A grey day in Courchevel!

View over the roof of Chalet Marmottons, Courchevel 1550, towards the Grand Bec

Today is a filthy day in Courchevel and not a nice way to end a sunny week. The weather has been miserable all day, with misty clouds and rain from far below 1550 and all the way to the top of Col de La Loze. It is not good enough!! If there is bad weather it should be snowing and then at least there is a point to it...

However, the good news is that I have heard rumours of a snowfall, so fingers crossed... The past two seasons have brought about big dumps at around this time in early March, so hopefully this year will be no exception!

Torchlit descent up close!

This week I was lucky enough to be invited on a torchlit descent with the ESF La Tania. We caught the last bubble up out of La Tania at about 5pm and headed to the Bouc Blanc restaurant to wait until it got dark enough.

The securité de pistes came in to check we were all there by invitation and sent anyone else off home. The wait was for a couple of hours and everyone got settled into beers, pastis and chips.

At about 6.45 the light had gone enough for us to set off. The first bit of the descent is fairly hairy because we did not light the torches until two thirds of the way down Folyeres, so most of the descent was done in darkness!

We all stopped to light torches and drink some home brewed damson gin (thanks to my parents!) and headed on down to La Tania. I had a wooden torch which worried me slightly, as I has just willingly set light to it. However, all the instructors shrugged and said I would be fine...


It was such a great night and it was so much fun to be part of the display! Everyone cheers and claps as you ski past. Hopefully none of them noticed the look of fear on my face as the flames licked the edge of the torch just above my hand..

After the descent we headed to the Chrome bar, just on the edge of the piste in La Tania. Here we celebrated by sharing a large 3L glass of beer; I could hardly lift it!

The Chrome bar is a great place to spend the evening, it is usually full of ski instructors unwinding after a busy day.

Torchlit descents usually happen most weeks in Courchevel (particularly during school holidays), so keep an eye out in the 3 vallees info booklet to see if there is one on while you are here.

For anyone more interested in the apres ski... The Chrome bar have live music three nights a week: Monday - Bring your sisters; Wednesday - 4Play; Friday - Subsonic.

And for those who don't think 3L of beer is big enough you can also buy your own barrel....

Are ski instructors getting younger?

Is it just me getting older or are the ski instructors getting younger and younger?? I saw this little guy over in La Tania...

Another stunning evening in Les Brigues.

The view from the office and the chalets in the Les Brigues area (Delage, Reposoir and Marmottons) was stunning last night. The clouds were picking up the light as you can see; and the mountain sunset was spectacular.

The truth about shopping day...

Left: Ria (Chalet Delage) almost finished!

Right: Phil (Chalet Marmottons) battling with the fruit and veg..

Shopping day is always a mission! Thursday is the day we head off down the hill to Moutiers and shop for the week. We buy everything required for the next seven days, except the meat which is delivered directly from the butcher a couple of times a week. The larger chalets require up to 3 trolleys each, so as you can imagine, it can be chaos; trolleys everywhere, boxes heaped around the checkouts and chalet staff flying around as they race to finish quicker each week...

Left: Fi (Chalet Elan) shows off their receipt...

Almost done: Jimmy loads the boxes into the van.

This week was an all time record and one I think will be hard to beat... All staff were back in resort and unloaded into the chalets by 11.30am! This includes the staff who can only leave Courchevel at 9am because they do breakfast before they go... Great going, no longer is shopping day utterly tedious, it is now a challenge to better the week before!!

To celebrate the greatness of the occasion, a group of us headed off to La Tania to enjoy the sunshine and some wonderful pizzas at the Marmottons restaurant. (The creme brulees are superb as well.) There was some confusion when I said glasses on the head for the photo. I meant sunglasses, so that we could see faces in the photo, however, many took this to mean wine glasses....

Giant hoovers?

Gazex tubes

"Those funny looking curved metal tubes sticking out of the mountain just above steep bit"

A very common question amongst guests is 'what are those huge tube things you see on steep slopes?' See picture if you have no idea what I am talking about! My favourite tale to spin is that they are giant hoovers which suck up the snow. The snow is then stored and re-distributed and that is what comes out of the snow cannons. Another good one is that they are Marmotte breathing holes - to compensate for the fact that pisted snow is more compact and doesn't let as much O2 through. These are both total fabrications...

The truth (much of the following is quoted from snowheads.com): They are gazex (gaz explosif) tubes. They form part of the avalanche prevention system in Courchevel. There are 65 gazex in Courchevel and 4 catex avalanche- release systems. (See photo below.)

Gazex tubes explode an oxygen/propane gas mixture at the top end of risk zones. When it explodes, the force of the explosion is directed towards the snow with three effects: a direct push into snow under the open end of the exploder; a shock wave that produces an overpressure and then a negative pressure that lifts up the snow; an indirect sympathetic effect on the adjacent snow mantle. The tanks under the gazex have a large enough capacity that they can be used all winter without being refilled.

Catex systems are a high-tech system of avalanche-release involving explosives. They use a cable that carries explosives of between 2.5kg and 5kg, which means that the securite de piste can set off avalanches from a safe distance.

These systems are designed so that in risky areas, avalanches can be set-off under controlled circumstances. These systems are combined with a staff of 453 employed by the S3V who work around the clock. To help them maintain the 119 pistes in the Courchevel valley, they have 563 snow cannons and 26 piste bashers. The grooming of the pistes has been taken to another level this season and I think standards are higher than ever before. Everything above has been combined to create a ski area of incomparable quality.

Part of the catex system in Courchevel

Dinner in Chalet Elan, 1850

Dinner preparation in Chalet Elan

I arrived at Chalet Elan on Monday night to have dinner and found the staff hard at work preparing a delicious meal. The chef, Adam, was busy preparing the plates for the starter. I was so impressed with the beautiful presentation that I had to take a photo.

As you can see the plates have zigzag pattern with the sauce, a knotted chive and some nicely edged cucumber. Then Adam adds a bed of salad leaves and tops it off with a goats cheese parcel, delicious! Each of the courses were immaculate and the spun sugar web resting on the chocolate mousse created a first class pudding. Keep up the good work!

Mont Blanc.

Some of you may not realise the fantastic view we have of Mont Blanc from the top of Courchevel. I took the following photo from the top of the Dou des Lanches chair, by the Col de la Loze. Mont Blanc is the huge mountain in the background!

The belief is that if there is cloud above Mont Blanc and he 'has his hat on' then there is snow on the way... Lets hope that the hat appears soon! Conditions are good and the weather has been beautiful for days now. The pisteurs have been working very hard and lots of snow has been made recently thanks to the low night time temperatures. However it is getting icy in places. A fresh covering would be very good! Snow is forecast for Wednesday or Thursday, so fingers crossed...

Mont Blanc

Where are all the people?

View of the Dou des Lanches piste from the chair above

Where is everyone? Looking at the photos you would think it was early December! Today I made the very wise choice of skiing over lunchtime. For those of you who are not bound by ski school timings the best time to ski during busy weeks such as this one, is from about 12.30 until 2pm; everyone else is tucked away in restaurants having lunch!

Considering it one of the UK half term weeks, the slopes have not been too busy this week. One tip (which is easier for skiers than boarders): use drag lifts where possible when it is really busy, usually if there are huge cues at chairs, the drag lifts are not nearly so bad...

Even the pistes in 1850 are surprisingly quiet over lunchtime!

View of the Marquetty piste in 1850

The All-In-One visits Courchevel...

The all-in-one featured in the Val D'Isere diary, date 9th January 2008 has appeared in Courchevel. Luckily I had my camera with me and was able to snap this photo, against a stunning mountain backdrop. I know that the person concerned is wearing a different hat, but surely it has to be the same one piece, it must be a one-off original?? I wonder if it will visit Les Coches as well...

Complacency in Courchevel...

It is very easy to become a little complacent when you live out here. The mountains are so beautiful and the view is constantly changing. When you come out here you must make sure you have a look outside in the evening, when the sun is setting lower down the valley. The pink light you get on the tips of the hills makes for one of the most beautiful views.

Fireworks in Courchevel.

International Firework Display in Courchevel

Since 2003 there has been an International fireworks display each year in Courchevel. This is really something to be recommended. The competition will take place from 11th to 21st of February 2008. (Different evenings are possible if the original evenings are postponed due to bad weather.) The displays usually start around 6.30pm. If you would like to alter your meal time to fit in with the displays then speak to your chalet host.

The festival regroups 4 societies, this year these are France, Italy, Portugal and Croatia. The music remains the choice of the firework artists. Time given over to the fireworks: between 14 and 18 minutes without any black holes, with different effects.

The judgement:

The Jury take the following criteria into account:

The overall impression of the show – Pyrotechnic Art: Choice of colours, fireworks, shapes, progression, purity
The Pyro-music connection: Music chosen by the artists, diversity, continuity
Synchronisation: Use and respect of the imposed time period (no black holes)
Use of space

The locations:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11th Courchevel 1850
Snow front 6.30pm : Opening ceremony for the Festival with ESF 1850
7pm : Firework competition.
Firework artist : MINHOTA (Portugal)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13th Courchevel 1650
Snow front 6.30pm : Opening ceremony for the Festival with ESF 1650
7pm : Firework competition.
Firework artist : MIRNOVEC (Croatie)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15th Courchevel 1550
Snow front 6.30pm : Opening ceremony for the Festival with ESF1550
7pm : Firework competition
Firework artist : PYROGRAMME (France)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19th Courchevel Le Praz / 1300
Snow front 6.30pm : Opening ceremony for the Festival
7pm : Firework competition.
Firework artist : Sté VACCALLUZZO (Italie)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21st Courchevel 1850
Snow front 6.30 : Results and prize giving.
Clôture du festival avec une société d'artifice hors concours.
Firework artist : INTERMEDE (France)

Great Britain Ice Hockey!

A fantastic way to spend an evening in Courchevel is watching the ice hockey. This week I was lucky enough to see Great Britain play Norway. It is a tense and exciting game, played at seriously high speed. Pucks can fly into the crowd so beware! There are three periods of 20 minutes; the game usually lasts a couple of hours. Tickets are only €12 and it is a great night out.

Sadly GB lost 5-3 in the game I saw on Wednesday and they also lost 4-0 to France last night in Meribel, hopefully they will do better next time. If you think you may be keen then have a look in the 3 Valleys Info booklet that will be in your chalet on arrival and see if there are any games on when you are here. Games start at 8.30pm but your chalet host can adapt and do an early dinner if you want to go to a game, just speak to them when you get here...

The weather has picked up again.

Following a fairly horrible day yesterday, the weather has picked up again. Today was beautiful blue skies and still lots of lovely snow. Because it is shopping day we only really get onto the slopes for the afternoon, but it was worth it.

When you finish skiing a nice place to sit is in the sun outside the Taverne in 1550, however as soon as the sun drops it is wise to hurry inside and sit by the wood burning stove. It is still early February! Philippe is the host with the most in here and he serves a great vin chaud.

A cracking day off!!

View from the office, over the roof of Reposoir.

Tuesday dawned with brilliant blue skies and masses of powder. Having decided against Cider Celebration night in The Bar in 1550 (an excellent Monday night out and well worth a visit: Magners €4, Bulmers €3.50); Kat from Grand Cerf and I headed out on the first lift. We spent the whole morning playing in knee high powder. There were some great bits through the trees down towards La Tania and Le Praz and also down Jockeys and Jean Blanc. These are both black runs on that side of the mountain which are rarely pisted so lots of powder.

We stopped for lunch in La Tania which is a great place to sit in the sun over lunchtime. For those who like snacks including paninis etc, the place to go is the newly opened Chrome bar just on the edge of the piste. Just behind it is the Marmottons which does some of the best pizzas I know (and I eat a lot of pizzas), also great tartiflette and nice salads. The prices in La Tania are much more reasonable as well, but beware the genepi in the Marmottons, it is remarkably drinkable.

In the afternoon, we spent time under the Dou des Lanches chair: fabulous snow and not so many people because it is further off piste. Conditions could not have been better for a day off!! Almost all the Finlays staff were back home and in bed by 9.30pm: making the most of the snowy conditions really takes it out of you!

View from the top of Plantrey chair, overlooking the Meribel valley.

Skiing today.

Today looks like it could be a great day on the slopes! Following a few inches of fresh snow on Friday night and yesterday (always livens up transfer day), the slopes should be in great condition. The skies are a beautiful blue and the sun is just lifting over the hills.

For those of you in the resort: intermediate level and above, why not try going over the 1650 via the Creux and Chanrossa chairs and for those who prefers blue runs try Altiport and Roc Mugnier chair. 1650 has lots of great motorway runs, great for gaining confidence or practising carving for the more advanced. In the early part of the week it is always quieter because many people don't really find it until Tuesday or Wednesday. Beat the crowds!

But please don't go off piste today, avalanche risk will be very high because the new light snow is just resting on top of icy compacted snow. Everything is ready to slide!

Kalicos at lunch.

Most of you will know of Kalicos in the Forum in 1850 from nights out on the town. However, during the day it is turned into a great restaurant. You can ski to the door and inside is a really big restaurant. The layout is clever though and due to well placed pillars and booths it does not feel too big.

The food is great: they have a huge variety of burgers and pizzas, as well as salads and pasta. Simple but good! The price of a meal is fairly reasonable and with wine, coffee and a few puddings it is around €25 to €30 per head.

Flugel night in 1550!

Let the duck out is the most common cry you will hear in Courchevel 1550 on a Thursday night. All the Finladies and one or two Finlads can be found in The Bar (Pleisure) on a Thursday night for Flugel night. The 1850 staff came down to join the Finlays crew for an excellent night out. Flugels are little vodka energy drinks which have to be consumed in the following manner:

Remove the lid and place on the end of your nose
Bang the drink repeatedly on the bar
Pick the drink up from the bar without using your hands and down it
Return the bottle to the bar
Place the lid on top of the bottle using your nose and without using your hands
Throw the bottle on the floor with relish!

It is one of those nights where you need to join in or go home!

After flugel night we headed on to Le Barouf in 1550 which has a live band and there is dancing (lots of which is on tables) until about 2am. We were all very well behaved and had a tame night. Well that is the official version for the website, those who were there may recount the evening differently. Safe to say a good night was had by all!