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Les Arcs and Road Trip report ...
Although we haven't had January's amazing snow conditions this month,
February has brought plenty of sunshine to keep us smiling. We've
been making the most of blue skies, some good snow still around,
and the chance to jump in the Land Rover and adventure over to some
other resorts. Highlights of the past few weeks include:
Kite riding in the Col de Lauteret
Not quite Les Arcs news, but worth mentioning for unusual value:
we've been off on a road trip down south to Les 2 Alps to check
out old haunts (how much has the resort changed in the last 2 years???),
plus trying out a whole new sport. Closely linked to kitesurfing
on water, the latest craze in the Alps is kiteriding.
Strap on board or skis, hang on to a kite
and get dragged around at high speed. No need for lift access, you
can use your kite to pull you straight up the fall line just as
fast as a chair lift. Then, when you hit the top, swift turn, and
you're off. The guys who are good are flying 400m under kite power,
while pulling some impressive tricks while they float through the
air. It's not easy to master, but definitely a liberating one, and
the Col de Lauteret (in between Les 2 Alps and Serre Chevalier)
is the main centre for the sport in France.
Red Bull Snow Thrill in Chamonix
Another road trip worth a mention saw some incredible riding in
the Ensa Couloir area of Brevant in Chamonix. One of the most challenging
freeski events (pick the hardest line possible down some crazy terrain,
and ski it without falling over. Easy, see?). Won by Sverre Lillequist
in the guys and Megan Carney for the girls, the standard was superb.
Spectating was a good laugh, with a great crowd, and the final being
held on some seriously challenging terrain.
Not ones for being defeated by something steep,
we decided to ski the area after the event (gotta prove a point,
right?), and in the process, narrrowly avoided a helicopter ride
off the mountain. Never trust 3 girls on their own - not a sense
of direction between us, we managed to ski down the only couloir
that ended in big cliffs! What is they say about not following tracks
in Chamonix? We then proceeded to party the night away, courtesy
of Redbull, until 5am. Excellent. Was not the best I have ever felt
the following morning, for sure.
  
Les Arcs Ripcurl Freeride
Back on home turf, Les Arcs has just hosted the Ripcurl freeride,
marking the final of the IFSA world tour. With no clear winner from
the previous events, the competition was an open field, and it was
truly the world's top standard of freeride skiing. I entered the
qualifiers at the last minute, and succeeded in sticking to my line
(gotta be a first cos I always get lost), but fell on an easy bit,
so came spectacularly last. Awesome! The comp was held in fantastic
conditions with 30cm of fresh on the Aiguille Rouge. Pulling some
amazing stunts (double back somersault off cliffs), the winners
were: Manu and Andrea Binning for the girls.
Planet Subzero News
 Over
in Vallandry, it's just started snowing again and is predicted to
carry on for the next 12 hours, with a blue bird day on the cards
for tomorrow. Will certainly make the chalet guys smile after a
couple of weeks of school holidays and no snow. Most of the guys
have been using this time to concentrate on improving their park
tricks and riding switch, plus sunbathing.
General large nights out have been carrying
on at the same old pace, including a massive party in the chalet
last week (we got through an entire land rover full of booze), Tuesday
night's Marlu spectacular, to welcome the new guys in the chalet,
and Wednseday night's drum and bass in the Blanc. With everyone
out and on fine form, we're back to the same old same old ... never
... drinking ... again ...
Catcha laters!
Report from Steph Lightfoot
- Natives Resort Reporter in Les
Arcs
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