A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area – a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In North America, it is more common for ski areas to exist well away from towns, so ski resorts usually are destination resorts, often purpose-built and self-contained, where skiing is the main activity.
Ski resorts are located on both Northern and Southern Hemispheres on all continents except Antarctica. They typically are located on mountains, as they require a large slope. They also need to receive sufficient snow (at least in combination with artificial snowmaking, unless the resort uses dry ski slopes).
Designed from scratch on virgin territory to be a purpose-built ski resort, all the amenities and services nearby (e.g. Sestriere, Flaine, La Plagne, Isola 2000).
Fourth generation or village resorts
Created from virgin territory or around an existing village, but more concerned with traditional uses (e.g. Valmeinier, Valmorelcode: fra promoted to code: fr , Shahdag Mountain Resort).
The term ski station is also used, particularly in Europe, for a skiing facility which is not located in or near a town or village. A ski resort which is also open for summer activities is often referred to as a mountain resort.
Facilities and amenities
This image of Zauchensee, Austria, shows the pistes, served by a gondola lift, detachable chairlift and a funicular. There is a snow fence to prevent snowdrift; and avalanche towers and avalanche barriers to mitigate the risk of avalanches
Ski areas have marked paths for skiing known as runs, trails or pistes. Ski areas typically have one or more chairlifts for moving skiers rapidly to the top of hills, and to interconnect the various trails. Rope tows can also be used on short slopes (usually beginner hills or bunny slopes). Larger ski areas may use gondola lifts or aerial tramways for transportation across longer distances within the ski area. Resorts post their trail map illustrating the location of lifts, trails, services and the ski area boundary, and during the ski season issue a daily snow conditions report listing open trails, operating lifts and weather status.
Ski areas usually have at least a basic first aid facility, and some kind of ski patrol service to ensure that injured skiers are rescued. The ski patrol is usually responsible for rule enforcement, marking hazards, closing individual runs or areas as conditions require, and removing (dismissing) dangerous participants from the area.
The typical ski area base includes a ticket office, ski lodge, ski school, equipment rental/repair shop, restaurant/bar, shopping, shuttle bus stop and parking.[3]
Some ski resorts offer lodging options on the slopes themselves, with ski-in and ski-out access allowing guests to ski right up to the door. Ski resorts often have other activities, such as snowmobiling, sledding, horse-drawn sleds, dog-sledding, ice skating, indoor or outdoor swimming and hot tubbing, game rooms, and local forms of entertainment, such as clubs, cinema, theaters and cabarets. Après-ski (French for after skiing) is a term for entertainment, nightlife or social events that occur specifically at ski resorts.[4][5] These add to the enjoyment of resort-goers and provide something to do besides skiing and snowboarding. The culture originated in the Alps, where it is most popular and where skiers often stop at bars on their last run of the day while still wearing all their ski gear.[6]
Though the word ‘ski’ is a derivation of the Old Norse ‘skíð’ via Norwegian, the choice of French is likely attributed to the early popularity of such activities in the French Alps, with which it was then linked.[7]
The process of resort development has progressed since the birth of the skiing industry. As the economic role of the skiing industry grew, the environmental impact of resort development has also caused environmental burdens on the natural ecosystem including mountain water levels of lakes, streams, and wildlife.[8] Amenities and infrastructure such as concrete buildings, ski-lifts, gondolas, access roads, parking lots, and railways have contributed to the urbanization of mountainous zones.
Primary (direct) impact of resort development
In recent years, the use of snow cannons has increased due to the fall in the volume of snow. In order to obtain good quality snow, dust or bacteria is mixed with the water in the process of snowmaking to form better snowflakes. Not only that the manufacture of artificial snow is costly and uses large amounts of water, but sometimes the creation of artificial lakes is necessary for the snowmaking process. Snow cannons redistribute a large amount of water unnaturally over the land and freezes the ground vegetation late into spring, preventing growth and leaving pistes bare.[8] With enough excess water, the likelihood of landslides and avalanches may be drastically higher.[citation needed]
Secondary (indirect) impact of resort development
The required space for hotels, flats and secondary residences has increased the amount of space occupied by roads and buildings.[8] While a large number of people requires special water, sewage and electricity systems, a great deal of construction work is needed. Access roads and the treatment of salt are responsible for high amounts of erosion at ski resorts. In some cases, natural lakes must be tapped or reservoirs built to cater for the population demand. The urbanization of mountainous areas have increased the space of impervious surface, and prevents the natural flow of water into the ground, resulting in a disturbed water table and potential cause of erosion in undesired places. Lastly, when building ski lifts, its line of operation must be shaped and drained, and large concrete blocks must be set down for pylons.[8]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ski resorts.
^Heller, Mark F., editor (1979) The Skier's Encyclopedia Paddington Press ISBN9780448224282 pg 15–18, 140–145, 157–159
^R. Knaffou (1978) Les Stations intégrées de sports d'hiver dans les Alpes françaises, Paris: Masson ISBN9782225494123
^Berry, I. William (1984) The Great North American Ski Book Scribners ISBN 0-684-18207-6 page 72-73
^"Definition of après-ski". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
^Flower, Raymond (1976) The History of Skiing and Other Winter Sports; Toronto, New York: Methuen Inc. ISBN0-458-92780-5 pp 132-141
^Lund, Morton (March 2007). "Tea Dance To Disco. Après-Ski Through the Ages". Skiing Heritage Journal. 19 (1): 6–12. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
^Harper, Douglas. "ski (n.)". Etymology Online. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
^ abcdChivers, John (1994). (PDF). School of International Studies and Law, Coventry University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 Aug 2016.
May 03, 2023
resort, station, redirects, here, railway, station, norway, station, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, june, 201. Ski station redirects here For the railway station at Ski in Norway see Ski Station This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing snowboarding and other winter sports In Europe most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area a mountainous area with pistes ski trails and a ski lift system In North America it is more common for ski areas to exist well away from towns so ski resorts usually are destination resorts often purpose built and self contained where skiing is the main activity Ski resorts in the world by country Contents 1 Ski resort 2 Types 3 Facilities and amenities 4 Environmental impacts 4 1 Primary direct impact of resort development 4 2 Secondary indirect impact of resort development 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 ReferencesSki resort Edit Map of world ski resorts interactive map Ski resorts are located on both Northern and Southern Hemispheres on all continents except Antarctica They typically are located on mountains as they require a large slope They also need to receive sufficient snow at least in combination with artificial snowmaking unless the resort uses dry ski slopes High concentrations of ski resorts are located in the Alps Scandinavia western and eastern North America and Japan There are also ski resorts in the Andes scattered across central Asia and in Australia and New Zealand Extreme locations of non indoor at least one ski lift outside ski resorts include The most northern ski resort near Tromso Norway The most southern ski resort near Ushuaia Argentina The ski resort closest to the equator from north near Lijiang China The ski resort closest to the equator from south near Mahlasela Lesotho Types Edit Mzaar Kfardebian Ski Resort in Lebanon The ski industry has identified advancing generations of ski resorts 1 2 First generation Developed around a well established summer resort or village e g Davos St Moritz Kitzbuhel Chamonix Cortina d Ampezzo Megeve Val Gardena code ita promoted to code it Second generation Created from a non tourist village or pasture e g St Anton Lech Courchevel code fra promoted to code fr L Alpe d Huez code fra promoted to code fr Aspen Breckenridge Third generation or integrated Designed from scratch on virgin territory to be a purpose built ski resort all the amenities and services nearby e g Sestriere Flaine La Plagne Isola 2000 Fourth generation or village resorts Created from virgin territory or around an existing village but more concerned with traditional uses e g Valmeinier Valmorel code fra promoted to code fr Shahdag Mountain Resort The term ski station is also used particularly in Europe for a skiing facility which is not located in or near a town or village A ski resort which is also open for summer activities is often referred to as a mountain resort Facilities and amenities Edit This image of Zauchensee Austria shows the pistes served by a gondola lift detachable chairlift and a funicular There is a snow fence to prevent snowdrift and avalanche towers and avalanche barriers to mitigate the risk of avalanches Jasna ski resort in Slovakia Cerro Catedral Ski Resort Argentina Ski resorts can also be situated on a volcano like this one on Etna in Sicily Gambarie a ski resort above the Strait of Messina Ski areas have marked paths for skiing known as runs trails or pistes Ski areas typically have one or more chairlifts for moving skiers rapidly to the top of hills and to interconnect the various trails Rope tows can also be used on short slopes usually beginner hills or bunny slopes Larger ski areas may use gondola lifts or aerial tramways for transportation across longer distances within the ski area Resorts post their trail map illustrating the location of lifts trails services and the ski area boundary and during the ski season issue a daily snow conditions report listing open trails operating lifts and weather status Ski areas usually have at least a basic first aid facility and some kind of ski patrol service to ensure that injured skiers are rescued The ski patrol is usually responsible for rule enforcement marking hazards closing individual runs or areas as conditions require and removing dismissing dangerous participants from the area The typical ski area base includes a ticket office ski lodge ski school equipment rental repair shop restaurant bar shopping shuttle bus stop and parking 3 Some ski resorts offer lodging options on the slopes themselves with ski in and ski out access allowing guests to ski right up to the door Ski resorts often have other activities such as snowmobiling sledding horse drawn sleds dog sledding ice skating indoor or outdoor swimming and hot tubbing game rooms and local forms of entertainment such as clubs cinema theaters and cabarets Apres ski French for after skiing is a term for entertainment nightlife or social events that occur specifically at ski resorts 4 5 These add to the enjoyment of resort goers and provide something to do besides skiing and snowboarding The culture originated in the Alps where it is most popular and where skiers often stop at bars on their last run of the day while still wearing all their ski gear 6 Though the word ski is a derivation of the Old Norse skid via Norwegian the choice of French is likely attributed to the early popularity of such activities in the French Alps with which it was then linked 7 Environmental impacts EditSee also Environmental impact of tourism and Vegetation and slope stability The process of resort development has progressed since the birth of the skiing industry As the economic role of the skiing industry grew the environmental impact of resort development has also caused environmental burdens on the natural ecosystem including mountain water levels of lakes streams and wildlife 8 Amenities and infrastructure such as concrete buildings ski lifts gondolas access roads parking lots and railways have contributed to the urbanization of mountainous zones Primary direct impact of resort development Edit In recent years the use of snow cannons has increased due to the fall in the volume of snow In order to obtain good quality snow dust or bacteria is mixed with the water in the process of snowmaking to form better snowflakes Not only that the manufacture of artificial snow is costly and uses large amounts of water but sometimes the creation of artificial lakes is necessary for the snowmaking process Snow cannons redistribute a large amount of water unnaturally over the land and freezes the ground vegetation late into spring preventing growth and leaving pistes bare 8 With enough excess water the likelihood of landslides and avalanches may be drastically higher citation needed Secondary indirect impact of resort development Edit The required space for hotels flats and secondary residences has increased the amount of space occupied by roads and buildings 8 While a large number of people requires special water sewage and electricity systems a great deal of construction work is needed Access roads and the treatment of salt are responsible for high amounts of erosion at ski resorts In some cases natural lakes must be tapped or reservoirs built to cater for the population demand The urbanization of mountainous areas have increased the space of impervious surface and prevents the natural flow of water into the ground resulting in a disturbed water table and potential cause of erosion in undesired places Lastly when building ski lifts its line of operation must be shaped and drained and large concrete blocks must be set down for pylons 8 Gallery Edit Black Track in Roccaraso Abruzzo Italy M Aremogna Ruka Finland Elikti near Kokshetau Kazakhstan Valle Nevado code spa promoted to code es Chile Male Ciche Poland Blue Cow Perisher Ski Resort Australia Sierra Nevada Ski Station Spain Shahdag Mountain Resort Azerbaijan Tsaghkadzor Armenia Lift 15 Revelation Telluride Ski Resort Colorado United States Corbet s Couloir at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Teton Village Wyoming United StatesSee also EditList of ski areas and resorts Private ski area North America References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ski resorts Heller Mark F editor 1979 The Skier s Encyclopedia Paddington Press ISBN 9780448224282 pg 15 18 140 145 157 159 R Knaffou 1978 Les Stations integrees de sports d hiver dans les Alpes francaises Paris Masson ISBN 9782225494123 Berry I William 1984 The Great North American Ski Book Scribners ISBN 0 684 18207 6 page 72 73 Definition of apres ski Merriam Webster Retrieved 26 November 2012 Flower Raymond 1976 The History of Skiing and Other Winter Sports Toronto New York Methuen Inc ISBN 0 458 92780 5 pp 132 141 Lund Morton March 2007 Tea Dance To Disco Apres Ski Through the Ages Skiing Heritage Journal 19 1 6 12 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Harper Douglas ski n Etymology Online Retrieved 21 November 2014 a b c d Chivers John 1994 Effects of the Skiing Industry on the Environment PDF School of International Studies and Law Coventry University Archived from the original PDF on 22 Aug 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ski resort amp oldid 1151044384, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
