The Ski Blog

Where to ski in December?

We asked Powder n Shine, experts in the Three Valleys,  for their ideas on where to find the best December skiing and this is what they told us!

Snow-sure December skiing in high altitude Reberty!

With the understandable wariness that follows the late arrival of snow in both 2014 and 2015, one thing is becoming increasingly advisable for Christmas (and earlier in December) ski holidays:

AIM HIGH!!

One example is the quaint and attractive village of Reberty, based above Les Menuires at high altitude – 2000m, which is one of the most snow-sure places in Europe, throughout the duration of the season. Even in those tricky years, chalets in that particular spot were open from the second week in December (the first scheduled week of the season), able to capitalise on the proximity of Val Thorens – Europe’s highest ski resort – where necessary.

 

These two pictures were taken on December 1st 2015 last winter. As you can see there is plenty of snow AND topped up with the excellent facilities of the snow cannons!

 

The fantastic job that the local pisteurs manage to do should also not be under-estimated – though this is potentially more visible at the end of the season when snow may not have fallen for a few weeks. Together with the vast network of snow cannons across the resort (Les Menuires has 418 cannons for its 160km of pistes), they ensure that the pistes can stay linked and open from the first week right until the end of April, earning the resort the “Guaranteed Snow” title.

 

As an industry, we are hoping that this year will be third time lucky in regards to the arrival of the first substantial snowfall, but if the late arrival of snow trend does continue, there are ways to enjoy European skiing from early December.

 

See the Powder n Shine portfolio on Chalets Direct !

 

 

Getting the shot - how to capture the action

There are generally two ways of getting a good action shot.

The first is to set yourself up in a place with a great vantage point, and let things play out in front of you. The other is to communicate directly with an athlete, so that you can work together on getting a shot, which was the case here.

It had been snowing for 3 days straight in Aspen, and the snow was deep. That morning I thought about not even bringing my camera, because it would get in the way of some great riding. Then realized I would also be missing out on some cool shots, so I stuffed it in the pack and headed out.

Visibility on the mountain wasn't great because the snow was still coming down (not that I was complaining), but you can always count on visibility in the trees. Which also provides a unique kind of light as opposed to open areas. So we rode around in the tress for a while until we found a nice open area with deep untouched powder. I went down first and instructed Jordan where to ride and where to turn in order to get a solid shot. This is the outcome.....

See more of Rob's work at Rob Hammer Photography

Short client list: Nike, Under Armour, Reebok, Adidas, Foot Locker, Fox Sports.

Short list of athletes: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Von Miller.

Five reasons to love Courchevel in Spring

Clare from Ski Magic shares her top tips for spring skiing in the Three Valleys area of France.

Late season is a great time to visit the Three Valleys.

Anyone who has skied back down to resort after a beautiful day on the slopes with a long shadow following their every turn will agree! Here are our reasons to love Spring skiing:

1) From February, the lifts will start opening for longer which of course means even more time on the hill AND even more value from your lift pass! 

2) The Courchevel Valley is lucky to have a North-facing aspect which, in combination with the high altitude ensures that the snow stays in lovely condition and means that the resort can stay open until late: 24th April this year.

3) The snowpack generally continues to freeze overnight which means that the amazing piste maintenance team can groom the slopes back to corduroy ready for the opening of the lifts. We can’t get enough of that fast and fun morning skiing on seductively smooth slopes. 

4) With a little forward planning, you can follow the sun around during the day: as the sun starts to soften the pistes, you can enjoy really getting onto those edges and practising your carving technique. Feel that exhilaration from skiing those wide, flattering slopes that makes the Three Valleys so famous!

5) The Spring sunshine also means lingering longer over a cool beer or vin chaud on the terrace of a mountain restaurant, overlooking the stunning scenery of the mountains as the sun lowers in the sky. Would you rather be anywhere else on earth?

There are still have a few spaces left for this season in some of Ski Magic's gorgeous chalets in La Tania in the Courchevel valley.  La Tania stays open until 24th April. Prices start from just £349 for a catered week in one of their lovely chalets. For more information see their properties on Chalets Direct or go to the Ski Magic availability & booking page. 

Snowy Saturday forecast for the start of February half term!

This Saturday, 13th Feb, is going to be probably the biggest and busiest of the season so far! Lots of holidaymakers leaving and a big influx of families arriving for the half term break. It's also forecast to be a snowy Saturday - which can make travelling a bit more problematic. 

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. We posted these tips a couple of years ago and they're as relevant now as they were then. Preparing for the journey will help to make it more fun and take some of the stress out of the day.

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. Fitting snow chains 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's going to be well worth it when you get there!

It's a great time to get a ski holiday!

After a shaky start January has, as ever, been proving to be a great time to ski. The snow fell abundantly in the early part of the month, followed by a spell of sub-zero temperatures mixed with more snow. The forecast is set fair now for a few days at least and, as almost everyone in the know will tell you, January skiing is special. Quiet pistes, quiet airports, cheap flight options, and available accommodation. 

The good news is that there's still a week of January left - and the first week of February is also going to be excellent before the half term rush! So check out our last minute offers and grab a quick ski break!

If you're still looking for your February half term break there's still availability too - book with Pierre & Vacances before 27th Jan and you can get 40% off for holidays throughout February, including the half term week - and there's more half term deals available here!

The view of the Mont Blanc massif yesterday (23rd January) - inspirational n'est-ce pas?

Winter is here! Get ready to ski!

The view from one of the Meribel webcams yesterday (21st Nov) - thanks to Meribel tourist office for sharing!

All of a sudden the weather has turned decidedly wintry and whilst you're probably jumping for joy - it's time to get down to the serious business of ski holiday prep! Here's a few tips.

1. Holidaying in the school holidays? Take a look at our special sections.

If you're already booked for Christmas, Half Term or Easter - great! If not take a look at our school holiday sections so you can get straight to the availability and offers for those periods. Find Christmas, New Year, Half Term and Easter by clicking on the relevant link! Fortunately it's not too late and you can still find some great chalets or apartments for those dates.

2. Have beginners? Book some lessons.

If you can, get them some pre-season lessons. Snow domes, snow centres and artificial ski slopes all over the country offer beginner lessons aimed at children and adults. This can make an enormous difference to how successful the beginner ski experience will be in resort - and will often allow for quicker improvement and more enjoyment once on real snow.

Whilst it may seem like an unecessary expense think of it as an investment. 

 3. Physical Preparation.

Ok so you say it every year about this time - I must get fitter for skiing. But somehow, with the pressure of work, family, social life, the best intentions get forgotten. Then suddenly you're at altitude and trying to negotiate something steep and you wish you'd taken the time to do just a bit more. Make this the year that you do something about it! Just stepping up your regular fitness routine by about 10-20% will pay dividends in a few weeks - so by the time you're on the slopes you'll feel the benefit.

Just googling "exercises for skiing" will give you a great range of resources and tips. Start easy and adapt exercise to your level. It's never too late to start. 

4. Learn about Snow Conditions

If you're an experienced skier/snowboarder chances are that you will at some point be skiing off-piste. Modern skis make it much easier for relatively inexperienced skiers to try the powder - and snowboarders have been doing it for years. So if you are going to do that it makes sense to learn more about the environment. During this autumn Henry's Avalanche Talk has been running regular sessions in partnership with Ellis Brigham. 90% of avalanches are triggered by the victim, and in many cases the situation could have been avoided with a bit more knowledge. Check out the link for the  HAT Autumn Tour. If you're an off-piste regular you owe it yourself and your ski/snowboard buddies to go along.

 

And the winners are ....

What a great response to our Ski Slick Limerick Competition! Your entries had us rolling in the aisles of CDHQ and it took us a little while to come to agreement over the winners. Thank you all for taking the time to indulge us and brighten up our day!

However unanimous decisions, with perhaps a little arm-twisting, have now been made and the winning limericks are published below. Well done to all the winners - you will be contacted by email to receive your tickets. 

What's on at the Shows

Don't forget the Ski & Snowboard Show North opens tomorrow at EventCity, Manchester. There'll be appearances from top GB athletes including Jamie Nicholls, Katie Summerhayes and Rowan Cheshire. The Mountain Talks Theatre will give you invaluable information on off piste and backcountry skiing, Ellis Brigham will be offering free boot-fitting clinics, there's the chance to get a free virtual one-to-one lesson with Warren Smith, and there's so much more going on - live music, great food, free lift pass offers, pro-rider demos - phew!

The London Show takes place next week - 5th - 8th November, and promises to be the best Ski Show yet! The much-loved Aimee Fuller will be among The Team GB athletes in London, Santa will be flying in, Mount Battersea will be the venue for London Ride Freestyle Competition and for the first time the Altitude Comedy festival will be coming to the Show!

At both Shows there'll be plenty of opportunity to talk tips, resorts, equipment, apparel and see what's hot for this winter. So even if you're not a winner why not get along and get buzzed for the ski season ahead!

Without further ado and waffling here's our winning limericks - thank you all!

From Nikki Willard:

There was a keen skier called Joe,
At any chance to the slopes he would go,
And with Chalets Direct,
He could always connect, 
To the best deals for fun in the snow!

From Rosie Dendle:

There was a keen skier called Joe 

Who yearned for sun fun and snow 

With no need to reflect 

He called Chalets Direct 

Where dreams still come true...have a go!

 

From Stella Coton:

There was a young skier called Joe
Who loved to carve and slide on the snow
His life was perfect
After Surfing Chalets Direct
Christmas holiday now booked – yo ho ho

From Steve & Lesley Jayne:

There was a keen skier called Joe
Whose aim was to go to the show
he composed a quick rhyme
which took little time
and Chalets Direct said no...........?

(except we said ... yes ... ;) )

From Fionagh Harding: 

There once was a keen skier called Joe,

who was feeling incredibly low

but he booked for a trek

with Chalets Direct

and was soon high on life and the snow.

 

 

Find ski holidays for the holidays!

As winter approaches we know that the search will be on to find ski chalets, apartments, hotels for those all-important holiday dates!

Well we've got you covered. You can now go straight to dedicated areas to find ski holidays for Christmas, New Year, Half Term and Easter. From these pages you can get straight to search results and see exactly what's available and if you're looking for special offers you can find them there too!

Our Christmas ski holiday page also links to a useful article written for us by Heather of Ice and Fire in La Plagne with top tips on spending a family Christmas in the mountains. 

For half term ski holidays you can click straight through and see what's still available for February 13th-20th - and again there are some special offers listed. It's filling up fast though so don't leave it too long to look and book.

New Year and Easter are also popular - there's little that can beat the feeling of skiing on January 1st, and with Easter in late March in 2016, it promises to be a great time to spend on the slopes!

So why not holiday in style and spend it on the slopes!

 

Finding the best snow and the best skiing for your next holiday

Edmond Nico of Chalet Alpina shares his expert knowledge and experience of what to look out for when choosing your next ski resort!

There is no doubt climate change is effecting ski resorts and every skier hunts for a high altitude ski resort hoping that it will guarantee skiing. High altitude resorts generally come with a price but altitude is not the only factor that one should consider when choosing a reliable ski resort so check out these pointers first and you will be pleasantly surprised as to how many little known resorts can be just as reliable and won't leave you mortgaging your home to pay for your ski holiday

• Having north facing slopes are just as critical for a ski resort. In the snowy, pre talked about global warming days, many resorts in the northern hemisphere were built facing south into the sun as that meant you could stay alive while skiing and not end up with frost bite. Nowadays cold north facing slopes are where the snow stays best.
• Probably the most important factor is geographical position in relation to the topography of the mountains. Resorts that are built only on one side of a high main mountain chain may only get snow if it comes from a certain direction - north, south east etc. A resort that extends to both sides of the main mountain range means that it will always get snow from whatever direction it comes from. Resorts built on both sides of a mountain range also means that the surrounding mountain range is not too high to restrict the weather from passing over to both sides of the resort.
• Nearby surrounding glaciers also play an important part not only because they keep the temperatures colder but also because they wick away the moisture in the atmosphere. Humidity in the atmosphere melts snow very quickly when the temperatures warm up. Low humidity also keeps the snow in better condition as it gets less icy and lasts longer. An open valley, rather than a valley that is closed in with high surrounding mountains, also has a drier atmosphere.
• Wind plays an important role as well. Windy resorts tend to have a drier and colder climate as well and wind tends to shift the snow into bowls creating unbelievable depths of snow sometimes. Look for resorts with wide open bowls especially on the leeward side of the predominant wind direction which is usually West to East in the European Alps and stangley enough on most mountain ranages.
• The other fallacy that skiers tend to believe is that it snows more the higher up the mountain you go. Unless temperatures are well above zero in the village it actually snows less per square meter on a steeper slope than a more gentle slope and the volume of snow is less the colder the temperatures are when snow is falling. It snows less on a steeper slope because the same square meter of snow falling out of the sky covers a larger area on the ground the steeper the slope gets, so more gentle slopes have far more snow coverage than steep slopes.

This all means that you can find resorts that are reliable for snow but that are not generally high in altitude and of course with high prices to match. It takes a bit of research to suss them out but it’s well worth it as not only do you save money but you’ll find these resorts are generally less known and usually totally CROWD FREE.

You could of course save the hassle and just come to La Thuile in the north western Italian Alps where Eddy Nico who owns the Chalet Alpina has already done all the research for you as it fits all the aspects mentioned above.

• Situated on a major alpine divide between France, Italy and Switzerland it manages to get snow coming from all directions. 
• Surrounded by some large glaciers it has a dry, cold climate and the pistes are mainly north facing.
• Snow reports over the past 10 years have shown that it has far better snow right down to 1500 meters than most other resorts in the Alps. It’s ski runs are usually open from the end of November until the end of April right down to the town which is at 1500 meters.
• Prices are half the price of other resorts.
• It’s crowd free as the lift capacity serves 50,000 skiers per hour and it’s bed capacity is only 3000.
• It’s in Italy so the food’s good and the people are friendly.

There is no doubt about it Italy offers the best value for quality skiing in the Alps. Hotels are great, food is the best and Italians are the most caring people on earth. There is no doubt about it though the French pistes (not the off piste) are more challenging. La Thuile fortunately is one of those hidden gems that offers you the value and quality of Italy plus the challenge of French skiing.

Why should a border line make such a difference you ask when mountains are mountains ?

3 million years ago who cared or even noticed whether you were skiing in France, Switzerland or Italy. There are however some reasons for this. Italian resorts fear injury claims. If you've ever been involved in an Italian court case you'll understand why. They take forever to resolve. Italians also want to enjoy their skiing as part of an all round experience - the fresh air, the good food and the sunshine.

Piste making in Italy is geared towards this. Wide open perfectly groomed runs with the first runs of the morning facing the sun and the last ones following the setting sun. That's not to say all ski runs in Italy are easy and some of the black runs in La Thuile will even give the good skier a run for their money but when you are looking for some big mogul runs and some snowboard fun parks all you have to do is pop over the border on your skis and you're in France skiing "a la liberte " in the resort of La Rosiere.

La Rosiere linked to the resort of La Thuile in a ski area with 150KM of pistes offers you that opportunity to experience French freedom and French patisseries. It's worth skiing over to La Rosiere. It only takes half an hour to ski to the La Rosiere lift system from the main gondola station in La Thuile and the views down to Val d'Isere with Bourg St. Maurice in the valley are majestic. Don't delay though while delighting in that little French tart smothered in cream or you'll miss the last ski lift back and have to spend the night wining and dining in the cute little village of La Rosiere.......so !!!!

Summer Holidays in the Alps - a great destination!

Gina from Reach 4 The Alps gives us the lowdown on alpine summer stays:

The Alps are arguably even more beautiful in the summer with lush green meadows and turquoise blue lakes sitting below the snowy white peaks. 

Apart from the scenery what a lot of people don’t realise is just how much there is to do in the Alps in the summer. 

Swap the skis or board for a mountain bike!

Morzine, Les Gets & Chatel in the Portes Du Soleil have some of the best mountain biking tracks in Europe with 650 kilometers of marked itineraries from easy winding tracks along the river or through the forest to steep and very technically demanding single tracks. 24 of the ski lifts are specially adapted to carry you and your mountain bike.

If mountain biking isn’t your thing what about road biking? The Alps host some of the toughest mountain stages in the Tour De France, come and test your strength and ride some of these famous “cols” or mountain passes.

But there is so much more than just biking

Other activities include paragliding, canyoning, rock climbing ,via ferratta, golf, white water rafting and then more gentle activities such as swimming in the outdoor pools and the swimming lakes, having a game of tennis, sampling the local cheese and wines and relaxing in the sun enjoying the scenery. 

The Alps offer excellent value and no crowds, you won’t need to fight for your space to get your beach towel down beside the local lake! Accommodation is also extremely good value as there are so many ski chalets and apartments that are fully booked in winter but come at really good prices in the summer! 

The Portes du Soleil Multi Pass

In The Portes Du Soleil the Multi Pass scheme offers amazing value. Perfect for individuals, couples, families and groups. The Multi Pass is similar to a winter ski pass and gives guests access to 2 lakes, 25 chairlifts and telecabines for walkers , 9 tennis courts, in resort buses and trains, 2 ice rinks & 5 tourist attractions all for only €2 a day or just €8 for 6 days. 

This means you can go for a hike in the morning, swim in the afternoon and then have a game of tennis in the afternoon all for only €2 or less!! This is only available to guests staying with hotels/chalet companies who have paid to join the scheme such as Reach4thealps chalets, Cairn Lodge, Claire Vallee in Morzine and Chalets Alouette & Martinet in Les Gets.

If you fancy being truly looked after why not opt for a fully catered Multi Activity holiday, one of our partners in Morzine offer a week stay fully catered, return transfers from Geneva, a 6 day multi pass PLUS 4 activities (canyoning, ½ day mountain biking, high ropes course & white water rafting) for only €750 pp, staying at the gorgeous Brown Bear Lodge.

Reach 4 the Alps also offer dedicated triathlon training breaks in the Portes du Soleil - more details at Tri4theAlps