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!

The best Pre-Ski fitness tips!

With the ski season upon us it's time to make sure your body can handle it. If it's been a while since you've worked out it's never too late to get started on a safe, effective fitness habit.

Our fitness guru, Chris Lineham, is ready to get you up to speed for the winter ahead, and to keep it going so that whatever your sport, you can stay injury-free and strong. Fitness is for life - not just the ski season!

Why fitness needs to be a regular habit

Rushing into a full blown exercise routine for 6-8 weeks before a skiing holiday will increase your risk of injury dramatically and that could ruin your holiday. 

• By making fitness a lifestyle, your body has time to adapt gradually to exercise and efficient recovery (like going up in gears in a car).
• When you make little progress you are more likely to give up. Fitness takes time and patience but the life changing results are worth it. 

With these two facts in mind when you do make it a lifestyle you feel good all year round. On top of that, feelgood hormones are released by the brain that give you a natural high.

You live pain free! Your muscles are stronger, this results in less tension and inflammation on the joints, ligaments and tendons. Your other sporting hobbies improve. Focus and reaction time improve because you are not distracted by your lack of fitness. And you can experience fat loss all year round. Why drop fat for winter when you can look healthier for summer too?

 

As a taster, see these two useful pre-ski stretches to warm up the muscles.

For more information on Chris' bespoke fitness programmes take a look at www.fitnesscoachcheltenham.com or email him at [email protected]. Find him on Instagram @linehamfitness

Ski Life Stories: The Free Range Chalet, Bagneres de Luchon, French Pyrenees

This week's Ski Life Story takes us from the Alps to the Pyrenees. Geoff and Victoria's journey took them from the UK to the Alps and then to Bagneres de Luchon in the French Pyrenees, where they now call home!

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, far away we were both practising civil engineers. We have always been big lovers of the outdoors and our particular passion was skiing. For many years we considered working a ski season, but it wasn't until the summer of 2010, when Victoria was made redundant, that we felt we finally had the opportunity to work "just one" ski season before "returning to real life". That was over 10 years ago and we're still here!

We both had connections in Morzine, so that was where we started our search for jobs as chalet hosts. It was only after we'd accepted jobs that we realised quite how big Morzine is! Luckily after a dozen or so interviews we were offered positions hosting a chalet alongside a professional chef. We were amongst the oldest chalet hosts in the town (we were in our early 30's in 2011), but loved the experience to the fullest. From a work perspective we learnt an awful lot about standards, food and professionalism in that exhausting season.

It turns out that we'd loved it so much, that when we were offered a 2nd season with the same company we jumped at the chance. This time around we did all of the food prep, cooking and serving alongside the other chalet duties and we had a floating 3rd pair of hands to help out. It was part way through this 2nd season when we started to think that we'd quite like to do this for ourselves, and having more responsibility opened our eyes to the amount of spare time we'd have to focus on the admin in the background.

The next summer, we were offered roles hosting a chalet for a walking & hiking company in the Pyrenees. This was our first experience of the French Pyrenees, although we'd both been to Andorra regularly. We were immediately struck by the differences between the two mountain ranges, and slowly began to realise that if we were going to start our own business it would be here in the Pyrenees.

Fast forward 2 years, via a winter in the Pyrenees (one of the best ski seasons we've ever had), and another year in Samoens, and we'd bought our Villa in Bagneres de Luchon. A whole 12 months of renovation followed.

We employed a builder, a plumber and an electrician to handle the major stuff, but we tackled everything else ourselves. This was a complete change to our chalet host lifestyle. We only really took off the decorating clothes on a Friday evening to visit a local bar for a couple of beers and a takeaway pizza. We opened The Free Range Chalet in December 2015.

We love our vocations (it's not a job, it's a lifestyle choice!) and seeing our guests have the very best time. Holidays are precious and we will do everything we can to make sure that you have a hassle and stress free break with The Free Range Chalet. We are your hosts, chefs, chauffeurs and much more (or less if you prefer) during your stay and we look forward to welcoming you into our home.

The highlights of the last 6 years are simply all of the guests we meet and introduce to the lesser known Pyrenees Mountains. We've met some truly wonderful friends along the way. But the lowlight has to be our trusty old minibus dying on the very first Saturday of the February Half-Term 3 years ago with the entire weekly shopping in the back. Our proudest moment has to be winning a Small Business award from Theo Paphitis (which led to us meeting him) back in the summer of 2018.

I'm not sure there's a great deal we'd change along the way. We're lucky to have found something we love to do together and we're conscious that we're the only people who can make decisions for the business - so once we're committed you have to stick with it whether it turns out to be the best decision or not.

We decided early on that we wanted to do this for ourselves, and set about learning the trade, realising that not only could we learn from the things that were done really well, but crucially, that we could avoid things that make guests feel uncomfortable or frustrated."

Villa Gracieuse is the beautiful Free Range Chalet, located in the spa town of Bagneres de Luchon and surrounded by dramatic peaks. It's a fabulous base for exploring the Pyrenees in both winter and summer! Check it out on Chalets Direct!

Ski Life Stories: Ascensus Ski, Les Carroz, Grand Massif

Eight years ago, Richard and Xavier decided that enough was enough - rather than dream of a life in the mountains they were going to make it happen. This is their story!

Ascensus Ski, Les Carroz, Grand Massif

When I first met my French partner Xavier he told me that he was a keen skier and loved being in the snowy mountains! So, when in 2004 after a hard day at the office he told me that he had found us a great French resort, with skiing suitable for all abilities, a real mountain village and with a reliable snow history, I was eager but apprehensive as I had never skied before and don’t have a head for heights!

The village Xavier had chosen was Les Carroz, a village in the Grand Massif ski domain, with Geneva airport just 55 minutes away. We LOVED Les Carroz and could never tire of the many differing pistes and the stunning scenery with views of Mont Blanc. We also enjoyed the traditional mountain feel of the village, the hospitality and family friendly atmosphere of the bars and restaurants.

We loved it so much, we came back every year to Les Carroz for our annual end of January ski week and some years we even came back in March to ski and enjoy long weekends here!! We have stayed in self catering apartments; ski hotels; catered chalets owned by large tour operators, but we much preferred owner run catered chalets. Why?The owners had real pride in their accommodation; cooked excellent food and went that extra mile in terms of service.

In January 2012 at the end of yet another fantastic ski week with our ‘ski posse’ on the minibus transfer back to Geneva, Xavier said that was it, it was now or never, that when we get back to the UK, rather than the normal two weeks of feeling the blues from missing our ski adventures, we would put plans in place to quit our hectic London lives and our stressful City careers!!

In January 2013, having quit our jobs, sold our home and most of our belongings, we said our temporary goodbyes to friends and family. We drove in our small Peugeot, filled to the roof with what we thought we would need, plus our two Cairn terriers and our cat, Mitzi!! You guessed it, we had decided to see what opportunities we could find in Les Carroz – we wanted to Work to Live not Live to Work!

We began searching for what we thought would make the ideal chalet but nothing met our exacting criteria. So always having one eye open on the local property market, and with no experience of running a catered chalet we decided to rent a property and learn the role hands on. 3 years later our ‘Dream Property’ which we had already visited two times already was still for sale and we decided that we just had to have it – it felt like it had been waiting for us! A stunning renovated mountain farmhouse dating from 1877 with spacious accommodation next to a stream, just 2 minutes from the telecabine and village centre, that could welcome 16 people! So Chalet Ascensus was born!!

Winter 2021/22 will be our 10^thYear! We welcome guests, mostly in winter, but also throughout the year as there are so many mountain activities to enjoy (not only skiing) from walking to mountain biking and visiting the beautiful nearby towns of Annecy and Geneva or even Italy!

A couple of winters past, after a busy Saturday changeover day, we had a chalet full of guests, one group of returning guests and two smaller groups of new guests. When, due to a heavy storm the entire electricity supply to the southern half of our village went out, including us!! We were just about to start putting dinner in the ovens and were serving guests welcoming drinks and canapes. In stunned disbelief but with our ‘game face on’, we asked the guests if they would prefer us to drive them to a nearby village for a hot dinner but after getting out loads of tealights, candles and torches. The various groups of guests were getting on so well that they said they would actually prefer to stay and eat a cold dinner – whatever we could provide in the comfort of the chalet and with the warmth of the open log fire. Needless to say, Xavier and I had lots of handwashing up to do later that night and the electricity was off for a total of 13 hours!! These Guests still return each year!

The best things we have found about running a chalet is making friends with new guests and their families and the personal satisfaction you feel in providing an excellent chalet experience. We also have immense pride in that we have several groups who return to stay with us year after year, who like us adore the Grand Massif and the comforts of Chalet Ascensus and the warm hospitality that Xavier and I provide. We have featured in numerous ski blogs and even the Telegraph on line!!

Check out Chalet Ascensus on Chalets Direct!

Ski Life Stories: Alpine365, La Plagne, France

Continuing with our Ski life Stories series, which brings you the faces behind the places. Get to know the people who decided to risk it all and head for the mountains! This week we're in the Paradiski region of France, home to Alpine 365, the dream of Duncan and Toorna Salmon. Back in 2007, Toorna was an absolute beginner and had never skied! Fast forward fourteen years, with two daughters born and bred in the Savoie, the mountains are definitely the family home.

Duncan & Toorna Salmon, Alpine365

When I first had a conversation with my boyfriend, Duncan about ‘our dream jobs,’ little did I know that in 2 years’ time, we’d be married, giving up our marketing and advertising jobs in the UK and running a ski chalet in La Plagne! Although Duncan had skied since he was 8 and absolutely loved it, I’d never even been on a winter holiday in the mountains, let alone skied. My (Indian) mum was bewildered as to why anyone would want to go on holiday somewhere so cold! But I had always wanted to live in a different country, run my own business such as a B&B, and what better, than combining two passions and running a ski chalet?

We went on a chalet holiday in Les Arcs in 2007 to check that I enjoyed skiing in the first place! Luckily for us (and our relationship!), I fell in love with it – the skiing, the mountains, the views and the lifestyle. On the last day of the holiday, Duncan proposed on the Grizzli chairlift in Vallandry (thankfully not with the real ring!) and Alpine365 soon became a reality.

Montchavin and Les Coches in La Plagne are wonderful resorts – beautiful tree-lined skiing, really friendly, family-oriented and simply the best place to be located to ski both La Plagne and Les Arcs.

We were delighted when we found our first chalet in Les Coches, and after a hectic 6 months where we got married; spent our honeymoon on a ‘gourmet cooking course for chalets’ in glamorous Milton Keynes and set up a website and business in France, we finally moved to France in 2008.

The first year was tough – the financial crisis of 2008 hit, destroying the sterling-euro rate. Neither of us came from a cheffing background but we wanted to have first-hand experience in running the chalet ourselves. We were keen to serve the nicest food we possibly could, so we spent a lot of time stuck in the kitchen! In between guests, we were trying desperately to get bookings (many hours spent on Chalets Direct Solution Room!), our French was rudimentary – and of course, we didn’t get that much time on the slopes.

We quickly made the decision to get out of the kitchen ourselves and employ professional chefs with restaurant experience to look after our guests, and over the years we’ve had the pleasure of working with chefs that have worked under Michelin starred chefs or in prestigious hotels – one of them was even on Masterchef the Professionals!

13 years later, we live all year round in nearby Bourg St Maurice, with our 2 daughters, Tia and Lyra, both born and bred in France – true Savoyards! We have 6 chalets in Montchavin Les Coches and we have purposefully kept the number of chalets manageable so that Duncan and I can still pop in and visit our guests during the week, some of whom have been staying with us since we first started.

Covid has obviously been disastrous for the ski industry but bookings for next season are looking extremely promising. We’ll be ready to welcome guests again as soon as we can!

Keen to find out more? Check out Alpine 365 here!

 

Ski Life Stories: Chilly Powder, Morzine - Avoriaz

Francesca Eyre is a mum of three and chalet owner based in Morzine Avoriaz in the French Alps. Francesca originally moved to Morzine after a twist of fate led her to the mountains, when a pearl necklace that belonged to her late mother was retrieved after vanishing at an event.

Having lost her sister and mother to illness within a few short years, Morzine provided Francesca with an opportunity for a fresh start - where she met her husband Paul and went on to establish their dream business; Chilly Powder. See the Chilly Powder places to stay on Chalets Direct.

Today, the couple live in Morzine all year round, with their three children Ben, Eloise and Jamie. Francesca, who also lost a brother to illness, lives her life to the full, participating in incredible endurance events as a means to "breathe for those who no longer can".

You can watch a short film of Francesca’s story here, as she talks with Holmlands about her personal journey, which led her to find love in the mountains and establish her dream business in Chilly Powder. 

Ski Life Stories: Chalet le Péry, Grand Massif

For those of us with a passion for the mountains and skiing, the last year has most likely been one of the hardest ever. We know that it's not quite over yet, but we're confident that by next winter, the European ski industry will be raring to go!

Chalets Direct began life as a passion project over 20 years ago - and we're proud to say that the same love for the great alpine outdoors is what inspires us today. We're not the only ones - there are so many mountain lovers out there who have made them their home.

This series is to tell the stories of some of our many members who came to the mountains and stayed. Enjoy!

John & Julie - Chalet Le Péry, Grand Massif, France

See Chalet Le Péry on Chalets Direct.

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John is from Jersey, Channel Islands and I am originally from the UK, although I had lived in Jersey since 1988.  We first met each other when we stayed in the same chalet on holiday in Tignes Le Breviere in 2011, but actually got together through internet dating 6 months later!  We have both skied (well John is a full-on telemarker now), for over 30 years and we loved going on skiing holidays in winter and mountain hiking holidays in the summer (we are not beach or city people in the slightest).

 

We stayed at a chalet in Chatel in 2012 and we really liked the way that the host operated his business. This was the start of a little bug in our heads that kept niggling away saying 'wouldn't it be nice to pack it all in and follow a dream'. 

 

Roll on another year and we stayed at a catered chalet in Les Carroz, this was our first time to the Grand Massif and we loved it.  Whilst it isn't one of the biggest or well known resorts, it offers you everything that you need for your ski holiday and more.  The chalet we stayed in at the time was not the best experience we have had, and this got us thinking again that surely this is something that we could do, right?  Roll on another year and in March we went back to the same chalet in Chatel for a friend's 50th birthday - a complete surprise for him and a great week for everyone.  Whilst there, we asked questions and picked up some great hints and tips from the host and that sealed the decision for us - we were going to sell up, move to France and run a catered chalet!!

 

We put our house in Jersey up for sale in June 2014 and in August spent two weeks' holiday in and around Morillon. We had decided that the Grand Massif was the place for us after we had discovered it on our trip in 2013.  Our whole two weeks there it rained and rained, it was the wettest summer in 30 years, but we still loved it.  We looked at around 8 properties in total but fell in love with our chalet from the first time we saw it, we really wanted it but we hadn't sold our property. 

 

On our return to Jersey just as we were about to board the ferry we received a message from our estate agent that we had sold our house, it was fate!  We waited a few weeks to make sure that everything was ok with our sale then put in an offer on the chalet which was accepted.  On the 10th November we packed everything up and moved to France and the chalet sale was completed on the 14th November 2014.

Our first winter season was difficult, having only moved here in November so it was mainly friends and family staying in the months of February and March (bless them). Since then we have gone from strength to strength, until COVID hit of course! 

 

We already had a lot of experience, having stayed in numerous catered chalets over the years, so we had a really good idea of what we wanted to offer our guests.  That said, we are constantly learning and adapting what we offer to ensure everyone who stays with us has the best experience.

 

Our first summer season was a bit of a shock as we had intended to offer the same catered service as we do in the winter, but this really didn't work out, so from the middle of April to the end of October we offer a flexible catered service where guests book on B&B terms with the flexibility of reserving a two course meal on the evenings that suit them.  

 

Looking back we can honestly say there is nothing that we would change. It was the best decision that we made, and we are still loving every day living in the mountains, experiencing all the Grand Massif has to offer!

We can't wait for each new season to arrive which brings with it a variety of guests all looking for something different from their stay.

Julie & John Nicolle

 

Check out Chalet Le Péry on Chalets Direct! You can already book for Winter 21/22 - see prices here, and summer stays are available on a b&b basis.

 

Gear Review - the INUIT snow goggle from MessyWeekend

 

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We were asked to test some new googles from a kickstarter-backed company MessyWeekend and specifically their new model, The Inuit.  

A good google should:

1. Work in all light conditions. 
2. Work in bad conditions.
3. Fit well to face and helmet

Basically if the google is doing the job properly, you shouldn't notice it.  The Inuit ticked all the boxes. It came with two lenses which you can interchange for different light conditions - these are high-contrast XE2 lenses.

There are two collections of snow goggles, the FLOAT and the INUIT. The high-contrast lenses are double-layered and include all necessary features like anti-scratch coating, anti-fog coating, small air vents. They come with a revo-mirror coating to enhance your clear vision.

There is also a model available with weather-adapting photochromic XEp lenses. 

You can order the google direct from MessyWeekend so they have been able to keep the price to 130 euros.

They also look very cool. Good job MessyWeekend we wish you the best of luck!!!

Here is a bit about the company and its background.

MessyWeekend was founded in 2018 by the co-founders Morten Heick and Marc Østerskov in Copenhagen, Denmark. It all started with the question, why good quality sunglasses had to be so expensive and why one brand ruled almost the whole market. Their passion for eyewear and skiing was the foundation of MessyWeekend.

They design their snow goggles and sunglasses in-house. The main motivation is to create high-quality products but for a fraction of the price of other brands.

They have a wide range of designer sunglasses made out of Injection or Acetate. Both materials are lightweight, durable and of high quality. 

MessyWeekend is all about living life spontaneously, messily. Not planning every second out and just going wherever the night takes you. We’ve all had that moment in our lives, where we had the best time with good friends—those are the “MessyWeekends.” 

What's more the company wants to give something back - for every product sold, they donate to clean 2 kg of plastic waste from our oceans. They are working together with “4THEPLANET” (previously PROARTSO). They have created a short documentary about the whole project, which you can find on here: https://messyweekend.com/pages/clean-oceans

More details on MessyWeekend goggles and glasses available at MessyWeekend.com

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