Category: skiing

Taking the Kids: And Having Some Fun in the Snow

Three little kids, two parents, and mounds and pounds of gear. Looking back, I don’t know how we managed all of those ski trips. Invariably, we didn’t make it to ski school without losing something on the way — a mitten, goggles, lip balm… And that was before the days when most kids’ ski schools…


It’s All Downhill for 300 Skiing Santas, a Grinch, and a Tree

NEWRY, Maine—A bunch of Santa lookalikes took to the ski slopes to spread some seasonal cheer on Sunday. More than 300 jolly ol’ elves—all dressed in red—dashed together down a mountain with white beards and Santa hats flapping in the breeze at the Sunday River ski resort in Maine. A skiing Grinch and a skiing…


Lifts, Terrain, Eateries, Domes and ‘Ice Bars’: Here’s What’s New at Colorado Ski Areas

By Seth Boster From The Gazette Colorado Springs–Colorado’s ski season is underway, with more resorts set to open in the coming weeks. Here’s a look at some of what’s new to the scene: Arapahoe Basin: The Lenawee Lift, a fixed-grip triple chair built in 2001, has doubled the seating and upped the speed toward coveted…


Heli-Skiing: A Skier’s Trip of a Lifetime—Is It Extreme or Safe?

Tired of long lift lines, crowded trails, and mediocre snow conditions? Perhaps heli-skiing is for you. Helicopter skiing offers the experienced skier exclusive access to the terrain beyond the ski lifts with steeper, longer runs with often pristine powder snow conditions. The requirements for heli-skiing include the helicopter, the pilot and guides, advanced skiing ability,…


Glacier Archeologists Uncover 1,300-Year-Old Wooden Ski With Leather Straps Preserved by Ice in Norway

In 2014, a glacier archaeologist in Norway was dispatched to Mt. Digervarden in Reinheimen National Park in search of artifacts ceded by melting ice. Within minutes of arriving onsite, he found an Iron Age arrowhead. Shortly after, he uncovered one from the Bronze Age. Turning in for the evening, he spotted something of far greater significance: a…


Austria’s Matthias Mayer Wins World Cup Men’s Downhill Race

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta—Matthias Mayer edged fellow Austrian Vincent Kreichmayr on Saturday in the season-opening World Cup men’s downhill at Lake Louise. Mayer finished in 1 minute, 47.74 seconds. He started seventh. “Of course, I’m very satisfied,” said Mayer, also the 2018 downhill winner at Lake Louise. “It’s the first race of the season. I know…


Anti-Coddling Mountain-Life Dad Lets Skiing 3-year Old Tumble; Now She’s a ‘Little Ripper’ on Slopes

Dad Erich Leidums grew up “free range” in the 1990s—before smartphones and today’s hyper-realistic video games—when kids got outside a lot more than today and rode their bikes until the streetlights glowed. The 34-year-old ski patroller knows that the outdoor life instills confidence and resilience, which is why his family chose to live in the…


Ski Resorts Counting on a Return to Normal on the Slopes

JAY, Vt.—After a winter with mask mandates and restrictions on the number of people on lifts, ski resorts are expecting the upcoming season to be more like the pre-pandemic days on the slopes. Any virus-related protocols at resorts will vary depending on where they are and the local health rules in place. Some resorts are…


Shiffrin Excels in World Cup Skiing Opener for Her 70th Win

SÖLDEN, Austria—A friendly pat on the back from her rival Petra Vlhova and a long hug from boyfriend Aleksander Aamodt Kilde in the finish area were Mikaela Shiffrin’s rewards for excelling in the season-opening World Cup giant slalom on Saturday. Shiffrin showed two runs of near-flawless skiing on one of the toughest hills on the…


Concern Over Australia’s Kosciuszko Tourism Blueprint

Long-term plans would see Australia’s Kosciuszko National Park converted into a major year-round tourist destination with a redeveloped town centre for Jindabyne. The crunch of tyres on gravel hasn’t been heard on the summit of Mt Kosciuszko for 44 years but could again be a reality should new tourism plans prevail. So too will the…