The 7 best Ski Apps for 2012
February 3rd, 2012First there was the Rich List, now we have the Sunday Times App List! With over 500,000 smart phone apps available for download, the Sunday Times have recently announced their favourite 500. Much to my disappointment after reading the list and finding only 1 relating to skiing, I decided to do some research! Hours later and having downloaded and deleted countless apps (some terrible, some ok and some brilliant), I decided that the following 7 were my favourites.
Ski Club Snow Reports
The Ski Club of Great Britain snow report app brings you the best and most respected snow reports from over 250 ski resorts around the world. Updated daily with the latest snowfall information, snow depths, piste conditions, live weather reports and even live webcams! There is so much information built into this app it’s the only snow report you will ever need…and it’s completely free!
The latest ski and snowboard news from around the world.
Ski Tracks
Ski Tracks is the UK’s number 1 snow sports application. It’s fun, easy to use and full of great stats to review throughout your day on the mountain. Whether you want to track your top speed, distance skied or total vertical this app has it covered. Ski Tracks also allows you to upload your stats and photographs to Facebook throughout the day which are automatically geo-tagged to your position.
Ski Tracks, the UK's #1 Snow Sports Application
Mammut Safety
This app is definitely for the safety conscious and to be honest I think I would rather spend my time skiing than working out the degree of the slope I am about to ski down, besides that Mammut Safety is worthy of a mention. The basic functions of this app tell you in which direction you are skiing, what altitude you are at, and also allow you to measure the angle of the slope using the built-in clinometers. The best feature to this app has to be the SOS button which allows you to send your exact co-ordinates by SMS should you find yourself in a spot of bother.
Feel safe in the snow thanks to Mammut.
Ski School Advanced (beginner and intermediate also available)
Looking to touch up your technique before hitting the slopes this year? Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced, this range of Ski School apps will help to improve your confidence, style and technique. With professionally produced ski lesson videos and movement analysis technology, these apps are ideal for giving you tips and advice both on and off the slopes. Definitely my favourite feature of this app, and one that I’m looking forward to trying (to determine how good or bad my skiing position is), is the split screen video analysis. While on the mountain have someone video you and later watch yourself back on a split screen, one side you and the other your virtual instructor, now all you have to do is compare! Here’s how it works…
SnowEdge
SnowEdge is definitely an app for the competitive people in the group and is ideal for tracking every movement you make during your day on the mountain. Not only does this app measure the distance you travel it also gathers information on your acceleration, speed, ski time and airtime! Developed specifically for this app you can even measure the speed, acceleration, g-force and the number of turns you make…the perfect app to decide who the best skier in the group is!
Track your achievements with Snowedge
RealSki
Although limited to use in North America the RealSki App has to be my favourite, and to make it even better, it’s completely free of charge! So, how does RealSki work? It’s simple; use your phone as you would when taking a picture. Using your compass and GPS devise the app will automatically display the names of restaurants, landmarks, chairlifts and runs over your live camera view! Ideal for visiting a new resort and leaves no reason to get lost, hungry or stuck on that nasty black diamond run!
iTrailMap 3D
A 3D piste map in your pocket, that’s exactly what you get with iTrailMap 3D. Allowing you to pan, zoom and rotate around your favourite ski resorts. Not only does iTrailMap 3D act as a piste map it also pin points your exact location and allows you to record your day on the mountain, an ideal way to compare how far and fast you ski with your mates over an après ski beer! With over 650 featured resorts, you will never need to carry a piste map again!
iTrailMap 3D - available in 750 resorts worldwide
For anyone travelling to any of Vail Resorts this season, make sure you have the EpixMix app downloaded. Working alongside your ski pass (complete with chip to track your movements) EpicMix opens up a whole new on mountain experience. EpicMix allows you to capture your day on the mountain, track your friends and family across the resort and compare those vital stats! For any parents, you can even track the movements of your children while they are at ski school! Once you are signed into your EpicMix account you can share photos and achievements to Facebook and Twitter and even gain vital points to help you climb to the top of the EpicMix leaderboard! If anyone has been to Vail Resorts this season and used the EpicMix pass and app we would love to hear how it was.
There are countless other apps available for download that help you keep track of weather forecasts, snow conditions, offer valuable resort information and help keep track of your mountain achievements. At Ski Independence we may not be clever enough to measure your top speed or total vertical skied but we do offer first hand, knowledgeable advice on 96 ski resorts around the world. So next time you are looking for some information on one of our featured ski resorts be smart and use your phone to call us rather than searching for that app!
Ski Independence can be contacted on 0131 243 8097 or you can request information by completing this easy to use online form.
App’y Skiing!
2012/2013 Skiing
February 2nd, 2012I’m delighted to announce (fanfare please…) that we are now taking bookings for USA, Canada and Japan for the 2012/13 winter ski season!
It always amazes me that people can be so organised but I guess I don’t have a family/school holiday to think of – oh and I can imagine the reaction if I asked for two weeks off over Christmas! But we have been getting requests for quotes for the Christmas and New Year period in 2012/13 since the turn of the year (yes, 53 weeks before travel!) and we’re now at a stage where we have secured some of the best deals in our most popular hotels and we can now quote for many resorts and properties.
It’ll take us a little while to get back to everyone that has requested a quote for next season but we’re on to that just now (as well as booking lots of late bookings for 2011/12 as the snow is amazing all over the world!!) and will be back to you in the next week to 10 days.
Some reasons to book early:
- Up to 45% off the best hotels in Whistler. We make sure that these deals will be the cheapest rates available all season! But you MUST book before the end of this winter season to take advantage of these rates.
- The very best flight availability. It seems a little hard to believe but the cheapest flights on the busy dates, those around school holidays usually, will fill up very quickly. We can usually hold flights around 11 months before departure date with a small deposit to secure them.
- Get your pick of resort, property, hotel room – booking early gives you the very best choice.
Whistler Blackcomb - 26 January 2012. Total snowfall this season: 707cm. Photo: Patrick Hui
Remember we tailor make every single holiday we book for our clients so you tell us what you want and we’ll do it! If we think you’re doing too much or can think of a way to make your holiday better (or cheaper – although that’s not always possible!) we’ll tell you. We have skied the resorts, slept in the beds, taken the transfers, flown the flights and hired the cars – our experience in North American skiing is unrivalled. Go on – test us!
So let us know what you want to do by calling us on 0131 243 8097 or filling out an online form, we’ll get back to you shortly after with some suggestions and if you like what we get for you we’ll book it all with just a 15% deposit.
PS – Quoting and booking for Europe isn’t too far off either…watch this space.
Ski Independence go skiing!
January 27th, 2012On Wednesday we lose 2 members of the Ski Independence team as they pack up their bags and make their way to Utah to lead the Daily Mail Ski and Snowboard Magazine reader trip. Starting in Park City and visiting Deer Valley, Snowbird and Canyons along the way, Annika our Groups Manager and Eve one of our Reservation Consultants, along with Henry Druce and Dave Watts, editors of the magazine and British Ex-Olympic skier Martin Bell, will spend 8 days skiing 6 of Utah’s 14 resorts.
Following on from yesterday’s blog ‘Where do Ski Independence Staff Ski’ below you will find the rest of the team’s ski plans this winter.
Michael, Managing Director
Wish me luck as I’m braving our first ski holiday at the end of February with my wife and two young sons (4 and 2) to Le Village, Les Arcs 1950 in France. Gone will be first lift on a powder day and long lunches to be replaced by a mad dash to make ski school on time and a rediscovery of just how painful snow plough is on the legs when undertaken all afternoon! But we’ll have the satisfaction of seeing our eldest skiing on snow for the first time and we couldn’t have chosen a better resort than Le Village at Les Arcs 1950. It’s been designed around family holidays with a super safe pedestrian main street where ski school meets, some great restaurants and shops and even better it’s 100% ski-in/ski-out. The apartments there are stylish and spacious and we’ll be very grateful for the extra space and flexibility a sitting room and kitchen will give us. I wonder if I should start negotiations now with the grandparents about babysitting for a long weekend in March?
Le Village, Les Arcs 1950
Jon, Overseas Manager
I’d been planning to go and see my brother who lives in Zermatt for a while, and then realised that it’s actually been four years since my last visit…not too sure what I was thinking there; free accommodation in one of Europe’s top resorts, and an easy flight and transfer from Edinburgh?! Anyway, the huge snow they’ve already had this season was a good catalyst so I started putting together plans for a long weekend in March, and before I knew it Gareth, Andy and an ex-Ski-I colleague were in on the act…not sure that my brother and his two bedroom apartment know what they’re letting themselves in for to be honest…
After that it’s California for a contracting conference in April where we work hard to get the best deals for Ski Independence clients for the following season, and we’ll hopefully get a few days’ skiing in too. Really looking forward to visiting Mammoth for the first time, and then the conference itself is in Squaw Valley so no doubt ski there too, and maybe get a look in at Northstar, Kirkwood or Heavenly as well – the Lake Tahoe area boasts the highest concentration of ski resorts in North America, and with famed spring skiing and views over the lake it’s a hard destination to beat, particularly at that time of year.
Dave, Reservations Consultant
I have a couple of nice trips to look forward to over the next couple of months, and they can’t come round soon enough!!
My first wee trip is in February out to Banff, Lake Louise & Jasper with my colleagues Gordon & Gareth. I have never visited either of these resorts and having worked with them for a number of years now I feel like I know them already, so this is a great opportunity to finally experience these popular ski areas & towns first hand. It’s also going to be great meeting up with our suppliers (who have become good friends with the Ski Independence team), and my good friend Angela who now works & lives in Jasper.
My next stop is in March, and is my annual winter trip to Mayrhofen in Austria. I spent many years working there before I started with Skiindi, and I always feel so welcome every time I head back there. Queue the title song from ‘Cheers’ now. The Zillertal Valley has some fantastic skiing/boarding terrain to offer, and mixed with a traditional town and friendly locals, it is tough to beat. I normally head over for the ‘Snowbombing’ festival at the end of the season. It’s not that I’m getting older (I can just hear a ‘Yea right’ from my colleagues), but after my 7th trip to the epic festival last year, I think it’s time for a more chilled visit.
Bring on Canada & Austria and the epic snow this season!!
Snowbombing in Mayrhofen
Suzanna, Accounts
I decided to escape the winter blues and jetted off to Les Gets last weekend! Admittedly, the 6am flight is not ideal, but with a very short transfer from Geneva I was on the slopes by lunch time. The conditions are great there at the moment, blue skies and the best snow in 20 years (locals opinion), and of course Portes Du Soleil being one of the largest ski area in Europe, you’ll never get bored.
All afternoon skiing on Saturday – a few beer stops – 5 course dinner with Claire our Product Manager, skiing on Sunday morning and a late afternoon flight back to Edinburgh…it all seemed like a dream on Monday morning when I was back in the office!
Luckily I have a few more trips planned to Les Gets (longer trips), just hope the snow will stay as great as it is now!
Suzanna in Les Gets last winter
Claire, Product Manager Europe
I’ve been lucky enough to ski in Courchevel and Megève already this season and I’m hoping to squeeze in at least another trip to Europe before the end of the season to make the most of the amazing conditions there just now. As for where I’ll be going, that’s still to be decided, but I do like the idea of either heading back to the Southern Alps (Alpe d’Huez/Vaujany) to catch up with friends from previous seasons or if it’s just a short break / ski weekend I can wangle, it will be within spitting distance of Geneva. And fingers crossed the snow in Scotland improves too – I’d really like to do a ski touring course here before bigger adventures next season perhaps!
Annika, Groups Manager
I’ll be heading out to Utah at the beginning of February on a ‘work’ trip leading the Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard Magazine reader trip along with my colleague Eve as well as Henry Druce and Dave Watts the Editors of the Magazine and British Ex-Olympic skier Martin Bell.
We’ve been organising the reader trips for more than 8 years now; they are always great fun; everyone can sign up and it’s a great way to ski with like minded skiers.
We’ll be staying at the Park City Peaks Hotel in Park City and we’ll ski 6 different resorts in 8 days. Not only is Utah known for its epic powder record, it’s also a great destination to ski a number of resorts just a short 45 minutes drive away – we’ll be skiing Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort, The Canyons, Alta, Snowbird and Solitude. I’ve never skied any of the Utah resorts so I’m very excited to tick off 6 resorts in one go!
In March I’ll be going to Aspen on a family holiday. Aspen is one of my favourite resorts – again you have access to four different mountain – Ajax, Aspen Highlands (my favourite) Buttermilk and Snowmass, all within a 6 mile radius and easily accessed by the complimentary ski shuttle bus.
There will be 6 of us plus a wee 2 year hold so we’ve decided to stay at the lovely ‘The Gant’ self catering Condos – they are conveniently located in Aspen town and the complimentary ‘Gant Van’ will take you everywhere within Aspen’s city limits. I’m already looking forward to some superb skiing, lazy on-mountain lunches at Cloud 9 on Highlands and who knows this year I may even hike the bowl….!
The 2011 Daily Mail readers trip organised by Ski Independence
Andy, Reservations Consultant
I’ll be heading over to Zermatt with a few friends on a bit of a lads trip. It’s a great resort and can be pretty lively and with good conditions a trip over for a cheap Italian lunch in Cervinia may be on the cards.
I’ll be going on the Monster ski trip in late March too which is in Tignes. The charity trip consists of skiing the vertical descent of Everest every day so this area is ideal to clock up the distance.
Apart from that if the snow comes back to the hills in Scotland I’d love to get a few turns up in the Cairngorms.
Where do Ski Independence Staff Ski?
January 26th, 2012Here at Ski Independence we look forward to the end of January as we know that it’s about that time of year when we can look forward to and count down the days until we get on the slopes. There are some lucky team members who have already put in some turns this winter but for many the first are yet to come. Over the next few days we thought we would share with you what our own ski plans are for the rest of the winter, so here’s who’s doing what!
Gareth, Sales Manager
I’m heading out for a quick (too quick) trip to Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper at the end of February. I have visited Lake Louise once before and love the skiing and that view over the lake cannot be matched in any other ski destination in the world (in my opinion, let me know if you think otherwise!) I’m going out there with David and Gordon from the office and will be visiting all 16 properties in just 5 days as well as getting a little time at Sunshine, Lake Louise and Marmot Basin. Once I get back I just have a day to get myself together before heading off on a Ski Weekend to Zermatt with some friends. The Swiss resort has had some epic snow over the past few weeks so I might even be able to brush up on my powder technique – it’s rubbish right now. It’s been a long few months booking skiing holidays for everyone and at the start of March I’ll get to go on my own one – even if it’s just a short break – and I can’t wait!
The Rothorn Gondola in Zermatt
Nick, Product Manager, North America
I’ve got a few things planned, but can’t see me getting away from the office until late March/early April. I might take part in MonsterSki in Tignes in late March to help raise funds for the MS Trust, and in mid-April I’ll be in California at a contracting event, so will hopefully get a few turns in at Mammoth, Squaw and Northstar. I’ll also be attempting to ski once a month for the next 12 months on snow in Scotland – Jan, Feb, Mar and Apr are all easy to achieve, and May and early June are usually OK too. Once we get into July, things get a bit trickier, and it all really depends on the snowfall we get over the winter…watch this space. Oh, and there’s talk of skiing Mt Etna too.
Epic snow, blue sky days, awesome terrain and incredible views - Mammoth
Karen, Reservations Consultant
Counting down the days (52, incase you are interested) till I head to Park City, Utah. I’ve skied all over Europe and North America but I’ve never been to Utah, and since I was a kid I’ve always dreamed of skiing dry fluffy Utah powder under bluebird skies… I’m taking my mum and she’s really excited about it too – but I’m in trouble if there’s no powder! She seems to think that working for Ski Independence gives me mystical powers over the weather (just for record – we have performed the odd miracle or two, but we’ve not mastered ‘snow-to order’ just yet!). Getting to Salt Lake City can be a bit of a pain from the UK as there are no direct flights but we’re going via Paris and stopping overnight – if it’s less than 24 hours then it’s a free stop with Air France / Delta so we’ve booked a hotel for the night and we’ll head into the city on the metro for a nice meal – Something a bit different! I really enjoy skiing new resorts so I’m looking forward to checking out Park City, Canyons, Deer Valley and Snowbird while I’m over there – and I’m really excited to try out my new ski boots too!
Karen on a recent trip to Vail
Claire G, Accounts
I’m heading to Les Gets in the middle of March with friends for a pre-wedding-girls-only break (not to be confused with a hen night, also not my wedding). It’s the first time in 10 years that I will be going to a Ski Resort, and the first time ever for 3 of the party, another first – I’ll be Boarding instead of Skiing. A lots of aches, pains and bruises are expected! There are 6 of us going for 5 nights and we are hoping to get 4 amazing snowy days on the mountain but my guess is the Apres Ski might alter our plans some mornings. Needless to say we are all super excited and can’t wait to get out there and see what Les Gets has to offer us.
Les Gets
Jamie, Reservations Consultant
Around the end of March, 5 friends and I are looking to ski in Chamonix/Argentiere. With the incredible snow fall throughout France this season, we are really looking forward to the excellent conditions. We have decided L’Cristal D’Agentiere is the perfect property; ideal location and quality of apartment. Being self catered it means we can keep the costs down and eat out should we wish. The Lognan cable car, which takes you up to Les Grands Montets is only 50m away, which opens up a huge area of skiing with The Mont Blanc Unlimited pass. Nightlife might be slightly more laid back in Argentiere, however, Chamonix and its legendary après is only a short bus ride away! Can’t wait!
Ironing in ski boots
January 25th, 2012I bought a new pair of ski boots last week (Atomic Hawx w90 if you’re interested). As any skier will know this is a milestone event. I’ve had my last pair for 10 years and we’ve skied together in 7 different countries and over 50 different resorts. We’re old friends now. I know that when I get them out of the attic for the first few turns of the season they’ll be a bit grouchy – a little light punishment for leaving them in the dark for all those months – but within a few hours they always came good. Now it’s time for them to take semi-retirement and they are soon to be packed off to my mum’s house up north where they’ll be handy for those occasions when Scotland’s snow obliges. I’m told that breaking in a new pair of boots should not be the agonising pain that it used to be – heat moulding speeds up the process and while spending 20 minutes standing in tuck position in the middle of Ellis Brigham made me slightly self conscious I’m hoping to reap the benefits when we get out on the snow!
Atomic Hawx w90
Since the new boots came home I have got them out of the box most days – sometimes putting them on, sometimes just admiring their shiny newness. I’m supposed to wear them around the house for 10-15 hours before taking them on snow. However, human decency suggests that’s not a good idea given that I live in a second floor tenement flat with wooden floors.. not sure the downstairs neighbours would enjoy that! So it was suggested to me that I wear them to do the ironing – thing is, I don’t usually do that much ironing. Either my clothes are all going to get a lot less wrinkled or I’m going to take my chances when I go skiing.
This does however, raise the issue preparation for a ski trip. It’s pretty simple maths that the higher your level of fitness to begin with, the better you’re going to feel on the snow. Here in the Ski Independence office activity levels are beginning to rise, although it’s not exactly easy at this time of year when we’re at our busiest! Running, cycling, fitness classes, swimming… they are all good ways to prepare for your ski holiday. Even walking to work is better than nothing at all. Skiing uses muscles that you’re not even aware of having most of the time (and don’t even start me on snowboarding! I’ve had a few goes at it and been unable to walk for days afterwards). So basically, whatever you do, you know there will be an element of pain involved when you get on the snow (usually the afternoon of day three for me). Now’s the time to put the work in and feel the benefits in resort.. so I guess I’d better start some training.. I want to make sure me and my new boots get off on the right foot!
Val Thorens turns 40
January 18th, 2012At an altitude of 2,300m the French ski resort of Val Thorens is Europe’s highest. In the 1960’s Pierre Schnebelen and his pioneering team lodged their visionary plans with the Savoie General Council to transform the small mountain village of Val Thorens into a thriving ski resort. Despite critics, plans were approved and in the summer of 1971 the first 3 ski tows were installed ready for their opening on the 18th December 1971.
Following a successful opening year, development steadily continued in the small mountain village and come the winter of 1972 the resort established itself with the opening of the local tourist office, ski school and first restaurant. Ten years after opening, in 1981, the project of building the world’s largest cable car began; the Cime des Caron. Ascending to 3,200m and carrying 150 people this marked a new era for Val Thorens and catapulted the resort into becoming one of Europe’s top winter destinations.
The Early Days - Val Thorens
With healthy investment, Val Thorens went from strength to strength throughout the 1980’s and continued to establish itself as a leading resort in Europe. Always one step ahead of neighboring resorts; in 1990 the ambitious plan to build Europe’s first Funitel lift system was completed. Followed by the construction of the world’s longest gondola in 1995, creating the essential link to the 3 Valleys, Val Thorens was officially on the international map attracting people from all over the world.
With world class skiing and a lift system to match, the development of Val Thorens turned to offering world class accommodation and facilities. With a fantastic selection of self catering apartments such as Chalet Altitude and Chalets Val 2400 to the new ultra modern 4* Hotel Altapura, Val Thorens has a great selection of accommodation to suit and cater for every need.
The resort of Val Thorens as we know it today
Off the slopes Val Thorens has a lively après ski atmosphere and a number of wonderful restaurants offering a great selection of food, whether it’s pub grub and a beer you are looking for or fine dining, you can find a menu to meet every need and budget.
For the fair weather or non skiers there are endless activities to keep you busy! The resort has a large sports centre, complete with fitness suite, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and children’s Fun Park. For the children amongst the group, pay a visit to the local ice rink. For the thrill seekers, why not have a shot at the 6km toboggan run!
For more information on Val Thorens and the accommodation we feature you can visit our website, or for a tailor made quote and itinerary call a member of the Ski Independence reservations team on 0131 243 8097. You can also request an online quotation here.
There’s just something about Whistler…
January 9th, 2012As I sit at my desk early on Friday morning, I look out the window to a beautiful blanket of white. I remember why I moved here 18 years ago. Fresh out of university on the West Coast of British Columbia, I moved to Whistler for a year, just enough time to save some money to travel to Australia. Eighteen years later, I’m Married with 2 kids, a dog and a mortgage. My window view is much the same. There is something truly magical about this place. There’s just something about Whistler…
This season has been without a doubt the most amazing on record. The snow fell early this year, which made for some great local skiing and undoubtably the best opening on record. The stars were aligned- great snow, great rates, and the largest amount of skiable terrain in North America. Whistler’s current snow base is over 215cm, close to 84 inches and the snow continues to fall.
Tiffany and Husband Scott at the Top of Whistler Mountain
So why am I blogging about my Whistler story you may ask? Because there is something to it. This is one destination that will truly change your life forever…It is the vacation that your family will remember for years to come. Whistler has something for everyone from skiing and snowboarding, to snowshoeing, ziplines and sleigh rides. For those outdoor enthusiasts, try the Whistler Olympic Park in the spectacular Callaghan Valley for some amazing cross country skiing and biathlon lessons. And for those thrill seekers, how about brushing off that leotard you’ve kept in your closet all these years, pop on a helmet and fly down the Whistler sliding center track at 92 km an hour? Come on, you know you want to…
For those with kids, this is Canada’s Winter Playground. Endless family activities. My Daughter Georgia turned 3 this year and started the Blackcomb ski school Valley Kids program. I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the Whistler Blackomb Ski School. The staff, the instructors, unbelievable. I knew she would be the life of the party at Blackcomb base but I never expected her to cry at the end of the day because she didn’t want to go home. It’s by far, the best money a parent could ever spend.
Tiffany with Kids Georgia 3.5 yrs and Will 2 yrs
For those looking to experience Whistler in style, try the Four Seasons Resort Whistler on for size. I am proud and humbled to say I work for Canada’s only Five Diamond Resort , nestled at the base of Blackcomb Mountain. Not only is the hotel absolutely stunning, but it’s the intuitive care that the staff provide to our guests. When we welcome you to Whistler, we invite you into our family. Over the festive week, I had the opportunity to speak with many guests from all parts of the world, at the ski concierge, in the restaurant, and in the lobby. Guests are always astonished by the level of attentiveness and the lasting relationships they make at the resort.
Taking a sip of my Blenz coffee, I can’t be sure what life path my family will take from here, maybe another 18 years in resort, but one thing is for certain. I know that my heart will forever belong to this spectacular mountain Destination. There’s just something about Whistler…
The BA Sale
January 5th, 2012If the festive period has left you exhausted and in need of a winter holiday, now has never been a better time to book your 2012 ski holiday. The British Airways Sale is now on and we have some fantastic savings to our most popular USA and Canadian destinations. These amazing deals are available on Economy, World Traveller Plus and Club World flights where you can save up to £1,000 on the regular flight price!
The BA Sale ends 24 January 2012
For a taste of these fantastic offers read on below. You can also call a member of the team at Ski Independence for a tailor made quote or request an online quotation here.
Vancouver (Whistler)
- Save £192pp on World Traveller flights (Economy)
- Save £386pp on World Traveller Plus flights (Premium Economy)
- Save £1081pp on Club World flights (Business Class)
Montreal (Mont Tremblant)
- Save £175pp on World Traveller flights (Economy)
- Save £447pp on World Traveller Plus flights (Premium Economy)
- Save £893pp on Club World flights (Business Class)
Denver (Vail and Breckenridge)
- Save £196pp on World Traveller flights (Economy)
- Save £251pp on World Traveller Plus flights (Premium Economy)
- Save £1081pp on Club World flights (Business Class)
Boston (Killington)
- Save £473pp on World Traveller Plus flights (Premium Economy)
- Save £886pp on Club World flights (Business Class)
Calgary (Banff and Lake Louise)
- Save £165pp on World Traveller flights (Economy)
- Save £333pp on World Traveller Plus flights (Premium Economy)
San Francisco (Lake Tahoe Resorts)
- Save £204pp on World Traveller flights (Economy)
- Save £349pp on World Traveller Plus flights (Premium Economy)
These savings are only available for a limited time and flights must be booked by the 24th of January for travel during January, February, March and April 2012. Savings are subject to availability and some peak dates may not be available. For more information call Ski Independence on 0131 243 8097.
New Year, New Snow
January 4th, 2012Having witnessed one of the snowiest Decembers on record across the Alps; picture perfect conditions over the Christmas week, and a short lived spell of mild weather for New Year, the Alps are now getting ready for the first dump of 2012…and it’s another big one! With some European resorts already reporting more snow to date this winter than the whole of last season, the Alps are now enjoying some of the best snow conditions in the world. Below is a quick round up on where to find the best snow conditions.
The resort of Solden reported the most new snow across Austria last week. Following an impressive 1.1m of fresh snowfall, the clouds parted giving way to some great on and off piste conditions. St Anton also has some fantastic conditions with an upper snow depth of 298cm and has a further 65cm forecast this week. Lech despite having slightly less snow is still in great condition with 240cm lying on the upper slopes.
>>> More information on ski holidays in Austria
The picturesque resort of Lech
If you are looking to find the deepest snow in Europe, head to the the traditional village of Saas Fee in the Swiss Alps. The resort currently has an on piste snow depth of 340cm and another 20cm forecast for the end of the week. Not far behind, and forecast for another 40cm of snow this week, is Verbier where you will find a piste depth of 300cm.
>>> More information on ski holidays in Switzerland
A recent powder day in Verbier.
Following some truly incredible snowfall in the past month, France is undoubtedly the place to ski in Europe. As the forecast predicted; the snow has continued this week with a further 20 – 30cm falling and a further 50cm forecast tomorrow (Thursday). Many resorts around France including Chamonix, Les Arcs and Tignes are already reporting snow bases of over 3m with both fantastic on and off piste conditions.
>>> More information on ski holidays in France
125cm of fresh snow at the top of the Funicular in Tignes!
Conditions also remain good in Canada where most resorts in Alberta and British Columbia are sitting on snow bases of well over 2m. Following an incredible November with over 11ft of snow in areas it looks like the slight dry spell in December has come to an end. In the past 7 days Whistler welcomed 125cm of fresh snow, taking the accumulated snow fall to date this winter to 449cm! Further inland Fernie also saw a good snowfall, with 61cm hitting the mountains over the past week, bringing the snowpack up to 175cm.
>>> More information on ski holidays in Canada
Whistler following 100cm of snow in 7 days! Photo: Coast Mountain Photography
Despite snowfall in the USA being lower than last winter, many resorts are still reporting good on piste conditions. One exception in the USA, and matching its big mountain skiing and snow record, is Jackson Hole who had a welcome dump of 75cm last week allowing the resort to open in full.
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Celebrating New Year and 75cm of fresh snow in Jackson Hole. Photo: Chris Figenshan
For first hand advice on where to find the best snow conditions and accommodation offers, call a member of the Ski Independence team on 0131 243 8097, visit our website or request a quick online quotation.
An Epic adventure…
December 19th, 2011Superlatives can be overused in the ski industry. We are sometimes guilty of bigging-up things as ‘awesome!’ or ‘fantastic!’ and that means that when you need a really big impact word – well… where do you go?! So with this in mind I headed out to Colorado to check out some of the Vail Resorts family and see if their ‘Epic’ tag rang true…I wasn’t disappointed.
The Vail resorts portfolio includes Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Keystone and the Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, as well as Heavenly and Northstar in California. Each resort has its own character so there’s no ‘production line’ feel to things but the Vail Resorts brand does assure the guest of consistently high levels of customer service and excellent on-mountain facilities. Their Rock Resorts hotel brand maintains these standards off the slopes too.
My trip was an organized familiarisation for Tour Operators from all around the world (this is otherwise known as a jolly – heck, no one works in travel for the money!!) and the aim of the game was to experience as much as we could in the space of the week.
Our first stop was Breckenridge. This is a fun ski town with a long heritage that began with gold mining and while 100 year old buildings are ten-a-penny in the UK, they are a rarity in the USA so Breckenridge has an authenticity that many modern resorts lack. This month marks the 50th anniversary of skiing in Breckenridge and there are lots of events planned to celebrate throughout the season! It’s easy to walk around the village, but it’s even easier to use the on command shuttle service offered to guests staying in Vail Resorts properties! Until 11pm you can summon a shuttle to take you out or pick you up from anywhere in town! This means that it doesn’t make too much of a difference where you stay in the village – everything is within easy reach. From the on-mountain ski-in / out luxury properties of One Ski Hill Place, Crystal Peaks Lodge and Blue Sky Breckenridge, to the slope side convenience of the Doubletree by Hilton or the Village at Breckenridge – there is a lodging option to suit anyone. On mountain we enjoyed the smooth grooming that Colorado is famous for – and the crisp cold that keeps the snow light! Off the slopes we checked out some of Breckenridge’s other attractions: the roller coaster at One Ski Hill Place is like a toboggan run on rails and is great fun for all the family. We also sampled some of the whiskey and vodka made by the local distillery – they are producing some good stuff! The casks the Breckenridge Distillery are using have produced a malty wee dram that tastes more Scottish in character than a typical bourbon. Whisky enthusiasts should definitely leave a space in their luggage!
Christmas comes to Breckenridge
From Breckenridge, and with slightly fuzzy heads, we headed to Keystone. Keystone is hugely popular with the American market, but less so with the Europeans. We are missing out! With a larger ski area than Breckenridge, lower prices and a convenient slope side village of the style that Brits go mad for in the Alps. The resort prides itself on being family friendly, but it also has a cool vibe and is popular with the hip young things from Denver. They also have regular free concerts in the River Run Plaza for Après ski.
In-between Breckenridge and Keystone, and accessible from both by public transportation are the Silverthorne shopping outlet malls. This close to Christmas it was impossible to resist a bit of shopping – and with up to 60% off normal US retail prices you can get some great bargains from the likes of Gap, Ralph Lauren, Guess and many more. Shops are open late at least one night a week so it needn’t interfere with your skiing time!
Back on the road and over to Vail. Now I have a confession to make… last time I visited Vail there was a lot of construction going on. There seemed to be holes everywhere and it was very disjointed. I wasn’t that impressed with the village at all. Now, five years on, I am pleased to say that Vail has won me over. Vail village looks great now, and what used to be a hotchpotch of hotels punctuated by gaps and construction sites now flows like a proper resort. The biggest change has been in Lionshead – the unfashionable ugly duckling has become a very chic and stylish swan with enough shops, restaurants and bars to rival the main village. Staying in Lionshead used to mean compromising on dining and après options, now it’s the location of choice. The Arrabelle at Vail Square is the flagship Rock Resorts hotel and it’s a stunner! The rooms are huge and are modern with lots of luxury touches (TV in the bathroom anyone?). It’s definitely on a par with the Four Seasons – and I actually preferred the character of the rooms at the Arrabelle. Getting to the slopes could not be easier. The ski valet sits at the base of Lionshead and is less that a minutes’ walk from the lobby. They warm your boots, put sunscreen on your nose and feed you energy bars to get you pumped, and then after you’re finished for the day they’ll dry all of your gear and swap your skis for hot chocolate. Great service!
Lionshead Village
Now I always thought that Lionshead was a long way from Vail Village – not so. As part of my extensive resort testing I can confirm that to walk from the Rivabahn at Golden Peak to the Eaglebahn at Lionshead takes 20 minutes. And from the centre of Vail Village to the centre of Lionshead is less than 10 minutes. However, I’m pretty hardy, minus 25 degrees wasn’t cold enough to deter me, there is a free shuttle bus which runs about every 10 minutes with stops every 100 metres or so. The times of the next bus are displayed at each stop and are ‘real time’ so you know whether it’s worth waiting a couple of minutes, or having another hot chocolate!
On the mountain we were too early in the season to ski the legendary back bowls of Vail, but the front side of the mountain was in fantastic shape – particularly after 9 inches of fresh snow fell overnight! We got some great turns in light fluffy powder with blue skies and sunshine. When lunchtime came we decided to check out Vail’s newest on mountain dining experience: the Tenth. This is an upscale restaurant at Mid Vail. Upon arrival you are ushered into the cloakrooms to store your jackets, hats and goggles and swap your ski boots for fluffy slippers. There are even hairbrushes, straighteners and hairdryers for victims of hat-hair. OMG!! Heaven is lunch in slippers – but be warned: it’s not pleasant putting the boots back on afterwards! The food and service was excellent, and the prices were not much more than you would pay in the regular on mountain restaurants, so I’d thoroughly recommend this to anyone fond of a slightly longer lunch! Reservations are advised – it’s going to be very popular!
The busy slopes at Lionshead!!
After a few nights in Vail we moved onto Beaver Creek. My previous visits to Beaver Creek were off- season, and that’s no way to really appreciate a ski-in/ski-out resort. It turns out early December is an ideal time to visit as they host the World Cup ski racing each year at the beginning of December. This created a buzz around the village, and concerts and events are planned to coincide with the races, so there was a real buzz about the place and it felt more like high season in town, but no lift lines and the slopes were empty. We had a great time! Curiously, the races did not seem to attract massive crowds – most people watching seemed to be attached to the sport in some way, making it really easy to get a good spot to watch. Ski racing fans will never have a better opportunity to get up close to the action.
Bode Miller completes the first run in the men's slalom race at Beaver Creek
Vail Resorts were keen to show off one of their more unique lodging options to us. Trappers Cabin is a 4 bedroom luxury cabin close to the top of the Bachelor Gulch Express Lift. We had lunch there and were treated to blue skies and sunshine once again. If only we’d had the foresight to bring our bathers and towels to make use of the hot-tub on the deck! The cabin can be hired for functions and lunches but it’s also available for lodging. A snowcat will bring you and your luggage up, and you can arrange to have the kitchen pre-stocked with groceries. There are four bedrooms, four bathrooms a large open plan living room and kitchen, and a games room with a pool table and big screen TV. For a get-together of family and friends this would be great fun! And the bears that have left claw marks on the trees outside are asleep in the winter, so it’s quite safe!
Aspen trees outside Trappers Cabin
Beaver Creek Village is quite small – but how much do you really need on a ski holiday? I think they’ve pretty much got it covered. There are a few cafes and restaurants, a couple of bars, some galleries and boutiques and a well stocked general store / liquor store. The centre of the resort is the outdoor skating rink and around 4pm there is a delicious smell of melted chocolate and marshmallows wafting around the place as s’mores are cooked up around the warming fire pits. Beaver Creek is a resort of luxury, but it’s not brash: the underground heating that keeps the pavements ice-free, the escalators that save your legs from climbing up onto the slopes, the friendly resort ambassadors who are present on every corner with bottomless pockets stuffed with tissues, trail maps and sunscreen. It’s all there – but it’s subtle. Vail shouts luxury; Beaver Creek just envelops you in it!
Exciting things are happening at all of these resorts – but one of the most exciting developments in skiing has been introduced at all of them. Last year ‘Epic Mix’ was launched: This was a way to track your ski days, which lifts you had skied, and connect with your friends on the mountain: bringing après ski bragging rights bang up to date. This season they have taken the concept one step further and introduced Epic Mix Photo. This is the most fantastic thing ever! Green suited photographers lurk on the mountain at strategic viewpoints and are on hand to capture your image, sending it straight to your Epic Mix webpage. You can even connect it to Facebook and Twitter and set it up to ping the photos straight to your profile. Let’s face it – this is designed to make your friends jealous – and it works! The best thing about it? It doesn’t cost a penny! You have the photos taken and can store and view them digitally without paying a penny, but if you want a hard copy you can order one from the website for $20 a pop. Not bad at all – and it saves you from getting cold taking your gloves off or chopping off people’s heads or feet because you can’t see the viewfinder through your goggles. Genius! Epic Mix is available to anyone with an Epic or Summit Season Ticket.
Karen after a day on the mountain!
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