With travel restrictions to France easing for UK-based skiers and snowboarders, MARK NICHOLLS reports on what awaits you in Les Menuires this season
The view from La Masse is inspirational. I had travelled up from Les Menuires which nestles more than 1,000m in the valley below.
The lifting of the restrictions on British skiers and snowboarders visiting France has seen new bookings to French ski resorts go through the roof. Many of the resorts have been quick to update the Skier & Snowboarder magazine with their latest news which you will find below. Make sure you check back to this website regularly as we will be adding more info as it comes in. Plus, go to our Holiday Offers page where you will find great bargains to French resorts being added all the time
Arc 1950 Le Village, the most recent addition to the Haute-Tarentaise resorts, enchants its French and international visitors every season by offering access to the Paradiski slopes from a selection of colourful 5* ski-in-ski-out residences, together with a combination of high-end services, car-free streets, pretty shops, varied restaurants, and its exceptional entertainment programme. A true ‘art de vivre’ of winter sports.
Travelski Express, which this season reintroduced a ski train service to the French Alps, issued a recent statement concerning the travel situation to France which said: “With the continued restrictions on travel between the UK and France Travelski regrets to confirm the cancellation of the Travelski Express departure planned for the 21 January.
by Colin Nicholson
Last month (December 2021) marked the first chance for British skiers and snowboarders visiting Switzerland to take the swish new gondola – the culmination of a £400 million project – from Grindelwald to the highest piste on the Eiger, shaving an astonishing 47 minutes off the journey time.
The Swiss resort of Mürren, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first slalom race held there on 21 January 1922.
As part of the celebrations, a host of famous names from the world of skiing will participate in a ceremonial race down the original slalom piste on 17 January 2022.
If you want to broaden your ski and snowboard horizons, follow in the footsteps of Prince Harry and plan a visit to the ‘Heavenly Mountains’ of Kazakhstan. LISA YOUNG provides a pre season taste of what you will find when you get there
Val Thorens is traditionally always one of the first French resorts to open for the season. After not being able to ski last winter because of the pandemic, CATHERINE COOPER joined thousands of people who could not wait to get back on piste at the opening weekend
Rob Rees enjoyed a meal with Skier & Snowboarder publisher Frank ‘Scoop’ Baldwin at Kipferl, which claims to be London’s only Austrian restaurant. Rob gives us a taste of what you will find there
The pretty French resort of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville in the 3 Valleys is a foodie heaven and this season there is another new restaurant on the menu.
The Maya Altitude is located on the slopes at the top of the Tougnète ridge. From here diners can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view from the terrace at 2,400m.
From 7 January to 4 February and from 7 March to 1 April, 2022 the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc valley is offering its guests FREE group ski lessons
For all ages and all levels of expertise, guests will be able to benefit from free lessons in downhill skiing (both on and off-piste), cross-country skiing, ski touring and even kinder garden skiing.
Researched and refined by VIP SKI’s guests over 30 years, Bear Lodge is a brand-new signature complex located at Arc 1950.
The 30-bedoom hotel, Bear Lodge, can accommodate 60-80 guests each week, and Bear Suites can cater to a range of 4 – 14 guests.
Austria’s famous Tirol region is home to many world-famous resorts as well as dozens of hidden gems waiting to be explored by skiers and snowboarders. They will be welcomed back in a season full of winter love
The venue for Jackson Hole’s recent ski launch in London’s Mayfair was so exclusive that Skier & Snowboarder magazine publisher Frank ‘Scoop’ Baldwin almost couldn’t find it.
After walking up and down Bruton Street several times looking for the Hakkasan restaurant he eventually stopped and sought the help of two men who were dressed like they should be auditioning for the lead roles in the Men in Black movie.
The Californian ski area of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has changed it’s name to distance itself from a word considered to be a racist and sexist slur.
The recently announced new name is Palisades Tahoe and was chosen to honour the resort’s history as a land of legends – home to freeskiing pioneers, Winter Olympians and cultural icons across more than seven decades of ski history. The change will bring both mountains of the former Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows together under one unified name.
European tour operator Travelski (www.uk.Travelski.com) has launched rail inclusive packages from St Pancras station direct to six major ski resorts in France.
The Travelski Express train will leave St Pancras on Friday evenings arriving into Moutiers and then Bourg St Maurice the following morning.
Rob Rees takes us on a tour around Austria’s five major ski glaciers and explains how a chance to get back on the piste is just around the corner
If you are desperate to get back on the snow after our enforced 18-month hiatus, get out to Austria this autumn where you can enjoy one of the biggest professional ski tests in the Alps, or simply treat yourself to a flexible ‘White 5’ lift pass that covers all five Tirolean glaciers on one ticket.
Like many Austrian resorts, Kitzbühel has put in a whole range of covid protection measures to keep visitors safe this winter.
Situated in the Tirol at an altitude of between 762 – 2,000m, skiers and snowboarders have a choice of 57 cable cars and lifts, 233km of pistes and 92 marked and groomed ski slopes, plus the Hanglalm Snowpark to enjoy. There’s also natural toboggan runs and four artificial and two natural ice-skating rinks.
Canada has opened up its borders to fully vaccinated UK travellers which means skiers and snowboarders can return to the popular resort of Whistler Blackcomb this season. Here is a taste of what’s new in the British Columbia ski area.
The 78th International Inferno Races in the Swiss resort of Mürren taking place on 19– 22 January 2022 is completely sold out. This year, well over 2,100 ski racers applied for a limited number of 1,850 entries for the competition which sees amateur and recreational skiers get the chance to line up alongside top racers and well known names.