Val d'Isere Snow Report: 3rd December 2012

While some were comforted by the few centimeters of snow blanketing the mountaintops from our early November snowfall, the Criterium team was busy blowing snow on both La Face and l’OK, quietly doing their snow dance. Their worrying, and that of local business owners relying on the event’s draw to increase early season reservations, was entirely justified. The only thing worse than having to cancel the event last year due to a lack of snow would be having to cancel this year’s adrenaline packed Criterium for the same reason.

So imagine our surprise- and for many, our relief- when we woke up last lovely Wednesday morning to a beautiful 4 cm layer of the softest pixie-dust snow ever. It didn’t even stop there! Throughout the day, we all had the pleasure of getting soaked by the best kind of snow we can hope for in the early season. Nothing says a good snow-pack base like the heavy white flakes that stick to the grass, the road, and the already settled snow like honey on, well, everything.

With Mother Nature, at first unwilling but now unleashing her generosity on all of us here in Val d’Isère, the good news continued. Wednesday’s whiteout led to an amazing 50 cm dumped up top and a good 30 cm here in town. This new ground cover was perfect for anyone looking to practice shoveling snow, driving with chains, and of course, walking on the slick sidewalks without looking like Bambi in ice-skates.

For the next couple of days, excitement was rising as quickly as the snow was falling. Not only were all slopes covered but it had finally gotten cold enough to be blowing snow at the bottom of any piste. With opening weekend around the corner, things were finally starting to fall into place!

And what an opening weekend it was. Saturday December 1st was an absolutely glorious day with the sun shining past a few clouds displaying the mountains in their splendor. While not exactly on the first chair, we headed out early up to the top of Bellevarde, taking in the view from the Olympique cabin. To say that we were excited and ready to go would be an understatement. That morning, there was no quenching our thirst for the small powder stashes on the sides of trails, the shared sense of wonder we all had, and of course, the habitual beer at the top of Tommeuse, taking in the view of Tignes. The only tricky bit was getting back to the village as all pistes that low in elevation were still lacking enough snow to be safe.

Only as the sun began to disappear behind a curtain of clouds were we ready to come down for our very own heaven. Perfect timing it turned out! Soon enough, the snow was coming down again and visibility had gone to the wayside. Nothing like a Petit Danois après-ski beer to confirm what an amazing decision it was to become a seasonnaire.

Thankfully, Sunday really was a good day to rest after an amazing Doudoune opening party. The snow was still coming down but sadly the wind had picked up, and up, and up. Due to its growing intensity, certain lifts like Tommeuse were forced to close, cutting many people’s skiing day short. In town, people were running all over the place and at times into each other while trying to take cover before another big gust blew through.

With Mother Nature giving us the goods, we got to enjoy an incredible powder-filled opening weekend. And if that wasn’t enough, both men’s and women’s Criterium races have been confirmed for the 7th to the 15th of December. Can’t wait for you to come share it with us!

For more information on recent snowy events, check out our opening weekend video report.