Ski Independence Blog
Posts Tagged ‘USA’
Its Snowing!
October 12th, 2011As resorts across the southern hemisphere close their doors to skiers and boarders it’s now the turn of Europe, the USA and Canada to get in on the action. After a week of newsletters bombarding my inbox with “It’s Snowing” in the subject line I’m in no doubt we’ve now seen the first significant snowfall of the 2011/12 season on both sides of the Atlantic.
In Europe, the Swiss Alps were the winners with up to 80cm of fresh snow falling. In France, Les Menuires in the Three Valleys also fared well with up to 40cm and Chamonix, Courchevel and Meribel awoke to a moderate covering of snow on Sunday morning. After a month of no resorts being open in France, Tignes re-opened the Grande Motte Glacier which will now remain open all the way through until May 2012.
Monday morning in Chamonix under the Autannes chairlift. Photo: Compagnie du Mont-Blanc
Across the pond it was Whistler making the headlines with their video “First turns of the new season in Whistler”. Making the most of the fresh snow on the Blackcomb Glacier skiers Callum Pettit and Mike Douglas were choppered up to sample some of the fresh powder. Here’s how they got on……”Watch first turns of the season”
Moving south into the USA, Mammoth reported 40cm of fresh snow followed by similar reports from Park City, Squaw and Jackson Hole.
Over 20cm of snow fell in Panorama, Canada.
With another El Nina year predicted and significant early snow already falling, we’re preparing for a bumper winter season. We’ve got some outstanding Early Booking Offers throughout France, the USA and Canada but deadlines are fast approaching so be quick.
For expert advice on your perfect Winter 2011/2012 holiday call us on 0131 243 8097 or fill in an email quote request by clicking here.
Snowboarding legend Shaun White signs deal with Vail Resorts
September 1st, 2011Vail Resorts has announced a long term partnership deal with the 2 time Olympic Halfpipe Gold Medalist, Shaun White.
With countless Winter X Games titles under his belt, as well as a highly successful skateboarding career, Shaun White is an ideal ambassador for Vail Resorts, sharing in their forward-thinking and innovative approach to the snow sports industry. Chairman of Vail Resorts, Rob Katz, said he “embodies the same leadership we aspire to at Vail Resorts” and the partnership is symbolic of a new energy seen in the snow sports industry today.
The deal will see Shaun representing all six Vail Resorts destinations, in both the Rockies of Colorado (Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone) as well as Heavenly and Northstar in California/Nevada.
Running alongside the partnership deal is a commitment to support a charity selected by Shaun White, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, by donating $5 for every Epic Season Pass sold this winter.
The Epic Season Pass is valid for unlimited skiing all season at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, as well as Heavenly and Northstar in California; perfect for longer stays, or for people visiting the States twice during season.
The Epic 7-Pack Pass is valid for any 7 days of skiing at these resorts, and represents great value for some shorter duration stays at certain periods.
When pre-booked through Ski Independence, an adult Epic 7-pack pass is just £299 and a child pass (age 5-12 yrs) is £149. An adult Epic Season pass is £399 and a child pass is £199. The Epic passes are only available at these prices until 5th September 2011 – book now to ensure you don’t miss out.
The Breckenridge Dream
July 29th, 2011Last Autumn Duncan Newbury was the lucky winner of an all expenses paid ski holiday to Breckenridge, thanks to Vail Resorts at the screening of “Light The Wick”, the new Teton Gravity Research film. Here’s how he got on…
I got hooked on Teton Gravity Research (TGR) ski and snowboard films back in 2005 when I first saw Tangerine Dream. So, when I heard that their latest release, Light The Wick, was going to be premiered at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire last Autumn I grabbed a ticket straight away.
I genuinely couldn’t believe it when I was lucky enough to win a competition at the film screening for a trip to Breckenridge, Colorado, thanks to Vail Resorts and Ski Independence. The chance for my girlfriend and I to head out on an all expenses paid trip to some of the places I had seen in many a TGR movie was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Duncan enjoying a blue bird day in Breckenridge
The Ski Independence team were fantastic at getting everything sorted for us and in early April we were heading out on a very comfortable British Airways flight to Denver and then on with the Colorado Mountain Express transfer service to The Great Divide Lodge, just a few metres from the Breckenridge lifts. Having left mid-morning, and with the time difference in our favour, we got to the lodge the same evening and, after a hearty breakfast, were ready to head up the mountain on the first lift the next day.
Top Tip – Free Cookies in Beaver Creek
July 26th, 2011The friendly folk in Beaver Creek want to make your ski holiday as enjoyable as possible. They know that a way to the heart is through the stomach, and this particularly true with children!
So, after a day on the slopes in Beaver Creek make sure you head to the Centennial Chairlift (Chair #6) at 3pm where you’ll find resort staff handing out hot, chocolate chip cookies. But don’t worry they are for adults too!
Beaver Creek Cookie Chef. Photo: MountainYahoo
If you’d like to see more of what goes on in Beaver Creek, check out this video:
Fact Files: Gareth
June 29th, 2011Over the years we receive superb feedback on the knowledge, passion and experience of team here at Ski Independence. So we thought it would be an idea to give you a bit of an insight into who’s who..
To start things off, here’s Gareth, our Sales Manager:
For the benefit of our readers could you explain your role at Ski Independence and what you’re responsible for?
I do a bit of everything which keeps my days varied. The bit I enjoy the most though is booking the most amazing holidays for our clients (and myself). Another enjoyable aspect of my job is working with a great bunch of hotel, transfer and on mountain suppliers from all over the world. You get to meet some fantastic people and I think they like working with us too – hence the reason we get some of the best ski deals in the market! We have a fantastic team here in the office and the job wouldn’t be the same without them – I love every minute of my working week with them. Don’t quote me on that over the busiest parts of the season please…!
Gareth (left), Sales Manager, enjoying Aspen & the view of the Highland Bowl
Steamboat Snow Update
November 16th, 2010Very warm greetings from my cold, white world in Steamboat, Colorado! We’ve had 23cm of new snow in the last 24 hours, and we already have a 61cm settled snow base at mid-mountain at the top of the Gondola. I also see snowy days and/or cold days in the 10-day forecast, and although I would not dare second guess Mother Nature, all signs indicate an amazing Steamboat opening day on November 24.
I spent both weekend afternoons up on Emerald Mountain in downtown Steamboat Springs. On Saturday we hiked the 3-mile Lupine Trail up to the quarry in snow clogs, but after constant snow all day and night Saturday and through Sunday, too, we were very happy to have snowshoes and poles on the same trail yesterday.
23cm of new snow in the last 24 hours!
The uphill was challenging but fun, and we took Blackmeer Drive back down, where we ran into three snowboarders, several happy dogs and one mountain biker with the biggest fattest studded tires I’ve ever seen. The snow kept dumping throughout the night, too as evidenced by the 15cm or so that I cleared from my driveway before my slow and cautious drive into work this morning. There are a bunch of smiling faces around here for a Monday!
Only 8 days until Steamboat opening day
Make your plans and get here! If you want to keep an eye on Steamboat and see their latest videos – click here
How do you decide?
October 25th, 2010Hurrah for autumn! There’s a chill in the air, the first frosts make the world look white again, and in the Ski Independence office we start each day with a barrage of emails with photos of early snowfall. It’s also the time of year that suppliers from various ski resorts come to visit and remind us why theirs is the best ski resort!
It’s an exciting time for all the reservations team – we spend all day, every day, all year long spouting off all kinds of statistics and facts about snow and skiing, but at times we forget just how awesome getting out onto the snow really is. The visits from our overseas friends not only enable us to put faces to names and re-inforce our good relationships , but also remind us exactly what we’re missing when we’re sat behind our desks (thanks guys!) and we really appreciate the considerable effort it take to come to Edinburgh to see us. Read the rest of this entry »
Looking for a change next season?
April 1st, 2010These big resorts, with the examples of Val d’Isere, Courchevel, St.Anton, Zermatt and Vail, are top places with excellent ski areas but some of their smaller neighboring resorts can also reveal very much hidden gems in both terrain and atmosphere. Small resorts doesn’t necessarily mean small ski area; take Les Coches or Peissy Vallandry in the Paradiski area, St Sorlin d’Arves in Les Sybelles ski area or St Martin de Belleville within les 3 Vallees. Smaller resorts which do have a smaller ski area, such as Les Saisies or Chinaillon, tend to be less busy over peak times, which means less time in queues, more time on the slopes! It is also worth saying these lesser known destinations can be much friendlier on your wallet in terms of buying an après ski drink or going out for a meal and if it is quieter slopes during the peak periods you want, these may fit the bill.
Here’re a few examples of this type of resort and their main benefits along with some ideas for accommodation;
2009/10 Photo competition – entries so far…
March 22nd, 2010Thank you for all your entries so far for our 2009/10 photo competition. There have been some excellent submissions from resorts all over Europe & North America. Here are the entries so far:
There is still plenty of time to send in your entries to be in with a chance to win a custom made beanie thanks to Grannies, Inc.
Just send in your best photos & films from your 2009/10 ski holiday as an e-mail attachment along with your name, address, telephone number and age if under 18 yrs to philli@ski-i.com.
It would be great if you could also include a note the location of the photograph and include a short caption to best describe the photo.
Terms & conditions: Ski Independence will not be held responsible for any injury or accidents that occur as a result of attempting dangerous tricks or stunts. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges. The judges’ decision is final. Ski Independence has the right to use and publish any photo entered into the competition. Entries must be received on or before 1st May 2010.
On the shores of Lake Tahoe…
March 19th, 2010Last week I was lucky enough to visit South Lake Tahoe, compliments of our partners at Vail Resorts. If like me, you’ve never been to Lake Tahoe, it is quite unlike other ski resort you’ll have ever visited. Here’s an account of my trip which I hope will provide you with a good insight to what lies on the shores of Lake Tahoe…
There are a couple of travel options for Heavenly – you can either fly with United Airlines to Reno, via San Francisco and then take a 1 hour bus transfer to Heavenly or you can fly to San Francisco with British Airways, and hire a car. The drive from San Francisco to Heavenly is about 3 ½ hours. To allow for maximum flexibility when in resort I opted for the latter option and hired a car. The drive was much easier than I had anticipated. When you leave the airport, heading north on the 101, you aim for the Bay Bridge, then keep on the I-80 East and that is all there is to it. Just keep an eye out for the signs/lanes for South Lake Tahoe and there you are. It was a very easy, and an enjoyable drive.
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