Great skiing this weekend in Val Thorens

Whilst the links are in fact open the full extent of the ski area is not yet skiable due to limited snow cover. For the opening this weekend there were 131 runs open and 240km of piste to ski. The snow canons have been working overtime leading up to the opening and across the Three Valleys 2,000 snow canons have produced 2,782,000 m3 of snow in less than a month! This is apparently the equivalent of 2,400 football pitches with a coverage of 20cm of snow, not bad at all.

This weekend we were up in Val Thorens where lack of snow cover is certainly not a problem, the pistes are fantastic. Temperatures have been staying steadily low which has preserved the pistes which are in great condition. The slopes in lower sections of the resort are noticeably hard packed where they have been helped out by the artificial snow but it is certainly easily skiable. These sections tend to be connecting pistes leading down from higher altitude runs in Les Menuires and St Martin where up high the snow is great. Unfortunately it is not yet possible to ski down to the resort of St Martin, the lifts can be used to access higher slopes and you will need to take St Martin 1 to return to resort. [See the piste maps].

We have had blue skies and blue skies some more without a cloud in the sky this weekend. Temperatures are really pleasant, nicely chilly with the sun to add some warmth. Val Thorens benefits from sunny pistes if you hit the right facing slopes all day, so plan ahead and you won't be chilly. The same goes for the terraces in Val Thorens centre and we were able to enjoy a sunny lunch stop at our VT favourite, Face West where you can enjoy a croque monsieur frites and vino re-fuel for just 15 euros, really reasonable for Val Thorens.

The Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup was also held in Val Thorens this weekend and we were able to catch some of the action on Saturday morning. After the qualifiers mid-week the finals took place on Friday and Saturday with Jean Frederic Chapuis taking first place in the finals on Friday. The Val Thorens stadium is actually named after this champion so a win by Jean Frederic at the Jean Frederic Chapuis stadium was well received by supporters. We were surprised by the lack of spectators on Saturday for the second day of finals however with the win the preceding day and the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup taking place in Val d’Isere it seemed supporters were elsewhere. We were able to get really close to the action and we witnessed some awesome performances (this is not an event for the faint hearted!)

Over the hill in Meribel this weekend there was also the hardcore event of the Vertical Ski Touring French Cup taking place in Mottaret. The events don’t end there and this week in Val Thorens from 13th-16th December at the same stadium as the Ski Cross World Cup the Snowboard Cross European Cup is being held for the first time in Val Thorens. If you are in resort we would recommend you head over to watch.

Many hotels, apartments and chalets have now opened their doors for the season and at this time of year, even with the Three Valleys now open, the slopes are still reasonably quiet. Next weekend we will see an influx of festive skiers so here’s hoping that there have been lots of snow prayers, snow dances and letters to the big man in red to see if we can make it a white Christmas for all in the Three Valleys.

The forecast in Val Thorens is showing more sunshine, clear skiers and temperatures currently around minimum of -1 leading towards -7 at the end of the week and around -3 further down the valley in Les Menuires and St Martin.

Over in Val Thorens at the moment there are 69/85 slopes open and 29/30 lifts open. The Three Valleys as a whole has 75/158 lifts open with just four out of 11 links available. As ever, check the live maps in resort to plan you ski day so that you don’t get caught out.

Enjoy quiet slopes and sunny skies and happy ski!

When she's not reporting for us, Gemma runs My Mountain Boutique.