Ski Blog | Travel
Five things to do in Morzine!
This is a guest blog from Guide2Morzine who provide all the information you need about Morzine and surrounding areas.
Morzine in the Haute-Savoie region of the French Alps is where I call home. In my opinion Morzine is a ski resort like no other. Rather than being a purpose built ski village with no life outside of the snowy months, it is a thriving market town with a large year round population and a summer season nearly as busy as the winter. Starting out as a farming and slate mining community, Morzine began to be developed as a ski resort in 1920. The original Pleney lift opened in 1934. This year (2013) this lift is being replaced with a brand new state of the art gondola. Over recent years, Morzine and it’s neighbouring ski station of Avoriaz have seen huge development. They are now connected to 11 other resorts to create the enormous Portes du Soleil ski area. The Portes du Soleil is arguably the largest connected ski area in the World with over 650km of groomed pistes, 10 snow parks, 2 half pipes and 4 boarder cross areas. Morzine has become one of the most popular French resorts for snowboarders and here you will find much more equality between the two disciplines than in other areas.
It isn’t just about the skiing and snowboarding here though. During the summer months the lifts re-open for walkers and mountain bikers. Bikers flock here from all over the World to take on the challenging tracks of the Portes du Soleil and the area plays summer home to many mountain bike teams. There are literally hundreds of kilometers of walking and hiking trails including the famous GR5 which runs right through the mountains surrounding Morzine. The area is also popular for road cyclists with many large cycle races coming through during June, July and August. The Tour de France comes through every few years too and Morzine is home to one side of the famous Col de Joux Plane which has been known to break many a cyclist. There are so many other sports on offer that I couldn’t name them all but a few include; climbing, white water rafting, canyoning, tennis, swimming, ice hockey and so many more. Of course if you want to relax summer or winter then you can. There are loads of luxury hotels and chalets, many with there own spas on offer. You can enjoy the beautiful new Morzine swimming pool (Espace Aquatique) with it’s saunas and hammams or have a massage with one of the many therapists based here. In the summer the weather is lovely and hot and there are plenty of outside spaces to just soak up the sunshine.
To see why I love it here so much you will need to check it out for yourself. For those interested in coming to work and live in Morzine there is a huge international population here during the winter months. There are always thousands of jobs on offer and a lot of seasonal accommodation too.
5 Things not to miss in Morzine
1) Ski the Swiss wall
The Chavanette run which takes you from the top of Avoriaz down into Les Crosets in Switzerland is said to have the largest moguls in the World and is one of the steepest runs too. This one is not for the faint hearted!
2) See an Ice hockey match at the Skoda Arena
Watch ‘Les Pingouins’ HCMAG (Hockey Club Morzine Avoriaz les Gets) in action at the Skoda Arena in the centre of town. The local team are in the top Ice hockey league in France and watching them is always an exciting night out.
3) Jump from the top of a mountain!
Parapenting is such a fantastic way to get a birds eye view over the mountains and town. There are many pilots who can take you on a tandem parapente in Morzine, just ask at the tourist office or your accommodation when you arrive.
4) A walk around Lac Montriond
Summer or winter, Lake Montriond is stunningly beautiful. In the winter it is frozen solid with snow on top and there is a path which is cleared around the edge of the lake. In summer you can swim, kayak or just sunbath at this lovely spot which is a favourite with locals and visitors alike.
5) Take in the view of Mont Blanc from the top of la Rosta in Les Gets
Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, is just a few kilometers away at Chamonix. From the top of many of the peaks in the Portes du Soleil you can see this majestic giant. However the view from the top of la Rosta in Les Gets is unbeatable.
Altitude Holidays Review of Into The Mind
Usually sat on the end of telephone speaking to ski accommodation providers discussing our website we released Charlie from his desk and sent him along to the Premiere of Into The Mind.
This is what he thought......
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On October 2nd, I found myself delighted to be en-route to Clapham Grand to watch the Ski/Snowboard film premiere of the year – Into The Mind. A few months ago I had watched the thought-provoking trailer and it clearly set this one apart from the rest. This film was going to be different from the usual pro team edits that crop up through out the year and I was ready!
“Into the Mind” is from the same creators that bought us the movie “All I Can”. This brings with it a certain element of expectation. The film ticked the boxes with some awesome cinematography alongside timelapses, slow-mo and dramatic landscape shots so frequently associated with big-budget ski films. However, it also brought a lot more that the audience probably didn’t expect!
When interviewed by National Geographic “Into the Mind” Director, Dave Mossop described the concept of his latest project;
“Into the Mind satisfies two of my deep-seated goals. One of them is that I’ve always been fascinated with dreams.
The second goal deals with death. I’ve lost a lot of friends in mountains over the years due to avalanches and head injuries. It’s very powerful. The incredible thing about using skiing or snowboarding as the centerpiece of your movie is that you can live and die doing these sports. You can have the greatest single moment you can ever possibly have on Earth, or you could die. The film is really a meditation on the moment of choice you have before you potentially kill yourself in the mountains. It plays out three scenarios that are the outcome of that decision. “
My advice? When you watch this film put your creative head on. It’s unquestionably deep. It questions the life-death choice that skiers and boarders make when stood at the top of a mountain about to drop and it looks into the dreams that encourage us to achieve our wildest of aspirations. Basically, it tries to capture what makes us tick.
At times you are presented with the epic shots of in-your face downright rad-iculous steaze. This is mostly when the film depicts “dreams”. Then you jump back to “reality”, to the more down-to-earth storyline that glues the whole film together. Yes it can be confusing at times but with your creative head on you will need to just accept this.
So appreciate the artiness of the film, the soundtrack that has been chosen to accompany the chapters and the ride it takes you on! Perhaps Into the Mind isn’t the ski movie I personally hoped it would be but it certainly is a ski movie and it’s pretty bloody epic then you have your ‘creative head’ on.
We want to see it again as it’s definitely gotten into our mind…. See what you think! You can see it again or for the first time in Edinburgh on Monday 14th October (Ed.)
Big thanks go to Emily Millns from Sub Zero Events, for organising the event and inviting Altitude Holidays along to the Premiere. A great night was had by all and it’s always good to see so many heads from around the industry… especially in the U.K!
INTO THE MIND UK PREMIERE
Our new website….
It’s been a long time in coming – there’s been some false starts, a lot of frustration but now a lot of excitement as we launch our new website!
We have what we think is the best tool for organising a group ski or snow boarding holiday.
You know how you’ve had a couple of beers or a glass of wine too many and you stick your hand up and agree to organise that next trip to the mountains! It’s going to be great fun looking for the right ski accommodation, the perfect resort to suit everyone and then…… John wants to change the date, Jo doesn’t want to go there but Jerry does and Joanne can’t get that week off work and asks can’t we go the week after but that clashes with Jamie’s work do and so it goes on as you get more frustrated as the email threads get longer and longer, the language on the Facebook discussion would embarrass your Mum – good job you’re not friends with her on Facebook. You are? Oh! What’s that all about? Anyway I digress, you now have access to the best group organising facility on the web with our new group booking tool!
Head over here to check it out and you can watch a short video of how it works as well.
You just pick a shortlist of resorts and dates and your mates vote on their preferred ones and you search our site for the ski accommodation that suits. Holiday booked! Easy!
Ski Deals – looking for the perfect deal? These are all listed on our Ski Deals page, it could be an early booking discount, free transfer, peak week availability, you’ll find something to tempt you onto the snow!
Search by different categories for your holiday whether you are looking for a catered chalet or self catered apartment, a weekend trip, family holiday or want to find a luxury holiday you can find it easily.
Resorts – know which resort you want to go to? Then search by resort and check out all the ski accommodation in that resort, find links to the resorts website, Facebook page or if you have already booked then check out that all important snow report and webcam! We are also continually adding resort services to this so find the best deals for ski hire or snowboard hire, clothing and many other in resort services!
Travel - Booked your holiday but not sure how to get there? Check out our Travel page for links you need whether you are driving, flying, training it or just need an airport transfer. How to get to resorts are also listed on each resort page.
We have some great competitions lined up starting with 50 family tickets to the In The Snow Live ski show at the NEC on 25th – 27th October, half price deals on tickets to that if you aren’t one of the lucky ones.
If you find anything on the site that isn’t working then please do let us know (it is all new after all so there maybe a few glitches) or would you like to see something that isn’t on the site? Again do get in touch!
We hope you love our new site as much as we do – we’re nearly as excited about it as we are that the new season is only four months away….. do we sound a little obsessed?
Summer in the Mountains
Did you know that when the lifts close and the snow melts* that the marmottes come out to play, they take down the lifts, try a bit of grass skiing and then start digging the moguls for next season in between a bit of sunbathing in their deck chairs! Yep you can blame the marmottes for the moguls!
Well ok, that’s not strictly true – the marmottes do do some sunbathing and some playing but I haven’t yet seen them grass ski unfortunately!
The Alps are definitely a great place to head in the summer but are sadly low on the list of summer destinations for us Brits for some reason. We seem obsessed with sitting on our own patch of sand on an overcrowded beach while our skin burns! If you fancy somewhere a bit different then I can recommend destination Alps!
They’re usually not crowded at all and most resorts are geared up for at least July and August with all sorts of activities such as hiking, trekking, climbing, white water rafting, tennis, swimming, mountain biking, walking, horse riding, get fit camps, yoga retreats, hot air ballooning, parapenting …. I could go on and on but you probably get the idea!
The scenery is stunning, some of the ski lifts are open so you don’t even have to walk up to get the views and many are adapted to take your bike so you can just do down hill biking! The weather tends to be much warmer than the UK, more often sunny than not, warm temperatures and sometimes with spectacular thunder storms but they don’t last very long!
You can explore many mountain lakes – for example Lake Geneva has many interesting little villages around it, Annecy is stunning and well worth a visit and then of course there are lots of ski resorts you can visit and enjoy long leisurely lunches on restaurant terraces and yep, order that extra bottle of wine without having to worry about how you are going to ski down!
One thing that I always find interesting is to walk down (or up) a slope I have skied down in the winter – bet you can’t believe how steep it is!
Check out the ski accommodation that offers summer holidays on our site by clicking here and go on give the Alps a go this summer even if just for a weekend before making it your main holiday next year! I am pretty sure you’ll be back for more!
*the snow usually melts just after Easter, but after last season’s snow rumour has it that it may not all go! Skiing in July perhaps?
The Ski Season That Doesn’t Want To End!
Wow what a season that was! Well when I say was perhaps I should be saying is, as it isn’t really over if you look at the snow that is still around!
Ok it is over in terms of the majority of the resorts now being closed but there is still a load of snow and if you are into your hiking and touring this will be a great touring season – take care of avalanches etc though as when things warm up it can be dangerous out there!
A was very luck to get a lot of skiing in this year and had trips to the Alps in December / January a couple of weeks in February and then again in March/April and each time I was there it snowed!
If you haven’t seen our YouTube channel then head over here and have a look at some of the videos that we put together. You can see snow reports and some skiing videos that we put together.
Everywhere we went there was great snow and tales of great skiing!
We were lucky to visit Le Grand Massif (Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoens & Morillon), Avoriaz and Morzine, Verbier, Megeve, Chamonix, Courchevel and La Rosiere through the season.
The best skiing we had was probably in February – watch it here and see me nearly ski into a tree!
So now the resorts are all winding up and we have a summer to endure before the winter comes back! Don’t worry we’ll make the most of it and enjoy the sunshine and maybe get a bit jealous of the powder days in New Zealand and other southern hemisphere resorts!
Snow Report from Chamonix
I took a little road trip to Chamonix yesterday via Megeve and although I was running around meeting loads of great people looking at chalets and hotels I couldn't help but be blown away but the beauty of the Chamonix Valley! Just stunning!
Unfortunately I didn't have time to ski which was a real shame as I love skiing in Chamonix - so much variety and views that take your breath away!
Some of the people I caught up with were the lovely Breezy & Al who run Ski Breezy and they showed us round their lovely catered chalet which is in a great location, just ten minutes from the town centre, it is bright, comfortable and looks like a great place to stay - all the guests we have sent there have given us great feedback.
Breezy was good enough to give us this update on the snow conditions in Chamonix.
Ski Breezy have some fabulous deals in the next couple of months - some good deals during January (prices reduced to just £595pp for 20th & 27th January) and some great flexible breaks from the end of January from just £85 per person per night! Oh and they still have February Half Term available as well!! Don't miss out on that one!
We have to go back to the UK but otherwise we would be very very tempted - the cup of tea we had was great and the guests we met had had a great stay and were tucking into some delicious looking cake....mmmmmmm...
Note to self - check what time tea is served and time chalet visits better........
Ski Breezy - Chamonix Snow Report 4th January 2012
Driving Home for Christmas
'So I sing for you
Though you can't hear me
When I get through
And feel you near me
I am driving home for Christmas
Driving home for Christmas
With a thousand memories'
Chris Rea once sang!!
I wasn’t singing as we boarded the Eurotunnel and set out on our journey to the Alps but I was very excited! The early snow reports had been good and although the Alps aren’t strictly home I have spent 12 of the last 14 Christmases in the snow and they certainly have a thousand (and more) memories!
So trying not to jump up and down in the driver’s seat, we were soon cruising down the empty French motorway to our stop over for the night.
Booked only a couple of days before through one of the large hotel booking sites, we had struck lucky with La Maison Rouge in Noeux les Mines. A perfect stopping point if you are driving to or from the Alps, just an hour from Calais and minutes from the A26. And it’s not just a great location - the hotel is welcoming, has a lovely restaurant, fabulous food and a bar to sit in and relax after dinner.
With probably the largest Christmas baubles I have ever seen and a lingerie cupboard (sadly locked – and yes we did try the door! 
), a comfortable bed and a great choice for breakfast what more could you want? However we were soon on the way again and had just an easy seven hour drive to The Alps to go.
Er……except it wasn’t that easy as it rained the whole way and made the journey an hour or two longer than expected – lots of spray and an extra couple of rest stops didn’t dampen the excitement and we were soon driving up the hill into Les Carroz with snow on the ground and more forecast. Excited and some more memories to make!
I have driven this route lots of times and although this wasn’t the easiest of journeys I would really recommend driving as an option. It is much easier to drive on French motorways than in the UK, the volume of traffic is far less, lots of service areas and several places to break up the journey – treat it as part of the holiday and enjoy it!
However you’re planning to get to the slopes this season, I wish you a safe, easy journey and plenty of the white stuff when you arrive.
It’s looking good so far!