World Snow Awards 2014: The winners

From up and coming resorts to the latest high-tech gear, we honour the hottest names in skiing and snowboarding this season  

Best Up And Coming Resort
Jasna, Slovakia

A huge €130m investment over the past four years has seen Jasna, which is located in the Low Tatras, demonstrate its intention to take on the Alps' major resorts. And it's this drive and ambition that saw our judges vote overwhelmingly in its favour.

As well as four new state-of-the-art gondolas and three new chairlifts (taking the total to 30 lifts), a 24-seat funitel and 15-seat cable car connecting the north and south sides of the Chopok peak (2,024m) opened last season, making the challenging freeride zones around the peak far more accessible. In addition, 10km of new pistes have been carved out (boosting the total to 45km), modern snowmaking systems installed and significant improvements and additions made to hotels, restaurants and shops.

But our judges were most impressed by the massive improvements to ease of access for British skiers and snowboarders this winter, thanks to the opening of a new flight route between London Luton and Poprad, just a 40-minute transfer from the resort. And with four flights per week, Jasna is now extremely convenient for a short break or weekend stay.

The results speak for themselves. Last season, Jasna received more than 500,000 winter visitors, compared to just 280,000 in 2009/10.jasna.sk