Fresh snow is slowing down competitors

The fresh snow falls are slowing down slopestyle competition and is making courses more sticky. X-Games competitors feed on speed, fresh snow and poor visibility is not helping getting the best out of the competition During yesterday’s women’s slopestyle competition for example,  a number of the female riders opted to skip the last kicker due to a lack of speed. Even Canadian Kaya Turski, last years winner put together the strongest run but did not make the final jump due to lack of speed.

Forecast good for Tignes and X-Games

Looks like the weather has been a hindrance during yesterday’s competition but the forecast is for clearer skies next few days. Temperatures will be below freezing, but not too cold with a max -2°C on Fri morning, min -12°C on Sat night. Winds will be generally light. There might be some sunny spells next few days which will please the X Game competitors and ski holiday makers alike.

The long range forecast looks great, some more light snow fall next week followed by sun and just sub-zero temperatures. Luckily the season in Tignes is continuing until the 10th May, so plenty of time to enjoy the fresh snow and mountain sun.

There is still plenty of availability. Ski apartments in Tinges rent for as low as £400/week for up to 7 people.

Watch X Games & X Game Preparations

Not only has Tignes landed the European Winter X Games for three years running. In only 36 days left and you will be able to enjoy the Winter X Games Europe live on Tignes’ snow! If you can’t wait and want to follow the preparation? From February 20th on, ESPN and Canal + Event staff is landing at 2100m to set up THE biggest freestyle event of the year! Tignes set-up a mini website dedicated to the Winter X Games Europe for those of you who can’t be there. The site offers you all essential info easily: HD webcams to follow the shaping of the SuperPipe and the modules of the Slopestyle, news, practical info to organize your stay, goodies to customize your computer etc.

Rally Champions racing on ice

You don’t have to wait for the X Games to get in on the action. What about some Rally Racing …. on ice? Tignes’ child Guerlain Chicherit and his Mini Countryman All4 Racing are ready to ride Tignes’ snow! The Full Metal Garage Show has landed in Tignes from February 13th to 16th. The four-time freeride world champion, Rally Raid world champion in 2009, combines his two passions into one brand new free show. Three days of training for an hour long performance on the most unlikely spots of the resort: skids on the frozen lake, jump over a bridge…

Exteme Winter Madness

You can expect a lot more entertainment and activities during your stay in Tignes. Some of the special events you can enjoy are parallel slalom with a sumo suit, photo Snow Safari with Sony, street entertainment, Kinect contest on giant screen with the Tignes Winter Madness game, Playstation contest with PS3, Disco on Ice, the party that puts the natural ice rink on fire, ice diving, and… skiing, boarding and snow fun of course.

Free Tignes holiday draw

Tignes tourist office also draws a free holiday for a lucky one in a 4* holiday residence, with five friend. The winner can enjoy all the madness for free in a hotel, just 2 minute walk away, and watch the best riders of the planet are landing stratospheric tricks along a crazy Slopestyle course and in an XXL half-pipe… You just have a few days left to play and try to win a 1 week stay for 6 people during the Winter X Games Europe! Hurry-up, no time to waste. The draw is on February 15th. More information on www.tignes-winter-madness.com!

Free swimming & skating

Tignes also offers free access to the swimming pool and to the ice rink if you buy a 2 to 15 day espace killy ski pass! Great deal and all makes sense. Why not, after a whole day of skiing, head for a few lengths in the Lagon pool and go toward the ice rink for a hockey match.

I hope you agree, Tignes keeps pushing the boundries’. The ski resort rocks.

Every Wednesdays enjoy the Fresh tracks sessions, the only way to be the first on the slopes: departure at 8.30 am for a slide down from Grande Motte Glacier to the heart of the resort.

Some of the Highlights this Tignes winter season:

November 27th:

Eespace killy’s opening, 300 km of pistes, but you already know that!

December 31st:

Tignes Fire Mix Party, the highest New Year’s Eve party of all. Andy Favre and DJ’s Mathieu Bouthier / Fun radio will set the dancefloor on fire with electro house sets from 10.30 pm to 2.30 am.

March 16th to 18th 2011:

2nd edition of the Winter X Games Europe Tignes.

Winter X 15 will be held from Jan. 27 – 30, 2011 in Aspen, Colo. Winter X Europe will be held March 16 – 18, 2011 in Tignes, France.

More than 125 athletes will compete from all over the globe in Snowboard and Skiing in France for the second year of Winter X Games Europe.

Plenty of reasons to ski Tignes this year

The French national football team has announced some time ago that it will train at high altitude in Tignes, France. Training in Tignes means the adaptation of the body for the games taking place at altitude. Some games in South Africa this summer will be conducted at high altitude in Johannesburg (1,700m), Bloemfontein (1,400m) and Rustenburg (1,500m).  Tignes a 2100m is more than ample preparation for the altitude the team will face in south Africa. The air is notably thinner at these heights and the oxygen content per cubic metre of air is reduced thanks to the lower air pressure. This generally means that the body, in particular the muscles, can no longer be supplied with sufficient levels of oxygen.

The France football team will be in Tignes from May 18th to 25th for their traditional training at altitude, before a series of friendly matches. France will face Costa Rica on the 25th May and  Tunisia on the 30th May in Lens, followed by a game against China on June 4th, in Pierre de la Réunion. This world cup, the football training in Tignes is particularly important as matches will take place in Johannesburg, at an altitude of 1800 metres (1/4 final and final). Well, that is if the French team can make it that far. If the previous track record is anything to go by, France has always done well after a visit to Tignes. Winning the title, runners-up and quarter final appearances.

It might be news to you, but Tignes got a fantastic summer season with state of the art outdoor football fields, tennis courts and a high altitude golf course in addition to the usual Alpine adrenalin  sports and summer skiing. Summer season normally starts mid June and closes mid September.

The French team are a little early for their preparation and given recent dump of fresh powder, Henry and his buddies might have to put on some gloves for outdoor training.  Snow is something they won’t have to prepare for in South Africa.

In case you want to follow Les Bleus beyond Tignes, here are the first round World cup fixtures:

Friday, the 11th of June 2010
Cap (8:30pm)
Uruguay – France

Thursday, the 17th of June 2010
Polokwane (8:30pm)
France – Mexico

Tuesday, the 22nd of June 2010
Bloemfontein (4:00pm)
France – South Africa

Let’s hope the French team can make it past the first round. would be great to welcome them back to Tignes for the Euro preparations in two years time.

If you enjoyed the Freestyle events such as boarder- and ski cross, the fun is not over yet. The countdown has already started for Winter X Games Europe in Tignes. You can be there to watch live rather than on TV. A one hour flight from the UK to either Lyon, Geneva, Grenoble or Chambery and a two and half hour ski transfer will get you to Tignes. Worth doing even for the weekend as you will be able to share the amazing X Games experience with thousands of spectators coming to cheer the competitors. For sure Tignes will be buzzing with energy and beat the Winter Olympics atmosphere by miles.

Tignes Winter X Games – March 10th to 12th

The Winter X Games will be held in Tignes from March 10th to 12th. On show the very best freestyle athletes on the planet including Tignes’ own Xavier Bertoni freestyle ski legend. On offer some world class extreme skiing and boarding:

Men and Women’s Super Pipe Ski

Men and Women’s Super Pipe Snowboard

Men and Women’s Slopestyle Ski

Men and Women’s Slopestyle Snowboard

Freestyle Snowmobile

Kevin Rolland, Sarah Burke, Mathieu Crépel are just some of the many free riders confirmed. Watch and meet the world’s best freestylers. Best ofall the entire event is for free  with lots of parties and fringe events.

Tignes X Games

Sensational Snow Conditions in Tignes

The current snow conditions in Tinges are short of sensational and probably the best I seen for many years. We had below zero degree temperatures all season and lots of fresh powder. This is surely going to be the best Winter X Games ever. The only downside for me:  I won’t be able to make it and I am gutted!!! Who is going to enjoy the views from my Ski Apartment in Tignes? I don’t even dare to think about it.

I had a quick glance up the Grande Motte glacier earlier (break of clouds) and the snow on the glacier looks great. Having been worried yesterday, sitting on lake Annecy, 20C, enjoying a warm atumn afternoon – ‘how much snow will we have this season?’ Given the economic climate, the last thing we need would be poor snow at the start of the season.

All worries gone now, a good week of snow in November will provide the foundations for this winter season, at least until well after Christmas. Tignes got it sorted, a glacier, snow machines and an endless supply of water from the barrage below the resort makes it one of the most snow safe resorts in the Alps.

I better stop waffling on. There is a powder to be skied tomorrow. Just in case you are wondering, no my ski apartment is already booked between now and early Jan 2010. I am sure you find ski accommodation elsewhere.

Imagine the sound of cowbells as you walk up one of the many trails around Val claret and Tignes Le Lac. If you never been in Tignes during the summer you probably can’t imagine the Alpine fauna that springs to life during the summer period on the foot of one of the largest ski-able glaciers in Europe. Imagine the contrast of green, white and blue.

Imagine skiing down the Grand Motte in a T-shirt on empty slopes, sunbathing on a terrace at 3000m in your shorts or bikini, having lunch overlooking some of the most stunning mountain ranges in the Alps. Well that just covers the mornings in Tignes.

Imagine yourself on a mountain bike downhill, racing down one of the many bike trails in full body protection, helmet and goggles. Toviere Aeroski, Palafour chair lift and Grande Motte funicular makes sure you can do this all day without breaking sweat.

Imagine playing a hole of golf at 2300m. Tignes golf course is the highest in Europe, 18 holes in a unique alpine setting.

Imagine playing football or rugby next to famous teams such as the French National Football team, Olympique Lyonnais, Stade Francais and Montpellier. Imagine great facilities, playing every ball game possible from tennis to beach volleyball.

Imagine the largest children and grown-up theme park in the world, without the crowds, without the theme but with all the fun. Imagine the largest children playground you can imagine. Imagine the buzz of children having fun

Imagine Tignes in summer.

Last weekend holes were even higher with additional ‘greens’ set-up below the Grand Motte at over 3000m. Up there you don’t call them greens any longer, better ‘whites’ as the golf is played on the glacier.

Now Tignes is not your average resort and golf is not know for its underground movements. To understand last weekend’s concept of golf you have to understand the difference between a middle class skier and a crazy off-piste boarder.  For one weekend only, the golf course is extended around the entire resort and the mountains nearby. Everyone could join in, which might not be the spirit of the normally elitist golf.

The weekend and concept of ‘Wild Golf’ in Tignes has gone down very well with everybody in Tignes. BBQ and Concert on Saturday evening by the lake drew a huge amount of people.

This week the golf course is back to normal, 18 holes and more of a traditional crowd. Beware traditional means something different here in Tignes.