Val d'Isere Snow Report: 20th March 2012

Sunshine is once again prevailing after the brief snowfall over the weekend. It was, however, a lot cooler today which is a good thing as far as snow preservation is concerned, even if it does mean we have to wrap up a little warmer.

At the moment, the snow forecast varies from forecast to forecast. One suggests sunshine all week, while another is suggesting a little snow or rain, temperature dependent. I like to look on the bright side of life and, as I don’t like rain, I’m going with the sunshine prediction. So, this week we will be expecting sunshine with light cloud cover most afternoons. The temperatures will be around a mild minus three to four during the days (so a little warmer than today!) and around minus seven at night. Moving towards the weekend we should experience the most cloud cover, with Monday and Tuesday looking set to be completely clear right now. The weekend is usually when your transfer day will be, so it’s not so bad if the weather isn’t great for that and then improves during the week of your actual holiday. I think that’s a pretty good combination if you have to have worse weather at some point. The long range forecast is for sunshine all of next week.

I haven’t been in Val d’Isere this weekend so I can’t tell you all that much about the skiing then. I was in Switzerland at a Free-Ride World Tour Qualifier in the Oberappass near Andermatt. Having never competed in snowboarding before, it was a very new experience for me. The competition was an Eco event, so it involved a lot of hiking up mountains, which I actually really enjoyed. It started with a six kilometre hike from Oberalp to the Maighels Mountain Hut on Friday at nine in the morning. Then we got to relax and choose our lines for the next day’s riding. We had to be up for breakfast at six in the morning the next day, as the women on snowboards were going to be the first down the mountain. The hike was a killer as the wind was building and the weather looked like it was on its way in. Two gruelling hours scrambling to the top using a split board, skins and massive crampons and we were ready to go.

This was something I had been terrified about all week, but when I got to the top (and phoned a friend to calm my nerves – thank you!) I was fine. I ride steeper stuff in Espace Killy most days. The snow was variable, but not bad, and I was with a great group of like minded people. I just had to have fun and enjoy it, so that was what I did. The run seemed to take seconds, especially after the rather long hike, but it was an amazing experience. I came in second, I think mostly because I managed to stay on my feet. The competition was called Kick the Vik, and was pretty special. It truly was an ‘Eco’ event with all the hiking involved, and the organisers did a fantastic job. I will definitely be heading back next winter.

Now I’m back in Val d’Isere, and although already missing the simple technology free life of the mountain hut, I am enjoying hot water and a shower.

The tips for skiing this week remain the same as last. When it’s hot, follow the sun round to find the best snow. When it’s been in the sun it will be a little softer, but you have to catch it before it turns to slush. For example, the Face de Bellevard in Val d’Isere is amazing between around half nine and eleven, but quickly gets scraped into a wonderful mix of ice and moguls, which you probably want to avoid!

With all this sunshine, why not make the most of it? Have lunch on a terrace somewhere and perfect those goggle lines, if only to prove that, yes, you have been on holiday in a ski resort! You have probably already read about my favourite lunch stop (Tignes Cuisine in Tignes Le Lac) but there are many others. Most mountain restaurants will serve some variations on Savoyarde Cuisine, so you have a general idea of what to expect. If, like me, you are lactose intolerant, or just don’t like cheese, you may have to search a little harder to find something to your taste. Most restaurants do offer at least a steak which is cheese free (and normally very tasty) and a pasta dish. The Fruitiere in Val d’Isere (on the side of La Folie Douce, is fantastic but very expensive (like most mountain restaurants). To keep the cost down you are better heading down into the resorts. There are many options to choose from in both Tignes and Val d’Isere, and if the sun isn’t out then you can almost always find a seat inside for lunch. A lot of the bars are having BBQs during apres ski too which can be great fun. Saloon Bar in Val d’Isere is having one tomorrow.

I’m off to get ready for work now, but will be up early to enjoy the snow tomorrow. Make the most of the slopes, We’ve just over a month till the end of the season and then there is a long wait till next winter in the French Alps.

Bon ski!