Free cat boarding at Copper

Copper Mountain is offering free snowcat access on Tucker Mountain.

According to the mountain' s website: "This is as close to a backcountry, big-mountain experience as you'll find in-bounds at any resort."

The cats have been in operation since 2 January and run from 10am to 1.30pm every day. Tucker Mountain closes at 2pm. It's first come, first served, so get there early.

Photo credit: Copper Mountain

Vail extends season

Vail has decided to extend its winter season by a week thanks to this year's epic snowfalls.

The Colorado resort was originally due to close on 15 April, but will now stay open an extra week, closing on 22 April.

The end of the season is celebrated with a massive spring bash, "Spring Back to Vail", which includes free concerts by top US bands, as well as deals on lift passes and lodging and the chilly-sounding World Pond Skimming Championships.

Photo credit: Vail Resorts

Another record for Whistler

Whistler snowfall hit a record high yet again this week after the latest dump brought this season's accumulation to 875cm.

That's the biggest total by this time in January since records began 27 years ago.

It won't take much for Whistler to beat its annual average snowfall of 10m.

The weather's currently clear and sunny, but another frontal system could bring more snow on Wednesday.

Photo credit: Whistler Blackcomb (webcam showing The Roundhouse restaurant, 14 January 2007)

Auf Wiedersehen Alpine skiing

Skiing and boarding in the Alps could be history within 45 years according to a new report on climate change.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development predicts that 75 per cent of Alpine glaciers will melt within this period, causing avalanches and floods and forcing ski resorts to close.

Only the highest resorts, such as Tignes (2,100m) and Val Thorens (2,300m), are expected to survive.

The reports will be handed to European governments this week.

This follows a poor start to this year's Alpine winter season. Despite a decent snowfall at New Year, mild temperatures since mean many low-level resorts are still lacking snow.

Read the full story on The Observer website.

Snow in Stowe for holiday weekend

Stowe, Vermont has been thanking the snow gods for the 10 to 18 inches (25 to 46cm) of white stuff it's received over the past week.

The fresh pow arrived just in time for the US holiday weekend. The resort also opened the Sensation Quad on Upper Spruce Peak on Friday 12th, meaning all four peaks were open in time for the holiday rush.

Stowe currently has the highest percentage of runs open in Northern Vermont, and conditions look pretty sweet on their home page video at www.stowe.com.

Photo credit: Stowe Mountain Resort

Sake and snow monkeys in Japan

The Christmas stockings are back in the drawer and the tree is shedding its last needles (unless it's one of those fancy no-drop ones of course).

The only proper way to cheer up is to book a holiday, and what better place to consider for your next snowboarding trip than Japan, this year's hot ski destination.

Check out my feature on 10 reasons to ski/board in Japan on the World Travel Guide.

Photo credit: JNTO

Free skiing at Red

There's no catch. If you're kicking around BC this week, turn up at Red Mountain on Friday 22 December and just ask for your free lift ticket.

That's right - the mountain will be handing out complimentary lift tickets to all skiers and riders for one day only. Ski and snowboard instructors will also be on hand to offer tips. Lifts will be open from 9am to 3pm.

If you're hanging around over Christmas, join Santa for a run on Christmas Day. Meet him at the Paradise Lodge.

Photo credit: Red Mountain Resort

Huge dump forecast for Whistler

OK folks, get yourself a flight out to Canada. Zoom, Air Canada, BA, whoever - find a seat. Whistler is expecting 65-110cm of fresh stuff over the next few days.

While the Alps have been basking in balmy 20-degree temperatures, the epic start to Whistler's season keeps going and going. To top it off, the new Symphony Express chair opens on Whistler this Saturday (16 December), providing access to over 1,000 acres of terrain.

If you're in Whistler this week, you can win a golden ticket for a seat on one of the first chairs. All you need to do is find an orchestra conductor (wearing a black tux) on Whistler mountain and ask for a Symphony Express golden ticket. As I write, there are nine tickets left.

Map credit: Whistler Blackcomb

More Canada openings

November's record snowfall in western Canada has brought legendary opening day conditions for yet more resorts.

Red opened on 1 December, followed a day later by fellow BC resort Kicking Horse. The latter's 350cm+ snow accumulation meant the mountain opened two weeks ahead of schedule, though it will open on weekends only until 15 December.

Meanwhile, across the provincial border in Alberta, Canada Olympic Park in Calgary was forced to close for three days at the end of November after icy conditions swept through the city.

You might not imagine there's much skiing in Manitoba, but the prairie province received a welcome 15-25 cm the other day and Asessippi ski area plans to open on 8 December.

And for those 'back east' in Ontario, Horseshoe Resort near Barrie opens on 6 December.

Photo credit: Red Mountain Resort

More early openings for Canada

The huge storms pummelling Canada's west coast means more early openings for local ski hills.

Apex opened today, while Sunshine opened up Goat's Mountain, the earliest ever opening for that section of the resort.

Silver Star opens tomorrow, followed by Big White on Saturday.

Vancouver Island isn't missing out on the snow either. Mount Washington has announced plans to open a week early on 30 November.

Brent Curtain, spokesperson for Mount Washington, said: “The amount of snow up here is unbelievable! This is only our third November opening in the last 15 years and it looks like it may be one of the best openings we’ve seen in the resort’s history."

Record snowfall for Whistler

Blackcomb is opening tomorrow (23rd) and it couldn't come sooner for boarders in Whistler, where over 300cm of snow has fallen since the beginning of the month - the most ever recorded in November.

Thankfully, as mentioned below, Whistler opened last weekend and has received a whopping 70cm in the past 48 hours alone. The base is already a respectable 153cm.

The plan is to have around 5,000 acres open this weekend, so check out Zoom's website and see if you can find yourself a deal.

Burton designs snowboard run

Being the most successful snowboard manufacturer clearly isn't enough for Jake Burton, who has now designed his first snowboard run at Northstar-at-Tahoe.

Burton has helped snowboarders build The Stash, a run featuring trees, jibs and road jumps constructed from wooden logs and other local materials. The new run is due to open on 15 December.

The Stash will also include pillow lines, natural rail slides built from massive logs, and the CK Cabin (named after legendary rider Craig Kelly), which riders can jib or gap.

Check out the promo video at www.thestash.com. (Note: It takes a while to load.)

Northstar-at-Tahoe is scheduled to open on 22 November.

Whistler opens early

Whistler Mountain opened early yesterday, thanks to a handily timed winter storm.

The mountain's been blessed with a healthy 129cm of snow in the past seven days and is boasting a 129cm base too. Judging by today's murky-looking webcams, snow is falling as I write.

It's a bit like 'pass the parcel' though: you only get to unwrap a bit at a time. Both Whistler gondolas are running, but skiers and riders are limited to Emerald and Red chairs once in the Alpine. Those cheeksters at Whistler Blackcomb are holding off opening the Peak, Harmony and the eagerly-anticipated new Symphony chair. Wouldn't want to waste too much snow on staff and locals...

Blackcomb opens on Thursday 23rd November. Check out the latest snow report at www.whistlerblackcomb.com.

Snowy start for Sunshine

Sunshine Village has opened early thanks to a healthy dump of powder last week.

The resort, which kicked off its season on Friday, is boasting an 80cm base and has received a not-too-shabby 26cm in the past two days. Even better, it's still snowing and the forecast is for more of the white stuff.

Seven out of 12 lifts are open, plus 44 out of 107 runs. If you're into early season bargains, this could be a good bet - tickets are currently going for C$49.95.

If you want to check out conditions before booking your flight, Sunshine's installed some new high-res webcams this year. Check 'em out here.

Celtek launches new website

Perhaps not one for the Rangers fans (or so says my husband, Angus) - glove manufacturer Celtek has just launched a new website.

Leather seems to be back in style as far as the Leines boys (Celtek's youthful-looking CEOs) are concerned, though to me the fashion is scarily reminiscent of ski instructors' Descente gloves with a noughties twist which they just about get away with.

Still, this is what youngsters are into apparently.

Hoodies, tees and touques are a sideline, including the Celtek tooth beanie. (See my earlier obsession with houndstooth designs under the Japanese Burton store opening entry.)

New Zoom route takes off

Scottish snowboarders will be able to cut their travel time to Banff, Fernie and Jasper thanks to a new Glasgow-Calgary route launching this winter.

Zoom Airlines is running the new service between November and April. The carrier already operates winter flights from Glasgow to Toronto and Vancouver, with Ottawa being added from January 2007.

Prices for the Calgary route start at £129 one way plus tax.

Zoom also flies to Canada from Gatwick, Manchester and Belfast.

Mini mountaincoaster to open in Switzerland

A cross between a rollercoaster and a mini funicular railway will be the most stylish mode of transport going in the Swiss Alps this winter.

The Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa is opening its very own private mountaincoaster to whisk guests 500m from the hotel reception to the slopes. The natty little cabins will carry up to six passengers each from 1 December.

This is the first project for manufacturer Coaster Verkehrssysteme Vertriebs GmbH. The company hopes its new product will also take off in cities. I think this would be a fine way to cruise above Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus.

Snowy start to Colorado season

Colorado is looking like the best option for early season boarding. Loveland and Arapahoe Basin (or A-Basin to the locals) have both opened already and Copper Mountain has announced a 3 November opening.

In September I was reporting 2ft dumps in Breckenridge and the current images on the resort's site suggest the snow is showing no signs of abating. Aspen reported 10 inches of the fresh stuff last week, while Snowmass saw 16 inches, and more pow is forecast over the next couple of days.

Keep an eye on all the Colorado snow reports and opening days at www.coloradoski.com.

Burton store opens in Tokyo

If you're planning to pound the slopes of Hokkaido or check out the latest wacky Japanese fashions in Nagano, you might have time for a little retail therapy in Tokyo's new Burton store, which opened this weekend.

I imagine those multi-coloured equestrian prints and all-in-one girls' white boiler suits will go down a storm in the Japanese market, but if you're looking for something a little more subtle, the 2006/7 range has plenty of stylish stuff in more muted shades.

If the weekend travel supplements are anything to go by, Japan is this year's must-do ski destination. If you can bear to join the package hordes, Crystal and Inghams have added it to their brochures.

OK, and I admit I secretly like the equestrian/houndstooth styling and have a little purse in the aforementioned print tucked away for a special occasion.

London premiere of latest ChunkyKnit film

The London premiere of Last Winter, the new girlie snowboarder film from ChunkyKnit productions, is taking place on 20 October at the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show, Olympia.

The film will kick off at 5pm in the Retro Retox Bar. To check out the latest antics of Lesley McKenna, Jenny Jones et al, arrive in plenty of time, as spaces are limited.

The girls visit Japan and Romania as well as the world's best snowboarding destination - Scotland!