Monthly Archives: June 2008

Summer timetable and tariffs of the Grand Massif

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All timetables and tariffs for the lifts of the Grand Massif opened in the summer. 

Les Carroz, the Kédeuze gondola

Open every day
From July 5th to August 29th 2008
From 10 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 to 5 pm

 

 Single adult ticket  6.50 €*
 Single child ticket  5.00 €*
 Return adult ticket  8.00 €*
 Return child ticket  6.50 €*
 Pass with 10 adult/child one-way tickets
 (valid only for summer 2008)		  38.00 €

 

* Presentation of 2007/2008 winter season ski pass (Grand Massif or Massif) entitles you to a 50% reduction. This offer is may not be combined with any other offers.

Child : from 5 to 15 years old.

NB : in the event of bad weather (rain, or storm), the lifts will be closed all day. If you need more information : Tel. +33 (0)4 50 90 00 42.

Grand Massif, lifts for Les Carroz, Flaine, Morillon and Sixt Fer à Cheval

Les Carroz : La Kédeuze gondola, opened every day, from July 5th to August 29th 2008, from 10 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 to 5 pm.
Morillon : Bergin and Esserts chair lifts, opened every day, from July 5th to August 24th 2008, from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 1.30 to 4.30 pm.
Flaine : DMC cable car, open July 27th to August 15th 2008 (closed on friday and saturday), from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 to 5 pm.
Sixt Fer à Cheval : Vagnys chair lift, opened every day, from July 5th to August 24th 2008, from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 13.30 to 16.30 pm.

 

 1 day mountain biking Grand Massif pass  15.00 € (suitable in Les Carroz, Morillon, Flaine and Sixt)
 6 days mountain biking Grand Massif pass  31.00 € (suitable in Les Carroz, Morillon, Flaine and Sixt)
 Season mountain biking Grand Massif pass
 (Picture compulsory)		  58.00 € (suitable in Les Carroz, Morillon, Flaine and Sixt)

 

NB : in the event of bad weather (rain, or storm), the lifts will be closed all day. If you need more information : Tel. +33 (0)4 50 90 00 42.

 

For accommodation in Les Carroz click here

Chatel Mountain Style Contest

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On a track created espacially for the event, of 300 m long ,160 m of difference in level, 100 m wide and completaly reshaped by the Châtel‘s BikesPatrols and RadicalFilms (Kranked)Riders. 

Professional and amateur Riders vwill have to prove their multivalency in their way of “droping and riding”.
It’s not enough to do some backflips or 3.60, it’s also a matter of choosing the good line wiht fluidity, envolvement and control.
Riders will be judged by a jury of three people with “Ben Walker/Team Scott” as president.
   
The motivated and passioned partners are involved at 100 % to get a maximum of professional riders and to shape a terrific site with the help to the “Kranked 8″ Riders!!!
22 pro riders coming from all over the world are already registred to enter the event, as :
Timo Pritzel (Ger) , Lance McDermott (Uk) , Christopher Hatton(Fra) , Kyle Norbraten (Can) , Kyle Jameson (USA) , Kyle Ebbeth(USA) , Damien Huszsc (Fra) , Dylan Dunkerton ( Can ) , Curtis Robinson (Can) ,Etienne Perron (Fra) , Niki Leitner (Aus) , Julien Fournier (Sui) , Yoann Paccard (Fra) , Damjan Siriski (Cze) , Phil Meier (Sui), Richard Gasperotti (Cze), Robin Chauvin (Fra),Steve Romanuik (Can), Pierre Edouard Ferry (Fra), Antoine Dubourgnon (Fra), Thibault Vasselet (Fra), Jeremy Brulet (Fra) 

Friday 4th July  
9am-5pm
 Run inspection for pro & am
8.30-8pm
 Aperitif and hip-hop concert on the church square with TH City.
Saturday 5th July  
Morning
 Run inspection for pro & am
Afternoon
 Qualifications in 2 runs for professional and amateur riders.
4pm
 Dirt Contest
6pm
 Partner’s special evening.
Sunday 6th July  
9am
 Run inspection.
10.30am
 1st final for pro & am
2pm
 Final
 
€ 6000 Prize money and lot of partners’ prize to share !
For more information www.mountainbikeparkchatel.com
For accommodation in Chatel click here

France Tops Switzerland for Ski Popularity

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France has pipped Switzerland to the post in a ranking of winter resorts according to holiday homes rental specialist Interhome. The accommodation provider saw Tignes take the number one resort slot for the winter season, up three places from last year and, knocking Nendaz in Switzerland off the top slot for the first time in a number of years.
Tignes experienced a 61% increase in bookings year-on-year. Madeleine Winship, Director, Interhome Ltd said: “Tignes is high up and offers glacier skiing – an added bonus in a season when snow conditions have been unpredictable.” Chatel in France has also seen an increase in bookings year-on-year. Overall, the accommodation specialist has recorded a 1% increase in winter bookings year-on-year while turnover has increased 2.5%. Booking durations have not changed : the majority still opting for the traditional one-week stay even though Interhome offers flexible stays from three to six nights at many properties. However, short breaks have increased for the company – 19.5% with most short break bookings for three and four nights. Chamonix emerged as the resort with the highest number of short break bookings – possibly because it is within such easy reach of Geneva. Val Thorens fared less well, despite it being the highest ski resort in Europe, probably because most apartments offer less flexibility with stays from Saturday to Saturday only, thus cutting off the short break market.

Tignes

Grands Concours Hippique

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Europe’s best horse riders compete in this prestigious equestrian event which takes place in the Perrin parking lot by the Sports Center. The infrastructure, which includes an impressive arena, is built to a world class standard attracting both amateur and expert riders.

 

 

11 th Official Horseriding competition, Verbier

 2nd – 10th August 2008

The 10th anniversary will remain in our memories as a great success: more than 2 200 parking nearly 30 000 spectators during the 9 days of the event. The spectacular event Masters offered by Anouk and Mike Hornung in honor of the past 10 years of this event was a great moment filled with emotion and suspense.
Verbier and the Val de Bagnes are pleased to be able to once again available to riders across Europe as part of this magnificent plateau sunny with a massive Combins background. The particularity of the contribution from Verbier also lies in the atmosphere resulting from the meeting of the equestrian world and a cosmopolitan clientele. The audience, composed as many specialists as novices, also contributes to creating this atmosphere like no other, where it is found in the village of animation located just above the paddock. It should be noted that this year the entrance to our event is free.
The Horseracing Official Competition is very good in the event of Verbier policy which aims to promote the station by demonstrations of quality.
This year 2 events are scheduled, including two spectacular events of six bars and power. The elite Swiss ponies will be present in the paddock of Verbier with a Grand Prix PV qualifier for the championship Switzerland Pony Tuesday, August 12. In the grand finale will take place Grand Prize category IIC qualifier for the championship Switzerland Elite Sunday, August 17.
Saturday, August 9, a demonstration of fighting queens of the race Hérens be the attraction of the day. And you can attend Sunday, August 17 to a spectacular presentation of dog agility.
And that’s not all!
The Jumping Verbier Golf Cup will be organised for the partners of the competition and their guests Saturday, August 16, 2008.
To secure funding for this competition, the organizing committee is counting on its partners and sponsors. This case presents the different possibilities of support. We hope that one of them will seduce you and we welcome you among the artisans of the success of the Concours Hippique Official Verbier, a contest extraordinary.
Saturday, August 4, a presentation of dog agility will be offered and Sunday, August 5, a demonstration of fighting queens of the race Hérens be the attraction of the day.
For accommodation in Verbier click here.

 

Les Arcs Music Festival Academy – The annual get together for music lovers.

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35th Festival Academy of les Arcs : from 20th July till 04 th August 2008

Since 1973 Les Arcs and Bourg Saint Maurice have hosted the Les Arcs Academy Festival, a large-scale event in the world of French music.

Join the 15, 000 spectators that rush to Les Arcs and Bourg Saint Maurice for this exceptional musical rendez-vous that is completely free of charge. Soak up the friendly atmosphere of the Baroque churches and fall under the spell of the tunes echoing over the mountain tops…

Enjoy the soothing sounds of the varied music and meet the 140 French and foreign music students who have come to perfect their skill with world-famous teachers. There are a few surprises for the Festival…

26th & 27th July – SAAB SALOMON MOUNTAIN X-RACE

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It’s official! Morzine is playing host to the last two stages of the SAAB-SALOMON MOUNTAIN X-RACE ! To celebrate, there’s Morzine’s inaugural sports FESTIVAL which is open to all.
Friday 25 July
4pm-10pm: Huge party night + Trail test open to all (with events and activities in the centre of the village including a live gig and giant prize draw).
Saturday 26 July
Morning: 60km Team Orienteering race starting and ending in Morzine.
Midday: expected arrival of the first orienteering teams in the centre of the village.
Late afternoon: 3km Trail Running Challenge Relay in the village.
Evening: prize-giving.
2pm-6pm: activities in the centre of the resort with plenty of goodies to win.
Details from the Tourist Office: 04 50 74 72 72
(www.mountainxrace.com).

For Morzine accommodation goto: www.independentmountain.com

Swimming Pool complex to be built in Courchevel

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Courchevel has committed to the construction of an aquatic complex where sport, relaxing, and well-being will be the name of the game. Open winter and summer, the centre will perfectly complement the numerous existing activities. 

The resort’s plans for its Grandes Combes site is reported to be both ambitious and innovative by Courchevel, bringing in yet-to-be-announced but reported to be unique new ideas and equipment . 

Courchevel believes that the new complex will represent a major asset for the resort’s future development. Along with the new swimming pool the facility will have an indoor sports complex with a large hall, additional outdoor sports areas, conference area, media library, restaurants, shops and parking areas.

Work on the new facility is scheduled to begin by August 2nd with completion next year.

Source: www.snow24.com

 

For accommodation in Courchevel click here

Chamonix goes Green, a note from the TO director

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We could talk forever about the development of sustainable tourism….

For several years the resort of Chamonix has been one of the places in the world today which has welcomed and stimulated these new ideas.

We could do the same. To engage willingly in a move towards« sustainable tourism », giving ourselves criteria for the choices for which we must afterwards assume responsibility , every day, regarding every project…

If we don’t do this, how can we decide between the urgency of seeing a rapid return on investments and the pressing need not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg?

If we don’t do this, how will we find new ways to continue to create wealth, with out also creating the pollution which sooner or later we will have to deal with….and pay for?

All of this demands « community spirit ».
Four values are associated with the Chamoniard identity:

- respect
- liberty
- excellence
- an open mind.

These values have a particular significance in the mountain environment and in the history of high altitude sports.

If these values are taken on by one and all they could bring with them the choices which CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC should make in the matter of development and the control of tourist activities.

By introducing in a voluntary manner a System of Environmental Management, the Tourist Office of CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC aims to be a real force for implementing the development of sustainable tourism and for encouraging all the main players to follow this path.

I, and all the partners of the CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC Tourist Office, undertake to put into practice all the provisions of our system of management and to respect the legal requirements in environmental matters which relate to our activities, in order to achieve together the objectives of a continual reduction in our impact on the environment, and by example, to motivate those who come to Chamonix to follow this course.

Florence PETIT,who is responsible for Visitor Reception, is also responsible for the correct functioning of our Environmental Management System, in coordinating the activities in this whole sector.

Bernard PRUD’HOMME
Director of the Tourist Office

 

Why not visit Chamonix today!

For accommodation in the Chamonix area, please click here

Passportes du Soleil VTT

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The “Passportes du Soleil VTT” is first of all a convivial ‘rendez-vous’ for mountainbikers who want to ride for fun! It’s a moutain bike excursion based on the descovering of a territory landing over two countries. The lifts making this mountain circuit accessible.

Remember that the Passportes is :

- 3 circuits of 35, 50 and 75 km
- 7 resorts with simultaneous starts in France and Switzerland
- 13 ski-lifts
- 6000 metres of total vertical descent
- Different routes for cycling uphill on bikes for the more courageous,
- Optional downhill race tracks …

The extras for 2008:

Special rates for girls !
A special price for girls’ entries: € 30 instead of €35.
The Kids Passportes!
Professional teachers will guide children aged 9 to 14 years old (by group of age and level) on a circuit espacially made for them.
  
To find all information, to get details about the event and see a video to present it, please visit the website : www.passportesdusoleil.com .

Entries:

Bookings are open from February 2008 the 10th on www.activeeurope.com

2008 Prices :

€ 35
€30 for girls
€15 for kids (including accompaniment by professional, snack, and a Portes du Soleil present).
Your entry includes:

access to the lift,
a number plate,
local produce refreshments,
a logbook,
a voucher for a day’s lift-pass in the Portes du Soleil,
and as always a special Passportes surprise present !
  
During three days Champery in Switzerland will host the VTT Fair.

Numerous stands where professional will be there at your disposal and numerous entertainment for all, a concert… a whole program !

Also other resorts of the Portes du Soleil hosting the competition will have a special entertainment program during the weekend.

 

For accommodation in Chatel click here