The view from............ Val d'Isere and the Espace Killy

A snowHead

He has the mini ski for skating, riding pomas etc. Stashes it between his legs when riding. Quite a common old skool mono trick.

A snowHead

Hi,

At val D now loving all the snow but a bit worries about the return journey on Sat due to inclined weather and delays. We are booked on Ben's bus at 1410 from Val D to Geneva with a flight to London at 2030 and luggage to check. Last Saturday the bus journey to val d from th airport took about 5 hours due to delays on N90 etc. Am a bit worries we wont make it back in time for our flight, we called Bens trying to get an earlier bus but they have no space Sad

Any thoughts?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Hi, glad you are enjoying the snow more to come. If it was a normal day, not half term AND no snow forecast then it would be fine. But I think you might catch the flight just by the skin of your teeth at best.... My gut feeling would be to look much earlier in the day for a transfer. Going down will be quieter than coming up but the traffic will stil be bad. On a snowy school hol transfer weekend it is not beyond expectation for it to take 6 hours. I have taken 11 hours from Val to bourg before!!!! I would go cautious and look for something earlier if I were you but you might be lucky! Good luck. Steve

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Thought I would best asking here than the main forum.. Would anyone be able recommended anywhere in Val D'isere for an overnight ski service?

Thanks in advance. Little Angel

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Snowberry are very good @snowsmog, - up by the Rond Point.

EDIT: and if I recall Steve uses Killy Sport near the tourist information office.

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Snowberry did a great job on mine recently, despite it being a Saturday evening and therefore very busy. They even obliged me by having them done before closing rather than a morning pick up as I was skiing elsewhere the next day. Later in the week I was having a problem with one ski catching, I couldn't see why, took them in and the ski tech came and had a look, spotted the problem, and explained what was happening, all along with advice on how to fix it, which he did. Really impressed. Very Happy

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I will second the overnight service offered by Snowberry - did mine twice whilst I was there in Jan. They are conveniently located right by Rond Point for easy drop off and pick up next morning. I called them the day before to "book" a slot! Fairly reasonable price as well - 30 Euros for edge and wax. Skis were great after the service each time.

After all it is free

So can Snowberry tune to specific tune? eg 1 degree base and 2 edge? I arrive tomorrow and all my skis are in need of some TLC.. La Poudreuse seems to have a lot of nice kit and a Montana machine, but would appreciate some local advice @Steve Angus, I'm pretty fussy and just seem to have no time these days to do myself.

I think so, I was asked what angle I wanted my edges at. My response was "I'm not that good!" Toofy Grin

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Thanks for the responses. Snowberry it is I guess!

Handy as will not have to panic about getting them sorted prior to leaving as options are limited for me 'oop north.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

@Steve Angus Thanks for another great lesson yesterday. What's a face plant or two amongst friends. I'm sure you said head for the deepest pow you can find! Laughing

All those skills were put to good use today, both powder and practising my turns on the bumps.

Fantastic day out there today. Loved it. Toofy Grin

snow reports

Hi Steve,
wonder if you have had a chance to check your diary out for the week of 27th Feb. As mentioned before, a few of us "old timers" would like some instruction in off piste techniques. No style but plenty of bravado! Cheers, Nick

Re equipment servicing : I dont know what equipment they have exactly at Snowberry but I think it is a new machine this year! They are very good but you do often have to book it in when they are busy especially weekends too! They should be able to help. Jez and the team are top guys so I would recommend Snowberry (stay on the bus until you get off after the tunnel). Again Greg and the team at Killy Sport next to the tourist office are very good - thats where I get my skis mounted usually. So either. Not exactly sure whether you can be very exacting about the edge angle you want but I am sure it must be possible! But you may be better off booking them in in advance to make sure they can fit them in!

sno trax - Great, great and more greatness there. It was an AMAZING day up there wasn't it! Glad the skills all slotted together nicely!

almost there - sorry I was sure I sent you a message... ill try again. If you go into your private messages (PM's) ill let you know what I have and details etc! Thanks for asking.

Daily update coming up!

You know it makes sense.

Hi Steve. You taught me at Hemel a few years back. I'm looking for some group instruction the week of March 20 in Val. Are you available? Paul

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

cyberil - will drop you a private message.... but thanks and great to hear from you. That week is looking pretty busy though!

A snowHead

Special

The day dawned to another 20cm's of snow and pretty much no wind... the sky clear and the sun shining. This is a bluebird....

I dropped Olivia at school with her smart new shoes and it was time for action...

M + M were fired up and ready for a fun filled morning. Even though the Olympic was running I knew we would be better of heading up Solaise as it was would be much quieter up there. So we were pretty much first up the lift and my immediate impression was that Glacier and Datcha might have a short delay in opening.

The problem on a day like today is that there is such a powder frenzy so trying to get a spot for yourself to ski the powder is tricky without it getting trashed right before your eyes. Even so you can find yourself having cut a path in somewhere (not today as we were using the powder on the pistes basically) and giving the clients instructions when someone comes out of leftfield and trashes it or worse still put you and the group in danger!

Anyway all morning (bar one run) I managed to find fresh turn after fresh turn - ill give myself a pat on the back. We only used the Madelaine, Datcha and Glacier lifts and had a great time. The snow was lovely and light. We were treated to watching / hearing and seeing the pisteurs blasting the ridge line above the Cugnai lift... I was totally expecting it to happen on a day like this and we just happened to be riding the lift when we saw one of the bombs go off and watched a huge slide come down right under the chair up there (Cugnai)... it will be another 24 hours before they will piste the run (as the avalanche passed right over where the piste will be) and get everything set up to open.

Thanks M+M - see you next year perhaps! Take care and keep on practicing what we worked on!

I fitted in my Scope from the top of Solaise too:

https://t.co/0FDxKM5QmN and the perma-link
https://t.co/fmUwg8XQ1p

The view now at the top of Solaise is rather different with the magic carpets and the new building where the gondola will come in from next Winter onwards...

After I finished the scope I skier down past the single magic carpet and couldn't help but take this photo which shows just how much snow there is up there snow - the magic carpet tunnel is almost 100% buried under snow now:

After a brief lunch stop it was back on with my weekly seasonnaires and to be honest the afternoon was very similar to the morning although we ventured further from the piste. Due to illness and injury only 4 of the team were there but we had a great time working on a mix of technique and mileage! It was a fun afternoon with some fun and interesting falls!

I was filmed by a colleague for this weeks TDC Snow Report and will share that with you all when it comes out in the next couple of days and apart from that it has been a relaxing evening!

The traffic report for this weekend has been released and they are expecting slightly worse traffic than last weekend and another 36000 cars on the road coming up and going down... so long queues that will be for sure. What could make matters worse is that the weather forecast is for lots of snow for the next 3 days pretty much non stop - eek!

Finally the pisteurs released some footage of their CATEX blasting above the L today - pretty awesome footage:

https://www.facebook.com/pisteurval/videos/974478852626628/

Finally (for the second time)... it has been snowing all evening and there forecast tomorrow is for another tough day - we shall see what comes our way!

A snowHead

@Steve Angus,

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

WOW! Incredible photo of the magic carpet, that is some serious snow.

Can't wait to get back next month, I'm glued to the updates more than ever.

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Hi Steve,
Thank you for a great couple of lessons. Hope we didn't cause you too much frustration. Wishing you, Claire and Olivia a great rest of the season. Might see you in the UK in the summer at one of the cricket matches. Cheers Mark and Marina

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@HoneyBunny, us as well snowHead

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Holy cow - that is some snow - I remember going up that with you the first week (with Nick the week of your ankle problem) - it sure looked different then!!!

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

T Bar - both chairlift and cable car are going to be replaced by the gondola only from next season onwards!
HoneyBunny / NE1 - Very Happy

mpurser2 (what happened to mpurser1?) - 'frustration' why of course not - had a great time. Yup perhaps see you at the cricket..... just been watching England on tv this evening loose again - come on boys make it a series win on Sunday!
nemesys - sure is a lot of snow.... I reckon if it keeps snowing then it could be a good publicity stunt to ski down the roof - probably get into trouble for it but it would be cool!.... Periscope down it!!!!!!!!!

After all it is free

Blimey that was good snow (when we could see it!)

The day started pretty calmly - a few clouds about but certainly it was a 'starter' for an intro to off piste morning. I met my team for this morning - part of a group of 20 something out here in Val for the first time staying up in Fornet and one of the team of 4 that I had it was their 40th birthday present (the session) with their mates.

I picked up packs and met the guys at the meeting point and already I could see that the weather was closing in up high so once again (it seems to have been about 4 days on the trot) I was up Solaise. A mix of some technique and finding nice powder (after we did the safety briefing) was the order of the morning and the boys did very well.

What I could not believe was that the quality of the snow was not only amazing but there had been a good 20+cm that had fallen since I was off piste yesterday. All of yesterdays tracks seem to have been covered up and the snow was lovely. After an hour or so up high we were forced down lower as the weather was getting worse (i.e the snowfall getting more intense!).

Lunch was a quick turn around before meeting my seasonnaires for the afternoon. I dont know what is happening this season but SO many of them seem to be breaking themselves and again I got a message that one of them had broken their back on Wednesday and was being sent home after having an operation down in Bourg!!!! Anyhows the rest of the team was there and we had a great afternoon. We did a dummy transceiver search which was interesting - the moral of the story is to practice, practice and practice some more with transceivers!

The snow was really chucking it down (still is) by later in the afternoon and it should continue over night; a slight break around breakfast time and then getting intense pretty quickly again mid morning coupled with high winds. Transfer day could be very interesting!!!!

Promising start to the day weatherwise...

The first of a fair few splats from the morning team - but all so much fun in that pow!!!!

Some quite steep skiing to be had in the trees!

Anyone seem a transceiver buried around here?

Back down in town at the end of the day and the snow was falling heavily.

Todays scope here:

https://t.co/1xvPnD3ctD and the perma-link
https://t.co/nb1wZjXt3f

So tomorrow is no rest day as I start the first of 7 full days of bookings in a row - no rest of the wicked - he he!

Hi Steve.
Might be difficult to do with a mobile, but how about a periscope where you have the full piste map in front of you and you talk through your favourite runs/areas? You could do one on tignes nad one on Val or just onne all together.

Cheers
Smagsmith/Steve

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smagsmith - thanks for this - have verbally been through my recommendations for each area of the ski area - earlier in the season did top tips for each sector of the mountain. Perhaps I could do this when I do a broadcast off the mountain - we shall see - but interesting option for sure - thanks!

<img src = "https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/12733998_10156519716690416_7369863858103758011_n.jpg?oh=ccfbc75127ac1cabbd9a6835aa425edd&oe=5722E23D"
Looked quite nice up there initially!

Hmmmmmmm someone seems to have been drink driving!!!!!!

Now that is what I call wind!

https://www.facebook.com/erwann.legrand.52/videos/1077018602363669/
Windy, very windy....

The clouds break up around lunchtime for a few hours and the wind dies down for a short while too!

You could be forgiven for thinking that they would have been able to open most things up - wrong only a couple of extra things could open!!!! Avalanche clearance (if nothing else) stopped much opening! And yes that is a piste marker post buried in the middle of the picture - there was / is a lot of wind transported snow up there!

Tree skiing in La Daille will have to do!

And the clouds, wind and snow roll back in again.

If a picture tells a story then the photos above sum the day up.

I met my usual HT guests at their hotel for another (to be) enjoyable week of skiing... After a visit to Snowberry to pick their gear up we were off. I had the two teenage boys and being the first day both were keen and full of energy - ok they arrived in town at 2330 last night so they were a little jadded!

The Olympic was running and the clouds high enough so after so many days the Solaise direction I thought a change of scenery was in store. By the time we got up there (I knew there must have been a lot of snow movement up there as I had been watching the pisteurs actually blasting the area above the avalancher couloir in the morning and blasting around the avalanche barriers near the top of the Solaise with some positive outcomes!) the weather was closing in a little but it was not to bad. After a few laps on Marmottes etc it was time for a trip up Tommeuse which was when I realised this wind was STRONG!!!! So we sheltered lower down. The snow was lovely when you could see it. I wanted to make the most of being able to ski high up as I knew lift queues lower down would be worse so we got a lap on Mont Blanc in.... by this stage - mid morning the pisteurs etc were telling everyone to get to their side of the mountain as the link was about to close! One of the boys got cold hands so we stopped for a hot choc at the Folie.

By the time we came out it was horrendous so we headed for La Daille and the trees. The snow was amazing all in all and we found some lovely snow.

Upon reaching the top of the Funi again it was SO windy!!!!

It was time for lunch so we hit the Folie again....

No sooner had we emerged but the storm seemed to have passed and things were a lot calmer.... it was not still by any stretch of the imagination but it was calmer that is for sure..... more laps down into the La Daille trees were in order but each time we got to the top of the Funi again we were able to find perfect powder or at least wind blown stuff.... it was really nice snow! So for a couple hours it was weird - almost clear with the odd cloud passing overhead at 100mph!

Just as quickly as it had seemed to go away it came back. I did manage to fit my periscope in on the lower slopes where the wind was not deafening!

https://t.co/phPn3bM7sK and the perma-link
https://t.co/a3jooCE9ie

By 3.30 it was starting to snow heavily again and the wind was getting ferocious once more. We retreated back down to town and I managed to remember to go and get a Valentines card / pressie (phew) for tomorrow...

A family meal altogether and then some Saturday evening catchup tv has brought my day to a close.

So tomorrow I am on a one off 'learn to snowboard in a day' lesson with a couple of teens so lets hope the weather is not too bad for them even though I will not really need to leave the nursery slopes!

And come on England cricketers and rugby players tomorrow!!!!!

TTFN

P.S. With all this wind and snow (and lots more still to come) the avalanche risk was up to 4/5 today - we even witnessed a totally natural large slide off the combe du Fresse this afternoon too which was spectacular to see!

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

P.P.S. The expected carnage on the road materialised today with chains and the full monty being required on all vehicles with Gendarmes checking for special equipment as people arrived / left the resort... and there were massive queue in both directions. I trust everyone made it in / out on time and made flights etc... lets hope tomorrow is not too bad either.... but it is once again snowing heavily this evening with strong winds out there still!

snow reports

Dejavu

You know that feeling when you are sure you have been here before?....

Well in terms of the weather I seem to have that feeling every other day at the moment! We awoke to another 10-15cm of snow in town and more up high.... the clouds seemed to have parted a little but the wind had obviously done some moving of snow around!

I think people were still rolling into town very late last night and being half term with the hordes the last thing we needed was 500 Danish students around... make a heck of a racket and mess. Anyway they are in town for the Frostgun event - the freestyle competition which takes place on the Face over the next few days!

Anyway the avalanche risk was 4/5 today and it does not surprise me as there is some serious instability out there - it could be the same tomorrow or down to 3 - I have not checked!

I was on another all day booking - you have lots of all day bookings during school holidays generally - this time it was with a couple of teenage boys from the London and South East area.... year 11 so about to take their GCSE's. The parents had left it rather late (i.e. later than 6 months in advance) to book some lessons (snowboarding in this case) so all they had booked as beginners was a full day with me.... no pressure on me then to get them up to a solid enough standard so they can have fun on the slopes for the rest of the week!

In all fairness they were complete naturals and picked it up so quickly! Unfortunately 2 things were conspiring against us.... firstly the weather closed in quickly again and by about mid morning it was snowing heavily again! Secondly (and partly due to the weather and everyone staying low down) the lift queue for the Village lift was ridiculously long.... talking of that lift (and other lifts) it never fails to amaze me how some people seem to leave their common sense at home when they come on holiday.... getting off the lift and standing right in the middle of the unload zone... barging through the loading gates late and being taken out by the lift..... queuing for 10 mins then letting several empty chairs (or nearly empty go by) until you are able to sit next to a member of your family who is 10 people back (when you yourself have wiggled your way to the front only to stand at the gate for semi full after semi full chair to go by!)

Anyway sorry rant over - school hols effect - sorry people!

The boys did very well and we ended up taking a late lunch at Sur La Montange and all tucked into a lovely burger (good (but not cheap) burgers there).

In the afternoon the snow intensified but that did not stop my confidence in them to take them up the Solaise. We did a fair few laps on the magic carpet and the boys had a great time - even getting to grips with a few freestyle tricks!

Clare meanwhile was home alone on Valentines Day (Happy V Day to her and all readers btw!) and took Olivia swimming and an afternoon of home based activities.... before cooking up a storm of a roast for dinner - thanks!

Started promising

Heavy snow up top!

Descending out the thick cloud.

So all in all another good dump of snow and the latest forecast for the next week or so is for sprinklings on and off interspersed with a bit of cloud, sun and wind dotted around!

https://t.co/edUrColnvr and the perma-link
https://t.co/Oc4KYRN6sc

So I think that is all for now.... let Monday mayhem of half term commence!

Stay safe out there and think safer if off piste - staysafethinksafer

Just about to head out onto this.

You know it makes sense.

We arrive on the 21st and will be my first trip outside of my usual Italian Resort. We avoided this week as it was UK School holidays, but i've heard a rumor that next week will still be as busy as its a French holiday week?

Can any one confirm ? Just wondering if its going to be heaving everywhere..

Cheers all. Puzzled

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@Steve Angus,

A snowHead

ansta1

DeanC84 - yup im afraid to say that although the brits will have gone back you will have the Parisians and local schools all on holiday so it will be busy.... however the lift system is efficient so you are not likely to have queues much longer than say 15 mins in general apart from key lifts at key times of the day! But runs and restaurants etc will be busy!

A snowHead

And they're off

Ill start with a nice photo my wife Clare took this morning up the Val glacier... it was rather surreal with the low cloud and the peaks sticking out above them...

Meanwhile back in reality the masses were assembling for the first day of half term.... 'Mad Monday'. Literally thousands of people meeting their instructors all over the place down in the centre of town (and elsewhere in the EK of course).

This photo was about 8.45 before many people had arrived at the various meeting points.

A closer update on the conditions can be seen in my morning scope as I videod at 'opening time'

https://t.co/JCIfASkrm1 and the perma-link
https://t.co/QOW8bgeux4

So I was with the younger son of my half term family today and he is now old enough to 'endure' (not sure that is a flattering phrase to use about myself or not) a full day lesson with me... his stamina is there now he is 10.... so off we set for a fun filled day comprised of technical development as well as fun and games and plenty of mileage!

A rather large gap on that Frostgun jump then!

Chilly but breathtaking up there.

Over in Tignes this pm we witnessed a dramatic heli off piste rescue (I dont think it was avalanche related) - you can just about see the person being winched up under the chopper.

So plenty of technical development on mellow terrain and then a hot choc break late morning before the lunch rush started.... we then continued on to do the round the world in Tignes before having a late lunch at Loop in Le Lac.... it was a nice but long morning.

By the time I got him back to the hotel he was rather tired but some good changes had been made. Well done 'A'

I picked Olivia up and she was on top form this evening.

That just about brings you all up to date this evening - sorry I am not feeling full of words for the write up tonight but I think I have covered the main points.... better but colder weather, busy slopes but great conditions! More of the same tomorrow.

TTFN

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Frostgun big air competition starts tonight with the 1 plank guys and gals. Practice was last night but didnt fancy the walk into town as had just had a swim, so grabbed a cold beer and watched it from the balcony.

Will be popping into town later though, just wish i'd brought the dslr and big lenses, first trip in years i havent had the camera and 400mm f2.8L

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Should have said, snow is good on piste and still some good stuff to be found off the side, weather better today with some sun but also plenty of cloud. Sun is trying to force its way through as i type. Pistes are busy but not scarily so and some runs were plain empty throughout this morning. Anyway heading back up top for a few runs without the family before heading back for a swim and then some cake and soup and a cup of tea.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

A nice couple of off piste itineraries

I meet as normal at the normal meet place for the days session and the cloud were rolling away and it was setting up to be a cracking day... it felt slightly warmer than yesterday but I was always going to be hotter as I was lugging my off piste bag around with me all day. I picked up a set each of the off piste gear for the two boys. It had been a busy start to the day getting Olivia to creche and going to the office in the first place to get off piste stuff.

Anyway I have to say I was rather excited as I was going to be introducing the two teen boys to the great world of off piste skiing - one of the boys in particular I have been teaching for 10 years now and I am proud that he (they) have gotten so good now through what I have taught that off piste has become a real possibility!

It turned out that they had been up most of the night messing around so were a little jaded but non the less they were keen. So after kitting them up and giving them safety briefing and talking them through how we were going to minimise dangers off piste and also some technical chat it was time to get involved. A funky run through Jardins de Borsat where the snow was awesome before the combe under Moniteurs Couloir and then the main event a lunchtime (aka it was going to be quiet) classic tour du charvet. The boys not only performed well but loved it. When we came around the corner there had been a large slide so the boys enjoyed seeing what avalanche debris is like.

We made our way to the Signal for a late lunch and then it was time for a cheeky run down through the Foret black run before heading back to the hotel. I collected Olivia and Clare joined us for a drink with the whole of the boys' family and we enjoyed properly catching up off the slopes for an hour or two.

Meanwhile the start of the Frostgun freestyle event got going with a demo street rail jam on the road down from Dicks Tea Bar... I missed it but it sounds like it was fun.

The snow stability has settled down but please stay vigilant out there - over the valley in Bonneval our Arc yesterday someone was buried (and got out alive) under 10 foot of snow.

Take care folks... more updates tomorrow.

All the tracks on the left on 'safer' terrain (mainly because of the lesser slope angle) before someone decided to pick off (single track higher up) more than was sensible and took the whole slope with them.... lucky to get out alive.

Buried 10 foot down this person was incredibly lucky to get out alive!

Clouds looking threatening looking down the Manchet Valley back towards Val!

Good turns.

I wish they would work even harder to manage lift lines to make sure chairs all go up full... a big gripe of mine - not just Val d'Isere I know!

Todays video blog links from Periscope:

https://t.co/0zrRvGNkDv and the perma-link
https://t.co/9RMOqqztMX

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Great post Steve.
Wow that is a huge hole to have had to dig
Lift queues.... Single person express lines on all lifts, easy to do, will quickly catch on.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Ps being a traitor in 3V this week, but loving it none the less ( although obviously not as much as if we were in EK)

After all it is free

@Steve Angus, +1,000,000 for filling up the chairs in busy times. Solaise express was managing this well in the mornings a couple of weeks ago, but very much the exception.

Absolutely fabulous day today, Mrs A decided to take a day off, so it was a black and red day with the two juniors A's. Only hit one green (warm up from top of la daille funi and a bit of blue/green getting to other lifts.) Pistes really good this morning, face a dream first thing, but starting to get a little scraped when we hit it 2nd time at about 11:30 but still nice.

Stopped for a pitstop at top of solaise and saw Mika Hakinnen of f1 (the iceman) having lunch and barely a smile crossed his face. Quick lunch in the sun with MRs A then the afternoon going around La daille ending through the trees down to the funival and the a 5 minute bus home.

Dinner and then spent about an hour watching the frostgun big air (boarder night).

Bluebird all day so feeling a little cooked.

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ajdetpwm - yup I should hope so! Traitor - dont be silly - as long as you are having fun!
Dr John - I think if there is a queue at any time then getting the seats filled up would be sensible!
ansta1 - glad you had a good day - it was nice out there wasn't it!

Help!!

The view from............ Val d'Isere and the Espace Killy

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