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Music and mayhem – what’s on in the Alps
FWT14 – Xtreme Verbier Teaser par FreerideWorldTourTV
Spring has arrived across the Alps over the last couple of weeks bringing lots of sunshine and that special chillaxed feel you get with warmer weather. It's also the time where it's fun to be in the great outdoors and many resorts will oblige with special events designed to keep you entertained. Here's a selection of a few taking place over the next few weeks!
Swatch Xtreme Verbier – Verbier, 22nd March (weather permitting)
If you're in Verbier over the next few days you'll be able to catch the grand-daddy of freeride events, the Freeride World Tour Final. The competition takes place on Saturday March 22nd (weather permitting), but the party atmosphere will start from tomorrow and last right through the weekend, with parties, ski and snowboard tests, a street fair, lots of animation and live music too.
The event is the culmination of the Freeride calendar, where the top athletes will be put through their paces to see who is this year's king and queen. Full details here!
Rock the Pistes, Portes du Soleil, 26-30th March
Now in it's 4th year and Rock the Pistes 2014 promises to be bigger and bolder than ever. The festival brings together international pop-rockers and concerts are staged throughout the Portes du Soleil, both at lunchtime and at 5pm at the foot of the slopes. This year's artistes include The Klaxons kicking everything off in Avoriaz and Babyshambles in Chatel on March 28th. See the full programme here.
Altitude Comedy Festival, Mayrhofen, 31st March – 4th April
Billed as mainland Europe's biggest comedy festival, this year's Altitude line up includes Al Murray, John Bishop, comic ventiloquist Nina Conti and of course Marcus Brigstocke, who helped to get the Altitude show on the road when it first began in Meribel all those years ago.
The programme also includes apres ski events every day and the Late Show every night, which features new UK talent and special guests. Full details.
According to the latest weather forecasts it seems that there could be more snow on the horizon too for many resorts. Looks like conditions could be set for some excellent spring skiing!
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The Quiet Times to Ski in the USA
More top tips from Helen of Chalets USA about skiing Stateside. If you're thinking of taking the plunge and crossing the pond to ski here's some really good advice about when to book and when it's best to avoid – it's a bit different from Europe!
When is the quietest time to ski in Colorado USA ski resorts?I’m often asked when is the best time to ski in Colorado, USA?
Lots of things factor into this of course snow conditions, pricing, but also when the slopes are least crowded. It’s quite different from skiing in the Alps in many ways, so here are some key things to know when considering what time of year to come skiing in the USA.Christmas / New Year:
Of course Christmas and New Year are busy times wherever you decide to ski, but there are some dates quieter than other within these times.
If you can come pre-Christmas and enjoy all the build-up you’ll find quieter slopes & cheaper rates. If you do need to include Christmas Day in your holiday, take as many days before Christmas as possible. Rates are highest from 26 Dec and that’s when many Americans take their Christmas breaks, so avoid those days if you can. Christmas Day itself can be a really magical time to ski, especially if you are up early and can get out on the slopes before everyone else. You’ll sometimes see Santa Claus skiing around and Christmas morning is relatively quiet, as many people are unwrapping Christmas gifts and enjoying a leisurely breakfast.
Bank holidays In the USA:
There are 2 bank holidays in ski season, which Europe doesn’t have: Martin Luther King and President’s weekends. This is a popular time for Americans to take time off, as they don’t have many vacation days and they use these long weekends as holiday time, perfect for skiing in the middle of Winter.
The Saturday and Sunday tend to be busy with the crowds tailing off on Monday as people travel home. Martin Luther King weekend is normally around 20 January and Presidents’ weekend around 17 February.
UK February half term / Australian January Summer holidays:
Apart from the President’s bank holiday weekend, the Americans don’t have any school holidays in February like the Brits do or in January as the Australians do, so these months are a good time for skiers to make their way to the USA. Especially if you’re a family travelling with children and need to keep to school holidays, it can be a real advantage to ski in the US over Feb half term without having to worry about crowded slopes.
Spring break:
So the time the Americans do have school holidays during ski season is in the last 3 weeks of March, when the “Spring breakers” are out in force!
The states and colleges normally pick one week out of those last 3 weeks for their vacation time, so at least the skiers & boarders are spread out rather than being all in one week. The ski resorts are definitely busier during these weeks and prices a little steeper.
Easter:
If Easter falls in April instead of March, coinciding with Spring break above, Easter can be a really lovely time to ski. The weather is warmer and the ski runs pretty empty. Again the Americans do not take school holidays for Easter, not even a long weekend, so it’s another good time to come skiing.
Rates really fall in April, roughly 25% from March and they can be as much as half the prices over Christmas, so you get good value for money.
Weekdays and weekends:
So Saturday can be a quiet day to ski in Europe as many tour companies use Saturday as their changeover day. It’s quite a different story in Colorado. Denver is a major city, within 2 hours drive of most of the big Colorado resorts, so there are a lot of “weekend warriors” who make the trip up to the mountains each weekend. Saturday is definitely the busiest day and then things slow down by Sunday afternoon, when people have to start making the trek in the traffic back down to the city.
This does mean that during the week the resorts are pretty quiet on the whole. So if you’re staying for a long trip, ski during the week and perhaps take your rest day on a Saturday and enjoy some of the other activities the ski resorts have to offer – snow-tubing, sleigh rides, snowmobiling or resting up with a good book in front of the fire!
I hope this gives you some good ideas when planning your next ski trip to the USA. Happy Skiing!
Chalets USA offers ski holidays in the top Colorado ski resorts such as Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge and Beaver Creek.
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Christmas Skiing in Colorado
Another great and informative blog from Helen of Chalets USA. Here she explains what you can look forward to if you decide to take the plunge and do Xmas skiing Stateside!
What happens at Christmas & New Year in Colorado USA ski resorts?
Christmas is truly a special time of year, particularly for families with children, who have anticipated this day for days, weeks or even months. New Year is naturally a great time to celebrate and welcome in the New Year with style. Experiencing these festivities in a stunning mountain setting makes memories that can last a life time for immediate family, extended family and friends alike.
The ski resorts love having visitors at this magical time of year and work hard to make sure their guests have a wonderful time and want to come back year after year.
Here are some of the events you can expect if you decide to spend Christmas or New Year in the Colorado ski resorts, USA:PRE-CHRISTMAS
A tree lighting ceremony kicks off the festive season in many ski resorts including Vail and Breckenridge & tends to take place early to mid Dec, completed with hot cocoa and carolers.From then on the ski resorts burst with action: Vail hands out candy cane at its base areas and show movies suitable for all the family. Family Christmas themed activities occur in both Lionshead & Vail Villages including concerts and the famous Winter Solstice on Ice” ice skating show.
Beaver Creek has “Winterfest” which lasts until New Year’s Day and you can help Santa out in his cottage, create your own personalized elf hat and gawp at the characters meandering around Beaver Creek base village. There are also ice skating shows, a skate night for teens, kids games for all ages & winter wonderland parades.
In Aspen visiting Father Christmases real live reindeer can be a highlight of your trip, plus you’ll listen to Christmas carolers & can decorate cookies.CHRISTMAS EVE
Most ski resorts have evening celebrations leading up to the big day for all the family, so you can keep the kids occupied.Winter Park ski resort for example has Santa strolling around the Village and sometimes even on skis and you can pat his reindeer.
The Christmas Eve party is fabulous for families. Pop home and put your warm evening gear on and comfortable boots & then go to the bottom of the mountain to check out the dancing Christmas trees and Christmas Carollers around the bonfire. Before long the torchlit descent will begin with the ski patrol and ski instructors skiing or boarding down the main slope Hughes, with their flaming torches. Santa can usually be seen coming down the mountain too, complete with his sleigh. The finale is the dancing snowcats lit up with fairy light how march down the slopes, do some twirls before slowly disappearing.CHRISTMAS DAY
Christmas morning can be a fantastic time to ski if you happen to be up early or the kids have woken you up! Slopes are relatively un-crowded until lunchtime while others are opening their gifts. Or perhaps you prefer to relax over breakfast or brunch and then stroll around the resort at your leisure.You may see Father Christmas on skis on Christmas Day, so watch out for the traditional red & white suit.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
New Year’s parties abound in the ski resort of Colorado.Aspen has legendary parties & nightlife all year but for New Year’s Eve they pull out all the stops & the bubbly is free flowing. Pick one of Aspen’s many restaurants – there are many to choose from, both fine dining and the more affordable. Then head to see the fireworks from the park in the centre of Aspen. This family friendly event has a bonfire to keep you warm & DJ to keep you entertained. A little later check out one of the many hot spots in Aspen – Belly Up nightclub for live music, Eric’s often has a DJ and the Regal Watering Hole has a New Year’s Eve gala and dancing.
Vail is another focal point for New Year’s Eve celebrations and this year the Dobson Ice arena will be transformed into Vail’s largest nightclub. Celebrations at midnight include champagne, traditional ball drop & confetti snowstorm.
Has that whetted your appetite? Chalets USA can organise your holiday in top Colorado resorts, including Breckenridge, Vail and Aspen – check them out on Chalets Direct !
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The best ski resorts in Colorado
Thinking of trying the USA for your next wintersports break? Helen of Chalets USA has provided a useful lowdown on the top Colorado resorts to help you decide where to go.
Which is the best ski resort in Colorado?
As I live in Colorado and spent quite a bit of time skiing the various ski resorts, people often ask me which is the best ski resort in Colorado?
Well I certainly have my favourites, but of course the answer is it depends on what you like…
Here are some key points about the flavour of each ski resort & the skiing so you can choose which might suit you best:Breckenridge Ski Resort
Breckenridge is a picturesque Victorian mountain town with Main Street lined with boutique shops, independent coffee shops, bars & restaurants.
The resort is well known for its nightlife & offers a range of restaurants from affordable to fine dining of every genre.
Everything is close together in Breckenridge & you can walk nearly everywhere or take the free shuttle if it’s chilly or uphill!
- The slopes, lifts & ski school at Peak 9 come right down into town just by Main Street.
- The gondola runs from the centre of town up to Peak & 7 and onto Peak 8.
- Peak 7 has mostly cruisy blue runs, perfect for intermediates.
- Peak 8 has a newly built base area & is home to a variety of green, blue & black runs.
- Peak 9 has some good beginner runs, plus other terrain.
- Peak 10 has some fantastic tree & mogul skiing.
- The Imperial Superchair is the highest chairlift in North America and accesses some fantastic black diamond and double black runs.
- Peak 6 is being opened this year with new runs & 2 new lifts.
See Breckenridge ski accommodation on Chalets Direct.
Vail Ski Resort
Designed in an alpine style Vail has 2 main pedestrian base villages “Vail Village” & “Lionshead Village” with gondolas rising up from each. The pedestrian villages have a large variety of shops (including the obligatory fur coats), restaurants & bars to stroll around, plus ice rink & fountains, although Vail village is livelier at night.- Golden Peak base area is 5-7 minute’s walk from Vail Village and is home to the main children’s ski school (there is ski school in Lionshead too).
- There is also some accommodation in East Vail, a less expensive residential area about 15 mins bus ride from the slopes. West Vail also has some larger homes.
- Vail is the largest single resort in the USA and is famous for its 7 legendary back bowls with fantastic powder after a snowstorm. There is so much terrain though in Vail it takes a while to cover it all and mid-Vail is an area which shouldn’t be overlooked.
See Vail ski accommodation on Chalets Direct.
Aspen / Snowmass Ski Resort
Aspen / Snowmass is known as the “power of 4” and consists of the 4 mountains of Aspen, Snowmass, Buttermilk & Aspen Highlands, all interconnected by bus.All 4 resorts are on the same lift pass and Aspen being Aspen you can even arrange for your skis to be transferred to a different mountain for the next day's skiing so they're ready & waiting for you.
Aspen town itself is well known for its sophisticated, lively & varied nightlife and has a plethora of restaurants, bars, designer shops, art galleries to choose from, plus an ice skating rink & even a rugby field right in the middle.
- The rich & famous often frequent Aspen, so people watching is a sport in itself here.
- Aspen mountain has a gondola from the middle of town and consists of blue runs and above but is not really for beginners.
- Snowmass has the most skiing of the 4 areas, but is a little quieter especially at night.
- Snowmass is great for families with its new ski school & childcare centre “The Treehouse” & has tons of ski in, ski out accommodation, making getting to the skiing very convenient.
- Snowmass is a huge ski area, covering every type of terrain. It even has a people mover lift which the locals call the “skittles” to take you from the base area to the mall area part way up the mountain
- Buttermilk is the beginner mountain and home to the X-games, Aspen Highland has advanced & expert including hike to terrain.
See Aspen accommodation on Chalets Direct.
Beaver Creek Ski Resort
"Not exactly roughing it” is their slogan and that pretty much says it all. Guests skiing in Beaver Creek are spoilt by the escalators taking you up to the slopes so you don’t have to walk up the steps, the chaps unloading your skis from the ski bus and the complimentary freshly baked cookies at 3pm each afternoon.On the same lift pass as Vail, Beaver Creek is only about 20 minutes away and has a quiet sophistication. It is slightly more reserved than the flashier Vail. It is home to the rich & famous and ex-presidents and celebrities have their homes here.
- Beaver Creek Village is compact and designed around the ice rink and has a high standard of restaurants, boutique shops, galleries & bars.
- It has some good ski in, ski out accommodation including The Osprey, Beaver Creek, which is the closest hotel to a chairlift in North America.
- Bachelor Gulch is the second base area at Beaver Creek with the Ritz Carlton Hotel and its outdoor pool at the bottom of the slopes & other ski in, ski out accommodation.
- The third area of Beaver Creek ski resort is Arrowhead. The town of Avon 10 minutes outside Beaver Creek has more affordable accommodation and has a gondola which goes up to Beaver Creek Landing, from where skiers can take another lift to access the Beaver Creek ski area.
- Beaver Creek seems to groom its intermediate slopes non-stop, plus is host to the “Birds of Prey” world cup race, which is skiable but not for the faint-hearted!
Steamboat Springs Ski Resort
The historic town of Steamboat is about 10 minutes drive from the main ski area. The town has a western feel to it with shops selling cowboy boots & hats, amongst the sophisticated restaurants. The strawberry hot springs are natural mineral springs, just a few minute’s drive from Steamboat and are a must after some strenuous skiing.- The ski area has 6 peaks of world class skiing, including some fantastic glade skiing.
- Steamboat coined the name “Champagne powder” and is incredible on a powder day
- The base of the ski area is developing more and more each year and there is now the main area around the gondola and Ski Times Square just a little further along.
- There are some top notch ski in, ski out places to stay at the base with every amenity you could imagine.
- Steamboat is pretty family friendly & offers free children’s lift passes with an adult pass, a nice touch.
Winter Park Ski Resort
Winter Park is a down to earth town, more low key than many of the other ski resorts and thus good value for money. They say that the only time you see a fur coat in Winter Park is when it’s on the animals!The town is where most of the shops, bars & restaurants are, set along its main street and has quieter nightlife, some late night bars, but no clubs as such. The base area is about 10 minutes drive or bus from town and is the closest resort to Denver.
Winter Park Resort is known as Colorado’s favourite, is where many Coloradans learnt to ski and is still very popular with local residents
- A skiers mountain Winter Park has the most consistent snow year after year, 30 feet or so.
- Winter Park Resort consists of the main base area at Winter Park with its beginner area, intermediate & advanced runs, Mary Jane, famous for its epic moguls, Vasquez Ridge a quieter area, with blue & black runs, Parsenn Bowl, above treeline with intermediate & advanced skiing & the Cirque for expert skiers. If you're into tree skiing, there is some fantastic natural, gladed terrain on Eagle Wind.
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September Snow in Colorado
Thanks to Helen of Chalets USA for this update on Colorado resorts – winter will be here before we know it!“It’s snowing in Colorado USA – September 2012!
There aren’t many months of the year that it doesn’t snow in Colorado – locals will tell you they’ve seen white flakes every month of the year and in a typical year it’s really only July & August that miss out.
This year is no different and bodes well for the upcoming ski season. Several Colorado resorts including high altitude resort Breckenridge & Winter Park saw dustings of snow on the peaks early September. This was followed by another storm 19 Sept and yet more 25 Sept which covered the bowl areas & many ski runs in the Winter Park / Mary Jane area.
While the Aspens in the valley are still turning their gorgeous yellow colour and tourists are visiting the turning trees, the slopes are starting to get a good covering ready for ski season.
As usual Arapahoe Basin & Loveland ski areas are competing to be the first to start their lifts running in October. This will be followed by several of the major resorts mid November. Breckenridge plans to open on November 2, “Colorado’s favourite” Winter Park on November 14 and Vail on November 16. The following week Beaver Creek “not exactly roughing it” is scheduled to open as well as Steamboat, official home of “Champagne powder”. Thanksgiving day will see skiers whizzing down the slopes of Aspen & Snowmass.By the time the crowds arrive for Christmas and New Year the resorts will have been up and running for over a month, ready and raring to please skiers and boarders alike.”
Latest pics below:
Aspen
Winter ParkThanks Helen for the good news – take a look at Colorado ski holiday options!
Anyone out there with European updates please get in touch as we’d love to hear from you!
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Breckenridge Ski Holidays – Top 5 Things to Love!
We asked Helen of Chalets USA to tell us what's so great about Breckenridge. It didn't take her long to come up with her top 5 reasons to ski there!
1) Ski in, ski out.
There are so many ski in, ski out opportunities in Breckenridge. There are clusters of accommodation around the base at Peak 9 like The Village at Breckenridge, Cedars townhomes & Trails End condos. Then just up the run is Beaver Run Resort right by the base of the Beaver Run superchair. Plus the runs have extended into the town & vice versa along the green Snowflake run to the bottom of the Snowflake chair and all the way into town along the long 4 O'Clock run.2) Historic Mountain Town.
Breckenridge was originally a base camp when gold was discovered along the Blue River in 1859. Nowadays Breckenridge contains over 350 historic structures, making it the largest historic district in the state of Colorado. The Town is a delight to explore with its many boutiques, art galleries, independent coffee shops, bars & restaurants. They even buried all the power lines a few years ago, so the town looks its picturesque best!3) Within reach.
Everything is close by in Breckenridge. The slopes virtually reach the town in many areas unlike many US resorts where the town & ski area is separated & the town is fairly compact. The new gondola has connected the town to Peak 7 & 8, plus there is a great free shuttle bus system to get you from peak to peak & into town if you need it.4) Nightlife
Breckenridge is world famous for its nightlife & you certainly can party into the early hours if you so wish. Breckenridge has a huge variety of dining options to choose from. Try Breck's modern restaurants Ember, Relish or Modis on the main street, which serves an eclectic mix of bistro & asian flavoured fare or try "Steak & Rib" often recommended by locals. On the drinks side there is something for everyone from sports bars to micro breweries to wine tasting. If clubbing is your thing try Cecilias with "hot" DJs & occasionally a live band & a long long 6 hour "happy hour"…
5) The slopes.
Breckenridge is a world famous resort so it goes without saying the skiing / snowboarding is fantastic and Breckenridge has the highest chairlift in North America. Peak 7 and Peak 9 are an intermediate's paradise with run after run of cruisy blues. For more advanced skiers try the wide open bowls off the T-bar or bumps on Peak 8. For those who like to experience rock & cornice drops head to Lake Chutes or to the back of Peak 9 for stunning tree skiing. -
Cycling in the Alps: Galibier, Morzine, Alp D’Huez, Joux Plaine, Colombiere…….all mythical stage places of the Tour de France.
This week we're extremely fortunate to have Mike Booth as guest contributor. Mike owns luxury Chalet Annabelle in Chamonix and runs holidays year round so you can discover and enjoy the Alps in all seasons. Here he's given us a great round up of great routes for road bikers.
Road biking is back in vogue. Lycra is trendy. With the achievements of Team Sky’s Manx riders Mark Cavendish and Peter Kennaugh, especially Cavs’ success winning the Tour de France Green jersey last year, then becoming Britain’s first World Champion in over 40 years, more and more keen road cyclists are heading to the French Alps each summer to battle with their own Tour de France.
Access to the Alps has never been easier and once your bike has been dismantled and packed in a bespoke bike box (which you can hire or buy www.bikeboxalan.co.uk), you can be in the Alpine hub of Geneva within a few hours via Liverpool, Manchester or Gatwick or the new BA flight via London City.
With the rising popularity of the cyclosportive market and many riders setting their sights on the Etape du Tour, Marmotte and Time Megeve cyclosportives, there are many challenges in the Alps to prepare you.
At the heart of the French Alps is the self styled extreme capital of the Alps, Chamonix, which in summer and early autumn offers access to many of the cols made famous by Le Tour, in addition to some local favorites and the ever rising popularity of the cyclists Tour du Mont Blanc (CTMB).
The CTMB can be achieved in 2 days to 6 days depending on the group fitness and takes a circular route of Western Europe's highest mountain. Cycling firstly through France, onto Switzerland, over the Grand St Bernard pass to Italy and back into France. With a distance of 360km, 9000m of climbing, over 7 major mountain passes, Western Europe's highest peak Mont Blanc (4810m) is never far from sight.
The road bike is an amazing machine and with the right gearing set up and a concerted training campaign it is it possible for the relatively fit cyclist with the right determination to conquer the Alps. The key to 'enjoying' your trip to the Alps is the critical choice on gearing. There is no shame riding a triple chain-set, or a compact set up and you are pretty much guaranteed to use every gear. If you opt against the advice, those with a traditional gearing set up to tackle the Alps will soon be lining the pockets of the local bike shop once in France!It’s widely acknowledged that Alp D’Huez is the climb most cyclists want to conquer and whilst its popularity and place in history is not questioned, there are many more Alpine passes which are both more challenging, and definitely more scenic. For me it would have to be the climb through the hairpin bends of the Col de St Petit Bernard from the Italian side, rising above the tree line and stopping for a quick cappuccino at the summit (2188m) before descending over the border back into France to Bourg St Maurice (820m) - after a few hundred meters on the flat you are climbing again over the Cormet de Roseland (1967m), surely one of the most scenic Cols in the Alps. Over the summit you descend towards the azure waters of the Roseland lake and into the famous cheese making valley of Beaufort.
“It’s fair to say even after living in the Alps for 5 years its still a big achievement to reach a Col summit such as the Colombiere. Taking some time to absorb the spectacular scenery and wrap up for a spine tingling descent!”
Mike, and wife Jude, own BreatheBike.com based permanently in the Chamonix Valley France. In 2011 Mike competed in Europe’s toughest cyclosportive, the Marmotte and finished in the top 10% of starters in the Etape du Tour Cyclosportive to the summit of Alp D’Huez.
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Ski Fun – What’s on this Spring!
It's been piste to piste sunshine for at least a couple of weeks now across the Alps, although there was a healthy top up of snow earlier this week – as much as 80cms of fresh in some resorts! It means that conditions are excellent and as we head into the last few weeks of this winter season, now is as good a time as any to get out there.
If you haven't yet experienced the pleasures of spring skiing – there's definitely a lot to recommend it. Days are longer and sunnier and you'll find a far more relaxed frame of mind in resort. It's the time for leisurely lunches on sunny terraces, piste picnics and watching the world glide by. There's also quite a few fun goings on to add to the entertainment – live music, open air concerts, end of season races, and generally a party atmosphere around town.
Here's a few of the top parties going on over the next few weeks!Xtreme Verbier – 23-25 March: The coolest ski spectacle ever.
Verbier's Xtreme rounds off the Freeride World Tour and gathers together the top freeriders on the planet as they compete for the best lines down the infamous Becs des Rosses. Spectators can get a grandstand view from the Gentianes side of the mountain. The actual contest is scheduled for this Saturday 24th March and of course in true Verbier style there'll be lots of opportunities to get into the party mood before and after the main event. See the full programme here.Rock The Pistes (24-28 March) & Basscamp (2-6 April): Portes du Soleil/Morzine
The Portes du Soleil is gearing up for two big music events over the next few weeks.Firstly Rock The Pistes, which kicks off this Saturday, is a series of free daytime concerts taking place actually on the pistes throughout the Portes du Soleil ski area. The music continues after the lifts close with more free concerts in the various resorts.
This year's will be the second Rock The Piste. We love to see resorts making an effort – so if you're in the Portes Du Soleil for the event let us know what you think! Click here more information on what's on where.
Basscamp: Morzine's first electronic music and snowsports festival kicks off 5 days of music, mayhem and mountain madness on April 2nd. Morzine's bars and clubs will be hosting international DJ's, there'll be competitions galore and lots going on both on and off the mountain. The festival culminates in a massive Morzine Street Party in the town square – this year's theme is Back to the 80's. So if you're heading out that way be sure to pack some fancy dress items! See all the details here.
Basscamp-festival Morzine from basscamp-festival on Vimeo.
Altitude Comedy Festival – Mayrhofen, 26-31st March:
Altitude has moved from Meribel to Mayrhofen. It's a unique event and a great opportunity to see some of the best UK comedy stars and enjoy the glorious Zillertal ski area at the same time.This year's Altitude stars Jimmy Carr, Frankie Boyle, Tim Minchin, Ed Byrne, The Cuban Brothers, Rufus Hound and many more. Each day there are apres ski, evening and late night comedy shows. As well as the comedy there will of course be music and much fun with resident DJ's and on and off slope entertainment.
It's a great idea and where else would you get to see all those stars in the same place? Get all the details and the full line up here!
There's much more going on throughout the Alps too as resorts start to party. Spring is defintely the time for kicking back and enjoying life. If you've got news and information on what's happening in a ski resort near you let us know! Post on our Facebook page or send us an email at info@chaletsdirect.com.
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Tignes Getting Set for the X Games!
Tignes is gearing up to host the third European Winter X Games this week, which takes place from March 14th – 16th.Around 150 world-class athletes will be competing. There will be eight different competitions for men and women over three days with SuperPipe events in both skiing and snowboarding, a hair-raising Slopestyle course, plus lots of demos, live shows, and airbag and big air events. This year's Games also see the inclusion of Shaun White, Olympic gold medallist and X Games USA veteran – this year is the first time he'll be taking part in the European event.
If you're in Tignes or fancy heading to Tignes to catch a piece of the action see the programme of events here – and best of all it's all free to watch! Local hero, Kevin Rolland, talks about how it feels to go for Gold at last year's X Games:
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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.
