Tag: Ski

17Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips, Sports Business

Val Thorens named world’s best ski resort in 2025 World Ski Awards

The 13th annual World Ski Awards have been revealed and it’s Val Thorens, Europe’s highest resort, which was named the ‘World’s Best Ski Resort’ in recognition of setting the global standard for lift infrastructure, resort facilities and slopeside accommodation.  Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley in Utah was voted ‘World’s Best Ski Hotel’, and Chalet Zermatt Peak claimed the stellar title of ‘World’s Best Ski Chalet’. Hôtel Le Pashmina took the title for ‘World’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel’ thanks to its exquisite facilities and ski-to-door access to Les Trois Vallées. In the newcomer categories, Japan’s Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO, the first lifestyle brand of the historic Okura Nikko Hotel Group, fought off entrants from Val-d’Isère and the Austrian Tyrol to claim the title for ‘Wo...

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16Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Maison Sport backs GB Snowsport stars ahead of Milano Cortina 2026

Ski lesson booking platform Maison Sport has announced a new partnership as an official sponsor of GB Snowsport. This collaboration will support Britain's Alpine Men’s World Cup team – Dave Ryding, Billy Major and Laurie Taylor – as they prepare for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Founded by former members of the British ski team, Maison Sport has a deep-rooted passion for British Snowsports. This partnership marks a significant step for the company to further its commitment to supporting the UK Snowsports community, from grassroots talent to the highest levels of international competition. Nick Robinson, CEO and co-founder of Maison Sport, said: “As a former member of the British Ski Team, I understand all too well the dedication and hard work required to compete at th...

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18Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Bucket List, Holidays & Trips, Trends

Ultimate ski bucket list: skiing under the Northern Lights tops poll

A survey by ski holiday specialist Heidi has revealed the No.1 ski bucket list experience for UK skiers. Topping the list by a considerable margin is skiing under the Northern Lights, voted the must-do adventure across all age groups.  Participants rated 30 iconic ski experiences they’d love to tick off at least once in their lifetime. The magic of gliding across snow while the aurora dances overhead scored almost twice as highly as the average activity – making it the undisputed favourite.  In second place was another nocturnal thrill: night skiing under the stars, followed by tackling the world’s longest on-piste run – the legendary 22km descent from Klein Matterhorn to Valtournenche in the Zermatt-Cervinia ski area, crossing the Swiss-Italian border.  Interesting...

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12Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides

Verbier, Switzerland: a winter sports travel guide for 2025-2026

Verbier, an Alpine village in Switzerland’s Valais Canton, is set to deliver one of its most ambitious ski seasons yet. From November 2025 right through to the end of April 2026 – a total of 151 skiable days – winter sports lovers will have half a year to carve up Switzerland’s most iconic terrain. Weekend-only access starts the season in November before the full lift system opens daily from early December. High-altitude pistes up to 2,700m and extensive snowmaking (63% coverage) make for reliable conditions from the first snowfall to spring’s final après-ski. Two rapid gondolas whisk skiers from the 1,500m village to summit terrain in under 11 minutes – meaning powder laps before breakfast are practically a given. Verbier anchors the 4 Vallées, Switzerland’s largest linked ski ar...

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6Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Bucket List, Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts

Sports travel bucket list: rent an ultra-luxury ski chalet for €550,000 per week

If your winter sports dreams include carving down world-class slopes by day and retreating to your own private Alpine palace by night, this one’s for the bucket list. London-based The Luxury Chalet Company has unveiled its most opulent winter portfolio yet – a collection of chalets so lavish they redefine what après-ski luxury means. With properties starting from €30,000 per week and soaring to an astonishing €500,000 per week (and sometimes beyond), these chalets are the ultimate in mountain indulgence. Guests can expect indoor swimming pools, private spas, cinema rooms, gyms, games lounges, wine cellars, and even grand pianos, alongside butlers, chefs, chauffeurs, and personal concierges. Cameron Temple, founder of The Luxury Chalet Company, said: “Our clients are looking for the u...

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18Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Bucket List, Editor's Pick, Holidays & Trips

Sports travel bucket list: 10-day Japan ski and culture tour

As Japan’s popularity for luxury skiing continues to grow, Wayfairer Travel has launched a 10-day Japan ski and culture tour to meet rising demand. Projected to become the luxury travel company’s most popular destination in 2025, bookings to Japan have increased by 32% since 2024.  Japan is the world’s most sought-after skiing destination due to its exceptional snow conditions and unique cultural  experiences. Influenced by cold Siberian winds, the region consistently receives light, dry powder snow known as ‘JaPOW’, which, combined with Japan’s distinctive tree skiing, sets it apart from other winter destinations around the globe.  Wayfairer’s new itinerary is packed with both metropolitan city exploration and off-the grid adventure – a fantastic tour for travellers seeking immersiv...

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29Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts

Diamond of the Alps: Gurgl’s World Cup ski race offers plenty of ‘altitude’

Ramy James Salameh puts on his skis and mixes it up with the world's best slalom skiers at the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup Race in Gurgl, Austria – The Diamond of the Alps. The "snow gods" were looking down upon organisers of the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup Slalom Race in Gurgl, a ski resort famed for its "altitude", long winter season and dramatic crucible of lofty peaks. Located at the end the Oetztal valley in Austria’s Tirol region, skiing takes place between 1,800m and 3,030m, meaning "divine intervention" is rarely required to ensure Gurgl has plenty of the white stuff, even as early as the season's opening ski weekend in November. A fresh blanket of powdery snow across the landscape and a cloudless sky, set the scene for the thrills and spills of World Cup ski racing, as well a...

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31Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Haute-Savoie’s smaller ski resorts offer big surprises

Enjoy the familiarity, cosiness and character of smaller ski resorts? If you do, then follow in the snowy footsteps of travel writer, Olly Beckett, as a he carves a route through the Haute-Savoie region of France, shining a light on the area’s smaller ski resorts, often overlooked in favour of Morzine and Le Gets. He discovers plenty of unique advantages for skiers both on and off the pistes. Dotted among the Haute-Savoie’s snowsport superstars such as Morzine and Les Gets are many smaller, but no less sensational resorts. Although the names featured in this story may be new to you, many in France are familiar with them and soon, thanks to the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, you may be too. Although larger resorts have their advantages, in places such as Thollon-Les-Memises ...

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8Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Editor's Pick, Sports Business

Snowsport Scotland & England sign partnership with the High Tatras & Liptov regions of Slovakia

Snowsport Scotland and Snowsport England have announced a new partnership with the High Tatras & Liptov regions of Slovakia for the forthcoming winter season, which will bring the destination into focus for UK clubs, athletes and the recreational snow sports community, offering an exciting and affordable opportunity for winter holidays and training camps. The Slovak Tatra mountains are a relatively unexplored area for Brits, however they offer several world-class ski resorts, exceptional value for money and the very latest technology in lift infrastructure. The region hosts the Alpine World Cup and boasts a season that can run right through to May. Flights with WizzAir and Ryanair, from UK airports start from as little as £15 with transfer times from the nearest ai...

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2Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards to host SkiWeekends break in Les Gets

SkiWeekends has launched a new holiday this winter in the French ski resort of Les Gets, hosted by Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, Britain’s most famous ski jumper. Getting the unique opportunity to ski, stay, and dine with one of Britain’s iconic Olympians, guests will stay at Chalet Marjorie in the heart of Les Gets over a week during January with options for both short and longer stays.  Edwards is renowned for his daring exploits, from stunt jumping over six buses to holding the British ski jumping record. As the first competitor to represent Great Britain in ski jumping for 60 years, he achieved 73.5m at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games. Beyond his athletic achievements, Edwards is also an accomplished skier, a qualified instructor and former Alpine ski racer. In 2016, he was ...

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2Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides

Courmayeur Mont Blanc set for 2024-2025 ski season 

Courmayeur Mont Blanc, nestled in the heart of the Italian Alps, will launch its eagerly awaited 2024-2025 ski season on 5 December 2024.  A charming ski resort boasting a rich calendar of events set against a backdrop of breathtaking snow-capped mountains, Courmayeur is an ideal destination for sports travellers in search of adventure and outdoor experiences. Activities in Courmayeur include heliskiing, off-piste and cross-country skiing, ice skating, fat biking in the scenic Val Ferret, hiking, dog sledding, snowshoeing, and climbing. The Italian ski resort is conveniently accessible from major international airports in Geneva, Turin, and Milan. With more than 43km of pistes and elevations approaching 2,800 metres, it features enticing ski packages from top tour operators like Mome...

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20Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides

Portes du Soleil: a winter sports travel guide

The 2024-2025 winter sports season marks a monumental milestone for the Portes du Soleil, as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. Nestled between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, just an hour from Geneva, the Portes du Soleil remains one of the largest and most celebrated ski areas in the world. Spanning the Franco-Swiss border, the ski paradise boasts 12 resorts, offering skiers and snowboarders the unique opportunity to glide seamlessly between France and Switzerland.  All 12 resorts in the Portes du Soleil can be easily accessed from Geneva Airport. A six-day lift pass for the Portes du Soleil area is priced from €336 for adults, €252 for children and €302 for seniors (web prices, until 28 March 2025). See more at portesdusoleil.com   Portes du Soleil: the 12 resorts  Avoriaz (Franc...

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15Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business

Snomad Ski Resort Awards 2024: Lech Zürs named best overall ski resort

Lech Zürs, located in Austria's Arlberg region, has been named the best overall ski resort in the inaugural Snomad Ski Resort Awards. Launched during the 2023-2024 winter season, ski resort comparison website Snomad currently has 1,204 ski resorts listed on its website, with more than 78,800 community-led ratings built up over one winter season. Using data from its website, Snomad created 20 award categories with the top three ski resorts in each, then awarded gold to the resort with the highest rating. This meant the awards were “truly impartial”, according to the company.  One of the primary aims of Snomad is to create an engaged community of skiers and snowboarders supporting each other to find resorts and hidden gems, based on the factors that are important to them, with data acr...

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1Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Action Outdoors launches 2024-2025 UCPA skiing holidays for 18-30s

Action Outdoors, the UK arm of not-for-profit French organisation UCPA, has launched an expanded programme of ski and snowboard holidays for young people for the 2024-2025 winter sport season. Like all of its holidays, the emphasis is on all-inclusive value for money in UCPA centres in some of the top French ski resorts including Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Les Arcs. There’s now more than 300 holidays across the winter that are specifically for the 18-30 age group, with 18-25s benefiting from even further discounting on price. All 18-30 Club Exclusive holidays mean the centres are blocked off exclusively for that age group. Prices start at £541pp (18-25s) and £551pp (18-30 Club Exclusive weeks), including seven nights’ full-board accommodation with breakfast, lunch and dinner, full ...

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10Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Editor's Pick, Guides

Les 3 Vallées: a winter sports travel guide 

Les 3 Vallées, nestled in the French Alps, is the largest interconnected ski area in the world, encompassing seven resorts: Courchevel, Méribel, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Les Menuires, Val Thorens, Orelle, and Brides-les-Bains. Renowned for its stunning landscapes, diverse ski terrains, and luxurious accommodations, Les 3 Vallées is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Main image: Courchevel (credit: Les 3 Vallées/Alexis Brot)  Top resorts in Les 3 Vallées Courchevel Overview: Courchevel is the most prestigious resort in Les 3 Vallées, known for its upscale hotels, MICHELIN-starred restaurants, and high-end shopping. It’s composed of four villages, each at different altitudes, with Courchevel 1850 being the most glamorous. Sports appeal: The resort offers access to 1...

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2Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

London to Innsbruck by train: rail in style to the ‘Capital of the Alps’

With an international train station in the heart of the alpine city, Innsbruck provides a unique opportunity for winter sports enthusiasts to travel by rail. Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof train station is a hub for major European rail routes, enabling visitors from London St Pancras to be in the “Capital of the Alps” in approximately 12 hours, depending on the route. From there the benefit of connectivity continues, with access to Innsbruck’s 13 ski resorts, all linked-up by free public transport through one ticket, with the Ski plus CITY Pass Stubai-Innsbruck. This includes Kühtai, the highest ski village in Austria, as well as Mutteralm, the family mountain in the picturesque village of Mutters, and Innsbruck’s own ski mountain, Nordkette, with incredible views of the cityscape from the...

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28Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips

Winter in Trentino, Italy: 2023-2024 ski resort openings and new facilities

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the region of Trentino provides the perfect winter escape for travellers seeking an authentic Italian alpine experience. This season the region, which at this time of the year is recognised for its interconnected pistes and beautiful scenery, has revealed several world-class additions to its facilities and infrastructure. Ski resorts: early opening Following a flurry of early November snow, ski resorts in Trentino are now anticipating an earlier-than-expected opening to their slopes. The popular resorts of Madonna di Campiglio in the Trentino Dolomites, Presena Glacier-Tonale (Val di Sole), Val di Fiemme and Paganella plan to open early while all remaining resorts will open in December. Updated ski resort facilities The Trentino region has r...

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30Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Bucket List, Enjoy Tatras, Holidays & Trips

Your invitation to winter in Slovakia’s Tatras region

Ryanair now flies to the Tatras Mountains Great news for ski-loving families looking for amazing winter sports holidays at amazing prices. Ryanair, one of Europe's premier airlines, has launched a brand new route between Poprad and London starting from 1 November 2023, further connecting Slovakia and the UK. The carrier will operate four weekly flights between Poprad-Tatry Airport and London Stansted, making it easier and cheaper than ever to take your family on a dream ski holiday. Ryanair will now join Wizz Air as the two major airlines flying to Poprad from the UK.  World-class skiing in the Tatras and Liptov region Slovakia's Tatras and Liptov region offers world-class ski infrastructure, terrain and après-ski to rival the western Alps, while also being exceptional value ...

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2024 City Ski Challenge, Crans-Montana

The City Ski Challenge will take place in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana from 2-4 February 2024. Incorporating the City Ski Championships, organisers Momentum have created the new event to encourage a more diverse experience for all levels of skier.  Located in Crans-Montana for the third year running, the event will continue to hold its giant slalom race on the World Cup track, but new categories for novice skiers have been introduced. Away from the racing, there’s also a chance for participants to experience introduction to ski touring, snowshoeing, dog sledding, curling and ski race instruction from top coaches.  Amin Momen, managing director of Momentum, said: “After 23 years, to ensure the event’s continued success and further growth, it is evolving to remain salient to i...

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10Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

Lonely Planet releases new ‘Epic Snow Adventures of the World’ book

Guidebook publisher Lonely Planet has released a new travel-inspired lifestyle book – “Epic Snow Adventures of the World” – which reveals 50 incredible stories from Olympians and athletes to inspire a lifetime of snowy challenges.  The collection features some of the world's most thrilling wintery adventures, including:  powder-hunting in Hokkaido a deep freeze dip in Finlandskate-skiing in Canadafat-biking in the Rockiesback-country boardingSub-Saharan skiingmushing through the Andesan Alpine odyssey in Australiaice-climbing in Coloradoheli-skiing in Alaska ice-skating in New Yorksnow safari in Yellowstone  There are also first-person accounts from legendary winter sports stars such as Jonny Moseley (Olympic gold medalist freestyle skier), Sage Kotsenburg (Olympic gold medal...

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