The Season Review

The Season Review

Pic is from opening day of Courchevel 1850 and skiing down to La Tania 4 Dec 2010 – thanks to Nick Ski

This season in La Tania will be remembered mostly for the poor snow conditions at the end of the season with the really warm end of March and April weather combining with below average snow depths leading to early closures of many pistes and for the first time in 10 years not being able to ski down to La Tania on the final day of the season.

This, combined with a very late Easter (apparently it can only be one day later ever and that is not until 2038), Saturday being on Christmas and New Years Day (leading to various long and short breaks) plus the general economic down turn, great snow on the West side of North America plus the continuing state of the pound/euro etc meant some places closed early and many workers were sent home or at least finished early.

That said the pisteurs from the various lift companies across The Three Valleys did a magnificent job of keeping the pistes open and were worthy winners of the Hero of the Season award in the La Tania Saisonnaire Poll. Ultimately there was still excellent skiing available most days especially for those who made the effort for first lift and thrashed that corduroy first thing while the ( generally) younger workers would sit around and moan about the snow (or lack of it) outside their bedroom windows. True it was not a good season for off piste skiing (and often some dangerous conditions), you had to work for it and make the most of the opportunities but there were still some GREAT, GREAT days out there – imagine being in an office in Slough this Winter…..

There was still some skiing in the Courchevel Valley right until the end of the season on 25 April with Val Thorens keeping going until 8 May. However, by the time Charity Day in La Tania came around most people seemed to have given up on the snow and concentrated on the end of season parties.

This was the 10th Year of the La Tania Charity Day and over €120,000 has been raised for Cancer Charities in the UK and France. An estimated crowd of over 1,500 turned out to watch all the best bands in The Three Valleys play all afternoon on an outside stage with bars, BBQ, fancy dress etc. ALL the food, drink, raffles and T-Shirt revenue went to Charity (shame so many Saisonnaires brought their own booze and enjoyed the day without contributing to Charity though. Maybe it was a result of some workers finishing early or the fact that you couldn’t ski down to resort etc.). A huge effort from the locals in La Tania in putting on the event, 15,000 Euros banked so far with more to come. It’s almost outgrown La Tania now – looks like the format will change to some degree next year and well done to those of us who got up at 7:30am to tidy up with the help of complimentary bacon sandwiches from The Hotel Montana and Bloody Marys from The Ski Lodge.

More closing nights at the various bars and restaurants followed including a great BBQ at Lodge du Village in Meribel Village and there seemed to be a gradual drift away of workers from the resort as companies closed up early for the season. A final night at The Ski Lodge and a final gig from Bring Your Sisters and it was all over for most of the remaining people.

So a reminder of what happened…. ski show mess early early snow first racks and first skins and snow shoes up the mountain seasonal staff stranded in snow at gatwick then geneva airport closes la tania building work not finished but new beginners magic carpets sara’s first day second run broken shoulder val thorens beautiful opening day the ski lodge opening sam smallgetsfirst pintthe feeling hotel gig in 1850 latania.co.uk locals pics night world cup back in courchevel christmasnew year natives party r ussian christmas monday club australia day bish hen do twall birthday la t ania gondola break down comedy night the russian 5 million euro pary in 1550 cirque du soleil and christine aguilera the la tania 20th birthday party celebrations (100,000 euros for canapes, champagne, a band, some posters and fireworks???) 6 nations rugby england win ireland celebrate stevie’s bys branded fork tree skis mardi gras party the 1650 hotel golf apartments fire la boulotte closes return of dr bruce pyjama chavs pirates cops n robbers m exican cowboys n indians parties squeeze the feeling and the little world festival st patricks night dicks battle of the bands geordie robs annual fall bring your sisters meet peter andre car crash off the edge mont vallon avalanche hot weather no krab for monday club 40% discount on lift passes early closing charity ball the oscars la tania charity day snow melts closing parties “what are you doing in the summer” the building work starts again…. Did I miss anything?

La Tania opens for Summer on Saturday 2nd July 2011 and is open throughout July & August with the Gondola once again free and open on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday for walkers, bikers or just Bouc Blanc lunchers from 3 July until 25 August.

The Winter 2011/2012 opening date in La Tania has been confirmed by the S3V lift company as Saturday 10 December 2011. Courchevel 1850 will open a week before this and Val Thorens from around 21 November snow permitting.

Thanks to everyone I drank with and rode with, until next season, go hard,as they say over here….

Toff – latania.co.uk