Six of the best ski resort festivals

If you could improve on your skiing trip what would you add? How about a festival of music, comedy or food? In 2012 there are a host of skiing festivals and here we pick six of the best to launch the New Year. Chef's Cup, Alta Badia, Italy Kicking off on January 22, the five-day Chef's Cup adds up to a celebration of haute cuisine in the heart of the Dolomites. Some 400 of the world's best chefs come together in Alta Badia to discuss culinary trends, showcase local produce and compete on the snow. Visitors can enjoy the culinary results and also ski!  See www.chefscup.it Winter TEVA Mountain Games, America From February 10 to 12, Vail's inaugural Winter TEVA Mountain Games comes to America. A host of professional and amateur snowspotrs athletes will come to the resort in pursuit of adventure, music – and competitions. You’ll discover contests in  ice climbing, Telemark skiing, snowshoe racing and mountain cyclocross. Plus there will be free music concerts, films and parties.  See www.tevamountaingames.com/winter Momentum Ski Festival, Switzerland From March 16 to 18, skiing fans can ogle at the amazing ski racers and enjoy some après-ski fun at the City Ski Championships. See www.momentumski.com Meribel Live, France A five-day celebration of French and British music take place on the slopes of Meribel from March 19 to 23. See www.meribel.net for news on the 2012 line-up. Altitude, Mayrhofen, Austria The hills of Mayrhofen will be alive with the sounds of laughter as a popular comedy festival arrives in the Austrian resort from March 26 to 31. The line-up includes Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle, Ed Byrne and Al Murray. See www.altitudefestival.com Jazz Up, Avoriaz, France March 31 to April 6 will see the annual Jazz Up festival in the Portes du Soleil ski area. There will be seven headline concerts and 40 "dinner" concerts held in local restaurants and bars.