WEATHER
I optimistically put crampons on my boots this morning, expecting yesterdays slush to have turned to ice. Wrong !
Even the few flakes falling were barely formed at 07.00 but we have had some nice snow falling since then.
Meteo France are describing todays conditions as « agitated »
with the rain snow limit fluctuating with the possibility of a wet village at times
but new snow on our slopes, which is of course where we really want it.
The wind could blow from the south west at up to 50 kilometers per hour,
and up to 80 at our peaks.
The visibility will be limited.
It is warm for January
At 10.30 the temperature is
- +2° in the Village.
- -4° on Bellevarde.
- -8° on Pisaillas.
ROADS
For anyone from the UK, used to driving carefully through puddles,
you should have no problems on the roads today.
Before you drive on snow please check your tyres are legal.
SKI REPORT
For the most up-to-date information please click here .
Overnight there was at least 4 centimetres of fresh snow in town and up to 20 on the slopes.
Most pistes were groomed overnight but the snow may have landed on pistes that had already been prepared.
Powder on a smooth base is a major treat for many, but more of a challenge for beginners,
Especially in poor visibility when it is warm, heavy and chopped up In the afternoon.
Be kind to your tired legs and battered spirit.
Take one of our speedy, comfy lifts down.
The good news is that practising in today’s conditions gives you gold stars in your ski bank !
Rushing your turns could be messy,
but if you go slowly and carefully
it really does help your technique.
The village chairlift is still under repair but you can use the Rogoney chair or the draglifts.
ON BELLEVARDE
The Borsat chairlift is slow opening today,
so if heading to Tignes, take the Tommeuse chairlift or check if the Borsat has started.
The British Army are on Bellevarde for their last race day.
Go and cheer them on !
For those who fancy walking up, maybe practice for the Avaline Trax, Ski mountaineering race,
The Brinzei touring track is ready, though the bottom part has only a thin covering.
We know how tempting the Santons, The L and Cugnai will seem
but they are likely to close very early.
Please don’t test pisteur patience by skiing down a closed run.
They are the experts ….
Why do you think, you know more than they do ?
The avalanche risk today is 3 out of 5
This is not a medium risk, it is a considerable risk.
Think carefully before skiing off piste :
Wind + Warmth + Moisture + Slabs + Fragile base + Poor visibility + New snow.
How slick are all your team with a beep, probe and a shovel ?
Do you know exactly where you are going, in poor viz ?
If you are not confident your friends could find and dig you out quickly,
stay on the piste.
Don’t rely on our Pisteurs, or their dogs,
reaching you 'in time'.
Walkers
Most paths are open
but paths are not immune to avalanches
therefore those at Pont St Charles and Les Sources may close.
If the paths are closed, stay safe,
go somewhere else.
LOCAL NEWS
The Avaline Trax is back !
This is a popular Ski Mountaineering Race.
Good luck to the fiercely fit, compulsively competitive 100 or so who this evening
will be zoom 480 vertical metres through la Daille forest before arriving at the Follie Douce.
They will be rewarded at the Tontons restaurant in Val Square, La Daille, with well-deserved refreshment and prizes.
There are 2 categories ….
The carefully timed must belong to the
Mountain Sport organisations FFME or FFCAM,
or able to produced medical certificates when registering.
They start at 18.15
The rest of the pack leave the bottom of the La Daille bubble at 17.45
giving them a 30 minute headstart.
Keen ?
It is only 12 euros and you can register online at Valsport.org
Keen by kitless ?– Killy Sport has a good deal for competitors.
While we are on the subject of racing ….
yesterday the square in Val Village was transformed into an
exciting cross country track with bumps and banks.
The 12 teams of 2 relayed for 20 minutes.
There were spills and thrills,
before the 23 laps of Baptiste and Gaspard put them high on the podium,
just 1 lap more than Guillaume and Olivier.
Inspired ?
Get fighting fit before next weeks race !
Final race news.
Today is the last day of the British Army races.
On the Raye and the OK.
Many of our soldiers are leaving Val this weekend,
while some of their lucky colleagues can stay on for a while longer.
We hope you have all enjoyed you time in Val, and thank you for all you do for our weird world.
This evening any members of the excellent association for employees, the Vie Val d’Is,
can attend an avalanche safety talk, aimed at ski tourers.
It will cover the various changing off-piste conditions
and the equipment you should be carrying.
You must register with the Vie Val d’Is.
At the moment Radio Val don’t have News In English every day and my French colleagues
sometimes inadvertently overlook British Greatness…….
On Sunday evening, Team GBs young snowboard sensation, Mia Brookes
went big in the air to come first in the World Cup in Klagenfurt, Austria,
after also winning the previous World cup event in Beijing.
This star was too young for the Beijing Olympics but is our freestyle hope for 2026.
Well done Mia, and all the team supporting you.
17.45
The Avaline Trax
This famous nightime ski touring race is back this evening
with a climb of 480 vertical metres
from the bottom of La Daille to the Follie Douce.
You can race on your own, with a partner or in a group.
It will be a beautiful and fun race up,
before finishing with refreshments, and prize giving,
at the Tontons Restaurant in the Val Square in La Daille.
12 euros.
Killy Sport is offering a good deal if you need kit.
There are two categories ….
The carefully timed start at 18.15
and must have produced medical certificates when registering,
or be members of the mountain organisations FFME or FFCAM.
The rest start 30 minutes earlier, at 17.45
The fastest will win prizes from Dynastar and Millet.
If you are tempted register ASAP at :
Valsport.org
19.00
In the Maison de Val.
For anyone who is a member of the
association for employees, the Vie Val d’Is,
there is an avalanche safety talk
particularly aimed at ski tourers.
It will cover the various changing off-piste conditions
and the equipment you should be carrying.
You must register with the Vie Val d’Is.
If you work in Val, and have not yet joined the Vie Val D’is.
Why not ?
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.
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 18.00.
The Association for Employees in Val d’Isère (Vie Val Dis) is open from 10.00 to 12.00 and 15.00 to 18.00.
The Reservation Centre (On the Lower Ground Floor of the Tourist Office) is open from 08.30 to 19.00.
https://booking.valdisere.com/hiver?origine=switchLangue
