Today's Weather
So it's a little bit chillier today.
If you were up early you will have been treated to the beautiful violet morning sky.
Very early ! Too early when you are on holiday !
I am pleased to say that the sun hasn't abandoned us completely, yet, but it will be getting gradually more cloudy over the day so think about using low light lenses for your googles.
There will be a very light breeze this morning with occasional gusts of 50 to 70 kilometres per hour.
The wind is changing direction. From the South overnight, South West this morning and then from the North West this afternoon.
The maximum temperature we can expect is 2° at 2000 meters.
As I type at 10.30 the temperature is -4 in the village, -4 at the Pisaillas, -1 at the top of Solaise.
Road
If you are travelling today, you should not have a problem on our local roads.
Ski Report
It will be another great day on the slopes with nearly the entire area open and waiting for YOU !
Pisaillas area
Everything is open.
Le Fornet
With the exception of the Foret and Tunnel pistes, everything is open.
Solaise
The only closures are The Piste L and the 3000.
Pistes closed for Training on Solaise
All day on the Stade Legettaz.
This morning on the top of the Marmottons, but this run will be open for all once the training has finished.
Bellevarde
The Santons and Epaule du Charvet will remain closed due to a lack of snow.
We don't normally talk positively about avalanches, but a well directed avalanche could do a great job filling the Santons giving us the freedom to ski safely from Belvarde to the Manchet valley.
However we must put our dreams aside - until there is more snow in this gulley it is very definitely CLOSED.
We don’t need to wreck either our skis or our bodies when there is such a good choice of open pistes !
Pistes closed for Training on Belvarde
This morning on The Orange and The OK, but they will then be free for you to skip down.
The Raye is closed all day except for those involved in the training.
Tignes can be accessed via the Tommeuses or the Borsat chairlifts.
The avalanche risk today is 2 out of 5.
Cross Country skiers can push and slide on the tracks in the Manchet Valley, La Daille or Lac d'Ouillette.
Dogs can take their well-behaved pedestrians on all of our walking paths.
Pedestrians without a dog are also very welcome to explore these beautiful routes.
A few “Pleases”
Do not ski down a closed run.
They are always closed for a very good reason.
Leave the quiet (“Tranquille”) zones for the beginners.
Sliding on long planks in stiff boots is weird and scary enough when you first start without having more experienced skiers whizzing past them.
Look ahead, anticipate and control your speed, particularly when approaching junctions.
If you find speed control tricky, we have a formidable selection of instructors in Val.
Treat yourself to a lesson !
Skiing in control is a lot more fun for both you, and the skiers around you !
Try it !
If considering skiing off piste.
Never ski alone.
Choose your "friends" carefully.
All the group must have the right equipment and all MUST know how to use it.
Regularly practice using your safety equipment.
If in doubt - hire an instructor or a mountain guide.
Or - stay on the open and well marked pistes.
Local News
We have cheekily been drip feeding you tantalising snippets about the potential opening of the 3000 drag lift and piste; and the Tunnel piste, and it looks as though it really will happen. SOON !
If you haven’t been to Val d’Isere before you will not realise quite how unusual and therefore how exciting this is.
It was out of action for years before being brought back into service in 2019, but opening requires very particular snow conditions.
However, the level of snow is not the only factor to consider.
There has been a significant amount of work involved in preparing both the challenging, steep black piste and the tricky drag lift.
The work here in Val is always a collective effort.
Being able to open the 3000 so early in the season is a result of the close collaboration between the ski patrol and the team who grooms the pistes.
Some had to put ‘skins’ (modern version of seal skin) onto the bottom of their skis to walk up to manually free up the area where skiers will be getting off the drag lift.
The Tunnel piste, which allows skiers to access the Vallon de l’Isèran in le Fornet, remains a challenge !
The ski patrol opened this famous tunnel only to find huge amounts of snow inside....so......what I would call a « work in progres »
Please look at the photos on our website !
If all goes well the drag lift and the piste 3000 could open on Friday.
However, think carefully about rushing up to cross it off your “list” as it is a very steep black run which should ONLY be skied by extremely capable skiers.
It took a capable rather than « extremely capable » friend of mine 1.5 half hours to pick her way down when it was last open but at least
1. I had warned her that she would not enjoy herself.
2. Her ski kit hide her trembling legs.
3. She resisted the temptation to try it again.
4. We didn't have to involve the already busy pisteurs.
There was a Medal Ceremony yesterday evening in the Alpin, one of the resort's new restaurants, where 5 of our French Friends were rewarded for returning regularly to Val d’Isère over more than thirty years.
A small token to show that we appreciate their loyalty.
Expect another fun evening in Val disère !
I hope you haven't packed away the dancing shoes I recommended you to pull on yesterday as the Monokinis are giving two free concerts this afternoon on the stage in the main street.
They will have you “twisting and shouting” to 60’s themed Christmas music at 16.30 and again at 17.30.
It is busy on the Savonnette nursery slopes this evening.
At 17.30 there is a younger, cuter version of Val d’Isère’s famous torchlight descent.
Children will ski down holding lanterns !
If you know a child who would love to light up both our hearts and our slopes, please contact the French Ski School (ESF).
From 17.45 until 19.45
Come and try our modern, light, comfortable and easy to handle sledges.
Known as a ‘Paret’ this was originally wooden and consisted of a single ski, a plank to sit on and a handle for ‘ control’ – term used loosely !!
Known as Yooner and Snooc this is fun and free, for the young and the not so young.
A great activity to enjoy with your family and friends.
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 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 from 14.00 TO 17.30.
