Female winter sports fans are currently taking centre stage in St Anton during a special promotion running to 31st January. During the “Ladies First” well-being weeks the famous Austrian ski resort rewards ladies both on and away from the piste with extra facilities, numerous privileges and powder snow on the slopes.

No matter whether they stay in the resort every female winter guest can collect her personal “Ladies First Book” from the St Anton Tourist Office, which includes assorted treats, vouchers and offers.

They can then redeem their coupons depending on wish, desire and mood for a range of benefits including free drinks, ladies test skis, ski service and all kinds of relaxation and well-being sessions.

When booking a ski course in the Ski School Arlberg, ambitious lady skiers receive use of the safety equipment for one-day for a deep snow adventure free of charge. In addition, the sports shops offer a real upgrade for the piste – premium class rental ski at the economy price or, for example, a 20 per cent reduction on ladies ski and sportswear.

Against presentation of a voucher with the swimming pool ticket in the ARLBERG well.com, ladies currently receive free entrance to the sauna suite. Many more relaxation opportunities can also be enjoyed with the well-being offers available in various hotels.

In the evening many restaurants and bars offer ladies free drinks with their order or a discount on their meal , right up to the five-star hotel restaurants.

www.stantonamarlberg.com

Dry, fluffy powder is blanketing Banff National Park this. In the last three days, more than half a metre of fresh, light snow has piled up on ski resort bases that already top six feet (187cm and growing) — translating into endless untracked turns covering almost 8,000 acres of terrain.

The white winter playground sets the stage for the annual Ice Magic Festival which will take place from January 23rd to 25th.

The event is an exciting 34-hour competition where professional teams carve towering works of art from 300-pound blocks of ice on the shores of Lake Louise.

This year’s interpretive challenge is to create a sculpture that tells a story around the Rhythms of Nature; an artistic theme that explores the preservation of wildlife and ecosystems in this vast pristine wilderness.

Deer, elk, cougars, moose, and grizzly bears roam freely through the protected forests of Canada’s first national park, unmarred by ski resort developments and slope-side condominiums.

www.banfflakelouise.com.

Visitors to Zell am See this season have been surprised to find themselves taking part in a quiz as they ascend the Schmittenhöhe’s state-of-the-art trassXpress lift.

Quizmaster Sebastian Kaufmann surprises unsuspecting skiers and boarders when he whips out his microphone on the way up and invites them to take part in the new ‘Zell am See-Kaprun Gondelquiz’.

Questions tend to have a flavour of the local Kaprun-Zell and See area and prizes include balloons, a sticker, and a yummy ‘Schmitten-Schnitte’ sandwich.

All episodes of the quiz can be viewed online at www.zellamsee-kaprun.tv.