It’s that time again… the World Snow Awards are back for their second year of celebrating the very best in the world of skiing and snowboarding.

This year’s World Snow Awards will be presented to resorts, companies and individuals in 21 categories, including ‘best up-coming resort’ and ‘most improved family resort’; ski, snowboard and clothing brands; environmental awards; and specialist and mainstream tour operators.

Here at FamilySkiNews.com, we’re especially interested in the ‘most improved family resort’ category.  Last year the category was for ‘Best Family Resort’ and it was won by Avoriaz, as we reported here.

This year’s  nominations for ‘most improved family resort’ are Whistler Blackcomb, Canada; Ski Welt Wilder Kaiser -Brixental, Austria; Geilo, Norway; Silver Star Mountain Resort, Canada; Keystone, USA; and Livigno, Italy.

For a full list of last years winners, click here.

The event is organised by the magazine, Ski & Snowboard, and this year’s panel of 18 judges included the magazine’s editor, Henry Druce; BBC Ski Sunday presenter and ex-Olympic ski racer, Graham Bell; Frank McCusker, president of the Ski Club of Great Britain; and Warren Smith, one of the best ski instructors in the industry.

They have already debated the entries and voted via secret ballot papers for their favoured choices.  The votes have been counted and the results will be announced during a special awards evening at the Broadway Members Club in Fulham, on Friday 1 November, during the Telegraph Ski and Snowboard Snow at Earl’s Court, London.

Here are the categories and their nominations:

RESORTS AWARDS

Most improved European Resort: St. Anton, Austria; Alta Badia, Italy; Laax, Switzerland; Serre Chevalier, France; Val Thorens, France; Verbier, Switzerland

Most Improved North American Resort: Whistler Blackcomb, Canada; Vail, USA; Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, USA; Red Mountain, Canada; Jackson Hole, USA

Best Upcoming Resort: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Canada; Red Mountain Resort, Canada; Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau, Austria

Most Improved Family Resort: Whistler Blackcomb, Canada; Ski Welt Wilder Kaiser -Brixental, Austria; Geilo, Norway; Silver Star Mountain Resort, Canada; Keystone, USA; Livigno, Italy

Environmental Award for Ecological Developments: Avoriaz, France; Jackson Hole, USA; Paradiski, France; Saas Fee, Switzerland; Vail Resorts, USA; Whistler Blackcomb, Canada

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING AWARDS

Best clothing manufacturer: Trespass; Salomon; Ortovox; Nikita; Faction; Eider; Dare2b; Black Diamond; Arc’teryx

Best technological innovation: Dhu; Scott; Rossignol; RESQSKI; Black Diamond; currexSole; Faction Skis; Atomic; Cambridge Ski Safety; Butta

Best Safety Equipment Manufacturer: Ortovox; Haglofs; Cambridge Ski Safety; Black Diamond

Best Goggle Manufacturer: Scott; Salomon; Salice; Julbo; Anon

RETAIL AWARDS 

Best UK Specialist Retailer (public vote): Carters of Reading; Edge & Wax; Ellis Brigham; Ski Bartlett; Snow + Rock; Sport Pursuit; Sputnik Snowboard; Trespass

TRAVEL AWARDS

Best Transport Innovation: Swiss; Snow Carbon

Best UK Tour Operator (Mainstream) (public vote): Crystal Ski; Inghams; Erna Low; Nonstop Ski and Snowboard; Ski Famille; Ski Independence; Ski Solutions; Ski Weekends; Skiworld; VIP Ski

Best UK Tour Operator (Specialist): Chez Serre Chevalier; Cold Fusion Chalets; Icicle Mountaineering; Le Ski; Morgan Jupe; Ride and Slide; Ski 2

Best UK Specialist Travel Agent: Action Outdoors; Alpine Answers; Iglu; Independent Ski Links; Livigno Snow Holidays; Mountain Beds; Simply Val d’Isere; Ski Line; Ski Solutions; Ski Tracer; SNO

Best Snowsports Insurance Provider: Direct Travel Insurance; Dog Tag; ERV; MPI Brokers; Ski Club of Great Britain

HARDWARE AWARDS (judged by experts from Ski and Snowboard magazine)

Best Snowboard
Best Women Specific Snowboard
Best Overall Snowboard Manufacturer
Best Ski
Best Women Specific Ski
Best Overall Ski Manufacturer

To have your say in the ‘UK Specialist Retailer’ and ‘UK Tour Operator’ categories, just click here and vote (before 17 October).

 

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