WEATHER
Last nights clouds are clearing so we will have some blue sky and will be able to see where we are going !
Always nice…………
The small amount of snow yesterday hasn’t made much difference but we may have a little more this afternoon.
It is unusually warm …….for January.
At 10.15 the temperature is
+5° in the Village.
+2° on Solaise.
-3° on Pisaillas.
Maximum temperature is expected to be -3 ° at 2000 meters.
Don’t be fooled by the calm in the village as it is WINDY on the mountain.
ROADS
No problems are expected on the roads if everyone drives sensibly and there are no accidents.
SKI REPORT
The good news is that NEARLY ALL of our lifts and pistes are due to open and most of the area was groomed over night BUT the bad news is wind.
Lots of it on the tops of the mountains, particularly on the Pisaillas Glacier where 130 km/hour has been recorded.
Therefore the lifts there are unlikely to open today.
The following pistes will remain closed
- 3000
- The Tunnel
- The Snow Park
The following may close later due to the high risk of avalanche into these gullies.
- The L
- Santons
If they are closed, do not ski down them EVEN if you had fun there yesterday.
The Boarder Cross may close if the wind makes it dangerous.
At 10.30
In Le Fornet
The Vallon bubble and Col dragift may not open.
On Solaise
All lifts are open except
- the Leissieres ("Up and Over" linking Solaise to Le Fornet) chairlift
- 3000 draglift
On Bellevarde
All the lifts are open.
On Pisaillas
Nothing is open , and it may stay closed due to the violent wind.
Tignes can be accessed via the Tommeuses or Borsat chairlifts.
If it is getting windy over there, consider heading back to Val in case the lifts back close.
BUT no panic, there is always the shuttle bus….
The Avalanche Risk today is a significant 3 out of 5.
If considering skiing off piste.
Ski only off piste with people you trust as there are lots of slabs, there has been another change in temperature and it is windy.
Maybe wait until you are with one of our experienced mountain guides.
Cross Country SKIING
The tracks are all open.
OUR walking paths are CURRENTLY open
except les Branges.
The Col de l'Iseran will not open if the lift to get you down after your walk is at risk of closing.
Some, particularly Pont St Charles
may close due to the risk of avalanche.
FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION
Keep your eyes on the piste notice boards and your ears on RadioVal.
LOCAL NEWS
Yesterday evening more than 100 professional skiers paid homage to friends and colleagues who were too young when they died.
They skiied slowly down the steep Face de Belevarde holding torches, making turns that were wider than for the traditional torchlight descent.
At the bottom both locals and holiday makers were paying tribute in their own way, watching and applauding.
The instructors, ski patrollers and lift operators who took part in the display
finished by reminisicing, hugging, laughing and sharing memories over drinks at the Bbar.
Stats ! We LOVE stats !
Today we are focusing on use of our lift system.
Last week the lifts were used 5% less than the same week last season.
Since the beginning of the winter the lifts have carried 4.7 million passengers (many more than once ! I don't think we have had THAT many people visiting this season),this is 100,000 fewer passengers than this time in 2023.
There will be Cross-country pairs relay race tonight
on the specially made track with bumps and banked sides at the bottom of the nursery slopes.
ANYONE can enter.
The winners are those that complete the most number of laps in 20 minutes.
There were 20 teams last week.
And 100s of spectators.
If you don't fancy the spills and thrills of competing,
Come along, have a hot drink and CHEER !
This is a good week for the competitive super fit as after tonight's relay, the Avaline Trax night ski touring race takes place tomorrow evening.
FINALLY
TEAM GB ! Proudly fly those Union Jacks.
A 'good day in the office' for the team in Kitzbühel at the weekend.
Dave Ryding not only came 5th but got the 2nd best time in the second run!
Billy Major gave a personal best to get 13th place and a PB also for Laurie Taylor, who finished 19th and got the7th best time in the 2nd heat.
WOW - three British men in the top 20 of a World cup race.
AND
It doesnt finish there.........At the Youth Olympics in Gangwon :
GOLD, for Zak Carrick-Smith who won the men's alpine combined (Super G and Slalom).
This 16 year old has given Great Britian our first Olympic Gold in an alpine skiing event.
You might think he has been bred to ski, with his coach trebling up as his mother and a 4-time Olympian, his father is also a professional skier, and he has two siblings competing at the highest international level for their age.
Let's not forget that there was a Ryding as assistant coach - but Jo rather than Dave.
But ZAK did it !
Tomorrow GB’s young curlers are in the Olympic semi finals of the mixed team curling competition.
GOOD LUCK !
Well done Team GB - athletes, their familes, friends and everyone who trains them.
Imagine how well we would be doing if the Alps were in London !
18.30
Cross-country Skiing Pairs Relay Race
Do not miss it !
Free to enter, free to cheer on !
A temporary track with bumps and banked corners has been installed on the Place des Dolomites next to the bottom of the nursery slopes.
Local businesses will lend the necessary kit to whoever wants to take part,
and there will be free hot drinks for both competitors and spectators.
The race is a relay, with two in each team.
One skis while the other catches her (or even his) breath, the aim is to do as many laps as possible in 20 minutes.
The teams can be made up of local ski instructors, novice holiday makers, enthusiastic youngsters, elderly, experienced or beginners.
We hope to see as many of you as possible- there were 20 teams last week.
If you don't fancy testing your skills, or risking spills ….. come and sip a mulled wine while cheering them on !
Register from 18.00 beside the track.
After a hard day on the slopes, or maybe you have just won the Cross-country relay race and need to wind down.
Head to the Evening event at the Swimming Pool and Sports centre.
You are invited to relax in the Centre’s beautiful pools.
From 19.30 until the Centre closes at 22.00, anyone who has bought a ticket for the swimming pool
can take also use
the Wellness Centre’s jacuzzies, saunas and the hammam
without paying the usual extra charge.
What we call a BARGAIN
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.
- 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 22.00.
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 10.00 to 12.00 and 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 09.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 19.00.
The Reservation Centre (On the Lower Ground Floor 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.
