There's no lack of destinations in the region to strap on those skis. Julian Tan compiles a list to consider for your next holiday.
You want to get a different kind of tan this year – from the ski slopes. No need to leave the region though, as some of the world’s best resorts are found at our doorstep. From China to India to Down Under, they’re benefiting from enhanced infrastructure and added attractions. Whatever your sporting skills, there’s something for everyone.
AUSTRALIA
MOUNT BULLER, VICTORIA
This is the world’s first ski resort to use recycled water for snowmaking – you can ski and still do your bit for the environment. Located 248km northeast of Melbourne, the attraction provides over 300ha of skiable terrain, comprising off-piste tree runs and gentle slopes for those who want to take it slow. Adding to the thrill is the Little Buller Spur with the longest run at 2.5km. A new beginner’s downhill course, by renowned trail designer Glen Jacobs, is scheduled to complete by early 2009.
Night skiing is offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays on the Bourke Street run. Alternatively, explore the resort on its network of 25 lifts capable of transporting over 40,000 people hourly around the resort’s 80km of marked trails. A new high-speed, six-seat chairlift – Australia’s first – will start operating in time for the season (which kicks off on June 7). Daily temperatures on Mt Buller range from -2.9°C to 3°C in the winter months of June, July and August. However, if you visit in summer, the resort has added three more cross-country mountain biking trails and offers other activities like food and wine festivals, car races, rock climbing and hiking. On-mountain accommodation ranges from hostels and self-contained apartments to lodges and retreats.
SKI PERIOD: The ski lifts start operating on June 8 at 0830. The season is expected to last through September, although it has been known to remain open into October.
GETTING THERE: Drive three hours from Melbourne along the scenic Hume Highway southbound to Mansfield, which is the closest major town to the resort.
CONTACT: Mt Buller, Victoria 3723, Australia, tel 61 3 9885 0300, www.mtbuller.com.au
CHINA
NAN SHAN SKI VILLAGE, BEIJING OUTSKIRTS
Located near Miyun County, 62km from Wanghe Bridge in Beijing, this ski resort is a sprawling 150,000ha with 21 runs. Its Nokia Nanshan Mellow Park – touted to be China’s biggest snow park offering freestyle obstacles – was the venue for the 2007 and 2008 Red Bull Nanshan Open, the first snowboard competition in the country. Two high-speed quad, one two-person chairlift and 13 rope tows and platter lifts can handle a lift capacity of 8,960 skiers and snowboarders per hour and eight trails cater to amateur, intermediate and veteran skiers, so there’s enough for everyone.
The resort also boasts the Seasons Toboggan run which is a 1,318-metre dry luge track imported from Germany, a cable hang glider, an international-standard half-pipe, China’s first advanced mogul trail and a snow football ground. Steps have been taken to ease the shortage of snow in Beijing’s dry, cold climate, with a high-tech snowmaking machine and two groomers to keep the runs in tiptop condition, while safety measures such as colour codes for trails and markers are in place.
Other facilities include a members-only club area providing ski-in/ski-out access, restaurants and tea houses, as well as a variety of accommodation options: Shirton Villas looks over the Rimbaud Pond and has 24 double rooms equipped with fireplaces, televisions and bathrooms.
SKI PERIOD: From mid-November through March.
GETTING THERE: Drive 30 minutes from Beijing via the Jingcheng Expressway.
CONTACT: Shengshuitou Village, Miyun County, Beijing 101500, China, tel 86 10 8909 1909, en.beijingski.com/resort/nanshan.htm
INDIA
CLIFF TOP CLUB, AULI, UTTARANCHAL
At over 3,048m above sea level, this alpine-style resort is not for the faint-hearted. For the uninitiated, Auli is home to national championships held in February and March, organised by the Winter Games Federation of India. Built on the Garhwal Himalayas of the picturesque northern state of Uttaranchal, the facility provides views of the snow-covered Nanda Devi range, the highest in India. Swiss-based Alpine Tourism Promotion Council called its slopes “the best in the world”.
Four world-class slopes measure between 400m and 3.1km. Other attractions include two lifts, a 25-person cable car and a 10-kilometre long cross-country alpine ski. The resort is also popular for summer activities like a wildlife trip to the famous Gorson Reserve Forest in the Nanda Devi National Park. Lets Hotels, Resorts & Camps (www.letshotelsresorts.com) provides a choice of luxury and budget accommodation across Uttaranchal and tour packages inclusive of room, meals and rental of ski equipment.
SKI PERIOD: From December though March.
GETTING THERE: Take the one-hour flight from Delhi to Dehradun, which is also accessible by rail or road. Check with the local agents on the schedules of buses that will take you from Dehradun to Joshimath, followed by a scenic cable car ride to Auli (alight at tower 8).
CONTACT: Chamoli district, Uttar Pradesh, India, tel 91 9810 616 990, www.clifftopclubauli.com
JAPAN
GALA YUZAWA SKI RESORT
When someone says “I’m off to Joanna”, this person means the ski course at Gala Yuzawa. And there are 15 courses (some beautifully named) to choose from, such as Edelweiss, Melody, Gigi, Broadway and Swan. The steepest slope, called Grenoble, comes off the 1,181-metre summit offering views of the Uonuma plains below. The base altitude is 800m. For an adrenaline rush, there’s the longest course measuring 2.4km. Eleven lifts take skiers around the resort, as is a snow tractor that shuttles them to the northern area.
The area is divided into three: northern, southern and central catering to skiers of every skill level. Onsite facilities include restaurants, kids’ room, first aid centre and a shop for last-minute buys like sunblock and hat. Accommodation and tour packages can be arranged through www.WeLoveSnow.com. With its own Shinkansen (bullet train) station at the mountain’s foot, this is by far the most accessible ski resort. It is 10 minutes from the centre of Yuzawa town, which is over an hour by rail from metropolitan Tokyo.
SKI PERIOD: From December through early May.
GETTING THERE: Take a 77-minute bullet train ride from Tokyo to Yuzawa.
CONTACT: Echigo Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, tel 81 25 784 3117, www.welovesnow.com
KOREA
YONGPYONG SKI RESORT
This winter wonderland is blessed with an annual average snowfall of 2.5m at -6°C, which means a long ski season and lots of time to plan. Located 200km from Seoul, the 1,740-hectare resort sits 700m to 1,458m above sea level. It has 31 slopes including two half-pipes, 15 lifts including a cable car and a 15-kilometre cross-country trail. Up to 25,000 guests can be accommodated at any day. Space is a luxury here, with onsite facilities dedicated to sports, banquets and functions.
Yongpyong and Birch Hill are private golf clubs with 18-hole courses, while the nine-hole Yongpyong golf course is open to the public and a six-hole is for pitch and putter. Accommodation ranging from premium hotels to European-style condominiums provide 1,078 rooms, and by 2010, Yongpyong will offer 2,800 rooms for 18,000 guests. The resort has also hosted large-scale events like the Winter Asian Games and World Cup Ski competition.
SKI PERIOD: From mid-November to early April; opening times from 0830 to 2200 (until 0030 Friday and Saturday).
GETTING THERE: A two-and-a-half hour drive from Seoul.
CONTACT: 130 Yongsan-ri, Doam-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea, tel 82 33 335 5757, www.yongpyong.co.kr
WINTER NOT REQUIRED
It doesn’t have to be frigid outside to show off your snow gear. There are several places to go to, where the winter is eternal.
SNOW CITY
Singapore’s only permanent indoor snow centre has reopened after a hefty, four-month renovation. The 3,000-square-metre structure features a three-storey high, 60-metre long slope for skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing in the Snow Chamber, the snow-covered area of the building. A specially designed snow gun is used to produce the “powder”. At sub-zero temperature indoor, it’s just as good as the “real” thing. To satisfy hunger pangs, head for the hot chocolate bar, an ice bar serving vodka shots or Snowon restaurant for Korean food.
CONTACT: 21 Jurong Town Hall Road, Snow City Building, Singapore 609433, tel 65 6560 2306, www.snowcity.com.sg
SKI DUBAI
A welcome respite from the emirate’s scorching climate, Ski Dubai features 22,500sqm of snow-covered indoor space as big as three football pitches. Temperatures are kept at -1°C to 2°C. It has a mountain-resort theme and boasts a 3,000sqm Snow Park with a snow cavern, five runs varying in difficulty, height and gradient (the longest at 400m), freestyle zone, quad chairlift, tow lift and flying carpets, as well as two themed restaurants, the St Moritz Café and Avalanche Café.
CONTACT: Mall of the Emirates, Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, tel 1 971 4 409 4000, www.skidxb.com
CHILL FACTORE
The UK’s indoor Chill Factore comprises three interconnected snow areas: the 180-metre long main slope, 40-metre long nursery slope and 40-metre long multi-activity slope, as well as a luge and a play area for kids. Snow is made from compressed air and water blasted into a chilled atmosphere. Some 16 tonnes of snow on average are produced daily and indoor temperature is -1.5°C. There are two ceiling-suspended ski lifts on the main slope and two travellators to ferry skiers to the top of the nursery slope. Still not impressed? Chill Factore is the official indoor training headquarters for Snowsport GB, the body representing competitive racing and snowboarding at international level.
CONTACT: Trafford Way, Trafford Quays, Manchester M41 7JA, UK, tel 44 161 749 2222, www.chillfactore.com
