VIP SKI Blog

Selected for the British Squad

What a fantastic start to 2023 when in early January Max was one of 11 athletes selected to represent Great Britain at the Alpine World Junior Ski Championships. Max told us he was delighted to be selected, and relieved to know that all the training, both on and off-snow over the last 6 months had paid off.

The 42nd edition of the Championships, ran in St Anton at the end of January, and saw over 500 of the best young Alpine skiers represent 50 countries across 11 events in one of the biggest gatherings of Alpine skiing talent in the world. Max competed in the Super G, Downhill and Giant Slalom.

Personal best record in Bosnia

Slalom is one of the most powerful and challenging events in skiing. It involves speed, strong carving turns, rhythm and great confidence with speeds reached up to 43 mph.

It comes from the Norwegian word slalåm, from sla(d), meaning “sloping,” and låm, meaning “track.” Max competed in Slalom at Bosnia and scored a fabulous 46 which is a personal best. Well done Max!

1st place in the Super G in Italy

Earlier this month Max competed at the English Alpine Championships in Bormio, Italy. Racing against other British skiers as well as European athletes Max did extremely well securing a 1st and 2nd place in the Under 21s Super G. He also raced in the Giant Slalom and Slalom and whilst he didn’t finish it’s all great experience to take part and ski in competition environments.

Time to re-charge

Max is currently having a well-deserved break at home for a few days so he can recharge and catch up on some admin before heading back to Leogang in Austria to continue his training.

If you think that you might also like to support Max and British Skiing then do not hesitate to drop us an email at sponsorMax@vip-chalets.com or find him on Instagram @max.laughland

Mountain Restaurants

Le Signal  
In the magical surroundings of the Fornet ski area, situated at the arrival of the cable car, welcome to Le Signal, a colourful, convivial and atmospheric mountain restaurant. L'Edelweiss - Excellent cuisine, fine wines, a friendly atmosphere and a terrace with exceptional views of the valley. Located in the Fornet area of Val d’Isere, on the blue Mangard run. Le Bellevarde - Le Bellevarde restaurants offer you an amazing view of the Grand Paradis massifs to the Mont Blanc. Located at the top of the mythic Face of Bellevarde

La Fruitière
La Frutiere is an A la Carte restaurant providing high class dining on the mountain. The menu's are designed around sourcing high quality local produce. La Fruitiere is equally original in it's interior design, taking its inspiration from the old mountain diaries, with a modern interpretation. The young, enthusiastic, dynamic team guarantees you a good service in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

Bar de l’Ouillette
The terrace outside is one of the best places to grab a drink, a bite to eat or just relax in the sunshine. With bright coloured furniture and a fun atmosphere you can choose from a variety of food and drink. There is limited seating indoors so this restaurant is best on a good weather day where you can sit in the sun and soak up the mountain atmosphere. Bar de l'Ouillette is located on the Solaise side of Val d'isere, at the bottom of the Madeline piste.

La Datcha
Near to the bottom of the Glacier Express chairlift you will find La Datcha. With an outdoor terrace and warm, cosy indoors serving food and drink throughout the day it is a great place to stop for a bite to eat or a relaxing drink in the sunshine. With traditional Savoyard dishes and French cooking you can enjoy a delicious mountian meal.

Le Trifollet
Located on the Verte piste on the way to La Daille, Trifollet offers a large selection of dishes including, pizza, grills, salad and traditional french cuisine. Soak up the sun on the large terrace or sit inside the cosy restaurant.

L'Etincelle
L’Etincelle is relatively new and stands close to the Bellevarde Lodge chalets overlooking the main lift station. Décor is sleek and modern and the menu reflects this. Steak is a particular speciality.

Peau de Vache
Located half way down the Face de Bellevarde run and accessible from the Bellevarde chairlift, this restaurant is perfect for a long lunch on the slopes. Dog lovers will enjoy the attentions of the two resident Labradors who add to the homely atmosphere.

Le Refuge de Solaise
Sitting in the brand-new Refuge de Solaise complex which encompasses the highest hotel in Europe, this is a special spot for a mountain lunch. It’s accessible via the Solaise gondola for non-skiers and serves a wide selection of pizzas, pastas, burgers and daily specials.

Village restaurants

Quicksilver
This is a cool diner-style cafe in the back of the Quicksilver / Billabong store in the centre of town. You can sit and watch the chefs making lunch and preparing dinner in the open plan kitchen, or enjoy people-watching from the terrace right on the main square. The service is fast and friendly with a great atmosphere.

La Grande Ourse
One of the older restaurants in the village, with a great atmosphere. They offer a weekly set menu plus specials in the evening.

La Casa Scara
Excellent Italian restaurant open for lunch and dinner. Typical dishes include Carpaccio de boeuf, fresh lobster tagliatelle, parma ham and mozzarella piccata.

Les Barmes De L’Ours
This is an elegant restaurant inside a beautiful hotel. It is ideal for fine dining and connoisseurs of fine wines. It is also a great place to relax in a fireside armchair for pre-dinner drinks. There is also slightly more informal dining available in the Brasserie.

Corniche
Serving some of the best steaks in town, this restaurant is popular with locals and tourists. The wine list is extensive.

La Vieille Maison
Take the free bus down to La Daille to experience this traditional French restaurant. Situated in the old village, it has an authentic interior with wells and traditional beds where sheep slept underneath. Excellent wines and astronomic food. Always popular and busy with locals as well as tourists.

Les Tufs
Located in La Daille, Les Tufs offers Savoyard favourites including foundue, tartiflette and steak. Enjoy lunch on the sunny terrace or dine in the evening by the roaring fire.

Le Lodge
A family-friendly choice with a traditional savoyarde menu served with no pretensions by charming and attentive staff.

Fondue Factory
The clue’s in the name: this is the number one address in town for cheese lovers. There’s also a permanent display of vintage ski equipment for post-dinner perusal.

La Baraque
La Baraque is a funky bar and restaurant with live music each night. Start with drinks and tapas before moving to the main restaurant for sophisticated fine dining.

We can reserve you a table

Our Concierge Team in Val d'Isere would be happy to make lunch or dinner reservations for you, just let us know which of these fabulous eateries you fancy trying.

To support GB Skiing

This auction was run exclusively to help raise funds for our sponsored young GB skier, all monies raised went into Max’s Skier’s Trust Fund. If you didn’t see it, we introduced Max Laughland, an up-and-coming GB skier, in a recent blog post.

Money raised will help towards to the considerable training, transport and accommodation costs as Max races at events across Europe with the goal of qualifying for the 2023 World Junior Championships.

Fancy a week at Bear Lodge?

Bear Lodge is the heart and soul of our piste-side resort in the centre of Arc 1950. Just 30 bedrooms right on the edge of the piste and opposite the chairlifts.

There is a spacious lounge, bar and dining room plus pool complex with sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi, massage suites, exercise room, cinema, kids playroom and ski room with lockers and boot warmers.

Just a short walk across the piste is the completely charming and rather magical traffic free village of Arc 1950 with its charismatic shops, cafés, bars and restaurants.

What did they bid for?

• 7-night stay in Bear Lodge for 2 people (week commencing 8 Jan or 5 Feb) 
• Choice of complimentary coach transfer from/to Geneva 
• Daily breakfast, afternoon tea and 3 course evening meal followed by cheese & coffee 
• Wine included with dinner 
• Canapés on first and last evenings 

 The value of the stay is £2400-£3300, depending on when you chose to travel but there is no reserve and the 7-night stay will be sold to the highest bidders.

The following items are not included in the bid price but can be pre-booked at a supplement: Lift passes; Ski equipment hire; Ski lessons; Childcare; Private taxi transfers.

Flights and insurance are not included.

Bids now closed

Bids are now closed, the winners have been announced and a whopping £3,513 was raised for Max's ski fund. Thank you once again for your support and generosity.

If you want to experience the No. 1 new ski hotel in the world, we do still have rooms available for March and April dates, and we're already taking bookings for next winter! 

Equipment

It probably goes without saying, but you should always use the right equipment for skiing. Boots should be fitted correctly, and your ski bindings should be adjusted by a professional. Furthermore, the type of ski you choose should suit your level of ability and experience, as well as the type of snow you’re likely to be encountering. If borrowing equipment from a friend rather than buying or renting your own, you should have it thoroughly checked and fitted in a shop all the same, just in case.

Helmets
You can never be 100% safe when skiing of course, but wearing a helmet will greatly reduce your risk of suffering a serious head injury. Strange as it might seem, it was not until recently that ski helmets became ubiquitous. In fact, just 10 years ago, probably no more than half the skiers you’d have seen would have had any more head protection than a woolly hat. But improved designs, reduced prices, and several high profile, awareness-raising tragedies such as those involving Natasha Richardson and Michael Schumacher mean that it is now quite rare to see anyone on the slopes without a helmet.

Body Armour
Modern ski body armour isn’t just designed to protect your back and torso - it’s also lightweight, and unobtrusive enough to hide beneath your jacket. Basic body armour is available for under £100, and is worth the investment if you’re prone to wiping out at speed, or simply want to get the maximum protection for yourself and your family.

Avalanche kit
Once your family has learned to ski at an advanced level, you may like to go off-piste once in a while, in which case it’s always best to be prepared for any eventuality. That means being fully aware of current and likely future weather conditions, and if possible skiing with a guide. Your standard recommended avalanche kit will include transponders, collapsible shovels and probes.

Behaviour

Ultimately, there is only so much that having the correct ski safety equipment can do. More than anything else, it’s sensible behaviour on the slopes that will protect you.

Always dress for the weather
On the mountain, weather conditions can change very rapidly, and it’s not uncommon for even the most experienced of skiers to be caught out. Packing for a ski holiday can be an artform but you should be looking to layer clothing, with an insulating mid-layer that can be removed and put in a backpack if necessary. Waterproof gloves are essential, and it’s sensible to bring both goggles and sunglasses so that you can cope with both sunny and snowy conditions.

Ski sober
Remember that drinking alcohol at high altitudes can lower the amount of oxygen getting to the brain, which is why so many air-rage incidents are blamed on in-flight drinking. Alcohol can lead to overconfidence, and getting sloppy with technique, leading to accidents, and so if you’re skiing with your kids, it’s doubly important to abstain. Instead of beer or wine at lunch, drink water or soft drinks and save the alcohol for the apres-ski. It’s also a good idea to carry reusable water bottles in backpacks so that you can all stay well hydrated throughout the day.

Stretch
One good way to help your family to avoid aches and strains while skiing, and cut the risk of more serious injuries, is to get everyone performing some light stretching exercises before and after. It’s also highly advisable to take regular rest breaks while skiing, pausing mid-run and for at least an hour at lunch, to catch your breath.

Respect others, and the mountain

Remember the basic rules of ski etiquette at all times, especially in areas of high risk such as lift queues, or when one piste joins another. There are several golden rules in skiing - always follow the line of the downhill skier; monitor your speed, and keep a safe distance from others, especially novices in lessons and groups of children.

Lift etiquette
In popular resorts, some lifts will usually have long, tightly packed queues waiting for them. When approaching a lift queue it’s vital to reduce your speed will in advance of reaching the end of the line or you could cause a major accident. Standard ski safety tips for lifts include making sure your poles are in one hand and your skis straight as you sit down, removing backpacks, and not raising the safety bar until just before you get off.

Know your limits

Being aware of your own abilities and not pushing yourself too far is something else that ought to come up early with instruction. Every year, many accidents are caused by skiers who try to tackle runs that are beyond their capability and end up in trouble. Pistes are clearly marked to denote the level of difficulty that can be expected, and maps are freely available too. If you do find yourself in a situation that you’re not confident that you can handle, slowly make your way to the nearest lift station.

Much of the above advice might seem obvious, but you would be surprised how often it is neglected. Just as many drivers will forget the basics of road safety over time, it’s common for experienced skiers to make common errors too. Parents have a responsibility when taking their children on family ski holidays to follow best practise at all times, as children will learn by example. And just as taking the odd lesson now and again can help you sharpen your technique, it can also refresh the memory on ski safety too.

"I'm not terribly interested in awards"

"Now I must make a confession. I am not terribly interested in, and certainly not influenced by awards." States James. "One person’s best hotel is often not someone else’s – people are different and each has separate requirements." 

James was staying at Bear Lodge whilst on his ski travels, so asked himself "Why Bear Lodge was voted No 1?".

Read the full PlanetSKI feature >

First the facts...

• It has taken 7-years in the planning and building – it opened last season, and is exclusively the preserve of VIP SKI.
• It is a mixture of suites (12) and hotel rooms (30).
• There are a selection of photos of the rooms at the end of this article.
• It features twin rooms, family rooms with bunks (children in bunks pay half price), or adjoining rooms for parents and teenage kids.
• Bear Lodge includes:
• A proper sized pool you can swim in and do some lengths:
• A spa with plenty of steam:
• A decent sauna too.
• And massage:
• And if you like an exercise room:
• A piste-side kid’s space for the little ones:
• A private cinema:
• It also has conference facilities and much else besides.

So far, so good but many other new hotels across the Alps are probably offering similar facilities for this winter.

After 3 days what did James think?

After 3-days in Bear Lodge I can see why it has been a contender for the award as The World’s Best New Ski Hotel – and won it.

Almost everything is perfect, down to the finest details.

Almost everything?

James's only grumble was the choice of rental skis on offer. But he himself admits he's rather particular about what skis he uses (some say unnecessarily so).

"Bear Lodge is more than 80% full for the rest of the winter. That single fact speaks volumes. In my opinion it would be hard to argue it is not at least one of The World’s Best New Ski Hotels – the World Ski Awards have concluded it is the best and I wouldn’t disagree." States James.

Read the full PlanetSKI feature >

PlanetSKI

PlanetSKI has a simple aim; to entertain and inform skiers and snowboarders about life in the mountains. Most importantly it aims to do it with passion and a love for everything to do with skiing and snowboarding.

It carries news stories, features, video reports, superb photos and a few surprises too. It’s not influenced by glossy press releases and free trips, but rather the unbiased opinions of its writers.

It’s about life in The Alps. Real life.

Head over to PlanetSKI to read the full feature on Bear Lodge, and also James Cove's review of the Les Arc ski area.