Read reviews of the best Val d'Isere nightlife
Everybody loves supporting a good cause and everybody loves it even more when it involvesenjoying the sunshine. Last Thursday we had just that opportunity as the annual Step Up for Africa event returned to Val d’Isere for the fourth time in a row.
Val d’Isere is such a multi-national little bubble that sometimes you forget where in the world you are.
This week brings the return of the much-anticipated X Games to our neighbours in Tignes and, with Olympic winner Shaun White making an appearance this year, there’s an exciting buzz around.
Maybe we needed a week for our New Year’s resolutions to kick in or maybe it was the fantastic -24 degree weather we’ve been having this week, but either way, we’ve been behaving. Or at the very least, we’ve been working on it, reminding ourselves that our little Euros could be spent on something other than apres-ski! Needless to say, we could be trying harder to stay in control…
This week was Valentine’s Day and just happened to be my day off too. I made the most of it by going out for dinner with my partner. By the time we were both ready to go it was getting quite late, as in 10pm late! So we decided to head down to the Taverne d’Alsace, located beneath the Billabong Café and Hotel Kandahar, on the opposite side of the roundabout from the bus station.
Val D’isere has come to life. In the space of a week, the town has transformed from a tranquil green and brown to a vibrant snowy paradise. In a mere 48 hours, around a metre of snow fall and an influx of thousands of season workers has drastically changed the autumnal landscape into the resort that is renowned as one of the biggest and best in the world.
The snow storm finally cleared late last week after three crazy weeks of constant fat snow flakes in Val d'Isere. That made for a couple of special blue bird - knee deep days with the mountain covered in smiles from the Grand Motte tothe Solaise. However with it now being the French half term holidays at the moment, the mountain on piste is a crowded affair so heading over to some secret spots is a must over the next couple of weeks. With the sun out, the kiwis thought it was time to dig out the BBQ, soak up the rays and get some Après wets in us.
We would like to say that we behave, we really would. But as our parents have always instructed us to tell the truth, we’ll just say that it’s definitely work in progress..... It will come as no surprise then that this week was just another epic series of jagerbombs, awesome DJs, and all out shenanigans. This is Val d’Isere; we just can’t help it!
Skiing and cinema have had a bit of a rocky relationship over the years. Need I mention 80s nightmare ski-flick ‘Hotdog’ or the more recent avalanche of cringe that was ‘Chalet Girl’?
For a week early in the season, it hasn’t been looking like it. Heavy snow falls aside, Val has been looking suspiciously like Santa’s workshop courtesy of the Criterium de la Premiere Neige preparations. The media trucks have been moving around town, from the bottom of the Bellevard’s Face over to the OK in la Daille. As we speak, pisteurs and members of the Club des Sports operations team are setting up gates, scraping snow, and placing their blow up sponsorship emblems just so.
Most weeks, we don’t think Mum would mind too much what we do. We’re adults, we’re financially dependent, and, you know, we can legally drink. But last week, last week was a whole different story. Unfortunately, the game of GNAR came back to Val with a vengeance. If you are unfamiliar with this concept, you can stumble upon a video posted by some of our competitors on youtube… But first, let me explain.
With the season ending in two months and our minds drifting towards our summer plans, we’ve been trying to figure out how to save our Euros and even make some extra cash for our next trips. We’ve considered selling grilled cheeses for drunk passer-bys, trading kisses for cash, and even giving our kidneys away. As you all can imagine, we’ve been getting creative. And desperate.
We would like to say that we behave, we really would. But as our parents have always instructed us to tell the truth, we’ll just say that it’s definitely work in progress..... It will come as no surprise then that this week was just another epic series of jagerbombs, awesome DJs, and all out shenanigans. This is Val d’Isere; we just can’t help it!
In Val d’Isere, it can be hard to catch up with friends when you’re all working a lot and days or nights off don’t coincide. I hadn’t seen my friend for a few weeks and it turns out we both had the same night off so we decided to make a night of it; get dressed up and have a classy night.
Last Tuesday was my day off and I have to admit I didn’t make it up the mountain due to a terrible hangover, no sympathy please, it was all my own doing!
Happy New Year and welcome to 2012, the year that will apparently, according to the Mayan calendar and certain Hollywood films, see the end of the world. One thing for sure is that for most of us the holidays are over and although that may seem like the end of the world, life goes on.
It’s been a lovely week weather-wise with clear blue skies everyday and although it’s a bit cold, if you wrap up warm you don’t feel it. The pistes are great and it’s clouded over today in preparation for the snow that’s forecast for these next few days. Life is good here in Val d’Isere.