English Weather, News, and Events - March 28, 2025

WEATHER
Lovely sunny morning before clouds come back this afternoon,
Then snow down to 1200 metres.
Only a gentle breeze blowing first from the West, then the North.

At 9.50 the temperature is
+4° in the Village.
0° on Solaise.
0° on Bellevarde.
-5° on Pisaillas.
The maximum temperature at 2000 metres will be +8°

ROADS

No problems are expected on our roads today,
but if you are travelling this weekend it is worth checking that you car is
fully and legally equipped for winter driving in the Savoie.

Tomorrow is another change-over day…..If you can delay your departure,
remember a 6-day pass includes a “free” 7th ……
Maybe you could sneak in a morning on the slopes before driving home ?

SKI REPORT

For the most up-to-date information please click here
Sunny grand finale if you are leaving tomorrow.
Here are the highlights of the ski report.

ON BELLEVARDE
From 09.30
The Pisteurs Memorial Day Is happening at La Daille.
This includes Races on the Raye.
A pairs giant slalom.
An obstacle course for the ski groomers, in their huge machines.
A Blood wagon race…
There are activities that everyone can join in at the bottom.
Watersliding.
A Chance to ride inside a grooming machine.
A shop selling goodies.
And refreshments.

The last wall of the Epaule is closed, but the top was groomed.
You can ‘escape’ into the bottom of the Santons.
The top part of the Santons will close early due to the risk of a
heavy big wet slab avalanche smothering this piste.
Never ski or board on a closed piste.
The Brinzei touring track is open but the lower part is pretty snow-free.
The Border Cross was rock hard but will open when it softens enough to be safe.
There is training on the upper parts of the Orange and OK.

ON SOLAISE
The 3000 lift and piste and the lower part of the Marmottons are closed.
The L will probably close due to the risk of avalanche filling this gulley.

LE FORNET
Everything is open except the Tunnel.
The Foret was not groomed.

ON PISAILLAS
Everything is open and groomed.

The avalanche risk today is 2 out of 5.
Spring conditions.
Lots of warmed damp slabs still to go :
Heavy snow forming slow but powerful avalanches.
Don’t be in one….

If you are heading off piste – do you really  know
What you are doing and where you are going?
Do all your team have beep, probe and shovel?
Know how to use them and have practised recently ?
Would any of them be any use if YOU had an accident ?
Minimise the risk, hire a mountain guide.

If you are going to Tignes, use either the Tommeuse or  Borsat chairlifts.

All of our walking, multi activity and cross country tracks are open
But it is difficult to groom the paths at village level,
so they are a mix of soft snow, deep in parts, and bare ground.

It would however be a good day to walk along the Pont St Charles, which was groomed,
or take the lift up to the top of Solaise or le Fornet,
where the tracks are in very good condition
And views spectacular.

LOCAL NEWS

Today is a special day for the pisteurs.
Every year they remember lost colleagues and friends.
This is a celebration of those lives.
The 38th Memorial Day, and includes people who look after pistes in other resorts.
This year they are also remembering the French actor, Michel Blanc,
who came to Val then skied to fame in the 1979 film “Les Bronzes font du ski”.
So expect people dressed in retro Orange ski suits !
Todays programme skis off at 09.30 with a pairs giant slalom,
and includes an obstacle course for the ski groomers,
and a blood wagon race…
Followed by prize giving and a party at the Tontons.
It is not a completely closed club, as there are activities that everyone can join in
on the snow front at la Daille :
Watersliding,
a chance to ride inside a grooming machine
(though you are not allowed to race them or fiddle with the controls !)
A shop selling goodies from the ski patrol, and refreshments.

Yesterday Val’s own Clément Noël won a silver in the World cup slalom in Sun Valley,
while Victor Muffat Jeandet came 8th, and
Britians Pocket Rocket Dave Ryding 18th – just 2.63 seconds slower than the winner.

The Annual Signal Derby off piste one rule race was a great success yesterday.
99 started then, after 4 qualifying runs, 30 raced in the final.
The fastest man was down in just under 3 minutes,
and the zippiest lady in 5.1 minutes.

You may have seen the Under 16 boys racing in the French championships
on Bellevarde yesterday.
Tignes’ Andrea Vila got a silver, less than half a second away from the Gold.
And Val’s Jules Drai Dufour came 7th.
Well done. Times are tight at the top !

MEANWHILE in Alpes d’Huez young British Val-erians,
Olivia Angus and Rosco Schneiwind both
survived the qualifiers and are through to the finals of the French Championships,
And racing for gold today.
Good luck !
Already a huge achievement to get to the finals with such tough competition !

The colourful, sparkly Drag Show was a huge success last night.
The LGQBT+ theme continues this evening in the cinema with 10 short films.
Think : Genders, Differences, Similarities, Discrimination, Love, Life.
A Phd doctor of sociology, gender and sexology will lead a debate,
which we are sure will be animated.
The evening starts at 20.30 and
you are asked to donate at least 2 euros as you arrive,
all of which will go to good LGQBT+ causes.

When are you too old to ski ?
There has been some debate in the British press about this recently,
as our Powder Hound King hung up his skis at 76.
Shockingly, I even saw 50 muted as a "good age to stop".
Wise ?  or Wimpy ?
Bernard Jupille, from the Jura, still skis at the age of 92.
This week he was tempted by the Face, before remembering
his Last Face descent, at the age of  82,
finished with a sore shoulder
and ride in a blood wagon.
He has been coming to Val for 50 years.
Shame it took him 38 years to find us !
He was first put on skis in 1937 when he was just 4.
In 1953 he competed in the army Ski championships.
For Bernard skiing gives a sensation of freedom.
He has done a bit of DIY on his boots,
so he can still push his aging ankles in,
and last year enjoyed a good schuss……….