The Ski Blog

The Three Valleys and its Three Snowparks

Based full time in the Three Valleys for over 20 years, Clare from Ski Magic has brought up her two children here, with winters spent exploring this huge ski area (and of course that means plenty of time hanging around the various snowparks and fun areas!)

Here’s her guide for anyone planning a ski holiday with older children, teens or people whose idea of fun is flying off jumps or sliding along rails.

Where are the best Three Valleys’ snowparks?

There are several snowparks across the Three Valleys which are dedicated to freestyle fun. Each has its own ‘personality’ and style, and each one has an area for beginners, intermediates and experts so you can gain experience and confidence just like on the pistes.

The actual elements (the jumps/things to do) in each snowpark changes during the season, depending on the amount snow and the creative inspiration of the team that builds them, so you can’t guarantee there will be the same things each year, but usually the snowparks are located in the same places which are shown on the Three Valleys piste map.

Not sure what some of the freestyle terms mean? Scroll down for our lingo explainer!

Here’s our guide on where to get your kicks in the 3 Valleys for freestyle.

Courchevel Family Park

From the name “Family Park” you’d think this was a bit tame, but actually a lot of local freestylers come here instead of heading to Meribel. Stronger beginners and intermediates will definitely enjoy the boardercross (to the right as you go through the entrance), with its rollers and hairpin turns. Go one at a time, or race between two (any more than that and it’s a bit crowded!)

At the Family Park you’ll also find kickers rated S, M, L and XL, and often within these graded routes are rails and boxes.

The site itself is not enormous but actually that makes it easy to do a few quicker laps using the drag lifts Sources/Rocher de l’Ombre, or Biollay chairlift.

There are also two Big Air Bags alongside the Family Park – one is for skiers/boarders, and there’s also one for sliding down whilst sat in a tractor inner tube style ring. There are a few picnic benches at the bottom so you can watch the jumpers or have a snack.

How to get to Courchevel Family Park: Located in Courchevel 1850. Take the Verdons gondola lift or the Sources/Rocher de l’Ombre drag lifts. It runs parallel to the blue Verdons piste so anyone that wants to avoid the snowpark can do that and meet up again at the bottom.
Laps: Sources/Rocher de l’Ombre drag lifts.

Meribel Snowpark

Meribel’s Open Park is much bigger than Courchevel Family Park, and has loads of different features for all levels with some really challenging elements. The route starts with a half pipe, then there are kickers, boxes and rails in Small, Medium and Large, with a quarter pipe lower down. You’ll also find a ski cross run to the left. The ‘Experts’ zone has the biggest XL jumps, which are for ‘experts only’ as the signs say.

How to get to Meribel Snowpark: At the top of the Plattières bubble.
Laps: on the chairlift Chatelet.

Val Thorens Snowpark

The original Three Valleys snowpark is in Val Thorens, and it’s still a good one! There are several elements and features for different levels: a boardercross, three freestyle zones depending on how big you want to go, plus rails, boxes and a half pipe.

You’ll also find an airbag next to the Le Roc drag lift at the Rond Point des Pistes and is open in the afternoons.

How to get there: Via the Moutière chairlift.
Laps: on the Plateaux drag lift.

What are the fun areas for younger children in the Three Valleys?

The Three Valleys is well set up for smaller children too. There’s the Elements Fun Park at the top of the Legends chairlift from Meribel Chaudanne, as well as Inuits and Yeti zones. Courchevel’s Family Park has a boardercross which is nice for kids who aren’t yet ready to fly off the the jumps but want the sensation of flying!

In Meribel there’s also the Piste des Animaux with info points and sculptures of the local animals, like eagles, marmottes and wolves.

How to stay safe in the Three Valleys snowparks:

• Start small, and try out the S jumps to get a feel for it, especially if it’s your first time, or your first day back on skis/a snowboard.
• Once you’re ready to try the M kickers, wait at the top to watch others hit them first, so you can get an idea of the speed needed to clear the jump – the last thing you want to do is go too slow and end up landing too short.
• In general, snowparks are busier after lunchtime once the snow has become softer and nicer to land on. If it’s busy, you know conditions are ideal!

Freestyle ski and snowboard lingo explainer:

Features/Elements: The fun parts of the snowpark, ie. the jumps, rails etc.

Kicker: a jump

Rail: looks like a handrail, made of metal. For sliding sideways on.

Box: A long metal/plastic ‘box’ with a flat top. Slide either forwards, backwards or sideways.

Boardercross/Ski Cross: a route with ‘rollers’ - little hills - to go up and down. You can ski or snowboard on it.

Air bag: A huge inflatable cushion – slide down the kicker and fly into the air, then land safely on the bag.

Park rat: Someone who hangs out at the snowpark a lot.

Switch: Skiing or snowboarding backwards

Flip: back flips or front flips can be done on the largest kickers.

180 or ‘one eighty’: A spin to face the opposite direction, ie. if you’re skiing forwards and do a 180 jump, you’ll land in switch (backwards!)

360/720 etc.: If you do a 360, you spin all the way round, 360 degrees. The numbers go up, the further you spin, ie. 540, 1080…. It’s usually said ‘three sixty’ etc. rather than ‘three hundred and sixty’!

Grab: Whilst in the air, grab different parts of your skis or snowboard and hold for a couple of seconds until you start to descend back to the snow.

Send/sendy: if it’s a big or sendy jump, you need to send it, to make the landing.

Butter: putting all your weight onto the tip or tail of your skis or snowboard to slide and spin.

Stack: If you don’t land a jump, you’ve ‘stacked it’!

Steezy: Looking good (think style + ease)

Gnarly: A person or a jump can be gnarly. Basically means terrifying!

 

Thanks to Clare for all the valuable tip and insights! Ski Magic have catered and self-catered chalets in Courchevel, La Tania and Meribel. With tons of experience and expertise they have been offering amazing ski holidays in the Three Valleys for over 20 years! Check out their chalets here!

Why the mountains are a great summer destination too!

 

The ski season is almost over - there's a few resorts, such as Val d'Isere, which are extending their winter for a little longer due to bumper April snowfall, but the majority have closed or will be closing in the next few days.

But did you know that the mountains are a fantastic summer destination too? Here's just a few reasons why:

1. Amazing scenery: the Alps offer stunning natural beauty with majestic mountain peaks, rolling hills, and crystal-clear lakes. This makes it a great destination for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor activities. Most resorts have dedicated hiking and mountain biking trails. It's incredible how different a resort you know and love in the winter will look when the snow has gone. 

2. Great temperatures: summers are typically mild and sunny, with average temperatures ranging from 15-25°C. This makes it a comfortable climate for outdoor activities such as golf, tennis, climbing, paragliding etc. With the extreme heatwaves that occurred across Europe last year, resorts at altitude provided a welcome respite. It's best to be prepared for the odd rainy day however, as the weather can be more unpredictable than your average beach town. 

3. Lots to do: we've already mentioned hiking, cycling, mountain biking, but there's also swimming, rock climbing, white water rafting, and more. You'll find lots of cultural and historical attractions too, such as museums, castles, and picturesque villages in the local areas - so a car can certainly be a bonus for visiting some of the most beautiful towns dotted around the Alps. Alpine towns and villages also preserve and celebrate local heritage - with charming, picturesque markets and summer festivals.

4. Delicious cuisine: The alpine region is known for its delicious cuisine, which features hearty dishes like cheese fondue, raclette, and schnitzel. The region is also famous for its cheeses, wines, and beers.

5. Relaxation and wellness: with the growth of summer tourism, the mountains are also a great destination for those looking for relaxation and wellness. There are many spas and wellness centres in the region that offer massages, saunas, and other treatments. 

Overall, the Alps offer a great combination of natural beauty, outdoor activities, delicious cuisine, and relaxation, making it a perfect destination for summer holidays. So what are you waiting for? Check out our range of summer holidays here!

Chalet Food Deliveries - giving you more options for your ski holiday!

Whether it's Hello Fresh or Amazon Now, people today expect their products to be fast, easy and - most of all - delivered. Living busy lives, we're asking for more and more of our goods and services to come to us — from burgers to ironing boards and everything in between.

So it's no surprise to see the same trend reflected in ski resorts. When booking their winter escapes, savvy skiers are increasingly turning away from traditional, off-the-shelf packages. Instead, they're cherry-picking the best local services and getting them delivered to the chalet door.

Build your own ski holiday

It starts with a door-to-door transfer and lift passes waiting on arrival. Then there's the ski hire delivery and boot-fitting service right in your own chalet.

When it comes to childcare, your nanny will usually come to collect the little ones. And after a long day on the slopes, why go limping out into the snow when you can get your massage treatment in the comfort of your chalet?

Then there's the chalet catering.

Traditionally, the Alps offered a straight choice between self-catered accommodation or a chalet with a host. But, over the last few years, growing numbers of skiers have been opting for a third option of getting food delivered to the chalet or apartment.

As just one example, we recently shone a spotlight on a frozen meals delivery service. But there are other options, too — perhaps the best-known being  www.chaletkitchen.com.

Since it was founded in 2013, Chalet Kitchen has been delivering fresh meals to chalets and apartments throughout the Portes du Soleil ski area. Ordering meals for all or part of their holiday, guests can receive a daily morning delivery of breakfast and a two-course evening meal, plus tasty afternoon cakes.

Company founder and head chef, Raphael Cabuis, explains: "you just have to pop the main dish in the oven, serve - et voilà!" All the benefits of going catered without the restrictions and costs of having chalet hosts. If their reviews are anything to go by, hungry skiers are lapping it up.

The flexi-catering revolution

In fact, food deliveries have become so popular that chalet companies are now looking to get in on the action. Offering a no-frills package of meals plus accommodation, various companies are now rebranding this concept as "flexi-catering".

Some are even putting their own spin on it. In Chalet Clovis, Host Savoie call it HS Fusion.  But the concept is always the same: enjoy a more flexible holiday and save money by doing without the chalet staff. The money you save can cover the cost of your transfers and your ski hire.

Having road-tested the flexi-catering idea with a stay at Raphael's own chalet company, Mountain & Tradition, The Daily Mail Ski Supplement described flexi-catering as "one of the best-kept secrets in the Alps" (see here).

Past guests certainly seem to agree that having chalet meals come to you is a concept which can deliver great value and plenty of flavour, too.

Find out more

Food delivery with Chalet Kitchen is available from €16 per person per night. For more information, visit www.chaletkitchen.com. If you’re a chalet owner looking for background catering options, click here.

 

 

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Traditional Coq Au Vin - recipe from Bon Appetit

If you're planning an alpine getaway to the Morzine, Les Gets, Samoens area this summer, or next winter, and don't want the hassle of shopping, cooking or always eating out, then there is a great solution available.

Bon Appetit is a gourmet frozen meal service which will deliver superbly-cooked dishes to your door, so all you have to do is heat and eat. You can order online in advance of your holiday or even order when you're in resort for next day delivery. The menu is broad and mouthwatering, with dishes ranging from traditional Tartiflette to Thai Green Curry.  

Bon Appetit is the brainchild of Martin Clare, a professional chef from London who has always had a love for the mountains. Now based in the Northern French Alps, Martin can combine his two loves of skiing and creating wonderful food. 

Martin has shared with us here the recipe for one of his favourite dishes - a traditional Coq au Vin with a twist. As the British summer is on hold for a few days, why not give it a try! 

Coq au Vin

• 1 bottle of Burgundy or pinot noir,
• 6 chicken legs in two,
• 1 small leek in rounds,
• 2 sticks of celery in sticks,
• 2 carrots in thick long slices,
• 3 springs of thyme,
• 3 bay leaves

Marinate all the above overnight in a saucepan.

Remove legs from liquor and lightly sauté in butter till golden brown, pop back into the pan with 350ml chicken stock, 1 pinch of pepper and a good pinch of salt.

Take the saucepan to the heat, bring to a simmer and let it tick over for about 45 mins.

You will now have time to sauté 250g sliced button mushrooms, 24ish baby white pearl onions, 200g lardons.

When the leg meat is nearly falling from the bone, remove from liquor and set aside.

Lightly thicken with 30g of cornflour. 

Chefs tip: add 2 beef OXO cubes, a dash of balsamic vinegar and 30g good very dark chocolate, this will cut the acidity and give it richness and depth of flavour.

Add back the chicken, mushrooms, onions and lardons. Bring back to the heat for 5 mins, finish with roughly chopped parsley and serve from the pot. Serve with mash or dauphinoise and green beans, Dijon on the side. Bon Appetit!

Click through for more information about Bon Appetit where you will see full details of their menu and how to order.

 

 

 

 

 

Big snowfall forecast this week and excellent ski offers available for March and April!

This winter has been special so far, with fantastic snowfall in January, great conditions in February and now March is looking set to bring us some excellent skiing!

It's a snowy week ahead, with some areas due to receive half a metre or more, so it's a great time to look out for your next ski break. There's a lot to be said for a spring ski holiday - longer daylight hours, leisurely lunches on sunny terraces, great weather to enjoy piste picnics - and this year there are some unbelievably good offers available! 

If you're flexible check out the Last Minute offers - there's a lot of tempting deals including free lift passes, free Eurotunnel crossings, free airport transfers and some great reductions.

Whilst Easter weekend is later this year, you can find some excellent offers for the school holiday period starting at the end of March - so if you want to treat yourself and the family, you can get some great prices. You can see our Easter offers here!

We're on the final stretch of this ski season but the skiing is great and with the big dumps that are forecast conditions are going to be great through to the end! So if you're hovering why not just take the plunge and get out to the mountains!

Get away from it all this spring!

 

Off Piste Awareness Tour - Autumn 2018 dates

Henry's Avalanche Talk have announced dates and venues for this year's Off Piste Awareness tour. If you're tempted to try the off piste, or have tried it and are unaware of the potential dangers, then these talks are an excellent way to get up to speed and learn what to look out for, what not to do, and how to prepare.

There are two different talks. The Essentials is a must-see and includes all the "essential' information for skiers/boarders of all levels. If you've already seen the Essentials talk then there is the in-depth talk, Ride Hard, Ride Safe - where Henry will go into detail on the how and why avalanches are triggered. 

With the development of equipment over the last 15-20 years, venturing into off piste areas has become more accessible for the less experienced skier. Nowadays, a strong three week skier, on the right skis, could tackle an off-piste descent whereas 20 years ago, on narrow skis with no rocker, this would have been out of his/her league. However the three week skier has not had the time to learn mountain craft and what to look out for in these situations - nor do they know what might endanger themselves or others. 

Henry’s Avalanche Talk (HAT) was founded by Henry Schniewind. HAT has been around for 25 years and grown into a team of off-piste professionals. They have given talks and courses to tens of thousands of people, presented at international snow science conferences and published many papers and articles, often in the British press.

There are two types of skiers they help. The first are experienced skiers who go off-piste, take risks they don’t understand and could easily suffer an avalanche accident. The second are regular skiers who are reluctant to go off-piste because they think it is dangerous and scary due to avalanche danger and the hazards of navigating unfamiliar terrain.

The talks are a great way to learn. The talks take place during late October, throughout November, and in January, at various venues across the UK. You'll find all the information on dates, venues and how to book on their website!

 

Here's a Top Tip for your first Family Ski Holiday

The children’s book all skiers have been waiting for!

Any parent with children who ski will tell you that the first week is crucial and not without stress and worry. 

Will they take to skiing? How will they cope with the equipment, the cold, the environment? What if they hate ski school and refuse to go back? The first week or two is make or break - it could either mean a future of great family ski holidays or zero family ski holidays.

A trio of British ski instructors, all ex-GB team racers, have come together to tackle this problem and have published a great little book for children called "Jacob's First Ski Holiday".

The book which is aimed at 4 to 8 year olds is guaranteed to bring extra excitement in the build up to a child’s first ski holiday.

Written by the founders of Maison Sport, they have used their experience of ski teaching and love for the sport to create a book that will increase the chances of a successful and enjoyable ski holiday for young children.

The book features illustrations and descriptions of various key techniques the children will learn during their first lesson, in a subtle and exciting way. It also aims to show how much of an adventure the children will go on during their holiday, taking away some of the unknowns that can make the experience daunting for a child.

Nick Robinson, one of the team behind the book explains:

"Sometimes the first hour of a children’s skiing experience can be quite challenging, they often have no understanding of what skiing is and more importantly why they now have to walk around in giant shoes (ski boots), with ridiculously slippy planks of wood stuck to their feet (skis). They then spend the next hour trying to walk around with said planks of wood attached to giant shoes, sliding and slipping everywhere. This can be disheartening and that’s why the book tries to show them all the adventures they will discover once they can ski. 

We have huge passion for the industry and have great memories skiing as a child, we feel this is a great way to pass this on." 

With beautiful illustrations the book helps to paint a picture of what a child can expect on their first ski holiday and helps to get them excited and looking forward to the experience, whilst familiarising them with some of skiing basics. The idea is to give them the book before the holiday so they can start to learn what to expect.

To find out more and how to purchase the book take a look at https://jacobsadventures.com/ !

 

Les Menuires - All you need to know about Les Bruyeres

Are you looking for a different destination for your next ski holiday? Check out Les Bruyeres, part of Les Menuires in the massive Three Valleys ski area - and  a favourite with Ski Amis. Here they give us all the info!

Les Bruyeres:

The village of Les Bruyeres, situated at 1850m, can be found in the heart of Les Menuires and offers all you could need for a ski holiday - it has even been described to be its own ‘mini resort’. The Three Valleys are literally right on your doorstep, with fantastic easy access up to Val Thorens or the Meribel Valley. 

Why is Les Bruyeres great for families?

• Nursery slopes and ski school meeting points right at the foot of the piste
• The gondola lift is also located near most accommodation too, so for little legs carrying their own skis and walking with heavy boots on, it’s not far to go! 
• The gondola lift is also having an upgrade over the 2018 summer ready for the 2018/2019 season. There are rumours it is going to hold more people and be a lot comfier!
• There are a range of slopes to suit all abilities that are easily reached, as well as being an excellent base for high-altitude skiing
• There are plenty of non-ski activities to keep children entertained in Les Bruyeres. An Aqua Fun swimming pool and a mini rollercoaster called Speed Mountain
• For smaller children between 18 – 30 months, there is even a ‘Club Piou-Piou’, a day nursery run by ESF for you to keep your little ones occupied and looked after whilst you venture out on the pistes

How far away is the Croisette? (Town centre)

The Croisette is the main hub of activity in Les Menuires; it’s where you will find the majority of bars, restaurants and local shops and amenities. The walk to here from Les Bruyeres will only take you around 15 minutes, and if that is too much after a full on day of skiing then there is a free shuttle bus from Bruyeres to the Croisette every 20 minutes. 

Places to eat and drink 

There are plenty of choices for you to enjoy that traditional French cuisine you’ve been dying to try; ‘La Marmites’ in Les Bruyeres has some excellent reviews - this is the place to try! It offers traditional Savoyard dishes such as fondue and raclette, along with other hearty dishes such as steak or duck breast! Perfect for refuelling after tearing up the piste! Another fantastic restaurant would be ‘Les Marmottes’ – again, it has been highly praised in reviews and offers a quality French menu created using as many locally sourced products as they can. 

Why Ski Amis love this mini resort

• Great views
• Excellent location
• Speedy access to slopes
• Snow Sure and great access to high altitude skiing
• Fun for all

Where to stay in Les Bruyeres

Ski Amis offer quality catered accommodation within their very own ‘Chalets des Bruyeres’. There are 5 chalets for you to choose from, all very similar inside but 3 different sizes to choose from depending on your group size. They are located just opposite the Bruyeres Gondola lift and are all ‘Ski in/Ski out’, so the location couldn’t get much better! 

For the month of June Les Menuires is their ‘Resort of the Month’ and they are offering a fantastic promotion of £50 off per adult for any Les Menuires catered chalet booking made before the end of the month. Contact them now!

So there you have it! For more options in Les Menuires click here!

Weather update for the Half Term getaway

 

 

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Families up and down the UK will be gearing up for skiing today as the February half term holidays begin! 

It's one of the most important weeks of the year so we thought we'd give you a little half term heads up for what to expect weather-wise.

It looks like 10-17th Feb is going to be a very mixed weather bag in the Alps. There's a dusting of snow forecast in many places, both at the beginning and towards the end of the week - although mountain weather can be notoriously changeable and will not always adhere to what is expected.

It does look like it's going to be cold - we're talking seriously sub-zero at least for a few days. The good news is that there is also some sunshine in the mix.

Summing up then - the outlook so far is for some sunshine, possibly some snow and pretty cold.

Make sure you pack lots of layers, especially for the kids. Thermal long johns and long sleeve base layers will be extremely useful for all the family. If you have thin inner gloves which can be worn under ski gloves these will really help to keep little fingers warmer during the hours of ski school.

Don't forget hats too that can be worn when stepping out to go sledging or skating after skiing!

Wherever you're heading piste conditions are excellent - the cold temperatures have the kept the snow pristine and the regular top ups of snow we've been having this season have meant that you won't be seeing a rock on piste anytime soon!

... and if you've left it a bit late and are tempted by a February holiday then there's still time to get something booked! Check out our last minute offers here!

We're all set for February skiing - fresh snow, blue skies, great conditions!

But don't just take our word for it - here's the latest report from TDC Ski. If you're heading out for half-term holidays you're in for great snow. 

This week is set to remain cold too!

Snow Report 5th Feb 2018 Val d'Isere Tignes from tdc - the development centre on Vimeo.

There's still time to organise a last minute Half Term break check out our Half Term offers!