Skiing + Paragliding = Speed Riding

by Kraig Becker on

When it comes to adventure sports, there always seems to be someone looking to push the boundaries in new, and sometimes unusual, directions. Take, for instance, the relatively new sport of speed riding or sky riding, as it’s sometimes called. The sport is a combination of skiing and paragliding that often sends the daredevils that try it, screaming down the side of an impossibly steep mountain at breakneck speeds.

Take this video for example. It’s a great representation of what speed riding is all about, as we watch adventurer Antoine Montant sliding, skipping, and flying (sometimes quite literally) along the face of a near vertical peak. Montant is delivered to the mountain by helicopter, and then gets to the bottom by any means necessary, which is often where the adventure comes in. When you run of slope, you trust in your paraglider to get you down safely.

Hint: Be sure to watch to the end to see Antonie wipe out. It’s not pretty, but don’t panic, he’s okay folks.

Daily Pampering: Private Zen Skiing in the French Alps

by Annie Scott on

You know what you probably haven’t done yet? Private Zen Skiing in the French Alps.

This January through April, Elite Ski Team will be hosting Zen Ski Workshops at Chalet Les Brames in Meribel, French Alps. The program is based on Hatha yoga, the YogAlign Method and pilates, and focuses on flexibility and core strength building through a series of poses and controlled breathing practices.

“Core strength and body flexibility are the keys to get better balance and reduce the risk of injury. This powerful form of physical and mental practice is based on proper alignment, proprioception, and deep core breathing,” says the instructor, Aurélia Chrétien. Chrétien is a certified yoga teacher and French ski instructor with a background in competitive skiing. She creates custom programs for skiers of all levels.

Private lessons start at 380 euros for a full day, or for 1,350 euros, a group of five can experience two la Rosiere runs via helicopter. Full price list here.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

The best ski resorts in the Alps

by Kraig Becker on

There are few places on Earth that offer better skiing than the Alps. The mountains, which stretch across France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and beyond, offer a mix of culture, history, atmosphere, and amazing slopes covered in some of the best powder on the planet. It should come as no surprise that there are a number of world class ski resorts in the Alps, and British newspaper The Guardian has made their selection of the very best lodges to be found there.

This list of ten great resorts are not listed in any kind of order. Instead, they each come with a qualifier, such as “Best for romance” or “Best for families”. In the case of those two examples, The Guardian suggests Wedelhutte in Austria as a romantic getaway for you and your significant other, and Hamilton Lodge in Switzerland as a fun destination for the entire family.

The more adventurous travelers will want to head to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Hut, located outside of Zermatt, Switzerland. This destination is lauded as the “Best for hardcore skiers”, and Zermatt is legendary for its challenging runs. Others may want to go to Roc de La Peche, in Pralognan, France, named the “Most remote” of the lodges in the Alps.

Other categories include “Best for foodies”, “Best views”, and even “Best-kept secret”, so no matter what you want out of your skiing, there is a location on the list that will cater to your needs. With the New Year now upon us, expect some great deals on airfares to Europe. Don’t forget to pack your warm clothes, and prepare for some fun on the slopes.

Amazing timelapse movies of the Alps

by Kraig Becker on

The Alps are one of the most beautiful and iconic mountain ranges on the planet. Stretching across the continent from France to Austria, and sweeping through Italy, Switzerland, and Germany in the process. The Alps gave rise to a culture of mountaineering that would eventually spread across the globe and spur the exploration of mountains in every corner of the planet, led by a host of European mountaineers who cut their teeth on peaks like Mount Blanc and The Eiger.

The very essence of those mountains has been captured very well in a series of timelapse videos by photographer Michael Rissi who shot them in the Swiss Alps this past summer and fall. The images are stunning and will inspire you to want to go there yourself, and the music by Beethoven, is a perfect accompaniment. Enjoy!

[via Boing Boing]

Timelapse movie: The Alps — part I from Michael Rissi on Vimeo.

Photo of the Day (10.20.09)

by Stephen Greenwood on

Today’s beautiful Photo of the Day comes from Flickr user jrodmanjr. It’s an interesting composition – the lush green hills in contrast against icy cliffs and sky, separated by a thin formation of low clouds. Having never been to Switzerland, this is exactly the scene that I visualize when I imagine the stereotypical beauty of the country.

The shot was taken in Grindelwald, Switzerland (pop. 3,760) – which is a popular destination for winter sports and summer hiking. A starting point for ascents of the Eiger (featured in the photo) and Wetterhorn mountains, the town has an elevation of 1,034m. Another reason you might recognize it? It was used as the basis for the view of Alderaan in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Are you a Flickr user who’d like to share a travel related picture or two for our consideration? Submit it to Gadling’s Flickr group right now! We just might use it for our Photo of the Day!