On the back of the huge success of the White World series we have decided to change Snowzone tv to White World TV. The site will be undergoing a major revamp throughout December to create a viewer friendly online channel that will satisfy all snowsport enthusiasts’ video cravings.

We will keep you fully updated to these changes as they happen.

White World will be returning to your screens on the 6^th of January and the 2^nd series promises to be even bigger and better than the first. White World will bring you highlights from the World’s most prestigious competitions, all the finest action, park, resort and gear reviews, interviews with leading wintersport athletes and much much more. You will be able to watch White World on a number of websites, but get first look at www.whiteworld.tv.

White World started the winter in style coming in first place at the Ride Freesport Film Festival in the Prince Charles Cinema Leicester Square. The event kicked of the winter season for the UK ski market with 3 short ski movies being shown and 3 photographers being showcased.

The short films and ski photography were judged by Phil Streather, founder of PLF and an IMAX movie producer, Chris Carr, founder of Brain Creative Concepts and Production, Rob Tucker, founder One Six productions and Nuview. In the end, Nick Southwell’s ‘White World’ movie took 1st place for the films and Camilla Stoddart’s montage of photography was voted top of the Photographers.

Feedback from the judges was excellent and you can see the White World film here on www.whiteworld.tv

A major safety awareness initiative by the Foreign Office to tackle alcohol misuse in ski resorts and emphasise the necessity of full travel insurance cover will come into full swing in December when the first British skiers will be heading for the French, Swiss and Italian ski slopes. 

This campaign is a security and safety awareness campaign. The theme is to ski safely in relation to the abuse of alcohol, which can lead to accidents during or after skiing.

The safety awareness programme has been initiated by the Foreign Office for areas in which many ski resorts are located. It has been supported by French police and rescue services, tourist offices and airports in the regions of Savoie, Haute Savoie, Isere, Rhone as well as Geneva airport and several major Swiss ski resorts. In Italy, which joined the project later, resorts in the province of Turin will be involved for the forthcoming season. 

British tour operators including the number 1 UK ski specialist Crystal Ski, Thomson Ski, First Choice Ski as well as student specialists Off the Piste and Ski Alpine have agreed to collaborate. It is a poster campaign which supports a diverse range of exciting and innovative education projects that aim to reduce alcohol misuse and make a tangible change in ski resorts. Projects range from posters in restaurants, bars, airports and other public spaces, as well as leaflets and display material in British tour operator owned chalets, club hotels and bars. 

This campaign was initiated after several accidents in ski resorts which were directly related to alcohol abuse by young people. The aim of this campaign is to avoid accidents and deaths in ski resorts as alcohol can affect you more quickly at high altitudes and seriously limits your awareness of danger and cold. 

”We are committed to supporting educational projects which make a positive difference to people lives and ensure that they have good, safe fun on their holidays” said Mathew Prior, MD of TUI Ski.

After a night full of action on the big air jump at the 6Star Billabong Air & Style 2009/II at the Bergisel Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria, Marko Grilc (SLO) took the top spot on the podium and is now the new leader on Swatch TTR World Tour. Grilc was not on the original invite list, but after two injures during practice for the main event, he was given a spot in the legendary competition. 2008/2009 Swatch TTR World Champion, Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), took second place at the Air & Style and Andreas Wiig (NOR) rounded out the podium in third.


All New Swatch TTR Top 5

With the first 6Star result of the season registered, there were many changes in the TTR Top 10. Marko Grilc, the new TTR World No. 1, really shook up the Swatch TTR Rankings as he bumped Sebastien Toutant, who could not compete this weekend, down to World No. 2. Other big movers in the ranking include Torstein Horgmo (NOR) who jumped up to No. 3 and Peetu Piiroinen who moved up to World No. 4. Antti Autti, Tim Humphreys and Chas Guldemond all moved into the

TTR Top 10.

Big Air and Big Podium

The head-to-head knock out format for the big air competition made the contest quite the nail biter for the large crowd in attendance. The long in-run, poppy jump and steep landing was a perfect combination for Grilc to throw down a switch backside double corked 1080 in the super finals to take the Air & Style 2009/II title. “This is the best day of my life by far. I never even thought that this could happen. I am just very stoked” says an overwhelmed Grilc after the prize giving. “I went to Australia and New Zealand and then today I am Number one. I don’t even know what to say. It came out of fun and pleasure and now I am here and I am stoked.” He was up against Peetu Piiroinen in the final round who was able to stomp a backside double corked 1080 for the second place finish. Andreas Wiig laid down a clean fronside 1080 double flip in the final for the third place spot on the podium.

Next On The TTR Tour

The TTR Tour takes a break for a couple of weeks and things will resume with another major event, the 6Star Oakley Arctic Challenge, taking place in Norway over the New Year’s holiday weekend. With some familiar faces from the Air & Style slated to attend the Arctic Challenge, including Peetu Piiroinen, Antti Autti and Torstein Horgmo, the race for the TTR World Title is already heating up. After the Arctic Challenge wraps up, the TTR Tour moves on to Davos, Switzerland for the 6Star O’Neill Evolution. And, the ladies have a big contest on the horizon with the 6Star Roxy Chicken Jam Europe at the beginning of January.

November 2009 will go down in history as the snowiest month on record at Whistler Blackcomb, dating back to when the collection of weather data began 30 years ago. 

November 2009 has seen a total accumulation of 560cm (220 inches) of snowfall, nearly four times that of November’s average snowfall of 148cm (58 inches). This is an increase of more than 19 per cent over the previous record of 469cm (185 inches) set in January 2006, and a 22 per cent increase over January 1992’s record of 459cm (181 inches).

”To begin the season with a record breaker the likes of 5.5 metres of snowfall has certainly heightened the level of excitement in the resort, especially in this year, as we prepare to be a host venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games in February,” says Stuart Rempel, senior vice president of marketing & sales at Whistler Blackcomb.

And now, with the record broken, there is still an entire season of skiing and riding to look forward to. With a season that offers 192 days of skiing and riding, Whistler Blackcomb is already over half way towards the resort’s average annual snowfall of just over 10 metres (33 feet).

Tim Farr is one of Britain’s top hopes for medals at the 2010 paralympics in Whistler. Tim is part of a highly successful British Disabled ski team that boosts a number of top athletes including Russell Docker, Sean Rose and Jane Soweby amongst many more.

After a great season last winter in which Tim had numerous podium finishes, Snowzone TV caught up with him at his home to see how his summer training had gone and his plans for the busy winter ahead.

Following a summer of training on the glacier in Saas Fee, wheel chair races, water skiing and gym work, Tim is in confident mode about the coming season with the goal being to qualify for the Paralympics. Tim is in very good shape to do this and once he does will present a very strong case to challenge the worlds best for medals.

For more information on the British Disabled team have a look at  www.britishdisabledskiteam.co.uk

You can see the full interview with Tim on www.snowzone.tv

The twin slopes, both 45 meters in length will bring the whole skiing experience even closer to the people of London. Not only will visitors be able to learn to ski or snowboard but The Slopes will be open to experienced skiers to warm up their ski/snowboard legs before heading to the mountains.

Aside from skiing and snowboarding, the more adventurous mountain person will be able to try out the snow tubes. These inflatable sledges are perfect for everyone whether you like spinning, sliding or just sledging.

The Warren Smith Ski Academy, the leading British snow sport coaching school, will offer top level coaching for all levels at The Slopes. Ski and Snowboard manufacturers, K2, will be supplying top of the range skis and snowboards.

Niccy Hallifax, Head of Special Events at The O2, said: ‘The Slopes is a fun and safe way for both experienced skiers and snowboarders to gear themselves up for the real thing or as an introduction for complete beginners. The Slopes are designed for all abilities and the snow tubes are ideal for both small and big kids alike!’

With the whole of the London Piazza themed like a winter wonderland, The Slopes, along with real snow covered trees and chalet will help create the perfect day out this winter.

A trip to The Slopes could also be combined with a visit to one of The O2’s 26 bars and restaurants, a show in The O2 arena or indigO2, or to see a film at the 11 screen Vue cinema.

Tickets go on sale on Friday 10th October at 9am. Prices start at £15.00 per adult per hour (Ski/board rental £5) and snow tubes £8 per half hour (subject to booking fee).Tickets can be purchased via www.theo2.co.uk or by calling 0844 856 0202.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Stephanie Jones  stephanie.jones@aegworldwide.co.uk /020 8463 2573 or

Lucy Ellison lucy.ellison@aegworldwide.co.uk/ 020 8463 2572

The Stash is an evolution of freestyle terrain in a natural environment, created by Jake Burton and the Burton global team riders. Located on the north-side of the mountain opposite the Absolut freestyle park, the kilometer-long Stash run will follow the natural line of the mountain providing riders with an organic, big mountain terrain park. The Stash run in Flachauwinkl will take on an ‘Old West’ theme and feature over 40 obstacles, including some unique features like a bridge, a saloon-style cabin, hitching posts and banked wall rides. Also unique to The Stash at Flachauwinkl is Lil’ Stash, which will include small features perfect for kids and beginner riders at the top of the Stash run. The main Stash run is aimed at intermediate and advanced riders.

Burton team riders Stephan Maurer and Christian Haller were already onsite in Flachauwinkl to help choose features for the new run. Snow Park Technologies, an industry leader in terrain park development, is also adding its expertise to the design and construction of The Stash.

“We’re super stoked to bring The Stash to Austria, Burton’s home base in Europe,” says Burton Global Resort Director Jeff Boliba. “The Stash at Flachauwinkl will include new style features that play off the resorts’ natural terrain and allow riders to get really creative.”

Flachauwinkl’s Park Manager Seppi Harml says, “As Park Manager, I’m more than stoked to have a Stash run in Flachauwinkl - it is the perfect addition to our Absolut Park. As a rider, I can’t wait to finally ride the Stash run – just building the obstacles has already been so much fun.”

The Stash can also be found at Northstar-at-Tahoe, USA; Avoriaz, France; The Remarkables, New Zealand and Killington Resort, USA.

For more info check out www.thestash.com and www.absolutpark.com/thestash.

The Snowboard World Cup is coming to London this Autumn and takes place inside the transformed Battersea power station 23rd-26th October. Converted into a full-on ski resort, Battersea will host the London Freeze, with the UK’s biggest-ever real snow jump (100m long and 30m wide), ski and snowboard big air competitions and a live music snow festival.  The Enemy, The Automatic and Iglu&Hartly are among those bands confirmed, with more to be announced.

The world’s best snowboarders and skiers will descend on the banks of the River Thames to take part in the LG Big Air Snowboard World Cup and an International Big Air Ski competition, with prize-money of US$25,000 for each discipline.

Snowboarders Stefan Gimpl and David Benedek will be riding the Thames to regain their World Champion title, and skiers Tanner Hall, multiple X Games Gold Medal winner, and Jon Olsson mean we will also witness skiing’s finest. And, because London is the host, the top performers in the dedicated British Championship will gain extra points to compete in the main events.

 Awesome après will keep the action going in the 10,000 strong festival tent. As well as the live music, resident DJs from the Morris bar in Val d’Isere and the Ice Bar in Mayrhofen will be injecting some Alpine spirit into proceedings.

Channel 4 will be running an hour-long action show highlighting the best snowboarding and skiing, plus a further show to broadcast the best of the music.

There is also a ski village where you’ll be able to pick up last year’s bargains and check out the latest pre-season kit. Day tickets priced from £14.99, and event and festival tickets at £29.99, are on sale now from ticketmaster (www.Ticketmaster.co.uk). For more info check out www.londonfreeze.com