THE Dec 09/Jan 10 pisteTHE MAGAZINE OF SNOWSPORT ENGLAND ALTA BADIA HEART OF ITALY’S DOLOMITES P16 WIN! Action video camera p23 INTERVIEWS Flip video camera p8 BMI Baby flights p4 ELLIE KOYANDER Olympic aim for Moguls star Where to Ski & Snowboard p8 ZOE GILLINGS Zoe’s Olympic medal quest DAVE RYDING The ‘Rocket’ aims for NOW the Olympic orbit AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL SKI SLOPE OR £2.50 SKI CLUB Fostering, promoting and developing the interests of English skiers and snowboarders TM AustriaAustriaSuperSkiSkki traveltraavvel ANYANY daydaayy forfor ANYANY lengthlength ofof staystay A,33(4:,,2(79<5:((3)(*/A,33(4 :,, 2(79<5 :((3)(*/ MARIAMARIA ALMALM /6*/2k50.20;A)l/,3-3(*/(</6*/2k50. 20;A)l/,3 -3(*/(< The peak of ski & snowboard holidays and the home of the ultimate day trip... The Hoch! TM Travel for a week, weekend, midweek or just a day! Located at the heart of the world’s biggest ski & snowboard area. Accomodation from 3* guest houses, 4* hotels and a luxury 5* chalet. 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Over 1000kms of piste Up to 350kms of piste 1-4 day holidays Flights & Private TTransfersransfersr Choice of flights (not included) Choice of flights (not included) Over 150kms of piste Up to 6 hours guided skiing Private transfers Private transfers Choice of accommodation Suitable for any ability 7 nights accommodation 7 nights accommodation Choice of flights (not included) Use of leisurleisuree facilities Choice of boarboardd Choice of boardboard Private transfers Back to UK Ski guide 49 Ski guide Ski guide by 10.30pm! 289 £99 £349£34£ £119£1£ m £289£28£ m room omm room om FromFr FromFr FromFr FromFr ToTo findfind outout moremore aboutabout ourour uniqueunique holidaysholidays visitvisit usus onlineonline atat www.austriasuperski.comwwwwwwww..aussttriasuperski.com Don’t Waste Valuable Skiing Time West London This Winter... Tel: 020 8848 0040 Get All Your Ski Equipment From... www.SkiBartlett.com SKI BARTLETT FROM THE EDITOR Snow continues to fall worldwide, Europe, worlds of Snowboarding – Tom Allen reports from the particularly Austria, Switzerland and Italy have London Freeze, plus a report from the 3rd Northern received some large falls at the time of writing, Telemark event held at SnoZone, Castleford, Leeds and with more forecast. a feature on the Combined Services Disabled ski team. The seasons first test took place during October, We also have our featured resort for this issue, Alta the two major ski shows opened at Olympia (Metro Ski Badia in the Italian Dolomites, at the time of writing Show) and the NEC Birmingham (Daily Telegraph Ski they had received some 80cms of snow with more on & Board Show). Generally both seemed to go very well, the way. I can thoroughly recommend the Dolomites attendances were very good, with sales of hardware for scenery, skiing and very friendly people. going pretty well. Interest in ski holidays was So another packed issue with fantastic apparent, with a recent piece of research saying that a competitions, features and interviews, but the most large number of those who did not take a ski holiday important element of all is falling overseas, SNOW. this year, are going to go for it this winter. But most Christmas and New Year Greetings go out to all our were looking to find ways of reducing the costs members and readers, if you are away in some ‘snowy’ through flights and accommodation. Lots of special clime over Christmas or New Year – enjoy. offers were available for independent and tour SPONSORS operator customers. We acknowledge our grateful thanks Some ski shops have been busy during the summer to the following organisations which months selling boots and skis, together with provide us with sponsorship or supplying quite a number of skis into Europe. I products. For sponsorship opportunities call 0121 501 2314 suspect the cost of equipment in the UK as opposed to euro rates had something to do with this. SPONSORS Sport England; Inghams, The next big adventure for our athletes is the 2010 ExxonMobil, click4quote.com Winter Olympics, being held in Vancouver, Canada. Happy skiing….Barry Spouge ALPINE SKI TEAM SPONSORS Team GB is still to be announced (January 2010) and P&O Ferries; swyss; Leisureshack; many of our athletes are working very hard to be in Ski Bartlett; wastelandski.com; DFDS the team. In this issue we catch up with 3 more, Zoe Seaways; Ski Out of the Blue; Chill COMPETITION WINNERS Factore Gillings, Dave Ryding and Ellie Koyander, from three Congratulations go to the winners of our Piste – AFFILIATES different disciplines, Boardercross, Alpine Slalom and snowrental; skiweekends.com; Moguls, all very proud to represent GB. For 3 weeks Oct/Nov 09 issue competitions. gear-zone.co.uk during February the nation will be glued to the TV and ATOMIC COMPETITION ALPINE SKI TEAM SUPPLIERS cheering our athletes all the way. We wish them very First prize: Atomic Snowboard Travel Bag; Helly Hansen; BeyondX; Sage good luck in their quest to bring home the medals. Physiotherapy; Gates; Holmenkol; Mr J Amos, West Sussex. solutions4feet So what do we have to offer in this issue, Second prize: Atomic Back Protector; 4 FABULOUS COMPETITIONS WIH FANTASTIC SUPPLIERS Paul Catling, Bicester, Oxfordshire Marker; Carrs of Sheffield; John Nike PRIZES, a Flip video camera, flights courtesy of BMI Third prize: Atomic 125 ski poles; Leisuresport; Sharks Ski Club; Ski Baby, the fabulous X170 helmet Action Camera and a John Cook, Liverpool Village; Swadlincote Ski & Snowboard copy of Where to Ski & Snowboard 2010. Great prizes, Centre; Head; Tyrolia; Waymark Holidays; Atomic; Volkl; Fischer; Rossignol; so get those pens out and complete the entry forms WHERE TO SKI & SNOWBOARD 2010 COMPETITION ukskiersresource.co.uk; Salomon; Tecnica and get them back to us ASAP. The latest from the This issues winner is: Bob Houghton, Lancaster Produced by Countrywide Publications (a division of Micropress Printers Ltd) 27 Norwich Road, Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 8BX Tel: 01986 834216 / Fax: 01986 834270 ISDN: 01986 874752 Published on behalf of Snowsport England Tel: 0121 501 2314 / Fax: 0121 585 6448 e-mail: barry.spouge@ snowsportengland.org.uk Web: www.snowsportengland.org.uk All editorial and advertisement copy should be sent to Countrywide Publications at the above address. Correspondents: Snowboarding: Tom Allen; Freestyle: Martin Carr, Nordic: Iain Ballentine, Telemark: Andrew Clarke. Publishing Director: Barry Spouge, Tel: 01986 834216/ Mob: 07802 824120, e-mail: [email protected] Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd, Tel: 01986 834200 Opinions expressed by contributors in The Piste are not necessarily those held by the publisher or Snowsport England. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the specific written permission of the publisher. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information contained in The Piste, we do not accept responsibility for any errors or matters relating. Cover Picture: Skiing in Alta Badia, Italy. the piste Dec 09/Jan 10 3 NEWS SKI SHOWS LAUNCH WINTER SEASON The annual ski shows in London and Birmingham have wakened the interest of the nations winter sports enthusiasts. First off the blocks was the Metro Ski Show at London’s Olympia, running from 21 to 25 October, talking to exhibitors and visitors alike they felt that it was well attended and plenty of interesting goings on. From the indoor slope hosting GET FIT 2 SKI the various competitions and The Fit 2 Ski training manual demonstrations, to the fashion will get you in better shape – shows, showcasing the latest physically and mentally – wear, the ‘have a go’ slope and before, during and after the ski après ski bars, the event lived up season to stay ahead of your to it’s expectations. Most of the competition. Whether you're a big names were there, Ski recreational or competitive Bartlett, Snow and Rock, Ellis skier, developing a proper Brigham plus lots more to see was relatively pleased”. attendance, Steve from training program will help and do. I grabbed a quick word The British Ski & Board show Filarinski’s was upbeat about the optimise performance in any with Terry Bartlett from Ski at the NEC, Birmingham followed new season, “We have had a lot of ski environment and in your Bartlett at Hillingdon, he was from 30 Oct to 1 Nov, packed with interest and sales so far, the snow general life. The high pleased with what would appear exhibitors from around the globe is looking good for this early in performance training tips in to be good attendances on most together with tour operators, ski the season, and the cost of buying Fit 2 Ski are designed by of the days, “you always get some manufacturers, hardware and equipment is much lower in the physiotherapists, coaches, slow periods during which you clothing suppliers together with UK now with the euro rate what it physicians, and other sports can take stock of what you are plenty of action on and off the is”. science professionals. Fit 2 Ski doing and get a break, but you slopes. Various demonstrations Generally visitors to the shows is designed to apply to skiers will always get the busy times, took place none more exciting were upbeat about taking a ski of all levels. particularly the weekends, when than the skiers and boarders on holiday this winter, with huge Ordering is easy with you get over run . Terry went on the display slope, starting high early snowfalls in Europe, so far PAYPAL via the website to say “we did well on sales of up in the roof of the building they then it could be the www.fit2ski.com ski’s, boots and snowboards thrilled the crowds.