http://www.flexiski.com flexiski brings you all the news and gossip from the slopes, the snow, our guests and the wipe outs! Copyright flexiski 2009 http://www.flexiski.com/files/blog-logo.jpg http://www.flexiski.com 144 57 flexiski logo Flexiski-operated property Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel 1850, France, is the first TUI Ski hotel to be awarded a GOLD Award by the international organisation Travelife. A prerequisite for this award is the strict compliance with all the criteria of sustainability that helps hotels to improve the way they manage their social as well as environmental issues. The gold award means that the hotel management must show that they lead the way and have an active environmental policy, publish regular reports on their sustainability actions, treat their staff fairly and with respect as well as helping local people. Peter Hillyard, New Business & Operations Manager at Flexiski said: “Since operating the Hotel Saint Louis, we have been steadily working through a programme of renovating and improving the hotel and our conscious move towards delivering a more sustainable product certainly formed a significant part of this process. Therefore we are delighted to receive this Travelife certification and will continue to work towards improving our product. It is fantastic to see organisations such as Travelife making these schemes both accessible and transparent to clients and travel companies, and we have found such initiatives are now contributing more and more when people are making their holiday decisions,” he continued. Travelife is a travel industry-led scheme launched in 2007 in partnership with tour operators like TUI Travel, Thomas cook and many others, endorsed by ABTA. For more information on Travelife visit www.travelifecollection.com Find out more about ski holidays to the Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel, France. Marion Telsnig Head of Public Relations Tui Travel PLC http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/gold-travelife-award-hotel-saint-louis Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:45:35 +0100 Originally posted 19th April 2013 As I write this last blog of the season, the radiant heat of the sun is upon us and the once white valley is now an emerald green. This last week saw the staff of the Chalet Amalien Haus spread their wings and fly over to the glaciers of Solden to surprisingly ski some knee deep powder on the 13th April! The famous Hospiz Alm restaurant in St Christoph also gave us a send off to remember with the best meal I have personally ever eaten in my life. Lobster, schnapps and cigars is all I need to say about that. Our guests’ favorite mountain restaurant will welcome us all back next year where we will marvel once again at their lederhosen, use the slide down to the toilet facilities and dine alongside the photos of previous visitors like Prince Charles, Diana and of course Boris Becker. There is one final hoorah left in store for us in the now sleepy town of St Anton and this comes in the form of a famous race ‘The Weisse Rausch’. Hundreds of adrenaline junkies will trudge to the top of Valluga at 2650m to experience ‘The White Thrill’. They wait with terror and anticipation for the gun to sound, at which point they will tuck and slide their way down the mountain hoping to avoid all the others that threaten their racing line. Then it is a fight against moguls, varying snow conditions and the inevitable burning thighs. The final nail in the coffin appears in the form of a cruel mountain of snow to hike over before the sweet release of the finish line in front of the Galzigbahn at 1304m. Our reluctant Chef Drew is taking part for the fourth time and hopes to better his personal best of 5th in the boarder category. His training has been hampered by beer and pizza over the last week so we don’t hold out too much hope but we wish him all the best. As we pack our ski bags and throw away our smelly ski socks, it is a time for reflection on the wondrous winter we have just encountered. St Anton gave us the opportunity to create lasting memories of endless powder days in the Arlberg. These memories are now in the past which could sadden the soul but the beauty of the mountains is knowing that new experiences and challenges will inevitably present themselves again in 8 months time, where we shall happily do it all over again. So from myself Rich, and all the 2012/13 team at Chalet Amalien Haus, here is one final inspirational quote to whet your appetite for the 2013/2014 ski season: ‘Skiing is the vessel to help me escape the trappings of modern day life. With it I find challenge, creativity and satisfaction. The mountains offer balance, adventure, opportunity and inspiration and being able to enjoy these experiences with smiling friends truly satisfies me.' (Mark Abma – Salomon Freeskier) http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/perfect-end-magnificent-season-st-anton Thu, 30 May 2013 11:05:40 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 8th April 2013 The Taps race last Tuesday was one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the season amongst seasonnaires and the local ski mafia of St Anton. A giant slalom course from the apres bar Taps to the bottom of the Galzig lift was set up for boarders, skiers, telemarkers, and bladers to throw themselves out of the starting gate. There were fancy dress kangaroos, giraffes, and soon to be burnt topless males carving round the flags. There was plenty of lederhosen, as well as the classic spandex which was worn by the more serious of racers. The highlights were seeing a couple of chefs completing the course seated rather lopsidedly in their woks, Olivia from Reload Sports Massage completing the short course in 4.32 mins after only 3 hrs of skiing experience, and the old boys of St Anton showing everyone how to properly race despite their mature age. The flexiski boys from Chalet Amalien Haus all competed and considering we were the smallest team and British not Austrian, we did well to finish in 18th place out of 39 teams. Our valiant leader Mr Kevin Robinson topped our group getting down in a time of 40 secs and our Ski Event Managers weren’t far behind. It has been a week of close down parties in St Anton with the Piccadilly opening its doors for the final time on Friday with a beach party, it seemed like a fitting idea to prepare everyone for summer, but standing outside in shorts and a vest didn’t exactly feel like we were in the throngs of summer!! The Krazy Kanguruh finished in style on Saturday with an apres session that lasted until 5 in the morning. There was dancing on the tables inside to all the classic tunes of the season and the outside terrace beneath the moon, twinned with the glowing lights of St Anton down below gave the perfect setting to relax and reflect on the incredible winter that we’ve just encountered. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/eagerly-anticipated-taps-race Thu, 30 May 2013 11:05:08 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 3rd April 2013 Well well, what a winter it has been in St Anton, with the spring skiing full in motion in the Austrian alps, many of the St Anton residents have had to grudgingly accept that the days of skiing fresh powder will soon be coming to an end for this season. With the sun doing its best to melt the snow and tan half of everyone’s face, the St Anton’s famous apres-ski bars have now become the places to go. The Taps race which took place on Tuesday is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the season, (with the possible exception of the World Cup). A slalom course on the lower slopes of the resort from the apres bar Taps to the bottom of the Galzig lift, this event is taken with varying degrees of seriousness, fancy dress being the main priority most of the teams competing. We had a great time seeing the extent of the fancy dress costumes! The Piccadilly closing party is also taking place this week, this famous bar has been host to many a fantastic party and the closing party promises to be no different. Its live music has been serenading great nights all season long and we wish to thank everyone at the Piccadilly bar for making it such a special season for many of our guests at the Chalet Amalien Haus. Another big upcoming event on the calendar is the closing party for the Krazy Kanguruh (KK). This world famous apres bar situated just above St Anton doesn’t have a reputation for nothing. Open until long after dark, many find it more of a night club than a bar and for those not used to the apres culture here, it can come as quite a surprise to walk out and realise that you have to still have to ski back down to the village. The KK is owned by Mario Matt, the local hero who is currently the 6th best slalom skier in the world and also achieved a fantastic result in winning a bronze medal in this year’s World Championships. We will all be sad to visit there for the last time this season, although reassured in the knowledge that it will go out with a bang! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/spring-skiing-st-anton_apres Thu, 30 May 2013 11:04:29 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 25th March 2013 The last few weeks have finally seen the snow returning to St Anton! The last decent snowfall had been on 22nd February, but then tremendous Tuesday hit with a blizzard of snow swirling into town much to the joy and relief of locals and visitors. Stuben, on the outskirts of the St Anton ski area, was definitely the place to be as the weather front always seems to settle in this miraculous basin which enjoys lower temperatures and increased amounts of snow. Some guests took advantage of the local knowledge of ‘Piste 2 Powder’ and ‘Arlberg Ski School’s’ off-piste guides, to discover the best soft and floaty white dust that had settled amongst the dramatic peaks. The beauty of this week was the surprise element that was unearthed as soon as you started ascending the mountain. The town itself was bare, giving a false sense of the conditions above. However, the upper mountain seemed to have enjoyed a small dusting each night which combined with the Baltic temperatures meant the slopes were immaculate in the upper echelons of the ski area. The staff of the Chalet Amalien Haus made the most of this by heading down the steep and deep off-piste route through the trees into the tiny town of Langen. The sky was as blue as the Pacific which tempted our Chef Drew away from his specialties of Thai Sweet Potato soup and Sticky Toffee pudding, to lead the merry group into the backcountry. You can see him in the picture above getting ready the shred the fresh powder in Stuben. Some of our guests also enjoyed a day trip over to the less-travelled Sonnenkopf ski area which is included in the Arlberg ski pass. The quiet slopes and impressive tree runs stunned the skiers who didn’t even know it was a possibility until the Ski Event Managers suggested it. The day brought a lot of smiling faces and initiated that sense of adventure everyone loves which only can come from discovering a new ski area for the very first time. A great day was had by all and we recommend Sonnenkopf to everyone experiencing the delights of a ski holiday in St Anton! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/tremendous-tuesday Thu, 30 May 2013 11:03:44 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 21st March 2013 Last week the staff of the Chalet Amalien Haus in St Anton enjoyed an adventure into a wild winter wonderland. We have a couple of serious mountaineers amongst our merry band that used their influence and organised a hike for us through the forest, providing a welcome change to our everyday routine. We started our walk at midday on the picturesque 10km cross country skiing track to Verwall. The sun was shining, the picnic was packed and all was well…. By 1pm we had ventured off-piste into the beautiful tree lined forest and the hired snow shoes were strapped on as the expedition into the unknown continued down a summer walking track. Inevitably the exuberant boys got competitive and upped the pace and before too long the group was split into two distinct packs. Then the clouds came in, the snow began to drop and phone reception was now non-existent. After a panic stricken 20 minutes and an encounter with an unusually aggressive male deer, the two groups were reunited to finish what turned out to be an eventful, adventurous and eventually positive experience. We are looking forward to the O’Neill Kirschbaum Battle, a two day freestyle competition taking part in StAnton Park on Rendl Mountain. Twin tip skis will be on show, attached to youngsters flinging themselves into the stratosphere, spinning and flipping to wow the onlooking crowds. Our very own Kitchen Assistant Mike is not competing however his 17 year old brother Callum is. He is an up and coming star on the British free-ski scene and we wish him all the best in his substantially oversized clothing! We will support him all the way! The temperatures dropped again and St Anton got a lovely amount of fresh snow for the first time in a while so worried faces around the town are smiling again. As always we want more and more snow so we continue praying to the snow gods to release some more crystals into the Arlberg again soon. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/our-adventure-wonderland Thu, 30 May 2013 11:03:10 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 5th March 2013 The famous apres scene in St Anton has always been dominated by the two heavyweights, the ‘Krazy Kangaruh’ and the ‘Mooserwirt’. But this season has seen the emergence of a new pretender to the throne. The bar connected to the front side of the KK called ‘Taps’ has revamped its music and this year is pulling in the punters by their ski poles to dance the afternoon away to the uplifting tones of electronic dance music. The sounds of Swedish House Mafia are regularly heard echoing round the valleys. The location on red piste 21 is perfect and this week was made even better when a 20 strong colony of fancy dress penguins slid on their bellies down the slope, much to the amusement of the onlooking crowd on the sun terrace. The temperatures have risen this week which has given St Anton a spring like feel. The sun terraces have been booming at lunch and apres with skiers soaking up the rays, resulting in plenty of red faces and panda eyes around town. The staff at Chalet Amalien Haus took advantage of the clear skies by adventuring into the mountain wilderness in the dead of night for a full moon hike. We all snaked up the piste from St Christoph like mountain goats to the summit of the Galzig lift. The peace and tranquility was astonishing and with the full moon glistening amongst the starry skies, the mountains took on a new form. What lay ahead at the crest of the mountain was an immaculately groomed black run drenched in a silver glow. The feeling of flying down a corduroy piste at midnight was indescribable and something we will remember forever. However it was memorable for another reason for one of our Ski Event Managers, as the smart move to carry ski boots up the hill and wear more comfortable shoes duly backfired. After 30 minutes of grunting and groaning and unable to force his swollen feet back into his frozen, shrunk ski boots he admitted defeat and started the long walk back down the mountain. Bless you George. The Chalet Amalien Haus staff also enjoyed a team bonding session with a night of tobogganing that was once again in the twilight hours. The Rodel track had an eerie feel as the dimly lit lanterns allowed the bare minimum of illumination, combined with the high speed sleds and the tight hairpin turns it turned out to be quite the hair-raising experience. There was a stop halfway down to indulge in the culinary treats provided by the Rodel-Alm where the famous pork knuckle (the size of a football) was consumed with tremendous enthusiasm. This increased George’s weight twofold which ultimately helped him to triumph in the race down to the bottom. A well needed victory after the embarrassment of the frozen ski boots from the previous night. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/action-packed-week Thu, 30 May 2013 11:02:31 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 26th February 2013 The stars continue to flock to St Anton and last week Sir Matthew Pinsent was spotted on the slopes with his BBC sports jacket and Team GB rucksack. At 6 feet 7 inches tall, he isn’t the most inconspicuous and was attracting quite a following of skiers trying to keep up with and race alongside the four time Olympic Gold medallist. The staff and guests at Chalet Amalien Haus refrained from the temptation of being star struck by the rower’s presence and instead went in search of the hidden powder stashes that Rendl Mountain had to offer. The weather has been a mix of sun and cloud, often with a soft blanket of cloud settling in the valley but allowing phenomenal views when up at high altitudes. As you can see the white topped peaks piercing through the clouded carpet make for quite the magical setting. The guests took advantage of the chalet’s Ski Event Managers’ local knowledge as we were tested to find the sunshine through the mist. We emerged victorious over Mother Nature as we dodged the constantly evolving haze to have a great blast around the mountain. "The human craving to escape from the trappings of modern day technological life magnetises many to the Alps. The natural simplicity of sky, sun, air, earth, jagged rock and frozen precipitation gives an insatiable mix of elements that elevates people out of their regular lives and into mountain utopia." (Amalien Haus' very own - Richard Sievewright) This cheesy poet can be seen in his very own mountain utopia in the picture below as he psyches himself up for another powder shoot back into town via the North Face of Rendl Mountain. As Half-Term comes to a close we are now saying farewell to the families and anticipating some large corporate groups arriving into the Arlberg ski area for fun and frolics. Happy skiing everyone! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/phenomenal-views-arlberg Thu, 30 May 2013 11:01:52 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 19th February 2013 So it is mid February and love was definitely in the air in St Anton as the Valentine’s Day spirit shot from cupids bow and straight into the heart of the Arlberg. There were roses circulating the nightspots as the gentlemen made attempts to romance chalet girls and guests, some successfully, but mostly not. There were also rumors that skiers and snowboarders alike were holding hands while skiing down the valley from the Valluga peak at 2811m. Cupids gaze seemed to shy away from the staff at Chalet Amalien Haus however, as we all seemed to be much more interested in racing down the black slopes and indulging in the sweet delights delivered by Pancake Day. The resort was gripped this weekend to the World Championship ski racing in Schladming, Austria where St Anton’s very own ‘Super’ Mario Matt managed to snatch third place in the slalom in a very nail biting and dramatic finale to the weekend’s races. Mario the owner of the famous apres-ski bar ‘The Krazy Kangaruh’ may be coming to the twilight of his career but he still impresses with his sharp turns and the residents of this gigantic ski are very proud of him. Blue skies and sunshine seem to be on the menu every day at the moment and that doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon. The snow conditions are strong and the crowds that usually come hand in hand with Half-Term week are being extremely well-managed with lift operators doing a sterling job and keeping lift queues to a minimum. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/love-was-in-the-air Thu, 30 May 2013 11:01:19 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 12th February 2013 What a last few days it has been in St Anton! With the snow seemingly incessantly pouring down from the heavens, the skiing has surely been the best we’ve had all season. We are at the point in the season where all of us working here at the Chalet Amalien Haus have managed to ski the area well enough to know where our favorite runs are, be it on a perfectly groomed piste early in the morning, or flying through clouds of powder in the middle of nowhere. We all agree that the Rendl side of the Arlberg ski area has its special attributes, especially when the sun comes out. From the perspective of the town it doesn’t look anything too exciting, however, take a trip up the lift and all the ins and outs of this perfect little ski area shall be revealed. If its piste skiing that you’re after then the place to go is Lech. Inconceivably wide pistes with a perfect gradient make this place something of a gem. For those lovers of famous ski routes, the White Ring is justifiably at the top of many people’s hit list. This 22km round course of Lech-Zurs-Lech is the setting for an annual ski race of the same name. Burning around the circuit in the morning and jumping on the bus back to St Anton for apres-ski in the Krazy Kangaruh, Taps or the Mooserwirt can unsurprisingly turn out to be the perfect day for many. For all of us off piste enthusiasts, we all know that St Anton is famous for providing plenty of great opportunities. Of all the sensational powder skiing that we have on our doorstep, a personal favorite would have to be Mattun, however there is so much scope for the powder hunters that there are always new places to find. With the Six Nations rugby in full swing, St Anton really is showing itself to be a true melting pot of different nationalities. Every game has somebody supporting their team and all of us in the chalet are right behind England in their Grand Slam bid! – Well, with the exception of Anna, who is Scottish! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/best-skiing-all-season Thu, 30 May 2013 11:00:45 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 5th February 2013 This week the rains came which demoralised the quaint mountain resort of St Anton for a couple of days. However, before you start to weep for the snow addicted seasonnaires, you don’t have to worry as a white blizzard promptly followed the rain. The slush of the lower mountain turned to soft fluffy powder fields in as quick a time as it takes to put on your skis! Staring out the windows of Chalet Amalien Haus at the golf ball sized flakes poetically floating from the skies, the mind started to wonder as to why we love this crazy sport so much. Some may say that consciously freezing yourselves to the bones whilst heading down a mountain at speed is an insane concept, but of course it isn’t. It’s awesome and we love it! We still flock to the slopes of the Arlberg ski area with as much enthusiasm as we had on our first day, and last week we hit the mountains with a group of returning guests. Sporting their best fancy dress surgeon outfits, they dissected the slopes in the day and the Piccadilly Bar by night; making the most of the perfect combination of incredible skiing and lively apres that St Anton has to offer! We look forward to another action-packed week, looking after our chalet guests and carving up the St Anton powder with our skis and boards. And to those who question our life in the mountains, we say… “Come join us and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. Surely this beautiful scenery of the Arlberg is enough to tempt you!” http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/come-join-us-st-anton Thu, 30 May 2013 11:00:10 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 30th January 2013 We come from a land down under’ was echoing round the peaks and valleys of St Anton on Saturday 26th as our Aussie friends were celebrating Australia Day. The Australia we know and love started with a group of Brits who explored into the unknown and discovered aboriginal soil for the first time. This day commemorates that achievement and to show their support, the famous apres-ski bar the Krazy Kanguruh threw a few shrimps on the ‘barbie’ to cater for the Australians and other partygoers who were out in force in St Anton. Also talking place last week was the Men’s World Cup Slalom in Kitzbuhel. Ski racer Marcel Hirscher gave a euphoric lift to all Austrian ski fans as he topped the podium to claim the honors. St Anton’s own Mario Matt is high up in the Slalom rankings and we wish him well flying our flag at the upcoming World Championships in Schladming in February. The chilling temperatures in resort are preserving the snow and keeping the ski conditions enjoyable. We are expecting plenty of fresh snow over the next 7 days which will quench our thirst for powder for a short while at least. And so after another fantastic week in St Anton, we hope all the Australians in resort enjoyed their national celebration in the mountains; although all were happy to swap their boomerangs and didgeridoos for boards and skis the next day! The team at Chalet Amalien Haus look forward to another action-packed few days on the slopes! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/australia-day-celebrations Thu, 30 May 2013 10:59:25 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 22nd January 2013 With the snowfall causing chaos in the UK, my word did winter hit St Anton last week as temperatures plummeted. Thermal clothing was the order of the week as we hit -15 to -20oC, but luckily at this temperature the snowflakes get an adrenaline boost and bond together which improves the quality of the snow. The blue sky graced us with its presence and with a couple of dustings of snow overnight, the powder hunters were out in force hiking to all four corners of the Arlberg ski area to discover those fresh untouched turns that everyone dreams about. The staff at the Chalet Amalien Haus also celebrated a couple of birthdays this week with a backcountry ski adventure that thrilled and inspired all involved. Our chalet guests have been loving the great snow conditions and sunshine, and whilst it was a little nippy, it was beautiful to enjoy the mountain views at lunch and apres. In St Christoph, the famous Hospiz Alm restaurant (at the Arlberg Hospiz Hotel) greeted the London Irish Rugby boys who flew down the slide to its famous wine cellar and picked up a Magnum of Red that vanished rather quickly during the afternoon. So, after another wonderful week of skiing St Anton, we leave you with an Inspirational ski quote: ‘Skiing in the snow saturated mountains can offer adventure and satisfaction that many other sports cannot provide. Delving amongst the gargantuan peaks allows self exploration of your mind, your body, and your abilities, and to do this through the medium of being a skier challenges boundaries and provides a feeling of freedom that can be cherished for life’ (Richard Sievewright) http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/winter-has-escalated-st-anton Thu, 30 May 2013 10:58:55 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 15th January 2013 The hills were alive with the sound of cow bells as the Women’s World Cup racers carved into town for the adrenaline injected Downhill and Super G races on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th. The clouds and snow surged into town on Thursday and Friday which meant that race training was cancelled on Friday and forced Lindsey Vonn et al to stay inside and paint and / or bite their nails (as mentioned on Twitter). But as the eyes of the world were upon St Anton, the heavens cleared for race day allowing the sun to beam on the perfectly manicured and technically demanding course. 23 year old Alice Mckennis from USA fired down the mountain at around 70 mph and took 1st place in a time of 1.14.62. The Austrian bombshell Anna Fenninger delighted the thousands of cow bell ringing fans lining the race course with a 3rd place finish. The Super G saw the Slovenian and current World Cup overall leader Tina Maze snatch the victory on another beautiful bluebird day. The atmosphere in the town has been electric with music pumping out along the main street; also bands, dance groups and world-famous skiers made appearances to entertain the fans infected with World Cup Fever. Chalet Amalien Haus' fabulous location meant we were in the heart of the action and the excitement in the valley soaked into our large corporate group for their four day ski trip. The Edmondson guys enjoyed some pristine fresh powder to float over, as well as loving the flowing beer from the Krazy Kanguruh and Piccadilly bar. As we now enter into low season the slopes will be nice and quiet, and after a warm start to January the temperatures are dropping and the snow is due to fall for the next 6 days. We wish the World Cup racers all the best in their relentless tour around Europe but we are more than happy to stay put in St Anton and ski on the plentiful supply of snow crystals that cover our pistes and back country. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/adrenaline-packed-weekend-st-anton Thu, 30 May 2013 10:58:23 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 8th January 2013 The New Year’s extravaganza in St Anton has been and gone and wow was it spectacular! It started on the downhill world cup piste on 30th December with an action-packed ski show including daredevil stunts on skis, snowboards, and even two firework spewing piste bashers got into the mix. Being cut up by skiers on the mountain is normally an annoyance but the local instructors of the Arlberg ski area didn’t seem to mind that day as they played chicken with their compatriots at break neck speeds and always just seemed to miss each other by a small matter of inches. The impressive ski demonstration was topped off with a giant firework display which engulfed the town in explosions of vibrant illuminations which dazed the crowd. The next evening the fireworks were out in force again for New Year’s Eve. Health and safety standards are a little more relaxed than in the UK, which made for an adrenaline-packed evening of rockets exploding all around! The locals and tourists spilled out onto the main street from the bars and restaurants in the final minutes of 2012, some sporting goggles to save their eyes from the expectant amateur firework display. The year was brought in with cigars and champagne and the tradition of Auld Lang Syne was successfully substituted rather fittingly with the crossed arm dance of Gangnam Style! New Year’s Day was a slumber filled occasion with the ski schools taking a day off and the pistes as quiet as mice. Feeling somewhat fragile, the community of St Anton forced itself up the mountain later in the day for some skiing and to hit the apres bars for a hair of the dog recovery plan. The staff of the Chalet Amalien Haus took advantage of the quiet slopes by hitting first lifts to enjoy the mountain air. I’m pretty sure that for some, first lifts were at 3pm; well they were that day anyway. From all of us at the Chalet Amalien Haus in Austria, we all wish you a very Happy New Year! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/new-years-extravaganza Thu, 30 May 2013 10:57:48 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 31st December 2012 Champagne celebrations in the snow Christmas is a magical time of year especially in the mountains, and of course St Anton is no exception. The fairy lights sparkle above the streets and we have that guaranteed white Christmas which so many people in the UK long for. The Austrians actually celebrate Christmas on the 24th December so all was calm and peaceful in the town on Monday night. Hundreds of people gathered at the church for the traditional midnight mass and to watch the brass band that plays outside the church after the service.  Christmas itself was a pleasantly warm day with temperatures reaching 6oC, so a fun ski day was had by all at the Chalet Amalien Haus. The sun was shining and the champagne was flowing on the slopes, with Resort Manager Kev pulling out all the stops to make our Christmas day special. We all returned to the chalet for a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings, the perfect end to our white Christmas. From all of us at the Chalet Amalien Haus, we hope you had an enjoyable Christmas and we wish you a very Happy New Year! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/wonderfully-white-christmas Thu, 30 May 2013 10:56:59 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 13th December 2012 This week the season got rocking and rolling with the lifts opening and the powder hunters starting to flow up the mountain. The Krampus festival was in town to give us a rather scary and in some cases painful introduction to the start of the season. A pre-Christmas tradition in St Anton, the Krampus are said to punish naughty children whilst St Nicholas rewards the ones who have been good. Local men dressed as these hairy beasts paraded up the main high street with fire and fury, stopping to whip the evil out of unexpected onlookers to make them pure for Christmas. Our Australian guest Matthew unwittingly upset one of the creatures and got a battle wound on his legs to remember St Anton by. I found this to be rather amusing but I wasn’t laughing for too long as I got whipped in a somewhat more delicate place not long after. The anticipation of the festive season was increasingly fuelled by the arrival of the Christmas market where the locals descended for carols and Gluhwein. This combined with the never-ending snowfall has lead to a phenomenal atmosphere in this famous mountain village. The snow has not disappointed and our guests impressively hit the slopes hard and the nightlife even harder. Their heads were often somewhat foggy and so was the mountain but they were always out the door early to go and carve the pistes and powder to shreds. While the seven Surrey guys where living it up in the Krazy Kangaruh and Mooserwirt for apres, the Australian guests where floating round the mist with a helmet cam in tow to capture some European skiing memories that will last for a lifetime. Take a look their Your Tube video of them skiing and snowboarding in St Anton. We guarantee it will leave you wanting to hit the slopes of the Arlberg as soon as possible! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/wonderful-st-anton-memories-first-guests Thu, 30 May 2013 10:56:22 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 4th December 2012 After a slightly worrying lack of snow, we need worry no more as the white stuff has arrived in bucket loads ready for the commencement of the 12/13 ski season. Over a foot of snow has fallen in the last 24 hours and as of right now the white gold is still cascading from the heavens. With the sudden snowfall and the snow canons putting in a double shift, the ski area will be ready for lift-off on Thursday (6th December). The piste bashers are out in force compacting the snow to create a solid base and the St Anton ski community is energized and excited for that first lift to power into motion on Thursday morning. This season the Flexiski team consists of Kev the Resort Manager, George and Rich the Ski Event Managers, Beth, Anna and Claire who are our Hostesses, Dave the Head Chef and Mike helping him in the kitchen. Chalet Amalien Haus, with its new team of staff, is up and running and held its first social evening of the season last night. A number of local friends, affiliates, bar owners and suppliers descended upon the polished chalet for a night of fine food and wine. Our head chef cooked up a storm and the atmosphere was charged with an infectious giddiness as the new season is within touching distance. The conditions should be ideal for the first day on Thursday with more snow forecast for the rest of the week, leading to great ski conditions for all. It goes without saying that we are all hugely excited about getting this fantastic opportunity to ski in such a prestigious ski area. We look forward to seeing you all out in St Anton this season and we are all looking forward to welcoming our first guests on Wednesday evening. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/excitement-st-anton-snow-starts-fall Thu, 30 May 2013 10:55:47 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 23rd April 2012 With the original St Anton resort team still intact, winter 2011/12 is ending as it started with our first guest of the season, Konrad Bartelski, Britain’s most successful World Cup downhill racer. The Amalien Haus staff prepare to say goodbye as we enter the close down stage. We are working hard to make the chalet ship shape for next season and are reminiscing about our time spent in Austria. These are just some of our favourite moments. A unanimous highlight for everyone was the amazing snow throughout season! Our favourite powder days include skiing through the trees under the Galzig and Fangbahn lifts, runs off the back of the Valluga down to Zurs village, ski routes down Mattun and some great runs in Stuben. One of the more adventurous days included Ski Event Manager Emma T’s highlight, boarding the Sonnokopf ski runs down to Langen Am Arlberg where she encountered an ‘escape tunnel to avoid frozen waterfall’ sign before catching the train back to St Anton. Our favourite events included the Krampus festival, which kicked off the season. There was also the street party and fireworks on New Year’s Eve, meals at the Underground bar, days spent improving techniques with Ski Schule Arlberg, having family and friends to stay at Christmas and tobogganing to Rodel Hutte on Emma G’s birthday. Our guests have also provided some memorable moments. Dave’s somersault into thick snow off the Mooserwirt terrace, taking over Murrmel Bar with the Morrissey group, Kit Kat eating and elastic band stretching competitions with Konrad, a South African New Year with the wonderfully fun Polkinghornes, and corporate ski days partying with the Simm group! Especially worth a mention are our ever loyal and returning guests (many within one season!); Simm, Camsey, O’keeffe, Nandos, Andy Black, Schweiger, Reid, Hucknell, Williams, Welch, Proctor, Schewitz, Keast, Wright, Moss, Newman and many more! After an amazing winter here, our final evening took us to the Hospiz Alm for a special meal; 7 delicious courses and a tour around the wine cellar was a night we will always remember. So from St Anton, it is time for the Amalien Haus 8; Kev, the 2 Emma’s, Tom, Carl, Rosie, Daisy and Sophie to say a final ‘Auf Wiedersehen!’ and we look forward to winter 2012/13. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/st-anton-season-finale Thu, 30 May 2013 10:54:56 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 20th April 2012 In April, with minds focusing on summer destinations, a spring trip to the mountains can often be overlooked. However, there are still plenty of reasons why the end of the season is one of the best times to come skiing in St Anton. As the season draws to a close, staff and visitors alike take the opportunity to bathe in the sunshine and work on that goggle tan. But don’t think for one minute that serious skiing cannot be found! It’s not uncommon to see plenty of snow in April and past seasons have surprised us with some great powder days enjoyed in blue skies and pleasant temperatures. These blue bird days provide the perfect opportunity to take an off-piste guide to seek out the best of the spring snow. April also brings an abundance of activities in St Anton. The annual ‘Taps Race’ is hosted by the Taps apres-ski bar and is a huge highlight, where teams compete for the fastest slalom time on a course prepared by Ski Schule Arlberg. This year, our Flexiski team from the Amalien Haus took to the course and achieved 19th place out of a possible 35. We didn’t think that was too bad considering the level of local professionals involved! Additionally, our very own Emma Thyer made us proud with an individual placing of 6th in the girls snowboarding category. After the prize giving and a performance from the live band, the party continued long into the night leaving everyone involved raving about it for days. Another highlight of spring in St Anton is Der Weisse Rausch (The White Thrill) where hundreds of people simultaneously race down from Valluga to the finish line. The first to take off their skis and clamber over a snow mound will be the one to claim victory. As a different bar closes each night, St Anton becomes host to its renowned closing parties with Bar Cuba, Piccadilly and Scotties being some of the biggest. However, the Krazy Kanguruh closing party is definitely the one not to be missed! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/spring-skiing-st-anton Thu, 30 May 2013 10:54:11 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 18th April 2012 A decent snowfall gave a powdery start to our last St Anton guests of the season. In the second week of April, we were excited to find there was enough fresh snow to ski some great off-piste routes. Ski Event Manager Emma G and Chalet Host Sophie joined Ski Schule Arlberg on an itinerary of the North Face of Rendl before tackling the hidden paradise at the back of the Riffell 2 lift down into Hinter Rendl. It was one of the best (and most exhausting!) days we’ve had and we would highly recommend anyone staying at the Amalien Haus to take a guide and experience it for themselves. The week’s chalet guests were a mix of 8 different small groups who all got along brilliantly. The groups were divided by skiing ability for their ski orientation sessions and after a wonderful morning getting to know each other everyone met for a lunch in the blazing sunshine of the Hospiz Alm terrace. From then on, the groups decided to continue skiing together in the warm weather. Chalet Amalien Haus also saw yet another celebrity stay – none other than the ‘Great British Paper Plane Throwing Champion’! Suffice to say, the lounge (usually host to pre-dinner drinks and canapes) became the arena for a spontaneous paper plane throwing competition where both guests and chalet staff fought for the crown. After a more civilised dinner, the chalet staff joined the guests at Bobo’s karaoke night where an unsuspecting group of male guests were signed up to sing the Greece classic ‘you’re the one that I want’. They certainly rose to the challenge and put everyone in the mood for the end of season closing parties. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/april-powder-st-anton Thu, 30 May 2013 10:53:36 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 3rd April 2012 For non-skiers staying in St Anton or those fancying a day off the slopes, the city of Innsbruck is an often forgotten gem. Its name derives from the German word Brücke meaning "bridge" which leads to "the bridge over the Inn". As the capital of the Tyrol region, Innsbruck is internationally famous for winter sports, especially after hosting the first Youth Winter Olympics this season. The beautiful city has many historical buildings, and a truly friendly ambience. As it is only an hour or so train ride away from St Anton, some of the staff at the Amalien Haus decided to head to Innsbruck on their day off: “Our train ride was exciting with beautiful scenery surrounding the train the whole way. Costing only €35 for the return journey, the super efficiency of the Austrian railways meant we weren’t a minute delayed! We set off with no map or idea of direction and wound our way through the wide, high buildings. Glorious sunshine drew us to some outside seating of a restaurant where we massively over ordered from the delicious-sounding menu. Feeling slightly full after our wonderful meal, the waitress kindly directed us towards the old town where we wandered around the cobbled streets, browsing the tourist knickknack shops and gazing at the painted buildings. It was even more charming than we had imagined. It was somewhat surreal to be in this relatively urban environment whilst being surrounded by the mountains that encircle the city. Innsbruck, of course, offers all of your more traditional high street shops, but you are never far from reminders of all of the world-famous alpine venues, just on Innsbruck’s doorstep.” “Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen” or Innsbruck I must leave you... I am sure the staff sang on their journey home. The city is far from being the only option for day trips in the Arlberg region. Another recommendation would be to take the inexpensive bus over to Lech for some luxurious shopping, or simply to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of this esteemed alpine village. The same bus will also take you to St Christoph, home of the 14th Century Hospiz, the Arlberg Hospiz which is now a 5* hotel. In the cellars of the hotel restaurant, they house the largest collection of big bottle red wine in the world. Tastings can be arranged, but an exploration of the cellar is an experience in itself. The restaurant is also a great choice for lunch – we would highly recommend the ribs! The large spa and wellness centre in St Anton has a wide variety of facilities and is a great option for a day of relaxation and detox…before, of course, the afternoon’s après-ski kicks off! Flexiski Ski Event Managers – ‘the 2 Emma’s’ visited the wellness centre, and talked us through their favourite St Anton après options a few weeks ago. Take a look at the blog if you missed out… http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/non-skiiers-st-anton Thu, 30 May 2013 10:53:04 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 27th March 2012 With just a couple of weeks remaining, we’ve had a look back at our favourite St Anton hotspots from this season. And in no particular order we have… Hotel Raffl’s St. Antonerhof Towards the more sophisticated end of the apres-ski, the Hotel Raffl’s has a huge warming log fire, great for enjoying a glass of wine on the sofa, served by friendly barmen Max and Bernt. Having said this, the bar has lively nights too with live music and dancing encouraged – we of course are only too happy to oblige. The hotel also has a fantastic restaurant, an ideal choice for a special meal. The Wellness Centre Ski Event Managers the Emma’s can often be found swimming lengths in the large outside pool or sat in the steaming hot whirlpool both of which enjoy spectacular mountain views. The centre has a wealth of facilities including spas, saunas, steam and massage rooms, as well as a gym, tennis court and an ice rink for those feeling a little more active. The highlight for the flexiski team is definitely the evening curling sessions on the ice rink – training for Sochi 2014 possibly? The Underground on the Piste The building and atmosphere of this place are very similar to its eccentric owner, Joan. This magical place has the perfect combination of apres, a quiet beer and a meal out. There is live music every evening, with varying musicians, no two nights here will ever be the same. The restaurant serves fantastic food and especially recommended is the almond coated baked Camembert. This rustic chalet is perfect for a chilled evening and a great place for all ages. Bar Cuba In the centre of the main street, Bar Cuba is home to reasonably priced drinks and live music by Andy Gibbs from 4. For the late night partiers Cuba is open until 2am. The bar has plenty of entertainment with wide screen televisions showing major sporting events, as well as a pool table and table football. ‘Shut the Box’ a game of luck is popular and ends in Jager for all, you just have to hope you’re not the one buying! Piccadilly, Post Keller A favourite of guests and staff alike, the Piccadilly bar has a lively reputation with live music enjoyed by everyone. After hours, under the same roof, the Post Keller is the late night venue in St Anton, with the party continuing and dance floor buzzing until 3.30am. Krazy Kanguruh Owned by local hero, Austrian slalom racer Mario Matt and run mostly by Andrea, they work hard to provide an apres-ski venue which is hard to beat. Fancy dress is not just accepted, but encouraged. From various animals to a group of 20 Elvis’s the fancy dress becomes more and more flamboyant each year. Even the staff can be seen skiing down the slopes in the kangaroo gear. The Krazy Kanguruh also makes a great lunch stop with portions to fuel a heavy afternoon’s skiing…if you can resist the temptation to make an early start on the apres! Scotty’s Scotty’s has a very comfortable feel, with a more laid back atmosphere than some of the bars. Having said this, the parties that they organise can be amongst the liveliest. These include a Full Moon Thailand Party, Beach Party, Geek night and a raffle evening. We can certainly recommend the Long Island Ice Tea. The Beach The Beach is located at the top of Rendl gondola and rather fittingly, is the top choice for a sunny day. Deck chairs and wicker seating on the balcony overlook a stunning view of the surrounding mountains. The seating is also a great vista to watch those who left their fear back in the village, testing out the newly improved snow park…some more successfully than others. Last weekend, the Amalien Haus team were there watching the Kirschbaum battle, a showcase of professional and local freestyle skills with skiing on the Saturday and boarders on the Sunday. We were of course cheering for our British riders! Jennewein Pure Sports For top class equipment and great advice, Jennewein is definitely the place to go. Run by our favourite crew of Austrians, each is very knowledgeable and makes a routine visit to the ski shop more of an experience. They include Gogo the Manager who now only ever skis at night with a head torch…why..? Who knows, ask him! The Mooserwirt Last but certainly not least, the Mooserwirt is a world famous Austrian apres-ski bar located just underneath the Galzig Gondola. The food is certainly worth mentioning in particular and unique to the Mooserwirt, is the large ostrich egg which you can share between your friends. DJ Gerhard has been there for the last 20 years dropping The Final Count Down at 3.30pm. Once everyone hears those opening chords, anything goes! Table dancing is encouraged whilst the waiters somehow manage to carry trays full of 30 steins of Weis beer and Jager bombs stacked on top without spilling a drop. And here’s a little fact for you, the Mooserwirt sells more beer here per sq foot than anywhere else in the Alps! So these are our favourite hangouts in St Anton. Do you agree? We’re certainly going to miss these places over the summer but we’ll be back to enjoy them all over again next winter! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/our-ten-favourite-places Thu, 30 May 2013 10:52:23 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 12th March 2012 We recently enjoyed carnival week in St Anton where we saw the streets filled with pretty market stalls boasting gorgeous crafts, jewellery, soaps, bags and foods. Exploring the market with a warming soup in hand was delightful. Another wonderful snowfall gave us such a fantastic covering that we now have great snow conditions guaranteed until the end of the season! With a slightly warmer mountain compared to the last few weeks, our guests have been making the most of the whole Arlberg ski area, taking day trips to explore Stuben, Lech and Zurs. Two of our guests, Madison and Robert booked Ski Event Manager Emma to ski with them for the duration of their stay. Madison found a new love of powder, constantly hunting out the biggest mounds to launch herself into. We also took the Temple and Heywood groups out for a morning orientation. Scouting out the quieter areas of the mountain, we headed over to Rendl where we took the photo above. It was an adrenaline filled morning as these excellent skiers practiced jumps, tackled moguls and clocked up speeds of 68 kph. Awards were handed out at the end of each day with prizes for the loudest song sung on a chair lift and funniest dismount from a chair lift. The prize for the best fall was clinched by Sarah for her spectacular wipe out on a black run. Sarah currently a student at Oxford Uni, worked a ski season a few years ago in the Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel 1850, so it was great to have her to stay with us at the Amalien Haus in St Anton. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/great-snow-conditions-guaranteed Thu, 30 May 2013 10:51:42 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 8th March 2012 The last few weeks have brought a cold spell to what has been a fairly mild winter so far. Extra layers have been worn and coffee breaks taken but despite the cold, the skiing has been amazing. No queues, empty pistes and perfect compact conditions allowed for some fast riding. With every run in town open and well groomed, the flexiski team have been trying their hand at something new. Tom the Chef showed off his newly learnt back flipping skills (very impressive), whilst Emma G, Sophie and Rosie’s first attempt at snowboarding proved successful (although, Emma G needs to learn that you have to hold on to your board when not attached to your feet). On the coldest day of the year, Ski Event Manager Emma T joined chalet guest Cliff Keast and his group for their ski orientation session to Stuben. Even with temperatures reaching a toe tingling -38°C, Cliff still managed to rack up 48 mph on his techno Garmin watch! Throughout their entire ski trip in St Anton, the group followed an impressive itinerary of après highlights, with some interesting fancy dress choices each night. On their first night they ventured to the Kandaha bar to watch Gunar, a long standing St Anton après star. The next evening at Piccadilly’s, the group even took to the microphone during Australian Andi’s performance. Aptly named, ‘Mr Gadgets’ group; the Keast party tweeted every aspect of their stay at the Amalien Haus. With a host of all singing, all dancing gadgets, they managed to keep a great record of each night out, so when memories were a little hazy in the morning, all could be revealed. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/-falling-temperatures-guests-accelerate Thu, 30 May 2013 10:51:04 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 27th February 2012 The team at the Amalien Haus decided to take full advantage of their Arlberg lift passes and explore the surrounding areas. Included in the lift pass is the ski area of Sonnenkopf. The easiest way to get there is to ski down into the picturesque village of Stuben on the long run from the top of Schindlerbahn. We had great powder off to the sides and managed to build up some fast speeds on the blue 17 with its wide perfect piste and gentle swooping turns. From Stuben, the free number 90 ski bus running every hour, takes you directly to the bottom of the Sonnenkopf ski area in 20 minutes. From there a bubble lift transports you to the main restaurant and gives you access to the great open blue and red pistes that make up this peaceful area. With a similar feel to Rendl, Sonnenkopf won us all over. Known for being a sun trap and reaching a height of 2,300 meters, Sonnenkopf kept perfect blue skies all day making the uncrowned pistes a treat to explore. Our favourite run was the returning red to the village with winding turns through the trees and great surprises round every bend, we loved it! Sonnenkopf offers something for everyone. There is some fantastic off piste, with spaghetti runs carving over the mountain. You can take the opportunity to seek powder between the slopes, along with some famous routes such as the short hike and long run back to Langen. The Pros are getting in on the action building kickers in the woods and playing in the powder. We enjoyed a quick stop in après bar ‘Kelobar’ for a Gluhwein and dancing, before our bus ride home. Of course you can take a taxi costing around €25 if you would prefer to avoid the bus or alternatively, take the bus to Langen and hop on a 10 minute train ride costing €2.50. However, we found the whole day out very pleasant and relatively hassle free. We are looking forward to our next trip there very soon. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/day-out-sonnenkopf Thu, 30 May 2013 10:50:29 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 17th February 2012 A number of our groups staying with us have opted to enjoy the incredible dining experience at the Hospiz Alm, something we would highly recommend to everyone whilst on an Arlberg ski holiday. Situated in the picturesque village of St Christoph, the Hospiz Alm is the gourmet restaurant of the Arlberg Hospiz Hotel and is easily accessible from St Anton day and night. During the day, intermediates can ski the wide runs to St Christoph taking in the wonderful views of the valley, whilst non-skiers or those feeling a little less energetic can take the public bus from St Anton which for a couple of Euros drops you right outside the Hospiz Alm in just ten minutes. The Thomas party opted for an indulgent evening meal at the Hospiz Alm allowing them to savour their three courses of traditional Austrian cuisine over a good couple of hours. The highlight of their evening was the tour of the incredible wine cellar which boasts the largest collection of large bottle wines in the world. To really get into the spirit of things, the group hand-picked a five litre bottle to leisurely enjoy over dinner. The Jones party joined Ski Event Manager Emma T on the mountain for an exploration of the pistes over to Stuben. Battling some stormy conditions they beat their way down Blue 17 (one of our absolute favourite runs) and then returned to St Christoph for lunch and the warming fire in the Hospiz Alm. The group enjoyed a Wiener Schnitzel and attempted the renowned Hospiz Ribs, both perfect choices for re-charging your batteries ready for an afternoon on the slopes. Resort Manager Kev and the two Tom’s have been busy looking after a large corporate group who were staying at the Hotel Banyan for the weekend. Some great skiing was had by all with plenty of fresh powder. We arranged for group to have a fabulous lunch as the Hospiz Alm where they also enjoyed the memorable wine cellar tour. Embracing the St Anton après-ski, a couple of lively nights were had at Piccadilly and Kandahar where Gareth set the dance floor alight with his ‘Moves like Jagger.’ The Harrisons were staying with us at the Amalien Haus whilst visiting their daughter who is working in St Anton for the season. They enjoyed some great après sessions at ‘The Underground’ and ‘Anthony’s’ where they became very popular with the regulars. The Moss group also got the party started at the new Chalet Girl Party taking place at Anthony’s every Wednesday and featuring music by a Ministry of Sound DJ. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/hospiz-alm Thu, 30 May 2013 10:49:51 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 03rd February 2012 The boys were well and truly in town when a group of Electricians filled the Amalien Haus on their corporate ski trip. They wasted no time in embracing the St Anton spirit and headed straight to après bar ‘The Underground on the Piste’. The following day, some people took the morning to recover, (no names mentioned...) but all eventually all hit the slopes to get the most out of the fresh powder. Flossy, one of the Arlberg Ski School instructors, who graced us with his musical talent in the Underground the night before, took some of our first time skiers out for a few mornings of lessons. Resort Manager Kevin and Ski Event Managers Emma G and Emma T split the remainder of the group for their Ski Event Management days, all heading up the Rendlbahn to play on the amazing amounts of snow falling all day. With the snow depth measuring 450cm at the top of Galzig we have been experiencing the best powder conditions for a very long time; we are not even exaggerating when we say we were chest deep in the stuff… Amazing! The group had a great stay in St Anton with plenty of amusing and memorable moments throughout; one of which was when one guest suffering from a room mate’s rather loud snoring, ended up taking a little snooze on the Rendl gondola. The group certainly made the most of the St Anton and took the party to all the après bars including Krazy Kangaruh, the Mooserwirt and Piccadilly. We are very much looking forward to the group returning next year. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/corporate-spark Thu, 30 May 2013 10:49:26 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 13th February 2012 We’ve had a busy couple of weeks in St Anton with events taking place such as Australia Day, the Red Bull Hutten Rallye and our own night sledging races. Australia Day is always a lively affair in St Anton due to the number of Australian seasonnaires in resort, and this year didn’t disappoint! As always, there was a great celebratory atmosphere in town and the après-ski bars such as the Krazy Kanguruh were full to the brim with everyone making sure they were part of this legendary party! For the next couple of days, the Red Bull Hutten Rallye took over the town from 27th & 28th January. Some of the world’s best skiers gathered in St Anton to take part in this extreme ski competition which featured head to head racing over a series of man-made farmer huts under the Gampen Chair Lift. It was an incredibly entertaining spectator's sport, filled with plenty of action, crashes and amazing skill. We were particularly excited about seeing Daron Rahlves, the former American Freestyle champion. Watching the ski racing left the Amalien Haus team wanting to take part in some adrenaline pumping activities of our own. So to celebrate Emma G’s birthday we headed out to try our hand at Rodelling (night sledging on a course), which we loved and now can’t get enough of! It’s a somewhat unusual experience taking the Nasserein bubble at night but once at the top, the winding and purpose-built course leads you back down to the town. A few drinks stops and a huge meal at the Rodel-Alm made for a truly wonderful evening. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/st-anton-it-gives-you-wings Thu, 30 May 2013 10:47:28 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 7th February 2012 The Amalien Haus recently welcomed the Morrissey party; a large group of friends and work colleagues. Although they were on a short ski break, the group ensured they made the most of their time in St Anton by taking advantage of the ski orientation service offered by Ski Event Managers Emma G and Emma T. With more of the mountain opening up after heavy snowfall, the group were here at the perfect time to find fresh tracks. Group leader David and four others headed out for an off piste day led by Christoph, a private guide from local company ‘St Anton Classic’ which they later described as ‘one of the best days of our lives’! The Arlberg Ski School has also been popular this week with many of the group opting to take skiing lessons. First timer Ed had a great day on the mountain learning the basics…even if he did forget to take goggles in the heavy snowfall! With tables reserved at après-ski venues the Mooservirt and Krazy Kangaruh (KK), the group had chance to reconvene and chat about the events of the day. It wouldn’t be a party in the KK without dancing on tables in ski boots to which the group embraced in true St Anton style! The following day after a wonderful morning skiing the tree lined runs of the Nasserein and Gampen, the group stopped for a hearty lunch at the Hospiz Alm; now almost unrecognisable nestled under its snowy blanket. That evening, we joined the group in sampling new bar Murmell which got the thumbs up after a great night of dancing to 80’s classics in the downstairs club. Thursday gave way to blue skies and warm temperatures unusual for for this time of year, which made ideal conditions for skiing followed by a drink on Rendl Beach in the sunshine. After a great stay in St Anton, the group departed on the Sunday armed with plenty of stories to make their colleagues jealous on their return to the office the next day. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/perfect-time-fresh-tracks Thu, 30 May 2013 10:46:45 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 18th January 2012 The South African Polkinhorne party were with us at the Amalien Haus over the New Year with their friends staying all over St Anton and Lech. The Youth Winter Olympics torch reached St Anton on their first evening which was celebrated with a street party and fireworks. Dinner was held early so the families were able to watch the First Ski Snow show held on the 30th December, celebrating the start of the weekly event happening every Wednesday from now on. The event showcases the talents of St Anton Ski Schools instructors. It was a fantastic display from the team, a finale of fireworks and a torch lit decent summed up a great evening. St Anton goes mad for New Year’s Eve celebrations! To begin our guests had dinner and a couple of drinks in town. The Hotel Post blasted music into the street where lots of people were gathering. There were even more fireworks, plenty of dancing and the beginning of 2012 was celebrated in style with the party continuing into the early morning. On the days that followed, Ski Event Manager Emma G took 8 of the group for a ski orientation to Stuben where they stopped for lunch in the Berg Haus Stuben to sample Rosti, a delicious Austrian dish. Skiing conditions were very snowy but a very persistent and happy group had a fantastic day! On the Tuesday, we woke up to bright blue skies shining over the fresh snowfall and the group made the most of these fantastic conditions with a ski orientation to nearby Lech. Emma G and Kev took a 23 strong group around the Wiese Ring (White Ring); a scenic route which takes you full circle from Zurs through Zug, Lech and Oberlech. It was certainly a challenge keeping the group together, especially when the curious children decided to explore the powder through the trees! Meanwhile Emma T took a smaller group to Lech where they had a cheeky stop at the famous Frozen Ice Bar. We all met up for lunch at the Hotel Salome in Oberlech and enjoyed the stunning view. It was an amazing day thoroughly enjoyed by all! Each evening brought an awards ceremony which enlightened us about the group’s antics during the day and there was certainly never a dull moment throughout their new year’s ski trip! The Richardson’s enjoyed their stay so much they opted to extend their visit with a 3 night stay in a Lech hotel. Also with us over the New Year were the Hills, welcome return guests of Flexiski! They embraced all that St Anton had to offer with the occasional extended après parties and some great skiing, they were a great addition to our South African party. We will certainly miss them and hope to see them next year with the children! The snow has been fantastic, with over 4 meters of fresh snow recorded on top of the Galzig, waste deep powder is everywhere. Each day is getting better and better. We can’t wait to see what next week brings. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/new-year-st-anton Thu, 30 May 2013 10:46:08 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 5th January 2012 The Christmas week brought 10 separate groups to the Amalien Haus including two of the Chalet Hosts’ families. Everyone got on amazingly well which created the perfect Christmas atmosphere. Those who were ‘well behaved’ were visited by Father Christmas, particularly Harry (our Chalet Host Sophie’s brother) who received hordes of goodies. On Christmas morning a breakfast of smoked salmon and poached eggs was served by three elf representatives Rosie, Daisy and Sophie which set the tone for the day. We held Christmas Carols around the tree during pre-dinner canapés and then were impressed by Chefs, Carl and Tom, who did themselves proud with an incredible spread of chilli garlic prawn salad for starter, turkey, roast potatoes, roast vegetables, stuffing and bread sauce followed by Christmas pudding. The evening was a great success. Many of our guests this week have taken the opportunity to use the expertise of the St Anton Ski Schule to improve their ability on the mountain. Jeremy a regular guest with flexiski joined an advanced ski school lesson and made some great friends. He later became a fan of The Underground on the Piste, a traditional après bar with live music and a homely atmosphere, where he was joined by some of the flexiski team for a beer. The Shrimpton party opted to ski with Piste to Powder, an off piste guiding company who are able to take people out to some fantastic areas in the Arlberg ski area. After a week or two of heavy snow it finally cleared up to reveal blue skies and fresh powder for Christmas in St Anton. The village looked beautiful with white trees, icicles hanging from roofs and snow covered surroundings. We celebrated with a glass of bubbly on the mountain with the kitchen team dressing as Father Christmas and his Reindeer creating quite a sight on the mountain. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/christmas-in-amalien Thu, 30 May 2013 10:45:25 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 4th January 2012 It’s all about the snow, and with resorts in France and Switzerland having to close because of the huge volumes received, St Anton was in its element. With a new coating of fresh powder every day in mid-December, we experienced the best skiing of our lives. We had a full chalet of guests at the Amalien Haus which included fellow TUI staff member Darren Twilley, frequent returners the Suttons and an extended family group, the Boothrights and Scobies. After a great orientation session with Emma T, the Boothrights opted to take full advantage of the Ski Event Manager service and carved up the mountain every day. Guest Mark decided that the metres of snow in town would not prevent him from wearing his flip flops and shorts out at night, and that’s exactly what he did! During their stay the Boothright party took the opportunity to visit Lech and Zurs with Kev the Resort Manager leading the group. The day started with perfect powder and blue skies before stopping for a celebratory birthday lunch at the Berg Hotel in Oberlech. Meanwhile Emma G gave a ski orientation to Twilley party with their very own ‘Party Boy’ with his personal boombox which certainly turned a few heads on the mountain! Emma G took the Sutton party up the mountain to enjoy the fresh powder conditions and show off her “off piste skillz.” The group enjoyed lunches at the Hospiz Alm and après-ski drinks at the Mooserwirt and another great week was had by all! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/best-snow Thu, 30 May 2013 10:44:47 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 4th January 2012 On the 7th December, myself (Amy) and my colleague Anita were lucky enough to escape the Flexiski head office to travel out to Courchevel 1850 for a short ski break in the Hotel Saint Louis before the beginning of the season. Having had little snow in the build up to December, the surrounding mountains had been looking worryingly green and there was little promise of getting any skiing done whilst out in Courchevel. However, the snow gods were looking down on us and we arrived in resort to be welcomed by two feet of fresh snow and not a blade of grass in sight. Despite the huge downfall of snow and the piste bashers running tirelessly through the night, only a couple of the main ski lifts in Courchevel were open during that time. However, on the plus side this meant that the slopes were empty with plenty of fresh tracks to be made, and it certainly beats being in Surbiton! With bright sunshine and fresh powder, Courchevel was looking its very best and after an enjoyable morning on the slopes we stopped to refuel at the Hotel Saint Louis’ terrace restaurant - La Terrasse. Ok, we are a little biased, but La Terrasse really does provide an ideal lunch stop. Set just off the Bellecote piste, the restaurant serves a mouth-watering selection of reasonably priced alpine cuisine from French Onion Soup to stone-baked pizzas, with prices starting around €5. It was great getting to know the staff at the Hotel Saint Louis and being able to put a ‘face to the name’ as we speak to them on a daily basis. The hotel has a great atmosphere and the food is of a really high standard. Three days of skiing was certainly needed in order to work off the extra pounds gained through over-indulging on the daily cooked breakfast, afternoon tea and five-course evening meals! Our last night at the hotel was a Friday and so we were lucky enough to experience the live performance by Bring Your Sisters. Bring Your Sisters are a well-known après-ski band in the Three Valleys area and the Hotel Saint Louis are privileged to have them as their resident après-ski band. They will be playing at the hotel every Friday night throughout the season with things getting going around 5pm for a couple of hours of lively entertainment before dinner! We were both really sad to be leaving the snowy peaks of Courchevel 1850 but rest assured, we will be back to the Hotel Saint Louis at any given opportunity…besides there are three more pizzas on the La Terrase menu which need sampling. Thanks to the Hotel Saint Louis for a great stay. Amy (Flexiski Sales Consultant) http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/snowy-weekend Thu, 30 May 2013 10:44:43 +0100 Originally posted 29th December 2011 On 11th December, three members of the Flexiski head office came to stay at the Amalien Haus to see what they are missing out on! Aodhan, Tom and Louise from Sales and Marketing, spent three days in resort to improve their knowledge of St Anton and the Arlberg ski area. After flying into Innsbruck and taking the train transfer to St Anton, they spent the afternoon visiting our portfolio of St Anton hotels, including the Hotel Banyan, the Sporthotel and the charming Hotel Raffl’s St Antonerhof. On the first night they enjoyed our pre-dinner drinks and canapes, then sat down for our four-course evening meal to get a taste of what our flexi chalet chefs Carl and Tom can create. Of course, a visit to St Anton wouldn’t be complete without sampling the bars and so we all headed out for a lively first evening in Bar Cuba, just a convenient 30 second walk from the Amalien Haus. The following day, Ski Event Managers Emma G and Emma T took the boys on a ski orientation around St Anton and nearby St Christoph. We were all keen to steal some top tips from Tom, a qualified ski instructor of past seasons! Meanwhile, beginner skier Louise, took advantage of a day’s lesson with the Arlberg Ski School which was founded in 1901, making it the region’s oldest ski club. The UK staff also spent a day in the picturesque town of Lech, where they paid a visit to each of the hotels there and sampled a delicious but enormous Apple Strudel in the Hotel Monzabon. For the duration of their stay the snow was falling in abundance laying down a great layer for our next guests! After their three night stay, we bid goodbye to the UK team members and prepared for a full chalet of new arrivals. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/taste-of-season-life Thu, 30 May 2013 10:43:57 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 28th December 2011 After a great stay in the Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel last season, British ski racing legend Konrad Bartelski and friends came away with Flexiski again, this time staying with us at the Amalien Haus in St Anton. The ski lifts opened on the 8th December just in time for Ski Event Managers Emma G and Emma T to take members of the group for a ski orientation session on their first day. With fresh snow and blue skies, we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect opening! A frequent visitor to St Anton, Konrad made sure that his group sampled the best that the area has to offer including a lunch at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph and an evening of live music at the après-ski pub Underground on the Piste back in St Anton. After a great stay, we were very sad to see the group leave, especially Santa and his elves who got the staff involved in various games including a Kitkat eating competition one night after dinner! The atmosphere in St Anton was buzzing in the beginning of December, largely due to the arrival of over 300 of our snow-loving friends from around the world, arriving for the annual Burton Conference being hosted in St Anton this year. In addition to this, St Anton's most famous apre-ski venue - the Mooserwirt was in full swing as filming took place for the TV show 'Apres Ski Hits', where anything goes to get some air time! Never a dull moment in St Anton! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/skiing-legends Thu, 30 May 2013 10:42:58 +0100 St Anton Aspen’s traditional mining roots are still strongly evident in its historic buildings. However, instead of digging for silver, visitors to the town are now looking for the best mountain experience in what has become one of the most fashionable ski resorts in the USA. Not only is Aspen famous for its uncrowded slopes and world-class powder, the resort also offers vast and challenging skiing to keep even the most serious snow lovers satisfied! From exploring the diverse ski area to enjoying the trendy apres-ski scene, here are our top five suggestions for things to do on and off the slopes whilst on ski holidays in Aspen. Powder tours This is definitely one of the best ways to make fresh tracks on Aspen’s incredible powder! Groups of 12 with their two guides are taken by luxury snowcat to prime untracked locations around Aspen Mountain. Routes are specifically chosen based on the group’s ability and the best daily snow conditions. A cabin lunch is included, as are snacks and drinks, so you’ll certainly not go hungry. With no lift queues and no crowds, you simply get to experience some of the most exhilarating off-piste skiing that the Rocky Mountains have to offer. Yoga sessions If you’re feeling flexible, why not try practicing your ‘Downward Facing Dog’ or ‘Tree’ positions? Throughout the winter, the Aspen Ski Company offers yoga sessions every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings, aimed at getting you fighting fit for a great day of skiing. Taking place at the Sundeck restaurant on Aspen Mountain (don’t forget your lift pass!), you should get there for 9.30am to get those stretches in before heading off down the mountain. Yoga mats are provided, so you don’t have to pack one in your suitcase and sessions last about 1 hour. Best of all, it’s totally free! Champagne treasure hunts From February onwards, thirsty skiers have the opportunity seek out the ‘Oasis’ - the world’s first ski-in ski-out pop up champagne bar. Every weekend, this Veuve Cliquot champagne bar is hidden in a secret location on Aspen Mountain. To enjoy a cold flute of sparkling fizz, follow the clues given by The Little Nell’s Facebook and Twitter pages to find the bright yellow umbrellas, situated somewhere on the slopes. The constantly changing location of this pop-up bar gives a unique twist to exploring the slopes, with your own sophisticated adult treasure hunt! An evening winter wonderland for the whole family On Friday nights, Elk Camp on neighbouring Snowmass mountain is transformed into a the perfect winter wonderland in honour of the Norse God of Snow ‘Ullr’. Friends and families can take part in traditional outdoor winter activities including ice skating, snowbiking and sledding, and there’s live music, entertainment and a bbq. You can also ride the gondola for sunset skiing until the early evening! However no ‘Ullr night’ is complete without the compulsory hot chocolate and s’mores around the bonfire. For those not in the know, s’mores are delicious sweet treats made by roasting together crackers, chocolate and marshmallows! Apres at 39 Degrees Apres-ski is a big part of any resort and Aspen is no exception. One of the most legendary spots is the 39 Degrees Lounge at Aspen’s Sky Hotel, situated at the bottom of the slopes. The atmosphere is buzzing both inside and out, and you may even get to spot a celebrity or two! Its outdoor pool and Jacuzzi are open all year round, and thanks to the wonderfully large outdoor heaters you can relax with drinks by the poolside. Inside, big comfy sofas and a roaring fire accompany a lively atmosphere, tasty food and great drinks. For something a bit different, try the Botox Martini which comes with two cherries, one wrinkled and one pristine! This is just a small snippet on what’s on offer in Aspen as a huge range of activities and events take place all season round. You are guaranteed a warm American welcome and we especially love the small everyday touches such as free coffee and suncream on the mountain, as well as the complimentary orientation sessions given by volunteer mountain ambassadors every morning. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/our-five-favourite-things-aspen Thu, 30 May 2013 10:42:28 +0100 Originally posted 15th December 2011 A large party of family and friends were our first guests to arrive at the Amalien Haus this season, here to enjoy a ski holiday in St Anton for a birthday celebration. They had the perfect start to their stay when a surprise visitor, best friend of the birthday girl Carrie flew over from New York to surprise Amy with her visit. Then they started their holiday with a bang, heading to the PostKeller club for the opening party where we organised the best table in the house and service from Stefan the Manager. Amy’s 40th birthday kicked off with a beer or two at the top of the Galzig gondola, followed by a personally tailored lunch in the authentic Austrian Hotel Raffl’s St Antonerhof, where they were greeted by a glass of Champagne and an open log fire. Friend Ben had constructed the most gorgeous video for Amy, of friends and family sharing their birthday wishes, a beautiful tear jerking evening. We postponed dinner at the chalet so that our guests could enjoy the Krampus Parade which was set off with a beautiful backdrop of falling snow. It was quite the event, with fantastic costumes, crazy Austrian rock music, some impressive fire-blowing and a fireworks display. With a Gluwein in hand, staff and guests watched the festivities in amazement as the scary Christmas devils ‘the Krampusse’ put fear into the main streets of St Anton. With a slow start to the ski season on the snow front, the weather certainly made up for it last week with a constant snowfall coating the whole of the Alps and transforming St Anton into a winter wonderland. We are delighted that the lifts are now open and we’ve also had the ceremonious collection of our own lift passes! The 2011/12 ski season is finally arrived in St Anton! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/first-guests-and-first-snow-season Thu, 30 May 2013 10:42:00 +0100 St Anton Originally posted 19th November 2012 Taking place over Friday 30th and Saturday 31st March 2013, ‘Winter Sessions’ is a boutique festival in the heart of the French Alps. Set in the popular ski resort of Chamonix, the Winter Sessions weekender takes place on and off the slopes of the Mont Blanc Massif, and combines fantastic live gigs, world-class DJ’s and jaw-dropping snowsports demonstrations. The festival gets going on Friday 30th at 17.00 with a warm-up apres session featuring local acts from Chamonix. Throughout the weekend, parties will be going on in eight venues and stages along the Chamonix valley, including underground clubs turned into ice-rinks and funky cocktail bars where you can party until dawn. This is a great option for those on ski holidays in Chamonix that week, giving you the opportunity to combine fantastic skiing with festival events. We offer a wide selection of Chamonix hotels and more information about the festival line-up and programme can be found at wintersessions.net. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/combine-great-skiing-festival-celebrations-chamonix Thu, 30 May 2013 10:41:41 +0100 Originally posted 12th April 2013 As the final week of the season draws to a close, Courchevel is slowly shutting down. Guest numbers are declining and by Sunday all of our guests will have left the hotel for this winter. But just like the start of the season, the heavens have opened and April showers (of snow) are covering the resort for some great spring skiing. From Saturday however, the sun will shine and temperatures will rise, with the resort freezing level going from 1400m to 3650m in a week! T-shirts will be coming out and there will be some awesome goggle tans on show. During the last few weeks there have been lots of charity events taking place, including the Huck Cancer Race Day. However the snowy conditions proved too hard for some competitors who had to pull out and the BBQ conditions were also far from ideal. Nevertheless, many smiles were seen and lots of money was raised for a good cause. A good spring clean of the Hotel Saint Louis is taking place, giving everyone time to reflect on what a fantastic season it has been. We are all thrilled to have had best snow in the past 10 years and grateful that we picked this season to work in Courchevel. Sadly, some of the staff will soon be heading home to the UK, with the first flight back on the 13th April. It will be a sad time, having to say goodbye to one another after a season with such wonderful memories. However, with such strong friendships formed and even a couple of relationships, we are sure that it won’t be the last we see of each other! So from all the staff at the Hotel Saint Louis, it’s a goodbye for now and we look forward to seeing you all again next year. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/hotel-saint-louis-says-goodbye Thu, 30 May 2013 10:40:45 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 26th March 2013 With three weeks left until the Hotel Saint Louis says goodbye to its winter guests for this year, we can truly say that it has been a fantastic season so far! We’ve had good snow cover every day since the lifts opened and it’s not over yet! In the last weeks alone we have enjoyed 40cm of fresh powder, providing us with wonderful snow coverage for the Easter weekend and remaining weeks of the season. The hotel was fully booked last week with everyone wanting to make the most of the great conditions here in Courchevel, unlike back in the UK where we hear it has been miserable. The snow did cause a slight delay to the start of the X Games in Tignes but once the clouds left, it was the usual thrilling and breathtaking competition with every top freestyle athlete from around the world competing. As always, there is plenty of apres taking place the Three Valleys this week. If you fancy something a little bit different, Jacks bar in Meribel have a live gig by Ram Raid followed by an air guitar competition to win a pair of K2 skis. Here at the Hotel Saint Louis we will have our popular Friday apres session with Rich from Bring Your Sisters. All of the Saint Louis staff are very much looking forward to the last few weeks of the season. Hopefully our guests will be enjoying sunny mornings on the slopes and leisurely outdoor lunches on La Terrasse, so why not come and experience the Three Valleys for yourself?  http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/40cm-snow Thu, 30 May 2013 10:39:54 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 27th February 2013 We have come to the end of the British Half-Term holidays and what a fantastic week it has been in the Three Valleys. Conditions were good and the sun has been shining all week allowing our goggle tans to come along nicely. The Hotel Saint Louis was bustling with guests, as well as instructors and children from Magic Ski School’s lessons that pop into the hotel for their lunch. The hotel’s Friday apres slot with Rich from Bring Your Sisters was especially lively with plenty of hotel guests and other Courchevel visitors singing along and even requesting to do their own karaoke. A lack of powder at the end of last week tamed the boys’off-piste skiing but we all made up for it with our apres instead. La Folie Douce over in Meribel is always a popular choice and their dancers, musicians and champagne showers were out in full force. Convinced that we saw Cameron Diaz dancing on the tables in the VIP section, the sun disappeared behind a cloud and a quick glimpse without her sunglasses left us sorely disappointed. After an unsuccessful day of celebrity spotting we retired back to the hotel, recharged and recouped before heading down to Kudeta for their questionably themed beach party. This week is set to be a similar scenario in Courchevel with French Half-Term finishing off a very busy February. Conditions will be superb as we move into March having enjoyed over 10cm of fresh snow on Sunday and more sunshine forecast for the week ahead. What more could we wish for? http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/fantastic-half-term-week Thu, 30 May 2013 10:39:15 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 19th February 2013 The weather has turned and after another 7 days of snow, the sun has come out ready for the influx of skiers to the Three Valleys this weekend. The hotel is full with families on their Half-Term ski holidays and the staff are having great fun, working hard to ensure everything runs smoothly and taking their free time to chat with guests and offer their recommendations for the best skiing in the Three Valleys. As ever in good weather, some of the boys from the Hotel Saint Louis, have taken to the extreme off piste, hitting Butchers, Equinox and the 5th Couloir dropping ’25 ft cliffs’. Meanwhile some of the more leisurely skiers ventured over to Meribel, keeping the apres-ski alive at the Rond Point, La Folie Douce, then down into Jacks for a lengthy game of pool and a few more drinks. Myself (Lucy) and other Hotel Saint Louis staff members Rosie and Charlie went out this morning for a pre-work ski, and conversation on the lift soon turned to how these are some of the best conditions we have seen all season. The snow is fantastic, the resort is bustling and restaurants and bars are putting on great apres entertainment ensuring that Courchevel is set for a wonderful Half-Term week. Events in Courchevel this week include the ‘Snow and Fire Show’ on Tuesday down in Courchevel Moriond (1650). Instructors from the ESF Ski School put on an incredible demonstration of winter sports techniques, lit with torches and followed by fireworks whilst spectators are served mulled wine. However, this is just a taster for the fireworks we will see at the ‘International Festival of Pyrotechnic Art’ which starts this Thursday in Courchevel and runs until 14th March. This spectacular event sees four specialist teams from Belgium, Austria, Spain and Germany competing to showcase the best in mountain fireworks each week. With the Austrian team’s display taking place in 1850 next week along with a torch lit descent from ESF instructors, we are looking forward to a fantastic couple of weeks of fireworks and illuminations. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/sun-has-come-out Thu, 30 May 2013 10:38:31 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 1st November 2012 Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to explore some of the most famous ski resorts in the USA. Having only ever skied in Europe, most notably the Three Valleys, could these North American resorts possibly live up to my expectations? After landing at Denver and picking up my car rental, I started my quest to Colorado’s famous Rocky Mountains. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the highways are to navigate and reached my first destination, Breckenridge, within just 2 hours. So far, so good. As you enter Breckenridge, you can immediately see the town’s well preserved mining legacy. Colourful old buildings line the streets and historic wooden cabins are nestled in-between modern day amenities. Once settled into my hotel, I was keen to grab a bite to eat and as is common in the USA, my hotel was on a ‘room only’ basis, giving me plenty of opportunity to discover local restaurants and their mammoth sized portions. I headed for Main Street, the focal point of the town, where the majority of shops, hotels and amenities are located. I was spoilt for choice with dining options which range from your typical American diner and fantastic steakhouses through to fine dining establishments. Opting for a charming Italian restaurant, I watched the street come alive with its bustling bars and live music. With regards to the skiing, the resort offers something to suit all levels. The ski area is easy to navigate due to the mountains’ simple names (well numbers actually). Peaks 7 and 9 offer the best slopes for beginners and intermediates while Peaks 8 and 10 provide a greater challenge with some easy blacks, single diamonds and the notorious double diamonds runs. Being at such a high altitude (the Breckenridge ski area reaches an impressive 3915m), this snow-sure resort enjoys long seasons with plenty of snow. I wasn’t disappointed with the powder even at the end of April. As I discovered, Breckenridge also provides the ideal base for exploring this huge ski area which extends to the nearby resorts of Copper Mountain, Keystone, Beaver Creek and Vail all of which are covered under the same ski pass! As I packed my bags ready to head to my next destination, it was clear that Breckenridge had provided me with the perfect introduction to skiing in the USA and I was keen to see what the other resorts had to offer. 45 minutes down the highway and I arrive at the Tirolean inspired resort of Vail. I knew that Vail has been developed based on the Austrian resort of St Anton but the similarities really are remarkable. The resort has such a cosmopolitan and European feel, that you could be mistaken for thinking you are in the Austrian Alps rather than Colorado. Vail itself is a vast ski resort including the 4 villages of Vail Village, Golden Peak, Lionshead and Cascade Village. Although the resort is large, there is a free and efficient bus service linking the areas so getting around is fairly effortless. Being the largest ski area in the USA, I was keen to get back on the mountain, and as would be expected, I found plenty of skiing to suit all levels. The front of Vail Mountain has some well-groomed runs cut through the trees, then once over the ridge you will find the famous back bowls and the Blue Sky Basin. Similar to Breckenridge, Vail lives up to its reputation for impeccable American customer service and impressive resort amenities. The ski school has a particularly good reputation with wonderful facilities for children with themed days and adventures in the terrain park. The resort celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year and to mark the occasion a brand new lift from Vista Bahn (Vail Village) is also opening ready for the 12/13 season. There are plenty of celebrations and festivities planned throughout the season, so maybe another ski holiday to Vail needs to be on the cards this winter! Last but by no means least I conclude my trip in the chic resort of Aspen. Also from a mining background, Aspen is now one of the most famous ski resorts in the USA. Although renowned for attracting the rich and famous, I was pleased to find that there is plenty to suit all budgets with resort visitors including seasonnaires, students, families and couples. Aspen town is situated at the base of Aspen Mountain, although the ski area extends over a further 3 mountains: Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. Whilst Aspen Mountain is certainly more challenging than its neighbours, Buttermilk is great for beginners and the Aspen Highlands (3km from Aspen Town) offers an intermediate’s paradise. Snowmass, modern and purpose built, also has some terrific intermediate terrain. As with Vail, you’ll find the frequent and free shuttle bus service running down the valley to all areas. The pretty town is based on a grid system making it really easy to get around and you’ll find 100 bars and restaurants to choose from, as well as numerous galleries and boutiques to bide your time while not on the slopes. So as I reached the end of my first skiing holiday in the USA, did it live up to my expectations? Yes it certainly did… Vast ski areas, fantastic snow levels and impeccable service… perfect! http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/skiing-north-america Thu, 30 May 2013 10:38:20 +0100 Originally posted 12th February 2013 As I awoke from a snow-fuelled dream to the glint of light through my curtains, I became aware of a lot of hustle and bustle in the corridors of the staff accommodation. My immediate thought was that I had slept through my alarm but a quick peek through a very heavy eye clocked the time at 8.15am – no, not late! I went to investigate the source of the chaos. The powder seekers were all up and grabbing their skis, snowboards, avalanche gear and throwing on any combination of ski gear they could get their hands on. After quickly grabbing some breakfast, they darted out the door to catch first lifts. After 5 days of continuous snowfall and thoughts that the Hotel Saint Louis might disappear into a snowdrift, Friday 8th February offered amazing blue skies and the best snow conditions this season to date. This fabulous Friday was made complete with our live weekly apres session with Rich from Bring Your Sisters, Mutzig on tap at Bar 1226 and two staff birthdays. It was the perfect end to the week and gave us chance to unwind before the busy weeks ahead. With the Half-Term holidays getting underway this weekend, those families skiing the Three Valleys over the next couple of weeks are in for an absolute treat. If you are joining us in Courchevel at the Hotel Saint Louis, we look forward to welcoming you! The conditions on the mountain are simply fantastic! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/conditions-fantastic-for-half-term Thu, 30 May 2013 10:37:54 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 6th February 2013 Snow, Snow, Snow are the only words going through my mind each time I look out the window and it is coming down by the bucket load. With another 30cm due this week, as well as a drop in temperature, there looks to be another great week of skiing in Courchevel ahead. Last week the temperature rose to 13oC and with the warm weather, the terraces around resort filled out and some of the Hotel Saint Louis staff even came back sporting hilarious panda eye tans. The BMW Polo Masters ended Sunday with team Julian Joallier taking the title. As expected there were lots of champagne flowing and a fur army out in strength. With high winds and blizzard conditions at times, it was a great achievement just to be standing up, unlike the competitors charging around the snow covered Altiport, on horseback in magnificent fashion. What a thrilling event, as the crowds gathered in the hundreds, visible from many places around Courchevel and over in 1650. We are looking forward to next year’s event already! The weekly Verdons by Night takes place every Wednesday from 6-8pm with the Verdons cable car as well as the sources drag lift open for a great evening of skiing, and we look forward to taking part again tonight! Courchevel’s ironically named Family Park will see some daring skiers throw themselves off 10 foot kickers, rails and curved boxes, performing all sorts of flips and tricks. If you’re feeling very energetic and enjoy ski touring, then why not enter the Dynafit Ski Touring race every Wednesday until mid April? Starting at Le Praz, different categories of competitors race up to La Croisette on the 3.2km long course which gains 500m throughout its duration. A great event to watch or take part in! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/snow-snow-snow Thu, 30 May 2013 10:37:18 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 28th September 2012 Following an action packed summer of celebrations, festivals and more picnics than we can remember, winter is slowly creeping up on us and the season of 12/13 is certainly gearing up to be a fantastic one here at flexiski. The first signs of early snowfall are starting to appear across the Alps and we are told that the local farmers in Saint Bon are predicting plenty of snow this season (using their very technical signs of course!). The team have been very busy updating the flexiski portfolio to include the iconic resorts of Whistler, Aspen, Vail and Breckenridge and of course our totally flexible approach ensures we can tailor make your entire experience. The hotel properties are truly inspiring in these resorts and the North American approach to customer service just has to be experienced. In addition, the opportunity to combine your trip with a city or beach stopover offers a totally unique angle on your skiing holiday. The Whistler/Hawaii combination certainly got a lot of attention here in the office, despite the obvious packing dilemmas! On the European front, Tignes is included in the programme for the first time, offering great access skiing and very competitive pricing. The Hotel L’Ecrin du Val Claret and Les Suites du Nevada have been especially popular with our early corporate groups. Meribel sees it first five star hotel arrive this winter. Le Kalia is certainly breaking the mould in the resort and we are expecting a lot of attention towards the property. Across the valley, Val Thorens is continuing its expansion into the luxury market with The Altapura adding its 5th star; the views from the hotel are worth the trip alone! October sees the start of the ski shows and with increased media and press attention for the upcoming winter, the flexiski team can’t wait for the season to begin! http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/winter-on-its-way Thu, 30 May 2013 10:36:43 +0100 Originally posted 28th January 2013 Courchevel 22nd January 2013 The weather has been fantastic in Courchevel. With fresh snowfall and the sun shining, guests can’t believe their luck and are making the most of the wonderful conditions whilst skiing the Three Valleys. With a fresh dusting of snow at the beginning of the week, some of the Hotel Saint Louis staff took the opportunity to explore the off-piste, whilst creating some impressive videos of their Couloir adventures. Shane, Jake, James, Tom and Graham, after hours of editing and fine tuning proudly previewed their video to other staff members, showcasing their extreme hiking and fresh tracks shred across some of the Alps most challenging terrain. During these quieter weeks in resort, many of the staff had family and friends out to stay at the Hotel Saint Louis. With them came copius amounts of Marmite, Cadburys Dairy Milk and various other British necessities to keep us going for the rest of the ski season. So, with our home goodies in tow and plenty of time spent on the slopes, we are ready to face the busy few weeks ahead. Courchevel 1850 is now filling up once again with the arrival of the BMW Polo Masters taking place in resort this week (31st January-3rd February). The event gets underway with an opening ceremony on Thursday and a presentation of the teams, followed by the various heats and the final on Sunday. It really is a spectacular sight as the teams battle it out on the transformed Altiport. This combined with more snow and glorious sunshine forecast for the week ahead, guests staying with us in the Hotel Saint Louis are in for an amazing few days on the slopes of the Three Valleys. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/weve-been-making-most-fantastic-conditions-courchevel Thu, 30 May 2013 10:36:26 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 21st January 2013 In Courchevel, we tend not to do things by halves. And so following the joys of our own festive season, it was time to join forces with our Eastern cousins as the large Russian population of the town took to the streets and the pistes to celebrate Orthodox Christmas on 7th January, with celebrations lasting all week. Glamour was not in short supply as a huge crowd gathered for specially arranged Russian choral music, before Pere Noel’s second appearance of the season, this time on the back of a giant piste basher. A spectacular firework display gave way to an open air party lasting much of the night. If that wasn’t enough to keep us entertained, in the following days, the Patinoire was transformed into the Three Valley equivalent of Centre Court as various legends of French and Russian tennis gathered as part of the Classic Tour. But those who preferred to remain on the slopes were rewarded with near perfect conditions, as heavy snow was followed by a stretch of clear skies and sunshine. What is more, in recent days the crowds have declined and temperatures have dropped considerably which should ensure the snow remains in good condition for some time to come, with yet more expected to arrive over the weekend. Courchevel 17th January 2013 Our team of resident Ski Event Managers at the Hotel Saint Louis have been working miracles in gaining access for our guests to the hottest locations, both in town and further afield. One party enjoyed the delights of La Mangeoire on Russian Christmas Eve while another conquered the VIP section of the famous Folie Douce. Others have been found partying the night away in the glamorous surroundings of Le Bal and l’Aventure. But it is not all about the apres! With events such as the BMW Snow Polo Masters coming soon, along with more neige than you could shake a (polo) stick at – there really is no excuse for not joining us in Courchevel 1850! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/more-celebrations-courchevel Thu, 30 May 2013 10:35:48 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 07th January 2013 The Hotel Saint Louis staff celebrated Christmas Eve in style by attending their favourite nightly hotspots, Refuge and Kudeta. Many of their guests joined them for the celebrations, although a few retired to the comfort of their rooms so as to remain fresh for a Christmas Day on the slopes. The high spirits of the staff continued on Christmas Day when we enjoyed a special staff Christmas lunch followed by an amusing exchange of Secret Santa. Chef Graham receiving a hand-made spork and Night Porter Felix with his Francis Boule ‘Guide to Life’, certainly made for an entertaining afternoon. We continued the festivities by hitting the slopes, kitted out in miscellaneous and funky attire as you can see in the photo above. After their Christmas ski, our guests also returned to the hotel, looking forward to their delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings. It was the perfect festive evening, with the open fire in full blaze and Bar 1226 filled with the aroma of mulled wine. Families played games and staff were visited by friends from down the mountain who popped in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. After a nice, warm Christmas day, a fresh layer of powder and a drop in temperature made ski conditions perfect for the end of the festive season much to everyone’s delight. And so Christmas week continued as it began... full of festive cheer and one of our guests even taking lead vocals at our Friday night apres session with Rich from Bring Your Sisters. In the build up to the New Year, it was all hands on deck as the hotel was bustling. Courchevel 1850 was also a hub of activity with the Christmas markets in town, lots of live entertainment and the preparations for the New Year’s Party on the Piste. The New Year, as ever, was a huge event in Courchevel. After a festive dinner and plenty of champagne, guests and staff ventured to La Croisette where thousands gathered to see in the New Year. DJ’s, dancing, drinking and a fantastic fireworks display welcomed the New Year and both guests and staff returned to the hotel singing and generally in high spirits. With Russian Christmas at the end of the week, we had even more celebrations to look forward to. From all of us at the Hotel Saint Louis, we wish you a Happy New Year. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/another-wonderful-christmas Thu, 30 May 2013 10:35:03 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 28th August 2012 A ski holiday in Whistler, Canada is on the top of many a skier’s wish list and with its consistent snowfall, a huge array of accommodation options and a breathtakingly fresh approach to customer service, it’s not hard to see why. A short, simple journey on the sky train brings you right into the charming and surprisingly compact centre of Vancouver. Immediately you get a feel for this city and can understand why it has repeatedly been named ‘The most liveable place on Earth’ with its combination of city skyscrapers and an intimate atmosphere you would expect from a small village rather than a coastal city.  A two night stopover at one of the beautiful hotels opposite the harbour makes the perfect addition to your ski trip to Whistler. The transfer options from Vancouver to Whistler are plentiful and couldn’t be easier. Hire a car and go at your own pace on this breathtaking drive through the valley, or opt for a private transfer straight from your Vancouver hotel. You get a real sense of wilderness pretty much as soon as you leave the city and the views across the huge, expansive lakes are stunning. This delightful journey takes just over two hours but you could happily stay on this scenic drive for another two.  Arriving in Whistler is certainly an experience to remember due to the grand and impressive buildings that greet you on your approach. There is a wide choice of village and slope-side accommodation across the three villages but wherever you are, you will experience Whistler's renowned, friendly service. With the majority of resort facilities being managed by the base company Whistler Blackcomb, you are guaranteed a level of service that is consistent throughout, from your day on the mountain right through to your evening in resort. The ski area is huge and split over the two mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb. With endless tree lined runs, the skiing experience is first-class and fully deserving of its incredible reputation. The lift system fast, efficient and incredibly easy to navigate, plus the addition of the Peak 2 Peak gondola ensures your day’s skiing could go on and on. Skiers of all abilities are well catered for over the two mountains, and with fantastic piste names such as Harmony Horseshoes, Dapper’s Delight and Spanky’s Ladder, you just want to keep on exploring. For skiers looking for an extreme challenge, Whistler offers accessibility to some of the best heli-skiing in the world and is something that certainly should be considered. If you’re looking for something a little tamer, the resort also features a wide programme of non-mountain sports and activities. The vast range of dining choices in Whistler is almost too much to experience in one visit. A strong pacific influence is especially evident through the numerous sushi venues which are definitely a 'must visit' during your stay, although there are some great local restaurants offering Western cuisine. In the evening, the village retains a relaxed yet bubby atmosphere, and with plenty of live music, the evenings are certainly fun-filled if you have any energy left. Whistler just keeps on delivering on every level and fully deserves its international reputation as a world-class resort. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/whistler-just-keeps-delivering Thu, 30 May 2013 10:34:52 +0100 Originally posted 19th December 2012 Photo taken from the top of Vizelle on Wed morning - 19th Dec 2012 With a white Christmas just around the corner, what more could you want than clear blue skies and fresh powder? Every day more lifts around the world’s largest ski area are opening, giving access to freshly groomed pistes, and for the daring, more of the famous powder I’m sure you have heard about by now. Last Sunday the FIS World Cup was hosted in Courchevel 1850, visible from most areas around the resort, it was a spectacular event, with the world’s best racers shooting down sheer ice at speeds over 100km per hour. Not for the faint-hearted. The Hotel Saint Louis hosted its first live music event of the season, with a live band giving an acoustic set in Bar 1226, which certainly went down well with the crowd. This apres-ski event will continue every Friday on the terrace or bar throughout the season with different live acts each week. Looking forward to the upcoming week, we are all really excited about spending the festive season with our guests. Christmas carols, Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and of course… Christmas skiing! From a snowy Courchevel, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas. A bientôt! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/merry-christmas-snowy-courchevel Thu, 30 May 2013 10:34:13 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 12th December 2012. With almost 2 metres of snow in under 2 weeks, it’s no wonder that the stunning town of Courchevel is roaring with excitement. The resort is now fully open with beautiful new boutiques and a vibrant atmosphere at night, and there has been nothing but smiles and discussions between those who found the best waist-deep powder! Here at the Hotel Saint Louis, Rosie and our friendly team of 27 have done a wonderful job in preparing the hotel for the start of the 2012/13 ski season and this week we were delighted to also welcome Hotel Manager Scott. The hotel is looking pristine, with not a mark on the newly laid carpet in Cognac Corner and the team is buzzing with excitement about meeting our first guests who arrive tomorrow. On Thursday, the Hotel Saint Louis hosted a welcome evening, with staff and managers from across the resort coming together to enhance the great relationships between companies which gives Courchevel such a friendly atmosphere. The evening was a great success with everyone enjoying our delicious pre-dinner drinks and canapes. With talk of this being the best start to a season in over 20 years, I’m sitting here itching to grab my skis and get out to the piste less than a stone’s throw away! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/smiles-all-round Thu, 30 May 2013 10:33:13 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 4th December 2012 As the shops and bars open and the seasonnaires arrive, Courchevel is buzzing and the set up for the 2012/13 season is in full swing at the Hotel Saint Louis. The snow hasn’t stopped falling, there's a metre of fresh powder outside and more is forecast for this week! With the lifts due to open on the 8th December, the season sets off in style. Heres to an awesome week and an amazing start to the season! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/fantastic-snow-hotel-saint-louis-gears-2012-13-season Thu, 30 May 2013 10:32:41 +0100 Courchevel Originally posted 15th June 2012 Although the ski season may seem a long way off, we thought this might get you in the mood to start thinking about your next ski holiday. We have put together our recommendations for the most luxurious ski hotels on our programme. Whilst all our hotels offer quality and wonderful service, these ones are perfect for that extra special occasion or simply a treat for yourself and your loved one! Palace Les Airelles, Courchevel 1850 Even higher than a 5*, it’s no wonder Les Airelles in Courchevel has gained a ‘Palace’ rating! This ski-in ski-out hotel offers pure luxury throughout and the lavish decor creates a truly refined atmosphere. Take in breathtaking views on the terrace or enjoy an exquisite dining experience in the hotel’s Michelin starred restaurant. A private chauffeur will even take you down to the centre of resort as you require! The hotel’s spa and leisure facilities are particularly impressive with the Spa Valmont offering a multitude of ways to unwind after a day’s skiing. Choose from the indoor and outdoor whirlpools, sauna, hammam, swimming pool or snow cave. And if you’re still feeling energetic, you can try a few laps on the hotel’s very own ice rink. Hotel les Barmes de L’Ours, Val d’Isere As one of the most exclusive hotels in resort, les Barmes de L’Ours was the first hotel to be awarded 5 stars in Val d’Isere. This hotel is home to sophisticated state of the art facilities yet retains a warm mountain charm. The lounge and bar area with its open fire provides the perfect ambience to enjoy pre-dinner drinks, before sitting down in one of 3 excellent restaurants. The Michelin starred La Table de L’Ours also provides the setting for a number of prestigious gastronomic events throughout the season. Mont Cervin Palace, Zermatt As the largest hotel in Zermatt, Mont Cervin Palace certainly lives up to its 5 star status. Hosts Karen and Kevin Kunz provide exceptional service emphasised through their motto ‘united for the well-being of our guests’. The hotel’s grand exterior continues on the inside with 165 bedrooms in no less than 13 different categories each boasting enchanting views of the surrounding landscapes. With 3 renowned restaurants, including Michelin starred Ristorante Capri; you can indulge in some of the finest culinary delights in Zermatt. Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, St Moritz As the most iconic hotel in St Moritz, Badrutt’s Palace is renowned for traditional hospitality and first-class service. The superb luxury and stunning lakeside views have enticed their fair share of royalty and celebrities over the years! With over a century of history, the hotel masters opulence and tradition to make your stay unforgettable. The 159 bedrooms compliment the hotel’s historic background, all richly furnished with crystal chandeliers. Housing over 7 fantastic restaurants, you will be spoilt for choice with both local and international cuisine Hotel Raffl’s St Antonerhof, St Anton Just a short walk from the main street in St Anton, the Raffl’s St Antonerhof combines traditional Tyrolean style with modern design to create luxurious and cosy rooms. Beautiful wooden floors and vibrant colours are typical of the Arlberg region and characterise the hotel’s boutique style. Run by the Raffl family, you will receive a warm and friendly welcome with premium service throughout your stay. The hotel’s exceptional standard of cuisine offers local dishes, international specialities and home made pastries! You can take also advantage of the wellness area, including the indoor pool, whirlpool, steam bath, sauna and massage rooms. We especially love the contemporary bathtubs in each room, perfect for soothing those aching limbs. With snow caves, ice rinks and Michelin starred restaurants, these luxury ski hotels are guaranteed to provide you with that extra special alpine experience.    http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/our-top-5-luxurious-ski-hotels Thu, 30 May 2013 10:30:33 +0100 Originally posted 14th May 2012 The snow-sure slopes and varied terrain both on and off-piste are confirmation of why Tignes deserves its reputation for offering such great skiing. A short visit to this popular resort makes it easy to clarify why Tignes will be such a great addition to our programme. After collecting our hire car from Chambery airport, we make our way through the mountains to reach Tignes 2100. The resort itself is made up of a number of small villages but our chosen destination is Val Claret. On arrival to the village, we are greeted by the charming, alpine-style exterior of the Hotel L’Ecrin du Val Claret. Situated just at the entrance to the village, the hotel proves to be a great base to access the slopes and Val Claret centre. With the highest skiing point reaching over 3455m, Tignes guarantees some brilliant snow conditions throughout its long winter season. After exploring the vast ski area of the Espace Killy, we couldn’t possibly single out a favourite run, so we’ve narrowed it down to our top five: 1. The Lavachet lift gives access to the green nursery runs around Tignes Le Lac, providing beginners with some lovely gentle slopes to get to grips with. 2. Intermediates can travel further afield towards Val d ‘Isere to cruise the varied slopes around the Ski Tranquille area. 3. The red runs down from the Grande Motte Glacier offer spectacular scenery and great snow conditions - well worth the trip on the funicular. 4. The advanced skiers in our group particularly enjoyed the black run ‘Sache’ down from the Eye of the Needle (after taking a short blue) which leads to the small village of Tignes Les Brevieres. 5. ‘Paquerettes’ is an ungroomed black run, which are relatively unique to Tignes, and is an exciting challenge for expert skiers. Working up an appetite on the slopes provides an opportunity for a spot of lunch and to take in the amazing views across the valley. With plenty of mountain restaurants, it’s difficult to decide where to eat but we settled on “Lo Soli”. Situated on the ‘Bleuets’ run down from Aiguille Percee, its sunny terrace is an ideal place to enjoy a quick hot chocolate or a well-earned tartiflette. After a hard day’s skiing, it’s nice to relax in the apres-ski atmosphere. Walking around town and seeing the variety of bars and restaurants proved that Tignes has plenty more to offer than just fantastic skiing. Although it may not have such a lively scene as neighbouring Val d’Isere, there is something to suit most tastes from a relaxing drink in the afternoon sun to a night on the town. Our favourite venues included: - The “Drop Zone” bar, which perfectly located at the bottom of the slope. Its south facing terrace means you can enjoy the apres-ski in the afternoon or the evening. - “Le Studio” is a stylish French bar in the heart of Val Claret, which has proved popular with the locals. - The “Couloir” bar, situated in the village of Val Claret, is known for its vodka flavours and whisky selection. With live music, it’s great for an evening’s entertainment. If skiing isn’t your thing, Tignes has plenty of activities for non-skiers. The Lagon leisure centre has swimming pools, wellness and fitness facilities. Ice skating on the lake is also extremely popular. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can try dog sledding rides or even ice diving under the Lac de Tignes. A free local bus connects the villages and makes it really easy to get around. With so much to offer, we can confirm that skiing in Tignes is truly wonderful. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/skiing-tignes-truly-wonderful Thu, 30 May 2013 10:23:48 +0100 Originally posted 8th August 2011 France was one of the last countries to introduce the 5* Rating. Before 2009, the top French hotels were given either a 4* or 4* luxe rating and these were recognised as the most luxurious hotels the country had to offer. Initially there were very few 4* properties in France, but then the old fashioned rating system (of which wi-fi and satellite televisions were not a part of) was totally overhauled and there was suddenly an abundance of hotels which matched the criteria. Following the upgrade, the French Tourist Board decided to introduce the 5* rating which would recognise those luxury hotels that offered something extra. A similar situation soon occurred however and there was suddenly a large concentration of 5* hotels, particularly in French ski resorts like Courchevel 1850 and cities such as Cannes, Nice and Paris. It was no longer such a privilege to hold a 5* Rating, and so once again, the Tourist Board set about creating a further distinction to separate the top super-luxe hotels from the mere sumptuously luxurious. And so, in May 2011, the new ‘Palace’ rating was born. For the 2011/2012 ski season, flexiski are excited to be introducing two ‘Palace’ rated hotels on to our property portfolio. These hotels will be the Les Airelles and the Le Cheval Blanc, both of which are found in one of the world’s most prestigious ski resorts: Courchevel 1850. As two of only eight ‘Palace’ rated hotels in France, both of these properties have had to prove their worth in front of a ‘Palace Jury’, presenting a lengthy dossier outlining their credibility. Amongst the ‘Palace’ criteria, the following must be considered: the room types (a ‘Palace’ hotel must have at least 20% suites, with each room being at least 60m2) the hotel’s commercial success compared to other 5* hotels in the area the uniqueness of the architecture and design the variety of cuisine on offer (a ‘Palace’ hotel must hold a Michelin starred restaurant) the quality and size of the wine list and selection at the bar the personalisation of the service delivered The Palace Les Airelles has 37 rooms, across 14 suites, a restaurant which holds 2* Michelin stars and is run by the renowned chef Pierre Gagnaire and has over 170 staff on hand throughout the season. The Palace Le Cheval Blanc is owned by the luxury brand LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) and has 24 rooms adorned with art commissioned by Karl Lagerfeld, a Givenchy spa, Dior boutique and Louis Vuitton shop (all brands owned by LVMH). Both of these ski hotels are run to an exceptional standard, offering exemplary service, pure luxury and extravagance, all within the magical setting of Courchevel 1850. To find out more information on these ‘Palace’ hotels, or any other of our flexiski properties, please contact on our personal travel consultants on 020 8939 0862. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/palace-rated-hotels-france Thu, 30 May 2013 10:22:58 +0100 Originally posted 6th December 2011 It has been long awaited but it has finally arrived…there is snow in The Alps at long last. After the snow drought of the last month it is a welcome sight indeed, as the grassy slopes of many European resorts are now being covered with a blanket of fresh powder. There is more good news too, because the forecast suggests that the snow will continue to fall from now leading up to Christmas. Some resorts in Switzerland have seen their driest spells in decades, so the likes of Klosters, Davos and Zermatt are now breathing a sigh of relief, along with all those who are travelling there in the coming weeks! Val d'Isere in France has also had 20cm of fresh snow in the past couple of days, with the majority of the resort now open. According to a recent snow report, over the coming days there is 30cm of snow forecast in Meribel and 33cm in Verbier, creating wintery scenes all over Europe. Courchevel is also doing particularly well, with a huge covering over the past couple of days, transforming the grey and bleak scenes into a snowy, winter wonderland. Our overseas team sent us these pictures taken this morning.  Courchevel 1850 today Hotel Saint Louis this morning For those who had been deliberating about booking a ski break over Christmas and the New Year, for fear they would be skiing on green and patchy pistes, then the snowy scenes which are now emerging may help decisions be made! If you want to sample the fresh powder and escape to the Alps for a short ski break in the next few weeks, then call one of our Personal Travel Consultants on 020 8939 0862. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/snow-finally-falling Thu, 30 May 2013 10:21:58 +0100 Originally posted 3rd November 2011 The Three Valleys will add another jewel to its crown for the 2011/2012 ski season, with the opening of the stunning Altapura Hotel in Val Thorens. Twenty years after the opening of the five star property Les Fermes de Marie in Megeve, the same hotel group will be opening the Altapura Hotel, offering another visionary concept in terms of alpine accommodation. Inspired by Nordic design, the Altapura offers a unique exterior, coupled with a dynamic, cosmopolitan interior. The intriguing architecture and distinctive style of the hotel put it alongside the most prestigious of palace hotels in terms of its design. The hotel facilities are also second to none with amenities including 88 rooms (of which16 are suites), 3 restaurants, 3 bars, several conference facilities and an impressive spa covering 1000m2, with indoor and outdoor pool. In addition to the facilities, the 24 hour concierge, conference butlers and in-house ski shop ensure an impeccable level of service, providing guests with a truly memorable and stress-free stay. The Altapura provides the perfect accommodation for your ski holiday to Val Thorens, whether you are looking for a week-long family holiday or a corporate ski break over a weekend, the ideal location and convivial settings mean that the latest hotel to adorn the slopes of Val Thorens should be your first point of call before you hit the slopes yourself! Take a look at the Altapura or call one of our Personal Travel Consultants on 020 8939 0862 for more information. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/introducing-altapura-re-defining-ski-experience-val-thorens Thu, 30 May 2013 10:20:41 +0100 Originally posted 21st October 2011 Over the weekend of the 17th and 18th December, Courchevel will be hosting one of the most exciting events in the ski calendar: the Ladies World Cup. This year promises to be as exciting, competitive and dramatic as ever as the glamorous resort of Courchevel provides a new stage for the illustrious sporting event. Even at it’s most competitive, sport in Courchevel goes hand in hand with charm, class and that little touch of glamour for which the resort is recognised all over the world. Some of the world’s best female skiers will be taking on the Emile Allias run in front of thousands of supporters, during what will be an action packed weekend in one of the world’s most prestigious resorts. Participants will be taking on the Slalom and Giant Slalom in their quest for the top spot on the podium. Names such as Lindsey Vonn, Maria Riesch, and Tanja Poutiainen will all be looking to prove their place as the reigning supreme of the Alpine Ski World Cup. All of these ladies incidentally, are French, and will be looking to triumph on the Savoie snow in front of a home crowd. The weekend will be packed full of excitement and activity as the resort is transformed into the World Cup venue. From Friday’s draw for race numbers at the Olympic ice-rink, to the final medal ceremony and live concert, including a magical ice spectacular and novelty VIP race inbetween, every minute has been meticulously planned to ensure the World Cup weekend in Courchevel is a memorable experience for all involved, participants and spectators alike. This year flexiski are hosting a Pre-Christmas Party Weekend in the Hotel Saint Louis Courchevel, from the 14th – 18th December. This fantastic offer coincides with the Ski World Cup, guaranteeing a weekend full of top-class sporting action as well as plenty of Christmas festivities. To find out more information or to make a reservation, please call one of our Personal Travel Consultants on 020 8939 0862. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/courchevel-host-ladies-alpine-ski-world-cup Thu, 30 May 2013 10:19:39 +0100 Originally posted 26th October 2011 The 2011 Bimingham's Ski + Snowboard event is taking place from the 28th – 30th October. The British Ski + Board show guarantees to be a fun-filled weekend at the NEC, offering extensive information and advise on all things ski related and delivering a party atmosphere rivalling that found in some of Europe’s top après-ski venues! There is also a great line up of entertainment for the weekend, with the Big Air freestyle competition taking centre stage, appearances from Olympic stars and celebrities, ice climbing walls and even a replica cross country ski course for the more adventurous! For this year's show flexiski are delighted to be teaming up with MadDogSki and are offering an exciting prize for one lucky visitor. Come along to the NEC in Birmingham this weekend and be in with a chance of winning an exclusive ski holiday to Courchevel 1850, worth £2500! The winner, along with their choice of plus-one will enjoy a three night stay in the fabulous Hotel Saint Louis, situated in the heart of the prestigious French resort of Courchevel. This fantastic prize consists of the following: A three-night stay at Hotel Saint Louis, Courchevel 1850, for two people sharing a twin roo Return flights from Birmingham Airport transfers to and from the resort Accommodation on half-board basis, including breakfast, afternoon tea, pre-dinner drinks and canapés and four course evening meals with cheeseboard Three Day Silver Level ski and boot hire Three Day Local area lift passes Plus A massage for both of you at the luxurious Hotel Des Neiges, Courchevel 1850 To be in with a chance of winning you will need to visit the MadDogSki stand at the British Ski+Board Show in Birmingham, from the 28th to 30th of October! Good luck! http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/win-flexiski-break Thu, 30 May 2013 10:18:36 +0100 Originally posted 12th October 2011 The Austrian ski resort of St Anton plans to open in style with a weekend ski festival taking place between 2nd-4th December 2011. The “Stanton Ski Open” marks the official start of the 11-12 ski season and will include an opening ceremony, ski workshops and the SWR3 Festival with outdoor concert.  Those visitors fancying a more relaxing experience can also enjoy the traditional Christmas market from 2nd-5th December which combines authentic Austrian gifts with traditional local cuisine. However, don’t forget to be on your guard for 200 Christmas devils that will make an appearance on the 5th December when they take part in the Arlberg Pass Krampalar Race     Austria has already enjoyed some wonderful snowfalls over the weekend with up to 50cm falling in some areas. With just 51 days until the resort officially opens, the countdown has well and truly begun.  We hope to see you there.  http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/st-anton-opening Thu, 30 May 2013 10:16:54 +0100 Originally posted 30th September 2011 If you’re planning a ski holiday Chamonix this season, then impress your fellow skiers with your local knowledge and stop off for lunch in one of the resort’s new mountain restaurants for the 2011-12 season: “L’Adret”, “Tendance Foehn” or “Les Consorts”. “L’Adret” is a patois word for the sunny side of the mountain, and although the sun may not always be guaranteed at this place, great quality French cuisine can be. This is where Chamonix regulars and newcomers alike will be flocking to get their table on the slopes. Situated at the Flégère, this eatery serves up traditional farmhouse cuisine including fondues, hot stone bakes and an irresistible dish of the day. Satisfying hungry stomachs at great value, the “l’Adret” is a fantastic option for a lunch time stop-off on the mountain. Just next door to the “l’Adret”, a new snack bar has also opened. The “Tendance Foehn” offers a more relaxed dining experience; serving up substantial snacks such as paninis, bagels and pasta. This is the ideal place for a quick re-fuel, for those who don’t want to miss a minute on the slopes! Also new to Chamonix is the restaurant “Les Consorts”, situated in the Balme ski area. The building is a converted farmhouse which has been beautifully restored to house a large restaurant, seating up to 50 people. There is also an additional terrace, where tired legs can rest with a vin chaud and enjoy impressive views across the valley. With it's stylish interior, extensive menu and breath-taking views, “Les Consorts” offers the perfect place for a memorable lunch on the mountain. For more information on flexiski’s Chamonix ski holidays, or to book, call one of our personal travel consultants on 020 8939 0862.  http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/new-mountain-restaurants-open-chamonix Thu, 30 May 2013 10:12:33 +0100 The season has come to a close for the Flexiski team here at Chalet Balias. But Val d'Isere refuses to give up, with over 20cm of fresh snow falling in the last week alone; it’s showing no sign of stopping. The continuing snowfall has provided excellent conditions both on and off-piste, covering the resort in a blanket of fresh powder. In our final week here at Chalet Balias, the team has enjoyed skiing fit to rival our peak conditions in February, managing to hit Tignes and the surrounding areas in the brilliant April snow. The apres-ski scene in Val d’Isere is definitely not slowing down, with beach parties at Moris pub and Saloon Bar as well as the Blue Note bar hosting a Titanic themed evening, to commemorate the centenary. The resort is still in full swing and it is with regret that we say goodbye. This winter, Val d'Isere has provided the perfect conditions for a full and fruitful season. We have been spoilt for snow, sunshine and apres-ski opportunities, and the resort has bewitched us with its breathtaking scenery and immaculate pistes. Our memories will stay with us for a long time to come. Thank you Val d'Isere, we hope to see you soon. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/balias-staff-head-home Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:42:27 +0100 April might mean the end of the season in Courchevel but the Hotel Saint Louis was as welcoming as ever. Morning spring skiing became a pastime for many of our guests, allowing them to embrace the Courchevel approach to long terrace lunches in the beautiful sunshine. Our Ski Event Managers have been busy escorting guests to various mountain restaurants including sushi at the Cap Horn, the south-facing Bel Air terrace and the incredibly well located restaurant at Hotel Courcheneige. Meanwhile, we have been sampling the gourmet coffee of the 5* Hotel Le K2, an, albeit expensive, experience not to be missed. However, it wasn’t solely fun and games for everyone in Courchevel. Some of the Hotel Saint Louis staff, including Hotel Manager Daniella, Craig, Alex and Jon worked hard to receive their Three Valleys expert diplomas by successfully skiing the whole of the Three Valleys! The end of season also meant the last ever ‘Bring Your Sisters’ performance at the Saint Louis. An emotional farewell to the boys was complimented by a special ‘Bring Your Sisters’ cocktail and a never ending flow of Mutzig. The band started low-key but a trip to the bar during the interval soon got them going and what followed was as energetic for the crowd as it was to the enigmatic drummer Stevie. Tears may have been shed but even the Hotel Saint Louis bar boys could not resist a dance to their brilliant Calvin Harris cover. Elsewhere in resort, the closing parties were in full swing and as always the Hotel Saint Louis staff were an ever present addition. A particular highlight was the l'Aventure closing party, which was an amazing experience. Only in Courchevel are bottles of champagne poured from shoulder height because they are too large to be held in the more traditional manner. As the last blog to emerge from the Courchevel team this season, it feels appropriate to end with some of our favourite moments from an action-packed season. The Courchevel Polo Masters tournament was really incredible and we have enjoyed many a lunch in the mountain restaurants but the true highlight of winter 2011/12 has been the snow. This year we were waist deep in powder in both December and January, whilst February's glorious sunshine only added to our enjoyment. Whether it was front flips in the powder, hitting 100 kph on the perfectly bashed piste or shredding the Grand Couloir, we have loved every minute. We can only hope that next year can match up to the 'copious neige' of this winter. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/season-close-amazing-snow Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:13:41 +0100 Courchevel The Three Valley Rally took place at the end of last week which saw over 75 resort staff competing in a variety of weird and wonderful tasks, racing from Couchevel to Val Thorens. With the start point just across from the Hotel Saint Louis, La Terrasse was bursting with competitors enjoying a pre-race drink in the sunshine. With fancy dress outfits as far as the eye could see, furry animals, a group of Santas and an array of neon wigs set off on their mission. Taking part was our very own Hotel Saint Louis host ‘Fflur’ and her team. Attacking each challenge with flare and determination, they came in at a very respectable eighth place. Well done Fflur! We’re sad to say that our resident après-ski band ‘Bring Your Sisters’ are making this their seventh and final season in the French Alps, leaving enormous boots to fill for the future. However, we’ve been busy scouting the Three Valleys' potential talent for next season’s apres-slot. Watch this space for further developments or let us know if you have any recommendations! Despite this, the season is far from winding down in Courchevel. A few centimetres of fresh snow have provided the necessary conditions for perfect sunshine skiing and there's even some fresh powder to be found off piste! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/three-valley-rally Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:54:56 +0100 Courchevel As the spring months move in, Val d’Isere remains as lively as ever. The resort is still bustling and a much welcomed snowfall last week ensured some super skiing. Amongst our guests at the Chalet Balias were the Price party, who kept us entertained with plenty of anecdotes in the evenings, as well as sporting some very fashionable lounge pants. The group had a great stay in Val d’Isere squeezing in as much skiing as possible and plenty of champagne all round! The annual event that is the X-Games came to Tignes from 14th – 16th March creating plenty of excitement amongst seasonnaires and guests alike. More than 125 of the world’s best skiers and snowboarders came together to compete in this spectacular competition, with slopestyle and superpipe events as well as some incredible snowmobile demos. There was a fantastic atmosphere as the sun shone and spectators gathered to watch some death defying tricks off the enormous structures. Snowboarding celebrity Sean White predictably came away with the gold in both of his events whilst Briton James Woods missed out on a bronze medal for the men’s Ski Slopestyle by just 0.34 points. This was the 3rd edition of this amazing event which just seems to get better each year. It’s free for spectators making it the perfect day trip over from Val d’Isere. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/x-games-tignes Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:57:18 +0100 Val d'Isère The approach of spring has bought about some changes to the Hotel Saint Louis especially in the kitchen where Chef Adam has been leading his team in producing a new spring inspired menu. The Panzanella salad is proving to be a particular highlight although it is still rivalled in our clients’ estimations to Chef Bison's delicious seared fillet of tuna and accompanying Nicoise salad. Our staff are also now sporting some impressive goggle tans for spring whilst our clients appear to favour a more conservative bronzed look that is more St Tropez than ski slope. This week witnessed the arrival of a large corporate group to the hotel. Award winners from throughout their company arrived for a few days of intensive skiing and to soak up the Courchevel après-ski scene. Assisted by Ski Event Managers Peter and Alex, the group sampled the delights of skiing in the Three Valleys along with enjoyable lunches at the Tremplin, Pilatus and the Soucoupe. A particular highlight for the group was witnessing a plane land on the Courchevel Altiport. Flying just metres over their heads on the Prima Ruel piste, the landing was one of many special moments for the group in their eventful corporate ski weekend. There was a great ambience in Bar 1226 over the weekend with the final day of the Six Nations. It was an atmosphere only to be rivalled by Bring Your Sister's après session every Friday. Our Welsh contingent Fflur and Bethan were literally jumping for joy as their nation secured a Grand Slam victory over France. Our English guests and staff also rejoiced at their team's triumph over the Irish. This week we would like to wish a happy birthday to our guest Mr Fatah as well as staff members Rosie and Craig.  It has just started snowing as the sun sets on another great week in the most picturesque resort in the Three Valleys. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/successful-corporate-ski-weekend Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:58:28 +0000 Courchevel March has brought with it much milder temperatures as we enjoy spring weather and winter snow here in Courchevel 1850. The Franklin Bruce party, returning guests to the Hotel Saint Louis, took full advantage of our ski event management service. After a gentle ski around Courchevel and Meribel with Ski Event Manager Alex, they enjoyed a delicious lunch in the sunshine at the newly opened Le Casserole. The following morning, they departed on their grand tour of Val Thorens led by Overseas Operations Manager Daniella. The expedition saw them ski their way through the bright morning sunshine, enjoying some fantastic skiing on the Pluviometre piste to reach their chosen (lunchtime) destination of The Altapura in Val Thorens. After a sumptuous lunch of garlic roasted chicken with all the trimmings and with appetites sated, they headed back to Courchevel. The white out conditions that had confronted their departure from Val Thorens were soon forgotten, as a moment was taken to consider the achievements of the day and recognise the surrounding beauty of an empty mountainside once again bathed in sunshine. Last week saw the end of the “Festival International d’art Pyrotechnique”. Several of our guests at the Hotel Saint Louis headed down to enjoy the display in Courchevel 1650, where they watched a Polish group called Surex illuminating the skies! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/superb-skiing Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:10:37 +0000 Courchevel Conditions are still fantastic here in Courchevel 1850 with the Three Valleys website predicting spring heat and winter snow for the duration of the season. The Ski Event Managers (SEM’s) at the Hotel Saint Louis strapped on their Garmin GPS watches and made the most of the great weather by exploring Les Menuires. A friendly competition was held with each SEM endeavouring to hit the fastest speed on the perfectly bashed pistes. The watches tracked us on our challenging itinerary across the mountain followed by a casual 1.5km cross country ski back to resort. Somehow the heart rate monitors on the watches kept up with the intense exercise we were enduring. The combination of deep snow in the off-piste and a long icy flat, certainly produced an interesting exercise graph on our return and we had tested the watches to the extreme! Earlier in the week, several members of the Hotel Saint Louis staff enjoyed watching après-ski band ‘Bring Your Sisters’ in their first outdoor gig of the season, on the terrace of The Bouc Blanc in La Tania. Although still slightly cold, Bring Your Sisters got the crowd warmed up with their own rendition of ‘It’s getting hot in here’! Back at the Hotel Saint Louis, Bar 1226 has been hotting up but with a different intensity. The atmosphere during the Six Nations has been electric with our Irish supporting barman Jamie fighting his corner bravely against the fierce support produced by our resident Welsh Dragons Ffleur and Bethan. There’s nothing like a bit of sporting competitiveness between us seasonnaires, both on and off the slopes! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/testing-garmin-watches Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:08:57 +0000 Courchevel Our groups at the Chalet Balias have been wasting no time in partaking in some of the activities on offer in Val d’Isere. One group headed over to the bottom of the Tommeusses chairlift on their very first day where they hopped onto snowmobiles and steamed off over the mountains. They returned to the chalet to tell us the stories of their afternoon’s adventures which apparently involved a somewhat lucky landing by one of the group! However a great time was had by all and it was an exhilarating start to their ski holiday. Ski Event Manager Alex took a group up the mountain for their ski orientation session and as competent skiers, they were able to explore the whole of the Espace Killy. They headed over to Tignes where the huge selection of slopes offer something for every level of skier and boarder. Given the beautiful blue skies they decided to head high by taking ‘Le Perce Neige’ funicular to the top of the glacier. They were not disappointed by the view of the magnificent snow covered mountains as far as the eye could see. The weather in Val d’Isere over the last few weeks has been glorious, as you can see from our photo above! Blue skies every day has meant that sitting on a long chairlift in the sun has become as enjoyable as skiing down the mountain itself! As with every February Half Term week, there is the danger of Val d’Isere feeling over-crowded. However the reality was actually far from it. The atmosphere over the last couple of weeks has been tremendous with everything from fancy dress on the slopes to fire breathers in the famous Folie Douce. One of our guests at the Chalet Balias this week was an exceptionally keen skier and part of the great community that is the ‘Ski Club of Great Britain’. Catching the very first lift of the day, taking a pit-stop lunch midday and then skiing until the sun goes down, she certainly gave us a lesson in how to make the most of a skiing holiday! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/beautiful-blue-skies-trips-tignes-and-afternoon-snowmobiling Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:15:50 +0000 Val d'Isère Half Term holidays provided a welcome challenge for the Hotel Saint Louis team last week. Although Courchevel was busier in town and on the slopes, conditions remained excellent and regular snowfall ensured a wonderful week for everyone on a Half Term ski break. The Wilson party enjoyed a week’s stay in Le Chapiteau on the top floor of the hotel. Ski Event Manager Alex guided the Wilsons throughout the Three Valleys with a particular highlight being the completion of the long descent that follows the Mont Vallon bubble in Meribel. The Wilsons enjoyed the clear sky views so much that their children including an excited 8 year old, leapt off the mountain for a short parapenting trip to La Tania. Meanwhile in the evenings, their Host Sophie and Chef Jake were on-hand to ensure their stay in Le Chapiteau was one to remember. A veritable feast was on offer with the adults enjoying fillet steak, seafood platters and to end their holiday, a ten course tasting menu of Welsh classics with a contemporary French twist. The children meanwhile enjoyed an interactive make your own pizza night alongside more traditional classics such as steak and chips and pork belly with crackling. Several staff members took to the Snow Park with New Generation ski instructor Lorenzo for an afternoon of free riding. The lesson consisted of some hair-raising big air, rail grinding and a touch of mogul tuition. Next week there is the promise (or threat) of hitting the ‘Big Air Bag’ for a spot of 180/360 action, coupled by some backwards carving or ‘switch’ skiing for those in the know. More festivities are currently taking place in Courchevel with the arrival of the ‘International Fireworks Festival’ which takes place from 14th February – 9th March. This impressive event consists of several specialist pyrotechnic companies competing over the four altitudes of Courchevel. The festival sees around 8000 spectators each year and provides the opportunity for several cups of mulled wine. The competition grows ever more spectacular by the day and we have been told that the event on 8th March is one not to miss, with the combination of music, art and fireworks expected to blow Courchevel 1850 away. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/para-ponting-and-fireworks Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:44:39 +0000 Courchevel Temperatures really plummeted in Courchevel last week but not at the expense of the quality of snow. With the Three Valleys fully open and the sun shining, the guests of the Hotel Saint Louis were spoilt for choice in this largest connected ski area in the world. The Ski Event Management team had the opportunity to explore Les Menuires and Saint Martin, enjoying the renowned sweeping red run of Jerusalem and cruising down blue Pelozet. With continuous dustings of snow, conditions remain great and the Three Valleys are still providing challenges both on and off piste. Snowmobiling has proved popular over the last few weeks and several of our guests have been spotted in the early evening zipping around Courchevel on a skidoo before topping off their night with a warming glass of vin chaud. Other guests have been flying high in a hot air balloon, a rare but fantastic opportunity to view the beauty of the Alps from above. Alex and myself (Jon) recently had the pleasure of looking after the Dawson party. The group had a great ski trip and covered most of the Three Valleys, discovering the big three restaurants - Le Cap Horn, La Soucoupe and Le Chalet des Pierres on their way. With the 20 strong group split into two teams, the Ski Event Managers were faced with the task of fitting in as much as possible into the group’s four days skiing. However this was nothing compared to the challenge of keeping up with Jasmine on slopes – we’re looking at a future downhill champion without doubt! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/ski-snowmobile-hot-air-balloon Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:03:00 +0000 Courchevel With no snow for nearly a week and temperatures dropping as low as -28°C, one could be forgiven for thinking that conditions here were not great…but the reality is far from it! Blue skies and a crisp air along with perfectly groomed pistes have made it one of the most enjoyable skiing periods of the season so far. With snow forecasted to fall quite consistently over the next week, Val d’Isere continues to prove to why it’s regarded as one of the best ski resorts in Europe, to which we certainly agree! With the Siberian temperatures threatening to freeze our Irish stag party, we topped up the log fire and served some vin chaud! The group of 12 had booked the chalet on a sole occupancy basis, making it a somewhat lively couple of days in the Chalet Balias. On the first night of their stay, we took the group on a tour of Val d’Isere’s liveliest bars: V Spot, Victors, Petit Danois, Café Face and ending up in the world-renowned Dicks Tea Bar. There was plenty of daytime fun to be had too with a fancy dress outfit for the Stag making their time on the slopes all the more enjoyable (mainly for his friends and general passers by)! Whilst a few of the guys headed over to Tignes to ski the world famous Vallon du Sache run, a couple of the beginner skiers had a go on the Village slopes which are easily accessible and well-kept, making it an excellent starting place for any beginner! As always in Val d’Isere there is plenty to do and see. On Thursday evening in the bitter cold, a marching drum band paraded the village bringing the main street to life! Then on Sunday we had something a bit different! When you’re skiing around beautiful mountains you expect to see a crazy snowboarder in an aluminous coloured onesy or maybe a beginner skier sliding down a green run face first. What you don’t expect to see however is James May of the much loved Top Gear, driving up the side of a mountain in a Mini Cooper! James May wowed onlookers by driving up the famous Olympic downhill run before showboating with a few ‘doughnuts’ at the bottom of the slope…who knows what next week will hold. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/more-surprises-val-d-isere Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:25:46 +0000 Val d'Isère The Ski Event Managers at the Hotel Saint Louis are all smiles and with good reason! Courchevel is experiencing record levels of snow and the skies above have been a deep shade of blue. Without doubt, the last weekend in January offered the best ski conditions of the season so far. No time was wasted by the Saint Louis staff who grabbed their skis and boards and hit the mountain, carving knee-deep tracks throughout resort. A special mention goes to staff member, Abi, who shredded the off piste with Olly and Jonathan. Ski Event Manager Alex entertained the Wade party ensuring their stay with us was one to remember, taking them as far as Val Thorens and organising many an hour of après. Of course it goes without saying that a couple of afternoons were enjoyed in the glorious sunshine at La Folie Douce. The hotel’s first corporate group of the season have departed after a successful stay. Several days on the mountain with our Ski Event Management team, lunch at Le Pilatus and a touch of tobogganing ensured that the networking flowed and a good time was had by all. One of the highlights so far has to be the visit to the BMW Polo Masters which took place in Courchevel 1850 from 26th-29th January, bringing even more sophistication and glamour to the resort. Operations Manager Daniella, organised an afternoon trip up to the famous Courchevel Altiport to watch the opening games – Courchevel V’s Scapa Sports. Hotel staff Jim and Jamie ensured they were dressed for the occasion with some impromptu cravats and were seen happily cheering from the sidelines whilst sipping champagne - How very 1850! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/champagne-and-cravats Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:15:30 +0000 Courchevel The blue skies have continued in Courchevel with superb conditions unparalleled by any other resort. A needed top up of snow is now with us and the pistes are looking their best since the massive snowfall a few weeks ago. Last week we were delighted to welcome two past employees of Flexiski, in addition to some of the families of the current Hotel Saint Louis staff. Everyone had a great week with our team of Ski Event Managers helping guests explore all that the Three Valleys has to offer. The Johnston party faired well during some fairly intense white out conditions, whilst repeat guests 'the Wade’s' have left little of the Three Valleys ski area unexplored. Tobogganing fun has crept up a notch with Hotel Saint Louis staff - Jon, Jim, Daniella and Rosie hitting the luge with some rental sleds. They came back to report that the run down is not to be scoffed at - sharp corners, steep slopes and bumps line the way, making it an activity not for the faint of heart. ‘Bring Your Sisters’ played another fantastic set on Friday with many of the guests and visitors joining in. Bar staff Jamie and Snuggles set the mood in Bar 1226 with some specific drinks designed to accompany the band’s songs and another lively apres-ski session was enjoyed by all. The fresh snow has been falling and the Hotel Saint Louis is alive with fresh powder excitement! We look forward to the next arrival of guests and what promises to be some of the best conditions of the season so far. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/blue-skies-toboganning-fun Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:18:22 +0000 Courchevel Courchevel has been spoiling us this week with blue-bird skies and perfect snow. With the Three Valley links open, the temptation to visit Val Thorens has been too great for some, allowing those staff with a day off to engage in a beverage or two at the Folie Douce. As Christmas and New Year become a distant memory, the Hotel Saint Louis is preparing for the next big arrival of guests. Our first corporate clients are a modest group of 41, providing a welcome challenge for our team of Ski Event Managers. Many a lunchtime burger and pizza have been consumed by the Magic Ski School’s students. On a Tuesday and Thursday, we are delighted to have the children’s lessons lunch with us at the hotel. To keep the children occupied, we transform the dining room into a mini cinema for their own film screening. This week Wall-E was the weapon of choice – the perfect accompaniment to any cheeseburger I’m sure you’ll agree. Night skiing has proved very popular with guests and staff alike. Peter and Olly have been seen popping grinds in the family park before indulging in a free hot cognac outside Chalet des Pierres; whilst Rosie and Fleur attacked the luge run down to Courchevel 1550 on their trusty red toboggan. Sadly we had to say goodbye to Angus this week after a short but productive stay. One of the Hotel Saint Louis staff from last season, Angus was a lifesaver, jetting back to Courchevel to help out for a few weeks whilst one of our staff recovered from a broken wrist. His return to the Saint Louis reunited him with old friends and kindled new relationships; his moves both on and off the piste will be sorely missed. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/blue-bird-skies Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:37:56 +0000 Courchevel Last week we enjoyed some great skiing on the slopes of the Espace Killy. This photo was taken in Tignes on our way to the “Eye of the Needle”, a famous rock formation that everyone likes to have a photo with. We took our photo on Friday 13th, but it certainly wasn’t unlucky for us! We recently had the pleasure of the Millar party staying with us at the Chalet Balias who were on their first ski holiday to Val d’Isere. After their journey up the mountain, the guys settled into the chalet and warmed up with a nice cup of tea and big slice of cake. After regaining their energy the party dipped into some canapés and champagne before being served a delicious four course meal by Chef Tom. On the Friday of their arrival we were lucky enough to be hosting a very special birthday party for one of our guests! With balloons and decorations offering a celebratory atmosphere we lit the candles and gave our best rendition of Happy Birthday. After a scrumptious meal the guys headed out to take in the evening delights of Val d’Isere, a nice walk through the centre of the town where all the lights and snow made for a magical evening. In the following days, Val d’Isere was treated to its first real blizzard! Winds reached 60km per hour and we had huge snowfalls of over half a metre in just a couple of days. The town even had to be closed down for the evening by the local police. Upon hearing this, the Millar’s settled in for the night, and with games and wine on the agenda, the party certainly went on for a while! Overnight, wind and snow changed the look of Val d'Isere with paths being blown away completely. However we are glad to report that all is back to normal now and with blue skies forecasted for next week and with great snowfall behind us, conditions for the days ahead are fantastic. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/birthdays-and-blizzards Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:58:57 +0000 Val d'Isère New Year’s Eve 2011: after a delicious five course meal, the Hotel Saint Louis guests quietly sipped their Moet and Chandon champagne whilst others shared our spectacular Saint Louis Snowbowl cocktail. In trepidation they awaited the moment when the chosen hour would arrive, not the strike of twelve but rather the collective movement from the hotel bar 1226 to the Party on the Piste. In true Courchevel style the Party on the Piste was a glamorously wild affair. Dancing on the snow, our guests enjoyed an incredible firework display that lit up the sky on the strike of midnight, making it truly a New Year’s Eve to remember. New Year’s Day began in a more leisurely fashion but after a hearty breakfast our guests were soon on the slopes enjoying the powder skiing that is fast becoming a theme of our season. Indeed as Russian Christmas draws near, staff and guests alike are threatened by hip deep powder if they dare to ski off piste. For the Powell family such conditions appeared ideal to indulge their passion for snowshoeing. Soon trekking on wildlife filled paths they enjoyed a different kind of tree run away from the bashed pistes of the Courchevel Valley. Our ever present Ski Event Mangers were also enjoying the fresh conditions, “the Woodward-White” blasting the mountain with Alex following close behind guiding them to the best spots for on-piste powder. Similarly Peter enjoyed guiding the Willis party on a less high-octane trip, ensuring that they maximised their new found snowboarding ability with a trip down the Tovets to 1550. As always Verdon By Night was enjoyed by all as Ollie, our Assistant Manager, guided the Turner party through an evening of relaxed skiing and complimentary vin chaud. Only in Courchevel can you have so much fun in so much snow. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/new-years-eve-to-remember Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:25:26 +0000 Courchevel What a great couple of weeks we’ve had here in the Chalet Balias in Val d’Isere! Christmas songs, a log fire, lots of chocolate and even the good old Christmas classic movie ‘Home Alone’! We had a lovely family staying in the chalet over Christmas who enjoyed all the festive excitement our snowy village had to offer! After some bucks fizz on Christmas morning we were set up for a wonderful day of skiing in the Espace Killy followed by mince pies, mulled wine and a big turkey roast from our Chef Tom! Being away from home over Christmas is not usually a choice for most but when you have two days of blue-sky skiing on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you can’t help but feel a bit smug, especially when you get to post photos like this on Facebook for all your family and friends to see! New Year’s Eve also brought tonnes of excitement for our guests who explored the bustling streets of Val d’Isere taking in the impressive celebrations with plenty of singing, dancing and of course, fireworks! The Chalet Balias staff even had a shandy or two to see 2012 in with a bang! The resort is now experiencing another huge dumping of snow and fresh powder skiing has been back on the menu this week! If 2012 continues as it’s started, we are in for a great year! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/happy-new-year-chalet-balias Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:55:55 +0000 Val d'Isère With no sign of snow nearing the arrival of our first guests, the mood was tense. 9 stags on their first holiday to Val d’Isere and still no powder. Sure enough though with just two days left until they arrived, it finally snowed and a great time was had by all! A wonderful start to the season. At the beginning of December, Val d’Isere experienced one of the heaviest snowfalls of all seasons which set a fantastic base layer for the weeks ahead. The mood within the Chalet Balias has been great ever since with all of our guests thoroughly enjoying everything that Val d’Isere has to offer, from ice skating to husky sledding and of course, the great après ski! Skiing in the Espace Killy has been fantastic too; blue skies, groomed pistes and plenty of off-piste runs have meant that we’ve all come in from a day skiing thoroughly exhausted…just the way it should be! Our most recent guests have taken over Chalet Balias on a sole occupancy basis and are currently enjoying a delicious meal served by our experienced Chalet Chef Tom. Food is always one of the highlights when staying in a catered chalet and we are sure that ours is no exception. Our very charming Chalet Host (who is also called Tom) has been working hard looking after guests with the aim of making their stay at the Chalet Balias their best ski holiday yet. Luckily our guests still had the energy to head down to the main street to enjoy some of the Christmas festivities in Val d’Isere. Ice sculptors, street acts, and live bands were just some of the great events on offer, all of which were served with a side of mulled wine! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/great-season-start Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:59:36 +0000 Val d'Isère Christmas gently strolled into the Hotel Saint Louis this year, riding on a wave of joy amongst guests and staff alike. The carol singing session by our staff rivalled a session by our resident après-ski band Bring Your Sisters, drawing our guests into the singing and receiving a raucous reception due to extensive audience participation. When the big day arrived the Weather Gods had sent a welcome present to Courchevel; a blue-bird sky, perfect visibility and ideal snow conditions for a pre-dinner blast around the piste. Le Cap Horn, Le Pilatus and the Courchneige were soon overwhelmed by sun worshippers shedding gloves, jackets and helmets to make the most of the beautiful weather. Torn between the perfect piste and a vin chaud on the terrace, our clients returned long after the lifts had closed to sip a Kir Royale and dream of the Christmas treats that wafted through from the Saint Louis kitchen. Despite the Christmas day stuffing, our guests were wide awake and ready for the Boxing Day sunshine. The Davies party welcomed the opportunity to take out Alex, one of our Ski Event Managers in order to fully explore the Meribel Valley. A broken ski pole or two could not stop the fun despite Alex having to ski pole-less on steep mogul runs. Our Ski Event Managers were in great demand with Maddie hosting the Hunters throughout the slopes of the Three Valleys. Jon was ever-present in Le Chapiteau helping to collect his clients from their helicopter transfer whilst Peter ensured that our guests skied the very best pistes at the perfect time of day. As our guests departed and after Michael Buble had crooned his final Christmas tune, we relaxed, content with the thought of the fresh powder to arrive for the year’s end. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/christmas-in-courchevel Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:53:09 +0000 Courchevel Heavy snow has arrived in Courchevel 1850 and has transformed the landscape, forget knee-deep powder, it’s now neck deep! This week has seen many guest arrivals at the Hotel Saint Louis' and we have been busy organising orientations around Courchevel to help people become acquainted with the resort. We were delighted to also have the girls from the UK head office staying with us throughout the course of the week, who were here to see our lovely hotel and familiarise themselves with the Three Valleys ski area. We have had all levels of skiers and snowboarders staying with us over the last few days and we have had some really positive feedback on the lessons we organised with our partner ski school - New Generation. Beginner skier Jo from the flexiski UK office enjoyed an afternoon lesson with New Generation instructor Andreas, and by the end of the day was perfecting her parallel turns and completed her first ever green run down the Verdons. The Ladies Alpine FIS Ski World Cup is also on in Courchevel 1850 and there is an incredible buzz around the resort, with lots of live music and events taking place. On that note, our regular Friday session with après-ski band ‘Bring Your Sisters’ was amazing this week, with both staff and guests getting involved and taking the instruments and microphone to perform in our bar! There is a real Christmas vibe in the Hotel Saint Louis' this week, with the lounge festively decorated and staff singing Christmas carols! Christmas is just around the corner and the season is in full swing now - Good times! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/la-neige Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:17:03 +0000 Courchevel It’s been another action-packed couple of weeks for the overseas team as we train in Courchevel for the 2011/12 ski season. Mountain safety training took place in Tignes on 21st November, a hugely rewarding day which consolidated our knowledge and training on the slopes, whilst also being hugely enjoyable. The day was orchestrated by our partners - New Generation Ski School who were very impressive on the slopes and we are all grateful to them for organising such a helpful day. There has been little respite for the team in Courchevel 1850 as hotel preparation nears completion ready for our first guest arrivals on Sunday 5th December. The Hotel Saint Louis' open fire is providing an ideal ambiance for creativity and contemplation, as we asses the enormous progress made by the entire team since our arrival a few weeks ago. Sadly we have now said goodbye to the Austrian team who set off for the Amalien Haus in St Anton and the Val d’Isere team have also departed for Chalet Balias. We have all built a strong team spirit over the last two weeks, and we wish the teams well in their respective resorts! The best news is that the snow has finally arrived and Courchevel 1850 has been transformed into a snowy winter wonderland! We enjoyed some great snowfalls on Sunday, with another 10cm falling on Monday. It’s time to get out onto the slopes! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/action-packed-training-week Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:45:38 +0000 Courchevel “Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted” - Sir MacPhearson (Mac) Robertson 1860 -1945. The dedication of the Flexiski team and the importance of the ski season ahead is epitomised as our team are the first of the seasonaires to arrive and start work here in Courchevel 1850. With the kitchen ready, the menus prepared and Bar 1226 fully stocked, we are all eagerly awaiting the rest of our team and especially our first arrival of guests to the Hotel Saint Louis. Our week so far has brought a blend of resolute hard work and light hearted fun combined with sociable evenings and interludes. The vehicle training was especially interesting with Emma excelling as she controlled the eight-seater with consummate ease, whilst the ice-breakers provided some sociable comic relief after an early start leaving home at 5am. With snow forecast over the weekend and with everybody hoping to discover a new and lively bar each night, there is so much to look forward to here at Courchevel 1850 over the next six months! Our closely-knit team has already strolled into a couple of the local bars for a brewski or two in the evenings, which has strengthened the team ethic which is so important during a ski season. This has been exemplified by everyone helping out our Hotel Chefs Tom, Adam and Paul, whilst our Host (another) Tom has been helping out our bison-like maintenance man Jon; all ensuring we are ready for the guests to enjoy our flagship hotel – the Saint Louis! Overall, we have had a great first week in Courchevel and we just can't wait for the 2011/12 ski season to start! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/our-first-week-courchevel-1850 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:14:34 +0000 Courchevel On 10th March there was a tangible buzz surrounding the Hotel Saint Louis, as the staff lined up under azure skies, eagerly anticipating the arrival of our special guests. The bus ground to a halt and off they climbed; camera-crew first, followed by a beaming Peter Andre as he stepped foot in Courchevel for the first time. Our Bar Manager Craig was one of the first to greet Mr Andre, asking ‘is it too early for a hug?’ to which Peter responded with a warm embrace. After our enthusiastic welcome, the party of family, friends and production crew made their way up to Le Chapiteau, which was to be their private residence during their stay. The party enjoyed a brief admiration of the views from the balcony whilst Privilege Ski provided ski equipment for all. Shortly afterwards, Peter and brother Mike could no longer contain their excitement to hit the slopes. They were joined by their Ski Event Manager Pete Hillyard for their first run of the Bellecôte piste. There was just enough time for a spot of afternoon tea before they were whisked off for an adrenalin-pumping snow-mobiling session at the Altiport. Both Peter and Mike raced along the slopes to the backdrop of the pink sunset over Courchevel 1850, making for some magnificent filming for Peter’s ITV2 Series ‘The Next Chapter’. The evening played host to a magnificent fireworks display, which was the grand finale of the International Pyrotechnics Festival in Courchevel, accompanied by mulled wine on the piste; a perfect prequel to private dining in Le Chapiteau. The action-packed day was brought to a close with the arrival of the children and an early night for all. The following morning, the lobby of the Hotel Saint Louis turned bright green as the Andre party’s New Generation Ski Instructors waited to greet them. After a hearty breakfast they were driven to the ‘magic carpet’, one of the resort’s Zen areas designed for beginners. After a two hour session, the group came together for lunch on the terrace of the Hotel Des Neiges, bathed in glorious sunshine. Following a leisurely ski in the afternoon, they enjoyed an adventure in two horse-drawn carriages.  This outing was closely followed by a sledging race down the Bellecôte piste, joined by resort staff Darragh, Daniella and Joanna. The group arrived back at the hotel just in time to hear our resident après-ski band Bring Your Sisters play the end of their set, with Junior demonstrating his amazing dancing skills to the delight of the guests. Peter happily met the band and graciously accepted their album as a gift. That evening the party chose to enjoy the ambience of the hotel restaurant, much to the approval of fellow guests who enjoyed the thrill of appearing on camera and dining alongside Peter. Filming ended on the Sunday, followed by the departure of the production team and the children. However, we were delighted when Peter and Michael chose to extend their stay to make the most of Courchevel’s vast and varied terrain, along with the all important espresso, noisette or latte stop at the Hotel New Solarium or Chalet de Pierre. It was truly another wonderful week in Courchevel and Flexiski were delighted to host this event in partnership with CAN Associates. We certainly hope that the Andres will be back to visit us. The flexiski team really enjoyed watching the footage of the Hotel Saint Louis on the Peter’s ITV2 series – The Next Chapter. Watch this episode featuring flexiski's property Le Chapiteau on ITV Player. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/peter-andre-hotel-saint-louis Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:00:15 +0000 With the majority of ski tour operators and ski hotels offering 7 night durations and strict departure dates over Christmas and New Year, it can be extremely difficult to find that short ski break which many people would prefer over the festive period. This is proving particularly inconvenient this year with Christmas falling on a Sunday, as many of the operators are only offering arrival and departure dates on either the 24th or 26th December. I don’t know about you, but the idea of spending Christmas Eve and Boxing Day travelling by taxi to coach and from train to plane does not sound particularly inviting. I know I would much rather be sat in front of a roaring fire, sipping mulled wine and enjoying the festivities whilst the snow falls all around. Here at flexiski we have the advantage of being able to offer ski breaks of flexible durations over Christmas and New Year. As a tailor-made company with our own flexiski-operated properties, we are not tied down by inflexible durations and difficult departure dates, which are often congruent of package holidays. We are able to take into account your preferred departure dates and duration in order to create your ideal Christmas or New Year ski holiday. So come the 26th December you don’t need to worry about packing your suitcase and setting off on a long journey home. Instead you can strap on your skis for a last blast on the slopes or simply settle by the fire and enjoy a relaxing end to your festive ski break. For more information on flexiski’s Christmas and New Year ski breaks call one of our Personal Travel Consultants on 020 8939 0862 , or visit www.flexiski.com for more information and current offers. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/flexible-ski-breaks-over-christmas-and-new-year Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:18:28 +0100 This January, we are delighted to be teaming up with New Generation to deliver two exciting weekends of on-piste ski instruction and technical development in Courchevel 1850 and Val d’Isère. New Generation ski school was founded in Courchevel in 1998 and was the first British-run ski school to set up in the Alps. Since then they have enjoyed great success, now employing 40 highly qualified ski coaches and operating across nine ski resorts in Europe. Whatever your ability, the Ski Performance Weekend will be tailored to suit your needs. Whether you need an introduction to the technical aspect of skiing or are simply looking for a refresher, the focus of the performance weekends will be to develop your ski technique through two days of top-class, intensive instruction. Included in the course will be two morning skill sessions designed to improve your general skiing, followed by more specific sessions in the afternoon covering aspects such as jumps, bumps and skiing inconsistent conditions. On your return, the flexiski team will have afternoon tea at the ready, whilst your instructors will use video analysis to provide feedback about the day’s lessons. Video analysis allows you to watch yourself in action on the slopes, which is a great tool for enhancing your style and further developing your individual technique. Our ski performance packages will be taking place in Courchevel 1850 on 12th January at the Hotel Saint Louis, and in Val d’Isère on 19th January at the Chalet Balias. These 3 night ski breaks provide a great opportunity to escape to the slopes for the weekend whilst enjoying an intensive course of top quality ski coaching. To find out more about our Ski Performance Packages, please call one of our personal travel consultants on 020 8939 0862 . http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/enhance-your-ski-performance-during-weekend-alps Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:29:12 +0100 Flexiski have been organising corporate ski trips for high profile clients including Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Volvo and Nokia to the top ski resorts in Europe for the last 20 years. Our new 2011/12 ski brochure, launched last week, focuses more on the choice of venues and facilities that can be provided for corporate ski breaks. A corporate ski break is an ideal way of entertaining clients, team-building or rewarding a company’s best employees and selecting the right venue and facilities is paramount to making the trip a success. The Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel 1850 is one of our featured properties which is suitable for a corporate ski event. Whether you are looking to arrange a large conference, or simply need to host an intimate meeting, this multi-functional venue offers complete flexibility and the capability to deliver your desired corporate event. White-label branding options in the hotel are also available which enables a company to make their trip more bespoke. Up until the end of August, groups will be able to benefit from special savings at the Hotel Saint Louis, with 1 in 12 guests staying for free. Half price ski equipment hire will also be available with Sunday to Wednesday stays at the hotel which start from £410pp.* And, as you may not have your own private office to organise every element of your holiday let our event management service do it for you. Our Flexigold service provides a UK-based personal Travel Consultant dedicated to plan your requirements for the holiday and also includes your own Ski Event Manager in the resort – think of having a personal assistant, expert skier and events manager there with you. The Ski Event Manager will organise and supervise everything you want: from a hot air balloon ride, to building an igloo or wine tasting and even jumping queues for the nightclub! We will also be hosting some key events throughout the season at the Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel 1850 ranging from the Pre-Christmas party to the end-of-season Easter weekend with BBQ and Pimm’s on ‘La Terrasse’. These are back by popular demand following great success last season! For more information on our corporate ski breaks or to book call 020 8939 0862. *Book before 31st August 2011 http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/flexiski-corporate-ski-breaks Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:29:54 +0100 On the 1st July Pete Hillyard travelled to Port Solent to take part in the annual Polypipe Regatta on behalf of flexiski. Flexiski were delighted to be represented at the prestigious Polypipe Regatta, which was organised by valued flexiski client Steve Upson. Arriving at the Sunsail base on the Thursday evening, participants enjoyed a BBQ and performance from a live band. It also gave the teams the chance to get together and discuss tactics for the following morning. An early start followed on Friday but as ever the Sunsail staff were on hand to soften the early morning with bacon sandwiches and coffee. With over 70 yachts racing, it was quite a sight as all of the crews prepared the boats and headed out of Port Solent. It was a gloriously sunny day but unfortunately the wind was a little lacking and therefore the most exciting element to the morning was the delivery of the ice-creams by the Mars girls! Luckily the wind picked up a little later in the afternoon and participants managed to get one race in before the end of the day. It was fantastic to see all the yachts coming round the final mark with all their spinnakers flying! The event was finished off with a raffle, with some great prizes including a flexiski ski break to the Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel 1850. We were thrilled that our flexiski break ended up raising an impressive £1,500 for the chosen two charities. The prizes were varied and quite amusingly one prize was to win your weight in beer! It was a great couple of days with everyone involved having a brilliant time and one which flexiski certainly intend to support again. The two chosen charities this year were the British Heart Foundation and the John Mettricks sailing trust so it was fantastic to have the opportunity to raise some money for these two deserving organisations. A massive thank you to Steve Upson and all at Polypipe and we look forward to 2012!   http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/flexiski-participate-polypipe-regatta Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:34:38 +0100 Spectacularly situated at the foot of the Matterhorn, our new addition of Zermatt to the flexiski resort portfolio has the reputation of being a world-class resort with a lot to offer in the way of fantastic skiing, picturesque surroundings and a dynamic après-ski scene. Last week, two members of our UK team Pete Hillyard and Amy Askew travelled out to Zermatt to discover what makes this Swiss ski resort so iconic. On arrival into Geneva they caught the train up to the town of Visp and from there took the connection to Zermatt. The train journey up to the resort is beautiful and in itself, offers a unique transfer option and fantastic start to a ski holiday in Zermatt. The train station within the resort is situated just off the pedestrianised high street ensuring an easy arrival into this chocolate-box, car-free village. Amy and Pete were staying in the Hotel Mirabeau where they took advantage of the hotel’s luxurious spa facilities and woke up to sunny views of the Matterhorn from their balconies. As well as the Hotel Mirabeau, they visited several other hotels in Zermatt which will all be featuring in our programme for the coming ski season. They found all of the hotel staff extremely welcoming and the standard of the hotels to be exceptionally high. On the first day, they took a trip on Europe’s highest-altitude cable car up to the Matterhorn glacier which sits at 3883m. Unfortunately, they didn’t have time to sample the summer skiing but from the top of the cable car they were able to gain an insight of what the skiing in Zermatt is like, with views across this incredible ski terrain. After their trip up the glacier and various meetings with hotels, the tourist board and Ski Summit (a local ski school), Amy and Pete spent the evening strolling around the picture post-card village centre and sampling the reputable nightlife of Zermatt. As a year round resort, the streets are never empty and so even in the summer months the bars are lively, the restaurants are full and there is a general buzz around town. On the first night of their trip they ate at the Pizza and Spaghetti Factory, an impressive restaurant spread over three levels within the contemporary Post Hotel (which incidentally seems to be the most popular night-spot of the resort with its 4 restaurants and 5 bars and clubs). On the second night they opted for a more traditional restaurant, the Café du Pont which offers delicious Swiss cuisine at great value. They were pleased to discover that with regards to dining in Zermatt, there is something to suit all tastes and budgets, from gourmet Swiss cuisine to laid back pizzerias. There was only one thing left to do before Pete and Amy’s departure! After Pascal at the tourist office advised that the Zermatt experience is only truly complete once you have danced on the barrel in the Broken Bar or taken a trip on the Gornergrat Railway, they sensibly opted for the latter and embarked on a breath-taking ascent up the mountain. This historic railway is not only an iconic part of Zermatt’s heritage, it also serves an important function during the winter months and acts as one of three main ski lifts transporting skiers from the resort centre up onto the mountain. The 30 minute journey takes you through idyllic forests, across viaducts and over beautiful mountain scenery, terminating at 3100m on a sunny platform with impressive views of the glacier and the Matterhorn. Amy and Pete departed from the resort feeling like they had experienced all of what’s on offer in this beautiful town and were reassured that Zermatt will be a perfect fit within the flexiski resort portfolio. If you would like any more information about the resort or our Zermatt hotels, please call one of our Personal Travel Consultants on 020 8939 0862. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/zermatt-added-flexiski-resort-portfolio Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:28:39 +0100 The slopes of Courchevel hold a magical appeal during the winter party season. Breathtaking scenery, splendid wines and delicious food are coupled with lively entertainment, and snow-filled, sporting endeavours. From the adrenaline seekers to those looking for après-ski glamour, as France’s most exclusive resort, Courchevel 1850 provides an ideal location for a Christmas ski holiday. Although Christmas may seem a long way off for some, now is the perfect time to start planning your Christmas ski break and book your trip as many of our properties are filling up quickly for our peak dates. So it’s time to get excited at the prospect of spending the festive season on the slopes in one of the world’s most prestigious resorts! Following the huge success of last year’s events, we are delighted to announce that we are offering our wonderful Christmas Party Packages to Courchevel 1850 for a second year running. Designed to give you an action packed Christmas both on and off the slopes, our Christmas Party Weekends are carefully planned to ensure you and your family have an extra special Christmas in the Three Valleys. Offering accommodation in the superb Hotel Saint Louis, flights, transfers and a selection of exciting festive events, our Party Packages promise an unforgettable Christmas ski holiday. Last year’s event saw the Hotel Saint Louis fully booked for both the pre-Christmas party weekend and over the Christmas week, with 82 excited guests revelling in the festivities. Activities included live music in the hotel bar 1226, vin chaud on the terrace, jovial carols and a delicious Christmas dinner. All to be repeated in December 2011! This year we will be hosting our pre-Christmas party weekend from the 14th – 18th December and then holding a similar itinerary over the Christmas weekend from the 22nd December, offering the same events and festivities. To find out more information or to make a reservation, please call one of our Personal Travel Consultants on 020 8939 0862. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/celebrate-christmas-courchevel-1850 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 11:18:25 +0100 On the 17th May, the King-Stunners made their way to the Milton Keynes SNO!zone for the 3rd Annual Skiathon in support of DSUK (Disability Snowport UK). The challenge; for each team of 6 to ski 666 runs in 6 hours! With adrenaline running high, we ventured into the dome, alongside various participants, including the British Disabled Ski team and the RAF Ski team. Despite the freezing temperatures, we soon got into the swing of things and managed to achieve 222 runs by lunchtime. Before long the RAF ski team were displaying their expertise with some fantastic one-legged skiing and other fascinating moves! Needless to say, this brought out some competitive behaviour from other skiers and boarders, with races and competitions following shortly after. The Milton Keynes teams were fortunate enough to be joined by the former Olympic medallist and World Champion, Colin Jackson, who was a great source of encouragement. ITV also braved the cold to help raise awareness for DSUK, and have made a short film, where you may be able to spot a few members of the King-Stunners - www.itv.com/anglia/ski-challenge/ It was great to see such a strong turn-out with varying abilities of skiers and snowboarders, all doing their best for charity. With the support of the fantastic volunteers and organisers, we were quickly totting up our runs. At the end of a long and tiring day, aching muscles joined together to thank the organisers and reward those for their extra special efforts. Naturally, the winners of the day were the RAF team, who managed to ski more than 550 runs, followed closely by the British Disabled Ski team. After skiing a valiant 471 runs, the King-Stunners have so far raised a wonderful £595. If you would like to make a donation to support to the flexiski team, there's still time and it couldn’t be easier: The King Stunners JustGiving page . Alternatively, please visit the DSUK website. DSUK strive on the belief that that anyone regardless of their disability can take part in and enjoy the thrill of Snowsports. DSUK help to make the mountain accessible to everyone through providing life-enhancing, adaptive equipment. Special instruction and support programmes also take home both home and abroad. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/DSUK_National_Skiathon Tue, 24 May 2011 09:58:00 +0100 On 17th May, six members of our Flexiski team will be heading to the Milton Keynes snow dome to participate in a National Skiathon to raise money for Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK). DSUK are a fantastic charity, providing opportunities for people with a disability to participate in snow sports, as a means of improving their quality of life. To take part in a sport such as skiing or snowboarding comes with numerous barriers for a disabled person, including access to slopes, access to specialist equipment and one-to-one instruction. Support from DSUK helps to reduce these barriers and makes it possible for those with disabilities to take part in activities that would not normally be available to them. The aim of the Skiathon challenge is for each participating team to complete at least 666 runs of the snow dome within 6 hours. The Flexiski team are competing against a large number of other teams around the UK who will all be aiming to surpass the target of 666 and tally up as many runs as possible within the time limit to compete for a coveted prize. The Flexiski team are confident of their chances in the challenge and are hoping to raise as much money as possible for DSUK to help spur them on to success. The aim is to raise a minimum of £666 for this brilliant charity, which will help contribute to the DSUK target for the day of £35,000. Our Flexiski team would really appreciate your support and any donations for this incredibly worthy cause! http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/flexiski-team-will-be-taking-part-dsuk-national-skiathon Fri, 13 May 2011 09:32:49 +0100 The end of the season has come all too soon for the staff at the Hotel Saint Louis. Courchevel now looks like an altogether different resort to what we are used to with the Bellecôte piste bearing patches of grass. However, by heading over to Val Thorens, our guests were still able to make the most of the last snow of the season. Mike Ward came to visit us again with his lovely family, and Louise from the UK Flexiski office also paid us a visit for the first time. She ended her trip to Courchevel with a night out with several of the staff, sampling some of the famous white Moet and taking a trip to the Funky Fox in 1650. The highlight of a brilliant final week at the Hotel Saint Louis was undoubtedly the last Bring Your Sisters gig of the season. The dance floor was full, the drinks were flowing and the band’s set brought the house down in true rock n’ roll style. The Hotel Saint Louis Band made up of Chef Jim on the bass, Patrick on the drums and singers Hayley and Angus, also enjoyed their last performance of the season. After a few minutes practice in the kitchen, they played an impromptu song with Bring Your Sisters, much to the delight of the staff and guests. The afternoon also played host to the last BBQ of the season, which was timed perfectly with a surprise flurry of snow. However, Darragh soldiered on, cooking the BBQ out in the snow! He was not going to be defeated! The hotel staff had a somewhat emotional day on the Thursday when we said goodbye to seven members of our wonderful staff. Hosts Eleanor Gosden, Ollie Rostron, Rachel Kelly, George Spencer, Ski Event Manager Emma Cohen, Chef Rory Hannaford and Kitchen Porter Alex Bennett all bid a tearful farewell and headed home. With our final guests now departed, we have been busy closing down the hotel. It has been a truly wonderful first season for us at the Hotel Saint Louis and we have look forward to many more. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/wonderful-final-week-hotel-saint-louis Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:41:33 +0100 Courchevel As the sunshine continued and the snow began to melt, guests at the Hotel Saint Louis got the best of the piste conditions by heading over to Val Thorens. The highest resort in the Three Valleys and extremely well connected to Courchevel, Val Thorens’ pistes have remained in good condition and certainly proved to be the most popular destination for our guests. Ski Event Manager Emma took Mr Macfarlane and his daughter Jenny to ski there for the day. After stopping for a morning coffee break and taking in the wonderful views at the Rendez-vous restaurant at the top of Val Thorens village, they headed up to the glacier for a wonderful ski down on the soft well-groomed ‘Lac Blanc’ run. Later on they enjoyed a late lunch on the sunny terrace of the Cap Horn in Courchevel, followed by an interesting journey back down. Emma took an (extremely rare) tumble, much to the amusement of her guests, and having lost a ski, proceeded to get her foot stuck in the soft snow. There was much hilarity all round as Emma proceeded to dig herself out, and the story was repeated at length later that evening in the Hotel Saint Louis bar, over some medicinal apple martinis. Due to the sunshine, resident après-ski band ‘Bring Your Sisters’ were able to do an outdoor set on La Terrasse. Staff fired up a delicious BBQ which proved to be a popular addition to the event and the terrace was packed with people singing away to the live tunes in the sunshine. Everybody had a fantastic afternoon and it was certainly one to remember! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/bring-your-sisters-play-wonderful-outdoor-set-la-terrasse Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:39:31 +0100 Courchevel Last week, we were blessed with the exciting arrival of plenty of new snow. It began snowing last Sunday (20th) and heavy snow mid week meant that we saw a great improvement in the ski conditions throughout St Anton. The Murkett family joined us at the Amalien Haus for half-term week. Ski Event Manager Mark took them out for their free ski orientation session and the family were so impressed by his service and the ease of not having to look at the piste map, that they decided to book Mark to ski with them for the duration of their stay. Our other Ski Event Manager Rachel took Mr Ellis out for his orientation of St Anton. Mr Ellis brought his family to the chalet, which included our youngest guests at the Amalien Haus so far this season. Whilst Mum looked after the children for a few hours in the morning, Mr Ellis covered a vast amount of the Arlberg ski area including Gampen, Kapall, Nasserein, Galzig, St Christoph, and all the runs in Stuben before heading back down Happy Valley. The Fay family also enjoyed the school holidays here, with Joshua and Charlotte taking ski lessons to improve on there mogul techniques whilst Andrew and Mandy opted for a warming goulash soup at the Hospiz Alm. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/plenty-fresh-snow-has-provided-us-wonderful-ski-conditions-st-anto Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:35:45 +0100 St Anton As was the case last year, Danny Schweiger and his friends took over the chalet for our last week of the season. The boys brought plenty of life and entertainment to the Amalien Haus getting up impressively early each morning to enjoy long days on the slopes with instructors and guides before retiring to the Mooserwirt each afternoon for the world famous après delights it has to offer. You’d be wrong to think however that the fun would have to stop when the Mooserwirt closed each evening. Danny decided to bring the Moos to the Amalien Haus by purchasing the Bar’s CD and playing it (at the other guests agreement) through dinner too! As the Schweiger party departed on Sunday afternoon, the chalet staff moved into their final week, and so have been enjoying one last opportunity to make the most of all that St Anton has to offer, as well as reflecting on the incredible time we’ve all had over the past five months. It seems like only yesterday that we moved into our new home in St Anton and welcomed our first guests including James Brinsden and friends who returned to us three times in total this season. So many other guests were to follow and so many special memories. The corporate groups always arrive in high spirits and are particularly fun to entertain. A personal highlight was hosting the E-Consultancy group led by Charlie Salter. These returning guests took over the whole chalet in style, enjoyed three days skiing with Ski Event Managers - Mark, Rachel and Kev, and relaxed lunches in the sun outside of the Hospiz and Griabli as well as at the Salome Hotel in Lech. Following a great day’s skiing, the group enjoyed après sessions in the resort’s most popular mountain bars the Moserwirt and the Krazy Kanguruh where dancing is customary and the beer and schnapps flow freely. As is often the case with the guests of the Amalien Haus, evenings after dinner were spent in Piccadilly where Andy, Rob or Darren usually entertain the crowds with live music until 3am seven days a week. The Interiors Group led by Andy Black (who visited us just two weeks ago) brought just as much excitement to the Amalien Haus. The second of the two smaller groups who stayed over the course of the week were lucky enough to have coincided their stay with the closing party of the Krazy Kanguruh and were able to share this momentous occasion with the Amalien Haus staff and guests, as well as other seasonnaires in resort. As St Anton is beginning to quieten down we are looking forward to more closing parties and making final visits to the most significant haunts of our time here such as The Underground on the Piste and the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph and as the staff of 10/11 go off on their next ventures we will never forget the time we spent together in St Anton. Heavy snow has been falling all day in order to give us all just a few more days in the powder before we head home – a perfect end to a great season. Our only hope is that our guests enjoyed themselves as much as we have and I believe that I can say with some confidence, that this is definitely the case! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/perfect-end-great-season-st-anton Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:20:51 +0100 St Anton The weather is ever changing in St Anton this week with bright sunshine and t-shirt weather one minute and heavy snow the next. A good few cm of snow fell on Monday as Ski Event Manager Rachel took the Collen and Heung parties on their ski orientation around St Anton. Despite the bad visibility, regular St Anton visitor June Collen and her daughter Grace enjoyed getting their ski legs back whilst Kenny Heung and his friend Rob peeled off to tackle black 2 and other more challenging runs before meeting us all for lunch at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph. Rob was defeated by the huge portion of chicken wings – a favourite in the Hospiz, and June had the jacket potato with bacon and sour cream that she enjoys on every ski trip to St Anton. After constant snowfall for the duration of Monday, Tuesday could not have been more of a contrast. As the sun shined over the mountain and guests alternated between skiing and reclining in the sun, the seasonnaires including some of the Flexiski staff took part in the annual ‘Wacky Races’ event. To qualify for this event one must form a team of four including both skiers and snowboarders. The teams then race from one station to another through the town and around the mountain (on foot and by ski/board), to complete different challenges at each point. This was concluded at Funky Chicken where competitors and friends made good use of the paddling pool and enjoyed a BBQ in the sun. What a great day! The Underground on the piste proved the most popular dinner spot on our staff night off once again this week. The Solomon family visited the atmospheric venue to enjoy the live music whilst our new arrivals, the Carroll party enjoyed a cheese fondue. The weather is set to continue as being bright and sunny for the remainder of this week and with light clouds forecast too we are hoping that they may hold some snow for our last week in the Amalien Haus. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/taking-part-wacky-races Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:31:09 +0100 St Anton Last week we welcomed the ‘Interiors Corporate Group’ to the Amalien Haus. Andrew Black enjoyed lessons with the Arlberg Ski School and the rest of the group skied with Rachel and Mark our in-house Ski Event Managers. On day one the group battled the elements courageously until lunchtime, with the weather in the St Anton changing dramatically from hour to hour. The thick fog and falling snow meant that the group certainly earned the ribs and free flowing wine consumed in the Hospiz Alm for lunch. From here the group made their way down ‘happy valley’ and onto to the Krazy Kanguruh for some lively après-ski. The morning of day two was spent on the Rendl side of the mountain where the pristinely bashed pistes provide ideal skiing conditions for most of the day, even at this stage in the season. The highlight of the morning was having the chance to race through the slalom course which is often present on the mountainside, and we are pleased to report that everyone managed it without a problem. That evening, as it was the chalet staff night off, the group headed to ‘The Underground on the Piste’ where they were hosted by Joan, (owner and local celebrity) and enjoyed tapas and dishes from their a la carte menu. The group had a great week in St Anton both on and off the slopes and we were sad to say goodbye to our last corporate group of the 21010/11 ski season… http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/great-week-our-last-corporate-group-season Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:34:50 +0100 St Anton As the sunshine continues and the goggle tans become increasingly pronounced, staff at the Hotel Saint Louis were excited to have our resident après-ski band ‘Bring Your Sisters’ play on the Saint Louis terrace on Friday. It was a great set, continuing long into the evening with staff contributions from Chef Jim on the bass, and hosts Hayley singing, and Patrick playing the drums. We look forward to more après-ski sessions on the terrace until the end of the season. On Saturday we welcomed a full hotel of guests for our spring ski weekend promotion, including Louise Slade-Betts and her son Charlie, who has been enjoying ski lessons in the mornings, and afternoons spent with Ski Event Manager Claire, who guided him around the slopes. Our BBQ and Pimms party took place on the La Terrasse on Sunday where guests savoured a fantastic lunch in the sunshine. The food was cooked outside by our Chef James and looked amazing, with marinated chicken, fresh burgers, sumptuous sausages and an array of impressive side dishes – home made potato salads, colourful tomato and pesto pastas. The staff were delighted to have a lovely meal afterwards and were joined by Sales Consultants Aodhan and Tom who had just flown in from head office and went on to enjoy a delicious bottle of wine from our cellar. As the 2010/11 ski season draws to a close, we are very sad to have already said goodbye to some of our staff members at the Hotel Saint Louis including George Cryer, Vicky Whelton and James McCoy. We are soon to be saying goodbye to Ski Event Manager Claire and Host Alex Poyner also. We wish everybody well after a great season together and hopefully we’ll all be back in Courchevel again next season. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/topping-our-goggle-tans-la-terrasse Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:53:52 +0100 Courchevel We have had lots of groups staying with us at the Amalien Haus over the past couple of weeks. Nigel Pavey celebrated his birthday with us and after various celebrations with his friends, Nigel was also surprised by a large chocolate chip birthday cake baked especially by our kitchen employee Toby. The all female ‘Walford’ party came to stay with us on a recommendation from one of the group’s husbands who had previously stayed with at the Amalien Haus on a corporate ski trip. The group skied with our Ski Event Manager Mark for the duration of their trip taking advantage of his expert knowledge of St Anton’s pistes and mountain restaurants. Meanwhile the Delamain party took Resort Manager Kev to Lech for the day in order to complete the 23km white circuit that covers a good majority of the Lech, Zurs, Zug and Oberlech areas. The boys enjoyed a great lunch in the Salome Hotel in Oberlech before returning on the free ski bus which enables one to finish the ski day by descending from the top of the Valfaga chair lift all the way down ‘happy valley’ leading conveniently to blue 1 where you can find the après-ski delights of the Krazy Kanguruh and the Mooserwirt. The Evans party took their ski orientation session with Rachel and covered a vast amount of the St Anton ski area on both the Galzig and Gampen sides of the mountain. Their morning was concluded by a great lunch at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph where the group enjoyed traditional dishes such as goulash, hearty mountain food like spaghetti bolognaise and more contemporary choices such as stir fried vegetarian noodles. We have had lots of sunny days in St Anton but are looking forward to the fresh snowfall which has been forecast for the start of the week just in time to welcome our final guests of the season.   http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/great-ski-orientation-mornings-and-more-delicious-lunches-st-chris Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:50:51 +0100 St Anton With snow falling in Courchevel over the past few days, we were sad to say goodbye to the sunny weather but couldn’t wait to get out on the fresh powder. Sunshine is forecast from Friday onwards so we should have great ski conditions in the Three Valleys over the weekend. As Easter approaches, everyone at the Hotel Saint Louis is looking forward to making the most of the last few weekends of the season. Our resident après-ski band, ‘Bring Your Sisters’, who have been playing in the Bar 1226 every Friday, will be moving their set to the terrace, so guests can enjoy a fantastic evening of après-ski outside!   BBQ & Pimms parties will also be taking place on La Terrasse every weekend (weather permitting), where guests will be able to spend the afternoon enjoying Pimms and music whilst sampling our chef’s delicious marinated chicken and fresh burgers. Once again, Le Cap Horn and Le Bel Air restaurants proved to be our guests' favourite Courchevel lunch spots last week. Le Cap Horn’s extensive dessert options are particularly impressive (not to mention delicious) and the large terraces of both restaurants make them extremely popular venues when the sun is shining. Of the many guests we had at the Hotel Saint Louis last week, we were particularly excited to meet Mr and Mrs Bennett, the Grandparents of our kitchen porter Alex. Both aged 65+, they decided not to ski, but made the most of the glorious weather, spending time exploring the resort and enjoying leisurely lunches on our terrace. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/fresh_snow_courchevel Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:13:01 +0100 Courchevel With the sun still shining in Courchevel, plenty of people have been enjoying lunch at La Terrasse which seems to be getting busier every day. Some of the lunch guests travelled across from our Chalet Leonardo in Meribel to test out our new menu and yesterday we started an exciting new venture, the Pimms and Barbecue parties which will be taking place every Sunday through to the end of the season. Last week we had 5-7 cm of fresh snow at the top of the mountain, so for the best skiing head up, up, up! The hotel staff certainly took advantage of the snow conditions and weather by having a lovely picnic at the top of the Vizelle lift, one of the highest points in the Courchevel Valley. Some of the flexiski staff even decided to try their hand at a new sport, with Hotel Saint Louis hosts Angus, Tom and Ollie enjoying a day telemarking. With a little help and guidance from everyone’s favourite barman James (Le Refuge), the boys starting the morning on green runs but soon started linking their turns and progressed to red runs by this afternoon. Despite reporting aching legs, they had a brilliant day and are keen to try telemarking again soon. We were sad to say goodbye to many of the guests that departed at the weekend, but most notably Mr White. Mr White and his brother were staying with us at the hotel and on their last night decided to head out with the staff after work. We all went down to the Funky Fox in Courchevel 1650 to watch Hotel Saint Louis’ resident après-ski band Bring Your Sisters, and Mr White did us proud staying out dancing until gone 3am! With new guests arriving literally everyday, we look forward to meeting everyone and showing them the best places in the Three Valleys to take advantage of the glorious sunshine! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/picnis_and_telemarking Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:58:24 +0100 Courchevel After several years of travelling to St Anton with Flexiski, Euro MTS returned for their annual corporate ski trip to the Amalien Haus, opting for the use of our Ski Event Managers for the duration of the stay On day one, Ski Event Manager Mark took the group for a ski around the Gampen and Galzig areas including black runs 2 and 35. They completed their morning with a visit to the Verwallstube at the top of the Galzig lift where they enjoyed a four course meal including fois gras lasagne, freshly made chocolate gateaux and white chocolate truffles, which always go down particularly well with our guests. Their après-ski activities took place in the Krazy Kanguruh located on blue 1 where the group enjoyed dancing on tables (a must do in the Krazy Kanguruh) and sampling a wide variety of the drinks menu. After dinner, the group frequented Piccadilly where they occupied some of the best seats in the house, close to the wonderful live acts. A favourite lunch spot of Amanda and her colleagues was the popular après-ski bar the Mooserwirt. On the Saturday, Lav and George took on the challenge of sharing a large fried ostrich egg which was the equivalent of 32 regular eggs. Accompanied with a three litre glass of Erdinger, they succeeded in eating the entire egg, much to the amusement of the rest of the group. Following three days of heavy snow last week, St Anton came back to life, and with another sunny week predicted, our new guests the Pacquement and Venables parties could not have chosen a better week for their ski break in St Anton. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/great-morning-slopes Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:51:54 +0100 St Anton With all the recent spring sunshine of late, we’ve put the thermals away until next season and have been enjoying the opportunity to top up our tans over a leisurely lunch at the top of the Saulire. Despite the warm weather (up to 12°C) on Friday at the Chaudanne, the snow is still in fantastic condition. Long gone is the ice that we had earlier in the season, instead replaced by beautifully soft snow on the higher slopes. With clear blue skies, it was the perfect day for skiing in Val Thorens and the fourth valley of Orelle. Once we left behind the queues (all 10 people in front of you at some lifts), it was time to enjoy the wide open slopes of Moraine and Portette before stopping for a relaxing mid-morning coffee in a deckchair to catch some rays. The pistes of Orelle did not disappoint and with some bumps on the way down there was definitely some thigh burning going on, but the cooler temperatures at altitude helped to reduce the chance of overheating. With the compulsory photos taken, it was time to head back over towards Val Thorens where we found some of the best snow all week! As evening descends and temperatures outside start to drop, guests at the Chalet Leonardo discuss their day over a glass of bubbly in front of the fire. Information is exchanged about the best mid-morning beers and long lunches at mountain restaurants, and we are hearing lots of positive reports about the snow conditions in Courchevel 1850 and 1650 from those who headed in that direction. As always, a sushi stop at Le Cap Horn restaurant in Courchevel is proving a popular choice! At the end of last week, marquees were erected on the Chaudanne in preparation for the British Ski Championships which started yesterday. There will be a real buzz around resort for the next couple of weeks as the population of Meribel swells with competitors who can be seen strolling around town in their shiny race suits by day and enjoying toffee vodkas in the bars by night. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/exploring-val-thorens-and-orelle Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:20:22 +0100 Méribel Last week all of the hype and excitement in the Alps was centred around Tignes when the resort hosted the Winter X Games for the second year running. Being snow sport enthusiasts, many of the Hotel Saint Louis staff were lucky enough to make it over for the competitions where they got to experience the brilliant atmosphere amongst the spectators. An amazing snowmobile demonstration with huge tricks like can-cans and back flips, was a real crowd pleaser but the highlight of the day had to be the action-packed ‘Skiing Superpipe Men’s Final’. Despite US free-styler Simon Dumont being favoured to win, he failed to land the last wall smoothly and so finished in fourth place behind Kevin Rowland (1st), Justin Dorey (2nd) and Torin Yater-Wallace (3rd). Ski Event Managers Claire and Emma also had the opportunity to explore another resort in the Alps last week when they took a corporate group to La Plagne. The group of 60 was in high spirits when the girls met them in Geneva and once checked into their hotel, those guests wanting to make the most of the first afternoon on the slopes were kitted out with skis and boots, whilst the remaining guests were fitted at their leisure. Luckily the fresh snowfall the night before their arrival provided the perfect conditions for the group’s corporate weekend in La Plagne. Back in Courchevel 1850, the International Pyrotechnic Fireworks Festival has now come to an end with Courchevel 1650 winning first prize. The festival concluded with an incredible fireworks display set amongst the snowy backdrop of the mountains! We also enjoyed 5 or 6cm of snow at the end of the week with more heavy snow on Saturday. We have our fingers crossed that it will continue! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/action-packed-weeks Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:18:40 +0000 Courchevel A returning group led by Ben Rookes brought life to the Amalien Haus last week during their corporate ski break in St Anton. The group spent one day being led by Ski Event Manager Mark and the following with Kev our Resort Manager. The group headed over to Lech and did well in covering a good proportion of the ‘on piste’ skiing that the Arlberg ski area has to offer. A good time was had both on the slopes and in the Krazy Kanguruh and Mooserwirt - St Anton’s two most renowned après-ski haunts. The group also went for a delicious meal in the Underground on the Piste which included the infamous tapas platter to start. They were welcomed by the owner Joan who once met is never forgotten and enjoyed the live music that takes place there every night. Rob Coldrake was also staying in the chalet with a group of five friends. The group were on the slopes within less than an hour of arriving in resort and skied hard for the duration of their trip. Jane Duckworth and her friend Deana enjoyed a fun-filled few days in St Anton, sampling the slopes and après bars of the Arlberg. They enjoyed a day out skiing with Kev which included a sunny lunch stop at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph where a hearty chicken salad and chilled white wine were the perfect antidote to a morning on the slopes. With another corporate group on their way this week and with snow falling (and forecast to continue) from 2000m upwards, it looks like a good week ahead for ‘Euro MTS’ and for the staff of the Amalien Haus. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/straight_on_the_slopes Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:32:21 +0000 St Anton We’ve had a busy few weeks at the Amalien Haus with our occupancy being made up of a number of smaller parties. Our guests have certainly made the most of all that St Anton has to offer, embracing long days on the slopes followed by late nights out on the town! Returning guests, the Dearnley’s had a great time on their ski break in St Anton, enjoying meals in Hazienda and partying until late in Piccadilly, Kandahar and Bar 37. Our corporate group Capita opted for our Ski Event Management service and went out with Resort Manager Kev, where they skied the White Circuit through Lech, Zurs, Zug and Oberlech. Kev reserved tables at Salome for lunch where they tucked into delicious fillet steaks. The group finished their day with a magnum of champagne at the impressive Ice Bar in Lech. Also staying with us in the chalet was the Andrew’s party who opted to have Ski Event Manager Mark with them for the duration of their stay. The banter within the group started almost immediately when after the first afternoon, group member Stevie was all-skied-out and opted to stay in bed. Unfortunately for him, this set the fire burning and he became subject of the group’s banter for the remainder of the week, mainly for his lack of skiing, although poor golfing skills were also brought into it! The lack of skiing could be forgiven however, as the group had some late nights in the Krazy Kanguruh, Piccadilly and Cuba. Despite this, one of the highlights of the their ski break was a trip over to Lech where the guys skied the White Circuit and visited the charming Alter Goldenerberg restaurant where they enjoyed red wine on the sun terrace. Another guest Sasha Cole decided to follow in her husband’s footsteps (a regular to the Amalien Haus) and brought her three friends to visit. The girls spent their first day with Mark our Ski Event Manager learning their way around St Anton’s pistes and enjoyed a long lunch on the sunny terrace of the Post Hotel in Stuben. They also embraced St Anton’s lively nightlife and après-ski with their favourites being Piccadilly and Krazy Kanguruh, respectively. The Goldacre party managed to get away on their first ski holiday with their friends the Redding’s in several years. The four, accompanied by Sam Fielden (who though travelling alone found no problem finding skiing companions) spent one day of their ski break in Lech embarking upon the White Circuit. Whilst in Lech, the group also visited the Alter Goldenerberg, the sister restaurant to the renowned Hospiz Alm. Meanwhile, the Pike party also went out with Kev for their ski orientation session which concluded in the Hospiz Alm, a favourite of the group, where they ordered ribs all round as recommended by us! We are finding that the ski conditions are better in at the top of Schindler, Stuben and Rendl as both sides of these mountains are north facing which acts as a barrier from the sun which keeps the snow in good condition. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/yet-more-wonderful-days-slopes-and-lively-evenings-piccadilly Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:41:36 +0000 St Anton It seems the sun shines unfailingly every day on Courchevel 1850 at the moment! Whilst many of our guests are happy to relax on Hotel Saint Louis’ perfectly positioned terrace, there are plenty of people making the most of the exquisite, well-groomed pistes of Courchevel. There really is no other experience like making the first lift and skiing on corduroy under wide blue skies. Creux is undoubtedly one of the favourite runs of hotel staff and guests alike to enjoy on a quiet morning. Whilst Courchevel 1850 is a great place to catch the sun in the early hours, make your way over to 1650 in the afternoon to chase the rays as they head over the mountain. Alternatively, the pistes of Meribel on the Saulire side are bathed in sunshine all afternoon and have the benefit of only being one lift away from Courchevel. With the bustle of half term over, the lifts are noticeably quieter in the run up to Easter, making it even easier to ski the Three Valleys in a day; or even the lesser known fourth Valley of Orelle for a real adventure. One set of guests who certainly made the most of the idyllic conditions last week were the newlywed Relf couple, who were staying at the Hotel Saint Louis on their honeymoon. We welcomed them with champagne and scattered rose petals and the couple spent their first few days in the sunshine meandering down some of many gentle beginner slopes Courchevel has to offer. With new arrivals everyday and brilliant weather in resort, everyone is in high spirits and looking forward to welcoming all of our new guests. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/sun-has-been-shining-everyday-courchevel Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:20:58 +0000 Courchevel Other than the Kay family who are staying with us for a total of ten days, Sunday was all change in the Amalien Haus as the Andrews, Capita, Deanley and Murray parties departed and we were joined by a host of new guests. Regular visitors to St Anton, Nick Newman and colleagues came on their first Flexiski holiday this week. Heading out on the slopes with Resort Manager Kev, the boys covered much ground and enjoyed long, sunny lunches in some of the best restaurants on the piste. The group enjoyed lobster tail and tuna in Verwall Stub’n (at the top of the Galzig lift) on day one, followed by a leisurely lunch on St Anton’s ultimate suntrap, the balcony of the Hospiz Alm the following day. Though only having learnt to ski last year when staying in the Chalet Leonardo in Meribel, Paul Sterriker and his son Josh have been on a number of Flexiski breaks since. This being their first time skiing in St Anton, the pair decided to take full advantage of the resort. Their first full day on the slopes was spent with an instructor who endeavoured to make his pupils more confident when tackling moguls. Then after spending a day going it alone, they took Mark one of our Ski Event Managers for a day skiing in Lech where they explored the wide, user friendly blue and red runs that the resort has to offer. The Kay party - also keen to explore the Lech ski area took Ski Event Manager Rachel to do ‘The White Ring’ from Lech to Zurs and Zurs to Lech. The group had the challenge of travelling to and from Lech and completing the 23km of ground on skis in between taking six year old Amy to ski school at 9.30am and picking her up at 3pm. Also staying with us at the Amalien Haus is the Hodgson party which comprises several couples. They have enjoyed lively evenings in the Krazy Kanguruh after spending their days whizzing round the mountain at high speed mostly on snow blades. Although the weather is still beautifully sunny in St Anton, there are some snow showers forecast, ready to give the slopes a fresh covering for the rest of the week. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/long-lunches-and-sunny-days-skiing-white-ring Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:43:56 +0000 St Anton The sun was shining all of last week in Courchevel, delighting those on the quest to find the remaining untouched powder off piste. An exciting Ice Hockey match between Courchevel and Meribel took place in Courchevel’s Olympic ice rink on March 1st. The impressive stadium was bustling with the team’s supporters and we are proud to announce Courchevel won! The Hotel Saint Louis has been at full occupancy for the last few days with one family occupying Le Chapiteau and a corporate party of 52 spread over the rest of the hotel. The Waiman family stayed with us for a full week with their two delightful twin babies who captured the hearts of all of the staff. The corporate party arrived from the UK on Thursday afternoon and stayed with us until Sunday. This gave the group the opportunity to ski for two and a half days in the sunshine. There was a wide range of abilities within the group, many opting for lessons with New Generation the others skiing with our flexiski Ski Event Managers Claire and John. The advanced group lead by John took advantage of the whole of the Three Valleys skiing as far and as fast as they could, stopping for lunch at La Folie Douce in Val Thorens. Claire’s group took off at a much steadier pace cruising along reds and blues, stopping for lunch at le Ferme de Reberty in Les Menuires. However, the activities didn’t just stop at skiing. Many guests took the opportunity to sledge down Piste de la Luge from Courchevel 1850 to 1550. One of the more competitive members of the party even lost his sledge as he was going so fast! For those seeking relaxation rather than exhilaration, guests enjoyed spa days at Hotel des Neiges for massages and facials. The evenings at the Hotel Saint Louis were as fun filled as the daytime activities with a different theme each evening. Decorations, music and a themed menu set the atmosphere for the French, Indian and Romance nights. Among the highlight of events was music by ‘Bookem Danno’ on Friday, vin chaud a plenty, waiters with painted on moustaches for French night, Indian music and brightly coloured Indian decorations on the second night, and on the final evening, Daisy B finished the weekend off nicely impressing the guests with her acoustic music throughout the evening. With the corporate party all now safely back in their respective offices and no injuries to report, we look forward to the arrival of our new guests this week and hope the sunshine stays with us. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/fun-filled-daytime-activities-and-themed-evenings-our-corporate-g Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:12:54 +0000 Courchevel Upon opening the curtains on the morning of 27th February, we were greeted with inches of fresh white fluffy snow covering everything in Meribel. All the trees were laden and everywhere was white, and the snow ploughs went back to work clearing the roads. Low cloud was obscuring the views of the mountains in her beautiful new white coat and there were still big flakes of snow descending from the heavens. However we kept our fingers crossed that the cloud would lift the following day so that the blue skies would return as our new guests headed out to shred up the fresh powder off piste. With the Dean party departing after a great week of skiing in Meribel, the children were much improved after having ski lessons all week and went back to school with video evidence for their GCSE projects to prove it. Whilst the party stayed with us in the Chalet Leonardo, the conversation over afternoon tea and dinner often consisted of making plans to organise a return trip next year for all the family. There was a general agreement amongst everyone that the Jerusalem piste and the snow cross in Les Menuires were their favourite pistes, whilst relaxing in the hot tub with a glass of champagne was their favourite après ski activity. The lemon champagne cocktail was voted their favourite pre dinner drink, and Articulate and Bananagrams, the late evening entertainment of choice. They ended the week with a team photo of everyone in their Team Dean hoodies on the terrace in the glorious sunshine before the clouds started rolling in and before returning to the chalet in time to watch the exciting England-France rugby game on the big screen. Over the following few days, the clouds lifted and the sun was shining. Off piste there was so much untouched snow because low cloud had been obscuring the visibility the previous day. Now that it had cleared, it was possible to create your own fresh tracks without having to travel too far from the pistes. It had been a few weeks since we’d been able to cruise through the fresh white fluffy stuff and as it was more than calf deep in most places, it really gave you that sense of floating as you gently carved your way silently down the side of the mountain with the spray of snow flying out behind you. Perfect!... http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/our-lemon-champagne-cocktail-has-been-voted-pre-dinner-drink-choice Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:57:38 +0000 Méribel After a fun-filled half term week at the Hotel Saint Louis, the fresh powder arrived just in time for the more experienced skiers to savour the superb off piste conditions that Courchevel had to offer. The ‘Hidden Valley’ by the Chapalet chairlift in 1650 proved especially popular amongst staff with some even commenting that the off piste that week was the best they had skied all season. Ski Event Managers Claire and Jon from Meribel enjoyed the second half of the week with the Wilsons just as much as the first. Claire skied with the intermediate skiers of the party taking them around Courchevel, while Jon took the advanced group all over the Three Valleys making the most of Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens. Without a doubt, the most popular run of the week was Mount Vallon- the wide and rolling run down from the highest point of the Meribel valley. The Indiens run for children in Courchevel 1650 was another favourite with the group. Everyone was able to try their hand at archery and the boys were excited about having their faces painted. At the family park, Joe also impressed everyone with his superb jumps. Leisurely lunches at the Courchneige hotel situated on the Bellecote piste were popular among this party also and the great advantage of this restaurant is that it is just a short distance on the drag lift from the Hotel Saint Louis, up the Bellecote green run. Lunch at l’Ours Blanc was another memorable experience for the group, with the children tucking into pizzas, burgers and chicken nuggets. Ski Event Manager John also skied with the Sullivans to Val Thorens for the day on Saturday, impressing them with a lively lunch in La Fruitiere where the group sat and soaked up the atmosphere created by La Folie Douce DJ’s. With the reopening of Piste de Luge, thanks to vast amount of snowfall that we have had over the past week, the Whelton party had great fun sledging down this red run on Monday. Throughout the season, guests looking to do some extreme sledging have all been very impressed by this exhilarating experience that runs all the way from Courchevel 1850 to 1650. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/we-have-been-enjoying-some-best-piste-conditions-all-season Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:54:31 +0000 Courchevel It was another incredible week on the slopes of Val d’Isere! We enjoyed a lovely big snowfall at the beginning of the week and were able to make the most of the champagne powder and blue skies that stayed with us for a good few days. Unfortunately the Chalet Balias said goodbye to the Harrison party but were graced with the presence of our lovely new guests which included two brothers and their families. Everyone had a great week both on and off the slopes. The Wednesday apres-ski session at Le Folle Douce proved popular, however the highlight of the week had to be in the Foret Bar watching England beat France in the Rugby (which didn’t go down too well with the locals)! On the mountain there is perfect snow everywhere, so no matter where you head to, you'll love every minute. Make sure however, that you have the right goggles on as the visibility has been a bit difficult in places. Head high to the powder up in the Fornet Glazier and from there you'll have endless runs of fresh tracks. As always there has been plenty going on in resort. On Tuesday we enjoyed another spectacular fireworks display on the piste, and with our chalet windows looking straight onto it, we certainly had one of the best views in Val d’Isere (and the warmest)! Following the fireworks was a magical TorchLight descent down Le Face by the very skilled ESF Instructors. We are also looking forward to experiencing Val d’Isere’s classical music festival ‘Classicaval’ which takes place in resort next week from 15th-17th March. Classical artists from around the world will gather in Val d’Isere to take part in a number of concerts. Hotels such as Les Barmes de l’Ours are offering some great packages that include accommodation and access to all of the concerts. We hope that we will be able to catch a few performances ourselves! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/another-incredible-week-slopes-val-disere Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:18:36 +0000 Val d'Isère Last week must go down as one of the best weeks of the season. The skiing in St Anton was perfect with fresh powder days and some sunny blue skies. In the mornings, the trucks were driving through the street carrying snow that had been cleared from the previous night’s snowfall. The forecast for the next 6 days suggested that there will be beautiful sunny days to enjoy the fresh powder. Bradley Cassels has just arrived at the Amalien Haus to enjoy his annual ski holiday with friends who are going to spend the next two days skiing with an experienced off piste guide. - Ideal timing I might add! The O’Keeffe and Barker parties who were staying in the chalet until the beginning of the week took advantage of our staff night off and decided to sample of the great restaurants St Anton has to offer. The O’Keeffe family visited Hazienda, ‘the best restaurant in town’ where Will enjoyed an Argentine steak. The Barkers took their two young girls to the more traditional Fahrner Stub’n where the waiters dress in Lederhosen and serve local specialities and fondues. Mr Devereux brought his daughter with him to the Amalien Haus to visit his son who is working as a ski instructor in St Anton. The pair enjoyed an orientation session with our Resort Manager Kev before enjoying some quality family time together. Mr Buchanan brought a small corporate group, some of whom were experienced skiers whilst the rest had never been on a ski break before. The beginners came on quickly finishing their week by completing blue runs on the Rendl side of the mountain and watching the freestyle competition taking place in the snow park. So with wonderful guests and fantastic snow conditions, we have to say it was one of the best weeks so far! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/one-best-weeks-season-so-far-st-anton Sun, 06 Mar 2011 21:01:32 +0000 St Anton After nearly a month of crisp blue skies, the clouds finally started to roll last week, bringing with them the long awaited fresh snow. The low cloud reduced the visibility but we were still able to head up on the first bubble of the Saulire lift and make fresh tracks all the way down the Creux piste. This is the first time I have managed to do this in all my seasons in the Three Valleys so a few ‘woo hoos’ were heard on the way down from myself and various members of the group. With the cloud over Courchevel 1650 looking even thicker, we stayed in Courchevel 1850 enjoying the fresh snow on the Biollay and Pralong pistes. With ankle deep fresh untouched snow on the pistes, there was no need to head off piste. With the confidence building, smiles getting bigger by the minute and everyone tackling the fresh snow very well – some had never skied in fresh powder, we headed down the Verdons piste past the Chanel shop at the Chalet des Neiges in the centre of Courchevel 1850 for a quick comfort break and an impromptu snowball fight. As we headed up the Plantrey chairlift the clouds were starting to lift enough so that we could see how much snow had fallen everywhere. As some of the pistes were now starting to get chopped up and a bit lumpy, time ticking on and a table booked at the Coeur de Crystal for lunch, we made our way up the Plantrey chairlift before taking in Cretes and Arolles on the way down to La Tania to the Dou de Lanches chair. At the top, the cloud was so low it was impossible to see the edge of the Boulevard de la Loze so we stayed, some more nervously than others, close to the piste markers poles on the left hand side. Once safely down and below the cloud we cruised down to a delicious lunch beside a roaring fire in the cosy interior of the restaurant as the snow kept falling outside. Finally the sun started to break through the cloud and by late afternoon the blue skies had started to return. Those of the group who had decided to stay out skiing returned to the Chalet Leonardo with pictures and details of the falls, face plants and the pistes they had been on that afternoon, to share with the others had headed back to the chalet for an après ski drink and soak before the rest of the crowd arrived, and who were by now, curled up on the sofa by the roaring fire with coffee, cakes and their books, resting in preparation for another big day tomorrow. After all the weary legs had been soaked in the hot tub that evening the whole group headed out for dinner at Le Tremplin and although some had an early night, others were up playing Articulate until the small hours and awaited with anticipation to see what weather we would find upon opening the curtains the next morning. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/it-started-snowing-and-so-we-made-fresh-tracks-creux-piste Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:48:31 +0000 The condition of St Anton’s pistes has really turned a corner this week as heavy snow has set-in enhancing the slope’s coverage. A few sunny days were be followed by yet more snow on Sunday, meaning that things in St Anton could only get better! Last week we were joined by the Barker family who brought daughters Kristina and Danielle (4 and 7) for their skiing debut. The family spent their time exploring the child friendly nursery slopes in Nasserein and as parents, Steve and Lynne got to teach the girls the tricks of the trade. Karen O’Keefe also came to visit with her boys Will and Nick and after admitting that on her last visit to St Anton, she was one to follow the crowd, took advantage of our Resort Manager (Kev’s) knowledge of the area during their ski orientation session around St Anton. The O’Keefe’s also enjoyed a day exploring the wide, open pistes of Lech where Karen has stayed in the past. With just a short bus ride between skiing through St Anton to Alp Rauz and arriving in Lech’s centre, this makes for a great day out and a change of scenery. The Fay family were also staying with us at the Amalien Haus and collated some great footage of daughter Charlotte tackling a red mogul field and a difficult black run for the purpose of her GCSE PE assessment. Mark one of our Ski Event Mangers has continued to enjoy his week in the fresh powder with the Murkett party, staying at the Antonerhof Hotel, and together with friends staying elsewhere in resort have explored all that St Anton has to offer from the cruising blues of Gampen (23, 24, 20) and Rendl (3,4,11) with the parents, to the tricky blacks 22, 25 and 10 with the kids. The adults managed to resist the temptations of the après ski scene in St Anton, well until Tuesday when they had a leisurely lunch at Griabli, which is great for a pizza on the mountain, with a couple of bottles of vino, before skiing down to Basecamp to continue what turned into a fun night for the boys!! All in all, it's been another great week in St Anton http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/another-great-weeks-skiing-st-anton Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:25:52 +0000 St Anton The Hotel Saint Louis has been a hive of activity over the past couple of weeks. We were delighted to welcome Johan Lundgren and his family to the hotel on Friday 18th. Johan and his family enjoyed an afternoon of après watching our resident band ‘Bring your Sisters’, before sampling some of the Hotel Saint Louis' cuisine. Further to this, regulars of the hotel, John Wimbleton and his family stopped by for a few martini’s on Sunday night. It was lovely to catch up with them and we look forward to welcoming them back again soon. Half term week in Courchevel got off to a flying start with plenty of families looking forward to spending precious time together both on the slopes and in resort. Beginners and advanced skiers alike were delighted with the fresh layers of powder that prepared our pistes to perfection, restoring the ‘winter wonderland’ atmosphere for the busiest week of the season. The variety of the weather during the first few days of half term meant that not only did we have a good few inches of fresh snow on the pistes, but guests were able to ski the Three Valleys in clear blue skies and with excellent visibility. Our Ski Event Manager Claire was looking after the Wilson party who stayed in Le Chapiteau on the top floor of the hotel. Mr Wilson and his group of family and close friends wanted to make the most of our Ski Event Management service and so Meribel’s Ski Event Manager Jon, came over the help out. The group kept both Jon and Claire busy all day everyday, skiing with them all over Courchevel, as well as other areas of the Three Valleys. On one of the days, the plans involved a gender split, with the boys speeding off first thing to Val Thorens and the girls enjoying a more leisurely start with a long lunch and frequent coffee breaks to ensure they treated themselves to the ultimate girl’s day out. The group had a great week and in keeping with the true alpine lifestyle, there were of course frequent stop offs. Lunch breaks included meals at Le Tremplin, La Terrasse at the Hotel Saint Louis and Kudeta, where one of the boys claimed his burger was the best he had ever tasted! The Hotel Saint Louis also seemed to please the appetites of the party as there were plenty of compliments to our Chefs who had designed a personalised menu especially for the group. Ski Event Manager, Emma enjoyed taking the Reed family and Mr McGann and his daughter across to Courchevel 1650, whilst the Sasse family also took first lifts from the Plantrey chairlift with Emma later in the week for wonderful morning of perfectly groomed slopes. Ski Event Manager John, spent three action-packed days with the Davis party, who jetted in for a weekend ski trip. Anthony’s party relished the experience of skiing down Courchevel’s popular Creux bringing them towards 1650 and over the “bumps” by Suisse, whilst Andrea, Sid and Aaron improved their skiing on the Bellecote piste with New Generation ski instructors. The Davis party certainly made the most of Courchevel, enjoying a lively lunch in Le Cap Horn, dinner in the popular La Mangeoire and ultimate evening après drinks and dancing in Le Cave... all very popular spots for fun filled skiers who like to party in style. There were plenty of activities going on in Courchevel to keep everyone entertained and many of our guests enjoyed extra activities that we had booked for them. The Hartford party in particular were delighted with their Skidooing session with French ski school ESF and described the activity as a truly exhilarating experience. Again, Courchevel’s night skiing event ‘Verdons by Night’ attracted many guests from the hotel, who took the opportunity to practice their tricks in the park, relaxing afterwards in a number of bars and restaurants with a glass of Vin Chaud to hand. The wonderful firework displays also reminded holidaymakers and staff alike just how spectacular the ski resort of Courchevel 1850 really is, and how lucky we are to be staying in one of the best ski resorts in the world. Finally, we wish our very own Darragh O’Sullivan (Head of Hotel & Chalet Operations) a speedy recovery after breaking his shoulder. Darragh is currently sporting a quite unglamorous (in his words) cast. Despite this, he has soldered on with his duties and ensured that everyone else had an action-packed half-term week on the slopes. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/very-busy-wonderful-half-term-week-courchevel Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:04:50 +0000 Courchevel With the somewhat limited snowfall that the French Alps was experiencing a few weeks ago, we were unable to enjoy as much off piste skiing, and so we changed powder skis for park skis! The Val Park still had great conditions with its 2 red jumps leading into the dreaded black jump, about a 60ft kicker. Top performances from the Val Park team are on show everyday, so jump onto the Grand Prix chairlift to grab a sneak peak of the professionals in action. We have had some lovely guests with us at the Chalet Balias over the past couple of weeks, with a special birthday for one couple who were here on a surprise birthday trip. Whilst they were out skiing, the chalet team paid a visit to the local shop so that we were able to spray ‘Happy Birthday Cara’ in the snow outside our chalet windows, which proved a wonderful surprise on Cara’s return from the mountain. Our first children to the chalet this season had a fabulous time on the snow and worked hard on convincing their family to book a return visit for New Year’s, but only if we will all be here! The streets of Val d’Isere were busy as always for the French school holidays, with fireworks on the piste and music bustling in the town centre. The roads were closed and covered in snow while guests wondered around enjoying various musicals and different plays, as well as face painting for the children – another great all round family experience! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/more-fun-times-and-some-wonderful-performances-le-val-park Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:46:05 +0000 Val d'Isère The energy of the school holidays has started in Courchevel. The red and green ski instructor jackets of Ecole Ski Francais and New Generation are soaring around the pistes with families of all ages. Courchevel is a lovely place to be right now with all the youthful enthusiasm bringing the mountain alive. The clear skies and beaming sunshine are a complementing addition to the comfortable temperatures of -3C. The Ski Event Managers are making the most of these opportunities with orientation guides to the most scenic views, stopping at the Col de la loze at 2305m for a scenic photo. Resident Ski Event Manager John Godfrey spent two days with the Wate family with the intention of familiarising the family with Courchevel and beyond. However after an early trip to the family park, the children were hooked and wanting something quite different from their parents. After three consecutive races through the family park, the decision was to head over to the ‘Indiens’ piste in Courchevel 1650. This is a perfect playground for all the family with an Indian tribe on the mountain and plenty of themed activities along the way. Half way down the blue run we entered the Indian camp and were greeted by the Chief. Everyone was initiated to the tribe with face painting and an archery training session, firing at hand calved animal targets, which certainly made for a rather different but interesting target session! Also staying with us at the Hotel Saint Louis were the Potters who were curious to see the famous Folie Douce their eighteen year old son had been raving about. Traversing across the Three Valleys at a more leisurely pace, Folie Douce has an uncanny ability to impress young and old with its chic feel and impressive cuisine. We have also enjoyed more magical moments with the 9th Annual Pyrotechnics Festival which started on 17th February in Courchevel. Spectacular and elaborate fireworks displays took place in resort, leaving people wide eyed in amazement as the worlds best fireworks experts pitched against each other, drawing in over 8000 spectators. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/children-have-been-having-wonderful-time-slopes-indiens-piste Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:44:49 +0000 Courchevel After a romantic Valentine’s Day last week in Meribel with perfect blue skies, crisp white snow and a lively jazz band in the village centre at the end of the day, our guests soaked in the hot tub at the Chalet Leonardo with a glass of bubbly as the sky gradually faded through the beautiful pink and orange end of the sunset spectrum. With the forecasts promising a generous snowfall, we all welcomed the sight of the incoming clouds that started arriving mid afternoon, and with the stars hidden from view in the inky night sky for the first time in weeks, everyone in Meribel was hoping that on opening the curtains the next morning, they would find a covering of fresh white powder. Although this was not the case, the promise remained as the snow clouds continued to come in over the surrounding peaks bringing with them the first snow for a while. Although visibility was compromised if you stayed within the trees on the runs towards La Tania, at the altiport in Meribel and Meribel village you could enjoy the fresh snow provided by the snow cannons without any problems. Despite the influx of French visitors last week (many from the Paris region), it was still possible to ski across the entire Three Valleys without having to queue. At these busy times of year in resort, having someone with local knowledge you can always ensure that you maximise your time skiing often on uncrowded slopes and away from all the children (or flocons and snowflakes as they are called on their ski school bibs). Although the clouds remain around the area, the visibility has improved greatly and we eagerly await the arrival of a large dump of fresh powder just in time for half term week in Meribel! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/it-s-been-snowing-meribel Thu, 24 Feb 2011 08:41:58 +0000 Méribel We have been full to the brim once again in the Amalien Haus, with a collection of smaller groups taking the chalet up to its full capacity. Each group found exactly what they were looking for in St Anton, some skiing and partying hard whilst others enjoyed a more relaxed ski break. Our largest group of the week - the Marriage party, were made up of both skiers and snowboarders, all of whom went home with plenty of fond memories of their time on the slopes of the Arlberg, the Krazy Kanguruh and of course, Scotty’s bar in town. Amanda Beadle is staying with us, with her two sons Alfie and Harry (11 and 13). Whilst Harry was given control of the piste map on the first day, they later decided to put our resident Ski Event Manager Rachel to good use for a morning on the mountain. They took to the Galzig side of the resort and skied most runs in the area particularly enjoying blue 17 all the way down to Stuben. Both boys are keen and speedy skiers, only falling over when stationary! Sarah Flaherty was one of our more adventurous guests this week and having just completed a two week off piste course in Canada decided to spend two days of her St Anton ski holiday with off piste guides from ‘Piste to Powder’. This enabled her to ski over the back of St Anton from the top of the Valluga lift and all the way to Zurs – a route that one is only allowed to complete with a registered off piste guide. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/another-week-wonderful-guests-amalien-haus Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:18:40 +0000 St Anton Whilst sipping champagne and savouring the delicious canapés after their first day of skiing, the returning Brown party (this year with increased numbers), said they had such a great day of skiing that if they had to go home now, it would still have been worth it. Praise indeed for the snow conditions and weather, despite the lack of new snow at the time! And this was before they had even tasted the delicious dinner being served in Chalet Leonardo that evening. Fortunately they still had another couple of days on their ski break so they took full advantage of the enormous Three Valleys ski area and the blue skies to top up their tans, although the bottle of factor 40 was welcomed by more than a couple of faces and foreheads throughout the day. Having spent a long and hard day skiing in Val Thorens, Friday was spent exploring the best slopes that Courchevel has to offer at a supposedly more leisurely pace! After skiing every possible descent from the top of Saulire and a better than expected descent through the off piste under the Chanrossa chairlift on the back of Courchevel 1650, the coffee break was postponed in favour of another run down an almost perfect Combe Saulire. As we caught up with the rest of the group who had removed their skis and were ready for a drink, we descended into the heart of Courchevel 1850 for a delicious sun soaked lunch on the terrace at the Le Tremplin accompanied by some expertly chosen wine. The complimentary genepi was just enough to get everyone started again for the afternoon which was taken at an only slightly more gentle pace, with the afternoon finishing with a well deserved cold beer in Jacks bar just in time to catch the rugby scores. Courchevel seems to be the favourite area to ski at the moment as Jon, our Ski Event Manager was called upon to accompany some guests from the Hotel Saint Louis in 1850. The morning was spent exploring Courchevel 1650, an area the father and son team had not yet been to. Under Jon’s expert direction they were able to tick off that they had skied down every run on his piste map as they enjoyed a well deserved lunch in the sunshine at the Cap Horn. As the wonderful food restored everyone’s energy levels in preparation for the afternoon skiing in Courchevel 1850, they were able to observe the arrival of the shiny helicopters and private jets bringing French guests into the resort for their half term ski break. With Courchevel 1850 thoroughly explored in the afternoon, they headed back to the Hotel Saint Louis and Bar 1226 for an après ski drink or two to ease their aching legs and to toast a great day skiing enjoyed by all. With schools in Paris off for the next two weeks, the amount of people in fur, gold or white ski suits has almost doubled overnight and the average age of the people of the slopes has more than halved as the children both French and English enjoy a week of skiing in the February sunshine. However with a bit of local knowledge even at this busiest time of year, it is still possible to ski on uncrowded pistes and to avoid lift queues as the enormity of the Three Valleys areas shows why it still remains so popular with so many. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/just-one-day-skiing-and-i-could-go-home-happy Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:04:48 +0000 Méribel Here comes the snow! Yesterday we enjoyed a couple of centimetres of fresh snow in Val d'Isere but this week we are expecting a good half a metre and with more snow clouds coming in, it definitely looks promising. Even though many resorts in France are in need of snow, Val d'Isere has been coping very well. As we are based higher than most resorts with the highest glacier at 3456m above sea level, our temperatures have remained below freezing, which is keeping the snow on the slopes in a good condition. Head up the Le Fornet Glacier and you'll find some lovely soft snow across the Combe du Geant and the Montets run. On the opposite side of the valley, the infamous black run Sache is still open. Going from 2748m down to 1550m, it is one of the longest slopes in Europe and even though we have completed it a number of times, it is always a great challenge. Down in resort it has been sunny and almost t-shirt weather which is great for topping up our goggle tans. As always, plenty has been going on in Val d’Isere including a wonderful party on the piste which took place on Monday. It is the French school holidays this week, so the resort is bustling and with English half-term next week, the town will really come alive. Plus, with plenty of snow due to arrive in the next few days, our guests on their half-term ski break are set for a great week! Here at the Chalet Balias, We have had our first children of the season staying with us and they have been so excited since the minute they arrived. As 5 year old Ollie headed off for his first ever day on the slopes, he looked incredibly cute in his little blue ski outfit. He had a wonderful time whizzing around on skis and absolutely loved playing in the snow! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/here-comes-snow-val-disere Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:59:10 +0000 Val d'Isère Love was well and truly in the air in Courchevel 1850 this Valentine’s Day. The night sky was ablaze with fireworks from the spectacular Fire and Ice show organised by the Courchevel Tourist Board, whilst Hotel Saint Louis’ Valentine’s couples watched on the piste with bottles of champagne. Meanwhile, the dining room was transformed and our guests dined in a romantically themed restaurant, serenaded by local soloist Alex over candlelight. During the day the guests had chosen to make the most of the blue skies and spring-like temperatures, with many partaking in Ski Orientation Sessions lead by our resident Ski Event Managers. Emma was put through her paces with an advanced contingent, whilst Claire had a more leisurely cruise with the Harrison party, enjoying a mid-afternoon stop in Courchevel 1650’s Bel-Air restaurant, which boasts one of the areas best sun-terraces with amazing views. The following day we awoke to overcast skies and whispers of snow, only to find the resort had turned white by midday. Several of the guests enjoyed a ski through the tree-lined slopes of La Tania where the visibility was significantly better as the top of Courchevel 1850, had disappeared in snow-clouds for the first time in a while! Over the next few days we expect more snow, as promised by the weather forecast and the plummeting temperatures have left us wrapping up warm in a contrast to the warm weather we were experiencing due to the Foen wind. The Valentine’s celebrations of the previous night continued on the evening of the 15th with many of our guests making the most of the pistes, partaking in ‘Verdons by Night’ during which the slopes are floodlit for a unique ski experience. Upon their return they ate canapés and drank champagne before a sumptuous five course meal. There is much more to come in terms of events to hit both the Hotel Saint Louis and Courchevel 1850. Whilst nature plays her part and blesses us with more snow, we shall be looking forward to the international festival of pyrotechnic art, to begin on the 17th February. Once more the night sky will be lit up and we shall judge if the fireworks can better those of New Years’ Eve and Russian Christmas. Meanwhile, the resort is beginning to bustle in anticipation for a busy yet exciting half-term. The Hotel Saint Louis looks forward to welcoming back the Wilson party for their stay in Le Chapiteau, along with many other new guests. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/love-was-air-courchevel-valentine-s-day Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:33:34 +0000 Courchevel Here in Val d’Isere we have had glorious sunshine for a week and with the temperature still staying below freezing, our snow has been keeping very well. Heading up the Grand Mottes or the Fornet glacier is the place to be as the lovely reds have been empty since Christmas. The formidable La Face has been catching a couple of our clients out but all have said that’s why they came to ski in Val d’Isere. In the resort our Mayor has been spraying the roads with snow for his weekly party in town. With the drummers creating a vibrant atmosphere and the disco lights bringing the party scene, Val d'Isere is certainly living up to its lively reputation. Last week we were blessed with not just one birthday, but two 30th’s. Firstly our Chef Carl turned 30 on Thursday and all our guests treated him to a rendition of Happy Birthday over dinner. One of our guests also had a 30th birthday on Sunday so as a little surprise, we wrote Happy Birthday on the snow outside our dining room window. With work taking place at the Stade, it must be race time in the Val d'Isere. The Men’s Downhill Championships took place over the weekend and with the perfect view from our balcony at Chalet Balias, it’s a great place to have a little sunbathe and watch the speeding skiers fly by. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/two-big-birthday-celebrations-chalet-balias Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:03:05 +0000 Val d'Isère With the chalet staff having Tuesday night off each week, guests have the opportunity to eat out in town and so very often Tuesday is when many guests have a late night in the various bars and nightclubs of Meribel. As a result, guests in the Chalet Leonardo are not normally feeling their best on a Wednesday morning and so this week we introduced to the term ‘Wheels off Wednesday’. This is our way of describing that day mid way through your ski holiday when you need to take it a bit easier. After a surprisingly early start, we had a couple of warm up runs down Faon, Choucas and Combe Tougnete before we headed over towards St Martin de Belleville. As always, Jerusalem did not disappoint! As we cruised down and made the first tracks in the corduroy, we were the only people to be seen. The run from the mid station to the bottom Biolley was a true delight, the snow cannons proving their worth with fresh soft snow covering the entire length and width of the piste. After the ride to the top and the chance to briefly rest our legs, we headed down the red Blaireau. By now it was almost 11am and the snow couldn’t have been in a more perfect condition having been gently warmed by the morning sun. Passing down through Meribel with a stop for a reviving coffee and sugar hit, we headed up the Rhodos to the Dent de Burgin lift. Meeting up with the rest of the group, we spent the rest of the morning on the wide blues of Marmottes, Biche and Geai before deciding to work up an appetite and skiing from the very top of the Saulire down to the Chaudanne. From there we headed to Les Castors restaurant, hidden behind the Tougnete building in Meribel. With friendly staff, reasonable prices and delicious food all served on a large sun terrace, we consider it a bit of a hidden gem for lunch in Meribel. The steaming sauce-covered pasta is served in individual copper pans, juicy home-made burgers come with a giant pile of chips and the goats cheese salad with a beautiful spun sugar style pastry decoration and crisp leaves. All of this accompanied by a cold glass of beer, pleasant music and the perfect location to people watch or just catch a few lunchtime rays. It’s so easy to lose track of time! As we headed back out for the afternoon, sunscreen duly reapplied, the group agreed that they only wanted to do a few more runs before heading for a beer at the Rond Point. And so the afternoon was spent in the sunshine on the Saulire side of Meribel under the Saulire bubble and Adrey chairlifts. Having secured a prime spot on the bustling Rond Point terrace, the refreshing pints of beer hit the spot. The mid week early finish rest day was welcomed and the ski boot buckles could be released! As the sun dropped behind the mountain and the temperature cooled, the opportunity to soak their easing muscles in the hot tub won over the medicinal qualities of the beer and so our group headed back to the Chalet Leonardo with another great day of skiing under their belts. It was just another perfect “wheels off Wednesday. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/wheels-wednesday-long-lunch-sunshine Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:33:50 +0000 Méribel It was a bright and colourful week in Courchevel as participants of the 'Saint Louis Sprint' took to the slopes last Wednesday. Craig and Rachel (Bar Manager and Assistant) of Bar 1226 in the Hotel Saint Louis organised a brilliant event for both seasonaires and guests. Fancy dress was encouraged but not essential, however all of the 10 teams of 4 made a brilliant effort with themes ranging from cave girls and giant tigers to American footballers. The race started at Bar 1226 with the first team setting off at midday to make their way around the four checkpoints placed in various points around the mountain. At each checkpoint the teams faced a challenge or forfeit, with challenges including clothes swaps, song recitals and hula hooping. When the participants returned, everyone was exhausted but in high spirits and the afternoon of activities continued with drinks and snacks in the sunshine on the hotel’s terrace restaurant. As the last teamed reached the terrace (having taken well over 3 hours), we were all looking forward to the declaration of results and awards ceremony. I am proud to announce that Flexiski team ‘The Rossers’, made up of Ollie, Angus, George and Tom were announced as the winners, and celebrated with a magnum of champagne before everyone headed off for a well deserved rest. The sunshine stayed with us last week which was great for our race day but also our hotel guests, particularly for those first time skiers who have made the most of the lovely snow down in 1650. Although the weather has been sunny for sometime now, there is still excellent snow coverage with some amazing mogul runs off-piste for the more adventurous amongst us. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/saint-louis-fancy-dress-sprint-around-courchevel Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:01:18 +0000 Courchevel This week we have been lucky enough to have the company of James Brinsden, Mike Whithers and friends for the second time this season at the Amalien Haus. The group of snowboarders certainly made the most of their stay in St Anton, spending their first day on the less populated slopes in the Stuben area and the rest of their time on the Rendl side of the mountain in the snow park. The boys also provided some welcome company for our Chef Stuart who is the only boarder on our team. Also in the Amalien Haus this week were the Paget party, one of whom was returning to St Anton after completing a season in Nasserien when she was younger, so she already knew the area well. The group spent their days exploring the pistes of St Anton and on our staff night off enjoyed a lovely meal in the atmospheric ‘Underground on the Piste’ where live music can be enjoyed from 4pm daily. We were also joined by John Grigg a former employee of Flexiski and his friends, who enjoyed being reacquainted with the slopes of St Anton and of course, the après-ski. Kev certainly put them through their paces on the slopes followed by some entertaining nights in Bar Cuba. John was also fortunate enough to spend his birthday in resort so needless to say, it was a lively one! With the sun still shining and snow expected in the next couple of days, we look forward to another great week in St Anton. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/welcome-back-our-guests-returning-2nd-time-season Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:11:27 +0000 St Anton Last week we had a number of families staying in the Amalien Haus. We took the Proctors out on the complimentary Ski Event Manager orientation on Monday, skiing really hard for a good few hours in the morning. We covered a vast area starting on the Gampen chair lift and proceeded to get higher to the top of Kapall before skiing the long cruising blues (3 and 24) to Nassereine. Taking the Gampen lift we began to ski across to the other side of the valley and the miles started to accumulate. The Zammermoos chair to Galzig makes things easier as it takes you higher than the Galzig cable car and it cuts out the hassle of poling on blue 9 or taking the T-bar from red 7. Mr Proctor really appreciated these tips as being a snowboarder, they saved him a lot of time and effort. We skied all sides of the mountain, from Galzig to the top of Schindler, Schindler to Stuben and from Stuben down ‘happy valley’ and back up and over the top to St Christoph to the Hospiz Alm for a well earned beer and rack of ribs. Our Ski Event Manager Mark ensured that Proctors were at lunch at 12.28 for their 12.30 reservation. Mrs Proctor was very impressed by this and how they had truly maximised their time on the slopes. It was in Stuben where this week’s funny incident happened. Coming down on the red S5, Mr Proctor was battling to snowboard faster than Ski Event Manager Mark. The two of them bumped skis and snowboard which caused Mr Proctor to fall and spin on his back from the top to the bottom. Both remained safe but Mr Proctor was covered in snow from head to toe. The two shared a beer at lunch and the joke still stands that Mr Proctor was trying to take Mark out due to the Yorkshire / Lancashire rivalry. Great times! The final afternoon saw guests and staff team up for a memorable après session in Krazy Kanguruh. The usual banter and fun was had by all singing and dancing on tables with Toby the Kitchen Porter starting a Conga that the whole of Krazy Kanguruh joined in on. The weather and skiing here in St Anton remains some of the best in Europe with beautiful blue sunny skies that are set to continue throughout the weekend. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/plenty-more-miles-covered Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:14:52 +0000 St Anton The exceptional maintenance of St Anton’s pistes ensures that the bright sunshine and warm days are not affecting the excellent snow conditions. Resort Manager Kev and Ski Event Managers Rachel and Mark have all been busy taking guests out on the slopes and between them they have certainly covered plenty of miles of the Arlberg ski area. We had some great groups staying at the Amalien Haus last week including the Cutler, Slack and Rogers parties, many of whom were returning guests. The Slack party led by Rachel stuck mainly to the St Anton and Rendl areas to allow the party to be reunited with their beginner skiers at lunchtimes once their lessons were over. 3 great days of skiing were had followed by memorable times in the Mooserwirt and the Krazy Kanguruh; and the boys also became partial to themed parties in the apartment of the Amalien Haus (or the penthouse as it became known) of which they had sole occupancy for the duration of their stay. The Cutler party, also annual returnees to the Amalien Haus, was made up of a great variety of friends and colleagues from various countries. They enjoyed a good blast around St Anton with Mark before going it alone to explore to extensive off piste that St Anton has to offer. The group spent their last lunch at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph which included two bottles of Bordeaux from the restaurant’s wine cellar (the largest big bottle Bordeaux cellar in the world). Kev spent his time skiing with the Rogers party who have been visiting the chalet for many years and the group spent their final full day cruising the wide open pistes of Lech, with a delicious lunch of fillet steak in the Salome Hotel. This set them up well for a great last night in Piccadilly where both Steve Fearon and Cliff Keast took to the stage and joined resident singer Andi Joseph for their own renditions of Day Dream Believer and Mustang Sally. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/wonderful-week-our-returning-guests-st-anton Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:33:01 +0000 St Anton As the British Armed Forces International Championships come to a close after a week of slalom and downhill events, the Telemark World Cup took over the Stade, allowing us to enjoy even more entertainment as we sip a beer on the sun soaked terrace of the Meribar. We are all enjoying the spring like weather conditions in Meribel and the chance to top up our tans on the chair lifts and restaurant terraces. With the village starting to get busier as half term approaches, we are trying to make the most of the last few days with minimal lift queues for a couple of weeks. Guests to the Chalet Leonardo have been exploring all corners of the Three Valleys, with some venturing over to Courchevel 1850 for dinner followed by a late night in Les Caves, a nightclub in the centre of town. Others have spent the day exploring the hidden fourth valley of Orelle with our Ski Event Manager Jon, with everyone agreeing that the snow is holding up in much better condition than would be expected, despite a few weeks of sunshine and clear blue skies. In contrast to some business trips to the Chalet Leonardo, our corporate guests this week did conduct several business meetings before heading out to enjoy Meribel’s skiing and nightlife. Although business discussions even continued into the hot tub, they did squeeze in two full days of skiing and several late nights! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/one-competition-ends-meribel-another-one-begins Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:27:47 +0000 Méribel Here in Val d’Isere, we still have some of the best conditions in the whole of the French Alps. The northern winds from Italy supplied both Val d’Isere and Courchevel, with a nice dusting of snow last week and despite the glorious sunshine, temperatures remain below freezing and so our snow isn’t melting – it is here to stay! Last week we enjoyed plenty skiing in the Espace Killy and have been heading higher up towards the summer skiing areas, such as La Fornet glacier and Le Grand Mottes in Tignes. After our light dusting of snow, we ended up in knee deep powder over in La Fornet and as the clouds settled, we were blessed with perfect blue skies. Who could ask for more? Down in resort, there have been plenty to keep us occupied! The Flare run, which takes place every week is a brilliant show from French ski school ESF and various other instructor companies, and something we always look forward to. The ice sculptures of Father Christmas, children and the skiers are looking beautiful as always and the town is still as picturesque as Christmas day. We had a group of friends staying with us at the Chalet Balias last week, 3 of whom were professional Chefs holding 6 Michelin stars between them. They gave our chalet Chef some great advice even though they said he didn’t need it as his food was already fabulous! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/resort-remains-picturesque-christmas-day Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:05:20 +0000 Val d'Isère We have enjoyed a cracking few days of sunshine here in Courchevel 1850! We have once again welcomed Simon Dawson to the Hotel Saint Louis, accompanied by sixteen friends and colleagues, and flexiski’s New Business Manager Pete Hillyard, flew over especially from the UK especially to assist Courchevel’s Ski Event Management team for the occasion. On the first day, two groups led by Flexiski ski hosts, Pete, Claire and John had a fabulous time skiing the famed ‘Jerusalem’ run in St. Martin de Bellevile, before heading to Les Menuires to the skier cross course, where the competition was as fierce as ever! Lunch in the sunshine was enjoyed at La Folie Douce in Val Thorens before heading back to Courchevel via some late sunshine on Mont Vallon. On the second day, Pete took the more advanced skiers over to the quiet and peaceful slopes that run down from La Pointe de la Masse in Les Menuires, while, Claire’s group, self-named the ‘B-team’, tested themselves on the Boarder Cross run in Courchevel. The groups then met up for an exquisite lunch in the Cap Horn restaurant. Simon Dawson enjoyed his favourite dish, the Sole Belle Meunière, while others savoured the different delights that the Cap Horn has to offer including the seafood platter and grilled lamb marinated in herbs. That night, the Dawson party took over Bar 1226 in the Hotel Saint Louis in style. There were drinks flowing all night before the group headed down to the Coyote nightclub to dance the night away in true Courchevel fashion. Despite a few sore heads the following morning, there was an impressive turnout for skiing first thing. A fantastic ski through Meribel to Les Menuires, which included a quick pit-stop on the deckchairs at the Chalet des Neiges, was followed by lunch back at the Hotel Saint Louis on the terrace. We were very sad to see the Dawson party go, as they had been brilliant fun and we all had an awesome few days! The Dawson’s did, however, leave behind Ian Fern and Sarah Ferris, who spent Saturday skiing with Ski Event Manager, Emma. They began the day skiing down into Meribel before heading over to Val Thorens for a delicious lunch in Michelin recommended restaurant, Chalet de la Marine. They sampled traditional French dishes from the Savoyarde region, such as Tartiflette, as well as more exotic dishes wok-style king prawns with egg noodles, helped down with a few shots of Genepy, the local spirit of the region. They then enjoyed a scenic ski home down through the valley on the Boulevard de Cumin run before returning to the hotel for a well-deserved afternoon tea. It has been a truly fantastic week here in Courchevel, and while we are looking forward to the big snowfall that has thus far been eluding us, we are still very much enjoying the sunshine and blue skies that have made skiing such a pleasure for everyone in resort! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/lively-week-courchevel-dawson-party Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:25:49 +0000 Courchevel If Courchevel is the place to be seen then La Masse over near Les Menuires is the place to show everyone what you are made of. With the La Masse 2 cable car stretching over 2360m in length and rising over 650m in altitude, the statistics already indicate there is some great skiing to be had. Normally overlooked by most skiers in the Three Valleys and therefore always quiet, Wednesday was no exception as there could not have been more than 100 people on the whole mountain! The wide open runs that curve around the mountain offer something for all levels, from steep black mogul runs that get your legs pumping like pistons, to exhilarating reds and blues. With almost unlimited off piste options when the conditions are right, this area is a playground for those who like a bit of a challenge on their skiing trip. From the top you have views over the neighbouring peaks and valleys that stretch into the distance that make for some fantastic photo opportunities. Skiing off piste can feel like you are in unchartered territory as you leave the lifts and crowds behind you and head down leaving your own tracks in the fresh snow. After several warm up runs down Fred Covill and Longet and the sections of smaller moguls on the side of the pistes, we decided to tackle the bumps on the black La Masse aka the Wall always aware of the observers passing silently overhead. With the moguls currently large enough to lose small children, you definitely had to put some effort in and work at them. However the reward was being a silent observer watching the next skiers attempt to find their own route through the bumps. After several descents each slightly more fluid than the last, our knees started to give signs that they might have had enough. We headed back up to the top for last time before finishing with a fast carving sprint down Longet and into Les Menuires then onto the most padded chairlift in the Three Valleys – Doron to head back towards Meribel. The much needed hot tub and champagne were awaiting our arrival at the Chalet Leonardo to ease our aching joints as the sun set on another glorious blue sky day in the mountains. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/said-jorg-wager-bumps-road-just-make-ride-more-fun Mon, 07 Feb 2011 08:42:12 +0000 Méribel While minimal snow fall in 1850 has been disappointing for some, on the plus side, outdoor lunches have been very popular and weather conditions were ideal for the Polo Masters Tour that took place from the 27th- 30th Jan. Many of the Hotel Saint Louis guests and staff were delighted to watch this fantastic event that took place at the Altiport in Courchevel 1850. Ski-dooing with the French ski school - ESF has been a popular pastime this week. The Watts group took part in this activity which departs from Maison de la Montagne at La Croisette, with the actual ski-dooing commencing over at the Altiport. They thoroughly enjoyed their time speeding around the slopes and plenty of fun was had by all. We were delighted to welcome the 16 guests of the Dawson party on Tuesday lunchtime. The group wasted no time and were out on the slopes of the Three Valleys as soon as they had their skis fitted. Ski Event Manager John has also been out with the Craze party, taking the group over to Courchevel 1650, where they skied down the Pyramid and over into Roc Menieur. Despite the icy conditions, the party got in some excellent skiing. We were also thrilled to welcome the Salus party back to this week for their annual 36 hours of fun. Saturday saw them rock to the heddy beats of DJ Saba at Le Cap Horn over lunch. The fun did not stop there as that evening the lively bunch donned their cowboy hats for the after dinner disco at La Mangeoire. Rosie our Ski Event Manager from Chalet Leonardo last season, jetted in to help guide the group around the mountain and without a doubt the most popular run of the weekend was Les Anemones- a cruisey blue through the trees all the way to Courchevel 1850. At the Hotel Saint Louis we are looking forward to the busy few weeks that lie ahead. In particular the Valentine’s weekend celebrations with our special romantic itinerary of events. Plus, we expect to be arranging plenty of extra special events for our guests such as hot air ballooning over the Three Valleys . We are also looking forward to hosting the families due to arrive the weekend beginning 18th for their February half-term ski break. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/ski-dooing-snow-polo-and-plenty-skiing-just-another-week-courchev Mon, 07 Feb 2011 08:39:53 +0000 Courchevel The Polo Masters Tour hit Courchevel 1850 in style last week. It was the final event of the tour, which had previously visited St Tropez, Megeve and Val d’Isere; and guests and staff enjoyed four days of watching the top professional Argentinean and European polo players competing on snow. A specially constructed arena on the Altiport which could be seen easily from the piste, and free admission made the tournament accessible for those who merely wanted to have a quick glance as they skied down, as well as the avid polo fans who watched the match whilst drinking leisurely champagne from the VIP tents. Head of Hotel and Chalet Operations, Darragh O’Sullivan, and Hotel Saint Louis Manager, Daniella Wilcock did just that, joined by friends and family and the Assistant Hotel Manager, Joanna Partington. They had a fantastic time on the second day of the tournament, helped along with a couple of magnums of champagne and glorious blue skies. We are still enjoying a quiet stint on the slopes of the Three Valleys after the busy Christmas and New Year period, but our Flexiski Ski Event Management service has been as popular as ever with the guests at the Hotel Saint Louis! Emma showed the Smith party round the slopes on Friday, enjoying a great morning’s skiing down into Courchevel 1650 before everyone stopped for a well-earned hot chocolate in the Le Bel Air restaurant, which has fantastic views across the slopes and down into the valley. Meanwhile, John skied with guest Mark Craze, playing around on the pistes right at the top of Courchevel, Combe de Saulire, Marmottes and Piste M. On Saturday, Emma took out friends Martin Bale and Alban Gordon – frequent visitors of Courchevel, they enjoyed blasting around the slopes, warming up first thing on the well-groomed pistes of Chenus before heading right to the highest point at Saulire in the sunshine. Although we are yet to see a new snowfall in Courchevel, we are still blessed daily with fantastic weather and blue skies. The pisteurs are doing a brilliant job as the slopes are in superb condition first thing in the morning, perfectly groomed and wonderful for carving down the mountain. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/living-it-polo-masters-tour-courchevel-1850 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:15:18 +0000 Courchevel All remains well in Val d’Isere! The lack of snow isn’t fading us and a fresh few centimetres turned into knee deep powder runs at the top of the Foret Glazier, which is where we’ve been taking our guests. Yesterday morning on the mountain was a bit difficult to begin with as the visibility wasn’t great, but we all stuck it out and luckily the clouds lifted by midday. Wonderful skiing conditions followed, leaving us with blue skies and perfect powder days! The temperature has been also been lovely this week and with such conditions, Val d’Isere is currently looking like one of the best ski resorts in Europe. There’s been a great atmosphere in the Chalet Balias this week as we have had a couple of birthdays to celebrate. The resort has also been bustling and our guests are making the most of the lively après-ski in Val d’Isere, with regular stops at La Foile Douce before heading into town later in the evenings.    Val d’Isere continues to do us proud - impressing guests from all over the world! We recently we had a Canadian gentleman from Toronto staying with us who found the skiing in Val d’Isere incredible. He said that in future, he would always come back to ski in Europe on our perfectly groomed slopes, plus, it’s a lot more pleasant to ski in temperatures that don’t drop as low as minus 40 degrees! With 20 clients arriving at the Hotel Avenue Lodge on Thursday, it will be a busy week for us with a lot of new faces to meet and greet. A quick trip to the ski shop and they will be hitting the slopes the same day they left home! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/val-d-isere-continues-impress Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:34:24 +0000 Val d'Isère The party was already in full swing when returning guests E-consultancy arrived at the Amalien Haus on Wednesday evening. After dinner, the group began their holiday in style with the first of many visits to Bar Cuba followed by Piccadilly and finishing with a rather late night before their first day on the slopes. Some of the group opted for beginners instruction with the local ski school, whilst the rest of the party were with 3 Flexiski Ski Event Managers for the duration of their trip. They were blessed with superb weather conditions throughout, the constant light snowfall earlier in the week teamed with blue skies and sunshine made the group very happy with their choice of ski weekend. After a full day of skiing in St Anton, the group was welcomed back to the Krazy Kanguruh and enjoyed another lively après session with dancing and a few shots of schnapps each (just to warm up of course). The 8pm ski down was eventful as ever and although most handled it with great style, Jonathan an old member of the Scottish National Ski Team was found mostly on his bottom sliding down the piste. As with most of our guests at the Amalien Haus, the group favoured the Rendl side of the mountain for their quiet, wide and well groomed pistes. Emma and Wyndham had lots of fun searching for fresh powder to the sides of each ski run. A final morning of skiing in Rendl was concluded on the Galzig side, in the favourite lunch spot of the week - the Griabli, where we enjoyed delicious pizzas and a lasagne on the outside terrace which is the perfect suntrap. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/its-been-full-haus-again-amalien Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:26:51 +0000 St Anton Last week, we certainly mixed things up a bit in Meribel. Some of our guests arrived by helicopter transfer in order to maximise their time on the slopes. Getting changed into their ski gear almost took the longest amount of time; however they made it onto their first ski lift at 10.50am, less than two hours after stepping off the plane from London. Other guests arrived by minibus transfer and attempted to get onto their first lift ten minutes before their half day passes started at 12.30pm. After using Thursday afternoon as a warm up, a full day was spent on Friday exploring Val Thorens before we all headed to Courchevel 1850 on Saturday to watch the World Cup Polo finals. With the champagne flowing and the white fluffy collared coats (favoured by Russian spectators) out en-masse, we watched the fast paced excitement with the other non-Courchevel residents from the sidelines or from up above the Cap Horn restaurant, before heading back out to enjoy carving up the freshly groomed slopes under a clear blue sky. Whilst some guests enjoyed having the long wide blues of Courchevel 1650 to themselves, others tackled the moguls on the side of the Saulire, Chanrossa and Suisses before heading off-piste into the couloirs to brush up on their skills with a lesson from New Generation. With others tackling their first ever red run on this trip – Jerusalem - there has been lots of well deserved après-ski activity enjoyed by all, followed by many lively conversations around the dinner table in Chalet Leonardo. With most of the other ski companies in Meribel having their changeover day on either a Saturday or Sunday, it means that the slopes are always much quieter at the weekend. With early morning and late evening flights from Geneva, most of our guests are finding that they can ski everyday they are here, squeezing a nearly full four days of skiing into a four day break. Leaving the chalet at 5pm for a 9.30pm flight for example on a Sunday, means they can still be back at home in time for work on a Monday morning to show off their fresh goggle tan! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/helicopter-transfers-polo-courchevel-and-empty-pistes-we-have-been-l Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:32:45 +0000 Méribel Last week at the Hotel Saint Louis, we were really looking forward to the Snow Polo due to take place on the Altiport on the 27th-30th January. We knew that this would provide some exciting entertainment for the two corporate parties that we had arriving at the hotel. Although we have not had much snowfall over the past few days, we are happy that the pistes have not been as icy as last week. However, we are very much looking forward to the snowfall that is due over the next few days. Hotel Manager Daniella and Ski Event Manager Hayley took the Wilson party our on the slopes of Courchevel last week and were very impressed by how much the group improved during the session. The girls were delighted to see them ‘whizzing down the red runs’ by the end of the afternoon. The Wilson group were great fun to have staying with us for the week, and we are delighted that we will be welcoming Mr.Wilson back in February when he will bring his family to stay in Le Chapiteau. Our popular resident band ‘Bring Your Sisters’ celebrated our Bar Assistant Rachel’s birthday with us on the previous Friday. A lively bunch of guests came from Chalet Leonardo in Meribel especially for the evening’s entertainment. After sustaining some injuries skiing in Meribel, Friday evening’s entertainment at the Hotel Saint Louis was a perfect opportunity for them to enjoy something other than skiing in the Three Valleys. Extreme sports in Courchevel have proved especially popular as Ski Event Manager Vicky tried out Paragliding with ESF to see what it was all about. As there was no turbulence on the day, ESF instructor Serge allowed her to control the parachute by herself. No thermals on the day also meant that a smooth landing in le Praz was possible. The breathtaking views of the Courchevel Valley and Mont Blanc in the distance make this a truly wonderful experience. Skiing off the side of the mountain and in flight 360 degree high speed turns certainly give quite an adrenaline rush. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/adrenaline-filled-days-paragliding-courchevel Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:08:04 +0000 Courchevel We had bright blue skies and sunny weather here in Courchevel 1850 last week. Slightly colder temperatures and a dusting of snow on one evening have really improved conditions on the slopes, making for some fantastic skiing on quiet pistes across the Three Valleys ski area. On Friday (21st), Ski Event Manager Emma took friends Steve Wilson, Sean Burns and JT McDonald on a ski orientation session around Courchevel. They followed the sun all morning, first skiing down the runs off the Chenus lift, Anemones and Loze, before basking in sunshine on the Biolley chairlift. They then met up with their friends who had been having a lesson with the English-speaking instructors at New Generation ski school and headed up to ‘Le Panoramic’ restaurant right at the top of Courchevel for a delicious lunch accompanied by stunning views across the Alps. The following day, our guest Martin Wilson (who is of a more advanced skier than the rest of his group) went out on the slopes with John our Ski Event Manager as he and was looking for someone who could blast down the mountain with him. They headed right to the top of the Saulire lift, the highest point in Courchevel, before skiing all the way down into Courchevel 1650. They had a fantastic time and Martin is looking forward to some more skiing with Emma and John during the rest of his stay in the Hotel Saint Louis. Our evening of live music courtesy of resident band ‘Bring Your Sisters’ was particularly spirited last week as we were joined by guests from Flexiski’s Chalet Leonardo in Meribel. As word is spreading across resort, our band night is increasing in popularity and Flexiski is really showing the rest of Courchevel a fantastic night of après-ski in the Hotel Saint Louis. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/our-resident-apres-ski-band-continues-attract-guests-all-over-res Sun, 30 Jan 2011 18:00:39 +0000 Courchevel Last week we welcomed back some more previous guests as Matthew Parker of ‘Stepstone Solutions’ came back to the Amalien Haus with a group of his top sales consultants from offices around the world including Singapore, Germany, Denmark and the USA. The party split into various ‘ability based’ groups for the duration of their trip, with instructors from the Austrian Ski School as well as three of our Ski Events Managers. The advanced group with Mark as their Ski Event Manager had a great week exploring the Arlberg ski area, with fresh snow falling throughout their ski break. They really enjoyed the skiing especially in the Stuben area and down the marked ski routes 15, 33 and 16 from the top of Schindler Spitze and the Mattun area where the powder felt as soft as icing sugar! The groups with our Ski Event Managers were able to meet for lunch every day and many were defeated by the infamous ribs and BBQ sauce at the Hospiz Alm and the pork knuckle at the Rodlehut. Apres-ski sessions were spent in the Mooserwirt and for the first time this season, we had the pleasure of bilingual guests who could translate the words of the Mooserwirt’s’ Euro pop play list’ to which we’ve become so familiar! The highlight of most people’s week was the final day where the whole party came together in the St Christoph ski area and the beginners were able to show the advanced and intermediate skiers what they had learnt, whilst picking up some extra tips from their colleagues. The morning on the nursery slopes was followed by another hearty lunch at the Hospiz Alm accompanied by six litre bottles of Bordeaux from the Hospiz’s own wine cellar – the largest big bottle Bordeaux cellar in the world. We now have even more fresh snow to enjoy and with the sunny days and cold temperatures that have been forecast, the fantastic skiing in St Anton looks set to continue. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/sampling-bordeux-hospiz-alms-famous-wine-cellar Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:52:55 +0000 St Anton With the days getting longer and the bright sunshine continuing last week, everyone around town was showing signs of a tan just in time for Australia Day. Celebrations in Meribel were in full flow, no doubt helped by the recent excitement surrounding the cricket! The apres-ski bars in Meribel are in full swing and with live music provided by Fourplay and the other ‘winter season’ bands in both Le Rond Point and the Meribar every night of the week, there is plenty to keep you entertained after a day on the slopes whether you fancy dancing in ski boots or just singing along. Although we have not had any sign of the snow that was forecast, ski conditions are still holding up well all over the Three Valleys and the snow cannons are working overtime on the lower slopes as the cold temperatures continue. We might not have fresh powder but skiing under clear blue skies more than makes up for it especially when we hear the weather reports from back home in the UK. With the Snow Arena Polo World Cup being held in Courchevel 1850 this weekend, it has been a great opportunity for everyone at Chalet Leonardo to ski over and watch the excitement and fast paced action of the horses on the snow and mingle with the ‘jet setters’, without the price tag! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/another-unforgettable-week-lively-celebrations-australia-day-snow-po Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:44:39 +0000 Méribel As promised, the weather in the Three Valleys has changed and it is feeling much colder than in recent weeks. The days of clear blue skies and lots of sunshine continue and the warmth brings some pleasant relief after you have been skiing in the shade. The conditions remain excellent and although Meribel only received a glittery dusting of new snow mid week, there was up to 4 inches of fresh snow on the off-piste in Val Thorens. With the snow forecasts changing daily it is anyone’s guess as to when it the next big dump of snow will arrive, although the piste patrol are giving an insiders tip that it will be sooner rather than later and that you should put your money on it arriving at some point this week. The Rigden party enjoyed two days of ski event management with Jon who took them to explore the best of the Three Valleys – spending one day in Val Thorens and the second in Courchevel. Plenty of hot chocolate and coffee was drunk to maintain energy levels both before and after lunch until they returned to the Chalet Leonardo (with smiles, photos and a hundred miles of skiing under their belts) to a glass of champagne in the hot tub to relax their weary legs before heading out again early the next morning. The Thompson party staying in Chalet Leonardo decided to take a different approach with a late start, late finish tactic, which involved visiting the many bars in Meribel and stopping in at Dicks Tea Bar on the way home on several evenings. They were all very pleasantly surprised by the amount of attention they received from the ladies whilst wearing their specially purchased ‘all in one’ ski suits to Le Rond Pont for some après ski action. The other members of the party who were doubtful of their success rate are now planning to shop for a special outfit for their next ski trip, if only to see if they can outdo the others in the fashion stakes! Unfortunately, despite being one of the best skiers in his group, one of our guests did end up on crutches this week, but spirits remained high and they turned out to be a particularly useful prop in our air guitar competition last night. We have had had a very funny week in the Chalet Leonardo and are now looking forward to enjoying the great skiing with our new arrivals. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/all-one-ski-suits-prove-popular-rond-point Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:22:00 +0000 Méribel Here at the Hotel Saint Louis, we were delighted to have Flexiski Director Natalie Batchelor visiting us this week. Zooming around the top of the Saulire, we were impressed to see her making the most of her time in resort. Joining her for her short ski break in Courchevel were some friends who were here to ski for the first time. Natalie impressed her friends and captured the magic of Courchevel 1850 by taking them to the spectacular Le Panoramic restaurant for lunch. Despite the fact that Le Panoramic is at an altitude of 2400 metres, this mountain restaurant is a superb spot for skiers of all abilities as it is possible to get to the restaurant and back by chair lift. Having a party of twelve has created a lively buzz in the Hotel Saint Louis this week. Friday evening’s performance by Bring Your Sisters left the crowd hungry for more. As the band were set to play in Le Praz again that evening, staff at the Saint Louis organised transport for the guests down to the Pizzeria where they were able to listen the band again after dinner in the Saint Louis. The next morning, Ski Event Manager John accompanied one of our guests Sue for a ski orientation session which dramatically increased her confidence and set her up for a great few days on the mountain. To unwind after a great day of skiing, Sue and her friends paid a visit to the spa at the Hotel New Solarium. In fact, this spa has been very popular this week with a number of our guest taking up the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing massage and use the spa’s pool, sauna and steam room. The spa facilities and treatments at the Hotel New Solarium are a great way to relax after a busy day skiing in the Three Valleys. As the Hotel Saint Louis gets even busier, we were delighted to welcome newly recruited Hotel Host Alex to our team at the hotel. We look forward to showing her all the great fun there is to be had in Courchevel 1850. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/unwinding-spa-hotel-new-solarium Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:31:15 +0000 Courchevel This week we have had a fantastic time in the Amalien Haus. A group of staff from Nandos have been with us for three nights and have certainly made the most of the après-ski scene that St Anton has to offer. When it took the group almost an hour on their first night to ski the 500yard blue piste from the Krazy Kanguruh back to the village, we knew we were going to be in for a lively week. Plenty of après was also enjoyed in the famous Mooserwirt drinking large beers and a variety of flavoured schnapps, the flugal proving to be a favourite. The highlight of the week had to be in the Mooserwirt on their last day with guest Bob having a dance-off with one of the Austrian locals. Despite huge efforts from the local man with various routines and dancing on tables, Bob soon put him in his place with some highly entertaining dance moves which featured a couple of impressive forward rolls! The group took a Ski Event Manager on each day of their ski trip and with the snow getting a little thin on the St Anton side of the mountain, the group opted to spend both their ski days on the wide open runs of Rendl taking a particular liking to interlinking blue runs 11 and 4. These were particularly popular due to the chair lift from the bottom overlooking the snow park where various representatives from the Interski Conference were showing us all how it’s done. The Interski Conference occurs just once every four years with instructors from around the world meeting in St Anton to share knowledge on teaching methods and techniques. Each night of this week we have been treated to a demonstration from these highly talented individuals proudly representing their home countries. St Anton has been buzzing this week with the conference bringing in some 2-3000 extra guests. Over the next three days the temperatures are to drop to lows of -14 degrees, bringing St Anton some good fresh snow for the week to come. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/lively-apres-ski-sessions-and-impressive-demonstrations-interski-c Mon, 24 Jan 2011 08:47:01 +0000 St Anton Although we’ve had plenty of sunshine and minimal snowfall over the past few days, the mountains are holding their snow nicely allowing guests to maximise their skiing in the Three Valleys. A temperature drop from -3°C to -10/15°C on Thursday is due to bring some welcomed snowfall, adding a cm of powder to the pistes of Courchevel which are currently quite icy in places. Views from the chairlifts are showing that skiers have been inclined to venture off piste more than usual over the past few days. Moguls forming off piste in the Three Valleys have created desirable conditions for many keen to test their skills on such terrain. Our resident Ski Event Managers have been popular again this week. John Godfrey hosted the Burns family for a full day and introduced them to Val Thorens. The party warmed up by exploring Courchevel’s Chenus and a well groomed open run into Creux, before heading up and over Saulire, down a challenging Niverolle (which had iced over) in Meribel and onto Val Thorens 2300m; where all enjoyed a well-deserved lunch out in the deck chairs. On Monday, Ski Event Manager Emma also had a fantastic morning with Bob and Sue Brown exploring Saint Martin de Belleville and Les Menuires. The group enjoyed having the piste to themselves and made their way down the mountain in wonderful blue skies. Excellent visibility has also allowed for activities such as parapenting to take place, as spotted by staff from chair lifts over the past few days. Activities in resort this week included a doctors, chemists and dentists French Ski Championship that took place on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th January 2011. Courchevel is a great resort for those looking for additional activities to skiing and boarding; with snow shoeing and spa treatments at the top of the list with our guests. Le Chabichou restaurant in Courchevel 1850 has also been particularly popular recently with a number of our parties dining at this superb Michelin Star restaurant. Guests gave outstanding reviews of Le Chaibichou restaurant, describing their meal as a very special and memorable experience. The Pedder party booked a private dining experience at Le Chapiteau last week and enjoyed a personally selected menu option. Their own private chef prepared a wonderful feast comprising of mixed lentil soup followed by a choice of chicken liver pate with onion compote or crayfish and smoked salmon salad. Main course choices of either seared duck breast, cranberry and red wine cabbage, buttered spinach or individual beef wellingtons with parsnip puree, wild mushroom and leek ragout delighted the party. The hand-selected wine went down a treat too and they were all thrilled with their private fine dining at Le Chapiteau. Over the past few days at the Hotel Saint Louis, we are delighted to have been part of the 50th birthday celebrations of one of our guests. Over the next few days, we look forward to welcoming family and friends of some of our staff who are coming to experience the resort and our hotel for themselves. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/wonderful-days-mountain-our-ski-event-managers Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:48:16 +0000 Courchevel As the sunny weather continues and our face tans deepen in colour (some more stripy than others!) the clouds have started to build, indicating that a change in weather is coming. All the forecasts show a front moving in bringing with it colder temperatures and the much longed for snow. With Mont Blanc wearing a hat of cloud (always a sign that snow is on it way) the long lunches and sunbathing on the terrace in just a tee-shirt may have to be put on hold for a few days, as there is over 8 centimetres of snow forecast in Meribel between now and the weekend. In the meantime there are still some softer pistes to be found, many of which are in the Courchevel valley. Closer to home, the beginner areas in Meribel are still in great condition for those starting out and for those at the other end of the scale, a descent down the Meribel Couloir was a nice finish to the end of the day yesterday. At this point in the season it is often a good time to work on improving your technique with some lessons from the many excellent ski schools in Meribel. With fewer people in resort, class sizes are usually much smaller so you have more of the instructor’s attention (not always a good thing!) and the empty pistes allow you to work on the teaching points without having to constantly avoid other skiers and boarders. Some fast runs down the likes of Pramint, Jerusalem, Fourne and Combe Saulire give you the chance to try and recreate Ski Sunday as you improve your carving and get a lean on, plus there are always the bumps on Suisses and Chanrossa if you really want a challenge. A long ski weekend in the Three Valleys or Val d’Isere could mean that you escape the long cold days back home in the UK. With just one holiday day off work this week, you could enjoy the fresh snow we are expecting this week. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/good-time-improve-your-technique-some-lessons Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:14:13 +0000 Méribel This year, Courchevel will once again host a leg in the Polo Masters Tour. From 26th – 30th January, professional polo players from across the world will come together in Courchevel 1850 to battle it out on the snow. The polo matches will take place on the snow field at Courchevel’s Altiport and situated at an altitude of 2007m, it is the highest polo tournament in the world!  The Courchevel Polo Masters starts on Wednesday 26th January with match allocations and team presentations in the centre of the resort. However the action will really get underway on the Thursday and Friday with matches on the Altiport between 11am – 2pm. The height of the tournament will be the finals on Saturday 29th with players competing for the Cheval Blanc, Chateau Labe and Gorce Margaux trophies. Everyone can witness the excitement of this snow polo event in Courchevel as it is free of charge. Visitors can ski up and watch the action from the slopes with easy access from the Pralong piste. Complimentary shuttle buses from the bus station in Courchevel 1850 will also be operating. This event in Courchevel concludes the Polo Masters Tour, a popular three stage tournament in the Alps. The competition got underway earlier this month in Val d’Isere (11th – 14th) and the second stage continues on 20th – 23rd January in the prestigious resort of Megeve. If you wish to experience the snow polo first-hand or simply fancy a ski break to Courchevel, the Hotel Saint Louis offers the ideal place to stay with prices from £140 per person per night in January.  http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/polo-masters-courchevel Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:29:13 +0000 After the recent festivities in Courchevel 1850, guests and staff at the Hotel Saint Louis are in for a treat! Conditions are good and the ski lifts are open but there are very few people around compared to busy Christmas and New Year period. The quieter part of the season is now upon us, which means plenty of uninterrupted skiing in the Three Valleys and a wonderful sense of having the mountain to yourself. In addition to making the most of the quieter slopes, ‘Verdons by Night’ (the weekly night skiing event in Courchevel 1850), is also proving popular with our staff and guests. Every Tuesday between 5.30pm – 7.15pm, the Verdon’s gondola is open to enable either sledging or skiing down the floodlit piste and Family Park. Costing just €6, it’s a great way to spend the early evening before the call of dinner brings most guests back to the hotel. Dinner service at the Hotel Saint Louis is one of our favourite parts of the day, with guests re-counting their time on the slopes as they enjoy their evening meal. Our team of chefs ensure that the meals in the hotel are both delicious and innovative, and last week was no exception! One night, guests were treated to a mouth-watering duck and pomegranate starter followed by scallop and lobster salad, and to finish, a trio of white, milk and dark chocolate mousse with a strawberry topping. In fact the food went down so well that journalists staying with us from independent travel guides ‘Mad Dog Ski’, asked to interview our head chef Colin Hinds to find out his secret to a great recipe. A dusting of snow on Wednesday evening came at just at the right time and conditions have been perfect for those who enjoy a powdered piste with temperatures a crisp -5°C to keep it that way. On Thursday morning, our resident Ski Event Manager - John Godfrey took the Pedder party out on the slopes and with the fresh powder from the evening before, the conditions were excellent. The morning was spent carving down the Chenus before taking the Col de la Loze chairlift over to Meribel 1450. The option was given to stop for a vin chaud, but declined in favour of the great ski conditions, so they continued up and over the Pas du Lac and down into Courchevel’s famous Creux. Visibility started to fade at this point as they descended into a cloud of fog but with a great morning’s skiing under their belts, they took a sharp left turn onto the altiport and headed back to the hotel. The resort is now gearing up for the Courchevel Polo Masters - a snow polo tournament taking place in resort from 26th -30th January 2011. The competition takes place at the altiport and set at an altitude of over 2000m, it is the highest snow polo tournament in the world. The Courchevel Polo Masters is part of a 3 stage tournament with other competitions this month in Val d'Isere and Megeve. The glamour and aggressive nature of the sport is sure to draw in large crowds and we can’t wait to witness it. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/crisp-days-and-quiet-slopes-courchevel Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:42:55 +0000 Courchevel As the spring like weather continues in the Alps, skiers and boarders in Meribel and the Three Valleys are enjoying the sunshine and the chance to develop their tan. After the snowfall at the beginning of the week and the subsequent rain, the warm weather has actually been a blessing in disguise as it has prevented everything turning to sheet ice! The ski conditions all over the Three Valleys are pretty good and although the off piste has suffered, the conditions on piste make for some very enjoyable skiing. With little wind and warm temperatures, it is an ideal opportunity to explore some of those areas you may not be so keen to visit in the sub zero temperatures that we normally get in January – notably the areas that stay mostly in the shade for much of the day. (The Campagnol on Mont Vallon and under the Cote Brune chairlift for example). Having completed a number of seasons in the Three Valleys and never having skied on a Saturday as it was always a changeover day, I experienced first-hand the benefits of travelling with Flexiski, namely that you can enjoy the weekends on the mountain when everyone else is battling it out at the airport. On Saturday, everywhere we skied in the Three Valleys, we were pretty much the only people on the piste. Lift queues were nowhere to be seen and there was a choice of tables at lunch in most of the restaurants we passed. With the days already getting noticeably longer, you can still enjoy a full day on the slopes and make it to the Folie Douce or Rond Pont terrace for a drink in the sunshine before heading home. With ice hockey matches every Tuesday and Saturday evenings, rock climbing sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as all the restaurants, bars and usual après ski activities; there really is something in Meribel to keep everyone occupied whatever their energy levels at the end of the day. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/bright-sunshine-blue-skies Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:15:30 +0000 Méribel The crisp mountain air of the extensive Three Valleys ski area continues to attract keen skiers from across the world to the Hotel Saint Louis. As we say goodbye to many of our Russian guests who stayed with us to celebrate Russian Christmas and New Year in Courchevel, we are looking forward to another exciting week of welcoming, skiing with and getting to know our new guests. With 10cm of fresh snow already this week, some superb skiing in the Three Valleys is certainly on the cards for our new arrivals. Last week, we were delighted to welcome back the Wells party. After enjoying their Christmas ski holiday at the Hotel Saint Louis, they returned to the hotel for a few days on Friday - just in time for another firework display that lit up the skies of Courchevel on Saturday night. We are also excited to welcome back the Pedder party who this time are traveling with a group of 12. As the sun hits the mountains of our Courchevel winter wonderland, leisurely lunches on the Hotel Saint Louis terrace restaurant (La Terrasse) are becoming increasingly popular; not only among our own guests, but skiers from as far as Val Thorens are booking in advance and arriving in groups to dine with us. The entertainment in the hotel continues to create a buzz, with Friday’s regular session by après-ski band ‘Bring Your Sisters’ attracting many guests from the Saint Louis and also neighbouring hotels. Last Friday, whilst enjoying après-ski drinks from bar 1226, everyone joined in with a lively sing song by the fire and the band encouraged guests and staff to sing solo performances. One lady in particular performed a memorable rendition of ‘Hey Big Spender’, much to the delight of all in attendance, and Hotel Host Hayley, wowed the crowd with her recital of ‘Hotel California’. Night Porter Alex played guitar with the band and an evening of fun was certainly had by all. There was an added air of excitement in Courchevel last week due to a number of ski racing events that took place. In addition to the giant slalom races of ‘Millionaires Cup’ on Wednesday and ‘Cristal Cup Russia’ on Friday, the ‘Flight and Ski Paragliding Competition’ at the weekend also created wonderful atmosphere in resort! The Jerusalem ski route has been particularly popular this week, as staff continue to recommend it as one of their favorite pistes. Thanks to excellent visibility, guests have been able to ski extensive areas of the Three Valleys, so evenings at the Hotel Saint Louis have been a real pleasure as staff and guests share stories about their day on the slopes. Those looking for a special ski experience are sure to be impressed by ‘Verdons by Night’ - a night skiing activity down the Verdons piste, that is set to take place every Tuesday night for the rest of the season. We will be reporting back on this experience next week so watch this space! As our guests set off for the first ski lifts of the morning, it was a pleasure to watch a hot air balloon float across the clear blue sky over the mountain and into the distance. The magical atmosphere in resort continues and we are so glad to be a part of it. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/leisurely-lunches-la-terrasse-and-lively-apres-ski-sessions-bring-your-sisters Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:47:28 +0000 Courchevel After awaking earlier in the week to find Meribel and the Three Valleys under a duvet of fresh snow, the clouds lifted to reveal another beautiful day on the mountain. Some of the staff from the Chalet Leonardo headed up the Dent de Burgin and it was an absolutely perfect day for taking pictures across the valley. The tree branches were drooping gently under the weight of all the new snow which was glistening in the sunlight and a few wispy clouds were tethered to the peaks. After the compulsory picture taking had been completed, we headed down into Meribel and over towards the Belleville Valley. Taking the Roc de Fer chairlift up to the top of the Olympic, we dropped into the off piste between Jerusalem and Pramint and found soft white snow as deep as the top of our boots. With much of the off piste still untracked due to the low cloud the day before, it was easy to pick a line and leave our own tracks. Looking back up at the mountain and the perfectly crisp blue sky, it was smiles all round, some for the even S curves they had left and others for the evidence of the impromptu tumbles they had taken! With the sun on our faces and no lift queues, we jumped straight back on the chairlift for yet another run. After a couple of different off piste descents we decided to go back on piste to rest our knees (some more creaky than others) and skied down the red run Jerusalem, often voted in the top 10 ski runs in the Three Valleys. With its perfect combination of gentle and steep slopes and excellent snow, it did not disappoint and with very few people around we could easily stretch out into some longer carving turns. Heading down Choucas and back up via the Cherferie draglift, we found the snow conditions to be excellent and the snow under the top of the Tougnete 2 chairlift even more soft and fluffy than towards St Martin de Belleville. On the always empty Coqs red run down towards Mottaret, we even found areas of fresh corduroy at 2pm this afternoon and were able to give our burning thigh muscles a bit of a break! With more sunshine and light snow showers forecast for the next few days, the conditions are just about perfect for anyone on a ski break in the Three Valleys this weekend. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/perfect-day-piste-three-valleys Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:44:42 +0000 Méribel It has been an entertaining week here in St Anton, with Alan Simm of ‘Edmundson Electrical’ making his annual ski trip to the Amalien Haus with 24 colleagues. They arrived on Wednesday in high spirits and headed straight into Bar Cuba to celebrate Carl’s birthday with a spot of Karaoke, before returning for a lively dinner back at the chalet. Despite some sore heads, a little ‘altitude sickness’ and torrential rain both in St Anton town and up the mountain, everyone was up early and enthusiastic about their days of skiing ahead. The beginners joined their group and instructor Matt, whilst the rest of the party were split into one advanced and two intermediate groups, each accompanied by the most suited in-house Ski Event Manager. Due to the rain and bad visibility, the morning involved several hot chocolate breaks before stopping for lunch and après-ski at the Krazy Kanguruh, where the infamous Mario Matt burger including cheese, bacon and a fried egg was the most popular choice amongst the boys. Wanting to change out of their soggy clothes, the group decided to move back down to the town and to continue their après activities in Piccadilly (a favourite of the party), where Gunar (the guitar player) has entertained the afternoon crowds for the last twenty years. Friday’s conditions could not have been more different to those experienced on the previous day as the sun came out and we all moved over to Rendl. Here the perfectly groomed runs made for an excellent day’s skiing and blue run R4 became a firm favourite with the guests. Coffee at the Rendl Beach was spent on the terrace with the sun on our faces before tackling the long R1 back down into St Anton. On Saturday, the two intermediate groups opted to go back to Rendl having enjoyed it so much and a layer of fresh snow on top of Rendl’s ever perfected pistes made for the ideal conditions we’d been waiting for. I have never seen as many spare ribs as were on the lunch table at the Hospiz Alm following this excellent morning of skiing. Accompanied by a magnum of red from the Hospiz’s wine cellar – the largest big bottle Bordeaux wine cellar in Europe, the lunch stop provided the Simm party with the perfect ending to their last full day of skiing in St Anton. As is tradition with the Edmondson group, their final evening was spent drinking and dancing the night away in Piccadilly and a good time was most definitely had by all. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/perfect-days-st-antons-slopes Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:34:52 +0000 St Anton The fresh snow at the weekend gave the pistes in St Anton a great covering of powder and created some challenging moguls on the more taxing runs. Here in the Amalien Haus, it seemed somewhat quieter as we said goodbye to the Beech party, with one smaller group remaining in the chalet. After enjoying a week’s skiing in Zermatt, our new guests Antonia Salmon and her brother Henry moved over to the Amalien Haus, taking the opportunity to ski St Anton, an area that they’ve always wanted to explore! Here they met two friends Nick and Ollie and spent a week exploring the delights of the Arlberg ski area. Nick, who has skied a little less than the others, was the first to arrive and managed to get an afternoon on the St Anton slopes ahead of his friends. His head start was carried out cruising the well pisted blue runs of 5 to Osthang and 8 to St Christoph, both of which are great for getting those ski legs back. Aside from taking a bit of a tumble and managing to lose both skis and a boot, Nick had a great first day on the slopes (and luckily was able to recover his equipment)! The group spent the week skiing the wide and varied runs of St Anton, Lech and Zurs, not to mention becoming quickly acquainted with the most popular restaurants and bars in the area! Antonia found her favourite in the Rodel Hutte, a traditional Tyrolean mountain hut located off the sweeping blue run of 24 on the Nasserein side of St Anton. The Rodel Hutte is another great place for après-ski with large sun terrace, live music and generous food portions, so make sure you’re hungry when you get there! Antonia’s favourite meal was the Tiroler Grostl; a tasty local dish of beef, potato, bacon, onions and egg, which is just what you need after a morning on the slopes. Of course, the group also frequented the infamous Krazy Kanguruh at the end of each day for long après-ski sessions before returning to the chalet for their pre-diner drinks and evening meal.  The group had so much fun on their White Circuit that they returned to Lech for a second time, making the most of the sunny skies and enjoying a great lunch at the luxurious Hotel Sonnenburg, which came highly recommended by the Beach family last week. On Wednesday, Alan Simm and his party returned to the Amalien Haus, for their annual ski trip and were welcomed by 5cm of fresh snow the following day. With the great conditions set to continue, we are looking forward to another exciting weekend in St Anton and of course, we’ll be sure to let you know all about it! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/mouth-watering-lunches-rodel-hutte-and-sonnenburg Mon, 17 Jan 2011 09:44:18 +0000 St Anton After an incredible Christmas and New Year at the Chalet Balias in Val d’Isére, it’s time for our season to really get underway. And what a way to start! A few centimetres of snow was predicated overnight but by the time it had stopped falling there was actually about 10 inches. So we woke to incredible blue sky and perfect ski conditions, which is always a pleasure because Le Face turns into the speedy grippy piste that we all love. My advice is to make sure you hit it early as with all this fresh powder it will be a mogul field by the afternoon, and you'll have to wait for the groomers to piste it all over again. Our guests this week have been keen to get up La Grand Motte but with the weather coming in, visibility at that height has been somewhat difficult. Once again, it is best to ski this area in the morning when we are graced with clear blue skies, before enjoying a well-deserved hot chocolate or vin chaud at lunchtime. Last week we had the pleasure of hosting the Lundgren family who were staying in the Avenue Lodge Hotel in the centre of Val d'Isére. It was the twins' 10th birthday mid-week and I arranged an ice-driving day for them all. The ice track is situated just before you enter Val d'Isére and here you are able to race around a track sideways in a BMW X5 - an adrenaline rush for anyone!. We also took a trip to the brand new state of the art leisure centre at the top of Val d’Isére which is well worth a visit. The following day it was Johann’s wedding anniversary and he wanted me to arrange something special for him and his family. On Friday afternoon they were picked up and taken to the heli-pad to embark on a wonderful 45 minute helicopter ride to Lyon where they were greeted and driven to the Hilton Hotel. In the evening they were wined and dined at the Paul Bocuse world-famous restaurant, where Paul himself, met them at the door. They were given their own private function room and a magician to entertain the children. The family said it was a fabulous evening! The next morning their private helicopter brought them back to sunny Val d'Isére where they enjoyed their final day skiing in the glorious sunshine! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/ice-driving-and-helicopter-trips-our-guests-val-d-re Thu, 13 Jan 2011 09:33:11 +0000 Val d'Isère It’s been another lively week with a full house of guests at our chalet in St Anton. The ‘light snow’ forecast turned into a good 5cm or more and this teamed with continuously blue skies and slightly warmer temperatures (as high as 2°C), has made for some ideal skiing conditions in St Anton. The Beach family have been staying in the Amalien Haus with their party of 20 guests and have taken full advantage of the entire Arlberg ski area and the many restaurants and après-ski bars that the area has to offer. Ski trips to Lech and mornings cruising the emptier pistes on the Rendl side of St Anton were followed by a regular spot in the Krazy Kanguruh, which certainly made Charlie Beach’s 18th birthday one to remember! Charlie’s birthday evening concluded with a special celebration in the chalet with guests enjoying a delicious birthday cake, a bottle of bubbly and not forgetting, Sam Fearne’s DJ’ing skills and some very funny demonstrations of “The Worm”. Over the course of the week, the Beach party depleted due to varying departure dates, until the last day where only five remained. The group took this opportunity to embark on the ‘White Circuit’ and although they found it a little icy on the Madloch stretch, they had a great last day on the slopes. Skiing back over to St Anton later in the day, they couldn’t resist one last stop off at the Krazy Kanguruh before a careful decent into the village. Their last evening was topped off with a mouth-watering meal at the well renowned ‘Hazienda’ restaurant next door to the Amalien Haus, for quite possibly the best fillet steaks in town. The Turner and Wrigley families spent the week on the slopes of St Anton with our Ski Event Manager - Mark, who showed them some great intermediate runs and the best-groomed pistes in the Arlberg. The group really challenged themselves and boosted their confidence on the slopes, particularly Mrs Turner who was cruising advanced red runs with ease by the end of the week. The group especially enjoyed the wide open runs of Rendl (R2, R4, R11) in the morning when it tends to be very quiet, and skiing through the trees on the beautiful blues runs 23 and 24. Mark made reservations at some of the best restaurants in the Arlberg including the Burg restaurant in Lech with its exquisite food and exceptional service. The group enjoyed a fine white wine, calves liver and king prawns before getting taxis back to the Hotel Alte Post to unwind in the wellness centre. After their week with Mark, the Turner family have got their hunger back for skiing and are already planning next year's trip. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/more-fresh-snow-and-special-birthday-celebrations-st-anton Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:50:05 +0000 St Anton With Russian Christmas and a party of 18 Australians arriving at the Chalet Leonardo, there was an international feel to Meribel last week. The pressure was on to see how the Meribel torchlight descent and fireworks would compare to those back in Australia. The Russian celebrations didn’t disappoint with an impressive display of 300 torchbearers compared to about 30 at the one our guests had seen in Australia! On Saturday morning our Australian guests requested to be taken out on wide empty pistes that could be accessed without using gondolas. Our Ski Event Manager Jon and Resort Manager Suzanne took the reins and we made our way towards Val Thorens hoping to leave the crowds in Courchevel. We hopped into the Tougnete bubble and headed onwards and upwards via the Tougnete 2 chair lift. We were pleasantly surprised by the lack of crowds and the amount of fresh snow that had fallen overnight (up to 5cm). Using the long blue Gros Tougne as a leisurely warm up, we descended into Les Menuires before heading to the top of 3 Marches via the Mont de la Chambre chair. Following the blue run Pluviometre down into Val Thorens, it was clear we had some experienced skiers with us as our group of 18 quickly overtook a number of ski school groups. With the return route clearly indicated to all, we headed up the Portette lift to find ourselves the only group carving up the pistes at times with the wide and sweeping reds of Portette, Rhodos, Variant, Haute Combe and Falaise runs being voted as the favourites for the day. As the wind picked up, milky hot chocolate and chocolate waffles were enjoyed before we headed across towards Boismint and Grand Fond to get out of the wind and into the sunshine. The afternoon’s skiing was spent in mild temperatures, with clear blue skies and some lovely fresh snow. With hardly anyone else on the slopes at times, our Australian group definitely saw the best of skiing in France and with the Les Menuires and La Masse ski areas alone being larger than any Australian resorts, they certainly covered some miles in the Three Valleys. A soak in the Jacuzzi was much needed on our return to the Chalet Leonardo to ease the aching muscles. By Sunday afternoon, the sunshine was obscured by the snow clouds moving in to deliver the promised 10cm of snow. Before dinner we enjoyed a fragrantly spiced glass of mulled wine at the bottom of the slopes in front of a crackling open log fire. A bottle or two of French wine with dinner ensured a good night’s sleep for all in preparation for the powder skiing that Monday morning promised to bring. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/international-feel-week-meribel Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:54:18 +0000 Méribel Last week, we had fresh, sunny days around St Anton, with the pistes being much quieter after the New Year. The great conditions continued over the weekend with 5cm of fresh snow on Friday and even more sunshine. The Scott party left the chalet last Monday saying that the best days of their trip were when our resident the Ski Event Manager, Mark Chadwick took their group over to Lech and then Rendl. Albeit south-facing, it tends to suffer a little less from sun damage and as such, some fantastic skiing was had by all on the freshly groomed ski routes from the top of the Riffel 2. They had a truly fantastic ski holiday and said our Ski Event Managers had made their trip really memorable with some of the best skiing they have ever experienced. Lunch on the group’s last day was at the Hospiz Alm, where we warmed up by the large fire before taking a look around the iconic wine cellar. To set us up for the afternoon’s skiing, we enjoyed the infamous rack of ribs and a glass of red before heading back through Happy Valley for apres at the Krazy Kanguruh where we had the top tables already reserved. Needless to say, on the inevitable ski down, the short blue piste 1 saw plenty of laughs and a couple of falls in the night darkness, however, the climax of their final night celebrations had to be in Piccadilly! We are very much looking forward to the group’s return. It has been a pleasure to have the Foodey family from Australia staying with us at the Amalien Haus to re-unite with their friends and family from the UK. The children have loved the antics in ski school and took part in the weekly ski show by snaking down the mountain lit only by their own lanterns. The adults enjoyed the long wide runs of red 14 and blue 17 down to Stuben – a small village at the far end of the St. Anton region where you can enjoy a fantastic view from the top of the North Face over the Arlberg ski area. To finish their winter wonderland experience, they enjoyed a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride in the snowy Verwall Valley to take in the stunning scenery, find peace of mind and simply feel good! This included a short stop at the cosy Verwall Inn for a tasty hot chocolate and homemade cake. With the sunshine set to last for a good few days yet, we are looking forward to even more great skiing in St Anton. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/fresh-snow-sunny-days-and-happy-times-krazy-kanguruh Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:34:13 +0000 St Anton After a gentle wind down from the celebrations of Christmas and New Year, things stepped up a gear again last week. The festive cheer continued at the Hotel Saint Louis, as Courchevel celebrated Russian Christmas! The first week of January indulged us with bright sunny days of skiing in the Three Valleys. Excellent visibility and crisp conditions have meant that guests have been maximising their time on the slopes and then recounting their stories to the Hotel Saint Louis staff over champagne and canapés. Taking advantage of the sunshine and long days on the slopes, many guests have been able to ski large distances of the Three Valleys, pushing their limits to the maximum and really striving to improve their technique. The pistes are groomed to perfection in the morning and while we have all been enjoying the clear blue skies, we look forward to the snowfall due this week. A few days ago, the Goodwin, Wiseman and Quinn parties opted for a day out on the slopes with resident Ski Event Manager John. First thing in the morning, they hit the piste and made their way over to Meribel, taking on the blue Biche run with its wonderful views over the valley, before sweeping down into Meribel Village. After a well-deserved leisurely lunch, they headed back up over to Tougnete before dropping down into the famous Jerusalem, the long red that leads into the small village of St Martin de Bellville. The day’s skiing was rounded off at Le Rond Point with some great views and a delicious hot chocolate. With the celebration of Russian Christmas, Courchevel 1850 was a hive of activity. Everywhere you turned there was something exciting taking place. On Tuesday evening at La Croisette ski lift, a family snow sculpturing challenge took place attracting tourists from all over Courchevel. A torch lit descent to raise money for children’s charities was also a very successful event, but it doesn’t stop there! Wednesday 5th January was Russian Christmas Eve and we celebrated all evening. The Russian choir set the ambience with a performance at the bottom of the slopes, welcoming down the torch lit descent of 600 ski instructors and Russian Father Christmas at 6pm. The festivities continued late into the evening with fireworks and a dance party on the slopes. Celebrations were not just taking place outside of the hotel, as we had a group of Russian guests staying in our private apartment Le Chapiteau. With their own personal Chef, Ski Event Manager and Host, the group experienced the very finest in food, skiing and service, making this year’s Russian Christmas one to remember. As we see the celebrations gradually coming to an end, calm has been restored to the slopes of Courchevel. However, with 11cm of snowfall expected over the next 5 days followed by clear sunny skies, conditions will be superb for the arrival of our new guests. Over the next few days we look forward to welcoming the Pedder party, frequent flexiski travellers, who will no doubt be racing straight out onto the slopes. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/festive-cheer-continues-russian-christmas Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:03:16 +0000 Courchevel Last week, both the Scott and Camsey families opted for a day with a Ski Event Manager for skiing in Lech and Zurs. The best skiing of the day was definitely first thing in the morning when headed over to Lech. With the resort being that little bit higher than St Anton, the freshly groomed pistes were boasting great conditions after a new dusting of snow overnight. Nothing was going to stop us as we completed The White Ring in less than two hours! Later that morning, after sweeping down to the village of Zug, we took the 2 man chair lift back up over Zug to the view point. From here, the views over the valley are simply amazing and rival those seen from the air. We were delighted when Jonty Camsey went as far as saying that it was one of his ‘best ever days on skis’. As the blue skies continued in the Arlberg ski area, it gave guests the opportunity to enjoy leisurely lunches in the ‘Rodelalm’ in Nasserein and to soak up some sun on the terrace of ‘Salome’ in Lech. Friday brought New Year’s Eve, where staff and guests celebrated in the main street, enjoying champagne at midnight accompanied by the impressive firework displays in every direction. This teamed with the high spirits of the Austrian locals made for a truly explosive atmosphere! The night continued in a number St Anton bars including Kandaha, Piccadilly and Bar Cuba. Those who made it to breakfast the next morning were greeted by a traditional blend of Bucks Fizz, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs; setting them up for what was to be a slightly slower but equally enjoyable day on the slopes. Although everyone made it up onto the mountain, one guest (Jonty Camsey) was particular eager to make the most of the desolated slopes and sunny conditions, opting to take a Ski Event Manager and making it on to the first lift of the day. Lucy Haines (who joins us every year) and friends joined the infamous celebration that is the Hospiz Alm’s New Years Day party and an unforgettable time was had by all. The end of this week has brought us another layer of snow in St Anton and we are very much looking forward to welcoming our new arrivals to the Amalien Haus, although the presence of some of our current guests will be greatly missed. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/champagne-and-fireworks-welcome-new-year Fri, 07 Jan 2011 10:48:55 +0000 St Anton We’ve been skiing in glorious sunshine this week! The cold temperatures have passed to leave us with some fantastic skiing in Courchevel - soft fluffy powder through the trees and superb conditions on the slopes! We are blessed here at the Hotel Saint Louis to be able to step across the road onto the Bellecôte piste from which there is easy access to all the major runs, and this week has been one of the best yet! For the New Year festivities we welcomed the Dawson family back to flexiski, this time to the Hotel Saint Louis, where they experienced the comfort of the newly refurbished top floor apartment, Le Chapiteau. They were joined by their friends, the Streek’s and the Ferris’ and together their 6 children made sure they fully tested our experienced Ski Event Manager, John, to the limit, skiing with him during the day and teaching him a few dodgy dance moves in the evening! In the morning, the children spent a couple of hours skiing with John where they particularly enjoyed the ‘family park’ opposite Le Verdons and their well-deserved hot chocolate break on La Terrasse at Hotel Saint Louis. Parents and children were reunited in the afternoon when the whole group carried on skiing with John, taking on the red runs of Combe Saurliere and Creux before heading over to Courchevel 1650 to enjoy the delights of the la piste des indiens. The fun continued on New Year’s Eve as everyone joined in with the festivities. Guests and staff dressed up in their finest frocks accessorised with party hats and streamers. The evening didn’t stop there as all the guests descended onto the slopes of Courchevel for a magnificent fireworks display followed by a dance party on the piste. Needless to say, New Year’s Day began in a rather more gentle fashion. A leisurely breakfast was required before John took guests for a morning of snow-shoeing. This was followed by an indulgent lunch of Steak Tartare at the ‘nautical themed’ Cap Horn restaurant. New Year in Courchevel 1850 has fully lived up to expectations! A fantastic time has been had by all and we are looking forward to the celebrations that will come with Russian Christmas on 5th and 6th January! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/happy-new-year-courchevel-1850 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:00:58 +0000 Courchevel As we take down our Christmas tree and decorations in the Chalet Leonardo, the resort is preparing for the Russian Christmas celebrations in Meribel on 6th January. We are all really looking forward to the upcoming events which include a torchlight descent down the slopes and dance party on the snow. The recent warm sunshine and blue skies have been replaced by some clouds which is a sure sign that snow is on its way. Forecasts range from a few centimetres upwards, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that we will get as much snow as we had at the beginning of the season. This week, the runs in Courchevel have had the best ski conditions in the Three Valleys which is great for those who like the wide cruising blues or the hard and fast reds. Meanwhile in Meribel Valley, the best snow can currently be found on the red Combe de Vallon and the Lac de la Chambre; whilst in Les Menuires, the Becca, Allamands and Combes (under the Roc de 3 Marches and Becca lifts) offer some variety, with bumps and soft snow on the edges of the pistes. For skiing in the sunshine, we are heading to Val Thorens around the Portette and Grand Fond lifts, particularly the long blue run down Gentiane to return back to Meribel. Our guests this week are particularly enjoying returning to the Chalet Leonardo at the end of the day to soak away their aches in the outdoor Jacuzzi whilst enjoying a glass of something sparkling. Once recuperated, they are heading into town to make the most of the Meribel nightlife which is in full flow. The Wednesday night special deals at Barometer Bar are proving particularly popular with staff and guests alike, and the best live music can be found at Meribar, The Pub and The Taverne. Luckily for all the cricket fans, they have been able to follow The Ashes in Jacks until the early hours of the morning! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/snow-clouds-are-gathering-russian-christmas Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:13:28 +0000 Méribel Everyone at the Amalien Haus had a great Christmas week in St Anton and enjoyed the festive cheer in resort, superb skiing conditions and endless delicious treats. On Christmas day guests relaxed to the lull of Christmas music and were treated to a traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings. A giant king prawn starter, delicious turkey dinner and mouth-watering Christmas pudding were rounded off with a selection of cheese and endless wine. The few days after Christmas were perfect for exploring the full Arlberg ski area with beautiful blue skies and white soft snowy runs throughout. A fresh covering of snow provided some great challenges once the moguls had firmly established themselves. Our guests Jonathon and James Lewis took full advantage on the conditions by opting for some time with resident Ski Event Manager Mark to make the most their first day on the slopes. The guys were skiing and boarding superbly and completed the 123km ‘White Circuit’ and much much more. After a vigorous day of skiing, they headed for some well-deserved après-ski, starting in local bar Taps before enjoying the party atmosphere in the famous Krazy Kangaroo and Mooserwirt. Later in the week, Rachel took the Harley and Lloyd families out to experience the powder in Rendl and later in Nasserine, calling in at the Rodlehut for a generous lunch, where one meal( particularly the knuckle of pork), is definitely enough for two. We are really enjoying the buzz of a full chalet and a very merry Christmas was had by all... http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/very-merry-christmas-was-had-amalien-haus Mon, 03 Jan 2011 19:36:56 +0000 St Anton Meribel is currently bathed in the same warm sunshine and perfect blue skies that we ended last year with, although the temperatures have been dropping over the last few days in preparation for the new snow forecast later this week. Conditions are pretty good all over the Three Valleys and there is still some off piste to be shredded. The beginners have been enjoying the conditions in the Altiport area of Meribel and the sunshine has brightened up everyone’s start to the New Year. Last week's guests in Chalet Leonardo came well prepared for the New Year’s celebrations with champagne and matching team hoodies. On New Year's Eve, staff left the private party in the chalet and headed into town to watch the midnight fireworks at the Chaudanne, before continuing the celebrations in a couple of Meribel’s local bars. Surprisingly the staff headed to bed before the guests, but fortunately for everyone a late breakfast had already been agreed. Those who weren’t suffering the effects of the night before enjoyed a quiet day on the slopes of the Three Valleys. Everyone in Val Thorens must have been partying all night long as there were no lifts queues anywhere! Without a doubt, the wide blue runs provided the perfect cruising terrain for the morning after! Thick fluffy waffles drizzled with chocolate sauce and Chantilly cream followed lunch on the sunny terrace of the Chalets de Thorens. We have never seen in such a short queue for the Plein Sud ski lift at 3pm as we headed back home via the long red ‘Lac de la Chambre’ with bumps at the top and a long schuss to the bottom of Mont Vallon and into the Meribel valley. The terrace of La Folie Douce was already pumping with a live band and plenty of dancing in ski boots, whilst back at the Rond Pont, there was a more relaxed atmosphere (after the previous night’s celebrations ending at 7am). Hot chocolate, vin chaud, jugs of cold beer and bowls of hot chips were the order of the day, as live music kicked off the après-ski. With quiet pistes, more good weather predicted and new snow on the way, it is the perfect time to enjoy a ski break to the Three Valleys. Plus, with the Russian Christmas celebrations on 6th January which include a spectacular torchlight descent and even more fireworks, the party atmosphere in Meribel is set to continue! From all the team in the Chalet Leonardo, Meribel we wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year for 2011. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/bright-sunny-skies-start-new-year Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:22:14 +0000 Méribel Our overseas teams have had a fantastic time in resort over the Christmas week. Snow conditions remained great over the weekend, ensuring that our guests had the wonderful “white” Christmas ski break that they were hoping for, with lots of time on the slopes. A few days before Christmas, our team in St Anton were lucky enough to witness the Red Bull Hutten Rallye where fearless skiers from across the globe, show off their skills whilst skiing through (and over) purpose built ski huts. Earlier in the week, the team in Courchevel also got to enjoy the Women’s ski racing World Cup. The Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel 1850 continues to thrive after its official opening on 11th December, with Christmas guests being treated to festive cocktails, a mouth-watering Christmas dinner and resident après-ski band Bring Your Sisters. Those in Val d’Isere witnessed a Christmas torch lit descent down La Face by the ESF instructors, as well as a ski school display showcasing some impressive freestyle stunts and top skiing techniques. If this wasn’t enough excitement, Christmas in Val d’Isere also included an open-air concert on the main street with performances from Santa himself! There was lots of powder, ensuring that the Espace Killy ski area was fully open and enabling skiing all the way over to Tignes. Last but not least, our team in Meribel have enjoyed a very festive Christmas week. Preparations are well underway for the New Year’s Eve celebrations in resort, where they can look forward to La Chaudanne being transformed into a disco area, with an impressive firework display expected at midnight. From all the flexiski team, we hope you had a lovely Christmas and we wish you a very happy new year. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/festive-season-slopes Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:05:04 +0000 After a very merry Christmas in Meribel, we are looking forward to the New Year’s celebrations which start with a torchlight descent by the ESF ski instructors, before La Chaudanne (the bottom of the Meribel pistes) gets transformed into a nightclub with a dance floor, live DJs and fireworks.  All the local bars are selling tickets for their New Year’s Eve parties so there’s likely to be lots of people starting 2011 with sore heads! However the good news is that there are never any lift queues at 9am on New Year’s Day, so if you are feeling on top form and want to head out early, the pistes will be much quieter. Long lunches are usually the order of the day and if you head over to Courchevel 1850, it is always a good day to spot fur hats on the blue runs, especially on the Bellecote piste, which runs right past the terrace at the Flexiski Hotel Saint Louis (a great place to stop for lunch, a hot chocolate or vin chaud). After the recent snowfalls (with over 20cm), conditions are excellent all over the Three Valleys. The weather has stayed cold and temperatures dropped overnight which has helped to keep the snow fresh. The forecast is clear, sunny days on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, followed by more snow over the start of the new year. Tonight (29th Dec) is the Ice Hockey League final at the Olympic Ice Rink in Meribel - Grenoble Vs Briancon. There is also plenty of live music in resort for après-ski, with Bring your Sisters, Fourplay, The Langers, Mikey Gray and Friends, being just some of the bands playing in resort over the coming week. From the Chalet Leonardo in Meribel, we hope that you have a very enjoyable New Year and that 2011 brings everything you could wish for. Don’t forget to make one of your New Year’s resolutions to be coming out to see us in Meribel – the heart of the Three Valleys and the biggest ski area in the world. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/its-set-be-fabulous-new-years-eve-meribel Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:31:53 +0000 Méribel The week before Christmas was an exciting time in the Amalien Haus as the season got into full swing and the number of guests in St Anton really started to increase. After a week of fresh snow, the ski conditions in St Anton were perfect, with lots of powder to be found and with the Rendl area now open, the whole of the Arlberg ski area was completely up and running. The Beaumont family staying with us in the chalet, embarked upon the ‘White Circuit’ from Zurs to Lech with Mark as their Ski Event Manager. They had a great day out on the slopes and included a much appreciated lunch stop at ‘Salome’ in Lech. Eric a local off piste ski guide also took the Birkin party out for a morning in the powder and our guest Sian enjoyed her birthday with a big chocolate fudge cake baked by our chef. The highlight of the week had to be the Red Bull ‘Hutten Rallye’ which took place on 21st and 22nd December on the St Anton piste. This action-packed ski race features fearless amateur skiers and elite freeskiers from across the globe, showing off their skills on extreme terrain. Among those competing were Daron Rahlves (USA) and Andreas Matt (AUT) (owner of the Krazy Kangaroo and brother of the famous Mario Matt). Standing in the sun at the bottom of the slopes, watching groups of six competitors ski over or through purpose built wooden huts was really spectacular. We were even lucky enough to take a chair lift directly above just as the final group jumped through. Our Christmas guests arrived on the 22nd and with more snow forecast for the end of the week, we were looking forward to a white and ski filled Christmas. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/excitement-builds-st-anton-run-christmas Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:15:30 +0000 St Anton Christmas came early to the Hotel Saint Louis on 16th December with a three day extravaganza of pre-Christmas party celebrations. There was an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation as the hotel geared up for the festivities, with much enthusiasm over decorating the Hotel Saint Louis Christmas tree, which now has pride of place in our newly refurbished lounge area. Friday 17th December was ‘Christmas Eve’ and we celebrated with an indulgent afternoon tea in front of the open log fire, accompanied by a superb performance by our in-house band, ‘Bring Your Sisters’, who treated guests to a fantastic selection of classic songs and hits. Once again the band proved extremely popular and we are very lucky to have them playing in the Hotel Saint Louis every Friday until the end of the season. Afternoon flowed into evening as guests were treated to a mouth-watering array of champagne and canapés. The party continued long into the night with a lavish five course meal followed by a Christmas disco and champagne cocktails. The following morning, ‘Christmas Day’, guests woke up to superb skiing conditions due to a huge snowfall the night before. Our Ski Event Managers took guests out onto the slopes for an orientation session in the glorious sunshine and fresh snow, showing the top runs that Courchevel 1850 and the Three Valleys has to offer, and the best restaurants to indulge in at lunchtime. Evening entertainment was provided by our carol singing staff members, accompanied by some excellent guest participation for ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’. An exquisite traditional Christmas dinner was served, followed by a delicious white chocolate fountain. On Sunday, (our early) Boxing Day, guests participated in an evening of sledging before warming up with a mug of hot chocolate and afternoon tea. It was a fantastic few days of extremely high spirits. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/christmas-came-early-courchevel-1850-our-pre-christmas-weekend Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:12:57 +0000 Courchevel Meribel is now buzzing as Christmas rapidly approaches. All the lights are up around the resort and the recent snow has made everyone feel very festive. All the ski lifts across the Three Valleys are open and there are good conditions especially on the higher slopes. Unlike back home, we are enjoying mild temperatures and blue skies at the moment with more snow expected in the next few days. All of our guests have been fortunate enough to avoid any major travel disruptions and we even have one family who changed their plans and booked last minute after their flights to the States were cancelled! The Women's World Cup downhill event was held in Courchevel on Tuesday with day lift passes being sold for 15 Euros. However as they were expecting over 15,000 people to attend and traffic into the resort at a standstill for over an hour at 8am in the morning, I expect the queues for the lifts must have been pretty busy! We have the Christmas tree and all the decorations up in Chalet Leonardo and the guests have been watching all the chaos with the snow back home whilst sipping a glass of bubbly in the Jacuzzi or curled up in front of the log fire. Happy Christmas from Chalet Leonardo! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/meribel-buzzing-christmas-approaches Thu, 23 Dec 2010 09:23:48 +0000 Méribel The Hotel Saint Louis was a hive of activity, when we celebrated its official opening for three nights (10-12 Dec). As part of the celebrations, our newly renovated hotel featured some great live entertainment – the highlight being an intimate performance by pop band 'The Feeling', who were staying with us in Chalet Leonardo in Meribel. Up to 80 guests were staying at the hotel over the weekend, including a group led by ski racing legend Konrad Bartelski, all out on Courchevel’s slopes to enjoy the good early season snow. Heather Mills and her friends, some of the team from 'Where to Ski and Snowboard' and our wonderful clients Neil Maidment, Steve Upson, Peter Wilson and Laura Cunningham who celebrated her birthday with us. The party got going on Friday afternoon, with a flow of drinks, canapés and sumptuous cakes in our new bar area 1226 and après-ski entertainment from locally based group Bring Your Sisters. Saturday was our 'official' and hugely anticipated opening night, with the excitement building for the arrival of The Feeling. Festivities started at après with local singer Daisy B treating us to an intimate acoustic set in Cognac Corner. It was the perfect antidote to a full day’s skiing with our Ski Event Managers (and possibly the previous late night) and an opportunity to warm up by the open log fire. Shortly after, the champagne and canapés got underway and acted as a mouth-watering taster before the evening meal, which featured a series of delicious creations prepared by our Chef, Colin Hinds and his team. The menu included a number of tasty vegan dishes supported by Heather Mills and Redwood foods. The band played after dinner to allow more special guests to arrive and for the dining area to be rearranged as the dance floor. Cocktails and local beverages started to flow from Bar 1226 and the evening really got underway when Brit Award nominated band ‘The Feeling’ delivered an exclusive, private performance. The atmosphere was electric, as the group, led by Dan Gillespie, rocked their way through a series of 80s and 90s cover numbers as well as featuring a string of their well known hits such as ‘Never be Lonely’, ‘Fill my Little World’ and to get everyone into the seasonal spirit, a rendition of ‘Fairytale of New York’, with singer Sinead Quinn creating the perfect party atmosphere into the early hours. The hotel guests departed on the Monday 13th December, which was emotional for guests and staff alike. Everyone had had such a wonderful weekend but unfortunately it had come to an end. The Hotel Saint Louis has really arrived in Courchevel 1850 and we are very much looking forward to welcoming all of our guests this season. With our newly refurbished hotel and our enthusiastic team, the words from our opening night song say it all - ‘We love it when you call…..’ http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/hotel-saint-louis-has-arrived-our-opening-weekend Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:02:44 +0000 Courchevel So far it has been an incredible start to the ski season in Val d'Isere, with blue skies since the day we arrived. This weekend we have seen another favourable type of weather, snow! It has not stopped falling and the predicted weather forecast is non-stop snow until Tuesday, followed by blue skies and perfect powder days. This week we saw our lovely guest Suzy make a beautiful star for our Christmas tree which is glowing in the corner of our stunning chalet. Our Chef Carl has been spoiling our guests with his incredible main courses and delicious deserts. The staff in Chalet Balias are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas on the slopes of Val d'Isere and we cannot wait to welcome our new arrivals. All the best from the very snowy Alps! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/seasons-greetings-chalet-balias-val-d-isere Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:48:18 +0000 Val d'Isère It’s been a wonderful start to the ski season with fantastic snow conditions throughout Europe. With the recent renovations complete, our flagship Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel 1850 had its official opening last weekend. Guests including Heather Mills enjoyed acoustic music by Daisy B, and an exclusive performance by Brit Award nominated band “The Feeling” really got the party started. The new hotel bar “1226” was packed full and a great time was had by all. Chalet Balias in Val d’Isere and Chalet Leonardo in Meribel have welcomed the first guests of the season and enjoyed resort opening parties, and excellent conditions on the slopes. Flexiski staff in our St Anton chalet, the Amalien Haus, witnessed the entertaining Krampus festival where prominent members of the town dress up in menacing hairy suits to chase away the devil.  Snow conditions are set to remain good so guests heading out to resort next week for their Christmas skiing holiday will be in for a treat. Here’s to another excellent ski season, we look forward to seeing you on the slopes! http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/2010-11-ski-season-great-start Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:21:29 +0000 The 2010/11 ski season has got off to a great start here in St Anton, Austria. A strong base layer was already asserting itself on our arrival and we’ve enjoyed some lovely sunny days. These were closely followed by mountains of fresh snow that has fallen and is still falling this week. The staff at the Amalien Haus have all settled in well and, accompanied by the guests, have enjoyed both opening parties and the infamous Krampers festival where the terrifying ‘Krampers’ (town members dressed up in hairy suits) chase the devil out of the town. In doing this they also aim to petrify as many innocent bystanders as possible in their parade down the main High Street. It all came to a close with a firework display in the Town Square, made all the more impressive by the simultaneous snowfall. Within just one week we have seen more and more lifts opening, more and more snow falling and more and more people arriving in resort. Right now things in St Anton are looking very exciting for the rest of the season. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/st-anton-great-start Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:55:43 +0000 St Anton Christmas is often the only time of year when all of your colleagues or friends and family are in one place, but it is also the time most forgotten due to the effect of alcohol on memory! Make this Christmas one to remember with a snowy Christmas party at our hotel opening weekend. Turkey and sausages are replaced by international cuisine and a concert by the BRIT Award nominated British pop rock band The Feeling (‘Fill my Little World’, May 2006),  the après-ski rock band Bring Your Sisters and Daisy B featuring live acoustic music. The venue is the Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel 1850 in France, situated opposite the Bellecôte piste for convenient doorstep skiing. This newly refurbished hotel is a traditional French chalet-style building with a large south-facing terrace restaurant and ensuite rooms decorated in a contemporary alpine-chic fashion. The lounge area has an open-plan fire and bar called ‘1226’ (the year that Louis IX became King of France) serving cocktails, wines and champagne in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. ‘Cognac Corner’ provides a more intimate library feel with deep carpets, leather sofas and wood-panelled walls. A first for Courchevel 1850, the Hotel Saint Louis can be booked for flexible durations throughout the ski season. The special four-day weekend price for 10th-13th December 2010 including flights, transfers, half-board dining with pre-dinner drinks and canapés and 2-day Three Valleys lift pass costs £590 per person in a twin room and £690 in a single room. For more information and to book call 020 8939 0861. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/the-feeling Thu, 25 Nov 2010 09:47:43 +0000 Visit St Anton this December and combine world-class skiing with charming Christmas markets. But beware, a menacing group of Christmas devils will be prowling the streets. During the first week of December, an abundance of hand-made decorations, traditional presents and delicacies from the Christmas market will line the specially decorated Fußgängerzone of St Anton. But it doesn’t stop there! “Krampusses” in many different styles and shapes can be seen in St Anton. They are frightening and not very appealing to the eye! "Krampus" is the untamed, shaggy spirit that accompanies St Nicholas, the good spirit. Krampusses usually roam in larger groups and their traditional costumes and masks are elaborately handcrafted. Every year at the beginning of the winter they troop around town chasing innocent bystanders. Of course, this is all done in good humor and everyone who attends can be sure of a cleansed spirit just in time for the New Year. 3 nights to St Anton on Sat 4th December starts from £420pp including return Gatwick flights, airport transfers and catered accommodation in our St Anton chalet – the Amalien House, plus a 3 day area lift pass. We’ll see you there! http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/st_anton_december Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:07:52 +0000 It’s set to be a great season with many European ski resorts already enjoying fantastic snow levels, allowing them to open their slopes earlier than expected. By the end of October, ski resorts in Europe had already reported heavy snowfalls with up to 90cm in the Dolomites and 60cm in the Alps. Our friends in Courchevel 1850 reported up to 20cm of snowfall in just one evening. Many resorts across Europe have opened their slopes early including St Moritz in Switzerland where 5% of the ski area is already open. Verbier will open next Thursday - 11th November and Val Thorens on 20th November. Courchevel and Meribel will follow on 4th December. Here at flexiski, we can’t wait for the season to get started and with just four weeks until our first departure, it’s going to be here before we know it. We look forward to seeing you on the slopes. The flexiski team http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/ski-areas-open-early-2010-11-season Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:45:36 +0000 Day one of the ski show - an event we look forward to every year, this year's offering didn't fail to impress. With stands from all of our favourite ski businesses, including New Generation and Helly Hansen (manufacturers of this year's particularly stylish uniform), the ski show provides us with a fantastic opportunity to meet suppliers and old industry friends. At the centre of the show the 50ft Trespass Big Air Competition Kicker hosts the London Ride and British Snow Tour Invitational Championship with the UK’s elite freestyle skiers and snowboards. Scaling 50ft, the kicker overshadows all and paves the way for the best British riders to claim a championship title, as well as entry to the British Freeski and Snowboard Championship in Laax. In the afternoon we were on the guest list for Les Trois Vallees après-ski party which featured a live performance by The Feeling and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Much fun and red Savoie wine was had! This year we will be at Les Trois Vallees bar and to celebrate our collaboration with Courchevel Tourisme we have launched an exclusive competition for you or your friends to win a ski weekend to Courchevel 1850. Visit us at Les Trois Vallees bar or, if you or your friends cannot make the show, simply email us at competition@flexiski.com by Sunday 24th October to enter. Head Chef for the Hotel Saint Louis, Colin Hinds will be taking part in the "Cook Off" on Saturday 23rd October at 5.00pm, providing you with a great opportunity for you to come and sample some of the canapés we will be serving this year... We look forward to seeing many more flexiski clients and friends, as well as sampling some more Michelin-starred food at Les Trois Vallees bar!  Come down and say hello if you are visiting the show - you can call Pete Hillyard on 07932 096 912 to find out where we are... http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/win-ski-weekend-courchevel-1850 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:44:20 +0100 Here at flexiski, we’re really looking forward to the Ski and Snowboard Show taking place in London Olympia this week (20th – 24th October 2010). As well as getting to getting to enjoy all things ski for five whole days, it’s always great to catch up with our customers, agents, tourist boards and suppliers. Once again, the Three Valleys tourist board are sponsoring the incredible resort bar which comes complete with log cabin and a DJ. This year it’s set to be even more impressive with some exciting culinary developments! A new kitchen area will feature demonstrations and tasters from Michelin star chefs including Mickael Weiss, Jean Sulpice and Rene and Maxime Meilleur. Additionally, a live “Cook Off” competition is taking place each day where two lucky contestants will battle to tempt the taste buds of the celebrity judges with their Alpine finger foods. We are delighted to announce that our recently appointed Head Chef at the Hotel Saint Louis, Colin Hinds, has qualified to take part in the competition. Come and watch Colin in action on Saturday 23rd October at 5pm, where he is sure to impress the Michelin star chefs with his canapé creations. Colin and the contestants must create three gourmet canapés featuring Alpine ingredients from the Three Valleys such as locally cured ham and Beaufort cheese. Each day the lucky winner will be put through to the final draw to win a ski trip to La Tania. Good luck Colin! On Friday 22nd October, Heston Blumenthal himself will be judging this exciting competition from 4pm, followed by a question and answer session. The flexiski team will be based in the Three Valley’s bar area throughout the Ski Show, so come and say hi. We look forward to seeing you there! Louise http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/hotel-saint-louis-head-chef-take-part-les-3-vallees-cook Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:36:35 +0100 Early season skiers to Davos Klosters will receive a special gift in the first three weeks of the 2010/11 ski season. Guests staying in participating hotels will receive a free Davos Klosters Mountain Skipass for every overnight stay up until 19th December 2010. The free lift pass campaign is aimed at attracting more skiers to the resort during the early weeks to make better the use of the resort amenities throughout the entire season. All hotels in the area can take part in the ”Skipass Gift” campaign as long as they are open during that entire period and subject to the terms of Davos Klosters Mountains (DKM). In Davos the hotels that are taking part in the free lift pass offer include: Hotel Flüela Steigenberger Hotel Belvedere Arabella Sheraton Hotel Seehof Arabella Sheraton Hotel Waldhuus Participating hotels in Klosters include: Hotel Vereina Hotel Alpina Silvretta Park Hotel The areas of Davos and Klosters combine to form a fantastic and diverse ski area over six mountains, with terrain suitable for all levels of skiers. http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/free-lift-passes-early-season-skiers-davos-klosters Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:32:56 +0100 We were really excited this week to hear that St Anton will be opening its slopes on Friday 26th November for the 2010/11 ski season. In addition to this great news, St Anton announced that they are holding a competition that will allow the lucky winner to be the first to ski the Arlberg slopes in the company of ski racing legend Karl Schranz. On the 26th November the winner will ride the Galzigbahn with a glass of champagne and canapés. They will then be the first to ski down the piste with Karl Schranz and officially open the St Anton ski season to everyone. This fantastic prize also includes 3 nights in a 4* hotel, lift passes for the winner and 4 friends, plus lunch at Europe’s highest altitude Gourmet restaurant, the Galzig Verwallstube. The opening celebrations will continue all weekend with the Ö3 Mountain Mania party, a fashion show, demonstration and testing of the latest ski and snowboard equipment and live music. Here at flexiski, we can’t wait for the season to get started and now there are only 72 days until St Anton opens its slopes! Our staff in our St Anton chalet, the Amalien Haus are looking forward to enjoying some early season snow and being among the first to hit the slopes. Best wishes Dawn http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/st-anton-launch-competition-ski-karl-schranz Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:51:35 +0100 Flexiski are proud to be sponsoring two exciting events for charity in September and October. The first is a unique Dodgeball Championship for Mencap, taking place in Wimbledon Park on Saturday 4th September. In excess of 400 young professional city graduates will be attending the fancy dress themed championships. The money raised from the event will go towards Mencap’s vital work to support people with a learning disability. Flexiski are proud to be supporting this event by donating one of the high value auction prizes. The second event is the Press Club Ball which is being held in the Natural History Museum on 14th October. The ball is the main fundraiser for the Journalists’ charity and includes an auction with lots ranging from new cars to travel prizes. The evening will be attended by newspaper and television editors, as well presenters and columnists. It’s always a really successfully evening. Both prizes are ski packages to the Hotel Saint Louis in Courchevel 1850 including half board accommodation, flights and transfers. The Mencap prize is for four people during the December Christmas party event being held at the Hotel Saint Louis. The Press Club Ball prize is a three night ski holiday valid throughout the winter season. Best wishes Darragh http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/flexiski-sponsor-charity-events Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:45:04 +0100 We are delighted to introduce our new hotel. A first for Courchevel 1850, the Hotel Saint Louis forms part of our exclusive portfolio and can be booked now for your weekend or short ski break for 2010/2011. Sleeping up to 80 guests, with a magnificent location and extensive renovations taking place over the summer, the Hotel Saint Louis will provide you with an exceptional and unique ski experience in the heart of Courchevel. What makes the Hotel Saint Louis so unique? - Perfect central location & doorstep skiing - Conference & event facilities - On-site bar & entertainment - Resident Ski Event Managers - Large south-facing terrace - Reserved areas for special occasions/events - Le Chapiteau superior suites & private dining options Prices start from: 3 nights - Sunday to Wednesday from £490* 4 nights - Wednesday to Sunday from £660* * Prices are per person based on accommodation only - subject to terms and conditions We hope to see you there! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/courchevel/blog/intro_hotel_saintlouis Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:49:37 +0100 Courchevel The flexiski team made their way to the SNO!zone in Milton Keynes on 18th May to take part in the 2010 Disability Snowsport National Skiathon. The theme of the day was based on the number 6: 6 individual teams took on the challenge of skiing or boarding 666 runs of the ski slope in 6 hours! The event was taking place at 6 indoor snow centres across the UK. All the money raised will be donated to Disability Snowsport who believe that anyone, regardless of their disability, can take part in and enjoy the thrill of skiing. Our flexiski team consisted of Leticia, Pete, Darragh and Rosie (with over 9 ski seasons between us) in addition to Heather Mills and her best friend Ruth Matthews. Heather, having been a former swimwear model, lost her left leg below the knee in an accident with a police motorcycle in 1993. However, her disability has not deterred her and she has become a household name using her disability to bring attention to others she considers less fortunate. With adrenaline running high, we ventured into the dome, braving temperatures of -5°C and set off down the 170m slope. After a gruelling morning we managed to fit 308 runs in total before the break for lunch. We spent an hour resting our aching limbs and enjoying a well-deserved meal before beginning the afternoon with gusto, enthusiasm and hand warmers bought by Heather! To try and complete our target of 666 runs, we skied continuously for 3 hours straight, flat-lining it down the piste to the tunes of Heart FM who were sponsoring the day. Some other celebrities also joined in the challenge: Eddie the Eagle and Leon Taylor (the Olympic Medallist Diver) kindly donated their runs equally amongst the 6 teams. Finally 5 o’clock came and the Snowsport National Skiathon was over, much to the relief of our cold fingers and toes! Having not seen the latest run count we did not know whether we had beaten the other teams or even smashed the 666 target. Suspense mounted throughout the prize giving before it was eventually announced that flexiski came second with 655 runs, just behind the ‘Navigation Inn’ team who managed 676 runs. We all had a great day and more importantly raised £590 for Disability Snowsport UK. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet inspirational people who adore the freedom of skiing without letting their disability hold them back – we will definitely be taking part in next year’s challenge, but this time we will have to begin our training regime a little earlier! Best Wishes, Rosie x http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/disability-snowsport-national-skiathon Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:28:43 +0100 Our fun-packed season in Méribel has finally drawn to a close. As more bars and restaurants shut up shop for the summer, the resort is descending into its seasonal hibernation. Looking back through the season, we have had some fantastic times here at Chalet Leonardo. The good times are too long to list but some of the highlights include cruising around the pistes at night on a snow bike as part of a corporate ski group's bespoke itinerary followed by a torch light descent into Méribel-Mottaret - a truly magical evening and one we will never forget. Or the incredible meals we have enjoyed whilst Ski Event Managing in some of the Three Valley's most exclusive restaurants including the Cap Horn, Le Bistrot de la Mangeoire and Chalet des Pierres - we were utterly spoilt! Our season would not have been the same if it wasn't for our fabulous team at Chalet Leonardo – Nic, Neliie, Lucy, Ruth, Darragh and I will all leave the Chalet Leonardo with memories for a lifetime. Some found love, some found further opportunities in the ski industry, some went from being good skiers to great skiers and Darragh learnt that women are always right having been surrounded by an all female chalet team all season! The Chalet Leonardo team have thoroughly enjoyed this season and we would like to thank our superb guests - all bringing laughter, fun and amusing tales of ski wipe outs, we hope to see you all next season. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/our-fun-packed-season-m-ribel Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:56:01 +0100 As we leave Chalet Balias, the sun still remains to shine over Val d’Isère with clear blue skies and a fresh dusting of snow. Last night we saw flurries of snow as the sun set over the ‘Le Face’ and the last of the parapets have descended from the sky. High clouds grace the skies this morning but Val d’Isère still looks as beautiful as it ever has done. We have had a fantastic season in Chalet Balias, the intimate and warm atmosphere has never failed to impress the guests. There have been some fantastic dinner parties in Chalet Balias, the highlight of which has to have been the fondue extravaganza as our last night’s meal - where everyone indulged (a little too much!) in the delicious cheese! James, Chalet Balias’ Chef, has always strived to bring delicious and interesting food to the dinner table over the season, using fresh and local ingredients, which all of our guests have thoroughly enjoyed. I, Chalet Balias’ Host, have enjoyed making the guests feel at home in the chalet and helping them make the most of everything Val d’Isère has to offer. We have had some fantastic experiences over the season; our most memorable experience is thanks to Matty from Igloo who offered to treat us to lunch in his amazing igloo. It was a once in a life time experience, to burn down the snow tracks on skidoo’s, be treated to champagne and genepi around the fire and consume the largest fondue that we have ever seen! Unlike most resorts, Val d’Isère village is still bustling but as the end of season parties commence, with Dick’s Tea Bar hosting a black tie affair this week, we know it won’t be long until summer descends… We hope to see all the guests that made this season so enjoyable again next year! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/sun-sets-over-val-d-re Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:33:10 +0100 Val d'Isère As the staff in the Amalien Haus are all but finished for the season, polishing the last surface and saying our goodbyes, it would seem that St Anton doesn’t want any of the staff to leave, well, Iceland doesn’t at least! It would be difficult not to mention the somewhat ill timed events of the volcano in Iceland, which has left hundreds of seasonaires and a few guests unable to leave the resort thanks to the closing of UK airspace for the past 5 days. Needless to say, the final flexiski guests were some of the few who have successfully made it back home thanks to a ferry back to the UK, just in time for the important Derby this weekend! Danny Schweiger and his group of friends have really made the most of the end of the season skiing and closing parties. They joined in with seasonaires and staff alike at every opportunity to celebrate the last few days in resort and, with their departure, we are left looking back on the season at the highlights and remembering all the amazing times shared in resort. There are many things that spring to mind when we all look back over our season in St Anton, and yet, it is so difficult to pin down exactly what are the best moments. We will all look back fondly on Colin Johnston and his party who visited the Amalien Haus earlier this year filling the place with plentiful Irish banter and frolics - enjoying everything St Anton has to offer; dancing the night away until the early hours to Andy Joseph and his acoustic guitar in Piccadilly's; long lazy lunches with plenty of Bordeaux at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph; enjoying the daily charades and live music that go on in the Underground; and, of course, the fantastic skiing in the Arlberg, whether it be doing long carving turns all the way down the 11km blue piste from the top of Schindler right down to Stuben, or jumping around in the steep and deep powder bowl that is Hinter Rendl. St Anton is undoubtedly one of the best resorts in the world, few others offer such an array of activities, skiing, après and a bustling nightlife. It is fair to say that all the staff here at the Amalien Haus have made the most of their time. If only it was winter all year round! We would like to say a big thank you to all the guests who have visited us here at the Amalien Haus helping to make our time here so memorable and enjoyable. We hope to see you back again next year! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/looking-back-over-st-anton-season Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:39:09 +0100 St Anton Méribel is beginning to quieten down as the date of the last lifts - 24th April- fast approaches. Despite the sunny weather during the day time, we have been having a small coating of snow over night. It keeps the pistes well-coated and fantastic snow can be found in the morning if you remain high. Piste M - the black piste below the Vizelle bubble in Courchevel 1850 was in great condition yesterday afternoon. As the last guests begin to leave resort, the bars and clubs are hosting their individual closing parties. Le Pub's is tomorrow evening and Jack's Bar is on the 21st April. Chalet Leonardo is undergoing a thorough wind down by all the staff before it shuts for the summer and when this is completed we all leave Méribel on the 17th April. The season has whizzed by far too quickly but what fun times we've had! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/well-coated-pistes Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:59:41 +0100 Méribel Blue skies once again grace the Espace Killy. Over the past few days we have had flurries of snow during afternoon and overnight. Early predictions for the next week show continued sunshine, increasing temperatures and a light breeze of up to 20km/h at 3000m. The best piste conditions are to be found in the morning and above 2000m. The last of Chalet Balias’ guest have left resort, after a fantastic weekend on the slopes. James and I, Chalet Balias’ staff, celebrated in style, with a delicious fondue evening as the last meal. All the guests enjoyed tasting the local meats, cheese and wines in the beautiful Chalet Balias surroundings. James and I then took the guests out to celebrate the end of a fantastic season at Saloon bar and danced into the early hours. At this point a special mention has to be made to Toby and Dina, who made for fantastic company over the final weekend and showed us all up on the dance floor! After such a lively weekend of guests, Val d’Isère and Chalet Balias is very quite. The resort is definitely slipping into spring as the Marmots begin to come out of hibernation and Val d’Isère prepares for a relaxed summer… http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/blue-skies-once-again-grace-espace-killy Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:23:59 +0100 Val d'Isère The past few days have seen the arrival of our last guests to the Amalien Haus; Danny Schweiger and his group of friends have joined us to make the most of the last of the snow. In fact, in many ways this is one of the best weeks of the season to visit St Anton for a group like Danny’s, thanks to the almost endless end of season celebrations at all the bars and restaurants in resort. Saturday saw the end of an era with the Krazy Kangaruh closing party, where every one from resort joined in to celebrate. Many of the visitors and guests in resort joined in as soon as possible and got the festivities going at 4pm. The atmosphere was somewhat reminiscent of a school reunion with everyone saying their hellos and goodbye all at once, whilst laughing over the great times had here in resort. As the evening went on, it was evident that the Kangaruh wasn’t going to make its usual closing time of 9pm, and before long, the staff who thought they had to miss out on all the fun started arriving in folds of taxis. The Kangaruh was buzzing! For some, skiing back down will be something they will never forget, or will they? Needless to say, the next morning, the village was more reminiscent of a ghost town than a ski resort. It has been snowing since yesterday evening here in resort making for some great end of season conditions for Danny and his group. With more closing parties on the way, and the departure of our final guests for the season tomorrow, the end of another great season in St Anton is drawing near. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/end-another-great-season-st-anton Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:14:17 +0100 St Anton This weekend saw the arrival of more guests to the Amalien Haus and on Saturday, the Gray’s and the Jennings party joined me, St Anton’s Ski Event Manager, for their ski orientation session. With the end of the season near, the very best of the skiing to be had each day is first thing in the morning, and as such we all hit the first lift over to Zürs - 400 metres higher than St Anton boasting firm snow every morning. With the sun beating down on our faces and the piste freshly groomed underneath our feet there was nothing that was going to stop us as we made the journey over to Lech and Zürs. The first run to be enjoyed was from the top of the Rüfikopf cable car in Lech skiing down into Zürs along the red piste, which is probably my favourite piste in the Arlberg. It is more reminiscent of a rollercoaster than a piste flowing up and down over a variety of rollers - you can’t help but arrive at the bottom with a smile on your face! The skiing continued over on the other side of the valley in Zürs to Zug, passing through the Madloch. After sweeping down to the village of Zug, in what was the last of the best of the morning, we hopped on the 2 man chair lift that ascends up over Zug to a view point that rivals that seen from the majority of plane windows. On the very top of the peak sits a brilliant restaurant called “Balmalp” – the type that you simply can’t help but stare in wonder at. We sat there with ice cool bottles of Riesling and the sun reflecting off the cool beads of condensation forming around the rim of our glasses. Before long, two pizzas arrived at the table, larger than the tyres of a car covered in freshly sliced tyrolean ham, parmesan, salamis, sun dried tomatoes and plump olives. Everyone tucked in without hesitation and before long the masterpieces were demolished. Lunch time had come and gone, and all that was left of the day was to ski down to the village in Lech before heading back to St Anton for one last quick refresher before returning to the Amalien Haus for pre-dinner drinks and canapés. Just another day in paradise for the staff and guests of the Amalien Haus in St. Anton. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/st-anton-another-day-paradise Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:13:49 +0100 St Anton Méribel has been bathed in glorious sunshine for the past few days and the snow is good up high, with a few inches of fresh powder to explore. The beautiful sunshine has meant that the snow dwindles later on in the day but only on the main descents back down into Méribel and Mottaret. The Solomon party arrived on Friday evening - it has been 6 years since the two boys in the group, Hugo and Will, skied last. After a day on the slopes we decided to book Will into a New Generation lesson for today - he had a fantastic time perfecting his turns with his instructor Agnes. Tomorrow, I, flexiski’s Ski Event Manager, will take them over to Courchevel 1850. We will venuture from Méribel on green and blue pistes taking the Loze chairlift from the Méribel Altiport. The boys will definitely be able to get there with a delicious lunch, possibly at Kalico's, in the sunshine. Méribel is quieting down after the Easter holiday rush and the bars and clubs are beginning to plan their closing parties, to end another buzzing season in Méribel. The first of them to close is Le Pub on Thursday and I 'm sure many will follow as the season draws to a close. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/glorious-sunshine-m-ribel Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:20:55 +0100 Méribel Yesterday the sun shone continuously over the Three Valleys. I, Ski Event Managed the Golds, Sterrikers and Sandfords for their first day of Flexigold Ski Event Management. We began exploring the Tougnete side of the Méribel valley with a short coffee break at La Sittelle restaurant just below the base of the Chatelet chairlift. We then headed into Les Menuires on the Allamands red piste before catching the Roc de La Chambre chairlift so we could take the descent into Val Thorens. After a quick lunch break at the Folie Douce we carried on exploring the Val Thorens valley before returning to the Folie Douce for après ski! Despite the slightly cloudy weather, this morning I Ski Event Managed the Miscampbell's. Firstly, we enjoyed the Lievre blue piste as a warm up run before hitting the black piste - La Face. We then headed over to Courchevel 1650 and then 1850 before returning to Méribel - yet another fantastic day of skiing! More snow is forecast for this evening so the season is far from over yet! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/over-folie-douce-lunch Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:15:37 +0100 Méribel The sun is once again shining over Val d’Isère, with temperatures rising to +9 degrees at 2000m yesterday. The breeze, although slight, has been welcoming with the increasing temperature and blazing sunshine. The snow, especially in the morning, is fantastic. The resort teams have been working hard to preserve the piste, with crisp trails groomed throughout the night for all to enjoy the following morning. Early weather forecasts show that the clouds will shortly return to Val d’Isère, hopefully bringing us some more snow with increased winds into the weekend. This week Chalet Balias has seen a great mixture of guests, with single travellers, couples and young families all enjoying one another’s company. James and I, Chalet Balias’ staff, have enjoyed the company of Paul Toner and The Dean family, as we Ski Event Managed them over the ‘Espace Killy’ range for their first day on the slopes. The weather conditions were perfect, so we were able to ski right to the top of the Fornet Glacier and see for miles into the beautiful Vanoise National Park. James took the Dean family to ‘Le Signal’ restaurant for lunch, to enjoy generous portions of “Carbonara” and “Lemon Meringue Pie”, whilst enjoying the view of the dam from the sun terrace - the perfect way to complete a morning ski! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/crisp-groomed-pistes Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:03:34 +0100 Val d'Isère After a week of what felt like summer weather here in St Anton, the past week has provided a plentiful dump of fresh powder just in time for Easter. The temperatures dropped to well below zero and in 24 hours over a foot of snow fell on the Arlberg, once again leaving St Anton picture perfect. Things are starting to slow down in resort and the traditions for the end of season have commenced. Monday evening was the closing night of Piccadilly’s – playing live acoustic music getting even the most reserved of people up and dancing. The closing night was no different, in fact, it was even more eminent. Everyone showed up to wish Piccadilly's well for another year, making sure that the bar went out with the same panache that it had demonstrated for the whole season. Yesterday saw the legendary “Taps” race on the lower slopes of St Anton. With over a dozen categories, the participants raced from “Taps” bar adjacent to the “Krazy Kangaruh” down to the centre on St Anton at the Galzig lift. The scene was more reminiscent of a beach than a ski resort, with people catching the glorious rays. As the competitors shot down the slalom course people lapped up the buzz that St Anton is known for. The bar stayed open until 11pm enabling all to enjoy the ski down in the dark back to the centre of town to rest a little before getting up and doing it all over again. It is memories like these that make St Anton one of the best and most returned to resorts in the world. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/legendary-taps-race Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:47:25 +0100 St Anton With only a few weeks left of the season, it is time for the staff of the Amalien Haus to try all those things that they thought they would do in the first few weeks of the season. One of the many things on the list was midnight hiking, and this week it finally made top of the list. The window of opportunity was narrow as the full moon had already passed behind clouds on a previous night. At a quarter to twelve, the staff met friends from all over St Anton and shared taxis over to the neighbouring village of St Christoph where a quick gluhwein was enjoyed before setting out on the long walk. The temptation to stay in the warm of a fire with a drink in hand proved almost too tempting, but before long all had made it to the bottom of blue piste 8 for a one off travel up the piste rather than down. Skis strapped to backs, and boards in tow, a break in the cloud revealing the bright luminescent moon allowed the hike to commence and upwards we began. Although only a blue piste, the climb proved all too challenging for some, barely before we even got going, some skied the short distance back down to St Christoph to continue enjoying a drink or two in the comfort of an armchair. Quite sensibly, most would say! As with all blue pistes in St Anton, blue piste 8 is somewhat renowned for being a little more challenging than a blue run in many other resorts. Occasionally the twisty turny moonlit piste became a little too much to bear, and a drink on the go was the only way forwards, thanks to flasks of either Gluhwein of Heise Schololade with Stroh Rum to warm both body and soul. In total, the hike up to the top of the Galzig Gondola lift station took nearly 90 minutes, and once on the top, nobody wanted to stay long thanks to the ice cold wind whipping over the top of the peak, turning beads of sweat into icicles on the brows of tired staff. After what seemed like an eternity for most climbing up the hill, the fun was about to start – going down. It was almost as if the piste had been floodlit as the snow reflected even the smallest ray of blue light from the moon. It felt so serene drifting down the piste in absolute silence and peace without the hum drum of other skiers and boarders. It was easier than expected thanks to the fact that all the pistes had been freshly groomed by the bashers leaving a crisp and smooth finish to the runs. As with all skiing, the run down black number two finished all too soon, and the final stretch of blue piste one carried us as we glided back into St Anton for a celebratory drink to commemorate an experience that will surely last forever. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/moonlit-winter-hiking-st-anton Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:38:23 +0100 St Anton Yet another fantastic week in Val d’Isère, bird blue skies and 50cms of new snowfall has kept us all on the slopes. It snowed almost continuously on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday proving that Val d’Isère is still the best late season holiday resort. Today the clouds finally parted with a day of unbroken sunshine, but a brisk -13 degrees at 3000m. The Chalet Balias team have been busy this week as we welcomed the Chase-Gardener family for a weeks serious skiing and après together! James, Chalet Balias’ Chef, has worked hard to bring some new dishes to his menu and the laughter and tales of the days skiing have created a wonderful atmosphere every evening. The Chase-Gardeners enjoyed the company of their personal friend and professional private guide all this week, who helped them make the most of their time on the mountains. James and I are looking forward to the new arrivals, with several parties joining us to enjoy the late season snow and the buzzing end of season atmosphere in town. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/50cm-new-sno Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:15:08 +0100 Val d'Isère Méribel received a good 8 inches of snow on Saturday evening so we woke to fresh powder for Easter Day - fabulous conditions for our Easter arrivals. I, Chalet Leonardo’s Ski Event Manager, took Julie and Kate Sandford on their ski orientation day yesterday and we had a fantastic time, despite the slightly cloudy weather. Kate had only been skiing for four days but she took to it like duck to water and we managed to get her over to Courchevel 1850 on the Loze chairlift. After a quick hot chocolate stop at Le Roc restaurant at the top of La Tania, we skied the Verdons run into the centre of Courchevel and headed to Kalico’s for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we took the Plantrey chairlift and skied Kate’s first red run, Beau Blanc, which was quite tricky in the fresh powder, but nothing seemed to phase Kate! Yesterday, the Three Valleys was bathed in glorious sunshine and I Ski Event Managed the Gold’s and the Sterriker’s. It was only Paul’s fourth day of skiing but we went down the red piste, Creux, which takes you into Courchevel 1850 from the Saulire side of Méribel. We had a pit stop at the Pierre Plats restaurant, which serves the best hot chocolate in the whole Three Valleys (complete with whipped Chantilly cream and M & M's!) to give us some energy before heading down the Creux run. We had a little explore in Courchevel 1650 before taking the Gravelles chairlift back over to Courchevel 1850 for lunch. After a great day, we went straight back to Méribel and had an après drink in the Cactus Café to recover. These conditions are just fantastic for so late in the season! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/ski-event-management-m-ribel Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:10:06 +0100 Méribel Since the weekend Val d’Isère has seen over 50cms of fresh snow fall. To our guests delight, the snow began to fall as they arrived and late into the night. On Monday the storm subsided, revealing Val d’Isère village dusted with snow and 15cms of fresh powder laid over the mountains. The clouds once again closed in during Tuesday, releasing a further 15cm of snow during the afternoon and flurries throughout the evening. Wednesday is set to be sunny, with strong cold winds blowing throughout the day. Despite the warmth of the sun you definitely need a few extra layers this week because of the wind chill. Early weather predictions are once again uncertain, as it swings between snowfall and blissful sunshine. This week the Chase-Gardener’s party are unwinding in our cosy living area, while the younger members of the party have been enjoying themselves in Dicks Tea Bar just around the corner! The rest of the party have been relaxing in the beautiful eaves bedrooms and recounting the days events, with their private ski guide. Excitement is once again mounting in Val d’Isère village as the ‘Greeneye Ratrace’ entry forms were finally released over the weekend. Open to all, this epic treasure hunt takes place over the entire ‘Espace Killy’ range and is anticipated by all as the season comes to an end. Hosted by Saloon, which is situated on the snow front, teams gather at dawn to collect their first clue and get ready for first lifts. After that it’s a free for all, with the only rules being that there must be at least one female and one snowboarder in each team. The winner wins over 600 euros of ‘greeneye’ merchandise and the coveted retrace trophy, which is currently held by the Blue Note girls. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/50cm-fresh-powder Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:51:28 +0100 Val d'Isère 40cm of snow fell in Méribel last night so we awoke to incredible piste conditions. The England party – Will, Hugo, Rich and Freddie, who have been staying in Chalet Leonardo for the last few days, took full advantage of this and I, flexiski’s resident Ski Event Manager, took them on their ski orientation day. We headed into the Saint Martin de Belleville valley and skied the Jerusalem run… twice! Most runs were not pisted so it was quite hard going on our legs so after a quick café au lait break at the Chardon Bleu (opposite the Saint Martin 2 chairlift) to recover, we headed to Courchevel 1650. Sadly the sun was not shining so we ate inside the Bel Air mountain restaurant at the top of the Ariondaz bubble lift. We all ordered the plat du jour which was beef bourgignon and absolutely delicious! The clouds began to close in during lunch so we had a gentle ski back to Méribel and enjoyed a cup of tea and slice of cake in the Chalet Leonardo! More snow is forecast for the next few days so our new arrivals can enjoy the same fantastic powder. Méribel continues to host great events to keep the Easter holidaymakers entertained with the British Alpine Ski Championships on Sunday when the top British skiing talent compete on Méribel’s pistes. Méribel Alpina is offering two unusual events this coming Thursday. For early birds, there is an early opening of Roc de Fer and Olympic chairlifts allowing you to make first tracks on Face, Grand Duc and Gelinotte pistes with a Savoy breakfast and later in the day you can visit the snow-making centre. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/40cm-fresh-powder-snow Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:11:17 +0100 Méribel After a warm and snowy week here in Val d’Isère, the Chalet Balias team thought the snow wasn’t going to last. But, everyone was proved wrong this morning as a blizzard swiftly moved in after breakfast, laying down 15cms of fresh snow. As snowflakes the size of 50 pence pieces began to fall, Val d’Isère village was quickly swept into a flurry of white snow, causing traffic to come to a stand still and leaving only the brave to venture outside! Early weather predictions for the weekend are light cloud in the morning followed by more consistent snow for most of Saturday evening. The winds are beginning to pick up, with gusts of up to 50km/h blowing this lunch time and set to continue with the next snowfall. This week the ‘Le Face’ snow front found it self being overtaken by ‘The White Battle’ contest, hosted by the Folie Douce and Doudoune clubs. Amazing freestyle skiing and snowboard demonstrations took place over the first half of the evening, moving on to an aggressive competition between the competitors. Kelly Starlight, local celebrity and socialite, entertained the crowd with well known Folie Douce hits and had the crowd cheering and dancing till the early hours. Chalet Balias has had a fantastic week of guests, the dinner conversation has been riveting as each guest tells of the days events and the champagne freely flows. Chalet Balias’ guests are from a variety of creative industries, from creative media to fashion, and their absolute favourite place to lounge after hours has been the Aigles de Neige cocktail bar- with its sculptural surroundings and relaxing vibe it is a fantastic place to wind down and continue the dinner conversation. With more snow on the way we’re looking forward to another great week ahead! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/unwinding-aigles-de-neige-cocktail-bar Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:02:11 +0100 Val d'Isère Yesterday Sue and Vanessa arrived here in St Anton and, after an evening settling into St Anton, the time was more than overdue to hit the piste and get skiing. We started off at the top of Kapall, where, in full view of St Anton, Nasserein, and the Valleys on the horizon, the perfect morning sun was soaked up before the three of us. Sue, Vanessa, and I, St Anton’s resident Ski Event Manager, started to ski down towards Stuben. The slopes were very soft and the skiing somewhat reminiscent of spring skiing, and before long skiing in the deep snow, it was time for a coffee break. The place of choice was the Ulmer Hutte, at the top of piste 17, the longest run in St Anton, which lead all the way down the Arlberg pass to Stuben. The view was spectacular and, after a thorough re-charge with hot chocolates, it was time to continue the journey, destination Zürs. Sue has been skiing there a number of times, and as such she wanted to share the romance of the small chocolate box resort that separates St Anton and Lech with Vanessa. We started by shooting up the Zürseekoph Bahn towards Zug, before hopping on the Muggengrat Bahn, new for the 2009/2010 season with heated seats, a shield, and deep leather comfy seats. The skiing down red piste 10 was good and made the best of the available terrain. We skied across to Hexenboden Bahn, and down to Tripkoff Alm, a fantastic little restaurant slightly hidden by the relief of the surrounding mountain sheltering us from the gusty wind that was building. We enjoyed spiced chicken filet salad in the warm of the glorious sun, accompanied by ice cool beer and followed by Kaiserschmarrn, a typical Austrian desert of shredded pancakes, icing sugar and stewed plums, favoured by a renowned Austrian Emperor, and hence it’s name today. After a lazy lunch the horizon looked dark and we decided it was time to move onwards and jumped back on our skis. After a further afternoon of skiing we ducked for cover in Toni’s Einkehr, a hidden retreat where we let the enthused Austrian Band whisk us away with live music and one of the most uplifting atmospheres you will ever experience in a ski resort. Within fifteen minutes in Toni’s bar, some deep, dry, fluffy snow had settled and the drinks started to flow. A beautifully presented collection of Tyrolean treats adorned with every accompaniment found its way to our table joined by Pear Williams, a Schnapps served in a small glass accompanied by a ball of pear, only to be drunk in the traditional way. By this point, the French trumpet, accordion, guitar, bass, were surely only being spoilt by all who joined in, and as the snow piled up outside the door, the schnapps kept on coming and spirits only livened further. Sadly, all good things have to come to an end, and a Taxi arrived to return us to St Anton through the deep snow that waited in the Arlberg Pass. Before long, Sue and Vanessa were back in the warm of the Amalien Haus chalet preparing for the day of powder skiing ahead, or was it Piccadilly’s that held their attention? Either way a great night and day... all enjoyed in St Anton! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/season-far-over-st-anton Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:36:04 +0100 St Anton A perfect opportunity has arisen to enjoy a last minute or Easter ski break. Choose from the ideally situated Amalien Haus in St Anton, the comfortable Chalet Leonardo in Méribel or the cosy Chalet Balias in Val d’Isère. Amalien Haus | St Anton Perfectly positioned in the bustling village centre of St Anton, the Amalien Haus is located in the heart of the Arlberg ski area just 500 metres from the slopes and less than a five minute walk from the main ski lifts. The Amalien Haus is quite a modern chalet, all bedrooms are decorated with attractive furniture and spacious contemporary bathrooms, located on three separate floors, some of the bedrooms boast wonderful balconies overlooking the resort. 30th Mar    5 nights    from £610 30th Mar    7 nights    from £720 31st Mar    4 nights    from £560 31st Mar    5 nights    from £610 01st Apr    3 nights    from £590 01st Apr    4 nights    from £690 02nd Apr   4 nights    from £690 03rd Apr    4 nights    from £690 04th Apr    3 nights    from £490    Make an enquiry about the Amalien Haus or call 0208 939 0862 Chalet Leonardo | Méribel The Chalet Leonardo was built in 1994 on the site of a 19th century farmhouse in a quiet residential corner of Méribel, just a short walk from Dick’s Tea Bar. Its open plan living and dining area has an open log fire and under-floor heating. When the day’s skiing is over, relax before dinner on the large, south-facing terrace or in the outdoor Jacuzzi. All the bedrooms have private facilities, and many have balconies with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. 01st Apr    4 nights    from £630 03rd Apr    4 nights    from £630 04th Apr    3 nights    from £490 04th Apr    4 nights    from £520    Make an enquiry about the Chalet Leonardo or call 0208 939 0862 Chalet Balias | Val d’Isère The Chalet Balias provides comfortable accommodation and great views of the surrounding mountains. There is a bright, open plan living and dining area that has been lovingly restored using local woods, tiles and is beautifully furnished. All six well-designed rooms have en suite bedrooms, a shared wellness area complete with sauna, shower and relaxation area on the lower ground floor. 02nd Apr    3 nights    from £590 02nd Apr    4 nights    from £640 04th Apr     5 nights    from £610 04th Apr     7 nights    from £690  Make an enquiry about the Chalet Balias or call 0208 939 0862 http://www.flexiski.com/flexiski-service/blog/latest-flexiski-offers Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:33:07 +0000 This weekend Euro MTS arrived in St Anton for their fifth time at the Amalien Haus and, Zoe Boston, the group leader was eager to make up for time lost away from the buzz of St Anton! The group was split into 3 group; a “fast and hard” group who were to devote their time to St Anton hitting the piste at “full power”; a group made up of those who were more than capable of skiing “fast and hard”, but were simply far happier with a hot chocolate half way through the morning, and a group of skiers keen to improve their technique who spent their time accompanied by Ross, a private instructor organised by flexiski. On Friday morning all three groups decided to head up the Rendlbahn gondola to enjoy the somewhat quieter and more relaxed secluded pistes in the glorious sunshine. With the ever increasing temperatures in the Arlberg, Rendl, albeit south facing, tends to suffer a little less from sun damage and as such some fantastic skiing was had by all on the newly groomed ski routes from the top of the Gampergbahn. After a somewhat vivacious night in Piccadilly Bar enjoying Andi Joseph’s eclectic collection of sing along songs, all three groups were more than happy to take a well deserved break at the Rendl Café, nicknamed Rendl beach, thanks to the abundance of deck chairs lining the piste. From here the group happily sipped a Heise Schololade with Rum, enjoying the view 2 fold with fantastic scenery and beautiful blues skies and that of Rendl Park, renovated for the 2009/2010 season, with a wide array of jumps, rails, bumps and lumps. Although the break didn’t last as long as some would have liked (and indeed) before long we were all enjoying to 4km run back down R1 to St Anton, where the last of the decent skiing was to be had before lunch! The group enjoyed a lazy lunch at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph where the ladies were somewhat pleased with cushioned benches perfectly angled for sunbathing! Lunch was long lived, and there was only one thing left to do, and it is what the St Anton team remember Zoe and the whole of the MTS team for every year, and that is their endless energy at the Krazy Kanguruh! It is fair the say that I, resident Ski Event Manager from St Anton, have seen a fair number of groups letting off steam in the “KK”, but few that could create enough steam to turn the bar into a sauna! A short taxi ride back to the Amalien Haus, and all were back safe and sound, where everyone retired to bed, or to dinner followed by another infamous session in Piccadilly's. The day was a memorable one, for both MTS and the flexiski staff. We look forward to their return in 2011 for yet another incredible trip in St Anton. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/letting-steam-krazy-kanguruh Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:46:03 +0000 St Anton Sadly the sun has not remained in Val d’Isère over the weekend. After some fantastic sunshine and spring temperatures, the weather has turned slightly. Above the cloud line at 2000m, fresh snow of up to 10cms has settled much to the delight of our guests. Light winds have been providing relief to the avid skier, as the temperature fails to fall below +8 degrees. Early weather predictions are not definite, but some sun and snow are likely to be on the way! Val d’Isère village is still buzzing, with our guests enjoying the fantastic après bands and cocktail jugs at Saloon. Although the end of season seems close, there is still plenty of entertainment and skiing for everyone to enjoy. This week sees the return of the ‘White Battle’ hosted by the Folie Douce team, which will take place at the bottom of ‘Le Face’. Warm spiced cider; the famous Folie Douce music, combined with jaw dropping ski and snowboard demonstrations, is something not to be missed! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/more-sun-and-snow-way Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:12:53 +0000 Val d'Isère The Altitude Festival continues to keep Méribel entertained. The aim is for the whole festival to be carbon neutral and raise awareness of global warming and how we can do our bit to prevent it. The organisers have also been running the brainstorming alpine success story that is 'Taking the Piste' Comedy across the Alps for 8 years in conjunction with Méribel tourist office. Highlights of the festival have included Monday evening at the auditorium with 'Craig Campbell and the incredible Irish duo 'Hip-Hop Instructors'! Tonight, DJ Yoda is performing at Dicks Tea Bar, embracing music as diverse as Hip-Hop, Funk, Drum n Bass, all edited and played with a selection of films and TV shows. This evening, Marcus Brigsrocke, Rufus Hound, Ian Coppinger and Steve Frost are going to perform at Méribel Auditorium - a fantastic line up! The sun continues to shine in the Three Valleys but this is forecast to come to an end on Friday when more snowfall is due. This should give the slopes a good coating just in time for Chalet Leonardo's new Easter holiday arrivals on Sunday. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/altitude-festival-full-swing Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:59:49 +0000 Méribel It’s all still full steam ahead here in the Chalet Leonardo as I, Méribel’s resident Ski Event Manager, had a fun three days for 6 Welsh ladies in Val d’Isère. We made the most of the gorgeous sunshine and fabulous snow conditions by firstly exploring the Solaise part of the Espace Killy before venturing into the Tignes valley for the following couple of days. We had some delicious lunches at Le Signal (at the top of the Fornet gondola) and Le Perdrix Blanche in town, where Helen tried the delicious fresh Canadian lobster. The girls really enjoyed the green piste 'Grand Prix' and 'Genepy' as the gentle gradient gave them the perfect opportunity to practice their parallel turns. Chalet Leonardo continues to welcome new guests and say goodbye to others. This week we have a chalet full of travel journalists who are here to write about this year's Altitude Festival taking place in Méribel. This week is not to be missed as it is filled with comedy, live music and DJ’s and runs from 20th March until the 26th March. It promises to be one of the highlights of the whole season with acts including Newton Fawlkner, Al Murray and DJ Yoda! The weather is fantastic and sunny and more snowfall is forecast for tomorrow – perfect! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/canadian-lobster-and-grand-prix-piste Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:19:31 +0000 Méribel Val d’Isère has captured the sun this week, with beautiful blue skies from dawn till dusk. Temperatures have soared to 9 degrees at 2000m, with a light breeze blowing from the SW to cool the brow. Early weather predictions are uncertain, with snow forecast over the weekend despite the soaring temperatures. Chalet Balias has been filled with excitement and laughter this week, as the Davies ladies enjoyed a short ski break. Rosie, Méribel’s Ski Event Manager, joined the ladies to show them the best that Val d’Isère has to offer on and off the slopes. They enjoyed skiing on the relaxing green and blue runs that can be found in the Solaise ski area during the day, après’ drinks in the lively Banana’s, which is less than 5 minutes walk from the chalet, and a delicious 4-course meal to come home to at the end of each day. The first signs of spring snow have appeared in Val d’Isère, on the lower runs into La Dialle. Regardless of the temperatures, piste conditions on the top of the Bellevarde, Solaise, La Fornet and Tignes still remain in excellent condition. James and I, Chalet Balias’ staff, have been investigating the best places for their guests to ski. La Fonet Glacier has been a firm favourite this week with wonderfully quiet pistes, excellent conditions and the best views of the Vanoise National Park and the Espace Killy range. As the temperatures rise further James and I suggest paying a visit to Tignes Le Brevieres, which cuts this beautiful hamlet of Tignes off from the rest of the Espace Killy. A great time has been had by all and James, Rosie and I have really enjoyed the happy and warm atmosphere that the Davies ladies brought to the chalet over the past few days! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/perfect-piste-conditions Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:01:26 +0000 Val d'Isère Wednesday in the Amalien Haus saw the late doors arrival of Jamie Rowe and his group of 3 friends from as far and wide as Singapore and, after a bottle of Zweigelt and a good nights kip, the group were up early and eager to hit the slopes. After a speedy ski fit at Jennewein Sports, conveniently located next to the Galzig Gondolla, the group had met up with a couple of old friends and we were on the Gampen chair lift before 9am to make the most of the freshly groomed and untouched pistes. After 2 days of decent snow earlier in the week, the Arlberg is seeing a spell of very warm weather with temperatures of up to 5 degrees being seen on the slopes. Needless to say, the best skiing to be had is first thing in the morning, and by mid afternoon the best skiing worth doing is the après ski, and this is certainly what I, St Anton’s resident Ski Event Manager had planned for Jamie and his friends. The highlight of the morning was skiing the World Cup downhill run all the way from the top of Kapall right down to the finish line next to the bottom of Fangbahn chair lift. The black piste run was prepared especially for the 2001 world cup, and remains just as thrilling to this day. It is a combination of steep wide sections, sharp corners, and ledges which with even a little speed throw you into the sir with all the panache of a rollercoaster. After a quick coffee stop mid morning, the group headed down cruisy blue piste 8 down to the quaint village of St Christoph where we headed to the Hospiz Alm for lunch. Thanks to the summer weather, the group were welcomed by the best table on the terrace - the perfect position for both sun bathing and people watching. The favourite of the day was the Grilled Chicken Salad, a generous platter of mixed salad laden with plenty of juicy roasted slices of chicken breast topped with croutons and a balsamic glaze. Of course, lunch at the Hospiz could not be complete without a liberal helping of red wine, and Jamie and his group weren’t shy of a local Pinot Noir - as recommended by our waiter. The sun proved far too enticing and the majority of the remainder of the afternoon was spent enjoying finishing off the decanted wine along side a beautifully presented Irish coffee perfectly separated into exactly 4 layers. The only skiing to be had that afternoon was travelling the short distance down “Happy Valley” to the Mooserwirt, where a table awaited patiently, perfectly poised near the dance floor. As with every other day at the Mooserwirt, just before 4 the blinds electronically closed, a lighting rig descended from the heavens and the infamous “Final Count Down” bellowed from the speaker system. That is the point in the “Moose” of no return, and that was certainly true for Jamie, Hannah, Rob and James. After only a short while, it was decided a celebration was in order, thanks to the news that a decent bonus was on it’s way from work. Moments later 2 magnums of Veuve Clicquot arrived at our table in large buckets filled with ice and snow from the piste outside. Over the next few hours, more and more celebrating was had, as were a number more magnums of champagne, that is until the predictable ski down was undertaken. After a few falls and plenty of laughs in the pitch black of the end of blue piste 1, the group retired to be fresh for another full on day, in what has got to be one of the best resorts in the world. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/amalien-haus-celebrations-mooserwirt Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:09:48 +0000 St Anton It has been glorious weather in the Three Valleys over the last few days. The large corporate group, who have staying in Chalet Leonardo at the moment, are making the most of the fabulous conditions with ESF lessons in the morning and leisurely skiing in the afternoon after delicious mountain lunches. So far, they have tried Castors at the bottom of the Tougnete bubble and the Bel Air restaurant in Couchevel 1650 - both of which are highly recommended.Yesterday, the group leader was ski guided by Darragh, Chalet Leonardo’s Resort Manager, in Courchevel. Despite the fact that he has been skiing in the Three Valleys for roughly 30 years, Darragh managed to find a piste he had never skied before - Cospillot - a run down to Courchvel 1550 past the new Hotel Le Strato and chalets. They stopped for lunch at the Beau Blanc before Nellie and I, Chalet Leonardo’s Ski Event Managers, joined them at Choucas under the Saulire bubble for a glass of Van Chaud in the sunshine, the perfect way to end a great afternoon skiing. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/delicious-mountain-lunches Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:12:43 +0000 Méribel The past weekend saw the arrival of DigiCorp at the Raffls St. Antoner hof 5* Hotel for their short ski break in St Anton. Co owners James and Luke decided on the trip as an incentive based reward for their sales team in the UK. I, St Anton’s resident Ski Event Manager, looked after the group for the duration of their stay, and it is fair to say the party made the most of their few days in St Anton. The group started with a gentle warm up with a blue from the top of Riffl 1, before stepping up a level (and a height!) to ski down from the top of Riffl 2. The immense ski route descends from a spectacular view point from at Hinteres Rendl – a near hidden valley that is easily accessible from the lift system and glides you back down to St Anton in some of the best backcountry off-piste skiing that can be found in the Arlberg. Inevitably, thigh burn took precedence and so we enjoyed “Heise Schololade mit Rum” (Hot Chocolate with 80% Stroh Rum)  enough to numb even the most painful of leg aches! Rendl is a complete sun trap, sheltered from the wind, and a perfect stop to relax lying on the sun loungers of Rendl beach lapping up the rays, whilst sipping a ice cool beer.The break proved too enjoyable and it was decided to ski straight down the twisty turny R1 piste from Rendl back to St Anton where we stopped for lunch at the Biffang Alm. The best table in the restaurant patiently awaited the groups arrival with a perfect position for both people watching and sun bathing. Lunch was a somewhat leisurely affair and soon the afternoon was all but gone and all that was needed to complete the day was a nap before the evening’s frivolities! Needless to say, when the group had to leave the next morning, lasting memories of the previous evening in Piccadilly’s were to be savoured by all…Today we await the arrival of Euro MTS who will be joining us in the Amalien Haus for a short 4 day break…watch this space! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/lasting-memories-piccadillys Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:03:18 +0000 St Anton This morning we said goodbye to our corporate guests - they had a fantastic few days in Chalet Leonardo with a fun-filled itinerary. On Friday, Rosie and Nellie, flexiski’s resident Ski Event Managers, toured with two different groups to Les Menuires with a quick lunch break together. That evening, we all headed to Mottaret to try out snow biking! It was incredible - cruising around the deserted mountains and racing around the track - it definitely brought out the 'boy racer' in Nellie! The best part of the evening was supper in the mountain restaurant L'Arpasson at the bottom of the Tougnete 2 chairlift. The food was delicious and the entire restaurant was reserved for us. We then descended back down into the valley by torchlight - what an amazing evening! The ski hosting continued on Saturday with a lunch break at Lodge de Village in Méribel Village and an après ski session at the infamous Rond Point. Next on the agenda was sledging down the Truite piste which runs between Méribel and Mottaret before having a glass of bubbly in the hot tub and a four-course meal in the Chalet Leonardo- to say the least, they definitely made the most of their time in Méribel. Our new guests arrived this afternoon and it is perfectly timed as the Little World Festival begins today. It offers music from major acts including The Feeling and Sophie Ellis Bextor, and promises over 40 gigs during the week including a free open air concert on the piste. Acts include Fiction Plane, Ed Harcourt, Glen Tilbrook (The Squeeze) and Graham Gouldman (10cc) will perform in venues including Méribel’s Auditorium and at a free open air concert outside the Rond Point. Definitely a few days to remember… http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/corporate-ski-hosting Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:42:29 +0000 Méribel The storm has passed and glorious blue skies have returned to Val d’Isère. Temperatures have crept back up from -18 degrees to -4 degrees, making skiing more pleasant than in previous weeks. Early weather predictions are indicating that the sun is set to stay into next week, making skiing conditions perfect for our new guests. Val d’Isère has been particularly quiet in the latter part of the week due to the excitement of the X Games, over in Tignes Val Claret. In the past few weeks we have watched the piste bashers sculpting out an impressive half pipe and monstrous jumps. A miniature VIP village, complete with Jacuzzi hot tub area and sofa lounge were erected to watch the games in comfort. However, James, flexiski’s resident Chef, and I, Chalet Balias’ Hostess, chose to watch it slope side taking in the vibrant atmosphere amongst the crowds and bathing in the sunshine. Both skiers and snowboarders showed impressive style during the competition, ending with a huge concert featuring David Guetta and a fireworks display. Chalet Balias bid farewell to the Lambe’s and Hill’s this morning, who have left Val d’Isère with some interesting goggle tans and endless memories. We welcomed returning guests, the Brinsden’s, who are back to make the most of the slopes once again. Dinner is chatty and mellow as all of the guests get to know each other and talk about past ski holidays. James and I are looking forward to another wonderful week in Chalet Balias, as the weather and snow conditions pick up, there’s still plenty to look forward to in Val d’Isère! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/x-games-glorious-sunshine Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:15:56 +0000 Val d'Isère Today the Amalien Haus has seen the departure of the Chapman group who will be sorely missed thanks to their endless banter and frolics. On Tuesday the group enjoyed a fantastic day zooming around the pistes of Lech, Zurs and Zug whilst completing the White Circuit. The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all and encompassed a wide range of memories including lunch at over 2500m in the “Balm Alp” restaurant that overlooks three different valleys where we enjoyed 60” pizzas whilst admiring the view. We settled into après ski in the Hotel Tannbergerhof seated at the best table in the bar right in front of the three tenors with Gluhwein and a jolly eclectic compilation of Austrian classics and modern favourites. Yesterday the fun continued with a visit to the infamous Mooserwirt for lunch where the group enjoyed a “Royal Ostrich Egg” – similar to the typical Austrian dish "Tyrolean Grostl" but served with an enormous Ostrich egg and accompanied by a three litre bowl of Erdinger Wheat Beer to share between the unsuspecting guests around the table. An hour and a whole lot of food later and the group left the Mooserwirt for a sedate ascension to the highest point in the Arlberg. To do this, firstly we took the Galzig, then Valulla I, followed by the tiny and inconspicuous Valluga II. From there the group could see for hundreds of miles in a dizzying 360 degree panoramic view. After the inevitable team photo and a short trip back down in Valluga II, most continued their descent by gondola rather than joining Tom down the steep and deep ski route from the top of Valluga. Upon arrival back in St Anton, we were all keen for a refreshment or two in Piccadilly’s where reserved tables awaited our arrival accompanied by live music from the legendary “Gunar”. What a way to spend their last day in one of the best resorts in the world! If only life could be full of days like these... http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/zooming-around-pistes-lech-zurs-and-zug Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:19:54 +0000 The weather in Val d’Isère has remained uncertain since last week, with continued cloud cover and intermittent snowfall. Winds have picked up since Sunday, with up to 60km/h recorded at the top of the Grande Motte in Tignes. Temperatures have therefore plummeted from -2 degrees to -20 degrees, making it feel more like early January than March! Excitement is building throughout the Espace Killy resorts as the final preparations are underway for the much anticipated X Games. Val Claret is bustling with activity as the piste bashers sculpt out an impressive half-pipe with jumps over 20ftt! The snow front has been transformed into a miniature tent-filled village to house the pro-skiers and boarders as they nervously wait to compete, and no doubt recover! The Games will be taking place throughout Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with a grand finale party on Thursday evening featuring DJ David Guetta. Chalet Balias’ new guests, the Hill and Lambe parties, arrived on Sunday afternoon to enjoy 7 days of fabulous Val d’Isère skiing and après. Despite never meeting before, everyone is thoroughly enjoying each others company and creating an excellent atmosphere during dinner. I, Chalet Balias’ Hostess, took a few of the guests on a ski orientation day on Monday; taking them from the Bellevarde ski area all the way into Tignes. The guests have since explored a vast area of the Espace Killy range, enjoying the sights and dining delights that many of the mountain restaurants have to offer. James, Chalet Balias’ resident Chef, and I are looking forward to the arrival of some return guests, the Brinsden party, this coming weekend and the improving weather conditions that are predicted for the coming week. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/excitement-throughout-espace-killy-resorts Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:19:04 +0000 Val d'Isère The weather in Val d’Isère has been changeable over the weekend, with a cold Northerly wind blowing in yet more snow. Temperatures have dropped down to a Baltic -17 degrees in the Val d’Isère village during the evening. Weather predictions for this weekend are due to remain interchangeable, with increasing winds of up to 60km/h and high covering cloud for most of the weekend. Despite the January-like conditions, our guests are as keen as ever to get on the slopes to enjoy the superb snow conditions. This weekend the Booth party, a group of friends, have come to enjoy their ski break in the Chalet Balias. James, Chalet Balias’ resident Chef, and I, Chalet Balias’ resident Hostess, were also joined by Rosie, Chalet Leonardo’s Ski Event Manager, to show our guests the best places to ski in the ‘Espace Killy’ range. Rosie took our guests all over Val d’Isère, showing them everything from the cruisy blues at the top of the Solaise to the more challenging tree-lined runs in La Dialle. For lunch, the Booth’s enjoyed local restaurants on the mountain and particularly enjoyed the Trifollet, nestled in between the pistes in La Dialle. The Trifollet offers everything from champagne and oysters to local delicacies, which can be enjoyed in the cosy restaurant, private rooms or on the comfy sofas on the balcony. The evening’s in the Chalet Balias have been full of laughter and entertainment, alongside delicious 4-course meal’s created by James. The Booth’s have embraced the lively Val d’Isère après ski throughout their stay, but have still been up bright and early for breakfast and enjoyed full days skiing on the mountain! This week has been thoroughly enjoyed by all and it’s been delightful to have such good company with plenty of laughter and happy memories. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/fun-and-frolics-val-d-re Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:31:26 +0000 Val d'Isère On Wednesday evening, I, Chalet Leonardo’s resident Ski Event Manager, headed to Chalet Balias in Val d’Isère to act as the Ski Events Manager for 12 friends from Cardiff. On Thursday morning, the sun was shining on the Solaise side of the valley so we decided to explore Le Fornet with a quick coffee and hot chocolate stop at Le Signal restaurant at the top of the Le Fornet bubble. The clouds began to come in but we still decided to ski, taking the 'up and over' chair back into the Solaise valley and skiing down all the way back to Val d’Isère and straight to the Morris pub to listen to the alpine band “Mullet” play over après. After a delicious supper cooked by James, Chalet Balias’ resident Chef, we ventured to the Petit Danois followed by Dicks Tea Bar - where a good night was had by all! The following day was spent over in the Tignes valley, exploring Val Claret and Tignes le Lac with a lunch at Le Triffolet in the sunshine. All the boys were keen to do Le Face (the infamous black piste) as the last run of the day back to Val d’Isère so - that's what we did! Classic wipeouts were had by all, but Dye won with 3 falls in the last 10 minutes! To recover, we headed to Bananas for some more après ski, where we all relaxed into the evening and reminisced on the days events. I headed back in Méribel on Saturday morning to help guide the Kepler party with Darragh, Chalet Leonardo’s Resort Manager. Saturday's weather was perfect, excellent snow and bluebird skies, so we made it all the way to Courchevel 1650 before a 12:30pm lunch in Méribel Village at the Lodge de Village. After lunch the group was split so Darragh took the faster group to the Tougnete side of the valley, whilst I, took the rest to Altiport and Mottaret, before regrouping at the Rondpoint for après ski - what a fabulous few days! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/ski-event-management-val-d-re Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:10:02 +0000 Méribel This week the Amalien Haus has been a hive of activity as both the Henderson and Cutler parties joined us for a weekend reunion of high spirited fun reminiscing with old friends. Yesterday, the Henderson party opted for an additional days Ski Event Management with me, St Anton’s resident Ski Event Manager. St Anton has been blessed with persistent snow fall since Wednesday, and yesterday was no exception with white out conditions and over a foot at the mid-stations of Galzig and Gampen. Mick left me to decide the best options for the day, and as such the group started their morning on the newly built Rendlbahn gondola with heated seats and fantastic views. The group made the most of the tree lined runs to optimise the visibility in the poor conditions. After a few runs on the cruisy rotund blues, that roll around the Rendl mountains, a coffee stop was well over due and a quick (half hour) break for brandy or hot chocolate, it was time for another few runs back down towards St Anton. We took the R1 red run before a short hop up to Gampen on the 6 main chairlift, before shooting down to the Rodel Hut just above Nasserien. At the restaurant I had reserved a large table right by the fire. Gloves, and hats were laid around the fire to dry whilst sipping a Gluhwein (or two!) . The -15 degree conditions had left the group with unrivalled hunger, and the best option was the roasted knuckle of pork that had gone in the cast iron oven at the Rodel Hut just 6 hours earlier. The only thing needed to complete the perfect lunch was a few bottles of 4 year vintage Pinot Noir from the valleys below us. 2 hours later, a single run across the valley was all that was required (or could be managed!) before arriving at the “Undergroud on the Piste” next to the Galzig bahn for some light après ski with live music and jovial banter from the days falls, in the perfect fresh snow. Unfortunately the Henderson’s and Cutler’s have now left us, but hopefully not without a few memories that they will treasure forever. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/white-out-conditions-st-anton Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:37:06 +0000 St Anton Yesterday, St Anton and the whole of the Arlberg ski region was blessed with some much needed snow. Unfortunately, that meant that the visibility throughout the day varied making navigation through the maze very difficult for most. Fortunately for the guests at the Amalien Haus, Tom, resident Ski Event Manager was on hand with a Ski Orientation Day leading them through the white out conditions! Most of the Murrell party didn’t make it out of bed before lunch, and only a few joined Tom at first, but that was soon to change when the party were advised of the lunch stop at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph, when suddenly most had a change of heart and scooted up the Galzig gondola from St Anton before a quick ski down blue piste 8 to the Hospiz where they were welcomed by the blazing open fire and war m atmosphere. After platters of American chicken wings, ribs slowly roasted in a barbeque glaze, and a selection of home cut potato wedges, the only thing left to complete the meal (and the day for most!) was a magnum (or two) of Zwiegelt from the biggest large bottle collection in Europe. Today the clouds have departed in St Anton, leaving our guests to enjoy the fresh powder and groomed pistes. One of the freeride shops in St Anton is holding a “battle” (a freeride competition), the legendary Kirschbaum Battle is taking place in the snow park in Rendl and is the epitome of why St Anton is known as the “Freeride Heaven of the Alps”. Thanks to the Arlberger Bergbahnen, the St Anton lift company, it was possible to bring QParks, the biggest snow park operator in the Alps, on board for the season 09/10 transforming the existing fun park at the Rendl into the “St Anton Park” and to create a playground for all freestyle fans. The “Kirschbaum Battle” promises, once again, to be a first class event and the guests from the Amalien Haus will be there to watch all the action! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/st-anton-freeride-heaven Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:46:38 +0000 St Anton Yesterday was a gorgeous day in Méribel with hot sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. It was the perfect day to take clients on a ski orientation day to Val Thorens so, whilst Darragh guided the Herbert party, I took the Kannon and Dobson guests. We all met for lunch on the terrace on the Chalet de Caron, at the base of the Caron bubble in Val Thorens itself, and then headed to La Folie Douce for some live music and après ski. The atmosphere was buzzing, as always, so much so that Dave Dobson jumped up on the table and danced in his ski boots, luckily Nellie captured it all on camera! We caught last lifts back over to Méribel and went straight to Jacks Bar by La Chaudanne to watch ‘Bring Your Sisters’, a fantastic alpine band where Dave, once again, kept us amused with his outrageous dance moves! Lucy's(flexiski’s resident Chef)parents nicknamed 'Shroom' and 'Knickers' have been staying in Chalet Leonardo for the past few days and as it was chef's night off we all went out for supper at La Refuge to celebrate Knicker's birthday last night. The beef fondue was absolutely delicious and the steak tartar received Lucy's seal of approval! Méribel’s events calendar is still packed with plenty of activities to keep our guests entertained. Each Thursday in March the Roc de Fer and Olympic chairlifts open early from 8am allowing you to make first tracks on the Face, Grand Duc and Gelinotte pistes. Then you can enjoy a hearty Savoy breakfast on the summit watching the sun rise over the Dent du Burgin and spectacular views of the Mont Blanc – an unforgettable experience. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/breakfast-views-over-mont-blanc Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:32:34 +0000 Méribel The stormy weather in Val d’Isère has briefly broken over the last few days to provide some excellent skiing conditions. The sun broke through on Tuesday afternoon to reveal beautiful blue skies and a welcoming breeze throughout lunch and long into the afternoon. Temperatures were as high as 8 degrees in La Dialle at lunch time slowly decreasing to 0 degrees by 4pm, allowing for a more comfortable ski for all. The weather has closed in again this morning with high covering cloud and a much colder wind of up to 40km/h blowing in a new snowfall of 10cm in the next 24 hours. Chalet Balias has had a fantastic mixed group of guests this week, the Lindsley party arrived by sleeper train early on Sunday morning to make the most of their two night stay; the Squire party, here to share the experience of seasonal life with their Daughter Peggy, who works as a chalet host in a neighbouring chalet to Chalet Balias; and the Singh party who have caught the skiing bug on their very first mountain holiday, thanks to the New Generation ski school and some very enthusiastic friends! Dinner has been a lively affair in Chalet Balias, with guests enjoying the complimentary champagne with canapés every evening, before settling down to an impressive spread laid on by James, flexiski’s resident Chef. The conversation at the dinner table has been full of laughter as the guests recount their days skiing (and the falls along the way)! On the skiing front, the slopes are calming down this week as it is the last week of the holidays for Europe. James and I, Chalet Balias’ staff, took a trip to Tignes Val Claret yesterday to enjoy the sun-drenched slopes and a relaxing lunch at the ‘3 Ourson’ in a smalle hamlet of Val Claret. The ‘3 Ourson’ is definitely another restaurant recommendation to add to the list, with everything from freshly stoned-baked pizza’s and crisp green salads to local specialities to be enjoyed on the sun terrace or inside the cosy restaurant. Run of the day was the ‘OK Orange’, which was one of the courses for the Women’s World cup last year, with sections of wonderfully wide pistes weaving into steeper more challenging sections and finally into the tree-lined tracks into La Dialle. Needless to say, afterwards a trip to the Folie Douce was needed to enjoy the live vocals of ‘Kelly Starlight’ and his band of talented musicians with a Vin-Chaud. James and I also visited the ‘Saloon’ for après drinks and enjoy the live band, who had the whole bar on the dancefloor with covers of ‘Sting’, the ‘Police’ and ‘The Kings of Leon’. It seems the whole of Val d’Isère was celebrating the end of the Winter Olympics last night, with a slope side DJ and impressive torchlight descent from ESF. The bottom of ‘Le Face’ was buzzing with people dancing and “oooh-ing and ahhhh-ing” at the huge firework finale. James and I had a superb week and it was down to the guests that we were fortunate enough to host making an absolutely wonderful atmosphere, we hope you come back soon! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/buzzing-val-d-re-apr-s-ski Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:41:12 +0000 Val d'Isère The Trevedi party arrived in Courchevel 1850 on Friday night for a quick corporate weekend of skiing. I, flexiski’s resident Ski Event Manager, met them on Monday morning and we headed to the slopes to make the most of the gorgeous sunshine. We had two New Generation instructors with us, Vanessa took the three beginners on the Jardin Alpin and Verdons, whilst Eleanor headed off-piste with the other client, Silvein. The off-piste conditions were fantastic as there had been 2 inches of snowfall the night before so plenty of fresh powder to track! The weather began to turn, but luckily we had a table booked at the Cap Horn so we all regrouped and enjoyed a delicious lunch inside. After another couple of hours of lessons, the girls, Angelica and Bindi headed to the spa at Les Airelles for a relaxing massage, whilst the men had a beer at the hotel bar. As supper time approached they ventured out to La Fromagerie to try out the local Savoyard cuisine before hitting Les Caves for a spot of dancing! On Sunday, we managed to squeeze in 2 more hours of lessons before having a bite to eat at the New Solarium hotel before catching the transfer back to the airport – it’s amazing how much you can fit into a weekend! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/spot-dancing-le-caves Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:29:50 +0000 Méribel Val d’Isère has become engulfed in snow during the past 72 hours. We have had over 25cm of snow intermittently falling through Tuesday and Thursday and full white out conditions overnight into Friday. The wind has considerably picked up this morning, up to 80km/h at the top of the mountains. The snow is currently swirling around Chalet Balias and is yet to show signs of letting up! Val d’Isère village is still buzzing with regular ski displays in the evening and plenty of entertainment in the centre of town for all to enjoy. Last night was ‘Nuit Rouge’, where the town centre is closed off for pedestrians to enjoy artistic street entertainment, live music from local bands and watch the ice sculpture at work. The “V Spot” bar hosted the “Bin bag ball” on Wednesday, inviting everyone to show off their couture skills and prizes for the best dressed. Needless to say there were some impressive and unusual creations to be seen around town! Our new guests, the Redfern party, have been making the most of their time in Val d’Isère whilst taking a well earned break from their busy IT jobs. During the day they have been benefiting from private tuition from BASS, making good progress with their ski and snowboard techniques. Enjoying relaxed lunches up the mountain together, before moving onto leisurely ski areas and après ski at the “Moris” pub. The “Moris” pub offers live music throughout the evening, excellent English sports coverage and a long happy hour! James and I, Chalet Balias’ resident Chef and Hostess, are currently planning an evening of Audi Ice driving for the guests to enjoy on their last evening together. An excellent experience for anyone who wants to drive the highest spec Audi’s at hair-raising speed in the snow! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/val-d-re-street-entertainment-and-live-music Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:47:27 +0000 Val d'Isère Yesterday was such a fantastic day! Despite the poor visibility I, flexiski’s personal Ski Event Manager, hosted the Dearnley group of guests to Courchevel for the day. After a leisurely start we made our way to Courchevel 1850 to stop for a quick coffee/beer/brandy break at Le Kalikos, before going to the Bel Air in Courchevel 1650 for a bite to eat. After lunch we regrouped and the Dearnley’s had very generously invited the whole of the Chalet Leonardo team out for lunch, so Ruth and Lucy, flexiski’s Hostess and Chef, also joined us at the restaurant, unfortunately Nick, flexiski’s Chalet Hostess, and Darragh, flexiski’s Resort Manager, couldn’t make it. The weather began to close in around us so we headed straight back to Méribel to show the guests the infamous Ronnie après ski! After a while we all skied down to the centre of town and continued the après at Jacks Bar just by Le Chaudanne. The alpine band ‘Bring your Sisters’ were playing and gave the Flexiski team a warm welcome with a special mention to the Dearnley party! It was Lucy’s night off so we booked a table at Chez Kiki’s for their supper, which received rave reviews. They then continued their evening at Dicks Tea Bar and, to say the least, breakfast the next morning was a very quiet affair! There is still plenty to look forward to, this Sunday, ‘Video Jam’ is taking place at Smokey Joe’s, where you can join the entrants and judges for the premiere of this year’s Video Jam winners. It is bound to be a great night showcasing local talent on the piste and behind the camera. The following Monday, JPZ Jazz Band are playing at Méribel-Mottaret, a mobile, acoustic jazz band playing a mixture of Dixieland Jazz Band in the wide variety of styles called New Orleans Jazz Ragtime, Fox-trot, Hot Jazz, Blues, Creole Jazz, Swing and Jive… http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/m-ribel-apr-s-ski-galore Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:45:23 +0000 Méribel The flexiski team at the Chalet Leonardo said goodbye to the Mee party this morning, unfortunately they were leaving bluebird skies behind. Our new guests, the Dearney's, arrived to make the most of it. As the resort quietens down after the half term rush, there are still plenty of events taking place in Méribel. On Monday evening, Dicks Tea Bar is going back to the 80s and 90s! On Tuesday the L.A sessions, a big air competition held in Arc 1800, should attract many pro skiers and snowboarders to compete against one another on a huge purpose built jump. Those confirmed so far include Guillaume Sbrava, Flo Bastien, Thomas Theberge, Kevin Guri and Lolo Favre. With the competition starting just as the lifts close, it finishes in the dark with a brilliant pyrotechnics display. We’re going to watch from just above the Vagere chair lift and make sure we wrap up warm! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/wrapping-warm-l-sessions Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:47:57 +0000 Méribel One of the many surprises of spending a season in a ski resort, especially one as lively and vibrant as St Anton, is the various episodes that occur throughout, with the busy pre-Christmas period, the merriment of New Year festivities, the quieter, yet great snow conditions of January, the folly of half term week and the electric atmosphere as we head towards Easter! It is almost as if there are a number of different seasons within the season! This week the St Anton high street is being occupied with the “Best Handmade Arts and Crafts Fair” made up of 15 internationally renowned artists and crafters who are presenting their work in the pedestrian area of St Anton. The crafters range from homemade soaps and beauty products, to individually crafted jewellery and local produce, including typical Austrian cheese and Tyrolean cured meats! The market is here in St Anton until the end of the week and will certainly make our new guests feel welcome as they are shown around the resort by Tom, the resident Ski Event Manager in St Anton. However, it is not only visitors to St Anton who will be celebrating this week; Mario Matt, owner of the renowned “Krazy Kangaruh” and 11 times World Champion Slalom Skier, will be celebrating as his younger brother, Andreas Matt, returns to the podium in the Vancouver Winter Olympics to receive a Silver Medal at the men’s ski cross race - only a year after becoming world champion in Korea in 2009! Needless to say, the locals of St Anton are very proud and the atmosphere in the Krazy Kangaruh is somewhat celebratory! Let’s hope it stays that way for our new guests this week! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/st-antons-best-handmade-arts-and-crafts-fair Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:23:59 +0000 St Anton Val d’Isère has had perfect weather conditions over the weekend, increasing temperatures and blissful sunshine with regular snow coverage during the night. Today is set to be a mixture of increasing snowfall and occasional breaking sun. At present, from Chalet Balias’ window, I can see the first flakes of snow starting to fall over Le Face, but a distant blue sky is slowly making its way over to Val d’Isère. Val d’Isère is a hive of activity with a range of events for the whole family to enjoy, including air-boarding and even snake ‘gliss’ sledging. The new flood lit sledging slope has opened, the ice rink is now available every evening in the centre of town and the ESF ski school has been putting on weekly demonstrations for both skiers and snowboarders to marvel at from the bottom of Le Face. The centre of Val d’Isère village has been very busy with wonderful local farmers markets and live entertainment including local bands and street performers. Chalet Balias has had a busy week of guests, with several families making the most of Chalet Balias’ comfy sofas and open fire-place. The Neale's and Blair’s have enjoyed some hard skiing and long lunches across the whole of the Espace Killy and the Reimer’s have   re-kindled their love of snowboarding after a 6 year break! James, Chalet Balias’ resident Chef and I, Chalet Balias’ Hostess, have been putting our off-piste skills to the test and hiking off the beaten track most of this week. The snow conditions are superb and with another dump set to re-fresh the powder in the next 48 hours – the great conditions are going to continue! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/blissful-sunshine-and-fresh-powder Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:59:10 +0000 Val d'Isère As expected today St Anton has been blessed with fresh snow, although so far only a few inches have fallen. But the snow is due to fall throughout the night before breaking to reveal the sun during the day prior to more snow in the evening. The clouds are due to part on Sunday revealing bright sunshine which will definitely leave Rendl full of sunbathers lapping up the rays and topping up their tans. With all the snow the Amalien Haus guests have been making the most of their last day by spending a lazy lunch in front of the huge round open log fire in the Hospiz Alm with the odd drop of Bordeaux… or two! Afterwards most of the guests made their way to the Wellness Centre in St Anton, where they all enjoyed the five different types of sauna and outdoor heated whirlpool. With more sunny days on the way over the next week skiers, and boarders alike, will be enjoying the fresh powder in the sun! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/drop-bordeaux-wine-hospiz-alm Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:16:33 +0000 St Anton It feels like spring in Méribel today - glorious sunshine and warm temperatures which are unheard of for this early on in the season. However, all this is set to change tomorrow with light snowfalls forecast and unsettled weather next week. Chalet Leonardo continues to be a hive of activity - last Wednesday, Rosie took guests to Courchevel 1850 as part of their complimentary “Ski Orientation day”. We opted to take the Loze chair lift up and over from the Altiport run in Méribel rather than taking the Saulire bubble to ensure that we stayed on green and blue pistes all day. After a quick stop for lunch in Le Kalikos in Courchevel 1850 we headed back over to Méribel at a leisurely pace. Yesterday, the Dawson family returned to Courchevel 1850 and Rosie took them all the way to the St Martin de Belleville valley before hopping back to Courchevel 1850 in time for a delicious lunch at the Cap Horn. This Saturday there is an opportunity to have your five minutes of fame by being cast as a film extra for a new French film entitled 'Possessions'. It will be filmed in Méribel in March and April of this winter, starring Julie Depardieu and directed by Eric Guirado. The story is a fictionalised account of a true-life drama in 2003 at the resort of Grand-Bornand in which a family disappeared in mysterious circumstances. On Sunday, the Aigle piste at Méribel-Mottaret is hosting the French Big Air Snowboard Cup with the Desaxe Trophy up for grabs – so plenty to look forward to! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/chalet-leonardo-continues-be-hive-activity Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:25:52 +0000 Méribel The weather in Val d’Isère has been interchangeable this week, with cloud coverage moving in fast from down the valley. Weather predictions are indicating intermittent snowfall into the weekend. The slopes are thronging with holiday makers, as it is half term, leaving the best time to ski is between 12pm-2pm, making the most of the quieter pistes. It has just started to snow and there’s 10-25cm predicted in the next 24hrs. Chalet Balias is welcoming the Blair and Neale party this evening, who have come for a long weekends skiing. James, Chalet Balias’ resident Ski Event Manager, has his work cut out as several of the party are qualified ski instructors! Spring has officially sprung in Val d’Isère as James and I, Chalet Balias’ resident Chef & Hostess, spotted their first Golden Eagle of the season and more wildlife will emerge from the depths of this years, particularly cold, Val d’Isère winter. Here in Val d’Isère we’re looking forward to carnival night tonight and plenty of fireworks over the next few days! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/carnival-night-val-d-re Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:19:17 +0000 Val d'Isère Sunday saw the arrival of people from all over Europe who have come to make the most of half term week with their family and friends. As such, the resort is very busy, but thanks to the ultra efficient Galzigbahn and the new Rendlbahn gondolas, the queues will be kept to a minimum compared to the foot numbing waiting that is experienced in most resorts at this time of year! The Amalien Haus is full to the top with a variety of families mostly staying for the whole week. Tom, flexiski’s resident Ski Event Manager, took a group of the families out for their “Ski Orientation Day” on Monday and showed them the best pistes St Anton has to offer. Being the first day of half term, obviously the morning rush was unavoidable, well, almost! Tom took the group straight up the Rendl to try and avoid some of the rush where the pistes were that little bit less mad than the runs that lead off from the top of the Galzigbahn. A particular favourite for the morning was from the top of lifts Rifle 1 and 2 on the ski route that lulls its way around the side of Rendl right from the top where you can look over to the rest of the ski area in St Anton and to the mountains far and beyond. By the time the group had made their way back down from Rendl to St Anton the queues were long gone and a quick ride up into the mountains was enjoyed in Galzig. A short ski down blue piste 8 into St Christoph ended the morning before a lazy lunch enjoyed by all at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph, where it felt more like a beach holiday than one of skiing! Even those who had previously informed Tom they weren’t eating lunch couldn’t resist the temptations on offer, especially the “Grilled Chicken Breast Salad” served with lashings of vinaigrette and freshly salted radishes! After a longer than anticipated lunch, the afternoon skiing was somewhat limited to a few gentle runs back to the Amalien Haus where everyone enjoyed a good cup of tea and some freshly baked chocolate gateaux cake covered with a thick oozy glaze of ganache….  Friday is meant to end this week’s blue sky spell with a good dump of snow which will set us up nicely for the week to come! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/half-term-arrivals-far-and-wide Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:50:00 +0000 St Anton Temperatures in Val d’Isère have dropped considerably since the last snowfall, from -5 degrees to a chilly -15 degrees. The weather forecast for the next 3 days shows interchangeable weather, with the mornings starting out clear & sunny but quickly becoming cloudy, with intermittent snowfall after lunch. Snow conditions are superb after the recent snowfall, with all lifts open within resort. The Val d’Isère "Snow Park" is buzzing, now that it is half term, with both skiers and boarders enjoying the newly installed airbag jump. James and I, Chalet Balias’ resident chef and hostess, have been taking advantage the freshly laid snow and new transceivers off- piste. Chalet Balias is still very lively, the RAF boys are still enjoying their hard earned time off from training & chalet ‘first-timers’ the Kinghorn’s, who will be having private lessons with Richard at New Generation during their stay, are having a fantastic time - we're all looking forward to another couple of days of superb conditions! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/buzzing-val-d-re-snow-park Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:19:12 +0000 Val d'Isère The Strawson family had a fantastic ski orientation day last Friday - we concentrated on the Méribel valley, their favourite pistes being the two red runs below the Mont Vallon bubble lift and the board-a-cross underneath the Plattiers lift. As it was so chilly, we stopped for lunch early at the Pizzeria du Mottaret, renowned as the best pizzas in town, before heading up the Tougnete side of the valley. Will, the youngest son, had some classic wipe outs after attempting some mammoth jumps! Luckily they were all recorded on video which we watched back that evening - absolutely hilarious! Méribel continues to offer fantastic entertainment this week, including the “Children's Torchlight Descent” and “ESF Ski Show” on Tuesday followed by a firework display. The evening includes hot chocolate and mulled wine at the foot of the pistes in Méribel-Mottaret. The sledge run from Mottaret to Méribel down La Truite piste is also open on Tuesday – it’s great fun and free for children under 10 years sharing a sled with an adult. Half term guests have descended upon Méribel and Chalet Leonardo is no exception. The Mee and the Kiy families arrived yesterday bringing with them eight children who have already nick named all the staff 'fexiski' 1 to 6! Rosie, Chalet Leonardo’s Ski Event Manager, and Oran have already set up a draughts competition - if Oran wins he can have vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce, but if he looses he has to eat an orange, his least favourite piece of fruit! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/half-term-full-swing-chalet-leonardo Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:33:30 +0000 Méribel Today was a sharp start for Charlie Salter and his group as we all hopped into taxis from the Amalien Haus to get over to Zurs as soon as possible! The group were at the bottom of the Seekopfbahn by 09.30am and most were eager to set off and start the White Circuit (bar a few with some what heavy heads, no prizes for guessing why!). The sun was shining high in the sky and there wasn’t a cloud to be seen throughout the Arlberg. We spent a while skiing in the Zurs area making the most of the freshly groomed pistes that were almost abandoned due to the majority of visitors in the Arlberg arriving or leaving. Before long we’d shot past Zug and were at the top of the Zugerberg lift sipping hot chocolate, Gluhwein and mid morning snacks bathing in the sun enjoying the 360 degree panorama from the “Balmalp” restaurant, before continuing the skiing utilising the cruisy blues over to Oberlech before stopping at Rud-Alp in Lech for lunch. After a somewhat extended break in the sun, the group had an intense 2 hour ski back over to Zurs completing the White Circuit. To finish off our day, once back in St Anton, the group made their way to Kandaha where I, St Anton's Ski Event Manager, had reserved them front row seats to watch the "6 Nations" rugby match over pitchers of Forenburger lager. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/cruising-over-white-circuit Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:41:09 +0000 St Anton Méribel is hotting up as the half term guests begin to arrive and the Chalet Leonardo team welcomed the Strawson family today who were keen to get skiing straight away to take advantage of the fresh powder and hot sunshine. A little more snow is forecast over the next few days with patches of sunshine but, as well as the fabulous conditions, there is plenty to keep them occupied in town. On Saturday, there’s a chance to test your ski level in the Fleche giant slalom. This is run by the ESF and the fleche tests allows you to compare your skiing level and progress from year to year and against skiers across France. Otherwise La Tsaretta will be showing the Six Nations game Ireland v France with a long happy hour. Love is in the air on Sunday, seeing as its Valentine's Day, La Tsaretta is offering a three-course set menu with live music from Hobochic at 10:30pm. As part of the BMW tour of the Three Valleys, there is presentation and testing of the BMW 2010 range under the inflatable structure at La Chaudanne at Méribel on Monday. Chalet Leonardo is about to get a whole lot busier with the Kiy party arriving on Saturday and the Mee guests on the following Sunday - it should be a really fun half term! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/still-so-much-look-forward-m-ribel Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:43:49 +0000 Méribel With the arrival of Charlie Salter and his group of e-Marketing colleagues yesterday, the Amalien Haus is once again at full steam ahead and the banter from the group can be heard throughout the Chalet. Today has been a great first day for our guests and started this morning the way all great mornings should do; with a hearty breakfast. Consequently the push for the slopes was a little dampened, but eventually the mountains called, and after a short walk to the lifts everyone in the group met at the top of the Galzigbahn lift to begin their Ski Orientation Day where they were split into three groups of abilities before being shown the very best that St Anton has to offer. To begin with, that meant skiing the lower routes of Nasserien that were protected by the trees and as such, even in the very flat light, the skiing was great thanks to the fresh snow that St Anton has been blessed with over the last 10 days. Even so, the overcast weather and sharp Northern wind meant by 11:00 a coffee stop was most definitely on the agenda, with a round of hot chocolates served with freshly whipped cream, chocolate flakes (and of course Stroh Rum). Afterwards the skiing was back on, and at full power, down the long steep and challenging black run from the very top of Kapal right through to St Anton, just in time to catch Galzigbahn up again, before a short ski down the hairpin lined piste 8 before arriving at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph for slowly roasted ribs oozing with spiced barbeque sauce and hand cut chips accompanied by crisp cool Forenburger larger – the locals favourite! By the afternoon, the weather had closed in even further and the only item to add to the agenda was a ski to the Krazy Kangaruh for a lively après ski session before an entertaining ski down the bottom of the blue in the pitch black - lit only by the reflection of the restaurant lights and piste bashers flood lamps! Obviously, by this point everyone was more than ready for their 3 course dinner, and no sooner than they entered the Amalien Haus chalet were they served “roasted red pepper bruschetta with balsamic reduction”. The atmosphere here is lively, and I get the feeling that the wine served with dinner will is the first of many to come! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/amalien-haus-full-steam-ahead Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:43:03 +0000 St Anton Yesterday evening was the staff night off at the Amalien Haus in St Anton, and a team evening Tobogganing was in order to celebrate the half way point of the season. The evening started by collecting our Rodel’s (toboggans!) from the bottom of the Nassereinbahn before enjoying a quick drink in “Fang bar” surrounded by outdoor heaters, moonlit pistes and the chatter of nervous Rodelers. This was shortly followed by a ride up in the Gondola in the dark – an eerie experience as the Gondola floats its way over the dark forests in the still of the night. Once at the top, a short practise from the top of the Gondola to the Gampen Bar was in order before some warming Gluhwein to quash anxious minds, whilst listening to the live local Austrian music. The trip had been put off enough and it was time for the team to start their excursion down the Rodel Track, not before a short safety talk by Kevin, St Anton’s resident Resort Manager and Tom, St Anton’s resident Ski Event Manager, though! The track is narrow and full of hairpin bends and blind corners. Tom shot into the lead, but was over taken by Kev who took the trophy for the first half of the race. The team were inevitably covered in snow from head to toe and a refuel was needed in the Rodel Hut. Gathered around the open fire, warming mind (and body!) the team enjoyed gigantic knuckles of pork slowly roasted for 4 hours leaving the most tender ham you have ever eaten and the most spectacular crackling to go with it. A few schnapps’ and gluhweins later, the team were corralled into returning to the track for the final third of the journey. The race was close, and Frankie may have taken the trophy if it wasn’t for Tom and his dirty tactics! Needless to say, Kevin won, again, but then again he has been once or twice… A final drink at the bottom of the run and a few rounds of the traditional Austrian “Nail Game” (you’ll have to come visit to see this one…) and the whole lot of us were ready for bed… Another entertaining day in St Anton, and with the Salter Party due to arrive tomorrow, the fun and games will only continue, we hope you can join us soon. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/amalien-haus-team-evening Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:42:27 +0000 St Anton Val d’Isère has been bathed in sunshine for the past 2 days, with the recent heavy snowfall the pistes have been in pristine condition. The weather is set to change throughout the week, with cloud already forming this evening and is set to stay for the next 48 hrs. James and I, Chalet Balias’ Resident Chef and Chalet Host, have had another busy week of entertaining guests. Currently visiting Chalet Balias are four RAF officers, enjoying a well earned break from their intensive training course. Tonight we will be showing the guests the renowned Val d’Isère nightlife, starting off in Saloon for cocktails. Tomorrow James will be showing the guys the best runs in Val d’Isère and Tignes during a days complimentary Ski Event Management. James I also visited Val d’Isère’s new ‘Oxygen’ fitness centre, in village centre - a fantastic addition to Val d’Isère, with a full climbing wall, sprung sports hall, full gymnasium, swimming pool and wellness centre. The wellness centre is spread around the central swimming pool, allowing you to take a few laps of the main pool before relaxing in the warmer relaxation pool. The hydro-therapy is particularly popular with beds which face out towards the piste and an excellent view of Val d’Isère village. We indulged ourselves in the eucalyptus infused Haman, which left us feeling revitalised. All our guests are entitled to a complimentary pass to the wellness centre, when they buy a Lift Pass for more than 3 days. With late opening hours all week, it is a fantastic après- ski activity for guests to enjoy together and comes highly recommended. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/relaxing-oxygen Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:53:31 +0000 Val d'Isère The last week St Anton has finally had the decent snow fall that it has been calling out for. With over a foot of snow at resort level, everyone has been eager to get out in the powder bowls. This morning the clouds have parted in two to reveal beautiful blue skies and glorious sunshine that washes over the dusted peaks of St Anton - which can surely only excite the Amalien Haus guests as they look out of the window at the peak of Kapal today. No doubt, the obvious routes will be tracked out by lunch time, but those who are willing to explore a little further with a Ski Event Manager will be deeply rewarded with the substance that dreams are made of for days to come; deep, dry, fluffy powder! Over the last week St Anton has been filled with a large number of different groups, all of whom have kept themselves busy with some of the fantastic scene that St Anton has to offer. Taking full advantage of the great conditions, Friday morning Tom, St Anton’s Ski Event Manager, took one of our groups up to Rendl, where the runs had been pisted the previous night before being generously dusted with a blanket of snow, leaving runs of powder that everyone could enjoy from the most experienced skiers to those who prefer a steadier pace on the slopes. By 11am it was time to ski down the red run, R1, right from the top of the Gampergbahn. It is one of those memorable runs that twists and turns through the trees undulating with the relief of the mountain for 5km before arriving graciously back into St. Anton. A quick ride up the Galzig gondola and the group settled into the Verwall Stube restaurant - Austria’s highest toque-awarded restaurant and also offers a panoramic view of the valley. Unfortunately due to the overcast weather, the group’s eyes were kept firmly on the exceptional food that came to the table. From saddles of red berry marinated venison to sauted winter vegetable salad or lobster filled ravioli - no one was disappointed, nor by the delicious red wine from the Pesqura region. That left the group feeling full, content, but waning and a gentle ski was in order back down through Happy Valley. With the sunshine set to last for a good few days yet, the great skiing is set to continue. We hope you can come and enjoy us soon. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/deep-dry-fluffy-powder-st-anton Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:36:24 +0000 St Anton Yesterday, I (Rosie, Méribel’s Ski Event Manager) had a brilliant day ski hosting Dominic and his girlfriend Bex. Despite the flat light and chilly temperature, we explored Courchevel 1650 with a hot chocolate stop, including whipped cream and marshmallows, at le Bubble bar before heading to the Cap Horn for lunch. However, we didn't want to stop for long as the weather started to clear so we caught the Verdons and Vizzel lifts as and skied all the way to the bottom of Courchevel 1850, where we enjoyed an après drink in Le Kalikos. Meribel's pistes are buzzing as the French holidays begin and February half term approaches. Quieter pistes were found over in Courchevel 1650 including Chapelets and the pistes below the Chanrossa chairflit. There is more than enough to keep our new guests entertained in Méribel - this evening you can Salsa the night away at Bar le Poste in Méribel centre with live Alma Latina music and promotions on mojitos all evening! Tomorrow the Olympic Centre at le Chaudanne is hosting the Men's Europa Cup Alpine Skiing, which continues onto the following day. Finally, on Thursday, there is an opportunity to enter a giant slalom race for children and adults at the Corbey Stadium. We hope you can come and visit us soon! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/ski-event-management-over-courchevel-1650 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:23:58 +0000 Méribel Val d’Isère is currently enveloped in a snowstorm, with up to 50cms due to fall in the next 24hrs. This large storm has been building up throughout the week; starting with beautiful blue skies at first lifts, high cloud accumulating through the afternoon and light snowfall in the early evening. The weather forecast for the weekend is for continued snowfall and low cloud, which will make for excellent conditions in the lower tree-lined runs. Chalet Balias has had a busy chalet this week, with six very hungry & thirsty snowboarders to look after! James I, Chalet Balias’ staff, took our guests to Dicks Tea Bar on Tuesday night to savour the Val d’Isère nightlife. Dicks Tea Bar didn’t disappoint, with flowing drinks, a lively atmosphere and dancing into the early hours. Needless to say breakfast was a very quiet affair! James and I were also invited to the ‘Igloo Experience’ this week. We met our guides Mattie and Bart at the snowmobiles, conveniently situated next to the Thommeuses chairlift, where we were given instruction on how to drive them. We then took off together on a 30 minute trail ride, getting up to speeds of 40mph through the powder, on our powerful machines. We twisted through tree-lined track and burned over untouched powder fields, until the igloo village started to appear in the distance. I confess to screaming most of the way there, so was delighted when we were greeted with a glass of Champagne and an open log fire to sit round! We were then taken into the cosy Yurt, which opened out into a large circular room with a wood burning stove in the very centre. Mattie & Bart stirred up the bubbling pot of fondue, laid out a large selection of local meats and invited us to help ourselves. After eating and relaxing in the warmth of the Yurt, we wrapped ourselves back up for a tour of the igloo. We crawled through the igloo’s small opening, which suddenly expanded into a large room with an ice bed and central table. Laid up in the centre of table was a tray of ice glasses full with Genepi (a local spirit), we made a toast and enjoyed the warming sensation it brought. Unfortunately, it was time to leave and make our way back to civilisation, so as we made our way back we briefly stopped off to see the fantastic view of the Mont Blanc where you can enjoy the sunset, and then sped back to our skis before last lifts. The igloo experience is by far the most exhilarating experience you can have in Val d’Isère and one of the few things you can enjoy with all your friends. We cannot recommend it enough and will certainly be visiting again soon! Here in Val d’Isere we’re looking forward to welcoming next week’s guests to Chalet Balias and helping them to make the most of their stay in Val d’Isère. We hope to see you soon! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/snowmobiling-bliss Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:31:03 +0000 Val d'Isère Darragh, Méribel’s Resort Manager, and Rosie, Méribel’s Ski Event Manager, were posted to Courchevel for the last 4 days to Ski Event Manage the lively Dawson party.... Not only was the weather fantastic with bluebird days for their entire stay but the snow conditions were also fabulous! As soon as they arrived at the Hotel des Neiges in 1850 they were in and out of the door within seconds and we hit the slopes asap to make the most of their time in resort. A few of the guests had lessons with the gorgeous Oli and Lorenzo from New Generation, whilst the remaining 12 were hosted by Rosie and Darragh. We covered a lot of ground in the first morning heading all the way to the St Martin de Belleville valley. The guests adored the run Jerusalem so much that we had to do it twice! We then squeezed in a run down Mont Vallon, before dashing back to Cap Horn for lunch to meet up with the rest of the group. As always, the atmosphere was fantastic and we were even entertained by a magician during desert; the best trick was when he managed to get Ian's iPhone into a balloon - absolutely incredible! The following morning we rounded the troops early and made it all the way to Orelle, before having lunch on the terrace at the new restaurant La Fruitiere in Val Thorens. The food was simply delicious, particularly the tiramisu and, the highly recommended, plat de jour. The sun shone for us throughout lunch time and as the live music began we sadly had to set off to make it back to Courchevel before last lifts. After another tiring day, we all dined together in the hotel restaurant before moving to the bar where Jo stole the pianist’s microphone and started a kariokee session, singing his heart out to Dire Straits and Elvis classics, much to the amusement of the other guests! The following morning of skiing was spent exploring Courchevel 1650 with a quick coffee break at Le Casserole restaurant before returning to the hotel where the airport transfer was waiting. Simon, Ian and Dominic were staying on in resort with their wives - Kimberley, Sarah and Bex, so after waving goodbye to the other guests we skied to the Chalet des Pierres for a final lunch in the sunshine - the perfect finish to an amazing 3 days. We hope can enjoy your ski break with us soo. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/endless-bluebird-skies Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:27:59 +0000 Méribel The Coleman party of guests arrived at Chalet Leonardo last Thursday evening for their ski break and had a fantastic orientation day skiing with Darragh, Méribel’s resident Resort Manager, and Rosie, Méribel’s resident Ski Event Manager, the following day. The group consisted of 14 men who skied at the speed of light so we covered a vast amount of the Three Valleys within the first hour! Despite the flat light, the snow conditions were amazing especially on the Combe de Vallon piste below the Mont Vallon bubble lift and the black run Suisses (in fact so good, we just had to do it twice!). We squeezed in a delicious lunch in the Bel Air restaurant in Courchevel 1650 before exploring further the Saulire side of the Méribel Valley and finally finishing for an après drink in Barometer in town. Everyone's legs ached by the end of the day so all enjoyed a good soak in a hot tub! We awoke the next day to 8 inches of fresh powder so took the Charlton guests and Erica on their orientation day. The bright blue sky tempted us to Val Thorens, where it was perishing cold -28 degrees at the top of the Cime de Caron cable car! It was like skiing in a big fluffy marshmallow as not many of the pistes had been bashed, but because of the cold weather we had to stop for plenty of chocolat chaud! We enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the Chalet de Caron at the base of the Caron bubble lift before making last lifts back to Méribel in time to watch the Arsenal footie game in Jacks Bar- what an incredible day! We hope you can come and enjoy the fantastic skiing conditions and buzzing après ski! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/tempting-bright-blue-skies-val-thorens Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:57:42 +0000 Méribel Over the past 24 hours Val d’Isère has had over 20cm of snowfall, with more still to come! Temperatures are plummeting throughout today from -9 degrees this morning to -19 degrees this evening on the snow front, and increasing wind speeds of up to 80km/h at 3000m. The weather forecast for the rest of the week is continued snowfall, with the occasional burst of sun through the cloud line. Val Village is bustling with visitors this weekend, here to enjoy the lively après ski bars & cosy alpine restaurants. James, Chalet Balias’ Resident Chef, and Georgie, Chalet Balias’ Head Chalet Host, went to join in the Australia day festivities at the trendy V-Spot snowboarder bar on Tuesday afternoon. V-Spot offers superb alternative entertainment through-out the week, comfy sofa’s to lounge in, a continuous flow of skiing/snowboarding films (to watch for inspiration) and friendly staff and locals to meet. James has been continuing to keep the guests well fed throughout the week with delicious cakes, biscuits and 4-course evening meals. While Georgie has been keeping the chalet atmosphere lively and warm; with a well stoked fire and champagne flowing throughout the evening. Chalet Balias is preparing for a busy weekend of guests, here to enjoy a long weekend in the snow and enjoy the fabulous Val d’Isère atmosphere. We hope you can come and enjoy it with us. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/australia-day-festivities Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:34:26 +0000 Val d'Isère Is there anything better than waking up in a ski resort to a blanket of snow? Surely not! Here in St. Anton we have been anticipating a decent snowfall! Over the next two days we are expecting a snowfall of nearly a foot with the clouds due to part in two and reveal a bright blue sky on Saturday morning giving us some fantastic conditions both on and off piste – news that will please all, especially those powder hounds! We bid a sad farewell to the Johnston party, from Northern Ireland, who have left us with some fantastic memories of how a ski holiday should be! In the meanwhile, the Knight party who arrived yesterday are looking anxiously at the white out conditions that can be viewed from the dining room window of the Amalien Haus whilst eating their cooked breakfast of fresh croissants, bacon, eggs, hash browns, grilled tomatoes and sautéed button mushrooms. I think a day of low altitude skiing through the winding tree lined pistes of Nasserien and Rendl is in order – perhaps with a particular emphasis on the Hot Chocolate stops and whipped cream (with plenty of Stroh Rum of course!). With two more groups joining us today, the Amalien Haus will, yet again, be full and buzzing with the chatter of guests. We hope you can come and join us! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/fresh-blanket-st-anton-snow Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:20:42 +0000 St Anton Chalet Leonardo welcomed their new guests today who were excited to hear about the fresh sprinkling of snow Méribel has received over the last few days. The lower slopes were beginning to get a little icy in the Three Valleys, especially the descent into La Tania, the Moretta and Folyeres pistes, so the fresh blanket couldn’t be better timed. There is still plenty going on in Méribel to keep our guests entertained. From Saturday 30th until 6th February, British Servicemen and women take part in the annual British Services International Alpine Ski and Snowboard Championships on Méribel’s Olympic slopes. Many of the competitors are on R&R leave from Afghanistan and Iraq so deserve enthusiastic support. Saturday is also 'Magnestic Day', whereby children can ski test the Magnestick system for free. The system uses magnets to attach children safely to chairlifts and also function as a back protector. Various entertainments will also be on offer in Méribel-Mottaret in front of the tourist office including music, ice sculptures and hot drinks. On Monday 1st you'll have the opportunity to discover what fantastic bits of kit the piste bashers are (they cost the same as a new Ferrari), how they decide what pistes to groom each night and how they find their way in a snowstorm. Every Wednesday morning, the Méribel Moon Park is now offering freestyle lessons free of charge for complete beginners, all the Méribel flexiski team are getting involved so come and witness Darragh's amazing 360s! We hope you can come and join us! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/british-services-international-alpine-ski-and-snowboard-championship Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:14:04 +0000 Méribel It’s been a busy week in Chalet Balias, with nine lively guests and beautiful weather here in Val d’Isère. Some of our guests had an off-piste adventure lesson with New Generation on Saturday and would definitely recommend it. Their instructor, Richard, arrived at the chalet during breakfast to brief them on the safety equipment and plan their route for the day. They then made their way to catch the first lifts and find the best, untouched powder. During the lesson Richard took the guests down several off-piste areas, whilst teaching them about good off-piste practice and refining their overall ski technique. We also had some first-time skiers in the Chalet Balias this week, who thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Val d’Isère has a centralised nursery slope which helps during those first tentative turns, and only a few minutes walk from Chalet Balias. Once the basics are covered there are a huge range of blue and green graded slopes, on both the Solaise and Bellevarde ski areas, allowing beginners to challenge themselves and improve their technique. The weather forecast for the next three days is indicating light snowfall, with possible sunny spells on Tuesday and Wednesday. Early weather predictions for the rest of the week is for light snowfall, with temperatures ranging from -15 to -5 degrees with light winds. Current snow conditions are still excellent, although the lower slopes will definitely benefit from the new snowfall heading our way! We hope you can come and enjoy it with us! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/blog/new-generation-lesson-untouched-powder Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:09:41 +0000 Val d'Isère It's been another glorious few days in Méribel with bluebird conditions enjoyed by all. Unsettled weather is expected over the next coming days with patches of sunshine and some more snowfall forecast. The conditions have been perfect for the 'Snow Polo' which took place over the weekend at Altiport in Courchevel. Teams from all over the world competed in this unusual but exciting sport. The highly skilled and very fast game is played out on the snow covered pitch with plenty of champagne, foie gras and lots of supporters! 'Natives Challenge Ski Race' takes place on Wednesday. This is a fun race day for season workers and holidaymakers alike, the 'Natives Challenge' takes place on the Stade at Méribel La Chaudanne. This event gives skiers and snowboarders the chance to follow in the tracks of Olympic greats and take part in the 'Individual Giant Slalom' and 'Team Parallel Slalom' events followed by a drink and barbeque. It consists of four different categories: instructors, workers, guests and novices. Winners from each category will win some fantastic prizes awarded at Jacks Bar. On Thursday evening, after last years hugely successful tour of the Alps, AlBenAza, the Plymouth based acoustic trio are back in the mountains! Al, Ben and Aza are three like minded individuals that play a mix of everything from mellow acoustic and floor stomping, to beat boxing, reggae and funk. Certainly an evening to look forward to! We hope you can come and enjoy it with us! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/anticipating-natives-challenge-ski-race Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:49:44 +0000 Méribel The Johnston party from Belfast come away together every year as a group of friends, and this year their destination was the Amalien Haus, St. Anton. The first morning everyone was keen and eager to get up on the slopes and with a 9am start we were ensured a good amount of skiing. After splitting the group, Tom, our resident Ski Events Manager and Kev, our resident Resort Manager, showed the group around the St. Anton area. Tom took his group over to Stuben – a small village at the far end of the St. Anton region where you can enjoy a fantastic view from the top of the North Face over the Arlberg, all the better thanks to the stunning blue skies and floods of warm sunshine. Soon, the long undulating red runs twisted and turned us back down from the top of Stuben to Alpe Rautz before crossing back into St. Anton and over to St. Christoph on a easy, cruizy blue before a relaxed lunch stop at the Hospiz Alm. Upon arrival we were greeted with a warm welcome before enjoying a rack of ribs with lashings of barbeque sauce served with French fries and a glass of red wine before the inevitable smooth double espresso to kick start the skiing again. The afternoon had a somewhat more relaxed tone to it, and the group didn’t venture far from “Happy Valley” – a gentle, long run in between the Kapal peaks before heading to the Krazy Kangaruh for an après ski session followed by a easy run back down the piste aided by Colin and his head torch! A four course dinner, plenty of chalet wine and cheese later and the group were off again to Piccadilly to enjoy the live music and great atmosphere until the early hours of the morning… needless to say the following morning everyone was not quite so eager to get the first lifts! We hope to can come and join us soon. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/floods-sunshine-hospiz-alm Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:01:31 +0000 St Anton This weekend the Amalien Haus was overcome with team spirit as we had a new group join us for the weekend. On the first morning we organised a “Mini Olympics” for the group at the bottom of the Fangbahn lift in St Anton. A section of the piste was partitioned off for the morning for the event and it wasn’t long before it became obvious why this was necessary! The first event in the gala was a slalom race on snow foxes – a bike which has had its wheels replaced by two skis instead! Needless to say, laughter could be heard throughout St Anton as they raced down the piste trying to skirt around the slalom flags! Next was another bizarre, piste orientated, game – snow tubing! For those who are unfamiliar with this - it involves sitting in a rubber ring at the top of a piste and sliding down where, at the bottom, you will meet an array of skittles - the winner is the person who can knock over the largest number! The morning was rounded off with hot Gluhwein in the sunshine and a tug of war on the piste before retiring to the Anton Hotel Bar for a warming, and re-energising lunch. The next day the group was split into groups and the beginners all enjoyed a mornings tuition, whilst those with a little more experience joined Tom, St Anton’s Ski Event Manager, and Kevin, St Anton’s Resort Manager, for a days ski under the clear blue skies of the Arlberg. The group started out from the top of Kapall where the views in the fair weather were absolutely breathtaking. A leisurely morning was had skiing down the cruisy blues of Kapall before heading over to the deserted pistes of Rendl, with virtually uninterrupted ski on the sunny south facing pistes. After a revitalising hot chocolate (accompanied by the inevitable Stroh Rum!) the group headed back to St Anton via the meandering tree lined red route 1, which lasts near 5 km. The group left us yesterday whilst the skies poured with snow making for some great conditions for our new arrivals over the next few days. With even more snow due later on in the week, we hope to make new tracks in fresh snow. We hope you come and enjoy it with us. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/team-building-slaloms-and-snow-tubing Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:17:00 +0000 St Anton It’s been an exciting week here in Val d’Isère, with the 2nd annual Polo Masters taking place over the weekend. James, our resident Ski Event Manager, and I, our resident Chalet Host, were personally invited to watch the tournament on the snow pitch at the foot of ‘Le Face’. Several nations were represented in teams of three, to take place in fast-paced 40 minute matches. Despite the -17 temperature on the snow front a lively crowd formed to support the players and enjoy the pitch-side entertainment. Local bars, restaurants and hotels provided complimentary food and drink to keep us all warm. Most impressive of which was ‘Le Blizzard’ hotel, who served aromatic Vin Chaud, delicate seafood canapés and mouth watering miniature desserts from a hand-built ice bar! The weather has produced ideal skiing conditions with another 15cm of snowfall over the weekend and beautiful blue skies today. The forecast predicts that the sun is set to shine for at least another day before the arrival of yet more snow on Wednesday afternoon. We hope you can come and enjoy it with us! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/polo-masters-and-aromatic-vin-chaud Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:36:17 +0000 Val d'Isère It's been a busy week here in Méribel as I, Méribel’s Ski Event Manager and Darragh, Méribel’s Resort Manager, had an incredible weekend of Ski Events Management in Courchevel hosting the Creditex party. Despite them arriving late on Friday evening at the Hotel des Neiges, we had a reasonably early start to the skiing on Saturday morning. The weather was perfect as we explored the Courchevel valley under crystal blue skies before heading to Cap Horn for lunch - easy to reach both for beginners and experienced skiers by the Pralong piste. Inside the Cap Horn the founder, Eric Tournier, expressed his love of the sea with a nautical theme creating a festive atmosphere to enjoy the excellent cuisine where the steak comes highly recommended! We took the afternoon at a more leisurely pace and, after a little relaxation time, we all enjoyed an aperitif in the hotel bar. As supper time approached we made our way to Le Bistrot de la Mangeoire, an individual restaurant with dark interior and delicately delicious food including Les grenouilles (frog’s legs) and escargots (snails)! At around 11pm the atmosphere transformed as guests enjoyed Jeraboams champagne with sparklers and live music! It snowed heavily over night so we ventured out early to catch the best conditions and we discovered Park City, a red run accessed by the Suisses chairlift, had pristine, untouched powder for us to enjoy. After returning to the hotel, and sampling another delicious three course lunch, we waved goodbye to the guests before skiing back to Méribel to welcome our new guests, the Atfields, to Chalet Leonardo. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/crystal-blue-skies-over-cap-horn Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:54:09 +0000 Méribel Yesterday, after bidding the Lyburn guests farewell, the flexiski team at Chalet Leonardo all headed to Val Thorens en masse. The weather could have been better with a high wind chill factor and flat light, but we didn't let this dampen our spirits as we found great snow on the Lagopède and Plein Sud pistes and headed to the more sheltered Orelle valley to warm up. After a hot chocolate stop in the Chalet Chinal Donat, at the bottom of the Rosael chairlift, we continued to explore the Val Thorens valley before finishing at the Folie Douce to experience the infamous après ski. The atmosphere was electric with superb live music and dancing until the early hours! Darragh, the Méribel Resort Manager, and Rosie, the Méribel Ski Event Manager, are heading to Courchevel this evening to Ski Events Manage and welcome the guests from Creditex. The weather forecast is looking promising with 9 cm of snow due on Sunday morning and sunny spells throughout the weekend. We hope you come and join us soon! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/skiing-lagop-de-and-plein-sud-pistes Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:52:00 +0000 Méribel This week the Amalien Haus has been full of birthday cheer with the Thompson party, who have come to celebrate Joe’s 40th birthday, as well as a few others along the way! On the first night, champagne was had by all to celebrate Louise’s birthday, shortly followed by sticky toffee pudding loaded with candles for the lucky lady! The guests were not so lucky, however, when they were subjected to “Happy Birthday” sung by Tom & Sophie. Thankfully, everyone else soon joined in. The next day Tom took the group to Lech for what was to be some of the best skiing so far this season. Over night a fresh blanket of snow had arrived and by 11am the clouds cleared to reveal glorious sunshine. The group sat outside in weather that felt more like summer than winter with amazing schnitzel accompanied by ice cool white wine. Joe’s big birthday celebrations started with a drink at the bottom of the Nasserien gondola before heading up for a drink at the top with live music and Glühwein. Shortly after, the group headed to the Rodel track for frolics and laughs whilst tobogganing down some of the dozens of hairpin bends and straights before arriving at the Rodel Hut. The favourite for all was the pork knuckle; an enormous platter of roast pork loaded with crackling and accompanied by fat fluffy dumplings and flowing champagne. A final hot chocolate with baileys gave the group the nudge to finish off the last of the toboggan run before heading to Piccadilly’s to enjoy the live music until the small hours. With more snow due for the weekend the great skiing should continue for our new guests! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/big-birthday-celebrations Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:49:12 +0000 St Anton Since Sunday we have had three wonderful blue sky days here in Val d’Isère! The temperatures have been around -7 degrees during the day and -17 degrees at night, with beautiful clear starlit nights. The weather is set to turn with cloud returning and intermittent snowfall expected on Wednesday afternoon as the temperature begins to rise. Early weather predictions are saying that we will have more snowfall into the weekend. This week we went to the ‘Moris’ pub, situated in the centre of Val d’Isère, to sample the après scene and evening food menu. With its bustling atmosphere, live music and happy hour we had a superb time. The bar was buzzing through-out après, as the resident Val band ‘Mullit’ were playing. James, Chalet Balias' resident Ski Event Manager, and I have been out tracking down some of the best runs in Val d’Isère. Our top run of the week was the ‘Manchet’, which had some fantastic powder fields either side of the piste and is a very quiet run off the Solaise area, a great suntrap with a selection of well-groomed runs, where skiers of all abilities can ski together. There is also a restaurant at the top of the ‘Solaise Express’, called the ‘Tete de Solaise’, with a mouth-watering a la carte menu and breathtaking views of the valley. January is definitely the skier’s month with excellent, and ever improving, snow conditions. The view of the Mont Blanc from the top of the ski area is simply stunning and the sunshine means you can ski for longer... and harder! Hopefully see you soon. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/perfectly-groomed-pistes-solaise Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:58:41 +0000 Val d'Isère It’s been a perfect week in Val d'Isère with another 22cm of fresh powder and crystal blue skies. The weather is only going to get better with more snow forecast for tonight and set to continue into Friday, giving us another 20-30cm in the next 24hrs. The perfect ski conditions have meant James and I spent Monday and Tuesday riding waist deep through the trees in the Val d'Isère ‘Le Fornet' area and have spent Wednesday and Thursday chasing the sun from Tignes 'Val Claret' all the way to Tignes 'Les Brevieres'. It is an exceptional time of year to travel the full Espace Killy area as the regular snowfall and low temperatures ensure quality snow, even in the lower parts. Après ski hit an all time high this Wednesday with a new band 'Blue Funkt' playing at the renowned Saloon Bar. It was their first week in Val d'Isère, but definitely wont be their last, as they had every person in the bar dancing all afternoon! This week Chalet Balias have had the Howard & Organ family staying, who joined us for their 15th family ski holiday together; and Dr of Tropical Medicine, who provided us with the most entertaining dinner conversation!  We hope to see you soon! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/chasing-sun-tignes Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:35:13 +0000 Val d'Isère Chalet Leonardo said goodbye to Roman and his family this morning as they made their way back to Moscow, but this evening we'll be welcoming the Lyburn guests who (fingers crossed) will not be too delayed due to the snowy conditions in England. The weather here is ideal with blue skies and fantastic snow conditions forecast for tomorrow - a perfect combination for a ski orientation day over to Courchevel 1650 followed by a lunch break at Le Bouc Blanc, situated up at the top of the bubble lift from La Tania. On Tuesday evening, the Olympic ice rink is hosting a women's ice hockey match between Oxford University (the "Oxford Blues") and the local team Val Vanoise- set to be a highly competitive and exciting game. Wednesday night will be filled with laughter as we head to Jack's Bar for an evening of stand-up comedy. Located by La Chaudanne, a sophisticated, yet relaxed venue, it’s renowned for holding some of the most memorable nights of the season, and this will be no exception featuring Ed Byrne and Marcus Brigstocke! We hope to see you soon! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/laughter-all-around-jacks-bar Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:30:55 +0000 Méribel It has been a week of fresh, chilly days around St Anton but the sun has been shining and the pistes are much quieter after the New Year so everyone is happy. The weather is set to continue like this for the next few days so the snow should remain good for some great skiing over the weekend. Earlier this week, a fun afternoon was had by all, especially the Neville’s who thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon Rodeling (tobogganing to you and me!) down the twisty, turny track towards Nasserien, not to forget a stop at the Rodel Hut for Glűhwein & hot chocolate. Sadly, yesterday the Amalien Haus saw the departure of the Neville’s but we soon welcomed the arrival of Edmunson Electrical and their guests who, after a fantastic meal last night (and an enjoyable night in Cuba Bar afterwards for many), have fully enjoyed the blue skies and great piste skiing today in St Anton. A thoroughly enjoyable lunch was had by all today at the Hospiz Alms including fantastic magnums of red wine from one of the largest Bordeaux collections in Europe. A short ski in the afternoon shade was followed by a thoroughly enjoyable session at the Krazy Kanguruh, which was inevitably followed by a ski back to St Anton – in the dark - (not to be had without the inevitable wipe out or two!). The next few days are set to be a bit less sunny and a little more snow throughout the Arlberg is forecast, which will only help keep the piste levels topped up! We look forward to seeing you soon! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/tobogganing-nasserien-gl-hwein-hot-chocolate Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:31:16 +0000 St Anton This week’s the weather in Méribel has been the best we’ve seen during the season so far… After having a huge dump of snow on Sunday evening, we’ve seen continuous sunshine both yesterday and today. Despite it being very chilly, we all headed to Orelle (the ‘fourth’ valley) beyond Val Thorens for an adventure. Although Orelle has a small ski area we found fantastic snow conditions and warm sunshine on the Bouchet and Peyron pistes in particular. After a chilly morning we ordered hot chocolates at the new Folie Douce in Val Thorens located just beneath the Plein Sud chairlift and then we visited the La Fruitiere where the manager, Vitto, was kind enough to give us a guided tour. Our guests in Chalet Leonardo this week are from Russia and are here in Méribel to celebrate the Russian Orthodox Christmas which falls on the 6th January. They enjoyed a torchlight descent and firework display with mulled wine and hot chocolate at La. Within the chalet, we also prepared an extra special supper involving crackers, chocolate roulade and, of course, Russian vodka! We are looking forward to the weekend as this Saturday Méribel hosts the top level cross-country skiing and riffle shooting in the French Junior Biathlon Cup.   http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/perfect-skiing-orelle Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:59:16 +0000 Méribel It’s been a stormy week here in Val d'Isère with yet more snowfall to come! Temperatures have been slowly dropping throughout the week, with a minimum temperature of -17 degrees. The wind is blowing directly down from the North pole, meaning you are going to need to pack some extra layers if you are coming to join us next few weeks! Val d'Isère village has been a hive of activity, despite the cold weather, with some fantastic street entertainment throughout the week. The guests enjoyed some typical savoyarde delicacies, such as raclette and peirre chaud cooked over the stunning open fire place at the Clochtons restaurant up on the slopes. However, the highlight, of course, was New Years Eve with a breath-taking fireworks display, candle- lit lanterns and champagne toasts. The Chalet Balias guests saw in the New Year at the Moris Pub with complimentary drinks and entertainment from the resident Val d'Isère band 'Mullit', whereas the Balias staff celebrated at the local Jazz bar 'Blue Note' till the early hours. Needless to say, breakfast on New Years day was a very quiet affair! Val d'Isère celebrated the 1st evening of 2010 in style, with a fantastic torch lit descent and another fabulous fireworks display, which we all watched from the balcony of Chalet Balias with a glass of bubbly in hand. Happy New Year from all of the Chalet Balias Team, we hope to see you soon. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/chilly-new-year Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:35:00 +0000 Val d'Isère The last few days in the Méribel have been buzzing with a whole host of events in resort, a full chalet and New Year celebrations. The Chalet Leonardo New Year festivities got underway with Kier Royale served over delicious canapés before enjoying a delicious 4 course dinner complete with a champagne toast before pudding. After dinner we ventured out to the Barometer Bar with the Hyde group of guests and Tim and Lynn Hill in tow. Méribel had plenty to choose from with Le Rondpoint, Jacks Bar and Le Pub all hosting New Year parties. We opted to see ‘Scar Wars’ perform at Le Pub, who didn’t disappoint with their energetic and vibrant performance. At the stroke of midnight everyone headed outside to the square to watch the fireworks display from Le Chaudanne – the grand finale was an excellent start to 2010. Méribel continues to keep its visitors entertained with a great line-up of events. Tomorrow, the French ski schools are running a timed giant slalom race in both the Corbrey stadium in Méribel and Aigle stadium in Méribel-Mottaret. Furthermore, the Hotel Le Lac Bleu is offering a wine tasting evening whereby the local vigneron can take you through 18 varieties of superb wine. The latest 10cm of snowfall left us with ideal conditions for the start of the new year and flying down pristine pistes under clear blue skies was the perfect way to recover from the celebrations. The season is in full swing now and we hope to see you soon! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/skiing-new-year Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:01:31 +0000 Méribel The pace of life here in St Anton went into overdrive as the resort filled with people from far and wide who had travelled to witness the magic that is New Years Eve in St Anton, and the Arlberg certainly didn’t disappoint. The evening’s festivities began with champagne and caviar canapés in the lounge before the Paul party, who made up over half the chalet whilst on their week break here in St Anton, got Tom involved in a few games leaving the room full of laughter with his ghastly charades impressions! After a superb 4 course meal, the group returned upstairs to watch the streets begin to fill with party goers and continue the games. Midnight was celebrated in the street with bottles of champagne and cheering as the hour approached. To say the least, Austria offers some of the best fireworks displays and, this new years, we were never far from one! Whether it be as you quietly wander down the street and have chalet guests throw bangers at you from the balcony (as Tom was subjected to in the Amalien Haus!) or as you join a group of friends in the street and admire the bright lights and fabulous colours. Shortly after the buzz of the streets lessened most retreated to Piccadilly or Cuba bar, not to be seen again until the small hours… Those who made it to breakfast the next morning were pleasantly surprised – a decent snowfall overnight had left us with fantastic conditions and blue skies. An amazing day’s skiing seemed the only way to recover from the evenings celebrations. With more snow and sun on the way great skiing is set to continue in St Anton! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/champagne-celebrations Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:45:44 +0000 St Anton Chalet Leonardo's guests and staff ventured out together for a Christmas Eve excursion to Barometer, in Mèribel, for some Christmas carolling. We sang our hearts out with a live band to some Christmas classics such as 'We wish you a Merry Christmas' and 'O Come All Ye Faithful'. Mulled wine and mince pies awaited our return to the chalet and we continued to sing our favourites accompanied by one of our guests, Steph Glen, on the guitar. On Christmas day the Glen family sat down with all the staff to enjoy the astonishing festive feast Lucy had prepared of roast turkey and all the trimmings. Before the Christmas pudding was served, The Glens, very sweetly, gave each of us a Christmas present. Darragh, our Mèribel Resort Manager, received a dinosaur egg that when submerged in water takes 48 hours to hatch. So, after a nail-biting two days a resident pet, named Leonardo, was born! Our new guests arrived yesterday and there is plenty to keep them entertained whilst they’re here. On Tuesday evening, there is an opportunity to sledge down the Truite pistes from Mottaret to Mèribel or watch the ice hockey league finales between Rouen and Grenoble at the Olympic ice rink. New Year's Eve celebrations are welcomed with a bang in the valley with four separate fireworks displays and a torch lit descent. La Chaudanne is transformed into a snow dance floor with DJ's Stan and Nick, lights, music and fireworks at midnight to welcome in 2010! We only hope you come and join the festive fun! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/christmas-carolling-classics Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:05:07 +0000 Méribel It’s been all about the snow and Christmas cheer this week! Temperatures have risen in the past week from a freezing -22 degrees to a milder -4 degrees, which has made our ski days much more pleasurable and of course brought us some snow. Visibility has been poor due to the cloud coverage, high winds and intermittent snowfall. Despite this we have had some amazing runs in La Dialle and La Fornet, catching some powder through the tree lines. The snow is falling as I type with Val d'Isère being engulfed by a blizzard showing no sign of easing off! Last night we decided to test out the late night après in Bananas and Dicks Tea Bar. Bananas quickly filled up to bursting point with merry revellers, whilst Dicks Tea Bar didn’t disappoint either, with complimentary drinks being enjoyed by all. We saw in Christmas day with lively Christmas remixes before sledging our way home! This Christmas day the streets of Val d’Isère village are quiet as everyone either relaxes in the warmth of their chalet in front of the fire with home cooked turkey and Christmas pud or après ski all day in one of the many cosy bars. Val d’Isère is brimming with Christmas entertainment for everyone to enjoy from a beautiful torch lit descent down La Face, live jazz in the town square and horse-drawn sleigh rides to ski and snowboard demonstrations, firework displays and street performers. The endless entertainment is set to continue into the New Year, so we hope you come and join us soon... Merry Christmas from the Chalet Balias team! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/val-dis-re-christmas-sleigh-rides-fireworks-displays Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:28:04 +0000 Val d'Isère 'Snow is falling… all around me…' It’s snow snow snow here at the Amalien Haus and although the UK may have a white Christmas there’s nothing as festive and special as Christmas in St Anton. Everyone is getting into the festive spirit and it’s hard to resist the charm that St Anton exudes with its fairy lit streets, Christmas markets, and plentiful supplies of Gluhwien as people wander through the snowy village. The folks here at the Amalien Haus are having a great Christmas and enjoying the festive cheer in St Anton, superb skiing conditions and endless delicious treats. With a host of new arrivals on Wednesday, the Chalet is bustling with chatter and laughter throughout all 5 floors. Christmas Eve was relatively quiet in resort as it’s then that most Austrians celebrate Christmas. Consequently some fantastic skiing was had by all without too many queues! The Maddox & Wimbleton party have certainly enjoyed a good few days of skiing over the last week thanks to the great snow conditions we’ve had. A heavy snowfall on Monday night, and again on Tuesday meant the powder hunters were out exploring the great off-piste to be had here in St Anton. Some, with our resident Ski Event Managers, ventured the fresh, untouched pistes where “no man had been before…”, well, at least thus far on the day they skied! Today sitting amongst a lull of Christmas music and festive cheer the guests were treated to a traditional Christmas lunch with terrine starter, main turkey dinner with all the trimmings and Christmas pudding, all rounded off with a selection of cheese and endless wine. The next fortnight is set to be a ball with the start of the weekly St Anton Ski Show, and a number of concerts! With New Years just around the corner and parties a plenty, St Anton is a great place to be at this time of year. I only hope that you come experience it too! From all of us at the Amalien Haus - Merry Christmas! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/christmas-turkey-and-untouched-pistes Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:51:50 +0000 St Anton Here in Méribel we are making the most of the superb skiing conditions with 10cm of fresh powder and more forecast for the week ahead. The official opening of the Méribel-Mottaret lift system on the 19th December means we can now benefit from all the lifts and 90% of ski runs. Yesterday our guests, the Jones, enjoyed an orientation day yesterday with our resident flexiski Ski Event Manager Rosie. The first run of the day was Biche on the Saulire side of Méribel – fresh fluffy powder and gorgeous sunshine, a perfect run to get their ski legs in shape. After a delicious lunch in Les Castors restaurant, we headed to the Tougnete side of Méribel and discovered empty slopes and undiscovered snow especially on the Blaireau (translates to Badger in English) and Faon (baby deer) pistes. Alongside the first-rate skiing there are plenty of Christmas outings to look forward to in Méribel – the Christmas market came on Tuesaday bringing with it Vin Chaus and roasted chestnuts, a sledging evening from Mottaret to Méribel yesterday, Christmas celebrations at the Olympic Ice-rink tonight and on Christmas day there will be an evening service in both French and English held at the Notre Dame des Neiges Chapel in Mussillon. Apparently it can get quite chilly in the chapel so warm clothing and cushion are advised! With so much going on everyone in the Chalet Leonardo is enjoying the Christmas festivities and anticipating a fun-filled New Year. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/endless-christmas-festivities Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:41:46 +0000 Méribel Here in the Chalet Balias we’re all enjoying the Christmas celebrations with our beautifully decorated Christmas tree and delicious festive treats. We've seen 22cm of fresh powder snow in the past 24 hrs, which will make for fantastic skiing over Christmas and New Year and with more forecast for the week ahead, conditions couldn’t be better. James, our resident Ski Event Manager, enjoyed a day on the mountain with our first guests, clocking up some serious miles across the Espace Killy area and even had a morning of undisturbed skiing on Grand Motte under crystal blue skies. The Val d’Isère Village has some fantastic entertainment planned for the holiday period, starting with a gospel concert in the intimate village church and plenty more to look forward to including street entertainment, live music and ice sculpting. Although Val d'Isère is definitely livening up, the good news is that we are yet to come across a chair lift queue (or queue at the après bar)! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/christmas-air-dis-re Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:13:32 +0000 Val d'Isère Here in the Amalien Haus we are all excited to be starting another week with new guests, but consequently that means the departure of last weeks guests. The Nash party, who travelled from as far as Australia for their break in St Anton, which was highly conducive to their visit to the Krazy Kangaruh where they settled in and dreamed of home after a fantastic days skiing in beautiful blue skies in St Anton. On Friday all the guests took full advantage of the opening of Rendlbahn, new for 2009, with great access to the sunny slopes of Rendl. Having not yet skied this season, the snow was soft and plentiful for all to enjoy in the sunshine. The Chadwicks joined us later in the week for a quick break to get some video footage of Ella for an A-Level in PE which really tested Tom’s skiing skills – never more apparent than when skiing a slalom course backwards to capture “the moment”. The temperatures here have been bitterly cold, which has really helped to keep both on and of piste in good condition (and makes even more of an excuse for a hot chocolate stop at the Hospiz Alm in St. Christoph). The next week is set to be much milder with the occasional top up of snow and sun which is bound to please all. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/guests-far-and-wide Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:01:02 +0000 St Anton Some of us from the flexiski UK team squeezed in the time last week for an educational resort to France. Our first stop was Méribel to preview the newly refurbished lounge of the Chalet Leonardo. It looked fabulous and refreshed and we were treated to wine tasting in front of the fire by the chalet team. While in Méribel we decided to try out the early season snow and wow I am so glad we did! Although the snow in Méribel was a little sparse, Val Thorens and Courchevel had more than ample conditions and there were even a few fresh tracks to be had. Jo was treated to a private ski lesson in Courchevel by the New Generation Ski School, and I skied all three valleys with our Overseas Operations Manager, John Grigg, and one of our Ski Event Managers, Rosie Logan. The Chalet Leonardo team took us to Dicks Tea Bar for its opening party. This was a very convenient night spot - not only two minutes walk from the chalet but right next to an excellent Pizza Express restaurant. We enjoyed a great evening out - music, friends, and a great atmosphere. We toured lots of the hotels flexiski work with in Le Trois Vallées; such as the Hotels Le Yeti and Allodis in Méribel and hotel des Trois Vallées, des Neiges, Le Saint Roch and New Solarium in Courchevel 1850. Although we preferred the comfort and charm of the Chalet Leonardo! What a shame we didn’t have time to sample its hot tub on the terrace before moving on! Our next stop was Val d’Isère and the intimate 12-bed Chalet Balias where we were treated to the culinary delights prepared by James Watson. James and Georgie run our Chalet Balias and have spent numerous winter seasons in Val d’Isère which meant we were in very safe hands! We took in some ski racing on one of Val d'Isère's most prominent pistes ‘Le Face’ from the Balias balcony. Again, we toured more hotels and enjoyed the excellent spa at the Avenue Lodge, a coffee in the cosy bar at Le Blizzard and even took a peek in the rooms of the Italian ski race team who were staying at the Hotel Christiania! As we prepared to leave Val d'Isère the snow started to fall and the excitement could be felt in the air. Our last stop was the resort of Megève, which was celebrating Christmas in its stunning cobbled town square which was illuminated with Christmas lights. It is a charming resort with a real French feel to it. There was Père Nöel and Vin Chaud (Mulled wine) to keep us all in the festive mood. We toured Hotel Le Manège and then took a walk through the town to the open air ice skating rink. We had a very productive trip and it was wonderful to sample the early season snow and experience first hand some of the wonderful holidays we create for you. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do! Best wishes, Holly King http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/wonderful-three-valleys-and-little-megeve Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:50:52 +0000 Val d'Isère A fantastic second week in Val d'Isère for the Chalet Balias team this week. It started with stunning 'blue bird skies', and an excellent opportunity to test the snow for ourselves with the resident New Generation instructors. The vibe in the Val d’Isère village is buzzing with the excitement of the 'Premier Neiges' Men and Women’s 1st competition of the season. The perfect views of ‘La Face’ meant that we could view the action from the warmth of our chalet and still hear the live commentary! All the bars are now taking shape, especially in Dicks Tea Bar with its new décor, staff and DJ guest line up. Temperatures have considerably dropped throughout the week (as low as -15 degrees even in the sun). However, it is due to warm up slightly, with snow forecast for the whole weekend and into next week. According to Henry's Avalanche report, the snow base is excellent with the avalanche risk only at 2/3. There is some excellent powder days on the way.... tempted yet? http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/perfect-views-le-face Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:42:29 +0000 Val d'Isère The last few days in St Anton have seen a good amount of the white stuff and the slopes have benefited all the more from it. With nearly 75% of the lifts in St Anton now open the season is really starting to take shape. David Gosling and his group have certainly kept us entertained over the last few days with some great skiing. We had a slow start to their final ski day, with some of the group splitting to different areas to take in their favourite runs under some clear blue skies. Spirits were high and, as it was their final day, the group were keen to start the all important après ski early and by 3pm the festivities where starting to get under way in the Krazy Kanguruh where the group settled in for the afternoon. Undoubtedly, by the end of the session the last little run home became some what ambitious. The night ended with an awards ceremony in the Amalien Haus – the awards covered a wide variety of feats, including last one to bed, last one up, and last on the slopes!! The conditions this week are set to really try us as the temperature drops to a chilly -45 degrees on top which means they will be pumping snow on to the slopes whether it snows or not, guaranteeing good conditions for all! With the first week of the season come and gone, and the Rendlbahn lift, new for 2009, opening later this week, time really is passing by! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/festivities-begin Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:32:32 +0000 St Anton The streets, once again, have that vibrant feel about them – it’s the one that we all love as people wander round the quaint streets, and the buzz is none the more obvious than in many of the cosmopolitan and varied bars. Recently, Amalien Haus staff and guests enjoyed the “Black & Bright” themed opening party of “Bar Cuba”, a particular favourite, especially thanks to its close location to the chalet. The Amalien Haus was full of excitement with the arrival of “Premiere Global”, our first guests for the season. The reunion dinner saw bouts of raucous laughter as our guests tucked in to canapés and dinner after a tiring day travelling from far and wide with some even making the commute from Australia for their short weekend break! The last few days have certainly kept us all on our feet with a full chalet and some fantastic fun on the slopes. A great lunch for all was enjoyed at the glorious Hospiz Alm with roaring fires and fantastic food in St Christoph. After a few Gluh Wines, the group enjoyed the recently opened Schindler lift and the runs that descend from it. Over the next few days more sun is set to shine on the slopes of St Anton and all the staff are enjoying some of the best skiing conditions whilst lathered up in plenty of sun cream and lip balm! However, the weather is set to get cold cold cold over the next week and with more snow predicated it should time well with the opening of even more lifts and runs making St Anton the place to be this week! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/sun-shining-st-anton Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:55:19 +0000 St Anton The skiing in Val Thorens is currently the best in the 3 valleys.  Whilst some areas remain a little short on snow Val Thorens is covered in a good base and it is a pleasure to get up there and sample it! The rule at the moment across Europe is to go high to get the best snow, and as Val Thorens enjoys the status of ‘highest ski resort in Europe’ - there is nowhere better to go at if you want to guarantee yourself some great skiing. The runs off the top of the Funitel Peclet gondola are in particularly good condition and were surprisingly empty – a great reason by itself to book an early ski trip!  Not all the runs are open in Val Thorens but a high pressure weather system is moving in and the weather forecasts are unanimous in their predictions for heavy snowfall this weekend. So, to benefit from the superb snowfall the 4* Hotel Fitz Roy is the perfect location for door step skiing in the three valleys. The resort itself is lively, as all of the bars and restaurants are now open. Dicks Tea Bar is certainly the place to end the night and after it’s refurbishment last winter it looks absolutely fantastic! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/val-thorens-best-place-be Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:32:24 +0000 Méribel There are high spirits about St Anton this week, as more and more people arrive in resort and the various bars and restaurants begin to open up. The Krazy Kangeruh opened this week with the usual fanfare and the celebrations continued later in Piccadilly’s and Kandahar. The festivities have already started in St Anton with ‘Krampers’. The festival involved prominent members of the town dressing up in hairy suits with menacing looking masks! Every year at the beginning of the winter they troop around town chasing innocent bystanders – whom scream and run in unison! The ‘Krampers’ were really quite terrifying, but the one wielding the chainsaw elicited the loudest screams! Of course, this was all done in good humour and everyone who attended can be sure of a cleansed spirit just in time for the new year. The skiing is reasonable, although the whole ski resort is not yet open. There is decent snow at the top of the Galzigbahn and skiing down towards St Christoph currently has the best runs. Alternatively, Lech and Zurs are perhaps a little better served by the white stuff – but it won’t be long before St Anton is fully open as temperatures are due to shift downwards significantly from Thursday and by Sunday a suitable cold snap should have the mountains in its grip, which in turn means the eastern Alps will see snow fall right down to the bottom of the valleys in Austria. But even if there's no natural snow, resorts will be able to make full use of the snow cannons and get a good base laid on the lower ski slopes. We look forward to seeing you this ski season! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/blog/high-spirits-st-anton Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:05:37 +0000 St Anton Arrived in Val d'Isere (1850m), and what feels like the top of the world! It was snowing on our arrival and seems set to continue heavily into Friday. With temperatures currently below freezing in Val Village, the snow seems here to stay with yet more forecast for Sunday & Monday.  The Espace Killy is rapidly working its way up to full operation, with great skiing already to be found on both the Fornet Grand Motte Glacier's. Val Village is gearing up for yet another fantastic season, with a wide range of entertainment already planned for Christmas, New Year and throughout the season. The Chalet is looking beautiful, with a breath-taking view straight up 'Le Face' (which was last years World Cup Men's Slalom run). With only the final touches to be made to Chalet Balias. We look forward to seeing you on the slopes!  http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/val-dis-re/blog/greetings-snowy-val-disere-0 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:37:58 +0000 Val d'Isère My name is Darragh O’Sullivan and I am the resort manager for Meribel this year. I have just spent the last few weeks working in head office preparing for the flexiski team to arrive here in resort. They all finally arrived on Sunday and are busy preparing some fabulous menu’s for your stay with us. For those of you who have been keeping an eye on the snow reports will have noticed that the three valleys were lucky a few weeks ago with an abundance of fresh snow, but no sooner had the first snow fallen, than this beautiful area of the Alps started to enjoy an unexpected Indian summer! Since then the snow has been falling and plenty more is forecast for the week ahead, one could certainly be forgiven for thinking the season has already started. The bars and shops in town are opening up day by day and the three valleys management team are meeting tomorrow to decide which lifts and runs will be open for the official start of the season on Sunday 6th December. We'll keep you posted, of course, with the latest weather reports and news from resort and if you are thinking of joining us for a pre Christmas break you may be interested that Meribel are running a "franglais semaine" and in essence prices have been reduced, all day every day, in all of our favourite haunts including Jacks, Barometer, Le Cactus, La Taverne and Le Rond Point. "Franglais semaine" translated as happy week runs from 12th December. I look forward to you joining us! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/snow-arrives-time-season-start-meribel-0 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:59:22 +0000 Méribel It’s a dream start to the 2009-10 ski season for virtually every major ski region in the northern hemisphere, and although I don’t want to tempt fate by even daring to hope of last year’s great snowfalls, especially in Europe, it’s hard not to be very enthused by all the reports and photos of new snow. I am just finalising the refurbishment of the Chalet Leonardo, in Meribel. With new sofas and furnishings it is going to look stunning this winter its traditional open log fire and welcoming atmosphere make it the perfect retreat over the festive period. And with reports of several feet (50-100cm) of new snow skiers and boarders have already beenhiking up to ski down the slopes! We look forward to seeing you there. John Grigg Flexiski have recently joined twitter - to keep up with the latest snow reports and resort information follow us here http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/m-ribel/blog/30-days-until-season-starts-0 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:21:08 +0000 Méribel I’ve just returned from Europe and visiting our two new properties in France. The Balias is an intimate and wonderfully appointed chalet in the very centre of Val d’Isere, and the St. Louis has an enviable position just opposite the Bellecote piste in Courchevel 1850.  Both properties give us the opportunity to offer our guests ideally located accommodation in two of the most sought after ski resorts in the world!Yesterday, up to a metre (40 inches) of fresh snow was reported falling on the half dozen glacier ski areas already open for winter 2009-10 in Austria. The snow fell right down to village level in many areas with some locations reporting 10cm (4 inches) on village streets!News of such snowfall has the team and I looking forward to the start of the winter in the Alps.  I am currently ‘window shopping’ for my new skis and have come to the decision that a pair of Line Blends will serve me well over the season! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/less-than-50-days-to-go Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:34:50 +0000 Méribel Whilst most of us have been taking summer holidays and enjoying the sunshine (probably not in Britain!) John, our Operations Manager, has been knee deep thinking about snow or rather the flexiski overseas operation and what an exceptional level of service we will deliver again for the forth coming winter season.  Having just released our new 2009/2010 edition brochure which includes the two new hotels: the four-star boutique Hotel Banyan in St Anton, Austria, decorated in a contemporary style including traditional features, Asian twists and a wellness area with indoor pool and the recently refurbished three-star Hotel New Solarium in Courchevel 1850, France, with skiing virtually from the doorstep and a wellness centre with indoor pool- there’s plenty of choice for places to stay!Everyone here at flexiski are anticipating another amazing powder filled season and before we know it we'll be seeing you on the slopes! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/blog/chalet-leonardo/whats-been-happening-over-last-few-months Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:34:05 +0000 Méribel Easter week in Meribel came and went with the whole of the three valleys still skiing strong despite blistering sunshine running up to the weekend which caused most of the snow to melt lower down in resort. This only served to increase the romance of spring skiing with temperatures cold enough to provide excellent skiing at the top and sunbathing weather at the bottom!The team at the Chalet Leonardo were joined by one of our best client's the Short family who have visited the chalet for the last seven years in a row and fitted in brilliantly feeling at home almost straight away. The altitude festivals have also visited meribel, with some explosive comedy and fantastic live bands there really has been something of a carnival atmosphere of late. Alas with the season coming to a close many bars and apres ski venues are begining to close down here in le trois vallee, of note was the closure of le Jump bar in courchevel on the 9th April! Yet lets hope there's still a few more parties to be had this season... http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/easter-and-the-altitude-festival Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:22:07 +0000 Méribel With the English summer well and truly here, the memories of those long spring ski days seem a long time ago. However with the new flexiski brochure being released and bookings for next season in full swing, the team’s attention is already focused on their next winter adventure and the season will quickly be upon us. We are working hard with our suppliers to make sure we can offer tailor-made experiences to our clients.  New for 09/10 we’ll be offering a performance coaching course in partnership with New Generation ski school.  This is a custom built course for those who want to focus on developing their skiing technique.  With everything from ski theory to video analysis of your technique, you will return from the alps a better skier – guaranteed. While most of the resort team have headed south for the summer and are enjoying beach and trek adventures. John is flying the flag for the overseas team and is coping well with life back in the land of nine to five! As recruitment for overseas is gathering pace, the team promises to be a mix of youthful, exuberance and experienced seasonnaires and we are all hoping we will be rewarded with the fantastic snow conditions we have enjoyed over the last couple of seasons. With those memories still fresh in the mind, the lure of early breaks is proving hard to resist and I have already seen shiny new boxes of kit being delivered to the office. As much as everyone enjoys the summer months, until we can put the boots on and get up the hill for the first time next season it won't be the same. With many new lift updates and upgrades planned for European resorts and of course the Olympics drawing everyone’s attention over to Canada this upcoming season promises to as busy and rewarding as ever. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/enjoying-the-english-summer Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:40:50 +0100 St Anton Alas for all of us here in St Anton the season has come to an end and with the majority of us taking a flight home at the weekend there are just a few days left until the resort shuts down. Slowly the snow is disappearing and what was once beautifully covered pistes is now dotted with patches of fresh green grass. It won't be long until summer has taken over and all of the glorious snow we have had since the start of December is a thing of the past. With our last guests leaving on Wednesday we only had a few days to shut down the chalet for the summer season and reminisce about the past five months... what a incredible time we've had this winter! There are of course a few things that stand out for each of us, including the world renowned Hopsiz Alm which has become one of our favourite places in the world for lunch, the Ice Bar in Lech which has provided a handy drink stop mid way round the White Circuit, the Krazy Kanguruh for an apres session followed by a visit to Piccadilly’s for evening entertainment and the Schindlergrat, it's a tough call to pin point the best runs but its hard to beat this quick run all the way down to Stuben. It is hard to wrap up a season which holds so many fantastic memories, beautiful sunny days, countless amounts of fresh snow that made powder skiing and carving fresh tracks so enjoyable this season. We would like to say a personally thank you for all the fantastic guests we have had here in the Amalien Haus because without you we wouldn't of had so much banter and so much fun to look back on. We hope to see you again next season!!! All the best, Polly, Kevin and the Austrian team http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/end-of-2008-2009-season Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:14:24 +0100 St Anton The last few days here at the Amalien Haus have been action packed with the overseas event team hosting the very first annual ‘flexigold’ trip which took place in the bright spring sunshine of St Anton. We couldn’t have asked for better conditions or such great guests, so late in the season and it’s safe to say that all of our guests had a fantastic time enjoying both the skiing and the entertainment. We were up bright and early on Monday and ventured over to Lech for a cruising days skiing. Our ski instructor Siggi took all of the beginners under his wing and got them up the mountain after only a couple of hours. A fantastic achievement for Frankie, Chris, Kat and Michael by anyone’s standards! Lunch was a welcome break for some guests who were finding the skiing a little hard on their legs, the spectacular Goldener Berg Hotel in Oberlech offered the perfect retreat overlooking the panoramic valley scenery on the stunning terrace. After enjoying the sun and an exquisite lunch, the majority of our guests managed to fit in a few more runs before meeting back at the Mooserwirt for some typically Austrian après ski. After an exceptional meal made by our chef, the evening was followed by Faye providing drinks at Piccadilly’s so everybody was dancing to Darren’s tunes and experiencing St Anton’s cosmopolitan atmosphere. Our second day started slightly later (we weren’t surprised that Tim didn’t even attempt to get up to win his bet with Euan!) Whilst the intermediate and advanced skiers got ready to spend the day with Kevin and I taking on some fast runs and John escorted the more leisurely skiers, the beginners were looking forward to another superb morning with Siggi. By mid-morning we all ended up at the Albona over in Stuben where the best conditions could be found, this gave the group a quick chance to catch up, enjoy a coffee and debate Kevin’s 20 minute ascent claim! A trip to St Anton really wouldn’t be complete without lunch on the stunning terrace at the Hospiz Alm and the majority of our guests were happy to cruise down the blue run to St Christoph, it seemed like the perfect way to get everyone together to catch up on the mornings ski and previous night’s activities. Lizzie and Frank headed back after lunch to enjoy the spa facilities at the Banyan Hotel, while some of the group persisted with the soft snow and ended up with much needed refreshment at the Rodelalm! In the evening we headed back to St Christoph to the opulent Arlberg Hospiz Hotel were we were all treated to a special evening which included champagne in the world-famous wine cellars followed by a fantastic 6 course evening meal. The last morning was a leisurely affair. However, the more adventurous Colin went over to Rendl to try snow biking and it has to be said we were all relieved to have him back in one piece later that morning. Kevin, John, Pete and I would personally like to say a massive thank you to all of our guests for making our last week in resort simply superb and one of the best of the season. Best wishes Polly, Kevin and the Austrian team http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/the-first-annual-flexigold-event Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:05:05 +0100 St Anton With Easter and all its many delights out of the way, the Chalet Leonardo team are currently entertaining their final week of clients! This week sees the arrival of the Mee family and they've been blessed with some glorious sunshine and midweek snow to keep the slopes fresh at this late stage of the season. A sentimental week for many here, with many of the major tour operators having stopped work already, flexiski is one of the few to still be in resort, and with the Rond Point, Dicks Tea Bar and Pizza Express all already shut many of our thoughts have now turned to the summer! At resort level the temperatures continue to rise and with the grass now a luscious green and the flowers beginning to blossom it’s hard to imagine we're still in a ski resort! But we are quickly reminded of the vastness of the Trois Vallee by the very cold temperatures at the top of Mt de Chambre (-8c!) and the 15 cm of fresh snow making Mt Vallon a real hotspot. The lack of snow in some areas however does not stop the fun with some wonderful lunches still being had at Chalet la Marine and the Bel Air. And more fun is to be had tomorrow with a trip to the hallowed turf of the Alps...La Bouitte. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/great-conditions-in-the-three-valleys Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:24:40 +0100 Méribel This week there has been plenty more sunshine and it’s definitely starting to feel like Spring here. There is however still plenty of snow on the slopes and for those people catching the first lifts they are rewarded with the best conditions of the day. The Dilnot-Smiths have been skiing the whole of the Arlberg ski area over the last few days including St Anton, Lech, Zurs, Stuben and even Sonnenkopf. Whilst the Halls and the Carltons have enjoyed a more leisurely few days taking a trip around the White Circuit and stopping off at the Ice Bar for a quick pit stop before lunch at the Berghotel in Oberlech. Sunny weather is set to continue for the next couple of days with a good build up to a busy Easter weekend. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/head-for-the-first-lifts-of-the-day Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:31:41 +0100 St Anton The Chalet Leonardo team enjoyed three days off last week in preparation for two of the busiest weeks of the season! As Easter week approaches the slopes are beginning to warm up with the conditions invariably becoming quite slushy in the afternoon. Nonetheless for those early risers there is plenty of fabulous skiing to be done, and furthermore for the keener skiers there is still plenty of powder on the Aguille de Fruit face. Over the weekend our guests prepared themselves for a few long days skiing expeditions to the fourth valley, Orelle, where the snow is still guaranteed even at this late stage of the season. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/powder-Aguille-de-Fruit-face Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:02:10 +0100 Méribel This week we have been enjoying beautiful spring weather here in St Anton… Thermals are no longer so necessary, but sun cream is a must. Our clients have been appreciating the sun on and off the slopes soaking up the rays and working on their tans with a few beers at Taps, resulting in some fantastic panda eyes. Polly has had some great skiing with the Brealeys, Misacampbells and Dilnot-Smiths with coffee stops at the top of Albona over in Stuben, to admire the fabulous views and a late lunch on the terrace at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph, to making the most of the morning’s snow. Après ski action has been mainly at the Mooserwirt this week with the crowds spilling out onto the piste in the late afternoon sun; however the Niebors have been creating their own fun with post dinner sledging expeditions followed by live music and drinks at Underground on the piste. Hopefully there will be more sunny days to come before the Easter weekend here in St Anton... http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/beautiful-spring-weather-for-easter Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:11:22 +0100 St Anton Everyone at the Amalien Haus has welcomed the onslaught of glorious sunny days following the weekend; it was a welcome change after the last ten days of cloud. This warm sunshine gave all of our clients the chance to enjoy perfect conditions, making the most of the terraces at Griabli, the Hospiz Alm and the Berghaus Stuben for a few nice long lunches, catching a few rays in the process. All of our clients this week have been heading out independently enjoying various different experiences. The Waites had a great day skiing and exploring the whole of the Arlberg ski area and were even eating Magnum ice creams on the Valfagehr chairlift on the way back home from Stuben yesterday afternoon! Whislt the Miscampbell party had a full on, hardcore ski around the White Circle in Lech and Zurs and the Haddon children left their parents behind in a cloud of powder after spending the first few days at ski school. More sun is forecast so spring snow is sure to follow! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/onslaught-of-glorious-sunny-days Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:02:56 +0100 St Anton Last weeks sunshine gave way to some very heavy snow over Friday and Saturday, giving a much needed covering on piste and providing some fresh tracks off it! Indeed, Dan the resort manager, alongside Juan were lucky enough to head out with New Generation and carve some fresh tracks into Le Dent de Burghin mountain face, much to the envy of the rest of the Meribel team! This weekend saw the final instalment from G-Research at the Chalet Leonardo, and as predicted it was another weekend of keen enthusiastic skiers and some equally enjoyable après ski! Courchevel 1650 was the highlight of the trip, with our resident ski event manager winning at the speed test and unsurprisingly his protégé, John, was somewhere off the pace! Despite the weather proving to be somewhat of a hindrance at lunch time all our guests enjoyed an exquisite lunch at Le Blanchot on Saturday, with some clients relaxing for up to 3 hours at this charming hideaway! All in all a highly successful week here in Le Trois Vallees and with the sun set to roll in over the next few days, we're all looking forward to toping up our tan! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/carving-fresh-tracks Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:58:32 +0100 Méribel Here in St Anton we've been enjoying a few days of snowfall with some pockets of glorious sunshine creating great conditions on and off piste. The best skiing conditions have definately been in the mornings when the temperatures remain cool and the slopes are well groomed. The Thompsons in particular have had a great time this week taking a quick tour of the White Circuit and enjoying lunch at the top of Ruffikopf. Some of our other clients have been spending a considerable amount of time in St Christoph enjoying the hospitality at the Hospiz Alm. A couple of our clients even made two trips in one day, enjoying wine and lunch on the terrace followed by an epic seven course meal in the evening and the full wine cellar tour. This week we're hoping for more Spring skiing and with sunshine forecast over the next few days we're keeping our fingers crossed... http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/wine-tasting-in-st-christoph Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:28:03 +0100 St Anton The weather continues to change here with temperatures dropping once more and more snow falling. We're hoping its going to stay this way for a while so that we can hang onto the  powder which has created some fantastic skiing conditions for this time of year. This week we welcomed back the Lawrence party who have been out enjoying the slopes whilst some of other clients have enjoyed visiting a good selection of the Arlberg's best mountain restaurants, including Heustadl, the Hospiz Alm and an impressive 3 hour lunch in Stuben. Here in St Anton everyone at the Amalien Haus is looking forward to an action packed weekend with a full chalet, there will be lots of snow to play in and great skiing to be had on and off piste. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/best-mountain-restaurants Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:09:57 +0000 St Anton This weekend we had an eventful few days here at the Chalet Leonardo, with G-Research visiting for the second time this season! There were some very interesting and fun times to be had on and off the slopes especially at le Rond Point and Dicks Tea Bar. Their party leader has promised more of the same this coming weekend when they visit us for the final time this season and all of us are really looking forward to their return. We really appreciated two fabulous days skiing, Friday we eased into our Event Management heading across to Val Thorens to enjoy a fantastic day on the slopes with perfect sunshine and bright blue skies. On Saturday we took G-Research up to Courchevel 1850 and took the Combe de la Saulire run which provided the group with some short, sharp turns and the best snow on the Courchevel side of the valley. Le Praz was also in really good condition in the morning and we were able to test out the skiing with relatively empty pistes. Despite the festivities from this group the Herbert family also had a great time and frequented the Bell Air and Chalet La Marine in Val Thorens on what were picture perfect days. The slopes are still in fantastic condition up to lunch time with the slopes invariably turning slushy at resort level in the afternoon, but all this will change over the next few days as the weather forecast is saying a whole week of snow awaits us! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/event-management-in-full-swing Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:34:44 +0000 Méribel Here in St Anton we’ve been having a fantastic few days with the Lagasse party with some great skiing and banter by both the A and the B team. The chilly temperatures a few days ago meant lunch at the Hospiz in St Christoph was inside but yesterday, the wine and long lunch could be enjoyed in the March sunshine on the terrace at the Berghaus in Stuben. Last night was the probably one of the best nights of the season with everyone out at Piccadilly to listen to Andy, Darren, Rob and Drew playing together. We certainly appreciated all the great music and surrounded by great people we enjoyed a few jaeger bombs. Here at the Amalien Haus we are sad to see the Lagasse party leave! Once again, some snow is forecast to come our way and hopefully these lower temperatures will stay and some powder can be enjoyed by all before spring shows itself again. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/more-snow-before-spring Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:25:58 +0000 St Anton This week has seen the return of the Brinsdens, who have been back for their second trip in four weeks for a few more days of gnarly snowboarding in the spring snow at Rendl and Stuben. Meanwhile we also saw the arrival of the Batchelor party who have been exploring the picturesque area including, St Anton, Nasserein, St Jacob and St Christoph. Tuesday afternoon was a particular good day with 17 of us enjoying a superb lunch on the terrace of the 5* Hospiz Alm with the beautiful back drop of the mountains.  The skiing ethos mirrored the weather conditions with most of the girls preferring to enjoy a leisurely ski in the fabulous sunshine with numerous coffee stops.  Afternoon tea back in the Amalien Haus was the perfect place for everyone to catch up on the days activity before some headed out to enjoy the après ski and live music with Gunnar in the Piccadilly. The mixed weather looks set to continue with some sun and some snow showers heading our way. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/gnarly-snowboarding-and-leisurely-skiing Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:40:09 +0000 St Anton Conditions here in the Trois Vallee are absolutely perfect, last weeks snow has brought a new lease of life to Meribel and with the sun shining we really couldn't ask for more! The last few days have seen some fabulous skiing in Courchevel 1650, and many a stop at the well renowned Bell Air restaurant, including today where Prince William and Kate Middleton were spotted by one of our Event Managers. Some great lunches have also been had at le Panoramic with Kepler Corporation; here many enjoyed the delicious fillet steak burger, washed down with their finest red wine! All in all things couldn't be rosier here on the slopes. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/lunch-at-le-panoramic Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:24:21 +0000 Méribel It has been a full on few days with long après sessions at the Krazy Kanguruh and the Underground on the piste. All of our clients at the Amalien Haus have spent some quality time in Piccadilly, dancing the night away; with the Cutlers leading the way… The Boston and the Blair party also enjoyed all that St Anton has to offer, both on and off the piste and are probably looking forward to getting home for a well earned rest. A patchy few days with snow and tough visibility meant yesterday’s perfect blue skies and spring temperatures were enjoyed and appreciated all the more by everyone. The large terrace at the Hospiz Alm in St Christoph was the place to be for a long lunch in the warm sunshine.  http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/cutlers-come-to-stay Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:16:41 +0000 St Anton A week of rugby players at the Chalet Leonardo has seen a lot of testosterone flying and a competitive edge between our guests, they’ve been out skiing powder and spending long hours in the Rond Point. Possibly one of the most exciting weeks of the year saw the majority of our guests spending an equal amount of time enjoying the après ski activities on offer as they did skiing, with the chalet full to its capacity at the weekend all of guests happily mingled in Dick’s T Bar till the early hours. With more arrivals this week they’ll be happy to know that blue skies are now upon us and they’re set to hold well into next week. Now with perfect conditions it may be close to the end of the season but for anyone who truly loves skiing it’s a great time to get in some long hours on the piste without large volumes of skiers. Our resident ski event manager is also looking forward to the prospect of taking our new guests skiing and sampling some of the best runs the Three Valleys has to offer. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/best-conditions-of-the-season Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:23:17 +0000 Méribel Big fat fluffy flakes of snow are falling as we speak but a storm blowing up top has made challenging conditions for some, whilst others took the opportunity to enjoy a long lunch at the Hospiz Alm with a nice bottle of wine or two. The evening saw the Lay party taking part in the apres ski on offer in St Anton starting in the Krazy Kanguruh and moving on to Picadilly. Yesterday the party continued with an afternoon planned for Underground on the piste for some live music and banter from Olab - the Norwegian Piano player.   We're now looking forward to our new arrivals next week who after last nights continued snow fall should be able to get in some great skiing. If the temperatures stay low this good snow base will set us up for perfect conditions for all both on and off piste, when the skies clear in the next few days. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/live-music-and-banter Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:26:00 +0000 St Anton With the weather forecast to close in over the weekend, we ventured over to Lech and Zurs despite the flat light on Friday to whip round the White Circle before the snow came along. A long lunch in Oberlech meant the second half was a race against time to get back to Alpe Rauz in time for the last chairlift so we could all ski home into St Anton in the nick of time for afternoon tea. The snow that fell yesterday meant visibility was poor but it was the perfect excuse for a long lunch at the Hospiz in St Christoph and the Berghaus in Stuben. Hopefully the snow is going to keep on falling for a few days. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/st-anton-race-back-resort Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:31:02 +0000 St Anton Although many people think the season is coming to end we're happy to say that the Three Valleys has received an incredible amount of snow in the last five days, with up to a metre falling in all of the Valleys! This incredible base of snow has revitalised the season allowing us to really get to grips with some fantastic deep powder, in fact some of the best runs of the season have been enjoyed over the weekend. Following all of the snow there is now five or six days of clear blue skies predicted creating perfect on piste spring skiing. There has never been a better time to come to the Chalet Leonardo for a short break and take advantage of these tremendous skiing conditions! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/revitalised-by-powder Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:50:31 +0000 Méribel The end of the week saw variable snow conditions with some freeze thaw temperatures which left a few hard lumps under the fresh snow in the off piste areas. However the good snow over the last couple of days has more than made up for it with fresh tracks available for everybody. The visibility has also been a little challenging with this weeks clients staying low amongst the trees in the Gampen area to avoid the flat light and whiteout conditions higher up. Rendl however has had some good light and great snow which was enjoyed by Jefferies and Capps parties. Sunday was set to be a good end to the week with strong sunshine predicted and we weren't disappointed with few clouds in the sky. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/variable-conditions-turn-to-sunshine Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:36:03 +0000 St Anton This week we've experienced some great skiing especially with the Adams Party who enjoyed a good long lunch yesterday at the beautiful Burg Hotel in Oberlech after skiing the morning in Zurs and Lech. They also enjoyed the hospitality in the Ice Bar at Lech and then made the most of the afternoon racing each other on the dual slalom and skiing until the last lifts closed. A nights tobogganing thankfully ended in zero breakages much to the relief of the party leader… With a big night following in Piccadilly, dancing until closing time forced the last few stragglers home. Today has been a very welcome sunny day with lunch on the terrace at Griabli being the perfect end to an action packed few days. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/guests-take-on-tobogganing-and-slalom-racing Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:18:57 +0000 St Anton The snow is falling once again in Meribel, and the warm thermals are back on after a week of sunshine heaven! With the snow expected to fall for several days it won't be long before the powder skis are back in use and the fresh tracks are once again being etched in to the mountain side. Yesterday saw the arrival of the Manchurian armada in resort, and today they had an unforgetable mountain experience and were expertly looked after by our resident ski event manager, with a much needed après ski stop at le Rond Point to recharge the batteries! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/manchurians-have-arrived Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:25:28 +0000 Méribel On Saturday we were enjoying some excellent spring ski conditions with the sun shining all day long. Taps was the prefect place to enjoy the last of the days sun with a refreshing beer, while others ventured over to the Moosewirt. All of us then hurried back for afternoon tea before heading out to Kandahar to watch England get beaten by Ireland in the Six Nations. This was then followed by Julies 40th birthday dinner in the chalet which was the start of a big night out for most taking a grand tour of the hotspots in St Anton. Throughout the night all of our guests were getting on really well and a few of them even played tricks on each other, they were a great bunch and a we all had a lot of fun. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/the-big-night-out Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:23:06 +0000 St Anton A very successful February half term week has passed us by here at the Chalet Leonardo and following 2 days off we are all back to work for the arrival of Isis Equity Group. A fine first day without a cloud in the sky gave us the perfect opportunity to visit Le Blanchot restaurant above Meribel village for a well earned 2 hour break following some extensive skiing in La Tania and Le Praz below Courchevel. We've had some spectacular falls from Dave and Dan today, and their promises to be some more tomorrow as we had over to the 4th Valley! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/la-tania-le-praz-fourth-valley Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:22:15 +0000 Méribel The early part of the week has seen high winds and blizzard conditions, although it gave Polly, Steve and Dave the perfect reason to retreat to the Hospiz Alm for a nice lunch by a roaring fire and an excuse to sample a few glasses of their famous wine collection. Today, on the other hand, has been the most perfect day…blue, sunny skies and beautiful snow both on and off piste following on from two days of snowy and stormy weather up high. But a day like today is all it takes to remind us all why we are here…sitting enjoying a coffee in the sunshine on Rendl Beach or enjoying the pistes and fresh powder. Happy days in the Arlberg region and a great welcome to St Anton for this weeks Amalien Haus guests. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/blue-skies-return Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:45:47 +0000 St Anton Half term week has passed us by here in the Three  Valleys, and what a week it's been! Several days of sunshine have provided our guests with some fantastic skiing conditions and a brilliant tan for some of the school children to boast back at school! This week we were lucky enough to explore some of the National Park off piste itineraries in Courchevel and Meribel, where the powder had remained untouched! Now that the lift queues have returned to normality and the clouds have begun to move in once more, all of us here at the Chalet Leonardo are very excited at the prospect of some more powder days to ourselves! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/off-piste-itineraries-national-park Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:10:19 +0000 Méribel Another welcome dump of snow mid week has brought a top up of powder and some fun, interesting and snowy skiing conditions for all of the families on the slopes this week over half term. As the lifts opened up, there was some awesome skiing to be had both on and off piste and plenty of deep snow for the powder hounds. Our resident ski events manager Polly had a great time with the families including the Davies, skiing the white circle in Lech and Zurs and then enjoying lunch high up in the Rufikopf restaurant with fabulous panoramic views over the Arlberg area. Whilst Kev our resort manager had some good skiing with the Crossleys, with Pete practising his tricks on the side of the piste and eating some large lunch portions in the Rodel Hut. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/fun-over-half-term Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:55:36 +0000 St Anton The sun is shining, the powder is thick, and the atmosphere lively here in Meribel following a week of overcast skies and heavy snowfall! Here at the Chalet Leonardo everyone is keenly awaiting the arrival of our new clients for half term week. With the chalet being completely full it promises to be an interesting week but as usual our resident chef Sam, complacently exclaims that her cooking will be the highlight of the week and not the skiing! However the off piste hunters think very differently! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/overcast-skies-and-heavy-snowfall Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:35:57 +0000 Méribel We’ve had four days of changeable weather which has brought lots of new snow and with all the cold weather it has been kept it in excellent condition. Now all of the lifts have been re-opened the heavy snow fall has left us with perfect powder skiing and fabulous conditions both on and off-piste. The Curran party have had the best days of the season so far and been out with guides making the most of the powder. Yesterday they enjoyed a great lunch at the Arlberg Hospiz and a long session at the Krazy Kanguruh in the afternoon. St Anton may have met their match with these guys who had great banter the whole time and really enjoyed the apres ski atmosphere in Piccadilly…we’re going to miss them when they go! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/superb-apres-ski Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:31:07 +0000 St Anton A real storm has settled in up top and for the second day in a row St Anton only has a couple of the lower lifts open. The visibility is minimal so it’s definitely a day to stay low in the trees and a good excuse to enjoy hot chocolate tucked up inside a mountain restaurant. The powder hounds are loving this long awaited snow which is setting us up for some fabulous conditions for the coming weeks both on and off piste. This week has also seen the Brinsden boarders up bright and early each morning making the most of the early morning empty pistes. Hands down they are the record holders for this season for being up early and getting the first lifts each and every day. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/poor-visibility-and-powder-hounds Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:03:04 +0000 St Anton The snow continues to fall here in Meribel, with its relentless persistance all of us here at the Chalet Leonardo are begining to wonder whether it will ever stop and allow us a good day out in the sun! With most of the Trois Vallees connections being shut because of the heavy snow when they do finally re-open this afternoon and tomorrow morning there promises to be some very deep powder runs, time to get out those fat off-piste skis! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/buckets-of-powder Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:59:14 +0000 Méribel The snow is falling once again in the Three Valleys, with over 2 feet of snow falling at resort level alone! The off piste skiing conditions are fabulous and as the snow continues to fall it provides a perfect backdrop for that late evening beer in the jacuzzi! This week the snow is set to continue falling with record levels expected come february half term week, it's definitely time to wax up those skis and take full advantage of the Trois Vallees! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/perfect-for-a-jacuzzi Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:47:21 +0000 Méribel After the snow this week in the UK, it seemed very wrong that we were not getting any here in the Arlberg…but finally it’s our turn with a dump forecast for St Anton over the weekend. Happy days and an end to the sunshine and spring snow, time for those fat skis to come out again! After starting out in Zurs early in the morning with the De Garston party and setting out to tackle the White Circuit we stopped for a well deserved glass of rose champagne at the Ice Bar in Lech (pictured below) before we went for lunch. Luckily the De Garston party were all quite experienced skiers and we only managed to loose John a couple of times throughout the circuit when he disappeared on his own and reappeared ten minutes later. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/champagne-ice-bar Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:37:04 +0000 St Anton All of us here at the Chalet Leonardo have had a fantastic few days, with some very entertaining guests. This week some of us were fortunate enough to eat at the Bel Air in Courchevel, and at the chalet favourite - La Moutiere in Val Thorens! This weekend everyone is eagerly anticipating the arrival of a big party of 22, who are here for a short skiing break, and with the weather forecast suggesting a big dump of snow during their stay we may all be fortunate enough to be skiing the powder come this weekend! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/entertaining-guests-and-more-on-the-horizon Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:54:39 +0000 Méribel A fab week had by all helped by some new snow and blue skies. The guests certainly got their timing right this weekend. The De Garston party - ably led by Charles - had a top weekend with some great skiing and a couple of  quiet beers on the Krazy Kanguruh. The Robertsons enyoyed thier day in Lech and Zurs skiing the White Circle and finished with  a good day at Rendl. After the blue skies we're now experiencing some mixed weather which should lead to some fresh snow to add to the fun. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/the-arlberg-ski-area Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:35:44 +0000 St Anton After several days of perfect conditions in the Three Valleys the cloud is set to move in and the snow set to fall over the next 7-10 days. With this snowfall expected, February Half Term week should be a real treat this year with pristine conditions largely expected! Here at the Chalet Leonardo Sam continues to cook up some fine meals, with her specialiaty of duck breast and dauphinoise potatoes being especially well received this week! The rest of the team are striving to keep up with her excellent standards in anticipation of a full house this coming weekend! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/pristine-conditions Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:30:21 +0000 Méribel The sun has been shining in the 3 valleys for four days now, which has set the scene for some fantastic off piste skiing after the huge downfalls last weekend. On piste conditions couldn't be better either, with all the fresh snow and sunny conditions there isn't a patch of ice or clump of rock to be seen anywhere, getting up early morning for those freshly pisteed slopes is a real treat! Our clients this week have not only been taking advantage of the fantastic skiing but also some exciting apres ski at le Rond Point, some time off is needed to recuperate from this alone! All of us here at the Chalet Leonardo are looking forward to the half term week with the conditions now fantastic in meribel! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/perfect-conditions-and-brilliant-apres-ski Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:31:03 +0000 Méribel There has been some great days skiing after the dump of snow earlier in the week.  Polly's new fat skis were the way forward in the deep off piste powder. This week we've had lots of lively chalet guests and birthday celebrations for Hilly’s 40th in the Krazy Kanguruh and back in the chalet the birthday boy almost blew out the candles on his cake in one go! We had fab skiing yesterday in Stuben and then back to St Christoph for lunch before celebrating Australia Day in the Krazy Kanguruh. Blue skies are forecast for the next few days. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/birthday-celebrations-and-australia-day Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:45:51 +0000 St Anton At last some fresh snow to play in! This morning’s low lying cloud had burnt off by lunchtime to leave a cold but beautifully sunny day with great skiing on and off piste. The changeable weather is forecast to continue and with it the possibility of more snow over the weekend. Hope you're all well, Polly and Kev http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/fresh-snow Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:36:12 +0000 St Anton The clouds have moved out of the Three Valleys today and left behind a thick blanket of snow! Most runs are powder, while the off piste skiing is incredible with depths of fresh snow up to the knee. Without doubt these are the best conditions so far this season and with the snow set to fall in Meribel up until Thursday of next week, we maybe in danger of having too much! All of us here at the Chalet Leonardo are very envious of our new guests arriving on Thursday who will have the whole of the Trois Vallees in optimum conditions! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/deep-fresh-snow Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:01:16 +0000 Méribel The beautiful sunny days we have been having for the last two weeks in St Anton are finally coming to an end.  Yesterday the cloud began to gather bringing fresh snow last night and more expected this week. It will be a welcome change to have some fresh powder making for some great skiing both on and off piste. Fingers crossed for a big dump! Lots of love Kev and  Polly! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/more-snow-coming Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:46:30 +0000 St Anton The snow has finally arrived in the Three Valleys today! Over 20 cm has already fallen, and with the weather forecasts predicting over a metre of snow fall in the next seven days there promises to be plenty of powder skiing in preperation for the february half term skiing holiday! Here at the Chalet Leonardo we have been fortunate enough over the weekend to sample every resort in the Three Valleys, including some exciting lunches at the Cap Horn in Courchevel and La Bouite in Saint Martin, with the snow due to fall heavily, such culinary delights never go a miss at lunch time! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/gourmet-cuisine Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:41:32 +0000 Méribel Yesterday we woke up to low cloud but after lunch in the Hospiz the sun broke through to give us some great views and skiing, followed by some apres-ski in the KK. We're now looking forward to some fresh snow forecast over the next week and some powder skiing. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/fresh-powder-skiing Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:02:05 +0000 St Anton The three valleys have been basked in sunshine for almost 5 days now, and this is set to continue throughout the week! However there is some snow forecast for this coming weekend, with early reports suggesting that in excess of 40cm will fall! Coupled with the short lift queues and empty runs this should provide for some excellent conditions this January both on and off the piste! Everyone here at Chalet Leonardo is very excited by the prospect of some fresh snow! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/forty-centimetres-snow-expected Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:15:43 +0000 Méribel There have been more sunny days throughout the Arlberg with the snow holding well in the cool temperatures and some great snow still to be found, particularly on the sides of the pistes. This weekend has seen some hardcore après ski involvement at the Krazy Kanguruh with dancing on the tables. Blue skies still dominate in this beautiful area with a couple of centimetres of snow forecast for Wednesday. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/snow-expected-wednesday Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:55:55 +0000 St Anton It has been a week of fresh, chilly days around St Anton but the sun has been shining and the pistes much quieter after the New Year so everyone is happy. The weather is set to continue like this for the next few days so the snow should remain good for some great skiing over the weekend. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/perfect-ski-weekend-conditions Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:24:19 +0000 St Anton The clouds have finally left the three valleys today, leaving a fresh dusting of snow behind! The saint martin valley and the Saulire valley are in particularly good condition and the clear blue skies provide some stunning backdrops creating the perfect setting for a cheeky hot chocolate break mid morning! The new guests arrived today with another special arrival; our new chalet host Kitty! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/fresh-dusting-of-snow Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:22:14 +0000 Méribel A highly successful two weeks over Christmas and New Year has earnt the flexiski staff a fantastic couple of days off, made even better by the perfect blue skies and the cold, the piste conditions are fabulous! With light snow forecast right the way through the week new guests at Chalet Leonardo can expect to be doing copious amounts of off piste itineraries in Meribel and perhaps take advantage of the fourth valley Orelle. There couldn't be a better time to come on a ski break with New Year out of the way the slopes are empty and the Trois Vallees feels like a private holiday resort! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/snow-forecast-meribel-resort Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:22:43 +0000 Méribel A whole week of sunny days with not a cloud in the sky and we have all been soaking up the beautiful views of the Arlberg region - the perfect start to 2009. It has been ideal conditions to ski the whole area including the White Circuit that covers over 22km of blues, reds and ski routes around Zurs, Zug, Oberlech and Lech. Everyone has enjoyed fabulous skiing all over St Anton with lunch in the Hospiz Alm, St. Christoph and apres ski stops at the infamous Moosewirt and the Krazy Kanguruh. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/sunny-days Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:21:53 +0000 St Anton Today we've woken up to a fifth day of glorious blue skies; the snow conditions are fantastic and with steady temperatures we are having some perfect alpine days. Polly our ski host has been busy taking our guests on some of the best runs the Arlberg has to offer and with the entire Arlberg ski area fully open there has been plenty of opportunity to ski these wonderful conditions. We're really looking forward to tonight with superb New Years Eve celebrations planned and with snow showers headed our way on the 2nd January the New Year should get off to a great start. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/perfect-alpine-days Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:30:16 +0000 St Anton This week we've started our ski hosting service and now we'll be bringing you regular up dates on the snow conditions, so far the three valleys have been exquisite with some excellent on piste skiing and some pockets of powder still hidden away in the small couloirs of Courchevel 1650. Over the last couple of days we've seen a good 30 cm of snow fall which has created some great runs on the way back from some infamous apres ski at the rond point! With more snow predicted tonight we're looking to get out on the slopes tomorrow for fantastic blue skies on New Years Day. This week our guests have been enjoying some fine culinary delights cooked up by our chef Sam and have also been taking full advantage of the clear star lit evenings by taking a relaxing hour out in the jacuzzi! With a record amount of snow fall expected in 2009 this promises to be the perfect season, both on and off the slopes! Happy New Year! Juan http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/blue-skies-predicted-for-new-years-day Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:57:00 +0000 Méribel St Anton woke up to clear skies and a sunny day, a welcome change after the last few days of flat light and warm temperatures.  A great ski day with a perfect blue sky.  There is some snow forecast for Christmas Day which will make for some good conditions and fun skiing for all. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/merry-xmas-st-anton Wed, 24 Dec 2008 23:49:40 +0000 St Anton All of the final links between Val Thorens, Courchevel and Meribel opened last week. Everyone here is really excited about the amount of snow we've already received and now we're looking forward to some blue skies and beautiful powder days on the slopes over Christmas and New Year. Meribel has lots of events planned for Christmas, with a carol service planned for Christmas eve and live music events available every night. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/three-valleys-opened Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:59:42 +0000 Méribel Only a couple of weeks into the season and there is a good base already with some great skiing to be had. Rendl opened on Friday which will see the whole Arlberg ski area up and running. With some snow forecast for the next few days, St Anton will be looking like a winter wonderland for Christmas week. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/st-anton-up-and-running Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:58:19 +0000 St Anton The flexiski team and I went out to resort last weekend, we are now ready to go and looking forward to another season on the slopes. I'm really excited by the amount of snow we've already recieved in each of our prestigous resorts and we're all looking forward to another great season. I'm pleased to say that from the start of December our resort blogs will be coming live from resort once again, bringing you up-to-date information on all the news and gossip from the slopes, the latest snow conditions, our guests and the wipe outs! http://www.flexiski.com/resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/the-200809-season-is-here Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:33:51 +0000 Méribel Temperatures are plunging right across the Alps, which means only one thing. Summer has failed again; winter is on its way. Meribel is slowly waking up from its sleepy summer and beginning to take shape for the 08/09 season. New additions this season see a complete overhaul of the tonuegette 1 lift allowing much improved access out of Meribel. In the town, Freeride and Sport 2000 are receiving face lifts and Le Poste has been completely knocked down and rebuilt! In the next vallees, Courchevel has added a completely new piste to the left of the infamous Swisse black run and the Belleville lift company has produced a 4 hour pass that only begins when you do, perfect for dropping the children off at ski school or a more relaxed start after the night before. With snow already falling across the whole area, we are all getting very excited and with good early snow fall expected, the time for a pre Christmas blast is nearly here. Hope to see you on the hill Pete http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/trois-vallees-update Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:38:34 +0000 Méribel It was hard leaving Meribel in mid-April when there was still buckets of fresh powder everywhere! However, I flew south for the summer and I am now enjoying Sunsail Club Javelin in Turkey. My website browsing has changed from looking at snow reports to checking out wind conditions, skis and boots have been replaced by boardies and flops. Good news is that I have just about managed to lose my goggle marks! We have been really lucky so far this season with a continual clean force 4 to 5 blowing every afternoon. Giving us just enough time to enjoy a bout of windsurfing followed by a quick après-surf drink in the jetty bar before sunset. Toffee vodka is shockingly rare unfortunately! The summer is flying by with the late summer trade-winds picking up, so we are expecting some more epic days on the water…. Despite all the sea and sun, I am excited about unpacking the skis and heading up the mountain for the first fall of snow. With events such as the World Alpine Championships being held in Val d’Isere and the continued success of the British Land Ski Championships in Meribel, this season is shaping up to be an action packed one! I hope you enjoy the summer sun where ever you are and hope to see everyone again when the skies turn white! Pete Hillyard http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/blue-skies-and-summer-days Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:23:26 +0000 Méribel After the snow yesterday, the resort awoke to clear blue skies and compelling ski conditions. As the first skiiers headed up, we all could tell it was going to be an unforgetable morning. The slopes were groomed to perfection last night and the early morning blasts proved to be world class conditions. The whole of the 3 vallies had snow yesterday and so the runs were long, powerful and we could be totally flexible in which direction to take. Over the Saulire ridge gave us some wide open pistes to explore, right down to Courchevel 1850, were a well deserved drinks break was enjoyed in one of the towns main bars. Returning to the Meribel side took us over the Loz summit and the views of the entire valley were timeless. Hopefully more of the sunshine and great skiing conditions will be enjoyed this afternoon. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/458-clear-blue-skies Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:22:28 +0000 Méribel This year we will continue to bring you our weekly blog direct from resort so make sure you log on and keep up-to-date with all the news and gossip from the slopes, the snow, our guests and the wipe outs! Over the next two weeks we will be catching up with Pete from Meribel and Kevin from St Anton to find out exactly what's happening in resort this season. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/dont-miss-out Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:30:30 +0100 St Anton This year we will continue to bring you our weekly blog direct from resort so make sure you log on and keep up-to-date with all the news and gossip from the slopes, the snow, our guests and the wipe outs! Over the next two weeks we will be catching up with Pete from Meribel and Kevin from St Anton to find out exactly what's happening in resort this season. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/779-dont-miss-out Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:24:57 +0100 Méribel Well that is that for the season, it has been a fantastic time for all here at the Amalien Haus. We would like to say a big thank you to all those who stayed with us. For those who only care for things white, it is currently snowing and the clouds are low in the valley. Blue skies are due to return on Thursday so it may be that the last day of our season will be freshly covered. See you next winter!  http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/581-st-anton-snow-we-close Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:58:08 +0100 St Anton Even as we enter the last few weeks of the season, the skies continue to be full of clouds and deliver snow across the alps. As freezing levels are around most resort heights, the villages are seeing a little rain but up on the mountain its definitely snowing. The conditions for this late on are really good, usually by now the flips-flops and shorts are out ! However this year, even the statues in the centre of town are still covered. The good start to the season looks like being matched by the best end of a season for quite a few years. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/580-snow-still-falling Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:50:12 +0100 Méribel As may have been seen on the news in the UK we have seen a lot of snow here in the Arlberg. All is well, though the avalanche risk remains high, the skiing is very good. Today we saw some breaks in the clouds and so enjoyed some good visibility in the fresh snow. Tomorrow was predicted to be clear though it now looks like we will be getting some more snow. It would be good to be snowed-in, but equally a clear sunny day would not be a dissappointment.  http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/579-st-anton-hope-parting-clouds Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:07:39 +0100 St Anton Today saw stunningly beautiful sunshine all day. Even better was the fact that the snow was in amazing condition all day. The morning was spent in Courchevel and a good varied ski was enjoyed by everyone. As the sun was out, a lunch on the terrace had to be done and the deck chairs were as popular as ever! A hazy afternoon was enjoyed in the St Martin de Belleville valley. As the sunshine is set to continue combined with  these great snow conditions, we really are seeing great late season skiing. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/578-sun-returns Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:24:36 +0100 Méribel Today saw a very changeable day here in Meribel. The morning allowed us to take full advantage of the overnight snow. The cloud lifted during breakfast and rewarded everyone that had risen early. The morning saw beautiful sunshine and fresh snow, so Courchevel 1850 was the first destination to enjoy the long motorway runs high above the resort. The pace was quick as we crossed over the valley as we headed towards La Tania. The tree-lined runs down to village are really a must see when skiing in the Trois Vallee, these runs are enjoyed by everyone regardless of ability. Sadly the cloud and wind increased in the afternoon, so as St Martin De Belleville seemed to have escaped the fog we headed down towards the village by crossing over the Meribel Valley. A little rain followed, so we all headed in for a welcome deserved drink in one of Meribel many bars. A truly diverse day. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/577-mixed-fortunes Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:52:34 +0100 Méribel After a fairly uneventful week or so, which saw warming temperatures and slushy afternoons, clouds have returned to the Arberg and we are apparently due another dump. Two days of snow have been predicted and it looks like it may stay cold a little longer. This brings hope for a snowy end to the season. Let's see if we get a clear cold day before we all have to go home! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/575-st-anton-two-days-snow Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:24:57 +0100 St Anton The resort woke up to cloudy snowy skies again this morning. Despite it being nearly April we saw the type of temperatures usually experienced in January. The snow quality of the whole area was fantastic however the best skiing to be had today was Courchevel. We had the top runs from Saulire to ourselves and even managed some fresh powder runs! Not what you expect at 4.30 in the afternoon at the end of April. As the snow quality is set to remain good and the sunshine is returning tomorrow for the rest of the week, we should all be enjoying the next few days. Good conditions and good luck for eveyone racing in the Mens UK Land downhill competition tomorrow right here in Meribel. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/574-yet-more-snow Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:15:19 +0100 Méribel The last few days have seen dustings of new snow across the Trois Vallee area.So for anyone skiing the last few days a few quiet powder runs were unexpectly enjoyed, even if it meant tracking over the complete area! The sunshine today was more suited to a summer day in St Tropez, certainly there was a few people outside Cap Horn who thought they were down there. This heat did result in some heavy stuff down below in resort but the freezing tempretures and expected snow tonight will fill in the gaps for the weeks ahead. The snow depths higher up are record for this time of year and that combined with late season sunshine should finish the season off beautifully. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/572-powder-and-sunshine Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:34:32 +0100 Méribel Though the clouds have not cleared, despite the fact it is not predicted to stop snowing this week and  in the face of low visibility we have all managed to have a fantastic day in deep fresh snow. The Fidler party were literally rolling down the hill in the powder. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/529-st-anton-rolling-snow Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:23:03 +0000 St Anton The winter season began again today here in Meribel. We have seen between 50 to 60 cm of fresh snow fall in the last 12 hours. I cant actually believe it is the end of March and we have been skiing fresh powder all day today. Even with the dumping of snow experienced, most lifts were open and access to the Trois Vallee was still possible all day. For everyone lucky and flexible enought to be skiing tomorrow, it could prove to be one of the best days of the season.  As we sit down for the evening meal tonight we are all still talking and smiling about the skiing today and I can guarantee we are not the only ones. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/528-powder-white Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:56:09 +0000 Méribel The first day of spring began in Meribel today. However the conditions were more suited to the winter months just gone. The sun was shining, the snow consistant and firm and the tempreture well below recent days. The cold weather seemed to have deterred most people as we had empty slopes all the way down to Courchevel 1850. The snow was in wonderful condition and the pistes had been groomed to perfection over night. The quiet slopes meant a ski through Courchevel down to La Tania and back to Meribel before 11! The Val Thorens vallee was looking clear and sunny in the afternoon so we headed over for more of the same.  As always Mont Vallon provided late afternoon sun to enjoy on the way back. A truely great first spring day in the Trois Vallee. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/527-easter-skiing Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:49:16 +0000 Méribel Yesterday morning saw a brief gap in the clouds and we all enjoyed skiing the great snow in good visibility. The afternoon, however, was marked by diving temperatures and the return of the clouds. More clouds does mean more snow, though it would be great if the visibility improves! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/507-st-anton-clouds-and-tired-legs Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:53:46 +0000 St Anton The day started with first lifts for most of the guests as the sun was shining and the snow still fresh from the previous couple of days.  VT was the place to be with lots of places to make some fresh tracks off piste and on piste with good grippy snow.  Everybody had a great day, complimented with tea and cakes and a dip in the jacuzzi for apres-ski to sort out the tired legs.  To top it off, the chef produced a delicious hearty lamb shank dinner complete with the complimentary wine.  It is enough to make anyone feel very satisfied on their short holiday break.  We had 5 people arrive today, who are amazed at the conditions outside and already the great service inside.  We look forward to making it their best short ski break, with more snow on the way, watch this space!! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/506-more-sun-and-fresh-snow-showers Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:43:54 +0000 Méribel March continues to deliver snow and this morning we have woken to clearing skies. The clouds (and snow) are due to return this afternoon though this morning is set for a stormer- we have had days of snow and now blue skies! The conditions yesterday were somewhat heavy off piste with the occasional powder mogul on piste, this did not stop the Sullivan party having a great first day. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/505-st-anton-window-blue-sky Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:01:30 +0000 St Anton The snow continued to fall all evening and Meribel awoke to cloudy but snowy skies. As the freezing level was fairly high today, the snow on the higher slopes was of a better standard to ski on. The second station of the main bubbles were closed first thing this morning, however we managed to sneak up the vast network of chair lifts the area has to offer and headed over to Les Menuires.  We managed to experience some breaks in the cloud and enjoy the fresh level of snow on all pistes. The mountain was quiet as the changeable conditions continued throughout the day. With the prospect of clear skies and groomed fresh snow, it is shaping up to be an epic day on the mountain tomorrow. The fresh snow fallen has topped up the levels for the slightly busier Easter holiday period that is approaching.  We are looking forward to an 'eggcellent' white Easter. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/504-fresh-snow-falling Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:53:47 +0000 Méribel Winter started again today here in Meribel. The higher slopes saw 20 to 30 cm of fresh snow this morning and the snow has just kept falling. At least 15 more cm is expected to fall overnight. The skiing condition on the peaks was breathtaking this morning. The steep wide bowls off the back of Courchevel provided powder and beautiful clean snow to enjoy, even if the visability was a little changeable. As the day continued, the freezing level dropped and as a result even the snow on lower slopes became a pleasure to ski. The prospect of fresh snow and clear skies has got alot of people in the resort very excited, bring on those first lifts! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/502-its-snowing-outside Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:59:54 +0000 Méribel Having a flexible approach to ski holidays paid off yet again today. As the rest of the 3 vallees was changing over, we blasted around groomed empty pistes all day long. The day started with first tracks down the long runs towards Les Menuires and the piste skiing was simply a wonderful experience for all to enjoy. By mid morning any crunch had softend up and the expansive pistes of Val Thorens gave the group an open playground in which to explore the highest resort in Europe. A quality lunch stop in the sunshine provided the energy needed for the last runs of the afternoon on Mont Vallon. As we waited for our minibus pick up, the entire group was feeling the effects of a long day ski.  However with big smiles and rosy faces all around, we are all hoping for more of the same tomorrow. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/500-saturday-skiing Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:26:45 +0000 Méribel We have seen a rollercoaster of temperatures over the past week. Currently we are seeing snow on the high mountain with rain occasionally in the valley. Today, the snow in St Anton and Lech was powder in the morning, however it had become very heavy by the afternoon. We are hoping that the clouds will shed all of their contents before the temperatures start to rise again, as there are rumours of positive temperatures in double figures this weekend. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/499-st-anton-winter-returns Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:14:36 +0000 St Anton Starting with a cloudy morning and zero visability, we all thought we had a challenging day ahead but once we had ascended up to Mont Vallon it allowed us to climb above the layer of cloud to see some truely breathtaking views consisting of a sea of cloud sat in the valley below. The cloud didn't stay for long and broke up to deliver a stunningly quiet day around the Meribel area. A few runs through the snow park provided a bit of fun and unfortunately some bruises! A quick lunch followed and allowed the group to enjoy a relaxing lazy afternoon in the sunshine. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/498-all-weather Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:59:40 +0000 Méribel After three long days of rain we are finally getting some snow out of the current bout of clouds. Piste conditions today were very changeable as one went from fresh powder mogul to solid rain affected piste. However, things are looking up as the freezing level has hit town and we saw snow in dorfstrasse once more. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/496-st-anton-rain-turns-snow Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:30:07 +0000 St Anton The first of the forecasted snow fell today. The whole area had fresh snow and as a result, the piste skiing today was exceptional. The group took full advantage of the quiet slopes, new snow and enjoyed a ski in every valley. Lunch at the Ront Point was its usual excellent experience and a final blast around Courchevel 1650 finished what was an unforgettable day. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/495-first-snow Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:40:13 +0000 Méribel The mix weather continued here in the trois vallees. We have seen a soft dusting of snow on higher slopes and heavy cloud sitting around the peaks Courchevel and Meribel. As the light was particularly changeable today, we sought sanctuary in the tree-lined runs of La Tania and enjoyed surprisingly consistent snow right down to the village. The Courchevel bowl was skiing well and everyone enjoyed the long runs around Saulire and even over to 1650. The weather is forecasted to remain changeable, however with the prospect of new snow on the horizon, the days should continue to deliver wonderful experiences. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/494-snow-has-arrived Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:40:58 +0000 Méribel We were promised some snow and the bad weather that comes with it has arrived. The snow conditions are good on piste, however, it has been raining this morning therefore this afternoon will get a little sticky. We are seeing patchy spells of sunshine though the storm is supposed to set in and hopefully deliver some fresh snow. All guests are still sporting goggle tans from the past couple of days of sun. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/493-st-anton-cloudy-skies Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:26:29 +0000 St Anton The day brought sunshine, flat light, cloud cover and most importantly great snow. The guys after a slightly quieter night last night, enjoyed the benefits of a early morning departure and we all headed over to Les Menuires and La Masse. The long undulating runs of La Masse were empty and wonderful to ski on.The views of the area from that point are truly breathtaking. The quick pace of skiing this morning, enabled us to enjoy the whole area of Motteret before heading to a well deserved lunch. However with the flat light late this morning, the force had to be called upon a few times! The snow quality in the Belleville valley was fantastic and with the mix of skiers and boarders today, a variety of tricks and even a boarder/skiercross race in the snow park was enjoyed by everyone. The late afternoon was spent in Courchevel after the strikes of yesterday, normal service was resumed and the giant red runs above the airport provided the thrills to finish what was a varied but very enjoyable day today. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/492-truly-diverse-day Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:56:43 +0000 Méribel After a wonderful first night trying to destroy the Leonardo's wine collection! The guys headed out early this morning to enjoy the sunshine. Sadly the Courchevel lift operators decided to strike and therefore, that part of the valley was closed for today. However, one of the many benefits of the trois vallees is the massive area avaiable to ski in. We headed straight down to St Martin De Belleville and enjoyed long quiet runs down to the village. As the snow became soft and the afternoon warmed up, we skied around the Mottaret area, making the most of the late sun on Mont Vallon. Finally, we all headed back home, to start on the wine collection again! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/491-americans-land Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:13:01 +0000 Méribel The past couple of days have seen the weather worsen and some snow fall. However, the freezing level has, at times, been above the village and so a small amount of rain fell on the Amalien Haus. Yesterday we were skiing in bad visibility but on very good pistes, let's hope the sun comes out tomorrow as promised. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/486-st-anton-just-little-snow Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:36:49 +0000 St Anton A few flexible 4 day holiday makers got out skiing today, before their departure home in another great sunny day.  The team have been working hard changing over the rooms for the next party of 22 people arriving in Meribel. All those arriving are looking forward to some good skiing and hopefully some snow.  Although the weather is looking a little cloudy,  Pete the pro rep will be with them for the first day to make sure they get to know their way around and organise lessons and anything else they might need for their 4 night break. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/490-sunday-transfer-day Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:39:41 +0000 Méribel The forecasted clouds lifted early in the morning across the whole area and produced a beautiful day here in the Alps. The warm sunshine softened the snow fantastically and by 11 oclock we were all blasting around the area above Courchevel 1850. A face pace was gathered as the crowds stopped for lunch and for nearly an hour we had empty wide pistes to play around on. A slightly slower pace for the afternoon session, as the snow slowly turned to slush and the crowds returned. This is was probably best after a few vin chauds were consumed at lunch anyway! The group are looking forward to  saturday skiing tomorrow, as changeover for the resort means empty slopes and sunshine for anyone flexible enough to ski on a Saturday. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/488-clearing-skies Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:11:05 +0000 Méribel The overnight clouds delivered some snow on higher grounds last night, as a result the first runs were groomed to perfection. This allowed the early birds to enjoy empty race pistes for the early morning. The sunshine returned to warm everyone up by 11 o'clock and we were back to summer conditions for the day. The snow was a result of the lower temperatures last night was stunning and the mornings skiing was powerful, vibrant and we really saw the best the trois vallees has to offer. The wallabies (Corinne, Alana, Oran, Jarrett) group this morning even got into the swing of things, with an out of the blue air guitar session while skiing down towards Meribel! All conducted by Gail their instructor of course. The snow got a little soft this afternoon, however with more snow on the horizon, we are all hoping for more of the same tomorrow. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/485-blue-skies-return Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:09:17 +0000 Méribel As promised the skies clouded over last night and Meribel awoke to a mixture of partial cloud cover and hazy sunshine. The first few days skiing seems to have taken its toll on the half term visitors and we experienced a slightly quieter mountain today. The new arrivals wasted no time in getting out and managed to ski the entire area in a 4 hour period! I am sure a equally long hot tub session will have followed. We saw the first glimpses of snow today, its been nearly three weeks since the last fall, however the snow is holding up really well. That said a new dusting of snow would provide a good platform to enjoy the rest of the half term week. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/484-new-snow-falling Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:49:11 +0000 Méribel The warm conditions remained over Meribel today. The prospect of empty slopes early on, spurred everyone to manage first lifts this morning and  we were rewarded with the first few runs completely to ourseleves. The group split into lessons, however Lucas wasnt waiting for his and managed to ski his complete green run before his lesson! A quick blast into St Martin followed before a sunny lunch in Meribel. Overall the snow is skiing well and with the warm tempretures, remained fairly soft. Once past the inital wait at the lifts, the increase numbers are being absorbed well into the 600 km, that is the 3 vallees. In the hazy afternoon sunshine, the hill outside the chalet saw some extreme bumboarding action and the rest of the skiers finishing on the sun drenched slopes of the Saulire. Clouds are forecasted for tomorrow, so perhaps the endless sunshine will finally come to a end. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/482-winter-sun Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:11:17 +0000 Méribel The fantastic weather we are having has continued today. The combination of good snow and non-stop sunshine has delivered yet another enjoyable day here in the trois vallees. Even with the half term numbers upon us, the waiting at lifts this morning was minimal and we still managed to find empty pistes to enjoy today.  The higher pistes have retained their snow really well and soft snow can be still enjoyed in every valley.A morning spend travelling down to Courchevel 1850 and a afternoon right across the Belleville valley, has resulted in a busy hot tub when we returned home. The clouds are set to gather over the next few days, so we could in for a dusting of snow across the area. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/481-cloudless-skies-continue Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:37:00 +0000 Méribel We have been enjoying a prolonged period of fantastic weather. The past 10 days have been cloudless blue sky days with the temperature staying below zero at all times. This consistent weather has resulted in all the staff sporting great goggle marks and all guests enjoying great piste conditons. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/480-st-anton-sunshine Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:32:23 +0000 St Anton Yet more cloudless blue skies over Meribel today, the frost last night ensured that the snow conditions are remaining good and even with the half term upon us, the waiting time for lifts hasnt been too long. The higher side to Val Thorens is retaining slightly better conditions, however the whole area is holding up fairly well. Sunday night is forecast for a change in weather, which will be perfect to fill in the gaps for next week. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/475-spring-skiing Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:35:48 +0000 Méribel Well the 14th of feb brought letters, presents and more sunshine for everyone to enjoy. The snow depths and nightly piste bashing have meant that on piste conditions are still preforming well under the half term numbers and endless sunshine. As the lower runs are starting to get a little heavy in the afternoons, we concentrated on the morning sessions, Courchevel 1850 provided everyone with varied routes down to the village centre.As always St Martin De Belleville gave us warm, almost summer like skiing condtions in the afternoon. As more blue skies are forecast for the rest of the week, everyone will be racing out after breakfast. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/473-sun-and-valentines-day Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:19:47 +0000 Méribel The wonderful weather continues here in the 3 vallees, we have had sun from 9 till 5 and the skiers have taken full advantage of it. Even with half term, the slopes have been fairly quiet and the snow has skiied brilliantly. The group have explored the whole area, spanning from Courchevel to Val Thorens and we even had Bruce, Catherine, Carol and George skiing in every valley today. The Ront Point provided a busy and enjoyable apres venue, with Rob leading the dancing and always an interesting ski down!. More sunshine tomorrow should continue the perfect conditions we are all enjoying. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/472-all-day-sunshine Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:48:56 +0000 Méribel After yesterdays near perfect ski, we awoke to yet another clear blue sky over the 3 vallees. This combined with excellent conditions provided the group with a wonderful last morning ski before their transfer, one of the advantages of flexible ski travel! The 3 vallees area had been groomed to perfection last night and as the sun slowly warmed up, everyone enjoyed the morning runs before lunch. As the half term season begins, the resorts are gearing themseleves up for a increase in tourist numbers. However with the condition and amount of snow we have, it really should not have a massive inpact on the enjoyment and quality of skiing we have seen so far this season. As there is more sun forecasted for the rest of the week, the days should be long and enjoyable. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/468-sunshine-continues Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:42:30 +0000 Méribel Today has been beautiful; blue skies, great piste conditions and what was left of the powder from Wednesday. The Salter party spent their last full day's skiing in Lech and enjoyed the sunshine with a long lunch on a sun terrace. Low mountain conditions in Lech did deteriorate through the warming temperatures of late afternoon, but good day was still had by all.  http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/467-st-anton-perfect-days Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:26:51 +0000 St Anton Another clear day was experienced by the whole of the 3 vallees today. With near perfect snow conditions and blue skies, the group had another wonderful day today. Combining runs to Val Thorens, the highest resort in Europe for the racing party and the sunshine group travelling to the Col de Loze to see the breathtaking views of the entire range. The whole party had another demanding but rewarding day skiing. Also not forgetting Betty the youngest(75) of the group took a walk upto the top of Saulire to cast an eye over the days events. The promise of a quiet Saturday ski already has everyone busy planning routes for tomorrows adventures. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/465-endless-blue-skies Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:11:33 +0000 Méribel Well the weather God managed to provide us with some very changeable conditions throughout today. We started with cloud and fog in Meribel, patchs of sunshine in Motterat, rain over lunch in Meribel altiport and then sunshine in St Martin de Belleville.  Finishing with zero visability and freezing fog and so much snow Mark's hair turned bright white on Mont Vallon! Wow what a day! However the one constant factor in the day was the snow condition, simply fantastic. The new layer of new snow on higher slopes gave everyone a fresh layer to enjoy, even if the visability left a little to be desired. The weather is forecasted to settle back into clear sunshine days for the rest of the week, so the deckchairs at lunch should be seeing plently of action! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/463-every-weather-condition-possible Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:23:46 +0000 Méribel We woke up to a very closed-in, but snowy, morning this morning. The clouds can't seem to decide what to do; visibility improves and deteriorates with the varying weight of snow. Yesterday saw lovely blue skies with half a boot's depth in places, boarders were loving it but the skiers were catching the hard pack underneath the fresh snow. Here's hoping there is a powder day on the way! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/462-st-anton-snow Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:46:45 +0000 St Anton After yesterdays challenging conditions, we all relaxed after a few glasses of wine and hoped for the forecasted sunshine. Meribel did not disappoint, the morning skies were cloudless and the guys raced up to open up on the big wide pistes towards Courchevel 1850. This provided perfect skiing conditions for intermediate skiers all the way down. The rest of the morning was left to explore the vast area of 1650 and beyond. Lunch at a sun-drenched terrace allowed for a slightly slower pace in the afternoon and the occasional face-plant off piste by Chris, followed up by a brief drink at the Ront Point.  Brought the afternoon to a end ,the interesting post ront point ski down of course followed! The Flexiski team were out enjoying  the sunshine in the snowpark for the afternoon, Lucy and Sarah were rasing the standard on the bordercross course in Motterat, so overall another fanstastic day for all abilities in the 3 Vallees area and there is more sunshine to follow tomorrow. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/461-sunshine-powder Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:40:20 +0000 Méribel Saturday saw some fairly grim weather covering the very good conditions underfoot. The snow was great- maybe 15cm - but the visibility was poor and the slopes therefore nearly deserted. This bad weather blew through, however, on Sunday and we were gifted a clear and very blue sky day. This clear weather was great for Shon Bodey to find his legs on Rauz and for the Rogers party to work on their goggle tan in Lech. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/459-st-anton-goggle-tan Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:33:39 +0000 St Anton After the clouds gathered last night, the promised snow was delivered later than expected. Meribel and right accross the 3 vallies woke to snowy trees and white skies. The snow continued to fall all morning, providing interesting visability but the promise of fresh snow saw everyone in the resort racing up for fresh tracks. The group split into two parts, the off-piste powder hounds went straight upto Val Thorens and the smaller group went down to play in the tree-lined runs of La Tania. These runs provided some magical skiing in and out of the trees and even had Pam and Ellidah conquering their first bumps and jumps session. The mix of sunshine and snow delieved some exceptional contrasting light conditions and the break-up of the clouds over Meribel was quite something to watch. With more snow forecast, the conditions will coninue to improve to deliver even more world class skiing across the area. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/457-fresh-snow-and-sunshine Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:08:11 +0000 Méribel Well the forecast had told of low cloud and possible snow, this was true for the mornings, however come 11 am and the blue skies shone through and provided a beautiful but surprising day. The snow in Courchevel was skiing fantastically and the bonus of the blue skies meant everyone upped thier game and a long technical ski was enjoyed all morning long Into the afternoon after a wonderful lunch at one of Courchevel's world famous restaurants, the pace slowed allowing the long crusing reds of the 3 vallies to be fully enjoyed. The later afternoon delivered the first signs of the forecasted snow with high altitiude clouds gathering, we are all hoping for the dump of snow forecasted tonight. With blue skies, lots of fresh snow and relaxing weekend skiing, the next few days promise to deliver some speical days here in the 3 vallies. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/454-surprising-sunshine Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:10:08 +0000 Méribel The snow arrived, though not in huge amounts. The Reid party had a great time in Stuben where the north facing slopes were slightly softer under the fresh snow. Yesterday saw a very grey and windy morning clear to a long and very blue afternoon. We are hoping that today is going to turn out the same way, though there are no signs of it yet, I suppose we will simply have to put up with the great piste conditions under grey skies. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/453-st-anton-dusting-delivered Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:57:38 +0000 St Anton To continue the best skiing conditions,Europe has seen in recent years. This weeks guests have had the perfect balance of days of sunshine and a heavy forecast of snow mainly falling on Friday evening all around the 3 vallies. A foggy early morning lifted right on time at 9am to produce a peaceful day around the 3 vallies area. Early mornings were spent travelling across the Belleville valley, through Val Thorens, the highest resort in Europe. Over to the little known 4th valley Orelles. This journey was justified by wide open groomed pistes that provided the group with the opportunity to develop their carving techniques all the way down. A relaxed track back via Les Menuires and St Martin, gave an uninterupted sunshine afternoon. A well deserved Van Chaud provided another satisifing end to another relaxing day skiing. The fresh snow forecasted will give the pistes a new layer to enjoy whilst hopefully opening up the endless off piste adventures the 3 vallies has to offer. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/452-snow-just-keeps-coming Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:22:45 +0000 Méribel After a good few days of sunshine the weather today has finally today decided to come in and begin the start of a good dump of snow.  This will hopefully turn the conditions to some good powder days that our flexible 4 day chalet holiday clients can enjoy giving them some great conditions in the exceptional 3 vallees mountains.  http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/450-more-snow-its-way Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:34:17 +0000 Méribel It has been very mild over the past couple of days, temperatures rose to 7 celsius and it felt as if we were skiing in Spring. Today we had, again, beautiful blue skies and great on piste conditions. The good news is that the snow on all the shaded slopes is holding up very well, whilst the snow in the sun becomes fun, but slushy, moguls by the afternoon. We are hoping for some snow later in the week, though predictions seem to suggest that only a dusting is due. It is gorgeous out here at the moment, there were rainbows over the ridges in St Christoph as the sun fell this afternoon. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/449-st-anton-mild-weather-snow-way Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:56:37 +0000 St Anton Through the past few days we have rolled into a freeze-thaw cycle. We have been having slightly overcast, cold and icy mornings followed by warm, sunny afternoons with softening snow. Australia day was celebrated yesterday in the afternoon sunshine with games of cricket at Nasserein and a huge crowd at the Krazy Kangaruh. This weather pattern looks set to continue into next week so please do not forget your sun cream. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/447-st-anton-sunny-afternoons Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:04:20 +0000 St Anton After a cold morning in the shadows of the surrounding peaks, we all enjoyed a very warm afternoon searching out the last of the leftover powder. On piste conditons were magic leading to long lazy (post lunch) turns down the steissbachtal. Everyone seems to have had a really great day, that is if the smiling, slightly red, faces at dinner are anything to go by!  http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/446-st-anton-skiing-sunshine Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:06:47 +0000 St Anton Yesterday saw high winds and heavy snow. Only a few of the staff braved the weather on their boards. The snow subsided in the night and the full moon came into view. Two feet of fresh snow under our skis and blue skies above us, all was in place today. Sunny days are expected and will help the Selvester and Moss party to find their ski legs. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/443-st-anton-powder-days Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:16:33 +0000 St Anton Yet again, we went to sleep last night with snowy, cloudy skies and by first lifts, the clouds had vanished to deliver more magical skiing conditions right across the area. The chalet guests were not missing out on this opportunity to get fresh tracks and come 9.00 am, were waiting for the first lifts. Out of the sun, the snow was a little crispy but by 9.30 everywhere had softened up to produce world class conditions. The runs down from Mount Vallon into Meribel Mottaret provided blasting of the highest quality, These conditions were repeated all of the morning in and around Meribel. The afternoon session found people wanting fresh tracks, so we headed to St Martin De Belleville were we had the delicious combination of sunshine and fresh snow, after some techincal skiing we headed back to saulire to bask in the afternoon sunshine above the Ront Point. Another irresistible day in the 3 vallies, this season just keeps getting better and better. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/442-great-season-continues Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:58:39 +0000 Méribel Well since we last wrote, we have experienced two unforgettable days here in the 3 vallies. With dustings of fresh snow, the skies cleared and delivered some flawless skiing all around the area. With record snow depths and comparably quieter slopes, the days skiing have been stunning for all skiers. The conditions coupled with activities such as snow polo tournaments in Courchevel and ski testing in Meribel, the 3 vallies really are the place to be skiing at the moment. Our blue skies have now clouded over and we are expecting more snow tonight and tomorrow and the rest of the week to clear ready for some more exceptional 2008 season skiing. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/441-another-blue-sky-day Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:39:13 +0000 Méribel The clouds have gone and it looks like we are in for a beautiful day. All runs are open and all the guests are applying sun cream. Yesterday, Ali took a group to Lech and enjoyed some great piste skiing on the rolling blues of Oberlech. The small amount of rain low on the mountain did make the off piste a little heavy, though the Thomas party still found soft turns on the North face of Valluga when out skiing with a local mountain guide. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/440-st-anton-blue-sky Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:59:30 +0000 St Anton A few mid mountain clouds floated around early morning, to open out into more blue sky for the whole day.  Slopes were peaceful as Meribel goes through its major transfer day.  The Coleman party headed out to Val Thorens for a good lunch.  As a results some of the party are claiming to have had some of the best skiing they have ever had.  Plus they have all gone to watch the Rugby and football.  So dinner is a little later tonight!!  Another excellant day from Meribel. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/439-another-beautiful-day-paradise Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:33:05 +0000 Méribel After a 2 am arrival and ski fit at the chalet during breakfast.  The weather was set to make up for all the problems of cancelled flights at Heathrow and train journeys. At the slopes with Pete at 10 and into the gorgeous blue sky and fresh snow. Lunch and apres-ski makes the day.  Just  waiting for the call to pick them up....then into the Jacuzzi.....what more could you want. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/436-first-day-coleman-party Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:59:29 +0000 Méribel It's so nice to wake up to fresh snow in the village! A great day was had yesterday skiing with Andy Thomas and party, the snowy morning cleared to give us perfect conditions for playing between pistes in fresh snow. That snow has been added to overnight, so things are simply getting better. The cloud is still above us this morning, however, the visibility is still good. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/435-st-anton-snow-overnight Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:13:14 +0000 St Anton Another lovely dump landed with the clouds clearing and blue sky pushing through.  The three vallees open fully for a another lovely day of skiing on and off piste. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/433-another-10cm Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:32:40 +0000 Méribel The predicted clouds have rolled in higher than expected leading to a beautiful sunny day with great on piste conditions. All runs are currently open. The off piste is slightly wind effected, however, some soft stuff can still be found in places. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/432-16-01-08-snow-update Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:44:13 +0000 St Anton The fresh snow from the weekend has created loads of powder both on and off the slopes so the skiing conditions are fantastic. With more snow forectasted it can only get better! http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/austria/st-anton/amalien-haus/blog/418-st-anton-powder-powder-everywhere Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:55:22 +0000 St Anton Although there is a hard base to the pistes there is a layer of fresh snow over the top so skiing is good. Off-piste is a bit heavy but with the snow forecasted for the end of the week these conditons will improve. http://www.flexiski.com/ski-resorts/france/meribel/chalet-leonardo/blog/417-meribel-fresh-dusting-white-stuff Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:52:53 +0000 Méribel