European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 7, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                V High tech skiing in Europe Best bets Are Fresque by Dennis Redmont the associated press trying to build on a Post olympic ski Boom european Winter resorts have produced an array of High tech innovations ranging from Quot body chips Quot that Speed skiers. Through lift lines to rotating giant Cable cars for enjoying spectacular Alpine vistas. Unexpected victories by skaters and skiers from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe during last Winter s olympics in Albertville France changed the perception that the Alps have a monopoly on european Snow and ice. Many resorts off the beaten track offer Rock Bottom bargains. Take Bulgaria s Borovetz Pampo Rovo and Vitosh Only a few hours drive from Sofia. Those resorts provide daily ski school unlimited lifts Complete ski equipment and a Farewell dinner for $120 a week with half Board at $30 a Day. Of course overseas skiers May want to stick to the traditional Alpine destinations. In Alberto Tomba land otherwise known As Italy a weaker lira Dollar or Mark Exchange rate should allow a Bomba Quot fans to capitalize on Tower prices after last year s Best Snow season in memory. Like the pied Piper olympic slalom Gold medallist Tomba lures about 5,000 to 10,000 fans whenever he trains at a Estrere or in the Val i Fassa. More than 50,000 have crowded his world cup slalom races. The olympic victories have promoted italian ski equipment Snow fashion and ski and Spaghetti vacations As Well As encouraging resorts to invest in More than just Snow machines. The Majestic dolomites in the province of Trento have launched ski watches and body chips that skiers can Wear on their wrists or stuff into their pockets instead of that traditional plastic card that flutters in your face As you Schuss to the lift line. An electronic beam will Zap your Chip without your having to pull off your gloves to show the lift attendant your ticket or having to Quot beep Quot the card. A season ticket from Quot Dolomite Superski Quot about $500 for 12 italian and five austrian resorts depending on whether you buy Early or late in the season will also get you a vip Entrance Over the Border to 11 austrian gambling casinos and 200 schillings $20 Worth of chips to spend at the gaming tables. A Switzerland also has unveiled another technological Marvel on mount Titis in the Central Alps a the world s first rotating Cable car. The 80-person Cabins rotate once during the five minute ride for skiers to see All the vie Vvs. Another Swiss innovation has been the highest Alpine Snow escalator which eliminates the need for skiers to drag boots and boards from the Cable car terminal of mount weisshorn to the top of the slopes. Everyone knew that Europe s Cross Border skiing craze was spreading As its boundaries disappeared. Germany beaten path has topped it All this year with a five Alpine country yearlong lift ticket to try slopes in Germany Austria Italy Switzerland and France. Price 800 Marks $513. As in past years most resorts Are continuing to promote new Quot instead of ski Quot or Quot after ski Quot pastimes Switzerland has come up with Snow Speed rafting in we Simmen in the Bernese Oberland. Inflatable boats similar to those used in the Colorado canyons Are ,. Launched Down the mountains in group races that Are safer than killer bobsled races. But you can try both rafts and bobs at France s la Plagne on the olympic bobsled course where a four Man Bob rents for $110 a spin Down the 1,507-meter 4,973-foot twisting run. St. Moritz is staging the first world dog race championship. Italy s Val i non in Trento is promoting Snowshoe hikes in the Woods. Cortina d am Pezzo is playing Host to the european and world bobsled championships As Well As italian hockey. League matches with several former . National hockey league Star players. In tune with the new environmental mentality however some resorts Are renouncing riches through referendums. Italy s German speaking Val Gardena in South Tyrol voted against holding the 1997 Alpine world ski championships although the Valley stood to gain a great Deal of Money As it had for the 1970 edition Val Gardena voters said they were not going to join the club of Alpine valleys besieged by traffic disfigured by excessive building and invaded by a plethora of ski facilities that make the summer landscape hideous. Austria too is discouraging High Alpine Glacier skiing and has halted construction to avoid nightmares like those in Selden where the indigenous population swells 10 times its size during the High  Quick ski around other areas Alberto Tomba Italy s olympic slalom Gold medallist lures about 5,000 to 10,000 fans whenever he trains at a Estrere or in the Val i Fassa. A a when Mother nature won t cooperate a Snow making machine provides the cold wet stuff for skiers in co Vara Italy. Workers in Albertville France wrestle with Cable to put the finishing touches on the olympic stadium. The games lost Money but some resorts benefited from the $800 million investment funded by the French government. A France Quot we should t be too triumphant about the olympic games it which lost $57 million Quot said Jean Guy Cupillari president of ski France an association of 150 French ski resorts. Nevertheless resorts such As Swanky Cour Chevel or Low lying brides Les Bains a Thermal Springs resort with a new Cable car to Meribel have benefited from the $800 million investment funded by the government. A Scandinavia the big Winner in Sweden in 1993 is. The consumer. Are Northern Europe s biggest ski resort offers a four night package including a plane trip from Stockholm for $160. A week in a Are Condo has been slashed from $1,450 to $590 in 1993, with 40 lifts and 86 runs Are offers free lift tickets to children under 10 and skiers Over 65, besides a Money Back guarantee if less than 10 runs Are open or if the ski school can t teach you to slalom in a week. Swedes in the midst of the worst recession since the 1930?, Are praying for Snow because 142 resorts had to shut last season because of scarce snowflakes. A Italy Val d Costa on the italian Side of Europe s tallest Peak Mont Blanc offers a six Day Quot wandering set package at the 27 resorts in the area dividing time Between Seal ski touring regular Alpine and Heli skiing along with a guide who will help you find the Best Snow conditions on that Day. A although most prices Are expected to increase by 5 or 6 percent a recent devaluation of the lira has made Italy one of Europe s cheaper destinations for americans and germans. A week s full Board at Madonna i Campiglio in a three Star hotel can now go for $500 along with a $150 weekly lift ticket that May go Down to $100 in the Low season a czech Republic and Slovakia if you Are looking for the bargain basement in these countries try the giant. Mountains in the North or the High Tara in Slovakia where one Day lift tickets go for $6 to $10 and hotels for $20. A Spain dusk to Dawn discos Brilliant Sunshine and Paella parties Beckon in the pyrenees if you did t make it to Spain for the summer olympics or the Seville world fair. But watch out for the wild skiers even King Juan Carlos on his usual Jaunt to the Sierra Nevada broke his ankle last year when a speeding skier crashed into him and then got away from his slow slalom ing bodyguards his a file photos the ski lift in Bruneck Italy above a Lone Cable car in Tyrol Austria left and an overview of Berchtesgaden a popular destination for american skiers. January 7, 1993 stripes Magazine 15 14 stripes Magazine january 7, 1993