Top `end of season’ ski parties for 2012
End of season ski parties have become an annual tradition for the leading ski resorts. New and innovative festivals are frequently popping up, creating competition between resorts as to who has the best end of season parties. International music artists, unique winter wonderland festivals and mountain top ski and snowboarding have all set new standards as far as end of season parties are concerned. Online ski holiday specialist and top independent UK ski tour operator Directski.com has come up with its definitive list of the very best end of season ski parties for 2012.
Laax, Switzerland: The BRITS – 18th to 25th March 2012
Celebrating the British freestyle scene, ‘The BRITS’, held in The Swiss resort of Laax, is now celebrating its 10th consecutive year. Expect Big Air, Boardercross and Slopestyle competitions, as well as all-night parties, spectacular DJ sets, live bands, 3D discos, and retro chalet parties scattered across the resort. With 137 miles of mainly intermediate ski slopes from the tops of three different interconnected mountains, amid stunning scenery - there's still plenty to play around on in all areas.
For more information, visit the-brits.com.
Kopaonik, Serbia: The Big Snow Festival – 23rd to 29th March 2012
Ever been skiing in Serbia before? The Big Snow Festival has now moved from Andorra to Serbia which will be buzzing with the end of season party atmosphere as the festival brings artists such as Basement Jaxx and the Freestylers to the beautiful Serbian resort of Kopaonik. Top clubbing and dance music website, ‘Don’t Stay In’ has dubbed The Big Snow Festival as ‘the week long roller-coaster of skiing, snowboarding and big nights out’.
For more information, visit nomud.com/index.html.
Avoriaz, France: Festival de Concert Sauvages - 24th March - 28th March 2012
From the 24th – 28th March 2012, the major French ski-sports resort of Portes du Soleil will hold the second ever Festival de Concert Sauvages (Great Outdoors Music Festival), for totally free! This unique ‘ski-music’ festival will bring in some of the top up-and-coming international and French headliners to front 20 'secret' gigs at undisclosed, ski-to mountain side locations, all accessible with the ski lift pass. Portes du Soleil ski passes double as the entrance tickets to the concerts. SMS text messages will then announce the location of these secret gigs shortly before the live events take place.
For more information, visit en.rockthepistes.com/free-concerts-ski.html.
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at the 3* Residence Douchka departing on the 24th March 2012 for £330 per person (was £480pp), saving £150pp, including return flights from Gatwick and transfers, based on 4 sharing. To book visit directski.com.
Chamonix, France: The Winter Sessions: 30th - 31st March 2012
Fondly known to keen skiers as ‘The Weekender’, Chamonix’s three-day Winter Sessions party combines art and snow-sports along with music from top international DJs, MCs and bands, all set beneath the astounding resort of Mont Blanc. The snow fueled music festival is split into concerts that are played across eight assorted venues around the mountain over the two day period. Expect wild parties until dawn and the top international DJs and artists to blow out the season in style.
For more information, visit wintersessions.net.
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at the French resort of Chamonix, in the 3* La Riviere apartments departing on the 24th March 2012 for £227 per person (was £377pp), saving £150pp, including return flights from Gatwick and transfers, based on 4 sharing. To book visit directski.com.
Mayrhofen, Austria: The Altitude Comedy Festival, 26th - 31st March 2012
From 26th March – 31st March 2012, the Austrian ski resort of Mayrhofen will be holding this years annual ‘Altitude Comedy Festival’ as part of its season closure. One of the most unique winter festivals, Altitude will be held across a variety of different venues offering live stand up comedy (including Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle, Ed Byrne, Michael Winslow, Phil Jupitus, Tim Minchin and Al Murray), live music & DJs, slope style events, big air competitions, snowball fights, giant slalom races and even three legged races!
For more information visit altitudefestival.com.
Directski.com has a week’s 4* half board stay at Alpin-Hotel Schrofenblick in the Austrian resort of Mayrhofen, departing on the 24th March for £530 per person (was £680pp), saving £150pp, including return flights from Gatwick and Manchester and transfers, based on 4 sharing. To book visit directski.com.
Avoriaz, France: Avoriaz Jazz Up Festival 2012, 31st March - 6th April 2012
If the thought of big end of season parties and colossal live music concerts isn’t your cup of tea then the Jazz Up Festival in France’s Avoriaz resort might just be for you. Taking place from the 31st March – 6th April and now in its 4th year, the Jazz Up Festival will hold over 40 dinner concerts during the week, 4 larger concerts taking place in the festival hall as well as numerous jazz themes events throughout the week with a whole host of jazz performers from around the world.
For more information visit avoriaz.com/ski-holidays/398_avoriaz-jazz-up-festival.php.
Directski.com has a week’s self catering stay at the French resort of Avoriaz, in the 3* Saskia-La-Falaise departing on the 31st March 2012 for £614 per person (was £764), saving £150pp, including return flights from Gatwick and transfers, based on 4 sharing. To book visit directski.com.
Mayrhofen, Austria: Snowbombing, 9th - 14th April 2012
From the 9th - 14th April 2012, the Austrian ski resort of the Mayrhofen Valley is once again laying the gauntlet down for ‘the greatest show on snow’ with the 12th annual Snowbombing event. Top skiing and snowboarding combined with incredible line-ups with such live artists as Dizzee Rascal, Fat Boy Slim and Example, from a sky high igloo rave, to an open-air gathering in forest, from a secret backcountry bash, to Austria’s biggest fancy dress street party. Quite simply, Snowbombing tears up the rulebook and dares to dance somewhere different.
For more information visit snowbombing.com/en/.
Whistler, Canada: TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival – 13th to 22nd April 2012
Canada’s world renowned ski resort Whistler holds it’s own spectacular end of season party which involves 10 days of Big Air, Superpipe, Slopestyle and racing competitions, as well as endless fancy-dress parties and the Slush Cup pond-skimming event. The event begins on 13th April during the finale of the season, and lasts until the 22nd April. With every genre of music, from reggae to rock, the festivities run into the early hours leaving the resort buzzing during the season’s final weeks. For non-skiers there are also plenty of events such as film screenings, fashion shows and food markets dotted around the resort.
For more information visit wssf.com.
Ischgl, Austria: The 2012 Top of the Mountain Concert - 30th April 2012
The ski-closing Top of the Mountain Concert in the Tyrolean resort of Ischgl, Austria has comfortably reached legendary status when considering end of season ski parties with globally renowned artists such as Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys and even Elton John gracing the stage. The next ski-closing concert in Ischgl in Tyrol is set for April 30th 2012, and whoever has been chosen to entertain the crowds at the next celebration, to end the ski season, is still a strongly guarded secret. Last year the US band The Killers wowed saw off the end of the season, and this year promises to be no different. However, you can be sure that you'll be in for a great surprise and a great week of skiing.
For more information visit ischgl.com/top-of-the-mountain-concert.en.htm.