The Ski Blog

Free Lift Passes in the Grand Massif for Easter ski holidays

The lift companies in the Grand Massif have come up with some great offers to tempt Easter skiers and snowboarders. 

Buy one get one free

Buy an adult 6 day pass for the period between 11-19th April and get a child pass (under 12 years) free. Which means an adult and a child can ski the whole of the Grand Massif area for 6 days for just 192 Euros (plus 3 euros per magnetic ski card).

If you can't fit in a 6 day break, then there are also special offers available for the Easter weekend, with 3 day passes for the 10th, 11th and 12th or 11th, 12th and 13th April at just 73 Euros - that's a discount of 32 euros on a normal 3 day pass.

About the Grand Massif

The Grand Massif is France's fourth largest ski area with around 250km of piste, and includes the resorts of Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoens and Morillon. Due to it's proximity to Mont Blanc the area has an exceptional snow record, and skiing goes on until late April.

It is also an easy hop from Geneva - all the resorts can be reached in an hour to 90 minutes - and one of the closest ski areas to drive to from Calais!

These special offer lift passes can be purchased at all the sales points in the Grand Massif, or online at grand-massif.com .

In these credit crunch times it's great to hear of a lift pass company that's actually dropping its prices. If you know of other resorts with good deals available please let us know - post a comment or email surfcat@chaletsdirect.com

Send in your ski and snowboard photos and win a Coolboard!

Skiing and snowboarding photos are cool!

When you're having an apres ski beer at the end of that perfect ski day, isn't it great to have a quick flick through your snapshots?

And when you're back home loading them onto computers, emailing them to friends, choosing one as your wallpaper or changing your profile pic on Facebook, doesn't it make you smile as you look through all those images of you and your ski/board buddies in awesome locations, with spectacular mountain backdrops, looking cool and like you're having fun? 

It's no secret that snow, mountains and blue skies are very photogenic - take a look through the majority of the pages on Chalets Direct and you'll see plenty of evidence of this. Putting yourself in the picture is just natural, and if you've got some great shots of your ski and snowboard holidays why not show everyone?

Announcing Snow Snaps - win a prize just for looking cool!

So at Chalets Direct central we'd like to see some of the awesome ski and board pics that you've got and we'll be rewarding the best with one of the coolest pieces of kit around at the moment - a Coolboard donated by those great guys at Coolboard UK .

The competition is entitled Snow Snaps - so there's plenty of scope for you to impress and surprise. Action shots or landscapes, funny, moody, imaginative - the choice is yours.

How to enter:

To enter and have a chance to win, all you need to do is go to our Facebook page at http://facebook.chaletsdirect.com, become a fan, and then upload your photo to our page. The contest is open until midnight on April 26th, so if you haven't been out on the hill before now you've got plenty of time to get out there and get snapping.

There are a few rules however; you must upload only original work, and if you are featuring people, please make sure you have their permission. Obviously any content that we consider unsuitable will be removed from the competition. (Please see our terms and conditions)

When you upload your photo please add a comment, letting us know the location and any interesting information that might capture the judges' attention and admiration.

So it's over to you. Remember, entering is easy.

1. Become a fan of Chalets Direct.

2. Upload your photos!

The best pics will be featured here - and of course on our Facebook page.

Bargain flights for March to ski airports in Europe.

The big three low cost airlines are all offering big reductions on flights for March and April - good news for any skiers and snowboarders looking to get some time on the snow.

Cheap Flights...

Easyjet's banner headline is "Best snow for 25 years" and is accompanied by prices to Geneva as low as £24.99. Prices for flights to Basel and Salzburg are also around the £24 - £25 mark. A quick search on Ryanair will give you flights at £12.99 each way from London Stansted to Carcassonne (for the Pyrenees) or to Salzburg in Austria. BmiBaby are offering Manchester to Geneva for an amazing £11.04 this coming weekend, and throughout March this route is on sale for less than a tenner!

...and Special Offers on Accommodation

Couple that with some excellent reductions on accommodation and it does look like March skiing this year could be cheaper than ever.

Ski La Source for example are offering catered holidays in Chalet Mathilde, La Plagne for just £299 for the weeks beginning 7th and 14th March. The Barn in Morzine is giving 40% off for March on catered stays. Mont Fort Lodge, in the Verbier ski area, are offering a week fully catered for £380 with airport transfers included. These are just some of special offers available on our Promotions page.

So whilst the economic news is gloomy, and we're all aware of the daily news bulletins about the downturn, the recession, the credit crunch etc - there are lots of ways that you can escape to the slopes for less money this year. So why not get some spring sunshine and snow!

Chalets Direct - now on Facebook!

Become our fan on Facebook and get updates, latest news, take part in discussions, write a review, and generally join in!

Our Facebook page is where we can do some fun things and keep you abreast of all the latest goings on in the skiing and snowboarding world. So you can quickly see if there's a new blog post, or newsletter, or new properties, or something you need to know.

It's also your chance to get involved. Start a discussion - maybe you want some ideas about trying a new resort, you need some tips on buying new boots, you want to know when it snowed last, should you be skiing with a helmet? You can ask all these questions and more and we can get back to you. You can also share your tips, ideas and feedback with other keen skiers, boarders and mountain lovers.

Post up your ski and snowboard pictures - if you're really proud of them why not share them? Everyone loves to see cool pics, so do it now!

Find our Facebook page at http://facebook.chaletsdirect.com and

Oakley JibVid contest in Mayrhofen - 25th - 27th March

Following our blog about spring ski holidays and cool alpine events, Mayrhofen in Austria has hit the headlines again with the Oakley-sponsored JibVid contest.

JibVid is a chance for all you creative skiers and boarders to get noticed. 15 teams of three have 28 hours to create a 2 minute short film. Filming takes place mainly in the Vans Penken Park, and promises to be a two-day "spectacular" for spectators and team members alike. The resulting videos are judged on various criteria including creativity, storyboard, camera work, editing and tricks.

There is a 10 000 euro prize purse plus gaming consoles for the winners.

The event began in 2005 as a seasonaires’ film competition to celebrate the creative nature of skiing and snowboarding. It has since has grown into one of Europe’s premier riding and filming competitions and is set to grow even more with the support of Oakley.

Evening events will feature live acts brought into resort just for the Oakley Jib-Vid and they can be found playing in the premier locations of Scotland Yard and the Arena Sports Bar.

The projection of all the Jib-Vid’s will be the pinnacle of the competition, which will take place in the Arena Sports Bar on the Mayrhofen main street. GMC Concepts, the organisers, have declared: 

"Once the lucky winners get their hands on their share of the 10,000 Euros prize purse we promise to deliver the biggest party in the Alps this decade."

The Oakley Jib-Vid is open to skiers and snowboarders, guys or girls, in teams of three with a maximum of 15 teams invited to take part. A number of teams are invited, including the top three teams from the 2008 Jib-Vid, whilst 8 wildcard entries will be accepted via the official event website. To enter, or find out more about the event, and to see last year's winning films, go to www.jib-vid.com.

La Ferme du Sartot, real home cooking in the Grand Massif

Think of Flaine in the Grand Massif, France, and rustic, traditional and olde worlde are not terms that immediately spring to mind. Flaine is a concrete carbuncle set in a snow bowl - famous for great skiing and an exceptional snow record, but with about as much resort charm and alpine character as the Milton Keynes snow dome.

So it's a real surprise to find La Ferme du Sartot - as quaint and unique a restaurant as you'll find anywhere - tucked in a remote corner of this purpose-built Bauhaus inspired resort.

Run by Evan, a half Irish half-Welsh Cockney chef, who's possibly more French than the French, La Ferme du Sartot offers "cuisine d'antan" - home-cooked food inspired by yesteryear. Dinner here requires forward planning - for the diners as well as the kitchen. You can't just walk in hoping to be fed - booking in advance is obligatory not just to book your table, but also to talk about what you will be eating. There's no menu as such - instead you can discuss with the chef what you'd like - typically Savoyard, (tartiflette, raclette, fondue) is available of course, but you can also choose from tajines, beef stews, steak pies with cepes.

Your meal is three courses - all homemade, from the roasted vine tomato soup right through to the wonderful desserts - panna cotta, tiramisu, lemon posset anyone? Evan will be out of the kitchen several times during the evening to make sure it's all ok for you and is quite happy to share some of his culinary secrets.

So for great food in a fantastic setting - try La Ferme du Sartot on your next ski holiday in Flaine. Call +33 (0)6 75 28 95 00 to book.

If you have any restaurant recommendations in your favourite ski resorts then let us know - post a comment or email surfcat@chaletsdirect.com

Can ski holidays seriously damage your relationship?

It's Valentine's Day tomorrow. There'll be lots of cards, flowers, chocolates, romantic gestures - and maybe a promise or two that you will have your first ski holiday together.

Your first ski holiday together can be a great way to cement the growing bond between you and your new partner - or the first stage in the decline.

I'm not saying that ski holidays are relationship busters. On the face of it they appear to be anything but - what could be more romantic than a chocolate box chalet, spicy gluhwein by a large, crackling fire, champagne in the hot tub under the stars overlooking the fir tree forest?

Play together and stay together? Not necessarily...

The first cracks start to appear when you suddenly begin to realise that your new love's ski (or snowboarding) ability might be drastically different to your own. If you are the stronger skier or snowboarder then this will possibly induce a sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach - as you realise that you either have to resign yourself to staying on the greens at 2mph for the next few days, or you have to tactfully suggest that maybe some lessons might be in order. Whatever you do, resist the urge to offer advice or instruction yourself - unless you are an instructor of course.

For some time I worked with a ski tour operator and part of the job was to do the airport run. On the return leg I would be working my way down the coach taking bookings for lift passes, equipment and ski school. At the risk of sounding sexist, it was always the "expert" men who would insist that their novice girlfriend did not need to book lessons as he would be showing her the way.

At 4.00pm on the first day the girlfriend would often be coming to find me to discuss ways of getting back to the airport and getting the first plane out of there - sometimes in tears, often furious, usually unable to pronounce the boyfriend's name without a string of expletives.

If it was the other way round and it was the female who was the expert, there would usually be no question about ski school - the boyfriend would be in lessons whilst the girlfriend would be ripping it up with new friends she'd made in the chalet. They could then do lunch together and maybe she could fondly follow him down the nursery slope once or twice in the afternoon, and praise him on his progress. Generally harmony would prevail.

Failing to prepare is like preparing to fail...

So if you are planning a ski trip with your new love, do some research beforehand - if you're the more experienced of the two then the onus will be on you to handle the situation. If there really is a big difference in ability between you then trying to ski together all the time will most likely result in resentment and friction. Have some time apart so that both of you can ski comfortably at your own levels. Ski/snowboard school is a good idea here - most schools will offer classes for all levels, beginners will be shown how to progress and the more advanced will also be able to get good mileage.

Another option is the Ski Club of Great Britain - if your beginner partner is in ski school you will be able to ski with the resort's Ski Club rep who can show you round. As you and your partner improve there are courses and specific holidays aimed at different levels, often in the same resort where the normal Ski Club rep service operates - so one of you could be doing an improvers course, whilst the other is still enjoying sociable skiing.

Choosing a resort where you will most likely be able to ski in the same areas will also help - so you can do a black which ends up at the same place as a blue for example - then you can still ride the lifts together, and feel that you're enjoying the experience as a couple.

The next stage where friction might occur of course is when you discover that your previously novice partner has improved to the extent that he or she is now much better than you. I have no advice for this stage I'm afraid, except maybe grin and bear it!

What's your experience? Have you any advice or stories to tell about couple's ski holidays? We'd love to hear it. Make a comment by clicking on the comments link below.

Sunshine forecast across the Alps for Half Term

With Half term coming up the forecast is looking good. Heavy snow is forecast for the next 48 hours to be followed by a cold front from the North.

It is looking very likely that next week's half term week will be one of excellent snow conditions plus sun,  but very cold. So get ready, wrap up and enjoy. There are some great bargains still to be had if you want to make the most of it.. See the Chalets Direct promotion section.

Heavy snow in Austria, and more to come across Europe

www.Skiinfo.com reports that the ski season is now more than winter 2008-9 as it approaches its half way stage.

Across Europe many of the leading resorts are sitting on bases of two to three metres (7-10 feet) following spectacular snowfalls in the last six weeks of 2008 and more sporadic but still generally healthy falls during January, with clear sunny periods in between.

In short it has been one of the best snow seasons for many years for most resorts and despite media gloom and doom reporting on the economy, many ski resorts are reporting business is actually up, in good part thanks to the great snow. The cover is such that even if no more snow falls for the rest of the season (extremely unlikely), most now have plenty to see them through to the end in April or May.

The Alps:
Most of the world’s snow fans have their eyes on TV screens where the cameras are pointing at France this week for the World Alpine Skiing Championships at Val d'isere. There has been limited fresh snow in France over the past week with a dusting in the Alps last weekend, the most in the south with resorts Auron and Isola 2000 each reporting 20cm (eight inches) in the past week.

Much larger falls of up to 60cm (two feet) are expected in the next week on the main Alpine resorts, most of which currently have upper slope depths of two-three metres (7 – 10 feet).

In Austria more than 20 ski areas are now reporting more than two metres of snow on their upper slopes. “Slope conditions in many of the big resorts are reported to be very good, with skiers lucky enough to be in the Arlberg, Axamer Lizum, Hochzillertal, Ischgl, Kitzbühel, Silvretta Nova, SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser, Sillian and the Zillertal Arena amongst those benefiting. A drop of temperature and more fresh snow is expected for the weekend.” says Pascal Bovée who reports on much of the German-speaking parts of the Alps for skiinfo.com.

Nassfeld received a huge fall of 60cm (two feet) on Feb 3rd, taking the week’s total to 95cm (Over three feet). 

In Switzerland Zermatt continues to have probably the greatest snow depth of any ski resort in Europe and possibly the world with 671cm (over 22 feet) on its glacier. They must have a very long stick to measure it. However several other resorts have bases above three metres now including Andermatt and Saas Fee.

Pyrenees:
In Spain all of the country’s 20 or so Pyrenean ski resorts have reached snow depths of more than two metres, as the country’s sensational winter 2008-9 continues in to a third month of regular powder snow.

Baqueira Beret reports the most snow with 275cm (nine feet) on upper slopes although Sierra Nevada to the south of the country has the greatest snow depth in Spain with 350cm (12 feet).

Conditions also continue to be superb in neighbouring Andorra and on the French side of the mountains.

North America:
In Utah snow storms last week deposited another 120cm (four feet) at Snowbird lifting the resort’s January’s total to 2.6m (103 inches) giving a mid-mountain base of nearly two metres (95 inches).

“This recent parade of storms has made for the best conditions of the season and prime powder skiing,” said Snowbird President Bob Bonar. “As we head into the heavy snowfall months of February and March, the mountain is sure to only get better.”

In Canada, Whistler has reported nearly 30cm (a foot) of new snow in the past 48 hours at mid-mountain (1650m) taking snowdepths there to nearly 150cm (five feet).

On the east Mont Tremblant in Quebec received more than 20cm (eight inches) of new snow overnight, adding to the 3.3 metres (130) inches since the opening of the season.

Report from www.skiinfo.com

PS. It's snowing right now!

Ski holidays in the Spring - party time!

As much of the UK is shivering under a blanket of snow this week, it's made a lot of people think about going skiing or snowboarding for real. You might have seen the phone video on the news of someone skiing down their street, or you might have skipped work to build a kicker in the park - but didn't that just make you miss it even more? Maybe it's time to fit in a ski holiday or snowboard break?

February traditionally means high prices - but there is still some availability out there, just do a search for February offers on our Promotions page and you'll see that there are some excellent offers, and possibly more availability than you might expect. This weekend in particular, 7th Feb, there are some excellent deals at amazing prices if you can make a quick getaway.

March ski holidays mean that you can usually enjoy more sunshine and warmer temperatures, plus longer ski days as lift opening times gradually extend with longer daylight hours. Skiing or snowboarding in the spring can mean long apres ski drinks on sunny terraces, piste picnics, and alpine barbecues. It's a great time to ski, and there's a relaxed end of term feel about many resorts.

And it's at this time of year when the celebrations begin and it's party time. Some of these parties have now developed into real alpine festivals - with all the cool and glamour of their summer counterparts, and the added bonus of spending the day on the mountain rather than in a muddy field.

If you've not been to one of the alpine festivals here's some ideas - so why not combine your skiing and snowboarding with some extra fun in the snow!

Snowbombing, Mayrhofen, Austria, 29 Mar - 04 April: 
"Keep your full moon parties and tell Ibiza to go jump..once you have danced in an igloo in the Austrian Alps, nothing really comes close", so says TNT Magazine of Mayrhofen's Snowbombing Festival, which is 10 this year. 

There is an impressive musical line up which includes Fatboy Slim, Dizzee Rascal, Ladyhawke, Mylo and loads more bands and dj's. There's also a serious choice of partying going on during the week at various places; The Arctic Disco for example, is an "ice-cool party" at the top of the Ahorn at 2000 metres, or try the Backcountry Party which takes place in a 200 year old converted chalet, reached by going through "the forgotten valley" of Flottental.

As well as the music and partying, there are 625km of ski area to enjoy, and the King of the Mountain Battle of the Bands! 

Take a look at their website at snowbombing.com for the full programme and lots of practical tips.

Altitude Festival, Meribel, France, 28 Mar - 03 April:
Altitude was co-founded by comedian Marcus Brigstocke, a regular on TV (incl Have I Got News for You) and radio, and Meribel bar owner Richard Letts. It is mix of comedy, music and DJ's, and this year's event coincides with the British Ski Championships.

Now in its second year, comedy is the core of this festival - so far confirmed in this year's line up are Phil Jupitus, Rich Hall, Andrew Maxwell, Craig Campbell and, of course, Marcus Brigstocke. There will also be various bands and DJ's performing throughout the festival, including Honey Fungus - one of Meribel's most popular local acts.

Slopeside events include Big Air, boarder cross, classic GS, and more "spectator-centric" happenings too - snowball fights, three-legged ski races etc.

The Altitude website is at altitudefestival.com. For Meribel accommodation try our Meribel search for hotels, chalets and apartments.

Caprices, Crans Montana, Switzerland, 15-19 April:
Now in it's 7th year, Caprices 2009 promises to be bigger than ever, with events spread across several venues.

Headlining in the main venue, Le Chapiteau, is Duffy - for her first ever concert in Switzerland - which opens the festival on 15 April. Other acts confirmed over the four days include Paolo Nutini and true reggae veterans, Toots and the Maytals.

During the 4 days other events include turning the terrace of the Cry d'Err, a restaurant at 2200m altitude, into the highest electro club in Switzerland - with guest DJ's to entertain the afternoon skiers and snowboarders, and fabulous panoramic views over some of the highest summits of Europe.
For more details take a look at caprices.ch

If you are organising, going to or know of any cool alpine events then let us know about it - leave a comment or email surfcat@chaletsdirect.com