Colder than a deep-freeze - 3/2/2012 18:36

by John Yates-Smith, Val d'Isere

John Yates-Smith of YSE reports on snow conditions in Val d'Isère, February 2, 2012.

What you can't see from this morning's photo is that the temperature was -21º, colder than a deep-freeze. What you can see is how there's no point coming to Val d'Isère unless you're one of the beautiful people, with the latest rear-entry Nordicas, someone else's trousers and curved race poles dragged several feet behind you. It cheered our photographer up no end that someone so resolutely unphotogenic insisted on skiing past his camera.

Click on the link for our Val d'Isère resort report.

Four tips to help you enjoy half term in the Three Valleys - 3/2/2012 17:56

by Alf Alderson, The Trois Vallees

Ski and surf writer Alf Alderson reports on the snow conditions in the Three Valleys.

Empty slopes above St Martin.

Well, that dreaded time of year half-term is almost upon us, so I'm off - curmudgeonly it may be, but I can live without the crowds and lift queues that are about to descend on the Three Valleys so am departing for a couple of weeks across the Atlantic and will be back when things have calmed down a bit.

That said, I'm not so much of a git that I wouldn't wish anyone coming out for half-term a spiffing time, and with the snow conditions as they are at the moment it's hard to imagine how you could not enjoy some great skiing.

And if the slopes get a bit too hectic for you, here are a few half-term tips that might come in useful:

1. It will be busy wherever you go on the slopes, but if you want a run that will suit everyone other than the most demanding adrenaline freak I suggest heading for Jerusalem, the fine red that runs from just below Tougnette to the junction of St Martin 1 and St Martin 2 lift above - yes, you guessed it, St Martin de Belleville.

It's a lovely undulating run, usually very well groomed, wide and open so it can handle the crowds, with marvellous mountain views, and anyone from timid intermediate upwards will have a blast here. There are even a couple of nice mountain restaurants at the bottom, and I hear that it's one of Graham Bell's favourite Three Valleys runs - if it's good enough for him it's good enough for me and you...

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2. But maybe you don't feel like skiing...if you fancy a break but still want some downhill fun, gather the kids together, young and old, and head for Val Thorens and France's longest toboggan run. The six-kilometre descent is open to anyone over five (kids from five to ten - who go for free - must be accompanied by an adult).

It takes you down 700 metres of 'vert' and needless to say you'll be laughing all the way, and at only 12 euros it won't break the bank - find out more at valthorens.com

3. But maybe you'd prefer some indoor action - simple, head to Meribel's Parc Olimpique where you can enjoy everything from swimming to ice skating - and if you fancy hitting the slopes before or after, you're right beside the ski lifts.

4. Finally, if you want to get out of your resort for a day, here's a great little spot to go for lunch - Conflans, a lovely medieval village above Albertville. You can just see its roofs peeping down on you as you drive past Albertville, but relatively few people make the quick detour to visit.

I'd recommend it for lunch on a sunny day followed by a short stroll around the streets and maybe even a wander around the museum if you feel in need of a bit of culture. But don't spend too long on any off these ideas (other than number one) - after all, you're here to ski.

Le Chardon Bleu above St Martin de Belleville.

For more information go to our Courchevel, Méribel, St Martin de Belleville, La Tania and Val Thorens resort reports.

The benefits of porridge and steak-and-kidney pie - 2/2/2012 09:53

by John Yates-Smith, Val d'Isere

John Yates-Smith of YSE reports on life in Val d'Isère and Sainte-Foy, February 2, 2012.

It's cold again today. Perfect weather for snow cannons. We've never seen so much artificial snow being made as this year. And we've never seen so much of the natural stuff. The summer skiing is going to be epic...

Below is an equally dull photo from the neighbouring ski resort of Sainte-Foy last Saturday. It shows all the twelve year-olds who'd just won trophies in two Super Gs.

The only thing that you might find vaguely interesting is that English lads won both boys' races, and an English girl (Ines Pearson, front row) won the first girls' race and only didn't win the second because she was determined to beat all the boys as well and wiped out!

The French are incredibly nice to these British kids who are whipping their own children's scrawny bottoms, especially as one of the boys is diplomatically christened Nelson! They probably reckon that it's just that Brits of this age tend to be a little heavier than French, who don't know the benefits of porridge or steak-and-kidney pie.

No doubt the grenouilles will overtake the rosbifs once they've put on a little more weight and our kids have all turned to flab, like their dads...

Click on the link for our Val d'Isère and Sainte-Foy resort reports.

A secret stash of powder in Åre - 1/2/2012 06:25

by Helena Engelbrecht and friends, Are

Helena Engelbrecht reports on snow conditions in Åre, Sweden - January 31, 2012. But she's not going to tell us where her powder stash is.

Somewhere in Åre...

I spent the last 72hrs driving to Åre from Stockholm, and back again. That's a lot of time at the whell. But what are you going to do when he need to ski?

We got to Åre Friday late in the evening, but were amongst the first to be on the VM8-lift when it opened at 8.00. After a few runs in the central slopes we headed down to Rödkullen and then on to the restaurant Buustamoon for some lunch. I had game stew... delicious!

Went back to Tege in the afternoon for some forest skiing. Same story on Sunday.

It had been snowing quite a bit the week before so we had some great runs around Vildmarksstigen and Fjällvallen. The pics are from some hidden locations in the Tege forest: but I'm not too keen on telling you where, exactly...

Click on the link for our Åre resort report.

Wishing winter lasted longer - 31/1/2012 12:25

by Alf Alderson, The Trois Vallees

Ski and surf writer Alf Alderson reports on the snow conditions in the Three Valleys.

The view from my window today

Normally when I sit at my desk and work I have a fantastic view out of my window (see pic) towards the 3398m Grand Bec and the 3854m Grand Casse. Today, yet again, that view is obscured by heavy snowfall (hurrah!).

But on the sunny days, which are in as short supply this winter as snowy days were last winter, I also have to deal with the sun pouring through the window around 9.15am, making it difficult to view the screen of my laptop (oh, the trials and tribulations of life in the Alps...), which can sometimes mean shutting out the view by drawing the curtains.

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The last time that happened I noted how the sun peeped over the top of the mountains a few minutes earlier than it had the week before - naturally enough, since we're past the mid-winter solstice. And I had a small flutter of concern - because the earlier the sun shines through my window each day the closer we are to spring and the end of the ski season!

The view from my window when sunny

Now that may seem a very 'glass half empty' view considering what a great season we've had so far in the Three Valleys, but I bet I'm not alone amongst ski freaks in wishing winter lasted longer - especially a winter like this.

It's not that I don't love summer too of course, I guess it's basically that, like most people, I can never get enough of a good thing.

For more information go to our Courchevel, St Martin de Belleville and La Tania resort reports.