www.Skibob.org.uk Skibob Skibike in France 2005

I have to Go again - Long weekend in French Alps
Brendan West April 2005

www.skibob.org.uk

“End of March. I have to go 1 more time…. There’s plenty of snow… Who can I get to go with me? What about the project at work?” .
With these thoughts going round and round in my head. Decision time. “The project can live without me for a long weekend”.
Friday evening ON MY OWN, London Heathrow to Lyon, skibob safely in the hands of Air France. Arrive, Lyon jump into rental car and 1 ½ dash to the French Alps. Meet up with Ric Platt from www.skibike.net at his home so that he can give me directions to the chalet. Onto the chalet, stop, ring the owner for directions, I am lost again! Eventually arrive at 1:30am and met by the biggest St. Bernard I have ever seen. Seems friendly enough......

Early breakfast, and straight to Tignes. I had arranged a rendezvous with Ric, Al and their students. I remembered to buy a pass for the Tignes (www.tignes.net) area only as it is possible to ski in a vast area if you purchase an Espace Killy ticket. We were sticking to just one part of the area.Karolin and Jimmy from Monaco picked up the Brenter way really quickly so off we went on a grand tour up to the top of the glacier and down huge runs in brilliant sunshine. We eventually finish at 6:30pm after Ric managed to capture me lying on the snow when I wasn’t looking where I was going.

Back to the Chalet, a quick shower, change and beer before dinner. Met my friendly St.Bernard, this time with a Saliva problem. He managed not only to moult all over my clean trousers, but leave a huge drool of slaver down the side of my leg. “Is he bothering you?” “Oh, no no”. “Isn’t he lovely!” affirmed the chalet maid with an intonation to the words that only Australians can do to make a statement sound like a question. “Billy no mates” shared a fantastic evening meal with 2 English families who quizzed him for 2 hours on these strange skibike things.

Up early again and to Les Arcs1950 to check it out for a friend, stopping only briefly to get a good photo of Mont Blanc for my dad. It is a purpose built resort with apartments, hotels and chalets made to look like an alpine village. All parking is underground, so car parks don’t create a blot on the landscape. Another glorious sunshine day on the slopes in the huge bowl of Les Arcs, culminating in my skiing down the high street to the car park. Yes you can…really!

Following morning. St Foy Tarentaise to meet with Al and Ric. It is a much underrated resort consisting of 3 chair lifts. This doesn’t sound very much, but they do go a long way and I never had to queue once. Straight on the lift every time. At the top there are the most stunning views I have ever seen in the mountains and I found the pistes varied with lots of routes to get to the bottom. I am told that I could also ski to the chalet through the woods if I knew the way. I would recommend a visit to anyone. It’s a great place. Another very warm day, and the snow was beginning to melt on the lower slopes. Al and Ric were concerned that the season might finish early.

Next day. Up at stupid O’clock, driving rain to the airport and work. Two weeks later, I heard from Al that they had a big dump of snow and perfect powder.

“Mid-April. I have to go 1 more time…. There’s plenty of snow… Who can I get to go with me? What about the project at work?”.

If you want up to date information on ski biking in France, it is probably best to contact www.skibike.net and the resort section of www.skibob.org.uk.