The Specialists in Swiss Ski
and Snowboard Holidays

Snowmotions 06/07 Season Review

We had a remarkably good season considering it was a winter with the poorest snowfall for years!

Fortunately it was not just in Switzerland but across the Alps from East to West and most resorts without snow canons suffered hugely. In North Eastern Switzerland we were better off than most of Europe with Davos and Laax being high enough for business as usual in December and believe it or not these two photos were taken on the Glacier in Laax in mid December.

Our regular visitors, The Sadowskis made the trek from Bangkok to only experience a Christmas of blue skies andand more sun but Eric excelled on the board and Kayla left everyone for dust on her skis.

The Sadowskis, Rothorn

A North Devon invasion of Flims and Laax saw in the New Year with Dave in his Roger Moore outfit, in this the year of Bond.

All in green

Holly showing us how its done!

On 2^nd Jan Flims/Laax outrageously closed the entire resort due to a mild storm which left countless guests fuming after no refund was offered for lift passes and another sad example of how arrogant and complacent the management of this resort is getting.

Our Aussie guests staying in the Flims Chalet in Jan saw more sun and blue skies but true to form it snowed for the Burton European open and we were proud to host the Nike Snowboard team at the Flims Chalet. Dan Wakeham only just missing the cut for the mens final half pipe contest.

In Arosa The World Championships were threatened by the high January temperatures but watching on TV you wouldn’t have known. The Big Air final was a night time spectacle with the Finns being piped to the gold by a flying Frenchman and in the womens half pipe it was great to see the local girl Manuela Pesko from Lenzerheide winning the gold aged 28!

Big Air at the World Championships in Arosa

Over in St. Peter The Royal and Money families finally got some powder to play in at the end of the month and it was great to go ”freeriding” with Jack, Sam and Pete in Lenzerheide.

Sam Thomas

Jack Thomas

Sadly one of our VIP guests was on skis looking at the view and enjoying the sun while waiting for her husband. The next thing she knew was waking up in hospital with concussion and a cracked coxix. An apologetic (fortunately) snowboarder couldn’t stop on the ice and flattened her from behind. She was then airlifted to Chur hospital.For those of you who don’t wear a helmet on crowded hard pistes over holiday periods take note …

It was a pleasure to welcome Anwar and crew to Flims and get some cruisy freeriding in with them.

As it was to do The Safari Tour from Parpan to Lenzerheide via Tschiertschen with our Czech guests and Dwaynes badger boys.

Over the past few years the Czech influence has been a welcome addition to Snowmotions and thanks to Marek, Bekarovka is now the chosen contents of my hip flask!

In to February we finally had a decent snowfall which saved The Scotts from Highland conditions. Frazer and Fynn continued to improve on the board and Graham proudly joined the elite of learning to snowboard at 50.

The following week a dozen Scotts in kilts had Flims drunk dry while Chris, Nick and Ronnie put first tracks in The Safari Tour with a half meter of fresh powder.

Nick Beecroft

Ronnie, Nick and Chris

Ronnie @ speed

March saw the best conditions for freeriding and we were pleased to welcome Gavin Hope and the Afterbang crew to Flims. Great lads and girls from Tyne and Wear – it was a pleasure to show them round our Back Country areas while they showed us oldies really how to ride! Respect to Martin for landing the first back flip as a (non Professional) Snowmotions guest.

Visit afterbang to see what they are up to as well as Gavins "blog" in the archives section on their experiences here in March 07.

Check afterbangs report on their Freeride Tour

AD and Bernina

AD and Paola

AD @ speed

A whole page should be devoted to Ed, Ad, Ali and Bills week in March. Two South Africans, a Kiwi and an American with snowboards and ready for action managed to Freeride in Arosa, St. Moritz – Corvatsch, St. Peter, Flims / Laax, Vals and Lenzereheide all in a week.

Miraculously fresh powder allowed them to complete the full Safari Tour on the 2nd day of their week.

Ali V

Many thanks to Adrian Rukli and Claudio Manser for safely guiding The Snowmotions guests Off Piste without incident this past season.

The deepest powder days were spent in knee-thigh high in St. Peter and Arosa on March 21 and on March 22 in Lenzerheide.

On the 21st we rode the tree runs in Hochwang from the middle station down to the chairlift as the top part of the mountain wasn’t open in the morning.

In the afternoon in Arosa The Bruggerhorn, The awesome Rettich and Lower Telephone hangs set up a magical Molinis run to round off the day.

Gregg waist high

1st line Moilinis run 

On the 22nd I went with Dave and Holly to Lenzerheide to ride the tree runs next to the Statzerhorn and Pradischier until the cloud lifted then Dave and I crossed over to the Rothorn opposite and experienced the day of days riding thigh high – waist deep in the Rothorn couloirs. Finishing off with the Sonaspans, all to our selves, was truly the icing on the cake.

JRS Lenzerheide 2007

Luckily Ian and family were with us to experience the late March snow and a mention to his son Oli for being the most improved rider of the season along with Ian’s fellow band member Pete.

The Fischer European Freeski Team were resident at the Flims Chalet before a double Dunsford family visit as we moved in to April.

Good to see Fynn taking William under his wing (six year old instructing ten year old) and Mark cross over to the darkside at last! (Skier to snowboarder)

Jim Dunsford

Jade and William Dunsford

Most of the season had not allowed any Heliboarding but we managed an excellent day with our new partners Air Grischa in early April.

A day I would recommend to all readers who are competent Off Piste.

(For the review of the days adventures read the Heliboard 07 article.)

Michelin Man

Heli Rest

Easter welcomed Sian Oakley and family as the last of the Flims Chalet guests.

Guiding them down The Ruschein Valley on virtually the last run of the season in Laax yours truly managed a face plant that was just as embarrassing as painful. I must remember to pass on the last run of the season as Diavolezza got me last year!

With ridiculously high temperatures in the Alps in April we were lucky to wind the season down at Diavolezza on April 21/22 but the pistes were fine until they turned to slush. Freeriding however was not even an option.

The annual cricket "knock around" at 3000 m scattered tennis balls far and wide as AD with i pod managed 10 consecutive speed descents on his new Atomic board.

Paola and Barbara

Piz Palu Reflection

Bradders, fresh out of hospital and banned from snowboarding by his doctor, Lisa and friends ignored everyone to take his boarding on to the next level and then lorded it at Lake Como for a few days.

The Hot tub, the views of Palu and Bernina, the crystal clear nights with dazzling stars combined with the great company made it a relaxing way to end the 2007 season.

A word of Thanks to Daniel and his team at Diavolezza.

It is like coming home every year.

Thanks to Betty for massaging many a guests tired legs as well as practising her Cranial Sacral skills on them.

And a big thank you to Dave and Holly for all the seasons effort and accomplishments.

JRS Luen May 2007.