General
Friday, 06 October, 2006
Concrete rot hits Savoie ski resorts
Numerous buildings constructed since the spring of 2004 and some ski lifts may have to be rebuilt in the Maurienne valley’s ski areas due to defective concrete. The concrete becomes friable in the presence of humidity. The problem affects the foundations of a number of buildings as well as public works including road strengthening. The Savoie highways department is undertaking a thorough investigation of both roads and 13 ski lifts. The concrete was used in the valley from March to July 2004.
Hauts de Valmeinier will be demolished
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Swiss propose American style heliskiing
Heli-skiing, the practice of dropping skiers on top of high mountain summits with a helicopter, has long since been banned in France. Fans of the sport have had to sneak over the border with Switzerland or Italy to get their fix. Much to the chagrin of French environmentalists their pilots often drop skiers on, or sometimes just over, the border with France.
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Tuesday, 03 October, 2006
All-Mountain Ski Boot for 2007
Is there such a beast...? I am searching for a ski boot which I can use both on and off piste, skinning and walking. In short an All Mountain ski boot. I ski approximately 70% off-piste, 30% on piste and use the new Fritschi Freeride Plus bindings. I am confused by the number of boots which appear to do pretty much the same thing and being a pretty green novice. I would appreciate some advice on what to shortlist.
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Monday, 25 September, 2006
Zag skis in financial trouble
Ski website MySnowSports.com has reported that Zag skis have gone into liquidation following the withdrawal of one of their principal shareholders. Zag had previewed a range of eight skis for the 2006/7 winter season but these will not go into production. The current stock including some pre-production 2007 skis as well as other assets including the name (Take Off Zag Skis) and patents will be sold at auction on the 4th of October. Zag had 5 employees and last year made a profit of 181 K€ on a turnover 618 K€. The company produces around 2000 pairs of ski annually which are sold worldwide.
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Wednesday, 20 September, 2006
Ski resort of Céüse threatens closure
Céüse, for a long time known as the ski resort of Gap, is on the brink of closure today. Last night the staff were told that this tiny ski resort of just 35 km of runs would not reopen this winter. The reason, a dispute between the new operator and the communities of Sigoyer and Pelleautier over water resources.
Snow making at the heart of the dispute
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Thursday, 14 September, 2006
Montroc avalanche, last legal lap?
The last legal lap in the Montroc avalanche may finally have been run in Grenoble’s Administrative Court this summer, more than seven years after the events that killed 12 people in their homes in the hamlet of les Poses. Four sets of claimants, relatives of the deceased as well as the commune’s insurer AXA sought significant damages against Chamonix and the French state for their role in the tragedy.
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Monday, 11 September, 2006
Asian skiers discover Megève
Skiing and guided ski tours in the heart of the French Alps
Recently many inquiries have come to my attention for lesson requests and information on skiing the French Alps. Indeed a few skiers from Asian countries particularly Hong Kong and Japan have come and visited Megève and Chamonix and the ski areas in the nearby Italian Alps, this past season.
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Sunday, 10 September, 2006
Divide and conquer?
Snowboarders are not well catered for when it comes to reaching the backcountry. The most popular choice is to climb on snowshoes or even mini skis with the board lashed to the back of the rucksack. A heavy rucksack is not ideal aid for carving fluid lines in deep powder. Back in the mid-90s Voilé had the idea of cutting a snowboard in half to use it as mini skis for climbing. The two halves would then clip together for the descent. The split board was born.
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Tuesday, 05 September, 2006
Les Arcs doubles snow making
York Neige is completing a project that will double the snow making capacity at les Arcs for the start of the 2006/7 season. The aim is to be ready for the cold weather in November to enable the resort to build a good artificial base for the winter. York is currently installing 4500 meters of snowmaking on runs in Arc 1600 and 1800 and a further 4800 meters at Arc 2000.
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Les Jackass font du ski
In late April 2004 the team spent a few days ski touring out of la Berade in the Oisans mountains. The weather was poor, the snow a mix of powder and windcrust. So we decided to have some fun. Check out this mash-up, as usual every expense spared with the film equipment… a 49 euro digital camera. Still backcountry skiing, snowboarding, telemark and avalanches all in one video - what more can you want?
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