WEATHER
What a beautiful day !
Blue sky, sunshine, fresh snow and no wind.
Not particularly cold.
At 9.50 the temperature is
- +2° in the Village.
- -1° on Solaise.
- -6° on Bellevarde.
- -8° on Pisaillas.
The maximum temperature at 2000 metres will be +5°
ROADS
The road to Bourg St Maurice re-opened yesterday evening.
We are not expecting any problems on the roads in Val today,
but, as it is the 18th April, some have already removed their winter tyres…
So be careful as roads are a bit slippy.
SKI REPORT
For the most up-to-date information please click here
Here are the highlights of the ski report.
Patience is a virtue.
When you are out and chomping at the bit,
keep an eye on electronic noticeboards and the app.
On top of the metre or more we woke up to yesterday
Another 15 -20 cm of snow fell in town and at least 40 on the pistes.
So a very tricky day for the pisteurs.
Please respect the difficult decisions they are having to make.
If a run is closed, do not ski on it.
They started a PIDA yesterday afternoon, and continued early this morning.
After the Pisteurs PIDA, the people who run the lifts
Have a lot of work to do digging out the upper lifts.
So appreciate the physical effort involved, they will gradually open.
We are lucky to have a huge area, enjoy what has been carefully opened.
On Bellevarde by 09.30 the bubble, Funival and Olympique were already open,
along with the Orange, OK, Diebold, 3J, Verte, Raye pistes.
The Face, Joseray and Stade Olympique were not groomed
But are already open but only for EXPERT skiers.
At Solaise the bubbles, magic carpets and the madeline chair lift have already opened.
As have the Plan, M, Rhone Alpes, Madeline and Lac Ouillete pistes.
The L won’t be opening today.
The helicopter is throwing bombs in the area around the Cugnai and on the Glacier.
LE FORNET
The cable car and the Mangard piste have opened.
It is not clear when, or if the Vallon bubble will open.
The PISAILLAS is closed as there is at least a day of work
Before the pistes there can be considered safe.
Plenty of snow on the nursery slope, and the lifts there are already open.
The avalanche risk today is 4 out of 5.
Todays Top tip from head pisteur Cedric : Enjoy skiing on the piste.
The new snow froze last night leaving a crusty off piste.
Areas that were expected to move resisted the bombs
But as it warms up ……..by midday it could be ready to GO.
The avalanches today could be HUGE.
If you are heading off piste – why not hire a mountain guide.
Never ski Off piste with anyone who doesn’t have a beep, probe and shovel
And has practised recently.
If you have an airbag, is the handle in a position
You can easily reach in an emergency ?
Could your companions find and dig you out quickly ?
ANY Doubts - Stay on piste.
If you are heading to Tignes, the Tommeuse chairlift will open before the Borsat lift
but remember the Tommeuse is owned by Tignes, so don’t moan at us if it is slow opening !!
Our multi activity, cross country and walking tracks are closed,
But if they manage to groom them the
Manchet and possibly the Lac Ouillette may open later.
LOCAL NEWS
The ski patrol started a PIDA early this morning,
which is their Expert bag of tricks for securing the avalanche prone slopes
preventing natural avalanches from affecting our slopes, village and people.
NOBODY can go onto the ski area, On or off piste, until we get the ALL CLEAR.
NOT EVEN on touring skis with skins on, until the PIDA is finished
and the lifts in that area have begun to open.
The mountain was on the move yesterday, even without bombs.
Do not risk setting off an avalanche during today’s, likely, Friday Frenzy…..
We are lucky to have a huge area.
Enjoy what has been carefully opened.
You MAY have noticed that we had a lot of snow since
we could admire dandelions and snowdrops in the village on Wednesday.
The avalanche risk was 5 out of 5 yesterday. The highest level.
Hence closures of roads, schools and other important buildings in
avalanche prone areas.
One ski instructor was extremely lucky.
Rescued alive and well after being attacked by an avalanche -
pinned against his car in the parking area of The St Agathe building.
Yesterday evening was the grand finale of the Adventure and Discovery Festival.
Despite the weather, and restrictions, nearly 1000 showed up to
enjoy the last 2 films and the Closing Ceremony at the Conference Centre.
While another 300 watched from the comfort of their chalets.
No doubt with a glass in hand, to toast the winners.
The Jury awarded prizes for
« Un Pasteur »
« La Madone »
« Parfum d’Essence »
“Perte de Vue”
While you, the audience, chose
“Alaska – Dick Proennecke’s cabin”
End to another successful week.
Let’s hope we will welcome The Festival back for the 29th time next winter.
Sorry to disappoint
But the promontagne race
Has again been postponed.
Finally, if you worked in Val this season, possibly STILL working until
Our last lifts closed, or beyond …..all year…
The Vie Val d’Is would be grateful if you could fill out their questionnaire.
This helps them see what is good and not so good,
So that they can continue their hard work improving our daily lives.
Happy workers make a better welcome for visitors.
Your answers will be confidential and anonymous –
No chance of them being whispered back to a wicked boss !
Not that we have any such people in Val !
15.00 Stations of the Cross.
18.00 Mass will be celebrated in our local baroque church.
18.00
There is an art workshop in the studio up the back stairs behind the Church.
This is led by local artist and Val’s own amazing art teacher, Rozenn Roszak.
This evenings session is based on the Arno Stern philosophy.
All about freedom ….. make marks, play with colours, enjoy the process.
No judgement.
In a world where our children are constantly taking exams,
being graded, compared and contrasted
this is a time for them to express their inner joy.
Max of 10.
Children must be at least 5 years old,
But adults are also welcomed.
The 20 euro charge includes everything you need.
Please book at the Tourist Office.
The Maison de Val is the building between the Conference Centre
and the Swimming pool & Sports Centre.
There are 2, free, art exhibitions in the corridor towards the cinema.
“Raconte” (Tell us…).
Colourful cartoons, of thought-provoking encounters,
by famous Savoyarde artist Clément Rizzo
And
« Toutes les Vies se Val » (Everyone is Important.)
Charcoal portraits of Avalins (Very Val residents)
by a local artist, Laura M.
Don’t miss THE end of season Party.
This weekend …
Starting tomorrow
2 days of music and dancing
on the terrace of the Signal restaurant, at the top of the Fornet cable car.
On Saturday 19th April,
House Music legends DJs Gregory and Yellow from Paris
Sunday 20th Hypnotic Chambord with David Dee.
Time to shower and change before continuing the fun
21.00 – 02.00
at Diling DIling in the main street.
Easter Weekend, so the supermarket Les Halles de Val is showcasing lamb.
Pyreneen Farmhouse red label with spring vegetables,
Leg, shoulder or rack of lamb roasted with herbs
or, lamb curry.
Les Halles de Val has something for everyone this Easter!
Free local Buses
The red shuttle bus (‘le train rouge’) runs between La Daille and Le Fornet, via the roundabout adjacent to the nursery slopes (‘Rond-point des pistes’)
It leaves la Daille every 10 minutes from 07.00 to 19.50 and then every 20 minutes until 02.10.
The night bus leaves Le Fornet at 20.10 then every 20 minutes until 2.30.
The blue shuttle bus (‘le train bleu’) travels between the Rond-point des pistes and Legettaz every 15 minutes from 08.30 to 23.00.
The yellow shuttle bus (‘le train jaune’) takes you to the Manchet valley via the main street and the rue de la Balme and Rond Point des pistes every 20 minutes from 08.30 to 23.20.
The Purple shuttle bus between Val d’Isère and Tignes : leaves the new bus station at La Daille at
07.55 8.35 10.50 16.25 17.25 18.20.
On request it will stop at La Reculaz and Villaret du Nial.
It leaves Tignes 1800 at 08.05 8.45 11.00 16.35 17.35 and 18.30.
The Swimming Pool and Sports Centre is open from 10.00 to 21.00.
To the public from 12.00 as the local children are having their swimming lessons before midday.
The Tourist Office is open from 08.30 to 19.30.
The Multimedia Library is open from 14.00 to 18.00.
The Town Hall (La Mairie) is open from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00.
The Association for Employees in Val d’Isère (Vie Val Dis) is open from 09.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 16.00.
The Reservation Centre (On the Lower Ground Floor of the Tourist Office) is open from 08.30 to 19.00.
