Ski Season Events Calendar, 2013/14
Summer is closing and the leaves are starting to fall, that means only one thing… the winter ski season 2013/14 is just around the corner! The last few years have seen spectacular starts to the season, with powder skiing in December and fantastic conditions across many resorts.
We can only cross our fingers and hope that this year will see a repeat performance, but of one thing we can be sure – across the Alps, this winter is just as packed full of events, shows, competitions and performances as ever. Here’s a quick rundown of what to look out for from now onwards in London and out across the Alps, in the wind up to December and the start of the season.
The Telegraph Ski and Snowboard Show. 30th October – 3 November 2013
The Ski Show takes place in London’s Earls Court and is traditionally the opening whistle for the winter ski season each year. Visitors this year can expect free ski and board lessons, curling and ice skating as well as the usual après ski bars, wine tasting sessions, competitions, prizes and free ski holidays.
Freeze Festival 2013. 27th Nov – 1st Dec 2013
London’s Freeze Festival has moved from Battersea Power Station to Clapham Common, and in doing so seems to have pretty much doubled in size! This year promises much, including an Alpine wonderland of live music, international pro skiers and boarders, Hail the Rail competition and no fewer than five different après ski bars to enjoy, including big names such as Dicks Tea Bar, Bavarian Haus, Metro Lodge, La Folie Douce and Krazy Kangaroo!
First tracks; the opening of the Espace Killy. November 30th & December 1st, 2013
The start of the ski season in Val d’Isère is a big event each year, and with a fantastic 1850 metre altitude the snow in Val is outstanding. Festive parties, ski film premieres and ski tests accompany the fanfare as snow lovers brace themselves for another epic season.
Aprés-Ski-Hits 2014 at the Mooserwirt. 13th and 14th December 2013
Over in St Anton it’s a similar story but with a decidedly Austrian twist, as St Anton’s Mooserwirt Bar plays host to this year’s Aprés-Ski-Hits 2014 party. Revellers drink and dance into the evening as Europarty classics fill the air, intermingled with this winter’s new releases. If you’re lucky you may even catch Axel Fischer or Tim Toupee up on stage, belting out their favourites to the delight of all!
Ibiza Rocks the Snow. 14-21 Dec 2013, then 8-15 Feb 2014, then 29 Mar-5 April ‘14
This winter Meribel will play host to Ibiza Rocks, a festival spread across three separate weeks of season. With daily après ski events organised by some of the finest clubbing brands in Ibiza, a host of international DJs and huge parties all week long, the Ibiza Rocks weeks are going to be big! Up on the slopes, huge kickers and 220m of rails will be installed for the Ibiza Rocks Extreme Sports Showcase, with some of the finest pro riders out to test their mettle.
Christmas and New Year. 21st December 2013 – 5th January 2014
Alpine ski resorts offer a charm and atmosphere over the festive Christmas and New Year like no other, and the French resort of Meribel is no exception. Families and groups coming out to ski at this time of year can enjoy a wonderfully festive atmosphere, with the town centre lit up in myriad twinkling lights and hot mulled wine everywhere you look! The New Year’s fireworks from town centre are truly spectacular, too!
7th Zermatt Unplugged. 8th April – 12th April 2014.
Over in Switzerland, Zermatt’s famous Unplugged Festival began in 2007 as a low-key acoustic festival, and has snowballed into a far larger event. Music fans from all over flock to the resort for five days of wonderful acoustic music, and of course at this altitude the snow is still in great nick so the skiing is still fantastic.
Three Valleys Charity Day. Wed 9th April, Meribel Village.
This event grew out of la Tania, and used to be called the La Tania Charity Day. As word spread the size of the event has grown so it’s now held in Meribel, where there’s a little more space. It’s all in aid of cancer charities in the UK and France, and you can expect spring BBQ, charity raffle, games, beers, laughs and The Charity Ball.
Glacier Patrol. 29th April – 3rd May.
To close the season in style, we look to high altitude Zermatt. The Patrouille des Glaciers is organised by the Swiss Army (good knives) and sees teams of skiers racing over the terrain from Zermatt, into Arolla to end the race in Verbier. The course covers 112 kilometres of ground and is quite evidently not for the faint hearted!
