Swapping Flip Flops for Ski Boots in June
July 1st, 2011 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
After a couple of wet weeks in Chamonix it felt like winter had returned to the Alps so last weekend we decided to swap our flip flops for ski boots and headed to Tignes. The glacier there opened for summer skiing on the 18th June following reports of record snowfall for the month.
Tags: Skiing in Tignes, Summer Skiing, Tignes
Posted in Skiing in France, Snowjet | No Comments »
Knee Deep Powder in Tignes
November 12th, 2010 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
With just a month to go until the ski season kicks off, things are beginning to look good snow-wise in the higher altitude resorts. I can personally testify to that fact that conditions in Tignes are already superb. I headed over there on Wednesday night which proved to be a bit of a mission on snowy roads. It was miserable and wet in Bourg Saint Maurice down in the valley, but by the time I’d wound my way up half the hairpins to Tignes it was dumping with snow. There weren’t many cars on the road, but those that had braved the weather were snow-chaining up from a few hundred metres before the Tignes – Val d’Isere fork (around 1750m of altitude, just before the damn) because a good few cms of snow were accumulating. The Subaru’s low ratio gearbox was enough to plough me the rest of the way up to Tignes 2100m though.
Tags: British Ski Instructor in Tignes, Skiing in November, Snow Conditions, Tignes, Tignes Flights
Posted in News from the Alps, Skiing in France, Weather & Snow Conditions | No Comments »
Half Term Snow Conditions – What to Expect
February 9th, 2010 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
Next week, February half-term, is one of the most popular for British skiers to hit the slopes. If you are among those heading for the French or Swiss Alps for the holidays you are likely to find excellent snow conditions wherever your chosen resort. If December was a little disappointing snow-wise January was outstanding with decent snowfalls on an almost weekly basis – making for current snow depths in excess of 3m in some areas, notably Chamonix. The most recent dump of snow on last Friday (05/02/10) was also one of the heaviest of the season so far with up to 50cm of fresh falling across a whole host of resorts including Tignes, Val Thorens and La Plagne in France and Verbier, Zermatt and Saas Fee in Switzerland.
- Fresh snow in France in last 7 days
http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/dynamic/france
Tags: Avalanche Risk, Chamonix, Half Term Skiing, Saas Fee, Snow Condtions, Tignes, Val d'Isere, Verbier, Zermatt
Posted in Skiing for Families, Snow Forecasts, Snowjet, Weather & Snow Conditions | No Comments »
Summer Skiers Favour the Two-Piece Suit
July 1st, 2009 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
Even while the UK is sweltering in a heat wave there’s still snow in Europe. In fact, the summer ski season is just kicking off. So if you are already suffering snow withdrawal, you might want to check out one of these resorts.
Tignes made some noise when the lifts opened on 20th June with its annual bikini slalom. Participants, apparently undeterred by fresh temperatures of 9°C, happily stripped off for the race held on the Grande Motte glacier at 3000m of altitude. While there’s generally still some debate about whether it’s cooler to be seen on the slopes in a one piece suit or two, summer skiers appear to favour the two piece.
Tags: Deux Alpes, Heat Wave, Summer Skiing, Tignes, Val d'Isere
Posted in News from the Alps, Skiing in France | 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 »