Tagged: ski travel

Ski Accommodation App

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Looking for a ski rental property in Europe, USA or Canada?   If you’re an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch user, check out the new ski rental accommodation iPhone app from website Skipad.co.uk.

The app allows ski travelers to search hundreds of ski properties with detailed property information and direct contact with owners.

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In October 2010, Skipad.co.uk was founded to link ski chalet and apartment owners and skiers and snowboarders and offer late booking deals.

The website also has a Board Room forum where skiers can share info about ski resorts and accommodation and post accommodation requests.

Features of the Ski Pad app include:

  • Access to info on local facilities and maps;
  • Search ski properties by category type and size: chalets, catered chalets and apartments;
  • Search by specific ski resort and
  • Views of multiple property photos.

Says Gary Hector, Ski Pad founder:

“We have launched this app in time for the start of the ski season. More and more people want access to holiday booking information on the move and the app provides enough detail for users to make an informed booking.”

Also, the app has a Wishlist function for ski travelers to save, compare and share favorite properties with friends.

Download the Ski Pad iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch app on iTunes here.

Images courtesy of Skipad.co.uk.

Ski Boutique Zermatt

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A large, open plan living area with Matterhorn views at Ski Boutique Zermatt in Switzerland.

Luxury ski travel company Scott Dunn has launched a new Swiss boutique chalet hotel.

Called Ski Boutique Zermatt, the hotel in the famous Swiss Alps mountaineering and ski resort will be open for the 2011/2012 ski season.

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Mountain hospitality.

The company says the hotel is perfect for solo travelers, couples and groups of friends seeking a luxury chalet experience.

Ski Boutique Zermatt is located on a quiet street, a short walk from Zermatt centre.

The boutique hotel features nine bedrooms, a wellness area (a Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna) and a large, open plan living area with south-facing balcony.

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Gourmet dining at Ski Boutique Zermatt includes receptions, evening meals, tea and breakfasts.

Scott Dunn chefs will offer guests gourmet dining including :

  • nightly Laurent-Perrier champagne and canapés reception;
  • four-course evening meals with wine;
  • signature ‘tea in bed’ and
  • full à la carte breakfasts each morning.

Special seven night packages for UK travelers to Ski Boutique Zermatt include British Airways flights, return transfers, gourmet chalet board, all drinks and the services of a Scott Dunn chef and host.

For more details, visit Ski Boutique Zermatt.

Images courtesy of Scott Dunn.

Snow Time In New Zealand

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Cardrona Alpine Resort looking towards Captain Pizzeria.

Planning a New Zealand ski or snowboard holiday? New Zealand’s Southern Lakes region has been blanketed with snow.

The snowfall and consistent cold temperatures have turned Queenstown and its surrounding mountains into a ski traveler’s dream.

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View from Coronet Peak towards The Remarkables after snow fall.

In the last week, two metres of fresh powder were dumped on the region including its ski fields – Coronet Peak , The Remarkables, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Snow Park NZ , Snow Farm and Treble Cone.

“It’s snow time!” says Tony Everitt, Destination Queenstown CEO.

“The beauty of Queenstown is that you don’t have to be a skier or boarder to enjoy the winter season here. Our lake and mountain scenery is stunning, and there’s a huge range of things to do on and off the mountains for all ages and all budgets.”

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Snow Park New Zealand.

As a mountain destination, Queenstown also offers shopping, day spas, 150+ restaurants and bars, award-winning vineyards and budget to five-star accommodation.

For the winter season, more domestic and trans-Tasman flights are scheduled into Queenstown.

There are some 30 trans-Tasman flights from Air New Zealand, Qantas, Pacific Blue and Jetstar flying direct into Queenstown weekly and regular domestic connections from Air New Zealand and Jetstar.

For more info on winter season holidays, visit the Queenstown site.

Images and video courtesy of Destination Queenstown.

Big Mountain Clean

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Nevis Range Big Spring Clean.

Planning a big mountain cleanup in your community?  No doubt you’ll be inspired by the Ski Club Of Great Britain and its Big Spring Clean.

This year, some 80 volunteer skiers, walkers and environmentalists picked up 44 bags of rubbish at the Scottish resorts of CairnGorm Mountain, Nevis Range and Glenshee.

Some of the more interesting litter found was a pair of boxer shorts at CairnGorm, a mattress and a ‘message in a balloon’ at Nevis Range.

Cigarette butts was one of the most common items found in the the Big Spring Clean’s litter.

To combat cigarette butt rubbish on mountains, the Ski Club of Great Britain has designed a new, eco-friendly pocket ashtray.

Made from recycled, recyclable and biodegradable materials, the pocket ashtray is designed to reduce the number of cigarettes dropped by skiers and snowboarders.

“The (Big Spring Clean) operation continues to raise awareness about the damaging effects of dropping litter in a mountain environment,” says Caroline Stuart-Taylor, Chief Executive of the Ski Club. “We hope to make a clean sweep of all five Scottish ski areas in the future.”

The Ski Club of Great Britain is a not-for-profit snowsports club with 33,000 members in the UK.

The club’s Spring Clean is part of the Respect the Mountain campaign which aims to:

  • “Raise awareness with regards to environmental and safety issues connected to snowsports”;
  • “Fund environmental projects connected to snowsports” and
  • “Offer educational information to skiers, snowboarders and the snowsports industry.”

For more info, visit Respect the Mountain campaign.

Image courtesy of the Ski Club of Great Britain.

150 Years Of Skiing

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World Champion Slopestyle Skier Anna Segal, Snow Australia Ambassador 2011.

Australia is marking 150 years of skiing with many events this year.

Snow Australia has named World Champions Boarder X snowboarder Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin (below) and Slopestyle Skier Anna Segal (above) as its new official Ambassadors.

Winter Olympian and mogul skier Britteny Cox has been named honorary junior Ambassador.

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Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin, Snow Australia Ambassador 2011.

At Mt Buller in Victoria, Pullin and Segal learned how to snowboard and ski.  Both champions are on track for the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014.

Pullin won the World Championship in Spain in December and finished first in the FIS ranks at the end of the season.

Segal won gold at the World Championships in Deer Valley and bronze at the World Skiing Invitational competition in Whistler.

These SSA Snowsports Athletes of the Year will inspire Australians to ‘Discover Our Winter’ and experience Australia’s snow regions for skiing, snowboarding, snow play and cross country skiing.

Back in 1861, skiing in Australia was introduced by three Norwegians who formed a ski club in the gold rush town of Kiandra.

Then the Kiandra Ski Club (now the Kiandra Pioneer Ski Club in Perisher) offered member activities and ski races on wooden skis made from wood shaped like fence posts.

Today, Australia’s skiers and snowboarders have access to nine ski resorts including Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte Pass, Selwyn Snowfields, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham, Falls Creek, Mount Baw Baw and Lake Mountain.

Images courtesy of Snow Australia.

Snow Australia

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Top: Perisher. Photo credit: Shannon Pawsey; Mount Hotham.

Planning an Australia snow holiday?  Then you’ll want to check out the new website, Snow Australia, which covers Australia’s snow industry and nine ski resorts.

The website is designed for all types of snow travelers – a family that skis, a first-time snowboarder, downhill or cross country skiers or people who want to play in the snow toboggans and snow tubes.

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New Snow Australia website.

Five Snow Australia ‘expert guides’ will assist travelers in renting equipment, learning to ski or snowboard, booking accommodation options and the best après entertainment at Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte Pass, Selwyn Snowfields, Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, Mount Buller, Mount Baw Baw and Lake Mountain.

A special Snow Australia Club offers members prizes including weekend packages, special offers and a regular newsletter.

Says Colin Hackworth, CEO, Snow Australia:

“The Snow Australia campaign will target families and young people from all over Australia who have never been on a snow holiday before, encouraging them to ‘Discover Our Winter’ in the NSW and Victorian snow resorts and shifting the perception that New Zealand offers cheaper package deals.”

For more info, visit the Snow Australia site.

Images and video courtesy of Snow Australia.

Food, Wine & Ski

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Some of Australia’s top chefs will showcase their culinary talents at Hotham’s Opening Weekend.

Love food, wine and skiing?  If you’re an Australian skier, then you might want to head to Opening Weekend at Hotham from June 10-13, 2011.

Some of Australia’s top chefs will be there to launch the 2011 ski season at Hotham Alpine Resort and Dinner Plain Village.

The chefs will showcase their culinary talents in several fine food and wine events.

Here is the events schedule:

  • Richard Thomas at various venues, Dinner Plain – Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12, 3pm-5pm. The cheese maker presents the best of local and international cheeses matched with local wines.
  • Frank Camorra at Cilantro Restaurant, Dinner Plain – Saturday, June 11.  The owner and Executive Chef of MoVida restaurants returns for a Spanish-inspired alpine feast.
  • Conviction Kitchen Team at Alphutte Restaurant, Dinner Plain – Sunday, June 12, 12pm-2pm.  Sunday lunch with some of the Conviction Kitchen team including Lisa Parker.
  • Matt Germanchis at Rundell’s Alpine Lodge, Dinner Plain – Sunday, June 12, 7pm.  The chef from Melbourne restaurant, Pandora’s Box, prepares a menu inspired by the region’s local produce.
  • Michael Ryan at Tsubo Bar and Restaurant, Dinner Plain – Monday, June 13, 7pm.  The owner of Beechworth’s Provenance restaurant hosts a dinner highlighting local food and wine from North East Victoria.

Hotham is also offering discounted prices on lift, lesson and accommodation packages from June 11 to 24, 2011.

For more info, visit Hotham online.

Image courtesy of Hotham.

New NZ Package

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The good life at Matakauri Lodge, New Zealand.

New Zealand’s Matakauri Lodge has launched a new Winter Ski Package for some of the country’s best winter skiing and snow sports.

The team at the lodge will drive skiers to and from Cornonet Peak for a day on the South Island slopes.

One of New Zealand’s most recognized luxury lodges, Matakauri Lodge opened in August 2010 as a sister property to North Island lodges Kauri Cliffs and The Farm at Cape Kidnappers.

The lodge has been named one of 101 Best Hotels in the World for 2011 by Tatler Magazine and on the 2011 HOT LIST by Conde Nast Traveller.

Matakauri Lodge features 11 luxury suites and villas, lodge facilities, fine dining by Chef Dale Gartland, a well-stocked wine cellar from Central Otago and a spa.

The new winter ski package includes accommodation, a 50 minute massage per person per night, transfer to/from Coronet Peak from Matakauri Lodge, pre-dinner drinks, canapés, dinner full breakfast non-alcoholic mini bar and use of lodge facilities.

This package is available until August 31, 2011.

For more info, visit the Matakauri Lodge site.

Image courtesy of Matakauri Lodge.

Australia’s Easy Alpine Access

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Australia’s Mount Hotham Alpine Resort has a new resort entry system for easier road access.

Australian skiers and snowboarders will find it easier to get to Mount Hotham Alpine Resort in 2011.

This winter, the resort will launch an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) resort entry system.

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Skiing at Mount Hotham Alpine Resort.

Mount Hotham Alpine Resort visitors will be able to purchase resort entry online via www.alpineeasyaccess.com.au and their smartphone for travel through to the resort.

The alpine resort, which has its own airport, attracts an estimated 30,000 carloads of people and 150,000 visitors every snow season.

This customized technology uses infrared cameras to photograph guests’ vehicle number plates when they enter the resort.

Software then reads and matches the vehicle plates against guests’ pre-purchased entry.

Mount Hotham Alpine Resort is expected to be the first alpine destination in Australia to implement this resort technology.

It’s a $250,000 joint venture between the Mount Hotham Resort Management Board and technology providers Sensor Dynamics and PayByPhone.

“The new automated resort entry system offers Hotham guests an even greater level of service and convenience, while providing the most practical and cost effective solution to the mountain’s increased patronage, says Gina Woodward, resort spokesperson.

Mount Hotham Alpine Resort says it has tested the new resort entry system in all alpine weather conditions including heavy snow storms and low visibility.

Resort visitors who don’t have Internet or smartphone access can purchase ticketless resort entry over the phone, at off mountain providers including Hoys in Harrietville and Billies in Omeo or at the Resort Management Board Office in Hotham.

The new entry system will go live on May 16, 2011 in time for opening of the snow season on June 11, 2011.

Resort entry fees go towards guest services including ski patrol, village snow clearing, free village bus transportation, traffic and car parking management, cross country trail grooming and waste management.

Prior to June 11, 2011, the resort has this special offer: visit www.alpineeasyaccess.com.au and receive a free child pass to visit King Penguins at the Melbourne Aquarium.

Images courtesy of Hotham Alpine Resort.

Wild Snowkiting

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Up, up and away, snowkiting in Iceland. Photo credit: Snowkiter.co.uk.

Fancy an exciting alpine holiday?

Snowkiting is one of the most exciting alpine sports where snowkiters harness wind power using a kite and snowboard or skis.

One of the best snowkiting destinations in northern Europe is Iceland where mountain travelers can blend snow, speed and views with partying in Reykjavik.

A niche snow sport, snowkiting across Iceland’s glaciers is beginning to attract more travelers seeking alternative ski or snowboard holidays.

For UK travelers, Iceland Express offers flights from London Gatwick.

Snowkiter.co.uk features eight-day packages including all meals, six nights cabin accommodation in Husafell, one night in Reykjavik, full time guides and local transport.

After snowkiting sessions, guests can relax in hot tubs at basecamp, shop and dine in Reyjavik and visit Blue Lagoon and its thermal pools.

For more info, visit Snowkiter.co.uk.

Here are more scenes of snowkiting in Iceland:

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Images courtesy of Snowkiter.co.uk.