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16 17 10th April 2012 “Winners were presented with some fantastic prizes Ski Club Dual Slalom - another great success ranging from a heli-ski trip with Heli Ski” Snow fans gathered in Tignes for the third edition of the open-to-all race “Following the success of last year’s event, With the race wrapped up, the crowds the Ski Club returned to Tignes last week headed to Le Coffee bar in Val Claret for to host the Ski Club Dual Slalom 2012. the prize giving where the winners were presented with some fantastic prizes Run in conjunction with Evolution 2 and ranging from a heli-ski trip with Tignes Heli Land Rover, the event was once again a Ski, equipment and ski wear to private ski massive success drawing crowds of com- instruction and an off- guiding experi- petitors and spectators from all over the ence with Henry’s Avalanche Talk. Espace Killy ski area. In addition to the top three teams in each On the 4 April, 18 teams competed in contest, prizes were also awarded for best white-out conditions on the slopes of Val fancy dress, which went to returning com- Claret. With sunshine at beginning of the petitors ‘License to Spill’, and best family week, the weather took a sudden change team which was won by another of last overnight which made the slalom course year’s teams, ‘Cinderella Slippers’. and overall snow conditions slightly less spring-like! The Dual Slalom’s not just for skiers - this year we also had our first Nevertheless spirits remained high, and team take part aka ‘Super Rad’ – who this year’s fancy dress was some the best gave other teams a run for their money!” seen at the Dual Slalom. 'Licence to Spill' competed in tuxedos and cocktail dresses Once official proceedings had come to a that lan Fleming would have been proud close, the party atmosphere continued with off. the elated participants enjoying some cel- ebratory drinks in Loop Bar. It was a fan- Whilst 'Cinderella Slippers' opted for the tastic day out – thank you to Evolution 2, classic fairytale attire, 'Norfolk ‘n’ chance' our sponsors and participants who helped ditched their clothes and donned a toga (in make it such a huge success! somewhat bracing conditions).

Our 18 teams - made up of families, stu- dents, seasonnaires, locals and our very own Ski Club Leaders, competed in a time trial which placed them in either the Trophy or Plate contests. Teams then competed in a knock out competition until we were left with our winners.

After a nail-biting competition filled with excitement and upsets, first prize in the Trophy contest went to ‘Hildrey and the three MC’s’, and the winners of the Plate contest were 'The Underdogs'.

18 19 bet. At 1,444m, the town itself isn’t of the Bellecôte glacier, as well reaches 3,676m, so there should the highest but with a highest lift as 350 snow cannons a year that be snow. Crystal (0871 231 2256; of 2,963m, the resort accesses re- cover the crucial down to the crystalski.co.uk) has a week at its nowned off-piste until the very valley resort until the very end of Vintage Resort Hotel for £785 per end of the season. Ski Club Fresh- the season. Self-catering specialists person (based on four sharing, tracks (020-8410 2022; skiclub. Powderbeds (0845 180 5000; Pow- room only) including BA flights from co.uk/freshtracks) provides off-piste derBeds.com) is offering a week Heathrow to Denver and airport guiding as part of its package to the in a one-bedroom apartment that transfers, departing on 21 March. Traveller’s guide: Late-season snow resort. Seven nights at the Sonne accommodates four people at Les Hotel including half board, transfers, Chalets d’Edelweiss in Best for snowboarders IFMGA mountain guides and Ski 1800 for just £735, from 24 March. Club leaders costs £1,199 between Spring is the perfect time for snow- 24 and 31 March. The last Fresh- Real off-piste skiing is also still boarders. The slushy snow means tracks trip to Andermatt departs on possible late in the season. It is it’s time to learn new tricks, and 5 April. different from the light, effortless resorts spend a lot of time making powder found during the early win- sure their fun parks (maintained Finally, one great reason for ski- ter months, but skiing fresh spring areas full of jumps and handrails) ing at the end of the season is the “corn” snow is a comparable feeling. are kept in good condition. The in-resort music festivals that have New operation Pook Heli Lodge, Austrian resort of Kaprun, which ac- been growing in popularity over based in the Tarantaise Valley (right) cesses the nearby Kitzsteinhorn and recent years. For more information near the resort of Ste Foy, offers Schmittenhöhe mountains, has long on some of the options, see page V late-season until 6 May, been a favourite of snowboarders. of this supplement. conditions permitting, with runs on Both mountains have fun parks, and the high-altitude glacier. Pook (00 good snow cannon cover means the Best for guaranteed snow 336 4548 0859; thepook.co.uk) of- access slopes will stay well covered fers four nights from £1,700, which until the very end of the skiing sea- Late season is when higher-up includes accommodation, transfers, son. Directski.com has a week’s hol- resorts come into their own. In the meals, drinks, lift passes and four iday in Kaprun for £415 per person early season, when weather is less days of off-piste and heliskiing (based on four travellers) with B&B predictable, their lack of tree cover activities. accommodation at the traditional means skiing can be a hit-and-miss Pension Bergblick and flights from affair. There are fewer such worries Best across the pond Gatwick with Thomas Cook Airlines in spring. As well as the weather and transfers. Departures are on 17 being better, the altitude means North American resorts usually have or 24 March. the snow stays fresher longer in longer seasons than their Europe- the colder air. At 2,020m, Kuhtai an counterpart. Canadian flagship Another favourite late-season trip Fancy some fun in the sun? The time to hit the slopes is as spring takes the edge off winter’s in Austria is the country’s highest (above) usually for snowboarders is the chill, says Matt Barr resort, so snow is all but guaran- closes on 21 May, with the glacier Test, held at the beginning of May teed, and it is only 45 minutes from slopes on Blackcomb Mountain in the Austrian resort of Kaunertal. If you go by the calendar, the north- The other advantage to a late-sea- kalumatravel.co.uk) is offering Innsbruck airport. If you can travel covered well into the summer. Ski This week-long event offers rid- ern hemisphere ski season runs son trip is that longer, warmer seven nights at the Mooser hotel in with your family outside school Bespoke (01243 200 202; skibe- ers the chance to test next year’s from early December to early April. evenings offer more après ski St Anton from £1,310 per person, holidays, bargains are available: spoke.com) has seven nights at the new equipment, and is attended In reality, the average skiing “winter” options than you get in mid-winter. including breakfast, BA flights from Inghams (020-8780 8851; inghams. Four Seasons Hotel in Whistler from by major brands. It is open to the straddles winter and spring, two For this reason, spring is the best Heathrow on 8 April, private trans- co.uk) offers a seven-day late ski £1,475 per person, room-only basis, public as well, with the chance to seasons with vastly different condi- time to visit some of the best-known fers and a concierge service. getaway to the resort for just £1,996 including BA flights from Heathrow try the boards and join in the test. tions and offering vastly different ski European resorts. Take St Anton, in based on a family of four, including to Vancouver and transfers, depart- Accommodation is in the tiny village holidays. Austria’s Tyrol region, for example. One worry for skiers looking to flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck ing on 9 April. of Feichten, a 30km drive from Spring is when the resort’s après-ski book a late-season trip can be the and catered chalet accommodation the runs and fun parks of Kauner- So what should you expect if you culture comes into its own, and the quality of the snow. Blazing sun and transfers. Departures on 17 or Further south in the Rockies, the tal. This year’s event takes place do book a late-season trip? Milder terraces of bars such as MooserWirt all day isn’t exactly good for fresh 24 March. Colorado resorts in the USA are between 5 and 11 May and booking weather is one obvious benefit. (00 43 5446 3588; mooserwirt.at) powder. On the other hand, a trip at also a safe late-season bet. They should be made through the website As the days lengthen, the lifts stay are thronged with happy skiers par- season’s end means you’ll be skiing also has some resorts that tend to be high and snow can- (thesnowboardtest.com) open longer, while sunshine and tying away in the late-afternoon sun. on a base (the snow that has fallen offer good snow quality towards the non cover keeps the runs in great warmer air means you can wear MooserWirt is a St Anton institution, to that point) that has built up over end of the season. La Plagne has shape into late spring. Winter Park fewer clothes – and work on your although owner Eugene Scaller the course of the winter, while the access to the permanent snowfield is a good example: the highest lift tan while you ski. Long outdoor has made big changes this year by on-piste snow itself is usually slushy lunches and evening barbecues are opening the Mooser, a luxury ski in/ and a more forgiving for beginners. another late-season ski activity. Re- ski out spa hotel attached to the bar “Pook Heli Lodge, based in the Tarantaise Valley (right) sorts also tend to be less busy and (the hotel has complete soundproof- If snow quality is a real concern, lift queues will certainly be shorter ing should you need to escape from one solution is to head to a resort near the resort of Ste Foy, offers late-season heliskiing until 6 May, than they are during, say, February the partying throngs). with high lifts that allow you to conditions permitting, with runs on the high-altitude glacier” half-term. access the higher slopes. Andermatt Kaluma Ski (01730 260 263; in Switzerland would be a good

20 21 Prepare to be Boarded: Taking off from the Altiport 1850

22 23 looking out over the Columbia River to the bathrooms – but those eight guests get to Tignes, Sainte Foy or , all no more misty slopes of Mount Begbie. The feel is of share a ski area covering 1.1m acres (a ratio than a couple minutes’ flight away. Why use a grand Scottish hunting lodge – there are the operator, Bella Coola Helisports, claims a chopper to ski in a conventional resort? Be- colossal timbers of Douglas fir, chandeliers no one else can match). More are set to cause it allows you to stay beyond the hub- made from antlers, tartan soft furnishings and follow. Chad Pike, vice chairman of Black- bub, and to experience an altogether more even the odd antique map of the Highlands. stone Europe, the investment and advisory serene side to the Alps. Pook Heli-Lodge is At first the effect might feel a little geograph- group, is in the process of establishing the in a hamlet called Les Laix, a tiny cluster of ically disorientating, but it is all too easy to Eleven Experience, an extravagant collection ancient farmhouses perched on a grassy relax into the fantasy. of 11 holiday properties in restored historic balcony high above the valley floor. Though buildings stretching from Wiltshire to the it doesn’t have Bighorn’s high-end polish, the We play pool in the games room, watch Bahamas. The plan is that by 2014, two of chalet, which dates from 1881, has character ski films in the cinema, study the scenery the properties – in France and Iceland – will in spades. In the galleried main living room October 16th 2012 through an antique telescope and sit by the be operating as private heliski lodges, with are sofas around a log fire, a grand piano Heli Raisers fire nibbling local charcuterie (elk, moose, room for up to 12 and at a price of $11,000 to and a long wooden dining table overlooked bison and duck). We swim in an indoor pool, $15,000 per night. by a mounted stag’s head. There’s space for A select group of ski professionals is upping the ante on the heliskiing experience, offering total then laze in the outdoor hot tub, occasionally 12 in six double rooms, plus two further bunk privacy, exclusivity – and unparalleled luxury. Tom Robbins reports dashing out to grab a beer from a bar made A month later, and on the other side of the rooms. of ice, before retreating to watch the rising world, I am in an even more unlikely setting steam mingle with the falling snowflakes. for a private heliski lodge than Revelstoke Les Laix has no shops, no nightlife, no – France’s , home to some entertainment – just a small chapel built in No effort, or expense, has been spared. The of Europe’s finest ski resorts. Following com- 1624. Outside the lodge, you can swing in cheese has been sourced from a farmers’ plaints about noise and pollution, heliskiing a hammock watching the sun slip behind market in Vancouver, seven hours’ drive has been banned here, and across France, distant peaks, in total silence except for the away; the bathrobes have been imported since 1985, but that has not deterred Claire occasional bleat of a goat. It is a world away from a Welsh firm that also supplies the and Tom Jeffery, a former marine lawyer from the throbbing Europop and table-danc- Queen; the chanterelles have been foraged and chartered surveyor. They spent years ing of Val d’Isère – or, a two‑minute flight. It is from the woods just beyond the kitchen. All scouting for a chalet with space to land also perfect for a long weekend. On our final of which doesn’t even touch on Bighorn’s a helicopter right outside, then set about day, we ski in Les Arcs until the lifts close, other USP. The Achilles heel of heliskiing is developing ideas for how a French heliski then return to the chalet to change. Normally that in bad weather, helicopters do not fly. In lodge could work within the law. One solution there would be a mad scramble into a taxi conventional wilderness heliski lodges this is simply to fly over the border and into Italy, for the three‑hour drive to Geneva airport. In- means “down days” spent watching DVDs where heliskiing is allowed (the chalet, Pook stead, we have tea and eat homemade cake or playing interminable games of back- Heli‑Lodge, is four miles from the border and until 6.30pm, when the helicopter comes to Left: Take off outside the Pook gammon. But Bighorn has a solution – you within reach of three Italian heliski operators. collect us – 27 breathtaking minutes later, we Heli Lodges, Tarentaise Valley simply drive down the hill from the lodge to touch down on the apron at Geneva, ready to France. the and gondola at Revelstoke’s During my weekend visit, we fly up over the catch a plane back to the real world. resort. Launched on December 22, 2007, border post on the Col du Petit St Bernard Above: Heliskiing Revelstoke, Revelstoke Mountain Resort so far has just and land at 3,000m close to the summit of Tom Robbins travelled to Canada as a British Columbia. four lifts – but what lifts they are. The descent Mont Miravidi, below the looming face of guest of James Orr Heliski (01799-516 964; from top to bottom is 1,713 vertical metres, Mont Blanc. We push off north, descending www.heliski.co.uk). In the Alps, he was a the longest in North America, and there are the wide expanse of the Glacier du Breuil, guest of Pook Heli-Lodge, Les Laix, 73700 enough trees and high alpine bowls to keep before winding through some tight couloirs Montvalezan, (07717-747 734; www. even the most hardcore skier happy. and arriving, 45 minutes later, at the Vallon valheliski.com) which offers a week from du Breuil to await our pick-up. Julien Ottobon, £12,000, including food, wine, transfers and Such is the cost of this full-on private heliski our guide and a local dairy farmer, whips off staff. Short trips are also available. Bighorn, concept – renting Bighorn for a week, his rucksack to produce bread, saucisson Mackenzie Landing, Revelstoke, British including five days’ heliskiing for 12, starts at and some of his own Beaufort cheese, which Columbia, Canada V0E 2S3 (020‑3432 around £106,000 – that it will always remain he serves on an upturned ski; a bottle of Chi- 0726; www.bighornrevelstoke.com) costs Revelstoke, British Columbia, is a humble stand marvelling at this monochrome world, billeted in the comfortable but far-from-stylish a rarity, but other operators are sensing a gnin-Bergeron is thrust into the snow to chill. from £40,700 per week for up to 16 people, sort of place, a remote mountain town built to the snow keeps falling, catching shafts of late hotels in town or in shared heliski lodges out demand. Arctic Heliskiing will this season including food and alcohol and four staff service the local sawmills and the railway that afternoon sunlight so that the air sparkles. in the hills. The arrival of Bighorn last season offer private groups (typically of eight or 12) Later we ski back down the Vallée de Veïs (heliskiing is extra). Arctic Heliskiing, PO Box passes through. Its tiny centre consists of a brought an unprecedented level of luxury exclusive use of its base in northern Iceland, into France, fighting through bushes to 88, Dalvik, Iceland (+354‑698 9870; www. few snow-choked streets offering hardware We ski down between the snow ghosts, mov- to Revelstoke; it also marked the start of a from where they can tackle peaks that have our collection point beside a waterfall, the arcticheliskiing.com) from €4,760 per person and liquor stores, gas stations and a handful ing fast to avoid getting stuck in the drifts. At new trend in the industry – the private heliski never been skied before and runs that end Cascade de Beaupré. Though heliskiing is for a four‑day trip. Bella Coola Heliskiing, of motels. Those looking for fun head to the the bottom of the slope, an A-star helicopter lodge. on the shores of the Greenland Sea. Privacy forbidden in France, pick-ups are permitted, +1604-932 3000; www.bellacoolaheliskiing. Village Idiot, a pub with chairs made from old is waiting and we clamber in. We lift off, is assured – the lodge is a former farm at so within minutes the helicopter is whisking com, from £3,436 for three nights. Eleven Ex- , then perhaps move on to the Last Drop, swooping low over forests, then tracing the It is the creation of two young Britons, the head of a deserted valley, albeit one with us from this remote valley back to the chalet, perience, +1866‑479 4677; www.elevenexpe- where there are pool tables and line-danc- banks of the frozen Illecillewaet River until Michael Kirkland, 33, and his brother Chris, outdoor hot tub, spa and sensational food. where the hot tub is bubbling and a barbecue rience.com. White Saddle Ranch, Tatla Lake, ing classes on a Thursday. In short, it is not we emerge on the edge of Revelstoke and 30. Both are exceptional skiers, with sporting is beginning to smoke. British Columbia, Canada V0L 1V0 (+1250- where you would expect to find the world’s approach our final destination – not a heli- CVs that include periods as instructors and Groups of up to eight can also hole up at 476 1285; www.whitesaddleair.com). British most exclusive ski chalet. port, or a hotel, but a private helipad outside racers. Their idea was to take the type of White Saddle Ranch, a working farm in The other way of side-stepping the law is to Airways (0844-493 0787; www.ba.com) flies Bighorn, the chalet that is our temporary super-luxury chalet you might find in Courch- the Coast range of British Columbia. It is a use the helicopter as a taxi – flying from the from London direct to Vancouver from £613 But though it lacks the designer shops of home. As we come in to land we can see evel or Gstaad and transplant it into the Ca- long way from the refinements of Bighorn – lodge to be dropped in one of the many near- or Calgary from £635. Aspen and the Michelin stars of Courchevel, through the glass walls of the vast lounge to nadian wilderness, the heartland of heliskiing. built from hand-hewn logs and with shared by resorts, which might include Val d’Isère, Revelstoke has riches of a different kind. where Peter Hughes, the chef, is laying out a Their guests would enjoy complete privacy This is one of the snowiest towns on Earth, tray of canapés. He hears the chopper, turns in the chalet, and rather than having to travel claiming a typical annual fall of between 12 and gives us a smiling thumbs-up. each morning to a commercial helipad, the and 18 metres, and a record of more than 24. helicopter would come to collect them. Where By way of comparison, Zermatt in Switzer- Locals are used to the sound of rotor blades. conventional heliskiers share a helicopter “The chalet, Pook Heli‑Lodge, land expects an average of just four. High Heliskiing arrived in Revelstoke in 1970, with strangers, and one aircraft might service above the town, at the top of a run called brought and then developed by immigrant three or four separate groups in rotation, Paradisio, the snow has fallen so hard that mountain guides from Austria and Switzer- guests at Bighorn would have exclusive use is four miles from the border and within the smaller trees are almost overwhelmed, land. In the years since, the town’s abundant of their own machine, all day long. only their highest branches poke up above snowfall, and its position in a cleft between the great white tide. The larger trees are so the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges, Today that idea has become an imposing, reach of three Italian heliski operators.” completely encrusted in ice they look like has helped it grow into the unofficial world timber-framed reality, with eight double hunched figures wrapped in capes – locals capital of the sport. At least four heliski bedrooms arranged around a living room with call them “snow ghosts”. And even as we companies operate in the area, with guests a vast fireplace and 15-metre-high windows

24 25 Heliskiing in Valgrisenche, December 2013/14 26 27 Millionaire heli-skiing on a much smaller budget 30th November 2012 The first heli-ski lodge in the is an affordable take on the luxury American model aimed at the super-rich

There is a trend sweeping the snowy moun- chef, James White, I was convinced being cut Gemma Bowes tains of the US and Canada, catering to the off in a sleepy enclave half an hour’s drive super-rich. Exclusive, luxury ski lodges, with from the nearest fondue restaurant could only top chefs, ski guides, spas, hot tubs and be a good thing. games rooms, not to mention a helicopter on hand to drop skiers into the powdery Activities at Pook Heli-Lodge include hiking wildernesses, have been steadily opening to find fresh powder, and then an impromptu over the past decade in remote locations picnic on the way down. There’s an outdoor such as Monashee in British Columbia, and hot tub and fire pit, a main chalet building the Chugach mountains of Alaska. Most sleeping 14 that dates back to 1624 (rebuilt cost a fortune, such as the Bighorn Lodge in 1831 after being destroyed by French in Canada’s Revelstoke, where a week for revolutionaries) with a grand piano, Chinese 12 people, including five days’ heli-skiing, is antiques and little bottles of sloe gin in the yours for £106,000. cosy bedrooms, and a second, smaller, newly built chalet (sleeping six) with a large balcony “you don’t But the latest opening of this ilk is much clos- off the stylish lounge. er to home, and a stay here won’t run into six figures. Pook Lodge, in France’s Tarentaise Though heli-skiing is undoubtedly a thrill, I have to valley, opened at the end of last season in a experienced incredible riding powered by my Above: Pook heli-ski lodge in Tarentaise valley in the secluded spot in the tiny hamlet of Les Laix, own two feet, hiking to find fresh powder from French Alps opened at the end of last season and is the first American-style exclusive hire the lift system in Sainte Foy, led by brothers be called heli-ski lodge in the Alps. Julien and Matthieu Ottobon, the lodge’s guides. In summer they live alongside their From the door, groups can ski off-piste, go on cows in the high pastures and make cheese Vladimir to husky sledging or snowshoeing trips, choose at their farm, Gael des Veys; in winter they to be driven to one of seven nearby resorts escort skiers to areas only locals know. Below: Activities at Pook Heli-Lodge include hiking to (La Rosière is 10 minutes away, Sainte Foy afford it” find fresh powder, and then an impromptu picnic on the 15, Les Arcs 35, and Val d’Isère or Tignes We made a challenging two-hour hike to the way down around 50) or go all out and be picked up in a 3,000m La Folliettaz Tola peak, carrying our chopper right outside for backcountry powder gear on our backs up a hairy ridge, over tricky skiing. exposed sections where we practically had to rock climb, and around a terrifying ledge. The Heli-skiing is banned in France, but Pook reward was a great bowl of untouched pow- owner Claire Jeffreys has found a way – with der, followed by a picnic. The brothers knelt permission from the local Mairie – to make in the snow and pulled from their rucksacks the heli-lodge concept work. Flights across two bottles of local white Chignin-Bergeron, the nearby border into Italy are allowed, so a couple of thick salamis and their own guests can be dropped at one of 30 landing delicious Beaufort cheese, then turned over spots in three different ski areas, such as their skis to use as chopping boards – and 3,054m Mont Miravidi, with stupendous views we celebrated a fantastic morning. of Mont Blanc. A fast zigzagging gully through a forest But there’s no obligation to book heli-skiing brought us out at a small village, Le Miroir, here, or indeed any activities at all, and you for a boozy, filling lunch of salade aux lardons don’t have to be called Vladimir to afford it – and huge hunks of melting-soft pork at Chez prices start at £499pp for a (three-night) short Merie, a pretty old farmhouse with a flow- break. Meals, unlimited drinks, a driver with er-filled garden, full of local families. And then 4x4, an au pair, lift passes and safety equip- home, for a hot tub, barbecue and massage. ment are included, and you’re safely out of A six-figure ski day for a fraction of the cost. reach of any expensive €10-a-drink après-ski. • The trip was provided by Pook Heli-Lodges (01329 339621,valheliski.com). Prices from A pretty chapel, Saint Roche, and weath- £499pp for a short break, £1,495pp for a ered farm buildings are all there is to see in week for 14 in the bigger chalet, including Les Laix, but after my first evening sitting transfers, half-board, unlimited wine and beer with friends around the crackling logs in the and lift pass, but not flights. Fly to Geneva or hearth, supplied with platefuls of saucisson take the train from London to Bourg-Saint- and cheese, our choice of wine from the cel- Maurice via Paris lar, and a very good meal cooked by in house

28 29 Nick Hutchings’s marathon blog 11 3rd April 2012

After the 21km race pace run last week- end, my central nervous system was feeling pretty fried so I took it fairly easy for the first part of last week before tackling a big Kenyan hills session on Wednesday. I ran up and down Primrose Hill 15 times in about 30 minutes, which was pretty horrific. I tried to break it down into three sets of five to help me get through it but by the time I’d got to the second set I was in pieces.

I was only too happy, then, to follow a day’s rest by flying out to Sainte-Foy in France’s Tarantaise Valley for some heli-skiing. I stayed at the sumptuous Pook Heli-Lodge, which has its own chopper so you can zip around the Alps in search of the best terrain.

On the first day of the trip we hiked to some far-flung powder fields. Although it took just an hour, this hike was tougher than a lot of the runs I’ve put in while training for the London Marathon. When schlepping through knee-deep semi-frozen snow, you have to lift your legs high every step and use your stabilising muscles to keep yourself from toppling over. It’s some- thing of a killer. But we were rewarded with some steep spring powder, which was a welcome break for the legs as well as being a proper rush.

The second day was less physically demanding, although we had to take on a traverse that had me fearing for my life. If you slipped you were going straight down a sheet ice slope and off a 20m cliff. For- tunately, the group made it across without mishap.

Overall, it was an epic trip with lots of exhilarating riding, superb food and great company, which was just what I needed to reinvigorate me for the final stage of training. That begins tomorrow night with a 26km run along part of the real mara- thon route to prepare me for 22nd April. If you feel like helping me by replicating the crowd response, I’ll be coming out of Greenwich Park at about 7pm.

A Vale HeliSki client enjoying the waist-deep powder 30 31 LUXURY SKIING

FR Europe : ski et charme Leslie Woit recense les dernières tendances des stations de ski les plus huppées d’Europe

Transiter de stations en stations est le dernier luxe de la saison hivernale. Et dévaler les pentes en douceur d’un domaine à l’autre n’aura jamais été aussi simple : plusieurs grands villages des Alpes ont récemment joint leurs forces, doublant du coup leur terrain de jeu. Du côté des hôtels, les nouvelles sont tout aussi passionnantes, avec l’arrivée de retraites élégantes et raffi nées… idéales pour y accrocher votre bonnet de fourrure. L’Hôtel W, ouvre son premier établissement dévolu au ski en décembre, à Verbier, au pied de la télécabine de Médran. Cette dernière constitue également le point d’entrée vers la vallée voisine. Ski à votre porte, boutiques, bars, restaurants et night-clubs… 24h sur 24, un full service concierge s’occupe de tout, depuis les skis dernier cri et réservations dans les restaurants aux jets privés et héliski. Une nouvelle construction métallique stratégiquement placée au sommet de l’arête du Hörnli... et voilà que la liaison entre Arosa et Lenzerheide franchit un nouveau pas. Quelque 225 km de pistes sillonnent les deux immenses vallées, faisant de cet espace alpin un des plus grands domaines skiables en Suisse. Les amateurs de spa mettront le cap sur le Tschuggen Grand Hôtel Arosa, un hôtel super luxe côté piste avec un spa primé, conçu par Mario Botta. Ouvert cette saison, le Priva Alpine Lodge de Lenzerheide est un véritable village au sein la station, avec des chalets de bois et de pierre. Ses 100 appartements élégants et spacieux offrent le charme d’un hébergement individuel, avec le service d’un hôtel cinq étoiles. Plus haut en Autriche, les stations de ski récemment fusionnées de Lech Zürs et Warth-Schröcken s’étendent sur 190 km, et le domaine d’Arlberg sur 340 km. Bien que cette région se développe, l’atmosphère reste plaisante. Peu d’hôtels incarnent avec autant de charme l’esprit du lieu que le Kristiania, qui s’apparente plus à la demeure privée d’un collectionneur d’art que d’un hôtel, avec un service de majordome pour le ski et la piscine ! A Courchevel, en France, un magnifi que ensemble de propriétés haut de gamme – 18 prestigieux palaces cinq étoiles – vient d’être rejoint cet hiver par L’Apogée, un hôtel de grand luxe avec salles de bains en marbre Fior di Bosco, spas d’inspiration russe et même balcons avec chauffage par le sol. Et enfi n, avec 450 remonte-pentes et 12 stations, le domaine skiable Dolomiti Superski est immanquable. Au cœur de la splendide région des Dolomites, le petit village de San Cassiano héberge l’Hôtel Rosa Alpina – un cinq étoiles dont le restaurant, St Hubertus, possède deux étoiles au Michelin et un Beauty spa signé Daniela Steiner, le nec plus ultra du thermalisme.

NL Europa: Glamoureuze ski-avonturen Leslie Woit vertelt u alles over de nieuwste hotspots in Europa’s meest luxueuze skiresorts

Voor wie komend skiseizoen op zoek gaat naar luxe, zijn de nieuwe verbindingen tussen de verschillende skigebieden een onmisbaar gegeven. Meer dan ooit werd het zich resorts, Dolomiti Superski takes Top: The jagged peaks of the Dolomites; verplaatsen van het ene skigebied naar het andere zo eenvoudig. Talrijke grote some beating. In the heart of the Bottom: fresh powder exhilaration with skigebieden uit de Alpen sloegen de handen in elkaar en verdubbelden zo in één slag Val Heli-Skiing – taking you where ski coral-tinged splendour of the hun oppervlakte. En dat is niet alles; ook op het gebied van berghotels is er leuk nieuws! lifts can’t in Les Trois Vallées, France Verwen uzelf met een heerlijk verblijf in een van de elegante, nieuwe vakantieverblijven. Dolomites, the tiny village of San Het allereerste W Skihotel opent zijn deuren in december aan de voet van de Medran Cassiano is home to a famous Gondola (Verbier). Het hotel staat in verbinding met de tegenoverliggende vallei. U stapt er vanuit uw kamer op de latten, vindt er tal van boetiekjes, bars, restaurants en five-star Hotel Rosa Alpina. Its (and most other neighbouring ook een nachtclub. De conciërgedienst is 24 uur lang geopend en u kunt er voor zowat two-star Michelin St Hubertus resorts including Val d’Isere itself) alles terecht, gaande van het huren van hightech ski’s tot lunch- of heliskiboekingen of restaurant is a shrine to gourmet zooming you to the wildest and het reserveren van een privévliegtuig. Vanaf dit seizoen verbindt een nieuw, strategisch gelegen stukje metaal bovenaan de decadence and you are only ever highest of nearby Italian peaks. Hörnli Arosa met Lenzerheide; goed voor zo’n 225 km piste die kriskras door beide a few slipper-padded steps from From top to bottom, it’s one valleien zullen lopen. Dit speelterrein in de Alpen wordt zo een van de grootste their award-stealing Daniela perfect, private descent, perhaps skigebieden van Zwitserland! Spaliefhebbers kunnen terecht in het Tschuggen Grand Hotel Arosa, een bijzonder Steiner spa, crying out for supine with a welcome pause for an al high class hotel aan de voet van de pistes met een spa ontworpen door de bodies to be coaxed into soporific fresco picnic. A bite of tasty awardwinnende Mario Botta. De Priva Alpine Lodge (Lenzerheide) opent dit jaar zijn deuren; het betreft een stijlvol, uit hout en baksteen gebouwd resort binnen een resort states. All this, and skiing too. saucisson on fresh crusty bread, met 100 luxueuze, ruime appartementen die u de nodige vrijheid geven, zij het mét de C’est tout? Just when you a glass of wine, and a round of dienstverlening van een vijfsterrenhotel. thought the mountains had fragrant Beaufort cheese made In Oostenrijk worden het Lech Zürs en Warth-Schröcken skigebied met elkaar verbonden; in totaal goed voor 190 km pistes. Het Ski Arlberg gebied breidt op zijn beurt revealed all their sensuous on the very same mountain zo’n 340 km uit. Hoewel het gebied steeds groter wordt, blijft er een gezellige sfeer pleasures, one last surprise. you’ve chosen as your own. It’s heersen. Geen enkel hotel kan tippen aan de charme van het Kristiania Lech Hotel, dat Embrace your inner adrenaline- the ultimate link between the meer weg heeft van de privéwoning van een kunstliefhebber dan van een hotel, maar dan wel eentje mét ski- en wellnesaanbod! addict with a day of heliskiing. simple and the luxurious, and In Courchevel, Frankrijk, vindt u een ruim aanbod luxueuze pareltjes; naast de 18 Val Heli-Skiing will pick you up in just as the best ski experiences vijfsterrenhotels en paleishotels, vindt u er vanaf dit winterseizoen L’Apogée, inclusief badkamers met marmer afkomstig uit het Italiaanse Fior di Bosco, Russisch a shiny chopper from Courchevel always should be. geïnspireerde wellnessbehandelingen of zelfs balkons met vloerverwarming. Tot slot is het moeilijk om het zinderende Dolomiti Superski gebied te kloppen met zijn maar liefst 450 liften en 12 resorts. Het vijfsterrenhotel Rosa Alpina bevindt zich in a bite of saucisson, a glass of wine het piepkleine dorpje San Cassiano, in het hartje van de adembenemende Dolomieten. Ga er heerlijk lunchen of dineren in restaurant St Hubertus (twee Michelinsterren) of

JAMES MCPHAIL; GETTY MCPHAIL; IMAGES JAMES and some beaufort cheese: perfect relax in de door de awardwinnende Daniela Steiner ontworpen spa.

FLY TO geneva six times daily; lyon three times daily. brusselsairlines.com november 2013 57 Bright Dunes of Soft Powder, 32 Alexanjro the guide leading a client 33

BT053-057 Luxury Ski_FINAL.indd 57 23/10/2013 15:57 As the average age of a snowboarder grows, so Promoting backcountry courses such as Val Heliski does his disposable income. Snowboarders are & James Stentiford’s splitboarding course in your spending more money on higher quality products, store, will continue to grow the backcountry vibe and with the dangers of backcountry riding more and help with making those high-end product sales. apparent than ever due to a number of avalanche All photos by Dan Milner. related deaths recently, participants are willing to pay the price to feel as safe as possible while earn- ing their turns.

Pioneering European heliski company Val Heliski have It isn’t going too far to describe James as a legend joined forces with James Stentiford, one of the UK’s of European snowboarding. He’s been a pro rider for truly legendary freeride snowboarders, to collaborate twenty years and is one of the most respected and on two unique 5-day splitboard courses for experienced freeriders in the world – and a regular winter 2013/14. podium finisher on the Freeride World Tour.

The courses are suitable for intermediate and expert As Ski Sunday presenter Ed Leigh puts it, “James riders looking to improve their splitboarding expertise Stentiford is unquestionably the most skilled and ex- and get a snowboarding education at the hands of a perienced backcountry snowboarder the UK has ever master. produced. He’s given me powder in Chamonix no mat- ter what the conditions, which should be all you need to The JAMES STENTIFORD SPLITBOARD FREE RIDE know”. COURSE (24th – 28th March 2014) is for those who’ve never tried splitboarding. You’ll ride different terrain and Check http://valheliski.com/packages/#camps for full spend a night at the Val Heliski refuge. James says course details. “We’ll skin up the Grand Motte - expect to hike 1000 metres per day”. PRICE: £1375 pp

The JAMES STENTIFORD SPLITBOARD EXPLORER COURSE (7th – 11th April 2014) is for those with some splitboard experience and includes two heli drops with James. “We’ll go deeper into the backcountry and help develop your freeriding skills” reckons James. PRICE: £1850 pp

34 35 Touring on a Splitboard Val Heliski and Stentiford Snowboarding team up to offer two new splitboarding courses for winter 2013/14 Pioneering European heliski company Val Heliski have joined forces with James Stentiford, one of the UK’s truly legendary freeride snowboarders, to collaborate on two unique 5-day splitboard freeriding courses for winter 2013/14.

The courses are suitable for intermediate and expert riders looking to improve their splitboarding expertise and get a snowboarding education at the hands of a master.

The JAMES STENTIFORD SPLITBOARD FREE RIDE COURSE (24th – 28th March 2014) is for those who’ve never tried splitboarding. You’ll ride different terrain and spend a night at the Val Heliski refuge. James says “We’ll skin up the Grand Motte – expect to hike 1000 metres per day”. PRICE: £1375 pp

The JAMES STENTIFORD SPLITBOARD EXPLORER COURSE (7th – 11th April 2014) is for those with some splitboard experience and includes two heli drops with James. “We’ll go deeper into the backcountry and help develop your freeriding skills” reckons James. PRICE: £1850 pp

It isn’t going too far to describe James as a legend of European snowboarding. He’s been a pro rider for twenty years and is one of the most respected and experienced freeriders in the world – and a regular podium finish- er on the Freeride World Tour.

As Ski Sunday presenter Ed Leigh puts it, “James Stentiford is unquestionably the most skilled and experi- enced backcountry snowboarder the UK has ever produced. He’s given me powder in Chamonix no matter what the conditions, which should be all you need to know”.

36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Heliskiing in France with Val Heliski

Saturday 1st February 2014 Ever thought you could try a heliski day trip from France? With the snow conditions in Italy at a superb level (contrary to the recent conditions in France), heliskiing is an exciting prospect for hol- idaygoers across the Tarentaise. All heliski areas are expertly tested and clients are offered top-of- the-line ABS packs and avalanche safety equipment.

Val Heliski offer a door to door service from Val d’Isere , Tignes, Meribel, Courchevel, Les Arcs and La Plagne. The accessible heliski areas have low gradient and a relatively stable snowpack, so no matter where you’re dropping in from, ability levels from competent off-piste to advanced daredevil can be accommodated. You can travel by helicopter or minibus, stop for lunch in a wilderness yurt, enjoy a savoyard picnic mid-ski--whatever suits your party.

Available packages are suitable for confident off-piste skiers and snowboarders, with group and single bookings accepted. If you’re a lone skier or boarder and are looking for a group to join, Val Heliski representatives can be found at apres-ski on Monday nights in Les 3 Vallees and Val D’Isere. Gift vouchers are available, with an average day costing less than a night out in Val d’Isere.

Val Heliski guarantee they’ll find you the best snow of your holiday...but be warned: It’s addictive. Norwegian Airlines

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With May just around the corner and Easter in full swing it may seem that the ski season is all but over, but here in Les Arcs it was snowing all day yesterday and the forecast is for more of the same all week. And even during the recent spell of warm and sunny weather it was still possible to get in some great skiing if you know the right people.Fortunately I do; they’re called Val Heliski and are based as the name suggests in Val d’Isere, just up the road. Out of the blue last week came a phone call from one of the company directors Claire Jeffery, asking if I’d like to make up the nal slot on a heli drop in Italy. e answer was never going to be in doubt of course, so the following morning I found myself meeting up with Claire and punters James and Paul in La Rosiere for one of France’s best ski experiences.

We had to ski over to La uile in Italy since heli-skiing is forbidden in France; the way it works is that you’re picked up at the drop zone on the Italian side of the Col de Petit St. Bernard, and it’s all quite relaxing as you can pop into one of the mountain restaurants for a coffee whilst waiting for your supercool ski li to pick you up. Although in actual fact it’s anything but relaxing; who’s gonna be relaxed whilst waiting to go heli-skiing? I can’t imagine how anyone could ever fail to be excited as the chopper arrives in a blur of snow, at the scramble to climb inside and then the thrilling climb into the skies; and the views were like no other as we scudded across the mountains, the whizzing past on our le and the peaks of the Tarentaise on our right. Our drop off was just a few minutes ight away on top of 3,200-metre Mont Freduez. Once the heli had swooped off there was time to stand and take in the view; the most remarkable thing for me was that I could almost see my house way, way down below Les Arcs, which was clearly visible to our south. ButB what my mates down in Le Pré were up to was the last thing on my mind right then…

Our Italian guide Alessandro checked out options for our descent down to La uile and like any good had no problem nding a pleasantly steep north facing slope which offered a light covering of powder at higher elevations before transmuting to wonderful spring snow lower down. We descended in glorious solitude; other than one excitingly steep chute we had huge open slopes entirely to ourselves and could pretty much choose our own lines until we eventually hit the trees and had to become a little more disciplined. e skiing lower down the mountain was a little sketchy to be honest, but it is April aer all. As for the skiing higher up on Mont Freduez, well, as I said, summer may be fast approaching but with the right friends and the right guide you can still enjoy some fantastic skiing. Sure, it ain’t cheap, but some things in life are worth paying for, and if you’re a skier, heli-skiing is most denitely one of them.