With the issue of global warming becoming a frightening reality in the Alps, and with snow lines predicted to rise by as much as 300m over the next forty years - forcing skiers to abandon all but the highest ski resorts - the ski industry is facing a number of short to medium term problems.

The Arlberg Kandahar men??™s downhill takes place successively at Saint Anton (Austria), Garmisch Partenkirschen (Germany) and, since 1948, Chamonix (France).

Chamonix couldn??™t be much more different than the archetypal French ski resort.

At last, solid proof for what we??™ve long suspected: skiing and snowboarding are good for you.

In the heart of the French Alps, in the north east of the Rhone Alps region lies the village of Les Houches.

Nestling in the shadow of Mont Blanc - Europe??™s highest mountain at 4807m - Chamonix lives and breathes mountain history.