Sion to Nendaz – The shortest ski transfer in the Alps?
June 22nd, 2010 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
When Snowjet launched its ski flights to Sion last winter we knew the route would take off because of the proximity of Sion airport to big name resorts such as Verbier (45mins), Saas Fee (1h15 mins) and Zermatt (1h40mins) but we weren’t aware that there is masses of skiing even closer by. Nendaz, an up and coming ski resort in the heart of the 4 Vallees – the largest ski area in Switzerland – is just a 20 minute transfer away from Sion. So close, in fact, that you can already see it perched on the mountainside when you arrive at the airport and you keep the runway in sight for most of the short drive up to resort.
View of runway en route to resort
Tags: Flights to Nendaz, Flights to Sion, Nendaz, Nendaz Flights, Saas Fee, Sion Airport, Skiing in Nendaz, Skiing in the 4 Vallees, Snowjet, Summer in Nendaz, Verbier, Zermatt
Posted in Events in the Alps, News from the Alps, Skiing in Switzerland, Snowjet, Travel to the Swiss Alps | No Comments »
Top Gear hits the Slopes
July 21st, 2009 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
In Episode 5 of series 13 the Top Gear boys set out to prove that rear wheel drive cars are better than front-wheel drive cars. The producers of the show send Jeremy, Richard and James shopping with £1500 each to buy rear-wheel drive cars to complete a series of tough on and off road challenges. The series of challenges culminates on the ice driving track in Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens.
Jeremy drives a Porsche 944 ST (3L engine, RWD, and a gearbox at the back), Richard a Nissan 300ZX (3L V6, RWD, twin-turbo) and James tries his luck in a Ford Capri (2.8 Injection). Despite kitting out the cars in advance with ice racing gear, the three vehicles prove ill equipped for the glassy terrain. Top Gear? More like Wacky Races. Check it out.
Tags: Ice Driving, Top Gear, Val Thorens
Posted in Events in the Alps, News from the Alps | No Comments »
Optimum Snow Conditions in the French Alps
March 18th, 2009 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
Mid-march and the snow out in the French Alps is in still in optimum condition. On Monday and Tuesday of last week snow fell continuously for 48 hours, dumping over a metre of powder in some places.
The massive accumulation of snow in Tignes meant that the third stage of the Freeride World Tour, scheduled to be held early in the week, had to be postponed until Thursday. When the event finally got underway, competitors made the most of the incredible conditions on the pristine Grand Balme face, riding faster and going bigger than you and I would have thought humanly possible. Check it out.
Tags: Chamonix, Freestyle, St Gervais, Tignes
Posted in Events in the Alps, Weather & Snow Conditions | No Comments »
Tignes Hosts Massive Slope Side Party on New Year
January 16th, 2009 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
New Year was celebrated in style in Tignes, where tens of thousands of revellers saw in 2009 at a massive party on the piste. The 20,000 strong crowd enjoyed a free open air concert, headlined by world renowned DJ David Guetta, on a makeshift 5000m² dance floor in Tignes Le Lac. Those who braved the sub-zero temperatures and steady snowfall until midnight were also treated to a spectacular fifteen minute firework display. As the below video shows, spirits were exceptionally high despite the weather, proving that Tignes is THE alpine venue at New Year.
Those who made it up the mountain the following day must have been patting them selves on the back for their self restraint the night before and those that didn’t regretting their excesses as New Year’s day dawned with blue skies and fresh tracks.
Tags: Tignes
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Free Tickets to FIS Alpine World Ski Championships
November 27th, 2008 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
The most important event on the 2009 skiing calendar, the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, will be held in Val d’Isere from 2nd-15th February. When Val won the bid to host the championships the organising committee vowed the event would be free and accessible to all. True to their word, free race invitations and transport vouchers are now available from www.valdisere2009.org. The website has received 100,000 invitation requests to date and attendance is expected to run to 200,000 over the course of the two week event, making it the biggest yet.
High Octane Promo Video Val d’Isere 2009
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Tags: Sainte Foy, Tignes, Val d'Isere
Posted in Events in the Alps, News from the Alps | No Comments »