 Poster: A snowHead
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There were some light showers Thursday night but nothing to speak of since.
Conditions on piste yesterday were most satisfactory. Canons working full pelt all day and natural snow well preserved at altitude. Off piste you need courage and rock-hoppers.
Lifts operating were: Toviere, Bollin, Tufs, Lanches , Vanoise and the box. So accessible pistes: Glacier, Rabotsch, Double M, Henri and minor variations on those themes.
The new car park upon the old Boucle Sud is indeed called Tufs and it's HUGE. An absolute monster. Hope the folk in the flats across the road aren't too cross at losing their view. It doesn't look entirely finished and access not currently possible so don't be surprised if you can't book it yet. Entrance is directly opposite the main entrance to Golf car park.
An adventure playground replaces most of what was left of the Grande Motte parking.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Meteo Tarentaise, who IME is the most accurate at short term forecasts, has just issued an update about this event. Snow will start later this evening falling most heavily on Monday, continuing through Tuesday and some lighter flurries on Wednesday. Snowfalls expected:
2000/2200m: 80 to 100cm
1600/1800m: 50 to 80cm locally 90cm
1400/1500: 30 to 40cm locally 50cm
1200m: 20 to 30cm locally 35/40cm
1000: 10 to 20cm locally 25cm
700/800: 5 to 10cm locally 15cm
300/500m: 2 to 7cm
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Wow! That’s a serious storm and some great quantities if it happens. Would be a fantastic base to start the season 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Very promising. I hope someone will post photos. (Note to the other Snowdancers: more of this over the next 3 weeks please.)
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Temperature is higher during snowfall than hoped. Suspect may be heavy. We await an in-resort report
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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snow on the webcam trees at 1550m.....
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nothing wrong with some heavy/wet snow in November. Forecast to be colder overnight anyway
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Webcam of Le Lac makes it look very, very Wintery.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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One can but dream, but looking at the amount of snow fallen and the temps, does anyone think the off piste will be skiable and not base trashing with loads of sharks come the 12th Dec onwards when I am out there?? Are there gullies that will fill in sufficiently this early?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@kitenski, the off-piste will be perfectly skiable, until you hit a shark. This won't stop 1000's from tracking out everything, and will also guaranteed good early season profits at Medival and a few seasons over before they've barely begun. Personally, I'm going to wait until the second or third wave of snow before I risk my bones.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Dr John, I am well aware and that's precisely why I asked the question...they are on the second wave of snow currently...so wanted to compare experiences from people who have been out early with this amount if snow before!
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@kitenski, I have, every season for the last 10 years. That's why I answered your question.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Dr John, thanks, sorry to be so pedantic, I'm trying to work out (and will decide last minute) how many pairs of skis to bring! Are you calling this storm 1 then (I was thinking this is the 2nd big storm) and would need another 1 or 2 big dumps before you'd go out and ski off piste?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@kitenski, no probs. To be a bit more clear; IMHO (others will disagree) it needs significantly more snow to fall, and to compact down, to have confidence off-piste. Yes, I'd call this the first big dump. It's been superb prep for the season but still needs more away from the pistes (see Flossie's comment in the vid above). Long term forecast says ~20cm this weekend and nowt after that for 10 days. By then there will be some clearly trodden routes visible on lift access off-piste and the sharks should be exposed, so if you must go off-piste then follow those. Personally I'll be getting my legs back on my new piste skis (and skinning up some quiet pistes for practice) until another 1m+ falls at least, but then I do have that luxury and don't want to nack myself for the rest of the season.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Dr John, Thank you, I have new wide skis so keen to try them but not trash them and will be happy on piste!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Interestingly, Margorie Brun, the lady that Flossie was skiing with in the video above, is the excellent Osteopath who helped sort my shoulder (hurt after a double eject when off the side of the Piste) the last time I was there (2 years ago).
For anyone who doesn't already know, she operates a clinic in Val Claret and is highly recommended if one gets injured.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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So, as far as what's falling out of the sky is concerned, the webcams will have given you the picture...
As you would expect with lots of snow overnight and through the day, the resulting pistes are pretty bumpy. Combined with flattish light and a biting wind, it left very few takers this afternoon - every other piste I skied I had to myself, with the exception of lots of fearsomely fit looking folk going the other way. In fact they easily outnumbered those going downwards.
To reassure @chocksaway, the cables for Aiguille Percee appear to have been installed - but no sign of any chairs yet!
In addition to the functioning lifts I reported Saturday, we also have Grattalu, Merles, Grand Huit, Palafour, so allowing a complete lap if you go clockwise (and anti-clockwise too, if you're the sort that likes to ignore 'closed' signs). Avi risk today is posted up as 4 and pisteurs appear to be warning people off some of the not-yet-prep'ed pistes.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Zoom is now working again.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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First day for me is Sunday. Understand links to Val are open. Seems it will be unsettled for a while. But possible long term benefits as a result.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Old Fartbag, haha, she helped me with shoulder injury too (at Floss’ recommendation) during PSB 2019. She was excellent.
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| Inboard wrote: |
| @Old Fartbag, haha, she helped me with shoulder injury too (at Floss’ recommendation) during PSB 2019. She was excellent. |
Bloody Shoulders! Rotator Cuff takes an age to clear up....especially when an old injury has been reawakened. 
When I got home and saw my own Osteo, he commented on the effectiveness of the treatment I had received.
As it happens, she shares a clinic with another Osteopath (Thomas Cartigny) who I saw over 20 years ago, who also did a good job (on my back).
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just watched Flos vid. What great conditions for end of Nov. Jealous to not be out there. Hope it dumps and that warm weather doesnt materialise !
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I have a few days holidays left to take this year. Likely 12th December for 5 days. I missed the PSB and PiPAU. Are there any other similar groups/gangs who are going any other dates? Solo snowboarder or possibly 3 of us (a couple and me)...
I'd be fine boarding on my own, but feel it would be more fun (especially evenings) in a group...
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Looking good today in the ski area formerly known as Espace Killy. Here's Toviere 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Indeed, screenshot and actuality are a close match, @mountainaddict.
Yesterday was a skin up to Aiguille Percée. The eponymous lift now has chairs but isn't yet spinning, nor Marais so our reward was vast fields of gentle north-facing barely-tracked puckered 'golf ball' snow. Nothing between Aiguille Percée and the Marais plateau has yet been touched by the pisteurs or a piste basher or a snow canon save for between Poney and Aiguille Rouge top station, and no sharks, at least not for us. Below the Marais plateau (Boisses gondola top station) it's still a building site and strongly cautioned against: the pistes are in preparation and unviable; off piste you need to be very sure of your way to avoid getting cliffed out.
Today, as the neighbours have opened for business it seemed rude not to sample their wares. Pistes all tip top right down to La Daille, though the final approach was a little scratchy. Santons, Epaule still closed which is not a surprise. Didn't venture further than Grand Pré. Busy at the confluence of lifts (Toviere, Bellevarde) but uncrowded elsewhere. Between the pistes: viable but glad to be on the rock-hoppers.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@mullins, I am also looking at going that time. 20 year old experienced skier myself, will be going solo for first time. Are you still planning on going?
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You know it makes sense.
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When is the expected opening for 1800 and 1550?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thanks for all the recommendations earlier, got this lot booked so far 
Labodega, Kodo, Niurou, La ferme des 3 capucines. Some days were already showing a 'reserve list' option so don't hang about if you're going soon!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@mountainaddict, La Bodega is a fairly recent start-up in Le Lavachet doing Mexican style food. Kodo is an Asian/fusion place, also started in Lavachet, but is opening a 2nd venue in the Palafour gallery this season. It's my son's favourite, whether dining in, or for take-out food. Niurou is a steak restaurant near the top of Rue de la poste (near the Embuscade).
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Skiing444 wrote: |
| @mullins, I am also looking at going that time. 20 year old experienced skier myself, will be going solo for first time. Are you still planning on going? |
Hey @skiing444
I haven't looked into it yet again. Need to look this weekend. No accommodation booked yet. I can drive down. Love Tignes and been the past 3 years, but Switzerland (Grindelwald, Andermatt, Zermatt) would be closer for me...
45 year old snowboarder (originally from Ireland).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks for that @GeorgeVII. More places for us to try! One of the few poor meals we've had in Tignes over the years was in the Val Claret Mexican, so we've never been back. We do really like Mexican stuff though, so that Lavachet place sounds worth a try. Make sure you post reviews of all your dining out experiences!
Given the number of British visitors, I always think it's time there was an Indian restaurant in Tignes (& Val D). Definitely a gap in the market.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Mrmogulski and I will be in Tignes 14 to 21 Dec for our first week of the season. Then to 3V twice for 2-3 weeks in Jan and March. We are piste skiers but used to judge WC mogul skiing. Have skied Tignes many times winter and summer (in the days when it was open all year!) There is a FIS mogul comp on Lognan while we are there which we judged in the past so will see who is judging now. Happy to meet up for a cruise about.
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@mogulski, Ah thats exciting as I've always been curious to watch a mogul competition in the flesh. Wondering if they have any "beginner" zipper line courses to try out?
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If you're watching the Tignes / Val d'Isère webcams, I recently hacked this together: https://snow.obsession.cam/tignes-vdi . It has [I think] all the Tignes and Val d'Isère cams together for easy viewing, with a map and elevations. I hope to maintain it - currently 21ish cameras. Let me know if I missed any.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Its a FIS/French cup so lower level mogul skiing although the French team often turn up. That can give it higher FIS points so youngsters can start to get some points. There are absolutely no "beginner" zip lines and without a race bib you will not get anywhere near the course! Training is scheduled for Friday 19th and comps on Sat 20th and Sunday 21st. There will be unofficial training and course building earlier. We will be skiing there all week so PM if you are around and we could take you down some piste moguls which are quite different from comp ones - not sure what will be available early season.
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| mountainaddict wrote: |
| Given the number of British visitors, I always think it's time there was an Indian restaurant in Tignes (& Val D). Definitely a gap in the market. |
Nice idea, but it would be tricky. Normally, in France, the Indian restaurants are just like the British ones except that no chilli is used (the French get anaphylaxis and sue the restaurant into oblivion). The Brits feeling conned, then complain/leave bad reviews and stop patronising it.
So, there'd have to be two separate menus and a waiver to be signed when ordering from the "contains chilli" menu.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Wed 3-12-25 17:41; edited 1 time in total
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FAQ
