2015 Meribel Skiing World Cup – info, parking etc. 

Not long now until the Skiing World Cup in Meribel from 18-22 March (with the opening ceremony events on 17 March – St Patrick’s Day!).

Note the special parking and road restrictions in place all around the Meribel area plus some extra bus servcies (in the Meribel Valley). There are special speed limits and restrictions on deliveries too.

We noticed they recommend you access events on skis – so roads and parking could be difficult.

There’s bound to be a lot of traffic leaving the valley on the afternoon of Sunday 22 March following the final races, so be prepared for that…. Some 70,000 spectators are expected.

Parking and Access Guide PDF

Event Program PDF

Snow Report Update & 8 Days until The World Cup

The Meribel World Cup Downhill course – you can just make out all the orange safety netting.  Thanks to Nick Ski for the pic. 

The blue skies and sunshIne continue once again today but looking like a change by the weekend with some precipitation in the forecast and temperatures dropping down to below freezing at resort level. 

Saulire this morning Tue 10 March 2015

Groomed pistes first thing are still in superb condition but the usual exposed and heavy traffic areas are becoming hard packed and a bit scraped as the day progresses.  

Only a few lower runs are closed – St Bon & Jockeys in Courchevel plus Villages & Raffort in Meribel. Note that the Boulevard de Loze is prone to afternoon closure due to the sun on the slopes above it causing an avalanche risk. 

Only other closure of note is the Roc de Fer link and Verdet piste from Meribel over to St Martin. Although Verdet does get a lot of sun this area is at the top of the World Cup Downhill so the closure is linked to the preparation work going on.  The classic Jerusalem and Pramint pistes are of course open down to St Martin. 

So 8 days to go to the second Meribel World Cup event in 7 months following the fantastic Mountain Biking World Cup event last August. 

Racing takes place from 18-22 March with plenty of parties and special events before, during and after going on. 

18 March – Men & Women Downhill

19 March – Men & Women Super G

20 March – Team Event

21 March – Women Slalom, Men GS

22 March – Women GS, Men Slalom

The 25 best athletes of the season are invited to compete with an overall Skiing World Champion to be crowned. An estimated 70,000 spectators are expected and a worldwide TV audience of 85 million… All quite a big deal!

All the information you need including how to get Grandstand tickets or hospitality packages plus the event programme guide at the Meribel 2015 World Cup site. 

Sunset Sons in Toon – Ex Alps Band No1 in iTunes Rock Chart!

Sunset Sons rocked Newcastle on Saturday night and their new EP The Fall Line was released on Sunday hitting No1 in the iTunes Rock Chart! We’ve just about recovered from the hangover now, as a bit of a La Tania reunion took place as is usual at any UK meet up.

Since moving on from their covers band, The Cheerleaders, and writing their own stuff as Sunset Sons they’ve certainly raised their profile in recent months. Nominated in BBC Radio, MTV and XFMs lists of bands to look out for in 2015, having track of the day for their latest single Medicine on Radio One and signed to Polydor Records – recording tracks for the album in Nashville!

A sold out ThinkTank night at Digital in Newcastle on Saturday night (following a sold out night in Manchester on Friday) with support from Manchester band Man Made, saw the band belt out their own, and now very familiar tracks Come Easy, Know My Name, She Wants plus off the new Fall Line EP the single Medicine and Blondie.

Just the one cover now, which they also played back in Meribel & La Tania back in January – Jamie T’s Sticks “n” Stones – got to be their track on a future Live Lounge appearance, but hurry Fearne Cotton loves you and leaves Radio One soon! The last single “Remember” which got a fair bit of air play was instantly recognised by the Geordie crowd – great to see so many people know the words!

Encores of Loa and the anthemic, shortly to be a classic, On The Road capped a great show.

Great to meet Geordie drummer, Jed’s parents – the old man plays the drums a bit too…

Good to see the merchandise stall selling Sunset Sons Surf Wax – nice touch!

The Fall Line EP is now available for download on iTunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-fall-line-ep/id957816189

Or play on Spotify at: http://open.spotify.com/album/0fGauNpEzGgAJ7gOFu4r5X

Airbnb have another room with a view in their “Night Out” series…

Following their competition to win a night in the Courchevel Saulire Cable Car, Community Driven Hospitality Company Airbnb are back with a chance to win a once in a lifetime stay at one of the world’s most famous ski jumps, Holmenkollen in Norway.

For two nights at the end of March, the very top of Holmenkollen, where the ski jumpers prepare for flight before their jump, will be transformed into a glass-walled penthouse apartment with private rooftop terrace. The temporary Airbnb listing will be decorated with Nordic contemporary design and will boast some of the best views of Oslo, including the fjord and the snowcapped mountains surrounding the capital. The next morning, guests can check out via zipline.

For a chance to win this unique experience, visit Holmenkollen’s listing on Airbnb no later than March 16 at 23h59 and tell the host why you would like to spend the night at the Holmenkollen penthouse. Two winners will be selected to stay one night each. The two winners are welcome to bring a partner, relative or friend. All terms and conditions of the contest are available on www.airbnb.com

We hear the Courchevel winner is Thomas from Manchester and he will be staying up on the cable car this Friday night 9,000 feet up with 3 friends and gets first tracks on Saturday morning – Congratulations!!!

Snowing again… Latest update

Snow showers once again this morning but amounts forecast do vary – looks like it won’t be a significant amount but snow expected down to 1100m, well below La Tania village level. Stick to those tree lined runs above La Tania in the poor visibility – it really does make a massive difference.

Two separate avalanches off piste on the Orelle side led to serious injuries and rescue yesterday. Off Piste avalanche risk remains at 3 out of 5 – that is CONSIDERABLE risk not “average”. Lower down under 2200m the risk is marked as 2 out of 5 (moderate risk).

Most pistes staying in excellent condition with the top ups of snow, the only closure in the Courchevel Valley is the low down run to St Bonn at 1100m and similarly the Raffort & Villages runs below Meribel down towards Les Allues (also 1100m). The black Tetras run down from Col de la Loze on the Meribel side is also closed – it does get a lot of sun, is quite steep and narrow in places with plenty of rocks underneath so often closes before any other runs.

We should see a return of the Sun by tomorrow afternoon and then looking like decent sunshine and blue skies right through in to the first few days of next week – set to get very cold over the next few days though. Overnight temperatures could well drop down to -12C by Thursday / Friday. Quite a bit colder than previous days looking at the La Tania weather station graphs below – not even dropping below freezing at resort level on Monday night.

Snow Report & 3V Charity Day Headliners Announcement

More fresh snow and more in the forecast for the next few days as we keep getting topped up and pistes are refreshed and in perfect condition. 

Some Old School faces in this video as the 3 Valleys Charity Day Headliners are confirmed for our huge party in Meribel Village on Wednesday 8 April. Tickets on sale soon will be €10 in advance and €15 on the day. 

The Return of the Pistoleros is their new Album and very apt as the DUB PISTOLS return to bring their very eclectic mix of Ska, Dub, Punk & Hip Hop to Meribel Village once again this year. 

Also announced is Radio 1 & 2 DJ, Top of the Pops & Glastonbury TV presenter (amongst others) and creator of the legendary Live Lounge feature, JO WHILEY.  Jo will be playing a DJ set and helping out with some of the stage announcements on the day. 

Along with all of the best local Alpine Bands, outside bars and food stalls it will be a great day on 8 April – get your Fancy Dress ready…