The La Tania Ski Blog
Latest news, snow, pics, gossip and information from the locals in La Tania – latania.co.uk
All the latest news from around the Three Valleys from the La Tania locals. A real blog since 2006, not just endless re-posts for search engine optimisaton! Photos, gossip, snow reports, what's on and all the latest on the Apres Ski scene... Now fully optimised for iPhone, Touch and Android Mobiles - just go to latania.co.uk/blog and view on your phone. Our other past blogs & favourites here
2019 Three Valleys Piste Map – The Differences
This Winter’s 3 Valleys Piste Map for 2019 has the usual clarity & symbol changes plus the new lifts and piste marked on them (and the Creux Noirs area temporarily removed). All the other minor changes detailed in our What’s New for 2019 in La Tania & The 3 Valleys page.
Downloads of all the 2019 Piste Maps are available our 3 Valleys Piste Maps page (still waiting for 2019 Les Menuires and Orelle if anyone has them!)
Below is the 3 Valleys Piste Map from 1995 season – we’ve come along way…
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Aliens over The 3 Valleys
Great spot by Mike T on the Dou des Lanches Webcam above La Tania on Col de la Loze…
On Monday and Tuesday we had some snow on the local Webcams with the Bouc Blanc Terrace (now with it’s new extension) and across to Saulire from Chenus.
Today that Bouc Blanc extension just about complete and work being inspected! Still the barrier at the top end to go in though.
And looking magnificent on another blue sky day in La Tania today (a Blue Bird requires fresh powder for anyone needing a reminder!)
All the Webcams at: www.latania.co.uk/webcam
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New Grangettes Gondola Station Roof Installed
The top station of the new Grangettes Gondola between Courchevel 1550 and 1850 was installed today with a few snow flurries around for good measure too!
Dating from 1975 and modernised in 2004, the old Grangettes gondola lacked capacity (barely 855 people/hour), comfort and reliability. The new gondola opening in December 2018 representing an €11.5m investment is on the same route but with modern, new, 10-seater cabins (with interior / exterior night lighting and a 2m10cm height so you are able to stand up) replacing the small 4-seater bubbles.
An upload rate of 2400 passengers per hour is an increase of 81% and journey time is 2mins 55secs instead of the previous 5 minutes an increase of over 40%.
In addition, the base station boarding area (above) will have no ramps or steps and the new cable grip hangars have a new suspensions system making for an even more comfortable journey.
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More Selfie Cameras on chairlifts confirmed
In addition to the new selfie camera on the Biollay chairlift in the Courchevel Valley being installed this Summer we now know of two others in the Méribel Valley (with some in the Belleville surely to be announced too).
Firstly the new Legends heated and covered chairlift in Méribel that starts from La Chaudanne (replacing the current lift and the slow fixed 4-man Roc de Fer Lift). The current lift being moved up the mountain to access the Cherferie area and replacing this classic dog leg drag lift that followed the ridge.
Secondly on the Combes chairlift out of Méribel-Mottaret.
We’re hoping that the original selfie zoom machines are being kept and that a route using the new chairlift ones can be worked out to enhance the Selfies in a Day Challenge.
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La Tania Medical Centre now open all year round
Confirmation that the La Tania Medical Centre is now open all year round (via appointment in inter-season).
Dr Aude Joncquiert-Latarjet is assisted by Dr Arthur Andre and they both speak English.
Dr Joncquiert-Latarjet and her team are actively working on providing a full range of medical services to better answer and support locals and tourists needs and questions.
Dr Aude now has the European Paediatric Life Support certification and this year she’s currently training in Gynecology.
From an administrative standpoint, Jacqy works as the Doctors’ assistant and manages the reception of patients. Jacqy speaks French, English, Dutch and German. An extra person will also be employed for the forthcoming winter season to support the patient reception.
The Latest Opening Hours will be published on social media and on our La Tania Medical Centre page plus the What’s On in La Tania & The Three Valleys page.
Note that the La Tania Medical Centre is known as the Centre Medical Courchevel on social media.
Facebook facebook.com/centremedicalcourchevel
Twitter twitter.com/MedicalCourch
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La Tania to Méribel Village road to close (again)
The D98 road from La Tania to Méribel Village will be closed from 24 September 2018 to 16 November 2018 for essential repair work.
The closure will be to all vehicles in both directions and access to La Tania will be via Le Praz only.
Huge cracks appeared during the Winter as this problem road once again struggled to cling on to the side of the mountain as landslides continue to occur.
Only a couple of years ago this road was closed for 2 consecutive Summers as major reconstruction work went ahead. We were told that a “bridge” solution pulling the road away from the side of the mountain was being looked at so landslides could still occur without effecting the road. This didn’t happen however.
Hope they got a guarantee from the architects / contractors!
There is an off road route suitable for hikers and bikers via the Teppes picnic area from the back of Saboia to the Ball Trap (clay pigeon shooting area).
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Another 26 new Snow Cannons for the Courchevel Valley
Last Summer Courchevel brought forward a three year plan in to one Summer of work when 115 new generation snow cannons were installed (which doubled the snow production capacity in the Courchevel Valley). This Summer Courchevel is installing another 26 of the latest snow making machines…
The Lac des Creux and Rama pistes will now have snow cannon coverage for this Winter improving these sun exposed slopes for access down to Marmottes & Chanrossa lifts plus the loop back around to Suisses.
With nearly 700 snow cannons on the Courchevel ski area and more than 2100 across The 3 Valleys you can see why they guarantee to have more skiing open than anyone else.
S3V also plan to have all 3 Courchevel Villages plus Le Praz and La Tania open for skiing down to resort until the last day of the season on 22 April 2019 (Easter Monday).
Not long now until the snow cannon testing starts!
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New Bouc Blanc Terrace?
The Bouc Blanc Terrace above La Tania is undergoing some work now that the Summer season is over.
How many coins, keys and credit cards have fallen down between the boards over the years! Or perhaps they’re looking for DJ DoubleDex’s iPod from the Jardine Wedding on 7 July 2007 (7/7/7).
Maybe it’s just general maintenance / replacement work or expanding storage area underneath and not hot tubs or more!
Cows starting to head back down to La Tania now too…
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New Automatic Photo System On Biollay Chairlift
Always coming up with new innovations on the ski area, S3V have added an automatic photo system on the Biollay chairlift for Winter 2018/2019.
Similar to those seen on rollercoasters at Theme Parks there’s now no need to risk dropping your valuable smart phone or having to take gloves off – just move your goggles up and smile as you go past the CLIC point – and there’s no avoiding Biollay on a weeks holiday really!
You can view your photo on a terminal on arrival at the top of the lift (and no doubt enter details to share it on social media or email).
There are also video tracking systems across the Three Valleys including the GoPro couloir down to Méribel and the BMW timed slalom course next to the 185O Stade from the top of Plantrey.
There are of course 6 selfie machine too!
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Ski Job Recruitment Day 01 Sep 2018 – The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead
Cool Ski Jobs are hosting a Ski Job Recruitment Day on Saturday 1st September 2018 at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead. This is your chance to live the dream and do a Ski Season…
The event is being held from 10am – 2pm with inspirational speakers discussing all things to do with season life plus you can meet with potential employers who will be recruiting on the day.
Representatives from ski holiday companies, transfer operators and many more resort businesses will be in attendance to chat about all aspects of “doing a season” Register here
In addition all registered attendees will be sent a code the week before entitling them to a half price 2 hour pass for £20. Get a job, have a ski (or board) – what a great day…
The Snow Centre is Britain’s newest Indoor Ski Centre and the closest indoor real snow facility to London with a huge 160m main slope as well as the largest indoor ski lesson slope in the UK. Both ski and snowboarding slopes are over 30m wide and maintained with a perfect snow surface.
Hemel Hempstead is only 26 mins from Euston and The Snow Centre is located just a few minutes off the M25 & M1.
