What makes the perfect powder hound? It's not size that matters - type of coat, energy, intelligence and, yep, dogged determination can all dictate how good your dog will be for coming on ski tours...Discover More
SKI NEWS
Another fatal skiing accident in France, this time 37 year old actor, Gaspard Ulliel. Similar to the five year old girl in ESF ski school in Flaine he was tragically killed in a crash on a blue run - and he, apparently, was not wearing a helmet. Stay in control on the slopes, slow down at intersections and in ski traffic because, sadly, speed kills. And wear a lid.
In Italy ski helmets (lids) are mandatory for skiers and snowboarders under 18 years old. Also riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs is now illegal and insurance including third party liability is essential under the new Slope Safety rules introduced 1st January 2022.
And just like that...the French open up to the Brits again. But only the double/treble vaccinated ones will be allowed to enter and not quarantine. Proof of a negative PCR or antigen test is still essential within 24 hours before travel. UK kids over 12 years old with only one vax will need to test everyday while in France. So it's Italy and Austria, then, for family half term ski holidays.
Menwhile what is the future for ski resorts? Five years ago we looked at how the skiscape would change but we didn't forsee the pandemic. So we've updated our predictions for the future including the Covid effect, tech advances, demographic changes, activity diversification and even the potential for AI ski patrol Check it out here...
STYLE ALTITUDE now has 8 (and counting) awards for our Ski Blog and the coveted accolade of BEST SKI & SNOWBOARD PUBLICATION UK, 2020 Fitness & Nutrition Awards.
Style Altitude: The (almost daily) Ski Blog
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Ski Touring to Earn Your Turns - and Your Lunch
There's no such thing as a free lunch, especially when you're ski touring and burning off calories to not only earn your turns but also to ski down for a backcountry lunch in the sun...
Using an ebike to ski-tour & explore the mountain
For a few years I've been considering if using an ebike / fat bike to go ski-touring might be a good option, knowing full well that it's not simply a case of taking skis and getting on your bike!
Location Location: Ski Touring When Snowpack is Dire
After shredding the fresh 40cms of snow from the lifts with the stress of skiing untracked before others took your line, we decided on the calm of ski touring but where to go given the current conditions?
What Do You Think About When You Are Skiing?
Do you think about politics and pandemics while skiing? A pint of beer for après. Or when the mountains are calling are you too busy thinking about how you're skiing to answer them?...
It's A Hard Decision: Which Piste Skis To Buy?
It's taken a snow drought creating zero touring conditions, to persuade me I need skis a little more user-friendly for the hard-packed pistes in resort than 106 lightweight touring skis...
Skiing and Snowboarding Features and Gear Reviews
STYLE ALTITUDE Features always have an edge (or two). For park, piste and powder. Off piste, backcountry, slackcountry including Tour Guides showing routes for classic ski tours plus daily ski weather blog and snow conditions throughout the winter with Live Mountain Webcam. Ski and snowboard reviews, the latest new and technical kit, ski and snowboard wear all feature in Gear . For Ski Resort guides go to Friends In High Places with news and views from those working a season (or three) in Seasonaires . For skiers and snowboarders. #lifesamountain
FEATURES
HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOG TO SKI TOUR AND BE A POWDER HOUND
More ski and snowboard features
WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING 2022 - and BEYOND ? Five years ago our North American Editor Louise Hudson compiled an epic article about the Future of Skiing and Snowboarding for STYLE ALTITUDE. She couldn’t have predicted the pandemic and the devastation that it would wreak on many forms of travel and tourism, especially the snowsports industry. But just as a bluebird follows a snowstorm, so the sun will shine on ski resorts post pandemic and in the future. It's the new après as in après Covid. with some of those pandemic precautions actually having some positive effects, not least the fact that it is now possible to WFM Work From Mountains...
WHERE TO BUY PROPERTY WITH THE BEST OFF PISTE PLAYGROUNDS. Want to really get away from it all, including pandemics? Avoid like the plague - or Covid epi-centres - any apartment or condo in a highrise block in a factory ski resort spewing out crowds of tourists and infections. Small alpine villages and off radar ski areas are the new ski property hot spots.
THREE WAYS TO TAKE YOUR SKIING TO ANOTHER LEVEL. How do you improve your skiing? Make sure you are fit, be willing to learn and always follow Rule No 5...
SNOWMADS' GUIDE TO TAKING A MOTORHOME OR CAMPERVAN FOR SKIING: Discover why there's snow place like a motorhome when it comes to staying in a ski resort.
SKI AND SNOWBOARD GEAR
STYLE GUIDE TO SKI AND SNOWBOARD WEAR FOR WINTER 2021 - 2022
Plus ça change, the more things change, the more they stay the same, just about sums up ski and snowboard wear for this winter. For many outdoor brands and retailers it's a roll-over season, having sold very little during the missing ski season of 2020-2021.
What to wear? It depends on your tribe. It's still GNAR versus GLAMOUR, performance layers versus shiny bodycon pieces - and no prize for knowing which is aimed at the powder pros and which is for piste poseurs...Discover More
More ski and snowboard gear and style
HOW TO KEEP YOUR HANDS AND FEET WARM WHEN SKIING. No need to suffer now we have tech accessories to take the misery out of feeling cold...
THE LATEST FREERIDE WEAPON. What's so exciting about the new SCOTT Pure Pro 109 and why did collaborator, Swiss freerider, Jereme Heitz call it the future of skiing? We asked Franz Marson, SCOTT Ski Product Supervisor, for the inside story...
ONE SKI FUTURE FOR TOURING, POWDER AND PISTE 2022. Is there such a thing as a one-quiver ski for today's skier who, while enjoying a day or two on the piste, is ultimately looking for more off piste adventure and/or backcountry action and is prepared to ski tour for it?
HOW TO USE A GOPRO MAX 360 FOR SKIING: Here at Style Altitude we've been using GoPro's for many a year. Now we discover that the GoPro Max 360 is better than a drone to film skiing. Check out these tips from our Tech Editor to help get the best shots...
Latest Winter Sports News
Beijing Winter Olympics: Why are they controversial?
Winter Olympics host China is being criticised over its human rights record. click here for more
Winter Olympics: Charlotte Bankes and Gus Kenworthy named in Great Britain squad
Charlotte Bankes represented France at two previous Winter Olympics but will line up for Great Britain at the Beijing Games. click here for more
Winter Olympics: Marcus Wyatt targets medal after Beijing success
Marcus Wyatt is confident he can win a skeleton medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics after prior success on the Beijing track. click here for more
Winter Paralympics: Para-snowboarders 'too disabled' for Games win battle to compete
Para-snowboarders Brenna Huckaby and Cecile Hernandez win an unprecedented legal battle to compete in this year's Winter Paralympics after they were initially blocked because they were "too disabled". click here for more
Winter Olympics: Montell Douglas becomes GB's first female summer and Winter Olympian with bobsleigh selection
Montell Douglas will become the first female British athlete to compete at both the summer and winter Olympic Games after being named in the Team GB bobsleigh squad for Beijing. click here for more