Summer skiing on the glacier in Val d'Isere

Some of you probably know that you can fly thousand of miles away down to the southern hemisphere to find skiing in the summer but did you know that some of those resorts that you enjoy during the winter season are actually open during the summer too?!

One if these resorts is Val d’Isere. This winter paradise, host to Winter Olympics, annual World Cup events and of course the infamous La Folie Douce actually has a glacier that is open for skiing from the 6th of June to the 12th of July and this is where I have begun my summer training this year.

Now if you’re thinking that skiing in summer sounds like a crazy idea, here are a few thoughts that might persuade you otherwise… Firstly the weather is pretty much guaranteed to be better in the summer. At a high altitude, 2700m, the Val D’Isere glacier gets chilly overnight which means the snow freezes giving you perfect snow conditions. However during the day, the sun shines, making chairlift rides much more pleasant.

The glacier is open from 7am until 12pm. This means that your day on skis is shorter but leaves plenty of room for other activities in the afternoon and Val has a lot to offer: mountain biking, hiking, horse riding, swimming and an amazing spa right in the centre of town. This week I hiked all the way up to the top of the iconic Bellevard: the men’s World Cup Downhill run!

I spend nearly all my summer on glaciers and Val d’Isere is by far the most pleasant thanks to its super easy access and amazing service. Rather than having to wait in queues for hours and sit on a crowded train or squeeze into three different gondolas to reach the snow in Val, you simply drive up the Col de L’Iseran and you are at the snow! My non-skiing criteria for a good glacier are: a warm place to put my boots on, free toilets and friendly lift people - Val d’Isere ticks all the boxes. The restaurant is located at the car park and serves wonderful food at lunchtime and doesn’t give you any hassle for using their toilets! The lifties are also the friendliest I have ever met, always smiling and asking about your day. It’s small things that make skiing even more enjoyable.

Most of Val D’Isere is closed at this time of year. You won’t be able to shop like during the season as only the Supermarket and Maison de La Presse are open. The same goes for all the biggest hotels; however luckily hotel Cretes Blanches is open. Located in the centre of town with views across the valley, this hotel is very welcoming and has one of the best breakfasts in the Alps! Lucy is always available to help out both English and French speaking customers and a stay here is a must if you are looking for comfortable accommodation for your summer ski trip.

I will be in Val for another week of training this summer and the snow conditions are looking pretty good after last week’s recent snow fall. A summer ski holiday isn’t for everyone but if you love skiing and the sun it is the place to be to get the best of both worlds!