NZsnowboard.com

25th August 2007

Zermatt Announces New Lifts, Runs and Snowmaking
Zermatt, which managed to increase snowfall and thus business last winter when lower resorts had a ?challenging season?, has announced a host of new lifts and runs.

In the Sunnegga sector, the old - Findeln - Breitboden double chair lift will be replaced by a detachable quad with heated seats next winter. This new chair lift, which is costing 13m Swiss Francs to install, will have a passenger capacity of 2,000 people per hour and an underground station on Sunnegga.

A second new lift is being erected in the Stockhorn region to ensure the downhill run here remains accessible even after the closure of the Hoht?lli - Stockhorn cable railway. The Hoht?lli - Rote Nase cable railway and the Triftij ski lift will also remain in service.

To replace the Gornergrat - Hoht?lli cable railway a new intermediate (red) ski run is being built from Hoht?lli to Kellensee. This new connection will not only dramatically reduce transfer times, but will also significantly improve accessibility to the Gornergrat and Matterhorn glacier sectors.

Once again, additional snow-making is being added this summer and now approximately 60% of all pistes in Zermatt are either covered with snowmaking or on the glacier.



First Ever Snowboard World Cup Event Coming To New Zealand
The 2007/2008 Nokia sponsored Snowboard FIS World Cup will kick off this season in New Zealand for the first time. On August 31st and September 1st, the first Halfpipe contest will be held in Cardrona.

Riders from about 20 nations will fight for the first FIS World Cup points in the Johnny Superpipe.

Besides reigning 2007 title holders Ryoh Aono (JPN) and World Champion Manuela Laura Pesko (SUI), many well-known stars of the snowboard scene will put on quite a show in the halfpipe of Cardrona.

On the ladies? side, Gretchen Bleiler (USA) and Kjersti Buaas (NOR), who took home Silver and Bronze at the 2006 Olympic Games, will battle for victory.

In the men?s competition, 2005 Double World Champion Antti Autti (FIN), his former countryman Risto Mattila, Kazuhiro Kokubo (JPN) and Christophe Schmidt (GER) will drop in the Johnny Superpipe ? just to mention a few big names.

?We?ll see probably one of the best competitions ever because so many good riders will be there.? Said Tor Svensson, the Swedish coach of the Dutch team.

All athletes will need to adjust to a new Halfpipe World Cup format. Only the best three ranked riders of each qualification heat will make it directly to the final. The 4th to 9th ranked of each qualifier have to fight for the last final spots in the semi finals where only the top six men and three ladies proceed. In the finals, twelve men and six ladies will compete in two runs like last year.

www.fis-ski.com / www.cardrona.com



Tremblant Spends on Snowmaking and Plans New Lift and Terrain
For 07-08, Tremblant near Montreal in Quebec, Canada will upgrade 125 of its older snow guns to new, more powerful and more efficient equipment. New waterlines will also allow the resort to cover new areas on Versant Nord and Versant Sud, on Expo, Cossak and McCulloch trails. The resort already operates one of the most powerful snowmaking system in North America,

?Our concern in this field is not only to make more snow but also to save energy with the newest snowmaking technology that uses less electricity.? Said resort spokeswoman Virginie Barbeau.

?When you think of last winter's weather in December and January (that forced some resorts in the East to shut down), you realise how well we did to provide an amazing experience for our guests. Even though we had really short periods of cold, we managed to make great amounts of snow on the most popular trails and our snowmaking team received praises throughout winter for their extraordinary work.? Concluded Ms Barbeau.

A new BR350 trail groomer with a winch is also expected to start the winter. This new machine has a Caterpillar engine that produces less CO2 emissions.

Also coming up this winter some enhanced terrain on the Edge side. Although the trail count stays at 94, existing lines along the trails will be turned into real glades accessible from the Edge chair. Tree skiers and boarders will enjoy Tentation and Haute-Tension's new paths.

Skiers and boarders going down Versant Soleil will observe that much is coming up around Tremblant's new resort village. Slopeside condos are now available right next to the lift and the construction of a village-to-village lift will start toward the end of the winter.

This new concept will have gondolas connect Versant Sud and Versant Soleil. The lift will be in operation when the new Gaming Centre opens in summer 2008.

Also, the construction of a new beginner trail going from the summit to the base of Versant Soleil will start before the end of the winter to be ready for the 08-09 opening.

www.tremblant.ca



Engelberg Expands Snowmaking ? Now Top To Bottom
Despite having year round snow on its glacier, the Titlis Rotair Cableway company at Engelberg have invested 8.5 Million Swiss Francs (5.3 Million EURO) in new artificial snow-making machines over the past three years.

The spend means that for the first time the resort?s full 2000m (7000ft) vertical has snowmaking cover over its full 12km (7.5 mile) descent.
 
In total 41km (26 miles) of ski-runs now have snowmaking cover.

www.titlis.ch



Burns Night in Chamonix
The top French ski resort of Chamonix has announced plans to stage an official  Burns Night celebration in honour of the great Scottish poet on 1st February, 2008.

Chamonix?s tourist office decided to host the event, declaring that the 18th century bard, was, ?A true Scotsman, with whom we share common values.? And say the event will be a tribute to Chamonix?s Franco ? British community.

The convivial evening will be open to all with singing, dancing and the traditional toast of the haggis.



Whitefish Aims To Open Superpipe Earlier
Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana, USA (formerly Big Mountain) has committed additional resources to its Fishbowl Terrain Park and Superpipe with the aim of making it possible to open the popular features by Christmas, as well as to expand the offerings in the park for all ability levels. A new dedicated Park and Pipe Groomer position has been created who will coordinate closely with the terrain park crew and work exclusively in the terrain park and superpipe. The resort will also seek input and involvement from local skiers and riders.

Local snowboarder and photographer Brendan Rohan said, ?It is encouraging to see the new board of directors take the initiative to upgrade the on-mountain experience for the new generation of riders. It will also be a great opportunity to dialogue with the mountain about the plan and it will be awesome for local riders to train here and not have to move elsewhere in search of better facilities.?

In 2005, the resort invested $250,000 to build a 500-foot long Superpipe to Federation of International Skiing (FIS) competition standards. Additional snowmaking, lights, and a sound system were also installed, and the resort purchased a new Zaugg Pipe Monster grooming implement, the industry standard Superpipe groomer.

This winter, the Fishbowl Terrain Park will undergo an expansion to offer a progression of features for all ability levels. A dedicated beginner area will be made up of smaller and less intimidating rails, boxes, rollers, and jumps. In addition, two distinct runs will flow from the top of the Chair 3 area all the way to the bottom: an intermediate line will begin adjacent to the superpipe, and park and grooming crews will take advantage of the headwalls and breakovers on Hope Slope to create an expert line that includes bigger jumps and longer landings. The bottom half of these two lines will run parallel to one another and feature a variety of rails and boxes.

Jumps in the park this winter will include a 10-foot table top, 25-foot step down, 30 foot table top, with features including a 14-foot flat beginner rail, 16-foot flat box, 16-foot shotgun rail (double bar rail), 28-foot rainbow rail, 28-foot triple kink rail (flat down flat), a long 40-foot rail, a 20-foot flat box, a 20-foot c-box (a banked and curved funbox), and a wall ride, 8-feet high and 12 feet wide, with a sliding surface on front and top.

In order for these initiatives to become reality, the resort is increasing its electric and water supplies in the area that will triple the snowmaking capacity in the pipe and park.

www.skiwhitefish.com



Val Gardena Quad Count Hits 27
Italy?s Val Gardena is upgrading another old chairlift this summer and will be able to offer its guests 27 quad chair lifts next winter, 13 of them high speed detatchable lifts.

The latest high speed detachable, Sole, has a capacity of 1,800 people an hour and replaces a fixed grip triple chairlift.

In addition the resort will be upgrading and widening various slopes in it?s ski area and upgrading snowmaking.

The new lift is one of six being installed in the Dolomiti Superski region, which has 90% snowmaking coverage on it 1,200km (750 miles) of slopes.

Other resorts running high numbers of quad chairlifts include Austria?s SkiWelt with 20, Vail with 17 (including 16 high speed) and Whistler with 13.  



New Luxury Lodging At Steamboat 
Starwood Hotels have announced a major renovation plan for the Sheraton Steamboat Springs, located at the foot of the Steamboat ski area and adjacent to the Silver Bullet Gondola. Work on the multi-million dollar makeover will begin at the end of nezt season.

The first phase of construction includes a total renovation of the West Tower which includes 193 hotel rooms.  These rooms will be upgraded to the new Sheraton standards, including new bedding and a completely updated decor.  In addition, the East Tower, which currently includes 80 hotel rooms, will be converted into 24 two- and three- bedroom luxury vacation ownership villas.  Floors six and seven of the East Tower will remain individually owned condominiums. The Morningside Tower, which currently houses 23 multiple bedroom rental villas, will be converted to vacation ownership villas.

?We are in a world-class ski destination and we are excited to deliver a world-class product, both in terms of hotel accommodations and vacation ownership. We expect the first phase to be completed in late 2008 and the entire project to be finished in 2009.? said Charles W. Porter, CHA, general manager.

The Sheraton Steamboat will be Starwood?s fifth vacation ownership resort in Colorado, in addition to the St. Regis Residence Club, Aspen; Sheraton Mountain Vista in Avon; Lakeside Terrace in Avon; and the Westin Riverfront in Avon, which is currently under development.  

?We have a long history in Colorado and it is an honor to add to our portfolio of world class properties in the state. The hotel will be truly outstanding when it is refurbished.? said Mathew E. Avril, president and managing director of real estate, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc

www.starwoodvo.com / www.starwoodhotels.com



Superb Season Continuing in Chile
The exceptionally cold and snowy winter that has blessed Chile?s ski areas this year is continuing to pay dividends for skiers and resorts in the region.

The country?s capital, Santiago, received its first snowfall in eight years last week and falls of up to two metres (nearly seven feet) were recorded in parts of the country.  This ongoing snowfall is on top of earlier falls which helped many areas open all their lifts and terrain on a day one of the season in June and July.

The country?s oldest resort of Portillo reports it?s snowfall this season to date at 7.3m (730 cms / 24 feet) with current base depths of up to 2.3m (7.5 feet).

Although great news for skiers, the snow and cold weather has caused problems for the country?s fruit and wine industries with some estimates claiming losses will amount to $250m.

www.skiportillo.com



New Gondola To Debut This Winter at Snowmass
The new eight-person Elk Camp gondola will open this winter, linking the new multi-billion dollar village development at Snowmass near Aspen in Colorado to the top of Elk Camp Meadows.  The ascent will take 8.5 minutes.

Combined with last season's new Village Express six-seater lift and the Sky Cab gondola, the expanding lift network at Snowmass is providing ever more efficient high-speed connections between the growing resort and its ski area.