The Ski Blog

Five reasons to make Courchevel Le Praz your next ski holiday destination

Clare from Ski Magic gives us the lowdown on her home and favourite place to be!

Courchevel Le Praz has a loyal fan-base of snowboarders and skiers who love the chic French vibe and the picturesque forested slopes as well as the easy access to the enormous Three Valleys ski area. Here are 5 reasons to make it the next choice for your ski holiday…

1. Two high-speed lifts: The brand new Alpinium building (opened in December 2019) houses a speedy new gondola which whizzes up to Courchevel 1850 in just 5 minutes 50 seconds. The covered Foret chairlift, installed in 2014, takes you to the Bouc Blanc above La Tania from where you can head over to Meribel in just one more chairlift.
   With Courchevel Le Praz as your base you’re at a great starting place to access the Three Valleys ski area:1 lift – Le Praz bubble = you arrive in Courchevel 1850
   2 lifts – Foret and Dou des Lanches chairs = ski straight down into Meribel.
2. Pretty forest setting: The tree-lined runs of Le Praz are an ideal place to play in snowy weather, the trees allowing greater visibility than higher up on more exposed pistes. Being amongst the trees is also great for secret powder stashes which don’t get tracked out so quickly as more popular haunts. (Shhh, don’t tell everyone!) The chalets and village are on a plateau beneath the slopes and have incredible views across to the other side of the valley and the mountains of the Vanoise National Park.
3. A real French village: With strictly low-rise chalets and apartments, you really feel as though you’re part of an authentic French ski resort when you stay here – Le Praz is very popular with French skiers who have holiday homes in the village and very few British skiers have cottoned on to this charming mountain village resort, despite the towering ski jumps which were built for the 1992 Albertville Olympics and are Le Praz’s famous landmark. You can often spot daredevils training on the jumps from the Murettes piste.
4. So many restaurants! With atmospheric vaulted wine bars, posh Michelin star dining, burgers and chic hotel restaurants, you’re spoilt for choice on chalet night off. Meander the winding streets and your tummy will be rumbling as you read the restaurant menus… Prices are often more reasonable for a lunchtime menu than the mountain restaurants, so it’s possible to try out several during the week! For après-ski, try a vin chaud or two in the sunshine outside the Table de Mon Grand-Père (Ski Magic’s director claims it to be the best in Courchevel!) or dance to one of the live bands in L’Elephant.
5. A new perspective on a ski holiday: Take a couple of hours away from the pistes and try something new. How about:
   – Cross Country (Nordic) skiing– there’s a lovely track winding through the peaceful forest and you can hire equipment from the local ski shop.  Start from the track opposite the bottom of the ski jumps and enjoy a peaceful couple of hours discovering this graceful sport, seeing the scenic village and surrounding mountains from a viewpoint that not many visitors experience!
   – Ski touring – why use the lifts when you could walk up the mountain?! If you enjoy a challenge then this is the sport for you – the ‘ski de randonnee‘ track takes you into 1850 or even higher if you’re still feeling energetic… You’ll need special equipment including ‘skins’ for the bottom of your skis, which can be hired locally. If you’re in training for a summer event then this could help you keep your fitness levels up during your holiday!
   – Tandem paragliding– You’ll be blown away by the bird’s eye view of the Courchevel ski area – the white peaks go on for miles and miles… Landing in Le Praz you’ll also be just a moment away from the Table de Mon Grand-Père terrace!

All in all, Courchevel Le Praz is a fantastic way to experience the enormous ski area of the Three Valleys, with plenty of activities, lovely walking trails for non-skiers, a friendly village atmosphere and scenic views…

At Ski Magic there are two Courchevel Le Praz chalets to choose from, both in our flagship range which include swimming pools which make them perfect for 3G family ski trips. What's more Le Loup Blanc still has some availability for March - so why not try a luxury spring ski holiday in this amazing resort!

Le Loup Blanc with private swimming pool in Courchevel Le Praz.

See all ski chalets, apartments and hotels in Courchevel

Why Yoga gives skiers an edge - and not just on the slopes!

It’s official David Beckham, Jennifer Aniston, Russell Brand, Ryan Gosling. Lady Gaga they are all doing it. And world famous ski racers…….do not pass a day without a practice. Lorraine Clissold explains the benefits of yoga and how it can help your skiing.

1) FLEXIBILITY

The obvious one -  and a major factor in injury prevention.

My experience is that most yoga students first come to class to work on their flexibility or strength. And that they feel the benefit of a regular practice very quickly.

As a recreational skier it is possible to reach a reasonable, or pretty accomplished, standard without being particular fit or flexible. And that is great if all is going well. But it is when you catch that edge or hit that bump that your flexibility, or lack of it, will make the difference. Most often it is the knee that takes the brunt of any mishap but the accident more often than not will be initiated at the hip.

Because modern life for most people involves moving on one plane, sitting, standing, or if you are lucky, walking, tightness or limited movement in the hip area is common. Moreover it is frequently accompanied by a degree of inflammation or lower back pain which makes movement uncomfortable and then exacerbates the problem.

In yoga we work with the whole body, usually starting by moving the spine and releasing any tensions there and then mobilising the joints before stretching the muscles and opening the hips.

Not only will a fit flexible body be able to weather an impact more easily than a tight fit one but it will be less likely to tense up when that impact take place. Which leads me on too…….

2) BREATH CONTROL

Where yoga becomes more than an exercise class

The breath is the only physiological process which is both consciously and subconsciously controlled. Thus it links the two parts of the mind. So the greater the awareness of the breath the more we are able to control thoughts and actions. Pretty useful in all areas of life - and the real bonus on a black run.

Yoga teaches awareness of the rhythms of the breath and also specific breathing techniques or ‘pranayama’. Rhythmic breathing leads to rhythmic skiing. It is usual in yoga to breath in to lengthen and out to release or twist. Perfect for linked turns. When the breath falters so does the body. So the ability to keep the breath steady will help a skier recover from a sticky patch.

And for the anxious types then there are pranayamas which will help calm the mind before hitting the slopes.  These can be a simple as taking deep breaths into the whole of the torso, focusing on a three part inhalation or exhalation.

3) PHYSICAL AWARENESS

Bringing the body back into balance

Yoga is a totally holistic practice which helps you become aware of imbalances or blockages. These might be causing pain or discomfort or simply preventing you from performing as well as you might. Many of us are very one sided which can make skiing a challenge if you hit that big mogul or patch of ice on your weak side.

In a good yoga class you will soon become aware of imbalances in your posture or the way you walk which might impact knees, hips back or shoulders. Many issues start with badly aligned feet. It fact it is amazing how many aches and pains can be reduced by mastering the Tadasana or Mountain pose which looks so simple - just standing still!

The psoas muscle which connects the your spine to the legs, can also cause alignment issues, along with back problems and other pelvic issues. It is a particularly difficult one to deal with too as a lot of the tension it holds can be subconscious. Hence a holistic practice like yoga has more chance of sorting it out than hours spent pumping iron at the gym.

And of course a yoga practice will include one legged postures, which, once your body is in alignment, will help improve your balance and therefore your chances of staying upright on the slopes.

4) MENTAL AWARENESS

Put your mind in your body

My yoga teacher always said ‘You don’t put your body into the pose - you put the pose into your body’

When you truly practice yoga your mind is in your body. The student who has perfect alignment but who is thinking about what he will have for dinner is not doing yoga. While the person who is struggling to touch their hip but is feeling what is holding him back and where his strengths and weakness are is on a journey.

Knowing how your mind and body work together, both where they do it well and where they need improvement, is a big leap forward in any training programme. And once you have mastered that you can begin ...

5) BREAKING HABITS

Come out of the grooves

Habits are not always bad (though some are better than others!). What they do, however, is to create grooves, our impulses find it very comfortable to run along them. Ever noticed how you tune in to the piece of music that you listen to often? It’s literally in the grooves.

Once we reach adult age we will undoubtedly have adopted a lifestyle which involves a large amount of repetition. Our minds and bodies are stuck in the grooves. Helpful, perhaps to get us to work on time, but not so great if trying to improve in a sport such as skiing.

Yoga breaks habits. We turn upside down; put our legs in the air; twist, turn and balance. Even more of a change for some, we slow down, we tune into our breath. And as we learn to break habits on the mat, we find it easier to break them in life. And on the slopes the difference between a good habit and bad could mean a more comfortable run, a safer descent, and less stress on the body so a longer day's skiing. 

6) BEING IN THE MOMENT

Any good athlete, and skiers are no exception, is totally in the moment. This is a skill that may be easier to perfect on the yoga mat than when racing down the slopes. And once mastered it will improve not only your ski technique but every aspect of your life.

A fellow yogi and long distance runner once told me her best performance always comes when her only thought was ‘I am running’. Not ‘am I running my best?’ ‘Or am I going to win?’ Simply running with her whole being. Any ski racer will tell you the same. 

This concept is closely related to the idea of putting your mind into your body but perhaps an easier one to take off the mat. It can also enhance your enjoyment of every second spent on the slopes.

7) LETTING GO

Put in the work and enjoy the journey

The most important lesson that yoga teaches is from the ancient yogic text the Bagada gita: ‘Do your best and let go of the outcome’. A difficult one to take on board, particularly for the more competitive in nature. But so transformative when adopted. Success is transitory and once achieved at best leads to the desire for more success; at worst it can lead to a hollow feeling of ‘what was all the fuss about’.

Whether your ambition is take the fall line with a series of linked parallel turns, or to bounce through the powder with abandon, put the work in and enjoy the journey. But if you find that instead of turning heads you are about to land on your bottom then let it go. You’ll fall more comfortably anyway.

 

Lorraine Clissold is a yoga teacher, Ayurvedic coach and partner at Yogandspice at Valley View, a small retreat centre near Whitby North Yorkshire, recently listed as one of the UK's best wellbeing holiday retreats in The Guardian. Find out more about Yoga and Spice Retreats in North Yorkshire

She is also the proud mother of Honor Clissold, GB Alpine ski racer. 

New comedy festival launches in Les Gets this January!

20-24 January, 2020 - Let's Get Comedie in Les Gets

There's a new comedy festival in Les Gets this year which promises to deliver in both French and English, mixing and matching both languages within each event. It's the "Frenglish Festival du Rire"!

Let’s Get Comédie takes place over 4 days with shows that include improvisation, stand up, mime and musical comedy. Venues include the Salle de La Colombier in the resort centre and also The Marmotte Hotel and are split into après ski and evening sessions. Doors and a fully serviced bar will open from 8pm with shows starting at 9pm. Other shows will add to the festival vibe from après-ski right through to the wee small hours in local bars, restaurants and hotels.

Award winning international comics

Headlining acts include Paris based comic and TV funny man Paul Taylor, BBCR4 regular and Live at the Apollo headliner Marcus Brigstocke, Mash Reports Rachel Parris and French musical comedian Redouanne Harjane.

They will be joined on stage by mime sensation Men In Coats, well known improvisers Andy Smart and Ian Coppinger, Sing-a-long virtuoso Kirsty Newton, Stand-Up headliners Phil Darwin, Tom Wriggesworth, Nick Doody and Ian Moore.

There will also be daily après ski music featuring Hobo Chic, The Blakanic Project, Squid Lips and Les Lunettes.

The festival is organised by Les Gets Tourisme and Piste Productions (Taking The Piste Comedy, Piste Bash, Altitude Festival).

Accommodation and festival pass ticket packages are available through the official partner, Chalets 1066.

Full Line-Up and Prices

Ticket price for all shows (limited to the first 100 purchases), €50.00     

APRÈS-SKI Session

• Marcus Brigstocke – Tuesday January 21 - 18h, €10.00 

HEADLINE ACTS

• Rachel Parris – Monday January 20 - 21h, €25.00           
• Marcus Brigstocke & Rachel Parris - Tuesday January 21 – 21h, €25.00 
• Paul Taylor & Marcus Brigstocke – Wednesday January 22 - 21h, €25.00             
• Paul Taylor – Thursday January 23 - 21h, €25.00             
• Redouanne Harjane – Friday January 24 - 21h, €25.00

LATE AND LIVE STAND UP

• Phil Darwin - Tuesday January 21 - 21h, €10.00
• Ian Moore - Thursday January 23 - 21h, €10.00

For tickets and more details letsgetcomedie.com