The Val Echo Issue 1513

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ISSUE 1513 | FEB 21, 2020

THE

ECHO

WEEKLY GUIDE TO VAL D’ISÈRE TIGNES

M A G A Z I N E

REGAL EAGLE

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

SAVING DOLLA

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THE FOLIE DOUCE ART PROJECT COVER ART: LOIC PAULET Last year, we launched the Folie Douce Art Project, with the aim of adorning the front cover of the Echo with local artists’ creations. It worked! We ended up with 21 stunning magazines and got to meet some thoroughly fascinating individuals over a spot of lunch at La Folie Douce. The famous mountain restaurant, bar and cabaret extravaganza generously support this project and we’re thrilled to announce their continuing sponsorship this winter.

We’re now on the hunt for more creative talent. If you would like to see your work on the front of Val d’Isère’s finest English language publication, and featured on the screens at La Folie Douce, get in touch with us now. Whatever your medium, we can almost certainly accommodate it.

To find out more about how to be involved, email: contact@valecho.co.uk.

Also you can check out last year’s covers and buy prints of your favourite at www.valecho.co.uk/ folie-douce-art-project We can’t wait to see what the Echo will look like this year.

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22 EVENT LISTINGS

CONT ENTS The Val Echo CCK Intergalactic Ltd www.valecho.co.uk contact@valecho.co.uk

What’s on this week: - Town events - Bar nights - Sporting competitions

29 SAVING DOLLA How to get through the classic mid season Euro drought

30 HENRY’S AVALANCHE TALK An in depth look at the snow conditions and up-coming weather for off pisters

Please recycle the magazine once you have read it. Or, better still, hand it on to someone else.

35 REGAL EAGLE

Contributors: Sam Box, Ben Pryor, Caitlin Kennedy

Bet you didn’t know that golden eagles’ eyes barely move? This and more golden eagle facts.

06 RESORT GUIDE The down-low on everything from the best restaurants to the numbers to call in an emergency

NEW STYLE

10 SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTIST We chat to Loic Paulet the designer of this week’s cover art.

The Echo’s cover is generously sponsored by La Folie Douce

Just after the GB National Special Olympics competition in CransMontana, we caught up with some of the volunteer trainers.

Coiffure & Massage Sur rendez-vous à partir de 14h

design www.athoms.fr

14 SPECIAL OLYMPICS COUNSEL

Hairdresser & Massage By appointment From 2PM

20 OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE A satirical spin on the week’s events from our man on the outside, Ben Pryor

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+33(0)4 79 06 02 00 info@avancher.com Arrêt de navette UCPA / www.avancher.com

Remise Carte Vie Val d’Is

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SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTIST Artist: Loic Paulet

and an inspiration for all of my work Have you ever met a flamingo?

Probably two or three times in a zoo and in the South of France.

Do you have any new tattoos?

I’ve finish the upper part of my left arm, but I’m rapidly running out of space, so it’s time to be a little slower with the tattoos!

Have you ever designed any artwork for skis/boards?

I’ve just finished a Surf Board which is on its way to Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

And I have also done a collaboration with a Skateboard brand; the visuals are done and the board should be out in spring

What have you been up to artistically since you last did a cover for us?

Many exhibitions, a new clothing collection last summer shot in Asia, and a lot of Freelance work. It’s been a year since the last cover but it feels like a decade in the professional sense. But I still never work a day in my life!

Tell us about the idea behind this cover?

I’m trying different things for the visuals of Evhemeria (my clothing and design brand), and this one had been on my mind for many months. I don’t really know why, but the mix of the flamingo and a grand Penny Farthing looked amazing in my head.

What inspired your caped man for the WTF design in the Folie poster? We love him!

Haha I love him too! The idea was to personalise the party, and an old turtle, with balloons, shorts and flip flops was the best idea I had!

How is the clothing business going?

Pretty good; a new hoodie came out in December which is selling well. But I need to find more time to work properly on the new collection- it is the 5th birthday of the brand in April. I’m already working on the party for May ;) The posters for Avaline Trax are amazing!

What was the process for creating them?

The sport club of Val d’Isère wanted something different to the photo manipulation from last year so it was a good reason to draw something on Illustrator!

Do you have any upcoming projects in the This design appears to draw from some pipeline? old English fashions and inventions. Is that A baby, for July. It should be the biggest something that has influenced you? project of my life!

Yes, it is. Anatomy drawing, Da Vinci and that kind of old newspaper is such an influence Wow, congratulations Loic and thank you!

Find Loic’s work and clothing brand: @loicxevhemeria www.evhemeria.com

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SAM: A mutual friend of ours had been volunteer coaching the team for a couple of years and one day, when we were teaching at the Snow-dome, he told me that they needed some more instructors to help out.

Just like Matt, I didn’t know anything about it until I went along to my first training session.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

M: Since the London Paralympics in 2012, sport for athletes with physical disabilities has increasingly been on peoples’ radars, but the Special Olympics is still far less familiar to much of the World.

Two weeks ago, the town of CransMontana, in Italy, played host to the GB National competition of the Special Olympics team. The Special Olympics organisation functions all year round to offer athletes with learning disabilities a chance to participate in sporting opportunities at any level. Athletes of all ages take part in competitions that are adapted to their capabilities. The Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of JFK, who believed that the principles of the Olympics could help those who were isolated in society due to intellectual disabilities. Her son now chairs the Special Olympics Committee, who’s motto is “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”.

We caught up with two of the volunteer coaches, ski instructors Mathew Rose and Sam Morrey, who coach the West Midlands group and were at Crans-Montana.

How did you first get involved with coaching the Special Olympics teams?

MATT: I didn’t know anything about the Special Olympics but the company I was working for back in 2011 became the first national sponsor of the Special Olympics GB (Winter and Summer). So through that, I found out that they had a winter programme and then found my local group, which was the West Midlands team, who I’m still with today.

Unlike the Olympics and the Paralympics, it caters to all levels of athletes, not just the elite, right? So how does that work in terms of the structure of the organisation and for coaching?

M: The athletes are divided into Novice, Intermediate and Advanced and that’s the only categorising that occurs. Age is not a factor so children from 8 upwards are racing with adults of any ages (typically up to about mid 40s in our club). The races are divided into Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G. Training is in many ways about trying to improve their general skiing ability and coaching from the side to help with the gates. When we come to big competitions, like the Nationals at Crans-Montana, the focus is more on racing style and tactics.

S: Especially at the big competitions, they’ll have a classification race on the first day so everyone will do the same course.

From that they’ll group racers together of a similar time, so that everyone is in with a chance of winning a medal. So the inclusivity is an important part; even if some of the guys might not be the quickest racers in the pack, they still have an opportunity to do well.

Tell us about the coaching at CransMontana?

M: Different athletes have different abilities to learn. You get some skiers that can’t communicate at all but will be taking it on board. And then there are those who

are quite high functioning, so you end up coaching a wide range of abilities.

Do you get much guidance in how to do that? Because presumably each athlete must have a very specific set of needs from their coach?

M: That’s definitely true. I think the benefit is that we stay with our team over a long period of time so you learn how to communicate with each person, know them as individuals and begin to understand how they learn and what upsets them. It can be far more difficult to interpret those signals than with someone without an intellectual disability. Also, it helps to listen to their carers or parents, who will be able to guide us. In many ways, I learn more from the athletes than they learn from me.

What are some of the challenges that the athletes face with ski racing?

S: A whole array of difficulties. We have some who get very agitated at the start gate because they get so nervous. Even if we try and create a non-pressured atmosphere, there’s still someone at the top and bottom of the slope with a stopwatch, plus a crowd and an environment that is different to that which they are used to day to day. We’ll have some very capable skiers that just struggle with the intensity. But then when they do get to the bottom they’re always over the moon at the achievement, even if they don’t get a medal.

M: I spent 20 minutes twice with an athlete who just didn’t want to do the course. I knew he could do it. After taking him away from everyone else, calming him down and encouraging him, he finally did it and won a medal. It’s interesting how different people react. Weather can upset some of them and parents too, so we try and keep them at the bottom.

Are there any particular memorable

moments from your time coaching?

S: A lot of the most memorable moments for me don’t actually involve the skiing. When we go on the yearly trips to Pila, each night in the hotel we have an activity. There’s a talent contest one night, a fancy dress competition, a disco and it’s moments from those that stand out. I’ve been doing this coaching for 3 or 4 years now and some of the skiers that started just before I joined have really come out of their shell since I’ve known them.

They are far more confident now than they used to be and they’re getting involved and socialising in a way that they never did before.

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Why is the work of the SOGP so important?

M: I think the skiing is so valuable for our team because it involves so many elements.

It’s not like going to a race track, doing a timed slalom and then going home. There are all sorts of experiences that they have to navigate; the mountain environment, the equipment, the logistics, the transport, different cultures (they’ve been to South Korea for the World Games). What they gain to help them develop as individuals is so valuable because it’s incredibly multidimensional and equips them with tools to cope with the world.

The World Winter Games for the Special Olympics is next year. Where is it happening?

S: Well it was supposed to be held in Are, Sweden, but the Swedish Government decided to withdraw funding, which is very disappointing. Especially for a such supposedly socially conscious country.

They won the bid to hold the event back in 2018 and have recently dropped out with less than 12 months to go. So now the committee are looking for a new host venue. Holding the event requires the

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country to contribute $6 million out of the $14 million cost of putting the Games on. But it is a blow to the 2,000 athletes from 105 countries registered to participate. The chief executive of the Special Olympics GB was out in CransMontana and apparently there have been some offers from other resorts. It may end up being held in the US. There’s a lot of support for the Special Olympics there, as that was its birthplace.

What do you value most from your training of the SOGB ski team?

M: Building on what Sam mentioned, it’s less about the skiing improvement and more about their development as people.

It’s such a tough world for people with a learning disability to be in. Things are getting better, but many of them have obstacles that make it very hard for them to be part of society. Some of them won’t make it and will have to be in care forever, but equipped with the right skills, a lot of them have the ability to be independent and live on their own. If we can provide a conduit to greater life skills, self worth, social abilities- all those things that we take for granted, then that’s the most satisfying thing for me.

S: We meet every other week on a dry ski slope in Birmingham. It’s not the best dry slope and it’s not in the best area. But these guys turn up every time and their enthusiasm for it is contagious. There have been times after doing a full winter away, when I think I want a break from skiing. But going and doing a few hours with our team reminds me why I love it so much and reinvigorates me to carry on. And I don’t think any other group of people could do that.

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GONDALOVING Our Gondalovers bare all about their steamy ski and lunch date courtesy of The Corner, Val Claret.

Give us the low-down on the meal at The Corner.

The Corner is and will always be my favourite place for pies. We both got the chicken pie and a smoothie and Jen who worked there was absolutely lovely!

Were you impressed with Cameron’s skiing?

Cam was a very good skier; might even say better than me, but only just!

How did the date end?

The date ended with me making him late for work and we switched socials.

Would you meet again?

I don’t feel like he’s the date for me but I’d meet up again maybe for a cheeky ski.

CAMERON: Funniest moment of the date?

When I hit an off-piste kicker at full speed and got too sendy.

What did you like most about her?

Her skiing ability.

FLORENCE: Funniest moment of the date?

When I challenged Cam to hit a kicker off piste not knowing there was a massive drop on the other side. He gave it a good go but properly stacked it on the other side...I took it a lot slower on the other hand.

What did you like most about him?

I thought Cam was good fun! He showed me some new off piste runs and was very friendly!

What was your chairlift chat?

We talked a lot about which resort was better. Tignes was obviously the winner! And we mildly mocked our managers.

What was your chairlift chat?

Val D vs Tignes.

Give us the low-down on the meal at The Corner.

10/10 would definitely go again.

Were you impressed with her skiing?

Yeah, decent shredder.

How did the date end?

At the bottom of La Daille.

Would you meet again?

I think we both agreed to just be mates.

Florence and Cameron shared a romantic meal at The Corner in Val Claret. The Corner is a new and innovative addition to the Tignes lunch scene. Tucked into (you

guessed it), the corner of eateries by Les Tufs chairlift, they offer hearty homemade food from a menu that is well selected by owners that care. You’ll never leave hungry after one of their famous pies or scrumptious hashes. And it would be a crime to drop in without indulging in a beautifully crafted coffee, from freshly ground beans that can be bought in store.

N E W F I N E F O O D S D E L I C AT E S S E N IN THE TOURIST OFFICE SQUARE. O R D E R O N L I N E AT l m d l m . c o m O R VISIT THE STORE

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OUT OF THE BUBBLE

By Ben Pryor

Sadly, we start this week with news of another mass shooting on European soil.

A gunman opened far on two shisha bars in Hanau, Germany killing nine people in a racially-motivated attack. The suspect, who was in possession of a firearms licence, was found at his apartment having shot himself and his mother. If only he’d concluded removing himself from the world was the right course of action without trying to take innocent people with him.

Many parts of the UK remain underwater after Storm Dennis dropped huge amounts

of rain all over the West coast, forcing many people to evacuate their homes, with some requiring emergency services to rescue them from the flood waters. The amber warning issued by the Met office formed an appropriately phallic shape over Wales, given much of the region is still f***ed.

The Labour leadership contenders are down to three. Frontrunner Sir Keir Starmer is earmarking Red Ed for a return to the shadow front bench as Chancellor; even with the low bar left by John McDonnell that’s an impressive attempt to limbo under it; still falls short of his main challenger, Rebecca Wrong-Daily, who said she’d appoint the Jeremy to a cabinet post.

No wonder former leader Tony B Liar questioned whether the contenders offer the fundamental change required, though in his refusal to endorse any of them for

fear of damaging their chances there’s more self-awareness than all of them put together.

The tumbleweed of hand-me-downs that is the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination rolled into Nevada this week, staging an ill-tempered debate worthy of a Las Vegas prize fight, or perhaps a Las Vegas booby prize fight. ‘Mini-Mike’ (say what you will about the Donald, his speechwriters do come up with the best nicknames) Bloomberg took the stage for the first time and was set upon by all the main contenders like a fundamentalist Christian preaching abstinence and teetotalism as a stag do rolls down the main drag. Results are due over the weekend but will likely leave us feeling like the Donald did after watching Best Picture winner Parasite, wondering ‘what was that all about’.

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Osaka airport has installed a dog comfort room, complete with a shower, water bowls and a pole for them to cock a leg on; Seoul airport presumably just has an abattoir. A Yorkshireman called Steven Chicken was skipped over being seated at Nando’s after staff assumed it was a practical joke.

Burger King chimed in on Twitter to offer him a free dinner if he changed his name to Steven Whopper; not sure a free meal is worth your surname making claims your body can’t cash.

And finally, the Argentinian town of Tandil has broken the record for the world’s longest salami at 99.5m. The fermented, air-dried meat cylinder is longer than the Statue of Liberty; given that definition I’d have thought they only needed to make it longer than Keith Richards. Until next week, I’m off for my free meal at Burger King.

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SATURDAY 22 SALOON Beer-pong specials VICTOR’S Seasonaire Saturday. 5€ beer, 4€ wine, 6€ cocktails 21-23 10% discount on food PETIT DANOIS DJ James French 10pm THE FALL LINE Super Seasonaire Saturday 6 NATIONS See page 46 LE LODGE DJ K2

TIGNES SALOON Beer pong specials

WEDNESDAY 26 BONNE SANTÉ Power Flow Yoga with Rose 10.30am at Le Hibou PONT ST CHARLES Wildlife Observation ADROIT FARM Visit to the farm with cheese tasting. Tickets at Tourist office.

FOLIE DOUCE WTF! Party SALOON 3€ JOSS!!

PETIT DANOIS Live Music The Mardy Johnny Depps 17h. DJ James French 22h HIBOU Wings Wednesday BONNE SANTÉ Hilltop Candlelit Yin. Refuge de Solaise 7.30pm BANANAS Live DJ on the decks 10.30pm FALL LINE Live DJ on the decks TIGNES SALOON Champions League & 3€ JOSS!!

EVENTS LISTINGS SUNDAY 23 PETIT DANOIS Live Music with Ali and Tchai 5.45pm. DJ Jack Igglesden 10pm SALOON Live Music Big Mountain 17.30 BANANAS Drum and Bass with DJ BigKez HIBOU Sunday Funday! Happy Hour all day & Live Music w/ “King of One More Song”, Luke Robinson

SNOWFRONT- BMW x Drive Tour 6 NATIONS See page 46 FOLIE DOUCE Swedish Takeover TIGNES SALOON Beer pong specials

THURSDAY 27 LE LODGE DJ Valentin 11pm-2am SALOON Thirsty Thursday 15€ Long island PETIT DANOIS Live Music: The Blazin’ Strings 5pm. DJ Jack Iggelsden 10pm BACKSTAGE VISIT Discover how the Olympic Cable Car and Snow making facilities work. Sign up @Tourist Office.

VICTORS Hip Hop Night with Live DJ BANANAS Live DJ on the decks BONNE SANTÉ Hilltop Candlelit Flow.

Refuge de Solaise 11am CINEMA Judy in English 8.30pm IN TOWN Super-Hero Carnival. Street Party on Main Road with performers 6pm SO BAR Karaoke Night

T-SALOON Thirsty Thursday ! 15€ Long island

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MONDAY 24 BONNE SANTÉ Mountain Flow Yoga with Rose 10.30am at Le Hibou SALOON Messy Monday 15€ Headf*cker LA FOLIE DOUCE Born in the 90s PETIT DANOIS Live Music Mullit & the Machine 5pm. DJ Jack Igglesden 10pm AVALANCHE SAFETY TALK Free talk at 5.30pm in English on the Snowfront

THE MARMOT ARMS BASS STATION with DJ Komissar and friends TIGNES SALOON Messy Monday – the wall 15€

FRIDAY 28 PETIT DANOIS Live music with Karen & Andreas 5pm. DJ Jack Igglesden 22h SALOON 3€ J-Bombs and Open Deck with DJ Lukas SAVONETTE Yooner sledging 6pm FOLIE DOUCE It’s Time to Say Goodbye SAVONETTE Floodlit Parallel Night Slalom with Dynastar

TUESDAY 25 FOLIE DOUCE NAUSE SALOON Seasonaire Party with Jack Attack!

IN TOWN Guided Tour of the resort.

Tickets and info at Tourist Office.

ESF SNOWSHOW Freestyle display, torchlit descent of Le Face & firework display. Free vin chaud. 18h45- Snowfront FALL LINE Live DJ on the decks

PETIT DANOIS Live Music The Revolverlites 5pm. DJ Jack Igglesden 22h VICTOR’S Retro Night! All your favourite tunes from the 70s, 80s and 90s TIGNES SALOON Champions League 20.45h

ALL WEEK BANANAS Happy Hour 6.30-7.30pm and 10.30-11.30pm HIBOU Happy Hour 4-7pm. Kitchen open from 12pm for lunch SALOON (VAL) Happy Hour 8-10pm: Jugs 15€ + 3€ Joss. 2-4-1, 4-6pm. Can you beat the highscore on the boxing machine?

LA FOLIE DOUCE Seasonaire Meal Deal 12€ @ Petite Cuisine VICTOR’S Cocktail Hour 9-11pm. Cocktails 6€ Restaurant booking 0479060652

TIGNES SALOON 3€ J-bombs

THE FALL LINE Happy hour everyday 3-5pm4.50€ pints. Beer Pong every day 12€ a jug.

BLUE NOTE Happy Hour everyday 3-6pm, Hot Sloe Gin & Tonic and complimentary nibbles.

T-SALOON 2-4-1 @ après (4-6pm). Happy Hour 20-22h: jugs 15€ + 3€ Joss. All sport shown SO BAR Open 4pm everyday with free Aprés pizza & a fab new cocktail menu

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SAVING DOLLA As the mid season slump hits, many find that their financial situation is sub optimal.

Here are some pro tips for getting those stacks back up.

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small plates to fill. What you want to do is get cucumber slices and line the edge with the slices to extend the plate, giving you more space for food. If you want, you can then build up around the edges, giving yourself a hollow column to fill with food for all.

The quickest way to get hard cash is to sell your belongings. Just think, do you really need three ski jackets? You could try the seasonaire page but it is full of people trying to sell things. What you really ought to be doing is creating a pop up shop on the bus to display your wares. Do it towards the end of the ski day when it is busiest to have the maximum amount of potential customers.

It can be a very shocking revelation that those weird pieces of metal that you sometimes get given by shop keepers actually have worth. Gather up all the shrapnel that is lying about your apartment, check all of your pockets and even keep eyes out on the streets. Look real closely and you will see that these coins have little numbers on them, this tells you what they are worth to the places that accept them in exchange for beer.

Many people are holding back dollars as they know that landlords out here eat security deposits for breakfast. You may have replaced your broken plates and you may have rationed your heating to the minute but it doesn’t matter as the landlords know that you can’t do anything about it.

Given that you are getting little to none of your security deposit back, you may as well just flog the microwave anyway.

We almost weren’t going to share this one at the risk of it being banned as it is in Chinese Pizza Huts - but it is just too good.

When you go to any of the restaurants on the mountain with a salad bar, they give you

For a lot of people, booze is one of the biggest costs out here. However, there is a cheaper way to do it. The happy hour circuit is a challenge not for the faint hearted, but it will be kinder on your pockets. First off, grab a seasonaire lunch at Folie to line the stomach, you are going to need it. Then head to The Blue Note around 3pm and get some nibbles if you are still peckish. Then, at 4pm you head over to Saloon where they have two for one, we recommend Joss shots for this marathon. From there it is straight down to Danois and then onto Fall Line.

From there, you head to Hibou (maybe grabbing some wings if it is a Wednesday) before getting the bus to the Rond Point.

You then stumble down the hill to Bananas for 6:30 when their first happy hour starts.

This part is the real challenge and separates the punters from the seasonaires - if you can make it until 9pm, this is when Victors have their famous cocktail hour (actually two hours). With the sip of a Lynchburg Lemonade, you have completed the circuit and had a very inexpensive time doing so.

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OFF PISTE SNOW REPORT Brought to you by Henry’s Avalanche Talk www. henrysavalanchetalk. com A calm sunny weekend and start to the week. More snow on the way to the Northern French Alps from Wednesday.

Over the past week, we’ve had a variety of weather conditions, with no two days the same. It’s rained, it’s snowed, the wind’s been howling or virtually non-existent, visibility’s varied between ‘flat-light’ and crystal-sharp, temperatures have been up and down.

We’ve had a couple of fantastic off-piste skiing days following fresh snowfall. On the whole, however, snow conditions have been mixed with high-altitude areas sheltered from the wind faring the best.

This week should end in sunshine and some great skiing following Wednesday’s snowfall. From Thursday sunny, settled weather will last into the first half of next week. Milder temperatures (0° C at 3200m) are expected over the weekend, and the best snow quality will be at high altitude, particularly on the colder north-facing slopes.

More snowfall looks to be on the way from next Wednesday when temperatures will fall again. After a few dry days, we’ll be looking forward to this next snowfall freshening things up again. There’s still a lot of rain-affected snow around, especially at altitudes around 2200 – 2400m. This is hard, icy and very slick after refreezing,

and to be avoided. When there’s only a thin layer of fresh snow (10 cm or so) we can feel a hard icy base underneath. In sheltered gullies, there are some lovely deep accumulations of snow. As long as temperatures remain cold, this will be lovely to ski. As temperatures rise over the weekend, however, the snow will get heavier and stickier, especially at lower altitudes.

Recent history of the snowpack As mentioned last week, with deep humidification of the snowpack and its subsequent refreezing and consolidation, there has been a lot of stabilising of the snowpack up to 2700 m. However, there may still be a lingering instability in: 1. Areas that have been wind-loaded (sheltered leeward slopes, where snow drifted in and accumulated, especially above 2700m). Here there may be a remaining weak layer.

2. Areas that haven’t been skied very much, and so less subjected to the stabilising effect of skier-compaction.

(These are the sort of areas that you need to ski-tour to, using skins).

What is the current avalanche risk in the Northern French Alps/Savoie?

As we write, the avalanche risk is currently around 2/5. Check out what the avalanche danger ratings mean. For any specific points about snow stability, you need to check the daily avalanche bulletins, particularly when any fresh snow comes.

At the moment they point to risks of triggering slabs of the recent surface snowfall in a very few places on NE, E and SE slopes especially high up and under cornices.

What does this mean for off-piste skiers and snowboarders?

Steep slopes with terrain traps beneath them are always going to be particularly at

well above the normal seasonal values. 31 MONDAY 10: A disturbance with grey and rainy weather, rain/snow limit around 2000 then 1500m. Strong W wind at high altitude.

Where is most at risk at the moment?

TUESDAY 11: Overcast with snow in the Steep slopes with fresh snow on them and mountains above 1200/1500m. Strong W terrain traps beneath them are always going wind in the mountains. to be particularly at risk. Particularly beware WEDNESDAY12: Continuation of the of slopes above 2500/2700m, which didn’t disturbed current from the west, rain-snow benefit from the solidifying effect of the limit decreasing towards 1000m. rain’s humidification and subsequent THURSDAY 13: Still cool and unstable, refreezing. with frequent showers and snow in the mountains from 800/1000m.

How does the forecast look for the coming week?

Tip of the week Even though things have stabilised a lot, SATURDAY 8: Beautiful day with plenty of make sure to always leave some margin sunshine. For the night: The sky is starry. for the unexpected to happen. Especially Calm wind. Max temp: +9°C. Min temp (at beware on those steep wind-loaded slopes, night): -3°C where the snow quality’s nice and where some of the best skiing will be. Think about SUNDAY 9: Sunny day with a few rare clouds. Calm wind initially but with gusts of the “How you go” section of the HAT risk framework. Terrain traps, islands of safety up to 85km/h, locally, in the afternoon and and one at a time. at the end of the day. Max temp: +10°C, risk. Also look out for slopes where snow has drifted in – these are the sort of areas where there is some of the nicest snow to ski at the moment.

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GOLDEN EAGLES Val d’Isère was host to some captive Golden Eagles as part of a falconry display this week. We took the opportunity to celebrate the town’s emblem and take a deeper look at the majestic birds that keep watch from their lofty flight above us.

Bucking the trend in the animal kingdom, the females are bigger than the males with the boys weighing in at 2.5 to 4kg and the girls at up to 6.5kg. The wingspan of female golden eagles can be up to 2.5m.

They can have territories up to 200km2 in size. It can take juveniles 4 to 5 years to establish a new territory for themselves Golden eagles have large eyes that take up most of the space of their heads. Their keen eyes can see clearly and in colour, allowing the bird to spot movement from up to a mile away. Their eyes don’t move much in the eye socket, but an eagle can rotate its head about 270 degrees, just like an owl, to look around. Golden eagles also have a clear eyelid that protects their precious eyes from dust and dirt.

The male often puts on an aerial exhibit as part of his courtship. He folds his wings and drops head-first until close to the ground, when he spreads his wings to soar aloft and repeat the action.

Golden eagle couples are monogamous and may mate for life. They often return to the same nest for several breeding seasons.

Females lay between 1 and 4 eggs, and both parents incubate them for 40 to 45 days. The chicks, called eaglets, hatch in the order laid. The oldest chick often attacks and sometimes even kills its younger siblings.

The golden eagle is the most common national animal in the world, with five nations- Albania, Germany, Austria,

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Mexico and Kazakhstan— using its emblem.

It also served as the model for the aquila, the most prominent symbol of the Roman legions, and unfortunately, the Nazis.

Most early-civilisations regarded the golden eagle with reverence. Only after the Industrial Revolution, when sport-hunting became widespread and commercial stock farming became common, did humans start to widely regard golden eagles as a threat to their livelihoods. This coincided with the introduction of the firearm allowing humans to start hunting the powerful birds.

In many ancient cultures, golden eagles were viewed as a link between terrestrial mankind and celestial deities. In Japanese tradition, the main representation of golden eagles in mythology is Tengu, a bipedal creature with a long beak, wings and a fan with 12 wooden ribs, resembling tail feathers.

Mischievous and powerful, Tengu is the protector of the mountains, is able to foretell the future, creates winds and even attacks people who try to harm the mountainous landscape.

In Norse mythology, the golden eagle sits atop Yggdrasil, the great ash tree that runs through the universe. A squirrel, Ratsatosk, carries messages and insults between the eagle at the crown and a serpent gnawing at the tree roots. And in Greek mythology, it was the companion to Zeus, serving as his bearer of messages or omens.

Falconers have long prized the animals for their hunting abilities. In medieval Europe, their use was reserved for kings, hence why in French, they are still called l’Aigle Royal.

To this day, hunting tribes in Kazakhstan still use Golden Eagles. And in a more modern twist, the French army has begun to train captive Golden Eagles to take out suspicious or hostile drones to combat terrorism.

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SEASONAIRE OF THE WEEK Cam Celander Season Count?

Six in total, one of which was in Morzine, the rest here.

What colour is your hair naturally?

Blonde, although it hasn’t been in a long time.

We are told you say some things that may be classed as ‘blonde’.

What are a few?

Alice explains that Cam has before

mistakenly described an aeroplane as a flying machine and, on a separate occasion, as a boat.

Have you eaten it on the Danois driveway this season?

Not this year. Alice took my legs out once on the way to work though.

What is your proudest moment?

During a concert in Sweden when I was 16, I snogged Robbie Williams in front of 60,000 people including my parents.

If you became the prime minister tomorrow, what would you do?

I would have to move back to Sweden, I haven’t been there in 6 years, I don’t actually know who runs it at the moment.

Everyone would get free dogs though!

Where is the buried treasure in Val? In Henrik’s garage, it is full of everything that has ever broken in Danois and so I am sure you can find anything you need.

What would you do if 40 dogs forced their way into your house?  I would open the doors wide, let all of their friends in and buy a bigger house!

Who would you like to publicly acknowledge for being a really great person?

Alice accepted me back in to Danois after a few years away and I have had the best three years since!

Best cure for a broken heart?

Alcohol and dogs... but maybe not at the same time.

Craziest thing you have seen in Danois?

I have seen so much shit. People getting naked is so commonplace that it isn’t even a shock any more. The same with random waterfalls in Danois. We have seen it all.

What’s your prized possession?

I have a teddy bear at home that I have had since birth. He is a lion but everyone thinks he is a bear, I used to get really angry at it. He is called Brum - like Swedish bear sounds.

You are armed with a baseball bat and rabid eight year olds are attacking you from all angles, how many could you take?

Keep ‘em coming. I hate kids.

“Seasonaire of the Week” is sponsored

by Le Petit Salon d’Antoine who offers our featured seasonaire a free haircut!

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TALK OF THE TOWN JERRY OF THE WEEK

If you make it onto the official Jerry Of The Day Insta, we have to give you JOTW. We are told that a chap who goes by the name of Dan woke up to find he had left his boots by the fire for a little too long and had to rush the flaming mess to the sink.

Not sure if the boys at Surefoot can fix this one.

NOT AGAIN

After a brief hiatus, James and Jack are back. Amongst a slew of content we were sent from a single night out, this picture stood out. Apparently Jack had failed to land a single cup in beer pong and so was made to get under the table like the dog he is, complete with half a pint in a bowl.

A CRY FOR HELP

Dan Bullock was seen eating chips four times in three consecutive days this week. Someone call his mum. We were wondering if it was Dan who left the can of baked beans in Fall Line but it is unclear if he knows how to cook them.

SPIDER MANN

Ollie from Fall Line was bitten by a spider earlier in the week and his arm swelled up to the size of Zac Mann’s head. No word on the webs yet though.

FAMILIAR FACES

It’s half term and it seems like every other child has a fake ID. Johnny from Bananas (who looks pretty youthful himself) asked for an ID from a punter and recognised the face. The girl trying to get served was shocked when he asked what her sister was up to these days.

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SPORT 6 NATIONS Shown at Le Petit Danois (Guinness on Draught, sound on for all matches), Blue Note, The Fall Line (BBQ), Hibou Live Commentary for all matches): Saturday 22nd February 15:15 Italy v Scotland 17:45 Wales v France Sunday 23rd February 16:00 England v Ireland FOOTBALL Shown at Le Petit Danois: Saturday 22nd February PREMIER LEAGUE: 13:30 Chelsea v Spurs 16:00 Sheffield Utd v Brighton 18:30 Leicester v Man City Sunday 23rd February PREMIER LEAGUE: 15:00 Man Utd v Watford

17:30 Arsenal v Everton Monday 24th February PREMIER LEAGUE: 21:00 Liverpool v West Ham Tuesday 25th February CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 21:00 Chelsea v Bayern Munich Wednesday 26th February CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 21:00 Real Madrid v Man City.

Thursday 27th February EUROPA LEAGUE: 18:55 Espanyol v Wolves 21:00 Arsenal v Wolves 21:00 Man Utd v Club Brugge Friday 28th February Premier League: 21:00 Norwich v Leicester All Football and Rugby shown at The Fall Line. Sport also shown at Blue Note and Le Hibou.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

LEO - AMERICAN RASMUS

RASMUS - SWEDISH LEO

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WOoF OF THE WEEK Name: Tommy, also known as Wallace Breed: Jug - Half Pug, half Jack Russel Age: 9 Dietary Requirements: Pescatarian, loves hummus and bread Relationship status: Heartbroken single with no balls Favourite Activity: Loves city breaks to Lyon Habitat: In bed or the office Fun Fact: Opens the fridge looking for foie gras #tommythejug