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SKIING

French Alps ski resort named world’s best once again

For the third time in four years the French Alps ski resort of Val Thorens has been named the best in the world.

French Alps ski resort named world's best once again
All photos: AFP

Val Thorens in Savoie is the highest ski resort in Europe and it’s also the world’s best, according to the latest World Ski Awards.

The resort that is already open for the winter season thanks to large snowfalls in recent days was named ahead of Kitsbühel in Austria which was last year’s winner.

Zermatt and Gstaad in Switzerland, Aspen and Vail in the Rockies and Courchevel in the French Alps were the runners up.

The title went to Val Thorens after an online vote involving some 1.6 million ski fanatics from 85 different countries.

“Val Thorens: It’s a new world resort that combines the best of skiing with the best of atmospheres,” reads the World Ski Awards website.

“With its ever-present pioneering spirit, breath-taking natural environment, remarkable amount of sunshine and exceptional snow conditions, it is both unique and cosmopolitan, boasting a lively, sociable and welcoming atmosphere.

“Here, you can progress exactly the way you want to, at your own pace, dipping in and out of experiences and atmospheres with you family or friends, for an unforgettable holiday!”

In a statement the managers of the resort said the origin of their success, which also saw them named best ski resort in 2013 and 2014, lay in a questionnaire given out to holidaymakers six years ago.

They said the responses led them to carry out many initiatives and “reinvent hospitality” in the resort.

The resort manager Gregory Guzzo said the reward recognized the long-term plan and “unmatched and constant investment” – some €839 million for “innovation” between 2010 and 2020.

This year the resort is to launch a “SKiFlux” system which will alert skiers in real time to how busy each piste is.

Val Thorens opened for the season on Saturday.

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SKIING

Snow report: What’s the latest outlook for French ski resorts this winter?

Good news for skiers in France, as a mild December has given way to a cold blast in early January that's bringing some much-needed snow.

Snow report: What's the latest outlook for French ski resorts this winter?

After a mostly dry and mild December, snow returned to the the Pyrenees on Friday.

Meanwhile most resorts in the Alps have been able to stay open after a promising early start to the ski season, thanks to fresh snowfalls, with more on the way this weekend.

Pyrenees

Snow has returned in the Pyrenees. Some 5cm fell overnight into Friday, January 5th in eastern parts of the mountain range, with forecasts predicting a further 15cm to 20cm to be on the ground 24 hours later. The region had not seen any snow since December 2nd.

In Angles, 20cm of snow had fallen at higher altitudes by mid-morning on Friday.

Further west, numerous resorts in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques département remained closed this week after early December snow had melted in mild conditions that have dominated France in recent weeks, but significant snowfall is expected over the weekend into Monday, and resorts are hoping that they will see enough to open.

One resort, Artouste, has been unable to offer skiing since the start of the season on December 23rd due to a lack of snow. A scenic rail service – usually reserved for warmer months – has kept the resort going. It is set to stop running on Friday, amid expectations of enough snow to finally open the slopes.

READ ALSO Climate crisis: ’90 percent’ of Europe’s ski resorts face critical snow shortages

Alps 

Many ski resorts opened on time, or even a little earlier than scheduled last month, after significant early snow fall, and have enjoyed deposits in the first days of 2024. But, even here, resort managers welcomed the promise of more significant snow this weekend.

Some resorts weren’t so fortunate. Ski areas in Gérardmer, in the Vosges, were still closed in the week leading up to Christmas because of poor snow conditions, but they are hoping for enough snow to finally get started this weekend, while La Bresse-Honeck was using ‘stocked snow’ made by using snow that fell earlier in the winter months to stay open as recently as December 30th.

In the Northern Alps, resorts such as Alpe d’Huez benefited from fresh snowfall on December 22nd, while Val d’Isère had new snow on December 29th. In the Southern Alps, Les Orres’ last pre-New Year snow was on December 8th.

And the French Alps have enjoyed more snow since the start of the year. There’s at least 50cm of fresh snow on the higher slopes of Les Gets and Morzine, for example, a significant improvement on the same time last year, when the resorts were among several that had very little snow to speak of.

In Chamonix, meanwhile, snow has fallen on eight of the last 14 days, with more expected every day between Friday and Monday.

Massif Central

As the post on X / Twitter shows, the Massif Central has not had the best of winters for snow so far. But between 30cm and 50cm is expected in Le Lioran by Monday. 

READ ALSO ‘So many barriers since Brexit’: The French ski businesses no longer willing to hire Brits

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