London Ski and Snowboard Show Review

Yoann from The Tourist Office on the La Tania stand – The Three Vallleys is a big part of the show this year after being absent in 2012.

It’s the 40th anniversary of the Ski Show this year – an event that traditionally heralds the start of the ski season and for many a great excuse to catch up with friends that they only see in Winter. This could well be my 20th visit and its had its ups and downs through the years but holds a lot of memories for a lot of people.

The first thing I noticed was that there appeared to be no big air / ski jump / quarter pipe / air bag for the first time in absolutely ages – something I always looked forward to seeing acrobatic skiers & snowboarders showing no fear despite the limited landing areas! There is a large beginners slope however, complete with tubing ramp and there will be a rail contest on Friday – maybe something else is planned for the weekend. No fashion show as far as I could see too this year.

The second thing – While Ellis Brigham have a huge retail space as normal it was interesting to see that Snow and Rock only have a much smaller “Show Case” stand with staff handing out catalogues and discount vouchers (10% off on-line and £15 off over £100 spent in store).

Also the hideous Sports Direct are here (I’m a Toon fan, right) flogging gear such as Nevica – remember them? Another retailer has joined them to flog skis and boots at the show too, but the sheer size, buying power and ruthlessness of SD must make them a very serious player in ski retail very quickly (although Tescos were a one year wonder a few years back I remember).

The return of Nevica – will Mike Ashley get the C&A Rodeo brand too?

The Retro Rentals guys really do have Rodeo gear though – and you’ll be able to hire their classic 80s one piece luminous suits in La Tania next season.

Caught up with La Tania veteran Emma working for New Gen with BASI getting those Gappies sorted for Le Praz next season.

Useful stand this – Cloud 9 iPhone cases – basically a plastic bag on a clip on lanyard but with a fully waterproof seal and still works fine through the plastic – at 3 for £10 it’s a bargain (considering what you get charged at some airports for plain bags!). Mention La Tania and they donate to the La Tania Escape Challenge being run in January 2014.

Also if interest to us was the new FluidCar one way car hire service – basically you drop the vehicle in resort so its free for someone to return to the airport. How many times have you paid for a weeks car hire only to pay to leave the car in a snow drift for 6 days? Could be a good option if the price is right and they’ll be launching on some peak weeks this season from Geneva to The 3 Valleys – where else!

Curling – beginners welcome

And the ice rink…

Ibiza Rocks The Snow are coming to Meribel this Winter – they were banging out the tunes and promoting the 3 weeks of parties they have planned! Team #LaTania will be getting heavily involved with all this no doubt…

Alternatively have a quiet browse of the Crystal photo competition gallery – some great work here.

GoPro as expected had a very high tech looking stand showing off the latest 3+ models and some great video footage.

Pure Ski Porn… more shaped, more rocker, wider, fatter, lighter, faster, harder, softer, better etc etc etc…

And some more fun for the half term kids…

Finally the food prices – meal deal prices to make you fell like you’re in The Alps!

Plenty of Après food and drink plus wine tastings, champagne bars and resort tourist office hospitality plus several stands to try things out on and videos, talks, etc – still worth the effort and this year for the first time ever they have the latest 2014 Three Valleys piste map (not the previous seasons as usual!) – worth the trip alone to see that new La Tania Chairlift marked up!

See you at the Après Party Thursday and 3 Valleys Bar Saturday afternoon…

Feeling Gig Review 29/10/13

Ex La Tania residents The Feeling performed in Leicester last night as part of their UK tour promoting their highly acclaimed new album Boy Cried Wolf.

For once I got see the support act and Yellowire were well worth the effort – reminded me a bit of the Cheerleaders and had a great final song She’s On Fire.

A new record company and The Feeling being more in charge of their music shows in the very thoughtful, melodic tunes rather than the power pop of old and the night kicked off with the title track – all quite serious, dry ice and all.

Of course Helicopter, Sewn, Rosé and Never Be Lonely all went down a storm and Rescue was the stand out track from the new album (first played to us back in Meribel in March). Anchor and The Gloves Are Off of the new material also went down well.

A British rock medley first performed at their Buckingham Palace gig was a great way to start the encores – included Park Life, Under Pressure, Pin Ball Wizard, We Don’t Need No Education plus The Kinks and the Beatles – great stuff that led in to their iconic pop song I Love It When You Call and finally they squeezed another one in off the new record, I Just Do.

Now Rich can fly the band around (he even flew them from London to Leicester for this gig) there’s no excuses for not having a gig in The Alps this Winter…

More La Tania related Feeling / Superfly stuff here and also The March 2013 Meribel gig.

Snow! Just a covering above 1700m but good to see

Just about a covering of snow overnight on the Bouc Blanc terrace above La Tania and quite a bit more up near the top of Saulire on the webcam pic below. With the clocks going back, the UK ski shows starting and some new snow to look at, it does feel like Winter is finally getting nearer…

All chairs now hung on the new La Tania Bouc Blanc lift

All looking good for the opening of the new chairlift above La Tania in December. Clocks changing tonight, getting much colder next week and it’s Ski Show time in the UK – Winter is just about here…

Retro Rentals 80s one-piece ski suit rentals coming to La Tania

This year, the home of the Onesie will be coming to Meribel and La Tania, re-injecting a bit of that glorious, tight and bright 80’s style into the 3 Valleys! We rent original, 1980’s one-piece ski suits to your chalet door. With top brands such as; Obermeyer, Nevica, Degree 7, C&A, Channel, Descente, and Kemper, we make no compromise on quality and offensiveness.

The 80’s were the most epic era for outrageous dress sense, especially within snowsports, and the onesie is a true fashion icon of this time. So if you’re in the Alps this season, and fancy reliving a bit of history, give us a call and grab a piece!

Also, catch us this year at the Manchester Ski Show and Freeze Festival London, come say HI!

80’s Love
Mikey and Matt
Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/retrorental

Why, how and when was Retro Rentals created?
Retro Rentals actually started as, to be honest a bit of a joke! We always loved 80’s skiwear and dressing up like idiots, this quickly turned into an obsession. We bought more and more until our tiny apartment was overflowing with onesies and Lycra! We had 100’s crammed under the bed, in cupboards, behind the sofa… It got a bit silly.
We realized we needed to find a way of making money for us to fund the retro addiction, and find a bigger space to put them in!
Then some friends at ski VIP asked if they could rent them out from us for a staff party, and Retro Rentals was born! From there we have never looked back, we think we might have the best jobs in the world.

Roughly how many outfits do you have?
Never enough! Right now we have about 1000 ski outfits, but we are always looking for more!

Where do you source the outfits from, if it’s not a secret?
If we told you, we’d have to kill you…

Why is it, do you think, that people like going retro?
The 80’s were the most epic era for outrageous fashion, and the onesie is a true icon from this time. When people put on our gear, its like they get thrown back in time. When you’re boldly sporting a majestic tight fitting neon dream you feel invincible.
Lets face it; everyone secretly wishes they where brought up in the 80’s (or still there), we just give them a chance to be there for 24 hours!

Have you got a favourite outfit?
Too many! Probably my Obermeyer Lycra ski pants from 1988.. They are mental. Or the Classic Nevica survival UV jackets we have.. featuring a built in compass and whistle for when your trying to find the pub.

How are you expanding/ what are the plans for the future?
This year we are really going for it, Retro Rentals will now be available in Tignes, La Tania, Meribel, Avoriaz, Morzine and Les Get. But we will go anywhere in the Alps to spread the retro love.
Next season we were thinking of having a crack at world domination…
This year we are putting on the biggest 80’s après parties the Alps has ever seen with amazing retro music, dancing on tables and onesies!
We are touring in pretty much every major ski resort in France, but starting the season at Freeze festival London with an epic 80’s après bar, with free rentals. So check out website for more info!

What brands have you got 80s wear of?
Obermeyer, Nevica, Degree 7, C&A, Channel, Descente, Kemper, Etirel.. A thousand brands that no one has ever heard of since the 80’s.. The list is endless!

Anything else we should know?
We take donations! For any epic ski suit we get in, we donate money to DSUK, an amazing charity, which teaches and helps those with learning difficulties or physical disabilities how to ski and snowboard. So if you have any old 80’s ski wear in the attic gathering dust, send it in and help this incredible organization!

First Video Snow Report of the season from Tignes

Guest Reporter Lindsey Holbrook with camera work from Auntie Mary up on the Grande Motte in Tignes for the first video snow report of the season…

Team #LaTania mini reunion in twinned pub The Welly

A long, long history of The Wellington Arms – Twinned with The Ski Lodge in 1995 when Shibboleth played…. Proper Old School…….

Nick Ski first on the new Bouc Blanc Chairlift?

Normally he gets first tracks of the season and it looks like Nick got first sit on the new Bouc Blanc chairlift too – does this count?

Nic from Nick Ski with chair number one of the new lift.

More steel work going up the mountain today – these are the platforms on top of the towers allowing workers access for maintenance.

Sunset on the Saulire Webcam last night

I don’t spend all my time looking at webcams for snow… honest.

This from yesterday evening at the top of Saulire. All the 3 Valley Webcams here: www.latania.co.uk/webcam

Bring Your Sisters gigs in La Tania for Winter 2014

Looks like the madness and nakedness will return this Winter as Rich & Stevie get back together and Bring Your Sisters return to their native (Sweet Home á ) La Tania. Gareth is still AWOL in Canada but guitar hero Westy will be providing ample covering fire in all the chaos that ensues…

The boys will be playing in La Tania at Apres Ski every Thursday at Pub Le Ski Lodge (Happy Hour 4pm until 6pm) plus Sunday nights from around 10pm at La Taiga and on Tuesday Apres Ski over in Meribel Village at Lodge du Village.

We also hear that The Dominos will return Tuesday nights at The Ski Lodge this Winter – it’s only October, this is far too organised…