March is a wonderful time to enjoy the slopes of the Three Valleys Not only are the lifts open for longer, but the pistes are quiet after school holidays, and you can really feel the warmth of the sunshine - lunch on the terrace is a definite rather than a gamble!


HOW DO YOU FIND THE BEST SNOW?

Well, when skiing the Courchevel Valley it's relatively easy to orientate yourself so that you can hunt down the best conditions for the time of day...

If you look across the valley (rather than up at Saulire) you'll see in the distance a particularly large mountain. That's Mont Blanc! Or in fact, Monte Bianco as you're looking at the Italian side.

Monte Bianco is directly North of Courchevel: any slopes that face Mont Blanc will therefore be North-facing and keep the snow in tip top condition for longer. With that in mind, these North-facing slopes should be your haunts for afternoon skiing. In the morning, head out early to make the most of the gently yielding corduroy on slopes that face East and have therefore had the first rays.




Image courtesy of chrisroll at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

WHERE CAN I SEE A MARMOT?
If you catch yourself on a particularly sunny, soft slope in the afternoon, chances are you're in prime marmot territory. Awakening after winter hibernation, it's possible to catch a glimpse of the elusive creatures around rocky slopes that aren't skied once the sun begins to melt the entrance to their burrows (called 'galleries'). We've spotted marmots from the following chairlifts:
Marmottes in Courchevel 1650 (coming back towards 1850)
Suisses in Courchevel 1850
Coqs chair in Courchevel 1850 (heading up towards La Tania)

If you're very, very lucky, you may also spy a chamois or bouquetin (ibex) - look up to the rocky peaks first thing or near sunset. Keep your eyes on the sky around the Mont Vallon area as Golden Eagles have been spotted there. And a well-known hang-out for the Black Grouse - tetras lyre - is between Chapelets and Rochers in Courchevel 1650.


 





Looking for ideas to entertain the little people during your stay? Here's what works for ours...

La Tania's car-free village is an ideal place to infuse a love of the cold, white stuff into your children. Try these activities during your stay:

1) Bumboarding
Get hold of a bumboard (a colourful tray with a handle) and take it up to the foot of La Tania's slopes after skiing. It's ever popular, great fun and free! Embrace your inner child and hold an adults' race... There's also a new climbing frame in the same area.

2) Soft play
If your children are too little to ski all day, then there's a free soft play centre in the Croisette building in Courchevel 1850. It gets busy on snowy days or afternoons but it's well-maintained, friendly and has puzzles and a disco as well as the climbing equipment. Older children will find it a bit small after a while, but toddlers and pre-schoolers can easily enjoy it for 2 hours.

3) Ponies
Whilst in 1850, don't miss out on visiting the horses and ponies outside the Croisette at the foot of the slopes. They're there to pull carriages if you fancy a ride! You can also try out the merry-go-round and grab some treats from the little stalls, then meet up with skiers for lunch or a drink in 1850.

4) Live music
If your children enjoy seeing live music then the Ski Lodge, Chrome Bar and Taiga generally have apres-ski bands on. They can get pretty raucous later on, but the first half of the set is a nice time for the children to enjoy a hot chocolate and songs whilst you have a vin chaud. Ask your chalet host for recommendations during the week.

5) Fireworks
During February there is an International Pyrotechnic Competition. Ask your host for information on any displays happening during your stay as they really are worth seeing. It's usually a visit by bus but you're generally rewarded for your effort with a free vin chaud and snacks for the children.

6) Toboggan run
Hire a toboggan from a local ski shop and try the brilliant 1.7km track between 1850-1550. With a ski pass you can take the bubble lift back up to the top as many times as you like. until 8pm (it's floodlit). Not so great for really little children as the snow sprays up in their faces, but older kids will enjoy the speed and thrill of the race. Dress as if for skiing but with snow boots - and that includes helmets and goggles! Careful on the corners as there are steep drops if you make a wrong turn!

7) Ice-skating and bowling
In the Forum in 1850 there's an ice rink and even complete beginners can join in with the little frames that you can borrow. The bowling alley is rather pricey but seems to have all the usual things that you'd expect from a bowling trip!

8) Up in the Bubble
Little children who aren't yet skiing are usually delighted to go up in the bubble lift and watch the skiers below. Get off at the top for a hot chocolate in the lovely Bouc Blanc restaurant. The bubble can quite often have a soporific effect for babies who are overdue a nap!

Check peak week availability and reserve your chalet online! Click here.

La Tania is ideal for taking your children skiing

Fun and games in the snow

NEVER SKIED IN JANUARY? READ ON...  

With a good base of the white stuff already covering the mountain, January is a snow-sure time to hit the slopes. Coupled with colder temperatures, you're also practically guaranteed to find that your technique improves on the beautifully groomed, quiet runs with the light, grippy snow flattering your skiing. North-facing resorts like Courchevel also keep their snow intact far better than those bathed in sunshine all day.

"Isn't it just... a bit chilly?" I hear you cry? Well... yes, a little, compared to later in the season. But the Three Valleys aren't exactly Alaska: the average temperature is a balmy +5 degrees, and with the highest rate of precipitation during the first month of the year, you'll most likely be found grinning in delight whilst skiing on light, soft powder. Pure heaven. 

As Alfred Wainwright had it: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing." We wholeheartedly agree! It really is worth investing in decent technical gear to keep you warmer for longer. Good base layers, waterproof outers, merino wool socks and even boot warmers will genuinely improve your skiing as your body will relax and so will your technique. It's true! And it's also a perfect reason to go shopping...

And finally, the cold weather is a great excuse to warm up! As experts on the best log fires/mountain restaurants/hot chocolates and vin chauds, your Ski Dazzle hosts can help you to plan your ski day around the very best warm-up spots! 

Once you're back in the chalet, we're in full Cosy Mode. Tuck in to the homemade cake, then relax in the hot tub while your host lights the fire. With your feet toasting in front of said fire, you can then enjoy a nice glass of something whilst your dinner is being prepared for you. Dine over twinkling candles whilst the snow gathers momentum outside, ready for you to start all over again tomorrow...

January lift pass offer: 10% on 10th Jan. All members of your group staying in Jamais Bleu will receive 10% off their lift pass during this week, or a whopping 20% for whole chalet bookings. Click here to get in touch.