English News, Weather and Daily Events - March 19, 2026

Weather

For today we will have more sunshine all day. A few fair-weather cumulus clouds will develop over the peaks in the western part of the department in the afternoon. Winds of up to 40 km/h from the Northeast at 3000 m, weakening during the day.

Currently at 8 am it is  -9°C up at the Pisaillas, -6°C at the top of Bellevarde, -6 degrees up on solaise and -3°C here in town. Today we can expect a top of 3°C in the village.

Roads

The roads are clear.

Local News

Derby

The Signal Derby returns to Le Fornet today for its 15th edition! Organized by the "La Sauce" association, this race has only one rule: the fastest cross-country skier wins. Skiers are free to choose their line on a course that is extensively marked in collaboration with the Val d'Isère ski patrol to ensure everyone's safety. The Derby is open to skiers, snowboarders, telemark skiers, skwal skiers, and monoskiers. A course familiarization run will take place at 9:00 AM, and qualifying rounds will begin at 11:00 AM. The final run will be at 2:30 PM, followed by the results and awards ceremony at 5:00 PM. Registration is available on-site at the Le Fornet snow front from 7:30 AM to 8:45 AM. Please note that payment will be by tokens and cash only during the event, and places are limited to 99 participants. To participate, a helmet, avalanche transceiver, and insurance are mandatory, and wearing a back protector is strongly recommended. Activities will be offered on the Fornet snow front.

This edition is dedicated to Gérard Mattis, who supported the association and the event since its inception, and also in memory of the volunteers and friends of La Sauce.

Ecomove Day

Yesterday afternoon, the Ecomove Day organized by Vie Val d'Is took place. Due to the weather conditions, the anti-waste village was set up at the Maison de Val instead of the Tourist Office Square. For this tenth edition, numerous activities and stands were offered, such as the Haute Tarentaise Community of Municipalities raising awareness about composting and the various composting sites in the village, the quality of life department presenting the waste management process and its impact, the CCAS (municipal social services center) sharing recipes through its food guide, as well as the library's book exchange and wooden games and recycled materials made by children from the after-school program. Attendees could also find clothing or ski equipment at the thrift store, participate in zero-waste workshops, and enjoy a smoothie bike. La Farandole Avaline and the La Sauce association also ran a cake stand and a refreshment bar. Thanks to supermarkets that donated around thirty crates of fruits and vegetables, the disco-soup event was able to take place with music, creating a moment of sharing and conviviality.

Cross-country skiing
Last night, the Place des Dolomites was transformed into a veritable cross-country ski circuit for the grand finale of the night race. Thirty-two amateur skiers competed on a temporary course, set up by the Ski Patrol, featuring bumps and banked turns. This friendly competition was an American-style relay: two people per team took turns for 20 minutes to complete as many laps as possible. After an intense race and several falls in a convivial atmosphere, the team "Les Dakus assoiffés" (The Thirsty Dakus), made up of Sophie and Olivier, took the victory with 19 laps, closely followed by Team Sweden, Line and Louis, with 18 laps. Marina and Thomas, from Tacos Zuira, finished third with 17 laps. Participants also had the opportunity to test equipment loaned by the sports shops in the Place des Dolomites. This was the last cross-country ski race of the season.

Avaline Trax

And speaking of races, will you take on the Avaline Trax challenge? The Sports Club invites ski touring enthusiasts to tackle 480 meters of elevation gain, at night by headlamp, through the Daille forest. For this grand finale, the resort's partners will reward participants and be present at the snow front. A unique and friendly experience, starting at 5:45 pm for the untimed race and at 6:15 pm for the timed race at the Daille snow front. The timed race requires a FFME or FFCAM license or a medical certificate. The finish line will be at the festive mountain restaurant, while the awards ceremony and refreshments will take place at the Tontons descent. Registration is online at valsport.org.

CCAS Cooking Workshop

Following the great success of its first workshop, the CCAS (Community Social Action Center) will be offering another cooking workshop this evening, led by a registered dietitian. The theme is "Eating a Balanced Diet on a Budget," and participants will discover the best tips for eating well without breaking the bank. This friendly and practical session will provide participants with simple, accessible, and easy-to-implement ideas for everyday meals. The workshop is free with registration and will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Presbytery Hall, 14 rue de l’Église.