4th Edition of Fly Courchevel 28 & 29 March 2020

Get a scenic flight for only an unbelievable €40 and ride THAT runway (Courchevel Altiport is rated the 7th most dangerous in the world)!

The 4th edition of Courchevel Fly takes place on the weekend of 28/29 March 2020 with scenic flights, demonstrations, air shows, pilot meetings and parachuting & aerobatic displays.

First flights are offered by plane by Alpine Airlines or helicopter by Azur Hélicoptères and Mont Blanc Hélicoptères from only 40 Euros. For the more adventurous (or crazy), you can ride on an aerobatic plan alongside professional pilots including world champion Thierry Amar.

The qualified and experienced instructors of Air Mauss Parachutisme will be doing tandem free fall jumps of more than 5000m if you prefer that!

Fly Courchevel also hosts an aerobatic show by Adrenalin Flight & Air Force (EVAA) plus the champions of the French Federation of Skydiving will hold parachute displays and precision landing on the Courchevel Altiport. Finally, Cédric Gutzwiller will offer a presentation of his model aircraft turbine engine.

Planes, helicopters and ULMs (Ultralight / Microlight aircraft) will be on display to view close up, drone pilots will be performing demonstrations and discussing aerial photography & video and Aerodesign creations and its Aeronautical-inspired furniture will be on display at the airport.

The Armed Forces Recruitment as well as the IMAA (Instruction and Maintenance in Aeronautics) will have information stands for those interested in careers including pilots, air traffic control and maintenance.

FLY COURCHEVEL 2020
Saturday March 28 and Sunday March 29
Free Entry from 10:00 to 18:00
The Altiport is accessible to pedestrians and skiers plus there will be free shuttles from Courchevel 1850.

3V Escapade in a Day success for the Waterfield Family

From Ian:
The Waterfield family – Beth (13), Jenny (9), Anna and Ian – completed the Escapade yesterday.
Setting off at 0900 from The Tania Gondola, and the first queue of the day, we finished at Foret, at 1621 (1630 at the top) before heading to the Bouc Blanc for a celebratory pression/orangina.
We pretty much followed the latest route on the website, with the exception of doing Lac de Lou off La Masse to Plan de L’Eau, and somehow skirting round from the top of 3 Vallees chair to Becca without needing to do Sunny Express or Bruyeres 2.
Anyway, Jenny wants to know whether she is the youngest Escapade finisher (she tells me she’s 9 years and 49 weeks)?
Route screenshots and start/finish photos attached
Now home after a super week in LT -as always!

Well done Ian and Family – still possible in February when done on a Saturday! Jenny has just beaten Toby Buckle as the youngest success, he completed the challenge back in April 2009, aged 10. Good work Jenny!

Remember, the lifts are open another 30 minutes now (plus faster and more capacity this season) so no excuses, do it this year or you’ll be at least another year older when you do…

What’s this all about?

The 3 Valleys Escapade was the lift company promotion of visiting (originally in 2006) 14 points across the Three Valleys and gaining a certificate & badge over the period of your holiday – then we had the idea of doing it in a day…

It’s probably the toughest day skiing ever for a recreational skier but lots of people have got involved over the years so we feature them in our Escapade in a Day Hall of Fame

This is no longer being promoted by The 3 Valleys but we’ll still stick you in the Hall of Fame if you complete it – send a Ski Tracks or similar trace in plus a pic of your group.

What started out as a late night “is it possible?” discussion became a challenge the following week – the history and our original route are here

Originally punch cards had to be stamped at each check point until electronic passes arrived – they could then be checked by the lift company. The original Escapade was 30 lifts, 13000m vertical and 70km and 2016 peaked with 34 lifts, 17000m vertical (twice the height of Everest) and around 100km total distance. It became a little less for 2017 and 2018 saw the use of the Roc de Tougne fast new chair instead of the drag plus we lost the Montaulever drag altogether. In 2019 we gained the new faster Legends chair out of Méribel and then an improvement in speed on the Mont Vallon lift too. 

Certainly getting easier with the improvement in lift infrastructure and we will make it harder for 2021. But, it’s still a big, big day out with all the planning, chatting, moaning (and lunch) kept to the lifts…

Updated 2020 PDF route with the 19 “Escapade Lifts” in bold

You do this entirely at your own risk, act responsibly, take full ownership for your own actions and all of those with you, respect other people (& the mountain), ski & ride within your limits, always obey the skiers & snowboarders code, observe all signs, pay attention to all notices, advice & instructions from Pisteurs, only ski off piste if fully equipped & knowledgeable, it’s not a race (and you won’t be insured), think about the safety of others as well as yourself but above all, take care, don’t wreck things for others & don’t even think of blaming anyone else if it all goes horribly wrong…..

Further School Holidays Activities 22-29 Feb 2020

Activities for Half Term in La Tania include:
Free Welcome Drink in front of the Tourist Office, Sunday 23 Feb at 16:30.
Kids Parallel Slalom, Tuesday 25 Feb at 17:00.
The Torchlit Descent with La Tania ESF, Wednesday 26 Feb at 19:00.

In Courchevel 1850:
The Ski Show Spectacular takes place on Tuesday 25 Feb from 19:00. The Grangettes & Praz gondolas will be open free until 20:00 and additional free buses will be running as follows…

In Courchevel Village 1550:
The 3rd Fireworks Display of the INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF PYROTECHNIC ART contest takes place on Thursday 27 Feb at 19:00.
16:00 Street performance in the streets and on the snowfront.
18:45 Torchlight descent by ESF Courchevel Village ski school.
19:00 Firework contest with the Finnish team Suomen Pyrotekniikka.
The Grangettes gondola will be open free until 20:00 and additional free buses will be running as follows…

Advance Notice of Special Gig in Le Praz on 18 March 2020
Shy’m (no, us neither! French Singer with 400m YouTube views) is playing live for the Final of the Millet Ski Touring in the gymnasium at the Ski Jump. Tickets available from La Tania Tourist Office for €25 (or with buffet €35).
More at courchevelsportsoutdoor.com

The La Tania Tourist Office (opposite Pub Le Ski Lodge) is open every day with loads of free information, leaflets and guides with friendly English speaking staff to answer all your queries – give Estelle, Lili & Pierre a visit during your holiday! From 15 Feb to 01 Mar the Tourist Office is open all day from 09:00 right through until 18:00.

La Tania Celebrity Watch – 2020 Update so far…

Time for an update to the La Tania Celebrity Watch – it’s been a bit thin on the ground the last couple of years but we’ve managed to scrape together a few for an update…

Georgia Toffola (aka Toff) spotted en route to Courchevel 1850 in December (no, not that one).

Best known for Made in Chelsea and becoming Queen of the Jungle in I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in 2017. Became mates with Stanley Johnson (Boris Johnson’s father) in her time in the jungle. Of course Boris has visited Courchevel before – this classic article here.

Brendan Rogers spotted in Hotel Courcheneige in February (during the Premier League Winter Break).

Actually spotted by Leicester City fans staying in La Tania but they were too scared to ask for a pic from their manager!

Coleen Rooney spotted in Courchevel 1850 in February.

No sign of Wayne, who’s now playing for Derby County (no Winter Break for the Championship).

Spotted by ex-Ski Lodge staffer Sam who’s from…. Derby…

Rory Stewart lunching on The Ski Lodge terrace during February Half Term.

Could have been the next Prime Minister (see Boris in Courchevel in the Toff entry above) but finished 5th in the 2019 Conservative Party leadership contest.

Little known fact: In 2012, The Daily Telegraph reported that Brad Pitt bought the rights to make a film about Stewart, particularly his time in Afghanistan where he spent 3 years working to restore historic buildings and infrastructure to the old city of Kabul.

Luke Verway spotted in the centre of resort taking Instagram pics of La Tania in January 2020.

Luke and brother Kade confirmed as Kawasaki factory riders for the 2020 British Super Bikes Junior Superstock 600 series.

They will be with the Kawasaki Team Green factory Kawasaki squad, MassingBerd-Mundy / Affinity Sports Academy.

And this one that we missed from last season’s Ski Show…

Graham Bell posed (again) for a photo with some of the La Tania locals at the London Ski Show.

The Ski Sunday presenter represented Great Britain at 5 Winter Olympics from 1984 to 1998 and continues to be involved across the Ski Industry with lots of TV work too.

Email toffa@latania.co.uk with news (and pics) of any celebrities you spot anywhere in the Three Valleys….

The Celebrity Watch goes back to 2004 with everyone from Kate & William at The Bouc Blanc to Posh Spice at Verdons and Joe Swash & James Morrison in the Ski Lodge!

Piste Bash Festival 2020

Back for its 7th consecutive year – Piste Bash Festival 2020 promises even more laughs, sliding and dancing in and around Méribel from 9th to 13th March 2020. Comedy shows, slopestyle and cabaret combine with electronic and acoustic music to provide a high octane week of fun for all ages.

Ticket are now on sale at www.PisteBashFestival.com

This year a new French language comedy show by Paul Taylor takes place on Monday 9 March as part of his French national tour “so British ou Presque” and a new Cabaret Evening full of surprises will be held at the Rond Point on Thursday 12 March.

Heading up the British comedy night Marcus Brigstocke returns to Méribel presenting a night of standup comedy featuring Lou Sanders (live at the Apollo), Luke McQueen and Men In Coats.

A Skillz and Krafty Kuts will combine forces to play a head to head DJ set at the Rond Point and Too Many T’s also return with their high energy and crowd pleasing brand of live hip hop.

The main musical night in the Auditorium features two award winning and platinum selling acts Natty and Ben Ottewell (Gomez) who will be supported by local artists The Daisy Chain.

If electronic beats are your thing then also confirmed are The Hong Kong Ping Pong Club, Ed Solo and DMC 3 x world champion DJ Fly.

The town centre will once again be transformed into a veritable board park for Jib Session V2 on Thursday 12 March (yes the road will be closed!) with kickers and rails showcasing the very best snowboarding and skiing talents in the valley along with music from DJ Format.

Ticket are now on sale at www.PisteBashFestival.com the full line up, venues and timings listed below – click on the image for the full size pic.
#pistebash2020

Latest S3V Update – 3 Years to the Skiing World Championships & Night Skiing on Verdons this Wednesday

It’s 3 Years until the Alpine Skiing World Championships are held in Courchevel and Méribel from the 6th to 19th February 2023 (that’s right, smack in the middle of Half Term – so book early for 2023!).

The impact on skiing should be minimal with just the Roc de Fer piste in Méribel and the Bouc Blanc, Murettes and Jockeys pistes closed in La Tania and Le Praz areas. Competitors, journalists, support teams , sponsors etc are expected to take up 4,000 beds (around 15% of capacity – but bare in mind it’s half term so resorts are full in any case).

The World Championships are very prestigious for the resorts and with over 1,000 hours of broadcasting over 15 days and a potential TV audience of 600 million with over 1800 journalists covering the events there is incredible media exposure.

Free access to watch all the competitions along with free shows and entertainment plus additional free transport is promised (maybe better than the current bus service of every 1 hour and twenty minutes from La Tania!).

Latest information in the PDF below – link here

Night Skiing This Wednesday on Verdons

Verdons by Night XXL
Until 21:30 this Wednesday, 19 February 2020 you can put some turns in on this super wide piste plus thrill seekers can find themselves in the Family Park, and even play on the BigAirBag® for free!

From 18:30, skiers, snowboarders and pedestrians at the top of the Verdons gondola can view a fabulous show! Admire the demonstration of the ESF patrol on the Rocher de l’Ombre piste, the torchlight descent on the M piste by independent ski schools, a demonstration of the Freestyle Club on the Family Park as well as a show given by the piste bashers!

To accompany this evening, a DJ will be on the turntables and free hot drinks will be available. In addition, the restaurant Les Verdons will remain open for those wishing to purchase food.

This is another free event put on by Courchevel – for all the freebies we know of check out: FREE STUFF – A list of freebies across The 3 Valleys

FREE STUFF – A list of freebies across The 3 Valleys

Although sometimes prices can be eye watering in Courchevel 1850 and other places across the 3 Valleys there is quite a bit of free stuff… What have we missed out?

Free Welcome Drink at the La Tania Tourist Office on Sundays at 16:30.

Free Wifi at Pub Le Ski Lodge, La Taiga, Le Bouc Blanc & Chrome Bar in La Tania. Plenty across the 3 Valleys and even on some gondolas!

Free help and advice, information, piste maps, walking maps, guides and brochures at The Tourist Offices.

Free picnic areas and indoor eating areas with microwaves, sinks and free Wifi across the Ski Area (bottom of Saulire Express (Méribel), Verdons (1850) & Cairn (VT) are good examples.

Free Ski Bus from La Tania to Le Praz, 1550, Aquamotion, 1650 and Courchevel 1850 including additional buses for the Ski Shows and Fireworks. Timetables here

Free Le Praz Gondola from 08:15 to 09:00 for pedestrians and from the closing of the lifts until 18:30 in the evening.

Free descents on all lifts that support downloading.

Free access to loads of information, piste maps, timetables, guides to the ski area, resort and bars & restaurants, après ski, snow reports, weather forecasts, transfers & accommodation on latania.co.uk

Free car parking in La Tania.

Free live music every night of the week in La Tania (except Saturday).

Free drag lifts – 9 in the Courchevel / La Tania ski area including Troika, Cospillot and Bellecote.

Free Live Sport in La Tania including Sky Sports, BT Sport and Box Office events with all the live football and rugby big games on 4 big screens at Pub Le Ski Lodge, also at La Taiga too.

Free automated photos on the chair lift (just key in your email address and they send you the link) across the ski area including Biollay in Courchevel and Legends in Méribel

Free entry to the La Tania Hall of Fame if you complete the Escapade in a Day

Free Ski Show Spectaculars with snowsport demonstrations, piste bashers and sound & light shows in Courchevel 1550, 1650 and 1850 – all the dates here in the 3 Valleys Diary

Free Chairlift – the new 4 seater fixed grip chairlift Grandes Combes from near Aquamotion is free.

Free Smartphone App for the whole Ski Area – Les 3 Vallees.

Free Night Skiing on Verdons inc the Family Park & Big Air Bag with DJs & Hot Drinks on Wednesday 19 February.

Free advice on snow conditions and safety from the Pisteurs – just ask them!

Free awesome firework displays as part of the International Fireworks Festival of Pyrotechnic Art in all resorts throughout February – all the dates here in the 3 Valleys Diary

Free Snowshoe evening outings from Courchevel Moriond 1650.

Free events and activities organised by the Tourist Offices – See the What’s On Guide

Free ski lifts in Summer? The last couple of years have seen this in Courchevel & La Tania although it’s yet to be confirmed for 2020.

Free Genepi at the end of your 3 course meal if you’re polite and tip well – available at loads of restaurants… or is it just us?

Latest from S3V – The Freeride Lab and Lift Queues

Latest update from S3V, the La Tania, Courchevel and Méribel Mottaret Ski Area Management Company.

It’s time to discover the Freeride Lab!
This is a first in the 3 Valleys: an area of ​​the ski area entirely dedicated to freeride without direct ski lift access. There are 2 secure, ungroomed “pistes”, a DVA park (to practice the detection of Avalanche Victims in), an avalanche transceiver check point (to ensure that the transceiver is working correctly) and access to the mythical spot of the Creux Noirs…

Lift Queues
Next time you see a big queue for Biollay (probably mid-morning on a Saturday these days) and it actually is less than 10 minutes and moves quite quickly – look at these pics…

Some queued for over 2 hours at our friends and competitors at Vail in the USA at the weekend…..

Half Term Activities From The Tourist Office in La Tania

Activities for Half Term in La Tania include:
Free Welcome Drink in front of the Tourist Office, Sunday 16 Feb at 16:30
Kids Lantern Descent, Sunday 16 Feb at 18:20 CANCELLED
Kids Parallel Slalom, Tuesday 18 Feb at 17:00
The Torchlit Descent, Wednesday 19 Feb at 19:00

In Courchevel 1850:
The 2nd Fireworks Display of the International Festival with the French team “Fantasias” at 7pm, Thursday 20 Feb at 19:00. The scheduled bus from La Tania leaves at 18:30 due to arrive 19:05 which would miss the start but an additional earlier bus has been laid on departing at 18:15.

In Courchevel 1650 Moriond:
The Ski Show Spectacular takes place on Tuesday 18 Feb from 19:15 with a snow sports display, light show, piste bashers and torchlit descent. Again an additional bus has been laid on departing at 18:15.

Advance Notice of Special Gig in Le Praz on 18 March 2020
Shy’m (no, us neither! French Singer with 400m YouTube views) is playing live for the Final of the Millet Ski Touring in the gymnasium at the Ski Jump. Tickets available from La Tania Tourist Office for €25 (or with buffet €35).
More at courchevelsportsoutdoor.com

The La Tania Tourist Office (opposite Pub Le Ski Lodge) is open every day with loads of free information, leaflets and guides with friendly English speaking staff to answer all your queries – give Estelle and the team a visit during your holiday! From 15 Feb to 01 Mar the Tourist Office is open all day from 09:00 through to 18:00.

Stunning Images from Hawthorn…

When he’s not being one of our local transfer driver heros he’s taking stunning pics like these…

Check out Hawthorn Willson Facebook Page for more great pics.

Click on the images for the full size pics.