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From The Times
October 27, 2007

Iran and Chile take on the Alps

Skiers are suffering from Three Valleys fatigue and now want new cultural experiences along with the snow

Hermann Maier skiing on a downhill course
Mark Frary and Tom Chesshyre

Skiers are travelling to more unusual destinations than ever as winter sports enthusiasts grow tired of the Alps and North America.

Japan, Iran, India, Chile, New Zealand, Poland and Russia are growing in popularity, with skiers citing crowds and high costs in traditional resorts as reasons to look farther afield.

Tour operators say that travellers are interested in discovering new cultures and are suffering from “Three Valleys” fatigue – a reference to the Three Valleys ski area in the French Alps. Statistics from the Ski Club of Great Britain show that the number of people who skied in “unusual” destinations has risen from 3 per cent to 5 per cent in the past year.

Japan is proving very popular. Betony Garner, of The Ski Club, said: “People are interested in skiing Japan after reports of amazing snow.”

Marion Telsnig, of Thomson Ski and Crystal, which offers Bulgaria, Slovenia, Serbia, Romania and Finland, and has begun running trips to Japan and Chile, said: “British skiers have grown up a bit and want to try new places.”

Arabella Arbuthnott, of Original Travel, which sells trips to Chile, New Zealand and Sweden, added: “The Alps are quite crowded and expensive. People are looking for a different culture and to ski at the same time.” A fortnight-long trip to New Zealand, including a beach break in Fiji, is £5,000pp with Original Travel. The resorts of the Alborz mountains in Iran have a reputation for “powder snow and off-piste skiing”, said Magic Carpet Travel. Meanwhile, Ski Weekend offers breaks in Kamchatka in Russia.

Details:
Thomson (0870 6061470, www.thomsonski.co.uk)
Crystal (0870 4055047, www.crystalski. co.uk)
Original Travel (020-7978 7333, www.originaltravel.co.uk)
Magic Carpet Travel (01344 622832, www.magic-carpet-travel.com)
Ski Weekend (01392 878353, www.skiweekend.com).

Iran?Be serious.

v.jones, london, UK

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