Red Corner: Post-War Skiing in Sarajevo

by Neil Woodburn on

War has a way of tarnishing even the most spectacular of travel destinations. Sadly, long after a war is over, the very mention of the country in which it took place often leaves a bitter taste in one’s mouth, so bitter that the very thought of visiting it on vacation hardly enters one’s mind.

The city of Sarajevo is one such place. Site of the Winter Olympic Games in 1984, the city became embroiled in civil war from 1992–1995. Sadly, ski areas such as Jahorina served as staging areas for Bosnian Serbs lobbing artillery into Sarejevo and took on far more sinister roles than should ever be associated with bunny slopes and powder.

Today, such resorts are trying to reclaim their former innocence and glory. A recent article by Mirna Skrbic hints that they are on their way. This current season has seen the highest number of skiers hitting the slopes since before the war. Attracted by fine skiing and great deals (one-day lift tickets for $18), tourists are slowly starting to rediscover the fine conditions made so famous by the Olympic Games. The concept of ethnic skiing-where the Serbs and Croats ski at separate resorts-is also starting to fade, albeit slowly.

It’s an encouraging sign that those who fought against each other in a horrific war, are now starting to ski together. Skrbic offers some interesting political insights regarding this as Bosnia, and consequently its ski resorts, comes to terms with itself and its people.

GADLING'S TAKE FIVE: Week of March 21

by Erik Olsen on

Hey ho, lots of great posts this week. It’s Friday
and time to take a quick look back at the best posts of the week here on Gadling. So let’s see, what do we have?

5. Anti-Tourism:  In this post, Neil alerted
us to the concept of anti-touriism, something I think we can all appreciate. Anti-tourists rebel against guided tours,
souvenir knick-knacks and anything else the smacks of consumerist travel. Music to our ears.

4. Red Corner: Hip Berlin: Then not soon before the
Ecuador piece, Neil talks a bit about hip Berlin. Berlin is one of the hotest, hippest cities in Europe right now, and
Neil tells us a bit about why that is so.

3. Family Rescued from Snowbound RV: Then
Adrienne alerted us to the story of a family that was stranded in the middle of nowhere in their RV. Surely one of the
odder stories of the week.

2. Travel Setback: Ecuadorian
Roadblocks: Well, first you have to appreciate the kind of first person reporting we get from Neil’s superb post on
his friend Tom, who is experiencing some travel trouble in Ecuador. Of course, trouble on the road is often what makes
travel such an adventure, and that seems to be the case with Neil’s friend Tom, whose efforts to move on have
been hindered by indigenous protests in the country.

1. Jamie Pierre Hucks Record for God:
Sorry, I don’t often put my own posts first when I’m the one writing the Take Five, but in this case, the
post warrants reading..or at least the story is worth checking out. Jamie Pierre, the extreme huckster…in the
literal sense…in that he “hucks” hiself off cliffs to the amusement of others…pulled off the
biggest huck in the world. Very cool. And crazy

Spring Break Adrenaline Ideas

by Adrienne Wilson on

If the extent of your thrill-seeking is wild nude nights on the beach when the waves are crashing pretty rough
and the tide is high, splashing around with drunk college buds when you know you could eventually be swallowed up in
one gulp, then look away now. Fine Living may only feature three picks for spring break
this year, but they guarantee you’ll get a rush out of doing at least one. Their picks for an heart-pounding,
unforgettable spring break – backcountry skiing in Montana, ultimate extreme adventures in Las Vegas
(includes bungee jumping, rock climbing, glider plane soaring, etc.) and learning how to make it in the wilderness with
skills taught by U.S. Special Operations veterans at a survival camp in North
Carolina. Sounds like a racy way to spend your time.

Red Corner: Rich Russians Skiing in France

by Neil Woodburn on

There was once a time when Russians were some of the poorest mopes on this planet. Now, thanks to an oil-fueled economy, an upper class of uber-rich has emerged and in January they come to France to ski.

Courchevel is a high-end ski resort in the French Alps. But for two weeks every year, it becomes a Little Moscow as 20,000 Russians make it their temporary winter home. And man do they have money.

How much do they have and what are they doing with it while in France? Carole Cadwalladr from The Observer traveled incognito to gatecrash parties and find out herself. What she discovered was a world difficult to penetrate, but one dripping in lavish wealth, €10,000 bottles of Rémy Martin, armored Humvees, Mitchell Brothers Suits and prostitutes flown over in First Class.

Holy Moly! Years of Western propaganda thumbing our noses at Moscow bread lines is finally come back to bite us on the ass.

U.S. Freestyle Championships at Killington

by Erik Olsen on

If you didn’t get your fill of freestyle skiiing during
the recent Winter Olympics in Turin, you might be intersted in the upcoming 2006 Sprint
U.S. Freestyle Championships which will be held march 23-26 at Bear Mountain at the Killington Resort. The event will  showcase America’s best freestyle
athletes including several U.S. Olympians who will appear in their first domestic competition since the Games. the big
names include moguls skiers Travis Cabral, Michelle Roarke and Hannah Kearney, as well as aerialists Eric Bergoust,
Emily Cook and Jana Lindsey.