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
Ski Higher Girls do well in the Snow Kite Masters
> A big Congratulations to the ‘Ski Higher Girls’.
>
> They competed at the Snow Kite Masters in Chevalier this week
> Johara Sykes-Davies got 2nd in the Snow Kite Skiing
> Sheryl Confue got 3rd in the Snow Kite Skiing and 4th in Snow Kite
> Boarding
>
> The girls will post a full report when they get home! Tracy.
Latest Ski Adventure with Nick in to Les Avals and The Refuge
Ski Higher boys enter the jaws of Courchevel backcountry.
On Monday night me and my ski buddy for the day Nathan (Ski Higher) dropped in to the Les Avals valley and prepared ourselves for a night of -10 temperatures in a refuge. The small fire provided some warmth, but it was mainly the anticipation of the skiing, that was to come the following morning, that kept us warm.
This is the first of hopefully many reports that I will be making over the season chronicling my adventures on my new ski touring set up. I hope to capture Courchevel and its surrounding backcountry in all its glory through my photo lens as I go.
Our mission on a cold and clear Tuesday morning was to use early moonlight to hike to the top of the ‘Dents de Portetta’, a peak standing at 2800 meters and with a face that I have wanted to ski since forever. The hike took a little over 2 hours, but we were rewarded with around 100 big and uninterrupted powder turns. The snow was of an incredible quality as the face we skied was north facing and sheltered from the sun. The accompanying photos were taken at differing stages of our trip (usually when I had to wait for Nathan on his heavy split board set up).
I hope you enjoy! Higher quality pics here
Snow Retreat guests Kate and Andy get engaged at the top of the Signal Chairlift
Kate and Andy got engaged at the top of the Signal Chair Lift above
1650 yesterday – many congratulations!
They’re currently staying in Chalet Bonne Etoile in La Tania with Snow Retreat.
Latest Snow Depths in La Tania on the OMT
Wed 13th Jan. Accumulated snow over past few days 25cms. Snowing now. Clear skis for tomorrow. Still beds to be had 17th and 24th. Come on over. Ferg. Ski Deep
Opening of Lunch Buffet, Hotel Montana Tomorrow
The Grand Opening of the lunch buffet at the Olympique Restaurant in Hotel Montana, La Tania tomorrow (Wed 13 January) at midday. Restaurant and Bar now being run by T Wall (Ski Lodge) and his team.
Unlimited buffet with hot food, starters, soup and desserts for 16,90 Euros for Adults and 9,90 Euros for Kids.
Free for all tomorrow with Bring Your Sisters playing live at 2 pm in the restaurant!
Ski Higher Nick’s Latest Blog… The best days so far!
7 January 2010 and boy oh boy do I have good news. The last few days have been undoubtedly the best powder days since last year’s mega dumps! It could even be argued that conditions are in fact better than last year. Perfect visibility and virtually no wind have meant that almost all off piste routes have been accessible (unlike last year).
Just after New Year the snow gods decided to cast their magic, combining lots of precipitation with sub -5 temperatures around the clock. The result has been deep snow of the sort of quality that is usually boasted about by our transatlantic friends in West Coast America and Canada.
Initially powder fever caught on and people were skiing dangerous lines too soon after the snow fall leading to numerous deaths (the closest to Courchevel was in Val Thorens). However now that the snow pack has stabilized somewhat there are some serious backcountry lines to be skied in relative safety. The pistes, having been hard packed with artificial snow earlier in the season, are now soft and therefore perfectly groomed every morning!
And guess what? There is even more snow forecast for this weekend with weather men already predicting chaos on the roads and runways leading to Courchevel. This will not bother seasonnaires though who had been told by those same weather men that this season was to be a write off. Here is some proof of the conditions as taken from the top of Butchers face between La Tania and Courchevel.
P.S my chief riding partner Ed leaves Courchevel tomorrow to go back to Bristol Uni. I’d like to thank him for the great times we’ve had throughout the early season and for him always watching my back.
Yet more fresh tracks
Favourite little pitch near Les Menuires not skied since I did it last Friday with a friend.
Nick / www.nickskithreevalleys.co.uk
First Comedy Night of the Season at La Taiga on Tuesday
Comedians Nick Doody and Matt Kristian are performing at La Taiga in
La Tania on Tuesday 12 January 2010.
Show start at 10pm, tickets are 10 Euros or 3 Course Meal, Wine and
Best Seats for the show at 35 Euros.
Above the murk, fantastic groomed empy piste skiing, love Saturdays
Looked like a poor day this morning but you’re above the cloud at the
top of the La Tania gondola. Run of the day so far undoubtablyJean
Blanc then all the way down to Le Praz – perfectly groomed and no one
on it…
