deep in the heart of the area. The small, chalet-filled hamlet of Reberty Village so allured me that I have now started a business here. Off the beaten track and ski-in/ski-out at 2000m and with access to snow more or less guaranteed throughout the season in Val Thorens, beautiful tree-lined runs in the Meribel valley and more off-piste than you can throw a piste-basher at, this truly is the crème-de-la-crème of skiing destinations.A relaxing hot-tub to ease away the day’s exertions, canapés, delicious dinner and wine and my list of what a skiing holiday should be is complete!
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Meribel kicks off the ski party season
If you're heading out to Meribel in the Three Valleys over the next couple of weeks, don't forget to pack your party shoes. Tomorrow, 13th March, sees the start of the Little World Festival, a new event masterminded by The Feeling, which runs until the 19th March.
The 20th-26th sees the return of Meribel's Altitude Festival, combining comedy and music, and with a great line up for 2010, including Al Murray, Rufus Hound and music from Newton Faulkner.
It's the first time for Little World and third time for the Altitude and both events promise to be fun, frenetic and fairly unique. Set in the magnificent Three Valleys with excellent skiing, both festivals are packed with afternoon piste performances, apres ski parties and evening entertainments.
It's a Little World
The Little World Festival has been organised by The Feeling who played their earliest gigs in Meribel, performing three sets a day in the resort's bars. In 2008 the band made a triumphant return to the resort, giving a free concert to around 6000 fans. That trip formed the basis of a live DVD, 'Come Home', featuring narration by friend-of-the-band Kiefer Sutherland.
'We organised that trip ourselves and it really opened our eyes to the possibilities,' says bass player Richard Jones. 'More bands should try doing things for themselves. This whole event is exactly the way we want it. We've really enjoyed pulling it together alongside recording the new album.'
Over the six days there are some 30 events taking place including concerts from Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Glenn Tillbrook and Graham Gouldman. The week culminates in a free concert on the slopes headlined by The Feeling and with numerous special guests. For more information, prices and full programme take a look at the Little World website.
Say it with Altitude
Now in it's 3rd year the Altitude Festival, in its own words, is "a festival packed with hilarious comedy talent performing in a fantastic skiers paradise. They will be joined by the best DJ’s and musicians both home grown and internationally renowned. Altitude is the only bilingual comedy event in Europe."
The event takes places at various venues throughout the resort, from small intimate bars to the Meribel Auditorium. Artists include Four Poofs and a Piano, Rich Hall, Al Murray, Rufus Hound and of course Altitude regular and co-founder Marcus Brigstocke.
The Altitude Festival has also partnered with mountain riders with the aim of making the festival carbon neutral and raising awareness of global warming. For full details of events, venues and prices can be found at www.altitudefestival.com.
If you're looking for somewhere to stay to enjoy the festivities take a look at our Meribel section on Chalets Direct. Some of the current deals on offer include; Chalet Madeleine - free tickets for the Altitude Festival when you book your holiday there; 5 nights catered in La Grange a Charlotte from 22nd – 27th March, with free airport transfers; luxury catered chalet discounts for 21st – 28th March. For more Meribel offers look at our Promotions page.
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Verbier ski and snowboard breaks – cool with a touch of class!
Verbier has been a popular resort with the Brits, and of course the Swiss, for many years now. Since the late 1950's, when the first Attelas cable car was installed giving easier access to the mountain, it has become a favourite weekend destination for high-flying City types and wealthy Swiss bankers. Now with excellent road and rail links from Geneva airport and the rise and rise of low cost flying, more people can get to Verbier to see if its twin reputations for serious skiing and just as serious partying are deserved.
Firstly the skiing.
The area is known as the 4 Valleys, with Verbier as the jewel. Whilst not quite as well linked as the French 3 Valleys, the Swiss 4 Valleys offers a massive choice of terrain, with over 400km of groomed pistes, a range of challenging itinerary runs – marked trails which are neither maintained nor patrolled – and enough dizzying pitches, couloirs and off piste opportunites to keep the most seasoned skiers and boarders out of their comfort zones.It's not by chance that Verbier is the venue for the annual Extreme competition, taking place this year on March 20th, when the best and boldest riders in the world take on the unforgiving Bec des Rosses – and try to negotiate their way down its cliffs and crags.
Verbier skiing is certainly varied. For piste skiers the network of blue and red runs, particularly down to Les Ruinettes, are perfectly groomed and offer wide motorways to practice your turns. Venture further afield and you'll find scenic gentle runs through the trees heading down to La Tzoumaz, sunny cruisey runs at Savoleyres heading back into Verbier, and lots more to keep you occupied in the other valleys – from high altitude steeps to gentle tree-lined runs down to a welcoming restaurant.
The itinerary trails are sort of semi off-piste areas. Marked by yellow poles, they take you off the beaten track and provide a few heart stopping challenges for the more experienced skier and snowboarder. The slopes down from the Col des Gentianes for example, or the Tortin run, offer wide unpisted steep pitches which would be perfect in powder and great for testing your agility in the bumps the rest of the time.
Head for the Vallon d'Arby and you ski along a narrow trail hollowed out of the mountainside by a small single track machine – which is permanently parked at one of the hairpins. With steep walls of snow on either side, it's like skiing down a bobsleigh run with narrow twists and turns, and requires excellent control of speed. The trail eventually widens and you'll find yourself in the wooded Vallon d'Arby. Once you get to the valley floor it's a pretty ski alongside a stream to La Tzoumaz.The off piste possibilities are truly endless. Book a guide and he or she will help you to scratch the surface of the terrain. Discover wide powder fields, steep descents from Mont-Fort, the highest of Verbier's peaks, the gullies of Mont-Gele, and gasp at the top of Plan du Fou. All this and more is why Verbier has a reputation as one of the best skiing destinations in Europe.
And the apres-ski?
Well again there is enough variety to keep everyone happy. In the heart of the town the Farinet is one of the most popular apres-ski haunts and attracts revellers of all ages. You can dance to the live music on the terrace bar or enjoy a quieter atmosphere in the lounge area. Go upmarket with the Farm Club or keep it real with the Pub Mont Fort. Whichever you try there's healthy competition between the bars to make sure they offer the partygoer a good time.Verbier manages to strike a unique balance. It's got the street cred of a Chamonix, combined with the glamour of a Courchevel 1850 and the kudos of a Val d'Isere. It's also got Swiss efficiency and service. All in all it's an excellent destination for your next ski or snowboard holiday!
We stayed with Ski With Julia in the traditional Chalet Pic Vert, which is just a few minutes walk to the Medran cable car, and well placed for enjoying all that Verbier has to offer. The chalet is available for long or short breaks and has some great offers for March and April - so get out there and discover Verbier for yourself!
And for more accommodation in Verbier and the Swiss 4 Valleys, take a look at our various resort sections: Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, and Thyon.
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A ski holiday in Courchevel, Three Valleys, France
The Courchevel valley has a reputation for attracting an upmarket, well-heeled clientele. It is certainly favoured by the very rich – Russian oligarchs, Arab sheikhs et al – and the very famous, such as the Beckhams, Roman Abramovich and guests. Yet whilst it might be the place to see and to be seen in, it's not just the designer boutiques and Michelin stars of Courchevel 1850 that make it one of the best and most famous ski resorts in the world.As part of the extensive Three Valleys system, Courchevel can offer easy access to some of the most varied skiing you'll find anywhere. The Courchevel valley itself provides around 150km of pistes, ranging from steep black couloirs, to broad motorway cruises, to picturesque runs through the trees. Look further afield and there are endless possibilities; touring, backcountry, high altitude glaciers, snowparks, legendary bumps and off-piste pitches - however you want to experience the mountains, it's all here in the Three Valleys.
Getting back to Courchevel itself and what is it exactly that makes it such a top resort? The resort is actually a group of villages, each with a different character and with something different to offer the visitor.
Courchevel – from top to bottom:
The highest is Courchevel 1850, a glitzy conurbation with top end restaurants, a selection of exclusive hotels, glamorous nightclubs and a "millionaire's row" of private piste-side chalets. Just above is the altiport, a high altitude airport with one of the shortest and steepest runways in the world, built to receive the private jets and helicopters of 1850's jet-set.
Courchevel 1850 is the main starting point to get to the best skiing to be found in the Courchevel valley. Just two lifts will take you up to the Saulire at 2700m, from where you can drop into the neighbouring Meribel valley, or admire the fantastic panorama below you and then head off to discover Courchevel. It is testament to the good planning of the whole Courchevel valley however, that wherever you stay getting to ski is quick and painless.
Just 200 metres lower is Courchevel 1650, less pricey but with a good range of accommodation, eateries and apres ski. 1650 has it's own smaller ski area, an off-shoot of the main valley, with a few quieter, picturesque pistes. This village has a large year-round population and many businesses are open for summer trade too, when bikers, walkers, golfers and mountain lovers come to visit.
Perched on the hillside at 1550m is, well, Courchevel 1550. This village has grown in recent years and is just one lift-ride away from 1850's main intersection, skiing back down at the end of the day is simple. The village is quieter than it's higher neighbours but there are still some good bars and restaurants, and getting to the livelier nightspots is easy with the regular free bus.
At 1300m is the traditional village of Courchevel Le Praz, which still has it's quaint villagey atmosphere and friendly feel. You can find hundred year old barns and typical Savoyard houses. The main landmark of Le Praz is the Olympic ski jump, built for the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympic Games. Despite being a traditional village, access to the ski area is again quick and easy. One lift takes you to 1850, and another route will take you up to the Col de La Loze, again another entry point into Meribel and another viewpoint for a spectacular panorama.
So much to ski!
So part of what makes Courchevel so good is the choice it has to offer. From beginner to expert there is something to flatter or challenge you in its terrain, and lots of it. You'll never get bored with the ski area. Coupled with that is the great choice of places to stay and the type of holiday you can have. Accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets means you can splash out on something truly luxurious or keep it cheap and simple. If this has whetted your appetite take a look at our Courchevel chalets, hotels and apartments – and if you've had a holiday in Courchevel why not post up a review of the resort and let everyone know what you think!
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Chamonix does summer too!
We can honestly say that winter 2008-9 is now over. There are a few high glacial resorts where some lifts are still open, but apart from that most lift companies are hanging out the chairlifts to dry, switching off the cable cars and looking at what maintenance has to be done over the quiet inter-season weeks.
It won't be long before many alpine resorts are opening up again for the summer. Summer in the mountains is more relaxed than in the winter months but there is still loads to do and enjoy.
Enjoy the Views:
Take Chamonix – already a mecca for mountain lovers in the winter – the town takes on a different feel for summer, and a holiday there can be as relaxed or as active as you want it to be. Climbers, hikers and mountain bikers come to enjoy different ways of getting up and down the mountains, with something to suit all levels from the novice to the expert.
The major cable cars along the Chamonix Valley open up so you can get to the higher mountain trails more easily, and enjoy the breathtaking views before heading off to explore further afield. The view from the top of the Brevent cable car is possibly the best view of Mont Blanc you will ever get – take binoculars and you might even see a group of people heading for the summit of the highest mountain in western Europe. The Flegere lift at Les Praz is a good starting point for a hike up to the Lac Blanc – again be prepared for spectacular views and some physical effort to get there. It's worth it – it is a very popular route and can get busy in the high season months of July and August.
Festivals and Events:
However summertime in Chamonix isn't all about hard-core mountain sports. Throughout the summer the town puts on some great events to entertain its visitors.
Midsummer night on June 21st is usually the date for the Fete de la Musique, when the central square, Place Balmat, is the main venue for local bands and most of the bars will also have live music and djs.
July is the time for the climbing festival, when a giant climbing wall is erected and climbers from all over the world come to compete. Even if you've never climbed, and have no intention of doing it, it's an amazing show. It usually takes place over a few days leading up to July 13th and culminates in the grand final in the evening followed by fireworks, music and dancing.
In August, the busiest summer month, there are two big events. The Fete des Guides a traditional festival which celebrates and honours the high mountain guides. During the festival there is a huge sound and light show which takes place at the outdoor climbing wall at Les Gaillands, followed by a massive firework display. Then on the morning of the 15th August at the main church there is a ceremony attended by Chamonix mountain guides where the new guides are welcomed, the old are remembered and the ice axes are blessed.
The Ultra Trail, sponsored by the North Face:
Late August is Ultra Trail time! The North Face Ultra Trail is a mammoth cross country race around Mont Blanc, starting and finishing in Chamonix, and going into Italy and Switzerland. It's a gruelling round the clock trek for competitors covering 160km and around 9000 vertical metres. The time limit for completing the course is 45 hours and the record is 21 hours 6 minutes.
The send off on a Friday evening from the centre of Chamonix is quite amazing, with around two thousand people taking part. Throughout the weekend you can see runners coming along the finishing stretch down the Rue Joseph Vallot – stop and cheer them on.
Chamonix's got it all!
So there's plenty of choice of things to do on a summer trip to Chamonix. Sports facilties are good, swim and play tennis or golf with great views of Mont Blanc. Enjoy the shops, from upmarket designers to the latest and greatest in technical outdoors gear. Browse the weekly local market, with so much local colour and flavour you could be forgiven for thinking you're in a BBC learn French series!
For more details of the events and what there is to do in Chamonix take a look at chamonix.com. It's a great place for a short break or a longer stay – for accommodation see our Chamonix summer selection!
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A Ski Trip in Paradise – Les Arcs and La Plagne, Paradiski
The Vanoise Express
The Paradiski ski area was born in the winter of 2003-4, with the completion of the Vanoise Express cable car. This cable car is a true feat of engineering – 2 double decker cars, which can carry up to 200 people each, span the gorge between Peisey, at 1612m, and Montchavin les Coches (1548m). The crossing takes just 4 minutes each way and gives you breathtaking views of little Tarentaise villages below, and of Mont Blanc further afield.
It is the world’s biggest cable car they say, and it certainly provides a fast and efficient link between the two ski areas of La Plagne and Les Arcs. With the Vanoise Express these two areas became Paradiski, which in total offers 425km of piste ranging from 1200m to 3250m.
The Skiing
On a quick trip to Les Arcs it’s impossible to do much more than scratch the surface of this vast domain, there’s so much available for all levels of skier and snowboarder – high and wide motorway runs above the tree line, steep drop offs from the top of the Aiguille Rouge at 3226m, interesting runs through the woods to take you down to Villaroger, and a multitude of blues and reds criss-cross the sunny side of the mountain and lead to Arc 1600, Arc 1800 and the Peisey-Vallandry area.
In one day it is feasible to get to the top of Les Arcs, (the Aiguille Rouge), and to the top of La Plagne (towards the Bellecote glacier at 3417m) – but there’s not much time to draw breath in between. On the way you’ll see a wonderful 360 ° panorama of the Alps – Mont Blanc on one side, the Three Valleys on another with a clear view of the altiport at Courchevel as you head up to the top of La Plagne.
This ski area definitely deserves a thorough investigation – so even a week might not be enough to discover all its nooks and crannies, or to get a real feel for what it has to offer.
Where to Stay
Luckily there’s lots of choice of where to stay if you want to discover Paradiski, from purpose-built ski in ski out, to the more charming and traditional. Choose from catered luxury chalets, budget self catered and everything in between. Browse through our Les Arcs and La Plagne sections to get an idea, or simply search for Paradiski in our accommodation search.
We stayed at the luxury Intrawest village at Arc 1950. This is a self-contained hamlet of upmarket apartment blocks with great facilities. The apartments are spacious and well equipped, with undergound parking, saunas, hammams, and swimming pools. You can ski to and from the ski room door, and there is a good choice of places to eat and drink close by. Just up the local funicular is Arc 2000 if you want to explore the apres ski possibilities further.
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Oakley JibVid contest in Mayrhofen – 25th – 27th March
Following our blog about spring ski holidays and cool alpine events, Mayrhofen in Austria has hit the headlines again with the Oakley-sponsored JibVid contest.JibVid is a chance for all you creative skiers and boarders to get noticed. 15 teams of three have 28 hours to create a 2 minute short film. Filming takes place mainly in the Vans Penken Park, and promises to be a two-day "spectacular" for spectators and team members alike. The resulting videos are judged on various criteria including creativity, storyboard, camera work, editing and tricks.
There is a 10 000 euro prize purse plus gaming consoles for the winners.
The event began in 2005 as a seasonaires’ film competition to celebrate the creative nature of skiing and snowboarding. It has since has grown into one of Europe’s premier riding and filming competitions and is set to grow even more with the support of Oakley.
Evening events will feature live acts brought into resort just for the Oakley Jib-Vid and they can be found playing in the premier locations of Scotland Yard and the Arena Sports Bar.
The projection of all the Jib-Vid’s will be the pinnacle of the competition, which will take place in the Arena Sports Bar on the Mayrhofen main street. GMC Concepts, the organisers, have declared:
"Once the lucky winners get their hands on their share of the 10,000 Euros prize purse we promise to deliver the biggest party in the Alps this decade."
The Oakley Jib-Vid is open to skiers and snowboarders, guys or girls, in teams of three with a maximum of 15 teams invited to take part. A number of teams are invited, including the top three teams from the 2008 Jib-Vid, whilst 8 wildcard entries will be accepted via the official event website. To enter, or find out more about the event, and to see last year's winning films, go to www.jib-vid.com. -
Ski holidays in the Spring – party time!
As much of the UK is shivering under a blanket of snow this week, it's made a lot of people think about going skiing or snowboarding for real. You might have seen the phone video on the news of someone skiing down their street, or you might have skipped work to build a kicker in the park – but didn't that just make you miss it even more? Maybe it's time to fit in a ski holiday or snowboard break?
February traditionally means high prices – but there is still some availability out there, just do a search for February offers on our Promotions page and you'll see that there are some excellent offers, and possibly more availability than you might expect. This weekend in particular, 7th Feb, there are some excellent deals at amazing prices if you can make a quick getaway.
March ski holidays mean that you can usually enjoy more sunshine and warmer temperatures, plus longer ski days as lift opening times gradually extend with longer daylight hours. Skiing or snowboarding in the spring can mean long apres ski drinks on sunny terraces, piste picnics, and alpine barbecues. It's a great time to ski, and there's a relaxed end of term feel about many resorts.
And it's at this time of year when the celebrations begin and it's party time. Some of these parties have now developed into real alpine festivals – with all the cool and glamour of their summer counterparts, and the added bonus of spending the day on the mountain rather than in a muddy field.
If you've not been to one of the alpine festivals here's some ideas – so why not combine your skiing and snowboarding with some extra fun in the snow!
Snowbombing, Mayrhofen, Austria, 29 Mar – 04 April:
"Keep your full moon parties and tell Ibiza to go jump..once you have danced in an igloo in the Austrian Alps, nothing really comes close", so says TNT Magazine of Mayrhofen's Snowbombing Festival, which is 10 this year.There is an impressive musical line up which includes Fatboy Slim, Dizzee Rascal, Ladyhawke, Mylo and loads more bands and dj's. There's also a serious choice of partying going on during the week at various places; The Arctic Disco for example, is an "ice-cool party" at the top of the Ahorn at 2000 metres, or try the Backcountry Party which takes place in a 200 year old converted chalet, reached by going through "the forgotten valley" of Flottental.
As well as the music and partying, there are 625km of ski area to enjoy, and the King of the Mountain Battle of the Bands!
Take a look at their website at snowbombing.com for the full programme and lots of practical tips.
Altitude Festival, Meribel, France, 28 Mar – 03 April:
Altitude was co-founded by comedian Marcus Brigstocke, a regular on TV (incl Have I Got News for You) and radio, and Meribel bar owner Richard Letts. It is mix of comedy, music and DJ's, and this year's event coincides with the British Ski Championships. Now in its second year, comedy is the core of this festival – so far confirmed in this year's line up are Phil Jupitus, Rich Hall, Andrew Maxwell, Craig Campbell and, of course, Marcus Brigstocke. There will also be various bands and DJ's performing throughout the festival, including Honey Fungus – one of Meribel's most popular local acts.
Slopeside events include Big Air, boarder cross, classic GS, and more "spectator-centric" happenings too – snowball fights, three-legged ski races etc.
The Altitude website is at altitudefestival.com. For Meribel accommodation try our Meribel search for hotels, chalets and apartments.
Caprices, Crans Montana, Switzerland, 15-19 April:
Now in it's 7th year, Caprices 2009 promises to be bigger than ever, with events spread across several venues. Headlining in the main venue, Le Chapiteau, is Duffy – for her first ever concert in Switzerland – which opens the festival on 15 April. Other acts confirmed over the four days include Paolo Nutini and true reggae veterans, Toots and the Maytals.
During the 4 days other events include turning the terrace of the Cry d'Err, a restaurant at 2200m altitude, into the highest electro club in Switzerland – with guest DJ's to entertain the afternoon skiers and snowboarders, and fabulous panoramic views over some of the highest summits of Europe.
For more details take a look at caprices.chIf you are organising, going to or know of any cool alpine events then let us know about it – leave a comment or email surfcat@chaletsdirect.com
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World Ski Championships open in Val d’Isere
The 40th Alpine World Ski Championhips opens today in Val d'Isere with what promises to be a spectacular opening ceremony at 6.45pm this evening.Preparations for the event, which goes on until 15th Feb, have been underway for five years. Held every 2 years, the World Championships is a major fixture in the ski world, second only to the Winter Olympics – and this is the first time it has been hosted in France since Chamonix had the honour in 1962.
The opening show, named Pistes Royales, includes all kinds of street entertainers, artists and musicians, and has been orchestrated by Transe Express, the company responsible for the celebrations for Year 2000 in Paris. Included in the parade are 150 children from Val d'Isere and surrounding villages, who will be carrying the flags for the participating nations.
During the 12 days of racing there are 11 races scheduled on Val d'Isere's two famous mountains – the Solaise will host the ladies speed events, and the Bellevarde the Men's races. Due to the geographical formation these two mountain faces are opposite each other and in the heart of the resort. The first race tomorrow (Feb 3rd) is the Ladies Super G. Around 350 world class athletes will be competing over the 12 days.
Every night a variety of evening entertainment is on the schedule with all kinds of live music – folklore choirs, jazz bands, rock concerts, and even a set by DJ David Guetta on Friday 6th Feb. All events, both day and evening, are free. Each day's victors will be awarded their medals at 6.30pm in a medal ceremony taking place in the "Place des Medailles"!
For more information on the event and to download a full programme go to vwww.valdisere.com
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Skiing in Austria? Get your personal holiday ski lines!
If you're skiing in the Austrian Ski Welt area this winter the purchase of a lift pass will now give you access to a lot more than just the lifts.
Skiline is a new service which allows you to see where you skied, for how long, how many kilometres you covered and how many vertical metres you travelled.
All you need to do is go to the www.skiline.cc, enter the code on your lift pass, and hey presto you can view a line graph of your day – with all the lifts you used, the downhill distance and lift distance covered, and the total vertical metres you've done.
It might seem a bit geeky but when you're back at work on Monday morning, you can spend a few minutes looking back at your previous week – looking at the highs and lows, and reliving the moment! You can also register with Skiline and you will then have access to your personal ski diary – where all your skilines will be viewable, along with webcam images of each skiing day. You might also find at the end of the season that you are in the Top 100 of skiers who have covered the most mileage.
It is also hoped that more services will be added in the future - including mobile phone updates letting you know how big the queues are at various lifts!
The Ski Welt is Austria's largest interconnected ski area and includes Ellmau, Sheffau and Westendorf
