Yo.del: (verb) \\to yodel\\ the official means of communicating by the inhabitants of mountainous regions\\ www.yodelmagazine.com
chemmy alcott
avalanche science
michelin starred les gets
les gets resort events
winter x games les gets march 2012
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JCs.pdf
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opposite Mont Chery telecabine
6 Big screens showing live sports in 2D and 3D Bar meals and snacks, eat in or take away available 4pm - midnight
Sunday Roast 2pm until 9pm JC’s Breakfast Club
Wednesday & Saturday 10am until Midday
Happy Hours every night 10pm until 1am All cocktails €6.50 2 Pool Tables, Darts, Babyfoot Live Music every Wednesday from 5pm
Jim, Kath and the crew look forward to seeing you soon! OPENING HOURS Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri 4pm till late Wed 10am - midday and 4pm till late Sat: 10am till late Sun: 1.30pm till late Yodel-LesGets-March-12-Final.indd 2
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Yo.del: (verb) \\to yodel\\ the official means of communicating by the inhabitants of mountainous regions\\
welcome contents March is one of our favourite months of the year at yodel. Here in Les Gets the days begin to lengthen towards the promise of spring but we can still swoosh our way down the perfectly groomed pistes of the Portes du Soleil. It really isn’t a bad life out here in the mountains! For this issue we had the absolute pleasure of talking to the UK’s
Legal Off Piste..........................................................4 Don’t get caught out!
Chemmy Alcott ........................................................5 The UK’s best female skier talks to Yodel
The 82nd Geneva Motor Show ...............................8 The world’s most important room of cars
How to make an Igloo ...........................................10 5 easy steps to a new winter holiday home!
Deborah Anthonioz................................................12 The Boardercross National Champion
Ride Safe .................................................................14 Freestyle safety tips from SnowZone
Through the Keyhole .............................................15
best skier and Dancing on Ice star
Inside Chalet Gueret
Chemmy Alcott. She was a right
What’s On? .............................................................18
laugh and we’re all rooting for
Events in and around Les Gets during March
her on the show. You’ll also find
Avalanche Science .................................................20
all your other regular favourites including a full calendar of events for Les Gets on the following pages. Enjoy and we’ll see you next month when spring should have well and truly sprung!
Snow awareness saves lives
The Winter X Games .............................................22 We preview Europe’s biggest snow sports event
Helios Design Labs ................................................24 Brothers Alex & Felix on designing for K2
James McPhail .......................................................27 Life as a pro snowboard photographer
French Property Update ........................................28 What will quarter of a million get you?
The Perfect Vin Chaud ..........................................29 Yodel’s favourite recipe - and we've tried a few!
The Yodel Competition..........................................30 Win big with attack attack and Salomon
Stars in their Eyes..................................................31 A Michelin Star for Ferme de Montagne?
L’Ebouelle Contest.................................................32 It’s nearly time!
Onesie of the Month ..............................................32 The fashion fantastic return stay in touch amie@yodelmagazine.com rowena@yodelmagazine.com
Gadget Corner .......................................................33 The most effective ski boot warmer!
En Francais… .........................................................33 The French you’ll need to get about town
The Local View ......................................................34 Cover image © Duncan Gammon
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La Case K2 owners Carol & Fred
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Morzine Shuttle.pdf
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In neighbouring Avoriaz, the snowcross slopes offer skiers and snowboarders the thrill of off-piste powder skiing but without the extra risks involved. These pistes are not groomed but are surveyed and kept safe by setting off avalanches and fencing off areas that are deemed too unsafe for the public. The Combe des Marmottes (2,080m long) is a snow playground that is easily accessible by the Fornet chairlift. There is also the neighbouring slope called The Pschott, which is more technical with its successive natural canyons. Brochaux (1,340m long) is a naturally bumpy wall that is accessible by the Brochaux chairlift. The Frontaliére (1,150m) can be accessed from the top of the Mossettes chairlift and is a long and wide route down to the bottom. The Crozats (3,122m long) starts from the Hauts Forts and joins up with the world cup downhill run into Prodains and is sometimes referred to as the ‘mythical’ Crozats run due to its wild nature. We all love the thrill of off-piste skiing but let's be safe, not sorry!
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Chemmy Alcott is the British number one alpine ski racer competing on the World Cup circuit in all five ski disciplines. In December 2010, Chemmy suffered a horrific crash during training which caused a double fracture in her right leg. Since then, Chemmy has not been able to ski but has taken a different path albeit temporarily by competing in the UK’s Dancing on Ice. Chemmy spoke to yodel about life as a skier and now…ice skater. You started skiing at 18 months old, which must have given you a pretty good head start; do you think an early start is a necessity for people with ski career aspirations? I think if you are from Britain and want to be the best you have to start younger than your peers. It is all about time on skis and skiing in all conditions, you get a lot of feeling when the conditions are bad so don’t stop just because it is foggy or soft. Just lessen the tempo! Having said that I did start very young - I was a very fast learner and was already walking so my parents decided I was ready! Did you ever see yourself becoming anything other than a professional skier? I lived in a fantasy world when I was younger and wanted to be a skier in the winter and a tennis player in the summer - that was my other love at the time. The older I got, the more realistic I became and had to give up one sport for the other. Skiing was always going to come first! Do you find it easier dating someone else with a similar career who understands your constraints and aspirations? (Chemmy’s boyfriend is British downhill skier, Dougie Crawford). Most definitely. Dougie and I connect on every level from professional to personal. From the outside world we seem very different, I am just a bit more uninhibited and sillier than him! We understand when the other comes second place to skiing and that is what makes our relationship perfect. You had a pretty terrible skiing accident when you were 12, how did that affect your confidence? Maybe I am saying this with the beauty of hindsight but I don’t remember having any issues psychologically after I broke my leg. When you are that young you definitely think less! Injuries are just a nuisance as they stop you from playing. When you get older you have more responsibility to your family, friends and sponsors so the mental recovery is a lot tougher! 5
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Your accident in 2010 was also pretty brutal, how did you find the road to recovery? I turned to my friends, family and Twitter! Seriously, UK sport dropped me, I had no support and my Twitter account became an avenue for rehabbing sponsors to get in touch. Third Space Medical Centre in London got in touch straight away and devised a fantastic recovery programme. Compex sent me machines to keep my dormant muscles stimulated. Game Ready sent me a fantastic icing machine without which I wouldn’t have been able to sleep. I had a house full of healing gadgets and tools and I became super busy doing all my rehab, which helped distract me from getting depressed. What is the highlight of your career? When I became the first British person to ever win a run at the World Cup in Sölden 2010. To be the best in Britain is special but to finally prove yourself on a world scale has always been my dream. What are the best and worst things about being famous? I am lent some fabulous things! From my lovely Range Rover, to dresses for premieres. Also it’s the feeling that you have the opportunity to inspire people. Since I crashed and have strived to come back so many people have written to me to tell me I have motivated them to get up and be healthy again. That is a wonderful feeling. The worst…well, the other day I got papped and I looked like I was picking my nose - it was just an itch honestly! Also, occasionally people judge you without knowing your whole story. Have you spent time in the Portes du Soleil? What did you think of it? When I was younger and stayed in Flaine a lot and we had lots of club races in Morzine and Avoriaz. I really like it there as I’ve had some great results. The skiing is also great as it’s high enough that you are guaranteed great snow. What are your hobbies outside of skiing? Surfing, tennis and stand up paddle boarding (I live on the river and love the peace and quiet). In fact anything sport related or creative. Do you think that there is a mass deficit in the UK government’s snowsports funding? Yes. I am ranked 8th in the world and have no funding. But I will come back despite their lack of faith in me.
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How do you feel about being the ambassador for charity Snow-Camp? I was so honoured to be asked to be their ambassador! To get involved with the sport you love and to be able to spread that love to people who haven’t had the opportunity to try it is amazing. But Snow-Camp isn’t just about teaching people to ski, it is about teaching them skills which
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will enhance their life. From the camps they can opt to become teachers themselves, thereby learning responsibility, organisation skills, communication skills...the list is endless. How did you end up in Dancing on Ice? Is it something you ever saw yourself doing? No to be honest it wasn’t part of my life plan but nor was breaking my leg and not being able to ski two seasons in a row. But fate sometimes intervenes, ice-skating is providing me with the opportunity to do some level of sport specific training when I am still not ready to ski. Also it is helping raise my profile and the sport I love. It costs me and the Ski Federation £90,000 to allow me to ski each year and naturally with the economy as it is, it has got more and more challenging to find sponsors. My biggest fear is to fight back from this injury then not have enough money for a world class programme - what would be the point? So I have to work harder now than ever. What is your typical training and diet regime to ensure you stay in shape? It changes all the time depending on my goals and the time of year. My diet only changes in the amount I eat, if I am not training so hard then I eat less. I never eat carbs in the evening, always start the day with some kind of eggs and snack on maximuscle meal bars and fruit. I also love fish I am going to grow fins one day! Training wise we have aerobic progression stages where we spend up to 4-5 hours a day on the bike supplemented with core and endurance weights. Towards race season the weight goes up and the rep goes down! What are you most looking forward to at the moment? Skiing. I am dreaming of it and I feel so close right now. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE the skating but skiing will always be my first love. Who is the most famous person in your phonebook? Zara Phillips and Mollie King from The Saturdays, neither because they are famous just because they are friends. Zara is a fellow worldclass athlete and we are really similar. Mollie and I went to school together and she was actually a fantastic skier! What would you have been if you weren’t a professional skier? Some other sport - I would have needed to find something to really get my teeth into, as I’m super energetic. Or doing what I am going to do when I retire…be a female adventurer! Thank you Chemmy! No thank you YODEL EL O OOH WHOOOOO!
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Basscamp.pdf
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"Once in our hands, like a Boomerang you'll keep coming back" We have comfortable rooms available on Bed and Breakfast from 60€ per person on Double/Twin share. Tel: 0450377612 Email ozyalps@leboomerang.com
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Opening Hours - 4pm - 10pm Daily!
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2259 Route Des Grandes Alpes, 74260, Les Gets.
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1927
Fiat 509
1932
Alfa Romeo 8C2300
1935
Citroen 7 CV
1961
Jaguar E Type Coupe
1968
Ferrari 260 Pininfarina
1971
Maserati Bora
1980
The 82nd annual International Geneva Motor Show or ‘Salon International de l’Auto’ takes place at the Palexpo Convention Centre in Geneva between 8th and 18th March. It’s the undisputed world champion of car shows and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. First held in 1905, the Geneva Motor Show once hosted the world’s first internal combustion engine, the first benzene powered cars and all of the most exotic supercars ever made have debuted in Geneva. All the major car manufacturers choose Geneva to launch their new models and prototypes and the show has a reputation for attracting an interesting mix of both production and concept vehicles. But why does the most important major international car show in the world take place in Switzerland, a country with no automotive industry to speak of?
Switzerland has been long known for its neutrality as a nation and it’s thought that the event provides a level playing field for the world's automakers. Because there are no Swiss car manufacturers there is no bias or leaning towards local producers as in other countries and there is no political agenda. Usually at car shows, low volume and specialist carmakers are relegated to low visitor volume areas. In Geneva the most high profile cars are placed around the outside of the huge convention hall, while the smaller carmakers occupy the display space in the centre. Geneva itself also has a history of attracting and servicing global leaders – many of the cities 5* hotels offer bedrooms for over €1000 per night during the motor show. There are two dedicated media days at the show each year. Scores of new cars are launched to the public and there
Audi Quattro
1993
Citroen Xantia
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1995
Mercedes A Class
2003
2009
Lamborghini Gallardo
Skoda Yeti
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can be as many as 65 individual press conferences each day. The most high profile car launch in the history of the Geneva Motor Show is thought to be the legendary Jaguar E Type in 1961. Each year the ‘Car of the Year’ award is fiercely contested. The seven finalists have already been shortlisted for this year’s event and they include the Citroen DS5, the Fiat Panda, the Ford Focus, the Toyota Yaris and the new Range Rover Evoque. The Geneva Motor Show is a great day out, either from your base in Morzine, Les Gets or Avoriaz, or if you're flying out of the nearby airport. Between Monday and Friday the show is open from 9am until 8pm each day and at weekends between 9am and 7pm. Entry for adults is 16 CHF (around €13) and entry for children is 9 CHF (around €7.50). Parking is 20 CHF per day. For more details visit www.salon-auto.ch
2010
Nissan Juke
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2011
Aston Martin Virage
Piste des Vorosses - Téléski de la Turche 74 260 LES GETS Bar Bush.pdf 1 07/12/2011 15:20 www.restaurant-paika.com
Réservation : 04.50.92.85.22
“Nuts about the The Bush since the year 2000”
Good Wines & Great Beer Cindy and Matt welcome you to the best small bar in Les Gets if not the Alps....
Find us in the old village next to the ice rink Follow us on facebook and twitter @barbushlesgets
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How to Make an Igloo
They are warmer than a tent, they can be built anywhere and they are fun and easy to make. Here’s Yodel’s guide to building an igloo. You’ll need: Lots of snow, a snow shovel and a saw Jump up and down on a flat space of snowcovered ground and mark out a circle shape to form the footprint of your igloo. Don’t exceed 10 feet in diameter – the dome will be too big! Using the saw, cut rectangular blocks of snow from the ground. If the top layer of snow is soft, hard snow can usually be found underneath. Large snow bricks are used at the base of the igloo, smaller ones are used at the top. Try to make your snow bricks about 10 inches thick, adjusting the height and width accordingly. Stack your snow bricks one on top of the other in spiral layers. You have to bevel the edges of each brick so that the whole thing corkscrews upwards. Pack in any gaps between the bricks with snow, keeping the interior wall smooth so moisture can run down the side of the wall instead of dripping from the ceiling. Make your entrance. Build a door in the ground about 18 inches lower than the ground inside the igloo. Tunnel below the wall into the igloo. Using a stick, ski pole or something similar poke airholes all the way through the snow bricks from the inside to the outside. You don’t want carbon dioxide poisoning!
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For more inspiration, check out our competition on page 30.
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K2.pdf
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16:41
Eat in or Take away Food served non stop from morning to evening Full English Breakfast
Maxi Burger + chips (beef, bison or chicken)
Crepes, Savoury crepes, omLettes, soup
Local specialities (fondue, tartiflette and more)
menu from 15 euros children s menu 7 euros Relaxed friendly atmosphere Reservations recommended in the evenings
La Case K2 155 rue du Centre 74260 Les Gets Tel: 04 50 79 78 09
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Find us on Facebook - La Case K2
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DĂŠborah Anthonioz is the three times French national champion for boardercross and now lives in Les Gets. She won a silver medal for France at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and is one of the most successful athletes in her field. “I began skiing when I was two and a half years old growing up in the Haute Savoie but did not start snowboarding until I was 13 years old. Snowboarder cross did not exist back then so when I started competing the following year it was in regular competitions. I moved to Les Gets 12 years ago but unfortunately I do not get to spend much time in the village because of my busy schedule and I really miss it. I love being there! I especially miss spending time with my friends and family. I also love Avoriaz, my father lives there and I like to visit the snowpark and the pipe every time I come back to the area. My Olympic medal is the most beautiful thing I have ever received. I will never forget the feeling when they awarded it to me and even now 12
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when I think about it I still feel the same euphoria that I did on that day. I never intended to be a professional snowboard cross rider but it just happened that way. I had always dreamed of competing in the Olympics though so when the boardercross became an Olympic sport in 2006, I really fought to be one of the competitors. Without a doubt, the proudest moment of my life was being awarded the silver medal. I had worked tirelessly since the announcement in 2006 to win a medal and was just ecstatic when it happened. At the moment I am working hard to ensure I am in the best shape to take a medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. I have always admired Karine Ruby so much, she was unbelievable and a good friend of mine. I often think of her. (Karine Ruby was a French snowboarder from the Haute Savoie region. She was a world champion 6 times and won two Olympic medals. Unfortunately Karine died in a climbing accident on Mont Blanc in 1999). I don’t think you can compete in this sport if you live in fear though, confidence is necessary to takes the risks you need to succeed. I travel a lot with what I do and I really love Whistler in Canada. It is always a pleasure to go back there but the more I travel, the more I realise what an amazing place we already live in and get impatient to come back to Les Gets.� Image Š Sindy Thomas - www.blog.sthomas.fr
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Ride Safe The Portes du Soleil is well and truly on the freestyle snow sports map. More and more of us than ever before want to experience the thrill of bouncing off jumps, jibbing off rails and running through the boardercross. But nothing ruins a good day on the hill more than an injury. Here’s a handy guide to getting the most out of the local freestyle terrain while playing it safe. Know your limits and your ability level and select the appropriate freestyle terrain for you. Natural and constructed terrain features in a dedicated snow zone are marked with difficulty levels. Choose yours wisely.
difficulty levels
Freestyle Guide to be used in a series with no stopping such as a boardercross circuit and some are designed to be used for individual tricks such as kickers and jumps. The difference between the two will determine where you stop! You can break a snow park feature or module down into 4 sections.
1. Approach
This is the zone for setting your speed and stance to use the feature. 2. Take Off
This zone is for making moves that start your trick. 3. Manoeuvre
XS
S
M
L
XL
XXL
Only attempt a feature or trick if you are confident you can land it. When you lose your balance you can cause yourself serious injury. Push yourself, but be sensible! Consider the condition of your equipment, your speed, balance, body movements, alignment and trajectory as you approach a freestyle trick. These things will directly affect your desired outcome and ultimately your success! Stay in control so that you are able to stop or avoid other people or objects if necessary. Remember that skiers or snowboarders ahead of you have the right of way – it’s your responsibility to avoid them. Only stop in places where you are visible from above and always observe all posted signs and warnings. Look before you leap – scope around the jumps first, not just over them. Work in pairs to check that your landing is clear. Know where to land. Focus on landing between the knuckle and the centre of the landing zone. As soon as you’ve landed clear the area quickly.
In this zone you’ll control your body in the air and prepare for your landing. 4. Landing
The prepared slope between the knuckle of the feature and the run out slope beyond it. 2
3 4
1
Be aware that freestyle features can change constantly due to snow conditions, weather, usage, grooming and the time of day. Always wear a helmet and body armour! Have loads of fun but be safe! For more information on the Avoriaz Snowzone visit www.snowzone.fr Helmets and body armour are recommended
WARNING! Always clear landing areas quickly
Know the intended use of the freestyle terrain you have chosen. Some of the features are intended
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Respect nature and the environment, Use bins
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Chalet Gueret
Through the
key hole There are some stunning buildings and chalets in Essert Romand. People often call Chalet Gueret one of the most beautiful chalets in the area and they’re not far wrong. Originally built in the 1780’s during the French Revolution, Chalet Gueret was the family home of Dr Gueret. But in 1997 the chalet was razed to the ground after an electrical fire. The new Chalet Gueret now sits on the original footprint of the old building. During a two year building project the chalet was reconstructed using raw local materials. Monsieur Berger, a local architect renowned for restoring old buildings to their former glory, oversaw the work. Slate from the local ardoisiere was used on the roof and a fireplace from 1814 was found in a dilapidated chalet in Essert La Pierre. Wood from other older chalets was used to clad the new building. Inside Chalet Gueret are large, bright, cosy rooms with stunning views. Unique bedroom furniture has been hand painted by local artists to create delightful Savoyarde character and charm.
Images © Jacquie Cutler
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Fri 2nd Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Tour of the Cheese Dairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Fruitiere des Perrieres 9.00am . . . . . . . . Snow Shoeing & Archery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office de Tourisme 10.00am . . . . . . . Rossignol Demo Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bottom of Pleney, Morzine 10.30am . . . . . . . X Speed Ski Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Combe piste, Nyon 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Introduction to Savoyarde Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town Square 9.30pm . . . . . . . . Winter Quiz Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush Sat 3rd Mar 12.00noon . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC’s Sports Bar 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Case K2 Sun 4th Mar 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 12.00noon . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC’s Sports Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Music Quiz Night – free entry, win Champagne! . . . JC’s Sports Bar
Mon 5th Mar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Welcome to Les Gets Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front de Neige
Tue 6th Mar 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Guided Tour of the Micro-Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Pub 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Tour of Caroline’s Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Folliets 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Torchlit night walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Gets Lake 8.00pm . . . . . . . . Seasonaires ‘Request-A-Song’ Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush Wed 7th Mar 3.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Ice Party – Games on the Ice Rink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Centre 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Apres live music with Jim the Strummer Beer . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Pottery Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Beer Ping Pong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Toss the Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar
Fri 9th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Tour of the Cheese Dairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Fruitiere des Perrieres 9.00am . . . . . . . . Snow Shoeing & Archery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office de Tourisme 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Introduction to Savoyarde Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town Square 9.30pm . . . . . . . . Winter Quiz Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush Sat 10th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 12.00noon . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC’s Sports Bar 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Case K2 Sun 11th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 12.00noon . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC’s Sports Bar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Ascent of Perrieres – evening ski climb . . . . . . . . . . . . Perrieres Piste 10.00pm . . . . . . . Music Quiz Night – free entry, win Champagne! . . . JC’s Sports Bar Mon 12th Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Welcome to Les Gets Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front de Neige Tue 13th Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Guided Tour of the Micro-Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Pub 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – 3 Aliens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maison des Gets Square 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Tour of Caroline’s Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Folliets 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Torchlit night walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Gets Lake 8.00pm . . . . . . . . ‘Tash Bash’ Party Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush 10.00pm . . . . . . . Beach Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar Wed 14th Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 3.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Ice Party – Games on the Ice Rink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Centre 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Dorin Gall Orkestra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maison des Gets Square 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Apres live music with Jim the Strummer Beer . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Pottery Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Toss the Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar Thrs 15th Mar 8.00am . . . . . . . . Village Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rue du Centre 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 2.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 3.30pm . . . . . . . . Tea Dance with Sebastien Guinet . . . . . . . . . . Salle de la Colombiere 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Goat Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 18 Fri 16th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Tour of the Cheese Dairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Fruitiere des Perrieres 9.00am . . . . . . . . Snow Shoeing & Archery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office de Tourisme
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We want to get as many people in our lovely town involved in yodel magazine as possible! If you have events you would like to be added to this page, please contact us at rowena@yodelmagazine.com or amie@yodelmagazine.com We regularly add new events and information to the yodel magazine website events listings, be sure you check it out!
Thrs 8th Mar 8.00am . . . . . . . . Village Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rue du Centre 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 12.00noon . . . . . Live DJ – Wutr3e & Guest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L’Hottys, 2.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Snow sculpture workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maison des Gets Square 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Goat Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar
Event listings\\March 2012\\
Thrs 1st Mar 8.00am . . . . . . . . Village Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rue du Centre 2.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Snow sculpture workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maison des Gets Square 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Goat Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar
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Fri 16th Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Introduction to Savoyarde Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town Square 9.30pm . . . . . . . . Winter Quiz Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush Sat 17th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 12.00noon . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC’s Sports Bar 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Case K2 9.30pm . . . . . . . . St Patricks Night with Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC’s Sports Bar Sun 18th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 12.00noon . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC’s Sports Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Bin Bag Ball - The Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar
Mon 19th Mar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Welcome to Les Gets Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front de Neige
Tue 20th Mar 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Guided Tour of the Micro-Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Pub 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Tour of Caroline’s Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Folliets 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Torchlit night walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Gets Lake 7.00pm . . . . . . . . Ebouelle Opening Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resort Centre 8.00pm . . . . . . . . Seasonaires ‘Request-A-Song’ Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush Wed 21st Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Ebouelle Contest 3.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Ice Party – Games on the Ice Rink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Centre 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Apres live music with Jim the Strummer Beer . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Pottery Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Toss the Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 12.00midnight . . Ebouelle Party Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Igloo Chalet Club Thrs 22nd Mar 8.00am . . . . . . . . Village Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rue du Centre 10.00am . . . . . . . Ebouelle Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resort Centre 12.00noon . . . . . Live DJ – Francois Vasseur & DJ Duckk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L’Hottys 2.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Goat Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 11.00pm . . . . . . . Ebouelle Party Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Zebra Bar Fri 23rd Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Tour of the Cheese Dairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Fruitiere des Perrieres 9.00am . . . . . . . . Snow Shoeing & Archery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office de Tourisme 10.00am . . . . . . . Ebouelle Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resort Centre 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 11.00pm . . . . . . . Ebouelle Party Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Zebra Bar 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Introduction to Savoyarde Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town Square 9.30pm . . . . . . . . Winter Quiz Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush Sat 24th Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Ebouelle Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resort Centre 12.00noon . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC’s Sports Bar 1.30pm . . . . . . . . Rock the Pistes Festival – Louis Bertignac . Top of Belvedere chairlift 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Case K2 8.00pm . . . . . . . . Ebouelle Closing Party . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Zebra Bar & Igloo Chalet Club Sun 25th Mar 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 11.30am . . . . . . . Rock the Pistes Festival – Medi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindarets 12.00noon . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC’s Sports Bar 1.30pm . . . . . . . . Rock the Pistes Festival – Gerald de Palmas . . . . . . . . . . . Le Crosets 10.00pm . . . . . . . Music Quiz Night – free entry, win Champagne! . . . JC’s Sports Bar Mon 26th Mar 1.30pm . . . . . . . . Rock the Pistes Festival – Shaka Ponk . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plaine Dranse 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Welcome to Les Gets Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front de Neige Tue 27th Mar 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Guided Tour of the Micro-Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Pub 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Tour of Caroline’s Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Folliets 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Torchlit night walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Gets Lake 8.00pm . . . . . . . . Seasonaires ‘Request-A-Song’ Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush 10.00pm . . . . . . . Horse Racing Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar Wed 28th Mar 1.30pm . . . . . . . . Rock the Pistes Festival – Archive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arare Piste 3.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Ice Party – Games on the Ice Rink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Centre 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Jazz - Les Bloodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Centre 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Pottery Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Sarre Farm 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Apres live music with Jim the Strummer Beer . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Toss the Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar Thrs 29th Mar 8.00am . . . . . . . . Village Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rue du Centre 2.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Goat Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar Fri 30th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Tour of the Cheese Dairy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Fruitiere des Perrieres 9.00am . . . . . . . . Snow Shoeing & Archery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office de Tourisme 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Introduction to Savoyarde Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town Square 9.30pm . . . . . . . . Winter Quiz Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush Sat 31st Mar 12.00noon . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC’s Sports Bar 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Case K2 Yodel-LesGets-March-12-Final.indd 19
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Avalanche Science
An avalanche has three ingredients; snow, a sloped surface and a trigger. It’s a common misconception that they strike without warning but most avalanches occur when their victims trigger them. Preventing an avalanche is far easier than surviving one. Having an awareness of the conditions that increase the avalanche risk means you’ll be safer on the mountain. Atmospheric conditions such as temperature and humidity affect the size and shape of snowflakes as they fall to the ground. The snowpack – that’s the snow already on the ground – is made up of different layers of snow that have different properties according to the atmospheric conditions when the snow fell. Digging a couple of feet into the snowpack, the different layers of snow will be visible. Some of these layers will be stable, other layers on top will be less stable. One layer can detach from the other when there is a trigger. Avalanches can occur on slopes that are between a 25˚ and 60˚ angle to the ground, but most occur
on 35˚ – 40˚ slopes. We asked avalanche experts Recco, the makers of avalanche rescue technology about the dangers of backcountry or off-piste skiing. ‘Getting caught in an avalanche is not simply bad luck. Avalanches happen for particular reasons at specific places and at specific points of time. Avalanche safety therefore relies more on identifying the danger as much as recovery’. How do we identify the danger? • Avalanches are most likely to occur after a fresh dump of snow. This new layer of snow could slide off the existing snowpack. • Check the avalanche risk at the lift station in the morning before you venture off-piste. • Avalanche paths are often obvious. An open slope, bowl or gully will be more affected by atmospheric conditions. Know when to say no. • High winds on exposed pistes could trigger an avalanche. Stay low and sheltered when the avalanche risk is high. You can download Recco's 'White Book' on avalanche safety for free on the yodel website.
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Grande Ourse.pdf
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Restaurant and Bar Alt. 1750m Mont chery, 74260, Les Gets +33 679 425 886 | lagrandeourse74@gmail.com | www.lagrandeourse.eu
Complete your Portes du Soleil stay by visiting the ‘locals mountain’, Mont Chery. With its great skiing and stunning views of Mont Blanc, the mountain is the hidden diamond of the region. The acclaimed La Grande Ourse Restaurant, the highest in Les Gets and Morzine, is where you can find great food, a warm family welcome and a roaring log fire. Our two floors offer different and diverse menus - the ground floor with its new Italian restaurant offers fresh homemade pasta and pizza prepared by our Italian chef. In our central restaurant you can enjoy a mixture of classic food and a wonderful choice of some local dishes augmented with an imaginative twist. Crackling Hog Roast every Sunday through the season from 12.30pm. Regarded by many as a ‘must do’ is experiencing a unique fine dining evening with a trip via Pisten Bully (snow cat) a mile up the mountain for a slice of gastronomique heaven... amazing!!! Last but certainly not least - daily meal deals enabling discerning customers to find quality at great prices before 10.30am and after 2.30pm on food and drink. 21
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WINTERXGAMES EUROPE The third European Winter X Games will be held in Tignes between the 14th and 16th of March. But just what are the roots of this extreme sports competition? The X Games were started by American broadcaster ESPN in the summer of 1995 and were held on Rhode Island. They were originally called the Extreme Games and the first lineup consisted of mountain biking, street sledging, rollerblading, skateboarding, bungee jumping and sky surfing. The games were a revelation in a country where baseball, basketball and football were the staple sports. Despite being just its first year, the magnificent arena reminiscent of the gladiator games attracted 200,000 spectators. The X Games became popular so quickly that in 2006 a second annual event was announced in the shape of the Winter X Games.
While the winter games had previously been focused in America and Shanghai, in 2010 a European Winter X Games was debuted in Tignes and has continued to be held there. Based in the centre of Tignes Val Claret, the Games hosts 8 events in total including men’s and women’s slopestyle and superpipe. The 2011 Tignes X Games commanded 1900 hours of television coverage, which was broadcast across 198 countries and has only grown in popularity ready for this year. In 2012, more than 150 athletes will be heading to Tignes for the event. We take a look at just a few of the hopefuls.
2012 Hopefuls Jamie Anderson, 22, is an American snowboarder from Lake Tahoe and is one of the greatest Slopestyle riders in the world. In the US X Games she claimed 3 gold medals, two bronze and a silver and took gold at Tignes in 2011 by spinning three different ways off the three kickers.
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ski-transfers.pdf
Jenny Jones, 32, is a British professional snowboarder and an X games stalwart. In 2009, she became the first British rider ever to win gold at the US X Games by completing a front-side 720 on the last jump of her third run. Overall, Jones has won two gold and a silver medal at the US games in Slopestyle and a gold in the 2010 European games. Iouri Podladchikov, 24, is a SwissRussian professional snowboarder and has been competing since 2000. At Tignes 2010, Podladtchikov successfully landed a Double McTwist 1260 making him the only other person in the world alongside Shaun White to have ever landed this trick. Kevin Rolland, 22, is the French freestyle skier who is hot tipped to take medals at Tignes 2012. He has won gold in Superpipe at Tignes 2010 and 2011 as well as three further medals in the last two Aspen X Games meaning he’s taken back-toback golds at the US and European Games in the previous two years. The Winter X Games in Tignes will be particularly poignant this year following the death of Sarah Burke. A four-time Winter X Games gold medalist, Burke died following a training accident in Salt Lake City in January.
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Helios Design Lab is run by brothers Alex and Felix Wittholz and is a design studio that has completed work for K2 snowboards and Coca Cola. The siblings talk to yodel about their lives as designers. What are the roots of your company, how did you first set it up? Alex: I graduated into a recession; there were no jobs so I started freelancing and just never stopped. Eventually some other people stuck around as well. Felix: I joined a couple of years later after a two season snowboard bum stint in Whistler. What is your personal background in design? Alex: I went to the Ontario College of Art and got me a fancy degree. Felix: No degree here. Photoshop and Illustrator were brand new when we started and I just picked it up.
on a Nokia commercial. Felix: Having our own clothing line OK47. As they were your first snowboard graphics, how did you go about designing for K2? Felix: They contacted us after seeing an ad of ours in Vice magazine. Alex: We just did what we wanted and they liked it. Is it hard to design something original for someone like Coca Cola who have had such a wealth of different adverts over the years? Felix: It’s always hard to do anything original and get paid for it.
What has been your most exciting / challenging project?
How would you describe your work?
Alex: Other than running your own business? Getting to work with explosives and high-speed cameras
Alex: We try to come up with surprising or unexpected images that work for our clients, but usually there’s
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Helios DESIGN LAB
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a bit of humour in there. Felix: Surreal irreverence and experimentation tempered by corporate necessity. Who is your dream client? Alex: Any client that hires us for what we do well and then trusts us to do it well…and pays on time. Felix: Someone willing to let us experiment with new techniques. What are your main influences and inspirations? Alex: The concept of collage; movies, music, art, books. Anything that’s nothing to do with advertising. Felix: I used to follow specific designers, but now I just go on late night internet freestyle sessions. How do you go about creating a project? Alex: Depends on the project of course. We usually try to get as much information as we can and let it rattle around our heads for a while. Sometimes we’ll get an idea fairly quickly and other times it's like pulling teeth. This part of the process can be great or frustrating. In the end if we’re really stuck I find that if you just sit down and start things will happen. Do you come from a very artistic background? Alex: No, but we travelled a lot as kids.
Felix: Our mum painted flowers on cabinet doors once. Do you listen to music while you work, if so what sort? Alex: Yes. All kinds. Actually no, only the good kind. Felix: I specifically hate Dixieland, Opera, New Country, Jazz Fusion, and Portuguese folkmusic. What are you working on at the moment? Alex: We’re building an app that will show you the location of free drinking water in your area, working on an interactive documentary about the dangers of off-shore oil drilling, re-branding a sports channel, building an interactive virtual walkthrough of a university campus and renovating my house. What is your average day from morning to night? Alex: Pretty average. Felix: Coffee. Walk dog to work. Coffee. Work. Walk dog home. Beer. What do you think you would be doing if a career as a designer had not worked out? Felix: I always wanted a caretaker job, like Jack Nicholson had in “The Shining”. Alex: Raising unicorns and farming their tears. Find out more at: heliozilla.com
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MY DREAM JOB www.jamesmcphail.com
James McPhail, photographer, has been at the forefront of creative snowboard photography for over a decade and his work for magazines such as Whitelines and Document Snowboard have taken him to remote corners of the globe. Here James tells Yodel about life as a professional snowboard photographer.
It took quite a few years of hard graft, shooting in the winters and working at other jobs in the summer to save for the season. Back then I was submitting freelance to all the UK and French mags. Most of my work went to Whitelines first so they got the best of it. I started shooting full time when I landed the job as senior photographer and photo editor for Whitelines. My first trip for the mag was a tour of Eastern Europe with about ten other people....... it was carnage!
Were you interested in snow sports before photography? Which came ďŹ rst? I got my first 35mm camera when I was eighteen and started shooting whatever caught my eye. I didn't start snowboarding until much later. How did you become a snowboard photographer? What was your ďŹ rst commission? At first I just started shooting my friends and a few of them started to get really good and pick up sponsors. The best tip I can give to anyone who wants to shoot is to get yourself some friends that are keen and have got skills. Without good riders you're not going to get good photographs. When my shots started to look as good as the ones in the magazines I started submitting and things just grew from there.
What is the best part of your job? I feel very lucky to have spent as much time as I have in some of the most amazing mountains in the world. Travelling and getting to ride powder in far-flung countries is definitely top of the list. What is the worst part? Hiking with a backpack full of camera kit then watching as somebody else gets the best lines. If you weren't a professional snow sports photographer, what would you be? I used to build boats before snowboarding and I liked it lots so either a boat builder or an astronaut. 27
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For many it is just a dream to own a property in the Alps. For some the dream will surely come true but for others it may have to stay that way after ski property prices bucked the trend for collapse following the global recession. Many property markets in the Eurozone are facing collapse as a result of the global financial crisis. For example, Spain has become littered with up to 1 million unwanted properties and there are reports in Ireland of brand new houses facing demolition because it is cheaper than selling them in the current climate. As a country, France has remained popular due to the stability of its economy, making it an attractive country to invest in. This is especially true of the ski property market. One major reason for the continued appeal of ski properties is the potential for a second home or bolt hole that also has excellent potential as a rental property. France is the most popular destination in Europe for buyers interested in the ski market and attracts a third of the market. An important factor for buyers today is stability over fast returns. Ski property in the French Alps attracts
wealthy buyers that are less likely to panic sell during times of economic uncertainty, which in turn creates a stable market. Contrary to popular belief, altitude is not the most important factor in the ski property market for all buyers. Many buyers are more interested in the actual infrastructure of a resort such as the lift system and accessibility to the nearby ski area. With easy access to over 650km of pistes throughout the Portes du Soleil, this has made Les Gets a popular destination for its great value properties. The increasing popularity of Les Gets as a summer resort has also increased demand, expanding the letting potential to encompass another season. Other ski resorts, which may have great winter letting practically shut down in the summer with little to no chance of summer rentals. Things are looking good for the ski property market across the
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Vin Chaud French Alps and specifically in the local area in 2012. It may be just about time to think about making that dream investment! How does our resort compare? An average 2 bed apartment in this area will set you back approximately €250,000, but what will that money get you in other destinations? London – For €270,000 you could own a garage in Stanhope Mews East, Central London. The exceptionally large lock up garage comes with a door and pretty much nothing else! Bali – A luxury 4 bedroom villa with private swimming pool and views over the Indian Ocean on the tropical island of Koh Samui can be yours for just €248,000. Burnley – You could buy 10…yes 10 properties in this town in North West England! The average two-bedroom terrace house will set you back around €25,000 and consists of two beds, a bathroom, lounge, kitchen and yard. Paris – For €257,000 a ‘cosy’ apartment with an overall floor space of just 22m² could be yours. The apartment also boasts one room with a separate bathroom and kitchen…but no bedroom!
When you think back to your snowy holiday in Les Gets, you’ll probably be able to taste the warm spiced red wine. Did you know how easy it is to make at home?
Ingredients: 1 bottle of a fruity red wine 4 cinnamon sticks Zest of ¼ of an orange 4 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 cardamom pods (not essential, but they help with the spiciness)
5 whole cloves 1/3 cup Cognac Method: Mix all of the ingredients except the Cognac together in a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to just under a simmer over the lowest heat setting – it’s really important that you don’t allow the wine to boil The Vin Chaud is hot enough when the sugar has dissolved. Strain the wine through a cheese-cloth lined colander. Pour 1-2 teaspoons of Cognac into a glass or mug and ladle the Vin Chaud over the top.
Enjoy
Monaco - You can get a 4 bedroom, four bathroom apartment in the centre of Monaco with a private roof terrace and swimming pool. Or at least you can live there for just under half a year with a whopping rental of €49,000 per month. 29
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France is the home of the Michelin Star and some say the home of gastronomy. Which is ironic seeing as though Michelin is actually a tyre company. Michelin launched their first guidebook in 1900 to encourage road tripping in France. They then began anonymously reviewing restaurants for inclusion in their guidebooks in 1926 using a 3 star system. There are ski resorts in France that have Michelin starred restaurants. Courchevel has 11 stars in total; the Chamonix area has the same. Could Les Gets be set to join them in the ranks of posh nosh? Alan White is the Head Chef at Ferme de Montagne and describes his ambition to achieve a Michelin Star as the reason why he gets out of bed each morning. It’s the gold medal of cuisine after all. But Alan is realistic about things. ‘If you let Michelin drive you it will ultimately hold you back. No one really knows what Michelin inspectors look for so I try to cook what I like to eat, which is normally what our guests enjoy too.’ Alan is a unique breed – a self-taught chef, his big break came when he was appointed to the much sought-after role of Head Chef at Edinburgh Castle. During his time at Ferme de Montagne he’s been on several ‘stages’ (think work experience, but for Chefs) at Michelin starred restaurants in the UK such as Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons with Raymond Blanc
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and Gleneagles with Andrew Fairlies. ‘I’d be happy to be half as good as either of them!’ But what impact would a Michelin star at Ferme de Montagne have on Les Gets as a resort? It’s likely to put the village on the radar of food lovers from the surrounding cities of Geneva and Annecy. There could also be more financial investment in the resort and Alan believes it could encourage others to open fine dining restaurants in the area. So how does Alan describe his own food? ‘It’s the question every Chef dreads! I like to evolve and use many different styles of cuisine in my cooking. From Japanese to Scottish methods, I do everything with the discipline of French cookery!’ In any holiday resort it’s important that there are a range of different dining options to suit everyone’s tastes and wallet and Les Gets certainly has an excellent, varied mix. But wouldn’t it be great if Les Gets became part of the culinary elite?
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Back for another year of music and snow sports madness, the Ebouelle Contest is Les Gets’ big resort-wide festival. It is a mix of snow sports, international music and graphic arts. Ski and snowboard test events, exhibitions and workshops pack the festival programme each day, followed by big party nights at Zebra 3 Bar and the Igloo Chalet Club each night. Amateur and professional skiers and snowboarders compete alongside each other in jib, road gap and airbag competitions, all with the accompaniment of piste-side bands. There’ll also be a huge stage in the centre of Les Gets, on which live bands and DJs will get the resort shaking! Last year an art contest was added to the wider Ebouelle Contest and it returns this year. Groups of artists are given a creative kit made up of unusual materials, with which they must create a symbol of the contest and Les Gets. For more information visit www.ebouelle-contest.com or visit the Yodel website for the full festival programme.
ONESIE IE OF THE MONTH Now what have we here…? How on earth do you manage to find such a spectacular onesie that matches your pink and blue dreadlocks so perfectly? Impressive! The waist tie is a new alternative to those cumbersome belts we typically see but darling… try harder with your helmet and goggles next time.
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go to the Yodel website for your chance to win a stunning Retro Rentals onesie PLUS free rental for you and your mates...
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If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch with the Retro Rentals boys – www.retro-rentals.eu. 13/02/2012 12:39
En Francais s’il vous plaît Anyone who has left their ski boots in the car overnight will understand the pain of trying to ease your feet back into them. But could this agony be resigned to the history books? The Go! PEET portable boot dryer could be the answer to your prayers as it dries and warms your ski boots ready to put on. The dryer contains small ceramic stones, which heat up your boot and dry the residue moisture. While these may not be effective in the same way as the commercial boot dryers found in many chalets, this downside may be replaced by sheer convenience. The PEET boot dryer comes with two adapters which means that it can be used not only in your home but also by plugging into your car. The dryer will set you back approximately €40 but we consider that a small price to pay for the luxury of warm dry toes in a ski resort! You can learn more at www.peetshoedryer.com
Ever get a little lost around town? Help is here! Lost in Translation Language School (www.lostintranslation.com) helps you to find your way around with some basic directional phrases.
Directions I’m lost. Can you help me? Je suis perdu. Pouvez-vous m’aider? (Je swee pair-doo. Poo-vay voo may-day) Go straight Continuez tout droit (Con-tin-u-ay too dr-wah) Turn left/right Tournez à gauche/droite (Tour-nay a go-che/dr-wat) Where is…? Où est….? Oo ay….? -The Police Station -La gendarmerie (La jon-darm-er-ee) -The Hospital -L’hôpital (Lop-it-al) -Post Office -La Poste (La Poss-t) -Supermarket -Le supermarché (Le super-mar-chay) -The Opera nightclub L’Opéra Discothèque (Lopera disco-tek) -Bus Stop L’arrêt de bus (L’arr-ay de bus) -The Town Centre -Le centre-ville (le son-tre veel) Uphill Montée (montay) Downhill Descente (Des-sont) 33
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Carol Anquetil and Frederic Lancon-Peguet are as local as they come. Fred grew up just along the road in Essert Romand and they now own and run one of the most popular restaurants in Les Gets – La Case K2. While they’re waiting for their first baby to arrive they tell Yodel about family life in Les Gets.
The Local View... While I was growing up in Essert Romand I really saw Les Gets grow up too. The resort is very international now and it’s a convenient town for a family to live in. You can get around town easily, it’s safe here, everything is well maintained and we get a lot of sunshine… and of course the summer is a lovely time too. I think the main thing that’s helped Les Gets to develop is the expansion and upgrade of the ski lift system. It’s opened up the whole area and now people come here for lots of different kinds of holidays. It’s great for us because it means we can open our restaurant and be busy all year round. In 2000 I left Essert Romand to study in Chambery and in the Pyrenees. I met my wife Carol in 2001 – she was studying too. After living and working in Canada for a little while we returned to the area and Carol worked in tourism while I was the director of the ski resort in Abondance. We really wanted to start our own business. We didn’t
specifically have Les Gets in mind, but it would have been our ideal choice – we wanted to live in a village that had a sense of community. In 2009 we found our restaurant! Having our own restaurant means we get lots of interaction with our guests. This is the best part of our day. We have a collection of local books and people often come in to ask for advice on things to do and places to go. It’s like a big family here in the resort – lots of people come in and ask about our pregnancy, there is a lot of local support for families. The only downside is when there is no snow in the winter – but this could happen anywhere! We spend long hours in our business too, anything between 12 and 16 hours a day. There isn’t much time to ski but we’re working on finding a balance. We’ll need to when the baby comes along! There are lots of new businesses in Les Gets these days. We’re lucky because our restaurant is Number 1 on Trip Advisor so people search us out when they arrive. We also make sure that we use as many local, quality products as possible on our menu too. It’s a bit more expensive for us to buy our food from local farms instead of from big catering companies but we like the personal relationships we have with our suppliers. Please come in and say hello to us of your passing!
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.com
brent
MEYER
www.
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LGS.pdf
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08/11/2011
17:15
Inspirational ski & board lessons in Les Gets & Morzine
• Private Tuition for individuals or small groups • Junior Freeriders ski courses for 6-15 yr olds • Ski Guiding full days in the Portes du Soleil
www.skischool.co.uk - FR: +33 (0)615 105 211 - UK: +44 (0)203 286 3189
"From my initial contact to the end of the last lesson, the experience was truly excellent" A Garner, Feb 2011
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