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.

Of course I have been thinking about contingency plans for how to get back to the UK. To be honest not really hard as there is always a way back from France.

For once you can easily drive back to the UK. Journey times to the French ports are less than 10 hours and if you keep the stops to a minimum you can do it in less than eight hours. I checked with my car hire company and I would be able to drop-off my car in Calais.

Not that I am in  a rush, snow conditions in Tignes are fantastic and even the off-piste is still good. Yesterday I skied Vallon de la Sache all the way down to Tignes Les Brevieres. I had a 10cm soft cover of snow on top of the dense solid snow foundation. … all to myself.

I love skiing Tignes late April, more often than not the snow is great and the past five years we had fresh snow even as late as early May.  The days are longer, the sun is warmer and a lot less people. Temperatures are still minus degrees, keeping the snow nice and consistent. Yes there is the odd slush lower down in the afternoon but it is April after all.

Skiing down the Grande Motte is still like sking in January, with firm, gripping snow ideal for racing long carving turns. No queues at the bottom of the Grande Motte cable car, no delays just continuous up and down on one of the most spectacular runs in the Alps and the world. Yesterday I managed almost 4 runs per hour from 3450m Grande Motte all the way down to Leisse chair lift.

Back to the vulcano and the current traffic chaos. You need not have to rely on flights getting to Tignes anyway.  There are direct train connections between London King’s Cross and Bourg St Maurice, from where it is just a 30min transfer to Tignes. Many transfer operators and busses operate on the route form Bourg st Maurice to Tignes. there should be no problems making arrangements at low cost.

As I am writing this blog post (sitting in my apartment overlooking Tichot) the first flights landed in Geneva airport. It looks like the air traffic ban has been lifted in London after a 6 days shutdown and it seems a large part of the British air traffic is expected to resume its works.

I for once had made my contingency plans.  Having said so I don’t have to go back to the UK before the end of the week and I could think of worse places to be stranded than Tignes. In fact, I wish the flight ban had been introduced later so I could stay to the end of the ski season.

Oh well there is always next year.

Ski hire is an obvious one. We all have seen the offers for 20% and 30% reduction on skiing and boarding gear. Never mind all the banners from websites offering reduced rates for online bookings. How much of a real discount you are getting depends which starting price you take.

The problem with ski hire, everybody want to make a cut. If you are getting 20% discount via your booking agency or via a ski travel website you can bet that they are making 10% to 15% on you too. As always, direct is the best way to go. A friend of mine just came back from Tignes. He told me that he got a 45% discount on all the ski gear for his entire family including helmets and safety wear. I can’t name the shop (for obvious reasons). Just browse around in Tignes town and negotiate. There are plenty of ski hire shops in Tignes.

It is safe to assume that snow gear for sale is heavily reduced in price too. Most ski related business will have had an average, if not poor season to date. Businesses in Tignes are no different. I bet that sales for ski, boards, accessories and ski wear have already started. You should expect discounts of 50% – 80%. Now is the time to buy, if you are in the market for a new pair of ski or a snowboard.  Shops will still have all brands and sizes. Prices might be low at the end of the season too, but stocks will be limited.

Looks like airport transfer operators have started to discount too. If you are looking for a ski transfer to Tignes, submit your request to Ski Transfer Finder which should get you some transfer options. I have been told that some providers offer good midweek deals. A friend of mine booked a midweek private Grenoble airport transfer to Tignes and got a 50% discount.

Ski accommodation seems to be in plenty supply too. I know this first hand as I still got my Easter weeks free for this season. Here you go, even the last rental weeks in my ski apartment are on sale:  Ski apartment Tignes – 25% discount, directly from the owner (me).

Expect to see more happy hours and more meal deals in Tignes as the ski season progresses into April but don’t expect any discounts on ski passes. Also don’t bank on any preferential rates in Tignes many mountain refuges and restaurants . Things might be bad, and most things in Tignes are on sale. However it will take a lot more to break the cartel of lift and refuge owners in Tignes.

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.