VIP SKI Blog

The nickname “Janpril” has surfaced amongst Val d’Isere locals, with cold temperatures and plenty of fresh snow. It looks like these wintery conditions are set to stay for a while. See it for yourself from £799pp from 15 April.

Taken from our webcam this morning, the conditions in Alpe d’Huez can only be described as spectacular. Wall to wall sunshine with powdery pistes, what’s not to love? We’ve got availability in our Chalet La Chapelle from 15^th April from £769pp

Reaching up to 3250m it’s easy to see why the Paradiski area is reporting 18cm of fresh snowfall and more to come in the next few days. We have rooms available in our La Plagne chalets next week, 15 April, from £700pp.

Mixed conditions have left our Meribel & Courchevel guests baffled, with blue skies in the morning turning to snow by the afternoon. Head out there this Sunday with 7 night holidays from £799 pp and short breaks in Meribel from £100pppn until 15 April.

Fabulous views from another of our resort webcams – this time Les Gets! Conditions in the Portes du Soleil region have been so great that they’ve extended their season by another week. Snap up a last minute special offer and ski next week from £799pp.

Courtesy of Lech Zuers, this aerial shot gives us a taster of the stunning conditions. Practically empty pistes, clear blue skies and great quality snow is keeping our guests more than satisfied. Last chance to ski in Lech & St Anton, Sunday 8 April holidays from just £700pp.

Our team sent us this sunny shot from just outside The Farmhouse chalet on Tuesday morning. Temperatures were around -7 and I think it’s safe to say the snow isn’t going anywhere for a while. 

With so much snow arriving in the Three Valleys, Courchevel hosted a very special early opening day on Wednesday. Those lucky enough to live nearby took advantage of the fantastic conditions and we received these great photos from the resort. 

The lifts in Meribel don’t open until early December but there’s been reports of locals hiking up the mountains to enjoy some of the fresh powder – I can’t say I blame them, the conditions sound simply unmissable. 

Our very own La Plagne webcam has been reporting blue skies and fresh snow all week. With exactly one month until it opens, we’re so excited for the start of another season in La Plagne. 

On their way back from Val d’Isere our team went via Morzine to visit our new Colibri chalets. They told us snow conditions were as good as Val d’Isere and couldn’t believe how cold it was. Our Sales Director even spotted someone out on the piste in Les Gets, clearly the locals are already taking advantage of the fresh snow.

Avoriaz has reported over 60cm of snow and we can’t wait to see what the next few weeks will bring. 

Living up to its reputation of the Island of the sun, conditions in Alpe d’Huez look ideal. There’s plenty of fresh snow, temperatures are remaining low, and the sun is still shining. Preparation is now well underway to get the resort ready for it’s opening on 2^nd December.

Looking at the St Anton webcams you would think it’s practically the middle of the winter – not the beginning! With just three weeks to go until the resort opens on 9^th December we’re certainly very excited by the photos we’re seeing from resort. 

The Lech tourist board have been counting down to the start of the season with daily updates on their Facebook page. We’re all incredibly jealous of those who have managed to sneak out of the office and up the mountain to enjoy some fresh powder. 

Check out their photo & video updates here

If all this snowfall is making you dream of skiing and you’ve not yet got your holiday booked, call the team today on 0208 875 1957 or email ski@vip-chalets.com

People often ask us for recommendations in Alpe d’Huez so who better to ask than the man who spent a season there.  We asked Andy to recap some of his highlights;

“My favourite run has to be off the back of Marmottes 3, join Breche, onto La Balme and all the way back into resort. On a powder day it’s by far the most fun you can have in any resort. Follow this with one of the best burgers in town from Mac Renard near the Rond Point. Apres wise, if you want amazing panoramic views and tables fit for dancing, head to the Folie Douce. Or if you’re looking to rub shoulders with the locals and enjoy live music and spring time BBQs – head to Underground bar”

Andy’s ready to answer any questions you have about Alpe d’Huez or any of our other resorts and chalets or hotels. 

Flying Kilometre, Les Arcs

Not one for the faint-hearted, the Flying Kilometre sends you cannonballing down a 76% gradient on the Aiguille Rouge, a descent that can easily see you reaching speeds of up to 40mph, and often more. Helmets are mandatory - in fact all-body armour is probably recommended on this prestigious speed skiing world championship course. Advanced

Dave Murray Downhill, Whistler

Named for the fearless Canadian Alpine racer, the Dave Murray Downhill is of course found in Whistler where Murray founded his well-known ski school. Best tackled right after it’s been groomed, this championship course zips along through gorgeous tree-lined scenery for two miles, into Whistler Canyon. Murray died tragically young, but left a great legacy, and this thriller is a big part of it. Intermediate

Runs that demand skill and nerve, and leave you feeling totally exhilarated on completion...

Sarenne, Alpe d’Huez

Reckoned by some to be the longest black run in the French Alps, although it’s true that at times the gradient feels more like a red or even blue, the Sarenne starts at a height of 3330m atop the Pic Blanc cable car. From here it’s a steep and nervy descent through a mogul field that many skiers choose to skip, before coming off the glacier and into the flatter Gorges de Sarenne. You’ll find yourself relaxing about an hour in, but in truth this run is all about the launch. Intermediate

We've got 5 chalets to choose from in Alpe d'Huez - experience the Sarenne for yourself. 

Bellecôte, La Plagne

Along with the neighbouring Rochu which also starts on the glacier, the Bellecôte is considered one of the most challenging blacks in the Alps. Skiable in most snow conditions, it is mind-bogglingly steep and you’ll struggle to appreciate the fantastic views because of the need to concentrate. Advanced

Think you can take on the Bellecote? Take your pick of one of five La Plagne chalets and give it a go. 

Corbet’s Couloir, Jackson Hole

It’s been called the scariest ski slope in America, and certainly this is a rite of passage only to be tackled by the expert or the foolhardy. The three-metre freefall at the start, requiring an immediate hard right after you land on a 50% gradient, is enough to shred your nerve, but you’ll need your wits about you to stay on your feet and complete the short run out of the funnel. Those who make it out on two skis are few, and fewer still are those who care to attempt it again! Expert

Harakiri, Mayrhofen

The name couldn’t be more appropriate - the Harakiri is Austria’s steepest slope, and while fairly short it’s got more than a few tricks up its sleeve that can prove humbling to even the best skiers. Those who know it suggest sticking to the outer edges where you’ll usually find the most snow, and then just hang in there until it evens out. Advanced

Few things compare to the joy of skiing through a fresh field of powder, and these runs assure that unmistakeable floating sensation...

Valluga, St Anton

If you want to set off from the mountain peak you’ll need to be accompanied by a professional guide, so steep and tricky is the initial descent. But once you’re past the cliff-edge, or if you’ve wisely decided to skip it entirely, vast fields of untouched powder await. Intermediate / Advanced 

Choose from two chalets and a hotel in St Anton to relax and unwind after taking on the Valluga.

Vallée Blanche, Chamonix

This is one of the most famous off-piste runs in Chamonix, but get to the top of the Aiguille du Midi early in the morning, and you can have it all to yourself. Miles of fluffy powder cover a mostly gentle descent with just a few steep patches to worry about. Plucky intermediates may well have a go, but a guide is recommended for first-timers as there are a few gnarly crevasses to avoid as well as the threat of avalanche.  Intermediate / Advanced

Vallon d’Arby, Verbier

An absolute feast of scenery and powder, with a number of bowls that can be tackled with or without a guide depending on how confident you feel. There are several ‘secret’ routes you can take through steep tree-lined couloirs that are not massively intimidating yet ensure you leave fresh tracks no matter how busy the main area gets. Intermediate / Advanced

Allow plenty of time for these runs, because you’ll want to stop and enjoy the view...

Sella Ronda, Dolomites

The Sella Ronda loop is perhaps the most attractive run in the Dolomites, all pink-hued limestone cliffs, expansive panoramas over the Italian countryside and charming traditional mountain huts. You can cover the entire route easily in a day, either clockwise or anticlockwise, thanks to an excellent lift network, but there are plenty of detours available for those with more time on their hands. Intermediate

South Face, Lake Louise

Its inclusion on this list shouldn’t come as any surprise - Lake Louise is situated within the magnificent Banff National Park and the views from most runs are sublime. The South, or Front face, doesn’t see a great deal of snow, but it’s undeniably scenic and has a variety of good intermediate and black-diamond trails to follow, many of them passing through the trees that let you choose your own route. Intermediate

We know there's a lot to choose from, that's why we offer ski holidays in ten resorts across France & Austria. Our dedicated sales team are waiting to take your call so get in touch on 0208 875 1957 or email ski@vip-chalets.com

Over in Avoriaz, Morzine and Les Gets the snow is still falling fast with up to 18cms expected in the next 24 hours. We've got some fantastic offers available on our Morzine chalets including savings of up to £270pp for 26th December.

In Austria, it pretty much hasn't stopped snowing since Monday. Our two St Anton chalets and our ski hotels in Lech and St Anton will be opening from 12th December so get in touch to book some early season skiing from £600pp. Our hotels are perfect for family ski holidays with many of our family suites offering sofa beds at half the adult price.  

Our Val d'Isere chalets open in just 24 days and we cannot wait to welcome you. We've got early season short breaks from £100pppn as well as holidays from £579pp (not including flights and transfers)