|
Lifts
After the opening of the Olympique last year, Val are again spending
a huge amount of money on improvements to the lift network. The
old ‘up & over’ chairlift which links Solaise & Le Fornet is being
replaced with a brand new six-person chairlift. Twice as fast &
carrying three times as many people, the new chairlift will take
the same path as its predecessor. The funival is also undergoing
a face lift and the new trains are set to make their maiden journeys
in December.
Snowmaking
Val d’Isère is also making a substantial investment in snowmaking.
Not only will this benefit winter visitors to the resort but plans
are to open the Pissaillas Glacier for summer skiing next year.
For more information on lifts or snowmaking, please visit the Tourist
Office Website (www.valdisere.com)
Around Town
There is a brand new hotel…. the luxurious 4-Star Hôtel
les Barmes de l’Ours. Located at the bottom of the Face de Bellvarde,
the hotel features two restaurants, a fitness & beauty centre and
an indoor swimming pool. Regular visitors to Val will also notice
that the square outside the Tourist Office has been totally revamped
too.
There is also a new après ski bar opening in Val next season, located
in the main Precision Ski
shop (opposite the Tourist Office), visitors and seasonnaires alike
are expected to relax & enjoy a tipple or two.
Last weekend saw the closing night of the Petit Danois (Friday)
and the opening night of the Pacific Bar (Saturday). The big news
is that the Pacific Bar has got fantastic new plasma screens (just
in time for the World Cup!) and has also undergone a facelift making
it much bigger. Thanks also to the Danois
for staying open in interseason and saving us all from the interseason
blues!
World Championships 2009
In case you haven’t already heard, Val d’Isère is bidding to host
the 2009 FIS World Championships. After 150 World Cups & of course
the Olympic Games in 1992, the resort definitely has the experience
& the expertise, plus we also have the unique advantage of being
able to hold the events on facing slopes less than 50 metres away.
Val is up against Chamonix, St Moritz & Garmisch, so lets hope that
it is third time lucky after the unsuccessful 2005 & 2007 bids.
Summer Sun
As everywhere in Europe, it was very hot! The terraces outside Precision,
Pacific, the Moris Pub & the Warm Up Cafe were pretty busy, especially
during the various Happy Hours…if you timed it correctly you could
quite easily catch all three and still be home in time for tea!
The French Rugby team graced Val with its presence, they were here
for altitude training although while out mountain biking, one unfortunate
player came off his bike, broke his collar bone and is unable to
play in this month’s World Cup.
Val also hosted a stage of the Mountain Biking Coupe de France (it
is hoped that this is the start of the development of Val d’Isère
as a mountain biking destination and that the Mountain Biking World
Cup may be held here in a couple of years time.)
Snow snow snow
That’s about it from Val d’Isère, although maybe I should mention
that as I am writing this it is snowing…. alot…bring on December!
[Article by Antonia Lee-Bapty, Precision
Ski]
Mail
this page to a friend
What do you think? Tell us in the Chat
Room
|
