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

 


 

First Pints… Ski Lodge Opening Tonight, The First Customers of Winter 2013

Not as credible as First Tracks but still important… The first Ski Lodge Customers of Winter 2013 with Phil & Andrea and the Snow Retreat Crew amongst others – are they all old enough to drink?

Must be getting old…

15 cms on the OMI this morning and still snowing.

Time to get out there……

Fergus Grant, Ski Deep. La Tania, Courchevel. 0033 (0)660 999 749 ferg@skideep.net

The Snow Continues – More Webcam Images Thu 29 Nov 2012

And The Ski Lodge Opens Tomorrow!

Click on the images for the full size pic.

 

Let There Be White! The Winter Wonderland Returns

Webcams at first light Tuesday showing snow down to resort level – only a couple of inches so far but more to come and set to get much colder with snow through until Thursday followed by a cold, clear, crisp weekend.

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La neige tombe a Tania.

Snow situation weds morning; still snowing and we have 4cm on the OMI. Still no wind and the snow will get heavier today and Thursday. Much better timing for the snow this year. Till soon.

Fergus Grant, Ski Deep. La Tania, Courchevel. 0033 (0)660 999 749 ferg@skideep.net

Weather Outlook Mon 26 Nov 2012. Snow coming and getting much, much colder…

Currently plus 8°C in the centre of La Tania at noon on Monday 26 November 2012 and the snow level is still way up at around 2000/2200m on North facing slopes, perhaps 2800m on South facing. La Tania is North facing by the way, more important than altitude in many ways  (the piste maps are “upside down” with South at the top!) and with the trees, snow cannons and excellent grooming and snow management by the pisteurs it has an excellent reputation for resort level top to bottom skiing from the start to the end of the season ).

The situation is about normal for the time of year, Val Thorens is already open (see our video report of the official opening day on Saturday) with surprisingly good skiing and even some nice soft off piste between runs although plenty of rocks only partially hidden and definitely not recommended quite yet. With the main Peclet and Grand Fond Funitels plus the Moraine, Cascades, 2 Lacs and Portette chairs plus some beginner travelators and drags open there was plenty to ski – so much more than this time last year – and more will open soon no doubt with plenty of grooming already completed high up.

So looking quite green down below VT (around 2300m) but this is all about to change with a weather front developing over the Alps this week and temperature plummeting by the end of the week.


Monday above…


and by the end of the week…

Meteo France reporting a snow level down to 400m by Thursday but there will be plenty of rain around lower down for the start of the week with the snow level coming further and further down the mountain. Expect the snow cannons to kick off in earnest this week too as Winter temperatures really arrive.

These consolidated models from the UK, Germany, European, USA etc meteorological offices show the temperature dropping (middle set of models with the red line the 30 year average) and the precipitation along the bottom. When the lines are close together the different models are agreeing and much more chance of them being right – which just goes to show that you can’t really predict the weather more than 4 days out…

Weather map pics courtesy of:
Meteo France
Niederschlagsradar
Wetterzentrale

Crash pics from Val Thorens Official Opening Day

More pics from Val Thorens opening day, off piste not really advised – still a bit thin!

Free riding off piste in November not recommended…

How not to impress the boss…

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Even pro-skiers caught out by the odd rock off piste.

La Tania Snow Report VT Opening Day 24 Nov 2012

Start of Season. Late Night Shenanigans…

Nickski Snow Report. The Season Starts…

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Today was the second “pre-opening” day in Val Thorens. Only Peclet (new 19 seat, 33 person gondolas) and Cascades were open apart from magic carpets in resort. Looks like Portette and Moraine will open this weekend. I’d say this is a typical normal start to the season. The pistes were well covered and well groomed and many more were ready to open at the weekend. Official figures show 60cm of snow at the top and 30cm in resort, more on its way soon.

Nick
www.nickskithreevalleys.co.uk