Skiing in the London Underground

by Dave Luna on


The man in the video above found the perfect spot for downhill skiing. The location is clear of skiers and snowboarders, requires no lift ticket, and… lies beneath London? Yes, you read that right. Though, it’s not so much a back-country trail as it’s the longest escalator in Europe.

The footage shows the anonymous skier hurtling down an Up escalator in London’s Angel Tube Station. He could have endangered the lives of anyone going up the moving walkway, but luckily it was clear. Officials from the London Underground subway system have seen the YouTube entry and derided the stunt as “dangerous, stupid, and irresponsible.” I agree with the tube authorities, but — you have to admit — it was probably a really, really fun ride.

Modernizing Zermatt

by Neil Woodburn on

Zermatt, Switzerland is one of those truly magical places where the outside world seems so very outside.

The small alpine village sits just below the world-famous Matterhorn and yet it still remains off the beaten path. Part of the reason is due to its isolation. When I visited shortly after graduating from college, I had to take a train deep into the heart of the Swiss Alps and past a large car park which signaled the end of the road. Cars, you see, are not allowed in Zermatt. Tourists must walk with their own two legs to get around.

As you might imagine with such restrictions against automobiles, Zermatt is a perfectly quaint, alpine village which has left the modern world far behind–until now, that is. According to an article in the Independent, Zermatt is modernizing. More specifically, Zermatt is modernizing its ski industry.

Zermatt has wonderful ski slopes. The locals, however, never invested in them. They had almost no ski lifts, only a single ski school, and no artificial snow whatsoever.

Apparently the locals have finally woke up and smelled the bacon; the underutilized cash cow on their back doorstep was not bringing in the euros like so many other wintertime retreats and so they decided to modernize.

Visitors to Zermatt can now enjoy the town’s “first ever fully integrated lift system.” In addition they can ski on man-made snow when conditions aren’t great and they can also choose between a variety of independent ski schools now operating.

So what does this mean for Zermatt? I don’t know. But, if this modernization begins to destroy the quaintness of the town as Zermatt embraces the lucrative ski industry, then I’m all against it.

Japan Is For Shredders

by Willy Volk on

Japan first flaunted its skiing potential during the 1972 Winter Games. However, the popularity of the sport in the country declined during the 1980s (thanks largely to an aging population coupled with a downturn in disposable wealth). Since then, Japanese and foreign investors looking to capitalize on the country’s powdery resource have been peering across the country’s borders to grow the sport. It seems to be working. In addition to massive freshies, of course, there’s the lure of Japan, itself. According to Anthony Mellowes, a property developer from Sydney, “It’s fantastic because you’ve got great skiing plus the different culture.”

Today, Japan boast 620 ski resorts, an average of 45 feet of snow per year, lengthy ski seasons, and reasonable prices. Yes, reasonable prices! In Hirafu, for example, a one-day ski pass allowing you access to 61 runs, 38 lifts, and 29 miles of groomed slopes, costs only $42. So much for China’s indoor ski park.

Never thought of Japan as a killer destination for shredders? Check out this footage captured in western Japan from a helmet-mounted cam. Awesome.

If you want to learn more, check out these resort destinations:

Alternatively, browse some skiing in Japan videos to pick your own destination. See ya on the slopes!

Carving Powder…in Iran

by Willy Volk on

He just wanted to go skiing…and enjoy a little adventure. So Jasin Nazim and his family packed their skis and snowboards and headed off for a family vacation. They didn’t head to Canada, or Aspen, or even Switzerland. They wanted adventure — so they headed to Iran. Starting in Dizin — one of the world’s 40 highest ski areas — Nazim and his family enjoyed loads of fluffy powder and day-long lift tickets priced at a paltry $7. After a brief stopover in Tehran, the family then headed to Shemshak, where they caught more air.

It may surprise many people that Iran has numerous snow-capped peaks and several popular ski destinations. In this excellent documentary about their trip, however, Nazim presents some magical mountains, showcases some wicked shredders, and helps to show that although Iran is part of the so-called “axis of evil,” it is, in many ways, not that far away from the rest of the world.

Don’t buy into Nazim’s thesis that there’s killer powder in Iran? Check out 88-year-old Hal Luke’s video response to Nazim’s video. He loves skiing in Iran, too.

Aspen Suffering Global Warming Bouts

by Neil Woodburn on

Well, the ski season has picked up a bit in the last few weeks as storms began pounding the east coast of America prompting Global Warming naysayers to cry out, “I told you so!”

Global Warming is far from over, however. MSNBC just did a short bit on the effect it is having on the world-famous ski slopes of Aspen, Colorado.

The theme of the article tackles a commonly heard argument normally tossed out by the less informed. “So what if the world’s temperature jumps up one degree. What’s the big deal about one degree?”

Well, in the world of ski resorts, one degree can be the difference between making snow and not making snow. As the temperature hovers just above freezing, snow makers sit and wait for it to drop. If it doesn’t, there is no snowmaking to be had. Places like Aspen usually rely on a base of manmade snow to help the natural stuff stick better and stick around for longer. Global Warming is making this more and more difficult.

The good news is that Aspen, now very cognizant of the effects of mankind upon our changing environment (as well as their bottom line profits), is doing their part to help. For example, the mountain’s slope-grooming snowcats are now powered with biodiesal fuel.

Sometimes it takes a hit in the pocket book and the fear of losing paying customers to jump on board the conservation bandwagon. Hats off to Aspen for making the effort.