Archives for 2007

Ski resorts are funny places – you tend to get a slightly odd combination of people who aren’t, well, normal.

For example, the kind of people who might think that holding a seven-a-side rugby tournament on snow is a good idea. Which is what happened yesterday just below the 1936 bar on the piste…

The event saw ES merge with the staff from Tara’s to create a rather impressive line-up that wasn’t made any worse by the presence of Louis in a slightly questionable head band.

Suffice to say, the boys went on to win their semi-final in extra time against a rather strong (and decidedly Antipodean) side from the Pub Mont Fort, then squeak victory – again in extra time – in the final against the boys from Altitude.

So it seemed only appropriate that it turned into an excuse for another ski school social gathering – starting at the Pub Mont Fort then naturally progressing to Tara’s and after that we can’t really remember. Can we Jules?

Anyway, it was an amazing and surreal afternoon, that looked rather like this (and I must admit Karen is responsible for the rather dynamic collection of action shots)…

New snow started falling last night and gave a completely different look to the resort of Verbier this morning. Low visibility in the early part of today has turned to blue skies and sunshine again this afternoon.

Fresh powder snow could be found for the lucky few up early. The pistes remain in good condition despite the warm weather of the last few days.

Disappointing news is that the Luge run at Savoleyres has been shut for the season – so time to pack away those sledges. The Col des Mines and Vallon D’Arbi itinerary runs are also closed at the moment due to avalanche risk. The Le Sud run down the front of Savoleyres is open only to the half way mark due to lack of snow and the Route Carrefour is also closed.

The Verbier alternative to the six nations is being held at the area between Carrefour and the 1936 bar at 4.30 today. A Rugby sevens match between five teams from around the resort including European Snowsport and Taratata nightclub should provide good entertainment!!

Well over one hundred people are expected to gather in Verbier on Thursday 5 April for the famous Verbier Challenge Cup event, organised by the Ski Club of Great Britain for visitors, reps, ski guides, locals and resort workers.Head up to Savoleyres for the start at 10.45am

Weather for the next couple of days is forecast as sunny with on mountain temperatures of around 5 C and low wind speeds. Clouds willl return for the weekend – we hope they bring some more snow!!
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It’s Saturday and the crowds expected for Easter have started arriving. The slopes today were full of competitors for the Verbier High Five event including some pros such as Hermann Maier. Elsewhere in the resort it was remarkably quiet on the pistes.

The snow forecast for yesterday and today has failed to materialise in the quantities expected. However clouds are gathering this evening so it could be that the forecast is a couple of days late.

Air temperatures have been chilly in the morning but snow has been fairly soft due to overnight clouds stopping frosty conditions. High on the main mountain conditions are still good – especially in the morniing. Savoleyres remains empty and still a good option for morning skiing along the top and back. Although the front Le Sud piste and Route Carrefour have been shut due to snow melt.
Tomorrow is forecast as sun and rising temperatures with more of the same at the start of the week. No more snow is forecast in the immediate future – although mid April usually sees a heavy fall so fingers crossed.

Before I bang on a bout the weather and the pistes and all the usual guff, I thought it would be only fair to give Sandy some weel earned congratulations, because – after all the stick we give him about his suspicious hair style, falling over antics and gruff northern demeanor – he’s played an absolute blinder and passed his European Mountain Security Exam.

Now that may sound like an odd qualification for french bouncers, but it’s actually a desperately difficult off-piste exam. And the wee man passed yesterday. And he’s probably still in Casbar.

As for Verbier – all’s good…

OK the forecast snow seems to have gone missing, but instead we’ve had blue skies and more uncrowded pistes, despite the fact that the Carlsberg High Five has drawn loads of people to Verbier to help celebrate the sport of skiing with a few pints of Danish Champagne.

And the forecast says that the weather is going to be a mixed bag of sunshine and occasional snow flurries for the foreseeable future – although these are the same people that promised us about 15cm of fresh snow last night…. pinch of salt anyone?