English Weather, News, Ski Report - January 25, 2024

WEATHER

There was a beautiful full moon for those up early this morning but some clouds may prevent a complete panoramic view of our vista today although the sun will be out.

The big problem is WIND.

Although calm in town, it is intermittently violent on the mountain, particularly on the Pisaillas where
more than 132 km/h has already been recorded since 8 am.

The temperature has dropped a little since yesterday but is still unseasonally warm.

At 10.00 the temperature is

• -2° in the Village.
• +3° on Solaise.
• -0.2° on Pisaillas.

Maximum temperature is expected to be  +6 ° at 2000 meters.

ROAD

No problems are expected on the roads in our village or towards Bourg St Maurice.

SKI REPORT

The conditions today are similar to yesterday SO we have plenty of groomed pistes but access may be limited at times due to the violent wind.
Baring a miracle, the Pisaillas glacier will not open.

BUT All of Bellevarde

There will be training on

• OK
• Orange
• Raye

The following were not groomed

• Lanches
• Epaule du Charvet
• Borsat

The Santons may close due to strong risk of avalanche.

On Solaise

Lifts :
The Leissiere chair linking Solaise and le Fornet is unlikely to open.
The 3000 draglift will not open.

The pistes are all open.
EXCEPT the 3000.

The following were not groomed overnight :

• Fourche
• L
• Marmottons
• S

The L may close due to the avalanche risk.

At le Fornet

The cable car and Vallon bubble may be affected by the wind but all lifts are currently open.

Only the Tunnel piste is defintely closed.

The pistes that were not groomed are

• Col
• Petit Bois
• Table d'Orientation

On Pisaillas, they have opened

• Pays Desert drag lift
• Cema chairlift.

Tignes can be accessed via the Tommeuses or Borsat chairlifts.

The avalanche risk today is a significant  3 out of 5.

If considering skiing off piste, take a handy Mountain Guide !

Cross Country Skiing tracks are all open.

Our walking paths are open except

• Les Branges
• The Col de l'Iseran which will not open as the lift to get you down after your walk is at risk of closing.
  

LOCAL NEWS

Agricultural workers (Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles ) are planning a demonstration blocking both the motorway and the Chignin toll from 10.00 until tomorrow.

The hard working farmers have many demands and complaints including around :

• Restrictive practices
  
• Increase in taxes
• Importation of food
• The wolves.

There was a record attendance yesterday evening at the
Cross-country Pairs Relay Race.
There were 20 teams vying for the prize, but others were disappointed as the race was fully subscribed.
There was a huge crowd all along the track and it was well worth being there as many of the competitors were in fancy dress,
so we had wild characters racing up the bumps and down the banks.
There were many tumbles but none were serious.
For the 3rd time in as many races, ESF instructors, Loic and Gaetan,  won the race, completing 22 laps in the 20 minutes.
Flying hot on their heels were the Eagles of Khéops, Gaspard and Baptiste,
despite the latter starting the race,
by breaking a ski.
There will be another chance to win this race, go on, beat Loic and Gaetan !
Same time and place next Wednesday.

Tonight is the “Avaline Trax” – the nocturnal ski touring race.
This famous race is organised by our Sports Club and starts at 18.00 at the bottom of La Daille, by the bubble lift. 
The course is 480 vertical metres, which the amazingly fit will do in a mere 20 minutes while the less experienced may take 1.5 hours.
After reaching the finish, at the Folie Douce, the skiers will come straight down for much deserved refreshments at the Tontons Bar in the new Val Square in La Daille.
There are many prizes both for the fastest and a raffle of donations including from race sponsors Dynastar and Millet.  
If you want to take part, it costs 12 euros, and you can register online.
https://www.njuko.net/avaline2501/select_competition

There was an amazing sight for anyone who looked up at the sky above Solaise yesterday afternoon.
There were some very beautiful and unusual iridescent, rainbow-coloured clouds.
These are known as Stratospheric Polar Clouds and are more commonly seen in the Antarctic, below -88 degrees Centigrade and at twilight! 
Not sure how they got to Val or why they were wandering across our skies mid afternoon on quite a warm day…….but they were very pretty !

Yesterday was the last day of the 33rd International Trade Exhibition ‘Destination Montagnes 2024’ in Chambery.
Professionals in the Tourist Industry shared their passion and knowledge.
Val d’Isère exhibited with Tignes and, as has been the case for several years, had a big delegation representing local organisations, hotels, holiday accommodation and ski schools to tempt visiting colleagues to bring their clients to our resort.

The Savoyarde Hotel hosted another medal ceremony yesterday evening.
Three longstanding devotees of Val d’Isère were honoured for their loyalty.
It was planned that Alexandra Mai and David Vallet would be receiving their bronze medals but, as a special surprise for him, their friend Sébastien Pawly was also awarded his.  
Their sponsors Alain Martinal and Laurent Boson proudly pinned the medals to their chests. 
Frederic Monneret presided over the ceremony.
Patrick Chevallot and several ESF instructors and friends of the faithful holidaymakers attended.  


ALPINE RACING

Congratulations to Val's own Clément Noël who came 3rd in the night World Cup slalom in Schadming.

FINALLY
Proudly Wave your Union Jack !
At Schladming, in Austria, Dave Ryding came 14th in the World Cup night race
At the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG)  in Gangwon, South Korea, 39 talented young Brits are   competing in 11 out of 15 events .
Zak Carrick-Smith won SILVER in the Giant Slalom.  
Will look nice beside his gold !
Axel Rose Green and Jake Dade came 6th and 7th in the women and men’s ski cross respectively, before a 6th place in the mixed  team ski cross.
Molly Butler came 10th in the Giant Slalom.
WELL DONE TEAM GB