Ski Independence Blog
Archive for August, 2010
Vail Resorts Announce EpicMix
August 31st, 2010Vail Resorts have just announced the launch of EpicMix, a new online and mobile application which allows skiers and snowboarders to digitally capture their ski experience and will completely transform the holiday experience for skiers and snowboarders this year at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly.
An radio frequency-enabled chip embedded in Vail Resorts’ EPIC season passes will automatically track your lift rides, calculating vertical feet skied and days on the mountain and will recognize special achievements and accomplishments by granting you commemorative, collectible digital pins. EpicMix will have hundreds of available digital pins for a multitude of unique experiences available at each resort.
The EpicMix is the first of its kind online & mobile application.
EpicMix is a digital application that you can access online, at your computer or via a free mobile application that can be downloaded for the iPhone, Android or other smart phone. EpicMix will allow you to share your statistics and accomplishments through updates on Twitter and Facebook and you can create special EpicMix leader boards with your Facebook friends. The EpicMix mobile application will alert you when any of your Facebook friends are skiing and where they are on the mountain. The app will also allow guests to send messages to their private groups of Facebook friends on the mountain. The mobile application will also provide trail and grooming information, snow and weather reports, as well as resort news and traffic updates. It is worth noting that Epic Mix mobile application requires data roaming which is subject to charges by your mobile phone network, however many properties have access to WiFi which will allow you to avoid any data roaming charges.
Here is a video explaining the Epic Mix further:
EpicMix will also have a special website for kids under the age of 14, which will allow them to connect with their parents’ accounts, but will have content designed specifically for them and unique pins only kids can earn. The kids’ site also will have special privacy restrictions. Parents will also be able to use EpicMix to track the lift rides of their kids in real time.
Insider Guide To Banff
August 26th, 2010If you’re a regular to the Banff & Lake Louise ski area or are thinking of heading there for your ski holiday this season, here are some insider tips to Banff & Lake Louise from Natalie Zaturski.
Where would you head to find fresh tracks?
Mt. Norquay: Anywhere! On powder days many people head to the other two larger resorts, leaving Mt. Norquay clear for me to get fresh tracks all day, all over.
Lake Louise Ski Area: Take the Summit Platter and head down the ridge to the left. Brown Shirt, a great black run, usually collects plenty of powder. Even a few days after a storm, I often find great stashes there.
Sunshine Village: I love lapping the area to the right off Goat’s Eye chair, taking different routes each time. Or if you’re not quite a black-runner yet, the blue run Wawa Bowl is another favourite spot.
New BA route: London City – Chambery
August 17th, 2010British Airways have announced today the launch of a new London City – Chambery route. This is a great addition to the British Airways ski flights.
The service will operate four times a week from 18th December until the end of March 2011.
The schedule is ideally set up to give skiers and boarders the opportunity to spend a long weekend, a full week, or even longer in resort. Only a few short hours after taking off from London’s Docklands, you can be in Meribel, Courchevel, Les Arcs or La Plagne enjoying your first turns or a vin chaud during après ski.
The schedule for the route is as follows:
New Alpine Bowl in Kicking Horse
August 6th, 2010Kicking Horse Mountain Resort has announced the opening of a 4th Alpine Bowl to celebrate it’s 10 winter season. Known by local mountain enthusiasts as ‘Super Bowl’, the terrain will introduce an epic selection of advanced and expert skiable terrain.
“Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is excited to announce the addition of a 4th Alpine Bowl to its already impressive roster of terrain,” states Steve Paccagnan, President and CEO of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort “this opening is a perfect lead in to the 10 years of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort celebrations while continuing to demonstrate the resort commitment to improving the overall guest experience.”
The terrain in Super Bowl has previously been referred to as some of the ‘best high alpine terrain found anywhere’. With over 15 new advanced and expert chutes, the entire bowl will have an off-piste feel within a controlled inbounds environment.
4th Alpine Bowl Opens in Kicking Horse
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