Swiss, Avoriaz and VIP SKI win awards

6th November 2012, by Abi Butcher

Avoriaz, which won best family ski resort at the World Snow Awards

Völkl and Salomon skis, Avoriaz, Ellis Brigham, Swiss airlines and Geneva airport are among 28 winners of the inaugural World Snow Awards in London last week.

While skiers and snowboarders across UK start dreaming of the winter as the ski show season comes to an end, top names in the snow industry have been awarded for exemplary service and the creation of iconic brands.

First up, last Thursday evening (1 November), VIP SKI won Best Small Ski & Winter Sports Operator in the British Travel Awards.

VIP SKI has 56 ski chalets and hotels in nine resorts across the French, Swiss and Austrian Alps, including Val d’Isère, Méribel, Verbier, Zermatt, St Anton, Alpe d’Huez, La Plagne, Les Gets and Morzine.

Then on Friday evening (2 November), as part of Ski and Snowboard magazine’s 25th anniversary, the World Snow Awards took place, hosted by actor, comedian and keen snowboarder Marcus Brigstocke.

Launched by VOS Media, the company behind Ski and Snowboard magazine and the Ski and Snowboard Show, the awards were judged by public vote and an 18-strong panel of ski and snowboard experts including Where to Ski and Snowboard editor Dave Watts, Olympic skiers Martin and Graham Bell and Ski and Snowboard editor Henry Druce.

Winners included Swiss, the only mainstream airline still offering free ski carriage and food, while other operators have continued to ramp up their charges to the point that many people now choose to rent equipment in resort rather than fly with their own. Other World Snow Awards include specialist tour operator Ski Solutions, ski manufacturer Salomon for its iconic X-Scream series and Arnie Wilson, editor of Ski & Board magazine, for his lifetime contribution to snowsports.

The full list of winners:

Best European resort
Livigno, Italy

Best North American resort
Fernie, Canada

Best family resort
Avoriaz, France

Best upcoming resort
Monterosa Ski, Italy

Best resort for après
Zermatt, Switzerland

Best clothing manufacturer
Arc’teryx

Best accessory manufacturer
Scott

Best safety kit manufacturer
Mammut

Best sunglasses manufacturer
POC

Best goggles manufacturer
Salomon

Best UK specialist retailer (multiple stores)
Ellis Brigham

Best UK specialist retailer
Ski Bartlett

Best airline
Swiss

Best airport
Geneva

Best specialist operator
Ski Independence

Best mainstream operator
Crystal

Best specialist agent
Ski Solutions

Best mainstream wintersports insurer
Direct Travel Insurance

Best specialist insurer
MPI

Best snowboard
Jones Mountain Twin

Best women’s snowboard
Salomon Wonder

Best overall snowboard manufacturer
Burton

Best ski
Black Crows Nocta

Best women’s ski
Völkl Allura

Best overall ski manufacturer
Völkl

Iconic ski
Salomon X-Scream Series

Iconic snowboard
Lib Tech Skate Banana

Polar Bear – Outstanding contribution to snowsports
Arnie Wilson

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• verbier
• zermatt
• la plagne
• st anton
• watts
• avoriaz
• ski show
• val d isere
• award
• monterosa ski

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