Patrick's Streak, Ski Travel Priorities

[Tony Crocker]

Les 2 Alpes. An obvious close-by choice, decent length/vertical, but not much pitch.

Fraser says Les 2 Alpes has dropped out of early season competition; here's his overall view on early season skiing in the Alps. The higher base areas in the Tarantaise usually open in late November. Before that it's still the glacier resorts, mainly in Austria but also Zermatt and Saas-Fee.

Also per Fraser, the higher areas in the Tarantaise are getting substantial snow now. If it continues in November, Patrick may catch a break.

 

[ChrisC]

Also per Fraser, the higher areas in the Tarantaise are getting substantial snow now. If it continues in November, Patrick may catch a break.

I saw a lot of snow on social media in the NW Alps—especially in Tignes. Even Glacier3000 near Gstaad announced an early opening on November 8th.

There has already been 50-100 cm of new snow in the Western Swiss Alps.

 

[ChrisC]

Fraser says Les 2 Alpes has dropped out of early season competition; here's his overall view on early season skiing in the Alps.

Interesting.

Probably the combination of Saas Fee, Zermatt, and Cervinia might be the most interesting, unless heavier snows in Austria.


Regarding Alps snowmaking:

However, it should be remembered that (with a few exceptions) most resorts do manage to offer at least some skiing thanks to snow-making, even in the leanest of early seasons. There is no better example of this than the Dolomites, where the Sella Ronda region managed to open hundreds of kilometres of pistes without a flake of real snow in sight.

Snow-making in the Dolomites is as good as it gets.


Italy: Cervinia, Livigno, Sella Ronda* (e.g. Selva, Arabba)
* nowhere is better at getting the pistes open on man-made snow when there has been no natural snowfall


Scale & extent of the system
The Dolomiti Superski network claims that ≈ 97% of its slopes are equipped with modern snow-making systems (≈ 1,160 km out of ~1,200 km of slopes).

I assume a system this large is highly automated.

 

[Patrick]

Patrick has been to most of the glacier resorts of Europe (from France to Austria). Assume some of the reason is due to family visits at various non-optimal ski times of the calendar.

Yes, visiting my wife’s family with the kids when we could all take time off and leave for 3-5 weeks.
2011: skied all open glaciers, but 1 in the August time frame.
Tignes, 2 Alpes, Zermatt, Saas Fee, Stelvio, Hintertux
2015 with my oldest: skipped the ones in France and Stelvio. Added the one i missed, Moltaler in Austria + Zermatt, Saas Fee, Hintertux.
2019: drop in one day family at Zermatt via Cervinia. Driving by to mom in law from Genoa. We were suppose to go to Cirque de Terre, but 40-45c temps, we had enough of the heat so we headed to the Alps instead. Yes, we rented skis.

Most of the glaciers open for Sept/October. Caroline and I spent one week in Austria last November.
2025: Stubai, Pitztaler, Kaunertal, Solden, Kitzsternhorn
(Non glaciers): Gurgl, Kitzbuhel
Return to Zermatt/Cervinia on my own

Les 2 Alpes. An obvious close-by choice, decent length/vertical, but not much pitch.

• Zermatt/Cervinia. Italy reliably opens 2000 ft advanced pistes/glaciers.
• Stubai
• Hintertux

Les 2 Alpes is really flat. Zermatt is the easier to access from where we are. Take the train from a small town on the Lyon-Geneva line then to Visp to transfer up the beautiful final leg up to Zermatt.
Trip update:
Nov 4: Arrived at Caroline’s mom place near Lyon.
Oct 25: landed in Brussels
Oct 27: Skied the largest indoor area in Europe, Landgraaf on Oct 27. My wife enjoyed it much more than New Jersey. It has a long consistent slope, however I would say that Sno in Oslo is by far my favorite.
We were playing to see part of Belgium last year, but we modified our trip when my mother-in-law had a stroke in late November.
Oct 25-Nov 3:
Liege, Luxembourg City, Aachen, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Bruges, Brussels + skiing in Landgraaf.
Nothing on this trip is planned as we bought on plane tickets only 7 days prior to this trip. Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris were the cheapest airports from Ottawa/Montreal.

Patrick will be off skiing for 3 weeks while his wife is with her mother. I'm sure Belgium/Netherlands is because his wife wants to visit those places. They are going to Hamburg and Copenhagen on the back end of the trip too.

Visiting Belgium, Hamburg, Copenhague were also part of my bucket list.
We were planning only 24h before each day, so I didn't get to really checkout conditions. Ikon gives me access to Zermatt and the Italian side including both sides of Mt Blanc. French areas open late and Courmayeur opens late November.
I am looking at Glacier 3000 near Lausanne SWI.
So probably not 3 weeks, I would be extremely to equal last season’s 9 days.
I want also spent time helping out at the house.

November in the Alps is mostly likely glaciers and maybe a few WRODs, not ideal timing. But the timing of this trip was not Patrick's call.

The trip timing was also my call. I don’t fancy a return to deal with summer heat by plus I wanted to return in time for the start of my coaching season plus timed it to see a show in Hamburg on Dec 7.
The trip to France is now an annual thing, maybe ill make an exception in 2026 and come in summer to see the solar eclipse and ski indoor in Spain.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I wanted to return in time for the start of my coaching season ...................
The trip to France is now an annual thing

Seriously, some of these Euro trips need to be during real ski season January to mid-April. Doesn't Patrick with his ski ability have any interest in bucket list off piste itineraries in the Alps before he ages out of that capability?

 

[Tony Crocker]

I think I have now seen everything on this list.

To keep "The Streak" alive, Patrick will become the first skier to knock off 'ski' every indoor ski area in the world.

ski indoor in Spain.

There is one indoor ski area. It's in Madrid with 38m vertical, about the same as New Jersey.

 

[Patrick]

Seriously, some of these Euro trips need to be during real ski season January to mid-April. Doesn't Patrick with his ski ability have any interest in bucket list off piste itineraries in the Alps before he ages out of that capability?

Last season’s coaching salary was enough to cover both Sweden/Norway and New Zealand trips plus getting ski industry perks. I understand the aged out feeling all too well, but I also like to reach other goals.

There is one indoor ski area. It's in Madrid with 38m vertical, about the same as New Jersey.

I know, that’s why I mentioned it.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I also like to reach other goals.

knock off 'ski' every indoor ski area in the world.

 

[Patrick]

Skiing all the indoor areas!!! YES!!!

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Doesn't Patrick with his ski ability have any interest in bucket list off piste itineraries in the Alps before he ages out of that capability?

It's like a foodie pursuing a decades-long streak in which the goal is to eat spaghetti and meatballs in the hot food bar at as many Korean delis as possible across the continent. Tony then says "you have an expert palate and only ate spaghetti and meatballs at Korean delis during your recent visit to New Orleans? Why didn't you enjoy the fantastic cuisine at Antoine's, or Lilette, or Willie Mae's?"

To repeat the obvious: he's aware of his opportunity cost and gleefully carries on, which appears to be the point of the exercise.

 

[MarzNC]

Skiing all the indoor areas!!! YES!!!

The huge ones are in China.

Shenzhen in southern China has three. A new one is under construction in Shanghai. The one that just opened is four times larger than the one in Dubai. Makes it about the size of Appalachian in the North Carolina mountains . . . 25 skiable acres.

September 29, 2025

World’s New Largest Indoor Snow Centre Opens in China

The latest indoor snow centre to claim to be the largest in the world has opened in the mega-tech city of Shenzhen, close to the World Convention and Exhibition Centre.

www.snow-forecast.com

 

[Patrick]

To repeat the obvious: he's aware of his opportunity cost and gleefully carries on, which appears to be the point of the exercise.

Of course, I’m also somewhat trolling, but trying to balance my fairly new career goals in the industry versus skiing leisure goals. One thing for certain is that without ski coaching, it would only be selfish pleasure. I was asked to coach before I was an ex-racer who has a passion for the sport; trying to ignite that passion outside the gates to a new generation.

Coaching has given me back the passion, purpose and recognition that I had lost in my 20yrs in career in government. I can’t complain, I get paid to ski. There is no ideal situation, I would like to have the physical shape I had in my 20s, go back to ski out West when my friend moved to Whistler/Red, but my studies were more important. Life is about decisions and I don’t regret any of my choices.

As I said, if it would all about the ski streak, On could have chosen Mt Hood on every summer or indoors. My life isn’t uniquely driven by skiing, but skiing is an important component.

As that Australia 2022 trip, this one has multiple goals including musical ones. For those 80s music geeks, seeing Propaganda in Hamburg. (They are only playing 5 shows, only in Germany) Could have chosen a closer town, but Hamburg has been one of the destinations we wanted to visit, so we’ll combine it with Copenhagen.

 

[Patrick]

The huge ones are in China.

All kidding aside, I’m more tempted to ski in places like Greece, South Africa, Lebanon than various indoor areas.
Landgraaf which I just skied claim to be the largest indoor ski area in Europe which is also the largest in the Netherlands (13th country skied). It’s all about variety.
We landed in Brussels and it was end of October. Could have hiked Whiteface Toll Road, but I had done it multiple times.
We arrived in Amsterdam, but didn’t ski at their indoor ski area.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

For those 80s music geeks, seeing Propaganda in Hamburg.

Wow, I had no idea. Which lineup will you be seeing?

Propaganda (featuring Dörper and Mertens)

• Members: Ralf Dörper and Michael Mertens
• Guest Vocalist: Thunder Bae, for the 2024 album
• Status: Active; released a self-titled album in 2024

xPropaganda (featuring Freytag and Brücken)

• Members: Susanne Freytag and Claudia Brücken
• Status: Active; released a new album in 2022

It's a shame that they can't bury their respective hatchets. I was living in France when the "A Secret Wish" album was popular but then forgot about them.

 

[Tony Crocker]

The Shenzen link above led me to this one:

New Ski Resort Development May Become Asia's Largest

Ala-Too Resort, a vast new ski development in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul region, is set to open its first slopes in December 2026, marking a major step in Central Asia’s emergence as a winter sports destination.

www.snow-forecast.com

Jyrgalan Peak is where The Adventure Project ran snowcat skiing last February before our ski week in Uzbekistan. With Issyk-Kul's lake effect, that sector of Kyrgyzstan is probably the best place in Central Asia to develop a ski resort.

Greece, Lebanon

These are on a long list of places (Japan, Central Asia, interior B.C., etc.) that Patrick will never ski as long as he's anchored in Ottawa from late December to early April.

 

[MarzNC]

We landed in Brussels and it was end of October. Could have hiked Whiteface Toll Road, but I had done it multiple times.
We arrived in Amsterdam, but didn’t ski at their indoor ski area.

Finding variety makes sense to me. Especially when part of traveling for other reasons. My ski safaris in the last fifteen years have been in New England, New York, Michigan, and Idaho. The differences between regions is interesting to experience.

For oddball skiing in Europe, I'd be more interested in the rooftop slope in Copenhagen. Indoor slopes won't be much different than Big SNOW. I've skied there once a year in recent years during the summer or fall when driving and ending up close enough to meet up with a friend or two there.

 

[Patrick]

Wow, I had no idea. Which lineup will you be seeing?

xPropaganda (featuring Freytag and Brücken)

• Members: Susanne Freytag and Claudia Brücken
• Status: Active; released a new album in 2022

"A Secret Wish" album was popular but then forgot about them.

Seeing xPropaganda. Voices are so important on that iconic album. A secret wish is somewhere on my collection which would be a very diverse desert island discs selection.
Noticed last Winter that Susanne Freytag and Claudia Brucken were getting together for 5 shows this December and was already thinking about seeing them - never did. I know Claudia has gone solo shows.
December 7th show is also be on Claudia’s 62nd bday.

These are on a long list of places (Japan, Central Asia, interior B.C., etc.) that Patrick will never ski as long as he's anchored in Ottawa from late December to early April.

I’ve been coaching one year at a time. Made my commitment for this season last Spring. I should travelling more this season (like pre-pandemic 2020) as i’ll be one of the coaches on the Quebec’s Juvenile circuit across the province. Although they are no races at LeMassif this year, it is on the Ikon.

The differences between regions is interesting to experience.

Definitely.

For oddball skiing in Europe, I'd be more interested in the rooftop slope in Copenhagen. Indoor slopes won't be much different than Big SNOW. I've skied there once a year in recent years during the summer or fall when driving and ending up close enough to meet up with a friend or two there.

Rooftop skiing is part of my plans for this trip. I didn’t go out of my way to ski there.
Actually, the indoor skiing areas aren’t created equal. My wife has skied Big Snow didn’t find in measure you to Snowworld Landgraaf. A friend that has skied close to 600 areas asked my opinion:
Here is my ranking.
1) Sno is Oslo (80m vert, steeper section)
2) Snowworld (60m vert, longer slope)
3) Big Snow (36-45m?, shorter and smaller).

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Seeing xPropaganda.

I'll provide Patrick with a trip down memory lane that's perfect for the upcoming Hamburg concert. During my time in Nice, I became a big fan of BEST -- basically a French version of Rolling Stone magazine but with much stronger content. I brought 15 issues with me back to the U.S. and still have them 40 years later.

Here's the one from July 1986 that had Propaganda on the cover and an interview with the entire group. Enjoy!

 

[EMSC]

My life isn’t uniquely driven by skiing, but skiing is an important component.

I find this statement pretty funny.

Even if we ignore our FTO nit-picky commentary on trip choices, the fact is Patrick has a ridiculously long ski streak. How many people in the world can say that? Including so many of us 'peanut gallery' experts (none of the rest of us have a streak going, let alone for so long). Point is that simply having such a super long ski streak certainly puts things in the "Unique" bucket and has required some unique choices to keep going even when injured and etc...

Coaching has given me back the passion, purpose and recognition that I had lost in my 20yrs in career in government.

As they say, it's a bad plan to retire away from something. You have to have a purpose and retire to something. Glad it works for you.

All kidding aside, I’m more tempted to ski in places like Greece, South Africa, Lebanon than various indoor areas.

Wonder if there is a new window of "stable enough" in Lebanon at the moment or coming soon to sneak in a short trip?

 

[Patrick]

Wonder if there is a new window of "stable enough" in Lebanon at the moment or coming soon to sneak in a short trip?

Lebanon, Iran, Russia places that are definitely not currently safe to go. Anyway I have no desire to go to Russia under the current regime.