European Snowsport

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    Archives for October 2018

    3S Cableway: A new lift for Zermatt!

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    Klein Matterhorn
    Views from the Klein Matterhorn lift at 3383m

    Long have people stepped aboard the forty year-old Klein Matterhorn cabin lift and swung out, high above Zermatt’s most expansive glaciers. 38.5km (22.2 miles) of cables work the cabin up to 3883m.  It provides some of the best mountain views skiers could hope for along with access to the highest pistes in Europe.

    Klein Matterhorn
    Italy on the left, Switzerland on the right. The Matterhorn from a less traditional angle.

    It’s pretty big news then that one of Zermatt’s most important lifts now has a neighbour. The new 3S Matterhorn Glacier Ride Cableway enjoyed a lavish opening at the end of September this year. Leaving from Trocknersteg from a new, crystalline-looking base station 2000 passengers per hour can reach the top station.  All in just nine minutes.
    3S is Designed in collaboration with Pininfarina and Swarovski.  Visitors can expect luxury and comfort in any one of the twenty-five cabins.  Each cabin has twenty-eight seats. This is Zermatt after all.

    Klein Matterhorn
    A look at the beautifully designed new cabins. https://www.matterhornparadise.ch/en

    Getting to the top of the Klein Matterhorn

    Matterhorn So what is a 3S cableway? The three comes in reference to the number of cables that are used to combine the advantages of a circulating gondola ride a we know it, with the capacity of the larger cable cars. Double support cables on each side give the system stability in high winds, despite the great altitude. Only three support pylons span the gap between base at top stations.

    Klein Matterhorn
    The Klein Matterhorn -spot the cranes!

    There are around fifteen 3S cableways in the world at this moment in time. Th height at which the Glacier ride was constructed however that has set it apart from the rest. The CHF52million project began at nearly 4000m. Firstly clearing away any lose snow and rocks that may have been a danger to Europe’s highest building site. A lack of oxygen at that level meant that workers could only operate at 60-80% of their normal capacity and the building materials were also affected. Low temperatures meant that the production of concrete had to be done at a lower level and transported up afterwards.
    The previous Klein Matterhorn lift will continue to run at a reduced rate, in order to support the 3S during busier periods of time and to ensure the opening of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise during high winds.

    Klein Matterhorn
    Ice caves beneath the glacier.

    Public Operation on the Klein MatterhornPublic

    Operations are due to start at the beginning of November, just in time for the winter season 2018/19. Why not join us at European Snowsport and we can show you around Zermatt’s newest lift system? The top station at the Klein Matterhorn hosts a modern café/restaurant, glacier ice caves, projection room, a panoramic viewpoint and of course piste access to the Glacier Matterhorn paradise. Ski with us from the highest piste in Europe.

    Top 5 Ski Apps for winter 2018/19

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    The relationship between skiing and technology is an ever-growing one. Talk of E-goggles, heated clothing and custom foot beds that monitor your movements all sound a bit ‘out there’ for most of us. But there are other ways that we can use tech to compliment our days out on the mountain.

    If you’ve ever been to the app store on your smart phone and typed in ski app, you will have likely been overwhelmed by choice! Weather, maps, webcams, advice, tracking, games -pretty much anything ski related and someone has made an app for it.

    So which ones should you chose to accompany you this season? Here’s our favourite five:

    • On the Snow (Top all rounder)

    This great all round app covers snow reports, weather, webcams, resort profiles and more. You simply tell it which resorts you are interested in and the rest comes easily. It’s free to download and pretty easy to navigate around. The ski areas are rated, priced up and mapped alongside galleries and stats like elevation and open lifts.

    • Ski Tracks (Statistics) 

    For the competitive skier within. Ski tracks has long been a favourite of those wanting to track their own skiing performance. From within your pocket this app will measure your speed and distance travelled around the mountain. It will also let you know how much elevation you have gained and lost and let you map out your day from start to finish. The danger comes when trying to max out one’s highest speed (so please use responsibly!)

    • Adventure Sport network. (Inspiration)

    The ASN app is a hub of inspiration for all outdoor enthusiasts. Like a Youtube for adrenaline junkies you can find endless resources no matter what your sport and no matter what the season. So to fill the time between now and your next adventure and take a scroll through this well polished community app.

    • Bergfex/Ski. (Weather)

    Finding a good weather app can be harder than you think. But it’s a good idea to do some digging. Some snow report apps can be frustrating, letting those little snowflake predictions hang, just out of reach at the end of the week. Then as those days approach the incoming snow gets pushed back again and again. No one likes false promises. But the weather is a tough thing to predict so any snow report has to be taken with a pinch of salt. That said Bergfex has always been a reliable favourite. Their ski specific app comes in a free lite version or the highly rated full app at a small fee which is well worth it.

    • Ski fit. (Fitness)

    It’s a funny sport skiing. How many sports do you do intensively for a week, five hours a day (with a bit of après on the side) and then leave again, untouched for the rest of the year? Seems only fair to prepare with a bit of ski related fitness. The ski fit app introduces the user to a number of stretches and exercises that will not only prepare them for their holiday but help to prevent injury.

    So there you have it, make space on your phone for those and head out onto the hill safe in the knowledge that you are the most up to date! If you fancy seeing how far you can travel with your Ski tracks app or testing your ski fitness on that carefully planned bluebird day why not book with one of our experienced instructors? Check out our booking page here.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Ski Touring is Fun: Why not give it a try this winter?

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    If you’ve been skiing in the Alps there’s no doubt you’ll have seen people ski touring. Those crazy-looking people going uphill on their skis. But ski touring is, in fact, a great way to explore the mountains and challenge yourself, all while burning calories and getting a healthy dose of fresh air.

    Ski touring European Snowsport
    Ski Touring is challenging, but it’s also social and fun!

    You can learn to tour at any point in the winter, from early to late season, providing there’s enough snow. And there are so many benefits to earning your turns it would be a shame not to give it a try. For starters, it’s really good for you. Like going for a hike or a run, but on skis. And while walking downhill may be a little hard on the knees, skiing certainly isn’t. You’re also doing your bit for the environment if you forego the lifts (and the crowds!) for a few days and experience a more natural way of travelling uphill. Not to mention all the stunning views and beautiful scenery you’ll see along the way.

    Despite popular belief, touring doesn’t have to be to be mega difficult. The average tour is about kicking back and taking it easy with a mellow ascent, lots of photo stops, a drink and a bite to eat at the top and then a fun ski back down. You can even do a tour up to a mountain refuge and have a fondue before skiing back to base. Short, mellow routes are the best ones to get you started, but after that, the possibilities are endless. Multi-day tours like the Haute Route, where you stay overnight in remote refuges, and races like the PDG are some of the more extreme examples!

    Ski Touring European Snowsport
    Ski touring also gives you access to some amazing scenery.
    It’s Not as Hard as it Looks!

    If you’ve never been ski touring before, it’s easy to learn. Before you start you’ll need to have a decent level of physical fitness and be able to ski confidently off-piste. You’ll also need some special equipment; touring skis are fitted with special bindings that detach at the heel so you can lift them in order to easily walk uphill. You’ll also need skins, which are essentially strips of carpet that stick to the bases of your skis and stop you from sliding backwards as you walk. Often when you go touring, you’re heading outside the marked ski area so avalanche equipment and knowledge of how to use it is essential. It also helps to have adjustable touring poles.

    Ski Touring European Snowsport
    The equipment is a little different, but it’s all designed to make going uphill easier.

    Luckily, all this equipment can be easily rented from a decent ski shop, including avalanche gear. Now just to find someone to show you how to use it! Taking a lesson is a great idea and will start you off on the right foot. At ES we have plenty of instructors who are qualified to teach you the basics. Your instructor will show you how to use all the equipment, teach you the most efficient touring techniques and most importantly, keep you safe. They will carefully plan a route based on the snow conditions, the weather and your ability level, and will never take you anywhere you can’t handle. There are so many places to tour in the Four Valleys; there’s something for everyone.

    Your first tour may be difficult (after all, you are walking uphill with a bit of extra weight on your feet!), and while a lot of people are put off by the fitness aspect, don’t let it scare you away. The fun is in the challenge, and you’ll always be rewarded by the ski back down. There really is nothing like the feeling of all that hard work paying off as you reach the top of a deserted mountain, knowing that a fun ski back down awaits!

    If you’d like to learn the basics of ski touring, get in touch with ES to organise a lesson. And of course, all your equipment can be rented from Mountain Air in Verbier, Glacier Sport in Zermatt and Premier Alpine Centre in Nendaz. Happy touring!

     

    So You Can Already Ski? Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons.

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    Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons

    So, you’ve skied for as long as you can remember. You go skiing at least once, if not twice, three times a year. You can ski all the pistes in resort no problem, and a lot of the off-piste. You’ve even helped your friends and family with their ski technique. You don’t need ski lessons anymore, right? Here is why you should still take ski lessons.

    Not necessarily.

    Even if you can already ski confidently on- and off-piste, you’re probably aware you have a weak point or find a particular aspect of skiing difficult. If you avoid black runs like the plague, always take the easy way out of the moguls or find your legs burning beyond belief in the powder, don’t just muscle through! Take a lesson. Ski lessons aren’t just for those who want to learn the basics; a ski lesson can focus on anything, from psychological aspects of skiing, like improving your confidence on steeper slopes, to the technical, like nailing your speed and control in the bumps.

    Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons

    In fact, skiing is such a technical sport that every day is a school day. The phrase, ‘Skiing? Completed it, mate,’ doesn’t exist when it comes to two planks. Even us ski instructors put weeks of our winter into training and making sure our technique is up to scratch. And that’s all part of the fun. But having someone around to let you know your skills are heading in the right direction makes the process that much more rewarding, enjoyable and adds just the right amount of challenge.

    Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons : Technique

    Efficiency is also a big part of skiing, so if you find yourself tiring quicker than the rest of your group, your technique may well be in need of a few tweaks. A good ski technique is all about getting the maximum output while using the least amount of energy. Maybe your body position is all wrong, or you tense up all your muscles when you ski? Book a lesson. Those few hours with an instructor could see you skiing for longer every day.

    Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons

    And then there’s the bad habits. Maybe you never pole plant, or you snowplough when it starts getting steep, or you always forget to flex your ankles. Book a lesson. While there may be no quick fix for these little niggles, your instructor will help make you aware of them and help you find ways to improve them that you can practice in your own time.

    Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons : Goals

    And finally, have you ever wanted to really push yourself? If there’s a certain off-piste run you’ve always wanted to do, or you want something more challenging than cruising the pistes but you’re not sure where to start, book a lesson. A morning or afternoon with an instructor will give you a clear view of what you can work towards and how to achieve it. Even if you’re in a new resort and you’re looking for someone to show you the best places to ski, an instructor will show you the best slopes to suit your ability level.

    Why You Should Still Take Ski Lessons

    So, there you have it. Ski lessons aren’t just for those just starting out, everyone can benefit from a little tuition or helpful advice every now and again. And it can work wonders.

    If you’d like to give your ski technique a bit of a refresh or you’re looking for a new challenge, get in touch with ES. We’re always available to pair you with the perfect instructor and organise your ski lessons to suit your needs. We also offer snowboard and telemark lessons so if you want to learn the art of the powder slash or perfect your lunge turns, give us a call!