The Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows ski area in North Lake Tahoe, California, has announced it is looking for a new name after deciding it is time to drop ‘squaw’ as the resort’s owners believe it is a derogatory and offensive term.
Resort News & Reports
Ben’s Bus freezes prices, adds Covid safety measures, better refund terms, plus more airport transfer routes for 2020/21
by Lulu Sheard
Ben’s Bus, the airport transfer service to resorts throughout the French alps, has now opened bookings for this season’s services to and from Geneva, Grenoble and Lyon Airports. The company will continue to run all their routes for the coming winter season, with added safety measures such as restricted numbers travelling on each bus and regular cleaning of the interiors.
Chamonix lifts up and running with new safety and hygiene measures in place – and there are free activities for visitors
by Lulu Sheard
Skiers and snowboarders have had some encouraging news from Chamonix for the coming season when the resort announced that several lifts in the French ski resort have opened again for the summer after being closed due to Covid.
Chalet Artemis in St Anton redesigned with a fresh look for the winter
by Lulu Sheard
Chalet Artemis, one of the most luxurious chalets in the Austrian resort of St. Anton, has been completely redesigned by luxury travel entrepreneur Andrew Dunn.
Having launched Scott Dunn in 1986, Andrew has become known for elevating the ski holiday experience with first-class personal service and premium accommodation. Built as his personal chalet, Chalet Artemis was designed using his in-depth knowledge from over 30 years in the business.
Bramble Ski opens spectacular new chalets in Lech
by Lulu Sheard
Bramble Ski has added three elegant chalets in the heart of Lech in Austria to its list of luxury accommodation this season. The stylish chalets, situated a stone’s throw from the Schlosskopf piste and chairlift.
Kulm Hotel St. Moritz and Valmont unite to create a unique Swiss winter spa experience
by Lulu Sheard
The Kulm Hotel St. Moritz and luxury skin brand Valmont have joined forces to offer unparalleled spa experiences in the heart of the Engadine resort in Switzerland.
Their new program includes ‘Escape to the Summit’ a unique treatment that specifically targets guests’ needs during their winter trip in the mountains.
Severin*s – The Alpine Retreat in Lech unveils its plans for the 20/21 winter season
by Lulu Sheard
Undeterred by Covid19, bookings for Severin*s’ winter season are coming in thick and fast, with New Year 2020/21 nearly fully booked.
Severin*s – The Alpine Retreat, is a luxury boutique ski hotel located on the outskirts of the Alpine town of Lech – around one hour’s drive from Zurich and 90 minutes from Innsbruck.
Campaigners start petition to ‘Save the Ski Train’ after Eurostar announces it is stopping its rail travel to the Alps service
Eurostar will not run its iconic Ski Train this winter. A campaign, Save the Ski Train, has been launched in an attempt to persuade the cross channel railway service to reinstate this service.
Since 1997, the train has run twice weekly from London and Ashford to the Tarentaise region of the French Alps, dropping skiers at Moutiers, Aime la Plagne and Bourg St Maurice stations, a short hop by bus or taxi from 16 major ski resorts, including Méribel, Courchevel, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes and Val d’Isère.
Destination Inspiration: Discovering ski resorts in Italy’s Aosta Valley
With life being slower than usual and while we are not travelling yet, why not start getting inspired and take a look at the resorts which make Aosta Valley in Italy a skier’s paradise.
The Aosta Valley boasts spectacular scenery, world-class skiing and snowboarding, food of the highest quality and a history stretching back to Roman times. At the heart of the Alps and bordered by France and Switzerland, Aosta valley is surrounded by some of the highest peaks in Europe: Cervino, Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso and the king of them all, Mont Blanc.
Coronavirus: Federal Council declares ‘extraordinary situation’ and introduces more stringent measures
At an extraordinary meeting on 16 March 2020, the Federal Council in Switzerland took the decision to introduce more stringent measures to protect the public. It has declared that an ‘extraordinary situation’ now exists in Switzerland in terms of the Epidemics Act.
Ski lifts in the Tirol are being shut down this week in an effort to halt the spread of Coronavirus
The Tyrol Tourist Board has issued a statement about resorts in the area. It says: With the announcement of the state of Tyrol on March 12, 2020, additional precautionary measures to contain and combat the spread of the coronavirus have been implemented for all of Tyrol.
British sculptors make Sir Elton the star of the snow in Ischgl
British snow sculptors Justin Scott and Martin Sharp are feeling on top of the world after completing their stunning likeness of Sir Elton John on the slopes of Ischgl in the Austrian Tirol.
Ready to make a start
The two Yorkshiremen are frequent visitors to Ischgl to take part in the resort’s annual Shapes in White competition – in fact Justin met his wife Jasmina there – and with this year’s theme being 25 years of Top Of The Mountain rock concerts, it was the perfect opportunity to create a homage to Sir Elton John, who has twice performed open air gigs in Ischgl.
Ski with ‘the boss’ in Les Carroz – but watch out for naked fondu run
Les Carroz in the Grand Massif has come up with a unique package to help visiting skiers and snowboarders get the most from their trip. Petra Shepherd went to ski with the boss to find out what it’s all about.
Mountains 4 All offers adaptive skiing through Courmayeur Ski & Snowboard School and Mont Blanc Ski School
The recently formed Mountains 4 All group, which advocates inclusive, accessible mountain tourism, has teamed up with Courmayeur to offer adaptive skiing with trained, specialist ski instructors at the Courmayeur Ski & Snowboard School and the Mont Blanc Ski School.
A different flavour of France in the Pyrenees
Skier & Snowboarder editor Frank ‘Scoop’ Baldwin goes for a ski in the French Pyrenees – and ends up getting his feet wet
WATER WORKS: Relaxing in Ax les Thermes after a day on the slopes
Here’s a bit of après ski with a difference in the French Pyrenees. After a day’s skiing the 80km of slopes in Ax les Thermes, come down in the gondola which drops you off right opposite one of the main squares in the town, cross the road, order yourself a beer from one of the atmospheric bars, take your boots and socks off – and jump in the free bath.
Former neuroscientist uses her ski manager skills to set up successful operation in The Three Valleys
Have we found the brainiest chalet owner in the French Alps? Austria loving ROB REES overcame his lifelong aversion to French skiing to make a long overdue return to The Three Valleys after 27 years away with a stay with the marvelous Ski Talini
Bathing snow monkeys and spiritual traditions are just some of the attractions to skiing in Japan – and the waist deep powder of course!
Skiing in Japan has been on the radar of dedicated powder skiers and snowboarders for a number of years. Lisa Young went to sample Hakuba and Naeba
The snow that falls upon Japan’s resorts has to be some of the best in the world. It is light, dry and very often chest deep. With a season that lasts from December to May, snow addicts are going the extra distance to try out the near-perfect conditions.
Schladming opens new 10-seater gondola – maximum comfort for skiers and state-of-the-art technology
The Austrian ski resort, Schladming-Dachstein in Styria, has opened a new 10-seater gondola replacing the old six-seater lift on the Planai ski area.
The new gondola can transport up to 3,800 people per hour – increase of over 70% (capacity of previous gondola was 2,200ph) – which means that waiting times for winter sport enthusiasts are a thing of the past.
Free transfers from Klagenfurt Airport in Austria to your ski hotel – saving up to €200
Klagenfurt Airport, Easyjet and two of the leading ski resorts in southern Austria have joined and have come up with a money saving offer for skiers and snowboarders who want to make a low-cost fast trip to the Alps this winter.
Free ski lessons, ski pass and equipment on special day in Trentino resorts
Trentino, the region of northern Italy that stretches from Lake Garda up into the Dolomites mountains, becomes a winter wonderland during the ski season with several ski resorts offering hundreds of kilometres of piste for beginners through to experts.