Nightlife Previews and reviews in Val d'Isere

It’s been lovely weather so far this week. It’s warmed up a lot and even though the slopes are busy with the half term holidays, there’s still plenty of snow and the pistes are great.

It’s been one hell of a musical week! With the après music sessions taking place every day, it’s surprising our lives haven’t become a singing only musical!

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.

When it comes to partying Val d’Isere is one of the jewels of the French Alps. With Apres ski table dancing in ski boots and nightclubs aplenty, finding the best clubs can sometimes be a bit of a struggle.

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!

With some snow this week followed by blue skies, the skiing’s been great and everyone’s happy.

It’s been a busy week for me this week. I’ve had friends visiting and what with going on the hill, going out and working, I’m barely keeping my eyes open. Luckily, on my day off I got a lie in before heading up the hill and then in the evening we headed out for a meal.

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.

This winter in Tignes, seasonnaires and holiday makers in-the-know have been lucky enough to bear witness to a new epic night out. An alpine music initiative described by its creator as “summer festival vibes in the snowy alpine playground” known by the name of Bass Station.

As most of us in Tignes try and defrost after the bitterly cold week we have just gone through, more snow is on the way. A change up from the -15 degree days will be a welcome change as they were starting to get the better of my nose, ears and moustache.

Welcome all to the first Val d’Isere après report of season 2011/2012, and I’m pleased to say I’m looking out the window onto a blanket of snow several feet deep and bluebird skies. This certainly wasn’t the case a few days ago when the mountain was still very green (red and yellow) and autumnal. But, thanks to Hewie, the beloved god of snow, wishes were granted and the white stuff fell from the sky in masses, and apparently more is on the way.

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.

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.

After the PDA's (Public Displays of Affection) cleared this week with Cupids departure, they were quickly replaced by the now very familiar sight of fat snow flakes. We were again treated to snow upon snow upon snow, which is quickly turning February into one of my favourite months of the year.