WorldSki

Zoom go bust

2008-09-01T05:21:00.000-07:00

The popular Anglo-Canadian airline Zoom has gone bust leaving thousands of independent travellers stranded and tour operators on the search for alternative flights for customers.

The low-cost airline, which served a number of Canadian cities from the UK, was founded in 2001 and has proved particularly popular with people looking for cheap ski holidays in western Canada's ski resorts including top Worldski destinations such as Whistler Blackcomb, Banff and Lake Louise.

In a press release Hugh and John Boyle (founders of Zoom) said: 'We deeply regret the fact that we have been forced to cease all Zoom operations. It is a tragic day for our passengers and more than 600 staff. We are desperately sorry for the inconvenience that this will cause passengers and those who have booked flights and have done everything we can to support the airline. Even as late as yesterday we had secured a new investment package but the actions of creditors meant we could not continue flying. The collapse of Zoom is beyond our control.'

Anyone booked on the airline as part of a ski holiday package should be protected by the ATOL licence and be found alternative flights by their tour operators. All bookings made with http://www.worldski.com/ have been protected and alternative flights found.

Snow already in Breckenridge

2008-08-19T02:06:00.000-07:00

Breckenridge Ski Resort - It´s the height of summer in Colorado but winter has reared its head early as snow dusted Breckenridge and with opening day at Breckenridge only 83 days away things look good for winter 2008-9

Horizon Air Announces Daily Flights to Mammoth

2008-07-15T03:24:00.000-07:00

Horizon Air announced today the airline will offer new daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Mammoth Mountain for the 2008/2009 winter sports season starting December 18, 2008

“The addition of commercial air service to Mammoth represents a big step toward realizing our shared vision to become a destination ski resort community,” said Rusty Gregory, CEO of Mammoth Mountain.“Instead of a drive of five hours or more, you’ll be able to take a 65-minute flight, arriving in Mammoth in time for a relaxing dinner before hitting the ski slopes of Mammoth the next day.”

Horizon’s new flight is expected to boost tourism to Mammoth by facilitating inbound travel from a wide variety of national and international airlines that fly into LAX. Similarly, travelers from Mammoth will gain an easier way to travel, with connections to dozens of destinations coast to coast and around the world served by Alaska, Horizon and other airlines at LAX.

The new daily service runs from Dec. 18, 2008, through April 12, 2009. The one-hour-and-five-minute flight departs Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) daily at 2:20 p.m. and arrives at Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) at 3:25 p.m. The return flight leaves Mammoth at 4:05 p.m. and arrives at LAX at 5:10 p.m.

Just 15 minutes from the Mammoth Yosemite Airport, Mammoth Mountain currently hosts more than 1.1 million skiers per year, making it the third most visited mountain resort in the country. Mammoth Mountain is Southern California’s favorite ski resort, well known for long seasons and plentiful snowfall.

Colorado results are in! It's a record year for snow

2008-06-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

Eight Colorado ski resorts saw snow reports worthy of the record books according to Colorado Ski Country USA. The state of Colorado saw more than 100 powder days based on a tally of the number of days one resort or another picked up new snow. After many resorts delayed opening their doors because of poor early snow conditions the season really did kick off with a bang in December.

Among the 26 ski resort members, record snowfall was recorded at Beaver Creek (430 inches), Crested Butte (422 inches), Monarch Mountain (482 inches), Powderhorn (320 inches), Silverton (550 inches), Snowmass (450 inches), Steamboat (489 inches) and Telluride (353 inches).

Vail saw its third snowiest winter on record, Durango Mountain Resort recorded its fifth snowiest winter and snowfall totals at both Sunlight Mountain Resort near Glenwood Springs and Copper Mountain landed in the top 10 in the resorts’ histories, according to Ski Country.Keystone ski resort tied its best snowfall in the previous eight years, and Eldora received its best snow year in the previous five years. December and January were record snow months at Snowmass and Vail, and Telluride received record snowfall from December to February. January and February snowfall were amongst the highest in Loveland’s history, and 2007-’08 marked the first time Steamboat surpassed the 100-inch cumulative mark for three months in one ski season — from December through to February.

New service from LA to Mammoth Lakes

2008-06-10T03:23:00.000-07:00

The FAA have approved for the coming winter a daily daytime service between Los Angeles LAX Airport and Mammoth Yosemite Airport.

This is great news for skiers and boarders and with plans to use a 76 seater Bombardier turbo prop international travellers will no longer be faced with a car journey of 4 journey from Reno or a 6 hour drive from Los Angeles and San Francisco.

This is great news for UK skiers who want to visit Mammoth Mountain, one of the best ski resorts in North America and plans are afoot to increase this in 2011 to 8 flights a day as regional flights from Las Vegas, Northern California and San Diego are added.

1 stop flights to to Aspen from Gatwick with Delta

2008-06-10T02:56:00.000-07:00

Delta Airlines have announced that they will start daily non-stop flights from Atlanta to Aspen/Snowmass starting on December 20, 2008 and retain the service throughout the winter 08/09 season!

This is great news for skiers and boarders and means that those looking to take a ski holiday in Aspen or Snowmass can make the trip with Delta Airlines with only a single stop over in Atlanta.

In the past two years the team at Worldski have seen several new air routes coming into Aspen Airport making Aspen/Snowmass the easiest and arguably the best Ski Resort for total travel time for any UK skier. I mean who can beat a 15 minute transfer time to your hotel!!!!

So we when it comes to booking your holiday to Aspen and Snowmass this coming winter remember that you have the choice of the following flights:

United Airlines: Daily Direct from LHR - DEN with easy 28 minute flight time service to Aspen/Snowmass

United Airlines: Daily Direct Flight(s) into Chicago (ORD) from LHR with connecting service to Aspen/Snowmass

Delta Airlines: Daily Direct Flights(s) into Atlanta (ATL) from LGW with connecting service to Aspen/Snowmass.

...and don't forget about the daily non-stop flights on British Airways from LHR to DEN. Although there is no code share flights up to Aspen/Snowmass with a ticket from BA, there are multiple flights on United Airlines and now Frontier Airlines from Denver to Aspen/Snowmass!

Considering 3 years ago there was no way to come to Aspen/Snowmass from the UK on a protected 1-stop flight things have come a long way.

With these kind of options we look forward to see many of you on the slopes this coming winter.

Sir Elton rocks Ischgl

2008-05-07T01:41:00.000-07:00

The end of season ski parties are getting bigger and bigger with stars such as Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Sting, Tina Turner, Bon Jovi, Stereophonics and the Scissor Sisters having all performed in the past to huge crowds in ski resorts in Europe and North America.

Last week was no exception with Sir Elton John as the main attraction in Austria as he performed at the end of season party in the ski resort of Ischgl. Having just squeezed the rock legends piano into the cable car, Sir Elton John gave a 2 hour 'free' concert at an altitude of 2,320 metres and worked his way through his greatest hits including Rocket Man, Daniel, Pinball Wizard, Bennie and The Jets, Crocodile Rock and Yellow Brick Road.

Sir Elton admitted he had never skied or snowboarded. "I would love to as it looks fun, but my travel insurance won't allow me to in case I beak an arm or something," he said before the show.
Concerts like this are really a marketing strategy for the ski resorts, and for 25,000 skiers at the weekend the concert was a nice end to a great days skiing. It is also part of a strategy for ski resorts to offer more than just skiing to attract a wider client base, partly fuelled by worries about global warming and the prospects that there will be less snow in the future.

Need a lift pass, then take your phone

2008-04-30T23:43:00.000-07:00

Famous Canadian Rocky Mountain ski resort, Sunshine Village is to trial a new mCommerce mobile phone ticketing system which will allow skiers and boarders to avoid lift ticket windows and to move directly to the ski lifts where their mobile phone will replace traditional ski passes and be scanned to gain lift access.

Sunshine Village, one of North America's most technologically innovative ski resorts, will be completing a live test of the system to review the operational complications of putting this new lift pass system in place for next year's ski season. This is the first time this advanced technology has been trialled in North American ski industry. Upon successful completion of the demonstration test this week, the intent is to implement the programme for the start of the next ski season.

The initial test of the mCommerce application at Sunshine ski resort is being conducted in conjunction with the movie industry's Show Canada Conference and Trade Show being held this week in the nearby ski resort of Banff.

Seasons over - New seasons begun

2008-04-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time the team at Worldski were fortunate to have a few weeks off after Easter as skiers put their minds to summer holidays rather than next years ski trip, but those days are over as clients book their ski holidays earlier and earlier.

Following exceptional snow conditions this year both here in Europe and in North America skiers and boarders are getting their reservations in early especially for ski resorts in Colorado like Breckeneridge where for the first time in a number of years a new direct service from United will compete with British Airways. More competition on this route can only serve to bring down prices and attract even more snow lovers westward.

Chalets for the peak dates are also being snapped early and skiers and snowboarders are putting down their deposits early to make sure they don't miss out. A recent booker advised that in a time of uncertainty with the economy and a projected housing slump, planning for next years ski trip gave him something to aim for. I look it this way he said ' better to go without a few luxuries like meals and out and coffee's from Starbucks than miss out on my major treat of the year'

2008-03-31T04:22:00.000-07:00

If your looking for a bargain deal and making of the most of the recent great snow then April is bargain time to go skiing.

Last week was a very snowy one in the Europe. Sunday and Monday kicked off the week with widespread snowstorms across France, Switzerland and Austria with some resorts including Val D’Isère, picking up more than 2 feet in 24 hours – and the good new is it’s been snowing on and off ever since. So if that makes you wonder whether there is still time to ski this season then the answer is yes – but only if your careful about where to go.

Normally late season means that the lower resorts which have slopes facing the sun tend to fair badly with slushy conditions so our advice at Worldski is to avoid them altogether and aim high and for us that means skiing above 2000m.

The good news is that holiday prices fall through the floor at the end of the season and with Easter been and gone there are plenty of cheap deals to be had . Our advice as always is give us a call and speak to a member of our dedicated ski sales team on 0870 4288706 and let them point you in the right direction.

2008-02-21T06:15:00.000-08:00

FREE Eurotunnel Upgrade to FlexiPlus,with our Self-Drive Ski packages from just £99 per person per week*

2008-02-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

Taking your own car to the Continent offers you total freedom and is one of the most convenient and economical ways of reaching your European destination. Plan a crossing time to suit your needs and enjoy the comfort of travelling to the slopes in your own car with everything you need packed in your boot Eurotunnel.

With a crossing time of only 35 minutes from Folkestone to Calais, Eurotunnel offers the fastest Channel crossing with your car. Its reliable service operates round the clock, 365 days a year, taking the hassle out of travelling to the Continent. Choose from up to 3 departures an hour during peak periods - no other cross-Channel operator offers you more choice.

With its own motorway junction (11a M20), access to the Passenger Terminal couldn't be simpler. Prior to boarding the shuttles, you will pass through both UK and French frontier controls which means on arrival in France, you simply drive off the shuttle and onto the European motorway network.

Whilst onboard, relax in the comfort of your own car during the short crossing. The Eurotunnel experience is simple and hassle free - no wonder they are the preferred choice for over 1 million motorists each year.

FlexiPlus Upgrade - Upgrade to FlexiPlus to benefit from a dedicated check-in, exclusive lounge serving complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks and priority boarding on the next available shuttle.

Please note: Height restrictions - when you book let us know if your car and equipment are more than 1.85m high. For alternative Channel crossing options, please contact us.

How are these for snow reports??

2008-02-04T02:46:00.000-08:00

Vail Ski Resort <:- January’s total snowfall was 98 inches.- Between Dec and Jan this season, with the two highest number of days when snow fell in Vail’s recent history, Vail has received a total 16.25 feet of snow.- January is, on average, when Vail gets the most snow. Our average monthly total is 64.3” which means we made it almost 3 feet (or 33.7 inches) over average.- Year-to-date snowfall total is 239”, 4.5 feet over the average. It’s the 2nd best snowfall total in the past 10 years (with Jan 31, 2006 coming in first).

Beaver Creek Ski Resort:- Beaver Creek has received 238 inches of snow season-to-date. - Beaver Creek received 234 inches of accumulative snowfall through January 31, 2008. The historical average through January 31 is 169 inches.- Snowiest January since 1996 for Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek received 93 inches of snow in January 2008. Beaver Creek received 105.2 inches of snow in January 1996. (The historical average for the month of January is 52.4 inches.)- December 2007 was the snowiest December since 1996 for Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek received 90 inches of snow in December 2007. Beaver Creek received 100.9 inches of snow in December 1996. (The historical average for the month of December is 54.6 inches.)

Breckenridge Ski Resort:- :-Year-to-date snowfall of 156.5 inches – 120% of historical average.Keystone:-Snowiest January in 7 years - Keystone received 46 inches - Nearly 4 feet of snow - best is January 2006 with 61 inches-Second-best year-to-date season snowfall ever with 147 inches - best is January 2006 with 196 inches-Snowiest December on record with 64 inches - previous best was 63 inches in December 2005.

Heavenly Ski Resort:- :-160 inches of snow fell in January alone – snowiest month on record (records go back to 1975-76).-Snowpack is currently 23 percent higher than average.

They are calling it the storm of the Century!

2008-01-09T05:58:00.000-08:00

Skiers and snowboarders are celebrating an epic start to the New Year. The first week of 2008 has already delivered a powerful punch with 8 feet of powder from the latest Lake Tahoe snowstorm at Heavenly Ski Resort . According to Russ Pecoraro, Heavenly Ski Resort’s director of communications, this weekend’s snowstorm is the biggest one to hit Heavenly Ski Resort since 1995, sparking some to call it “The Storm of the Century.”

Last weekends storm left an amazing 11 feet of fresh powder snow at Kirkwood with another 5 to 9 feet at other ski areas around Lake Tahoe. Around 2 to 4 feet of snow fell by the lakeside during the three-day storm which resulted in numerous road closures and delays.

New Year snowstorms have also pounded the Colorado Rocky Mountain resorts of

Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone, adding to the above-average snowfall this season. The latest storm delivered up to 2 feet of snow at Beaver Creek, 16 inches of powder at Vail and up to a foot at Breckenridge and Keystone.

Mother Nature’s not done yet. The Colorado Rocky Mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone are under a winter storm warning through midnight and forecasters are calling for more snow for the Lake Tahoe ski resort of Heavenly through Thursday.

News from our friends in Colorado

2008-01-02T08:52:00.000-08:00

Copper, Winter Park and Steamboat Snow update for the week of January 2, 2008

Dear All,

We hope everyone had a great Christmas and started the New Year with a few drinks and a smile! The Holidays in the Colorado High Country were white with lots of snow and a major blizzard on January 30, which unfortunately made traveling a bit difficult for about 24 hours, but left lots of new snow. Steamboat was the big snow winner for the last week.

THIRD SNOWIEST DECEMBER: A MONTH TO REMEMBER IN STEAMBOAT
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO

December 31, 2007-With more than 6 feet of snow during the past two weeks, December 2007 will be a month forever etched in the memories of Steamboat powderhounds as 126 inches (10.5 ft) of Champagne Powder® snow blanketed the resort this month alone, making it the 3rd snowiest December on record in the past 29 years.

Steamboat is in an active storm cycle that has yielded 20 inches of new snow in the past 48-hours. At mid-mountain, the resort has piled up a whooping 44 inches (3.67 ft) of fresh snow in the past week; 74 inches (6.17 ft) in the past two weeks and is reporting a 50-inch base at mid-mountain and 54-inch base at the summit on powder conditions. Steamboat is currently offering powderhounds 2,931 acres (99% of the mountain), 158 trails, 18 lifts and 3,668 vertical feet of skiing/riding enjoyment.

For the month of December, 126 inches (10.5 ft) fell at mid-mountain, making this the 3rd snowiest December on record and the 6th time the resort has surpassed the 100” mark for the month in the past 29 years. The resort has seen snow 26 out of 31 days (84%) this month, with 14 of those days recording more than four inches. This season, 166 inches (13.8 ft) of Champagne Power snow has staked up at the ski area’s mid-mountain site.

Snow Report (December 31, 2007)

20/50.8 cm Past 48 hours
44”/111.76 cm Base
166”/421.6 cm Snowfall this Season
158 Runs
18 Lifts
2,931 Acres

Winter Park

Snow Report (January 2, 2008)

4”/ 10.16cm Past 48 hours
43”/109 cm Base
116.5”/296 cm Snowfall this Season
2,308 Acres open
126 Runs
25 Lifts

Copper Mountain

Copper received 12”/30.48 cm of new snow this past week!

Snow Report (January 2, 2008)b

2”/ 5.08 cm Past 48 hours
38”/ 96.5 cm Base
114”/ 290 cm Snowfall this Season
115 Runs
21 Lifts
1706 Acres Open

Cheap Aspen Ski Passes

2007-12-27T02:21:00.000-08:00

Once again the team at Worldski can save you money on your next trip to Aspen

Providing we supply your ski pass in association with a pre-booked holiday package, Worldski can save you up to 40% on the price you pay locally.

Details on Aspen, Snowmass lift-passes

Ski-pass Offers

High season - Feb 15 - Mar 27 2008 - Buy 8 days, get 14 - Must book by 11 Jan 2008
Late season - Mar 28 - Apr 13 2008 - Buy 8 days, get 14 - Must book by 15 Feb 2008
Late season - Mar 28 - Apr 13 2008 - Buy 12 days, get 20 - Must book by 15 Feb 2008

Whats new at Worldski

2007-12-05T02:39:00.000-08:00

Leading independent ski and snowboard operator Worldski has great deals for the 2007/08 season for ski & snowboarding holidays in both Europe and North America.

WorldSki offers people the right deal on ski holidays, ski accommodation and ski extras including liftpasses, ski hire and ski insurance all at great rates. Simply compare the prices and book online at Worldski .

The site has recently been voted in the top 10 "Best Ski Websites" by Mark Frary of "The Times and "The Times Online". WorldSki continues to offer skiers and snowboarders the best deals, and new for 2007/2008, WorldSki.com has a "Ski Special Offers" by country section, offering users a quick and easy guide to some of the best value ski accommodation deals in Europe and North America, such as France from as little as £55 per person per week and the USA from as little as £96 per person per week .

WorldSki offer simple and convenient online booking for the all important ski extras including Lift Passes, Ski and Snowboard rental and ski insurance including off-piste . Other items can still be booked even if the actual holiday arrangements have been made elsewhere. Get a quote and book online and save; there are many great deals on liftpasses booked online with WorldSki.

WorldSki offers winter sports travel insurance cover for as little as £9 for each individual, single trip cover, when booked online.The great savings on accommodation and the ski extras combined with a simple booking method means that WorldSki continues to offer its customers real choice, convenience, flexibility and value for money on this season's winter sports holiday.www.worldski.com - Carving the Cost !

Fresh Tracks Anyone?

2007-12-04T01:22:00.000-08:00

The team at Worldski receive emails daily from the marketing departments of ski resorts around the world advising on snow conditions, current events etc but we felt that this image from Bob Bayliss who represents Aspen Snowmass was amazing.

Skiing in Aspen has to be one of the best experiences on offer in the United States and with weather conditions like this, who needs to go heli-skiing.

Over the weekend Aspen Snowmass received over 75cm of snow and takes the base at the peak to over 115cm. Click here to view the most recent snow reports for Aspen and see not only the latest conditions for this premier Colorado resort but a host of other information including a current 7 day forecast for the resort.

If you need to stay current with the snow conditions in your chosen resort this winter don't forget that all the resort conditions are updated daily on the resort destination pages on www.worldski.com

Worldski extend their 15% discount on 'Peak Season' travel dates

2007-12-03T02:45:00.000-08:00

The team at Worldski have extended their '15% Off' Discount Offer on ski holidays to all of their featured destinations over the Christmas and New Year period. The offer includes top destinations such as skiing holdays to Aspen in the United States and skiing holidays to Whistler in Canada.

The '15% Off ' offer applies to all Worldski's directly contracted programme which includes a wide range of hotels, apartments and condos in over 120 ski destinations worldwide.

Top destinations for Christmas and New Year include France where prices are reasonable especially when clients are chosing a self-drive option using either the ferry or Eurotunnel which avoids nasty peak season flight supplements.

These offers are limited so hurry and get in contact with the team at Worldski as soon as you are ready to book.

Only two days to go to get your 'early booking' discount

2007-11-28T04:27:00.000-08:00

As we approach the start of the winter 2007/8 season the team at Worldski are working hard to keep up with the demand on our 'Early Booking Offers' on ski holidays which are being offered with an Extra 15% DISCOUNT on peak travel dates!

Great savings can be made when you travel during high season dates which includes 29th December to 6th January 2008, 9th to 17th February 2008 and 14th to 24th March 2008. Book early to avoid dissapointment. Offers Valid until the 30th November 2007

Visit us at the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show

2007-10-25T06:59:00.000-07:00

If you are venturing into the wilds of West London this weekend why not a make a detour and head for the Metro Ski an Snowboard Show at Olympia.

Running from Wednesday the 24th of October until Sunday the 28 the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show is the UK's largest and most visited ski show.

This year the Worldski team can be found in attendance on the Black Diamond stand so pop by if you want to speak to someone about lift passes , ski hire , or your ski holiday

Paul@worldski.com

Who is going to run the lifts, serve your food and make your beds?

2007-10-08T05:34:00.000-07:00

American ski resorts have for many years relied upon cheap international students and backpackers to fill the seasonal positions which they were unable to be fill from their local domestic workforce.

Resorts such as Copper Mountain and Breckenridge rely heavily on this available workforce, normally young Southern Hemisphere students on their summer breaks and it always added to the charachter of the resort to hear the cheery call of ' Good Day Mate' or a ' No worries Cobber' as you ordered a beer or sat on a lift.

However changes in immigration law which have occurred in the last week have the potential to severely limit services and drive skiing and snowboarding prices skyhigh as resorts turn to the more expensive 'native' workforce to run the restauraunts, sell you your lift pass ,fit your ski hire and clean and service your hotels.

Traditonally resorts used the H-2B visa to grant grant temporary seasonal status to potential employees engaged in non-agricultural labor, and this year they have been set with a 33,000 cap for the whole country. These places have already been filled and the 50,000 outstanding applications are likely to be turned down unless resorts lobby their politicians quick. Even if Congress does change it's mind there is no guarentee that your friendly 'Sheila' will be in place for the Christmas.

Chill Factore will be the UK's longest and widest real snow indoor ski slope opens in November

2007-10-02T03:47:00.000-07:00

Opening in November 2007, Chill Factore is much more than a conventional indoor ski slope. Yes, it's a place to ski or board, rock climb and snowplay... but it's also a place where active lifestyle shops, themed bars and contemporary restaurants create an authentic alpine village. A place in the right position to attract millions of visitors. A place to have fun, take it easy or simply breathe in the continental buzz.

Less than four miles from the centre of Manchester and next door to the renowned Trafford Centre, Chill Factore will bring together the best of snowsports, extreme sports, active leisure and lifestyle retailing, contemporary bars and restaurants, all under one roof. It will be an enchanting, exhilarating environment where you can experience an authentic alpine world - all year round.

For the snowsports enthusiast, whether expert or beginner, young or old, the snow conditions are always perfect, with bars and restaurants overlooking the slopes and the alpine street offering the retail variety and ambiance straight from the Alps.

It's the ideal place to brush up your skills or try out the increasingly popular alpine sports before you hit the mountains - with the finest tuition in the country for all levels

And Chill Factore is much more than an exhilarating skiing and boarding venue. With its snow play and tobogganing it is perfect for kids too, with a truly unique family atmosphere.

Quite simply, Chill Factore will be one of the most exciting leisure experiences in Britain.

Chill Factore will be the UK's longest and widest real snow indoor ski slope (main slope 180 metres long and a total of 100 metres wide at the bottom), with the finest snow, all year round.

Just like your favourite resort, there will be separate but inter-connected activity areas. At 100 metres wide, there's plenty of room for everyone, so competitions could be taking place on one side of the slope whilst still leaving plenty of room for recreational skiers. In addition to the main run there will be two beginners' areas, a toboggan run and a children's snow play area.

The slopes have been designed to appeal to everyone, from potential champions looking for world class training close to home or the beginner making those first turns. At Chill Factore you can expect to receive unrivalled ski tuition, tailored specifically to suit your individual needs. With the top snow professionals (BASI1) on hand, the Chill Factore team offers a variety of experienced support; whether you are a ski expert looking to make your hobby into a career, or a novice to the sport, Chill Factore's centre of excellence is the perfect place to meet all your needs!

Already had a taste of the slopes? If you feel you have reached a plateau and think you are ready for the next level, Chill Factore's quality ski school will work with you, helping you in your journey to the next level.

For those interested in competing, the team at Chill Factore will help you hone your skills, helping you on your winning ways.

Chill Factore will have a host of ways to soak up the energy. The children's snow-play zone will be safely separated from the skiers and boarders, a winter wonderland of magical play, with penguins and polar bears, igloos and ice-castles, slides and snowmen. The toboggan run will be the real thing - and no crashing into the ski racks at the bottom!

Just like the Alps, it can be a fun day out for the whole family or it can give you a rush of adrenalin as you stand at the top of a freshly groomed piste, and there's great après- ski viewing from the slope facing bars and restaurants.

Chill Factore will bring the atmosphere of an Alpine ski resort to the heart of the North West - without setting a foot outside.

A charming alpine street with your choice of restaurants and active lifestyle shopping, plus glühwein, and hot chocolate from slope-facing restaurants - will all be on hand to make the experience complete.

Great slope dining and super-cool shopping are always fundamental elements at a ski resort, and Chill Factore will be no different.

It will be THE destination for everyone, from smart Friday nighters looking for a great new scene to leisurely mid-week shoppers looking for some stylish retail therapy along with a good lunch or just a cup of coffee and slice of strudel.

Chill Factore's shops, bars and restaurants will welcome a great mix of visitors, happy to browse the stores or just sit and soak up the atmosphere. The sharpest boarders will impress spectators young and old, while everyone loves to watch little ones having a whale of time in the snow. That special mix - unique to a ski resort - comes when relaxation and exhilaration meet in that unique alpine setting.

Location : Next to the Trafford Centre which attracts 30 million shoppers per annum

Direct shuttle bus from the Trafford Centre
Direct access from Junction 10 M60
4 miles from Manchester city centre
Excellent bus links to the Trafford Centre from all over the region
Landmark building for the northwest towering over the M60.
4.5 million people within 30 minutes drive
6.5 million people within 45 minutes drive
£13 billion regional expenditure
10,000 sq.ft. flagship store already let to National mountain and snowsports retailer Snow and Rock

On tour with Warren Miller

2007-09-26T05:13:00.001-07:00

Once again the team at Worldski are pleased to be the online sponsor of the upcoming Warren Miller movie 'Playground' which starts its rounds of UK cinema's this month.

Warren Miller as we all know is an acclaimed filmmaker, entrepreneur, and author. His 50 year old career includes over 700 sports films, several books and hundreds of published non-fiction stories. His annual films are a renowned institution in the UK and herald the start of the winter season for many. With their perennial host Jim Odoire from the team at Black Diamond providing the lead, these interactive events are renowned for their high octane pace both on and off the screen.

So prepare to charge into winter as Warren Miller's 'Playground', the world's largest action sports film, hits cinemas on it's nationwide tour. From October 2007 through January 2008, Warren Miller's 'Playground' will dazzle fans with electrifying winter sports footage projected in crystal clear digital format. This cross country live event spectacle is saturated with deep powder, incredible cinematography, technical lines, and massive air

Dates and details on the Warren Millers latest film, 'Playground' can be found at Warren Miller

Paul@worldski

See us at the ski shows

2007-09-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when we hit the road and do the rounds of the ski shows, so come and put a face to a name and meet the team from Worldski

The team at Worldski will be on hand at the shows in London, Birmingham and Manchester, so check out the details below and pop along for a chat and let us provide you with truly indpendent unbiased advice on how to ge the best from your precious time on the slopes.

Paul

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London - Olympia

The Metro Ski and Snowboard Show - celebrating its 35th year - is back.

This year the Show is again over five days, and packed full of action. Special Features for 2007 - Trespass Quarter Pipe: Hosting the London Ride and the British Quarter Pipe Championships- The Burton Rail Jam - The Landrover Brand Arena & Fashion Showcase: all the main brands and catwalk models!-Teaching Zone: Beginners will be able to learn to ski and board for free on the dedicated slope- Plus the Gigloo, Ice Climbing Wall, World Resorts Village and more - Free for kids - To encourage our younger friends, it's free for u/10s

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Manchester and Birmingham

The British Ski + Board Shows will start at the Manchester Central (formerly GMEX) in Manchester on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th October and then move on to the NEC in Birmingham from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th November

The British Ski + Board Show is set to return to the NEC and Manchester Central this year, with brand new features that will entertain and excite everyone from novice skiers to die-hard snow sports enthusiasts.

With a line-up that includes a huge ski ramp, ¼ pipe, talk theatre, equipment clinics and an ice rink, there’s no better place than the UK’s best winter sports exhibition to start your ski and snowboard season.The big ski ramp is the newest feature to the Birmingham show and will give visitors the chance to learn how to ski or snowboard, as well as watching thrilling demonstrations and competitions. In Manchester, a ¼ pipe will take centre stage with exciting racing competitions taking place throughout the weekend.

Truly inspirational and informative speakers will be appearing in the new talk theatre, bringing tales of their adventures and experiences, as well as advising visitors on the best places to visit. Equipment clinics will also take place throughout the shows, helping visitors to prepare themselves and their gear for the upcoming season.

If that wasn’t enough, retailers such as Ellis Brigham, GirlsSki2, TSA and Atomic will also be at the shows selling top brand names and the hottest gear for the 2007/8 season.

Once you’ve treated yourself to some new clothing or equipment, many of the world top resorts such as, New Hampshire, Canada, France, Switzerland and the Austrian Tirol will be represented at The British Ski + Board Show, giving you endless options of where to holiday this season.

Show Organiser Karena Cooper said: “We’re really excited about this year’s show and we can’t wait to hear what the visitors think of our new features.”

Low cost carriers announce new routes to Europe

2007-09-20T05:28:00.001-07:00

All of the 'Low cost' carriers are focusing on the lucrative winter sports market and EasyJet, one of Europe’s leading low-fares airline, this week launched a new twice daily service to Zurich, with fares from just £27.99 each way. The airline expects to carry more than 160,000 passengers on the route over the next 12 months say Paul Cable, EasyJet’s UK Market Manager.

'Whilst Zurich is a great gateway for local ski resorts such Laax and Engelberg don't forget that with a mainline train station at the airport it's easy to hop onto a train to some of the best resorts in the world including my favourite, St Anton says Paul Quigley from the specialist ski agency www.worldski.com

These new routes come hot on the heels of new routes and major ski campaigns from Ryanair, Flybe and Jet2.com. Ryanair have in particular have been very aggressive with their early ski marketing by launching a dedicated ski website and advertising their winter ski destinations in the national by press offering free ski carriage.

Many however are using the low cost carriers for weekends trips and don't really understand the problems faced when trying to secure accommodation. Mike Pritchard, Holiday Manager at Worldski understands the problem well as he deals with customers in his Leeds city centre call centre.

' The winter season is short, normally 16-18 weeks' says Mike and accommodation providers need to maximise the occupancy in those rooms. 'They love the 7 night, Saturday to Saturday bookings' he says ' and many properties will only take these kind of bookings' Weekend travellers however are only there for a couple of days and typically like to travel Friday to Monday which breaks this Saturday, Saturday rule.' That's where I come in' says Mike. The team here at Worldski have tremendous experience in this market and can advise which suppliers will deal with weekend stay or odd durations.

Paul@Worldski

First snow of the Winter

2007-09-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

I always love this time of year. Summer (what summer) has been and gone and crisper mornings and early evenings are the order of the day. So as we start to wrap up warmer it's nice to see snow on the ground in Colorado. The picture above came from the guys at Breckenridge and like us they have their fingers crossed for another stellar winter with record snowfalls in 07-08.

Paul@Worldski

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New snow update - 21st September 2007

Mammoth receives first dusting of snow

As clouds rolled in and nighttime temperatures dropped, Mammoth was blessed last night with the season's first dusting of snow. The light layer of white snow on the mountain has brought the feeling of winter back to Mammoth and weather forecasts are calling for scattered snow showers throughout the next few days.

The Mammoth operations crew reported about an inch of snow at the top of the mountain this morning. With the light dusting last night, optimism surrounds the approaching winter season. The crew at Mammoth has been hard at work on many pre-season mountain improvements. Leading the list of improvements is the new high-speed six-pack chairlift, Cloud Nine,which will whisk skiers and riders from the Eagle Lodge side of the mountain to an elevation of 10,371 feet near Dragon's Back.

Mark your calendars- opening day at Mammoth Mountain is scheduled for November 8,weather permitting.Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California. With 1.6 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain iscurrently the third most frequented resort in the United States

Paul@Worldski