WEATHER
It was blowing a hoolie last night and we had 10 to 12 centimetres of fresh snow.
Our ski patrollers were up and out early to secure the pistes so that the lower lifts could open on time.
There were gusts of up to 150 km/h during the night on Pisaillas, and there will be strong gusts of wind today that may affect the opening of our lifts.
There may be a dusting of snow above 1400 metres this morning but the sky will clear and we will have a sunny afternoon.
At 10.30 the temperature is :
-2 in the Village.
-6 on Solaise.
-12 on Pisaillas.
Ski Report
The strong wind during the night will have made the 12 centimetres of fresh snow much deeper in places. Most runs were groomed but of course the snow continued to fall after our grooming team had finished various pistes, leaving fresh snow on the surface.
At Le Fornet
Everything will open except the Tunnel piste.
On the Pisaillas area
Everything will open except the Combe du Geant, but the wind may affect the lifts.
On Solaise
The The Piste L, Cugnai and 3000 pistes are currently closed.The Ski patrollers had hoped that the PIDA this morning would push enough snow down the L but sadly we have to wait for a bit more snow.
The Leissiere chair linking Solaise and Le Fornet; affectionately known as the “UP and OVER” is open.
On Bellevarde
The Santons and Joseray pistes will remain closed.
The border cross may close if the visability is poor.
The upper pqrts of the Orange and OK, and the Raye are closed for the British Army Races.
Tignes can be accessed via the Tommeuses or Borsat chairlifts.
The avalanche risk today is three out of five.
Please
Do not ski down a closed run.
Leave the quiet zones for the beginners to enjoy.
Look ahead, anticipate and control your speed, particularly when approaching junctions.
If considering skiing off piste.
Ski only with people who have the appropriate safety equipment
and YOU know that THEY know how to use it
If in doubt - hire an instructor or a mountain guide
OR stay on our groomed and well signed posted pistes.
Cross Country skiers can enjoy skiing on the tracks in
the Manchet Valley,
La Daille
The Lac d'Ouillette walking and cross country tracks are closed.
Our beautiful Walking paths are open at La Daille.
The paths at Josery and Pont St Charles may open later.
If you are lucky enough to have a dog, please respect the joy our landscapes give to so many people and
Please Pick Up Their Poo !!!
Val d'Isère generously provide free bags so there is NO excuse for not doing this.
For nearly a month the British Infantry have been doing an intensive downhill ski training course, here in Val d’Isere.
More than 300 soldiers have either been honing their skills, or discovering the joys of skiing
for the very first time.
Their Grand Finale is a week of competition.
Their stay bears no resemblance to a « holiday ». Certainly not what most of us would call a holiday !
The aim is to put brave soldiers in situations that cause them FEAR.
In the video that you can see on the RadioVal website, Major Conor Maxwell explains the feeling at the start of a downhill race :
“so, when they are at the top of the downhill and they are about to be thrust off, having learnt to ski only four weeks ago, their heart is pumping and that mimics what we need to see in soldiers when they are going to be doing their job for real”.
The Infantry have been training in Val d’Isere for more than forty years, attracted by the quality of both the terrain and the teaching.
Major Maxwell compared his soldier's experience, from starting to ski to the downhill race, to learning to drive, then a month later driving a Formula One car around Silverstone !
After the giant slalom today, the competitors continue all week with slalom and Super G races and even a downhill.
A major feat for those that only put skis on for the first time a month ago ! Bravo !
The first Medal Ceremony of the New Year took place yesterday evening at the Tsanteleina.
Two couples were rewarded for coming to Val d’Isere for at least 30 years.
One couple are so passionate about our village that they have a museum dedicated to Val d’Isere in their home !
The second couple spent their honeymoon in Val.
For the last week the firemen (who confusingly for us British also turn up if you have a medical emergency) have been touring around the residential blocks and the businesses in the Village, selling their famous calendar.
The wacky poses of the firemen (“pompiers”) are inspired by this summers Olympic Games that will be held in Paris.
The impressive Torchlight Descent by the French Ski School (ESF) was cancelled on Tuesday due to bad weather, but has been rescheduled for 18.00 this evening.
It will take place on the steep black run, The Face de Bellevarde.
While the instructors snake down, there will be a firework display and the spectators will be offered hot drinks, notably mulled wine or hot chocolate, at the bottom of the Face.
Eco friendly cups will be sold for 2 euros and the proceeds given to a local charity “In the eyes of Gabin”.
Kevin Micouds magic show was a huge success last night, with a record number of tickets sold.
Once you have put away your skis head to the nursery slope !
17.45
There is a younger, cuter, version of this evening's Torchlight Descent.
Our future champions will ski down the Savonnette slope, carefully holding lanterns.
If you know a child would also love to light up both our hearts and our slopes, please contact the French Ski School (ESF) in their office at Place des Dolomites adjacent to Val Village.
18.00
The Torchlight Descent by the French Ski School (ESF).
Instructors will snake down the impressive , steep, black run, The Face de Bellevarde .
Spectators will be treated to fireworks , mulled wine and hot chocolate.
Eco friendly cups will be sold to you and the 2€ will be given to the local charity « In the eyes of Gabin »
18.00
Mass will be celebrated at both The Chapel in La Daille and in the Church in the Old Village.
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 20.00 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 21.00.
The Ice-skating Rink is open from 10.00 to 20.00.
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’Isere (Vie Val d’Is) is open from 15.00 to 18.00.
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.
