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Val Thorens Snow Report: 8th January 2015

Fresh tracks from the top of La Masse & some events to watch out for

featured in Snow report Author Gemma Hunt, Val Thorens Reporter Updated

So far we have had a full week of blue skies and sunshine in the Three Valleys which is making for some very relaxed ski days.

After just a couple of runs this morning the deck chairs were calling at Chalet de la Masse. If you have never skied La Masse it is worth the trip. Just on the other side of Les Menuires accessed down the cruisey and picturesque blue run from Val Thorens ‘Boulevard de Cumin’ or via Les Menuires itself between the buildings and onto the green track taking you to the La Masse lifts.

Chalet de la Masse itself is based towards the lower end of the runs that connect down from La Masse 1 and with their large sunny terrace it is unmissable! They have a really good value menu serving everything from the very English fish and chips to Savoie croziflette to re-fuel after a morning’s skiing. If you want something lighter then they serve great ‘planches’ with local meats and cheeses. There’s also a great selection of wines for a lazy lunch in the sun.

Another good thing to know about La Masse is ‘Fresh Tracks’. For 10 euros you can have the opportunity to head up the mountain at 7.45am before the ski area opens, start with breakfast at the top of La Masse and then ski down and make fresh tracks! You just need to make sure you book in advance at the La Croisette ticket office in Les Menuires. Perfect if you can see snow is due to book for the next morning and be first up.

The piste team have done their best with the limited snow but as the week is progressing with warm days and then decreasing temperatures in the evening it is making some very icy pistes.

It also means that generally the pistes are pretty racey at the moment and whilst it’s great to fly down, please remember that there are other skiers about. In just one morning myself and my ski buddy had some pretty close shaves with people getting way too close when we were the only people on the piste. There’s simply no need to go out of control especially when accidents can so easily happen and there’s definitely no need to ski so close when it is not busy. I understand that just a couple of weekends ago there were four helicopter visits to Val Thorens for accidents. With the hard packed base it is easily done, so ski with care.

We are lucky enough to have some great events over the next week in the Belleville valley. The Ski Cross World Cup is under way this weekend in Val Thorens with some of the best ski cross skiers in the world! You can’t miss the track and there are lots of view points to catch some of the action.

The SFR Freesyle Tour then starts in the Val Thorens from Sunday 11 January 2015 with some of the best international riders hitting the snow park so pop along to see how it’s done properly!

Temperatures are forecast to drop on Sunday and Monday along with snow [around 5cm is expected] so here’s hoping we’ll be in for some snowy skiing next week.

Location

Map of the surrounding area