As skiers become more adventurous, the demand for courses offering the chance to improve off-piste skills rises. Every week of this winter season, adventure holiday specialists offer off piste ski courses in the French resort of Chamonix.
Skiers with little experience of skiing off piste can join an ‘Aspirers Powder Practice’ week, while those with more off piste experience under their feet can opt for one of the ‘Expert Powder Experience’ weeks.
All courses are graded by standard to ensure skiers are always in small groups of the same ability and groups are lead by fully qualified mountain guides (UIAGM) to find the best of the off piste in the area.
“The mountains guides we work with have been involved with Ski Freshtracks holidays for many years”, says Caroline Boileau, General Manager. “They know what our holiday makers want from their off piste week and we choose guides for their knowledge and expertise. Many of our skiers return year after year to ski with their favourite guide knowing that they will be in a small group of like-minded skiers.”
Course price is £390 including a mountain guide, use of a mini bus for private transfers around the Mont Blanc valley, and a Ski Club leader on every holiday.
Marmot Basin Ski and Snowboard Resort in Alberta, Canada has celebrated the official opening of the Canadian Rockies Express, the longest high-speed quad chairlift ever built in the Canadian Rockies.
As guests from throughout the mountain community and across Alberta enjoyed record early-season snowfalls, Chairman John Day said the spectacular new lift transforms Marmot Basin into an even more exceptional experience.
“The Canadian Rockies Express once again improves the skiing and riding experience in Jasper National Park,” said Mr. Day. “Skiers and boarders can now zoom from the bottom to the top of the ski area in record time, guaranteeing more time enjoying the views and our spectacular slopes and virtually none spent in lift-lines.”
Built at a cost of $8m and one of the very few new lifts in North America this winter, The Canadian Rockies Express is the largest single investment ever undertaken at Marmot Basin, located in the heart of Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It continues years of increased investment, including the opening of the Eagle’s Ridge area, the largest terrain addition of any national park resort this decade.
From the ski area base, the lift travels 2.3 km (1.5 miles), whisking skiers and boarders 596 vertical metres (1,955 ft) up to the mountain top in eight minutes. The lift was built using the most environmentally progressive construction techniques developed as part of an industry Best Practices Manual written collaboratively with Parks Canada.
With an increased carrying capacity of 4,800 people per hour from the base area, lift lines are certain to be virtually eliminated as it will now take half the time to travel up from the base of the ski area to the top of the upper mountain. Runs for every calibre of skier or boarder, from beginner to expert, are available at the top with some stretching four kilometers long.
Dave Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the resort which opened in early November added, ”We have never seen such spectacular early season conditions as Marmot is being continuously blanketed with fresh powder. Another 21cm of snow fell Friday night and conditions are as good as they get anywhere at anytime.”
Since 2003, Marmot Basin, which overlooks the resort town of Jasper, has invested more than $16 million in visitor improvements.
“This was a massive project and I am absolutely thrilled with how much this new lift has improved the skiing experience at Marmot Basin”, added Mr. Dave Gibson. “We worked in complete cooperation with Parks Canada to employ the greenest construction techniques every step of the way in order to achieve an appropriate balance for both our ski area and for Jasper National Park.”
Tourism Whistler has announced it will work strategically to take advantage of opportunities for growth in tourism following the announcement that China is granting Approved Destination Status (ADS) to Canada.
“The Chinese travel market is considerable and will only grow in importance as that country’s economy grows and people’s means and desire to travel increase,” says Barrett Fisher, president and CEO of Tourism Whistler. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to compete with other countries and destinations to showcase all that Whistler offers to Chinese travellers, and to work strategically with our members and tourism industry partners to drive new business to our resort.”
Whistler is a growing destination for Chinese tourists, and could come to represent a significant percentage of Whistler’s visitation in the future, says Fisher.
Tourism Whistler has undertaken sales missions to China in the past. However, ADS allows Canadian tourism organizations to work directly with the tour and travel industry in China and to develop opportunities for group travel from China to Whistler.
Fisher says that Whistler’s vastly increased international profile due to its role as Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games can be leveraged in China, where awareness of winter sports is growing and which will send a large contingent of athletes to the Games.
Whistler’s proximity to Vancouver, a key gateway city between North America and China, also helps position itself as a destination for Chinese tourism. “There is lots of work to be done, but we will continue to develop and execute sales and marketing strategies designed to take advantage of this emerging opportunity,” says Fisher.
