The Ski Blog

In Tartiflette we Trust....

Tartiflette - one of those real wholesome alpine dishes. It up there with a cheese fondue as one of those ski holiday experiences not to miss. Just saying the name conjures up rustic alpine chalets, snowflakes falling, log fires crackling, genepi glasses chinking - get the picture?

If you're still to take your tartiflette baptism then we recommend you do so on your next ski holiday to France. Tartiflette is a hearty French peasant dish, originating in the Haute Savoie, but which has since certainly become more international.

It's main ingredients include potatoes and reblochon cheese - a rich creamy cheese first produced in the Alps of the Haute Savoie. The story goes that the alpine dairy farmers were taxed by the landowners on how much milk their herds produced. To reduce the size of the tax bill they would not fully milk their cows so the yield appeared smaller. The second milking, which they'd do after tax return day, produced a creamier, richer milk which was perfect for cheese production.

Over the years recipes for Tartiflette may have changed and become more anglicised, but whatever recipe you choose, you'll end up with a filling, comforting and delicious dish - perfect after a tough day outdoors!

We asked our Chalets Direct members to share their Tartiflette secrets - here's a couple of foolproof recipes to dazzle your friends and family:

From Claire of AktivExperience of Meribel:

"Fry off onions and lardons, layer sliced potato with the lardons pour over cream that has been heated through with crushed garlic, then top with a good cheese, (not rape emmental) try reblochon for a good cheese, it tastes great and cooks well. Then bake your tartiflette in the oven, we make individual ones so they are baked for about 25 mins. A large tartiflette will obviously take longer to bake."

You can sample Aktiv's Tartiflette at either of their two chalets - Chalet Himalaya or Chalet du Fruit.

Neil of Alpine Fanatic in Les Arcs sent us this:

"A foolproof though not strictly speaking traditional recipe from Ed at Alpine Fanatic.

First boil potatoes (ratte or charlotte are ideal.) Whilst potatoes are cooking fry off lardons, pancetta for preference, drain on kitchen towel. Sweat off some sliced shallots with crushed garlic,season carefully with salt, add a splash of white wine and reduce to a trickle.Add cream and a handful of grated gruyere, sprinkle in a little parmesan. Slice potatoes in half add to a saute pan pour over cheese/cream mixture sling in the lardons and some ground black pepper, stir, check consistency and seasoning, at this stage can add some roughly chopped flat leaf parsley if desired. Then transfer to a suitable baking dish top with thickly sliced reblechon and bake for approx 25-30 mins at 180C/ gas mark 4. Serve with green salad and hard liquor :) Always goes down a storm with our guests at Alpine Fanatic."

Find their tartiflette and more at Chalet Les Sapins in Nancroix, Les Arcs in Paradiski.

Do you have a great recipe for Tartiflette? Is there a special ingredient in your tartiflette which leaves the others behind? Let us know about it! Or if you have top recipes for ski and snowboard specialities why not post them on our Facebook wall at facebook.com/ChaletsDirect

Top powder skiing tips from pro skier & coach Mark Gear

Here are a few top tips from the experts for skiing deep powder snow!

 

 

A two footed platform

Aim to push both skis into the snow when intitiating your turns, this will provide you with a two-footed platform of pressure through your turns.  It's important to change your edges simultaneously and not sequentially. 

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Make smooth shaped turns

Go for smooth fluid movements, this will encourage smooth shaped turns.  Any abrupt movements or turns will have an abrupt effect on your balance. Smooth turns and a good rhythm are essential for a fluid powder skiing run.

 

Push the heels downwards

Not to be confused with leaning back!  In deep snow, we should push the heels downwards a little to keep the ski tips up.  This will stop the feeling of the ski tips wanting to dive deep into the snow which is often proceeded with the classic forward face plant.

 

Remember to pole plant

Smooth coordinated pole plants are very important.  This will help you to build fluidity and rhythm into your run.  The pole plant also helps for commiting to the turn and helps move your body forwards and in the direction of the turn.

 

Hope you enjoy the ski tips and all that great powder!

Mark Gear, Head Coach For All Mountain Performance, Ski Courses & Private Coaching in Chamonix

Top Tips for Skiing in a White Out

After the one of the best starts to the ski season for several years, it looks like 2011 will be going out with a bang! Many alpine ski resorts are expecting something in the region of 80 - 110cms of snow over the next 3 days. There are already record snow depths, great conditions and snow cover even in lower resorts.

This all means that Europe is well and truly set up for this ski season!

If you're going to be skiing when the snow is falling and the fog is closing in around you take a look through our top tips for skiing when visibility is limited.

1. Wear goggles not glasses. Goggles really are the best kind of eyewear for white out conditions. If you really must wear glasses then look for glasses with interchangeable lenses. When skiing in heavy snowfall you will usually be experiencing "flat light" - this is when you can't make out any contours of the snow beneath you. Red, pink or orange/yellow tinted lenses will help.

2. Ski/board where there's trees. Skiing above approximately 1800-2000m (in Europe) means that you'll be skiing above the treeline. So there are fewer "landmarks" around to provide definition to your surroundings. Staying a bit lower, in and around tree-lined areas help to provide that definition so it will be easier to see where you're going.

3. Keep the piste markers in sight. If you're high up and in very thick fog it can be disorientating. Keeping sight of the piste markers at the edge of the piste will guide you. Piste markers on the right hand side of the piste have orange or yellow tips - whilst those on the opposite side are all one colour ie the colour of the piste; red, blue, green etc.

4. Do not venture off piste. It may be tempting when you know that there's untracked powder all around you, but as a general rule of thumb in poor visibility - stick to what you know. Foggy, white-out weather means you can't see holes, bumps, rocks, drop offs. Fresh snowfall can easily disguise hazards. If you don't know the area - and even if you think you do - stay on piste.

5. Buddy up. It's always best not to ski alone in extreme white out conditions - at the very least make sure you let people know where you're going.

There can be some great aspects to skiing in a white out. The first few piste runs are often the best of the day - a layer of fresh snow on top of a smoothly pisted run can be the closest thing to heaven on a foggy, snowy day. Get there before anyone else and you'll have had the best skiing of the day!

After that it's also a great opportunity to work on your technique and will provide challenges that you won't get on a sunny, blue sky day.

We all love fairweather skiing - but white out skiing and snowboarding is just as much part of the mountain experience. It's just Mother Nature reminding us who's boss!

 

Pre-Season Equipment Check

With your cardiovascular and core strength work-outs well under way, it's that time of year again to start thinking about the dreaded commute to the airport with all your luggage and equipment. Before it all gets packed away in the ski bags though, it's well worth a check over so as to not let you down when you're skiing and spoil your holiday.

via skiblog.chaletsdirect.com

With many people about to set off for their first ski holiday of the season we thought it a good time to re-post this great blog from Mark Gear, Chamonix ski guru from All Mountain Performance.
How to make sure your gear is in shape for hitting the slopes!

To see the full post click here!

Quick tips for Driving in Snowy Conditions

Ski resorts all over Europe are expecting their first big influx of holidaymakers over the next few days. At the same time they are also expecting massive snowfalls - around 40cms and more is forecast for many alpine resorts to fall in a short space of time.

If you're driving out to resort or are picking up a hire car at the airport then chances are that you could be required to stop and put on snowchains, so we've got together a few tips which will hopefully come in useful.

1. Firstly make sure you have chains/snow socks etc. If you're driving out to the Alps it is obligatory to have some kind of snow equipment available. If you're buying them for your own car check your manual so you know the tyre spec, if you're using a hire car make sure the rental company has provided them - check before booking and check again when you pick up the car.

2. Make sure you know how to fit them. It really makes sense to do a practice run at home on your driveway. There's few things worse than having to stop halfway up a mountain road as night is falling, trying to make sense of a flimsy paper instruction leaflet when the snow is coming down and said instruction leaflet is quickly disintegrating. Having a couple of dry runs, if you can, in more comfortable ambient temperatures in full daylight, with the prospect of popping inside for a cup of tea afterwards, can make all the difference.

If you're hiring a car at the airport it's worth opening up the chains before you set off and having a good look through so you're at least more familiar with them should the need arise to use them.

3. Dress for the occasion. If you're driving out from home it really makes sense to put an old jacket in the car - one that you don't mind getting dirty or wet. Putting snow chains on can be messy - so avoid wearing your brand new white ski jacket. It's also worth having something you can kneel on - again something old which you can put on the ground which will save your knees getting wet. If you're fly-driving then check the weather and road conditions before you fly so you can anticipate what to wear.

4. Know your car. This might seem obvious but, as seasoned mountain drivers will tell you, it's not unusual to see rear wheel drive cars with chains on the front and vice versa. So just make sure you know which set of wheels should be chained!

5. Other useful equipment to have in the car include a head-torch which frees up both hands so you can fit the chains and still see what you're doing. Fingerless or thin gloves will also be useful.

6. It's important to fit chains sooner rather than later. Don't wait until you're stuck as you'll have less room to manoeuvre. If you have standard summer tyres then it is highly likely that you will need chains on a snowy road. If you see snow on the road then start thinking about stopping to fit chains, as you gain in altitude the snow on the road will increase. If the road is clear then you don't need chains.

We've found a useful youTube video below - and there are lots more available - so spend sometime planning and researching.

If you are heading out this weekend we'd like to wish you a comfortable and safe journey - and it will be worth it when you get there!

Snow, Snow, Snow

Meribel - La Chaudanne at 1400m - http://livecam.meribel-alpina.com/

Yes it's been a warm, dry autumn in the Alps - but it's not the first time and it more than likely won't be the last. But now snow and cold, wet weather has descended across the Alps and, with maybe a brief respite here and there, it looks set to stay for a while.

Whilst the European ski industry was holding its breath and it's certainly come late this year, the late snowfall means that many resorts will be able to stick to the plan of opening this weekend 10th December.

Forecasts are also looking great - lots of snow across the whole alpine region today and tomorrow, a slight lull for the later part of the week and then a possible return after the weekend.

The reports in some of the UK press yesterday were certainly ironic - as they were spreading the gloomy message of sunshine and barren pistes, snow was dumping. Across twitter and facebook snowy photos and weather reports were being posted almost hourly. So to celebrate we've rounded up a few webcam pics from this morning that are sure to brighten up everyone's day!

Tignes - see the latest webcam at: http://www.tignes.net/en/skiing-in-tignes/webcams-290.html

Verbier http://panorama.simwatch.ch/index.php?id_webcam=3

 

 Argentiere at 1200m - http://www.chamonix.com/webcam,12,en.html

Pic sent to us by Heather at Ice and Fire - from Plagne Village, La Plagne

As Heather from Ice and Fire told us today:

"It’s often a bit of a gamble booking early season but get it right and you will have empty pistes and freshly groomed snow that stays nice and firm.....Over the last few days we have seen heavy snow falls down to the resorts and the temperatures have been dropping steadily. Over the next few days we are expecting a huge 40-50cm of fresh snow and it is currently snowing all the way down to Bourg Saint Maurice which is at the bottom of the valley. The piste bashers are hard at work preparing the pistes and the final preparations are being made by the lift company to get ready for the opening on the 10th December."

Thanks for the great news! It's looking like it could be a very white Christmas!

All.I.Can movie from Sherpas Cinema now on iTunes

You may remember a few months back we Facebooked the first teaser trailer of the awesome ski movie All.I.Can. Made by the creative Sherpas Cinema the movie takes the extreme ski genre and turns it into something even more beautiful. With fantastic photography, gorgeous time lapse shooting, fantastic music and some of the best skiers in the world, there really is something for everyone.

The latest teaser features a street skiing segment with J P Auclair which takes the idea of freeride to a whole new level - even if it does make you wince a little for his bases! It's a great film and is now available to download on iTunes - take a look!

Beginners Tips: essential equipment for your ski holiday!

Are you taking your first ski or snowboard holiday this winter? As well as the worry of finding skis, boards, lessons and accommodation, there are a few "accessories" which in fact can add an enormous amount to the enjoyment of your first time on snow.

The wonderful Francesca from ace chalet company Powder N Shine in the Three Valleys has written us this great piece with some excellent advice for the first timer about what not to leave behind.

"As anyone who has skied in their life knows, the first time can be extremely daunting – and that is before you even see any snow! Many first-time skiers are unsure of what essentials they will need to buy, beg, borrow or steal before making their way to the snowy mountains, so Powder N Shine have put together a list of basics to aid the novice skier before departure:

Ski jacket

These are very warm, but breathable jackets that often contain a number of pockets for things such as lift pass, iPod, wallet, snack bars etc. Classic makes are brands such as The North Face, Helly Hansen and Spyder, while at the trendier end of the spectrum you have the likes of Burton, Quiksilver (Roxy) and Oakley. Branded jackets can be as expensive as £400 (Snow & Rock is a good place to start), whilst budget brands such as Dare2Be (in TKMaxx or online) can start at just £35.

Ski pants

Made by the same manufacturers as jackets, ski pants are warm, but often zip-vented for comfort in warmer conditions. Again they often have multiple pockets for storage and are fully waterproofed. Prices are similar to jackets and of course, all the rage of late are the combined one-piece suits or “onesies” as an homage to the 1980s piste-style, though I wouldn’t recommend these for absolute beginners.

Ski gloves

Hands are one of the first places to feel the cold, and a good pair of gloves are essential. This needn’t mean breaking the bank, but the best gloves (or the even-warmer mittens) are fleece-lined and can cost in the region of £80-100 from the same sort of retailers as the above merchandise.

Thermals

Thermal base layers are definitely required when it is cold, but most people wear them all of the time on the slopes. You can buy lycra-style fitted base layers these days – known as compression garments (e.g. Nike Pro or Under Armour), whilst the older-fashioned undergarments are more cotton style thermals. For thermals, you should budget from around £30.

Thermal ski socks are also vital and can be snapped up for about £7 per pair.

Goggles (and/or sunglasses)

For novice skiers, goggles are a good way of protecting the eyes (a must) from the cold, the glare of the sun and wind. Virtually interchangeable with sunglasses, goggles are more compatible with helmets – which are essential for learning to ski, but can be hired for the week – but a pair of sunglasses is preferable at lunchtime. Goggles begin at around £20.

Layers

Many skiers like to wear around 4 layers, including the items mentioned above, so it is important to have enough clothes. A standard person might wear a thermal base layer, a t-shirt, then a fleece/hoodie and then their ski jacket. It is necessary, therefore, to bring a suitable number of each on a skiing holiday, for example one thermal layer, a number of t-shirts, one or two long-sleeved fleeces and a ski jacket. Thermals and ski pants usually suffice for the bottom half.

Scarf/Snood

In colder weather, the face can feel rather exposed, so it is a good idea to have a scarf or snood at the ready to keep your neck, chin and sometimes nose a bit toastier!

These are the basics of what you are likely to need. Once you have done a few weeks’ skiing, I would suggest the next thing to consider is buying your own ski boots as these are the most personal item of skiing equipment, and should be tailored to your own feet.

However, at first you should ensure you enjoy the sport and want to do it regularly before forking out £300+ on a pair of ski boots! Hire shops tend to have very up-to-date boots which are plenty good enough for you to get your ski legs and the same can be said for the equipment they stock. Only when you have truly caught the ski bug should you start to look at buying all the kit."

Thanks Francesca! Find out more about Powder N Shine's great catered chalets in Les Menuires.

Thanks also to Ski Bartlett for providing the images. If you're looking for gear, Ski Bartlett have an enormous selection of ski hardware and all the extras you may need. They can also give you extremely helpful advice whether you're a nervous beginner or a confident expert (the top GB racers are regular clients). They also provide a great range of services - such as the latest in custom boot fitting and top notch ski servicing,

 

 

Ski Tips: How to ski a drop off

 

Ski tips from Mark Gear

How to ski off a drop off this season without hurting yourself. Of course no guarantees!

 

 

This is what the ski movie guys do, they don't just jump and hope.

 

Here are a few top tips for how to ski a drop off.  Watch the sequence of shots.

 

• Pick your jump carefully.  Jumping can be dangerous.  Its always best to start small.

 

• Always visually check out a jump or drop is safe before leaping off. The landing and run-out should be clear of obstacles and allow you enough space to land and make turns to slow down. Speed picks up fast in the air so you will need plenty of open space for confidence to land well and ski away.

 

• It is important to ensure that the landing is not flat. The landing area should slope away from the jump.  Flat landings should be avoided as the impact is greater.

 

• Snow texture and depth should be checked before jumping so you know what to expect when you land.  For example, deep and heavy snow will slow you down on landing and could throw you forwards over the skis as you land. Hard snow is going to offer a fast landing and a harder impact.  If the snow is hard, you may want to find a smaller drop.

 

• Once you are happy that all you are going to hit if you get it wrong is snow, there's not alot to it other than take a deep breath, point the skis and jump!

 

• Take enough of a run up to get some speed off the jump.  It really helps to make a positive, intentional jump upwards and forwards into the air. 

 

• Hold the hands forwards for the flight also pulling your knees up towards your chest. This will help keep your balance and stability in the air, also setting you up for the landing phase of your drop.

 

• Whilst in the air, you will need to angle your skis to match the angle of the slope gradient.  You don't want to land too far forwards or backwards on the skis.

 

• When coming into land, allow your legs to extend a little.  This is like droping your landing gear. It will set you up for absorbtion on landing.

 

• Land absorbing the impact, standing up and skiing away hearing the applause from the nearby chair lift.

 

By Mark Gear Head Coach, All Mountain Performance

Mark runs off piste & freeride ski courses in Chamonix where you can actually learn how to do this. Of course, you choose the size of your jump.

Setting the Slopes alight - the Top Ten ski accessories for this Winter

Snow in the Alps, the Ski Show in London - the Relentless Freeze next week (more about that to come) - the ski and board world is just buzzing right now. It's now just weeks till Winter 2011-12 kicks off and we're jumping for joy!

So maybe you'd like to treat yourself to a few new gizmos and gadgets, or update that faded one piece for a fresher look? We asked Michael of great online store Simply Piste for his take on what's hot for this season!

"You may be wondering what to wear on the slopes this season, I know I am. As always the ski and snowboarding world gives brand designers the license to break the barriers of exuberance with some rather spectacular colours and radical techie integration systems. Here's what in our opinion are the best garments and gadgets to hit the slopes this season, including the much acclaimed Zeal goggles with head up display.

The Simply Piste Top 10

What do you call an Elephant on Ice Skates........? An Ice Breaker, and that’s where we’ll start.

10: Flexi-Chute Neck Gaiter

New from Icebreaker is their flexi chute neck gaiter. For those of you that find style a compromise of practicality, this is a lovely garment that allows you to keep warm whilst also looking on trend. It’s made with Bodyfit 200, so it’s perfect for the winter conditions on the mountain. We personally love the practicality of neck gaiters. They’re zero fuss and look great. 

 

9: E-Gloves

At number 9 we have a set of E-gloves. Not the newest gadget to hit the market. However e-gloves are a genius and practical piece of Kit. They’re invention cuts out the problem of answering phone calls whilst out on the slopes. This removed fuss allows the experience to become more comfortable, convenient and reduces the risk of dropping your device. They work on an array of touch screen devices, so if you’re lucky enough to have an ipod touch, ipad or a touch screen phone, e-gloves are worth considering when you need a new set of ski gloves. The North Face offer a good range of e-gloves, however if price is a factor, you may be willing to give F3 ski a go. 

 

8: Heli Pro Re Gen Backpack

Number 8 brings us to the Heli pro Re gen from Dakine, who have for an added benefit of public relations decided to manufacture this bag solely out of plastic bottles. So for the eco conscious out there this bag will go some way in giving you peace of mind, whilst also looking cool. The backpack has the same features as the Heli Pro 20 litre, including a ski and snowboard carry plus many pockets, including a goggle pouch and laptop sleeve. 

 

7: Giro Link Audio Drops

Powered by skull candy, Giro’s link audio drops are applied throughout the Giro ski and snowboarding audio range. They feature 40mm speakers that produce a crisp and clear treble with a deep and pokey bass. The system is easy to use, their speakers drop into the latest designed Giro ear pads, which be integrated into your helmet. The latest 2011 range can feature a Bluetooth link up, allowing you to answer your phone wirelessly.  If you have the pleasure of owning a Giro Helmet, please make sure it’s audio compatible before purchasing link audio drops.

 

6: Scott Zuri Jacket

One for the ladies out there, the Scott Zuri Jacket looks fantastic and has some cool features. It’s completely reversible, allowing you to alter the design of the jacket into a stylish puffy jacket, allowing you to mix up your look a bit. It also comes with an invisible chest pocket, fully taped seems, adjustable hood, hand warmer pockets and adjustable Velcro cuffs. Check out our Scott product video for more information.

 

5: Wesbeach Alibi Peacoat

The Westbeach Alibi Peacoat is a stylish alternative for this season. The jacket shares many of the same features as your standard jacket, however it’s smart and stylish appearance allows you to wear this whilst out on the slopes or stood in the local bar. It also boasts an impressive range of practical features, including pockets for lift passes, goggles, music and also hand warming.

 

4: Men's Root Jacket

The Mens root jacket by Eleven is a brilliant new snowboard jacket to hit the market this season.  Having looked at personally buying one for myself I found the jacket to be very comfortable but also has an amazingly simply design. I think the denim style is quite cutting edge whilst refreshingly pulling away from the everyday flashy design with exuberant colours. The jacket comes with a full list of features including, Insulated standard lining, single hand hood adjustment, climate control vents, stash pockets and EZ track zippers. 

 

3: The Dry Guy

The “dry guy”, I think this bit of kit is great. Priced at a very reasonable £50, these allow your trip to become all the more enjoyable and organised. The machine gently dries items placed upon it within an hour whilst also working to eliminate odours. The design allows you to dry up to four garments simultaneously and will not harm any liners or stitching. This unit gives you peace of mind and makes the next morning on the slopes that much more comfortable.  

 

2: HD Summit Video Goggles

The penultimate piece, the HD Summit video camera Goggles. For £250, these goggles are the toast of gadgets for ski geeks. Replacing the need for an external camera that attaches to your helmet, these goggles integrate the camera within the goggles, perfect for capturing POV action on the slopes in stunning 720p HD. Capture footage as your see and hear it, the ability to take snap shots and a no-wind noise mic adds to an already boastful spec. 

 

1: Zeal Optics GPS Goggles:

No surprises then. These amazing things have been around since last year but they still fascinate us here in the office, I’d absolutely love to get my hands on a pair. Prices in the UK starting at £399, the goggles featured a colour LCD display that is projected in the right side lens, showing real-time stats such as, speed, altitude, temperature and more. Questions have been posed at the designers of this gadget, about the safety issues. 

To clarify, the experience is likened to that of driving. The head up display is an estimated perception of 5 metres away and non invasive. Similar to driving and a dash board, you have the choice whether to look down to view your gages as and when you need to or feel is appropriate. The goggles are also USB compatible, and allow you to upload, share and compare stats. Finally a full integration with Google maps allows you to map out your journey on the slopes."

Thanks to Michael and the guys at Simply Piste - hopefully this little list will get you excited too. If you'd also like to see his "what's not hot" list take a look at their blog.