Weather
The sky is completely clear this morning which is a welcome change after yesterday's clouds.
We will be treated to a clear and sunny sky until the clouds return late this afternoon.
Overnight we had 10 cm of snow in the village and 20 cm or more on the mountains.
The temperature stayed above freezing in the village overnight and at 9.30 is -1 degree in the centre of Val d’Isre, but fortunately it is much colder on our peaks
-11 at Pisaillas.
-4 on Solaise.
The maximim temperature will be +3 at 2000 metres.
The wind will blow from the South West and may reach thirty kilometres 30 km/hour.
Our ski patrol were up bright and early !
You may have heard the explosions that started at 7am.
This “PIDA” is designed to avoid natural avalanches which could affect our pistes and village.
They finished in time for the lifts to open.
Roads
The roads are extremely slippery and this is likely to cause problems
on the road between Val d’Isère and Bourg St Maurice so please, keep your distance, and drive slowly and carefully.
Ski Report
Snow overnight + sun during the day = PERFECTION
At Le Fornet
Everything will open except the Tunnel and Table d'Orientation pistes.
On the Pisaillas area
Everything will open but the wind may at times affect the lifts.
On Solaise
The only definite closure is The Piste L.
The Cugnai lift may be delayed due to wind.
The Leissier chair lift, affectionately known as the “Up and Over”, linking Solaise and Le Fornet will open.
On Bellevarde
The Santons qnd the G will remain closed.
Pistes closed for Training on Belvarde this morning are
- The upper part of The OK
- The upper part of The Orange
- The Raye
This is for our British Army so please, no moaning about a few closed pistes !
Show them our appreciation !
Cheer them on.
They do an amazing job !!
Tignes can be accessed via the Tommeuses or Borsat chairlifts.
The avalanche risk today is 3 out of 5.
A few “Pleases”
Do not ski down a closed run. They are always closed for a very good reason.
Leave the quiet zones for the beginners to enjoy.
Look ahead, anticipate and control your speed, particularly when approaching junctions.
If considering skiing off piste.
Ski only with a people who have both the appropriate safety equipment and
YOU know
that THEY know
how to use it.
If in doubt - hire an instructor or a mountain guide.
OR stay on our groomed and well signed posted pistes.
Cross Country skiers can enjoy skiing on the tracks in the Manchet Valley, La Daille or Lac d'Ouillette.
All of our walking paths are open.If you are lucky enough to be accompanied by a furry friend,
Please Pick Up Their Poo !!!
Local News
The Annual General meeting for Association for Val d’iseres property owners (the APVI) was the grand finale for President Francoise Colin Bertin.
After 17 years she feels that she has ‘done her time’ and Jean Noel Henon is taking over the reins.
For those who can follow spoken French, please listen to the interesting interview with Francoise on the RadioVal website.
70 members attended this meeting at the Convention Centre last night.
At the end of the meeting, Patrick Martin, the Mayor of Val d’Isère, Arnaud Mollanger, Director of Val d'Isère Lift Company, and Christophe Lavaut from the Tourist Office, spent an 1.5 hours answering questions from the audience.
Amongst the questions and remarks were recurring issues such as the problem concerning dog droppings along the walking paths, and regarding updates on the plans for the ‘Coin’ area i.e. the area where the main bus station is currently located.
The Mayor discussed the project to build a 4-star hotel in place of the current bus station and said that the work may begin in the Spring.
The bus station would thus be moved to the large open area on the right after the Petrol Station, as you approach La Daille ("la Plaine de la Daille"), even though the tests that were supposed to take place this winter cannot be carried out this year, due to a lack of agreement with the owners of the land.
The project to replace the elderly Vallon bubble was discussed.
Arnaud Mollanger, confirmed that all the required permits have been approved, and that the work will begin in the Spring.
The current lift will have to be dismantled and the new lift built and operational for the start of next Winter. i.e. in just 7 months.
This is a huge undertaking !
Another major investment is the project to renovate the old swimming pool on the bottom of the nursery slopes.
An architectural competition was launched a few months ago.
49 firms from around the world responded and three have been short-listed, including two Norwegian firms.
The winning design is expected to be announced in April.
Finally, discussions focused on the shock and disappointment that Val d’Isere has been omitted from the list of the ski resorts included in the bid by the French Alps to host the 2030 Winter Olympics.
Nobody needed reminding, but the Mayor repeated his view that the bid from the French Alps would be weaker without Val d'Isère.
This was followed by loud applause.
There was further applause at the end of the long meeting.
The much anticipated torchlight descent by the French Ski School (ESF) instructors down the impressive black run, the Face de Bellevarde, which was postponed yesterday due to the snow and poor visibility, has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, at 18.00.
The new version of the Town Hall magazine (previously ‘360’) has been launched as “Val d’Isere Mag”. This first edition highlights the issues facing the future of the mountains and our village. It includes an article on the production of artificial snow. 1800 copies have been printed and are already available in the Town Hall (la Mairie) next to the Tourist Office in the Main Square) and the Maison de Val (between the Conference Centre and the Swimming Pool & Sports Centre).
From 17.30 there is a second-hand clothing and ski equipment sale at the Loup Blanc Chalet, on the Avenue du Prariond, opposite the UCPA.
Everyone is welcome !
Come and grab yourself a bargain !
You are invited to enjoy an intriguing, beguiling Magical mystery show tonight, when Kevin Micoud performs at the Conference Centre at six pm.
There is an interview with this Magician and Mentalist on the RadioVal website.
11.00 Competition at the Val d’Isere Snowpark.
Open to Everyone !
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.
15.00
Come and discover the Val Kids area at the top of Solaise – just as you get out of the bubble.
Enjoy a snack while you are shown some of the ‘behind the scenes’ activities of the teams that work hard to protect you and make your holiday special.
Learn how we make snow when needed, and get a glimpse into the work carried out by our Emergency Services.
17.00
Video game tournament at the Multimedia Library.
Compete on Playstation Five
with or against
family or friends
on the latest version of the legendary Street Fighter.
From 17.45
From 17.30 there is a second-hand clothing and ski equipment sale at the Loup Blanc Chalet, on the Avenue du Prariond, opposite the UCPA.
Everyone is welcome !
Come and grab yourself a bargain !
17.45
Airboard.
Another fun and free experience but this time on the Savonette nursery slope.
Adjust your weight on this bodyboard to FLY across the snow.
Or at least feel like you are flying !
And the boring but essential “small print”
You must bring (AND wear) a helmet,
be more than nine years old
and
children must be accompanied by a parent.
Please register to compete when you arrive at the Snow Park.
18.00
Mass will be celebrated in the Chapel at La Daille.
18.00 - 19.00
Spectacular show at the Conference Centre.
Kevin Micoud
Magician and Mentalist
Magic !
Illusions !
Holograms !
Mind reading !
Mind blowing !!
Kevin has won muliple awards, including the Magician’s equivalent of the Oscars, the Golden Mandrake .
On several occasions he was a semifinalist on the global variations of ‘Britian’s Got Talent’, including both the British and French versions.
Four lucky people have won tickets from RadioVal, and children under five are not charged,
but everyone else will need to buy tickets from the Tourist Office until 17.00 or from 17.30 at the Conference Centre.
From 19.30
Evening event at the Swimming Pool and Sports centre.
You are invited to relax in the centre’s beautiful pools.
From 19.30 until the centre closes at 22.00, anyone who has bought a ticket for the swimming pool can take also use the Wellness Centre’s jacuzzies, saunas and the hammam without paying the usual extra charge.
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 Dis) is open from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 19.00.
The Reservation Centre (On the Lower Ground Floor 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.
