We have had a stunning week of weather and with unseasonably warm temperatures we’ve had some incredibly good spring snow. With each passing day of warm temperatures and good re-freezes at night the transformation of the snow into spring snow has been getting better and better.
A stunning week with incredibly good spring snow
Warm weather but the snow's holding up well
On Monday some slopes were ‘just’ supporting but by Tuesday it was game-on as we had an outstanding morning of top quality spring snow on impressive slopes. I skied the lower half of the Face du Charvet twice in perfect spring snow before skiing a stunning run in the Tour du Charvet. We then went over the Col Pers to ski winter snow and exited through the Gorge du Malpasset, and the exit was very interesting and getting trickier.
On Wednesday my colleague Chris and I took our teams down to the neighbouring resort of Ste Foy to ski the south-side of the Foglietta. We had about a one- hour-and-twenty-minute ‘skin’ and from the top we had great views of the Italian-side of Mont Blanc, the Monte Rosa in the distance, and directly across the valley views of the Glacier de la Savinaz, and the north and south Glaciers de la Gurraz.
Normally we ski the north–side of the Foglietta in powder but because of the heat the snow is trying to transform to spring snow but is now at that ‘in-between’ stage where it isn’t soft powder and it doesn’t support either, making for tricky skiing. For less skilled skiers it’s the type of snow that will grab your ski and rip your leg off if you’re not careful and should be avoided. (I call it wish-bone snow!) So, you can see why we chose the sunny-side, which was wonderful with perfect spring snow top-to-bottom without a mark on the mountain.
On Thursday I skied the Face du Charvet from the top, which was fantastic and is always very atmospheric as it’s one of the biggest slopes in the resort, followed by a wonderful run in the Tour du Charvet above the Couloir du Mont Blanc.
The piste skiing has also been first-class this week with perfectly groomed pistes and clear blue skies, and that is a tough combination to beat if you’re a piste skier or snowboarder!
I had another session with the Killer Beez at the Petit Danois bar on Tuesday evening. They are absolutely superb and had the place rocking, and if you’re in town next week and like ‘rock’ don’t miss them. They start at 5:30 and play until 7:30, which turns into 7:45 as the crowd won’t let me stop. Two-for-one pints are before five o’clock and after five they give you a toffee vodka shot with each drink (I don’t drink mine!) And every Friday night Mike and Ritchie play at the Moris Pub starting at 5:30, and they are a lot of fun with Mike on acoustic guitar and lead vocals and Ritchie on sax, trumpet and flute, and he sings some great rap numbers as well. So if you like live music don’t miss the Killer Beez or Mike and Ritchie!
It looks like a mixed bag weather-wise for the weekend with a sunny day on Friday, the possibility of some snow and Saturday, and then a partially sunny day on Sunday. We’ve had some wonderful, and I mean seriously wonderful spring skiing this week but some fresh snow would clean up the tracks quite nicely and give us the opportunity of some more powder skiing, so any fresh snow would be greatly appreciated.
Whatever the weather the sun is seriously strong now and you see some pretty nasty sun-burns around town. Make sure you use high-factor and high quality sun-cream, even on the overcast days as you’ll get burnt just as badly on a cloudy day.
Have a brilliant weekend and stay tuned for another update with photos on Monday!
Follow more from Wayne in his Daily Diary.
NB. Some of the areas Wayne has been skiing this week are off piste and not suitable to all skiers. Wayne has 35 years experience in these mountains. If you're considering going off piste you should always take a guide with you.
Airport Transfers in Val d'Isere
Transfers for Val d'Isere
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Scheduled/Shuttle Coach Airport Transfers
Geneva to Val d’Isère from CHF 52.50 per person one-way (weekend rate)
Enjoy daily scheduled departures, onboard toilets, convenient resort stops and ski luggage included at no extra cost. With experienced alpine drivers and dedicated airport assistance, these transfers offer a comfortable and affordable way to reach Val d’Isère.
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Shared Airport Transfers
Low-cost and professional shuttle bus transfer service to Val d'Isère
Booking with them means your holiday won’t involve the stress of public transport, the cost of private transfers, or the hassle of fitting snow chains on a hire car.
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Shared Airport Transfers
Geneva to Val d’Isère from CHF 82.50 per person one-way (weekend rate)
Travel directly to your accommodation with a convenient minivan connection, scheduled departures and ski luggage included at no extra cost. With experienced alpine drivers and additional assistance at Geneva Airport, this service combines shared travel with the convenience of a final door-to-door transfer.
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Private Airport Transfers
Geneva Airport to Val d'Isere from €524 per minivan one-way (weekend rate)
With over 5,000 rides completed and 95% of clients returning, this private transfer service is designed around the needs of skiers, from reliable airport pick-ups to comfortable journeys to your accommodation. Experienced, professional English-speaking drivers, vehicles prepared for Alpine winter conditions and no extra luggage fees for skis or snowboards help make travelling easier. With airport meet and greet, door-to-door transfers, secure online booking and a focus on punctuality, you can organise your Val d'Isere transfer with greater peace of mind.
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Scheduled/Shuttle Coach Airport Transfers
Quick and secure way to organise transfers from local airports and stations
A key booking portal for local coach and bus transfers in the French ski resorts. Using this service to coordinate your travel means getting to resort could not be easier.
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Private Airport Transfers
Established and efficient private transfer service to and from Geneva Airport
Comfortable private airport transfer service connecting Val d'Isere with Geneva Airport, with a choice of standard and premium vehicles.
Ski Hire in Val d'Isere
Ski Hire in Val d'Isere
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Snowberry Streetside
Ski & snowboard hire in central Val d'Isere within easy reach of the lifts
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Val d'Isere? Just visit the Skiset Snowberry Streetside store!
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Eskiador Sport
One stop shop for all your ski and snowboard equipment hire in Val d'Isere
No need to carry your ski equipment around with you! Simply pick it up from the ski shop in resort. You can collect your equipment from at least 5pm the day before your 1st skiing day.
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Hors Limites
Ski & snowboard hire at the Tourist Office and close to the snowfront
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Val d'Isere? Just visit the Skiset Hors Limites store!
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Place de l'Office du Tourisme
ski hire shop ideally located in the heart of Val d'Isere
Ski hire shop located near the tourist office in the centre of the resort. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
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Rond-Point des Pistes
Save 10% extra: use promo code STWSKI when booking ski hire online
Rond Point des Pistes shop is located after the tunnel, next to the Front de Neige with direct access to the Bellevarde and Solaise ski lifts (where the fun starts!). The free buses from the Chatelard and Legettaz areas stop right outside as does the main La Daille – Le Fornet bus.
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Ab Skishop
Ski rental in the centre of Val d'Isere between the bus station and tourist office
Florent and his team offer you a warm welcome to their store Ab Ski, which is located in the heart of Val d'Isere on the Avenue Olympique (in between the two roundabouts on this main road).
Ski Schools in Val d'Isere
Ski School Lessons in Val d'Isere
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Private ski lessons
Private skiing and snowboarding lessons with highly rated instructors
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
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Private ski lessons
British school offering a wide range of private lesson options tailored to all ages and abilities
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
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Group ski lessons
Ski and snowboard school group lessons with fully qualified British instructors
This ski school was set up in Val d'Isère in 2006 and has been hugely successful allowing them to expand into the resorts of Tignes, Les Gets, Morzine and Chamonix.
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Group ski lessons
Group ski and snowboard lessons for children and adults of all ages and abilities
This ski school offers group ski lessons for both children and adults, catering to all ability levels. Their group lessons provide a great and affordable way to improve your skiing in a safe, social and supportive environment.
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Group ski lessons
Small groups for adults and children of all abilities with a well-established and trusted ski school
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British ski schools in France and is renowned for its fantastic instructors and excellent customer service.
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Private ski lessons
Ski and snowboard school offering lessons with qualified British instructors
This ski school was set up in Val d'Isère in 2006 and has been hugely successful allowing them to expand into the resorts of Tignes, Les Gets, Morzine and Chamonix.
Winter Things To Do in Val d'Isere
Wintersport Things To Do in Val d'Isere
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Helicopter tours
10, 30 or 60 minute private helicopter tours for up to five people
A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
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Dog Sledding
20-min dog-sledding tours around the Tarentaise mountains
Sledding tours and adventures in the Tarentaise.
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Heliskiing/boarding
Heliskiing/boarding trip in Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass.
For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
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Snowmobiling
30min guided snowmobiling excursion
Passenger or driver, it’s up to you to decide!
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Guided snowshoe hikes
Half-day and full-day guided snowshoe walks through the mountains
Discover the charm of snowshoeing and venture to parts of the mountains even skiers don't go.
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Biathlon lessons
Try your hand at Biathlon, the Olympic challenge of skiing and shooting
Biathlon is an Olympic sport which combines different techniques and strengths. Bringing together two different sports, cross country skiing and shooting. Give it a go in Val d'Isère.
