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06 avril 2024 | Articles

English Weather, News, Ski Report - April 6, 2024

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WEATHER  

Beautiful sunny day !
There may be a few 'cirrus' clouds in the sky this afternoon but these are basically
decorative, nice for your photos, and won't interfere with your visibility.
It will be hot, and the snow will soften the initally firm pistes.
Remember the “save-your-legs-option
of a lift down when, especially in the afternoon,
the baked snow on the lower slopes is chopped up and heavy.

At 09.30 the temperature is

  • +4° in the Village.
  • +7°on Solaise.
  • +7° on Bellevarde
  • +5° on Pisaillas

It could reach +15° at 2000 metres.

ROADS

No problems in our village.

SKI REPORT

Happy skiing on a sunny Saturday !
Everything is open and nearly all the pistes were groomed overnight.

The following are all likely to close very early due to the high risk of avalanche
as the snow rapidly warms up.
PLEASE don't nip under the ropes if they are closed.
The pisteurs care about your safety and are not just being spoil-sports.

  • L
  • Santons
  • Aiglon
  • Lower part of the Orange
  • Combe du Geant

This morning there is training on the upper parts of the OK and Orange.

The Marmottons is closed, unless you are competing in the French Parpente Championships.

We have shared our excitement, over the last few days,
at the re-opening of the Tunnel piste, after 15 years.

Think very carefully about your skill-level before attempting it.
Gerard, Deputy Head of the Ski Patrol, this morning described it as :

  • Very narrow
  • Very, very steep
  • Very, very, very bumpy.
  • And is never groomed.

He suggests first testing your skills on the 3000 piste.
Another of his top tips, make sure you are insured.

The following were not groomed :

AT LE FORNET

  • Fôret
  • Petit Bois
  • Signal
  • Table d'Orientation
  • Tunnel

ON SOLAISE

  • Combe Martin
  • Upper part of the Glaciers
  • Rhône- Alpes
  • S

ON BELLEVARDE

  • Borsat

Tignes can be accessed via the Tommeuses and  Borsat chairlifts.

The avalanche risk today is 2 out of 5, but will be rising, with the temperature towards a good 3.
There was a bit of a freeze,
maybe enough for some flattering spring snow skiing,
but that won’t hold for long in today’s heat.

Before heading off piste
Consider......could your companions find and dig you out quickly ?
Even if the avalanche was «only » small ?
    
ANY DOUBTS
Enjoy our many miles of pistes,
or book to ski with a mountain guide.    

All our cross county tracks and walking paths are open, and recently groomed except :

  • Les Branges
  • Laisinant

It is possible that      

  • the Sources and    
  • Pont St Charles paths
    may close due to risk of avalanche.

After yesterdays sun, and last nights freeze,  this morning the lower pistes may be very firm. Please control your speed at all times, but particularly when approaching the lower slopes
as you may terrify, and injure,
beginners, pedestrians, children and dogs.

LOCAL NEWS

Another «schools-are-out-change-over-day»
22,000 approaching us and 2,000 more heading home.
However, it is not « too bad » - there are only a few hours to avoid, if you can :
Homeward bound
09.00 - 13.00
why not ski and leave after lunch ?
Arrivals
15.00 - 18.00
    
It might be noticeably quieter this week.
The occupancy rate is 50.8%, about ½ of last week, and similar to the start of  these school holidays last year.
But don't get too excited, because this rate is only a measure of the commercial rents.
This year, Paris are the first holiday zone.
They do love to ski, and  plenty of Parisians have their own properties in Val.

The Scara finished yesterday with French boys dominating the podium.
A tricolour top 5, and 15 out of the top 20, including
Val's own Jules Dufour Drai, who after coming 2nd in Thursdays Super G,
finished 6th in yesterday's slalom.
Well done Jules !
Despite the cancellation on Tuesday and, more snow on Wednesday,
it was a very successful Scara.
So nice that 43 countries could compete.
The 45th Scara will be in Val next April.

Our Sports Club haven't stopped competing just because the Scara has left town.
No doubt we will have more victories to share before the season ends.
And from Sunday, until 14th April,
Belgium,
Luxembourg and Denmark are holding their national championships here.

Finally, The French Parapente Championships are happening here this weekend.
Cancelled twice due to very bad weather, this weekend it will be sunny and hot.
It goes on all day, today and tomorrow, starting at 10.30 beside the Marmottons piste and
will be clearly seen in the Manchet Valley.
Go and watch them Fly and Ski!

Today's Events

10.30 - 16.00 Saturday and Sunday.
The French Parapente Championships
Starting from the Marmottons piste on Solaise,
but clearly visible in the Manchet Valley.
Come and watch as they follow the various challenges
Ski, Precision flying, before landing safely back on their skis.
This is organised by our own parapente club,
The Eagles of Val disère


Suggestion of the Day

This evening head to the Poya Bar and Restaurant,
on the main street, opposite the bus station.
This is your last opportunity, this season,
to enjoy the music by talented pianist
Victor le  Douarec.

Free Public Transport

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.
Opening times

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 20.00.
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 12.00.

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