Ski Show Thoughts and La Tania News Round Up

One week after the London Ski Show and probably the last one at Earls Court as the whole site is re-developed. Lots of familiar faces, the latest and greatest equipment and plenty of laughs and booze but as has been said many times before – are its days numbered? Ten to fifteen years ago there’d be a Friday press day and then it would run from the Saturday to the following Sunday – a full 9 days with a Big Air show and C&A Fashion Extravaganza plus an Apres Bar run by a real resort bar with queues to get in on the weekend days. There used to be a lot more bargains to be had with plenty of last years kit on sale – now there seems to be a lot less of that with mostly of what seems to be just 2015 gear on sale.

Now just open for 4 days, moved to half term to try and increase numbers, but no Snow and Rock, no Three Valleys, no big slope or real snow area, ice climbing, curling or skating – and at 3pm on the Saturday this year it just didn’t seem to be that busy at what probably should be the peak time – it’ll be interesting to see what the official attendance stats are. The internet killing retail doesn’t help and times are changing, the World Travel Market had a session recetly titled “End of The Travel Guide Book”…

The Three Valleys didn’t attend the show and hosted a big party instead – free food and drink from 8 to 11pm for Tour Ops and those in the industry with a 3 Valleys connection, then open to the general pubic from 11pm – 3V obviously think this is a better way to spend their marketing budget in the UK and they could well be right – although as the show is sponsored by The Telegraph with it’s comprehensive ski coverage it can be expected there won’t be loads of glowing reports of The 3 Valleys this Winter. Potential visitors couldn’t pick up a 3 Valleys Piste Map but could get an Espace Killy one and collect rival resort brochures.

In other news we caught up with the La Tania Tourist Office Director, Arnuad Favet and the Commercial Director of the S3V Lift Company (Courchevel, La Tania & Mottaret lifts), Jean-Pierre Lalanne.

Work on the Moretta Village is currently on hold as some planning and finance issues need to be resolved – there’s no target date being announced just yet as to when this might happen. S3V are committed to putting in a new chair lift when the development goes ahead – but obviousy not until that happens. The new lift is part of the massive 140m Euro investment plan that S3V have put together over the next few years. More on the What’s New Page.

There were rumours of the new lift being put in near to the new coach parking area on the main road as it approaches La Tania but this would not appear to be true. The proposed new green run through the forest to the right hand side of Folyeres may go ahead prior to The Moretta Village development however.

In La Tania it looks likely that there will be a trial of closing The Grand Bois public lift at 11pm in an effort to curb noise for residents from people walking back to/from the chalet area after an evening out – a shuttle bus service had been suggested but funding for this is currently not available. It will be interesting to see the results of the trial as it could be that people will walk up the hill taking quite a bit of time and causing more noise for longer – rather than not go out at all. Hopefully an increased police / security presence can keep everyone happy and a sensible compromise can be reached – the “La Tania is a graveyard after dark” comment from the Ski Guidebooks of ten years ago is not something anyone should want us to go back to.

Apartments in La Tania are still being purchased by the S3V lift company rather than being sold privately – a positive move for the resort really as these could be rented for up to 20 weeks a season rather than possibly only being used 2 or 3 weeks by owners. More revenue in lift passes, lessons, hire, tourist tax, retail, bars, restaurants etc.

Obviously we had to do a “Snow Report” from The Ski Show and the Hemel Hempstead (practically La Tania’s twin town) Snow Centre indoor ski slope provided some real snow outside the show for Tim to report on…

And the rest of the pics featuring Hobo Chic, The Dominos, The Fashion Show, 3 Valleys Party, Folie Douce, Retro Rentals etc etc….