Austria Is Now Epic

Vail Resorts announced an epic partnership with the one of the most famous ski regions in the world, Arlberg, Austria, home to legendary mountain resorts of St. Anton, Lech-Zürs, St. Christoph and Stuben. The Epic Pass now features five free consecutive days of skiing and riding in Arlberg, bringing the total access to 15 world-class mountains in three countries and further enhancing the already exceptional value of the world’s greatest ski pass. At only $689, the Epic Pass is the best value on a lift pass in the industry. Epic Pass holders have the opportunity to extend their winter from the U.S. to Europe—for the second consecutive year—and experience both Verbier, Switzerland, and now Arlberg, Austria, in addition to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Eldora in Colorado, and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe. Boasting an average annual snowfall of 23 feet, the Arlberg area is legendary among skiers and riders from around the globe as the cradle of skiing, revered for the world-class experience and innovation in the sport that it affords while maintaining its traditional, Alpine character.
"We are pleased and proud to announce our partnership with Arlberg as Epic Pass holders can now ski the best resorts in the world in three countries on one pass. Vail Resorts continues to look for opportunities to enhance the incredible value of the Epic Pass that our guests already receive and enjoy. In March, we announced that we increased the number of free days of access to Verbier, Switzerland, from three to five for the 2013-2014 season and we added, Eldora, a local Colorado ski area to the Epic Pass", said Kirsten Lynch, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts. "Epic Pass holders already enjoy an incredible experience with unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail Resorts’ seven world-class resorts in the United States, including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood, as well as Arapahoe Basin and now Eldora, but the addition of world-class skiing in both Austria and Switzerland makes the Epic Pass even more compelling for our guests looking to take a ski vacation to Europe".
Boasting 174 miles of marked ski runs, 112 miles of open free riding terrain, 94 gondolas and lifts, and approximately 23 feet of annual snowfall, The Arlberg is arguably Austria’s most popular mountain resort group. Modern and vibrant, St. Anton am Arlberg also maintains its traditional Tyrolean charm. The Arlberg ski area will be open from Dec. 6, 2013 – Apr. 27, 2014.
"Arlberg and Vail Resorts are arguably the world's premier ski resorts, offering exceptional experiences on the mountain and an unparalleled level of customer service", said Hermann Fercher, chief executive officer of Lech-Zürs. "We are looking forward to a successful partnership and welcome Epic Pass holders to Austria next winter", chief executive officer of St. Anton am Arlberg, Martin Ebster, went on to say.
The Epic Pass provides unlimited skiing or riding, at $689 for adults and $359 for children (ages 5-12), at nine resorts including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and now Eldora in Colorado and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe. New this year, the Epic Pass also comes with five free days of skiing or riding at the renowned Verbier Resort in Switzerland and an additional five free days of skiing and riding in Arlberg, Austria. No restrictions. At this spring rate, the Epic Pass pays for itself in just over five days.
Vail Resorts is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN).

A new funicular for Zermatt

After 32 years the Sunnegga funicular in Zermatt is to undergo a complete refit. By early summer 2013, you will be able to glide up to Sunnegga on new tracks aboard an ultramodern railway. Carrying capacity is to be increased, but there is also a focus on greater comfort for passengers. Entirely new equipment will be installed in the existing tunnel. The necessary structural modifications will be made this summer as well as during the regular autumn break in operations. During an eight-week period in spring 2013, the electromechanical equipment, tracks and rolling stock will be completely replaced. A total investment of about 12 million Swiss francs is planned.
The refurbishment promises a tangible improvement in passenger comfort: the sprung undercarriage and sound-proofed interior will make for a quiet journey. LED lighting will create a pleasant ambience. Passengers will have more room, with the space available for each seat increasing from 0.17 to 0.21m2. The seating capacity of the trains will rise from 170 to 200, which equates to 2570 passengers an hour. To make this possible, the trains will be longer: 30 metres, with three coaches, each of four compartments. The greater length means the floor of the upper compartment will come to a stop level with the station exit. The speed of travel will increase from the present 10m/sec (36km/h) to 12m/sec (43.2km/h). The folding front door will give easier access for goods transport.
The end of the winter season on 22 April 2013 sees the start of eight weeks of intensive work (using a multiple shift system) on all fronts. The aim is to ensure the new funicular is ready for handover and can start operations when the summer season opens on 15 June 2013. Generally speaking, the work will be spread over three seasons, occupying the normal inspection and maintenance periods, in order not to interrupt operations on Sunnegga. Only the spring maintenance period will be extended, by two weeks.
If everything goes according to plan, the opening of the new funicular will take place on Saturday, 15 June 2013! Zermatt Bergbahnen AG is looking forward to the next 30 years and to carrying another 30 million or more passengers on a state-of-the-art funicular.
The Sunnegga area was opened up in 1942 with the installation of a ski and walking lift, which was replaced in 1946 by a chair lift. In the 1970s, with capacity bottlenecks an increasingly frequent problem, it was decided to build a funicular railway. After four years’ construction and a total investment of CHF 26.93 million, it was opened on 28 November 1980. The funicular was recognized far beyond the borders of Switzerland as a genuine innovation in tourist transport systems and soon became a popular attraction. On 3 March 1982, after only 15 months’ operation, the railway was able to celebrate carrying its millionth passenger. By the time of the merger in 2002, the number of passengers had surpassed 17 million. Since then, Zermatt Bergbahnen AG has carried a further 14,129,218 passengers on the Sunnegga funicular, so there is no doubt that it has earned an overhaul! Starting in the winter of 1985/86, the Swiss Federal Office of Transport allowed driverless operation at a reduced speed (5m/sec) and from May 1996 onwards, at the full speed of 10m/sec.

Hannibal (Sölden, April 12th)

Next Friday April 12th, the historical spectacle of HANNIBAL will be performed again on the giant open-air stage at Sölden's Rettenbach Glacier. The performance of "HANNIBAL – The Crossing of the Alps" is all about the historical facts of the Second Punic War and its protagonist Hannibal, who is described in a biographical way with all modern theater settings on a really incomparable Nature Arena.
The artistic network directed by lawine torrèn in collaboration with Sölden and Red Bull, has put on stage Hannibal's historical crossing of the Alps. 500 actors will take part in the new production of Carthage's epic attack on Rome by crossing the Alps. Snow cats as elephants. Instead of elephants the spectators will see snow-grooming machines. Skiers, climbers, parachutist act as modern-day warriors. Giant horsemen cross the endless glacier fields on their skidoos while flying acrobats try to hinder the attack. The ultimate showdown features plenty of music, light effects, video films and pyrotechnic shows.
"We are happy to see that the Hannibal project is setting an international benchmark when it comes to connecting culture and tourism", says Jack Falkner from Mountain Railways Sölden. In 2001, together with Dietrich Mateschitz, he had the idea to connect skiing and aviation with classic mythology in contemporary fashion.
The art group Lawine Torrèn stages Hannibal’s life story in the form of a breath-taking glacier spectacle and as a modern parable about leadership, intrigues, world politics, and the striving for power.

The Story

218 BC Hannibal of Carthage crossed the Alps in only 10 days with 60,000 men and 37 elephants. He overcame steep mountain sides, quickly changing weather and avalanches to then defeat the Roman army in today’s Italy. Although Hannibal’s army was superior, they did not conquer the city of Rome.
This hesitation had historic consequences: the Roman Empire struck back and defeated Hannibal in the battle of Zama under the leadership of Scipio. Rome became the leading power in the Mediterranean while Carthage, which was located near today’s Tunis, lost all of its status.
The initiator of the HANNIBAL project Ernst Lorenzi describes the atmosphere up on 3000 m altitude just before the end of the show as follows: "The battle of Zama roars at the tongue of the glacier. Directly in front of the spectators Hannibal is defeated by his Roman counterpart Scipio. While humans and machines head towards culmination in frantic chaos, Hannibal flees the scenery quietly, dangling from a helicopter upside down".
Harald Krassnitzer narrates the story accompanied by an intoxicating soundtrack. From dusk until total darkness cutting edge light design and special effects reinforce the enormous size of the stage. The TV channel Carthage TV reports breaking news from the studio next to the snow pyramid, which alternately represents Carthage and Rome.
"Ten thousands of visitors act as multiplicators of a spectacular show which is designed as a direct experience for all senses and is staged in a landscape which we want to show as untouched as possible. During the day thousands of skiers on the slopes hardly look further than the tips of their skis. During the evening of the show, however, when the mountains’ endless silence streams down from the slopes and floods the place, their excited eyes will look up to the bizarre forms of ice and snow. In today’s media-centred world this natural spectacle is forward-thinking and acts against the loss of nature. A well thought-through adventure, which is staged analogously and in real time", says
director Hubert Lepka.

The Stage

The ultimate Rettenbach Glacier and its bizarre ice formations make a really incomparable Nature Arena. From Sölden you reach the glacier stage along the scenic Glacier Road, embedded in breathtaking 3000m-high mountain peaks. A semicircle with a high-towered palace forms the center of the stage.
Right in front of the spectators' area you find an antique site made of snow and ice. On the right you see Dido's Palace similar to a Maya Pyramid - the Castillo from Chichen Itza was its model.
At a few meters from the audience there is the Campus, an elevated platform with embankments. It serves as playground for the snow-grooming machines, as stage for the dancers and as terrain for motocross bikes. The Karthago.TV broadcasting studio is situated next to the Pyramid. Cameras, spotlights and a seating corner are positioned in front of a luminous, 42m² video wall. 
In the background, close to the giant blue sky brochure, a mountain chain with three summits. One of them is the Venus Hill where the Goddess herself resides - if she does not take action against Carthage by helicopter. 
On the right side, behind Carthage, you see the rock formations of Gibraltar, more exactly Karleskogel peak which is connected to Carthage by a chair lift. This area hosts the Spanish Colony famous for its gold and silver treasures - which are blown up like avalanches.
And in the center of Rettenbach Glacier you can find the floodlit glacier fields displayed as tent city or elephant skin - depending on the position of the numerous Bengal fires and Xenon spotlights.
The audience is standing on the car park next to the mountain restaurant at no less than 2700 meters above sea level. Exactly from here the open-air stage rises another 1300 meters, reaching the ideal height for parachutists and a diameter of 3 km.
This truly outstanding scene is light-flooded by the sun and the moon and the stars, in cooperation with countless floodlights and spotlights boasting some 200,000 watt. A state-of-the-art sound system adds to a memorable theater experience at high altitude: The images of the play are in perfect harmony with imaginative scenes - both in excellent stereo sound!

The Team

Staging: Lawine Torrèn
Text: Joey Wimplinger
Speaker: Harald Krassnitzer
Music composition: Peter Valentin
Choreography: Donna Jewell
Light design: Frank Lischka
Video: Stefan Aglassinger
Head of production: Klaudia Gründl de Keijzer
Idea and director: Hubert Lepka
Construction: Mountain Railways Sölden
Initiator: Ernst Lorenzi

Click here for more information.

FWT ProTips: Line Choice with Drew Tabke

No other than Freeride World Tour Champion Drew Tabke gives advice on choosing a freeride contest line on a face.

FWT ProTips: Turning Failure into Success with Reine Barkered

Reigning Freeride World Tour Champion Reine Barkered has his own way to turn failure into success. Good advice to keep your spirit focused even after crashes and bad results.

FWT ProTips: Jumping with John Rodosky

Learn what is so important about jumping, spinning, flipping, grabbing and basically everything that happens in air time. Sure Freeride World Tour, but freestyle maneuvers are more than allowed.

FWT ProTips: Avalanche Safety with Samuel Anthamatten

Freeride World Tour athlete and mountain guide Samuel Anthamatten presents the basics of avalanche safety. First, the gear: transceiver, probe and shovel. And then Sam goes on with snow layers analysis and compression test on a snow tower.

Allalin Saas-Fee. The race that burns your thighs

From April 12th to 13th the legendary Allalin Races take place in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Around 1000 participants are expected at the amateur downhill race. The track descends over a length of 9 kilometers and overcomes an altitude difference of 1800 meters – no wonder your legs start burning!
This year the worldcup skistars from Valais Fränzi Aufdenblatten and Silvan Zurbriggen will open the His&Hers Race on Friday. The other participants of the race can challenge themselves by trying to be better than them. Afterwards Fränzi and Silvan will give their autographs at the VIP-tent.
The Allalin Races in Saas-Fee belong to the four most popular amateur downhill races in Switzerland. The “Super Vier” amateur downhill series consists of the four races Belalp-Hexe, the Inferno Mürren, the Parsenn Derby Davos and the Allalin Races Saas-Fee. Every year the overall masters of the whole series will be announced. The award ceremony and the presentation of the much-coveted cup always take place at the Allalin Races in Saas-Fee as it is the last one of the series.
For over 30 years the Allalin Races and the famous afterparties attract ambitious amateur racers as well as wintersports fans who join the competition just for fun. Surrounded by the highest mountains in Switzerland the race starts on an altitude of 3600 meters above sea level and aims the village on only 1800 meters.
The challenging downhill race was mastered for the first time in 1946. Back than the participants had to hike up to the mountain hut on Längfluh, only to get up the next morning and hike further to the top of the Allalinhorn on 4027 meters. The following race down didn’t happen on perfectly prepared slopes like nowadays. No, they had to pass the dangerous crevasses while getting through powder snow.
Participants can enter four different categories: the Team Race, the Fun Team Race, the His&Hers Race, and the individual men’s or women’s races. Men and women in the individual races usually intent to aim the best time. The participants in the Fun Team Race descend just for fun at a leisurely pace. A pit-stop at a mountain restaurant along the way is almost mandatory and dressing up is actively encouraged. Apparently, in the past a team has even plonked themselves down in the snow for a quick cheese fondue. It’s no wonder, then, that teams in this category have been known to take over five hours to “race” down to the finish line. By contrast, an ambitious, highly trained athlete can complete the course in less than five minutes!
The catering in the finish-area of the race will reward the racers with food and drinks. The atmosphere already heats up around lunch time, when the duo “Alpenflieger” starts playing their partysongs. In the evening the rockband “Wildbach” all the way from Austria will get everybody to dance.

Nickelback To Open 2013-2014 Winter Season

The Canadian rock quartet Nickelback will be opening the winter season 2013/2014 and bringing the stage of the legendary Top of the Mountain Opening Concert to life with their imposing music and lights show. With five Grammy nominations and over 50 million album sales, Nickelback is one of the world’s most successful bands. They will be visiting the Alpine lifestyle metropolis of Ischgl on 30 November 2013.
Rousing hard rock and full-sounding ballads: Nickelback knows how to give people goose bumps and defy pigeonholing! This band from Alberta, Canada have been rocking their way around the world for over 20 years, packing out large halls and stadiums. On 30 November 2013, they will be entering unusual concert territory: the successful rock quartet will be opening the winter season 2013/2014 before an impressive mountain backdrop at the world-famous Top of the Mountain Opening Concert in Ischgl. Thousands of spectators will be able to watch their ‘Greatest Hits Show’ at 18:00 and sing along to tunes such as ‘How You Remind Me’, ‘Lullaby’ and ‘When We Stand Together’. Brothers Chad and Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and Daniel Adair have big shoes to fill when they play this open-air concert.
The opening of the winter season in Ischgl has become legendary for its world-class entertainment and top quality winter sport conditions. Skiing in the Silvretta Arena by day and live concerts featuring top international acts in the evening. And best of all: admission to the open-air concert is free with a valid ski pass!
Nickelback follows in the footsteps of a galaxy of superstars who have entertained skiers and boarders in the Austrian resort's traditional Top of the Mountain gig. Long time ago, Ischgl decided to put its entire advertising and marketing budget into staging two massive concerts a year to open and close the winter season. Elton John was the first star to feature in the Tirolean resort's now famous season closing concerts, back in 1995. Since then the resort has hosted Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Sting, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Bon Jovi, Enrique Iglesias, Atomic Kitten, Peter Gabriel, The Corrs, Alanis Morissette, Lionel Richie, Pink, the Scissor Sisters, the Pussycat Dolls, Rihanna, Elton John again, Gabriella Cilmi, Leona Lewis, Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Gossip, The Killers,Roxette, Mariah Carey, The Scorpions and Deep Purple .

Impatient winter sports enthusiasts can get their fix on the snowy pistes before the concert because skiing begins in Ischgl on Thursday 28 November 2013.
Ischgl (1377m) is a truly Ski Paradise in Tirol (Austria) with 238 km of prepared pistes, 43 lifts and lots of interesting new features in the ski resort. The modern lifts managed by the Silvretta Seilbahn AG Company offer a high level of comfort and countless extras, such as heated seats in the Fimbabahn cable car built for the 2007/08 season. A variety of slopes and ski routes offer a opportunity for everyone, from beginners to experts looking for challenging pistes. Eleven is the name of the longest piste with approximately 11 kilometres from the top of the ski resort in Greitspitz (2,872 metres) to Ischgl village (1,400 metres).
From Ischgl you can access to the Silvretta Arena Ski Paradise, thanks to an alliance between two Companies (Silvretta Seilbahn AG and Bergbahnen Sammaun AG) and two ski resorts (Ischgl-Sammaun) from two different countries (Switzerland-Austria).

Best of of the Swatch Xtreme Verbier 2013 by The North Face

The Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face 2013 (FWT) came to an end on the mythical Bec des Rosses face in Verbier, Switzerland.
The 18th edition of the legendary "Verbier Xtreme" proved once again that the 2013 season of the Freeride World Tour has taken the sport to even higher levels of progression. The most notable evolution is the spectacular mix of freestyle trickery with fast riding testing faces without holding back fluidity and control. More "traditional" big mountain chargers are still rewarded when they approach the competitions full throttle without hesitation.
Thousands of thrilled spectators onsite and more than 180'000 viewers on the live webcast watched the spectacular show go down in real time.