The Hochkönig region in Salzburgerland, Austria, has launched a contest to build the most original snowman in the region this winter.

Thanks to the abundant snow that has fallen, finding construction materials will not be a problem and the area is making use of modern technology – digital cameras and the internet – to manage the competition in this traditional activity.

Guests in the region which includes the villages of Maria Alm , Dienten and Muhlbach can send in their photos which must include their snowman or snowwoman, themselves, and “a recognisable part of the Region Hochkönig” which is then posted on the resort’s website for a public popularity vote.

The competition begins this month and runs “if there is enough snow” – until the 15th April 2009. The best snowman architects win one of three summer holidays for two people in the area or if they prefer one of three winter season ski passes for 2009-10.

Entries can be emailed to region@hochkoenig.at or uploaded directly online www.hochkoenig.at

Ski races in the Alps are being cancelled again, but unlike two years ago when inadequate snow cover sparked off stories that the end of the ski industry was upon us due to climate change, this time it’s because there’s too much snow.

The FIS Alpine Ladies Europa Cup Downhill races were cancelled in St Moritz on Friday when several days of heavy snowfall added at least a foot of snow a day taking base levels up past the 180cm (six feet) mark.

The Slalom and Super G races were still scheduled to go ahead at the weekend.
In Val d’Isere the men’s World cup slalom race had to be cancelled on Sunday 14 December due to strong winds.

Everyone’s familiar with the well-known “Last Christmas” video from Wham, but fewer people realize the film was shot, more than 20 years ago in the pretty Swiss resort of Saas-Fee?

Now the Swiss Acappella Band Bliss has filmed an exact reproduction of the famous video at the original locations used at the time.

Originally shot before Christmas 1984, a group of young people, a romantic cabin in the forest, snow-capped mountains, the sky slightly overcast, lots of snow and fun beneath the Christmas tree. Add a tinge of sadness and the result is the Wham video.

The task to recreate the video appeared almost impossible at the start but has resulted in a sensational, entertaining remake of the classic video, staged and executed to perfection, according to Saas Fee insiders. Even the hairstyles and clothing are right, taking the viewer back to the happy time when shoulder pads, leggings and “mullet” hairstyles were all the rage.

This BLISS video can now be seen on TV music stations and youtube and the band will perform live in Saas-Fee on 6 February 2009 with a full programme to include concert, after show party and autograph session with the Band in the Living Room Bar of the Unique Hotel Dom.

Saas-Fee/Saastal is holding a prize draw of two overnight stays in the Unique Hotel Dom including breakfast for the BLISS concert on their website.

www.bliss.ch or www.saas-fee.ch