All things bright and beautiful in Courchevel

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Fiona

Don’t you just love it when you see a skiing trend in actual real life? We recently blogged about a bright and bold fashion trend in ski and snowboarding clothing and during a ski trip to the fabulous Three Valleys resort of Courchevel it was clear that this All Things Bright and Beautiful fad is being played out on the slopes. Suddenly it seems as though skiers and boarders are not only in competition to swish down the slopes faster and more beautifully, but they are also keen to outshine their peers in brighter-than-bright ski jackets and trousers.

Bright and bold skiing outfits

A top ski clothing combo for men, as seen on both skiers and boarders in the French Alps, is bright orange or yellow matched (?!) with bright blues and greens. Orange ski trousers were being partnered with fabulously blue jackets, while so many more men than ever before seemed happy to don yellow ski trousers and partner this with blue, red, green or orange ski jackets.

For women, the skiing clothes fashion focuses on bright pink, turquoise, lime green and some jackets feature several of these colours at once. The most popular look was either black or white trousers and a very brightly coloured jackets or else a black jacket combined with bright pink or bright green ski trousers.

And there was fur everywhere! Fur edged collars, hoods, cuffs, hems, trousers and hats. Seeing as Courchevel is a destination for the rich and famous in top resort 1850 (as well as the more budget conscious in Courchevel 1300), there appeared to be a fair number of Russians sported actual real-live fur clothing too. We’re not in favour of real fur but the fake fur-edged outfits looked pretty smart… until, presumably, they become drowned by wet snow.

Rainbow coloured lift queues

No longer is it dull to stand in a lift queue. Simply look around and count the number of different colours of jackets and trousers. See if you can match trousers with jackets (even if they are on other people) and count the numbers of shades of rainbow hues on display. We can recall years when ski clothing was black, white, pastel or faded out. These days, the clothing offers fabulous splashes of colour and fun, even when there’s a whiteout.

Top tips for wearing ski clothing colours with style

* Pulling off a combo of bright orange trousers and a bright green jacket isn’t easy for everyone. It seems to suit men, and especially boarders, the best.

* Avoid ski jackets and trousers that are exactly the same colour. So wearing bright yellow jackets and trousers is not going to be a winner … and you’ll most likely end up being called a Banana.

* Play it safe with a bold coloured jacket and black trousers or a black jacket and brightly hued ski pants. For women, bright pink and black look fab. For men, black pants and lime green jackets are swell.

* Accessorise with care. A ski outfit that includes black ski pants and a pink ski jacket only requires a little enhancement. Perhaps choose a white ski helmet with a pink design but try to avoid a full-on pink helmet! You could add a little contrasting colour with a pair of goggles that feature bright green or blue.

* Try not to go overboard with every item in a different colour – unless you want to look like a children’s TV show presenter. Bright is great but only in small amounts.

Top tips for family ski holidays

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Fiona

Ski holidays are perfect for the family, especially as many ski holiday companies let the kids travel for free or for a much reduced cost if sleeping in the same room as parents. Look out for hotels and chalets that are baby and child-friendly. Some offer childcare, babysitting and creches included in the price, and most offer an earlier tea time and for hungry children.

Great tips for happy family ski hols

Two young for skis? Not at all! The French start their kids on skis from as young as two, so why don’t you? Children in France are not born with special skiing abilities, they just learn from a young age and they pick it up much quicker that us Brits. Yes, we know they have more opportunities for skiing but we can take our children skiing at dry ski slopes and indoor arenas at home. Snowboarding isn’t so easy because of the balance required, but a sporty five or six-year-old will get the hang of snowboarding (probably faster than mum or dad!)

Go at Easter…When the ski resorts temperatures are likely to be higher. A sun and snow holiday is ideal for families.

Book at a child-friendly resort: Plenty of resorts and hotels now offer special care for children too young to ski. There will likely be kids clubs and extra facilities laid on for kids up to the age of 12. But do remember to enjoy some time with your youngsters, too. Why not take the kids out for fun in the snow with a sledge or to build a snowman?

Ski kit for the kids…Is the same as for the adults, only smaller. Essentials include warm ski clothing, good quality socks, sunglasses, suncream and a helmet.

Can you hire? Ski equipment for little ones is available in most ski resorts, but also think about hiring a buggy. It’s easier to hire than to travel with bulky items when you’re travelling with young children.

Don’t lose out on skiing time

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Fiona

Skiing in a family or friends group is great fun… but it can sometimes become a little frustrating. How many times have you waited for seemingly hours at a mountainside café or the top or bottom of a chairlift while others a) try to work out where you are b) head to the wrong chairlift c) end up skiing the wrong piste d) get caught up in a long queue e) become swallowed by a queue for the café? Or whatever.

Of course, thanks to mobile phones it has become easier over the years to stay in touch with fellow holidaymakers while in a ski resort, but even then it can be difficult to explain which chairlift you’re at, or the exact café. Don’t they always look so similar?

Now a new app could make life a lot easier for skiers and snowboarders. The MotionX-GPS App for iPhone and iPod touch has been enhanced with a new ski/snowboard mode. The new features allow you to see exactly where your friends and family are on the mountain via live position updates. This is sure to make it a great deal easier for meeting up on the slopes and tracking each other.

Most importantly, however, the app will mean you do not waste valuable time waiting around for each other, and instead get in more hours of skiing and snowboarding!

How to train your legs for skiing

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Fiona

It’s usually on day three of the ski holiday that your legs really start to complain. After two days of full-on leg burning exercise on the slopes, the leg muscles will be tired, aching and simply a bit done-in.

However, if you push through the aches and pains you’ll find that by day five and six, your legs have become acclimatised to the extra-long days of skiing and as the holiday comes to an end, you really begin to feel the benefit of stronger legs and stamina.

So why not do a little ski-specific training before you head off on your ski holiday? It makes sense, doesn’t it? If you arrive with skiing-ready legs then you’re going to enjoy the ski holiday a great deal more from day one to seven.

A guide to preparing your legs for skiing

Fast feet: Start in a neutral position with you feet shoulder-width apart and your hips and knees a little flexed. Concentrate on keeping your core engaged and as you keep the neutral position begin to move you feet as fast as you can, lifting one and then the other as if running quickly on the spot but still keeping your feet wide apart. Do two sets of 30 seconds, with 60 seconds of rest in between.

Why? This legs-apart position is how you’ll ski and so if your legs are strong in this position you’ll find they become less fatigued.

Side lunge circuit: Place four cones about 5ft apart in a square pattern on the floor. Stand on one of the perimeter lines, facing into the square and with a cone near your left foot. Get yourself into a neutral athletic stance and then perform a sidestep to the right landing your right foot just inside the next cone.

Stay low and compact as you swivel or pivot 90 degrees on your right foot until your back is facing into the square, and then perform a sidestep to land your left foot inside the next cone. Keep going until you have completed a circuit of the cones. Do this five times in a clockwise direction and then five times the other way.

Why? This session calls for a sustained leg contraction and strong core and hip stability, all of which are important for skiing performance.

Front lunges: Start these lunges in a low lunge position. Remember to engage your core muscles and place an equal amount of weight between your front and back feet. Switch feet throughout this exercise but stay as low as possible and holding your body in a good lunge alignment. Do four sets of 10 reps.

Why? Leg, butt and hip strength, as well core stability, are vital for good skiing technique.

* Always warm up and cool down before and after each training session. And do not embark on a new exercise regime if you are in any way in doubt about your physical health – ask a doctor first.

Bright and bold ski clothing trend

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Fiona

Ski and snowboard wear goes through fads – and this season is no different. The trendy look on the slopes this season is all things bright and beautiful. We’re guessing that dreary days of winter have brought with them a desire for the funky reds, pinks, purples, oranges, greens, blues and even fluorescent colours.

It’s not necessary to have matching ski clothing, such as jackets and pants, but with lots of blocks of colours one style leader is to combine a few bold colours on the jacket with one of these colours picked out for the pants.

You’ll also see jackets in one colour but with a contrasting pocket colour or big, bold stripes.

Fur and metallic detailing are also big on the pistes across Europe and America. How do you fancy fur edge hoods and collars and even the odd fur-edged cuff?Metal-look belts, helmets and features offer ultra cool looks, too.

Even with bright coloured ski and snowboard clothing, some folks still want to stand out from the crowds just a little more. You’ll see designs with herringbone, fluorescent colours and more than a few big pop-pom hats.

Because layering is key for any outdoor activity, the ski clothing ranges also include funkily deigned baselayers. Just because many of these layers stay on the underneath it doesn’t mean they come in boring blacks and whites. You’ll find bright greens, reds, purples, oranges and stunning design prints, such as modern camo, for baselayers. Maybe you’ll get to show these off in the après-ski bar!

Go on, dare to be bold on the slopes in bright colours!

Top tips for alternative skiing ideas

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Fiona

Skiers and snowboarders across Europe are celebrating news of snow, wonderful snow, falling in many resorts. The usual doom and gloom merchants had been suggesting that the snow might never arrive in the Alps but now it’s falling in bucket loads. We’re as delighted as anyone.

But what if you fancy something a little different? How about booking a second trip this season? Your first trip to your favourite European resort and then another skiing holiday to somewhere that you haven’t tried before.

Alternative Ski Holiday Ideas

Go indoors: We’re not just talking about your local ski dome. We mean, head to an indoor ski “resort”. Ski Dubai is the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort with five ski runs across some 240,000 square feet, and covered with snow all year round. The slopes are as high as a 25-story building and there are pistes to suit all skiing abilities.

Go high and cold: If all else is failing across the skiing world, you can bet there’ll be snow a Hemsedal Ski Resort, which is home to Norway’s highest groomed ski slope at 4,760ft. The downside might be the freezing temperatures and very short days of light but there is also the chance to try night skiing.

Go European in the US: America’s southern Rocky Mountains offers the cosy, European-style village of Taos Ski Valley. The resort founded by a Swiss-German immigrant in the mid 1950s and the mountain still boasts an authentic Bavarian lodge and an acclaimed ski school. The high-altitude slopes are renowned for their challenging runs and light, dry powder.

Major revamp for UK’s longest ski slope

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Fiona

Of course we’d all love there to be snow on tap whenever we wanted to go skiing or snowboarding. But the fact is we need to wait for winter. And sometimes we need to wait until the deepest mid-winter. That’s why dry ski slopes and indoor snow slopes are so popular, especially in Britain. Now the UK’s longest dry ski slopes is set for a £500,000 revamp.

The Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend, near Edinburgh, will be upgraded to include new, safer ski matting at its existing nursery slope, snowtubing runs and two new lifts.

Sportscotland, the national agency for sport, has provided the funding.

It was only recently that the popular Scottish dry ski slope, which is also known as Hillend ski slope, was threatened with closure after Midlothian Council said it could no longer afford to fund it. But then Sportscotland and the Scottish government stepped in with £1m of funding to secure the centre’s future.

The fight to save the centre was the focus of an internet campaign supported by a 27,000 people. It just goes to show how many people like their skiing!

Derek Milligan, Midlothian Council’s leader, is reported as saying: “We know there is huge enthusiasm out there for the centre and these improvements will offer something for everyone, whether it’s snowtubing, learning to ski on the new, safer nursery slopes or choosing a different slope from the top of the chair lift.

“We hope these exciting plans for this national facility will have a positive impact on snowsports for people across the country by helping to maximise the full potential of the site.”

With thanks to .Martin on Flickr for the header image.

New helmet law for Nova Scotia

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Fiona

If you’re planning a skiing holiday to Nova Scotia you’d be advised to take a helmet. From next November, any skier or snowboarder caught on a Nova Scotia ski hill without a helmet will face a $250 fine.

This comes form the Canadian jurisdiction that was the first to bring in fines for helmetless cyclists, so you can be sure that the Nova Scotia Ministry of Health and Wellness is serious about their new skiing law.

It’s thought that around three-quarters of Nova Scotians already wear helmets to ski and snowboard. The Canadian Ski Council states that helmet us eis up from 67% in 2006 to 75% in 2011. The new legislation is aimed at the “vulnerable” remainder. Since 2000, 11 people have suffered traumatic brain injuries on Nova Scotia ski hills.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Wellness is reported as saying: “Wearing a helmet greatly reduces the risk of suffering a traumatic brain injury and could be the one thing on the hill that saves a life.”

In 1997, Nova Scotia became the second Canadian province after British Columbia to pass a mandatory all-ages bike helmet law. In 2007, the province extended the ruling to skateboarders and rollerbladers.

A statement said: “The ski hill helmet law solidifies Nova Scotia’s position as a leader in helmet safety.”

Do you wear a helmet for skiing or snowboarding? If not, tell us why not? If you do, tell us your reasons.

How to get in the mood for skiing

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Fiona

The snow might have arrived in the northern regions of the UK, but down south it’s still a looking tad less Christmassy. So how is a skier or snowboarder meant to get in the mood for the white stuff? You could head along to a dry ski slope or perhaps an indoor snow dome. Or you could try this festive skiing warmer:

Top London hotel Bloomsbury’s, The Montague on the Gardens, is playing host to a new pop-up ski-lodge-style bar where mixologists are very happy indeed to blend drinks with 12 vodkas of Christmas. These come in festive flavours, such as spiced apple or candy cane, which can be sipped as guests snuggle into woolly rugs beside rows of skis, a snowman and pine trees. To add to the ski-style treat why not also order some bratwurst, turkey burgers and delicious roasted chestnuts from the barbecue? Ah, we’re already dreaming of apres-ski drinks. A gluhwein, beer or vodka anyone?

Three vodkas and a food tasting platter are priced at £20 per person (reservations essential), which seems like a small price to pay for something so festive/ski focused and different all rolled into one.

The next day, after you’ve recovered from the vodkas, we’ll bet you’re pulling out your skis and boots for a winter dusting!

With thanks to True Russian Vodka on Flickr for the header image.

The painter behind 300 ski maps

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Fiona

If you thought that all ski maps were now completely computer generated you will have overlooked the beautiful artwork of American James Niehues. For a quarter of a decade, 65-year-old James has been hand-painting panoramas of mountains and ski resorts, which in turn are reproduced into millions of pocket-sized maps. These are the maps that every skier and snowboarder uses to navigate their way around resorts in North America, Japan, Korea, China, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Serbia.

The recognisable look of a ski map

His style is distinctive, as any skier who has been to these countries on holiday will recognise. To create a map, James, of Colorado, first researches the area, checking satellite images on Google Earth, looking at existing maps, blueprints and photographs. Then, whenever possible, he visits the resort, taking photographs from the air while being flown over at various altitudes.

He then paints from an aerial perspective, working to bring a wide network of mountain faces and runs into a single plane. After this, James starts to paint, first in gouache, which is an opaque watercolor, on a 30-by-40 inch illustration board. This method allows him to lift the color and update sections if resorts change over the years.

The painstaking art of ski maps

This art takes time. Small ski areas can take three days of painting, while large resorts might need 10 days, and regional areas may take three weeks.

As you might expect, James, who has created some 300 maps during his career, is not the greatest fan of computers. He says: “I’ll use a computer to adjust the colour or perspective on a nearly finished map. But I think that computer-generated maps lack character. Computers can’t do what I can do. For example, computerised maps have cloned trees, all of them identical, while my tress are all different.”

James still has some mountains that he’d like to paint. He dreams of travelling to the Oregon coast and the desert surrounding Moab, Utah, to paint the landscapes he’s photographed over the years.

Check out his interview with American news show CNN below:

Big thanks to James for allowing us to use his illustrations in this blog – to see more of his works, check out http://www.jamesniehues.com

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