The Val Echo Issue 1501

ISSUE 1501 | NOV 29, 2019

THE

ECHO

FREE WEEKLY GUIDE TO VAL D’ISÈRE

M A G A Z I N E

LIVE YOUR BEST SEASON LIFE

WHAT’S NEW THIS WINTER

WOOF OF THE WEEK

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THE FOLIE DOUCE ART PROJECT COVER ART: ELLIE PURDY 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 infamous 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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19 LIVE YOUR BEST SEASON LIFE

CONT ENTS

All the things you tell yourself you are going to do this season, and how to actually do them

22 HENRY’S AVALANCHE TALK An in depth look at the snow conditions and up-coming weather for off piste skiers/ boarders

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

25 NEW & IMPROVED Shiny new things we’re doing and ways that you can get in on the Echo action.

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

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THE WEEK

Contributors: Sam Box, Ben Pryor, Caitlin Kennedy

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Investigative journalism on the real heroes of this town.

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 Ellie Purdy, the designer of this week’s cover art.

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

A satirical spin on the week’s events from further afield than the Espace Killy

Sur rendez-vous à partir de 14h

design www.athoms.fr

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Coiffure & Massage Hairdresser & Massage By appointment From 2PM

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

+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: Ellie Purdy

of wood. I really enjoyed working in 3 dimensions.

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Who do you admire at the moment?

I’m really hoping to become a tattoo artist in the next couple of years as that’s what I’m most passionate about. So I am in constant awe of artists like Balazs Bercsenyi, Daniel Berdiel, Pawel Indulski and Oscar Akermo to name a few.

Your illustrations make me want to step into the world you’ve created. What fantasy world would you live in if you could?

Every year I go to Shambala and the decoration there is second to none. They have created this flamingo bar, where everything is pink and sequinned and fluffy and covered in flamingos. I wouldn’t mind living there.

How did you develop your style?

Before I went to university I was already into very precise line work. I didn’t really have a style when I went, but over the 3 years there, I really developed a love for shapes and was very inspired by different illustrators we were introduced to in lectures. At college I was studying fine art so I didn’t really have much idea of the different types of illustrators you could be and it wasn’t until I studied, that I became aware of the different lines of work available.

What has been the most exciting project you’ve worked on?

I worked on an event campaign for an Arts Festival for which I created the logo, map and posters/Facebook banner. But the really exciting bit was creating a meter high wooden sculpture with layers of thick sheets

Tell us about your process in bringing your imaginings to life.

I start by finding key objects or people linked with the subject of the illustration. Once I have a few ideas, I sketch them out trying to focus in on the shapes that make up those objects whilst trying to direct the lines in similar directions. When that’s done, I waste all my time finding the right colours. That’s always the bit I struggle on!

Finally, from the short time we spent together, I decided you were a fashion icon. What’s your favourite outfit you’ve ever dressed up in?

Why thank you! I have absolutely no ideabut probably anything I have worn with a wig. My favourite item of clothing would have to be this huge jacket with lots of purples in it. I hope to own that till I die, but I’m not doing a very good job, having lost it 3 times already.

Well, we hope you hold on to it! Thank you for creating such a wicked cover for the first Echo! We love it.

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OUT OF THE BUBBLE

By Ben Pryor This looming election will either reset the parliamentary arithmetic or spawn more hideous portmanteaus (Brextension/ Remaniac/Brexican Standoff… uggh).

Theresa gonesinceMay was in charge when the ski lifts shut, trying to keep everyone happy despite the disparate leanings in her party. The problem, like trying to host an LGBTQ orgy, is unless you’re very sure of the numbers there’s a high chance someone will be left disappointed, so the Conservatives turned to their resident expert in classical and contemporary depravity (no, not Prince Andrew). BoJo may make Thomas Jefferson look infertile but, apparently, he’s the Prime Minister

14 we deserve even if not the one anyone wants. The Jeremy’s glasses edge further askew as does his grip on reality/economics, shapewear Jo and the neitherLibnorDems gave the election a green light as their poll numbers peaked and the SNP are happy for any distraction from Alex Salmond’s sexual assault trial.

Not sure a parliament can get ‘more hung’, but we’ve abandoned drawing and quartering, and Guy Fawkes retired four centuries ago, so the options are limited; at least John Bercow’s gone.

Prince Harry had most annoying royal sewn up. Arriving by private jet to talk climate change; recording douchy adverts with Ed Sheeran; spurning invitations from his grandmother citing exhaustion then jumping on Elton John’s jet to holiday with a rather different queen of England.

Prince Andrew, without breaking sweat (obviously), ‘hold my beer’. The Duke of

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York has (been) retired from public life after a disastrous interview defending his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. Sleeping with a 17-year-old if you’re 41 is like a Scottish fiver; technically it’s legal, but it’s definitely not right. His excuse, that he was in Woking Pizza Express, was less convincing than Keith Vaz claiming the two rent boys were in his house to discuss interior design; wonder if he had an American Hot.

bet £10 in Macau it’ll end well… just ask Winnie the Pooh.

A Chinese boy stuck 31 balls up his penis for 70 days, requiring a urologist called Dr Wang to remove them; he’s in the right job but his patient needs to check his definition of 69. Tuscan wild pigs have snorted £17k of cocaine they unearthed in a forest; in unrelated news, Katie Price has been declared bankrupt. A woman flew 500 Hong Kong continues to rail against China’s miles to lose her virginity to a man and his inexorable absorption. Pro-democracy girlfriend; they all now live together; yep, in candidates won 357/452 district elections, Utah. but that only gives them control of public transport and rubbish collection, generally And finally, a photo of a stained-glass the two things worth entrusting to a window went viral, as Mary appears to dictator. Chief Executive Carrie Lam said be cradling both of Jesus’s ‘heads’ postthe government will ‘seriously reflect’… crucifixion; trying to depict the resurrection whatever Beijing wants? The 1997 or the second coming? Until next week, I’m handover came with a 50-year agreement maintaining the status quo, but I wouldn’t off to Salt Lake City.

SATURDAY THE FALL LINE Planks Seasonaire Party with Jim on the decks PREMIER TRACE Test the new season’s boards and skis for free. Just sign up at the testing village. Don’t forget boots and poles!

SKI FILMS @ CONFERENCE CENTRE free entry to selected films by Leo Taillefer 7pm

EVENTS LISTINGS

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SUNDAY PREMIER TRACE Test the new season’s boards and skis for free. Just sign up at the testing village. From 10am - 1pm, discover the skia area with ESF instructors.

CINEMA Knives Out (in English) 8.30pm

WEDNESDAY LE PETIT DANOIS Live music with Mullit & the Machine 5pm LA FOLIE DOUCE First WTF Party of the season 12-5pm VIE VAL D’IS Free Boxing lesson at the Leisure Centre 7.30-9.45pm

THURSDAY VIE VAL D’IS Free French class at the Maison de Val 7.308.30pm

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MONDAY VIE VAL D’IS Free Kung-Fu lesson at the CCAS 7.30-9pm

TUESDAY LE PETIT DANOIS Seasonaire Party! Free shot with every drink from 10pm - DJ Jack Igglesden VIE VAL D’IS Weekly Jam session- bring along your instrument to the CCAS from 8pm VIE VAL D’IS Free computer troubleshooting workshop7pm. Sign up in advance.

FRIDAY LE PETIT DANOIS Live music with Karen & Andreas 5pm CINEMA Ford vs Ferrari (in English) 8.30pm TELETHON Charity event with crepes, hot drinks and doughnuts for sale. At 7pm, torchlit descent of Le Face down to the Tourist Office Square

ALL WEEK SALOON Happy Hour 8-10pm LA FOLIE DOUCE Seasonaire Meal Deal 12€ @ Petite Cuisine VICTOR’S Cocktail Hour 1011pm. Any cocktail 6€ THE FALL LINE Happy Hour 3-4pm: 4€ a pint. Beer Pong every day 12€ a jug BLUE NOTE Après Nibbles 3-6pm. Best served with vin chaud.

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LE PETIT DANOIS

SEASONAIRES PARTY Tuesday 10pm

Free shot with every drink all night long e iL v sic

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Wednesday Mullit & The Machine Friday Karen & Andreas

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sports

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chatting absolute nonsense to a friend at the bar. Through the beery haze that has descended, you miraculously remember that you are actually out here to ski. You both then profess how much you would like to ski with each other and maybe even swap numbers (cute). But guess what: it almost never happens. You never know when you are going to find THE ONE. By this I mean your perfect skiing buddy, who likes to shred exactly the same things as you do and then sack it off for après at the same stage of late morning. If you never make concrete plans, you may never find that special someone…

LIVE YOUR

BEST SEASON Whether it be your first season or your tenth, nearly all of us have grand plans that rarely materialise. Here are the most common offending activities and how to actually do them.

Eating healthily You are in a foreign land with strange supermarkets and stranger sounding foods. You love bangers and mash but ‘saucisses et pommes des terres’ sounds like a musical to you. Why bother trying to make your signature dish if you can’t find the ingredients? Granted also, it is not cheap buying food up here and kitchens often come in the form of half a hob and maybe a microwave. However, there is a way forwards. Getting a lift down to Bourg makes the shop much easier on the pockets and there is a way bigger variety on offer.

Learn French Look. Mon français est tres mal. But I am trying.

I am afraid that “Je voo dray un beer plea- I mean silvooplate” is not enough. You say you will learn the language but it helps if you actually have plans to do so. Duolingo is probably not going to cut it alone, but lucky for you the Vie Val d’Is run free French lessons at the Maison de Val every Thursday. We will have more info in next week’s Echo.

Ski with that person Let me set the scene - you are somewhere between four and six beverages deep,

Go to that bar It is very easy to get into a familiar routine of the bar circuit. There will be talk of a cool bar that you could visit but the fear instilled into you by the idea of change will likely prevent you from leaving the comforts of your regular. Val has a lot to offer in the way of bars, find out what offers are on about town on our ‘deals’ page (coming soon) and become an intrepid explorer.

Learn a new trick When the season is over, what will you have to show for your time? A real job lined up for your return home maybe? No. You need to be able to tell everyone just how gnarly your 360s are. Your friends, the bus driver, even your neighbours’ cat, all really want to hear about that time you sent a spin off a ‘cliff’ and totally stomped it.

Seriously though, whether it be a trick, or better technique, it is always worth learning something new to better your time on the mountain, that is what you are here for, right?

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OFF PISTE SNOW REPORT Brought to you by Henry’s Avalanche Talk www. henrysavalanchetalk. com Brilliant start to the season, but early season snowpack is unstable.

You have no doubt seen that there has been considerable snowfall across the French Alps through November and this has created a great but unstable base for the season. There have been four different snowfalls so far and two of them have been Retour d’Est events in the past week and this has dumped over 1m of snow on the Italian border.

The snow is forecast to continue on Friday and then die out in the afternoon. This will be followed by a beautiful, blue sky powder day on Saturday. So the resort openings in Val d’Isere, Tignes and Les Deux Alpes will all be spectacularly good.

There will be more snow on Sunday. This will come from the NW and will provide a welcome boost for all those resorts away from the Italian border. Places like Val Thorens, La Plagne, Flaine and the Portes du Soleil will get more snow than Val d’Isere and Tignes.

We are expecting the weather to settle down next week and get much colder for a few days. Then sometime around the 7th or 8th December expect some more snow coming in from the West, but this could be confined to places above 2000m.

It is a great start to the season, but experience shows that a snowy November

22 can be followed by stable weather and a snow drought from midDecember to early January. The snow base looks fantastic, we need some sustained extra falls of snow to build it up. Either way, there will be good skiing available for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

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

We would expect the danger rating to go up on Friday and Saturday due to the fresh snow falling on an uncertain and possibly unstable base. There is not an official forecast for the rating yet. The early season avalanche bulletins are light on detail and not comprehensive. The forecasts will start in mid-December. However, on Thursday the resort of Tignes is declaring considerable risk at 3 /5 and Val Thorens is declaring moderate risk at 2 /5. Expect this to increase on Friday and Saturday.

This difference between these resorts reflects the two recent snowfalls which came from a Retour d’Est and came over the Italian border. Resorts closer to the Italian border have received much more snow than places further West or North.

We have had at least four difference snowfalls. Early snowpits and snow profile testing showed different layers with some rounds (stable) snow and some facets (unstable) snow layers. The warmer weather earlier this week has stabilised this below 2300m. But anywhere higher or that has stayed cold has an unstable layer at the base of the snowpack and the new snow is sitting on top of this What does this mean for off-piste skiers and snowboarders?

Look for recent avalanche activity. Ask the Piste Patrol for advice. Early season snow is very unstable and it is hard to interpret these conditions at this point. To stay safe stick to low angle slopes and avoid large wind slabs

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Where is most at risk at the moment?

The greatest risk is in high (<2400m) areas close to the Italian border, so Fornet, St Foy, La Rosiere, all Italian resorts, Cervinia and Zermatt.

Quantities: 10 cm in Tarentaise and HauteMaurienne (low Lombarde wind).

Maximum temperatures: 6/9°C in the valleys, -2 at 2000m.

Wind at 2000m: S 15/30 km/h.

Wind at 3000m: S 60 km/h.

MONDAY 2nd: cloudy and cold, sometimes some flakes into the valleys (very small quantities). Mostly cloudy. N / NE wind at altitude.

TUESDAY 3rd: cold with generalized frosts. Grey in the valleys, variable in the mountain, dominant sun and rare cloudy passages. wind from E. WEDNESDAY 4th: some morning greyness in the lower valleys. Good dry and cool weather, high clouds in the afternoon.

A gradual degradation on HauteWhat is the likely avalanche activity this Maurienne: clouds and rare snow showers week? from Italy.

The snowpack is unstable and a skier going THURSDAY 5th: rather calm, cloudy and on to or close to a wind-loaded slope or a overcast, sometimes a shower on the slope with new snow that is steeper than borders.

30 degrees is likely to trigger an avalanche.

Tip of the week Look at the results of the avalanche blasting. This will show you if the slopes are Ask the local Piste patrol. The bulletins are a bit vague at this point in the season, so stable or unstable. you need to get local knowledge about How does the forecast look for the what is happening. For example, Val d’Isère coming week?

Pisteurs just published this image on their Facebook page showing that slopes are SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER releasing when they do blasting and they Nice day, calm and sunny. Becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Beware of the risk have observed many avalanche releases of avalanches in the mountains (consult the in the area. So there is evidence of recent avalanche activity and a considerable risk.

Snow and Avalanche Information updated daily on the website of Météo-France).

Maximum temps: 9/12°C in valleys, +3 at 2000m, -6 at 3000m.

Wind at 2000m: calm then SW 20 km/h.

Wind at 3000m: SW 20/30km /h.

As always in the early season. The greatest risk is on high north-facing slopes with new snow or wind loaded. However, it is not just north-facing slopes that are unstable.

Areas often become safer through the season as they are skied many times and skier compaction stabilises the base. This effect has not had time to occur as of yet.

So popular places that often become safer through the season, but are not safe at the start of the season.

SUNDAY 1st DECEMBER Wet, fresh, snow in the mountains Gray covered summits. Rain in the valleys, frequent snowfall above 2000 then 1500 m.

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GREEN CORNER Continuing in the vein of community giving, each week we’ll be shining a light on our Activist of the Alps (like Man of the Mountain but a bit less sexist). We’re In the wise old words of Mary Poppins, partnering with Planks to highlight a human “change is in the air”. Except in our case or company that is making big leaps to the change looks a lot like snow. Returners help the planet. Each week, whoever is to Val d’isère will notice buildings that have featured will win a Planks prize. If you’d like sprung up and pistes that have flattened to nominate someone, just drop us a line. out, making it even easier to waltz your way into La Folie Douce. Here at the Echo, TAG FOR SWAG Also new this year, if you tag us in a photo we’ve got a few new things up our sleeve on Insta, we’ll choose a selection of the as well: best and feature them in the “Your week in GONDALOVE Photos” section of the Echo. Our favourite The Tignes Echo will be up and running picture will win a prize. from next week and we want to do our bit GET INVOLVED to bring the two communities together.

We’re a community magazine, so we So in the spirit of bonding, we’ll be want input from YOU. There’s a wealth of playing cupid and pairing people up from hidden talent in this wee town and we’re across the divide to go on a ski date with complimentary lunch. If you’re not looking on a mission to uncover it. Whether you draw, write, make videos or sing, we’ve for love, we’re sure we’ve got you at the got opportunities for you to be involved in free lunch bit! Our lucky duo will report (sorry interpretive dancers, we don’t have back and bare all (pun intended). Send us anything for you right now). a lonely hearts ad to find the ski, to your other ski.

Here are some of the ways you can be involved: • Create a cover for the Folie Douce Art Project (more details on page 2).

• Write for us- we want more voices from the community and you’ll get paid for your work.

• Come and perform on our radio show, Soundproof Sundays. We want DJs and live musicians to come and guest during our 2 hour slot on Radio Val d’Isère.

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CH-CH-CH- CHANGES

Finally if you’re small, tall or hella steezy(we’ve only got S and XL left) buy an Echo T shirt- they’re Planks Ts with our logo and 100% of the profits are split between Ecomove (the environmental arm of the Vie Val d’Is) and Plant a Billion, which does what it says on the tin, aiming to plant a billion trees to combat the climate crisis.

See you on the mountain!

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TALK OF THE TOWN Leaky Pipes

Not content with being one of our most prolific seasonaires in this particular section of the magazine, Sam Crocker marched up to us during our first night back in Val and proceeded to spare no details in his raconteur about an incident in which he drunkenly pissed all over Marc Cossar’s laundry bin. Now, for the uninitiated new kids in town, Marc is someone who will not take kindly to your bullshit, so we’re a little surprised Sam didn’t have the offending hosepipe machete-ed to prevent more leaks!

Drag Face

Wilkie has been feeling his fabulous recently and you can expect to see the new incarnation of his drag act “Michaela Winkie and her cape of many furs” coming to a stage near you.

The bar was opening early to show the Rugby, but on arriving back to work, it transpired that someone had thrown away all the coffee. So the valiant Al volunteered to be lowered by his feet into the poubelle to rescue said coffee and prevent the Great Caffeine Famine of November 1st. After an epic battle, he emerged victorious and the day was saved. Tragically though, only two cups of coffee were ordered the whole morning and Al’s efforts were relegated back to the poubelle, much like England’s hopes of ever winning anything.

RIP

This year we say RIP to The Moris, a once glorious institution that in recent years started to resemble an open cesspit.

Rumours abound that it is a protected building and all we want to know is - why?

Is there a rare endangered species of cockroach inhabiting its walls that must be saved? Perhaps a seasonaire died of asphyxiation from the 16 to 1, person-totoilet ratio and the building is in fact an ongoing crime scene? Who knows, but we’ll certainly miss the Moris madhouse.

#yellowarmy

We got sent this just before print. Thank you Callum for doing the Echo’s work for us. Now let the memes commence!

Bin a Rough Morning

The Blue Note Halloween Party is an infamous night, but Al got more of a scare than he bargained for the following morning.

“Walking to their doom” - Callum Smale

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SPORT Shown at Le Petit Danois: FOOTBALL Saturday 30th November 13:30 Newcastle v Man City 16:00 Liverpool v Brighton 18:30 Southampton v Watford Sunday 1st December 15:00 Norwich v Arsenal 17:30 Leicester v Everton

Wednesday 4th December 21:15 Liverpool v Everton

Tuesday 3rd December 21:15 Burnley v Man City

Thursday 4th December Sheffield Utd v Newcastle Utd Sport also shown at The Fall Line, Blue Note and Le Hibou.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Valentin, Radio Val dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Isere

Kinder kid (with the teeth)

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WOoF OF THE WEEK Name: Raffi after Uma Thurman in Prime Breed: Premium Labrador Age: 3 Dietary Requirements: Considering going plant based on weekdays Relationship status: Mischievous Habitat: Arctic Juice Cafe / Alpine nomad Fun Fact: Whenever his step-mum is in town, Raffi runs away / Originally named Waffle