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More clear blue skies as we wait for fresh snow

Great conditions on piste although its getting firmer under foot

featured in Snow report Author Wayne Watson, Val d'Isere Reporter Updated

It has been another great week of skiing under clear blue skies. I’ve managed some wonderful off-piste skiing so far this season but as you can imagine that after three-straight weeks of sunshine it is starting to get more difficult day-by-day to find good quality powder snow.

The piste skiing here remains excellent but with each passing week more and more skiers/boarders arrive and with the extra traffic the pistes are becoming polished and firmer. If it doesn’t snow soon it will be extremely icy by Christmas week. At the moment it’s incredibly blissful as the resort is empty but it won’t be long now before our privilege lifestyle will change drastically.

If you’re in the resort be extremely careful skiing down to the La Daille bus-stop at the end of the day. Because the OK is closed due to the races, the only open piste becomes very icy by the end of the day. I skied down a couple of days late in the afternoon and wish I hadn’t as it was narrow and the snow/ice was terribly hard. Don’t be afraid to take the bubbles down from the Folie Douce or the Olympique down the front of Bellevarde and save yourself some unpleasantness, especially if you are tired.

It’s World Cup time again this weekend, and it’s the best woman skiers in the world on show this weekend. By Sunday Val d’Isere will have hosted 8 World Cup races, the most ever by this time of the season.

There is very little snow in the Alps and although we need snow we’ve had a brilliant start to the season. Instructors, bar-staff, chalet staff, Pisteurs, hoteliers, shop-owners, and a lot of other people are busy making a living and once again we’re all very happy to have chosen Val d’Isere as our home resort.

There is still no snow in the near future so enjoy the sunshine and one of the only ‘open’ resorts in the Alps. Have a fantastic weekend and stay tuned for more news and photos on Monday.


Follow more from Wayne in his Daily Diary.


NB. 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.

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