Yes its still dumping down here to the extent that I had to cancel my heli skiing on Saturday. It was a nice day but with a bit of slab avalanche around it maybe was the better option. I can see you feeling really sorry for me! Everything here is white and the snow is in great nick, even down into the village.

This weekend and into Monday we are expecting another 30cm of snow so if anyone is worried about late season snow levels and conditions then don’t be crazy and get on a plane out here for yourself. Even the Face late afternoon is great. Slightly slushy but not the usual slush fest!!

With two more weeks to go there is some great skiing and fun to be had. This week is the Adventure Film Festival with some great shows and lectures then we will be into all the closing down parties for bars and restaurants. Oh the joy.

Sadly this is my last blog. I hope its been a great season for you wherever you skied. It has been a great season in Val d’Isere for myself and Progression Ski and Snowboard School. Have a great summer and hopefully catch up with you next season.

Thats right, just the best conditions for this time of year for many a season. The pistes are superb and skiing down to the village is only slightly slushy late in the day. Its been cold at times and we have had a couple of 5 cm snowfalls so there are even some powder patches around. For the off piste spring snow isn’t even a regular occurrence but it can be found.

The last couple of weeks have been surprisingly quiet as  most of the French haven’t been on holiday yet. Next week is the last of the UK holidays but quieter than the last two weeks so it could be a good week although some more snow and bad weather is predicted.

The French womens world cup team are here training on next years Rhones-Alpes race piste down the Solaise so there are some restrictions down the front side of the Solaise sector. Also La Scara is on in the Bellevarde Sector. Thats basically a juniors world championships of sorts with kids from all over the planets flying around. There will be some handy skiers here this week!

So its all good here in Val d’Isere and with this much snow the skiing will be superb until the end of the season so if you fancy a trip then I am sure there will be a few deals on the go and some cracking skiing to be had.

Cheers

Ken

Only 150kmh winds at the top of the Grande Motte today! Yes its been a tough few days with high winds, many lift closures but a fair amount of snow. I had to dig at least a foot of my car this evening although with the high winds much of it will have been blown of the tops of the mountain. The good news is that it has to go somewhere! That may be just off to the sides or into gulleys but its there if you look for it and it means that there will be more snow around for the piste bashers to use to keep the pistes in great order.

Some of the off piste will undoubtedly be dangerous so if you are coming to resort and want to ski off piste try and either take an instructor or guide if you can. If you are interested there is a great off piste talk in Dicks on Tuesday and Thursday apres ski with Henry so check that out if you have time.

The forecast is for it to clear up tomorrow and into the start of next week so its looking good for the week ahead. The pistes have certainly been freshened up so alls looking well for the first week of the school holidays.  Most of the school actually break up the week after so it wont be your usual school holiday chaos.

There are just the usual events on next week with live music in the Moris every night, sport and the Friday night raffle in the Pacific and the Thursday evening fun and games on the main street. I guess its the quiet before the storm. All the more reason to get out here.

Cheers

Ken

www.progressionski.com

Cold, cold, cold. Call me a nancy boy if you want but I had my boot heaters on again all this week. I was in Barcelona last weekend for a stag and wandering through the cultural sites of this great city (as you do on a stag) in shorts and t shirts it felt like summer was upon us. Little did I know what I was coming back to. There had been some fresh snow over the weekend and there was a dusting through the week but the wind swung around from the North East and the temperature plummited.

On the up side with a few inches of fresh snow the pistes are now in good condition again and there are some nice wee off piste pitches here and there. For more information on the off piste conditions you could go to Henrys Avalanche Talks on Tuesday and Thursday evening in Dicks T Bar next week.

The forecast for next week is a bit mixed with some snow predicted early week so here hoping for a massive dump of fresh stuff. The main event of next week in the Classical Music Festival which is in the Church from 6pm from Tuesday to Thursday. The full programme and information will be available in the Tourist Office.

Other than that its the usual Monday Market, live music in the Moris every night, EUFA Cup matches in the Pacific and the Raffle on Friday night in the Pacific.

In off to Megeve for the weekend to mix in with the beautiful people and wince at the price of a drinks so have a great weekend and hope to see you here soon.
Cheers

Ken

www.progressionski.com

Consider this. You have just had five of the busiest weeks of the year and then the Parisians turn up en mass. It has been the busiest week of the season so far without a doubt with some big queues in the usual places but away from that you can still walk straight onto many lifts.

In France it is the Paris crew that are said to give the French a bad name as a nation so Im not surprised to have seen some obnoxious incidents and even a full on fight in the Funival where a guy and his skis were thrown unceremoniously out of the train and onto his ass. He stood up cursing as only the French do and waited calmly till the doors were closing. Just at the last minute he threw an almightly punch through the closing door. “Touche”  I think he cried.

Other than that its been relatively uneventful other than the Follie Douce going off. Along with the Paris crew its been some Scandy holidays so there has been much “dancing on the tables” in Victors and La Petite Danois as well.

As for next week most of the holidays will be over so it sould be a bit quieter. The main difference of late has been the change in temperature. It certainly has a spring feel to it with the snow melting off the roofs in town and transforming up on the hill. At times it has been icy in the morning with the thaw freeze then softer towards the afternoon. Its not slushy at all so nothing to worry about but it is starting to transform.

The forecast is for some snow, some sun, some cloud and some other stuff so basically they haven’t a clue! Sorry I can’t be of more help at predicting next weeks conditions but generally there is good snow in the less busy areas and some ice and  thin patches on the busier pistes an South facing pitches. Heres hoping for some of the snow they predicted. Fingers crossed.

I’m off to Barcelona for the weekend so fully expect to come back exhausted after the stag so next weeks report could be a bit drab. Sorry!

Maybe see you in town.

Cheers.

Ken

www.progressionski.com

Its been strange again. A busy UK half term week with the Scandies and the Frenchies also on holiday and really not a queue to report of. To suggest there hasn’t been any queues would be a lie but if you want to take the Tommeusses connecting Val d’Isere to Tignes at 4pm then you only have yourself to blame. Next week will be quieter but we have the Parisiens to deal with! Its the last week of the French holidays next week and the Parisiens come down en mass. So generally the week will be slightly quieter but slightly less pleasant.

The reason people come skiing is for the snow and at present we have great piste conditions although it is getting icy in the usual bottlenecks. I read some reports suggesting that we are short of snow but I am sure the reporters are in another resort. If you want to ski the Face at 4pm then be my guest because it will be icy but if you ski it first thing in the morning then it is in beautiful condition. Coming down into Tignes it is getting icy but out away from the main junctions the pistes are in great condition. The accessible off piste is pretty skied out although there are some lovely chalky pitches and if you are prepared to walk a little then there are still some good pitches out there.

There is some snow forecast although I am presently looking out onto  clear blue skies. Snow is also forecast for the start of next week so fingers crossed. If it does come in any volume the off piste may be quite dangerous so be careful.

Other than that we will have all the usual events in town like the market on Monday, the Thursday night events with ice carving, music and vin chaud on the main street, the famous Friday night raffle in the Pacific and one last torchlit descent on Tuesday or Wednesday night.

Thats about it from sunny Val so if you are coming out safe trip and if you are thinking about it go ahead and book.

Cheers

Ken

www.progressionski.com

It was cold at 7am on Thursday when I was standing at the top of the new Bellevarde Downhill track, which winds its way down the Face. We had come up the cable car and made our way to the very top of the mountain via the new toe built specifically for the races. Its 55 degrees at the top and the instructors in front are looking a little tentative as they plunge away out of sight. I’m up so I slide forward onto a solid sheet of blue ice and suddenly I’m accelerating at one hell of a rate. This is not the time to have my flappy twin tips on which haven’t been serviced this season. This is crazy!! I survive the first pitch and then onwards. Sliding the course gives you an amazing perspective of the course and you really get a feeling for how fast these guys will be traveling. The course winds its way down The Face de Bellevarde. A big jump then into the rocks and around to the main face. By injecting water into the piste it becomes a pan of sheet ice. Below me are 50 instructors in disarray and being at the top I realise that one mistake from me could end up with a massive pile up. Ah the tension! A couple of the guys in Red are on their ass and slide the whole way in a flash, narrowly missing the other instructors below them. Solid ice with a slight covering of snow is not your ideal piste at 7am but here we go. I had about as much control as the rest of us- not a lot but made it down in one piece, although I have to admit there was a level of nervous tension (or is that fear.)

The course then sweeps around through various rocky corridors and a few humps and jumps with one big jump into the finish area. The course is so steep that they have had to make it tight and the racers have been complaining about the course being too slow but today will be great as its a beautiful blue sky day after yesterdays disappointment of the race being canceled.

The races have been extended until Monday to try and make up for the disappointment of the cancellation on Saturday. The great news is that we have had a foot of fresh powder and its cold so the mountain is in fantastic condition both on and off piste.

I’m off to watch the race so if you have a chance get out here (but avoid the icy Face at all cost!!)

Cheers

Ken

www.progressionski.com

The big guns from the World Cup arrive for one of the hairiest weeks of their lives. They are here to try for the very first time the legendary downhill on the Face de Bellevarde. The only time this run has been used in the past was for the ‘92 Olympics and since then it has been regarded as too dangerous to run again. With the World Championships coming to Val d’Isere in February 09 the course is being reserected. This should be a great weekend with the downhill on the Saturday and the combined on the Sunday. The sneaky French have been here practicing ahead of the event so it will be interesting to see how they go.

With the World Cup in resort comes the fanfare along it with various events throughout the resort from live concerts, bib draws and additional films as well as the usual events that run every week. This of course includes the ridiculously expensive market on a Monday and the various events of a Thursday night when the main street is pedestrianised.

If on the other hand you are here to ski you might be glad to hear that that the snow conditions are absolutely superb. The piste conditions are as good as I can remember over a sustained period with the off piste being somewhat wind blown but with some great chalky patches there is something for everyone. There is snow predicted for the middle of the week clearing towards the end of the week (God is a Frenchman after all) for the World Cup racing.

I’m off for another great day on the hill so take care and maybe see you in resort.

Cheers

Ken

Yes I’m frustrated as the skiing conditions are as good as it gets and I am stuck in the office doing admin. Pure hell I tell you. I think I would rather be in rainy London with no chance of skiing than here with the playground on my doorstep and me in front of the computer. The pistes are firm underneath but soft on top and we have continuous flurries to keep the pistes in great nick and now its blue skies and crisp.

Its the torchlit descent tonight so thats always a good show. Im not sure why we are having one tonight but who cares. The deals that are going around at the moment are amazing with reports of some tour operators selling last week at as little as £179 flights and half board. So if you are feeling a little twitchy and fancy a quick trip get out here quick!

Cheers

Ken

As I look out onto the snow laden hills around Val and the blue skies above I know the people arriving this week are in for a great on. The forecast was for more snow but it hasn’t materialised. Not that we need any more as the snow base is great and both the off piste and piste skiing is superb.

Its a relatively quiet week so all the more reason to get out here. There is the usual Monday Market, Henrys Avalanche Talk in Dicks on Tuesday and Thursday Après Ski and the usual live music every night in the Morris as well as the Famous Raffle in the Pacific Bar on the Friday night with skis and snowboards to be won.

There are always a few things on apres ski on the beginners slopes from races to sledging and organised snowball fights. Ask in the Tourist Office for more info.

 That’s it for now as I’m off to take some lessons but will try and give you something else in the near future.

 Take care and book up as soon as you can.

Cheers

Ken

www.progressionski.com