Gourmet Coverage 2015 - 2016

Mountain Gourmet Ski Experience

Key Coverage Clippings

8th June 2015 15th January 2016

02/06/2015 Heston Blumenthal's Travelling Life The Daily Telegraph

06/06/2015 'Relax - and the creative juices will flow' The Daily Telegraph

10/07/2015 City Ski Champs moves to Verbier PlanetSKI

11/07/2015 Verbier to host City Ski Championships 2016 Snow Guide

13/07/2015 The City SKI Championships move to the prestigious resort of Verbier Winter 2015/16

ITCM

16/07/2015 The City Ski Championships Move To Verbier For Winter 2015/16 Snow Industry News

03/09/2015 Ski holidays to book now The Daily Telegraph

05/09/2015 Find a slope that suits, from Mribel to Mount Toubkal The Daily Telegraph

12/09/2015 Hit the slopes and learn from the best The Daily Telegraph

17/09/2015 mountain gourmet ski experience with heston blumenthal Snow Industry News

17/09/2015 Decision day looms Telegraph

17/09/2015 Verbier welcomes City Ski Championships PlanetSKI

18/09/2015 Impact Food Interviews Marcus Wareing University of Nottingham Impact

01/10/2015 Chefs Festival in Courmayeur, Italy The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Magazine

01/10/2015 Ski with the Stars The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Magazine

01/10/2015 The Chill Factor Escapism

03/10/2015 The 50 best ski breaks to book now The Times

03/10/2015 The 50 best ski breaks to book now The Times

09/10/2015 The Best Resorts for Early Season Skiing We Love 2 Ski

10/10/2015 Great little ski resorts The Guardian

10/10/2015 The party on the piste starts here The Daily Telegraph

10/10/2015 Great little ski resorts The Guardian

12/10/2015 Best ski resorts for apres-ski The Daily Telegraph

18/10/2015 Make a beeline for them mountains - at any cost The Sunday Times

19/10/2015 Ten of this winters most exciting resorts. British Airways High Life

23/10/2015 Five of the best skiing resorts Money Week

25/10/2015 Catering for the Gourmet Skier The Sunday Business Post

28/10/2015 The Best Resorts for Family Skiing We Love 2 Ski

01/11/2015 definitive Verbs Conde Nast Traveller

01/11/2015 10 top resorts for partying The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Magazine

01/11/2015 Ski with the Stars The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Magazine

02/11/2015 City Ski Championships move to Verbier for 2016 The European

16/11/2015 City Ski Championships move to Verbier for 2016 The European

30/11/2015 They're cooking up a storm in 'Gourmayeur' Evening Standard

01/01/2016 Good taste Conde Nast Traveller

04/10/2015 Slope off to Europe Square Meal Lifestyle

01/12/2015 Gourmet ski trip: Sat Bains, Heston Blumenthal and Marcus Wareing cook up a storm in

Courmayeur Evening Standard

04/01/2016 Gourmet dining The Quarterly

03/01/2016 Verbier in the picture Skier & Snowboarder

19/12/2015 Last-Minute New Year Deals We Love 2 Ski

01/12/2015 Late-Night Skiing and Boarding at Madesimo In the Snow

01/01/2016 10 top Resorts for foodies The Telegraph Ski and Snowboard mag

30/12/2015 10 top Resorts for foodies The Daily Telegraph

02/01/2016 World Food Beating Experiences 2016 Foodtripper

01/02/2016 Six of the best The Sunday Times

14/01/2016 Leading Chefs Enjoy Mountain Gourmet Ski Experience 8th - 11th January 2016 Snow Industry

News

14/01/2016 Mountain Gourmet Ski Experience 8th - 11th January 2016 Pressat

14/01/2016 Mountain Gourmet Ski Experience 8th - 11th January 2016 Other Latest Headlines M2

14/01/2016 A Look Back At The Third Mountain Gourmet Ski Experience Luxurious Magazine

01/02/2016 The Heat is on The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Magazine

16/01/2016 Celebrity Spotting Nottingham Post

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Heston Blumenthal: "If you want Zen, purist food, the best cities for it are Tokyo and Kyoto" Photo: RexFeatures

How often do you travel?

A lot at the moment for work, but Ive had a few holidays in between. Earlier this year we moved The Fat Duckrestaurant to Melbourne , which will be there through mid-August while the restaurant in Bray is being rebuilt. Solast year I travelled to Australia five times planning for the opening of the restaurant. The Fat Duck in Brayreopens this September, but in October Ill go back to Melbourne to open Dinner with Heston Blumenthal. I alsomight go to South Africa later this year.

Melbourne city guide

What do you need for a perfect holiday?

I like to eat good food, drink nice wine and exercise a lot. As long as I have my wallet, passport, credit card,telephone and computer with me, Im fine being anywhere. Its also really important that I have my prescriptionsunglasses shades over spectacles is not a good look.

Your earliest memory of travelling abroad?

A trip to South Africa when I was 11. I was on a safari break at Kruger National Park and stayed in a straw hut everything was very basic back then.

A skier on Mont Blanc, Italy (Alamy)

Your best holiday ever?

I love skiing and my favourite resort is Courmayeur in Italy. Its a pretty town, the people are friendly and theyserve the sort of hearty food youd want to eat on a mountain. I was there earlier this year for the MountainGourmet Ski Experience with Sat Bains and Marcus Wareing. We stayed at the Auberge de la Maison and theGrand Hotel Royale Golf. I was there mostly for work but it was one of the best ski breaks Id ever had and Ilaughed so much that I lost my voice.

Celebrities' favourite ski resorts

Most relaxing holiday?

In March, Suzanne [Pirret, his partner] and I spent six days in the Philippines. We stayed at the Amanpulo resort.The weather was just right and I went running around the island every day. I can tell Ive relaxed when my mind

Heston Blumenthal's Travelling Life

APS Select Yellow NewsThe Daily Telegraph (Web)02 June 2015

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starts opening up and the creative juices start to flow.

Favourite hotel?

At the moment its Crown Towers in Melbourne. Its unbelievably well run and although there are casinos itsnothing like Las Vegas; you wont walk out of the restaurant and be led straight into the casino area. TheMandarin Oriental in Paris is great too.

The world's best restaurants

Favourite city?

If you want Zen, purist food the best cities for it are Tokyo and Kyoto . Paris is best for three-Michelin-starredFrench fare. For quality casual dining, New York, London, Melbourne and Sydney are the best cities. There areso many great little restaurants in Melbourne that you could eat out for a month and not visit the same placetwice. Melbourne is such a vibrant city, with beautiful beaches, keen food lovers and amazing ingredients.Whenever I land there, I feel I can breathe.

Kyoto, Japan: Trip of a Lifetime

Favourite restaurant?

I keep going back to Riva, set down the road from where I live in Barnes. Andrea [ the owner] is brilliant andwhenever I go in there its like being wrapped up in a warm blanket.

Melbourne, Australia (Alamy)

Favourite airport food?

I dont have pre-flight meals because I always eat on the plane. But if I did, Id have pizza at the PerfectionistsCaf at Heathrow Terminal 2. It has a wood oven, hoping to serves Naples-style quality pizza. The fish and chipsthere are also great and they do a fantastic breakfast. Its set in a really cool space with a liquid nitrogen icecream machine.

The world's best airport restaurants

Favourite airline?

I love long-haul flights. Im like a big kid I dont want to sleep because there are too many things I could do. Iwork, eat, drink and watch films. Sometimes, if I get on with the cabin crew, Ill be a real pain and go into thekitchen to see how my steak is being cooked. Pound for pound, Singapore Airlines is one of the best their firstclass suites have doors and beds. The food served in first class with Qantas Airlines is really good. Chef NeilPerry has created a brilliant menu. The Qantas lounge in Sydney has a proper kitchen that is manned by hispersonal staff.



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Heston Blumenthal's Australian adventures

Worst travel experience?

I went skiing in Slovenia with my son when Heathrow Terminal 5 just opened and it was having a lot baggageissues. My sons case arrived, but mine didnt, so I ended up having to buy a purple one-piece ski suit from one ofthe airport shops. That was pretty memorable.

What do you hate about travelling?

The small annoyances, such as when the heating is turned up on night flights or when your overhead locker is fullof someone elses stuff. I enjoy long-haul flights more, as Im usually lucky enough to get good seats, butshort-haul flights can be awful. Bad service also really gets to me.

A temple in Kyoto, Japan (Alamy)

Best piece of travel advice?

Always put your watch and your mind on the time of the country you are flying to. Try to get a night flight andwhen you arrive, do some exercise. If youre not into exercising, then walk for an hour; just make sure you getsome air and see the light of day.

Where next?

The team and I will move The Fat Duck back to Bray in August. Itll have a new kitchen and were taking outseats, going down to 40 covers. I cant tell you more, but there will be something new that envelops the wholeexperience. The reopening of The Fat Duck will be the single biggest thing I have ever done. Itll actually be morenerve-wracking for me than moving the whole thing to Australia and back.

The Fat Duck restaurant in Melbourne will be open until August 16.[sourcelink]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/celebritytravel/11645160/Heston-Blumenthals-Travelling-Life.html[/sourcelink]



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The Daily Telegraph (Travel)06 June 2015

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Jul10 Tweet Friday July 10, 2015 - to a friend After four years in Crans-Montana it will be in Verbier next winter.It sees City firms, celebrities, invited guests and the media go head to head in the gates. And in the apres skistakes.

The event started off in the Italian resort of Courmayeur 16 years ago before relocating to Crans-Montana inSwitzerland.

It is run by the bespoke ski tour operator, Momentum Ski.

It provides Europe's business and financial community with an opportunity to race, network and entertain clients.

As well as the racing there is plenty of aprs ski activities and the Financial Times Alpine Forum.

"It has been very good at Crans-Montana but we feel it is time to move on and Verbier was the obvious choice,"said Ben Badger from Momentum Ski to PlanetSKI.

PlanetSKI took part in the event in 2014; Past celebrity guest attendees include Marcus Brigstocke, AmyWilliams, Damon Hill, Colin Jackson, Marcus Wareing, Sir Steve Redgrave, Rufus Hound, Tommy Moe andHeston Blumenthal, together with the UK's leading ski figures: Graham Bell, Konrad Bartelski and Matt Chilton.

The racing will take place on the north-facing race slope in the Savolyeres area of Verbier from February 4th - 7th2016.

City Ski Champs City Ski Champs One of criticisms of Crans-Montana was that the slope was south facing andthis became slushy and not ideal for racing.

In Verbier it goes up a gear.

It is expected the prices will be similar to the event in Crans-Montana with the W Hotel and the Montpelier usedas the main accommodation for participants.

The gala dinner and prize giving will held at the Mouton Noir on the slopes at Les Ruinettes above Verbier.

"As a classic Swiss resort, the choice of so many keen skiers and even royalty, we are thrilled to have attractedthe City Ski Championships to Verbier for the foreseeable future. We look forward to meeting all the competitorsin the autumn," said the Marketing Director of Verbier Tourist Office, Pierre- Andre Gremaud.

A full programme will be released in the Autumn and PlanetSKI hope to be taking part once again as it moves toour home resort of Verbier.

With, or without, our inflatible guitars City Ski Champs[sourcelink]http://www.planetski.eu/news/7085[/sourcelink]

City Ski Champs moves to Verbier

APS Select Yellow NewsPlanetSKI (Web)10 July 2015


Verbier to host City Ski Championships 2016

2 weeks ago

The Swiss resort of Verbier will host the 2016 Momentum Ski Festival, incorporating the City Ski

Championships in early February.

The move from nearby Crans Montana sees the event find a new home in its 17th year.

The format is simple, skiing and business, with a bit of fun thrown in too Snow.Guide Ski Editor Rob

Stewart attended the festival in 2014 and you can read about it here: Keep Your Momentum Up and

Nothing like a bit of competition.

Weekend of apres ski fun

Its also known to attract celebrities such as Marcus Brigstocke, Amy Williams, Damon Hill, Colin

Jackson, Marcus Wareing, Sir Steven Redgrave and Heston Blumenthal.

Many keen skiers who work in the city come year after year for the networking opportunities and of

course for the ski racing, which is taken pretty seriously.

British skiing legends, Graham Bell and Konrad Bartelski will be there to lead the way, but the

prestigious competition also attracts a high standard of ski racers from clubs in the UK and further

afield.

Snow.Guides Rob Stewart takes first place in the media race

Pierre- Andre Gremaud, Marketing Director of Verbier Tourist Office commented:

We are thrilled to have attracted the City Ski Championships to Verbier for the foreseeable future.

Despite the expert skiing on offer, lively aprs ski and luxurious surroundings it is also the lesser

known areas and aspects of Verbier that will offer a new chapter to this festivals history. We look

forward to meeting all the competitors in the Autumn.

Ski racing for every level

Some of the highlights include:

> Financial Times Alpine Forum at W Hotel

welcome reception and networking dinner at the W Hotel

> Comedy Club after dinner at the W Hotel

> All racing, ski clinics and finish paddock on Verbiers north facing race course

> Prize giving gala dinner on the mountain at Mouton Noir on Saturday with a top live band

> Momentum Ski Festival Weekend aprs-ski programme and Thursday welcome dinner showcasing

Verbiers best venues & trendy nightlife.

More information can be found here > cityskichampionships.com

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Details Category: Venues & Events Created on Monday, 13 July 2015 09:45

The City Ski Championships are gathering Momentum for their 17th edition and for the first time ever will behosted in Verbier from 4th to 7th February 2016. The move to Verbier from the successful years in CransMontana is an exciting step forward for the event as it revs up for the winter season.

Highlights will include:

Financial Times Alpine Forum at W Hotel

Race registration, welcome reception and networking dinner at the W Hotel

Comedy Club after dinner at the W Hotel

All racing, ski clinics and finish paddock on Verbiers fantastic north facing race course

Prize giving gala dinner on the mountain at Mouton Noir on Saturday with a top live band

Momentum Ski Festival Weekend aprs-ski programme and Thursday welcome dinner showcasingVerbiers best venues & trendy nightlife.

The City Ski Championships embody the spirit of friendly competition, teamwork and sporting value and arecombined with the Financial Times Alpine Forum. These two fixtures provides Europes business and financialcommunity with an opportunity to network and entertain clients in a personal, relaxed environment, in the midst ofexciting ski racing. The event serves as a platform for multiple bespoke corporate hospitality programmesthroughout the long weekend.

Past celebrity guest attendees include Marcus Brigstocke, Amy Williams, Damon Hill, Colin Jackson, MarcusWareing, Sir Steven Redgrave, Rufus Hound, Tommy Moe and Heston Blumenthal, together with the UKsleading ski figures: Graham Bell, Konrad Bartelski and Matt Chilton.

For Momentum Ski, this is a unique opportunity to offer partners and participants alike an amazing ski &

The City SKI Championships move to the prestigious resort of Verbier Winter 2015/16

APS Select Yellow NewsITCM (Web)13 July 2015


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networking weekend in the prestigious ski resort of Verbier. Skiracers and guests alike will enjoy Verbiersexcellent skiing domain and buzzing aprs-ski. The event has also been opened up to Swiss guests andInternationals taking it to the next level.

The full programme will be announced at the official launch party of the event in autumn in London.

Pierre- Andre Gremaud, Marketing Director of Verbier Tourist Office said; As a classic Swiss resort, the choiceof so many keen skiers and even royalty, we are thrilled to have attracted the City Ski Championships to Verbierfor the foreseeable future. Despite the expert skiing on offer, lively aprs ski and luxurious surroundings it is alsothe lesser known areas and aspects of Verbier that will offer a new chapter to this festivals history. We lookforward to meeting all the competitors in theautumn. [sourcelink]http://www.incentivetravel.co.uk/news/venuesevents/27672-the-city-ski-championships-move-to-the-prestigious-resort-of-verbier-winter-2015-16[/sourcelink]

[Journalistname]Michelle Chenery[/Journalistname]

APS Select Yellow NewsITCM (Web)13 July 2015


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The City Ski Championships are gathering Momentum for their 17th edition and for the firs t time ever will behosted in Verbier from 4th to 7th February 2016. The move to Verbier from the successful years in CransMontana is an exciting step forward for the event as it revs up for the winter season.

Highlights will include:

Financial Times Alpine Forum at W Hotel

Race registration, welcome reception and networking dinner at the W Hotel

Comedy Club after dinner at the W Hotel

All racing, ski clinics and finish paddock on Verbiers fantastic north facing race course

Prize giving gala dinner on the mountain at Mouton Noir on Saturday with a top live band

Momentum Ski Festival Weekend aprs-ski programme and Thursday welcome dinner showcasing Verbiers bestvenues & trendy nightlife.

The City Ski Championships embody the spirit of friendly competition, teamwork and sporting value and arecombined with the Financial Times Alpine Forum. These two fixtures provides Europes business and financialcommunity with an opportunity to network and entertain clients in a personal, relaxed environment, in the midst ofexciting ski racing. The event serves as a platform for multiple bespoke corporate hospitality programmesthroughout the long weekend.

Past celebrity guest attendees include Marcus Brigstocke, Amy Williams, Damon Hill, Colin Jackson, MarcusWareing, Sir Steven Redgrave, Rufus Hound, Tommy Moe and Heston Blumenthal, together with the UKsleading ski figures: Graham Bell, Konrad Bartelski and Matt Chilton.

For Momentum Ski, this is a unique opportunity to offer partners and participants alike an amazing ski &networking weekend in the prestigious ski resort of Verbier. Skiracers and guests alike will enjoy Verbiersexcellent skiing domain and buzzing aprs-ski. The event has also been opened up to Swiss guests andInternationals taking it to the next level.

The full programme will be announced at the official launch party of the event in autumn in London.

Pierre- Andre Gremaud, Marketing Director of Verbier Tourist Office said; As a classic Swiss resort, the choiceof so many keen skiers and even royalty, we are thrilled to have attracted the City Ski Championships to Verbierfor the foreseeable future. Despite the expert skiing on offer, lively aprs ski and luxurious surroundings it is alsothe lesser known areas and aspects of Verbier that will offer a new chapter to this festivals history. We lookforward to meeting all the competitors in the autumn.[sourcelink]http://www.snowindustrynews.com/articles/the-city-ski-championships-move-to-verbier-for-winter-201516/

The City Ski Championships Move To Verbier For Winter 2015/16

APS Select Yellow NewsSnow Industry News (Web)16 July 2015


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APS Select Yellow NewsSnow Industry News (Web)16 July 2015


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The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Magazine (Main)01 October 2015

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From foodies to families, beginners to adventurers, budget bunnies to luxury lovers whatever your style, theseare the ski holidays to book this season

"Best holidays" come in lots of shapes and sizes from family-friendly resorts to wild off-piste adventures Photo:Alpe d'Huez

Comments

Unless otherwise stated, prices are per person, based on two sharing a double or twin room for a week andinclude half-board, flights and transfers.

Families

Comprehensive child care, La Plagne, France

Ski Famille is renowned for its range of child care, tuition and chalets adapted to the needs of families. The latestchalet, Delphine, sleeping 20 in La Plagne, is no exception. It makes a particularly good choice as most roomsare family suites, the slopes are only metres away, theres an airy playroom and an outdoor hot tub, so parentsand children can relax in style. Delphine is conveniently based on the edge of the piste in Plagne 1800, with easyaccess to the vast Paradiski area.

??From 749 for seven nights chalet board. Child prices vary according to age; child care is extra.

??01252 365495; skifamille.co.uk

Ski Famille offers a range of child care options

Dedicated baby and toddler weeks in Gressoney, Italy

The UKs largest family specialist Esprit Ski is introducing BAT (baby and toddler) weeks this season, offeringsubstantial reductions during five off-peak weeks for families with younger children. The incentives include freeinfant places, half-price nursery for infants up to two years old and half-price activity clubs for toddlers from two tofour years old. BAT packages run throughout January and the week beginning February 20 and are available inall of Esprit Skis 13 resorts.

Pick of the bunch is Gressoney, which is part of Italys giant Monterosa ski region. The village is quiet and EspritSkis family-friendly Chalet Hotel Valverde is conveniently situated next to the resorts main chairlift and a snowpark for children, with a play area, bobsleigh track and skating rink. A bonus for this winter is that nine pairs ofrooms now have interconnecting doors.

??From 589 for seven nights chalet board.

??01483 345759; espritski.com

Fun with teens in Avoriaz, France

Ski holidays to book now

APS Select Yellow NewsThe Daily Telegraph (Web)03 September 2015


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When the kids have outgrown child care, you need a resort with teen cred. With six terrain parks for beginners toadvanced riders, Avoriaz offers some of the best freestyle terrain in the Alps, plus theres a giant water park,Aquariaz, to keep them entertained off the slopes. Avoriaz is also the unofficial snowboard capital of the Alps,and has equal appeal for freestyle skiers. The British Avoriaz Alpine Ski & Snowboard School runs five-dayafternoon junior camps (280/206; avoriazalpineskischool.com) covering on-piste and freestyle skills for allstandards of skier or snowboarder aged 11-15.

For teenagers who dont want set meal times, self-catering is the most cost-effective option. Erna Low offersAtria-Crozats, adjoining ski-in/ski-out residences with modern four-star apartments.

??From 781 for seven nights in a two-bedroom unit sleeping up to seven, excluding travel.

??020 7584 2841; ernalow.co.uk

The 10 best French ski resorts

Food lovers

Chefs festival in Courmayeur, Italy

Each January Heston Blumenthal joins forces with Momentum Ski to host the three-day Mountain Gourmet SkiExperience. The fun begins at Heathrow with breakfast in Hestons Perfectionists Caf. To follow there aredinners in Courmayeur cooked by fellow Michelin-starred chefs Sat Bains and Marcus Wareing, pluswine-tastings and informal lunches.

Eat in style with dishes from celebrity chefs Marcus Wareing, Heston Blumenthal and Sat Bains Photo:www.red-photographic.com

Eating is interspersed with steering a full belly around Courmayeurs largely intermediate slopes. The festivaltakes place from January 8 to 11, with packages including b&b in the Grand Hotel Royal e Golf which boasts aone-Michelin-star restaurant.

??From 3,850 for three nights and three gourmet dinners, two half days of instruction or guiding and a three-daylift pass. Add lunches for 300.

??020 7371 9111; [email protected]

Experience gastro heaven in Val Thorens, France

Those who havent visited Val Thorens for a decade and remember it as a lunar-like outpost are in for a realsurprise. As well as being the highest, and therefore most snow sure, resort in the Trois Valles ski area, withslopes suited to all levels, this resort has grown into Frances leading mountain destination for foodies.

While away a lazy albeit expensive afternoon on the sun terrace at Jean Sulpice (0033 479 400071;



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jeansulpice.com), presided over by the chef of the same name, who has two Michelin stars. Refuel in style at LeChalet de la Marine (0033 674 284882; chaletmarine.com), a Savoyard chalet with a fireplace, sheepskin rugsand mouthwatering cuisine including scallops with black truffle, lamb confit and honey-glazed pork.

For gourmands wanting to sample the cream of the restaurants, self-catering makes sense. Ski Collection hassome of the best prices for Koh-I Nor, one of the most lavish five-star hotel complexes in the Alps. Samplegourmet cuisine at the international restaurant, simpler fare in the brasserie or local specialities in La Cave.

??From 1,056 for seven nights in a one-bedroom apartment sleeping two people. This self-drive price includesEurotunnel crossings.

??0844 576 0175; skicollection.com

Learn from a British instructor in Champoluc, Italy

Ski 2 has everything covered for a first-timers snow sports holiday, from tuition and equipment hire to lift passesand lunches. Based in Champoluc, part of the Monterosa ski area, the operator runs a British ski schoolexclusively for guests and has its own ski and snowboard hire facilities. Lunch vouchers, which are included in theprice of the holiday, are redeemable at several mountain restaurants. Ski 2 has a wide range of hotels andself-catering apartments to choose from, most of which are a short walk from the main gondola. The four-starHotel Relais des Glaciers has an extensive wellness complex for those 16 years of age and over.

??From 1,065, including lift pass and return transfers (but not flights). Adult beginner ski or snowboard lessons(five mornings) cost from 140; private lessons start at 42 an hour.

??01962 713330; ski-2.com

The 10 best Italian ski resorts

Take your first turns in Mribel, France

Beginners can start to slide with ease thanks to a combination of gentle nursery slopes and excellent tuition inMribel. Parallel Lines, a British snow sports school, offers a specific First Tracks group course for completebeginners. By the end of the week, first-timers will be completing the long Truite green run back to the resort fromMottaret, and may even have tackled a blue. The courses run either Sunday or Monday to Friday.

Mribels own ski area is suitable for all levels and is the most convenient base for exploring the rest of the TroisValles. It also has one of the widest choices of quality chalets of anywhere in the Alps. Fish & Pips has sixcatered chalets that are all finished to a high standard, and the company is renowned for its cuisine. Chalet LeChristophe is just 20m from a chairlift. It sleeps eight in four en suite bedrooms and its open-plan living area hasa fireplace.

Baqueira-Beret in Spain has beginner-friendly slopes for great value prices

??From 395 for seven nights chalet board. Instruction with Parallel Lines costs 210 for five two-hour morning



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lessons or 239 for six mornings.

? 0845 474 1054; fishandpips.co.uk.? 0844 811 2779; parallel-lines.com

Try less well known Baqueira-Beret, Spain

The beginner-friendly slopes and reasonable prices at Baqueira-Beret in the Spanish Pyrenees offer an attractivealternative to nearby Andorra for novices. Inexpensive instruction is available on the excellent nursery slopes,and there are easy greens and blues. BBSkiSchool is the only British-run school in the Pyrenees. The standard ofteaching is as high as any in the Alps, but rates are considerably cheaper.

Ski Miquel is the largest operator here, with its own simple but comfortable chalets, plus hotels and self-cateringapartments to suit all budgets. Chalet Salana has an outdoor hot tub, sleeps 28 and is the best-valueaccommodation in the resort.

??From 507 for seven nights chalet board. Group lessons with BBSkiSchool 126 to 150 for five mornings ofthree hours.

??01903 233323; bbskischool.co.uk. 01457 821200; skimiquelholidays.co.uk

Heli to the High Atlas in Morocco

Just 25 minutes away from Marrakesh, the High Atlas Mountains offer the only heli-skiing opportunity in Africa.Heliski Marrakesh, run by Herv Favre, founder of ski school Evolution 2, offers spectacular drops including onefrom the top of Toubkal, North Africas highest peak at 4,187m.

Accommodation is a luxury boutique hotel and, after breakfast, explorers clamber aboard a heli and head for thehills. Snow conditions during spring are similar to those found in the Alps and the terrain includes steeps, valleysand couloirs. Trips run from mid-February to mid-April and offer up to four 1,000m descents, before a return tothe hotel for lunch.

??From 816, including two nights full board at the Kasbah & Spa Agounsane and two days heli-skiing. Travelnot included.

??0033 760 361806; heliskimarrakech.com

Why head off piste by heli when you can do it by boat in Norway?

Access off piste by boat in Norway

A beautiful landscape, where peaks rise more than 1,000m directly from icy blue fjords, greets visitors to theLyngen Alps. On a peninsula that sits 480km inside the Arctic Circle, this unspoilt wilderness offers a quietalternative to heli-skiing with a boat rather than a helicopter.

Lyngen Lodge, a boutique lodge hotel that sleeps up to 16 guests, runs the Summit to Sea programme offering



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six days ski touring in the company of mountain guides. Each morning, guests climb take a water transfer tobeaches and piers, from where they ski up to the summit of one of the many dramatic peaks, before enjoyingwonderful views on a long descent back to the sea. There are also days of accessing the mountains from thelodge.

??From 2,430 for seven nights full-board accommodation with six days guiding. Travel not included.

??0047 476 27853; lyngenlodge.com

Enjoy deep powder in Hokkaido, Japan

Each winter, a mighty 14m to 18m of snow falls on Hokkaido, Japans most northerly island, and its some of thelightest and fluffiest in the world. The wild and rugged terrain is home to 98 resorts and Ski Safari offers a14-night itinerary to three of the best and largest. Four days in Niseko with views of volcanoes and fantasticJapanese food at the ski-in/ski-out, four-star Green Leaf Hotel, is followed by two days in Rusutsu, renowned forits tree slopes, and three days in Furano, one of Japans most famous resorts. Accommodation is in resort-stylehotels with their own restaurants and onsen (hot baths). The trip finishes with a day in Tokyo.

??From 2,279, b&b.

??01273 224060; skisafari.com

Bargain hunters

International appeal at reasonable prices in Bansko, Bulgaria

For lively aprs, excellent tuition and a modern lift system, at very reasonable prices, it has to be Bansko oneof three resorts in Bulgaria that have international appeal. The town has a wide choice of accommodationincluding low-priced hotels and apartments. A pint of local beer costs little more than 1, a three-course meal fortwo 12, a six-day lift pass 123, and lessons (six days of four hours) 124. It all sounds good and it is butdont expect sophistication or large ski areas. Balkan Holidays offers the three-star Hotel Mura, a good-value,no-frills option with a sauna, steam bath and hot tub. The main gondola is a 15-minute walk away, or theres afree shuttle service.

??From 330 for seven nights b&b, with BOGOF lift passes if you pre-book and 10 per cent discount onequipment rental.

??020 7543 5555; balkanholidays.co.uk

For fantastic value, Bansko in Bulgaria is hard to beat

Big area, small price tag in Flachauwinkl, Austria

Staying in little-known Flachauwinkl gives plenty of lift-linked terrain at bargain prices. This small, modern resorthas 65km of runs and, with its 1.5km terrain park, a growing reputation among freestylers. It lies at the centre of



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the three-valley Salzburger Sportwelt lift network and the lift pass also covers other ski areas in the Ski Amadregion.

Tour operator Snowtrex offers the self-catering Wieslbauer apartments, located in a quiet spot just 200m from thenearest lift. London Gatwick to Salzburg flights cost from 90 return, then its an hours drive to Flachauwinkl ortheres a free ski bus service between Salzburg and Flachau, 5km from resort.

??From 142 based on four sharing an apartment, including a lift pass worth up to 192, but excluding travel.

??020 3365 3313; snowtrex.co.uk

10 best Austrian ski resorts

In the back door of the Trois Valles, France

Get access to a large ski area without the price tag by staying at a well-linked satellite village. The tiny hamlet ofOrelle in the Maurienne Valley is the perfect example in this case, big brother resort is Val Thorens and the skiarea is the Trois Valles. The local gondola reaches Val Thorens in 15 minutes and theres a run most of the wayback down. Prices for everything are far cheaper, although the area lift pass (283) remains the same. PeakRetreats offers the three-star Hameau des Eaux dOrelle apartments 800m from the 3 Valles Express gondola,and theres a free shuttle bus. The residence has its own restaurant and a steam room and sauna. For areasonably-priced food shop, St-Michel-de-Maurienne is five minutes drive away.

??From 208, including Eurotunnel crossings, for a two-person self-catering studio.

??0844 576 0170; peakretreats.co.uk

Out and out luxury

Spoil yourself in St Anton, Austria

The perfect combination of conviviality and privacy, Supertravels Eden Roc is a great choice for large groups.Built in cool, contemporary Tirolean style, the chalet is located just outside St Anton in the hamlet of Nasserein.With exalted levels of service and cuisine, it sleeps up to 20 guests in 10 large en suite bedrooms. These are splitinto three apartments of three or four bedrooms each is a chalet within a chalet. A communal lounge and diningarea is available to groups taking all three apartments, or each apartment can be rented and catered forindividually. Theres a communal wellness area with pool, steam room, fitness room and massage treatmentroom, and a driver to take guests to and from the slopes. St Anton best suits either complete novices or strongintermediates and experts.

??From 19,980 for the whole chalet, excluding travel.

??020 7962 9933; supertravel.co.uk

One of Frances most luxurious chalets in Val dIsre, France



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If hedonism is what youre looking for, Consensios Marco Polo chalet has it all. An opulent blend of Westerncreature comforts and oriental style, Marco Polo is a short walk from the slopes, and a chauffeur-driven limo is onhand. It sleeps 10 adults and four children in six beautifully appointed bedrooms. The first floor has agold-leaf-covered pool, hot tub, hammam and gym. The relaxation area has lasers, smoke machines and aprofessional sound system, plus theres a wine and cheese-tasting cellar. The open-plan living area has a centralfireplace and large balcony overlooking the Face piste. Val dIsres slopes are ideal for strong intermediates butit also has excellent beginner slopes in the village and at the top of the Solaise lift.


??020 3393 0833; consensiochalets.co.uk

Revelstoke is known for its excellent powder and heliskiing opportunities

Heli-skiing from the ultimate lodge in Revelstoke, Canada

Nothing says luxury quite like being whisked into the wilderness from your own helipad and returning to a five-starchalet to enjoy a private spa, cinema and gourmet food. Bighorn Lodge sits in the backwoods of British Columbiaat the base of Revelstokes lifts. It is owned by a pair of powder-obsessed Brits whose building expertise andpassion for the mountains produced this pinnacle of accommodation. The eight guest suites are at least twice thesize of those found in luxury chalets in the Alps. The spa area has a pool, gym, sauna, massage rooms and anoutdoor hot tub. The quality of service and cuisine is extraordinary. Selkirk Tangiers offers private heli-skiing onthe nearby peaks.

??875 per person per day. The chalet costs from 39,900 for 16 people, travel not included.

??020 3432 0726; bighornrevelstoke.com; selkirk-tangiers.com

10 best Canadian ski resorts

Get off the plateau in Serre Chevalier, France

Senior British instructor Gavin Crosby has been teaching in Serre Chevalier, which boasts 250km of pistes, formore than 20 years. He runs the New Generation Ski & Snowboard School here, which has branches in 14resorts across France and Switzerland. Crosby has earned a reputation as an intuitive instructor who can spotwhat clients are doing wrong and suggest an instant way of putting it right. Book well in advance. Crosbys mainbase is Le Montier, and the comfortable two-star Hotel LAlpazur here is a six-minute walk from the lifts, ortheres a free shuttle service.

??From 565 for seven nights, half-board, with Crystal Ski. New Generation group lessons cost 169 for fivedays of two hours each morning. 020 3627 2866; crystalski.co.uk.

??01462 674000; skinewgen.com



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The Warren Smith Ski Academy teaches a combination of technique, biomechanics and physiology

Informal tuition and guiding in Alpe dHuez, France

Neilson has come up with a solution to the French ski-hosting ban that should also prove a money-saving boonfor improvers this season. From 22 of its hotels and chalets in France, Italy and Andorra, qualified snow sportsinstructors, known as Neilson Mountain Experts, will offer guiding and informal lessons to blue- and red-run skiersand snowboarders, while familiarising them with the ski area and its included in the holiday price.

One of the best places to take advantage of this is in Alpe dHuez, which has plenty of terrain for all standardsand is ideal for adventurous intermediates looking to clock up the miles. Three-star Chalet Hotel LEscapade, newfor this season, is a comfortable ski-in/ski-out lodge near the village centre.

??From 595 for seven nights, chalet board.

??0333 014 3351; neilson.co.uk

Learn with a guru in Verbier, Switzerland

Warren Smith is Britains best-known ski instructor, with a formidable reputation for improving the skills ofeveryone from early intermediates to pro freeriders, using a unique combination of technique, biomechanics andphysiology. The Warren Smith Ski Academy runs small group courses for intermediates in Verbier, including afive-day academy to improve ski skills in all types of terrain including moguls, steeps and powder.

Chalet operator VIP has expanded its portfolio in Switzerland, including Chalet Tortin, one of the best-valuemodern chalets in Verbier. It sleeps six in three en suite bedrooms and is three minutes walk from the mainMdran gondola.

??From 939 for seven nights, chalet board. Instruction with the Warren Smith Ski Academy costs 429 for fivedays, four hours each day.

??01795 304549; warrensmith-skiacademy.com; 0844 557 3119; vip-chalets.com

Short breaks

Maximise slope time in La Clusaz, France

Make the most of limited time away with Ski Weekends, which does exactly what it says on the tin, as well asorganising midweek trips. It offers short breaks to 14 resorts in France, four in Austria, two in Switzerland and onein Italy, and staff are primed to do all they can to ensure maximum time on the slopes for guests.

Ski Weekends runs short breaks to resorts like La Clusaz

La Clusaz boasts a short transfer and flexible accommodation, plus a wide variety of terrain, with 220kmaccessible with the area lift pass. Its Hotel Carlina is an intimate boutique three-star with just 39 rooms, built in



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classic Savoyard style in the upper part of the village. It offers great views of the surrounding mountains, and alsohas a good restaurant serving local specialities.

??From 535 for three nights b&b.

??023 8020 6971; skiweekends.com

Flexible, snow-sure stays in Engelberg, Switzerland

The accommodating hotels in Engelberg make it one of the best resorts for short breaks. Unlike so manydestinations, most of the hotels here dont insist on seven-night stays. Whats more, the top lift is at more than3,000m so snow cover is virtually guaranteed.

Engelberg is an easy two-hour train ride from Zurich airport and Flexiski offers the three-star Hotel BellevueTerminus, dating back to 1898. Its not only full of traditional charm, but is conveniently located right opposite thetrain station with the ski bus stop outside. The hotel has good-sized bedrooms, a lively aprs bar called BuenaVista, and the Yucatan restaurant, which serves up dishes such as Mexican spare ribs and teriyaki beef.

??From 1,095 for four nights b&b.

??020 8939 0862; flexiski.com[sourcelink]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/features/11841338/Ski-holidays-to-book-now.html[/sourcelink]

[Journalistname]Peter Hardy[/Journalistname]



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Sep17 Tweet Thursday September 17, 2015 - to a friend The resort, loved by the Brits and famed for its partying& skiing, will host the championships for the first time next winter. Furhter details of the event have beenunveilled

The event, now in its 17th year, is organised by the bespoke tour operator, Momentum Ski, and has been held inCrans Montana, Switzerland, for the past four years.

It's called the City Ski Championships because when it began teams of skiers from firms in the City of Londonraced against each other.

Now anyone, individuals or company teams, can take part.

Last winter about 150 people competed and Momentum Ski is hoping for a bigger turnout this coming season.

As well as the serious lycra-clad racers who travel out a few days early to practice, those less-skilled at the gatesand some who are completely new to racing join in, pitting themselves against celebrities, invited guests and themedia.

PlanetSKI was there in 2014 as we reported here. There are also a few famous faces.

Past celebrity guest attendees include Marcus Brigstocke, Amy Williams, Damon Hill, Colin Jackson, MarcusWareing, Sir Steve Redgrave, Rufus Hound, Tommy Moe and Heston Blumenthal, together with the UK's leadingski figures: Graham Bell, Konrad Bartelski and Matt Chilton.

The racing will take place on the north-facing race slope in the Savolyeres area from February 4th to 7th 2016.

City Ski Champs City Ski Champs And then there is the apres ski City Ski Champs The move to Verbier is a bigboost for the resort.

Verbier welcomes more skiers from the UK than any other country, but the unfavourable Sterling-Swiss Francexchange rate, pushing up costs for the Brits, has been a real concern.

At an event in London this week to promote the Championships, Pierre-Andre Gremaud, Verbier's marketingdirector, said the resort was delighted to become the new host.

"It's a perfect match," he told PlanetSKI. "Verbier is all about sport, fun and meeting people. I got approachedabout this more or less a year ago and thought it was a really good idea. I decided we had to make it happen".

Pierre-Andre welcomes the event

Pierre-Andre said he met no resistance from anyone in Verbier.

The only concern was ensuring there were enough hotel beds to cater for the championships and that had beenresolved.

Verbier welcomes City Ski Championships

APS Select Yellow NewsPlanetSKI (Web)17 September 2015


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The lift company will take responsibility for setting the race courses and for timing the runs.

"The racing is going to be great," the co-founder and director of Momentum Ski, Amin Momen, said. "We will beon north-facing slopes and will have great snow conditions.

"We also have great apres-ski planned and a prize-giving dinner up the mountain, accessed by cable car. Weeven have a lot of events for those who want to come but don't want to race".

Amin Momen

PlanetSKI will be in Verbier next February and look forward to reporting on the event at its new home.[sourcelink]http://www.planetski.eu/news/7240[/sourcelink]

APS Select Yellow NewsPlanetSKI (Web)17 September 2015


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Marcus Wareing is an award winning chef, and currently runs his two Michelin star restaurant Marcus Wareing atthe Berkeley in London.

He has worked alongside famous names such as Gordon Ramsay and Pierre Koffmann and recently opened abrasserie in London St Pancras. Wareing has also written three cookbooks and has appeared on BBC Televisionshow Great British Menu . He took the time to speak to Impact Food about cooking on a student budget, makinghis restaurant less French and why cooking shows are nothing like the reality.YOU COOKED YOUR FAMOUS CUSTARD TART FOR THE QUEENS 80TH BIRTHDAY. DID YOU GET TOMEET HER AND HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHAT TO MAKE?Yes I did meet her! The reason why I chose the custard tart was because it was the one thing which captured whoI was and my upbringing. My pastry chef and I developed the mix for the custard tart. All the judges gave me aten for it and that was one of the few times I felt I came to near perfection!WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BEST SIMPLE DISH ON A BUDGET?You have to say pasta as its so straightforward. But its what you do with it. Its about how you cook it, the oil youput with it, the seasoning etc. I would want to see some fresh herbs and pot plants in the house, and fresh bread.Also a roast dinner is great. Get potatoes, some other vegetables and meat; its not hard. If all your housemateschip in ten pounds each, you could easily get yourself at least two nice pieces of meat.YOURE ABOUT TO REBRAND YOUR NEW RESTAURANT TO MAKE THE SERVICE LESS FRENCH ANDMORE AMERICAN. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THIS?When I opened this restaurant ten years ago it was called Ptrus, one of my favourite Bordeaux wines. Thenature of its name makes it French. During those ten years food has changed massively and that style of foodwas French driven, as my training is in French style cuisine. Its a foundation. Naturally you get stamped with that.

Whats changed is London is the way of eating and serving. There is a whole new generation of diners andpeople who eat in London, and we want to keep up with the times. Fine dining is now looked upon by the youngergeneration as a special occasion or a bit stuffy, and its very much a formal setting which I think is boring. NewYork is the best example of perfect fine dining. You can go into a three star Michelin restaurant and feel ascomfortable as you would in a pub in London, which is extraordinary. Its the staff that make that happen.WILL YOUR NEW STYLE BE MORE APPEALING TO YOUNGER PEOPLE?Yes and no. I am appealing to a wider audience, whether that is young, middle aged or old. First of all you haveto appeal to the neighbourhood, and then more broadly to the city youre in. I reckon the perception about thisrestaurant will be that you need to book six months in advance, but that shouldnt be the case. You should beable to come and knock on the door and eat straight away to keep up with the increasing trend in theestablishment of burger places, street food and vendors.DOES THIS DETRACT FROM MICHELIN STAR RESTAURANTS? HOW DO THEY STAND TOGETHER?I think they are just another offering, but they are not competing with us. They are just another idea and trend.You guys will go out and get that burger and a beer and you wont be spending much less that what you would atmine on a set lunch. You just wouldnt know that because you think fine dining isnt affordable given that its gottwo Michelin stars, and run by a well known chef. Obviously you will get hit if you spend loads of money onexpensive wines, but why shouldnt you be allowed to experience nice restaurants?SOME CHEFS ARE CRITICISED TODAY FOR TAKING A STEP BACK APPROACH TO COOKING AND THEIRRESTAURANTS, BY VISITING RESTAURANTS REGULARLY BUT RARELY GETTING INTO THE KITCHEN.DO YOU THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM TODAY?I get up in the morning and do what I do best: I cook, and then run a restaurant. I dont get up and sit in a office all

Impact Food Interviews Marcus Wareing

APS Select Yellow NewsUniversity of Nottingham Impact (Web)18 September 2015


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day. You should get someone else to do that because its boring. With the recession, the key is honesty. Peopleshould know exactly who you are and what youre about. If I have 20 restaurants, great, but I will only ever go andcook in one, and have my name on one. As long as you tell people its fine.WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PEOPLE WANTING TO GO INTO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY?The most important thing is getting an education. If youre into food, then get into the industry whilst youre atuniversity. Modern chefs need qualifications a bit of accountancy and perhaps an understanding ofmanagement. Running a business as a chef is 20% cookery and the rest is the other 80%. Learn the inside outsof computers, the stuff that is common sense to you guys. Cover all the bases. Work hard and drive hard.WE RECENTLY INTERVIEWED SAT BAINS FOR OUR LAST ISSUE. LAST MONTH YOU BOTH CREATED AMOUNTAIN GOURMET SKI EXPERIENCE WITH HESTON BLUMENTHAL. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?It was a piss up! What we did was go out and do something different. If you love going to Europe, you love skiing,love food and love mixing with chefs, then its the dream. It was good fun and I would definitely do it again.WHAT WERE THE FIRST DISHES YOU BEGAN TO MAKE?One of the first things I ever made was an English breakfast. My mum did a lot of baking so I learnt pastries, andmy granny made custard tarts so I learnt that pretty quickly.WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON TELEVISION COOKING SHOWS. DO YOU THINK THEY GLAMORISE THECOOKING PROFESSION?TV is very different to cookery. I like Masterchef a lot, but it is staged. It is designed to create the tension of a realkitchen, with judges looking hard and giving comments. But they are full of people who want to be TV stars. Acookery show is no way to go if you want to be a cook, there is no reality in these sorts of cooking shows. Only ahandful of people who have come out of those shows are chefs.IF YOU HAD TO PICK THREE THINGS WHICH WERE ESSENTIAL FOR ANYONE TO HAVE IN THEIRSTORE CUPBOARD AT ALL TIMES, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?Defiantely salt and olive oil. And Id have to say pepper. Salt and pepper are just amazing boring but essential.

George Hughes-Davies and Louis Fitzherbert

Image credit: thesundaytimes.co.uk

Follow Impact on Twitter and[sourcelink]http://www.impactnottingham.com/2014/04/impact-food-interviews-marcus-wareing/[/sourcelink]

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From foodies to families, beginners to adventurers, budget bunnies to luxury lovers whatever your style, theseare the ski holidays to book this season

"Best holidays" come in lots of shapes and sizes from family-friendly resorts to wild off-piste adventures Photo:Alpe d'Huez

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Unless otherwise stated, prices are per person, based on two sharing a double or twin room for a week andinclude half-board, flights and transfers.

Families

Comprehensive child care, La Plagne, France

Ski Famille is renowned for its range of child care, tuition and chalets adapted to the needs of families. The latestchalet, Delphine, sleeping 20 in La Plagne, is no exception. It makes a particularly good choice as most roomsare family suites, the slopes are only metres away, theres an airy playroom and an outdoor hot tub, so parentsand children can relax in style. Delphine is conveniently based on the edge of the piste in Plagne 1800, with easyaccess to the vast Paradiski area.

??From 749 for seven nights chalet board. Child prices vary according to age; child care is extra.

??01252 365495; skifamille.co.uk

Ski Famille offers a range of child care options

Dedicated baby and toddler weeks in Gressoney, Italy

The UKs largest family specialist Esprit Ski is introducing BAT (baby and toddler) weeks this season, offeringsubstantial reductions during five off-peak weeks for families with younger children. The incentives include freeinfant places, half-price nursery for infants up to two years old and half-price activity clubs for toddlers from two tofour years old. BAT packages run throughout January and the week beginning February 20 and are available inall of Esprit Skis 13 resorts.

Pick of the bunch is Gressoney, which is part of Italys giant Monterosa ski region. The village is quiet and EspritSkis family-friendly Chalet Hotel Valverde is conveniently situated next to the resorts main chairlift and a snowpark for children, with a play area, bobsleigh track and skating rink. A bonus for this winter is that nine pairs ofrooms now have interconnecting doors.

??From 589 for seven nights chalet board.

??01483 345759; espritski.com

Fun with teens in Avoriaz, France

Ski holidays to book now



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When the kids have outgrown child care, you need a resort with teen cred. With six terrain parks for beginners toadvanced riders, Avoriaz offers some of the best freestyle terrain in the Alps, plus theres a giant water park,Aquariaz, to keep them entertained off the slopes. Avoriaz is also the unofficial snowboard capital of the Alps,and has equal appeal for freestyle skiers. The British Avoriaz Alpine Ski & Snowboard School runs five-dayafternoon junior camps (280/206; avoriazalpineskischool.com) covering on-piste and freestyle skills for allstandards of skier or snowboarder aged 11-15.

For teenagers who dont want set meal times, self-catering is the most cost-effective option. Erna Low offersAtria-Crozats, adjoining ski-in/ski-out residences with modern four-star apartments.

??From 781 for seven nights in a two-bedroom unit sleeping up to seven, excluding travel.

??020 7584 2841; ernalow.co.uk

The 10 best French ski resorts

Food lovers

Chefs festival in Courmayeur, Italy

Each January Heston Blumenthal joins forces with Momentum Ski to host the three-day Mountain Gourmet SkiExperience. The fun begins at Heathrow with breakfast in Hestons Perfectionists Caf. To follow there aredinners in Courmayeur cooked by fellow Michelin-starred chefs Sat Bains and Marcus Wareing, pluswine-tastings and informal lunches.

Eat in style with dishes from celebrity chefs Marcus Wareing, Heston Blumenthal and Sat Bains Photo:www.red-photographic.com

Eating is interspersed with steering a full belly around Courmayeurs largely intermediate slopes. The festivaltakes place from January 8 to 11, with packages including b&b in the Grand Hotel Royal e Golf which boasts aone-Michelin-star restaurant.

??From 3,850 for three nights and three gourmet dinners, two half days of instruction or guiding and a three-daylift pass. Add lunches for 300.

??020 7371 9111; [email protected]

Experience gastro heaven in Val Thorens, France

Those who havent visited Val Thorens for a decade and remember it as a lunar-like outpost are in for a realsurprise. As well as being the highest, and therefore most snow sure, resort in the Trois Valles ski area, withslopes suited to all levels, this resort has grown into Frances leading mountain destination for foodies.

While away a lazy albeit expensive afternoon on the sun terrace at Jean Sulpice (0033 479 400071;



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jeansulpice.com), presided over by the chef of the same name, who has two Michelin stars. Refuel in style at LeChalet de la Marine (0033 674 284882; chaletmarine.com), a Savoyard chalet with a fireplace, sheepskin rugsand mouthwatering cuisine including scallops with black truffle, lamb confit and honey-glazed pork.

For gourmands wanting to sample the cream of the restaurants, self-catering makes sense. Ski Collection hassome of the best prices for Koh-I Nor, one of the most lavish five-star hotel complexes in the Alps. Samplegourmet cuisine at the international restaurant, simpler fare in the brasserie or local specialities in La Cave.

??From 1,056 for seven nights in a one-bedroom apartment sleeping two people. This self-drive price includesEurotunnel crossings.

??0844 576 0175; skicollection.com

Learn from a British instructor in Champoluc, Italy

Ski 2 has everything covered for a first-timers snow sports holiday, from tuition and equipment hire to lift passesand lunches. Based in Champoluc, part of the Monterosa ski area, the operator runs a British ski schoolexclusively for guests and has its own ski and snowboard hire facilities. Lunch vouchers, which are included in theprice of the holiday, are redeemable at several mountain restaurants. Ski 2 has a wide range of hotels andself-catering apartments to choose from, most of which are a short walk from the main gondola. The four-starHotel Relais des Glaciers has an extensive wellness complex for those 16 years of age and over.

??From 1,065, including lift pass and return transfers (but not flights). Adult beginner ski or snowboard lessons(five mornings) cost from 140; private lessons start at 42 an hour.

??01962 713330; ski-2.com

The 10 best Italian ski resorts

Take your first turns in Mribel, France

Beginners can start to slide with ease thanks to a combination of gentle nursery slopes and excellent tuition inMribel. Parallel Lines, a British snow sports school, offers a specific First Tracks group course for completebeginners. By the end of the week, first-timers will be completing the long Truite green run back to the resort fromMottaret, and may even have tackled a blue. The courses run either Sunday or Monday to Friday.

Mribels own ski area is suitable for all levels and is the most convenient base for exploring the rest of the TroisValles. It also has one of the widest choices of quality chalets of anywhere in the Alps. Fish & Pips has sixcatered chalets that are all finished to a high standard, and the company is renowned for its cuisine. Chalet LeChristophe is just 20m from a chairlift. It sleeps eight in four en suite bedrooms and its open-plan living area hasa fireplace.

Baqueira-Beret in Spain has beginner-friendly slopes for great value prices

??From 395 for seven nights chalet board. Instruction with Parallel Lines costs 210 for five two-hour morning



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lessons or 239 for six mornings.

? 0845 474 1054; fishandpips.co.uk.? 0844 811 2779; parallel-lines.com

Try less well known Baqueira-Beret, Spain

The beginner-friendly slopes and reasonable prices at Baqueira-Beret in the Spanish Pyrenees offer an attractivealternative to nearby Andorra for novices. Inexpensive instruction is available on the excellent nursery slopes,and there are easy greens and blues. BBSkiSchool is the only British-run school in the Pyrenees. The standard ofteaching is as high as any in the Alps, but rates are considerably cheaper.

Ski Miquel is the largest operator here, with its own simple but comfortable chalets, plus hotels and self-cateringapartments to suit all budgets. Chalet Salana has an outdoor hot tub, sleeps 28 and is the best-valueaccommodation in the resort.

??From 507 for seven nights chalet board. Group lessons with BBSkiSchool 126 to 150 for five mornings ofthree hours.

??01903 233323; bbskischool.co.uk. 01457 821200; skimiquelholidays.co.uk

Heli to the High Atlas in Morocco

Just 25 minutes away from Marrakesh, the High Atlas Mountains offer the only heli-skiing opportunity in Africa.Heliski Marrakesh, run by Herv Favre, founder of ski school Evolution 2, offers spectacular drops including onefrom the top of Toubkal, North Africas highest peak at 4,187m.

Accommodation is a luxury boutique hotel and, after breakfast, explorers clamber aboard a heli and head for thehills. Snow conditions during spring are similar to those found in the Alps and the terrain includes steeps, valleysand couloirs. Trips run from mid-February to mid-April and offer up to four 1,000m descents, before a return tothe hotel for lunch.

??From 816, including two nights full board at the Kasbah & Spa Agounsane and two days heli-skiing. Travelnot included.

??0033 760 361806; heliskimarrakech.com

Why head off piste by heli when you can do it by boat in Norway?

Access off piste by boat in Norway

A beautiful landscape, where peaks rise more than 1,000m directly from icy blue fjords, greets visitors to theLyngen Alps. On a peninsula that sits 480km inside the Arctic Circle, this unspoilt wilderness offers a quietalternative to heli-skiing with a boat rather than a helicopter.

Lyngen Lodge, a boutique lodge hotel that sleeps up to 16 guests, runs the Summit to Sea programme offering



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six days ski touring in the company of mountain guides. Each morning, guests climb take a water transfer tobeaches and piers, from where they ski up to the summit of one of the many dramatic peaks, before enjoyingwonderful views on a long descent back to the sea. There are also days of accessing the mountains from thelodge.

??From 2,430 for seven nights full-board accommodation with six days guiding. Travel not included.

??0047 476 27853; lyngenlodge.com

Enjoy deep powder in Hokkaido, Japan

Each winter, a mighty 14m to 18m of snow falls on Hokkaido, Japans most northerly island, and its some of thelightest and fluffiest in the world. The wild and rugged terrain is home to 98 resorts and Ski Safari offers a14-night itinerary to three of the best and largest. Four days in Niseko with views of volcanoes and fantasticJapanese food at the ski-in/ski-out, four-star Green Leaf Hotel, is followed by two days in Rusutsu, renowned forits tree slopes, and three days in Furano, one of Japans most famous resorts. Accommodation is in resort-stylehotels with their own restaurants and onsen (hot baths). The trip finishes with a day in Tokyo.

??From 2,279, b&b.

??01273 224060; skisafari.com

Bargain hunters

International appeal at reasonable prices in Bansko, Bulgaria

For lively aprs, excellent tuition and a modern lift system, at very reasonable prices, it has to be Bansko oneof three resorts in Bulgaria that have international appeal. The town has a wide choice of accommodationincluding low-priced hotels and apartments. A pint of local beer costs little more than 1, a three-course meal fortwo 12, a six-day lift pass 123, and lessons (six days of four hours) 124. It all sounds good and it is butdont expect sophistication or large ski areas. Balkan Holidays offers the three-star Hotel Mura, a good-value,no-frills option with a sauna, steam bath and hot tub. The main gondola is a 15-minute walk away, or theres afree shuttle service.

??From 330 for seven nights b&b, with BOGOF lift passes if you pre-book and 10 per cent discount onequipment rental.

??020 7543 5555; balkanholidays.co.uk

For fantastic value, Bansko in Bulgaria is hard to beat

Big area, small price tag in Flachauwinkl, Austria

Staying in little-known Flachauwinkl gives plenty of lift-linked terrain at bargain prices. This small, modern resorthas 65km of runs and, with its 1.5km terrain park, a growing reputation among freestylers. It lies at the centre of



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the three-valley Salzburger Sportwelt lift network and the lift pass also covers other ski areas in the Ski Amadregion.

Tour operator Snowtrex offers the self-catering Wieslbauer apartments, located in a quiet spot just 200m from thenearest lift. London Gatwick to Salzburg flights cost from 90 return, then its an hours drive to Flachauwinkl ortheres a free ski bus service between Salzburg and Flachau, 5km from resort.

??From 142 based on four sharing an apartment, including a lift pass worth up to 192, but excluding travel.

??020 3365 3313; snowtrex.co.uk

10 best Austrian ski resorts

In the back door of the Trois Valles, France

Get access to a large ski area without the price tag by staying at a well-linked satellite village. The tiny hamlet ofOrelle in the Maurienne Valley is the perfect example in this case, big brother resort is Val Thorens and the skiarea is the Trois Valles. The local gondola reaches Val Thorens in 15 minutes and theres a run most of the wayback down. Prices for everything are far cheaper, although the area lift pass (283) remains the same. PeakRetreats offers the three-star Hameau des Eaux dOrelle apartments 800m from the 3 Valles Express gondola,and theres a free shuttle bus. The residence has its own restaurant and a steam room and sauna. For areasonably-priced food shop, St-Michel-de-Maurienne is five minutes drive away.

??From 208, including Eurotunnel crossings, for a two-person self-catering studio.

??0844 576 0170; peakretreats.co.uk

Out and out luxury

Spoil yourself in St Anton, Austria

The perfect combination of conviviality and privacy, Supertravels Eden Roc is a great choice for large groups.Built in cool, contemporary Tirolean style, the chalet is located just outside St Anton in the hamlet of Nasserein.With exalted levels of service and cuisine, it sleeps up to 20 guests in 10 large en suite bedrooms. These are splitinto three apartments of three or four bedrooms each is a chalet within a chalet. A communal lounge and diningarea is available to groups taking all three apartments, or each apartment can be rented and catered forindividually. Theres a communal wellness area with pool, steam room, fitness room and massage treatmentroom, and a driver to take guests to and from the slopes. St Anton best suits either complete novices or strongintermediates and experts.


??020 7962 9933; supertravel.co.uk

One of Frances most luxurious chalets in Val dIsre, France



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If hedonism is what youre looking for, Consensios Marco Polo chalet has it all. An opulent blend of Westerncreature comforts and oriental style, Marco Polo is a short walk from the slopes, and a chauffeur-driven limo is onhand. It sleeps 10 adults and four children in six beautifully appointed bedrooms. The first floor has agold-leaf-covered pool, hot tub, hammam and gym. The relaxation area has lasers, smoke machines and aprofessional sound system, plus theres a wine and cheese-tasting cellar. The open-plan living area has a centralfireplace and large balcony overlooking the Face piste. Val dIsres slopes are ideal for strong intermediates butit also has excellent beginner slopes in the village and at the top of the Solaise lift.


??020 3393 0833; consensiochalets.co.uk

Revelstoke is known for its excellent powder and heliskiing opportunities

Heli-skiing from the ultimate lodge in Revelstoke, Canada

Nothing says luxury quite like being whisked into the wilderness from your own helipad and returning to a five-starchalet to enjoy a private spa, cinema and gourmet food. Bighorn Lodge sits in the backwoods of British Columbiaat the base of Revelstokes lifts. It is owned by a pair of powder-obsessed Brits whose building expertise andpassion for the mountains produced this pinnacle of accommodation. The eight guest suites are at least twice thesize of those found in luxury chalets in the Alps. The spa area has a pool, gym, sauna, massage rooms and anoutdoor hot tub. The quality of service and cuisine is extraordinary. Selkirk Tangiers offers private heli-skiing onthe nearby peaks.

??875 per person per day. The chalet costs from 39,900 for 16 people, travel not included.

??020 3432 0726; bighornrevelstoke.com; selkirk-tangiers.com

10 best Canadian ski resorts

Get off the plateau in Serre Chevalier, France

Senior British instructor Gavin Crosby has been teaching in Serre Chevalier, which boasts 250km of pistes, formore than 20 years. He runs the New Generation Ski & Snowboard School here, which has branches in 14resorts across France and Switzerland. Crosby has earned a reputation as an intuitive instructor who can spotwhat clients are doing wrong and suggest an instant way of putting it right. Book well in advance. Crosbys mainbase is Le Montier, and the comfortable two-star Hotel LAlpazur here is a six-minute walk from the lifts, ortheres a free shuttle service.

??From 565 for seven nights, half-board, with Crystal Ski. New Generation group lessons cost 169 for fivedays of two hours each morning. 020 3627 2866; crystalski.co.uk.

??01462 674000; skinewgen.com



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The Warren Smith Ski Academy teaches a combination of technique, biomechanics and physiology

Informal tuition and guiding in Alpe dHuez, France

Neilson has come up with a solution to the French ski-hosting ban that should also prove a money-saving boonfor improvers this season. From 22 of its hotels and chalets in France, Italy and Andorra, qualified snow sportsinstructors, known as Neilson Mountain Experts, will offer guiding and informal lessons to blue- and red-run skiersand snowboarders, while familiarising them with the ski area and its included in the holiday price.

One of the best places to take advantage of this is in Alpe dHuez, which has plenty of terrain for all standardsand is ideal for adventurous intermediates looking to clock up the miles. Three-star Chalet Hotel LEscapade, newfor this season, is a comfortable ski-in/ski-out lodge near the village centre.

??From 595 for seven nights, chalet board.

??0333 014 3351; neilson.co.uk

Learn with a guru in Verbier, Switzerland

Warren Smith is Britains best-known ski instructor, with a formidable reputation for improving the skills ofeveryone from early intermediates to pro freeriders, using a unique combination of technique, biomechanics andphysiology. The Warren Smith Ski Academy runs small group courses for intermediates in Verbier, including afive-day academy to improve ski skills in all types of terrain including moguls, steeps and powder.

Chalet operator VIP has expanded its portfolio in Switzerland, including Chalet Tortin, one of the best-valuemodern chalets in Verbier. It sleeps six in three en suite bedrooms and is three minutes walk from the mainMdran gondola.

??From 939 for seven nights, chalet board. Instruction with the Warren Smith Ski Academy costs 429 for fivedays, four hours each day.

??01795 304549; warrensmith-skiacademy.com; 0844 557 3119; vip-chalets.com

Short breaks

Maximise slope time in La Clusaz, France

Make the most of limited time away with Ski Weekends, which does exactly what it says on the tin, as well asorganising midweek trips. It offers short breaks to 14 resorts in France, four in Austria, two in Switzerland and onein Italy, and staff are primed to do all they can to ensure maximum time on the slopes for guests.

Ski Weekends runs short breaks to resorts like La Clusaz

La Clusaz boasts a short transfer and flexible accommodation, plus a wide variety of terrain, with 220kmaccessible with the area lift pass. Its Hotel Carlina is an intimate boutique three-star with just 39 rooms, built in



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classic Savoyard style in the upper part of the village. It offers great views of the surrounding mountains, and alsohas a good restaurant serving local specialities.

??From 535 for three nights b&b.

??023 8020 6971; skiweekends.com

Flexible, snow-sure stays in Engelberg, Switzerland

The accommodating hotels in Engelberg make it one of the best resorts for short breaks. Unlike so manydestinations, most of the hotels here dont insist on seven-night stays. Whats more, the top lift is at more than3,000m so snow cover is virtually guaranteed.

Engelberg is an easy two-hour train ride from Zurich airport and Flexiski offers the three-star Hotel BellevueTerminus, dating back to 1898. Its not only full of traditional charm, but is conveniently located right opposite thetrain station with the ski bus stop outside. The hotel has good-sized bedrooms, a lively aprs bar called BuenaVista, and the Yucatan restaurant, which serves up dishes such as Mexican spare ribs and teriyaki beef.

??From 1,095 for four nights b&b.

??020 8939 0862; flexiski.com[sourcelink]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/features/11841338/Ski-holidays-to-book-now.html[/sourcelink]

[Journalistname]Peter Hardy[/Journalistname]



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Sep17 Tweet Thursday September 17, 2015 - to a friend The resort, loved by the Brits and famed for its partying& skiing, will host the championships for the first time next winter. Furhter details of the event have beenunveilled

The event, now in its 17th year, is organised by the bespoke tour operator, Momentum Ski, and has been held inCrans Montana, Switzerland, for the past four years.

It's called the City Ski Championships because when it began teams of skiers from firms in the City of Londonraced against each other.

Now anyone, individuals or company teams, can take part.

Last winter about 150 people competed and Momentum Ski is hoping for a bigger turnout this coming season.

As well as the serious lycra-clad racers who travel out a few days early to practice, those less-skilled at the gatesand some who are completely new to racing join in, pitting themselves against celebrities, invited guests and themedia.

PlanetSKI was there in 2014 as we reported here. There are also a few famous

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Gourmet Coverage 2015 - 2016