Switzerland overnight stays recede for the 2011-2012 Winter Season

According to provisional results from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), during the winter tourist season (November 2011 to April 2012), 15.2 million overnight stays were recorded, corresponding to a fall of 3.7% (-591,000 overnight stays) compared with the same period of the previous year.
Despite excellent snowfall across the Swiss Alps for much of the winter the main problem the country had was a poor exchange rate. The government did step in to support the currency ensuring it did not drop below 1.4 Swiss francs to £1, but just four years ago £1 would buy 2.6 francs. The exchange rate put many people off.
Of the various cantons and regions Graubünden, which has resorts such as Davos and St Moritz, was hit hardest with an 8.6% fall.
The Valais canton, that contains the ski resorts of Verbier, Zermatt, Saas-Fee and Crans-Montana, was down 6.8%.
The Bernese Oberland, that has Wengen and Grindelwald within its borders, registered a fall of 6.2%.
The figures compare to the previous winter but the season of 2010/11 saw falls of up to 6% on 2009/10.
A breakdown in the nationalities shows the number of British people declining by 10%, Germany 16% and Holland 19%.
There was a 7% rise in Russians.
Despite the overall fall in European visitors there was an increase from other parts of the world. There were 37% more people from China and increases from Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East.
The number of Swiss people staying in the country went up by 0.1%. This is somewhat surprising as holidaying in the nearby eurozone parts of the Alps would have offered better value for money, but many Swiss ski resorts had good conditions across large parts of the winter and this would have attracted locals. However there were many examples from ski resorts neighbouring Switzerland that saw a sharp rise in Swiss skiers and snowboarders as they took advantage of the cheap exchange rate with the euro. For instance, the Tirol in Austria reported a 15.9% increase in Swiss visitors.

North Americans Dominate the Swatch Freeride and Freeskiing World Tour Revelstoke 2012

In a growing collaboration between the Swatch Freeride World Tour, the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding which brought together one of the strongest rider fields ever assembled, North Americans dominated both the ski and snowboard competitions. With its vast ski and snowboard options, warm hospitality and consistent annual snowfall, few destinations in North America can rival Revelstoke - all the signs point to Revelstoke becoming a mainstay on the Freeride World Tour.
Ski Contest - Results
On what could become an iconic competition face on the Freeride World Tour, the North Americans swept the podium in both men's and women's ski competitions.
A perfect bluebird day in deep pow on the giant Mac Daddy face in the heart of the Revelstoke back country - it was a classic big mountain Freeride competition. Leading after day 1, Canadian Kye Petersen tightened his grip on the field with an effortless looking ride on this steep and highly exposed venue. Clean, crisp and balanced throughout Kye's run had a ominous ring to it. If he maintains this level, the 21-year old Canadian is clearly going to be very difficult to beat this year. Kye remarked: "I just wanted to get to the bottom and stay on my feet. This is the best a competition can be, with the best skiers from North America and Europe, I’m excited to come out on top". Second place went to US rider Oakley White Allen who impressed the judges with his super fluid line. With a giant smile on his face White-Allen stated: "I followed my same approach from day one and that was to ski a line that is fun to ski, I think that comes out in your body language so that’s what I did today". Rounding out the top three was Drew Tabke who weaved his way across the technical face jumping and stomping almost non-stop in the lower section.
French riders Adrien Coirier and Jeremy Prevost just missed out on the podium finishing 4th and 5th respectively. Germany's Basti Hannemann continued his good early season form with another solid performance finishing in 9th position. Other leading European contenders Aurelien Ducroz and Samuel Anthamatten both crashed out attempting huge drops.
In the women's contest Angel Collinson proved again what a truly world class performer she is. Absolutely rock solid on the highly exposed top section of the face, balanced and fluid in the technical sections she finished her run with a fully stomped cliff. Freeride World Tour runner-up in 2011, Angel has already put her marker firmly in the snow for 2012. "My day was already made when I woke up to bluebird skies this morning. I was really excited to ski that awesome face with tons of options and I felt I had a strong run today,” said Collinson. In second place was Crystal Wright who hit one of the biggest drops of the day for the ladies and completing the US 1,2 3 was comeback kid Jesse McMillan who straight-lined the bottom section.
Germany's Pia Widmesser was Europe's top placed female rider in 5th position and looks set for a strong season.
Presented to the winners were Howitzer Shell trophies, courtesy of Swatch. These awards represent shells used in avalanche control work-necessary to ski a venue like the “Mac Daddy”.
Snowboard Contest - Results
The "Mackenzie Face" played host to the world’s best big mountain snowboarders in a one-run winner takes all contest.
American Ralph Backstrom earned the highest score of the day, with a 92.67 out of a possible 100 points. On the notoriously challenging "Mac Face", Backstrom was aggressive from the outset, starting with a very technical entrance and finishing with a solid double cliff drop. Backstrom said: "I stayed on my feet, I went really fast, pretty fluid, I kind of white-roomed myself once or twice. My line had some nice features. I am really stoked – we had really good snow".
In second place was Jonathan "Douds" Charlet from Chamonix. The French snowboarder stomped three cliffs with his fast and fluid style, earning a score of 91.67. After his run Douds said: "I am very happy. I changed my line at the last moment, popped a big cliff on the right, it was much bigger than I thought, nice landing – really good powder". Rounding out the Men’s podium was US rider Blair Habenicht with a score of 90.00.
Of the six women invited to compete, Maria DeBari topped the talented field with a score of 80.67; twenty-five points ahead of the next competitor. Honing her skills on Mt. Baker’s big mountain lines, DeBari chose a smart line, allowing her to ride fast and flawlessly down the steep face. Maria explained: "I rode that skier’s right panel up against the cliff because it looked like the coolest thing when I was looking at it".
Finishing second was France's Margot Rozies "I was really nervous up there, because I was the first to drop in and it is my first Freeride World Tour Competition. The snow was really sluffy and I had to wait a bit before I could jump, but it was really exciting and I had a great run". In third place was American Shannan Yates, with a score of 43.33.
The Swatch Freeride World Tour now moves on to the Freeride Mecca of Chamonix Mont-Blanc for the weekend of 21-22 January. With heavy early season snowfalls in Europe and the Mont Blanc as a back-drop the scene is well and truly set for another great competition.

A Big Contest Day One for North American Riders in Revelstoke

With snow falling and a fully loaded rider field, the scene was set for a highly competitive first day of the 2012 Swatch Freeride World Tour. The North Bowl in Revelstoke Mountain Resort, BC, Canada provided the world's best riders with their first major challenge of the season.
Much was expected from the North Americans and they didn't disappoint. In the men's skiing Canadian Kye Petersen leads going into Sunday's Final with Americans Drew Tabke and Oakley-White-Allen just in behind. Petersen at just 21 years old is already a Freeride icon. He started with a double-cliff, skied fast and aggressively through the open bowl area and landed two huge 360's towards the end of his run. "I had a solid run, I landed everything and I hit the line I wanted to hit, I added a few little things at the bottom and pulled it off. I felt good about it", said Kye.
European riders struggled to shine with only Germany's Sebastian Hannemann (video attached) in the top ten: "I jumped a big double, probably the biggest double I have ever jumped. The landing was not totally clean but I didn’t crash and I am happy with my run", explained Basti.
Reigning Freeride World Champion Aurelien Ducroz sits back in 20th place. The top 25 men quality for Sunday's Final.
The story was similar for the women, a North American one, two, three. Going into Sunday's final on top will be American Ashley Maxfield with Canadian Nicole Derksen in 2nd place and Angel Collinson third. An elated Ashley said: "On my run I chose a line I have been eyeing the last few days. When I sent it off the first drop I went bigger than I thought but as soon as I landed on the second pillow I knew it was easy from there on out. I had so much fun skiing the fresh snow and when I went off my last air I just thought have fun. It was one of my favourite competition runs I have ever had".
Leading European riders Eva Walkner and Lorraine Huber both fell effectively taking them of contention.
The 2012 Swatch Freeride and Freeskiing World Tour at Revelstoke Mountain Resort continues Saturday with Snowboarders from The Swatch Freeride World Tour and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding, competing on Mac Face for a one-run final. The Final day of the Swatch Freeskiing and Freeride World Tour is currently scheduled for Sunday, January 8.

The Swatch Freeride World Tour 2012 starts this week in Revelstoke, Canada

The 2012 Swatch Freeride World Tour starts this week in Revelstoke Mountain Resort, BC, Canada. With 15 feet (4.65 metres) of snow already on the ground, the world's best Freeskiers and Snowboarders, as well as fans, are in for a real treat.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort boasts North America's greatest vertical at 1,713 metres (5,620 ft). The resort also offers 3,121 acres of fall line skiing, high alpine bowls, 13 areas of graded terrain and phenomenal groomed terrain. Revelstoke Mountain Resort is also the only resort world-wide to offer lift, cat, heli and backcountry skiing from one village base.
This season's first event marks another landmark in the rapidly evolving relationship between the Swatch Freeride World Tour, the North American-based Subaru Freeskiing World Tour and The North Face Masters of Snowboarding. With leading athletes from all three tours present, The Swatch Freeride and Freeskiing World Tour 2012 in Revelstoke is bringing together the largest group of world-class riders ever assembled in one place.
"It’s really exciting that with swift and around-the-clock efforts from Mountain Sports International, Swatch Freeride World Tour, and Revelstoke Mountain Resort, the best big mountain skiers and snowboarders will drop into the remote town of Revelstoke to compete head-to-head on its rugged terrain", said MSI Event Director Bryan Barlow. "With the ample, well-bonded snowpack, new venue lineup, and stacked roster, it truly is the recipe for a next level big mountain event!".
From the Swatch Freeride World Tour, the 2011 men's ski champion from France Aurélien Ducroz, Swiss runner-up Samuel Anthamatten and Sweden's Reine Barkered are expected to be strong contenders. From the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour, current leader Guerlain Chicherit and American Josh Daiek are strong podium candidates.
The women’s freeski event sees the return of Angel Collinson from the US who in 2011 won the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour and finished second on the Freeride World Tour. Currently leading the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour after a first place finish in Las Leñas is Jackson Hole’s Crystal Wright.
2011 Freeride World Tour snowboard runner-up Flo Orley from Austria will start as one of the favorites in the men's snowboard competition and French/Swiss 2011 Freeride World Tour snowboard Champion Anne-Flore Marxer on the women's side.