The Ski Blog

Verbier - winter 2010-2011 round up

Despite all the negative reports in the press about lack of snow in Europe, many visitors had great ski holidays during winter 2010-11. Joyce Read of Verbier tour operator Chalets Unlimited has summed up the Verbier season for us.

What an extraordinary season for all the chalet companies in Verbier who have survived.

At least we have had all the negatives out of the way in one go. Wrong snow, wrong dates, wrong exchange rate, wrong economic climate, wrong world situation. All offset by having the greatest amount of winter sunshine most people have ever seen and the most amazing efforts put in by Televerbier in keeping the pistes in excellent condition and the resort and runs open 95% of the time.

All tour operators were pleased to compliment Televerbier on the extremely good work they did on keeping the pistes in such good condition and open throughout the whole season, especially taking into account they had only 30% of the normal snowfall, conditions never experienced by any locals under 60 years of age.  Everyone was very impressed by their use of all the latest technology on making snow early on, and building up a solid base which made it possible to keep the runs open, even down to Medran until the 20th April, a bit damp at times but just skiable at the bottom.

When the clients arrived in resort after receiving such negative reports from the press they could not believe just how much skiing was available and in such lovely sunny conditions, we had no complaints whatsoever from anyone, they all really enjoyed their stay in Verbier. They were just delighted to be away on their winter/summer holidays and to be going back with a genuine tan.

Due to the height of the resort and the fact that most skiing is above 2,300m it has the great advantage of a long season, starting the last week in November and going on until the last weekend in April. This year many of the low resorts took advantage of this, when they were closed down due to lack of snow, they were able to bring their clients to Verbier, for lessons and skiing, so they were not disappointed. With the lifts starting at Le Chable it does not take long to transport people up to the snow. The relatively new lift The Le Chaux Express, with a mixture of chairs and telecabins, means that beginners have the opportunity to start their lessons way up in the mountains. This also makes it easy for the non-skier to travel all over and meet up with friends in the mountain restaurants for lunch, even for early après.

Verbier Village is very lively and enjoyed by everyone of all ages. From the very many smart restaurants to après from 5.00pm onwards at the Farinet in Place Centrale. It's here that you have to be ready to dance on the tables and bar with Yellow Mike being one of the most popular of the groups, he has a following from 8 years to 80 and they all have a great time. Then back to the chalets for an excellent evening meal and to get ready for the Pub Mont Fort until 2am, then you have a choice of Casbah, Farm Club, Coco’s, or Coup d’Etat until 4.00am.

With great and extensive skiing during the day for all levels of ability and a very varied night life for all ages, Verbier is a must-visit ski resort. Very easy to get to by flight and transfer from Geneva or about 14 hours by car from London. There are loads of catered and self-catered chalets to choose from at all price levels. We all look forward to seeing you there next winter with only the positives, loads of snow, skiing, sun and plenty of fun. Be there.

Chalets Unlimited offer great apartments and chalets for groups and families in excellent locations throughout Verbier. They are an established operator in the resort so if you need advice on where to ski, and where to apres-ski, they'll be happy to help.

January Skiing...by Heather Morison, Ice and Fire Ski Holidays

Heather of Ice and Fire in La Plagne, Paradiski, shares her top tips for January skiing!

January often gets a bad press among British skiers because the weather is colder, and it falls completely outside of the school holidays. But among seasonaires, January is a firm favourite and guests who try it often come back year after year.

Our number one favourite thing about January is that it is typically quieter on the pistes than the rest of the season so you get to spend longer on your skis and less time in lift queues. If you’re into the park skiing it’s a must as well with many of the pros using the quieter snow parks to get some practise in.

For anyone who is a fan of fluffy powder snow a January ski holiday is hard to beat. According to the ski club of Great Britain for the last three years La Plagne has consistently had more than a meter of slope depth on the lower slopes and nearly two meters on the upper slopes for the whole of January – that’s a lot of snow falling!

January is a great time to get some extra tuition in too as being outside all of the school holidays there is often plenty of space in the ski schools. Less demand for lessons means more one-to-one time in group lessons, and your pick of instructors for private tuition.

If you’re looking to bag a bargain, January is a great time to look, with prices traditionally being lower than the rest of the season. There are some super-cheap 5 day breaks going in early January, or have a search on Chalets Direct for the 16th January week which has been heavily reduced this year.

Thanks Heather for the great advice! Ice and Fire currently have some great offers running for Christmas, New Year and January - see here for more details!

My Top 3 Ski Resorts....by Steve Pangli, Powder N Shine

Our guest blog today comes from Steve Pangli, one half of Powder N Shine who run Chalet Flocon des Neiges in the Three Valleys. Steve and his partner Francesca have over twenty years ski experience between them. Here Steve gives us the lowdown on his favourite places to snowboard.

My Top 3 Ski Resorts

This is obviously not an easy choice, both because I have been to a number of ski resorts in Europe and North America, but equally, because there are of course hundreds of resorts I am yet to experience! Therefore, the views expressed are my own and unlikely to tally with anybody else’s opinion!!

That caveat out of the way, in reverse order, my three favourite ski resorts are as follows:

3. Mayrhofen, Austria

My love of music was the key to my discovering this little Austrian gem. Mayrhofen makes my list as it is the venue for one of the most fun and different events in the music festival calendar, and certainly the biggest to combine winter sports with dance music, Snowbombing. Having wanted to go to this event for years, I eventually made it happen in 2008 and it was suitably unforgettable.

Initially a music festival for those seeking electronica and dirty bass, the festival evolves annually, attracting artists from across the musical spectrum, ranging in 2010 from Doves and Editors to Cuban Brothers, 2ManyDJs and Fatboy Slim. The 2011 line-up is just as strong and fortunately I have seen Prodigy live (Glastonbury ’09), otherwise I would be considering neglecting my chalet running responsibilities and heading over in April!

Partying at the top of the world is a unique experience and many thanks to Mayrhofen for making that happen for me and thousands of others.

2. Whistler/Blackcomb, Canada

I am fortunate enough to have family not far from the resort in Vancouver, so I have ‘boarded in Whistler/Blackcomb a few times. My firefighter brother, who is also a snowboarding enthusiast (perhaps he needs to cool down in the snow after working hard in the traditionally timber-built city!) introduced me to the joys of Whistler in 2001.

For me what really differentiates the resort from European ski resorts is the incredible feeling of freedom. European resorts can be over-crowded with lengthy queues for lifts, whereas in Canada, I have hardly ever had to wait to jump on a chair. Add in the free guides that show you every explorable corner of the resort and overcrowding really becomes a thing of the past.

The other aspect of the resort that I found to be a real novelty was the evening ‘boarding. Having floodlights to illuminate the park was exceptional - and a rarity in my experience. OK, so maybe they need to provide evening entertainment as the après-ski isn’t as lively as in Europe, but with a group of friends, a nice log fire and a couple of smuggled bottles of Jägermeister, we were almost transported back across the pond!

1. Les Trois Vallées, France

Not only the largest skiable area in the world, but now also my home. Lots of people who have skied in Europe know (or think they know!) the Three Valleys, but I stumbled upon a real find, deep in the heart of the area. The small, chalet-filled hamlet of Reberty Village so allured me that I have now started a business here. Off the beaten track and ski-in/ski-out at 2000m and with access to snow more or less guaranteed throughout the season in Val Thorens, beautiful tree-lined runs in the Meribel valley and more off-piste than you can throw a piste-basher at, this truly is the crème-de-la-crème of skiing destinations.

A relaxing hot-tub to ease away the day’s exertions, canapés, delicious dinner and wine and my list of what a skiing holiday should be is complete!

Meribel kicks off the ski party season

If you're heading out to Meribel in the Three Valleys over the next couple of weeks, don't forget to pack your party shoes.

Tomorrow, 13th March, sees the start of the Little World Festival, a new event masterminded by The Feeling, which runs until the 19th March.

The 20th-26th sees the return of Meribel's Altitude Festival, combining comedy and music, and with a great line up for 2010, including Al Murray, Rufus Hound and music from Newton Faulkner.

It's the first time for Little World and third time for the Altitude and both events promise to be fun, frenetic and fairly unique. Set in the magnificent Three Valleys with excellent skiing, both festivals are packed with  afternoon piste performances, apres ski parties and evening entertainments.

It's a Little World

The Little World Festival has been organised by The Feeling who played their earliest gigs in Meribel, performing three sets a day in the resort's bars. In 2008 the band made a triumphant return to the resort, giving a free concert to around 6000 fans. That  trip formed the basis of a live DVD, 'Come Home', featuring narration by friend-of-the-band Kiefer Sutherland.

'We organised that trip ourselves and it really opened our eyes to the possibilities,' says bass player Richard Jones. 'More bands should try doing things for themselves. This whole event is exactly the way we want it. We've really enjoyed pulling it together alongside recording the new album.'

Over the six days there are some 30 events taking place including concerts from Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Glenn Tillbrook and Graham Gouldman. The week culminates in a free concert on the slopes headlined by The Feeling and with numerous special guests. For more information, prices and full programme take a look at the Little World website.

Say it with Altitude

Now in it's 3rd year the Altitude Festival, in its own words, is "a festival packed with hilarious comedy talent performing in a fantastic skiers paradise. They will be joined by the best DJ’s and musicians both home grown and internationally renowned. Altitude is the only bilingual comedy event in Europe."

The event takes places at various venues throughout the resort, from small intimate bars to the Meribel Auditorium. Artists include Four Poofs and a Piano, Rich Hall, Al Murray, Rufus Hound and of course Altitude regular and co-founder Marcus Brigstocke.

The Altitude Festival has also partnered with mountain riders with the aim of making the festival carbon neutral and raising awareness of global warming. For full details of events, venues and prices can be found at www.altitudefestival.com.

If you're looking for somewhere to stay to enjoy the festivities take a look at our Meribel section on Chalets Direct. Some of the current deals on offer include; Chalet Madeleine - free tickets for the Altitude Festival when you book your holiday there; 5 nights catered in La Grange a Charlotte from 22nd - 27th March, with free airport transfers; luxury catered chalet discounts for 21st - 28th March. For more Meribel offers look at our Promotions page.

Verbier ski and snowboard breaks - cool with a touch of class!

Verbier has been a popular resort with the Brits, and of course the Swiss, for many years now.

Since the late 1950's, when the first Attelas cable car was installed giving easier access to the mountain, it has become a favourite weekend destination for high-flying City types and wealthy Swiss bankers. Now with excellent road and rail links from Geneva airport and the rise and rise of low cost flying, more people can get to Verbier to see if its twin reputations for serious skiing and just as serious partying are deserved.

Firstly the skiing.
The area is known as the 4 Valleys, with Verbier as the jewel. Whilst not quite as well linked as the French 3 Valleys, the Swiss 4 Valleys offers a massive choice of terrain, with over 400km of groomed pistes, a range of challenging itinerary runs - marked trails which are neither maintained nor patrolled - and enough dizzying pitches, couloirs and off piste opportunites to keep the most seasoned skiers and boarders out of their comfort zones.

It's not by chance that Verbier is the venue for the annual Extreme competition, taking place this year on March 20th, when the best and boldest riders in the world take on the unforgiving Bec des Rosses - and try to negotiate their way down its cliffs and crags.

Verbier skiing is certainly varied. For piste skiers the network of blue and red runs, particularly down to Les Ruinettes, are perfectly groomed and offer wide motorways to practice your turns. Venture further afield and you'll find scenic gentle runs through the trees heading down to La Tzoumaz, sunny cruisey runs at Savoleyres heading back into Verbier, and lots more to keep you occupied in the other valleys - from high altitude steeps to gentle tree-lined runs down to a welcoming restaurant.

The itinerary trails are sort of semi off-piste areas. Marked by yellow poles, they take you off the beaten track and provide a few heart stopping challenges for the more experienced skier and snowboarder. The slopes down from the Col des Gentianes for example, or the Tortin run, offer wide unpisted steep pitches which would be perfect in powder and great for testing your agility in the bumps the rest of the time.

Head for the Vallon d'Arby and you ski along a narrow trail hollowed out of the mountainside by a small single track machine - which is permanently parked at one of the hairpins. With steep walls of snow on either side, it's like skiing down a bobsleigh run with narrow twists and turns, and requires excellent control of speed. The trail eventually widens and you'll find yourself in the wooded Vallon d'Arby. Once you get to the valley floor it's a pretty ski alongside a stream to La Tzoumaz.

The off piste possibilities are truly endless. Book a guide and he or she will help you to scratch the surface of the terrain. Discover wide powder fields, steep descents from Mont-Fort,  the highest of Verbier's peaks, the gullies of Mont-Gele, and gasp at the top of Plan du Fou. All this and more is why Verbier has a reputation as one of the best skiing destinations in Europe.

And the apres-ski?
Well again there is enough variety to keep everyone happy. In the heart of the town the Farinet is one of the most popular apres-ski haunts and attracts revellers of all ages. You can dance to the live music on the terrace bar or enjoy a quieter atmosphere in the lounge area. Go upmarket with the Farm Club or keep it real with the Pub Mont Fort. Whichever you try there's healthy competition between the bars to make sure they offer the partygoer a good time.

Verbier manages to strike a unique balance. It's got the street cred of a Chamonix, combined with the glamour of a Courchevel 1850 and the kudos of a Val d'Isere. It's also got Swiss efficiency and service. All in all it's an excellent destination for your next ski or snowboard holiday!

We stayed with Ski With Julia in the traditional Chalet Pic Vert, which is just a few minutes walk to the Medran cable car, and well placed for enjoying all that Verbier has to offer. The chalet is available for long or short breaks and has some great offers for March and April - so get out there and discover Verbier for yourself!
And for more accommodation in Verbier and the Swiss 4 Valleys, take a look at our various resort sections: Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, and Thyon.  

A ski holiday in Courchevel, Three Valleys, France

The Courchevel valley has a reputation for attracting an upmarket, well-heeled clientele. It is certainly favoured by the very rich - Russian oligarchs, Arab sheikhs et al - and the very famous, such as the Beckhams, Roman Abramovich and guests. Yet whilst it might be the place to see and to be seen in, it's not just the designer boutiques and Michelin stars of Courchevel 1850 that make it one of the best and most famous ski resorts in the world.

As part of the extensive Three Valleys system, Courchevel can offer easy access to some of the most varied skiing you'll find anywhere. The Courchevel valley itself provides around 150km of pistes, ranging from steep black couloirs, to broad motorway cruises, to picturesque runs through the trees. Look further afield and there are endless possibilities; touring, backcountry, high altitude glaciers, snowparks, legendary bumps and off-piste pitches - however you want to experience the mountains, it's all here in the Three Valleys.

Getting back to Courchevel itself and what is it exactly that makes it such a top resort? The resort is actually a group of villages, each with a different character and with something different to offer the visitor.

Courchevel - from top to bottom:

The highest is Courchevel 1850, a glitzy conurbation with top end restaurants, a selection of exclusive hotels, glamorous nightclubs and a "millionaire's row" of private piste-side chalets. Just above is the altiport, a high altitude airport with one of the shortest and steepest runways in the world, built to receive the private jets and helicopters of 1850's jet-set.

Courchevel 1850 is the main starting point to get to the best skiing to be found in the Courchevel valley. Just two lifts will take you up to the Saulire at 2700m, from where you can drop into the neighbouring Meribel valley, or admire the fantastic panorama below you and then head off to discover Courchevel. It is testament to the good planning of the whole Courchevel valley however, that wherever you stay getting to ski is quick and painless.

Just 200 metres lower is Courchevel 1650, less pricey but with a good range of accommodation, eateries and apres ski. 1650 has it's own smaller ski area, an off-shoot of the main valley, with a few quieter, picturesque pistes. This village has a large year-round population and many businesses are open for summer trade too, when bikers, walkers, golfers and mountain lovers come to visit.

Perched on the hillside at 1550m is, well, Courchevel 1550. This village has grown in recent years and is just one lift-ride away from 1850's main intersection, skiing back down at the end of the day is simple. The village is quieter than it's higher neighbours but there are still some good bars and restaurants, and getting to the livelier nightspots is easy with the regular free bus.

At 1300m is the traditional village of Courchevel Le Praz, which still has it's quaint villagey atmosphere and friendly feel. You can find hundred year old barns and typical Savoyard houses. The main landmark of Le Praz is the Olympic ski jump, built for the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympic Games. Despite being a traditional village, access to the ski area is again quick and easy. One lift takes you to 1850, and another route will take you up to the Col de La Loze, again another entry point into Meribel and another viewpoint for a spectacular panorama.

So much to ski!

So part of what makes Courchevel so good is the choice it has to offer. From beginner to expert there is something to flatter or challenge you in its terrain, and lots of it. You'll never get bored with the ski area.

Coupled with that is the great choice of places to stay and the type of holiday you can have. Accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets means you can splash out on something truly luxurious or keep it cheap and simple. If this has whetted your appetite take a look at our Courchevel chalets, hotels and apartments - and if you've had a holiday in Courchevel why not post up a review of the resort and let everyone know what you think!

Chamonix does summer too!

We can honestly say that winter 2008-9 is now over. There are a few high glacial resorts where some lifts are still open, but apart from that most lift companies are hanging out the chairlifts to dry, switching off the cable cars and looking at what maintenance has to be done over the quiet inter-season weeks.

It won't be long before many alpine resorts are opening up again for the summer. Summer in the mountains is more relaxed than in the winter months but there is still loads to do and enjoy.

Enjoy the Views:

Take Chamonix - already a mecca for mountain lovers in the winter - the town takes on a different feel for summer, and a holiday there can be as relaxed or as active as you want it to be. Climbers, hikers and mountain bikers come to enjoy different ways of getting up and down the mountains, with something to suit all levels from the novice to the expert.

The major cable cars along the Chamonix Valley open up so you can get to the higher mountain trails more easily, and enjoy the breathtaking views before heading off to explore further afield. The view from the top of the Brevent cable car is possibly the best view of Mont Blanc you will ever get - take binoculars and you might even see a group of people heading for the summit of the highest mountain in western Europe.

The Flegere lift at Les Praz is a good starting point for a hike up to the Lac Blanc - again be prepared for spectacular views and some physical effort to get there. It's worth it - it is a very popular route and can get busy in the high season months of July and August.

Festivals and Events:

However summertime in Chamonix isn't all about hard-core mountain sports. Throughout the summer the town puts on some great events to entertain its visitors.

Midsummer night on June 21st is usually the date for the Fete de la Musique, when the central square, Place Balmat, is the main venue for local bands and most of the bars will also have live music and djs.

July is the time for the climbing festival, when a giant climbing wall is erected and climbers from all over the world come to compete. Even if you've never climbed, and have no intention of doing it, it's an amazing show. It usually takes place over a few days leading up to July 13th and culminates in the grand final in the evening followed by fireworks, music and dancing.

In August, the busiest summer month, there are two big events. The Fete des Guides a traditional festival which celebrates and honours the high mountain guides. During the festival there is a huge sound and light show which takes place at the outdoor climbing wall at Les Gaillands, followed by a massive firework display. Then on the morning of the 15th August at the main church there is a ceremony attended by Chamonix mountain guides where the new guides are welcomed, the old are remembered and the ice axes are blessed.

The Ultra Trail, sponsored by the North Face:

Late August is Ultra Trail time! The North Face Ultra Trail is a mammoth cross country race around Mont Blanc, starting and finishing in Chamonix, and going into Italy and Switzerland. It's a gruelling round the clock trek for competitors covering 160km and around 9000 vertical metres. The time limit for completing the course is 45 hours and the record is 21 hours 6 minutes.

The send off on a Friday evening from the centre of Chamonix is quite amazing, with around two thousand people taking part. Throughout the weekend you can see runners coming along the finishing stretch down the Rue Joseph Vallot - stop and cheer them on.

Chamonix's got it all!

So there's plenty of choice of things to do on a summer trip to Chamonix. Sports facilties are good, swim and play tennis or golf with great views of Mont Blanc. Enjoy the shops, from upmarket designers to the latest and greatest in technical outdoors gear. Browse the weekly local market, with so much local colour and flavour you could be forgiven for thinking you're in a BBC learn French series!

For more details of the events and what there is to do in Chamonix take a look at chamonix.com. It's a great place for a short break or a longer stay - for accommodation see our Chamonix summer selection!

A Ski Trip in Paradise - Les Arcs and La Plagne, Paradiski

The Vanoise Express

The Paradiski ski area was born in the winter of 2003-4, with the completion of the Vanoise Express cable car. This cable car is a true feat of engineering - 2 double decker cars, which can carry up to 200 people each, span the gorge between Peisey, at 1612m, and Montchavin les Coches (1548m). The crossing takes just 4 minutes each way and gives you breathtaking views of little Tarentaise villages below, and of Mont Blanc further afield.

It is the world's biggest cable car they say, and it certainly provides a fast and efficient link between the two ski areas of La Plagne and Les Arcs. With the Vanoise Express these two areas became Paradiski, which in total offers 425km of piste ranging from 1200m to 3250m.

The Skiing

On a quick trip to Les Arcs it's impossible to do much more than scratch the surface of this vast domain, there's so much available for all levels of skier and snowboarder - high and wide motorway runs above the tree line, steep drop offs from the top of the Aiguille Rouge at 3226m, interesting runs through the woods to take you down to Villaroger, and a multitude of blues and reds criss-cross the sunny side of the mountain and lead to Arc 1600, Arc 1800 and the Peisey-Vallandry area.

In one day it is feasible to get to the top of Les Arcs, (the Aiguille Rouge), and to the top of La Plagne (towards the Bellecote glacier at 3417m) - but there's not much time to draw breath in between. On the way you'll see a wonderful 360 ° panorama of the Alps - Mont Blanc on one side, the Three Valleys on another with a clear view of the altiport at Courchevel as you head up to the top of La Plagne.

This ski area definitely deserves a thorough investigation - so even a week might not be enough to discover all its nooks and crannies, or to get a real feel for what it has to offer.

Where to Stay

Luckily there's lots of choice of where to stay if you want to discover Paradiski, from purpose-built ski in ski out, to the more charming and traditional. Choose from catered luxury chalets, budget self catered and everything in between. Browse through our Les Arcs and La Plagne sections to get an idea, or simply search for Paradiski in our accommodation search.

We stayed at the luxury Intrawest village at Arc 1950. This is a self-contained hamlet of upmarket apartment blocks with great facilities. The apartments are spacious and well equipped, with undergound parking, saunas, hammams, and swimming pools. You can ski to and from the ski room door, and there is a good choice of places to eat and drink close by. Just up the local funicular is Arc 2000 if you want to explore the apres ski possibilities further.

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.

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