WINTER 19
read me & pass me on
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19
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Simon Reeve - of travel the importance
The Schoph Interview Tech versus Talent It’s ok not to be ok Morzine, Les Gets & Avoriaz news & events Hot property, gear guides, local faces & more
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welcome
Oh, alpine winter, you’ve been missed. It seems apt that snow is gently falling from the sky outside our office as I write this introduction to our new magazine; the day before our print deadline, I should probably add. This Winter 19 issue has come together despite new babies, gastro bugs and some truly challenging times for many people in our valley. Ellie Soutter, Marc Sutton and Martin Perrier. All were a big part of local life and this issue of Morzine Source Magazine is dedicated to their memory, their family and their friends. We started Morzine Source Magazine six years ago to present the very best of our mountains, winter and summer, in the hope that we’d inspire you to visit. Those motives haven’t changed. We love posting copies of our magazine to the UK for those of you who like to get excited about your next holiday. We love keeping you updated on snow conditions, new lift developments, new bar openings, events and more. We love posting snowy pics and watching hundreds of you tag your friends. And we love answering your questions to help you with your holiday plans. As you’ve hopefully come to expect by now, this issue is packed full of interesting interviews, resort news, local profiles, gear guides and more and I’d love to hear your feedback. What would you like to see in our next issue? Please drop me an email and let me know. In the meantime, let it snow. Amie Henderson – Publisher amie@morzinesourcemagazine.com
In Memory Of…
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soutte lie r el
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pass it on!
Copyright Origami Media Ltd 2018 Source Magazine is published in the UK and remains the property of Origami Media Ltd. All material in this magazine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved by Origami Media Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers. Dates, information and prices are believed to be correct at the time of going to print but are subject to change and no responsibility is accepted for omissions or errors. Any correspondence and advertising enquiries should be directed to: info@origami-media.com or visit www.origami-media.com. Design and reprographics by Origami Media Ltd. Printed in the UK by Swallowtail Print Ltd. With thanks to the Office de Tourisme in Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz, Vallee d’Aulps and Les Portes du Soleil.
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contents Resort Highlights .....................................................................8 The Simon Reeve Interview.................................................. 16 Making the Resort go Round ................................................ 22 Rome to Home .......................................................................30 La Folie Douce ........................................................................ 38 Ikigai.........................................................................................40 What’s Next? Micro Chipping for Kids? ..............................50 First Timers............................................................................. 52 My Much Better Norwegian Adventure............................... 56 The Ellie Soutter Legacy....................................................... 60 Express Morzine-Avoriaz Update........................................64 Are You OK?.............................................................................66 The Source Accommodation Guide .....................................69 Hot Property............................................................................ 74 Building A Sustainable Empire............................................. 82 The Europe of the Future......................................................86 The Schoph Interview............................................................88 Tech vs Talent ......................................................................... 92 All The Gear.............................................................................96 Every Picture Tells a Story .................................................. 102 The Food Delusion ............................................................... 106 The Dwayne Fields Interview.............................................. 112 Don’t Get Lost In Translation ..............................................116 A Match Made in Morzine ................................................... 120 Instagram Versus Reality .....................................................122 The Source Awards for Excellence .................................... 126 How to Build an Igloo .......................................................... 128 Keep on Pedalling .................................................................132 The Source Summer Guide..................................................134 Contributors Chloe Hardy Dan Keeley Nicola Iseard
Samuel McMahon Michael Henderson Rachael Hallewell
sally duffy Claire garber guy bowden
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Just when we think we’ve written everything there is to write about Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz, along come another batch of brilliant resort developments, new businesses and events to help our mountain stand out from the rest. As it happens, this winter is no different! Here’s our pick of unmissables across the valley this winter season and you’ll find a shed load more on our website.
MORZINE highlights The Dixie Bar Turns 30!
Fat Bikes
Bon anniversaire to Pascal and his team! Whilst it’s true that every good global destination has a good Irish bar, we like to think of ours as being something truly special. Owner Pascal Anselmet has certainly seen Morzine change over the years, but the Dixie Bar continues to offer the same much-loved authentic après experience, especially when the Dixie Micks are in town (head to page 55 for this season’s dates). Behind the bar these days you’ll find a larger than ever selection of ales, beers, spirits and wine, plus the same warm, friendly craic we’ve all come to know and love. Keep a close eye on the Source events calendar this winter for some extra special events. MORZINE’S ORIGINAL APRES BAR
AKA mountain biking on snow, Evolution 2 in Morzine has launched a full programme of fat biking in time for this winter season. Fat bikes are so-called because of their extra wide tyres, which make them better able to take on snow, ice and incline. Based on the principle that if you can ride a bike, you can ride a fat bike, Evolution 2’s guided tours give you the chance to explore hidden corners of the ski resort. Fat biking is also the perfect on-snow activity for any non-skiers or snowboarders in your group. For more information contact Antoine at Evolution 2 on +33 (0) 4 50 74 02 18 or email morzine@evolution2.com
DixieBar.pdf
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16/10/2018
16:05
- proudly celebrating 30 years of business -
12 different beers on draught including craft, IPA, Guinness, Cider & Lager
Morzine Goes Speciality Burlesque wines and cocktails
tapas, snacksCafé & pizza always available The team behindCrepes, Morzine’s Chaud just can’t stop opening new bars. Last winter Hideout Private room available for parties and groups Hostel became the place to go for relaxed evening drinks and incredibly tasty food. This year they’ve gone down below, transforming the bar we all knew and loved as Le Paradis into something exceptionally different.PLUS Paying other greathomage live acts during apres! to the bar’s previous owner Madame Laury, who danced at the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris, Laury’s is all January 21st - February 3rd about incredible live entertainment and fantastic February 18thdrinks - February 27th created a team alchemists. Co-owner April dates TBC (Dixie Bar 30th Kyle Anniversary) Looking forward toby seeing friends oldofandcocktail new!! Dickson told Source “With Laury’s we wanted to throw Morzine a curveball. A cocktail bar hidden away from the Open 11am - 2am every day - Showing ALL live sports crowds with table service and great live music. You can expect a blend of jazz, funk, cabaret and soul with a hint of more alternative entertainment thrown in to keep you on your toes”. Find out more at laurysbar.com
THE DIXIE MICKS ARE BACK!
Mr Smith Soul, funk and breaks DJ Mr Smith is making Morzine his home for the season and here at Morzine Source Magazine, we’re slightly excited. You’ll find a complete run down of his gigs on the Source events calendar as soon as they’re confirmed, but in the meantime, know this: Mr Smith is also available for private chalet parties and events, complete with his velvet suit and briefcase of funk. As Mr Smith told Source “I’ve always loved Morzine and to bring my brand of funk here as long been a burning ambition. What could be better than amazing mountains, awesome people, good times, a pressed smoking jacket and James Brown?” Find out more at facebook.com/MrSmithFunkDJ or email mrsmithfunkdj@yahoo.com
Find out more:
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11/09/2017
14:41
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The Mighty Penguins It’s been a tough few years for our local hockey club. After years spent playing in France’s Ligue Magnus (like the Premier League, but for French hockey), the Hockey Club Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets (HCMAG or the Penguins as you might know them) merged with the Chamonix Chamois in a move that was supposed to bring financial efficiencies and attract big name players to the club. Except it didn’t quite work out that way. The two clubs parted ways, leaving our mighty Penguins to start from scratch in the bottom division. In just a few short years they’ve played their way back into the second division and with top players now flocking back to the club, this season’s matches are set to be unmissable. Head to hockey-morzine.com for match details and ticket sales. #GOPENGUINS!
Hire a private chef to make your holiday a holiday for everyone Menu 1 - €230 per week
home cooked, filling dishes such as tartiflette, chilli and lasagne
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classic, chalet style food such as beef bourguignon and slow roast belly pork
MENU 3 - €350 per week
our fine dining option including beef wellington and rack of lamb
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GAME EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING THE WINTER SEASON CHECK SCHEDULE ON HOCKEY-MORZINE.COM
SAMEDI 08 DECEMBER TH
SAMEDI 22 DECEMBER ND
SAMEDI 19TH JANUARY
A New Bus Route for MorzineMORZINE-AVORIAZ MORZINE-AVORIAZ MORZINE-AVORIAZ VS ROANNE
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This winter the Mairie de Morzine-Avoriaz will launch TH TH TH SAMEDI DECEMBER JANUARY SAMEDI JANUARY Ligne C,15 an entirely newSAMEDI and05much-welcomed bus09route MORZINE-AVORIAZ for MORZINE-AVORIAZ the resort. The newMORZINE-AVORIAZ route will run from Le Rocher on CLERMONT VSthe TOULOUSE the VS Route des Nants downVStoLIMOGES the roundabout at Hôtel Le Sporting, then down to the roundabout next to the & TICKETS Pompiers before SCHEDULE heading up WWW.HOCKEY-MORZINE.COM the Route des Putheys to the Prodains roundabout and turning up the Route de Avoriaz for five hairpins. The service will commence from Le Haut de la Croix on the Route de Avoriaz at 8.30am each day and the last bus from Le Rocher will be at 7pm each evening. The 2019 winter bus timetable is available to download in full from at morzinesourcemagazine.com 8PM
SKODA ARENA
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HOCKEY CLUB MORZINE-AVORIAZ — SKODA ARENA 502 ROUTE DU PALAIS DES SPORTS 74110 MORZINE — INFO@HOCKEY-MORZINE.COM — +33.(0)4.50.75.78.21
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LEShighlights GETS Wild Beets Kitchen This Winter
VIP Parking For EVs
Don’t get us wrong; we love a hearty, booze-fueled fondue or a piste-side burger as much as the next person, but it’s always nice to have options. And you can expect options a-plenty at Wild Beets Kitchen, which opened last summer to rave reviews. At Wild Beets the focus is on clean, healthy, fresh alternatives to your usual mountain grub. Open for breakfast, lunch, coffee and cake, dishes include smashed avocado on wholegrain toast with freerange poached eggs and toasted seeds. There’s a full salad bar so you can build your own hot and cold salads and wraps to eat in or take away, vegan dishes and a soup of the day. Wild Beets Kitchen is also the perfect coffee and cake stop, right in the centre of the resort. For the full menu and directions head to: facebook.com/wildbeetskitchen
As a winter resort, Les Gets has always been at the forefront of sustainable ski initiatives and drivers of electric vehicles will receive the VIP treatment this winter. You’ll save a nice 20% on your Les Gets - Morzine day ski pass when you arrive in the resort in your EV. You’ll also find several vehicle charging points across the resort and reserved VIP parking spaces in the Perrières car park until 11am each day.
Magical Snow Treks in Les Gets & Morzine Simone Simpson knows the local mountains like the back of her hand following years spent guiding showshoe tours. Showshoeing is the perfect way to get off the beaten track and explore the local mountains from a different perspective. Join Simone’s weekly programme of both half day and full day walks, all of which include transport to and from your accommodation, equipment and a very satisfying hot drink too! In addition to the weekly walking programme, Simone also hosts private trips and night hikes to restaurants for groups of up to eight people. Prices start from €45 per person for half day and €65 per person for full day tours. Private hikes start from €180 for groups of eight. Why not try something really special, and arrange an overnight hut trip? Find out more at magicalsnowtreks.com or call Simone on +33 (0) 6 46 02 16 12
Pre-Ski Yoga Lessons Following the success of last winter’s morning yoga sessions, Les Gets instructor Barbara will run pre-ski warm up lessons on the terrace of Le Grande Ourse, offering exceptional and inspiring views over the resort and Mont Blanc. Varying in length between 30 and 60 minutes, yoga is the perfect way to get your body ready for a day on the slopes. To find out more, or to book you place, email barbara@keolan.com
Three Dining Options at Hotel La Marmotte Restaurant La Piste Noire within the Hotel La Marmotte, overlooking Les Chavannes was entirely refurbished and relaunched last winter as a ‘bistronomic’ restaurant with beautiful interiors and a contemporary menu. Open each day (except Sundays outside of school holidays) from 7pm, you can expect dishes such as guinea fowl ballotine stuffed with candied tomatoes and served with Swiss cheese polenta fries. The hotel’s other restaurant, La Biskatcha also hosts excellent live music every Saturday evening. Find out more at restaurant-labiskatcha.com #lovemorzine
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The P’tite Glisse Lift Pass New for this winter, Les Gets has launched a dedicated beginners lift pass, further enhancing the village’s status as one of the best family ski resorts in the Alps. Offering access to 13 green and blue slopes using the Vieux Chêne draglift, the Chavannes gondola, the Mouille au Roy draglift, the Grand Cry draglift and the magic carpet on the Chavannes, the P’tite Glisse pass is priced at €20 for adults and €16 for children aged between five and 15 years. Here at Source we love anything that encourages new skiers or snowboarders to come to the Portes du Soleil. Well done Les Gets!
Vina Annapurna Located within the exclusive Annapurna development in the centre of Les Gets, Vina opened to rave reviews last summer; if you follow Source on Instagram, you’ll already know that we became lunchtime regulars. The menu features contemporary, freshly prepared dishes, while the interior is smart, chic and bold. Vina also hosts regular jazz and live music events and is open every day from 7:30am to 11am and from 3pm to midnight. We’re expecting the restaurant to be really popular in the evenings this winter, so we’d recommend booking your table in advance on +33 (0)4 50 86 31 12
LES GETS’ ORIGINAL MOBILE SKI & BOARD HIRE COMPANY /skihirelesgets
Ski Hire Les Gets & Morzine • Our 16th year of mobile ski & board hire • New equipment, great service • Contact matt@skihirelesgets.com
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AVORIAZ highlights Launching Le Roc Bowling is a big deal in Avoriaz and we’ve been massive fans of the retro bowling lanes and old school arcade games at Le Bowling for many years. This year, courtesy of its new owners, Le Bowling is getting a massive face-lift in two distinct stages. Le Lounge Roc is a brand new lounge bar complete with a VIP area, a DJ booth, cigar club and cocktail and tapas menu, the space incorporates the buildings adjacent and connected to Le Bowling to create one huge, swanky venue. The original bowling alley will remain untouched for this winter season, becoming Le Strike Roc after a huge refurbishment, commencing in April 2019. The new owners have promised us even more bowling lanes, which is very good news indeed! Follow the progress at facebook.com/lerocavoriaz
Village Igloo
from Café Chaud in Morzine, and last year’s Chase & Status gig was one of the highlights of our winter. Keep an eye on the Source website for ticketing info and a full schedule of events, or head to snowboxx.com
Bonjour La Folie Douce! Excitement levels were high when we discovered that legendary après chain La Folie Douce were set to open a new venue in Avoriaz for this winter season. Located on the site of Chez Lanvers on the Avoriaz Plateau, the entire restaurant has been rebuilt to include a gorgeous, signature La Fruitiere restaurant, a self-service restaurant and those huge party terraces that La Folie Douce is famous for. As you’ll discover in our feature on page 38 of this issue, we can expect extravagant après parties between 2pm and 6.30pm each day with live DJs, singers and performers. For the latest event information, head to facebook.com/lafoliedouceavoriaz
As you’ll discover on page 128 of this magazine, the construction of Avoriaz’s Village Igloo is a carefully planned mission each winter and this year you’ll have three excellent reasons to pay a visit. The Ice Bar, as the name suggests, is entirely made from snow and ice; it’s the perfect place to enjoy a morning coffee or an après drink before skiing back into the resort at the end of your day. The restaurant serves a selection of local cheeses and meats on Wednesday and Saturday evenings from 7pm (reservations necessary). You also have the opportunity to stay overnight at the Igloo Hotel, too!For details head to village-igloo-avoriaz.com
Avoriaz Ride Festival Back for a third year, Avoriaz Ride Festival takes place between 25th and 27th January 2019 and once again, the whole event is free to attend. There’ll be live music, professional athletes competing in unique events and a Big Air show. We can also expect a fun collection of big brands exhibiting and some great parties too. For the latest updates, head to facebook.com/avoriazridefestival
Yes, Avoriaz has chalets!
Snowboxx 2019 Avoriaz has well and truly established itself as the home of live music events at altitude and we’re very excited to see some huge names on the lineup for Snowboxx 2019, which takes place between 23rd and 30th March. Craig David, Mike Skinner (off of The Streets) and Jax Jones are headlining, but we’re most excited about the Rudimental DJ set. As in previous years, tickets for individual events will be available
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Avoriaz Holidays have been working hard to redevelop and refurbish their stunning collection of chalets ahead of the winter season. That’s right, Avoriaz has chalets! They’re just hard to spot amongst the attention-demanding shapes of the resort’s apartment blocks. Chalet Toscana has been renovated and enlarged to accommodate 12 people in stylish rooms with stunning views and a sauna too. Chalet Alaya now has two extra bedrooms, a roof terrace for the ultimate après drinks and a fitness room, whilst Chalet Armonia combines modern fixtures and fittings with a generous nod to the 70s style of the resort’s heyday. Head to avoriaz-holidays.co.uk for more details.
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© www.sharpography.co.uk
• interior architecture • project management • interior design • consultancy •
www.shepandkyles.com
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• renovations • conversions • general contractor • construction management • • fluent english spoken • 15 years experience in the portes du soleil •
contact: Julien +33 (0)6 07 67 86 20
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PORTES DU SOLEIL highlights
Le Container
Alaîa Wave Basin
It’s always fun to ski to the very edge of the Portes du Soleil piste map, but now there’s another good reason to head to Torgon this winter. Le Container is a piste-side snack bar run by Anaïs and Cyrille and as the name might suggest, it’s housed within a shipping container. You’ll find Le Container on the Plan de Croix piste and although the menu is still in development, you can expect savory and sweet crepes and homemade soups. Le Container is open between 8.30am / 9am and 5pm / 6pm (depending on the season) and you can find out more at lecontainer.ch and @lecontainer on Instagram.
Here’s an exciting new development for those of you who enjoy summer holidays in our region. Over in Sion on the other side of Les Portes du Soleil, the construction of a surf pool has been proposed. Sion is just 1 hour, 50 minutes from Morzine by car and construction is expected to commence in the spring with the facility opening to surfers in 2020. The pool will produce up to 1000 waves per hour, ranging in size from 20cm to 1.8m. Other facilities such as a gym and tennis courts are also proposed for the site. For further updates, head to facebook.com/alaia.actionsports
Rock the Pistes Back in 2011, the powers that be at Les Portes du Soleil launched their very own music festival. The concept was relatively simple (though we wouldn’t like to be in charge of logistics!); piste-side concerts on specially erected stages in resorts across the ski area, straddling two different countries. Festivalgoers could enjoy the music free of charge, skiing from one stage to another during the course of the week. Rock the Pistes returns for its ninth year between 17th and 23rd March 2019 and the festival continues to go from strength to strength. All gigs take place on the snow with concerts commencing at 1.30pm each day in a different location. We’ll include the full line-up on our website once it’s released but in the meantime head to rockthepistes.com for updates.
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New Pierre-Longue Chairlift We absolutely love a new ski lift here at Morzine Source Magazine, though you’ll have to head a little further into the Portes du Soleil for this one. Over in Châtel the original 4-man Pierre-Longue chairlift has been replaced by a 6-man detachable Poma chairlift, increasing the flow of skiers and snowboarders from 2600 per hour to over 3000. The new lift will make it much easier to cross back into Avoriaz after a day spent exploring our huge ski area.
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Š Luke Gribble
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simon Reeve
British television’s most adventurous traveller by Amie Henderson
“Humans will never lose the thrill of exploring. Travel is as important as it’s ever been.” BBC broadcaster and adventurer Simon Reeve is due on stage in Dundee in an hour and there’s no time to waste, so I’ve kicked off our interview with the big question; why is travel impor tant? “Travel is more than staying in a cosy beach resor t. Travel is learning and creating memories, not sitting by a swimming pool.” He’s been described as ‘British television’s most adventurous traveller’, but unlike previous Source interviewees such as Sir Ranulph Feinnes, Bear Grylls or Ben Fogle, Simon’s career journey was less predictable and cer tainly less privileged. Growing up in Acton, West London, he didn’t set foot on an aeroplane until he was an adult. I wonder whether his limited travels in his younger years inspired his adulthood adventures? “I guess they encouraged and inspired me. I never take what I do for granted. Travel was not my bir thright. I was never pushed to go exploring. I love every single day that we’re on the road and it’s an immense privilege. Setting out to work in the extremes of life, travelling to dangerous places
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to hear real human stories, these are the most exciting and memorable aspects of what I do.” As you may have gathered by now, Simon is no modern day Judith Chalmers. It’s not a travel show he presents (he repor ts in to the BBC’s current affairs depar tment, FYI) and there have cer tainly been some scary moments along the way. “More than a few in truth!” Simon tells me. “I was in the Burmese jungle travelling to meet an tribe of endangered people. This really was a secret undercover operation, there were just three of us in the TV team and we were passing through a remote militarised zone. The military in these par ts are known for their savage abuse and since locals guided us, the consequences would be terminal if we were caught. I wanted to tell the story of these abandoned people but the experience was truly terrifying, especially when we heard rumors that the military had arrived in the next village. We had to make a swift exit through the jungle in darkness. Even now, special forces guys ask me how and why we did it!”
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I imagine the shelves in Simon’s home, straining under the weight of precious travel souvenirs. With 130+ countries under his belt, what is his most prized travel memento? “A Somali diplomatic passpor t in my own name that I bought in Mogadishu for $80 from a man called Mr Big Beard. And a sword that Dayak headhunters in Borneo gave me as they adopted me into their family. It’s smeared with blood and comes complete with notches indicating the number of heads it's slayed.”
“A Somali diplomatic passport in my own name that I bought in Mogadishu for $80 from a man called Mr Big Beard” In previous interviews Simon has hinted of some dark times in his late teens. He left school without any qualifications and since it’s World Mental Health Day when we speak, I wanted to know more about these early days. “It’s only recently, this year in fact, that I’ve faced up to and talked about how tricky things were for me. Now the story seems appropriate.” “Life was as dark as it could get. I left school with no qualifications, no ambitions, I was a real no hoper. I had no idea what I’d do and ending my life genuinely seemed like a better idea than going on.” Simon is open and honest in recounting these experiences. I wonder what advice he has for kids these days? “In my situation, it was critical not to think too far ahead. The lady in the DSS office told me that as I collected my dole. I didn’t need to have a ‘grand plan’. I just needed to take things step by step. As children we’re always encouraged to ‘reach for the stars’, there’s all this ‘live your dreams’ bollocks. But I was struggling to get out of bed each day! And these days there’s the bullshit Instagram narrative of this unobtainable perfect life. Youngsters can’t have it all, and they can’t have it overnight.”
and was eventually promoted to the newsroom by the paper’s Editor. In 1998 he wrote ‘The New Jackals’, an in-depth look at the future of terrorism and the first book to name Osama bin Laden as a threat. Then came 9/11 and Simon was in demand as the world’s foremost Al-Qaeda exper t by the BBC. ‘Holidays in the Danger Zone’ was his TV presenting debut in 2003 and the intervening years have been spent making no fewer than 80 programs exploring lessertrod par ts of the globe. Combining travel, adventure, wildlife, conservation and environmental issues, Simon’s adventures have been broadcast in more than 60 countries, racking up tens of millions of viewers. But surely all that travel equates to a lot of time spent away from home? Simon is married and is father to a sevenyear-old son (“who I completely dote on”). “I used to be away for six or more months of the year, but now it’s more like four months in total. Unfor tunately the BBC’s insurance doesn’t cover seven-year-olds in war zones, so the family stay at home.” I wonder how he balances the thrill of adventure with the responsibilities of being a Dad? “My wife is half Danish and has those strong Scandi genes, so she’s pretty level-headed. In truth, she copes better when I’m away than when I’m at home. I was once in an armed convoy travelling through Libya.
© Craig Hastings
A job in the mailroom of The Sunday Times aged 19 proved to be a turning point for Simon. As a sideline, he involved himself in investigations
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Hunter Chalets Source Advert.pdf
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24/10/2018
13:43
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Genuine Luxury | Summer & Winter
hunterchalets.com +44 20 3745 3452
+33 771 86 65 47
info@hunterchalets.com
Š Freddie Martin
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We approached the town of Sir te, it was one of the most heavily damaged places I’ve ever been to following the civil war. I sent my wife a text saying ‘we’re just about to enter the city, there could be booby-trapped bodies’. She replied ‘try to stay safe. I’m just cleaning up some dog sick, then I’m off on the school run. Oh and the washing machine is broken.’ The normality is always more impor tant than the extreme.”
“try to stay safe. I’m just cleaning up some dog sick, then I’m off on the school run. Oh and the washing machine is broken.” If you’re reading this after taking a few risks on the mountain today – maybe you triumphed on your first black run, or you nailed your first 180 – how does Simon’s risk list compare? He’s hunted with the San Bushmen of the Kalahari and he’s been hunted by the KGB. He’s been detained on suspicion of spying and he’s dodged bullets on the front line in Somalia. He’s dived with manta rays, seals and sharks, and survived Malaria in Gabon. Walking through minefields is just another day in the job. If Simon could return to one place of his choice tomorrow, where would it be? “Somaliland, an unrecognised country on the Horn of Africa; it’s unusual and inspiring, the people are incredible. Or the Maldives, which are stereotypically beautiful and the marine life is incredible.”
people, who’ve never seen a European before, and they ask me why their climate is changing. They are scared of the immediate dangers our planet is facing.” There are approximately 200 recognised countries on the planet and having been to over 130 of them, Simon still has some work to do. “If I lost this gig tomorrow to someone younger and cooler, I’d head to Japan. Or New Zealand, Finland, Costa Rica… or much closer to home. I’m more at home in the mountains than anywhere else, but this isn’t a box ticking competition! I mean, that’s a fun game at a dinner par ty, but you can go to Brazil ten times and have ten different experiences.” But who inspires the man who inspires so many of us to get out there and travel? “My family to a cer tain extent. I’m not from a family of travellers, but my brother is an award winning travel photographer and the images he captures whet my appetite. And when we’re on a journey, it’s the fixers and guides that travel with us that inspire me. They’re so enthusiastic and they perfectly tell the story of where they live”. Chris Evans described Simon’s 2018 autobiography and instant bestseller Step by Step as ‘the best autobiography of anyone under 50 I’ve ever read’ and it’s hard to comprehend that a 46 year-old has travelled so extensively.
By travelling to dangerous and difficult places, surely Simon has seen more than most the damage humans are doing to our planet and to each other. Is that difficult to process, I wonder? “It’s difficult to accurately and fairly por tray what seven billion of us are doing to our world. Understanding the scale is incredibly hard. We are destroying our planet and there is a collective madness; no one is trying to stop this and that’s a failing of democracy. A politician who tries to make us moderate our behaviour for the sake of the planet is like taking the punch bowl away at a par ty. Honestly, it worries me a lot. I’ve come across indigenous
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“It’s difficult to accurately and fairly portray what seven billion of us are doing to our world. Understanding the scale is incredibly hard. ” It’s tales from these travels that Simon recounts during his twice-extended UK theatre tour, which he describes as “just me, on a stage, telling stories” and as “the most nerve-wracking thing I’ve ever done”. But what’s next? “I honestly don’t know! I’ve been discussing some ideas with the BBC and there’s a bit of poker playing going on right now. But it’ll be another journey; an epic one.”
Simon’s latest book, Step By Step - The Life in My Journeys is available to buy now in all good book shops
© www.simonreeve.co.uk
apéroCOCKTAILS GLUTEN-FREE FOOD m
8
am t o 11p
96 taille de mas du pleney ———— +33.(0)4.50.06.18.50 @leColibriMorzine #leColibri © Craig Hastings
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MAKING THE RESORT
go round
It takes a lot of people to run a ski resort. We caught up with a few of the people working on the slopes and behind the scenes in Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets to find out how they do it. I don’t have a single job. I have several! I’ve run Teleski de la Turche with my father since 2009. It’s the last independently owned ski lift in Les Gets and it’s been in my family since 1946. In 2015 I bought an old hotel, La Grande Laniere, with my partner. We’ve refurbished the entire hotel and in February 2018 we received a three-star rating. I’ve been a municipal councillor in Les Gets since 2014. I also practiced law until 2008 so now I help other private ski lift owners across France who are having legal difficulties.
Christell Combépine Hotelier and Independent Ski Lift Operator - Les Gets Lagrandelaniere.com Teleski-de-la-Turche-Les-Gets @skilaturche
In the winter I work intensely doing two jobs. For example, I start my day at the hotel overseeing breakfast. Then I prepare to open the teleski with my dad and his colleague Franck. We have to do technical checks every day before we open to the public. I spend my day between the teleski and the hotel, doing admin and looking after guests. After the teleski is closed, I go back to the hotel to see the guests and work on the reception. Sometimes I go to meetings at the Mairie in the evenings. Unfortunately I have very little time to ski, which is a shame when you work at the foot of the pistes! The best part about my job is working in a beautiful place, with great people and guests. There’s a lot of solidarity in the mountain environment, particularly amongst lift operators. I am very lucky to meet lots of different people from all over the world in both my jobs. It’s so enriching to work in an international environment and it’s a beautiful thing to form relationships with so many guests.
I’ve been a ski patroller for six years and a mountain bike instructor for eight. My main responsibilities as a patroller are to check the ski pistes are safe every day, and secure avalanche prone areas if there is an elevated risk, either by manually setting off slides or using explosives. Throughout the day we respond to rescue requests for injured skiers, snowboarders, walkers and sledgers. The first task is finding the victim, which can be difficult, especially if they’re off-piste. Second is assessing the injuries of the victim, then requesting the appropriate backup, equipment and evacuation method. Becoming a ski patroller isn’t easy, the entry test is the hardest part. You ski an off-piste course set out on a black run and are judged by groups of other ski patrollers. You have to ski fast but be in control at the same time, showing that you have correct technique and can go fast if necessary. Steven Ponting Ski Patrol - Les Gets We hope you don’t have to see Steven over the winter! But you can find him in the summer at Les Gets Bike School: lesgetsbikeschool.com
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The best part of my job is being on skis or a bike and outside every day. Plus, riding fresh powder before the resort opens, riding a snowmobile and meeting lots of new people! I've seen many injuries in the winter. It's crazy all the things that can happen to the human body, sometimes even the doctors don't believe it. Like the time someone dislocated both their hips and all the doctor kept saying was, “this isn't possible.” But what I find really interesting are the different ways people react to being injured, like when a twelve-year-old is lying in the snow with three broken vertebrae, totally calm, telling his dad, “calm down, everything will be fine.”
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Sue Neal Local Artist
Ranging from highly detailed ski and animal portraits to large scale contemporary canvases inspired by nature and the surrounding mountains. Also available for commissions
Fred Richard
Art Collection
Commercial Manager Le Pleney, Morzine Visit ski-morzine.com for more information
I’ve worked as commercial manager at the Pleney since 2011 after taking some time out from my job as an architect to do a season. After a winter spent working at the lift pass office my boss told me there was a new job available so I took it! My main duties are running the cash desks, managing the website, working with tour operators, large groups and school groups, managing contracts and advertising. We’re a small structure but at the same time we’re dealing with millions of Euros and thousands of people. In the winter we have 170 employees but just three or four in the office. We’re all very enthusiastic so it’s good and exciting most of the time, but sometimes we’re very busy! My main goal in my work is to improve our communication with the public, to keep people better informed of what we’re doing and what we can offer. We’ve worked on our customer service a lot over the past few years and now we have a mixture of French natives and international English speakers on the cash desks so we can help international customers more effectively. This year our fidelity points system is totally online, which makes it much easier for customers to access and use their points. We’ve also changed some of the pistes this winter to make them a bit more exciting in some areas but gentle for beginners in others, so look out for a few changes on the piste map! And for the first time we’re offering a beginners’ pass, which lets first-time skiers and snowboarders use the beginner areas on the Pleney for a reduced price.
Art Class Art groups for non-skiers in your holiday accommodation to create lasting memories. Children’s art birthday parties also available. To book an art group, commission a piece or to visit the studio, contact Sue Neal on
+33 (0) 6 43 37 37 65 susiewendy1365@gmail.com suenealart.eu
In terms of the future, we’re trying to to diversify our activities. We’re working hard on our summer activities and this autumn we did lots of work on the mountain bike trails, so next summer we can develop new tracks with professional advisers. In the winter we’re trying to be open to more activities, like ski touring, splitboarding and walking.
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I am responsible for press and communication for Avoriaz. Before this, I worked as a freelance photographer, specialising in snow sports. You’ll find some of my photos on the Avoriaz website. I keep the international press informed of what’s going on and what’s new in Avoriaz, so I supervise digital communication both within and outside of the resort and I maintain all the editorial aspects of the Avoriaz 1800 brand, like press releases and resort guides. I’m also in charge of photo and video content.
Aurelie Bertholier Press and Communications Manager Avoriaz Office de Tourisme Check out Aurelie’s photos on Instagram: @orelib. Follow Avoriaz1800 on Instagram @Avoriaz1800
I love working with journalists from all over the world. I also really enjoy the process of creating marketing campaigns; from coming up with an idea to sharing it with the world. That’s really rewarding. But finding the time to do everything can be pretty difficult! I get to do so many different things in this job, but I really enjoyed my first report on architecture, which I worked on with the magazine AD Architecture. I was able to follow all the interviews and I learned lots about Avoriaz’s eco-responsibilities and unique buildings. The future of our resorts is definitely ecoresponsibility. We need to protect our mountains. There are lots of exciting things going on this winter, but the one I’m looking forward to the most has to be the free barbecue space and new play area in the Lil’Stash. I have as much fun there as the kids do and I love relaxing in the forest during my lunch break!
This winter will be my fourth season working at the Avoriaz SnowzZone. Our daily tasks involve opening the parks, reshaping the jumps and features, helping clients, testing the modules and even emptying the bins. From time to time you can add helping with events, driving a skidoo, welding, tree surgery, wearing the Shreddie outfit and a whole host of other random tasks.
Neil Sharp Park Shaper - Avoriaz Follow Avoriaz SnowZone on Instagram @avoriazsz Neil is also a great photographer sharpography.co.uk
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The weather can sometimes make work very difficult. Too much or not enough snow. Too much wind. Too cloudy. We get it all. If the mountain is busy and combined with hot and sunny weather, then it can make a big difference to the workload. It all depends on the snow conditions really. But working outside in such a beautiful place is the best part. Even though the view is the same, it changes daily, if not hourly, with the weather. It’s also great to be able to snowboard every day. One of the most memorable moments for me was during an interseason. I was helping one of the pisteurs work on the gas cannons (for setting off avalanches). There was snow on the ground and we had to get to the top of the shoulder between Pointe de Vorlaz and the Brochaux lift to change out the empty gas canisters. It turns out the most efficient way to do this is by helicopter. So we got picked up from the side of the Avoriaz road, dropped at the top and changed the canisters over. The helicopter came and picked up the empties, and we had no choice but to snowboard and ski back down to the bottom of the Brochaux. I basically got to go heli-skiing and got paid for it!
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LA BISKATCHA
Mountain brasserie & grill Live concert every Saturday night
LA PISTE NOIRE
Bistronomic cuisine
3 charming restaurants in the heart of Les Gets. Enjoy various cuisines in a distinct atmosphere.
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LA PIVOTTE
Local cuisine restaurant
61 rue du ChĂŞne - 74260 LES GETS La Pivotte: +33(0)450845525 | restaurant-lapivotte.com La Biskatcha: +33(0)450845535 | restaurant-labiskatcha.com /MorzineSourceMagazine La Piste Noire: +33(0)50845520 |@MorzineSource restaurant-lapistenoire.com
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Only the best gear makes it onto the pages of Morzine Source Magazine, and who better to recommend the kit you should be skiing on this winter than Fall-Line Skiing Magazine's Co-Editor Nicola Iseard.
- ski hardware -
Dynafit Hoji Pro Tour
RRP €650.00 ‘The first ski boot for touring. The first touring boot for skiing.’ That’s the tag Dynafit gives this boot. So what makes it so special? Firstly, it is designed by the king of flow, Eric ‘Hoji’ Hjorleifson (if you haven’t seen his segment in Matchstick Productions' 2010 film, The Way I See It, put this mag down and do so now). He is a man obsessed with tweaking and refining his gear, who pretty much locked himself in a lab for a few months to fine-tune this boot. The big news is the patented Hoji Lock System, a single buckle that switches the boot between ski and tour mode, while simultaneously adjusting the buckles and power strap. The result is a boot that remains flexible on the climb, but is rigid and powerful on the descent with a progressive forward flex of 120 (105 for the women’s-specific version). It’s as close to a ‘have cake and eat it’ sort of boot we’ve seen in a while. www.dynafit.com
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Source_TSI_Advert.pdf
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Ski
1
01/10/2018
09:33
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with some of
The Best
instructors in the alps
www.tsi.ski
British or bilingual English speaking instructor guaranteed Call or email us now to book lessons
+33 (0)4 50 74 98 58 Dec till Apr +44 (0)7 903 186 819 All year round Email lesson@tsi.ski TheSnowInstitute tsisnowsports thesnowinstitute
Winter Sports Insurance Off piste - with or without guide Personal liability - injuring other skiers and cover for ski leading 24hr emergency medical cover including resuce by helicopter Family policies - kids go free
Mammut Ultralight Removable Airbag
Local ski racing covered Snowparks
RRP â‚Ź569.00
Ski event cancellation cover
Since airbags first hit the market over a decade ago, brands have been vying to create the ultimate airbag: one that is easy to operate, has a robust ballon that won't falter under any circumstances, and is lightweight - and this, for many people, is key; there is no point having a top-of-the-line airbag if it sits in your garage all winter because it's too heavy to ski with. Enter Mammut’s smallest, ultra-lightweight avalanche airbag. The (removable) airbag system and carbon cartridge weigh no more than a litre of water - so, all together, the pack tips the scales at just 1.5kg. It also has a diagonal ski carrier, full rear zipper access into the main compartment, and - arguably our favourite feature - removable back padding can be used as a cushion to sit on.
Up to age 80 - over 80, please call
Specialist travel insurance from the experts
w: retail.mpibrokers.com/morzinesource e : info@mpibrokers.com
www.mammut.com
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POC Obex SPIN
RRP ₏180 If you treasure your mind, then protect your brain with classleader POC's new helmet tech, SPIN. POC has observed that oblique blows that cause rotational forces in the brain are at least as damaging as direct impacts, and their SPIN helmet is designed to mitigate those dangerous knocks. It is an evolution of the MIPS safety system, which has been widely adopted across many sports helmet manufacturers. In this case, the SPIN pads, made of foam and silicone, allow the helmet to slightly rotate around the head in case of an impact to offer additional shock absorption. We are stoked on these kinds of developments. What other features are there? The ABS top shell has adjustable vents to keep air moving through the helmet – meaning it's comfy to keep on for those punchy hikes up to a stash. www.pocsports.com
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Bollé Nevada with Phantom lens
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Treat yourself to
RRP €139.00 Bollé have nailed the shape and colour schemes of the Nevada and we reckon for a goggle this high spec it's a bit of a bargain. The new Phantom lens is photochromic, meaning it adjusts automatically to light intensity (from Cat 1 to 3, or vice versa) and does so in a mega fast transition time of 30 seconds. Not to mention that Cat 1 to Cat 3 offers at least as much change as swapping between two separate lenses like other brands offer. There is a semi-polarised version too, the Phantom+ which costs an extra €20. Get your peepers into a pair this winter and you'll be amazed just how wide the field of view is - the ginormous cylindrical lens floating in a rimless frame looks wicked from the inside and out. www.bolle.com
AT C H A L E T G E N T I A N E
Beautiful 8 bedroom catered ski chalet in Les Gets, at the heart of the Portes du Soleil.
To find out more please visit:
www.chaletgentiane.com email
summitspecial@chaletgentiane.com or call
+44 (0) 7931 934312 BG Wealth - Source Quarter Page.pdf
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24/09/2018
10:17
Elan Ripstick 96 / 94W
RRP €599 / €549 Elan brings the testers' favourites, the Ripstick range, back for another season and it's the 96 (and women's-specific 94 W) that really stands out in terms of its versatility. I hesitate to use the well-worn cliché ‘one-ski quiver ski’ but… this is one heck of a do-it-all ski. It’s wide up front, with a soft rockered tip that gives it buoyancy in all but the deepest pow. But when you let it run it drives GS turns beautifully, with less chatter than you'd expect from such a powder-oriented nose. How so? Elan has snuck in some lightweight composite VaporTip inserts to reduce weight and vibration. Take it onto harder terrain/steeps and the narrow waist and energetic tail give the ski snap and manoeuvrability. Skiing has never been so fun. www.elanskis.com
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ROME TO HOME: The Mental Adventure
ONE YEAR ON BY DAN KEELEY Mental Health Campaigner, Speaker, Adventure Runner & Snowsports Community Manager at Snow-Camp.
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Farmhouse.pdf
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1
17/09/2018
15:16
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Let’s dive in. In 2012 I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. That year, my mind took me from full-scale mania, where I
The oldest building in Morzine built in 1771 is a charming hotel and restaurant
ended up preaching from the middle lane of a motorway in Italy (not to be recommended), to time in psychiatric wards, to six months of crippling depression which left me completely debilitated. In 2017, after a testing five-year journey of recovery, I ran 1250 miles, solo and self-supported, from the Colosseum in Rome back to the London Eye, creating a huge platform to share my story and bring this chapter full-circle. And we did it. With massive support behind the scenes back home, we did it. Now, one year on, I’m looking back and reliving the adventure which, as so many of you rock stars reading this will know, was so much more than just a little solo jog from ‘Rome To Home’. This was a five year journey of overcoming adversity, of channelling adversity, of harnessing the beast that is bipolar disorder and making it work for me over those lifeaffirming 65 days. It was a true celebration - a celebration of speaking up when I knew I needed support, a celebration of putting the daily practices and habits in place to live a full life in spite of my mental health challenges, a celebration of doing whatever I needed to do to be truly happy again and a celebration of surrounding myself with incredible people who have my back no matter what, who’ve all joined me on this crazy little mental adventure over the past five years.
• 18th Century Farmhouse • Delicious cuisine every evening • Perfect destination for winter & summer breaks 11 STUNNING BEDROOMS • DELIGHTFUL RESTAURANT WINTER & SUMMER WEDDINGS
www.thefarmhouse.co.uk +33 (0) 4 50 79 08 26 info@thefarmhouse.co.uk
Rome To Home was also an oil painting. An oil painting that I got to live and breathe and taste and smell and see come to life first-hand during the two and a half months I was running, with this overwhelming sense of gratitude and sense of purpose to
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share my story every step of the way in the hope of empowering others (particularly men) to speak up when they’re suffering.
Let’s re-live it together. It’s 7am on Friday 25th August 2017. We’ve woken up to a golden sunrise beaming through the arches of the Colosseum, we’ve got my wife, my mother, and a handful of loved-ones ready to send me off, and after a year of preparation, it was go time!
We jet up to the English Channel, we cross over to Newhaven in East Sussex and get ready to start The Home Leg - the final five day blast, for which I’d tee’d up many others to turn out and run with me. And so many did,
particularly for the final blast from Greenwich Park along the Thames to the London Eye, where we were greeted by 130+ of my Dream Team, with Union Jacks flying, drenched in Champagne and knowing we did it… we did it… together… we did it. And here we are. One year on. In so many ways, the adventure is still well and truly alive. The legacy lives on and now (based on the overwhelming number of people who still reach out to me each week) I’m even more committed to my cause than ever before - to empower the UK to speak up when we’re suffering. And here’s the message for any of you reading these words that may be struggling right now. We’ve got this. Together, we’ve got this. We’re all struggling with something, so let’s nurture the habit of speaking up about whatever we’re going through and truly show future generations how it’s done. You know where I am if you need me!
IMAGE CREDITS @BENSNAPSSTUFF
We jet over the Vatican (a little emotional as you can probably guess), we climb up and out of Rome, looking back over the City, and we point North. We’re winding up through Tuscany, to Siena and over to the west coast near Pisa before taking on our first major hills to cross over the spine of Italy before heading up between Turin and Milan to the Alps.
We’re either wild-camping or staying in registered pilgrim accommodation along the famous Via Francigena pilgrimage path that links Canterbury to Rome, and we’re meeting the most amazing people along the way, who all connected with the adventure and supported the journey. We’re heading up to Aosta and this is when I turn in to a 12-year-old in a theme park, soaking up the mountain trails with barely another human in sight. Heaven. We climb two days up and two days down the Grand St Bernard Pass, dropping in to Martigny before blasting up to Montreux on Lake Geneva. We climb up and out of Switzerland, we drop in to France and take on the flat countryside up to Paris, complete with a 54 mile day to arrive in style.
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The perfect holiday souvenir Professional family photo experiences in the most beautiful mountain setting
Contact Polly now to book your photoshoot
+33 (0)7 71 07 24 04 | info@studiopolly.com
www.studiopolly.com /MorzineSourceMagazine
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We guarantee that no one knows their snowboard kit more than filmer and photographer Sam McMahon and you can be sure he’s tested the heck out of the products that follow before giving them his recommendation.
- snowboarding Jones Mind Expander
rrp €549.00 Whilst it sounds mad, the last few years have seen an explosion in brands creating boards that aren’t just dripping with tech, but are fun to ride as well. By pulling the back foot towards the tail, extending the nose and giving it a surfboardinspired rocker, Jones have made a board that rips not just in powder, but over pistes, slush and crud too. The resultant shape just sings for you to go all Z-Boys and get surfy, dropping that back hand and kicking up some spray. On the 2018 Whitelines board test, this was the board with all the buzz, and this year it’s also available in a female-specific size and flex. If this winter is anything like the last, this’ll be the board to see it through on! jonessnowboards.com
Vans SK8-Hi Boot MTE DX
rrp €139.00 No one wants cold, wet feet, but stomping around the resort in wellies or walking boots is for nerds! Much better to get yourself something from the Vans MTE range - classic trainer shapes that have been weatherised by adding waterproofing features and a reversed waffle pattern sole for more grip. These SK8 Hi's are the most extreme and chunky version to date, heading towards more of a boot shape than previous iterations, but with this you get a more water resistant leather upper along with thicker and warmer heat lining, keeping your tootsies snug and stylish. Ended up in resort without any practical footwear? You can find these at Slopestyle, on the Rue du Bourg in Morzine. vans.com
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35
MSC advert.pdf
1
24/10/2014
13:42
z Morzine Ski Chalets Our speciality is your perfect getaway!
www.morzineskichalets.com
Our speciality is your perfect getaway!
www.morzineskichalets.com
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Spark R&D Arc Splitboard Bindings
rrp €429.00 Splitboarding is massive these days, and with a lot of new kit hitting the market, there’s a lot of different systems to wrap your head around. Take it from me, after trying every split-specific binding out there,these are the most comfortable and the least faff whilst transitioning from walking to riding. No contest. You snap them into place on your board with a simple lever that lives under the toes and that’s kinda it - they feel like a normal binding. This sounds like damning with faint praise unless you’ve experienced the first generation of splitboard bindings or - even worse - adaptor plates to retrofit standard footstraps. Every feature is designed so you have to put as little thought to them as possible, leaving your head clear to truly enjoy those magnificent views and all-time turns. sparkrandd.com
Bonfire Aspect 3L Jacket
rrp €549.00 Previously, if you wanted to be warm and dry whilst hitting the backcountry, you had to settle for looking like a nerd. Tight pants, fluro colours and a truly questionable number of zips were the order of the day. Now, thanks to brands like Bonfire, you can hike up, shape a kicker and shred some turns back down without overheating or getting drenched and still make it to the bar without ducking home for a quick change. This camo jacket has a mindbending 30,000mm waterproofness rating, as well as a unique venting system and feels practically bombproof in your hands, all the while cutting a sweet silhouette. What can I say, game recognise game. bonfireouterwear.com
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pro rammonage.pdf
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1
23/04/2018
10:48
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Service de ramonage | Chimney Sweep service
Member of the European Federation of Chimney Sweeps
info@proramonage.com
/proramonage
Tel: +33 (0)6 82 57 56 41 we accept:
Stance Pau Snow Socks
rrp ₏18.00 Snowboarding starts with the feet, so it makes perfect sense to make sure yours are well-shod. A nice pair of socks can go a long way to making a good day better, and when I go away on trips I try and make sure I keep a favourite pair, like these from Stance, clean and dry in case we’re off to shoot in the cold and wet. Forget those hideous tube socks from TK MAXX your aunt always tries to slip you for Christmas, their All Mountain range maps hot spots, reinforcing and stretch zones to where you need each most on your foot. Plus, they look baller. stance.com
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Get Ready to Party! OPENS IN AVORIAZ Renowned for its epic après parties, electric live performances and impeccable service, La Folie Douce is a small but mighty collection of piste-side restaurants that represent the epitome of good-time skiing. If you’ve ever been to La Folie Douce, no doubt the image of VIP areas loaded with Champagne, DJs on balconies playing to packed out terraces and piste-side cabaret shows have sprung to mind already. But for those to whom the concept is new, you’re in for a treat.
So, why Avoriaz? As it happens, La Folie Douce didn’t choose Avoriaz; Avoriaz chose La Folie Douce. Joseph Lenvers is the owner of Le Chalet d’Avoriaz Chez Lenvers, the snack and après bar that has been entirely transformed to become La Folie Douce Avoriaz. Chez Lenvers was the first restaurant in Avoriaz when it opened in 1955. Back then Lenvers’ great great grandfather (also named Joseph) served wine and lemonade to walkers from his farm.
And if you’re visiting the Portes du Soleil this winter, you’ll get to experience it in all its glory.
The rest, as they say, is history. And for Joseph Lenvers, it is a new chapter in the Chez Lenvers story. His commitment to ensuring everyone has a good time makes him the perfect person to oversee the future of La Folie Douce Avoriaz. “We’ve always done après ski,” he says, “So really, we’re continuing to do what we’ve always done, with a professional passion and with a top establishment.”
Created in Val d’Isere in 1981 by mother and son duo ‘Momone’ and Luc Reversade, La Folie Douce guests have been enjoying the proverbial high life for nearly thirty years, and the concept has cemented its reputation as one that brings quality, glam and colour to the après ski experience. And it’s not just about the parties. La Folie Douce prides itself on its fine dining menus and providing the best possible service; that’s no mean feat for a mountain restaurant. While La Folie Douce has been franchised to other carefully selected resorts in the French Alps, there remains only a handful, making the experience that much more unique and the resorts that home them that much more exciting.
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Two generations later, the humble Chez Lenvers had grown, along with the ski resort of Avoriaz, into a lively après ski snack bar. Working with La Folie Douce seemed like the perfect match. “We wanted to redo the chalet,” Monsieur Lenvers tells Source when we meet in October and La Folie Douce is still very much under construction. “And then we had the chance to meet with La Folie Douce. We got on well straight away, they were looking to establish a Folie Douce in the Portes du Soleil, and they decided to do it with us.”
restaurants, so many things to do, this is just another one of those things,” he says, modestly. But there’s a real sense of pride in the room as Lenvers explains why La Folie Douce is more than just your standard après bar. “There are lots of bars in Morzine and Avoriaz that offer après ski next to the pistes but with La Folie Douce, the concept is more thought out. The quality of the restaurant, the quality of the music, the performers, the quality of the design. There are no other restaurants like that. In this sense it’s totally unique.” And while La Folie Douce is committed to providing the same quality and experience in each of its outlets, each one is also unique in its own way. La Folie Douce Avoriaz will be the first Folie Douce to remain open after the lifts have closed, with après ski parties running until 6:30pm, thanks to its unique location which makes it easily accessible on skis as well as on foot. Like its counterparts across the Alps, La Folie Douce Avoiaz will be made up of a large terrace and a self-service restaurant, La Petite Cuisine, which is spread over two floors and allows guests to enjoy the entertainment whatever the weather. The focus will be on good-quality, locally sourced
While Avoriaz is already world-famous as the first pedestrianised ski resort in France, the introduction of such a high profile and iconic establishment looks set to bring in lots of new visitors, as well as appease long-time Avoriaz fans. But will it change the image of resort as we know it? Lenvers doesn’t think so. “There are so many exciting new things happening in Avoriaz all the time. So many
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food and good times, with a daily après ski party and entertainment starting after lunch every day. Another key aspect of La Folie Douce is La Frutière, a more intimate, exclusive dining experience within the chalet that specialises in local delicacies. This fine dining restaurant will be open in the evenings for dinner, allowing guests to enjoy the more tranquil side of La Folie Douce after the craziness of the daily après party, and another exclusive benefit of being based in Avoriaz. And what can we expect in terms of events and performances? Lenvers stresses he wants to keep events quite soft in this first year, sticking to a themed day once a week, a collaboration with Snowboxx Festival in March and of course, a special New Year party. But with access to the La Folie Douce’s fine collection of in-house musicians, DJs and performers, we’re predicting exciting and unique shows on a daily basis.
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The main thing Joseph Lenvers and his team are hoping for however, is quality. “We want to do everything possible to help people have a special time at La Folie Douce,” he tells us. At the time of writing, the team is perfecting the menu with La Folie Douce’s head chef, Franck Mischler, as well as exploring options to get guests to and from Morzine in the evenings. And, of course, with Lenvers’ years of experience and the well-oiled machine of La Folie Douce behind him, we’re convinced it’s going to be a great first winter.
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La Folie Douce Avoriaz opens on the 15th December and is located at the top of the Plateau chairlift, opposite the Ecole button lift. It can be accessed from above via the Lindarets or Proclou chairlifts. If you’re staying in Morzine but want to make the most of the après parties, you can get back to town via the Prodains cable car and the A bus. Make sure you check the timetable because they are less frequent in the evenings!
You can find out more about La Folie Douce Avoriaz at laafoliedouce.com. Or to get yourself in the mood to party, follow La Folie Douce Avoriaz on:
facebook.com/Lafoliedouceavoriaz/ Instagram: @foliedouceavoriaz Twitter: @foliedouceavo Snapchat: foliedouceavo
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image credits - © Samuel McMahon
By Samuel McMahon
Think back to any video you’ve seen on skiing or snowboarding in Japan. Cue a timelapse montage of the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, people in facemasks, huge pedestrian crossings, Harajuku girls, performance sushi. Now cut to the mountains; high fives, face shots, edges slamming into trees, a ton of action with the odd shot of a temple spliced in. All of this is on offer, but the times I’ve spent on Hokkaido have been less about finding adrenaline and more about oxytocin. Coming from snowboarding in the Alps where riding is all about finding crazier lines or going bigger in the park, you could be forgiven for thinking that this approach is universal. However, there are other ways. ‘Ikigai’ is a concept for bringing purpose into your life. In French you’d call it ‘raison d’être’, and in English it loosely translates to ‘thing that you live for’, but in Japanese culture it has more of a holistic meaning. By combining what you love doing, what you’re good at doing, what the world needs and what you can be paid for, you find something much more valuable and rewarding than a passion or profession - you find a purpose. It’s been touted by many as the key to living longer. If your job is not just a means to a paycheck but your entire reason to get up in the morning, people stay more active for longer. They find peace and fulfillment through work and are thus able to adopt a gentler pace of life.
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THE GOURMET FROZEN MEAL COMPANY “The best on-line meal delivery service made in the mountains” - 4.7 Star Raঞng
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It doesn’t have to be associated with high flying jobs or trendy careers either. In Japan you see it everywhere, from fishmongers to snow clearers, supermarket bag packers to train conductors, all surprisingly (from a Western perspective) content and happy finding beauty in the mundane. This attitude also breeds respect: there’s no reason to look down on any given career if someone can find complete inner peace in doing so, so the concept of a dead-end job applies less. It applies to skiing and snowboarding too. Yeah, you could ‘get better’ by constantly going bigger, faster, by adding an extra rotation. Or, like many of the local riders we met on my last trip there, you could spend your time striving towards the absolute perfect turn. The most perfect edge pressure, the perfect body balance, the perfect line. There’s a whole movement in snowboarding devoted to this called ‘snowsurf’, practised by riders like the Gentemstick team, Happo Banks and the Orange Man - a guy who, put simply, likes turning his snowboard and being orange, from his board, to his outfit to his van in which he lives. Out of the many professional snowboarders I‘ve met, these were the most relaxed, contented and happiest, which is saying an awful lot. Snowboarding has taught me an awful lot about myself and who to be, but being amongst this culture, even briefly, has taught me more about how to be. Japan, man. It’s where you can find the world’s best powder, and then some.
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morzine prestige Source.pdf
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tel: +33 (0)4 50 04 33 26 | fax: +33 (0)4 50 37 95 56
FIND YOUR PERFECT PROPERTY WITH US Personal service before, during and after sale Specialising in Morzine and the surrounding area Multilingual team Agency established 10 years in Morzine
Majestic changes to Morzine Prestige. The same team, the same quality of service, a different name.
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cuisine gourmande et régionale
Open for lunch and dinner Located in the centre of Morzine
04 50 75 96 40
restaurant@lagrangemorzine.com
60 chemin de la coutettaz Generous seasonal cuisine and local specialities A warm welcome and a cosy atmosphere… the perfect place for an alpine meal
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There’s a lot of criteria to meet when it comes to outerwear. Is it warm, dry, light, comfortable, breathable enough in warm weather? Does it look the part at après or during travel time? Is it going to cost more than the price of your entire ski holiday? But fear not. Let us present to you two full outfits from two of our favourite brands. Warmth, comfort, performance, après style and affordability guaranteed.
- outerwear -
Yeti Hunter Men’s Shell Jacket
Cloud 9 Insulator
rrp €299.95
rrp €159.95
Whether you’re spending the day cruising the pistes, going for a ski tour or hiking lines on a powder day, the Yeti Hunter Jacket does it all. A lightweight but durable three-layer shell, it’s ideal for layering up under on cold days or chucking on over a t-shirt in the spring, and features a smart cut to accommodate all options. About as waterproof and breathable as you can get without switching to Gore-Tex, with fully taped seams and waterproof zips to prevent unwelcome leaks, the Yeti Hunter Jacket also adds eco-friendly to its tick list. Planks’ signature fabric, RideDry20 is now made from REPREVE recycled yarn, giving old plastic bottles a new sense of purpose. Throw in ventilated front pockets, a removable snow skirt and a ton of other useful features and you’ve got yourself the perfect jacket.
Comfy, stylish, ultra-warm and eco-friendly to boot, the Planks Cloud 9 Insulator jacket covers all the bases. Longer than your average insulating jacket, it’s got your back during freezing days on the hill, chilly walks into town and everything in between. Filled with Primaloft Eco Black insulation, it’ll keep you warn even when it gets wet, and contains 60% recycled fibres, so you can feel warm and fuzzy on the inside as well as the outside. It also packs up into its own pocket, making it the perfect travel companion.
Planksclothing.com
Planksclothing.com
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Wild Beets source advert half.pdf
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planks British brand Planks has gone from strength to strength over the past few years. You might remember them as the t-shirt company that coined the phrase ‘drop cliffs not bombs’, but since then Planks has also developed a performance outerwear range, produced their own signature performance fabrics AND made some of those fabrics ecofriendly. Best part? They have a store in Morzine on Rue du Bourg.
An exciting new restaurant concept for Les Gets
Breakfast | Brunch | Salads | Wraps Eat-in or Take-away
Yeti Hunter Bib
rrp €299.95 When combined with the matched Yeti Hunter Jacket, you’ve got an unstoppable combination. Featuring the same recycled, waterproof and breathable lightweight fabric as its top half, the Yeti Hunter Bibs are designed to keep you dry and comfortable during the stormiest of days. The dungaree style design is mega versatile and provides extra protection from the elements, as well as extra pockets to stash spare gloves and snacks. These pants are also equipped with extra reinforcements in the ankle area so you don’t accidentally slice them with your edges. Longevity? Tick. Style? Tick. Performance? Tick. Planksclothing.com
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We have a passion for quality coffee and healthy food 250 Route du Front de Neige, 74260 Les Gets Situated near the Chavannes telecabine
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686 Independently owned and operated since 1992, 686 is a bit of a veteran in the snow outerwear world. We love 686 not just because they make top quality gear, but because they come up with innovative ideas that make your day on the hill more fun, last longer and feel comfortable.
Women’s GLCR Geode Thermograph Pants
rrp €260.00 In somewhere like the Portes du Soleil, you don’t always want the bulk and warmth of insulated pants, but likewise, you don’t want to be freezing cold sitting in the wind when the chairlift stops mid-journey either. The GLCR Geode Thermograph Pants offer the best of both worlds, with body-mapped insulation that’ll allow your core temperature to regulate itself easily, whatever the weather. Insulated panels around the knees and hindquarters add extra warmth in areas that are most frequently in contact with the snow, while extra breathable sections in sheltered areas help keep you cool on long hikes or in spring slush. And with a waterproof and breathability rating of 20k / 15k, you can be assured no water will be getting through to your thermals in a hurry. 686.com
Women’s SMARTY 3-in-1 Siren Jacket
rrp €260.00 SMARTY is one of 686’s signature ranges and it’s so genius we wonder why no-one’s done it before. The Siren Jacket combines a waterproof, breathable and good-looking shell jacket with a removable insulated jacket, giving you three jacket options for all the conditions the mountain has to throw at you. Wear them together when it’s cold and stormy, wear just the shell on warmer days, or rock the insulator by itself for trips into town. Like we said: genius. And because they’re designed to be worn together, this insulator / shell combination is mega comfy and easy to move around in. With all that versatility, including all your classic snow jacket features like taped seams, underarm vents and a jacket to pants connection system, you’ll be warm and dry at all times and in all weathers. 686.com
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Chez Toi Source Advert half page.pdf
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| The Urban Mermaid BY BARBARA DE MOUBRAY Two years ago, whilst on a free diving course 3km off Bali, Lindsey hurt her hand and she thought it was a jellyfish sting. She’d actually cut it on a piece of clear plastic. She looked up and realised she was surrounded by plastic floating in the ocean. Back home, the UK wasn’t having a good time with single use plastics either. Mermaiding is a form of free diving and Lindsey loves an adventure. It was from here that she came up with the idea of mermaiding down the River Thames as an anti-single-use plastics campaign. She filled me in while we worked together at Le Bec Jaune in Morzine last winter. I’m an artist and we decided I should create a plastic mermaid to sail down the river with her.
Chez Toi YOUR PRIVATE CHEF
CHALET AND PRIVATE CHEF SERVICE
Our route is the full length of the swimmable section of the Thames, from Lechlade to Teddington. It includes 40 locks along the 200km route. We’re currently covering between 7km and 11km each day and being hosted by wonderful individuals and hotels as we go. We’ve given talks in schools, which has been really inspiring for us. Everyone needs to be aware that each of us is responsible for our planet. We can all do our bit. I’m picking rubbish out of the river each day, mostly plastic bottles and plastic bags, which shred themselves on the branches of low hanging trees. I’m also finding fishing lures, bait bags, lighters. Fourteen tennis balls, and my personal unfavourite – the prolific pieces of polystyrene, which disintegrate into bit sized balls, slowly filling up the stomachs of birds and fish, to the point where they don’t have space for real food.
Professional catering for you in your chalet, from fully catered weeks to one off dinners. We have menus to suit all budgets. Contact us for availability
Let’s stop choking our mermaids! That’s our message. We’re all guilty of littering at some point, whether intentionally or not. So we’re supporting the two-minute clean up campaign. Give it a go! We also need to be conscious of what we are buying. We need to lobby companies to reduce the plastic in our packaging or even better, remove it all together. Swimming with the tail is very hard for Lindsey, especially while she’s also wearing two wetsuits, gloves and boots. It turns out The Thames is quite cold in November! Her practice route was swimming between Alcatraz and San Francisco bay! I am Lindsey’s ‘crew’ and I’m canoeing alongside her with the mermaid. That’s been a challenge too, as we seem to have encountered loads of headwind! I’ve had to lie the mermaid down as she was acting like a sail! We’ll complete our adventure on 24th November 2018, when we’ll arrive at The Anglers pub around 4pm. I’m sure there’ll be a big party to celebrate” Find out more at urbanmermaid.org and @theurbanmermaiduk on Instagram
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Skiing, snowboarding and generally holidaying with kids is pretty awesome around 78% of the time. But with our carefully curated collection of kids’ winter gear, you can probably take that up to about 89% of the time. And the best part is that all this stuff isn’t exclusively for winter. Kids will love it whatever the weather!
- kids Arcade Belts
RRP €18.00 - €30.00 If you can’t get enough of strong and stretchy Arcade belts, you’re in for a treat; now you can kit your whole family out in them! The Futureweave series offers four-way stretch and water resistance for the family adventurer; the Slim series offers quick-drying stretch with a compact buckle that works perfectly with everything from snowboard pants to jeans; and the Youth series is mega adjustable to fit kids aged four to twelve. All these belts have a strong but simple clip buckle for less faff, and they dry super-fast, making them perfect for running around and having fun in the snow. They even come in a massive range of colourways that’ll look great, whether you’re having a family snowball fight or going out for dinner. Arcadebelts.eu
Stance Kids’ Snow Socks
From €15.99 The older we get the more we appreciate good socks. Start ‘em young with Stance’s amazing range of kids’ snow socks. While your little angels may not appreciate the arch support, reinforced heels and toes, seamless stitching and anatomical cushioning, they will appreciate the fun designs and improved ability to slide across the wood floors and tiles in the chalet. AND they’ll appreciate how much more comfortable their feet feel in their boots. As with all socks, quality trumps quantity every time, and these will see your kids through years of shredding before they lose their shape or start getting holey. Plus they make great stocking fillers, so put that school stationary back where you found it! stance.eu.com
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Airblaster Kids’ Ninja Suit
RRP €89.95 The adult Ninja Suit is a firm favourite of ours so imagine our delight when we discovered you can also ninja up your kids! Warm, cosy and keeping your little ones’ skin protected from unwelcome snow up the jacket, these genius onesies have an uber-long zip for easy ons and offs, as well as a 350 degree zip for no-fuss bathroom breaks on the mountain. They’re also mega soft to the touch and offer all the qualities you’d expect from a good set of thermals, like top class breathability and quick drying capabilities. They’ve even got the classic Ninja Suit hood for when it gets really cold. Plus, they come in a range of cool colours and double up as pyjamas. Your kids will be the coolest in ski school and at sleepovers, guaranteed! myairblaster.com
LilGadgets Untangled Pro Bluetooth Headphones
The Cat in the Hat I Can do That!
RRP €79.00
RRP €12.50
Not only are these kids’ wireless headphones super stylish, they’re an absolute lifesaver when it comes to long journeys, flight delays or when you just need a bit of peace and quiet. The Untangled Pro headphones last for up to twelve hours and are easy to charge via USB, not to mention there’s the added bonus of not having to worry about knotted cables and broken jacks. Plus, they’re really good quality; kids can enjoy noise reduction technology and a clever volume limit that helps protect their ears. But perhaps best of all, these headphones include a share port, so kids can link their headphones together and watch or listen from the same device. Genius.
This game had us at Dr. Seuss! But we investigated further and we weren’t disappointed. More than just a card game, I Can do That! gets kids off the sofa and encourages them to test their limits in a fun and friendly fashion. A more compact version of its larger brother, it’s ideal to slip in your ski bag and break out when you just want to have a large glass of wine and chill out – it’ll keep kids entertained for hours. Developed following extensive research and play-testing, I Can do That! encourages balance, coordination and self-confidence that kids discover through play. It’ll even help improve skiing and snowboarding skills. The premise is simple: a pack of cards, a foam fish bowl and your living room offer hundreds of fun challenges that kids (and grown-ups!) will love. Just pick three cards, try and do what they say and hilarity will ensue.
lilgadgets.com
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WHAT’S NEXT? Micro chipping for kids? BY AMIE HENDERSON
I’m the mother of two constantly moving, always excited little boys who live year-round in the mountains. In spite, or perhaps because of where we live, I’ve yet to lose them in a public place. Friends back in the real world recount stories of the sickening, heart-wrenching moment they lose sight of a little one for a few moments in Tesco. I’m told it feels like hours and there’s no doubt I still have this parental rite of passage to come.
But would I make little Hamish, aged 3 ¼, wear a tracking device while in ski school? Location monitoring for children is a big deal these days, with one ski school elsewhere in the Alps fitting devices to all their littlies during their lessons. “It’s so parents can see where their children have skied” they justify. The cynics out there (moi? Non…) wonder whether this ‘added extra’ is nothing more than a marketing ploy, pulling on the heart strings of modern parents and fuelling paranoia.
their own ski day while their little ones were in ski school. Cue the mother of little Johnny, at the side of the piste, checking her iPhone for the tenth time in an hour to see how many times he’s lapped Procolu this morning. Cue the father of little Tilly, desperately looking for a better signal on a chairlift to check that her ski group have moved on from their hot chocolate / toilet break. Does being able to track your children on the mountain enhance or inhibit your holiday experience? That’s the question.
One of the most popular GPS watches on the market sells itself as ‘ensuring your kids are safe when out of sight’. But how can this be possible? Last time I checked, my smart watch didn’t have the super hero powers required to stop me skiing off a cliff in a whiteout and I’m fairly sure the kid’s version doesn’t either. And then there are the arguments about limiting children’s privacy and personal freedom, which I tend to agree with when it comes to older kids and teenagers.
Sally Lee Duffy of The Snow Institute can see some serious pros and cons when it comes to loading up your kids with tech. “GPS trackers can be great for parents when skiing with their kids, giving them some responsibility to do a run on their own for example, and giving them independence and confidence” Sally told us. “Trackers can also be a great tool for children, helping them learn about navigation at the end of their ski day on the mountain”. At the same time, if you’re paying a top-level instructor, you need to trust them not to lose your child. “Parents shouldn’t need to keep an eye on, or obsess about what their kids are doing in ski school” Sally believes. “Sometimes we stay on the same run for a whole lesson, perfecting technique and making learning fun. Trackers could mean that parents misunderstand what their child has been doing in ski school”.
So interested was I in this whole child-tracking phenomenon, I initiated a very simple poll on the Morzine Source Magazine Facebook page a little while back. ‘Are wearable tracking devices for kids on ski holidays a good idea?’ I asked. 84% responded yes, while 16% responded no. One typical response was that GPS trackers give parents the peace of mind they need to enjoy
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In a world where we’re already tracking our shopping, our luggage and our pets, why shouldn’t we track our children? It might all be a bit Big Brother, but with devices ranging in complexity from a simple tiny gadget stuffed into a pocket or backpack, to Bluetooth wristbands and on to GPS watches, there is arguably a location-monitoring device for all. Some even have geo-fencing capabilities, allowing parents to create a virtual geographic boundary on a device that sends an alert when a child leaves the designated area. But won’t all this carry on make children think they are in danger? Could it scare them into thinking skiing or snowboarding in the beautiful mountains might be harmful?
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We need to keep our fears in proportion to the risk (statistically, very few children go missing across the ski area each winter), and we shouldn’t be transferring these fears to our children. I probably will tag Hamish with a simple GPS tracker once he breaks the limits of Morzine’s Piou Piou in future winters, but he won’t know it’s there. I’ll resist the urge to follow his every move, but I probably will take a sneak peek on a Saturday evening, most likely over a gin and tonic. After all, he’s too little to tell me where he’s been skiing, and I want to know when he’s better than me.
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FIRST timers BY SALLY LEE-DUFFY
“Don’t be that parent who tries to teach your little one to ski. We beg you, please don’t. We’ve seen you in the lift queue, urgently explaining how to sit on the chair as the queue grows shorter. We’ve heard the tantrums and witnessed the regretful expressions half way down a blue run. Skiing is a pursuit best taught by professionals; try to do it yourself and you risk putting them off for life.” At The Snow Institute, Sally Lee-Duffy is an expert at teaching adults and children of all levels and abilities to fall in love with skiing. Having spent 20 years as an instructor, Sally knows a thing or two about teaching children to ski in a happy, safe and nurturing environment. If you’re here in Morzine, Les Gets or Avoriaz and your little ones are skiing for the first time, it’s normal not to know what to expect. You fear they might not like it, but worry not! The most important part of your first family ski holiday is remembering that the little ones come first. If you put the time and effort into making
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this holiday about them, they will be hooked and you will enjoy skiing as a family for many years to come. Skiing as a kid is all about having fun. Pushing them to learn to ski, especially, if they are between 3 and 5 years old, is never a wise idea. Skiing is a new and scary experience for the first few days; after all, they are left
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with a stranger in a group of kids who they may or may not know and with lots of awkward kit that feels very alien to them. There will be tears, but it is always best to leave them with the instructor and watch from afar if you feel you need too. Don’t ever let your children see you and trust that the instructor
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Aiglon Source Winter 19 Advert.pdf
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will always contact you if needed. Parents are always very surprised about how quickly children calm down and start to learn to ski. Usually, a whole new world of sliding and speed can be quite interesting and distracting for them. On the first day of ski lessons, children have lots of new things to deal with. When you drop them off, make sure they have all their kit, including a helmet or hat, goggles or sunglasses, gloves or mittens, warm clothes and, most importantly, a snack in their pocket.
“If you’re here in Morzine, Les Gets or Avoriaz and your little ones are skiing for the first time, it’s normal not to know what to expect. You fear they might not like it, but worry not! ” If little Johnny flat out refuses to wear his goggles or his gloves, no worries. Don’t force him if it could lead to tears. If there’s an item that you can’t get them to wear, leave it with the instructor. They’ll get the item on in time, once they are used to the rest
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of the kit. Sometimes this only takes a few minutes! We’ll never let children ski without any essential kit, but sometimes it just takes a bit longer and with no parents! The youngest children we teach are aged 2 years. With these really little ones, it’s all about the experience of being on skis, using the lifts, learning to stand up, balance and slide with the help of an instructor. Bit by bit they become more independent. Some 2 year olds will learn to ski during a week’s worth of lessons, but most children this age just enjoy the experience of being on skis while getting used to the kit. In our experience, this means they are prepared for the following year, when they come back bigger and stronger. With this age group, we only recommend
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a maximum of one hour lessons at a time and this will include a couple of little stops to play in the snow. Once children are aged 3 years and above, the whole week of lessons is based around them learning to ski on their own. At this age it does take longer than when they are slightly older (6 years+) as they need a lot more help from the instructor and regular rests. Their legs are still small and not so strong, but don’t worry if you do see a lot of snow angels or snowman making. Rest and play is an absolute necessity when learning to ski at this age.
Yes, we know that you want them to learn to ski as quickly as possible, but it is essential that you don’t push them too much. Otherwise, they will get halfway through the week and be way too tired to carry on. Cue the tears! We also know that you’re dying to take your little one out on the mountain so they can show you their new skills. We always recommend that for the first two or three days, they only ski during their lessons. They won’t have much energy left for anything else! Once you get past day three, you can ski with them as much as you want after their lessons, but it is key to not over
Sally's Tips Mittens are always much better than fingered gloves as little kids really struggle to get these on and this leads to frustration. Ones with Velcro or zips are great for the very little guys, big pull on ones can sometimes come straight back off again.
Beginners don’t need ski poles. They become devices for hitting things and they don’t need that distraction!
Make sure their ski boots are the right size. If too big, this can lead them to lean back even more than they do naturally. A good way to check is to take the inner out of the shell and measure against their foot. If it is a lot longer, they are too big.
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tire their little legs, which can happen very easily. They might want to carry on, but if they do overdo it, they won’t have the legs to ski with the instructor the following day. We find that this is very important for their progression and enjoyment. Everyone knows that tired kids are not much fun, especially on holiday! If your little ones don’t want to ski with you after their lessons, take them away to play, have a snack or even better, treat them to a hot chocolate. This way they won’t feel pressured to do it, they’ll want to ski on their terms and that’s totally fine!
Sally’s team of ski instructors work across Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz. Find out more at thesnowinstitute.com or
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Kids skis should be no higher than their chins in length and no lower than their chest when stood up beside them.
When skiing with your little ones after their lesson, don’t be tempted to ski with them between your legs. You’ll undo everything the instructor has just taught them! Also, they won’t bother to turn as you head down the hill, unless you give them something to turn around or someone to follow.
When you’re skiing with beginners, don’t worry about getting them to lean forward with their hands on their knees the whole time. They naturally sit back until their bodies are strong enough to stand up more. They will find their natural position, which is further back than adults and older kids.
Once you’re all confident enough to ski together, let them go in front of you and tell them where you’d like them to stop. Give them the responsibility and the confidence.
Sunglasses or goggles, choose whichever is easiest for them to wear or they want to keep on!
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MY MUCH BETTER
Norwegian ADVENTURE BY GUY BOWDEN
It all started rather ominously: I was on a work trip to London and due to meet up with my wife Sara in Amsterdam, from where we’d both fly to Alesund. She was coming from Geneva, but a short delay turned into a longer one and then finally into a cancellation. Damn.
Long story short: KLM got her onto a later flight, whilst I got to sample the delights of Alesund. It turns out not to be a bad place to spend a few hours: nice cafes, a big hill in the centre of town to walk around, and some great views from the North Sea to the west, and the fjords to the east. The later flight got in around 11pm, which meant a quick dash in the hire car to make the ferry across to the mainland and a dark 90 minute drive up to our base for the weekend; The Sagafjord Hotel, right on the waters edge Hjørundfjord, Sunnmøre. The barman had patiently waited for us and showed us to our turf roofed cabin where we promptly fell asleep, wondering what the next day would bring. What views would await us, what our guide would be like, and who else was in our group? Morning came far too quickly. The group was meeting in the breakfast room at 8am and, keen not to give a bad first impression, we couldn’t be late! It turns out that we needn't have worried, the Norwegians take their breakfast very seriously. The spread on offer was vast in both quantity and variety, from muesli, to eggs and bacon, to brown cheese (it’s delicious). Obviously there was plenty of pickled fish and an assortment of cured meat as well. #lovemorzine
you can eat buffet breakfast doubles up as your lunch ingredients, and it’s encouraged. Instead of sneaking some ham and cheese in a roll under the table, the hotels offer paper and plastic bags for you to wrap up your sandwiches and take them with you. Norwegians 1, alp-dwellers 0.
We met our guide, Jonatan - a Swedish splitboarder - and the other members of our group, gulp, three Norwegians, Nina, Linda and Odd Inge. The Norwegians learn to ski before they can walk, so we were going to get our arses whipped. But first, we were going to learn a valuable lesson. In Norway, an all #lovelesgets
Over that first breakfast, Jonatan gave us an overview of the four days ahead. It involved a short car journey up to the snow line (it was late April and the snow had receded up to the heady heights of 250m), then skins on and up we go. The peaks in the Sunnmøre Alps we’d be tackling are between 1200m and 1600m, so each day we’d be looking at around 1000m or more of climbing. #loveavoriaz
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F NOREE FE TARY ES
And so our first ski tour began. A five-hour round-trip up to Kolastinden and back, our first Norwegian peak at 1,432m. As we’d discover is the norm, we had all four seasons in one tour. It was overcast as we set off, clearing to reveal the peaks around us and some sunshine. Nearer the top the wind got up and a mix of spindrift and snow began to fall horizontally into our faces. On the way down we found that the snow had turned rather glue like, so much so, we had to check we’d remembered to remove our skins! Then another top Norwegian tip: never leave home without some warm weather wax in your pocket. It turns the sticky wet porridge snow into something you can actually ski on. Norwegians 2, alp-dwellers 0. We also learned two more valuable lessons on that first trip. Having being used to living in Morzine at 1,000m and ski touring up to 2,500-3,000m, skinning up from practically sea-level is so much easier! It shouldn’t be a surprise really, the top Tour de France cyclists train at altitude all the time, we get that same benefit just by living in Morzine. Norwegians 2, alp-dwellers 1. The second lesson was that although the Norwegians do ski practically from birth, it’s not all on mountains with touring skis. Their staple is crosscountry skiing, which meant we were happily not left in their wake, phew! Norwegians 2, alp-dwellers 2!
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NOREE FE TARY
Day 2 was a little rainy, but thankfully nothing more than a drizzle, and even then it pretty much didn’t rain all the way up to the second summit of the trip, at 1,100m. Although the weather wasn’t playing nice, we did have some of the best turns of the trip as a re-freeze overnight and a slight rainy thaw had caused a nice bit of corn snow to materialise.
ES
Les 3 Sophie Morzine
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Guy is CTO and co-founder of Much Better Adventures, an award-winning collection of adventure trips designed for work-hard, play-harder types. Check them out for epic weekends in the Norwegian fjords and beyond.
Day 3 and 4 was our hut trip. A two day ski tour, overnighting at the Pachellhytte, an unmanned refuge high above the fjords. The plan was to skin over to the hut on day one, taking in a peak if we could, then day two would be an ascent of Slogan, the 1,500m peak, with almost sheer drops down to the fjord below. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t on board with our plans and decided to rain (horizontal again) on us during the first section. We were only a short distance below freezing level, so this was pretty tough going. The only saving grace being that the wind was behind us, but it didn’t take long before our inferior “spring ski touring in the French Alps” kit was sodden. Another valuable lesson from the Norwegians; don’t skimp on the Gore-Tex. Although we were having a miserable time of it, the locals seemed to be enjoying the soaking. Much like a Lake District hill-walker, the Norwegians are used to the inclement weather, and having the rain dictate when you can and can’t go outside would be madness. To them, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Our clothing was not the best. Norwegians 3, alp-dwellers 2. Then, to our amazement, Jonatan #lovemorzine
decided it was time for lunch. Midhorizontal-rainstorm, middle of nowhere, nothing to shelter behind. This was when we found out that, in Norway (and probably most Scandi countries), an emergency shelter is not just for emergencies. And so we dug a little trench for our feet, turned our skis skin-side-up for a seat, and got our shelters out. 10 out of 10 for making use of equipment that would normally not see the light of day until an actual emergency. And so we sheltered, had some food, and shivered, wondering what on earth we were doing. Norwegians 4, alp-dwellers 2. After our not-so-relaxing lunch, with the shelter cracking and whipping us in the wind, it was time to get back at it. As we gained height, we also gained some warmth. This was also the moment when the sun started to fight back against the sleet that was whipping us (Norwegian sleet…). We made our way up a small ridge line and as we neared the peak, the clouds parted and gave us a brief glimpse of the fjord below. Suddenly we were reminded what were doing out there on that mountain. By this time, the wind #lovelesgets
had quick-dried our soft-shells and all was forgiven. There was even a small layer of soft snow up here. Just as things were getting better for us, Nina had a fall on the descent from our sunny ridge. She was clearly in pain, but didn’t let it stop her from making it down to the hut. They’re clearly made of stern stuff up there. Upon our arrival, the team quickly got to work. The stove was lit and the kettle was on, there were clothes to dry and copious amounts of coffee to drink. As we made our enormous dinner (tomato pasta, not all that Norwegian), it became clear that Nina was not going to be fixed for the morning, and so Jonatan spent a fair bit of time on his satellite phone (no 4G at the Pachellhytte). A snowmobile was ordered to pick her up in the morning. Kind of like an Uber, but by sat phone. This left the rest of us in a quandary. Nina’s friend Linda wanted to wait with her until the snowmobile arrived, but we didn’t all need to hang around. Instead Jonatan, us alps-dwellers and Odd Inge picked a tour from the hut whilst Linda waited. We skinned, then boot-packed, then skinned some more #loveavoriaz
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up across a small glacier high above the hut, and enjoyed one of the best skis down of the trip. The sun was out and doing a great job transforming the icy snow of the ascent into hero corn for the descent. It was a great 35-40 degree pitch, which Jonatan said was about as steep as he’d skied that season due to avalanche risks. We got back to the hut to find a note saying both Nina and Linda had got a lift out on the snowmobiles. We could have done Slogen after all, but we didn’t care. We’d just had the best ski of the trip, and that was good enough for us. All that was left to do was ski up and down the 10km or so to the cars, the sun was out, the snow was good and the four of us were having a blast slaloming our way through the trees. By the time we got back to the cars, we were about as soaked through as the previous day, although this time it was due to the hot spring sunshine and fast skiing rather than the horizontal freezing rain. What a difference 24 hours makes!
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Norwegians 5, alps-dwellers 2.
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BY AMIE HENDERSON
Had I read the words “GB snowboarder Ellie Soutter triumphs at the 2019 Alpine World Ski Championships” this winter, I wouldn’t have been surprised in the slightest. I’d have been delighted, but not surprised. But when, on 26th July 2018, I read the words “This cruel world took my soul mate and ‘Bessie’ from me yesterday on her 18th birthday” by Ellie’s dad Tony, I, like many others, couldn’t believe it.
On the face of it, Ellie had it all. Born in the UK and living in Les Gets since the age of nine with her doting dad Tony, Ellie had become one of the most promising athletes on Team GB’s British Snowboard squad. Back in the UK, Ellie’s mum Lorraine was her biggest cheerleader; she had the suppor t and encouragement of her entire family and a very special bond with her mum. Ellie returned from the 2017 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival with Team GB’s only medal - a bronze in boardercross. “I've done it”, screamed Ellie on the telephone to her mum immediately after the comp. “I've got a medal!” To celebrate, Lorraine arranged for her closest family and friends to meet Ellie at Heathrow airpor t upon her return from Turkey, banners and all. “Oh she was so embarrassed. She wanted to hide! We were so proud of her, but she didn’t want the limelight. She just wanted to stand out for her abilities on her snowboard. That was Ellie.”
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“I've got a medal!” That summer, Ellie went on to train in the Southern Hemisphere for three months. When she returned, there was very little money left in the fundraising pot and Tony made an incredibly difficult decision to tell Ellie he was unable to fund another season of bordercross competition and coaching. This was devastating news for such a young, talented athlete to hear. Ellie’s abilities had progressed significantly, and she’d sacrificed so much follow her dream. “The news sent Ellie into a really dark place for a good while” Tony tells me. Last winter, Tony took the cheaper option and drove Ellie the length and breadth Europe, competing in every stop of the Junior Freeride World Tour. She triumphed, becoming vice champion in one of her spor t’s toughest contests. “Of course I was super proud of her snowboarding achievements,” Ellie’s mum Lorraine tells me, “but I was already so proud of her”. With all of these successes under her belt, Ellie eventually secured sponsors and funding to cover some of the huge costs of her training camps and travel for the next four years, right up until the 2022 Winter Olympics. The future was very bright for a young Ellie Soutter.
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When Ellie took her own life on her 18th bir thday it rocked our community to its very core. We live alongside each other in these beautiful mountains without realising that, for some, life is not OK. For some, life is filled with too much pressure, too much expectation, too much worry. But surely not for Ellie? Adoring parents, so many close friends and her dream career as a professional snowboarder right there in front of her. How could this happen?
“Young athletes are under an incredible amount of pressure” Ellie’s dad tells me. “When their friends are all going out, doing the things that normal teenagers do, athletes have to think carefully about the consequences of a big night out. This can be hard for teenagers; they feel like they’re missing out on so much.”
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Education was also a big issue. To cram the final years of her education in around snowboarding, Ellie was home schooled. “This could be lonely for her and it reduced her social life massively” says Tony. “Ellie would call me before every single competition” Lorraine tells me. “I’d calm her down and tell her the outcome didn’t really matter. She worried about her performance all the time”. Ellie gave no clue to her personal struggles. Not to her Team GB teammates, her coaches or her closest friends. “She didn’t want people to know she had issues”, Lorraine tells me. “She was the life and soul of the par ty and she had a wicked sense of humor. You’d never know the loneliness she suffered. She felt it just wasn’t cool to show any signs of weakness”. And then there’s money. Travelling constantly to join training camps or to compete, there’s no Saturday job for an aspiring professional snowboarder. There’s no summer job to pay for next winter’s kit. There’s no financial independence. “Ellie worried so much about money” Tony explains. “Until very recently she was entirely self-funded. She was also very aware that a winter season’s wor th of competing and training would cost in excess of €32,000”.
“She was the life and soul of the party and she had a wicked sense of humor” “Did you know that Ellie had a huge crash at the Natural Games in Avoriaz at the end of the season?” Tony asks me. I had no clue. “It was pretty serious. When I went to collect her kit from the medical centre in Avoriaz two days later, the doctor couldn’t believe they’d let her out of hospital so soon. She’d suffered major concussion and had to take 90 days off snow to recover”. This accident followed another concussion during a stage of the Junior Freeride World Tour only 30 days earlier. “Ellie was nervous to star t snowboarding again after these two big accidents. She hadn’t broken anything, but the concussions really knocked her confidence”. As Tony and Lorraine explain these things to me, a picture star ts to emerge of a stressed teenager. One who felt every gram of expectation on her young shoulders. I never saw Ellie looking unhappy. Her Instagram feed is filled with fun. Her Facebook bio reads ‘Occasionally doing cool things with my snowboard’. Ellie gave no clue to her private struggles. She was humble and grateful and had a smile for everyone she met.
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If you Google Ellie Soutter today, you’ll find over 500,000 results. So many words have been written about her, from the Independent in the UK to Hollywood Life in the US. I try to imagine what Ellie would think of all the media attention. “If I even dared post a podium picture or suggest how proud I was of Ellie’s achievements, she shot me down straight away”, Tony tells me. “She had no idea how naturally talented and brave she was, and no clue of how many people admired that talent and followed her worldwide. We’ve all been staggered by the overwhelming international response to her death”.
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But it’s amongst all this media attention, not because of it, that Ellie’s family have established The Ellie Soutter Foundation. Its aim is to help other young winter spor ts athletes to fund their training and give them the essential skills to deal with the unavoidable stress, pressure and expectation that comes with competing at the highest level. In the weeks following Ellie’s death, over €20,000 was raised on Ellie’s gofundme page. “Young people need to know that it’s OK to speak up. They also need a network of people around them to confidentially offer suppor t and encouragement” believes Lorraine. “As a mum having lost a daughter, I now need to ask for help to get through every day. This is Ellie’s legacy; it’s OK not to be OK. It’s OK to ask for help. I just wish Ellie had given herself more time to realise how impor tant she was to everyone”.
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“Young people need to know that it’s OK to speak up” “Hopefully we’ll be able to help countless talented teenagers fulfill their spor ting potential in the years to come”, explains Tony. “But if we can prevent just one teenager from suffering silently, as Ellie did, then it will all be wor th it”.
For updates on The Ellie Soutter Foundation and for donation links head to www.theelliesoutter.foundation
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OUR ANNUAL
EMA Update…
Here at Morzine Source Magazine we pride ourselves in keeping our readers updated on key resort developments, so you were no doubt expecting a stack of new information about EMA – or Express Morzine Avoriaz – in time for this winter. For those not in the know, EMA is a €35million project to connect the centre of Morzine with Avoriaz via the existing Prodains Express lift in Les Prodains. The proposed development also includes a tunnel beneath the village to connect the EMA base station with Pleney on the other side of town. Improved links between Morzine and Avoriaz are seen as essential for the future of Morzine’s winter sports industry. As skiable snow levels creep higher up the valley each year, easier access to the Portes du Soleil’s highest ski resort becomes increasingly necessary. Morzine’s booming popularity has also resulted in a staggering increase in the volume of vehicles on our roads. It’s these two factors combined that have inspired the Mairie de Morzine-Avoriaz to push forward with the new lift link. But what’s new since our last update? Morzine’s Mayor has released an entirely updated official document outlining the final plans and we’ve summarised the key points below for you. The Current Situation The local bus network runs at capacity and parking both in resort and en-route to Prodains is always difficult. The Super Morzine route to Avoriaz takes approximately 50 minutes and the link runs at capacity. Avoriaz can also be difficult to access by car in bad weather. The Plan The new departure station will be buried under the roundabout of La Cruzas, on the site of the Odlo shop at the top of the Rue du Bourg. The Mayor believes this will allow for interesting urban integration and reduce the visual impact of the departure station.
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The arrival station will be 20 metres from the existing Prodains Express base station, with disembarkation on the same level. Crucially (and perhaps controversially), the two lifts will operate independent of each other. You’ll need to get off EMA to get on the Prodains Express in a nutshell. The journey time between Morzine and Avoriaz will be reduced to 15 minutes. The 3S lift type has been selected to match the existing Prodains Express lift and because it has a low environmental footprint. With reduced energy and maintenance costs, the 3S is also powerful enough to operate in extreme weather conditions. Because of its ability to fly over a long range, a minimum number of pylons will be required. The lift also has a very long life span. The Route When combining both the EMA and Prodains Express sections, the new route has a horizontal length of 5,422 metres and an altitude difference of 798 metres. Four new pylons will be required in the first section to match the two already constructed in the existing section. 28 individual cabins will run on the Morzine to Prodains route; 14 cabins already run between Prodains and Avoriaz. The new lift will carry skiers between the new resorts at a speed of between seven and eight metres per second. The Tunnel With the capacity to transport 1500 people per hour between the current Pleney Express lift and the new EMA departure station, the Mayor’s plan includes a subterranean moving carpet that is 487 metres in length. It will pass beneath the streets of Morzine and the journey time will be 7 minutes, 52 seconds.
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Added Extras Project EMA also includes a new bus station and car park located directly beneath the departure station in the area known as La Plagne – it’s adjacent to the Carrefour carpark. The resort and regional bus network will better integrate with the new lift, reducing the number of busses travelling between Morzine and Prodains by 30%. Space has also been allocated in this area to the development of private apartment residences. What’s Next? The Mairie has already invited valley residents affected by the overflight of the new lift to information sessions. A public consultation will now take place between December 2018 and February 2019 and a public investigation will begin in Autumn 2019. Financing for the plan is still being finalised.
THE HOME OF APRES SKI IN MORZINE SINCE 1936
Opposition Does everyone support this plan? No. They really don’t. The Association pour de Dévelopement Harmonieux de MorzineAvoriaz (or ADHMA) was created in 2012 to preserve the natural and built heritage of Morzine-Avoriaz. With over 200 members, they strongly oppose the final plans outlined by the Mairie. Members of the group tell us that although they agree that better linkage between the two resorts is necessary to safeguard Morzine’s future as a ski resort, this development should not take place ‘at all costs’. They make the following points:
A LOCAL INSTITUTION AT THE FOOT OF THE PLENEY SLOPES
• The pylons measuring between 60 and 100 metres in height will be constructed on the cliffs overlooking Prodains. This terrain is not stable and landslides are common in this area. • These pylons and ropeways above the rooftops of Morzine will spoil the beautiful view that we all know and love.
BREAKFAST, LUNCH, CREPES & TAPAS SERVED ON OUR SUNNY TERRACE
• A lift link between Morzine and Avoriaz already exists. With improvement and investment, the Super Morzine route would be a far more effective link and offers a much better environmental option. • Having to disembark in Prodains to board the second section of the lift is not an ‘express’ way to travel between the two resorts. • The costs and financing of the entire plan are questionable. Head to morzine-harmonie.ning.com for further information
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ARE YOU OK? Mental Health in the Mountains BY CHLOE HARDY
If you’ve been keeping up with the news (or even just reading this issue of Source), you’ll know that mental health is the current topic on everyone’s lips. Everywhere we look we’re shown shocking statistics, news and firsthand accounts of what’s going on in people’s brains. And if we’re not always feeling good, the fact that it’s being talked about more openly than ever is good. With everyone from sportspeople to politicians opening up about their mental health, alongside the recent news that the UK government will channel an extra £2bn into mental health services, it seems we’re on the right track. Translate this to skiing and snowboarding. A quick Google search will tell you about the benefits winter sports can have on our mental health. Charities and organisations like Snow-Camp and the Booby Trap channel snow sports as a positive influence to youngsters, providing goals to work towards and teaching leadership skills. Exercise and spending time outdoors is also prescribed as an effective treatment for depression and anxiety. And this is absolutely true for a lot of people, whether it’s the yearly ski holiday, weekly trip to the snowdome or working a winter season. People come to the mountains to get away from the monotony of the nine-to-five or to escape
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their stressful, high-pressure jobs with huge commutes. Some of the best chalet hosts I know moved to the mountains because they craved a simpler life with more time to do what they loved. A little further down the search rankings in Google you’ll find a small collection of articles that depict the other side of seasonal life, and the potential long-term effects of irregular work, money troubles and the rising cost of living in ski resorts. Athletes like big mountain skier Jackie Passo, Olympic medallist Gus Kenworthy and skier and filmmaker Mike Douglas have all talked openly
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Simply Spas 1-2 page advert.pdf
your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets & Avoriaz
Closer to home, the desperately sad deaths by suicide of British professional snowboarders Ellie Soutter and Nelson Pratt illustrate that under its shiny surface, ‘living the dream’ can look very different from the inside. And while being outside and doing physical activity is often cited as being good for your mental wellbeing, it’s estimated that around 600 farmers die by suicide every year in rural France, although many of these are reported as accidents to avoid stigma. In fact, France has had one of the highest suicide rates in Europe for many years, with unconfirmed rumours that Moûtiers, a pass-through town nestled deep in the Tarentaise valley surrounded by ski resorts, holds the highest suicide rate in France because of its lack of sunlight.
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Then there’s the lack of fulfilling work available, particularly in France, where many people move unable to speak the language and therefore feel limited to working in tourism. There’s the locals’ culture fuelled by cliquey cool kids and social media; the parties you don’t want to miss; the friends you’ll make over the winter and then never see again; the sometimes false idea that moving to the mountains you see in your Instagram feed will solve all your problems. And
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about depression in interviews. At the same time publications like National Geographic, NPR and The Guardian have reported on high suicide rates in North America’s Rocky Mountain States. ‘The suicide belt’, as it’s been coined, houses some of the world’s most renowned ski towns, like Aspen, Jackson Hole and Telluride. Even the stunning traveller’s paradise, Queenstown, New Zealand, brought in a permanent psychiatrist in 2018 after a rise in the rate of suicide calls to the local police department.
No-one really knows what causes these higher cases of depression among ski town residents. After all, depression affects everyone differently and can be caused by a variety of factors. But the most commonly reoccurring best guesses cite money worries, poor living conditions and the hectic, transient lifestyle associated with seasonal towns. Ski resorts are notorious for catering to some of the wealthiest people in the world; they’re the places where broke ski bums live in cramped apartments next door to luxury catered chalets; where it’s possible to be paid less than minimum wage in exchange for a bed in a room of four and a lift pass; where the pressure to cram skiing, work, making new friends and partying into a five month period can become exhausting.
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“it's OK not to be OK” when you realise it won’t, there’s also the stigma that comes with admitting you’re not happy, despite living in a picture postcard destination, doing sports you love and surrounded by crowds of creative, happy and carefree people. So what can we do if we’re feeling the downsides of mountain life? Some people will never feel them at all, and some people feel them acutely. As with the causes of depression, there’s no singular answer, but as Ellie Soutter’s mother Lorraine says, “it’s OK not to be OK”. For some people, the path to feeling better means taking medication, for some it means talking to a professional and for others it means a regular diet of outdoors time, doing what they enjoy. In fact, some of the easier ways to take care of our mental health are easiest to do in mountains, and are often related to our reasons for living in them in the first place. The UK Mental Health Foundation’s tenstep guide, ‘How to Look After Your Mental Health’ includes some pretty tricky pieces of advice, such as ‘talk about your feelings’, ‘drink sensibly’, ‘eat well’ and ‘accept who you are’, which can be particularly tough when working and living seasonally. But the guide also includes some slightly less soul-searching tips, like staying active, taking a break when things get too overwhelming, doing things you
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enjoy and are good at, and helping others. Helping others is a particularly important one; while Ellie Soutter and Nelson Pratt were taken from us too soon, what they’ve left behind is dedicated to helping others in similar situations. Ellie’s parents have set up the Ellie Soutter Foundation to help young athletes with the financial expenses of competing and training, while Ride on Nelly is a yearly road bike tour that celebrates the life of Nelson Pratt. Every year the event raises thousands of pounds for The CALM Zone, a UK charity fighting male suicide. As with anything mental health related, getting back on form or helping someone else is not always simple. But it’s good to know that when seasonal life is getting you down, you’re not alone, and there are steps you can take to feel better.
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If you need someone to talk to, you can visit any of the local medical centres for a referral to a counsellor. There are also many online services available, including counselling over Skype or instant messenger. Visit samaritans.org or betterhelp.com for more information. To find out more about the Ellie Soutter Foundation and Ride on Nelly, visit theelliesoutter.foundation and nelsonstourdetestvalley.co.uk. For more information about CALM, visit thecalmzone.net.
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69
Consensio Alpine Apartments
Consensio Chalets
The Tasty Ski Company
Consensio’s boutique self-catered apartments offer affordable luxury holidays in Val D’Isere and Les Gets to a discerning clientele who are seeking a more understated level of service. Included is the fabulous ski-in/ski-out apartment Aviemore (sleeps 10), and Urban Corniche (sleeps 11), which comes complete with outdoor hot tub and grand piano.
Consensio operate a collection of ultra-luxurious ski chalets in the Portes du Soleil, including the spectacular award-winning chalet in Les Gets, Grande Corniche (15 guests) and the equally beautiful but slightly more cosy Chalet Jejalp (14 guests) located in Morzine. All Consensio Chalets are rented fully catered and come complete with a dedicated team of professional staff.
Tasty Ski has a handful of catered chalets in Morzine & Le Grand Massif in both winter & summer. Top-notch food in amazing locations is the name of our game. Check out our new super luxury chalet The Farmhouse!
consensiochalets.co.uk
consensiochalets.co.uk
thetast yskicompany.com
+44 (0) 203 393 0833
+44 (0) 203 393 0833
+44 (0) 7538 761 767
sales@consensiochalets.co.uk
sales@consensiochalets.co.uk
info@thetast yskicompany.co.uk
45 degrees north
Apex Morzine
Skiology
A small independent chalet company providing catered holidays in a relaxed, affordable way. A warm and welcoming environment with experienced, friendly hosts to take care of all your needs. Delicious wholesome meals served with unlimited wine and beer, beautiful chalets in ideal locations and great company, you will love unwinding with us after a day on the slopes.
Le Morzenettaz offers comfortable, relaxed accommodation in a renovated 170-year-old farmhouse, close to Super Morzine lift and town centre. Choose from our 2-bedroom self-catering apartment (sleeps up to 6), available on a weekly basis, or our B&B in 5 en-suite bedrooms with flexible arrival days, minimum stay 3 nights. Free WIFI. Open winter and summer.
Established 2006, all chalets close to the piste and or town. Passionate about good food - menu by former Fortum & Mason development chef. Service with care our goal is 100% repeat guests! Delivering sustainability, we offset the carbon emissions of our chalets by up to 10x. Mention ‘Source' to claim a bottle of local bubbles with your booking!
45degreesnorth.co.uk
apexmorzine.com
skiology.co.uk
+44 (0) 203 488 2845
+33 (0) 4 50 74 65 49
+44 (0) 207 183 0688
hello@45degreesnorth.co.uk
apexgroup@free.fr
stay@skiology.co.uk
Simply Morzine
Treeline Chalets
Hunter Chalets & Apartments
The original and best Morzine specialists. Shortlisted as ‘Best Chalet Company’ by The Telegraph. Central Morzine & on-piste luxury catered & self-catered chalets, apartments & hotel. New Les Gets’ apartment! All properties boast either a hot-tub, pool or sauna. Superb cuisine & personal service. Geneva airport transfers & resort shuttles. Discounted lift passes & equipment hire. Unique summer activity holidays.
An award-winning independent chalet company with a range of catered & self-catered chalets in Morzine. Excellent service, gourmet cuisine & exclusive perks come as standard in our centrally located chalets. Perfect chalets for couples, families, friends & larger groups too! Contact us for a quote today.
Luxury chalets & apartments with 24hr services catering to families, friends and corporate groups alike. We specialise in luxury service and accommodation with swimming pools, spa rooms, all-inclusive bar and fine dining. Our properties range from 15 person ultimate luxury chalets to 4 person luxury apartments. We offer both fully catered and self catered options as well as bespoke holidays to suit your needs.
simply-morzine.co.uk
treelinechalets.com
hunterchalets.com
+44 (0) 1664 568 902
+44 (0) 1483 220 505
+44 (0) 20 3745 3452 | +33 (0) 7 71 86 65 47
info@simply-morzine.co.uk
info@treelinechalets.com
info@hunterchalets.com
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Aiglon Morzine
Chalet des Fleurs
Chalet Roc
12 stylish and contemporary alpine apartments within a stunning 'residence de tourism' situated in a great location, less than a 5 minute walk from both the centre of resort and the Super Morzine lift. Open summer & winter. The ultimate MTB retreat. Family fun, Multi-Pass member. On-site gym, sauna, treatment rooms and fitness classes. Secure parking.
Providers of luxury self catered accommodation in Morzine, Les Gets & St Jean d’Aulps for over 10 years. We have a range of chalets and apartments sleeping from 5-12 people.
Situated a 400m walk from the Pleney and Super Morzine cable cars, Chalet Roc is perfectly located for your winter holiday! A detached five bedroom, four bathroom chalet, the chalet is equipped with fully stocked kitchen, outdoor hot tub (reachable under cover), free wifi and a modern log burning fireplace. 10% discount for Morzine Source readers!
aiglonmorzine.com
chaletdesfleurs.com
chaletroc.com/source
+33 (0) 6 82 05 81 12
+33 (0) 6 85 62 85 05
+44 (0) 7887 551 921
info@aiglonmorzine.com
enquiries@chaletdesfleurs.com
reservations@ChaletRoc.com
Morgan Jupe - fully Catered
Morgan Jupe - Luxury B&B
Morgan Jupe - Self Catered
Our fully catered chalets sleep 8 - 12 guests and are located in an exclusive area of Morzine, offering stunning views and excellent facilities. Our unrivalled fully catered package boasts the best inclusive wine list of any catered chalet and includes a non-stop driving service. Winter prices from £5,200; summer prices (self-catered) from £1,400 per chalet, per week.
Our luxury B&B package offers a flexible alternative to our fully catered holidays. Available exclusively in two chalets sleeping 8 - 10 guests, this package includes cooked and continental breakfasts, daily housekeeping, afternoon tea and a non-stop driving service. Bespoke catering solutions are available at an additional cost. Winter prices from £3,700; summer prices (self-catered) from £1,400 per chalet, per week.
Our three recently renovated apartments sleep 4 - 6 guests and are all located within five minutes walk from the centre of Morzine. Fully equipped with all the essentials including high-speed wifi, Sonos sound system, smart TV, washing machine and electric ski boot heaters. Winter prices from £1,000; summer prices from £650 per apartment, per week.
morganjupe.co.uk
morganjupe.co.uk
morganjupe.co.uk
+44 (0) 7 739 692 908
+44 (0) 7739 692 908
+44 (0) 7739 692 908
jess@morganjupe.co.uk
jess@morganjupe.co.uk
jess@morganjupe.co.uk
Freedom Ski
Snowytrees
Snow and Trek Ltd – Morzine
Celebrating 16 years, we offer the perfect Alpine getaway with luxury catered chalets with fantastic gourmet food, a select choice of fine French wines delivered by a team of dedicated and passionate individuals. Both Chalet Le Crepet and La Ferme d’Elise are centrally located with exquisite mountain views. They overlook the slopes connecting you to the largest ski area in the world.
Snowytrees catered chalets in Morzine. Great food and wine. Short breaks, full weeks, long weekends all at great rates. Book a full chalet and get discounted Geneva transfers with our transfer company www.morzinebus. co.uk Book with us direct for the best prices.
Snow and Trek offer a wide range of properties in Morzine for rental on a self-catered basis. Stays in the winter from 4+ nights and in the summer 3+ nights. The properties range from studios to chalets so something for all budgets. With a central Morzine B&B with hot tub. Snow and Trek also offer transfers, on-line booking of ski passes and ski hire delivered to your holiday property.
freedomski.co.uk
snowy trees.com
snowandtrek-morzine.com
+33 (0) 6 15 73 60 99
+33 (0) 6 40 92 46 19
+44 (0)1243 379970
info@freedomski.co.uk
amy@snowy trees.com
info@snowandtrek-morzine.com
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71
Chalet Louis - Les Gets
Total Mountain
Chalet Fourmiliere
Chalet Louis offers alpine luxury at its finest: ski from the Bruyère piste to within eighty metres of the front door and enjoy breath-taking views of Mont Chéry and the Les Gets valley. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, kids snug and hot-tub. Available for exclusive occupancy with flexible catering and local driving service from £5,300. Summer rentals from £1,900.
Total Mountain offer a range of self catered properties in the mountains, from secluded mountain hideaways to full on luxury chalets. Upgrade your experience with a bespoke add-on package including catering, transfers, pre-arrival shopping delivery and many other extras.
One of Morzine’s oldest and most luxurious holiday properties, Chalet Fourmiliere sleeps 12 in 6 en-suite bedrooms. We’ve thought of every detail so you don’t have to; exceptional food, great wines and really comfy beds. There’s also an outdoor hot tub, driver service, concierge and signature toiletries created by our inhouse perfumer plus a private massage and treatment room too.
morganjupe.co.uk
totalmountain.co.uk
chaletfourmiliere.com
+44 (0) 7 739 692 908
+44 (0) 7870 191 144
+44 (0) 7710 328 586
jess@morganjupe.co.uk
info@totalmountain.co.uk
hello@chaletfourmiliere.com
AliKats Mountain Holidays
Summit Special Ltd
Alpine Residences
Food for foodies in beautiful surroundings.
A luxurious, spacious 8 bedroom, 7 bathroom catered chalet located in a prime position, close to the slopes and Les Gets village centre. Ideal for groups of all sizes, Chalet Gentiane boasts a beautiful large living/dining area and roaring open log fire surrounded by plenty of comfortable seating to sink into after a delicious home cooked evening meal.
Annapurna is one of the most luxurious self-catered apartment complexes in Les Gets. Located within the centre of the village and including an on-site spa and swimming pool complex, the development is brand new and features interior designed apartments and penthouses of different sizes as well as a residents' lounge and exclusive restaurant.
So good, you might forget to go out skiing...
alikats.eu
chaletgentiane.com
alpineresidences.fr
+33 (0) 7 83 49 67 03
+44 (0) 7931 934312
+33 (0) 4 50 79 31 82
bookings@alikats.eu
summitspecial@chaletgentiane.com
info@alpine-residences.fr
Mountain Xtra
Chillout Mountain
The Farmhouse
We have an amazing range of stylish holiday apartments & chalets in Morzine and surrounding areas that can be rented on a weekly (or short break) self catered basis. To see the full range and search availability for your preferred dates email us or head to the website at: mountainxtra.com
We provide prestigious, stylish and contemporary chalets which are designed to offer a luxurious stay but in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Each of our catered chalets are owned and designed by ourselves ensuring memorable mountain holidays, whether it be skiing in the winter or the numerous other activities available throughout both winter and summer seasons.
Built in 1771, The Farmhouse is the oldest building in Morzine, known to the locals as ‘Le Château’. One of the most desirable hideaways in the Alps sits in the heart of this beautiful alpine village just two minutes walk from the centre. Once you have discovered this gem you will return year after year...
mountainxtra.com
chilloutmountain.com
thefarmhouse.co.uk
+44 (0) 1483 608 396
+33 (0) 6 42 79 76 97
+33 (0) 4 50 79 08 26
info@mountainxtra.com
info@chilloutmountain.com
info@thefarmhouse.co.uk
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Avoriaz Holidays offer all you need to pl an a perfect holiday in les Portes du Soleil’s highest ski resort. All properties are ski-in, ski-out, bed linens are included, flexible meal pl ans including breakfast delivery are avail able and we arrange discounts on ski passes and equipment rental on your behalf. Here’s a selection of our properties.
CHALET IODA
SASKIA APARTMENT
Chalet Doriaz
Recently refurbished to a high standard, this large chalet accommodates up to 10 people and offers stunning views over the resort. Facilities include WiFi, TV, beds made before arrival, daily cleaning service, towels and firewood provided, sunny terrace and washing machine and dryer. You’ll love the large, open plan living room.
Located on the 4th floor of the Saskia Residence in the Falaise area, this apartment sleeps 6 people in comfortable rooms. There’s 1 double bedroom, a bunk room and a sofa-bed in the lounge. Facilities include beds made before arrival, WiFi, TV, kitchen with microwave, fridge and dishwasher. The southwest facing balcony offers stunning views!
An individual chalet offering accommodation for up to 12 in a huge, beautifully decorated space over several characterful levels. Facilities include WiFi, beds made before arrival, fire wood and towels provided, secure ski storage, laundry room, sauna, fitted kitchen with all the appliances you need, large dining area and several bedrooms to suit your whole group.
ASTER APARTMENT
ALPAGES APARTMENT
Fontaines Blanches Apartment
Sleeping 6 in modern comfort, this 3rd floor apartment has been recently refurbished and offers great views over the local pistes. Facilities include secure boot and ski storage, beds made before your arrival, WiFi, flexible bedroom arrangements, a fully-equipped kitchen and a south west facing balcony. We love the Savoyarde themed décor in this property!
This is a functional, well located apartment sleeping up to 4 people in 2 rooms. It’s on the 6th floor, which makes the views spectacular while other features include a ski locker, beds made before arrival, WiFi, a kitchen with microwave, fridge and dishwasher. There’s 1 double bedroom, 2 single sofa beds and a south facing balcony from which you can enjoy the views.
A charming apartment with modern décor, this residence offers accommodation for up to 4 people on the 4th floor of the building. Features include WiFi, beds made before arrival, a kitchen with a fridge, dishwasher and microwave while the bedrooms include 1 double room and a double sofa bed in the lounge. There’s also a south facing balcony too.
CHALET KOURIA
Malinka Apartment
Snow Apartment
This beautiful, uber-modern chalet sleeps 10 people in 5 bedrooms. It has it’s own private lift, a beautiful living room with a large fireplace and a fully equipped kitchen. Other features include heated boot warmers, laundry room, access to an indoor swimming pool, hammam, sauna and beautiful south facing balconies.
Accommodating up to 4 people, this charming apartment is on the 4th floor of a centrally located Avoriaz residence and enjoys south-west facing balcony views. Facilities include beds made before your arrival, WIFI, a kitchen featuring a microwave, hotplates, dishwasher and fridge in addition to a nice dining space. There is a double bedroom and 2 single sofa beds.
A spacious 4-person studio in the centre of Avoriaz with stunning views from the east-facing balcony. The accommodation is open-plan and includes two single sofa beds and two further pull-out trundle beds. The kitchen is equipped with a fridge, hob, microwave and mini oven; there’s also a washing machine and a TV too.
a selection of avoriaz accommodation from avoriaz-holidays.com | +33 (0)4 50 74 16 08
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Source Advert Chalets Parquet.pdf
your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets & Avoriaz
1
16/04/2018
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| Rising from the Ashes
Custom made flooring for personalities. Incomparable wood floor as unique as you.
The 15th December 2017 is a day that Tony Faletto won’t forget in a hurry. His bar, the Tibetan Café, is one of the most popular venues in Morzine and has been for the last 18 years. “My phone rang, a friend told me the bar was on fire. Soon people started sending me videos, photos. I could see the fire was really serious.”
MANUFACTURED FROM SUSTAINABLE GERMAN FOREST OR RECLAIMED OAK BEAMS FOR A TRULY AUTHENTIC LOOK. BOARDS UP TO 40CM WIDTH AND 5M LONG.
Fortunately the bar was closed at the time as routine maintenance work was taking place inside. Local pompiers responded immediately but the interior was reduced to ruins. Decorations that Tony and his family had collected over the years were gone. It was immediately obvious to Tony and his wife Judy that they wouldn’t be able to open their bar for the winter season. “We’ve taken everything out of the bar, right back to the bare walls. We’ve replaced everything,” Tony tells me. And he’s more than excited to be reopening his bar in time for the Winter 18/19 season. But worry not all you die-hard Tibetan Café fans out there. The atmosphere and the style of the bar will remain unchanged. Sure, there’s some new, modern décor, two huge new bars, some cosy wooden cladding and new seating, but you’ll find the same team pouring your drinks, the same huge range of beers (including Asahi on draft), cocktails and spirits and the same quality live music acts throughout the winter season. “I really want to thank everyone who contacted me with messages of support after the fire." Says Tony "I knew we had some loyal regular visitors, but I never realised how much our bar meant to you guys! Judy and I were honestly touched and we look forward to raising a glass with you all this season!” The Tibetan Café will once again host Morzine’s third annual Gin Festival on 4th, 5th & 6th April 2019. Expect 50 different gins from independent producers around the world along with tasting notes, accompanying garnishes and live music each evening.
Bespoke fitted curtains with an unlimited choice of colours and fabrics IDEAL FOR AWKWARD SHAPED WINDOWS PERFECTLY SUITED TO TRAPEZE WINDOWS & TILT AND TURN WINDOWS
Head to facebook.com/tibetan-café-morzine for more updates.
The only wood flooring showroom in the area A reliable, small, bilingual team Showroom by appointment : 53, Route du Contat 74110 La Côte d’Arbroz Tel : +33 (0)6 88 27 90 98. E-mail : info@parquets-stores.com Website : www.parquets-stores.com
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hot
property SASSANK A 843
With so much going on in our valley at the moment, there’s never been a better time to invest in your Alpine property dream. Here’s our pick of the hottest properties for sale in Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets and the surrounding villages right now, and as always, there’s something for all budgets.
from €960,000
(HAI)
Located in the original part of Avoriaz and offering a ski-in, ski-out position, this superb, high-quality 5th floor apartment includes 3 rooms comprised of a large, open-plan living room, kitchen and dining area, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 separate toilets. There’s also an adjacent studio property included. Both have been recently refurbished in a modern yet authentic style while south west facing balconies offer magnificent views. There’s a large storage cellar and two ski lockers too. MORE INFO:
David - La Centrale Locative - Avoriaz Holidays +33 (0) 4 50 74 16 08 info@avoriaz-holidays.com avoriaz-holidays.com
CHALET OMAROO II
€2,190,000
(HAI)
€1,190,000
(HAI)
Located on the sunny side of Morzine, this luxurious chalet offers you a simply magnificent panorama. Upon entering you’ll be immediately impressed by the glass wine cellar, set behind a wide staircase leading upstairs. On the ground floor there are 2 cosy bedrooms sharing a beautiful bathroom and a sauna. The first floor of the chalet is dedicated entirely to living space and certainly provides the wow factor. Large windows occupy the entire façade. On the top floor there’s a fabulous double bedroom, dressing room and en-suite bathroom nestled under the roof. MORE INFO:
Sylvie Payen - Century 21 Call Home +33 (0) 4 50 04 94 76 sylvie.payen@century21.fr callhome-morzine.com
CHALET PLEIN SOLEIL If you are in the market for a large family chalet with easy access to the slopes and the apres-ski, then look no further than Chalet Plein Soleil! With a huge double garage for all your sports gear and a supersunny outdoor terrace perfect for the hot-tub, it's the ideal chalet for summer or winter. In perfect condition, this high quality chalet with a smart fitted kitchen and split-level lounge is perfect for socialising, and the 4/5 bedrooms provide plenty of sleeping accommodation. The fireman’s pole down from the top floor adds an element of fun! MORE INFO:
Ailsa Bishop - Alpine Property +33 (0) 6 71 14 68 08 ailsa@alpine-property.com alpine-property.com
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*HAI – Agency fees included / payable by the seller
AGENCE LA CENTRALE is a boutique agency with native French and English speakers. We are here to help with all aspects of property transactions and management in your language.
220 rue du Centre 74260 LES GETS Phone. +33.(0)4.50.79.65.80 Email info@agence-lacentrale.com
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LES 3 SOPHIE
€267,000
(HAI)
€598,000
(HAI)
€635,000
(HAI)
A brand new development by LB Immobilier in Morzine. Les 3 Sophie is comprised of 3 independent buildings, ranging in size from 1 bed to 3 bed apartments with additional coin montagne. Located close to Les Prodains cable car, the development is also close to the free ski bus route. Interior finishings are high end and include hydraulic under floor heating, electric roller shutters and videophones. Apartments are delivered with fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms, a ski locker and garage or parking space. MORE INFO:
Lauryne Bron - LB Immobilier +33 (0) 4 50 75 77 31 lauryne.bron@creationlb.com lb.immo
LES BARMES DES MOSSETTES Les Barmes des Mosettes is a new, luxury development in the heart of Morzine, close to the shops, restaurants, valley buses and ski lifts of the Portes du Soleil ski area. The residence has 6 high quality apartments built using traditional materials, with natural stone and wood throughout. The apartments for sale include this 70m2, 3 bed apartment on the 1st floor, with a spacious terrace reached from the open plan kitchen and living space. The large windows allow in lots of light and make the most of the views over the village and pistes. Sold with a cellar and an indoor parking space. MORE INFO:
Isobel Laing - France Property Angels +33 (0) 6 77 36 30 28 isobel.laing@francepropertyangels.com francepropertyangels.com
BRIGHT, MODERN CHALET, SPECTACULAR VIEWS This stunning chalet, located 12 minutes from the centre of Morzine and only 1.5 km from the slopes of Mont Chery (Les Gets), is set above the village of La Cote d'Arbroz and benefits from magnificent views of the surrounding mountain peaks. The chalet sits on a plot of land of 542m² and was built in 2006 by a reputable local builder. The property has several half-levels with a very bright living room, bathed in natural light and stunning views thanks to the cathedral windows. Benefiting from 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a spacious fitted kitchen and a good size garage, this is the real dream ski chalet. MORE INFO:
Joanna MacGovern - Geranium Immobilier +33 (0) 4 50 38 86 30 info@geranium74.com geranium74.com
KINABALU
From €410,000
(HAI)
Currently reserving off plan, Kinabalu is a chic, high-end apartment development in the centre of Les Gets, just metres from the Mont Chery lift station. Ranging in size from 2-bed apartments to a 6-bed penthouse, these prestigious eco apartments offer a great rental return and are housed within a development that also includes a private luxury spa and swimming pool in adidition to a concierge service, bar and restaurant. MORE INFO:
Samantha Gates - Alpine Lodges +44 (0) 4 22 32 60 96 s.gates@alpine-lodges.fr alpine-lodges.co.uk
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Looking for your ideal ski property in the French Alps? 77
As professional alpine property finders, we are here to help you to source your perfect alpine property so get in touch today to start your search.
France Property Angels offer the largest selection of ski chalets & apartments for sale in Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz, Châtel and other ski resorts in the Haute Savoie. /MorzineSourceMagazine
@MorzineSource
+44 (0) 1225 442128 info@francepropertyangels.com www.francepropertyangels.com /MorzineSourceMagazine
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RENOVATED SAVOYARDE CHALET
€875,000
(HAI)
A beautifully renovated Savoyarde chalet in an elevated position with stunning views. Located just 1km from the resort centre, the ski bus stop is right outside and it’s just a 15 minute walk into Morzine. The chalet comprises a large living/ dining room with wood burner, fully equipped kitchen, 5 beds and 4 bathrooms. There’s a small garden, an attic for storage and covered parking. This chalet is perfect for your winter and summer holidays, as well as an investment. Book a visit with your Leggett agent today! MORE INFO:
Nicky Wye - Leggett Immobilier +33 (0) 6 27 86 27 04 nwye@leggett.fr leggettski.com
CHALET HAUT FORT
€795,000
(HAI)
This luxury 4-bed, 4-bathroom semi-detached chalet is set high on the mountainside and offers breathtaking south-facing views over Morzine. Located within a complex that also includes a swimming pool, the property is 1.8km from the centre of the village and is located on the new ski bus route, with a bus stop right outside. All 4 bedrooms are a good size and en-suite. There’s a covered parking space included, in addition to a private storage cellar, an open fireplace and 2 large balconies. MORE INFO:
Ingrid Maes +44 (0) 4 50 04 33 26 info@morzine-prestige.com morzine-prestige.com
LE CARLINA
€260,000
to
€2,660,000
(HAI)
Prestigious ski-in, ski-out residence. A truly unique location at the foot of the slopes next to the main Pleney cable car. Morzine with all its bars, restaurants and shops is on your doorstep. Superb range of apartments from small 1 bedroom of €260,000 to a luxury penthouse apartment of €2,660,000. Great internal specification with modern interiors. For those seeking a rental return, these apartments will perform exceptionally well given their prime location. We would be happy to discuss this further with you. MORE INFO:
Paul Watts - Morzine Immobilier +33 (0) 4 50 79 13 09 paul@morzine-immo.com morzine-immo.com
LES MOUFLONS This central Les Gets chalet enjoys a magnificent view of the Perrières pistes and down the valley. It provides a lovely home as it is but, as you can see from our visuals, after some work it could be one of the most spectacular chalets in Les Gets, or even 3 separate apartments. Currently composed of a 1-bed apartment on the ground floor with separate entrance, 2 double garages, living room with fireplace offering a magnificent view of the mountains, kitchen opening onto a large balcony, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, toilet. 120m² of attic space ready for renovation.
€980,000
(HAI)
MORE INFO:
Abi Croutear-Foy +33 (0) 4 50 79 65 80 abi@agence-lacentrale.com agence-lacentrale.com
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Chaque Agence est Juridiquement et Financièrement IndÊpendante
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As the go-to interior designer in our valley, Kyles Garrett of Shep&Kyles Design works on some of the most prestigious new-build and renovation projects in Morzine and the surrounding villages. Following the completion of Chalet Joux Plane, Morzine’s very own ‘James Bond Chalet’ last winter, Kyles is adding the finishing touches to Chalet Sapphire. “This is an ultra-high-end rental chalet that combines cosy Alpine charm with a subtle Scandinavian flavour” Kyles explains. Here’s a sneak peek inside…
- interiors Hanging Seat Chalet Sapphire has amazing views, we want guests to rest and appreciate the beauty. Sitting in one of Tom Raffield’s Amble hanging seats is the best way to do this. It’s made from bent ash and has simple, clean lines. It’s functional as well as being a piece of art. tomraffield.com
Metal Framed Round Mirrors
Leading Swedish designer Arne Jacobsen’s iconic light, these are smart, simple and can be orientated to shade, making them perfect for bedside wall lights.
With so many large terraces overlooking Morzine, I’ve scattered many hurricane lamps around the exterior space to give warmth and intimacy. The HOLMEGAARD collection from Cloudberry Living is one of my favourites.
An interior design trick is to place three mirrors in a space where one would do perfectly well! It creates a lovely visual accent to a room and really bounces light around. In Chalet Sapphire there’s lots of beautiful reclaimed wood and a natural grey colour palette. These mirrors, with their almost industrial black metal frames, contrast without competing with the wood craftsmanship.
davidvillagelighting.co.uk
cloudberryliving.co.uk
grahamandgreen.co.uk
Hurricane Lamps AJ Wall Lights
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Alpine Van Man SOURCE advert.pdf
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A LP IN EVA N MA N REGULAR DELIVERIES BETWEEN THE UK AND THE FRENCH ALPS
WEEKLY, YEAR-ROUND SERVICE FROM THE UK TO RESORTS IN THE FRENCH ALPS
Ice Room Top end chalets need unique facilities. In addition to the swimming pool, exterior sunk-in Jacuzzi and outdoor barrel sauna, the ice room is located next to a hammam for that hot/cold spa experience. The rear wall is covered in ice and is backlit to change colour. There’s even an ice fountain, too! Bespoke creation by Inbecainbeca.com
COURIER, HAULAGE & REMOVALS SERVICES. VANS & TRUCKS AVAILABLE FOR PART OR FULL LOADS. FAST, RELIABLE, PROMPT SERVICE HANDLED BY PROFESSIONALS ALL ITEMS FULLY INSURED STORAGE ALSO AVAILABLE
Moooi Raimond Light This is one of my statement lights on the Chalet Sapphire project. It’s a pendant light from a very contemporary brand and used in clusters of different sizes, they give impressive impact. davidvillagelighting.co.uk
Advert
Fluffy Stools Every ski chalet needs a fluffy stool. They give a cosy feel, take up very little space and are beautiful and tactile. I’ve used these from Morzine-based company Atelier de Marie as they feature birch legs and a high quality sheepskin top. atelierdemarie-morzine.com
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WWW.ALPINEVANMAN.COM +44 (0)7538 218096 39 BARTON ROAD, MILTON KEYNES, MK2 3HW
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BUILDING A
Sustainable Empire BY CHLOE HARDY
Change is on the horizon this year in Morzine. In September, the much talked about plans for a new cable car linking central Morzine directly to Avoriaz were officially announced, meaning a tweaked layout for the town centre and a lot of building work coming our way over the next few years. While the benefits of the new link are plentiful and will have a mainly positive impact on the local economy, new apartment developments are part of the deal and, as with any ski resort town, spaces next to the lift will be hot property.
Morzine started life as a traditional French farming town and retains that atmosphere to this day, but it’s seen a lot of property development in recent years, as have Les Gets and Avoriaz. A large portion of that development has gone towards the luxury travel market. And with a new lift coming, it begs the question; is Morzine still going to be an affordable place to live? Well, funny I should ask, because just last summer, the Mairie de Chamonix announced some new building regulations designed to make it easier for people to live in the town amongst scores of large, often empty, second homes, exclusive hotels, rising rental costs and booming house prices. Chamonix and Morzine are similar
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in a lot of ways; both towns have large year-round populations, and boast traditional heritage alongside a booming tourist and luxury travel industry. Obviously tourism is a large factor in how a ski town functions, and provides a large chunk of work for resort residents, but what happens when those same residents are being priced out of the town they work in? Chamonix has drawn a line. The Mairie de Chamonix claims that almost 70% of housing in the town is made up of second homes. This on its own isn’t great for the environment, but it also drives up house prices for locals, and means a lot of properties spend most of the year uninhabited. In what the Mairie describe as an ‘extremely rare but necessary’ move,
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any new building with a surface area over 300m2 must now dedicate at least 25% of that to permanent residential housing. Furthermore, thanks to new national regulations regarding living in a communal building (like an apartment block with shared spaces) and useof-land laws, Chamonix has found itself with a lot of large chalets being built in spaces for which they were not intended. New regulations are now in place to limit the construction of ‘super chalets’ that take up a disproportionate amount of land. Next up is a building freeze in several zones around central Chamonix for a maximum of five years, preventing these areas from becoming
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DERNIÈRES OPPORTUNITÉS | RÉSIDENCE ET PRESTATIONS HAUT DE GAMME LATEST OPPORTUNITIES | LUXURIOUS APARTMENTS & HIGH-END SERVICES Appartements 1 chambre-cabine au penthouse 6 chambres 1-bed+cabin apartements to a 6-bed penthouse
Bar et restaurant Bar and restaurant
Espace bien être : SPA, piscine, salle de sport Wellness area: spa, swimming pool, fitness
Service de conciergerie Concierge service
Parking sous-terrain Underground parking
+33 (0)4 22 32 60 96 - info@alpine-lodges.fr - www.alpine-lodges.fr
Spécialiste de la location haut de gamme Specialist in the rental of luxury properties
Restaurant et bar à vins - Ouvert tous les jours Restaurant and wine bar - Open every day
Réservez vos prochaines vacances / Book your next holidays +33 (0)4 22 32 60 93 - lesgets@alpine-residences.fr www.alpine-residences.fr
Réservez votre table / Book a table +33 (0)4 50 86 31 12 - reservation@vina-annapurna.com www.vina-annapurna.com
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Saint Maurice. “Morzine suffers in a similar way to Chamonix, just not as badly.” Says Gareth, “Local people have the opportunity to live further down the valley still, although it is getting harder!”
overdeveloped or filled with big empty houses. Any developments that are built must conform to a ‘global and thoughtful’ framework that’s beneficial to the commune and its future. And finally, Chamonix has put in place new regulations to help the flow of local shops and businesses in the area, making it easier for them to operate in resort. While designer stores in Chamonix are commonplace, it’s also home to a large number of independently run shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. New regulations include a prohibition of change of use for anything other than commercial purposes (so you can’t buy a shop space and convert it into a luxury chalet), a 250m2 sales area limit for new businesses (meaning Sports Direct couldn’t just swoop in and open a megastore) and an obligation for new buildings in Chamonix’s commercial centre to reserve the ground floor for shops. These regulations are designed to aid the sustainable development and future of Chamonix in a way that allows tourism to continue, but without alienating the population of year-round residents and local business owners. They also aim to preserve Chamonix’s heritage, history and community. #lovemorzine
And indeed, Chamonix is not the only mountain town to think about its future and make changes. Switzerland’s Weber Law is in effect throughout the entire country and prevents the construction of new-build second homes in resorts where second homes make up over 20% of local housing. While this law was passed to prevent houses being built and staying empty most of the year, and to counteract foreign investment driving up house prices for locals, the law was not entirely warmly received. New-build properties are a major source of income for resort towns through construction and property management - as they are in Chamonix and Morzine, too. Anyway, back to France. With all the development we’re seeing, could it be time for something like this in Morzine? Well, the short answer is no. Gareth Jefferies of Haute Savoie estate agent alpine-property.com describes the changes in Chamonix as, “a wellintentioned response to a typical local problem.” Ski resorts, especially ones as popular as Chamonix, which attracts visitors year round, from hardcore mountaineers to tourists who want to go up the Aiguille du Midi, often fall in to the trap of becoming too exclusive or expensive to actually live in. Many Chamonix residents live in the nearby and more affordable communes of Les Houches, Argentiere and Servoz, while in resorts like Les Arcs many residents live at the base of the valley in Bourg #lovelesgets
The Mairie de Morzine-Avoriaz currently has no plans to make any changes to its building regulations, and although the super-chalet is beginning to make an appearance in Morzine and Les Gets, it's too early to say if the towns will become overrun just yet. We have seen an increasing amount of locally owned hotels, homes and businesses being sold and converted into luxury accommodation over the past ten years, as well as new-builds designed for week-long stays rather than permanent residence. However, there’s still weight in the fact that many local families are still here, running hotels, restaurants and shops, and may well be for years to come. Morzine and Les Gets have managed to stay largely away from big business takeovers and are home to a number of independently run small businesses, French, British and other. While many residents do move further down the valley where it’s possible to get more for your money, the Mairie de Morzine-Avoriaz does offers a small amount of staff housing to seasonal workers. There’s no doubt that Morzine and Les Gets are growing, developing and changing all the time, but many look upon the upcoming lift development as the next step in Morzine’s future; safeguarding it against bad snow years, too much traffic and growing pressure on the bus and ski lift network. Most importantly, it will continue to bring the flow of visitors the town needs to keep functioning. Change is happening, and has been for some time. But as with any traditional mountain town, we predict there are some things that will stay exactly the same. #loveavoriaz
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Showroom in Les Gets UK Showroom near Eurotunnel Locally Project Managed Local Trusted Trades UK and French Registered Over 30 Years Experience
3 OF OUR RECENT CREATIONS
Request a brochure @ www.midaskitchens.fr Open 7 days a week +33(0) 640 922527 UK Office: +44(0) 1732 373515 sales@midaskitchens.fr www.midaskitchens.fr French Showroom Lion d’Or 175 rue du Vieux Village 74260/MorzineSourceMagazine LES GETS
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Part of the @MorzineSource Burnhill Kitchens Group
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THEofEUROPE the future INTERVIEW BY AMIE HENDERSON
For the record, I voted remain. Of course I did. As a child of the 1980’s, I’ve grown up considering myself ‘European’. I’ve taken full advantage of the free movement of labour, both as an employee and an employer. I’ve also carved out a pretty lovely life for myself and my family here in France. But here we are, just weeks from the UK’s formal withdrawal from the EU, and I’ve got no idea how it’ll affect my life, my business, my future. Alan Watson at Spectrum IFA knows a thing or two about life in the mountains. The British financial advisor has lived in our valley for many years and advises expats across the French Alps on mortgages, investments, tax and pensions. He sounds like just the person to answer my questions! Well, some of them at least… Whilst we’re still waiting to discover exactly what Brexit will mean for Brits living in France, what impact are you seeing on the investment market already? “EU economic conditions have broadly improved over the past two years, evident for example in lower unemployment (though still relatively high) and positive business sentiment. In equity markets, the Brexit vote and political uncertainties across Europe produced only temporary distractions rather than significant market disruption.The market outlook remains positive but increasingly fragile, regardless of how Brexit evolves.” It’s currently very easy for retired Brits to move to France. How will pensions be arranged in a postBrexit Europe? “Pension planning for expatriates is a technically complex subject where reliable advice is essential. With proper planning there is scope #lovemorzine
to increase the value, flexibility and security of your retirement finances. I can for now still say that British expatriates living in Europe currently enjoy pension freedoms and transfer opportunities that are unavailable elsewhere. However, in relation to both Brexit and ongoing UK pension reform, it is unlikely this flexibility will remain beyond the short term. As a first step, consult an authorised, qualified and experienced adviser to arrange a comprehensive review of your existing pension arrangements.” We’ve seen the pound and the euro fluctuate considerably during the Brexit process so far. What advice do you have for holidaymakers looking to buy their holiday currency? Should they buy euros in advance, or at the last minute? “Exchange rate direction is of course impossible to forecast. Whether for holiday, property purchase or investment, the timing of your currency conversion to (or from) Euros depends largely on personal #lovelesgets
attitude to risk. For certainty and therefore security you should convert sooner rather than later, but if you can afford a more speculative stance then deferring the transaction may prove fruitful.” “In the context of Brexit, and how a good or bad deal for the UK may affect exchange rates, remember that very few experts foresaw the outcome of the referendum (or indeed the US presidential election), nor the market reactions that followed. When it comes to currency, convert now for certainty, hold off only if you can afford and accept the risk.” Do you think the local ski property market will be affected by Brexit? “Looking back over its history, no, not greatly. When I first came to Morzine in 1994, it was a sleepy mountain village and if you arrived early for the Christmas break, it was difficult to imagine the place would ever come to life. Since then Morzine and most Alpine resorts have changed #loveavoriaz
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beyond recognition. Over the past ten years, buyers have continued to favour the region, even whilst enduring the financial crisis of 2008, stock market and banking collapses, political uncertainties, including of course Brexit, currency volatility and recent sterling weakness. British and other foreign buyers have not been dissuaded from either owning holiday homes locally or indeed taking up full time residency. Determination, dreams and a ‘can do’ attitude prevail over all else.”
marriage regime, the survivor is likely to be insufficiently protected in the presence of children and/or stepchildren.
Inheritance tax is possibly one aspect of financial planning that British property owners in France haven’t considered. How are the rules likely to change here?
What advice do you have for those with savings in France right now? Should we be looking to move them back to the UK?
“French inheritance law restricts the extent to which you can freely transfer wealth during your lifetime. It also, unless you have planned properly, governs how your estate is distributed on death – most notably, prescribed heirship laws override individual choice when it comes to nominating beneficiaries. In particular, unless a married couple adopts a full communauté universelle
Note though that if you are a British expatriate living in France, EU legislation allows you to specify that your estate be administered according to the laws of your country of nationality, rather than your country of residence. Doing so provides valuable flexibility and control over the eventual distribution of your estate.”
“If you intend to live in France permanently or long term there is, in most circumstances, little merit in holding UK investments. On the basis that UK assets are taxable in France, and that tax-free in the UK doesn’t translate to the same in France, consider switching to, rather than abandoning, French tax efficient investments. Care is needed with the disposal of UK assets, to avoid unintended tax consequences, so
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always seek professional advice before restructuring existing UK holdings.” With so much change and uncertainty, why is it important to engage an experienced and trusted financial planning expert? “Even for the financially experienced, it is worth seeking professional advice, if only to ensure that all available investment and tax planning opportunities are being fully utilised. It goes without saying that you should only deal with an independent, appropriately authorised adviser, ideally someone living and working locally who has been recommended by other expatriates in the area. On a personal note, with thirty years’ financial services experience and over twenty years as a local resident, I am well positioned to offer tried and tested advice on how to make the most of living in this wonderful corner of France.” You can contact Alan Watson at Spectrum IFA on +33 (0) 6 21 57 41 19 or email alan.watson@spectrum-ifa.com
Do you hold UK pensions or investments? Are you making the most of financial planning opportunities available to expatriates ? If you live in the Rhône-Alpes region or are thinking of moving here, maybe it’s time for a financial check-up. Our locally based Partner, Alan Watson, has lived in the Morzine valley for over 20 years. Please get in touch to arrange a free, no obligation, consultation.
With Care, You Prosper www.spectrum-ifa.com | + 33 (0)6 21 57 41 19 | alan.watson@spectrum-ifa.com The Spectrum IFA Group is a founder member of the Federation of European Independent Financial Advisers. www.feifa.eu • TSG Insurance Services S.A.R.L. • Siège Social: 34 Bd des Italiens, 75009 Paris • R.C.S. Paris B 447 609 108 (2003B04384) « Société de Courtage d’assurances » « Intermédiaire en opération de Banque et Services de Paiement » Numéro d’immatriculation 07 025 332 – www.orias.fr « Conseiller en investissements financiers », référencé sous le numéro E002440 par ANACOFI-CIF, association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers »
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Schoph interview By Michael Henderson
It might not look like it from the outset, but snowboarding is a great example of a sport that fosters creativity. A surprising amount of current and ex-professional shredders make a living as artists and musicians, gaining support from not just the snowboarding community, but the wider world, too. One such artist from our side of the pond is the Yorkshireman and Black Sabbath lover known as Schoph - if you’ve ever ridden a Lib Tech snowboard or owned a pair of Vans, you’ll probably have seen some of Schoph’s macabre but colourful creations. We caught up with him to find out how snowboarding imitates art, and art imitates snowboarding. Or something like that. #lovemorzine
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For those who might not have had the pleasure of seeing your work before, can you describe your style and inspiration for us? I work within two main styles. One for the snow industry, the other for the more contemporary art world. For snowboarding, I create highly detailed layered resins, the contemporary side is more mixed media works. My inspiration comes from my surroundings, the people I meet, the experiences I have. Music plays a heavy part in it too. Did you always want to be an artist? Or had you hoped to make it as a professional snowboarder? Art has always been with me. I didn't talk ‘till a late age and as a result I painted and drew on whatever I could. School came around and it wasn't an option to take art. In fact, I was thrown out of art class and told I’d never be an artist. Snowboarding just happened. Coming from Doncaster, I dreamed of living in the mountains and shredding every day. It began in 1990 when I was 11 on Sheffield dry slope. Fastforward to Tignes in 2000 and a friend telling me that I could get sponsored and I should go for it. Back then I wasn't interested in that side of it. But one thing led to another and my first hook-ups were Electric, Holden, Captia and Union. It opened up many doors and opportunities, having that support, being able to travel and push my riding. Down the line I built solid relationships as a snowboarder with Volcom, Vans, Lib Tech and Dragon. You did several seasons in Tignes, but what did you do between seasons to fund your work? Altogether I did 12 seasons and loved every minute. I did back-to-back winters for a while, with the sponsorships it meant more opportunity for summertime shred. I lived in Saas Fee for a while, spent time in Le Deux Alpes and New Zealand until the summer was out. Saying that, I’ve been a jack of all trades... head chef of my own kitchen, builder, I’ve worked in film, done fence work for the festivals, I’ll put my mind to anything. In between I started working on my clothing brand, Dalikfodda, later bringing in my mate Thrashmore and making it a proper brand on the European scene. You've been lucky enough to exhibit alongside street art legends such Banksy, Shepard Fairey and Blek le Rat. How did that come about? I stopped doing seasons when I turned 30. I’ll always have snowboarding but I wanted to give art a shot. Si Forster, my old team manager at Electric, /MorzineSourceMagazine
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Look out for Scoph’s next show in Laax, Switzerland this March. You can also check out his work and find out about upcoming exhibitions by following @_schoph_ on Instagram or check out his representing gallery, RedHouse, in Harrogate: redhouseoriginals.com. Schoph’s other projects include Dalikfodda (dalikfodda.com) and House of Maiden (houseofmaiden.com). #lovemorzine
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was in touch with the gallery that gave me that first show and now represent me in the UK. He put my name forward and within a few months of leaving Tignes I had my first show alongside these amazing artists. It was a trip. I didn't know anything about the art world or exhibiting... I just wanted to paint. It was a ‘thrown in at the deep end’ situation. The worlds of art and snowboarding collide once again in your collaborations with Jamie Lynn and Bryan Iguchi. What’s it like working so closely with your friends? Like anything with close friends, it’s just a good laugh doing what we love doing. How does the collaboration process work with your brands? Do they set any parameters or are you left to your own devices? I’m fortunate to have great relationships with the brands I work with, /MorzineSourceMagazine
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who’ve supported me through that transition from snowboarder to artist. I trust them and they trust me with the art I produce. No parameters, they reach out and I submit the work I think fits depending on the line we’re producing together. How easy is it to adapt your creative process, depending on where your art will end up? To be honest, I don't think about it too much. With Vans and my signature collection I was there every step, from the original to how I wanted the placement. With Lib Tech it’s usually a straightup original painting, then their in-house team does the placement. With Volcom I'm open, it can go back and forth a lot but we both agree on the final placements. Lobster... well, they’re chill so it’s a no brainer. With that said, it’s often easy to adapt my works as it’s always 50 / 50 between me and the brand. /MorzineSourceMagazine
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TECH vs. TALENT How have smartphones and social sharing influenced the world of professional photography? By Chloe Hardy
It wasn’t long ago that Charlie Brooker introduced the world to one of his finest creations: Philomena Cunk, a fictional talking head on his show Weekly Wipe who went on to have her very own series. She had a different job every week, one of the most memorable being ‘Instagram Photographer’. In a twist scarier than a Black Mirror episode, that job now actually exists. They’re called Influencers instead of Instagram Photographers and it’s becoming easier and easier to take a good picture on your phone and get it out there into the world. But are the latest tech and sharing channels a blessing or a curse to the photography trade? We asked some talented local professionals for their views.
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RUEBEN SHAUL Morzine-based Rueben started out as a mountain bike photographer and now specialises in weddings. He runs Eight Bells Wedding Imagery with his wife Polly, taking beautiful photos and creating personalised videos of weddings across Europe. Check out Reuben’s work at eightbellswed.com or follow him on Instagram @eightbellswedd
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What would you say makes a great photo? There are a few different elements: a combination of an interesting object, a special moment, good composition and, most importantly, a skilful use of light. Normally the trickiest part, the one that takes ages to learn, is how to read and use light. That's a life-changer!
while keeping things genuine and real, so the couple (and guests) will easily connect to that special moment, they won't feel like it’s not their real personality or a fake fashion shoot. You don't need the most expensive and newest camera for that. In fact, my own wedding photos where photographed by someone who used only film cameras from the ‘90s.
Has the progression of cameras on smartphones influenced your photography? The cameras on smartphones don't much influence my photography. I think smartphones can do a great job capturing flat images, mainly landscapes, but it is still far from using the optics of professional cameras. The only way smartphones have changed my work is that they are now always showing up in my wedding photos, in people's hands, for example, when a couple walks down in the aisle!
What do you think sets an amateur photographer apart from a professional? The ability and skill to run a business. You can take the most amazing pictures without managing to earn a single penny. That's why today (and more and more in the future) the way to stand out as a professional will be based not just on your photography skills but mainly on all the other aspects that come with running a business, like knowing how to promote yourself to get new clients. Then there’s helping the clients feel comfortable in front of the camera, gaining their trust, giving their photographs personal value and meeting their expectations.
Has your photography changed now that technology and photo sharing are so accessible? We are now over-saturated by so many amazing images on social networks. Now we've seen pretty much everything and it's getting really difficult to be impressed anymore! It makes me wonder and question things regarding what my goal is, why am I photographing and what’s the value I want to give at the end of the day. With weddings, I like to find the balance of getting a great image,
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Do you have any advice to give the budding Instagram photographers of today? I have nothing against using smartphones to catch all your adventures. I do though have a rule for myself that I'd like to share. Whenever you photograph or film something that amazes you, pause for a few seconds (or even minutes) to look at the object, with your phone down, so you can truly experience that precious moment in the here and now.
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SAM M MAHON C
You can see more of Sam’s work at samuelmcmahon.com or follow him on Instagram @samuelmcmahon
Sometime Source photographer Sam McMahon works primarily in extreme sports photography and videography, and has filmed and photographed the likes of Ed Leigh, Jenny Jones and Sparrow Knox. He works with digital and analogue cameras and can often be found locked in his windowless toilet developing films.
GIOVANNA FLEMING Check out more of Gio’s photos at gioflemingphotography.com or follow her on Instagram @gioflemingphotography
Gio is based in Les Gets and turned her passion into her profession in 2013 when a friend asked her to help with some interior photos. Since then she’s travelled extensively, in particular to the Arctic circle, and visited lots of incredible buildings in her quest to create beautiful interior, nature and food images.
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How long have you been a professional photographer and how did you get into it? 'Professional' is a loose word but I've been making a living from my photography, filming and writing for about five years now. When I was a teenager I was rarely without a camera, but like a lot of teen obsessions it faded somewhat until a snowboard injury put me out of action. A friend was good enough to loan me a camera and I never looked back again. Who or what are your main artistic influences? For me, in photography, Matt Georges and Sebastião Salgado are both huge influences, but equally important are painters like Rembrandt and Edward Hopper who worked extensively with light, shade and composition. How has the progression of cameras on smartphones influenced your photography? It's handy having it with you all the time, but as someone who owns a stupid amount of cameras, it's just one in the arsenal!
What sets a professional apart from an amateur photographer? Everyone can take a good photo every now and again, but a professional photographer has to take a good photo every time. A professional photographer needs to master the technical chain, from cameras and ICC profiles, to editing software, all the way to publishing. What are the unique skills required for your style of photography? A good interior photographer needs be able to best portray a room and the elements in it. You don’t need to be an interior designer, but you need to have an eye for proportions, colours and textures. And you need to be prepared to spend the time looking for the best angle, the composition that will work. For nature photography, you just have to get out and be prepared to walk carrying your gear. Dawn, evening, night, it doesn’t matter. You’ve got to chase that light, those stars, those colours. It’s quite a solitary trade. I’m lucky I’ve got my dog Oscar, who’s always keen to come with me. As soon as he sees the rucksack and the tripod he knows we’re going out hunting images.
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Has social media influenced your photography? I think it used to, but now I make a conceited effort to avoid it doing so. It can make you chase the photos that will get you more likes rather than challenging yourself and the medium, and can really warp how people come into it. For me it's an art rather than a popularity contest. It's more than possible to be a great photographer without being a 'professional'. Anyone can take a great photo by chance which is awesome, but a good photographer will be able to work in a variety of conditions and get consistent results. Now that taking a good picture is more accessible than ever, what do you see for the future of professional photography? No one knows, but the only constant is change. It's important to adapt - anyone who thinks that the 'right way' to do things was coincidentally decided when they learned to do it will probably get left behind.
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What do you think makes a great photo? Knowledge of photographic techniques is a start; composition and understanding how the light is affecting the scene. But what turns a good photo into a great photo is the passion of the photographer behind the camera.
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Has social media influenced your photography? My Facebook and Instagram pages are updated regularly. Generally, clients are more likely to commission work through social media than websites, but the website still has its place. Now that taking a good picture is more accessible than ever, what do you see for the future of professional photography? I think to stay in the game you have to specialise in a certain domain; weddings, portraits, landscapes, sports, real estate, food, travel. Focusing and specialising in what you are good at and what you love should give you the edge and help make your work stand out. Keeping up with technology is vital for survival too.
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Condensing everything you might need for a day in the mountains into a few pockets or a backpack is no easy task. We’ve asked a selection of mountain professionals to share the kit they absolutely cannot do without.
Ed Leigh Ski Sunday presenter and BBC Sport commentator
What do you always carry with you on the mountain? I’m a big fan of ‘just in case’, so I always carry some cheat fixes. I have a little bit of duct tape wrapped around either my touring poles or highback, I carry a couple of thick zip ties, which will temporarily fix any binding strap, and a mini tool. What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? I love being able to see properly on the mountain, I have very sensitive eyes so looking after them on bright days is essential, but easily my favourite days riding are super-deep bad weather days in steep trees. When it’s like this you need to have good low light lenses with plenty of airflow to stop your goggles fogging. With all the moisture in the air and sweat you're producing, your goggles can fog-up and once they’ve gone it’s very hard to dry them out. Favourite mountain snack? Dried sausage and cheese. Light, full of calories and super tasty. Plus I have the best meat and cheese knife ever…. In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? My Wear Colour Hawk Pants. I’m 43 and far too old to get snow down my pants, so I always rock bib pants. These are super light with a great cut and the most useful pocket on the bib! Favourite piece of kit ever? I am a board junkie. But for the last ten years the base board by which I measure all others has been the Salomon Sick Stick. It’s a twin tip board hidden in a freeride shape. It's not for everyone, it is so stiff that you should really need a license to ride it, but when it gets fast, steep or just plain scary this thing always has my back. For me it’s the snowboard equivalent of a comforter.
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What do you always carry with you on the mountain? Snacks for the kids! I spend most of my time on the mountain with my kids. Skiing with them is 90-99% awesome. If I am well stocked with snacks then the chances are it will be 99% awesome! What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? Boots. Always boots. It's the only piece of kit that you need in ALL types of weather. Apart from skis, OBVS. Favourite mountain snack? Cereal bars. It's the snack that works for both the kids and me! In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? An extra pair of dry gloves for the kids. This trick has doubled our mountain ski time on many an occasion. Favourite piece of kit ever? A buff. They are super versatile and can be used as a headband for touring, a neck warmer for the chairlifts or even as an emergency snot-rag for kids, preferably in that order of sequence!
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DAMIAN McArthur Morzine-based photographer and chef - damianmcarthur.com
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What do you always carry with you on the mountain? I fine tune my gear list right down to a single camera body and a couple of lenses: usually my workhorse 70-200 and my 16-35. More often than not my small fold up drone and an action camera will accompany me also. With these items I can cover most of the action and get some different perspectives. Alongside these are any tools to get me to where I want to be: ice axes, crampons, split board etc. Great photos aren’t always taken from the side of a piste. What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? My clothing system. Everyone who lives out here is in love with the outdoors. We all know how fickle it can be and how quickly the weather can turn on us. By dressing in layers of good quality technical wear, we can adapt to each change easily. Your comfort, if not your life, can depend on your clothing choices. Favourite mountain snack? I love a simple chunk of good saucisson, a lump of cheese and a small handful of dates for when I get to the top of a mountain. It’s something that can be shared with others or even the wildlife that always seems to be around at the top. In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? In the coldest of winter, I will add in a couple of those chemical pocket warmer packs. These aren’t for myself, rather they keep my batteries working when I need them to. The cold temperatures can shorten the lifespan of your batteries. By wrapping them in the warmth of one of these packs I can continue shooting. Favourite piece of kit ever? I have a small alcohol stove I made myself out of a cat food can. If you’ve been at the top of a hill with me, you’ve probably seen me taking it out, boiling up some water (or snow) and making my ritual Summit Coffee. It forces me to pause at the top long enough to savour the hard earned views. No point in just turning around and heading straight down!
paddy morris Ski instructor, speed flyer & Source contributor - Paddymorris.co.uk
What do you always carry with you on the mountain? A fully charged phone. It combines a camera for Instagram, detailed IGN Maps for ski touring, video camera for client feedback, weather forecasts, satellite imagery, back-up torch for overnighting in refuges, GPS log, newspaper to read when clients are late, ski-school scheduling calendar, card payment app, and even a phone! The Swiss Army knife of the 21st century. What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? My boots. Stiff boots that can ski tour with 'tech' binding inserts, with a properly fitted liner, and a custom insole. Instructors will often have a dozen pairs of skis rusting away in the back of the car, but our favourite boots are like our slippers - we treat them with care and replace them reluctantly. Favourite mountain snack? A banana. They're boring and fragile and they taste of wheely-bins, but not much will beat them when the legs are starting to fail. Of course, in the Portes du Soleil we're never far from a tartiflette or a Mad Max burger from Changabang, so that would be my riding snack of choice when closer to home. In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? Electric heated socks. I can control mine through my phone's Bluetooth. It's a life-changing luxury on super-cold January days. Favourite piece of kit ever? My first pair of skis. Salomon 720s that I bought with my meagre wages working a post-room in London the summer after I finished school. I can still remember carrying them back home on the tube. Awful skis, looking back, but I didn't care. They weren't rentals!
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JENNY JONES Professional Snowboarder and Winter Olympic Bronze Medallist
What do you always carry with you on the mountain? Albus and Flora lip balm in the left pocket, a compass in the right, and probably ten euros. Always in my backpack is a flask of tea and a bottle of water. What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? Decent goggles. Bad lenses and no spare lenses can make your day on the mountain miserable! Also worth spending money on, always, new batteries for your transceiver! Favourite mountain snack? Wyldsson Nuts and Snacks, specifically the banana and Belgian chocolate one. Why? It has protein, sugars, fats, energy, tastes bloody good and comes in a practical, refillable tube. In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? My Picture Organic Clothing thermal top. It’s really warm and completely biodegradable. Favourite piece of kit ever? Still figuring this one out but I think I’d honestly say my snowboard, the Salomon Pillow Talk powder board. I’m getting the Pillow Talk split board version this winter, I can’t wait! I genuinely love it. Jenny’s top tip. No one wants to be holding up the group on the flat sections so technically it doesn’t go in my pack, but putting Butta wax on my board is a crucial must-have / must-do task the night before a big day. workshopsbyjennyjones.com
DAVE CROZIER Snowboard instructor and co-founder of REAL Snowboarding - Realsnowboarding.co.uk
What do you always carry with you on the mountain? My mobile phone unfortunately. It's maybe not the adventurous, ‘connected to the mountain-tops’ snowboard instructor thing you were expecting but it’s an essential bit of kit for safety on the mountain. What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? Good gloves! There are so many bad gloves on the market and since we are fairly low down compared to other resorts our gear can get quite damp, meaning most gloves become smelly, wet and useless. My advice: research and invest. The big snowboard brands aren't always your answer. Favourite mountain snack? Nature Valley Crunchy Oats Bar. Because you can buy them in bulk at Cost Co in the UK, they taste nice, they’re probably not that healthy but they give me a good boost during my day on the hill. In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? I'd rather be too hot than too cold and de-layer rather than take a bag of extra weight I may or may not need. My saviour is a well-fitted merino wool thermal. It keeps me dry, smell-free and warm. If I’m too hot I can stuff it in my pocket or hide it somewhere and pick it up later. Favourite piece of kit ever? Without a doubt my Dragon Mountaineer X sunglasses! I keep them in my pocket and bust them out when the sun is shining and snow park laps are on the scene! Yeeew!
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VICTORIA EDEL Manager of the Burton Store Avoriaz - Burton.com
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What do you always carry with you on the mountain? A screwdriver. I’ve spent too much of my life riding loose bindings or losing parts because of a loose screw. It’s always useful for your shred buddies, too. Now I can’t leave my place without double checking that I have my little screwdriver in my pocket. If I don’t, I’m pretty sure something bad will happen! What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? Good boots. If you have foot pain or too-loose boots, your day / week of riding will suck whatever the weather or what you may do. Choosing a model and brand of quality in the perfect size (ask in a specialised shop) will probably change your life. Favourite mountain snack? I don’t like to eat too much during a session so my body stays active and I don’t feel too full while on an intense ride. I personally love a homemade muesli bar, with some peanuts and fruit inside. It’s just delicious and gives me loads of energy! I also drink heaps of water and bring hot tea in my thermos. In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? A good pair of socks, a good balaclava and mittens! I really believe that if your feet, head and hands are warm, your entire body will be ok too. Favourite piece of kit ever? I now have a lot of snowboards for every kind of condition: park boards, freeride boards, all-mountain boards, retro boards from the 80s and 90s, some arty collab boards hanging on the wall, a bindingless board. I can’t even throw away the broken ones because they all represent a moment of great fun!
TOM WATTS Director and ski instructor at BASS Morzine & Les Gets - britishskischool.com
What do you always carry with you on the mountain? Firstly, I’ve got LOTS of pockets! In them I always have my phone, sun cream, Carte Pro, instructor licence and insurance documents, sunglasses and goggles with a quick-change, low light lens and an 'edgie-wedgie' to help the little ones nail a snow plough! What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? Good equipment. When you’re out all day, every day your kit needs to be able to take it. Specifically the best boots I can get, a custom foot bed and getting them fitted by a professional boot fitter! I’m on my feet, in boots, on skis all day so they not only have to be comfortable for my feet, but they still need to be great boots to ski in and turn it on when necessary. Favourite mountain snack? It’s got to be coffee! We have coffee breaks built into our schedule so we can get inside, re-fuel and have a toilet stop that is not in client time. In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? There are a couple of essential items for when it gets really cold, both from a company called Lenz that specialises in heated clothing. I wear heated socks pretty much every day through the winter to look after my feet and ensure I stay comfortable. Favourite piece of kit ever? My ultimate, never go on the hill without, most favourite piece of kit EVER, is my Lenz Heated Vest. It’s amazing, really thin and light so it doesn’t add any bulk, but when you need a little warm up (or a big one!) you just turn up the heat. It’s like having a really warm cuddle, whenever you want!
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Neil McNair co Founder of McNair Shirts and world-famous backcountry guide
What do you always carry with you on the mountain? A spare transceiver - it’s an essential item for backcountry riding and can easily be forgotten. You don’t want to be left behind because you accidentally left your transceiver in the boot room. They also have to be in good working order and sometimes owners are unaware of faults until tested on snow, when it’s too late. Know your kit, know how to use it and know it works. What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? Safety and local knowledge. I would never hesitate investing money with an experienced guide or qualified Instructor. If you want to explore, venture off the marked runs and find the best snow and lines on offer, this is an absolute no brainer. Even as a professional I still do this when travelling to new territories. Favourite mountain snack? Whatever I can scrounge off my clients, sharing is caring! Roasted almonds, dried mango, Haribo… I’m not fussy. A wee handful for a quick boost on a hike is all I’m after, although if I’m out for the day I will take a dried saucisson to keep me going. In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? Good layering is key so that even if the temperature drops, you are already prepared. Avoid cotton or other non-breathable items. Merino is a no brainer but my go to item is always my Midweight McNair Mountain Shirt. It regulates body temperature and keeps me toasty warm. Favourite piece of kit ever? The most basic, cheap fleece neck warmer - I can’t snowboard without it. It’s like my comfort blanket. Forget your expensive, high tech, merino, lightweight, ergonomic, breathable, whatever - no thanks, nothing beats or works better than my old Clast blanky. Mcnairsnowsports.com // mcnairshirts.com
TAMMY ESTEN Snowboard instructor and founder of Mint Snowboarding - Mintsnowboarding.com
What do you always carry with you on the mountain? A pair of silk glove liners, a liner hat and a neck warmer - I feel the cold! What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? A good pair of goggles. Mine are Dragon X1s which have a transition lens - this is great as you never have to change the lens, it changes itself based on the conditions. Favourite mountain snack? Homemade flapjacks - you just can’t beat them for an energy boost! In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? My favourite item of layering, that I'm rarely without, is a Patagonia Nano Air jacket. Favourite piece of kit ever? My avalanche safety kit (transceiver, shovel and probe) - I know that if these are with me then I am off on snowboard adventures!
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AISLING DONNELLAN Ski Patroller with Avoriaz Safety Team
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What do you always carry with you on the mountain? Occupational habit but for both work and off days I always carry a transceiver on my person with a probe and shovel in my bag. I’m always packing a lip balm or three. I use MooGoo, it’s an awesome Aussie brand that use only natural ingredients so you can even eat it if you fall on hard times. Then it’s shea butter, pure zinc and an Opinel. I love knives and feel hardass carrying them but I also like peeling apples! What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? It's an obvious one but I always invest a lot in footwear. Whether for ski touring, alpine skiing or snowboarding it’s essential for technique, longevity of sessions and overall comfort. Throw some merino wool socks into the mix and your feet will thank you. Happy feet will make a happy rider. Favourite mountain snack? My colleagues joke I eat like a bird as I always have a sack of 'bird feed' on me. A mix of nuts, seeds and oats that I toast in a pan with some spices and coconut oil and mix in some dried fruit and coconut. Slow release energy, easy to digest and will last ages in the bottom of your bag In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? I always have an extra layer packed, like a thin hooded puffer I can roll up small or something like this Finisterre softshell layer which is equally as useful after a surf as it is under a ski jacket. A thermos of tea will never go to loss; hydration and heat provider together in one pretty vessel. Favourite piece of kit ever? It's a wildcard but duct tape, it can temporarily patch up equipment failures, bandage wounds, cover holes, be an extra layer if needed. So when you find yourself at the summit of a volcano in Chile after a three hour hike with a snapped binding due to the cold you don’t have to panic...much! #livedtotellthetale
Maisie Hill Team GB Professional Snowboarder - facebook.com/MaisieHillSnowboarding
What do you always carry with you on the mountain? I always have my mini Swiss Army knife, my blue bear bottle opener and one of my lucky trolls in my pocket. What’s the one thing you never scrimp on? Being able to see in all conditions is really important and my Panda Optics have always been perfect for me. Favourite mountain snack? My favourite snack to take up the hill with me has to be carrots. They’re sturdy, crunchy and orange. I mean, do you need anything else? They’re also super cheap which works well for me! In-case-it-gets-cold emergency kit? If you know today’s gonna be a cold one, the best thing you can do is take a puffer jacket to put under your coat. If you invest in a proper good one like mine, you’ll be laughing. Favourite piece of kit ever? I recently pulled out a ‘half head hat’ from under my bed that I’d won a few years back in a local comp. I completely fell in love with it and I now use it as a neck scarf for riding.
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EVERY PICTURE
tells a story BY RACHAEL HALLEWELL
Back in 1991 I was the first British girl to start school in Morzine. The École Maternelle was brand new and I was only two and a half years old. I remember ‘French school’ being really quite fun. We got to go skiing and we had a nap in the afternoon. I remember playing lots of games, doing lots of art and school lunch consisted of four courses, sometimes featuring moules marinière, with ‘goûter’ (a small sugary snack) at the end of the day. The language barrier was a challenge; there were certainly some tears! But my mum says she always hoped I’d thank her later, and I do. It was a challenge at times, but I wouldn’t be where I am now without the upbringing they gave me. My mum Jo met my dad Peter while they were both doing a ski season in winter 1983/84. Mum worked for Supertravel in Avoriaz, and remembers the staff training consisting of someone at the front of a conference room with a Magi-Mix, demonstrating one or two suggested #lovemorzine
“To work in the chalet world in those days, it certainly helped to be a certain kind of person: ‘twin set and pearls’ - it was the era of the ‘Sloane ranger’ ” #lovelesgets
dishes. Dad had just qualified as a Chartered Secretary, and worked the season as a rep for Bladon Lines. They tell me they were two of only around 20 British people working in Avoriaz that winter. To work in the chalet world in those days, it certainly helped to be a certain kind of person: ‘twin set and pearls’ - it was the era of the ‘Sloane ranger’! ‘Haute cuisine’ and en-suite bathrooms were unheard of. In the five years that followed, Mum and Dad travelled, completed some #loveavoriaz
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of their ski instructor qualifications and bought a restaurant (Dusters Bistro in Salcombe, Devon) before marrying in 1986. The months between May and December would then be spent in the UK, returning to the mountains each winter for the season. There were very few British people in Morzine at this time. Dad remembers the first chalet companies launching, with names like Ski Nut, Ski Tips and so many others that have come and gone over the years. But it was Princess Anne’s visit in the late 1980’s that really helped to put Morzine on the map.
“I remember the shock on my mum’s face when, at my birthday party, she was amazed to hear me telling off a little boy in French; his mum was amused” When I was five, my brother George and I started school in Les Gets and again, we were the first British children at the school, along with an Irish girl called Toni - her parents started The Irish Pub in the village. We often found it difficult to settle into school; spending the winter learning in French was quite intense before returning to the UK once the season ended. The language barrier was a challenge at times but I remember the shock on my mum’s face when, at my birthday party, she was amazed to hear me telling off a little boy in French; his mum was /MorzineSourceMagazine
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amused that she didn’t know I could speak French. She’d assumed I only spoke a little, as we only spoke English at home. My parents were sometimes concerned that we’d be holding back the French children at school and they’d often check in with the teachers to ensure we were managing. I distinctly remember children joining us from Bosnia – they were refugees fleeing the war in the Balkans. I’m sure they were struggling much more than us. I’ve seen so many changes across Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz over the years. Skiing is so easy now!
There are fewer draglifts, for a start. When I was about eight years old, I taught myself to snowboard and headed off into ‘the bowl’ in Les Gets. To get home I had to spend ten minutes on a super steep draglift! Those stringy, springy coils for your lift passes were a nightmare and we barely wore helmets, if ever. The pistes were also very challenging, very hard and there was no artificial snow in the bad seasons. Now the whole ski area has been landscaped to improve safety and accommodate all levels of skier. Mum often recounts stories from the really bad snow seasons, of which #lovemorzine
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there were many in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Did you know that Piste 64 in Les Gets got it’s name as it was the only run skiable in 1964?! There wasn’t much of a summer season back then either. Watching mountain biking, road cycling and other summer activities develop over the years has been great. There are also more expat residents in the valley than ever before, offering a variety of services all year round. With so many nationalities and ideas, there’s still a respect and understanding of where
“Those stringy, springy coils for your lift passes were a nightmare and we barely wore helmets”
“when I’d moved on to Flocon, I actually fell asleep, upright, in my ski boots” we live and I hope this continues. I was always very tall for my age, and apparently I was on skis when I was barely two years old. I got my Ourson when I was just two and mum believes that my first ESF instructors are still teaching today! One day, when I’d moved on to Flocon, I actually fell asleep, upright, in my ski boots. Despite the hundreds of photos and all the videos of me learning to ski, in all honesty, I can barely remember. One year I won the #lovelesgets
Coup de Jeune in Avoriaz, but Dad says I just looked like I was going out shopping - so nonchalant at such a young age! But it was George who became the promising skier and family ski days always revolved around lunch back then. People often assume that, because I learned to ski from such a young age, I was destined to become a ski instructor. But I was never particularly gifted and had to work really hard to get my BASI level 4 qualification (not to mention getting lost on the Test Technique course!). I went to boarding school in the UK from the age of 10, so the
British qualification system suited me best. I first did the course out of intrigue and interest whilst still at school. Although the modules and qualifications at each stage are very challenging, it’s hard not to get sucked in. After so much hard work (and so much money!), I wasn’t going to let this become ‘another string to my bow’. I adore teaching and being out on the mountain, but never did I imagine that I’d end up leading a team of instructors back in Morzine! I was very excited when Supreme approached me to help them expand their already well-established ski school into Morzine. Supreme are widely known in other parts of the #loveavoriaz
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Alps for having instructors with excellent local knowledge, so I was delighted to join their team. The best thing about being a ski instructor is when you make a client’s holiday by helping them enjoy skiing even more than they did already. The amount of people I meet is incredible, and I make it my mission to find out as much as I can about them. We have a lot of laughs and a lot of good times; after all, I’m spending all day with people who are on their holidays! Yes, there is time on the magic carpet, but that beats even the best office job, hands down. Watching clients progress is extremely rewarding.”
+ 33 6 04 49 42 32
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If you’d like to ski with Rachael or the team at Supreme Ski School, you can contact them on +44 (0) 203 744 1655 or +33 (0) 4 79 08 27 87 Email info@supremeski.com or visit supremeski.com
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THE
Food Delusion BY CLAIRE GARBER
I think I am practically gluten free. I think I drink enough water. I think I take spirulina every day and eat a mostly vegetable-based diet. So why am I still a little bit fat? Last month I decided to photograph every morsel that passed my lips. The results were horrifying. Welcome to The Food Delusion. It was the highlight of the show. That moment. That scene. When Gillian McKeith, the aggressive nutritionist on TV presents a poor pudgy family with a weeks worth of their own food choices. Every morsel consumed, every drop drunk, every secret midnight snack, all laid out on a trestle table in their kitchen; layer upon layer of food, slabs of cake, melted ice cream, burgers covered in cold solidified fat. Like The Last Supper gone wrong. Jesus on a bender. And the parents cry and the children’s bottom lips wobble and Gillian points at a mouldy piece of cheese, or a half eaten burger, and says something like, ‘That’s you that is!’ before patting them on the back and saying ‘It’s time to make a change.’ followed by a family road trip to the vegetable aisle of the nearest Lidl. Well, I was my own mouldy piece of cheese. I was a half eaten burger. I had just been shown my own trestle table but without the assistance of grimfaced Gillian. The instrument of my shame had been my own iPhone, and it had started seven days earlier. You see I had decided, the prior week, to photograph every morsel that passed my lips; every bite, every nibble, every snack and every meal. I started documenting my food this way after becoming confused at the current state of my body. It’s not #lovemorzine
that I’m fat. I’m not fat. I’m not even chubby. But I am skinny fat, which is the worst of all kinds. I store fat on my skinny frame. It hangs from my limbs, wobbles from my belly, flaps from my arms. There are areas of my body that resemble an actual mollusc - no skeletal structure inside. But this was in spite of my super food lifestyle. You see, I am a health guru. I am a lover of health. I have all the tools. I know all the jargon. I have a kitchen full of all the stuff. I’ve got a juicer (masticating ad regular) a NutriBullet, a soup maker, a slower cooker (who doesn’t love bone broth) and an assortment of alkaline super health cookbooks. I even have a cupboard of health, a veritable cornucopia of every kind of supplement known to man. If you came to me I could fix you up. I’d set you on the healthy path. I also lecture on healthy eating. Not professionally. Not yet, anyway. Just to friends and relatives, the odd stranger, a man on the bus; parping my opinions all over the place, a trumpet of health, positivity and change. My dad and boyfriend suffer the worst. Many a mealtime has been ruined by my innocent sounding suggestions, such as ‘replace your pasta with cold shredded courgette’ or ‘cauliflower really does make a great pizza base’, ebbing every droplet of enjoyment out of their supper. #lovelesgets
All the while I was secretly pinching many inches under my organic t-shirt. With all the knowledge and all the chat, I was still squishy on the outside, hungry on the inside, with the willpower of a skinny-fat lemming. I couldn’t say no to a bacon sandwich. I never turned down a piece of chocolate, and two lattes on the way to work, ‘Yes please!’ with a sugarcoated cherry on top. I consume faster than I think. Items are devoured whole, like a snake swallowing a little mouse, all at once, all in one gigantic gulp. So, how could I get my actions to align more with my intentions? How could I slow myself down? How could I become a regular skinny person and ditch the molluscs from my arse, hips and thighs? The answer, as it turns out, was in my pocket. It’s the one thing I always have with me. It’s the one thing I can’t seem to escape. My phone. And my social media feed. I hated both in equal measure. But what if I could use them to my advantage? What if I photographed and shared everything that crossed my lips. Every rushed choice, every sugar laden latte, every three-minute rushed meal eaten from a saucepan or slung on a plate, more yellow than green, more functional than nourishing. Would that make me more accountable? Would that stop me in my tracks? The answer was yes. And the change was instantaneous. #loveavoriaz
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Joelle's original Napapijri becomes a new concept store, fusing fashion with art.
Just the thought of having to photograph my food choices started a massive change in me. Stood at my kitchen counter, about to reach for something to nibble on, out of boredom, not hunger, to break up my working day, the thought of photographing those choices filled me with shame. As did the thought of photographing the Jaffa cake I ate last night while watching a film. And the next seven photographs I’d have to take after that as I repeatedly got back up to eat Jaffa after Jaffa, straight from the box. Eight Jaffa photos lined up for all to see. My lazy thoughtless choices. Not really choices at all. Just consumption. My unconscious consumption. But it wasn’t just what I was eating. It was how I was eating too. Perched on a stool, running for the bus, walking from the fridge to the sofa. The dinners eaten in front of the TV instead of at the table, food on a shabby old cracked plate, the different parts of my dinner looking like they were attacking each other, a food group fistfight to the death.
“It’s not that I’m fat. I’m not fat. I’m not even chubby. But I am skinny fat, which is the worst of all kinds ” As soon as I had to photograph each and every one of these choices, as soon as my unconscious consumption became Instagram feed conscious, I slowed down. I questioned myself. Do I want this? Am I hungry? Is this even real food? I would take a few extra minutes to make sure my food looked nice on my plate, I sat down, I tried out the age-old art form of chewing. I got skinny, healthy skinny, and fast. It wasn't about eating less, going without, going small. It was about going big, eating more often, taking more time, eating the best, making conscious, well thought out choices. It was also about thinking ‘Shit, does this look good, what will other people think?’ They say that shame does not lead to change, but maybe, in this instance, it does? At least, in the beginning it did. It was the shame of the (Insta) feed. But quickly it became about the shame of my prior lack of self-care, an Insta-reality check to treat myself and my body with more love. We all speak about acceptance. Accepting who we are. Accepting where we are in life. Accepting that we may never blossom into Giselle. But maybe we should start accepting that we live in a shallow, image led society and, for once, use it to our healthy advantage.
Amateur artist Joelle has curated an exhibition of work by prestigious artists. They are available to view and purchase alongside your favourite mountain brands including:
try it... It’s as easy as 1,2,3. Take a photo of every single thing you eat. Try it for just three days. If you really want to make change fast, commit to posting the photos on your social media accounts. It’s amazing what a healthy dose of public shame and judgment can do to a secretly snacking person. /MorzineSourceMagazine
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Visit the store Route de la Plagne, Morzine Call +33 (0) 4 50 74 05 89 Follow us on Instagram - @artique_concept_store
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If you’ve never been ski touring or splitboarding before, the Portes du Soliel is a great place to try it. The area is packed with easy tours, including even a designated touring area in Avoriaz, and many of the local ski schools offer touring and backcountry lessons. Here are our top gear picks for the best ups and the ultimate downs.
- backcountry Black Diamond Recon BT Transceiver
RRP €300.00 Described as the ideal everyday transceiver, the Black Diamond Recon BT does exactly what is says on the tin. Black Diamond only recently started making transceivers, but if it’s like any of their other outdoor kit, we already know it’ll be a cut above the rest. The Recon BT is lightweight and easy to use, thanks to softtouch buttons, three antennas for pinpoint accuracy and a Bluetooth connection that allows you to manage software updates and settings via your phone. It also has an impressive 60m circular range, along with a multiple-burial function; features you can really make the most of should the worst happen. Blackdiamondequipment.com
Full Tilt Ascendant
Plum Guide 12 Bindings
RRP €499.95
RRP €399.00
Following popular demand, Full Tilt have made a pair of techbinding-compatible, touring-specific boots and they absolutely do not disappoint. Three years in the making, Full Tilt have done everything possible to keep the lightweight, comfortable and flexible three-piece design we know and love, but added some awesome new backcountry features. Firstly, the lining and shell are fully mouldable so you can achieve the perfect fit, while the liner even has some removable parts to fine-tune the fit even more. Then there’s the newly designed Michelin sole for easy climbing on tricky scrambles and rocky sections and the removable tongue for extra movement in walk mode complete with a water-resistant sheath to protect your socks while you walk. We could go on, but we’ll end by saying the Ascendant offers all the classic benefits of Full Tilt boots but with a tonne of extra performance that’ll benefit you on the way up and take no prisoners on the way down.
Based just down the road in Thyez, you literally can’t get a set of bindings made more locally. Not only do they have proximity going for them, they’re also really good bindings, used by the French army and Chamonix High Mountain Guide Company. But they’re not just for experts; the Guide 12 is suited to anyone, from first time tourers to seasoned pros, thanks to its easilyadjustable lateral and frontal safety release. Not only can you adjust it to your weight, the Guide 12 is also easy to step into and easy to adjust on the fly, thanks to a heel-height adjuster that you can rotate with your pole and an integrated crampon slot. Everything you need within easy reach, whether you’re just starting out or a regular up Col de Ratti at the weekends.
Fulltiltboots.com
Fixations-plum.com
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Source Peak Snow Sports 2.pdf
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+44 (0) 1483 616 522 hello@peaksnowsports.com @peaksnowsports
Transforming recreational skiers into adventure seeking addicts
www.peaksnowsports.com
Open from 9am until 1am every day
Savoyarde Specialties and Take-Away Pizza
Movement Apex 94
RRP €649.00 Looking for a ski that’s light and nimble enough for fun ascents but won’t spoil your ride on the way down? Look no further than the Movement Apex 94. A freeride ski that’s tailored to touring, you can use it for lift accessed adventures as well as human-powered exploits. Featuring touringspecific edges, an ultralight certified poplar core and two-layer titanium and fibreglass reinforcements, you end up with a lightweight ski with enough power and stability to rip it up on the ride down, AKA the best bit. Plus, the freeride-inspired shape and just-wide-enough 94mm waist offer something everyone can enjoy, that’ll hold its own in whatever conditions you want to tour in, from early winter ice to late season spring snow.
Tel: 04 50 75 78 47
5 4.5/
36 Route de Morzine - 74110 - Montriond www.lerocher-montriond.fr
Movementskis.com
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Ortovox Pro Alu III + Pocket Spike
RRP €125.00 Never underestimate the importance of a decent shovel! The Pro Alu III from Ortovox has everything you could possibly need; it’s lightweight, packs down small, is mega-durable and offers great grip. You can insert the shovel in two different positions on the handle, either in the standard place or on the t-grip handle so you can easily scrape or pull snow away, giving you multiple snow clearing options for various situations. The set-up also includes the ingenious Pocket Spike, a small iceaxe-style blade that you can keep in your pocket and attach to the handle when you’re faced with a steep or technical climb for a little extra safety and self-assurance. Ortovox.com
KORUA Tranny Finder
RRP €699.00 You’ll recognise a KORUA snowboard by its red and white colour scheme and unique shape, but you’ll stick around for the way it rides. KORUA isn’t just another wacky snowboard company that plays around with old-school surf shapes, they combine these shapes with the latest innovations to create some seriously good boards. The Tranny Finder Split is one of the most versatile boards in the KORUA collection, designed for minimal fuss on the way uphill but maximum fun on the way down. Its surf-inspired, directional shape is nice and wide (great for large feet!) with a big nose for lots of float in powder. But these subtle nods to old-school snowboarding don’t hinder your performance at any stage of the journey. The Tranny Finder is equally as suited to jumping off rocks, practicing your spins and riding switch. Let the fun commence. Koruashapes.com
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dwayne Fields Polar Explorer by Amie Henderson
Š Craig Hastings
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“People have humoured me, you can see it in their eyes. They’re thinking ‘You don’t look like a polar explorer.’”
Self Catered Chalets and Apartments
And he’s spot on. Dawyne Fields doesn’t fit the polar adventurer mould. Born in Jamaica and raised in Hackney, nor theast London from the age of six, he grew up on one of the toughest inner-city housing estates. Yet he was the first black Briton to journey to the Nor th Pole back in 2010. “I was uncomfortable for a lot of my childhood” Dwayne tells me. “I felt like I should be somewhere else. Back in Jamaica I was a feral child, 90% of my time was spent outdoors because I loved nature and wildlife. We called where we lived ‘the back of the bush’ as it really was rural. There was no electricity, no TV, just an oil lamp and it was my responsibility to blow it out each night. When we moved to London I instantly became stressed. The police sirens, the shouting, there was so much noise. I didn’t recognise any of the food in the school canteen and I had no idea which cartoons I was supposed to be into.”
Providers of luxury self catered accommodation in Morzine, Les Gets and St Jean d'Aulps for over 10 years. We have a range of stylish properties that can sleep from 5 -12 people. 00 33 6 85 62 85 05 enquiries@chaletdesfleurs.com www.chaletdesfleurs.com
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Airport transfers and Pre-booked in resort cab service. Pre-booked cab service: Monday to Thursday - 6pm to 2am Friday, Saturday and Sundays - 6pm to 12pm subject to availability - All single journey resort cab bookings after Midnight charged at time and a half.
Dwayne grew up trying to conform to his peers on the estate, until a life-threatening incident nearly cut his young life short. He'd built a moped from scratch and let his little brother test drive it for the first time. “A gang of lads from the estate pushed my little brother off and stole the bike. I went crazy; I marched onto the estate to demand it back. When I found the bike, the lads started smashing it up so I pushed one of them and he fell to the floor. Clearly embarrassed, he disappeared for a couple of minutes, returning with a loaded gun. I’m crouched down, collecting up the pieces of my broken bike. He’s no more than five metres away from me, gun pointed at my head. My little brother’s right next to me.
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For further information and other enquiries please email us at info@a2ski.co.uk or visit our website a2ski.co.uk Wishing you a fantastic winter from the A2Ski team.
+33 (0) 6 46 89 96 11 @MorzineSource
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His friends are shouting, “don’t do it” and I hear the trigger click once. Then twice. I’m waiting for the pain but the gun had misfired. Twice.” The hours that followed prompted Dwayne to change his life. “Within minutes everyone on the estate knew what had happened. Everyone wanted retaliation and I was under pressure from my friends to do something. I locked myself away, I became a recluse. I didn’t want any part of it.” Dwayne regularly took himself off to Epping Forest for some peace and quiet.
Follow Dwayne’s progress on Instagram - @dwaynefields or on his website - dwayne-fields.com
“I hear the trigger click once. Then twice. I’m waiting for the pain but the gun had misfired. ” “We’re all living in a constant state of stress and it’s only when you get out into the natural environment that we realise this. Without the ambient noise that surrounds us every day, there’s clarity of thought. I finally felt calm; I’ve taken others there and they’ve had the same reaction.” It’s one thing to enjoy the tranquility of Epping Forest, another to trek 370 miles to the North Pole, in turn adding his name to a legendary list of polar explorers and adventurers. I wonder where the idea came from? “On BBC Breakfast Ben Fogle and James Cracknell were talking about their upcoming trek to the South Pole. They were looking for a third person to join the team, I approached them and they asked me to consider a North Pole expedition instead.” “I’m a realist and a fact is a fact. There are fewer black and ethnic minorities doing what I’m doing than white women. But that’s changing.” Indeed it is. In November 2019 Dwayne and his new teammate, travel writer Phoebe Smith, will travel along Shackleton’s planned route to the South Pole under the team name #TeamWeTwo. “I haven’t asked Phoebe many questions. We’ll need lots to talk about during the adventure!” But this isn’t about planting flags according to Dwayne. “It’s about planting seeds in the minds of our young people. And breaking the mould of ‘middle aged white guys’ dominating exploration”. So how does a Jamaican cope in coldest of temperatures? “I barely slept as a child, I was so stressed. One night I looked out
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of my window and the sky was white. The floor was white. I thought the sky was falling in and I cried myself back to sleep. No one ever told me that ice comes out of the sky. No one had ever explained snow to me. On my North Pole trek I’d pee in a bottle and stuff it into my sleeping bag for warmth. I soon discovered that a positive mindset keeps you warmer than an extra jumper. Staying dry and hydrated is also essential!” I wonder what is harder? The mental endurance of lone polar adventures or the physical requirements? “Before I went to the North Pole, some of my mates would say ‘Why don’t you just walk around Hackney?’ and out there on the ice, negative thoughts do start to creep in. ‘Maybe this is why black people don’t do this’ I sometimes thought to myself.” It’s easy to imagine how, in all that space, with very little visual stimulation, there’s more time to think. “In a nutshell, if you can’t manage it mentally, you won’t make it physically” Dwayne believes.
“We’re all living in a constant state of stress and it’s only when you get out into the natural environment that we realise this. Without the ambient noise that surrounds us every day there’s clarity of thought. I finally felt calm; ” In between plotting polar adventures, speaking at events such as the Women’s Adventure Expo and being an ambassador for the UK Scouting Association, Dwayne’s mission is to inspire young people nationwide to explore the great outdoors. “We’re living in a state of constant hyper-alert in permanent ‘fight or flight’ mode and it’s causing mental health issues for our younger generation. I wake kids up at 5.30am and take them up Ben Nevis. They live in fear of violence back home, but in the outdoors they don’t have to look over their shoulder or fear for their lives. The change is incredible to watch and so inspiring”. It’ll come as no surprise to learn that Dwayne was the youngest black person in history to be awarded the Freedom of the City of London award for his work with young people.
GREAT VALUE PROPERTIES IN THE HEART OF MORZINE www.alptitude.com
“I want to send a message to those that feel downtrodden and disconnected and that message is this: A bad postcode area or growing up in a council tower block does not, and must not, dictate your future” believes Dwayne. And with that, he’s off and sirens wail in the background.
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DON'T GET LOST
in translation Interview by Amie Henderson
Setting up a business, buying a house, dealing with a dispute. All things you might consider relatively tricky in your native language, never mind a foreign one. Professional translation and interpretation has never been more important, but thankfully, here in Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz, we have the services of Carrie Marsh, founder of Lexiko. What does Lexiko do? And what inspired you to set up the business? Lexiko is a French/English translation and interpreting service. I also offer copy-writing and proof-reading services. I became a full time translator and interpreter in 2017 after working for 13 years as a property consultant, specialising in sales mediation between English and French-speaking clients. The whole point was to be there for clients in an intermediary role to bridge the linguistic and cultural gap, so it involved a great deal of translation and interpreting, as well as in-depth knowledge of the industry. It felt a natural progression to use these skills in a wider breadth of circumstances. It is great to have the opportunity to unite all my expertise and to help clients in many different situations, from marketing communications to property contracts to meetings with various professionals.
Who are your usual clients? And how do you help them? I don’t really have a typical client. They range from tourist offices to property developers, estate agents, architects,
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individuals needing correspondence or documents to be translated, businesses of different types which require their websites to be translated, online merchants, people buying or building houses who need interpreting accompaniment to meetings and liaison with different professionals. I am even called upon from time to time to interpret for the police. Before long, I hope to obtain sworn translator status to be able to do certified translations as a ‘traducteur assermenté’. The application takes all year and I should hear by the end of this year to begin this type of work in January 2019.
In your view, why is it important to use a professional when it comes to translation? It is very important to use a professional to guarantee a high standard of translation. Being conversant or even competent in a language is not enough to ensure a good quality translation. Excellent linguistic skills in both the source and the target language are required, along with an understanding of tone, register, audience, cultural references,
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nuance, idioms and so on. There is a good deal of creativity as well as rigour and meticulous attention to detail required. Give a text to several different people and they will translate it slightly differently. It’s hard to say what makes an excellent translation but you know it when you see it, just as a bad translation sticks out like a sore thumb. From a practical perspective, a professional can be held accountable for their work and is insured for that reason too.
What other services do you offer and who are they aimed at? I offer proof-reading which can be useful for those who have attempted their own translations or have had them done but need an eagle eye to check and correct any mistakes. I also draw on my marketing experience and know-how and many years of running my own businesses to offer copywriting services to business owners and marketing departments who need to outsource this type of work.
This is the fourth business you’ve set up in Morzine. What is it about our valley that makes it a good place to start a new business?
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Morzine is a little microcosm and all the opportunities are here if you look for them – or if you make them. It’s not necessarily easy finding a way to live year-round in a resort like this with so much being related to the tourist seasons, so sometimes you must make your own opportunities. I found starting my own businesses to be the best way to put into action the ideas that I had. Morzine is an inspirational environment and has quite an entrepreneurial atmosphere. Many people who live here have taken a chance to come here and will do what it takes to remain. As they say, “necessity is the mother of invention” and the resort is continuously changing and evolving. What’s the best thing about being selfemployed in Morzine? Being in Morzine! Any business owner or self-employed person will groan at the myth that the principle benefit is that you can set your own hours, but there is a grain of truth in it. Commitments and workload allowing, there is no boss to tell you that you can’t take the morning off to make the most of a bluebird powder day, or whatever else inspires and rejuvenates you. It’s all about the work/life balance and I think we have that in spades here. You only have to look out of your window to catch a glimpse.
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If only I had a crystal ball… With Brexit looming it’s possible that there will be more work for me with people concerned to understand and solidify their positions living and working here. I feel a sense of solidarity and of renewed commitment from those who really want to make sure that their lives can continue here, as none of us really know what separation of the UK from the rest of the European Union is going to mean for us in the short or the long term. I suspect, as far as the tourism industry is concerned, that it will continue undeterred. Those who want to come on skiing and biking holidays – and can afford it - will suffer the potential minor inconvenience of having to get a visa. They would have no alternative if they looked further afield for the same type of holidays. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt living here for 15 years, it’s that a love of the mountains is a mighty force and not many will allow anything to get in its way.
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Travel. Simultaneously the best thing in the world and one of the most annoying. And with ever-tighter baggage restrictions, smaller boot spaces and the constant need to economise, travelling light isn’t always easy. But with the help of our ultimate travel guide, it can be. Well, a bit easier at least.
- travel Peak Designs Travel Backpack
rrp $299.95 The product of a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, the Peak Designs Travel Backpack is an uber-stylish combination of a backpack, carry-on suitcase and portable storage unit. After all, as the guys at Peak (including an ex-Morzine resident) say, no two trips are the same. The expandable design can hold anything from 35L to 45L worth of stuff, and it’s practically covered with handles so you can easily haul said 35 – 45L into overhead lockers, onto roof racks and carry it round on your back. There’s also an expanse of internal and external pockets that make for handy storage solutions for everything from laptops to water bottles to passports. You can even buy different sized storage cubes that fit inside the pack to help you better organise your gear, but the standard model is equipped with a twopart main compartment and multiple access points, making it the ultimate travel bag. peakdesigns.com
Mons Royale Covert Mid-Hit Crew
rrp €160.00 Our soft spot for Mons Royale just keeps getting softer. This year we’re loving their Covert MidHit Crew because it’s practical, stylish and will see you through everything from travel days to powder days, thus helping you travel lighter. Made from super soft, lightweight merino wool, it’s odour resistant, mega warm and dries really fast. Wear it out for pizza, under your ski jacket and anywhere else you might need a comfy, cosy sweatshirt, without needing to wash it in between. Added extras include stealthy side pockets with hidden zips for stashing change, cards and keys, as well as raglan sleeves for a great fit and freedom of movement and the allimportant thumb loops. monsroyale.com
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Millican Smith Utility Pouch
adidas Jake 2.0 Boots
rrp £30.00
rrp €149.95 - €199.95
This little utility bag ticks all the boxes and is perfect for transporting all those little things you don’t want to lose inside a larger bag. Headphones, chargers, cables, tools and passports will be right at home in this durable canvas sack. It’s made from a bombproof blend of waxed cotton and recycled polyester, or Bionic Canvas, as Millican call it, making it perfect for all your outdoor adventures after you’ve arrived at your destination. The simple but effective design means it can be clipped to larger bags or rolled up when you’re not using it and stashed in the smallest of spaces. A prime example of great design, seamlessly and responsibly executed.
If you’re only going to take one pair of shoes on your winter holiday, or even your season, it should be these. Developed by adidas in conjunction with big mountain snowboarder, Jake Blauvelt, you can bet they’ll get the job done before you even put them on your feet. Gore-Tex lined, grippy soled, ultracomfy and adjustable enough to accommodate all types of feet, your toes will be the warmest and driest they’ve ever been in a ski resort. And the most stylish. Walking round resort, autumn hiking, train to the airport, adidas have got style and practicality taken care of, wherever you are in the world. adidas.com
homeofmillican.com
Evoc Snow Gear Roller
rrp €220.00
Salt & Stone Antioxidant Facial Hydrating Lotion
You can’t always take your favourite grooming products on your travels with you, but this all-natural, organic hydrating lotion from Salt & Stone covers most of the bases and gives your skin a little extra love after a day on the mountain. Sun, cold, exposure and wind all give your face a bit of a beating during a ski day, but this small yet mighty potion will help keep you looking and feeling fresh. AND at 60ml, it’s small enough to go in your hand luggage. Just massage it into a freshly washed face morning and evening and see the benefits instantly. It even has a matte finish so you don’t have to worry about looking shiny.
Buy one of these and have it forever – that’s how long these things last! This burly double ski / snowboard bag from Evoc is the ultimate travel companion for skiers and snowboarders who like to have one bag for everything. Just chuck in everything you need and be on your way. It’s well padded and set up for two pairs of skis or two snowboards, with two handy pockets on the outside for avalanche gear and other essentials. Even after that, there is still loads of space for boots, clothes, poles and more. Two skate wheels make carting everything around that much easier, and two extra straps around the middle mean you can pack your stuff down nice and tight. It even folds up and packs down flat when you’re not using it for extra convenience points.
saltandstone.com
evoc.com
rrp €39.90
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A MATCH MADE
in Morzine by Amie Henderson
“They really have motivated me to achieve more in my life which, at the time, wasn’t in the best of places” 19 year old Alex Chapman tells me while we’re discussing Snow-Camp. “Growing up in London, you don’t often get the chance to think about a career in winter sports.”
Here at Morzine Source Magazine we’ve been supporting the excellent work of Snow-Camp for many years. Not just because the youth charity changes the lives of inner-city kids from underprivileged backgrounds in incredible ways, but also because we believe winter sports should be all inclusive. Snow-Camp’s tried and tested formula combines nationally recognised qualifications, inspiring work experience programmes and important life skills. The results are always incredible. Alex first saw the Snow-Camp logo on the jacket of his friend, who was already enrolled on the apprenticeship programme. “He talked to me about what he was doing and I was hypnotised! So I got in touch with my
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local youth club St Andrews and started my Snow-Camp journey.”
in a competitive group environment – everyone wants everyone to pass!”
Alex’s Snow-Camp journey continues here in Morzine this winter, thanks to fellow skier Andrew Stewart. A Portes du Soleil regular, Andrew learned to ski on straight skis 40 years ago and decided to take up some refresher lessons with local ski school BASS Morzine & Les Gets. Understanding the fundamentals of technique was very important to Andrew, and his instructor suggested he take his BASI Level 1 ski instructor qualification. “Learning to instruct would give me the tools to improve” Andrew tells me. “It was a very rewarding group experience in a positive, sincere and supportive environment” Andrew adds. “It’s refreshing these days not to be
And it’s here that the ethos of SnowCamp meets the supportiveness and professionalism of BASS. Andrew heard about the charity from a fellow skiing friend; “Once I heard what Snow-Camp does, and already knowing about the season-long instructor training that BASS had developed in Morzine, the conclusion was obvious. I needed to put them together!”
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Andrew approached Jaz Lamb, director of BASS Morzine & Les Gets with a unqiue and ambitious idea. He’d seen first hand the changes that ski instructor qualifications bring about in young people and he offered to sponsor one Snow-Camp young person through
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BASS-2019-Advert-2.pdf
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their BASI qualification in Morzine. He even offered to pay the course fees up front, and BASS generously offered to share the costs of the season-long course. “There are many synergies between the Snow-Camp programme and the work we do at BASS. Following Andrew’s offer to pay for one Snow-Camp youth to join our BASI Level 1 course, the whole plan came together incredibly quickly!”
Since 1999, we continue to:
The team at BASS have transformed Andrew’s idea into a reality, securing accommodation, lift passes and other support from lots of local businesses. “I’m super excited to be given this opportunity and I’ve been counting down the days till I arrive in the mountains,” Alex tells me. “I feel ready for the challenges that lie ahead and I feel as though my positive mindset will drive me to achieve this qualification and move forward with my life”. Alex will complete his 14-week professional training programme with BASS Morzine & Les Gets, which includes all aspects of the BASI Level 1 qualification and a Level 2 exam in March 2019. As Jaz explains, “Our Professional Programme in Morzine is the perfect platform to work with Snow-Camp and I’m really hopeful that we’ll be able to extend the opportunity into next winter and beyond.”
Create enjoyable, unique experiences that inspire and motivate
We all agree this winter will be life changing for Alex. “Apart from the obvious communication and teaching skills, C
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the impact of going through something real like this (as opposed to the reality TV version!) can be extraordinary” Andrew believes. Confidence, consideration for others, group and individual interactions, mindfulness and personal reflection are all skills developed by the BASS BASI course. “There’s no time wasted on ‘group politics,’” Andrew explains. “This is, of course, how groups should work.” Life in Morzine this winter will be a little alien for Alex. I wonder how he’s preparing for his season? “I’ve been on the slopes constantly, as well as making a few lifestyle changes. I’ve changed my diet and started to exercise more often. I’ve also been seeking advice from ski instructors all over London on how to make this a successful season. I’d also like to start training to compete at slopestype events, so hopefully Morzine teaches me some new skills there too!” Here at Morzine Source Magazine we’ll be checking in with Alex throughout the season and you can follow his inspiring season with BASS Morzine & Les Gets on our website.
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Whatever their needs and wants
BASS
+33 (0)450 74 78 59 morzine@britishskischool.com www.britishskischool.com www.bass.plus
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INSTAGRAM VS
Reality ...a still quite good
By Chloe Hardy
When you look at the Morzine Source Magazine Instagram, we like to think you see a shining example of social media. Our feed is packed to the brim with pictures of sunny mountain vistas, dazzling views, all the tasty food we get to eat, all the events we attend and all the fun stuff we get to do.
What you (thankfully) don’t see are the pictures of the backs of our heads as we sit at our computers, deep in emails; the ones of us looking forlornly out the window on bright sunny powder days; the ones of us taking out the bins wearing socks and flip flops; the ones of us accidentally farting in Pilates; the ones of us trying repeatedly to push our cats off our computer keyboards; the ones of us staring slack-jawed at the wall because we can’t think of anything to write; and the ones of us sitting on the sofa after a long day at work stuffing our faces with crisps and baguette. When you put it like that it quickly becomes obvious that our Instagram feed doesn’t quite accurately represent our real lives. And there are three of us, so our feed is basically made up of all the best bits of three people’s lives rolled into one. But we do benefit from living in an area of stunning natural beauty. So when we post a picture of a snow capped mountain taken on the daily school run captioned ‘Just another day in paradise! #LoveMorzine, snow emoji, sun emoji, happy face emoji’ (despite the fact that we would never write a caption that cheesy) we’re not entirely lying.
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“Just another day in paradise! #LoveMorzine” If we ran, for example, Milton Keynes Source Magazine, our feed would doubtlessly be much less visually pleasing. And of course, despite (most of the time) living the dream in the French Alps, it’s impossible not to feel that pang of jealousy mingled with irrational resentment, deep-seated sadness and unchecked rage when we see a picture on the Gram of four old school friends on a night out in Leeds (that we weren’t invited to, obviously, because we live in another country) sporting the caption ‘Love these bitchez. #Besties. Cocktail emoji, cocktail emoji, cocktail emoji.’ And despite knowing that their night out probably wasn’t that good anyway
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and that there will be lots of dinners we will get to attend, despite our weekend spent binge watching Game of Thrones while eating cheese and enjoying it, goddamn it, the power of FOMO consumes us and our weekend now may as well not have bothered being a weekend. (The Source Instagram that weekend was taken up solely with random pictures we found on our phones or pictures taken from our living room window.) But why does it make us feel like this? After all, all we’re generally doing on Instagram is posting pictures of ourselves having a nice time, or pictures of our pets. But science doesn’t lie. Just one of many examples is a study by the Royal Society for Public Health conducted in 2017, which demonstrated that Instagram had the most negative impact on the mental wellbeing of 16 - 24 year-olds out of the five most popular social networks. And this is despite its presentation as the friendliest social network out there. “The site encourages its users to present an upbeat, attractive image that others may find at best misleading and at worse harmful.”
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M R
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D J & PU R VEY O R O F A LL THI NG S F U NK Y. S OU L . FU N K . BR EAK S
N E V E R
K N O W I N G L Y
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F O R
U N D E R
F U N K I N G
B ar s & C l ub s P ri v at e Par ti es C or p or ate Ev e nts
:
Wed d i n gs
+ 44 ( 0) 7 557 3 312 77 mr smi t hfu n k d j @y ah oo .c om www. fac eb oo k.co m/Mr Smith Fu nk DJ ww w. mi xc l ou d.co m/Mr Smit hF un kDJ Magical Snow Treks Source.pdf
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THE ALTERNATIVE MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE GUIDED SNOWSHOE OUTINGS ACROSS MORZINE & LES GETS
SUITABLE FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS GREAT ACTIVITY FOR NON SKIERS PICK UP AND DROP OFF SERVICE NIGHT HIKES TO RESTAURANTS PROFESSIONAL IML GUIDE PRIVATE GROUP BOOKINGS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.MAGICALSNOWTREKS.COM OR CALL SIMONE ON +33 (0) 6 46 02 16 12 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
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Technology writer Alex Hearn recently wrote in an article published on the Guardian. “If Facebook demonstrates that everyone is boring and Twitter proves that everyone is awful, Instagram makes you worry that everyone is perfect – except you.” Adam Alter, author and professor of psychology and marketing at New York University, agrees: “One of the problems with Instagram is that everyone presents the very best versions of their lives. What that means is, every time you look at someone's feed, you're getting only the very best aspects of their lives, which makes you feel like your life, in comparison with all its messiness, probably isn't as good. Seeing the best version of everyone else's life makes you feel deprived.” Seems pretty obvious when you think about it, doesn’t it? I mean, isn’t that what we’re doing all the time anyway? You’ll seldom find a Source Instagram snap captioned ‘At the supermarket’ or ‘Check out the Super Morzine lift queue backed up to the roundabout. #LoveMorzine’ or ‘Great job filling in those potholes, guys’; we want you to see the best bits of Morzine. If we didn’t want to present the best version of ourselves all the time we wouldn’t worry about trivial things like showering, or brushing our teeth. So even when we suspect that powder day picture our friend just posted is probably just filters and a funky angle, how do we get so sucked in and why do we keep doing it? It’s been claimed that social media is as addictive as smoking. And that’s because getting a like, smoking, drinking and taking drugs all have the same effect on our brains. Studies have shown that when someone likes one of our Instagram posts, we get a small dopamine hit the same way we do when we drink alcohol or take drugs. It’s pleasurable, and we’re not sure how many likes we’ll get or where the next one will come from, so we keep posting and hoping for more. So we’re basically addicted to something that inherently makes us feel bad; stuck in a vicious circle of fake validation and unrealistic selfexpectation. And it never hurts to remember that behind our screens, behind each time-sucking app, are huge teams of people whose sole mission is to get us to spend more time using their apps and looking at their paid-for ads,
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without us consciously realising we’re doing it. But fear not, there are many things we can do to break the cycle. There’s deleting our social media entirely, but that option seems a bit drastic. After all, there are still plenty of things on Instagram that don’t make us feel terrible; how would we get our daily fix of puppies, see our overseas friends’ kids grow up or indulge in our guilty pleasure, @urbanoutfittershome? Maybe the trick is instead to limit our time spendt on the Gram; computer design ethicist Tristan Harris argues we can reorganise our phones to protect us from distractions. By making small changes like moving all our distracty apps to the second page of our home screens and turning off notifications, we’re limiting the potential chances to get suddenly drawn into a scrollathon when we could be doing something more fulfilling. Then there’s customising our feeds so we don’t have to see stuff that makes us feel bad about ourselves. That friend travelling around the world and blogging / Instagramming about it constantly? Unfollow. Find out about it when they get back. That old peer who’s now sponsored and doing freeride competitions? Unfollow. That other friend who never seems to work and goes ski touring all the time and captions their pictures ‘Just another day in the office’? Ugh. Unfollow. And we know, we know, you kind of have to follow your close friends and family, but why not dilute them with something that will make you laugh? Instagram is much more fun when you follow people you have absolutely no personal connection with. Some of our personal favourites are laughout-loud Australian comedian @ CelesteBarber, whose feed is all about proving Instagram is nothing like real life; @aussiesdoingthings, a feed full of Australian Shepherds and their delightful escapades; and @Agathasorlet, an illustrator who draws pictures of people hugging and cats. Can’t get much better than that. And @morzinesourcemagazine. Obviously.
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Book Review
THE GOBLIN’S BLUE BLANKET BY KIERON BLACK
An authentic, family-run Savoyarde hotel in the perfect location
Mid-way between Morzine and Avoriaz 300m from the Prodains Express lift station
Morzine folk, if Kieron’s graphics look familiar, that’s because you may have seen him sketching them in Satellite Coffee, or stumbled across one of his art exhibitions in La Chamade during previous winter seasons. The Goblin’s Blue Blanket is a story of why you shouldn’t worry about the little things, and the Portes du Soleil features deep in its DNA. When Ogie the goblin’s blanket goes missing, he and his cat Gerald hunt high and low through the magical and mysterious places on the island of Goblinia. Does Gerald have it in the snowpark? Is it in the slimewoods? Or caught in the Singing Stones? The story is loads of fun and perfect for inquisitive, adventurous little ones, but it’s the graphics that really got Junior Source excited. We spent hours finding new things hidden in the pictures and we’re still finding new talking points at each read. Look out for the Dents du Midi, Roc d’Enfer and the view from the Mossettes chairlift.
At the foot of the Prodains cliffs and surrounded by fir trees Ski to the door Flexible bedrooms Restaurant serving delicious, traditional French food Airport transfers, equipment rental and ski school also available
Prices from €75 to €95 per person per night, half board Discover more
www.leslans.com
First Aide Language.pdf
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£6.99 available on Amazon
JACOB’S FIRST SKI HOLIDAY
BY NICK ROBINSON
This book is the perfect way to get your little ones excited about their first ski holiday, while at the same time preparing them for what they can expect in the mountains. Written by a ski instructor and aimed at children aged between 4 and 8 years old, Jacob’s First Ski Holiday introduces some of the key techniques they’ll learn in ski school, while pitching the whole ski holiday concept as one huge, exciting adventure. The graphics are bold and fun, helping children to build a picture of life in the mountains. Author Nick Robinson wanted to reach more children and share his love of skiing, using his own memories and experience as a ski instructor and the book certainly delivers. £7.99 available on Amazon
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source awards for
excellence
Nom inat ope ions no 17 th n mond a Dec 2018 y
Our annual awards have just one objective; to discover and recognise the very best local businesses. The ones that go all-out to make holidaymakers, season workers and local people happy. The ones that deliver what they promise and go that extra mile. The ones that work hard to promote our valley. And this year is no different… except we have an entirely new category!
Award Categories
Make your favourite local business shine by nominating them on our website. For Accommodation, Customer Service and Bar nominations… Head to morzinesourcemagazine.com/awards and tell us which local business you’re nominating in which category and why. Nominations open on Monday 17th December 2018 and close on Sunday 3rd March 2019 at midnight. On Monday 4th March 2019 we’ll announce a full list of all the nominated businesses. You’ll be able to vote for your favourite business on our website for the next 14 days. You’ll only be able to vote once. Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 17th March 2019 and the three businesses in with the most votes in each category will enter the final stage of the awards – secret judging by our independent panel of locals. They’ll use the comments left during the nomination process and visitor feedback to choose their winner. We’ll announce the winners in each category at the Source Suppliers Show at the Domaine du Baron on Lake Montriond on Tuesday 9th April 2019.
For Best Food nominations… local chefs or restaurant owners can nominate themselves for this award. Head to morzinesourcemagazine.com/awards and follow the link to the self-nomination form. Nominations close on Sunday 17th March 2019 at midnight. Our top secret judges will then meet to consider all entries and draw up a list of three finalists. Our finalists will be asked to attend a short presentation during the week commencing Monday 19th March 2019. The winner will be announced at the Source Suppliers Show at the Domaine du Baron on Lake Montriond on Tuesday 9th April 2019.
For the Local Hero award… Head to morzinesourcemagazine.com/awards and nominate your local hero. Nominations open on Monday 17th December 2018 and close on Sunday 3rd March 2019 at midnight. Our top secret judges will consider all nominations and will use the comments left on your nomination forms to select their winner. The winner will be announced at the Source Suppliers Show at the Domaine du Baron on Lake Montriond on Tuesday 9th April 2019.
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Lexico source advert.pdf
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Last years winners Favourite Accommodation Treeline Chalets
Favourite Customer Service Hôtel Les Côtes
Translation Interpreting Proof-Reading Copy-Writing
Favourite bar Bar Le National, St Jean d’Aulps
Contact Us Contact Carrie Marsh to discuss your requirements and obtain a personalised quotation. +33 (0)6 50 20 82 68 @LexikoTranslate @lexikotranslation info@lexiko-translation.com www.lexiko-translation.com
Best food award Hideout Ramen by Guerrilla Dining
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HOW TO BUILD
an Igloo
Unbelievably, it takes just 15 days to build the Igloo Village in Avoriaz. Located in the Arare sector, just a ten-minute walk up the piste from the Prodains Express lift on a specially prepared path, the Igloo is perfect for both skiers and nonskiers alike. Avoriaz is the home of avant garde architecture in the Alps, so it comes as no surprise that the Igloo Village fits in so well.
But how is it constructed? That’s a question you might have asked yourself if you’ve ever been inside. The Igloo is made and maintained by an expert team of snow professionals, who also build similar structures in Les Arcs and La Rosière. They use a staggering 3,500m 3 of snow to build the site, spanning 180m 2 of terrain. The temperature inside must stay at 0°C to preserve the structure, which is relatively easy at an altitude of 1850m during the winter season. Construction of the Igloo Village will commence each winter, as
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soon as temperatures are cold enough to produce cultured or artificial snow. Usually, this is at the beginning of December. Once snow has been stockpiled, the big build can begin. Inflatable modules or inverted molds in different shapes are placed onto a groomed and compressed floor. Snow is packed or projected over the mold using a device called a turbo strawberry and left to solidify in cold natural temperatures. Once the snow is hard, the mold is deflated, creating a whole room in the Igloo Village. Work then starts again on
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another shape elsewhere on the site. Linking the rooms together through corridors is the job of a tamper and it is one of exceptional precision and detail. Within five days the first phase is complete. Cutting, carving and decorating then takes place. Teams of up to 15 professional snow and ice sculptors transform the internal rooms over the next ten days, following drawings that they have meticulously planned before the winter season arrives. They’ll use many tools in their work, but I’m told the chainsaw is their favourite! At any one time, teams of
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For more information on events at the Avoriaz Village Igloo head to village-igloo-avoriaz.fr
carpenters, architects, electricians, sound technicians and sculptors can be found inside the rapidly evolving structure. Each winter’s igloo has a theme and this season you can expect ‘voyage dans le ciel’, or travels in the sky. It’s hard to anticipate how many fondues will be served within the Avoriaz Igloo Village this winter. Or how many après cocktails will be poured. Or how many brave souls will bed down for the night, tucked up in a special thermal sleeping bag. But what we do know for certain is that in a few months time, the whole structure will disappear.
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Give someone something they really want this year with our ultimate accessory guide. Or just treat yourself. You deserve it! We’ve got something in mind for every budget, so if you’re struggling to find that perfect something for the skier or snowboarder in your life, or again, for yourself, look no further!
- Gifts & Acessories -
Butta Service Kit
RRP £29.99 GoPro Hero 7 Black
RRP €429.99 This year’s instalment of the GoPro is a lot more than just a little bit better than the last one. Well, according to our technical advisor anyway. As well as filming in eye-popping colour and amazing quality, the GoPro Hero 7 Black also features a built-in stabiliser, so if you want to get really serious about your holiday footage you don’t need to buy a special gimbal, you can just stick it on a pole / your helmet / another body part and go. You’ll end up with smooth and steady footage, and fewer annoying accessories. The other exclusive feature of the Black model is the ability to hook your GoPro up to your Facebook and put your clips directly on the internet in the form of live videos – pretty impressive for such a tiny camera! Gopro.com
We love a bit of eco-friendly product here at Source and that’s why we love Butta wax. Waxing your skis or board will instantly become less of a chore with this lovelylooking tin of nice-smelling, low flurocarbon wax, as well as everything else you need to do a bang up service job in your garage. It’s even got a handy step-by-step guide to cleaning and waxing your planks to make them super speedy and ensure they stay in great condition for longer. Butta.co.uk
Dragon PXV Goggles
RRP €210 - €269 Just when it appears there’s nowhere left for snow goggle lens technology to go, in swoops Dragon with some brand new lens tech to conquer all other lenses. An innovative twist on Dragon’s visually pleasing NFX model, the PXV incorporates a new lens design that’s a combination of a spherical and cylindrical lens shape. This all-new combo optimises your peripheral vision and allows you to see more than ever before. Dragon’s Lumalens lenses are sold as standard with the PXVs; designed to help you see with more clarity in a range of light conditions, they filter out hazy, glarey light and enhance contrast so you can see your surroundings in more detail. Combined with super antifog treatment and armoured vents, you’ve got yourself, or someone else, this year’s ultimate high-performance goggle. Europe.dragonalliance.com
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Howl Jed Mitts
RRP €60.00 If in doubt, opt for gloves. You can never have too many pairs of gloves, and contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend loads of money to find a pair that works. These mitts from Howl are lightly insulated, waterproof and breathable up to 10k / 10k and score nice and low on the bulk scale. In short, they’ll keep your digits toasty warm when it’s chilly outside but won’t give you sweaty, stinky hands when it gets warm. The best of both worlds you might say. There’s plenty of room to whack on some glove liners underneath, as well as lots of other handy (sorry!) features, like removable wrist cords, grippy palms and a super soft brushed tricot liner. As an added bonus they come in lots of male- and female-friendly styles. Howlsupply.com
The James Brand Mehlville
RRP €66.00 You could buy a carabiner from Mountain Warehouse for less than a fiver, but why not get someone something that really means something instead? And that won’t fall apart after five minutes. The Mehlville key carabiner from The James Brand is expertly made, looks great, and clips to things like belt loops and the inside of backpacks to ensure you’ll never lose your keys again. Made from bombproof, machined aluminium with a two part locking mechanism for extra security, it’s got good looks and quality craftsmanship covered. And like every good keyring, it includes a stylish custom bottle opener. TheJamesBrand.com
Shredduh Hoodie
RRP £70.00 If you’re going to get one riding hoodie this winter, this should be it. Made by the sometimes Morzine resident who bought us the Thug Rug, Brethren Apparel are set to take over the world with these hoodies. They’ve got water-resistant Cordura reinforcements in the lower back panel and elbows, so you can sit down to do up your bindings / stack it and not get soaked. They’ve also got clever double cuffs to keep snow from getting up your sleeves, underarm vents for when it gets mega warm in spring, and a waterproof, zip-up kangaroo pocket. Pretty much everything you could ever want from a riding hoodie, and in a massive range of colours. Brethren-apparel.com
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KEEP ON
Pedalling by Amie Henderson
I’ve heard it suggested that, some day soon, Morzine and the surrounding valley will become as popular with road cyclists during the summer season as it is with skiers during the winter. A growth in the number of local businesses now offering high end road bike rentals such as Alps Bike Hire and Torico, custom-made touring holidays such as those offered by Velovation and Yellovelo and cycling-specific fitness camps coordinated by Buzz Performance would certainly support this idea.
“The numerous and varied cycling routes in the area ranging from 3km to 18km could explain why Morzine is so popular for road cycling holidays,” explains Joe Pearson of Alps Bike Hire. “Or it could be the amazing scenery, the Tour de France history, the epic and iconic mountain passes, the smooth roads, courteous drivers or the charming Savoyarde villages that we pass through. Or all of the above!” Morzine has hosted 15 stage arrivals in Le Tour de France’s recent history and the Col de Joux Plane is perhaps the region's most famous cycling conquest. At 10.9km in length with a total climb of 711m from Morzine, it’s no mean feat; but there’s a varied selection of less challenging routes for road cyclists of all abilities and levels of experience. Tony Hinde runs Velovation, a road cycling holiday company which coordinates trips across Europe. #lovemorzine
“Morzine and the surrounding regions are a climbers paradise, offering a huge network of quiet roads with some really tough climbs” Tony explains. “The terrain is varied and suits cyclists of all abilities but we tent to attract intermediate and experienced cyclists. You have to go up at some point!” Morzine and Les Gets make the perfect base for a summer road cycling holiday. More often than not, the annual Étape du Tour comes within driving distance of our resorts and those lucky enough to secure a place on the one-day challenge will stay locally, transferring to the start line on the day of the event. The Critérium du Dauphiné is one of the most important races in the run up to Le Tour each year and the eight day route often takes in Morzine and Les Gets, bring the best cyclists in the world to our tarmac. Amateur events such as 1 Day, 1 Col #lovelesgets
have also seen registrations swell in recent years. In 2019 the challenge takes place on 28th July and roads will be closed to vehicles between Morzine and the Col de Joux Plane for the day. Similarly the locally organized Cyclosportive MorzineHaut Chablais offers a choice of two distances (100km or 150km) with an itinerary that passes though the region’s most famous peaks. Keen cyclist and local property market expert Gareth Jefferies of alpine-property.com has also noticed changing buyer profiles in recent years. “Originally, we’d sell property off the back of the winter season. Owning a ski bolt hole or a larger chalet to run as a business was the key objective of our buyers,” Gareth explains. “Nowadays buyers count summer activities as equally important as winter activities. We expect the industry to go from strength to strength in coming years.” #loveavoriaz
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| Prenatal Yoga with Nicole
Nicole Coryton of Strength & Serenity Yoga saw an opportunity to establish prenatal yoga classes and will be running sessions this winter season, alongside her schedule of other yoga classes at the Palais du Sport in central Morzine.
for anyone suffering from ‘baby brain’! Strengthening and toning the pelvic floor muscles and deep core, prenatal yoga also helps to improve your energy levels during pregnancy and enhance your general wellbeing. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet other mums-to-be whilst taking some time out for yourself before your baby arrives. “During pregnancy, the lower back can arch as the weight of your baby pulls you forward. This shortens your hip flexors and can make everything a bit sore.” Nicole explains. “Prenatal yoga will help to straighten your spine, stretch, tone, strengthen and relax your body and make space for your growing baby too.”
Prenatal yoga offers many benefits. Firstly, the sessions help to alleviate some of the common discomforts of pregnancy; they’re also thought to improve concentration too, which is good news
To discover more about Strength & Serenity Yoga, prenatal classes and Nicole’s availability for private group yoga sessions, call +33 (0) 6 04 49 42 32 or head to facebook.com/strength&serenityyoga
Unless you live in our valley all year round, you might not know that babies are a big deal right now. Morzine and the rest of the valley have experienced a baby boom in recent years, and it's no surprise that many excellent new services and activities have popped up to cater for little ones and their Mummies too.
© withLight photography Kate Spooner
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THE SOURCE
Guide to Summer If you’ve visited Morzine, Les Gets or Avoriaz in the summer before, you’ll know just how good it is. But for those who haven’t, you can expect lush, green mountain vistas, long, sunny days and so many activities you’ll be spoilt for choice. From hardcore mountain bikers to fitness enthusiasts, families to those who want to relax in the sun with a good book, there really is something for everyone. And we’re not just saying that. Here’s our top selection of events, activities and spectacles this summer in Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz.
Pass’portes du Soleil
MTB World Cup 13th – 14th July (TBC)
28th – 30th June
Kicking off the summer with a bang, Pass’portes is always an incredible weekend. Keen mountain bikers turn up in their thousands to take part in this one-of-a-kind mountain bike tour around the Portes du Soleil, complete with fun trails, regional snack stops and awe-inspiring views. passportesdusoleil.com
Crankworx may have moved on, but Les Gets is still proving itself a force to be reckoned with in the mountain biking world. After a long absence, the resort will be hosting a stage of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup circuit. With both cross country and downhill races taking place across the weekend, the town will be full of the world’s best riders, epic race action and, we imagine, some serious parties!
Morzine-Montriond Triathlon 1st September
After a massively successful first edition of the MorzineMontriond Triathlon last September, the event is back to close out the summer. Widely touted as ‘the most beautiful triathlon in the world’, it’s a great chance to visit Morzine and compete in a fun and friendly competition! There’s the option to compete alone or as part of a team, and if we do say ourselves, it most definitely is one of the world’s most beautiful triathlons! Buzzperformance.com
Harley Days 11th – 14th July
Back for another round, Morzine’s biennial Harley Davidson festival is always a highlight of the summer. Leather-clad bikers from across France and their classic motorbikes descend upon the resort in their thousands to ride the local cols. Expect lots of live music, lots of leather and the opportunity to view these finely crafted machines close-up. Make sure you book your accommodation well in advance!
Spartan Race 5th – 7th July
Fast becoming a Morzine institution, and back for its fourth year, Spartan race sees keen obstacle racers from all over the world coming to town to battle it out in the mountains. There are four different race lengths ranging from 50km to 6km, as well as a kids race, and even if you’re not competing, it’s really fun to watch! spartanrace.fr
Rafting
Rafting is without a doubt one of our favourite summer activities. Perfect for adventurers of all ages, there’s never a dull day on the river. And you can do it in the rain, too! Frogsrafting.com
Canyoning
Another summer activity that’s perfect for a bad weather day, wetsuit up and spend an afternoon scaling down Morzine’s most beautiful waterfalls. Challenging, fun and the opportunity to see parts of the mountain you can’t normally access. 7aventures.com
#lovemorzine
#lovelesgets
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Mountain Biking
Of course, Les Portes du Soleil is a mecca for mountain bikers from all over the world. Whether it’s your first time or you’re seeking out the gnarliest trails, there’s something here for you. And it’s all lift accessed!
Road Biking
Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz are packed with incredible cols to climb and descend, offering fresh challenges and incredible views, and there’s something for everyone, from seasoned roadies to first timers.
Trail Running and Hiking
A plethora of hiking trails makes the PDS a great walking and running destination; it’s even got its own trail running app, Trace de Trail. You can make use of the huge lift network to explore the area on foot or take to the surrounding peaks, the choice is yours and the possibilities are endless! Tracedetrail.fr
Lac Mines d’Or
A beautiful place to hike, relax by the lake or enjoy a delicious meal, Lac Mines d’Or is a great place to sit back and take in some of the best and most unspoiled mountain views in Morzine.
Lac Montriond
Sunbathe, swim, BBQ, snack, admire the views, hire a stand-up paddle board or kayak, Lac Montriond is one of the best places to spend a day, hands down. It’s stunningly beautiful and there’s loads to do.
Wibit Aquapark
Kids and adults alike will love this giant inflatable obstacle course in Les Gets’ swimming lake. Over 30 obstacles and a beautiful setting equals fun for the whole family. lesgets.com/i-want/famille/wibit
Goat Village
En route to the Lindarets bowl in Avoriaz, you’ll find a charming hamlet that’s home to a whole herd of goats! Kids will love feeding them while adults will love the excellent restaurant selection.
Morzine Outdoor Pool
We couldn’t write about summer without mentioning Morzine’s amazing outdoor pool! Complete with a waterslide, volleyball court, sack bar, spa area, and of course, a huge outdoor swimming pool, it’s a great place to spend a day in the sun. parc-dereches.com
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The Source News Round-up
THE 2019 SOURCE SUPPLIERS SHOW
OUR PERFECT DAY POSTER
Returning for a sixth year of business to business networking, our annual trade event takes place at the Domaine du Baron on Lake Montriond on Tuesday 9th April 2019. Between 45 and 50 exhibitors join us for the one-day event, introducing their business to visitors and building relationships with other local
As you’ll see from page six of this issue, this winter’s Source poster is a tribute to Ellie Soutter and features the kit you need for a perfect day in the mountains. Available in both red and blue, our posters are hand screen printed by humans on 100% recycled bright white paper and are A2 in size. They really are
suppliers show |
business owners. Visiting the event is free of charge, there’ll be complimentary refreshments and we’ll announce the winners of our 2019 Source Awards for Excellence at 3pm. It costs just €99 to join us as an exhibitor, find out more at sourcesuppliersshow. com or email info@ sourcesuppliersshow.com
very beautiful, but here’s an extra reason to buy one. We’ll donate every single centime to The Ellie Soutter Foundation to support the winter sports athletes of the future. Head to morzinesourcemagazine.com/ shop to buy yours, there’s even free delivery if you’re in resort.
L' E x p o s i t i o n d e s F o u r n i s s e u r s
The area's only TRADE SHOW with over 40 different exhibitors le seul salon de la région avec plus de 40 exposants
Tuesday 9th April | Mardi 9e Avril 2018 10.00 - 18.00
Domaine du Baron, Lac Montriond
FREE ENTRY | Entrée gratuite
complimentary refreshments | rafraîchissements gratuits
For more information visit: THE BIG WEEKLY GIVEAWAY @MorzineSource
morzinesourcemagazine
Our Facebook followers already know how generous we are here at Morzine Source Magazine. Launching each Friday throughout the winter season, our weekly competition includes some
www.sourcesuppliersshow.com or call +33 (0) 6 43 80 65 82
incredible prizes from the likes of Dragon Alliance, Butta wax, Planks, Peak Design, 686 and more. For your chance to win, make sure you’re following us and look out for a new giveaway each week.
RESORT EVENTS Each week (also on a Friday, as it happens) we mail our entire database with our pick of the hottest events taking place across Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz over the next seven days, giving you the opportunity to holiday to the max. You’ll also find the most comprehensive list of resort events on our website morzinesourcemagazine.com/events
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Here at Morzine Immobilier we’re delighted to announce our new association with international real estate adviser Savills. Morzine Immobilier is a market leader in the local residential property market, whilst Savills are a truly global company. Being part of the Savills family will help us promote Morzine, Les Gets and the surrounding area on the world property stage. Established in 1986, we pride ourselves on offering professional advice and expert knowledge of the local property market, to both our buyers and our sellers. With both French and English agents and chartered surveyors on our team, we’re best placed to guide you through the buying or selling process. Pop in or email us to see if we can help. Established in 1855, Savills Plc is a leading international property services company, employing a team of 35,000 worldwide in offices across the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa. Their name has become synonymous with luxury residential property and a consistently high standard of service.
Morzine Le Carlina is a prestigious ski-in, ski-out residence with a superb range of apartments from 1-beds to a luxury penthouse. A truly unique location at the foot of the slopes next to the main Pleney cable car. Morzine with all its bars, restaurants and shops is on your doorstep.
Prices from €260,000
Les Gets A stunning detached chalet in the centre of Les Gets enjoying sunshine throughout the day. Just 300m from the Mont Chery lift, the chalet is spread over 3 levels and includes an open plan living space, 3 bedrooms and a large mezzanine area. There’s a large garden and balconies too.
€1,300,000
Montriond A detached 3-bed chalet with the potential to become a 4-bed in the centre of Montriond. This charming property is located on a quiet residential road and offers a habitable area of 80m². There’s a garage, utility room with WC, open plan living area and access to a covered terrace with fabulous views.
€540,000
An international associate of Savills
Unrivalled Expertise Professional Surveyors Quality Advice Contact Us:
Email info@morzine-immo.com Web www.morzine-immo.com Tel +33 (0) 4 50 79 13 09
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ski High ski In ski Out
ski Avoriaz we offer
Avoriaz Holidays and Avoriaz Premium offer a huge range of self-catered holiday properties across les Portes du Soleil’s highest ski resort to suit all group sizes and budgets.
we promise Quality accommodation, a high standard of service and a very warm welcome in Avoriaz.
contact us
www.avoriaz-premium.com www.avoriaz-holidays.com
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Tel: +33 (0) 4 50 74 16 08 Email: info@avoriaz-holidays.com