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 »
Prices Slashed in French Ski Resorts
March 6th, 2009 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
For the remaining weeks of the 2008/2009 season prices for ski holidays are being slashed to lure more skiers to resort. Fewer British skiers are hitting the slopes during these difficult economic times leaving thousands of beds empty in resort and forcing accommodation providers to sell them off at bargain basement prices. While this isn’t great news for the industry, it is a fantastic time for bargain hunters, at least in the short term…
Read on for more accommodation deals from ski specialist P & V
Tags: Avoriaz, Isola 2000, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Val Thorens
Posted in Skiing on the Cheap, Snowjet, Special Offers | No Comments »
Up to Date Snow Forecasts for Les Trois Vallees
December 3rd, 2008 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
Whether you’re already in resort, are travelling out soon, or are thinking of booking a last minute ski holiday, you’ll want to know what kind of conditions to expect. J2ski has kindly supplied the following snow forecast roundups for Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens, the 3 main resorts that make up the giant Trois Vallees ski area. You might also want to check our webcam pages, where you’ll find up to date snow depth stats as well as camera images.
Tags: Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens
Posted in Snow Forecasts, Trois Vallees | No Comments »
Ski Resorts Open Early across the French Alps!
November 28th, 2008 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
The French ski season is gathering momentum with more and more resorts announcing that they will open earlier than planned thanks to last weekend’s mega dump of snow. And it seems the snow wealth was evenly distributed right across the Alps.
It’s been a sub-zero week in Chamonix and the early snow is hanging around, even at resort level, so I will be skiing locally this weekend. The Compagnie du Mont Blanc, who manages the lifts in the valley, has announced a partial opening of the Grands Montets, and Chamonix’s Italian resort partner, Courmayeur has followed suit. Chamonix’s former French partner, Les Houches, is also due to open tomorrow.
Tags: Alpe d'Huez, Chamonix, Courmayeur, Deux Alpes, Les Houches, Meribel, Tignes, Val d'Isere, Val Thorens
Posted in Weather & Snow Conditions | 1 Comment »
It’s Dumping with Snow in the French Alps!
November 24th, 2008 - Posted by: Powder Monkey
After a superb day on the hill in Verbier yesterday, spirits were really high about an incredible snow year in the making. And this morning I awoke to these snowy scenes in Chamonix.
Tags: Chamonix, Val Thorens, Verbier
Posted in Weather & Snow Conditions | No Comments »