Val Thorens Apres Ski Review: 9th February 2015

On Thursday the celebrations will be in full flow with a light and sound show, DJ’s, fireworks, free vin chaud, hot chocolate and most importantly some birthday cake, who can resist that! Head down to join in the fun.

If you are looking to end your ski day slightly more energetically and fancy heading up the mountain rather than down, then the Dynafit Snow Leopard track in Val Thorens is open every Wednesday. The meeting point is in front of the tourist office after 5pm. You then depart with an apparently ‘easy ascent’ which is accessible to all and head to an altitude of 2500m stopping at Chalet de La Marine for a warm drink and some warm soup, I’m guessing it gets a bit chilly at that time of day! You just need to book at Club Des Sports by 12pm on Tuesday. Depending on the weather I would think that you will be rewarded for your efforts with some absolutely stunning views down the valley.

Ice, ice baby! Snow and ice sculpture seem to be on the agenda this week with two opportunities to see the experts work their magic. On Monday from 4.30pm in St Martin there is a welcome evening where you get to see a fantastic ice sculpture demonstration followed by the opportunity to taste local produce, I’m pretty certain you’ll be in for some cheese! Then on Wednesday in Les Menuires from 4pm there is a snow sculpture workshop available for 5yrs and up. There is compulsory enrolment at the Tourist office but participation is free. It will take place at the ice castle near the Croisette so there are plenty of bars near by for parents to relax with a beer or two.

From ice to fire… on Tuesday in St Martin there is a torchlight visit of the village, departing from the tourist office, it’s just 5 euros per person and under 16 years old are free. Then the following evening on Wednesday you can catch the torchlight descent by the ESF Instructors in both St Martin and Val Thorens. In St Martin the parade takes place at 6.30pm outside l’Eterlou restaurant and in Val Thorens at Place Caron.

There are a couple of different acts in Les Menuires this week. On Wednesday there is ‘Opus Jam’ for some Motown classics such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross, from 6.30pm at Espace Maurice Romanet. In the same venue on Friday there is then definitely a different Alpine act, ‘Spectacle de Sylvain Gerard’ a cabaret show with a ventriloquist and magician from 6pm.

On Tuesday in Val Thorens there is a Sidney Bechet tribute concert at 6.30pm with free entrance at the Church. If that name doesn’t ring any bells then here’s the background; he was one of the first important soloist in jazz, playing jouets with Louis Armstrong and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist. In Val Thorens you have Olivier France whose father played with Bechet for several years. So if jazz is your thing then it sounds like you have a talented musician on the mountain.

Plenty to choose from this week to keep you entertained, have fun.

[events calendar]