WEATHER
If you were up early, or late to bed, you will have seen the beautiful half moon high above Bellevarde.
The grey skies yesterday will be transformed into blue this morning.
There may be a few clouds later in the day, but nothing to fret about.
A North East wind may intermittently gust at 30 to 50 km/hour.
The temperature is a bit cooler than the last few days, but we still have an inversion so warmer on the top of the mountains than in the village.
At 10.00 the temperature is
- -5° in the Village.
- -+1° on Bellevarde.
- +3° on Solaise.
- -3° on Pisaillas.
Maximum temperature is expected to be +6 ° at 2000 meters.
Be careful as many of the paths near the buildings are icy.
ROAD
No problems are expected on the local roads today.
SKI REPORT
The good news is that all our lifts are open and only one piste closed.
On Pisaillas
Everything is open and the pistes are all groomed.
There is a vague possibility that gusts of wind MAY at times affect the chair lifts and Vallon bubble.
The Gorge du Malpasset is only passable if you are an expert climber or a mountain goat.
At le Fornet
All the pistes and lifts are open EXCEPT the Tunnel piste.
The pistes that were not groomed are
- Foret
- Signal
Table d’Orientation has also not been groomed and is currently high in the league of accident hot spots so please avoid injuring yourself by controlling your speed.
The actual Tunnel has been cleared enough for very strong skiers, who can handle both the challenging 3000 draglift and the 3000 piste, to walk through and admire the view.
Be warned = it is steep.
Maybe reconsider if you have vertigo.
On Solaise
Everything is open.
The following pistes were not groomed
- The Marmottons
- The S
- 3000
On Bellevarde
Everything is open.
The French World Cup Ski Team will be perfecting their Super G skills on the upper parts of the OK and Orange.
Cyprien Sarrazin, who is on top form this season, is in this group.
Why not take the Marmottes chair lift for a great view of these talented speed freaks.
There will be training on La Raye.
Santons may close this afternoon due to risk of a slab avalanche.
If closed, respect those ropes, it is closed for a very good reason.
Tignes can be accessed via the Tommeuses or Borsat chairlifts.
The avalanche risk today is an unusually low 1 out of 5.
Still be careful, particularly after the sun has warmed and softened the snow on avalanche prone slopes.
If considering skiing off piste.
Although the overall avalanche risk is low, always treat the mountain with respect.
If you are not skiing with a professional guide
choose your companions by their mountain skills
rather than how much fun they are in a bar
At the moment the lower slopes are very ‘fast’, particularly in the afternoons.
PLEASE slow down so you don't injure yourself or anyone else.
If your legs are feeling a bit tired, why not do a final run on the top before getting the lift down.
LOCAL NEWS
ROADS
Another change-over weekend, with the added complication of potential of industrial action blocking the motorway and toll booths.
The small ray of hope is that talks are 'underway', so, if you are driving tomorrow put it to the back of your mind, have a lovely ski and listen again for the news this evening.
Even without the threatened mass action the traffic will be heavy this weekend with 66,000 vehicles coming up the hill and 65,000 homeward bound.
No problems are expected today, assuming everyone drives sensibly, but tomorrow is looking slow.
If you have the luxury of choosing your travel time, avoid
driving towards Val between 11.00 and 20.00 and
returning home between 09.00 and 13.00.
On Sunday, it may be slow going home between 16.00 and 20.00.
Hopefully the 'leavers' will be in a Zen mood after enjoying a nice final day on the slopes so won't be bothered by a slightly slower journey.
Yesterday our local school children were shown around the Solaise rescue station as part of the ‘Young ski patrollers’.
For the 17th year that this program has been running,
over the 5 years they are in the Primary School, they are given a real insight into the life of a ski patroller.
They learn what happens after there has been an accident, and the role of the grooming team.
They were even allowed to try the controls or these huge machines !
We assume under very close supervision !!
A highlight is meeting the helicopter and being shown how it works,
though they are not allowed to fly it themselves.
The ski patrol are putting their time to good use as several of them had their interest piqued by this training while still at Primary School.
Early recruitment is a fine thing.
The French Mens World Cup Ski Team have arrived to train in Val d'Isère after this weekend's races in Chamonix were cancelled due to the poor snow conditions in that resort.
Why not go and watch them perfecting their Super G skills, this morning, Saturday or Sunday on the higher areas of the OK and Orange.
At lunchtime on Saturday our lucky local children will meet the racers and will no doubt get both selfies and their autographs.
At the Youth Olympics Callie Soutar and Ethan Brewster, beat Denmark to win GOLD in the mixed doubles curling.
Our sixth, and final, medal.
A FAB finish.
Congratulations to all Team GB.
17.45 Airboard.
Come to the Savonnette piste for this fun and free experience.
You 'control' the bodyboard by transferring your weight and
you get the impression that you are flying above the surface of the snow.
You must wear a helmet and be over 9 years of age.
Children must be accompanied by a parent.
From 19.00 today
There is an «Evening at 2512 metres»
la Plage de l’Ouillette restaurant on the top of Solaise.
Come and enjoy a truly special experience.
Don’t forget to get the Solaise bubble lift up by 20.00.
Going up and down in the bubble at night overlooking the
bright night lights of Val d’Isere
is fun in itself, let alone the tasty food in between.
Please phone to reserve.
On next Tuesday, 6th February, the famous Alsacian chef Frédéric Metzger
will be at the POYA restaurant preparing a «Four-handed-dinner»
i.e. Frédéric will use both of his hands to share the preparation,
and no doubt swop tips and tricks,
with the Poya’s own 2-handed chef !
Be one of the priviliged guests at this exceptional evening where the chefs
showcase their favourite ingredients from both the Alsacae and our Savoie.
For more information look at the
POYA ValDisere Instagram account, or
poyavalsdisere.com
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’) every 6 minutes from 07.00 to 19.00 and then every 20 minutes until 02.00.
The blue shuttle bus (‘le train bleu’) travels between the Rond-point des Pistes and Legettaz every 15 minutes from 08.30 to 23.20.
The yellow shuttle bus (‘le train jaune’) takes you to the Manchet valley via the main street and the rue de la Balme every 20 minutes from 08.30 to 23.20.
The shuttle bus between Val d’Isère and Tignes does 6 round trips a day.The shuttle bus between Val d’Isère and Tignes does 6 round trips a day.
- Leaving La Daille at 07.55, 08.35 and 10.50 in the morning and 16.25, 17.25 and 18.20 pm in the afternoon.
- Leaving Tignes 1800 at 8.05, 8.45 and 11.00, in the morning and 16.35, 17.35 and 18.30 in the afternoon.
The Swimming Pool and Sports Centre is open from 10.00 to 21.00.
The Ice-skating Rink is open from 14.00 to 18.00.
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 17.00.
The Association for employees in Val d’Isere (Vie Val d’Is) is open from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00.
The Reservation Centre (in the basement of the Tourist Office) is open from 08.30 to 19.00.
The Post Office is open from 09.00 to 12.30 and from 14.00 to 17.30.
