Les Gets September Yodel 2011

\\pick up your yodel\\FREE\\

Yo.del: (verb) \\to yodel\\ the official means of communicating by the inhabitants of mountainous regions\\

\\les gets\\september 2011\\

geneva in the autumn

les gets tourism

resort events

all go in avoriaz

miti the cheesemaker

www.yodelmagazine.com

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AandD lge.pdf

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open every day, year round, eat in or take away

Buy 10 meals, get your 11th free.

Take your Yodel to A&D and get the boxes above stamped each time you buy a meal.

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Open everyday all inter-season for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Look for us on Facebook A&D Restaurant for Plat du Jours, Events, and News Yodel-Sept-Les-Gets.indd 2

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to the third edition of the Les Gets Yodel.

It's September and as the summer comes to a close, we've been really happy with all the positive feedback you've sent us on the magazine. This month you can learn how to make your own wines without a multi-million euro fortune, get yourself in shape for the winter season and we reveal the new developments taking place in Avoriaz for this winter. Flora from the Les Gets Tourist Office tells us about a day planning tourism and Michihisa, a Japanese cheesemaker at Fruitiere des Perrieres tells us his story. Look out for your interseason Yodel in October too! We hope you enjoy it! amie@yodelmagazine.com rowena@yodelmagazine.com

yodel us\\

There's something about Les Gets................................................................ 4 \\Japanese master cheesemaker Michihisa Yamaguchi on life in Les Gets

The Gallery....................................................................................................... 6 \\Lorraine Benton's exhibition at the Salle d'Exhibition in Morzine

A Good Year..................................................................................................... 8 \\Rhona and Jean-Michel Pelluchon on growing grapes

What's On?.................................................................................................... 10 \\Events in and around Les Gets and Morzine during September

The Big Ride.................................................................................................. 11 \\Guy Bowden from Torico takes us up the Col de Coux

Witness the Fitness....................................................................................... 12 \\Get your body into shape for winter

What's on in Geneva..................................................................................... 14 \\Art, culture and science events in Geneva this September

Yodel Competition......................................................................................... 16 \\Answer a simple question to win a Portes du Soleil wipeout!

All go in Avoriaz............................................................................................ 16 \\What are they are spending â‚Ź200 million on?

Day in the Life of........................................................................................... 18 \\Director of the Les Gets Office de Tourisme, Flora Richard

3 Cover image Copyright Š Tal Rozow - www.sababike.com

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There's something about Les Gets Michihisa Yamaguchi, 36, found Les Gets to be the perfect place for him after leaving Japan. He had a dream of farming in a rural destination and ended up as a master cheesemaker at the village’s fruitiere.

Miti as he is more commonly known, came to France in 2002 having left his job in HR at a dairy company in Japan.

“I have loved France since I was 15.

As a keen cyclist I would always watch the Tour de France on TV. I got a job in the Haute Savoie in 2002 and spent 3 years learning to speak French. After that I briefly returned to Japan but it was not long before I came back to France to make cheese.

I was working in a rural area in the Haute Savoie when I got a job offer from La Fruitiere des Perrieres in Les Gets.”

Miti immediately stood out from the other applicants through his originality. He took samples of cheese he had made with him to the interview. He was chosen for the job and moved to Les Gets soon after. “My favourite things

about Les Gets have to be my job, the family at the fruitiere and the amazing mountain passes when I go out on my bike.”

“In the winter I prefer snowboarding to skiing but I don’t get out very much because I’m so busy. My job is very physical when I’m lifting the milk and cheeses. I actually feel like I do my sports while I’m working!”

La Fruitiere des Perrieres is over 100 years old and has a shop and restaurant, which is housed where the cheese was once made.

The restaurant serves specialities made from the dairy’s cheese.

The dairy makes Abondance, Raclette and some recipes that are local specifically to the fruitiere; Tommes des Gets, Saveur des Gets, Bleu des Gets and Miti’s latest creation is a delicious Tommes with Cumin.

“It takes me around half a day to make a cheese but the different variations of cheese can be left to refine and mature from 15 days to five months.

My favourite meals that are made from cheese have to be fondue and tartiflette but the best way of eating cheese for me?

Straight up.”

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French lessons - Group Lessons - Private Lessons - Intensive Courses

Translation Services If you are a French registered business or are employed on a French contract, then you could be eligible for training budgets to cover the cost of lessons. tel: 06 10 40 10 92 email: info@lost-intranslation.com 5 web: www.lost-intranslation.com

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The Gallery Lorraine Benton is not your average mountain artist. Her paintings and sculptures are not the realist images we have all become accustomed to appreciate. Instead, her paintings of the mountains are bold and colourful surreal expressionist pieces that represent life in this natural wonderland.

Lorraine was kind enough to show me around her art exhibition in the Salle D’Expo in August where I was lucky enough to see not only her paintings, but her beautiful photographs and sculptures too.

One of the most surprising aspects of Lorraine’s life as an artist is that she is actually a trained pharmacist.

“Some people find it surprising that I have a both a very prominent scientific and artistic side but it’s really not that unusual. Several people I know who are sculptors are doctors and scientists by day.”

“When I first started sculpting we learnt all about the scientific proportions of the body and the mathematical principles that affect art such as the presence of

spirals in nature. I am inspired by the natural environment and the four elements and am fascinated by illusions on the eye. My pieces reflect the notion that everything has its own opposite, that you can only define something by the fact that some of the time it does not exist.”

Lorraine’s favourite ever piece was a sculpture called The Elements.

“It was the piece people would always comment on, the stand out piece that drew on my main themes of light, reflection and voids.”

There are not only fantastic abstract sculptures in Lorraine’s collection of work but some very detailed representations of the human form.

It’s fair to say that despite her many talents as an artist, Lorraine started out primarily as a sculptor.

One of her sculptures reside in a housing development and another in Alexandra Park, South Harrow in the UK. Lorraine actually splits her time between Morzine and London.

“I don’t find it difficult to know when a piece of art is finished because they are always very well

To enquire about Lorraine’s art you can contact her at: lorraine@bentonweb.co.uk or go to her website: www.lorraine.bentonweb.co.uk

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Alpine Warehouse.pdf

planned, especially the sculptures because you cannot risk wasting the expensive materials that go into them. My art often starts with a photograph, I would snap things I found interesting and then decide what it was about the image that drew me to it and would make a good piece. It’s from this that I started taking photography as the actual pieces themselves.”

As a result, Lorraine now has a fantastic collection of alpine and mountain photographs from all around Morzine.

“In Morzine I have a little less space to work in so it makes more sense for me to paint and do photography while I’m here. I think people in Morzine are very welcoming to the English, there are a lot of foreign people whose families live elsewhere so I just think it’s natural for your friends to become a bit like your family here.”

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End of Season Bike Sale

We're offering our hire bikes from this summer at sale prices - why not take a bargain home with you?

Top models available including downhill, freeride, X-country and road bikes Bikes on Sale Now all fully serviced before sale. www.bikehiremorzine.com 14/07/2011 Morzine +33 (0) 4 50 49 11 57

Tremplin_SUMMER.pdf 1 Route de la Plagne,

18:33

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A GOOD YEAR ooo i could crush a grape

The only decision I ever make when it comes to choosing a wine is its colour. But imagine making the decision to produce your own wine?

Buying a vineyard and making your own vintage is becoming an increasingly popular and interestingly romantic notion of life in France. Wealthy investment bankers and Russian Oligarchs are usually at the front of the queue when a vineyard goes up for sale.

Rhona and Jean-Michel Pelluchon are neither of the above.

The Australian couple have lived in France for over 20 years and they’ve had a variety of businesses during that time. Three years ago, probably after a few bottles of wine, they decided with some friends that they wanted to buy a vineyard in France. Once the hangover faded, reality struck. The starting price for a vineyard is currently €2 million.

Here Jean-Michel and Rhona tell us some truths about wine making in France and how the dream can come true without a hedge fund salary.

Glut, Glut, Glut There is a massive wine glut in France. The country has so many vineyards and the perfect climate for grape growing. But New World wines have become increasingly popular as imports, especially to the UK. French wine is often given away for free or poured down the drain by wine makers who can’t sell it but need the space for their next crop.

Location, Location, Location Vineyards in France have typically been owned by one family for centuries, passed down through the generations. When and if they do come on the market, competition is fierce. The most popular and expensive departments or areas to buy a vineyard in are Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux. A more reasonably priced alternative is Minervois in the Languedoc, an area which once made wine for the French army’s ration boxes!

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The Roving Wine Maker

The Foreign Option

It’s a toss up between owning your own vineyard and producing your own wine. Many people argue that the only difference between the two is a couple of million euros. A wine maker will source the grapes you need to make a wine to your own specific taste. You’ll then have a professionally made supply to sell commercially. Jean-Michel and Rhona use a roving wine maker who, an Aussie who has been making wine in France for 20 years!

French wine is reliably good, readily available and still the best value for those of us who live or holiday here. But as we travel more we develop new tastes and Spanish and New World wines are increasingly in favour. So who dares bring them into France? Jean-Michel and Rhona have added a Spanish wine to their collection, available in the Alps from November 2011.

Personal Taste!

Wine tasting is one of the most documented parts of French life.

But at the end of the day – or indeed the bottle – personal taste is still the main driver of sales. As long as you can buy Blue Nun in a supermarket there is still a market for it.

One of Rhona & Jean-Michel’s wines won a gold medal awarded by experts in a blind tasting.

But this doesn’t change the taste or make it more expensive to produce. Sometimes it’s more important for a wine to be popular than expensive.

For more information on House Wines, the collection produced and sold by Jean-Michel and Rhona Pelluchon, you can e-mail jmpelluchon@sfr.fr or drop into Mamma’s on the Rue du Bourg for a taste!

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Event listings\\September 2011\\

Thursday 1st 8.00am . . . . . . . . Mont Blanc Rally comes to Morzine . . . . . . . . . . . . Central Morzine

9.00am . . . . . . . . World MTB Championships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Champery 8.45pm . . . . . . . Morzine Penguins Ice Hockey Match . . . . . . . . . . . . Palais du Sport

Friday 2nd 8.00am . . . . . . . . Mont Blanc Rally comes to Morzine . . . . . . . . . . . . Central Morzine

9.00am . . . . . . . . World MTB Championships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Champery 4.00pm . . . . . . . Live Band on the Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Le Tremplin, Morzine

Saturday 3rd 8.00am . . . . . . . . Mont Blanc Rally leaves Morzine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Central Morzine

9.00am . . . . . . . . World MTB Championships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Champery

Sunday 4th 9.00am . . . . . . . . World MTB Championships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Champery

Wednesday 7th 6.00pm . . . . . . . BBQ – bring your own meat . . . . . . . . . . Sherpa, Route de la Plagne

Friday 9th 9.00am . . . . . . . . Les Gets Closing Party Weekend . . Chavannes Chairlift, Les Gets

Saturday 10th 9.00am . . . . . . . . Les Gets Closing Party Weekend . . Chavannes Chairlift, Les Gets

11.00am . . . . . . . Kona bike test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chavannes Chairlift, Les Gets 3.00pm . . . . . . . Fete du Pain (Bread Festival) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Montriond

Sunday 11th 9.00am . . . . . . . . Les Gets Closing Party Weekend . . Chavannes Chairlift, Les Gets

Wednesday 14th 8.00am . . . . . . . . Les Gets Golf Club Championship . . . . . . . . . . Les Gets Golf Club 9.00am . . . . . . . . IXS Downhill Cup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chatel Wednesday 21st 8.00am . . . . . . . . Golfy Cup Golf Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Gets Golf Club

Saturday 24th 8.00pm . . . . . . . Fete de Accordion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St Jean D’Aulps

8.30pm . . . . . . . Morzine Penguins Vs Caen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palais du Sport Dixie Bar, Morzine Open for sports events - check the notice boards outside the bar.

Bar National, St Jean D’Aulps Open 7 days a week from 5pm until 11th September then Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 6pm until 9.30pm. Also on Saturday and Sunday mornings 15 minutes before the rugby kicks off for bacon butties and pints.

Bar Tabac, Montriond Closed until 2nd September then open from 7am every day until late with the exception of Tuesdays and Sundays when they’ll close at 12.30pm.

The Rhodos, Morzine Open throughout the interseason 7am – 1am

Carrefour, Morzine Open Mon - Sat 8.30am - 12.30pm then 3.00pm - 6.30pm Closed Sun 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!

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BIGRIDE

THE

The Col de Coux - it's 1926m above sea level.

800m up above Les Gets and roughly the same above Champery. It marks the border between France and Switzerland. Both sides provide a multitude of offerings for the discerning singletrack aficionado.

There's at least five quality descents off the Col. It's a bit like a natural bike park up there. There's two descents towards Switzerland, and three down to France. All have some variations to them, so there's a few days worth of trails to explore from this one point.

Every trail you can see on the IGN map heading away from the Col is rideable: • The knife edge ridge ride towards Champery.

• The direct, super technical descent to Fréterolle.

• The less direct, slightly easier descent to Fréterolle.

• And the two GR5 descents (one into France, one into Switzerland)

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The main drawback is that you've got to get up there. The 'easy' way is via the lifts to Les Crosets, then traverse around before making the 250m climb up to the top. The hard way is direct from Les Gets that's 800m of climbing. The first 600m are fairly straightforward, the last 300m are super steep. Both ways up are do-able without dabs believe it or not.

Oh, and there's no braking bumps and no crowds. Bliss.

The Champery cable car runs all the way through to October 9th, so there's no reason to stop riding after the Chavannes shuts: Get yourself up and over the Col, then the Champery cable car, climb back over the Col and home. A top day out.

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WITNESSTHEFITNESS GET FIT FOR THIS SKI SEASON

Snow-topped mountains may feel like a lifetime away but it’s never too soon to start getting into shape for the ski season. Over the next three issues, Yodel brings you the best exercises to attack three main areas that affect your skiing and snowboarding. This month we look at building up your core muscles.

Muscles of the core region focus on more than simply abdominal muscles. The training targets all of the muscle groups that stabilise the pelvis and spine. Core strength training encourages the body to work as a unit to which there are a number of benefits: • Improved stability • Reduced risk of injury • Improved body control • Better athletic performance • Improved balance

Remember that with core strength exercises endurance is more important than repetitions so it’s better to hold the position for longer than to repeat it many times.

Pelvic Thrusts Lie flat on your back with your legs pointing straight upwards. Slowly lift your hips off the floor towards the ceiling and then lower them back down to the floor. Repeat.

Superman Lie face down with your stomach on the floor and lift your shoulders and knees off the ground holding your hands out in front as if you were flying like Superman. Hold this position and repeat.

Core training can improve poor posture, avoid lower back pain and muscle injuries. It is particularly important for snow sports as you use all of your limbs while gaining control and balance.

Always remember to be responsible when exercising. While it’s important to push yourself, never go too far and stay within the limits of what your body finds comfortable or you could end up injuring yourself.

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Plank This is halfway towards a push up. Lying on your stomach on the floor, pull your elbows in under your shoulders and lay your forearms flat on the ground with your toes pointed toward the ground. Then tighten your abs so that your body is as straight as a plank, supported by your elbows and toes. If you find it too easy, push your elbows out a bit further and hold for longer.

Carpentry, Joinery and Property Maintenance

Side Plank Start on your side and press up with your right arm resting on your elbow. Form a bridge maintaining a straight line from your hand to your foot. Hold for as long as is comfortable and repeat, remembering to do the other side of your body too!

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What's on in Geneva...

We are all in the lucky position of being just a stones throw away from Geneva, often regarded as one of the greatest cities in the world. There is always a wide range of fascinating exhibits and events happening just down the mountain. Here’s our rundown of the best ways to explore science, culture and the arts that are on offer in Geneva this September.

Science Musée d'Histoire des Sciences Elementary! A History of Chemistry The Museum of the History of Science invites you to discover the world of chemistry and promises to do so in a fun and colourful way.

For over 2000 years the world has been understood through earth, wind, fire and water and this exhibit explores the periodic table and the history of chemistry.

Also at the museum throughout September is a celebration of the centenary of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Marie Curie.

The exhibit celebrates in general the contribution of women in science.

Museum d’Histoire Naturelle An insight into the fascinating world of plankton, the unknown vegetal or animal world which plays such an important role in the balance of our oceans.

The Jardin des Plantes Mimétisme et Camouflage An exhibition of photographs that discover the fascinating world of camouflage. The ability of animate beings to imitate inanimate objects has interested naturalists for years. This exhibit consists of large photographs illustrating the different methods of mimicry and camouflage in nature.

The Grande Galerie de l'Évolution Au Fil des Araignées The exhibition addresses the stereotypes that have shaped the bad reputation of the spider and highlights the characteristics of this efficient predator as an important link in the food chain.

Culture La Saveur des Arts Of Mughal India Bollywood A selection of objects and documents that feeds an exceptional exhibition. It addresses the close relationship between music, painting and cinema in the culture of North India.

The result is a profusion of shapes and styles that demonstrate the vitality of a culture in constant metamorphosis.

In a novel approach, integrating many audiovisual devices, the exhibition relies heavily on the senses. Through its rich content, it invites visitors to taste the many flavours of the arts of India.

La Bâtie Festival The festival welcomes the finest local and international performers to Geneva. The programme spreads over more than 20 venues and ranges from contemporary dance to classical drama, unexpected performances, installations and the visual arts.

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Club Chalets Yodel Advert.pdf

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Les Gets Morzine Chamonix La Clusaz Three Valleys Le Grand Massif

Over the years the programme has grown so much that the festival has had to leave its original home in the La Bâtie Forest, but it remains true to its mission of showcasing new and adventurous local talent, while also presenting high-quality visiting acts. Ends 17th September.

Art

Catered and Self Catering Holiday Rentals

Chalet Jamoo

A traditional farmhouse stylishly furnished and ultra cosy, located in a quiet spot with stunning panoramic views across the valley.

Chalet Jono

Luxurious traditional 19th century Savoyard farmhouse that provides a comfortable and relaxing base for a self catering holiday.

Museum of Art and History Exhibition of Hans Hartung Prints Hartung focuses entirely on gesture, movement and the dynamics of painting, drawing and printmaking. He was one of the pioneers of informal art in the twentieth century and now you have the opportunity to peruse his greatest works. Ends 25th September.

Chalet Vieille Ferme

This luxury farmhouse chalet has been modernised with great attention to detail.

Perfect for a self catering family holiday.

Chalet Aventure

Large fully catered Chalet ideal for a group or two families. The Chalet has a hot tub and a great location next to the pistes & lift.

Specialist advertising for luxurious Chalets in amazing ski resorts. To list your property on our website and start RedCarnation.pdf 1 13/08/2011 10:13 receiving quality enquiries contact us today. info@clubchalets.com www.clubchalets.co.uk

Jean-Etienne Liotard This exhibition has been made possible thanks to the generous loan of some of Liotard’s works from an exceptionally prestigious private collection. This is a unique opportunity to admire the largest single pastel portrait by this acclaimed artist from Geneva, Madame de Vermenoux thanking Apollo for his recovery (1764).

The last public exhibition of this painting was back in 1925.

On the very edge of Lake Geneva opposite the graceful Jet d’Eau, offers the epitome of Swiss style, elegance and refinement

Musée d'Histoire des Sciences An exhibition by Vera Röhm that represents the role of science in the creation of the arts. This exhibition primarily focuses on the role of astronomy. Ends 14th September.

Facilities include: 39 guest rooms and 6 suites - Windows Restaurant Leopard Room Bar - Gym and sauna - 24 hour butler service

We'll add lots more information on events in Geneva to the calendar on the yodel website www.yodelmagazine.com

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Visit us at www.dangleterrehotel.com/yodel to book our Best Available Rate inclusive of VIP amenities exclusively for yodel magazine readers Quai du Mont Blanc 17, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland T: +41 (0) 22 906 5555 Email: angleterre@rchmail.com

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All Go In

AvOrIaZ

When we last counted there were 15 ginormous cranes towering over Avoriaz and we've seen the huge holes in the ground with our own eyes. Avoriaz is 50 years old next year and we wanted to find out exactly what is being built and when it might be ready.

Back in the 1950's Avoriaz was a hamlet with just a few chalets.

Farmers from Morzine would take their cattle to graze on the high altitude plateaus during the summer months. As soon as the snow started to fall Avoriaz became almost deserted except for extreme ski trekkers such as Jean Vuarnet. Vuarnet went on to win an Olympic medal for downhill skiing and became something of a local legend. In 1960 he was appointed as the Director of Avoriaz, and his aim was to develop the potential of the hamlet into a world class ski resort. In 1963 the Prodains Telepherique was built and the resort welcomed its first visitors for Christmas week, 1966.

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Many people might argue at this point that Avoriaz doesn't look like it's changed much since then. Whether you have an appreciation for the architectural design of this purpose built ski resort or not, Avoriaz was the first fully pedestrianised resort

and has since been recognised as a "Great Achievement in 20th Century Heritage".

Avoriaz is the highest resort in the Portes du Soleil by some distance and massive changes to the resort's infrastructure and facilities are underway. Here's what's new for this winter and what's to come as part of this huge €200 million project...

3 New Holiday Residences

Three, four and five star, ski-in ski-out apartment blocks have been constructed and will be operated by Pierre & Vacances and Maeva. In total there will be 396 new apartments in 3 new buildings, each of which continues the traditional Avoriaz architectural style - steeped roofs to retain the snow and staggered balconies to give maximum exposure to sunlight. All three will open for the first time in December 2011.

2 New Spas

The new Deep Nature Spa will be operated by the luxury spa brand ‘Algotherm’ and will include saunas, steam baths, single and double treatment rooms, a relaxation room, a gym and an outdoor hot tub. The spa is open to all and will offer packages such as 5 treatments over 3 or 5 days for €270. At the same time the new Mon Premier Spa will offer treatments exclusively for children aged 6 and over. Both open in December 2011.

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competition

New Skating Rink

Right in the centre of Avoriaz will be a 450m² skating rink, opening for the start of this winter season. The rink will be floodlit and also include viewing terraces serving refreshments. The skating rink will be open until 8pm each evening.

Aquariaz

This is the largest water park ever to be built in the mountains and has been designed by the people at Centre Parcs. It’s like an aquatic paradise with vegetation and rocks, but with loads of water features too. There will be a lazy river, a sidewinder (a kind of aquatic halfpipe), a water playhouse, a paddling pool, a large pool with climbing walls, massage benches and an open air spa heated pool. Aquariaz opens in July 2012.

This month the lovely folk at Wipeout are giving six lucky yodel readers the chance to win a piste map lens cloth for the Portes du Soleil.

The Wipeout is weatherproof, long lasting

The New Prodains Gondola

and

can

be

used

without

removing your gloves. It won't get soggy in the snow like a conventional

Construction has already begun on the new ‘3 S’ cable car, which will replace the existing Prodains gondola lift. It will have 12 cabins, each with a capacity of 35 and will be capable of carrying between 2000 and 2400 people per hour, compared to current lift capacity of 400 per hour. The top terminal in Avoriaz will be buried so that skiers can access the piste more easily. The new cable car will open in December 2012.

piste map and all you have to do to win is tell us how many different ski areas Wipeout currently make lens cloths for?

At the end of September we will randomly select 6 correct answers from all the entries and each will win a Portes du Soleil wipeout cloth, just in time for the winter!

You

can

find

the

answer

at

www.wipe-out.eu then just email your answer to:

This December we'll add Avoriaz to our collection of Yodels. This means that updates and further details in the development work in Avoriaz will always feature on our website. www.yodelmagazine.com

competition@yodelmagazine.com Good Luck!

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A Day in the Life of... the Les Gets Office de Tourisme Flora Richard has been the head of the Les Gets Office de Tourisme for 13 years and the resort has changed in so many ways during that time. Here she tells yodel about a typical day managing tourism and the plans to make Les Gets a year round holiday destination.

If you’d like to get in touch with the Les Gets Office de Tourisme or if you have a question or

"People come to the Office de Tourisme for lots of different reasons. Usually they just want a map or directions but we also make hotel reservations and provide advice on events, family days out and activities. On a busy day I think around 300 people come in to ask us questions about Les Gets.

Thirteen of us work in the Office de Tourisme and we're split between information roles, promotion and marketing and events and information. The biggest event that we're all concentrating on at the moment is the 2012 French mountain bike championships.

It's a huge media event and we're excited to show people how much has improved and developed in Les Gets over the last couple of years.

We're working hard to remind mountain bikers across Europe that Les Gets is still THE place to ride your bike.

Our 'Father Christmas Lives in Les Gets' concept is also the focus of our planning at the moment. Even though it is 10 years old, it's still such a popular campaign and we know from local people that it is very popular among tourists. This year we are extending the concept from the forest to the village to make things even more magical!

comment for Flora, you can use this e-mail address – lesgets@lesgets.com 18

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We're also responsible for promoting Les Gets internationally.

As much as possible I try to let all the local business owners and operators know our plans and the efforts we go to in order to promote

Les Gets around the world. We have some very professional tour operators and local businesses, both French and English that are established in Les Gets and I really encourage them to send me their thoughts and feedback.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Meribel for the French MTB Championships. The resort was almost empty and it was nice to return to Les Gets where the sun was shining and there was a nice buzz around the centre of town.

We're looking at many of the Austrian resorts at the moment.

They've managed to become less seasonal and they now run their summer season from earlier to later in the year. Eventually I think we'll see Les Gets become an almost year round holiday resort.

In the summer the information desk on the ground floor of the office in the centre of Les Gets is open six days a week between 8.30am and 12.30pm and then 2pm and 7pm.

During the winter we open seven days a week between 8.30am and 7pm.

There is never a typical day at the Office de Tourisme and that's why we enjoy our jobs so much.

I work with some really skilled and experienced people and there is always the feeling that we are constantly improving and benchmarking to make Les Gets better and better."

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