Valsnow
Ski and snowboard hire located in the centre of Val d'Isere. Save time and money by booking online and have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive enabling you to hit the slopes straight away!
Incredible powder skiing in Val d'Isere
Avalanche risk remains high
Friday was a wonderful surprise as at least 30cm’s of fresh snow fell on Thursday night, and the brutal winds died down to leave us with a stunning day of powder skiing. The sun made a brief appearance and with the added visibility it was without a doubt the best day of the season so far!
The avalanche risk remained 4/5 locally on Friday even though Meteo France had a rating of 3/5. My colleague Thomas dug a snow pit to show his Ski Club of Great Britain clients the various layers in the snowpack. He found 60cms of gobelets at around 2700 metres, which is a serious problem for the moment. Gobelets crystals are the big grains that resemble sugar and have no cohesion and very little strength to support future snowfalls. The rain at lower altitudes help to stabilise the slopes below 2300 metres but above that altitude there is a very unstable layer which is perhaps the reason the local avalanche risk has been kept at 4/5. We need the upper slopes to purge themselves in the next snowfall or two so that we can start again to build a stable base.
This early part of the season is habitually the most dangerous of the season as we’ve yet to have ‘skier compaction’. Many of the big slopes have not been touched by a skier or boarder and they are much more delicate than they will be in a month’s time when thousands of skiers will have tracked the slopes and packed down the base. Early season skiing is the most unpredictable of the year and off-piste skiers need to be very aware of the risks.
On Saturday it was overcast and we were back to skiing in flat-light which makes skiing and navigating above the tree-line much more difficult. We did have just enough light filtering through to light the way and we did have a great day of skiing up high, but during overcast days the Fornet and La Daille trees are always a good option.
Due to weather conditions the Woman’s World Cup Downhill was cancelled and replaced by a Super G, which was won by the American Lindsey Vonn who claimed her first world cup victory in over a year. She has had a fantastic career having won more races than any other woman in world cup history. As usual it was a brilliant awards ceremony in the centre of town. Sunday’s Women’s World Cup Super G was won by Lara Gut as she raced down to win her 21st career victory. The town, the piste services and all the volunteers who worked so hard to put on these races during a time of difficult weather conditions were rewarded by two fantastic events that were well attended and watched world-wide on TV. And that’s about as good an advertisement as you’re going to get!
Friday had been a brilliant day off-piste but Sunday was even better! It was much brighter than expected and we profited with some stunning skiing. After warming-up with a lovely Fontaine Froide in great untracked powder we opened up the Tour du Charvet. With outstanding deep snow top-to-bottom, the ambience was incredible as there wasn’t a track on the mountain and we were totally alone in spectacular scenery. We then had a great run down the Marmottons before circling back around for another Tour du Charvet. The past three days have been without a shadow of a doubt the best skiing of the new season so far! Wow!
The week ahead looks terrific with snow on Monday followed by mostly sunshine for the rest of the week. Enjoy your holiday and look out for another update on Friday!
Ski Hire in Val d'Isere
Ski Hire in Val d'Isere
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Boraso Sport
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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Portillo
At the entrance to Val d’Isère, on the avenue Olympique, our SKI REPUBLIC Val Portillo shop is on your left hand side (coming from Bourg St Maurice or la Daille), 100 m past the ice driving circuit and just past the petrol station.
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La Daille
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Val d'Isere? Just visit the Skiset La Daille store!
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Val Ski Shop
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.
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Place de l'Office du Tourisme
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!
Ski Schools in Val d'Isere
Ski School Lessons in Val d'Isere
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Group ski lessons
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Airport Transfers in Val d'Isere
Transfers for Val d'Isere
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Shared airport transfers
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
The Loyal Transfers team has been organising airport transfers to ski resorts around France since 2012. Their aim has always been to make independent travel to ski resorts cheaper and easier for everyone.
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Private and shared airport transfers
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.
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Private and shared airport transfers
This company offers reliable private transfers from Geneva Airport to Val d'Isère. Established and efficient - you can rely on them.
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Shared bus airport transfers
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.
Winter Things To Do in Val d'Isere
Wintersport Things To Do in Val d'Isere
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Helicopter tours
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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EMTB on snow
Try something new this winter with a guided e-bike session on snow (from eight years old). Join a sunrise ride above Val d’Isère or hire an electric bike in the afternoon and head off on your own adventure.
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Guided snowshoe hikes
Discover the charm of snowshoeing and venture to parts of the mountains even skiers don't go.
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Heliskiing/boarding
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
Passenger or driver, it’s up to you to decide!
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Dog Sledding
Sledding tours and adventures in the Tarentaise.
