Well, it has been a pretty eventful weekend with lots of lessons to be learned. Bad visibility and a deadly avalanche reminded us that safety is paramount when enjoying off-piste skiing.
Flat light and sunshine in Val d'Isere
Cloudy weather and challenging skiing in good snow.
Thursday was a tough day with very limited visibility and Friday was marginally better. It was raining in the village and we skied up on the Pissaillas Glacier at the Fornet to stay as high as possible and we had moments of brightness, which were very welcome and made navigating much easier. The snow at lower altitudes was heavy but surprisingly skiable and, all in all, it was a very good day in tough conditions.
The problem with skiing in flat light above the tree line is not being able to see terrain traps such as holes, bumps, cornices and even cliffs. When guiding off-piste it is important to be in places you trust, where the terrain is smooth and you know there are no hidden obstacles to take you by surprise. On Saturday we had another extremely ‘white’ day where the visibility was very poor and I spent most of my morning off the Grande Motte where I totally trust and am comfortable with the terrain in front of me. Unfortunately, on the last run of the morning, I took a less known (in flat light) run home and ended up skiing off a huge cornice and was very lucky to not hurt myself. I must have dropped about five metres before landing and coming out of my skis and then tumbled down for another three or four metres. The photo shows me where I landed and came out of my skis because I’ve crawled back up to them, The point is, that skiing off-piste in flat-light needs extreme caution and it is incredibly easy to become disorientated.
You only need to be a few metres away from where you think you are and trouble can be lurking. I’m quite cross with myself because it was a stupid mistake and I was very lucky to not have done some serious damage. Even when skiing on the piste in a white-out you need to be aware that the piste machines can leave unseen ruts or snowballs behind them and you shouldn’t take for granted that the pistes are perfectly smooth so reducing speed is always a good idea. Anyway, I was very grateful for the beautiful sunshine on Sunday.
Sunday was a stunning day and one of the best powder days of the season. After several very warm and wet days, we had a solid re-freeze Saturday night and the powder skiing was absolutely brilliant. We skied up at the Fornet and skied the Combe du 3300, the Pays Desert, the Col Pers and Oh My to finish.
Unfortunately, Sunday was marred by a tragic accident where a 44-year-old man and his 11-year-old daughter were killed in an avalanche on the Pissaillas Glacier at the Fornet. They were skiing a closed run at the time and even though the run was closed they were very unfortunate. Runs are closed for a reason, especially during the busiest week of the season so do yourself and the piste service a favour and refrain from skiing in closed areas. Apparently, the father was wearing an avalanche transceiver but it was turned off at the time, and when the avalanche came down towards them he threw himself on his daughter to protect her while his wife skied out of the avalanche’s path. Had his transceiver been turned on maybe they could have been saved but we’ll never know.
I often mention the state of the pavements but they have been incredibly slippery of late. The other day when it was raining, water was flowing down the street, under the flowing water was sheet ice and my feet went out from under me and I landed flat on my backpack and was absolutely soaked. I could barely stand up to collect my skis and was furious with the state of the roads and pavements. I’ve been here for 37-years and am pretty good at navigating my way around town but I still go down in the street once or twice a season so please be careful when walking around town. Looking back at the past few days it’s been a fairly rough weekend!
The week ahead looks pretty sunny except for Tuesday so have a wonderful time and leave the closed sectors alone!
Follow more from Wayne on his Daily Diary.
Ski safely off-piste
Exploring beyond the ski resort boundaries is an amazing experience for anyone who's physically fit and has mastered the pistes well enough. There are, however, risks associated with venturing outside the safety of the marked/patrolled ski area, including awareness of your actions on those below you on the slopes. Mountain guides are professionally qualified and have extensive knowledge of the local terrain, to provide you with the safest and most enjoyable possible experience in the mountains; as a visitor here we highly recommend you hiring one. Many ski schools and also mountain guides provide instruction in off-piste skiing, avalanche safety and mountaineering techniques. Make your time in the mountains unforgettable for the right reasons, ski safe!
Airport Transfers in Val d'Isere
Transfers for Val d'Isere
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Private Airport Transfers
Geneva Airport to Val d'Isère from €349 per vehicle one-way (weekend rate)
Travel from Geneva Airport to Val d'Isère with an experienced Alpine transfer service operating since 2012. Enjoy a private, door-to-door journey with professional drivers who know the mountain roads and flight monitoring to help manage delays. Choose between standard and VIP minibuses, with complimentary child seats available for families. Free onboard Wi-Fi makes the journey more comfortable, while automated pick-up reminders help take the stress out of your return transfer.
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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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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.
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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 & Shared Airport Transfers
Easy transfers from Geneva Airport to Val d'Isere and nearby resorts
This company offers private and shared transfers from Geneva Airport to Val d'Isere, nearby areas, and resorts across the Alps. With great value fares on all journeys, it’s an easy way to save money.
Visit websiteSave an extra 5%. Use Alpine Fleet discount promocode: STWSKI
Ski Hire in Val d'Isere
Ski Hire in Val d'Isere
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Val Spirit Delivery
Free delivery, fitting and collection service by British ski & snowboard rental shop
This is the only independent, British-owned ski and snowboard shop in the Espace Killy ski area which also offers a delivery service to Val d'Isere.
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Val Ski Shop
Rental skis and equipment within the commercial centre of la Daille
Jean-Marie and Benjamin and team with over 20 years of experience, offer you a warm welcome to their store Val Ski Shop, a large modern ski shop.
Visit websiteSave an extra 5%. Ski hire discount applied automatically on website visit
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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!
Visit websiteSave an extra 5%. Use Intersport ski hire discount code: STWSKI
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"Exclusiv" Expérimental Chalet
Ski & snowboard hire on Place de l'Eglise and close to the lifts
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Val d'Isere? Just visit the Skiset Aigle des Neiges store!
Visit websiteSave an extra 5%. Skiset ski hire discount applied automatically on website visit
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Boraso Sport (Magasin Relais)
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 first skiing day.
Visit websiteSave 5% automatically when you click here to book
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La Poudreuse
Save 10% extra: use promo code STWSKI when booking ski hire online
This ski and snowboard rental shop offers one of the largest selection of top of the range equipment in Val d'Isère.
Visit websiteSave an extra 10%. Book direct + use code: STWSKI
Ski Schools in Val d'Isere
Ski School Lessons in Val d'Isere
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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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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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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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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.
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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.
Winter Things To Do in Val d'Isere
Wintersport Things To Do in Val d'Isere
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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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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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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.
