7ochpass—Engeterg

IN the popular mind the words " Winter Sports " immedi- ately conjure up a vision of Switzerland and its beautiful towns, but many other centres have also achieved renown in this respect. The Austrian Tyrol is probably the most popular spot after Switzerland, though the north of Italy, the French Alps- and the Pyrenees all have their adherents, and there are even parts of Spain, including Andalucia, where ski-ing enthusiasts are catered for. Many people arc sur- prised to hear. of Winter sports in Spain, but -the slopes of the Sierra Nevada above Granada provide excellent ski grounds.

Norway and Sweden are once again coming into their own. Norway, indeed, claims to be the birthplace of ski-ing. Unfortunately, the exchange seems to be against us in most countries where one wishes to go in winter. In Scandinavia we are fortunate as the exchange is tied to sterling. In Spain the exchange is definitely in our favour, but though winter sports are indulged in, Spain has other more definite claims as a tourist centre and the journey is a comparatively long one.

In choosing a place for a winter holiday there are, of course, many points to be considered. First of all, the place in question must be of sufficient altitude to be reasonably sure of good snow ; it must not be too deeply sunk in a valley to be cut off from sunshine unless there is immediate and easy access to more open spaces ; it should be within easy reach of England.

There are a number of centres which can lay claim to these various attractions. Austria, and particularly the Tyrol, is one of the loveliest spots that anyone can desire, and the famous Arlberg technique soon turns a novice into an expert. liitzbiihel, St. Anton, Igls, Obergurgl and Innsbruck are some of the finest centres, and Innsbruck in particular has made an effort this year to attract visitors by its reasonable inclusive prices. The town itself only stands about 1,700 feet high, but a service of motor coaches and a cable railway enable one to ascend to an altitude of nearly 9,000 feet, giving a run down to Innsbruck over a distance of nearly ten miles. The town also boasts the second largest skating•rink in.Austria, and the famous Berg Ise! ski jump allows jumps of over 90 yards to be made—a feat to be seen to be believed. There are two cable railways which enable one to reach an altitude of over 6,000 feet in about thirty minutes, and at this height there is always snow between November and May.

Lust season Sestrieres jumped into fashion and the average person knows it from the pictures of its hotels. of very raodern design. In fact, rude folk have likened them to the silos in. which farmers store their crops. At the same time--few people except those who have actually visited it have a clear idea where the place is situated. It lies to the west of Turin and not very far from Modane, one of the frontier stations between France and Italy As it is some 6,600 feet above sea level and has cable railways ascending to Monte Sizes and to Banclietta, both of them well over 8,500 feet above sea level, there-is always plenty of snow, but the altitude is trying to some people, particularly those who come straight from a

Winter Sports • • Centres

sedentary life in England and try to jump straight into the strenuous activities of ski-ing, skating, &c.

The winter resorts of the Pyrenees are not very well known in this country though more English people are now inclining towards therm Cauterets is one of the best known. It is nearly 3,000 feet high but the snow is apt to be uncertain, and those whose time is limited are advised to go to some of the centres where sport is sure.

When one comes to Switzerland there is such an embarrass- ing choice of good centres that it is hard to make selection.

Marren, Wengen, Pontresina, St. Moritz, Davos, Kandersteg and Engelberg are all wonderful places providing every variety of fun. Generally speaking, Switzerland has its winter sports industry so well organized that wherever the visitor goes to he is certain to find some important and interesting competitions being contested. The races and competitions generally start

just before Christmas, and this year Marren -opens the ball"

on December 18th with the Bracken Challenge Cup, whilst Engelberg has the ski races for the Joeh Pass Challenge Cup on December 29th. The Engelberg Open Ski Race is held on January 5th ; the Public Schools Down Hill Race at Marren on January 9th ; the Kandahar Challenge Cup at Marren on February 12th, and the British Open Air Ski Championship at Wengen on February 26th and following days. The Championship of Central Switzerland is held at Engelberg on January 26th and 27th, whilst the University Ski Races for the Championship of Switzerland are held at the same place on -January 19th and 20th.

Ice hockey enthusiasts will find the World's Championship Tournament being held at Davos on January 19th to 27th, whilst St. Moritz has the World University Championships not only in ice hockey but in skating, bobsleighing and ski-ing from February 4th to 10th, and in the same place the Bobsleigh World Championship will be held on the Cresta Run on February 14th and 15th.

Engelberg, too, has the Championship of Switzerland for Lives on its famous 21-mile bobrun with 32 corners on January 23rd and 24th.

The big event in the curling world, the competition for the Jackson Cup, Will be held at Engelberg from January 21st to 25th.

-Needless to say, there are many other events of all types at praetically all winter sports resorts throughout Switzerland, but those mentioned are some of the most impOrtant.

The. lighter side of Switzerland, naturally lies in the merry tailing parties which take their sinuous course through the village streets after the serious work of the day is done. Parties of laughing youngsters of all ages (and both sexes) mounted on their luges trail one behind the other at the back of a horsedrawn sleigh or sometimes a motor-car. The longer the tail the more -it wags and the more difficult it is for those at the rear to keep their luges. Falls are frequent, but the party does not stop- to pick up lost passengers ; it merely slows down and half the fun is the scramble to remount the moving luge as it sways from side to side. All the big hotels have frequent dances ; the cafes have jazz bands and some of them present cabaret shows. Occasionally, one comes across the native Swiss bands, though the music they produce is not suited to the modern English styles of dancing !

Of course, the cost enters into every holiday and, as I have said before, in most winter sports centres the exchange is against us. An effort is being made by the Swiss authorities to fix the exchange at 10 Swiss francs to the pound sterling, and this will probably be done before the season starts.

At one centre at least—Engelberg—the authorities have wisely decided not to wait on Government action, for the hotel proprietors have met together and decided to quote their English visitors in sterling, and not only this but to give a price which will include meals and room and all those irri- tating extras such as sports tax, kur tax, music tax, heating and tips which have, in the past, made such enormous addi- tions to the bill. They have also decided to reduce their charges drastically in an effort to meet the situation and recover some of their lost English visitors, and it is possible to obtain good accommodation .for as little as 16s. a day with no annoying .additions for taxes and tips. The second-class hotels arc making a charge of 18s. 6d. a day and upwards, whilst the first-class hotels have a minimum rate of 21s. The second-class return fare is not much over £9, and is even cheaper if advantage is taken of the special trains being organized by sonic of the leading tourist agencies in London, it will be seen that once again a winter sports holiday is still within the reach of those who can get away from the fog and gloom of England and take advantage of the bright

sunshine and crisp atmosphere. W. T. B.