What's new in northern hemisphere skiing

FROM new snow activities and resorts, we show snowbunnies where to head for the winter season.

ski northern hem escape 9

AS THE weather cools down in the northern hemisphere, the competition between ski resorts is heating up. They are offering a range of new features to entice skiers and snowboarders.

We look at the best enhancements and additions at the resorts most popular with Australian travellers.

-- Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado

Vail, the largest ski resort in the US, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this season.

A 10-person gondola with heated seats and Wi-Fi made its debut last month, taking passengers to Vail's newest on-mountain restaurant.

A new women's speed course has been built at nearby Beaver Creek, which has added 6ha of skiable terrain by widening and connecting existing trails. It also will add 12ha of snowmaking and upgrade 6ha of existing snowmaking.

Vail Resorts' popular Epic Pass, which provides unlimited skiing at all Vail resorts for $US699 ($A670) now also includes three days' skiing or riding at Verbier in Switzerland. 

See vail.com

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-- Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado

More than $15 million is being spent on improvements this season, including a new 300-seat mid-mountain restaurant at the top of the Elk Camp gondola.

The Montagna restaurant at The Little Nell hotel at the base of Aspen Mountain is also undergoing a $2.5 million refurbishment and will emerge with a new look, a new menu and a new name. The Little Nell also plans to bring back its popular pop-up champagne bar, The Oasis, from late February through to April. The secret location of this movable bar can be found by following The Little Nell on Twitter or Facebook.

Family-friendly Snowmass has added 93ha of terrain on Burnt Mountain, for a total skiable area of 1360ha, the second-largest ski area in Colorado. 

See aspensnowmass.com

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- Deer Valley, Utah

About $8 million has been spent on resort developments for this season, including replacing the Deer Crest chairlift on Little Baldy Mountain with a high-speed detachable quad named Mountaineer Express. The Snow Park Restaurant has been remodelled and a heated outdoor patio added at Empire Canyon Lodge. 

See deervalley.com 

- Park City/Canyons Resort, Utah

The resort is debuting its newest terrain park, Neff Land, this season.

The I Ride Park City freestyle camp will also expand its schedule for intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders aged nine to 15.

Canyons Resort will welcome several new lodging and dining properties and three all-new terrain parks. 

See parkcitymountain.com or canyonsresort.com

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- Northstar, California

This Lake Tahoe resort is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with improvements worth $30 million, including a high-speed chairlift, a new glade skiing area, two new intermediate ski trails, the Zephyr on-mountain restaurant, and the 22ft Superpipe designed by professional snowboarder Shaun White. 

See northstarattahoe.com

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- Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada

Whistler Blackcomb has a new network of tours, trails and stops called Wonder Routes to help guests navigate the mountain this season.

A new Family Certified icon will be displayed on ski runs and food outlets to indicate child-friendly areas.

Whistler Blackcomb's Steep Skiing Clinic founders are also launching a new backcountry program this season. Guests will learn techniques and tactics to improve powder skiing and snowboarding and navigate the backcountry safely. The program is designed for advanced-intermediate to expert skiers and riders.

See whistlerblackcomb.com

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- Big White, British Columbia, Canada

Big White, British Columbia's second largest ski resort, is introducing family-friendly Mondays.

Clowns, magicians and singers will entertain the kids at Happy Valley Day Lodge for the Magical Mondays Family Apres Ski events. 

See bigwhite.com

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- Silver Star, British Columbia, Canada

Canada's first all-inclusive season pass and day ticket have been launched at Silver Star.

The tickets include access to 55km of nordic trails, 16km of marked snowshoe trails, Tube Town Adventure Park and ice skating on Brewers Pond.

Silver Star also has a new Chromosome X Only heli-skiing package on the Monashee Mountains, which includes breakfast, a photo slideshow and day spa treatments.

And there are new snowshoeing tracks weaving in and around the forested area near the village. 

See skisilverstar.com

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- Banff/Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

Lake Louise has a new base area play zone, including a big airbag jump designed by professional snowboarders and stuntmen for expert skiers and snowboarders. There is also a new tube park at the base of the ski area that is suitable for all abilities.

The Learning and Adventure Centre, for beginners and kids, has been expanded to include two new magic carpets for easy access to the slopes.

Banff National Park also has a new SnowDays Festival from mid-January to mid-February.

Activities include ice climbing in downtown Banff, skating on the town's new ice rink and snow sculptures. There will also be theatre performances, a heritage geocache, photography exhibitions and endless winter sport opportunities featuring everything from cross-country skiing to curling and snowshoeing.

The Ice Magic Festival, with an ice-carving competition at Lake Louise, will be extended to two weekends. 

See banfflakelouise.com

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- Niseko, Japan

Niseko, one of Japan's most popular resorts, has a new program for Australian kids aged seven to 17 co-ordinated by Thredbo-based Steve Gorham on behalf of SkiJapan.com and Niseko Base Snowsports. It includes six hours exploring the four resorts with a guide or instructor between 8.30am and 12.30pm.

There is also new accommodation. A Malaysian company has built a complex of 66 luxury one, two, and three-bedroom condominiums in the heart of Hirafu.

A week-long stay in a two-bedroom (four share) apartment at Shiki Niseko starts at $1599, including a six-day all-area ski-lift pass. 

See SkiJapan.com

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