William Fox-Pitt, Britain, made history with a record sixth Burghley victory when winning on Parklane Hawk with just a single jumping time penalty to add to his dressage score (Photo, ©2011 Kit Houghton/FEI)
Stamford, UK – British rider William Fox-Pitt “earned a standing ovation from the rain-soaked crowd as he clinched a record sixth title at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, second-last leg of the HSBC FEI Classics”, according to FEI, the Lausanne-based international equestrian sports federation.
He has now overtaken Britain’s Ginny Elliot and Mark Todd of New Zealand, who each have five Burghley victories to their names, and he has equalled fellow Brit Lucinda Green’s Badminton record of six wins on six different horses.
Fox-Pitt, 42, has been a member of the British team since 1993. He has won Olympic team silver (2004) and bronze (2008) medals, world team gold, silver and bronze, plus individual silver in 2010 on Cool Mountain.
Online sales of Swiss home appliances given a boost by Comco
BERN, SWITZERLAND – Comco, the Swiss competition commission, has ruled that Swiss manufacturers of home appliances such as refrigerators cannot tell their distributors not to sell the material online.
The decision argues that Electrolux AG and V-Zug AG acted illegally and conspired to stop competition when the first ordered its retailers not to sell online and the second limited online sales.
The two companies agreed at the outset of Comco’s investigation to find a solution and have since adapted their sales system, Comco notes.
The ruling has broader implications, with Comco stating that “Comco considers the Internet to be a very important sales outlet. Its decision therefore includes the remark that restricting online sales is allowed only under very exceptional circumstances and with very strict conditions. And even in the cases where this applies, manufacturers are not permitted to impose retail prices.”
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – ABB’s profits are up, but Roche’s are down, the Swiss competition commissioner says the low euro is showing that savings are not passed on to Swiss consumers, and exports are holding their own, just. The continuing strength of the Swiss franc coupled with the weakness of the euro is etching out a mixed picture for Swiss industry, with half-year results coming in this week.
The euro’s situation could well shift after European Union leaders meet Thursday afternoon 21 July to resolve the Greek debt crisis, with pundits and markets more optimistic since sparring partners France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed on a way forward Wednesday night.
Exports up 4.6 percent in first six months, but slowing down in Q2, prices down
Exports by industry, nominal variations in %, comparison with previous year for June and Jan-June (click on image to view larger)
Switzerland had a trade balance surplus of CHF11.6 billion at the end of June, with exports for the first half of the year up 4.3 percent compared to a year earlier, and imports up 2.7 percent.
The figures hide a slowdown in the second quarter, attributable to the growing strength of the Swiss franc during that period, says Bern: only three industries saw growth and prices were down by 4 percent excluding the pharmaceutical industry and 6.6 percent including it.
Demand for Swiss products and services from Asia were strong, up 14.4 percent, while European orders were stagnant at 0.9 percent; the same held true for imports, with some surprises. Despite the weak dollar, imports from the United States were down 10 percent and from Canada down 25 percent.
Raina Francisc Mungamba, one of six Prix de Lausanne 2010 winners (photo: ©2010 Jean-Bernard Sieber)
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – One of the world’s most important ballet competition for young dancers is on: the Prix de Lausanne, a hugely popular, international, ballet contest kicks off (pointy toes and all) Tuesday 1 February.
Created in 1973 as a competition for dancers aged 15 to 18, the Prix sets itself to be the driver to give “young talented dancers [a] start in their professional careers”. Winners of the contest receive one-year scholarships to attend one of the partner schools.
The largest number of young women competing in 2011 come from Japan (10), followed by the US (6) and China (5).
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Weather: glorious. Snow: not bad, inching up to good. Competition: some good shows on for spectators.
Topping the list this weekend, though, is surprisingly good snow reports from the Jura.
It’s also the second and final weekend of the hot air balloon show in Chateau d’Oex (see our report last week) and the weather looks more promising than last weekend, when strong winds kept them on the ground much of the time.
Hot-air balloons over Montbovon 24 January (photo ©2011 Keepps on flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/isg-online)
We have added a photo album of the world of beautiful hot air balloons from the festival in Chateau d’Oex but also balloons drifting above Montbovon, where the weather was more cooperative last week, to set your sites a little higher.
Weather forecast for Lake Geneva region, Alps and Jura
The Swiss national weather service, MeteoSwiss, has dealt us a great hand of weather cards, with sunshine and occasional clouds in the mountains, just below freezing at night and warming up to 5-7C in most of western Switzerland.
Slightly more cloud cover and weak cold bise winds around Lake Geneva, with clouds sitting below 1,000 metres.
Swiss and neighbouring France resorts report
Jura skiing, from Shirley Curran
Jura slopes (photo: Shirley Curran)
Where is everybody? The resort web site is not exaggerating when it announces that conditions on the slopes at Crozet/Lélex are very good. We have been skiing up there every morning this week. The neige de culture combined with bitterly cold weather and first-rate slope grooming means that there is a good cover on the main slopes that are open: the chairs and telecabines and one poma lift as well as all the lifts on the Crozet nursery slopes. Above the clouds the weather is superb and the slopes have been almost empty. Who could wish for more. Well, yes, we would all like more snow, but there is enough!
Check the openings, weather and snow conditions daily at Monts Jura, where the snow was described as “excellent” Friday evening.
Swiss and French Alps, skiing
The snow cover varies hugely, from none to very thin, even at 1,700-1,800 metres in Verbier and Crans-Montana, to good in Gstaad, at 1,100 metres, but the quality of the snow in most resorts is very good, thanks to continuing cold weather. You just have to go a bit higher for the snow.
Chamonix, in neighbouring France, is hosting World Cup ski races this weekend (see Competitions, below), so expect crowds and thrills on the difficult Verte des Houches. This is the likely area for the 2018 Winter Olympics ski races if Annecy wins the bid. The resort, which is actually four, is big enough to fit everyone and every winter sport, so if you’re more interested in sending yourself down slopes than watching the experts, you have plenty of options. A year ago, in January 2010, the four main villages in the valley became a federation of communes. One result is that the ski offer is clearer, from runs and jumps for hotshots to gentler skiing if you’re a family with beginners or wobbly-on-skis guests.
Chateau d'Oex 2011 Hot-ar Balloon Festival (photo, ©2011 Mr Kio on flickr)
Chateau d’Oex should have perfect conditions this weekend for the International Hot Air Balloon festival. If you’re driving from Geneva or Lausanne you can do a nice loop via Aigle in the car, going one way over the Col des Mosses, and the other via Diableret, since both are open.
Crans-Montana is hosting the Juniors World Championshiop in skiing 29 January to 6 February, a great chance to watch the world’s next generation of ski stars. The first race is the giant slalom, Sunday, ending with the super-G next Friday and Saturday. Complete programme
Verbier has a freeride fair 29-30 January, Saturday and Sunday, and one of the features is the chance to try out new equipment.
Competitions: skiing, mountaineering, free ride, figure skating and horses
Alpine ski races: men are at Chamonix and the women are racing at Sestrières, with both on TSR in Switzerland. Didier Cuche led the men during the training runs, which were marred by the second serious accident in a week that involved an Austrian skier.
The world men’s freeride races, six thrilling events during the season, move from Chamonix to Corvatsch in Engadine-St Moritz for this weekend, before leaving Europe. The final event of the season brings them back to Verbier. The French are leading the racers in snowboard and ski after Chamonix. An interesting twist is the first-ever telemark skier joining the races.
European figure skaters finish a week of competition in Bern
Tickets are still available for Saturday and Sunday’s exhibition show in Bern, for the European figure skating championships that have been running all week, 23-30 January. Ladies’ and Men’s freestyle events are on Saturday. A British professional photographer based in Helsinki, who works with the Finnish team, has been posting a series of beautiful images on flick: Tyke Tiler.
Zurich hosts major horse show
The Rolex FEI World Cup horse jumping is on this weekend in Zurich, with the series picking up after a four-week pause. World No. 1, Kevin Staut is one of the features. Tickets are available (suggestion: combine it with a visit to the amazing Picasso exhibit, which ends Sunday) or you can watch live on FEI television.
Information posted on earlier weekend snow and winter sports: check past posts for useful general information.
Click on images to view larger
Jura slopes (photo: Shirley Curran)
Ski resorts update, weather forecast, snow sports competition
Blue skies, thinning but skiable snow above 1,800-2,000 metres
(video, Albrecht returns to the slopes) Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The best news for skiers is that the sun is shining in the Swiss Alps, but fresh snow and colder temperatures to keep the snow from melting would be very welcome. The situation in the Jura is a dramatic change from December, with few ski areas open at the moment. Ski conditions in Alpine resorts are decent above 2,000 metres, with hard snow, but take sunglasses and plan on just a t-shirt on the veranda during your break: this is more like February!
Ski resorts: the higher, the better
Jura report, from Shirley Curran
The condition of the slopes at Crozet/Lélex was surprisingly good this week but we had rain up to 2,000m on Thursday and the temperatures remain high. The plan, at the moment, is to open the Crozet side of the resort on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays only, until we get our big fall of snow. The Lélex télécabine will be running every day. Sadly, the Faucille resort and Menthières are closed until further notice. You can consult the resorts at monts-jura.com to see the latest news and the webcams.
Alpine resorts
Details for resorts: our GenevaLiving blog this week reminded locals to check MySwitzerland for a detailed list of resorts with snow depths, quality of the snow, etc. Note that this service used to be less reliable because it depends on resorts supplying up-to-date information and they were not equally good about doing this. The service has improved and while it’s not 100 percent correct, it’s a great starting point; do also doublecheck directly with the resort for the latest information.
TSR, Swiss public television, provides a useful Bulletin d’enneigement that provides lift ticket prices as well as the latest snowfall information. Note that it’s organized by canton and is in French.
Highlights in resorts this week: Crans-Montana invited former Italian ski star Alberto Tomba to help inaugurate its new lift, Audemars Piguet Bellalui, 14 January. La Bomba, as he was known, had a place on the podium for the first time in 1987, at the World Championships in Crans-Montana.
The new four-seat chairlift went into service before Christmas, and 31 December it carried nearly 10,000 skiers in one day. The new lift has the potential to double the capacity of the old lift and button lift it replaced.
Verbier: plan ahead for the weekend of 29-30 January if you want to test top-quality freeride equipment, part of Ultimate Test Tour.
Zermatt: when you’re up skiing at 3,900 metres, think about Swiss beauty queens, who chilled out on top Friday 14 January for a day-long photo shoot for the next Jelmoli catalogue. Brrrr, but they say they loved it.
Weather forecast
No snow in sight and unseasonally warm weather, is what MeteoSwiss, the national weather service is offering us throughout Switzerland for the next five days. Even Zermatt, normally chillier than the rest of canton Valais, will have highs of 2-6C throughout the week, and on south-facing Alpine villages highs are expected of 6-9C. Geneva will hover around a springlike 12C.
Remember to keep an eye on the weather on GenevaLunch’s weather pages for Geneva and Zurich.
Ski, snowboard races: competition
It’s a busy weekend for sports competitions, many of which are televised on public TV, and you can also watch downhill live on the web, on TSR. The men’s super-combined in Wengen, canton Bern, was won Friday by Croatia’s Ivica Kostelic, followed closely by Switzerland’s Carlo Janka, but one of the key moments was the return to competition by Daniel Albrecht, badly injured nearly two years ago in a crash.
The Wengen men’s Lauberhorn downhill race is one of the highlights of the season: at 12:30 Saturday, televised.
The women’s giant in Maribor is also being televised.
Ski and snowboard tips if you’re flying to Switzerland from abroad: Easyjet came out the clear number one airline at Geneva for 2010, with 36 percent of the traffic, but Swiss, in second place with 15 percent, has been making a real push to rebuild its Geneva traffic since the old Swissair went nose down and the company reduced direct Geneva flights. Both airlines are now offering several daily connections between the UK and Geneva for the winter season. Note that Swiss allows you one piece of winter sports equipment free of charge, but you must book your luggage, including skis, when you book your flight. Easyjet makes a clear distinction between sporting goods and baggage, and you must show up with the combination allowance you’ve booked.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – French rider Kevin Staut, riding Silvana de Hus, won the Rolex Grand Prix after 2 two rounds, at the Geneva International Show Jumping weekend. Canadia Eric Lamaze, riding Hickstead, was second and Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, on Quintero La Silla, came third. Staut was the 2009 European champion and Lamaze the 2008 Olympic champion, while Bengtsson was second in the Olympics in 2008.
The event, which ran from 9-12 December, has numerous prizes: complete list of competitors and winners
Location: Geneva
Start date: 30 Oct 2010
End date: 31 Oct 2010
Glacier patrols depart from Zermatt to Vevey
Famed Glacier Patrol has good weather
Vevey, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The Glacier Patrol race is on. The PdG, as it is known for its French acronym, is a long-distance endurance race that takes place every two years across the 53km of glaciers, summits and passes between Zermatt and Verbier. A shorter 26km version covers the peaks between Arolla and Verbier.
The three-person patrols compete in male, female and co-ed categories. Traditionally, race participation was restricted to military personnel, but civilians are now welcome. Most of the patrols take 12 hours on average to complete the race, although top athletes finish in almost half the time.
Cristian Emanuel Amuchastegui, first place, 2010 Prix de Lausanne dance competition (photo: ©2010, Jean-Bernard Sieber)
Click on images to view larger
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Cristian Emanuel Amuchastegui, age 18, won the top prize at the 2010 Prix de Lausanne dance competition. He is from Argentina and has been studying at the Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy in Texas, USA.
Amuchastegui also won the coveted prize as the audience’s favourite, selected with a poll taken during the final performances.
His prize is a year at the dance school of his choice, from among a host of top companies that are partners of the Prix de Lausanne.
The other top winners
Dancers who place in the top six spots, including the best contemporary dance winner, all receive scholarships at top partner schools/dance companies:
France has fined eBay €1.7 million for not respecting fully a July 2008 injunction against sales of LMVH luxury goods on the online auction site. The web site reportedly let 1,400 sales of the company’s perfumes and other luxury goods slip through the filtering software it installed last year to comply with the court order. eBay was initially accused of not doing enough to stop copies of the company’s products, but the court order applies to fake as well as legitimate LMVH goods, new or used. Alex Von Schiermeister, director of eBay Europe, calls the fine disproportionate.
Links to other sites: BBC, CNet, TechCrunch
Commandos on Swiss Raid. © 2009 Swiss Raid Commando
Valais, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Elite commandos from 19 countries and Switzerland will test their military skills against each other and against the elements in the 2009 edition of Swiss Raid Commando, starting today 24 September in the Chablais region of Valais, Vaud and Haute Savoie, neigbouring France. In all, 80 four-person troops (there is one all-woman troop), each led by an officer or non-commissioned officer, compete in tests of physical prowess, technical abilities and mastery of tactics.
The friendly corner newsagent in the UK is closing at the rate of over one day, a victim of competition from supermarkets, crime and the economic downturn. In 2008, 510 newsagents closed, 6.25 percent more than in 2007, reports the BBC. The national federation of retail newsagents (NFRN), which counts 17,500 members, wants the government to help newsagents to install closed-circuit cameras (CCTV) and shutters to combat crime. It is also asking the government to make a distinction between “normal crime and retail crime”. There are some 30-35,000 newsagents in Britain, 75 percent of them owned by Asians. BBC, This is Nottingham
Title: Run and bike
Location: Cheserex, Vaud
Link out: Click here
Description: Get ready to run and bike in VTT, a contest for very sporty duos.
Date: 26 Sep 2009
Will there be enough money for next season?
Switzerland (Le Temps, Fre) – The world of ski competitions is suddenly feeling the pinch of the global economic downturn and in particular falling sales at ski manufacturers, the sport’s biggest sponsors. The Ski Racing Suppliers (SRS) Association, meeting in Zurich 12 May, called the situation “precarious” for everyone, according to Le Temps, which carries a lengthy article on the financial problems faced by skiers and federations. Rossignol, a major supporter of events and athletes, announced last week that it will cut its athletes’ salaries by 50 percent and support for events by 30 percent, but its cost-cutting measures are being matched or considered by other manufacturers.
American cyclist Lance Armstrong returned to competition in the Tour of Gila in New Mexico Wednesday 29 April. Armstrong broke his collarbone last month in a race in Spain. The injury required intricate surgery but Armstrong is back on his feet ahead of schedule. CNN
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Swiss-ski’s latest report notes that Daniel Albrecht, seriously injured in a crash in January, has begun therapy that will last several weeks. It’s too early to say if he will be able to take up his skiing career again, doctors noted. Visitors are strictly limited to family and close friends.
You don't have to see snow to know it's winter: just watch the trees filled with men in Geneva: pruning the plane trees, 5 Feb 2009
Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Geneva schools and French schools break up today for a week of holidays and many will head for the mountains, for the traditional ski week. Expect queues in French resorts in particular.
The weather for the next few days is wet near the lake, snowy in the mountains, with the snowline down to 500 metres Saturday and lower Sunday or Monday.
Weather, competitions and resort reports follow. Read more…
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Comco, the Swiss Competition Commission, has agreed to look into the price discussions held by Ascopa, the main cosmetics and perfume industry association, whose members include Chanel SA Geneva, Clarins SA, L’Oréal Produits de Luxe Suisse SA, Parfums Christian Dior AG and Coty (Schweiz) AG.
A complaint was filed about price discussions held within the association and Comco will now investigate to see if the discussions have resulted in price-fixing.
Bern, Switzerland (Le Temps, Fre) – Patrick Krauskopf, vice-director of the Comco, Switzerland’s competition commission, has told his associates he will be leaving the post he’s held for the past 10 years, according to Willy Boder of Le Temps, who interviewed him Wednesday evening about how the commission works.
