With an average snowfall of five meters, vertical skiing range of 1900 meters and 300 kilometers of pistes, Val d’Isere is considered to be one of the best ski resorts in the Savoie area in France. Visitors enjoy skiing in Val d’Isere because a lift ticket can also give them the chance to explore its neighboring areas Paradiski and Les Trois Vallées. Since Val d’Isere is a favorite destination for tourists during winter and also in summer, there are allot of tourist residences and hotels in Val d’Isere to accommodate guests.
One of the many hotels in Val d’Isere is Chalet Hotel Le Fjord. This hotel is located in the community’s main street and is a few steps away from many après-ski attractions. The hotel is housed in a nice building with very well furnished rooms. Another hotel in Val d’Isere is Chalet Hotel Le Val d’Isere located in the centre of Val d’Isere. The hotel is a few meters away from the Bellevarde and Solaise lifts.If a guest wants to relax after a long day of skiing, there is a therapy complex beside the hotel called the Therapeos spa.
UCPA Val d’Isere is one of the hotels in Val d’Isere that is located three minutes from the towns centre.The hotel has its own dining room, bar, ski and board hire shop and even a night club. Breakfast is served buffet style, lunch is a do-it-yourself picnic and after a long day of skiing, guests can enjoy a four course dinner at the hotel.
Another hotel in Val d’Isere is Chalet Hotel Cygnaski. This hotel has a beautiful lounge area with a huge log fire and stone chimney where guests can relax and socialize.
GAP - countdown to the world alpine skiing world cup
1978 was the last time Bavaria saw a huge sporting event such as this year’s Alpine skiing world championship. Garmisch-Partenkirchen has repeatedly bided for the past 33 years to become the host of the competition, but in vain, and it was only in May 2006 that it finally saw its wish granted. Below is the chronological account of the events that led up to the championship official opening on Monday:
June 2004
Garmisch-Partenkirchn City Council unanimously votes in favour of bidding to become the host to the 2011 world championship competition. A success that could be attributed to the support that emanated from the Garmisch Ski Club, led by the Peter Fischer.
May 2005
Mighty Schladming, Austria, becomes the only other candidate still in contention to host the championship.
September 2005
The International Ski Federation Commission arrives in Gap to assess the city’s readiness to organise the event. The main topic of discussion at the time is the long awaited reconstruction of the Kandahar racetrack.
May 2006
On the 25th May 2005, at 06.56pm, at the Congress of the International Ski Federation in Villamoura in Portugal, ithe winner of who is to become the host to the 2011 world championship is announced. GAP took the honour with a 9:6 voting victory over Schladming.
July 2006
The Organising Committee is created with Peter Fischer as its president. The first discussions also take place, and the financial aspects of the organisation are the topic of the day. Furthermore, the provincial government of Bavaria also expressed its willingness to be involved in the organisation of the championship.
February 2009
At the closing ceremony of the World Cup in Val d’Isere, France, representatives of Garmisch-Partenkirchen were handed the world championship flag.
February 2010
The championship mascots “Ga” and “Pa” are presented to a global audience.
March 2010
The federal government contributes a million and a half Euros towards the cultural program taking place throughout the championship. In addition, it is decided to issue a special coin commemorating the world championships.
June 2010
Disaster strikes in Gudiberg. As the Slalom track was being renovating, at the cost of 6 million euros, an unfortunate mudslide caused its collapse. At the same time, the Organising Committee starts the tickets sale.
November 2010 The last problem came from a farmer. The latter refuses to allow his land to be used as part of the finish arenaof the Kandahar race track. Despite the numerous negotiations, no agreement is reached. The matter is settled in court later in January.
P. S. Schladming will host the 2013 world championship.
Original text by Urban Lavrenčič translated from the Slovene by Christian Ngalikpima.
Arabba is a small town in the area of the Dolomites mountain range in Italy. It is one of the ski villages in the Veneto region, the other ski villages are in the South Tyrol. To ski in Arabba is one of the best skiing experiences. This is one of the most exciting ski resorts in Italy. It is in the Marmolada Mountain, tagged as the Queen of the Dolomites, where most people ski in Arabba. The Arabba village is a great starting point to access the ski slopes.
There are also mountain ridges or passes that surround Arabba; the Passo Camplongo is a towering area between Alta Badia, Corvara and Arabba. The Passo Pardoi is connected by lifts to the area above the resort of Canazei and the Passo Pordon connects the skiers to the Malga Ciepela area and the Marmolada zone. To ski in Arabba and also in its neighboring areas is a must for ski lovers.
Those who do not want to ski in Arabba Italy can participate in the many other activities this place has to offer visitors. A visitor can also try trekking or hiking in the area. There are many tours suggested for people to try. One of these is The Hunter’s Track, where visitors hike through a circular path that will start and end in Arabba and will pass along Cherz Plateau. Visitors can also try the Strada Da La Vena tour where they will come across the alpine forests, wooden hay sheds and pastures. They will also learn the history of Colle Santa Lucia where the Andraz castle is located and where mining is done. Viel Dal Pan is another tour package that follows an easy path from Passo Pordoi and reaches the crest of Portavescovo. Here visitors will see the remarkable views of Lake Fedaia and Marmolada.
A visit to the Arabba village during the summer won’t go to waste. This place is also famous for its recreational activities during the summer such as mountain biking, mountain climbing and cycling. People won’t only love to ski in Arabba but will also have fun with their family and friends participating in the many activities that this memorable destination has to offer. Simply visit Mountvacation.com main site here, and browse through the Arraba hotels as well as other accommodation on offer.
This season Alpine World cup has now reached fever pitch. The male contingent will, after the Swiss tour, stop in Kitzbühel, Austria, for the 71st Hahnenkamm Cup, while its female counterpart will be visiting the cosmopolitan Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. These races attract each year millions of television viewers, but also bring a huge number of spectators to the tracks themselves. This year would be no exception if it wasn’t for the weather that has been disrupting the competition for the 3rd week in a row.
For my part, I have noticed for the past few years that New Year is often followed by a sharp rise in temperature. The Föhn, a warm wind as it is called in the ski world has of late regularly threatened to disrupt the races taking place in the Bernese Alps, in Switzerland. Adelboden, and Wengen, have had huge problems in recent seasons, and managed only with strenuous effort to bring the competition to completion. This year, the Swiss have been lucky to get enough snow and consequently had ample snow cover to proceed with the races, despite the spring-like temperatures.
Of course, the preparation of the competitive tracks in these conditions becomes a much bigger challenge. The organisers resorted in this instance to salt and artificial PTX. First, a layer of snow is removed from the track, by a snow groomer, which is then covered with a synthetic material that is sprayed with water before being covered again with the final layer of snow. This operation is repeated just before the race, albeit without the use of the snow groomer. Thus not spelling the best prospects for the competition or competitors for that matter! A bleaker prospect awaits the skiers placed higher up in the starting line-up. They will find it much harder to achieve any kind of good results. In the past, the Swiss have also had troubles with environmentalists who would not allow the use the PTX. But that threat has been removed as the State implemented a law that empowers ski race officials to do whatever they see fit in order to salvage a race.
It all seemed that the matter would be settled before the week end, and that winter temperatures would be greeting racers. But as it happened, the drop has failed to materialise on time and not all downhill trainings could be completed on the famous Streif track as it was still raining in the lower segment of the track only last Wednesday.
Workers were toiling day and night, trying to consolidate the snow on time for the first race. Later, on Wednesday night, the rain turned to snow. However, bad weather has now been forecast for the week end. Fog should also join the party. Let us not forget that, in the past, fog has already forced a few races to be cancelled at the foot of the Hahnenkamm Mountain.
No matter what, Günther Hujara, one of the judges in the men’s world cup competition, will be working overtime. Everyone is piling up pressure on him; the organizers, the media, the athletes and the coaches. Ultimately, he will be the one switching the red or green lights on to competitors at the starting line. Meteorologists too will be trying their very best to provide “to the minute” predictions about the changes in the Kitzbühel skies. Incidently, some world cup organisers have in recent years invested a lot of money towards state of the art meteorological equipment. However nature once again shows that it transcends man.
Kitzbühel is now faced with a tough ordeal, since the rules state that at least one downhill training session must take place before the actual race. If that fails, then the prospect of having to sacrifice Friday’s super G is well and truly alive. Downhill in Kitzbühel is the alpha and omega. The Super-G race can be moved to another location, but the downhill in Streif is irreplaceable. It is already clear that the race cannot be moved to the Monday and Sunday has specifically been scheduled to host the Slalom race. In the end, it seems that the weather will be the one to decide the next course of events.
Original text by Urban Lavrenčič translated from the Slovene by Christian Ngalikpima.
St. Anton is a small town in Western Austria. It is located near the Rosanna River and is part of the Albert group of ski resorts. St. Anton boasts of being one of the best ski resorts in Western Austria and is also famous for hosting the World Alpine Ski Championship in 2001. What’s best about St. Anton is its wide slope for skiers, enhanced lift system, snowboarding ground and hefty snowfall. St. Anton is not only famous for its ski slopes, it is also well-known for having the best shopping, café, bar scenes and restaurants that offer some of Austria’s famous dishes. Eating at a recommended restaurant in St. Anton is the best way to relax after a long day of skiing and snowboarding.
Austrian cuisine is inspired by that of different countries such as Germany, Hungary and Italy. Dumplings and pancakes are two common dishes that you will undoubtedly see on the menu in many a restaurant in St. Anton. If you want to taste some of the typical Austrian cuisine, you can visit Fuhrmannstube and Trödlerstube. These two restaurants are well known for their very generous servings that will surely satisfy your hunger.
Mooserwit, another popular St. Anton’s restaurant, claims to serve some of the best traditional Austrian dishes that guests will definitely love. Visitors on a tight budget can try the Funky Chicken and Rodelalm on Gampen, which offer good food at affordable prices. Good places for snacks are Pomodoro and KrazyKanguruh where the burgers and pizza are said to be the best in town. The traditional Fondue is one of the most commonly served desserts in St. Anton and is definitely something to look forward to after a delicious meal. Restaurants in St. Anton take pride in their high quality meals and customer service to ensure that no customer leaves without being 100% satisfied.
Swiss Alpine skiing finds itself troubled waters. Last season’s results were extremely successful, however, this turn around, the Swiss team didn’t come close to their past achievements. The biggest loser so far, being Carlo Janka. Indeed, last World Cup’s aggregate winner is exhausted. This could be the result from the lack of training this summer, as a mysterious virus cut short the preparations. Furthermore, he also missed the traditional pre New Year’s downhill race in Bormio.
The next issue is Silvan Zurbriggen. The Swiss champion is currently giving his coach Martin Rufener some serious headaches. In Lake Louise, he was thrown out of the hotel he was staying in for harassing the cleaning lady. He reportedly walked about his room wearing nothing but his birthday suit. A horrified maid filed a complaint; and out of the luxurious premises was Zurbriggen thrown.
For as long as they could, the Swiss team tried to keep the lid on the “scandal”, and they did for some time. But then Silvan won the race in Val Gardena and tongues unleashed. Not a rosy prospect for Zurbriggen, who is in a serious relationship, especially when one considers the fact that he found himself into similar waters a few years back in Alta Badia. That time, he allegedly exposed his manhood to an old lady, who resorted to denounce him to the local authorities. His line of defence then was that he was just responding to nature’s call.
To cap it all up, there’s Lara Gut. She will undoubtedly drive the Swiss team coach Mauro Pini off the wall. Let us remind ourselves that Pini was in Gut’s team only a while ago, and that their subsequent separation didn’t happen in the friendliest of manners. Lara, on several occasions, criticised in public the work of the Swiss A team. She did not agree with the team’s training methods. That’s not all! In the summer, she opted to join the Swedish team rather than her own. It all went too far that time, and the ski federation decided to ban her from the Semmering events. To miss an event in Alpine skiing represents a severe penalty, as competition seasons are pretty short.
Lara Gut has threatened to compete for another country. Should she do so, then the Swiss team could render her life a real misery. Lawyers have been brought in to resolve the matter so as to satisfy both parties. On top of all this, her own sponsors are now also suing the Swiss champion for conflict of interest.
Regardless, the Swiss have this year accumulated so many problems off the track that it could easily make for a repeat of last year’s results. Heads are simply not cool enough and thoughts are erring in the wrong direction. The season is now in full swing and the other teams are already rubbing their hands in expectation.
Original text by Urban Lavrenčič translated from the Slovene by Christian Ngalikpima.
Marcel Hirscher - 2010 Slalom World Champion in Val d'Isere
I remember how Matjaž Vrhovnik and I traveled to report the World Championship in 2009. In Garmisch - Partenkirchen, we commentated on the slalom races, which came to an end at around the fourteenth hour and thirtieth minutes. We then hastily slurped down a soup in the press room and off we were on our journey. A journey that took us through Austria and Switzerland. Soon enough, it began to snow and although we both love snowflakes, they actually made the task a little harder for our old Toyota. We drove for almost twelve hours. And if my memory serves me well, I was always behind the wheel, for I couldn’t catch a minute’s sleep. I kept a vigilant eye on the slippery road surface, followed other vehicles, at times battling with bands of fog and counting the miles left to our destination, deep in the heart of the Savoy Alps.
I love traveling with Matjaž. Through our cooperation, we have woven a solid friendship, which goes now beyond the usual levels of business and courtesy. Our acquaintance back in 2004 began quite timidly as we were still figuring each other out. Five years later, we were on our way to our third World Cup together and acted like an old married couple. In France we took along on our trip some readymade meals and cans that we heated up in our apartment, saving ourselves a few Euros in the process. Food prices in Val d’Isère are indeed several times higher than those we are used to in our grocery stores.
Our discussions in the car were pretty relaxed, even though we struggled to stick to the ski topic. As it was, we often also switched to regular everyday topics. Hours go by so quickly.As we started off on our journey from Geneva towards the south, the snow abated and I could now press a tad more on the gas. I must say that I’m not afraid to set the speed radar detector, since the registration plate on Slovenian RTV business car were very dirty anyway, as well as snowed and iced up. Although I got flashed once, I never actually received the penalty.
As we arrived in Albertville we knew that much of the road was already behind us. The only thing that was left for us to do was to reach 1850 from where Val d’Isere dominates the surrounding peaks. I was thinking about this road trip the previous Sunday on my way home from work. Earlier that day, the Austrian Marcel Hirscher won his first slalom race in a World Cup. On that same day, I commentated in the national TV’s studios in Ljubljana and then wandered home. Taking a walk after commentating always reinvigorates me. I get to sort my thoughts together, clear my mind, and I actually exercise.
This Championship has not been one that I have reported with pleasure. First we mostly had bad weather, then, the race schedule was constantly altered and the temperatures were extremely low. But what will, above all, remain in my memory is when I first stepped at the foot of the Bellevarde track. I had never seen such high and steep walls at any of the previous championships.
On top of it all, the organisers had put a large amount of water into the snow, a technique used to give the ice plates some semblance of ominous glittering through a blend of scarce sun rays and artificial lights.
It just happened that there is a particular type of terrain apt for all, and not only the favourites. There are skiers, who, because of their special techniques, are more adapted than others to a steeper type of slopes.
Marcel Hirscher was 19 years old then. In the giant slalom, he ended up fourth and only just missed the medals. Two years later, the doubt was cast away. Bellevarde now belongs to him.
Original text by Urban Lavrenčič translated from the Slovene by Christian Ngalikpima.
Members of the Executive Committee of the International Ski Federation decided during the summer congress in Antalya to make Vail the host of the 2015 World Cup. This fancy little Colorado village from the U.S. has twice already entertained this kind of competition . The first such occasion dates back in 1989 while the second one took place a decade later. Skiers previously underwent the speed disciplines in the nearby Beaver Creek back in 1999. Indeed Bernhard Russi has already downed the famous Bird of Preys track. As a matter of fact, this spectacular terrain was first tested with two downhill races a while ago, at the December 1997 World Cup.
While the Italian Kristian Ghedina won the first race, the Austrian Andreas Schifferer imposed himself a day later on a very demanding track. The most extraordinary story that got to me while watching this World Cup was fortuitously also the most interesting. Ever since he retired from racing in March 2006, Schifferer no longer tops the headlines. Although, one could go as far as saying that he has totally disappeared from the public eye!
Until this year in Sölden, the venue where in October, this year’s World Cup season kicked off, the news that Andreas Schifferer had to leave this little cosmopolitan Austrian village prematurely resounded as a huge surprise. The boy had arrived at the weekend, but that seemingly didn’t work out as that same boy stole the snowboard he had used to compete. Obviously he didn’t have his stealing skills well honed, as the stealth bore all the marks of the amateur thief. A shortcoming that landed him straight into the hands of the Austrian constabulary force, which is known to be pretty unforgiving in this type of instances. Even with eight times world cup Champions.
What in the world went through Andy’s head that day? He probably doesn’t have a clue himself. But according to some insiders, his erratic behaviour began showing when he started collaborating with Martin Weber, a man known for practicing esoteric, hypnosis as well as other disputable techniques.
At some point, it got him so confused that he left his wife and kids, and asked his sponsor Atomic to devise a pair of skis for him that would slide on the nose, stating proper energy flow as the reason behind the request. Upon this, Atomic immediately terminated the contract with the now suspicious skier, who resumed his antics at team Rossignol, claiming a use of “negative” colours. As a result, his career suddenly grinded to a halt.
Incidentally, the infamous German newspaper Bild had recently sent a journalist to interview Weber in order to investigate his genuinity, but he quickly gave up fearing for his own mental well being, as he commented to the editor upon his return. Still the real motive for Shifferer’s action is yet to come to light. Why he stole the snowboard remains to this day a mystery, especially when one considers that his financial situation at the time appeared to be in the positive? He could easily have purchased one. Or could it be that the colour was so damn positive that the esoteric/hypnotic state he was in left him with no other choice but to acquire it there and then? Although not on his credit Card…
Original text by Urban Lavrenčič translated from the Slovene by Christian Ngalikpima.
For every action, you can expect a reaction. After Head brought in their team the Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal, it left his serviceman at Atomic, Edi Unterberger, without employer. A true a master in his profession, he saw enormous success with Hermann Maier. He later briefly acted as Walchhofer Michael’s serviceman. As Atomic saw a brighter future with Svindal, the team designated Unterberger as serviceman for last year’s two times winner in the aggregate standings at the Norwegian World Cup. Remember, it was with his help that Svindal brought home the full scope of awards in the Vancouver Olympics. He then went on to join Head. For a hefty sum of money, at that!
Michael Walchhofer begins, this year, his final World Cup Season. In the previous season, the 35-year-old hotelier from Altenmarkt came short of bringing home more than a single win. He must have missed his former serviceman. After leaving Svindal, Walchhofer immediately went on to resume his cooperation with the now team-less Unterberger. Atomic welcomed the move, and as history shows, have hit the bull’s eye.
Walchhofer convincingly won the first downhill race of the season in Lake Louise, effectively ending the Austrian team poor string of performances. Indeed the team hadn’t won the main discipline since March 2009. A winning drought for Austria, the most powerful skiing nation in the world that lasted 630 days!
At the finish, the winner of 16th edition of the skiing World Cup looked at his ski and immediately pointed out in his first interview the fact that they were “unusually” fast. Indeed, Walchhofer enjoyed a clear advantage over his competitors in the flatter part of the Lake Louise racecourse, where good gliding is of the essence, and where the skis must be fast.
He thanked his serviceman, sipped ale and then went on to prepare for the super-G, which was on the program the next day. Brimming with self-confidence, he decided to take fairly aggressive skis to the giant slalom, despite conflicting advice from Unterberger. He finished 18th and later admitted that he will in the future listen more to the “man in the background”.
In a week time, men and women competitors will travel to the United States and Canada. The women were moved from Aspen to Lake Louise, where they will compete at the weekend in both speed events. This will be the first opportunity this season for Lindsey Vonn to prove that she still is the alpine skiing champion. Men were flown from the Canadian province of Alberta over to Denver and from there, forward on to Vail, more specifically on to Beaver Creek, where the Birds of Prey racecourse awaits them. This competition will host three races from Friday to Sunday, with the exciting downhill scheduled for the Friday. Walchhofer will again be present and so will his red and white rockets.
Original text by Urban Laurenčič translated from the Slovene by Christian Ngalikpima.
Last year in Beaver Creek, Jean-Baptiste Grange injured himself. The ruptured anterior cruciate ligament he suffered meant that the Vancouver Olympics were to proceed without its star performer. The Frenchman was 25 at the time, and to have to bid farewell to the Olympic season came as a severe blow to him.
The veil overshadowing the men standings in this year’s alpine skiing world cup has now been lifted. The 45th edition was officially opened in Sölden a month ago with the women’s giant slalom competition. A thick fog greeted the men on the Rettenbach Glacier, forcing the opening of the new season to be moved to the previous week-end in Levi, Finland.
This time around, little comparison has been made between competitors. Instead, after last year’s Olympics, many have decided to concentrate their efforts on the team’s form, and with the arrival of new coaches, hope to outperform their rivals. The southern hemisphere provides during the summer months the scene for professional skiing. Argentina, Chile and New Zealand are the most common stops for world class skiers.
France is at the moment dominating the rankings. They stand one step ahead of the competition in both technical disciplines. The already established skiers have been joined by some younger athletes. To be noted though, is the return of the recently injured stars, such as Thomas Fanara and Jean-Baptiste Grange. The French man having previously won the 08/09 Slalom Crystal Globe top accolade. A discipline he came close to winning the previous year, but that he had to concede to the Italian Manfred Moelgg due to a mistake in the final race of the season in Bormio.
Injuries in Alpine Skiing highlight the differences that exist between bigger and lesser teams, the same way it does highlight the discrepancies between champions and less performing skiers. The former finding themselves in a really enviable position, as the contrast amplifies at the time of rehabilitation. The bigger teams or athletes, who have earned more, thus have access to treatments that are a far reach from the lesser protagonists who cannot afford the over costly insurances. This in turn might also lead to a loss of income.
Furthermore, some athletes and teams are totally left to fare for themselves, as trainers and physiotherapists limit themselves to prescribing exercises with absolutely no follow up, leaving In effect, those struggling competitors to bank solely on their determination and willingness to get through the hard times. Too many questions are left unanswered that renders it difficult for the athlete to get back to the team training, where opportunities are very few anyway. Which physiotherapist will they visit? How will they pay for the treatment or how will they train? Which diet will they implement, how much muscle mass will be lost?
This leaves a large number of athletes to forcibly abandon the sport of their dream and find other of objects interest instead.
Grange, on the other hand, did the exact the opposite thanks to the French Skiing Association (FFS), which has to deal with its own financial problems. They realised how the Frenchman aroused, over the past years, the interest of the French people in Alpine Skiing. The FFS consequently gave him all the support that he needed for a speedy recovery. Besides Grange himself, did what he thought was necessary to regain fitness.
First of all, he distanced himself from the media as he did not want his comments to interfere with the team’s work nor create unnecessary agitation before or during the Olympics. He entirely focused his efforts on himself and his speedy recovery. After a successful operation on the cruciate ligament, he visited rehabilitation centres where he was treated by the best experts.
The desired effect was achieved. In June, this year, he started snow training. The feelings of old gradually came back to the French champion. It was as if all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. From one turn to another, Jean Batiste Grange found his way back. After a long break, he was eager to prove himself and to compete once again. The French coaches knew he was fast, but did not want to put additional pressure on him before the season. The first giant slalom ride in Sölden has already shown that his was back at the top. Then came Levi. The slalom race he won back in 2008. The same year he won this discipline. And as if the previous hadn’t existed, he clocked the fastest time. Poetry in motion, straining effortlessly the limits of the possible… Balance and short turns prevailed. In the end, the closest competitor, the Swede Andre Myhrer, grabbed second position, 0.33 sec behind the Frenchman, while the Croat Ivica Kostelič came third, clocking over a second more.
When on skis, Jean Baptiste Grange makes every move look all so simple. And yet they are not! Far from it! This has been vindicated by other athletes struggling to achieve good results. The French skier on the other hand, had no trouble at all. The boss is back! However, one must realise that rare are those who return with a win.
Urban Laurenčič original post translated by Christian Ngalikpima
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