Weather Report
We are in for another bright, calm and sunny day !
The rumour is that this could be the last for a few days but I choose to ignore such tittle tattle and enjoy the moment !
There will be a few clouds during the morning, and there may even be very brief, very localised episodes of white-out but we will enjoy an afternoon of clear blue skies.
There will be a very light breeze, with occasional south westerly gusts of up to 50 to 60 km/h.
The maximum temperature we can expect is +5 degrees at 2000 meters.
At 9.30 the temperature is
- 5 in the Village
- 1 at Pisaillas
0 on Bellvarde
+ at the top of Solaise.
Roads
If you are traveling today there are no problems reported or expected on the roads.
Ski Report
It is looking like a fab day on the slopes with nearly the entire area ready for you !
The Pisaillas area is all open.
Everything in le Fornet is open except for the Foret and Tunnel pistes.
Over on Solaise, the only closures are The Piste L and the Marmottons..
In the Bellevarde sector, The Santons and Epaule du Charvet will remain closed.
The Raye is being used for training by the ESF.
Please do not ski down a closed run.
Our wonderful pisteurs only close them for good reasons and we have so many fun and open pistes.
If do fancy ignoring closed signs it might be worth having a quick chat with your insurer before you put on your boots !
A rumour that I will listen to is that the ski patrol are working hard to open the 3000 drag lift later this week. It is tricky work - beautifully described earlier by Cedric as “a bit Rock and Roll”
Tignes can be accessed via the Tommeuses or Borsat chairlifts.
Cross Country skiers can enjoy the tracks in the Manchet Valley, La Daille or Lac d'Ouillette.
Pedestrians, and their dogs, can explore all of the walking paths.
The avalanche risk today is two out of five.
If considering skiiing off piste.
Never ski alone.
All the group must have the right equipment and
all know how to use it:
If in doubt; hire a guide.
We hope you didn’t miss the marching Geese yesterday afternoon.
What a treat !
Astonishing to see them marching to the beat of the drums and the whistles.
The large crowd couldn’t resist whipping out their phones to photograph & video this unusual parade.
While their feathers protect them from the cold they are as susceptible as the rest of us to the hazards of ice under foot so at one point the geese nimbly stepped from an icy pavement into the main road.
Yesterday Radio Val interviewed Marc Picar, their trainer, their manager, their chef, their chauffeur! Their greatest fan !
It was a particular privilege to see them yesterday as they will soon begin their well-deserved retirement where they will be living freely in the open air with help and supervision from Marc’s friends.
We will miss the joy they bought to Val d’Isère’s Summer Artisanal Fair. But we wish them well !
Photos from yesterday and video of the interview with this remarkable Dutchman qre on our website.
Yesterday evening the French Ski School put on another superb show where Santa Claus led 150 instructors in a torchlight descent, down the infamous black run, the Face de Bellevarde.
Almost as spectacular were the 240 litres of mulled wine consumed by the people enjoying this snake of lights.
I am not sure who was out counting, how they did it, or if they had shared some of the mulled wine. but we are assured by the Tourist Office that there were 328378 spectators ! Wow ! Whatever the exact number there was certainly a huge crowd.
There was a serious skiing accident on Xmas Eve.
Two skiers had difficulties in a steep and narrow off piste area above the Mattis run.
First the man in his twenties fell, then ten minutes later the woman accidentally copied his fall, landing just twenty centimetres from the injured man,
the ski patrollers and a local doctor who was helping after witnessing the accident. Two helicopters were involved in this extremely difficult rescue.
Both the man and woman were airlifted to hospital.
One had fractured their pelvis.
We wish them a full and rapid recovery.
We are relieved that neither the ski patrollers nor the doctor were injured when the woman fell.
Finally Downhill Ski Racing news.
At the initial men’s training in Bormio, Frances’ Cyprien Sarrazin lived up to his recent form by finishing first.
We all hope he does as well In the race tomorrow.
The ladies are be competing in the Giant Slalom in Austria tomorrow.
I would like to share with anyone that may have missed this news : BRITAINS’ Dave Ryding recently came third in the Madonna Slalom World Cup race.
Watch that man !
11.00 Competition at the Val d’Isere Snowpark.
Open to Everyone !
Skiers !
snowboarders !
Spectators !
Come and show off your talent and compete to win one of the many prizes !
Whether you ski or snowboard there will be a class to suit you. Or come and cheer on the competitors.
It is Free to take part. Free to watch.
Please register to compete when you arrive at the Snow Park.
17.45 Airboard.
Come to the Savonnette piste for another fun and free experience.
The snow bodyboard is controlled by transferring your weight and gives you the impression that you are flying above the surface of the snow.
You must bring your own helmet and be over 9 years old. Children must be accompanied by a parent.
Evening event at the Swimming Pool and Sports centre.
The fabulous team at the Swimming Pool and Sports Centre welcome you to relax this evening in the jacuzzies, saunas or hammam of the Wellness Centre until they all go home at 22.00.
From 19.30 anyone who has bought a ticket for the swimming pool can also use the Wellness Centre’s without paying the usual extra charge.
Christmas Magic.
14.00
Toss off your helmet,let down your hair, kick off your ski boots,pull on your dancing shoes !
Now you are READY to Sing and Dance to Christmqs Music with Santa’s Elves on their whirlwind tour of the Village centre, nursery slope, ice-skating rink before they hit the stage in the main street, The Avenue Olympique.
18.00 – 19.00. Magic Show at the Convention Centre.
This show is for everyone ! Young and old !
Just one man, but endless humour and magic. Laughter and astonishment.
Three lucky people will win tickets from RadioVal this morning.
Children under the age of 5 do not have to pay but everyone else will need to reserve their tickets at the Tourist Office before 17.00 or at the Convention Centre from 17.30.
Part of the ticket cost is donated to the Petits Prince association which makes dreams come true for seriously ill children.
A message from our partners at the Mont Blanc Hotel : Why not treat yourself; your friends and your family to a seafood platter at Hotel Mont Blanc's Le Névé restaurant.
To avoid disappointment, please phone 04 58 83 00 00 to reserve.
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 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 10.00 to 20.00.
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’Isere (Vie Val d’Is) is open from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 19.00.
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 again from 14.00 TO 17.30.
