Big Trends on their way for this Winter

Can you believe that we’re over half-way through the year already?! There are just 21 weeks to go until the ski slopes re-open and the first trails of the season are made. With that in mind, we look at some of this Winter’s Ski and Snowboarding trends and developments on the horizon:

New investment in Serre Chevalier

Serre Chevalier has invested in 106 new, six-seater chairlifts that can carry 3,000 passengers per hour! The new Côte Chevalier chairlift will be built by POMA ready for Winter 2018/19 and will connect two major sectors of the ski area. The new lift is one of five being installed by the company this summer, along with others at Val d’Isère, Tignes, Méribel and La Plagne as part of a €38 million contract with POMA.

Themed Ski Holidays

A skiing holiday isn’t just about getting away on your skis or board anymore, but there is a real shift towards Winter Holidays focused around your other interests. It’s all about the overall experience! Your holiday is your time to try something different or explore other hobbies, so many packages now include extra activities such as cooking classes or gastronomical dining experiences for the ultimate foodie.

People are also taking how environmentally-friendly ski resorts are into consideration when booking their holiday. Serre Chevalier is a fantastic example of a green ski resort as plans are afoot to make the area fully self-sufficient within the next five years. The valley has a very dry climate so it pretty much has 0% pollution and 100% pure air, as well as little fog and lots of glorious sunshine.

Short-Break Skiing

For many, a ski break is for a week- but this isn’t an option for everyone. With regular short flights from the UK, it’s easy to escape for a long weekend and be 'back in time for tea'. Short-breaks, of course, cost less, and you can squeeze in just enough time to hit the slopes for a few days. Our 3-Night Short Break packages start from £149 per person on a B&B basis. Find out more here.

Renting not Buying

Why struggle to pack your equipment, when you can hire it? An increase in the demand for rental shops mean that the quality and variety of equipment has improved over the years. Transporting your skis or snowboard can be tricky, and with good rates now available, it might be easier to just hire it there! Serre Chevalier and Vallandry have some excellent rental shops at fantastic prices. A week’s hire for skis, poles and boots is £70 (weekdays) for adults and £90 for a snowboard (weekdays).

Volt Snowboard Co. Goggles

One of the newest ski/snowboard wear brands around, Volt Snowboard Co. designs a variety of goggles with features including Full UV Lenses, Interchangeable Lenses and Anti-Fog Vents, all in different styles. Dave Symonds is part of the Volt team and also runs our chalet in Serre Chevalier! Check out the Volt’s Snow Team, riders who are flying the Volt flag worldwide. Click here.

Heliskiing

So this isn’t a new trend…. however, if you haven’t tried it before, it is definitely a new activity you should try. Heliskiing takes you on a magical adventure to areas you’d never reach just on your skiis. Feel the mountain air as you cruise through the Alpine landscapes or travelling off-piste. The activity can be enjoyed by everyone too, including kids! According to lesarcs.net, “the typical European heliski run is not a mega-steep, Alaskan-style big mountain face, it’s much more of a journey that takes you through some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Heliski runs in the Alps can also offer significantly more vertical metres per run than North American heliski areas.” Prices range from around €149 per person for a reverse heliskiing trip in Les Arcs.

The Future is Now!

At the IPSO Munich show earlier this year, manufacturers showcased their new equipment for the coming season including snow shoes that turn into downhill skis, folding skis so you can enjoy freeskiing, as well as new lightweight shoes and skis using carbon graphene instead of metal. We can't wait to see what comes out of The Telegraph's Ski Show this October!

Roll on Winter 2018/19! Book your budget snow holidays with us today.