Snow Sport activities in Europe
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Engholm's Husky
Engholm's Husky, in the lodge bearing the same name, offers winter dog-sled and cross-country skiing tours, as well as summer walking tours with a dog to carry your pack - or at least some of it. All-inclusive expeditions range from one-day dog-sled tours (per person around NOK1100) to eight-day, off-piste Arctic safaris (NOK11,500).
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Olympia Bobbahn
The fast and furious Olympia Bobbahn in Innsbruck-Igls was built especially for the 1976 Winter Olympics. Taking in 14 curves, a loop and a vertical drop of 124m, the bob run is 1.2km of pure hair-raising action. Thrill seekers can join a professional bobsled driver to give it a whirl; ice makes the run slippery smooth in winter, but it’s also possible to race down in summer if you don’t mind a bumpy ride. At €30 a pop, the minute of madness doesn’t come cheap, but the buzz of whooshing down at speeds of 100km/h (miss a bend and you’ll bounce like a pinball) is worth every cent.
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Olympic Bobsled Run
In Hunderfossen, you can career down the Olympic Bobsled Run aboard a wheelbob under the guidance of a professional bobsled pilot. Wheel bobs take five passengers and hit a top speed of 100km/h. The real thing, taxibobs, take four passengers, reach an exhilarating 130km/h and you won’t have much time to get nervous – you’re down the mountain in 70 seconds. Bookings are advisable during winter.
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Glenshee Ski Resort
With 36 pistes Glenshee is one of Scotland’s largest skiing areas. When the sun burns through the clouds after a good fall of snow, you'll be in a unique position to drink in the beauty of the country; the skiing isn’t half bad either. The chairlift, which also opens in July and August for walkers and mountain bikers, can whisk you up to 910m, near the top of the Cairnwell (933m).
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Hochstein
Slightly west of Lienz, Hochstein (2057m) is also popular for its groomed pistes; a free bus runs from the train station to the cable-car valley stations in summer and winter high seasons. The ski lifts run from 1 December to Easter, depending on snow. Multiday passes cover all of East Tyrol's ski lifts (see www.topski.at, in German, for full ski-pass details). Several peaceful cross-country trails also crisscross the valley.
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Lienzer Bergbahnen
The cable cars spring back to life for the summer season (June to September). The ride up to Hochstein costs €11 return, while Zettersfeld costs €10, or €17 including the chairlift to 2214m. Family and child fares are also available. If you’re planning on making more than one trip, it makes sense to buy the Osttirol Card. Both lifts are run by Lienzer Bergbahnen.
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Snow
A good source of equipment and information in town, Snow, near the cable-car station, hires skis and bikes in summer. They offer ski instruction services. Check out the 1930s skis on the walls of their shop. Their outdoor/indoor Romanian restaurant is about as good as the centre gets. There are ham-and-cheese pancakes and a vegetarian platter, plus several breakfasts (but skip the disappointing coffee).
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Akerforeningen
In the winter, try sledding down the ‘legendary’ Korketrekkeren (cork screw) toboggan run. The 2000m long track drops 255m and began its life as a bobsledding run for the 1952 Olympics. Sleds can be rented at the Akerforeningen next to the Frognerseteren restaurant. To get there take the T-bane to Frognerseteren and follow the signs downhill.
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Old Ski Station
There are two main ski stations, on the north and south slopes of Aykuayvenchorr mountain at the foot of which the town stands. The lengths and steepness of the runs are comparable at both - good for both beginners and experienced skiers. The old ski station, on Aykuayvenchorr's northern slopes immediately above the town, is a little cheaper. Take your passport as ID to rent equipment.
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Snow Sports, Hovden, Stølen & Vangslia Slopes
The three-part Oppdal Skisenter climbs the slopes from Hovden, Stølen and Vangslia, all within easy reach of town. The smaller Ådalen ski area nearby has two lifts. Vangslia is generally the easiest, with a couple of beginners' runs, while Stølen offers intermediate skiing and Hovden has three challenging advanced runs. The season runs from late November to late April.
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Monte Bondone
Travelling by car from Sardagna (as there is no public transport), 15km of winding road brings you to the small ski station of Vaneze di Monte (1350m). It is connected via cable car to both Vasòn (its higher counterpart where most ski schools and ski-hire shops are located), and to the gentle slopes of 1537m-high Monte Bondone.
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Keltenblitz
Keltenblitz is ideal for those who want to pick up speed after visiting the show-mine. A chairlift whisks passengers to the top of Zinken mountain, where they board little wheeled bobsleds to race 2.2km downhill around hairpin bends. The thrill is over in a flash and affords fleeting views of the Salzach Valley.
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Chair Lift
Across the highway from the STF Turiststation, a chair lift takes you up the neighbouring Mt Nuolja (1169m), where those without vertigo can enjoy epic views from the deck of the Panorama Café. In summer this is a prime spot from which to see the midnight sun. Tickets are sold at the STF reception desk.
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Polar Speed Tours
In winter, Polar Speed Tours organises one- to five-day dog-sledding safaris, with accommodation in wilderness huts. The dogs are kennelled at a husky farm at Köngäs, 10km northeast of Levi. In summer you can tour the farm and meet the dogs.
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Sljeme
Although Zagreb is not normally associated with winter sports, if the snow lasts long enough you can ski right outside town at Sljeme, the main peak of Mt Medvednica. It has four ski runs, three ski lifts and a triple chairlift.
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Sukces Ski Rental
Ski-equipment hire is available from outlets throughout Zakopane, including Sukces Ski Rental. Complete kits for skiing/snowboarding average 35/40zł a day.
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summer tobogganing track
In summer, the tiny (6-hectare) Straža-Bled ski centre becomes a summer tobogganing track, on which you wend your way down a metal chute sitting on a mini 'bobsled'.
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Chairlift
A Chairlift makes the 15-minute journey down to the picnic areas and playgrounds of Železná studienka. You might like to hike down and hitch a ride back up.
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Summer Sleigh Track
On Kolorowa Hill in the centre of Karpacz, the summer sleigh track is more than 1km long and allows for speeds of up to 30km/h.
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Mt Nos Chairlift
In summer, for fine views you can reach the summit of Mt Nos (1176m) by taking the chairlift.
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John Nike Leisuresport
John Nike Leisuresport is an artificial ski slope with year-round skiing, snowboarding and toboggan tuition.
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Heimwehfluh
A wonderful view, a model-train display and a toboggan ride all the way back down the hill.
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Club Nord
Club Nord arranges mainly winter activities, including husky-sledding and snowmobiling.
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Arctic Safaris
Bicycles can be rented from Arctic Safaris for €20 a day.
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Snow Rental Outlet
There's a rental outlet in Bucegi that rents bikes, skis and snowboards.
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