GstaadLife

A November 16 article in 20 Minuten sounded alarm bells that a warm autumn was threatening the start of Swiss alpine ski season. The piece quotes officials breezingly brushing off concerns by reminding everyone that a lack of snow at this time of year is actually quite common, despite the fact that many ski resorts, including those Graubünden and Verbier, have been unable to open runs or even start snow-making due to the unusually warm conditions. Similarly there has been confusion here in Gstaad over opening dates for the Glacier 3000 ski area, even as dignitaries gathered the day after the article appeared in an 85 km/h gale for the opening ceremonies of the new SFr 18 million facilities funded by Marcel Bach, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, and Jean-Claude Mimran. The only problem; the opening ceremonies hailed the opening of very little...

Although spurred on by the charms of not one but two former Miss Switzerlands, Fiona Hefti and Lauriane Gilliéron, the assembled crowd was disappointed not to be able to ride on the new Alpine Coaster, which may well not open at all this winter after weather-related construction delays. On a more positive note, glacier officials are hoping to get the new snow-making enhanced Oldenegg runs open this weekend to add to the two lifts already open on the top shelf of the glacier. For the very latest information (and it’s changing by the hour), visit www.glacier3000.ch or call 0848 00 300.

UPDATE December 1 23h50: Gstaad.ch is reporting that all runs on the top of the glacier are open, but there is nothing open to the middle stations.

UPDATE December 2 09h40: The Tages Anzeiger is confirming that the Alpine Coaster will not open this winter season. First operation is now expected in the summer season of 2007.

Above: Marcel Bach (left) with Bernie Ecclestone (click to enlarge).

For those of you with Cablecom Digital TV or access to French satellite channels, MotorsTV is running a 1-hour highlights program of the recent Transfricaine Classic Rally that ran from Paris to Dakar between November 3 and 19. The program will air on Saturday December 2 at 18h45. Competing in the colors of the Gstaad Automobile Club were Stanislas de Sadeleer and Hansueli Brand, who came in 11th out of 75 teams, placing first in the category of classic cars from 1986-1996. Click here for GstaadLife.com’s daily coverage of their desert adventure, and tune in this weekend to watch the exciting footage of their exploits.

Previously:

• Discipline leads to superb finish in Senegal for Gstaad Transafricans [DE]
• Transafricans close in on Dakar [DE]
• Village parties in Mali as Transafricans navigate desert brushlands [DE]
• Team Gstaad rises to Nega Pass challenge [DE]
• Relief for Team Gstaad as rallying resumes [DE]
• Green light for Transafrican Rally! [DE]
• Transafricans out of Mauritania but rally now in doubt [DE]
• Team Gstaad detained by Mauritanian army [DE]
• Military tensions force cancellation of Transafricaine Rally stage [DE]
• Transafricans damage Land Rover in rough terrain [DE]
• Dust, dust and more dust for Gstaad Transafricans [DE]
• A wild day in the Saharan dunes for Team Gstaad [DE]
• Tranafricans come in 5th in first African stage [DE]
• Team GAC makes landfall in Africa [DE]
• Smooth sailing into Spain [DE]
• Transafricans arrive safely in Narbonne [DE]
• Trouble for Transafricans after 100 meters [DE]
• Ominous words from Team GAC [DE]
• Transafricans begin voyage to Dakar [DE]
• Transafricans stop by Geneva [DE]
• Bon voyage aux Transafricains! [DE]
• Transafricaine rally apéro draws a crowd [DE]
• The real way to see the Sahara

A number of big city politicians would like to see small traditional farming communities like Turbach and Lauenen disappear. This drastic opinion seemed to be reflected all over the Swiss press this week, as Avenir Suisse, a think tank for economic and social issues, made public the results of its latest report that called for the abolition of direct subsidies to farmers within the next 15 years as well as the liberalization of duties and tariffs on agricultural imports. It also called for further reforms that include the loosening of regulations on the lease and sale of agricultural land. All this urban rhetoric reminds us of Swiss People’s Party Christoph Blocher, who in his famous 2004 Olma speech, called for the abolition of agricultural direct subsidies and less regulation of the industry under the guise of “freeing the farmer”. Perhaps, these politicians and consultants should take their heads out of their concrete blocks and take a trip up to the mountains, where they could witness first hand how “free” our farmers really work.

Fog in the valley

Above Vevey, Lake Geneva.

Photo by Eva Sailer, Gstaad

(click to enlarge)

Thanks to favorable autumn and early winter weather, the Gstaad Palace construction project—one of the biggest in Saanenland—is on schedule after its September start. Cost estimates for the new 55-car garage and 1,500 square meter wellness area run to SFr 16 million. Currently two construction cranes tower above gaping holes where the hotel’s four tennis courts once stood. This is where the underground 55-car parking garage and spa will be, and is part of the hotel’s first construction stage. Don’t worry! The tennis courts will be rebuilt by summer 2007 as part of the second phase of construction. The Gstaad Palace Spa & Healthclub will open in December 2007 and will feature eight treatment rooms, a private spa suite, an outside pool with integrated Jacuzzi, recuperation rooms, saunas, steam rooms and a modern fitness room. Construction noise and dust will only be noticeable during the off-seasons, so hotel guests will still be able to enjoy the peace and tranquility that the Palace is so famous for.

Hansruedi Schärer, who worked at the Gstaad Palace for 43 years, 38 years of them as director, died last Tuesday November 21 of a lung illness. He was 71. Schärer was described by those who knew him as a host and first class gentleman. For many years, he was involved in the running of the ATP tennis tournament in Gstaad. According to Gemeinde president Andreas Hürni, Walter Egger, president of Gstaad-Saanenland Tourismus, and Laurenz Schmid, president of the Hotelier Assocation Gstaad-Saanenland, the ATP Suisse Open Gstaad experienced a “bloom” time during his period of involvement. He also served as president of the Sport, Cultural and Tourism Foundation. From 1984 to 1994, Schärer served as president of the Hotelier Association Gstaad-Saanenland, and later as the organization’s honorary president. The Scherz family, owners of the Gstaad Palace, described him as more than just a colleague but as a trusted friend. He was also a founding member of the Rotary Club Gstaad-Saanenland. The funeral will take place on Wednesday November 29 at 12h00 in the Lauenen Church. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to the Lungenliga Bern, 3012 Bern, PC-Konto 30-7820-7. Mourning address: Rte de Chabrey, CH-1568 Portalban.

Above: Hansruedi Schärer at a Rotary Club conference at the Gstaad Palace in 1999.

The Swiss Federal Court has decided that the 100-year old train viaduct in Gstaad must be restored and not rebuilt, securing the monument’s cultural and historical significance. The decision is in keeping with the wishes of the local population which had made its opinion clear through a petition. The restoration project is to once again be put out for bid, with the five firms who qualified for the first competition all getting a second chance. The consortium “GIG”, in which local firm Egger Ingenieurs are represented, has gotten its wish, having been the only team to have suggested a renovation in the first round of bidding.

Bond is blond, Q is through, and Leiter is black. But that doesn’t stop Casino Royale being one of the best 007 films of all time, certainly the best in recent times. Daniel Craig stars as British secret agent James Bond, and Casino Royale is the 21st in the Bond series that is currently in its Swiss premier run at the Kino in Gstaad. Craig drew some considerable skepticism when he was selected for the role, but he delivers a performance with a much harder edge than recent Bonds. He’s suave in a 2006 kind of way, not slick like Pierce Brosnan, and his one-liners are genuinely sharp, as likely to draw a hearty laugh as compared to the grown-inducing sarcasm from Gstaad’s adopted Bond, Roger Moore.  The story too is up-to-date and relevant, dealing with a network of financiers for the world’s leading terrorists. Bond-girl Eva Green oozes sexual charm as Vesper Lynd, and the tension between Bond and Lynd is palpable. There is little in the way of gratuitous special effects, there are fabulous physical stunts and fighting, and Crag brings to Bond a cool toughness that will be familiar to those of you who enjoyed Sean Connery in From Russia with Love and Dr No, or even Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in the recent Bourne Conspiracy/Supremacy movies. We particularly like the way the producers played with perennial Bond one-liners such as “My name is Bond…James Bond” (which doesn’t come till the end), and one of our favorite exchanges in the movie:

Bond: I’ll take a vodka martini
Barman: Shaken or stirred, sir?
Bond: Do I look like a give a damn?

Even if you’re just a casual Bond fan, take the time to see this one. It will run again at the Gstaad cinema following this weeks’ premier run on Tuesday and Wednesday (November 28/29) and again next weekend (December 1-3).

Above: Daniel Craig as James Bond with French star, Eva Green as Vesper Lynd.

Click play below to view the trailer.

A criminal court judge in Saanen sentenced a Zweisimmen senior citizen to three days in prison for digging up a stone property line marker. Under Swiss law, such an act is a serious crime and can fetch a maximum three-year prison sentence. It all began in 1973, when Defendant "G" asked Plaintiff "W" to build his house one meter further away from his own house, one meter further than the legal 3.5 meter setback requirement. For the last 33 years, Defendant G was always of the opinion that the meter in question belonged to him but could never prove it. No relevant sales agreement, land evidence record, or other document could be found that showed a registered change of ownership. With this neighbors' spat seemingly going nowhere, Defendant G took the law into his own hands and moved the border stones to re-draw the property line. Plaintiff W sued Defendant G accusing him of trespassing and of property damage. Once Defendant G realized his mistake, he agreed to the charges and ended up paying SFr 250 in damages, plus SFr 700 in court costs. Hmmm, just the facts for this one...we'll resist commentary :-)

On November 15, eight of the world’s top tennis stars descended on Shanghai to compete for the Masters Cup title. At the same time, the ATP, the governing body of the men’s professional tennis circuit, announced its approval of the transfer of the Suisse Open Gstaad tournament rights from Jacques Hermenjat to the Swiss Open Gstaad AG, an entity equally owned by the Gemeinde of Saanen and Swiss Tennis Association. The decision is the end result of months of legal wrangling between former tournament director, Hermenjat, and the Gemeinde, who had previously agreed a price for the sale of the tournament rights only to have Hermenjat continue shopping the rights until he reached a second deal with Swiss Tennis. Swiss Open Gstaad AG will pay SFr 3.5 million to Hermenjat as well as a 10% transfer fee to the ATP. Total legal costs of involved parties (Hermenjat, Gemeinde and Swiss Tennis) are said to amount approximately to SFr 500,000.