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Val d'Isere Snow Report: 2nd December 2015

Snow cannons are keeping the snow condition really good

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

It was forecast for a mini-heat-wave these past few days and I was wondering if the warm temperatures would affect the operation of the snow cannons, but they have fortunately been running full blast since last weekend. It is still getting down to -10C at night and the past couple of days haven’t felt as warm as forecast.

The pistes were pretty good for the opening weekend but they are now vastly improved. The snow cannons have laid down an excellent base and after several nights of work the piste-bashers have groomed the pistes to a very high standard, and the pistes are much smoother under-foot than a few days ago. As usual with man-made snow there are patches of firm snow, and other areas are a bit icy, but generally the snow is smooth with a good texture.

Warning: When the cannons are turned on during the day and you’re skiing through the misty snow never take for granted that the snow quality will be consistent. Ski carefully and not too quickly as each machine can vary drastically. One might be blowing out perfect snow with a lovely texture that gives you a false sense of security while the next may be horribly wet sticky snow that stops you dead in your tracks, and then next may be sheet-ice. (I’ve been caught out by both the ice and the sticky snow over the years and have had some nasty crashes!)

As for the off-piste, the high winds over the weekend and Monday have ravaged the snow and ruined some lovely powder. There are still some isolated pockets of good snow but they are few and far between and rapidly being tracked out. While the pistes are improving the off-piste is in need of some fresh snow.

Warning: Beware of what looks like nice snow off the edge of the piste when the snow cannons are blowing. Often the man-made snow will drift off-piste and turn powder snow into a crusty snow that will rip a leg off the un-expecting.  (I call it ‘wishbone’ snow!) It only takes once to wise-up to this one!

Weather in the village:

  • Thursday  Sunny  -7C/+12C  wind from the south at 5km/h
  • Friday      Sunny  -5C/+6C  wind from the south at 5km/h
  • Saturday  Partially Sunny  -4C/+5C wind from the SW at 5km/h
  • Sunday  Partially Sunny  -4C/+6C wind from the SW at 5 km/h
  • Monday Partially Sunny  -3C/+6C  wind from the W at 5km/h

It hasn’t been officially announced but both the Men’s and Ladies World Cup Races scheduled for later this month should be able to go ahead due to the brilliant work of the STVI and Piste Services. The races are incredibly important for local businesses and TV advertisement of the resort. 

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Location

Map of the surrounding area