Cross Country Skiing: A Rare Covid Winner
Nordic France, the organisation that manages 130 sites in the country, has revealed some positive news from this ‘saison blanche’. From the start of December 2020, with the lifts closed for skiers, cross country skiing has experienced phenomenal growth. “Exceptional levels“ Participation numbers and revenues reached ‘exceptional levels’ during January and February 2021. Turnover has...
Wolves spotted in Les 3 Vallées (again)
Last Sunday, Laurent Carret-Nouri was driving his navette on his usual route from Les Menuires to Val Thorens, when he spotted something cross the road just in front of him. “Magnifique!” “I’m used to seeing chamois, but it was the first time I’ve seen a wolf in 10 years of this job,” he told Le...
French Pyrénées article in Skier & Snowboarder Magazine
Can you ski at half term on a budget? Iain went to the French Pyrénées last February (just before lockdown 1.0) to find out. Iain stayed in Cauterets and skied there and at Grand Tourmalet. His article has now been published in Skier and Snowboarder Magazine and online on their website:
Courchevel article in Skier & Snowboarder Magazine
In January 2020, Iain travelled to Courchevel to find out about the preparations for the 2023 World Alpine Ski Championships, which are being hosted jointly with Méribel. Iain looked at the plans for the new ‘Eclipse’ downhill run and how UK billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is helping to fund improvements at the Club des Sports. His...
Arosa article in Skier & Snowboarder Magazine
A year ago – in the good old days before ‘Lockdown 1.0’, Iain stayed at the Hotel Valsana in Arosa, Switzerland. Is this the most sustainable hotel in Switzerland? That’s the question I ask in this article, recently published in Skier & Snowboarder Magazine
When is a ski lift not a ski lift?
As all British skiers are well aware, the ski lifts in France (and across most of Europe) are not turning at present. Safety measures in place French ski resorts have presented a well-prepared case that ski lifts can be managed safely using new Covid protocols. However, despite the evidence from Switzerland that opening lifts does...