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
Work on the Jockeys Black Piste begins – Big changes to this iconic run
A notice preventing access to the whole area around the Jockeys Piste is now in force until 10th December 2019 while earthworks take place around “improving” the Jockeys piste for the 2023 World Cup Finals being held in Courchevel & Méribel.
As soon as the award of the 2023 World Cup Finals hosts was made and the Jockeys Piste (along with the top section of the Bouc Blanc) was chosen for the men’s events we wondered how some of those steep pitches followed by flat areas would cope with skiers travelling up to 150km/h…
As well as work on a tunnel and access for skiers to enable recreational skiing to continue while races are in progress there is a new section of piste towards the bottom to avoid the sharp left had bend and flatter section where Jockeys joins the red Murettes piste.
The other earthworks involves widening and re-grading sections of the slope – we imagine this is to prevent flat landing areas for racers and improve safety. For recreational skiers those flatter spots were a welcome respite from the steeper sections and a change to get your breath back!
With the new piste set to be a training area for the Courchevel Sports Club along with other regional and national teams there will obviously be some restrictions on its use in future years. Of course on bad weather days with loads of fresh snow this is one of the best spots in the 3 Valleys (and they wont be able to race on bad weather days!).
The 2023 Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals take place from 6 February to 19 February 2023 (yes, over half term!) and is seen as a very prestigious coup for a hosting resort in promoting their image worldwide. The Ladies events, parallel races and medal ceremonies will take place in Méribel while the Men’s events plus the opening and closing ceremonies will take place in Courchevel.
No idea how many people choose there skiing holiday destination based on ski racing but we all prefer watching Skier Cross and Boarder Cross don’t we?
Updates on Hotel Telemark, La Tania Snow Front & New Green Run and New Creux Noirs Lift
Confirmation that Hotel Telemark is being converted in to staff accommodation for use by the Courchevel Mairee and S3V Lift Company Staff. So no public bar or restaurant, sad news.
The planned new Green Run (to the skiers left of Folyères) down to La Tania and the new Snow Front Development have been postponed for this Winter. If was becoming pretty obvious that no work has started on this – maybe the swimming pool in its current state will be around for one more Summer…
We hear that a re-think on the raising of the piste and a tunnel to the new beginners area is taking place. Current plans feel like they would cut off the main Folyères piste access to the village so hopefully this is good news and a better solution is offered but ultimately the beginners area with magic carpet lifts will be much improved for first time skiers.
Contract difficulties have prevented work going ahead on the replacement Creux Noirs lift. The original old, slow chair which was shut down towards the end of the 2018 season due to cracks in the pylon foundations was due to be replaced by a much shorted drag lift that would access the same area.
Banners around the old lift station promised a new lift for December 2019 but this now won’t be happening in time for this Winter. The area will ultimately be known as the Freeride Lab with pistes (Creux Noirs and Roches Grisses) not groomed after fresh snowfall.
Interestingly the pistes were maintained last season allowing hikers to access the area.
The old chairlift line in red and the approximate line of the new drag in black.
Dashed lines show the approximate position of the new drag and access piste with the old Creux Noirs chair marked on the left of the map.
We still have the new fast, bigger, more comfortable Praz Gondola direct to La Croisette in 1850 to look forward to and a whole new look lake and snow front in Le Praz with the new lift station, Alpinium Building and underground car park all set to open this December. Plus a new chairlift and piste to Aquamotion and a re-designed Stade area open for the Ladies Giant Slalom World Cup on 17 December 2019.
The return of Hotel Telemark? Plus Today’s Cowatch
Some building work has started on Hotel Telemark in La Tania and according to the workers it will be open this Winter.
If it will be called Hotel Telemark, if there will be a Bar & Restaurant and who is running it is still unclear (and if it will sell rooms on a flexible hotel basis) but we’re on the case…
The work may involve accessibility modifications including a lift being installed which is a requirement for a hotel licence here apparently.
Fingers crossed the outcome is positive as it’s a welcome flexible accommodation option to La Tania plus another bar / restaurant to enjoy.
Meanwhile the cows are still on their march down the valley…
La Tania New Green Run and Snow Front Update
Without any official confirmation it’s now looking like the promised new La Tania green run and new snow front / beginners area will not be in place for this Winter.
The proposed new main Folyères piste to come across towards Le Farçon and Ski Lodge with the piste being raised 7m and a tunnel from the village to a new beginners area appear to have been put on hold until next Summer. Hopefully a re-think around the raising of the piste and bringing skiers into the village instead of creating separation (and maybe not filling in the Swimming Pool and having a temporary tank instead) can be made.
The main focus is on Courchevel 1850 (as usual) with the new Le Praz link and car park allowing skiers to come right in to La Croisette area with the Tovets lift being moved down the hill plus the new piste and lift being completed for those that want to go swimming (the 63m Aquamotion complex). The Courchevel 1850 Stade area is being upgraded too and has resembled an open cast quarry all Summer.
No work on the promised new Creux Noirs drag lift appears to have started yet either (at least last time we were up Saulire anyway).
We hope to have the official explanation around 11 September – keep an eye out for a special “snow” report…
The real sign Summer is just about over – the Cows return to go down the mountain
Le Praz getting greener, new gondola main cables being attached and new gondola cabins for St Martin arrive
Looking like more Leitner Diamond Evo cabins are being used.
La Tania’s Fête des Bûcherons Lumberjack Festival 2019
Our reporter who understood it all says “Four teams, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland and France. Czechs way ahead of France in the final then the bloke fell off his inserted plank and the French nicked it”…
The Fête des Bûcherons Lumberjack Competition returns to La Tania this Sunday, 25 August 2019
A day of festivities and competition, a real get-together for professional lumberjacks.
Throughout the day you will discover the local expertise at the art and craft market.
Sunday 25/8/19 between 11:00 & 20:30
10.30am-12.00pm: Lumberjack contest.
12.00pm: Food and refreshments.
12.00pm-2.00pm: Pock-rock concert with the band Noiz.
2.00pm-6.00pm: Lumberjack contest.
10.00am-12.00pm & 1.00pm-5.00pm: Entertainments, bucolic games (tree trunk sawing), wood games.
