It’s always great to hear of British success in skiing or snowboarding events. Well done James.

Womens/Tops/Base £22.99 – Click to Buy

Chill Chalet was set up in 2000 by Chris Cracknell and Lucy Hughes. They didn’t like the large Tour Operator format, so set out to do something different. They’ve managed to put together a service that’s both tailored to the individuals needs and affordable. The chalet is in Bourg St Maurice, only a 5 minute walk from the funicular that takes you up to La Plagne. The service they offer includes the following:

* bookings on a nightly basis
* breakfast whenever you want it (boy do we like the sound of that!)
* no fixed arrival or departure times
*walking distance from lift and all ammenities
* the ability for you to make hot drinks when you want them
* AND… unlimited biscuits and cakes available all day

Usually to get this kind of service you’d need  to break the bank but amazingly their prices start at just £50 per night. We also particularly like the fact that Teachers get a discount since they ‘don’t think it’s fair that teachers get penalised because they have to travel in the school holidays’ and that they offer a ‘Green incentive’ discount if you travel by train!

This fantastic chalet is obviously very popular and gets booked up quickly so if you fancy giving it a try this season check out the website and get in touch with Chris asap!

If you haven’t got time to take a full week skiing, then why not consider a ski weekend. You can often get nearly as much time skiing as you do in a week with only 2 or even 1 days holiday from work. The problem often is that ski weekends in France can cost nearly as much as a weeks skiing. But…… if you are happy to go with budget options a ski weekend in France needn’t cost a small fortune.

We’ve listed a few good options for ski weekends in the area around Moutiers / Aime La Plagne and Bourg St Maurice, so perfect for a rail ski weekend or with budget flights into Geneva. All these hotels / chalets are available to book for any number of nights.

Ski Weekend Val d’isere

Hotel Les Chardons - ski weekend in twin rooms from €62pp per night including half board. Centrally located in Val d’isere

Hotel La Toviere – ski weekend quadruple rooms from €62pp per night including half board. Prices get more expensive for 2 person rooms. Located on the piste in La Daille (5 mins bus from central Val d’isere, but straight on the La Daille lifts.)

Hotel Relais du Ski – ski weekend with two levels of comfort, ensuites with half board from Euros82pp per night including half board. Budget from €57pp per night with half board. 500 from Val d’isere centre, but 50m from the regular ski bus.

UCPA – the Val d’isere UCPA is great for ski weekends, when they are available. It’s a great weekend, the prices start from €300 but include full board, ski hire and lift passes for Espace Killy! Bargain! You are probably better off booking through Action Outdoors, the UK reseller. FOr some reason they don’t always list the weekends on their website but a phone call to them will find out what they have available.

Ski weekend TIgnes

Chalet Chardons – budget ski weekends, in fact any days available. Situated in Tignes Les Brevieres, the lowest point in Tignes but good links into central Tignes, and a shorter transfer!

Mountain Sun – ski weekend again based in Les Brevieres, but a higher standard of accommodation. Still relatively cheap though! Prices from £63 pp per night, including half board (with wine I think.) Watch out for supplements though

UCPA – ski weekend at the UCPA in Tignes Val Claret  is about 50m from the piste, and there’s a drag lift to the nearest lift so you don’t have to walk uphill. We’ve been on ski weekends early and late (late) season and can guarantee that it’s fab. Read same note about ski weekend deals and booking the UCPA on the Val d’isere entry above.

Ski Weekend Meribel - there’s not many options, but here’s two!

Ski Weekends – do what they say on the tin. Get a ski weekend based in Bride Les Bains from £219 including coach travel from London and half board hotel. Only a 20 minute lift ride from central Meribel.

Activ Experience – get the chalet experience for your ski weekend. Phone them for availability.

Hotel Croix Jean Claude – prices from €86pp per night including half board.

Ski weekend La Tania

Hotel Telemark – run by Ski Inns, it’s a budget hotel that can be booked for any dates. Prices start from £60pp per night including half board with wine.

Ski Weekend La Plagne

UCPA – on the piste in La Plagne 1800. Better comfort than most UCPA’s, rooms for 4 all ensuite. On the piste, literally. Great place to stay. Read same note about UCPA’s from the Val d’isere entry.

Ski Weekend La Rosiere

Auberge du Val Joli -Ski weekends from Euros46pp per night including half board. Week night stays from only €39pp per night including half board.

Whatever you do on your ski weekend in France, make sure that you have everything organised before you go and maximise your time on the slopes. Our top 3 tips for the perfect ski weekend :

1. Many resorts allow you to book ski passes online now like Val d’isere and the Three Valleys, you can get them sent them to your home.
2. Book your ski weekend ski hire online before you go and then you just have to pop in and pick it up – it’s up to 40% cheaper too! Visit SkiSet who have ski hire shops in most French resorts.
3. Go for half board deals, as cheap as apartments are for a ski weekend, with only a few days on the piste, you’ll be grateful for a cooked breakfast and ready made dinner, believe me!

Rooted in tradition, the first Run was completed in January 1885 and took nearly nine weeks to build. Only the three upper banks received detailed work. The Cresta Run is still built from scratch every year using the natural contours of the valley and earth banks to provide a framework on which to pile the snow. The Run from Junction is built first, the upper banks second.

The Cresta has two starting points: Top and Junction. The current record from Top is 50.09 seconds, held by James Sunley. This means an average speed of over 53 m.p.h. ending at Finish at a speed close to 80 m.p.h. Riders from Junction begin opposite the Clubhouse, about one-third down the Run from Top. The current record from Junction, held by Johannes Badrutt, is 41.02 seconds.

Beginners start from Junction and are encouraged to go down in a time of between 65 and 75 seconds. Riders brake using the rakes on their boots and if they are out of control they are certain to go out at Shuttlecock, the most famous corner of the Run. Fallers at Shuttlecock automatically become members of the Shuttlecock Club and are entitled to wear a Shuttlecock tie.

There is only one Cresta Run; it is unique and remains one of the last truly amateur sports in the world.

The Skiplex ‘endless ski slope’ (www.skiplex.co.uk) enables skiers and snowboarders to maintain their fitness levels and provides an opportunity to hone their technique all year round.

The ski slope simulator features a smooth, continuous track, which enables skiers and snowboarders to burn over 400 calories an hour while finessing their technique.

Watch Skiplex in use:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlUlB0S8bBI

Over 100 slopes are already installed across Europe and now wealthy ski enthusiasts in the UK will be able to enjoy the benefits of all weather skiing in the comfort of their own home.

Gym enthusiasts run on a treadmill, but do not actually move. A Skiplex slope operates in exactly the same way, using a large white treadmill about the size of a squash court, allowing up to four people to ski or snowboard at any one time.

The large moving track is operated by a handheld remote controlled device which can speed up or slow down the track and increase or reduce the elevation.

As a result, a Skiplex Ski Centre can accommodate beginners at a low elevation and slow track speed all the way to experts at a steep elevation and fast track speed.

Practicing on the Skiplex endless slope enables enthusiasts to refresh their technique, whether they are practicing the most basic snowplough turns for beginner skiers, or more adventurous snowboarding moves such as ollies, butters and air to fakies. Unlike dry slopes or in snow domes, skiers and boarders can practice in the privacy of their own home, saving any embarrassment from public training sessions before jetting off to the glamorous slopes of Vail, Verbier, Aspen or Courchevel.

Skiplex also provides a fantastic platform for beginners who want to learn to ski or snowboard in a safe environment.

Many beginners feel intimidated on dry slopes or on outdoor slopes, where they run the risk of being hit by other skiers or boarders.

Chemmy Alcott, Britain’s number one Olympic skier commented: “The Skiplex endless slope is an awesome way to train for the mountains. Repetition is really important in the learning process and the rate of improvement you can attain with Skiplex is incredible, as you don’t have to stop to take lifts so you can literally ski or snowboard continuously until you need to stop through fatigue. This makes it really good as a high-end fitness and endurance training innovation, and it is really good fun too -- what better way to train than in the privacy of your own home?”

Mark Strachan, CEO of Skiplex said:

“We are delighted to launch the ultimate luxury for winter sports enthusiasts.

What better way to show your friends your passion for the piste than to purchase your very own ski slope for your home.

This puts an end to the days of being forced to share slopes with the general public at snow domes and dry slopes.”

Many skiers get frustrated that they can never see their own skiing style. Skiplex solves this issue by allowing individual skiers to critically appraise their technique with the help of a two-way mirror, making it easier to get more intensive tuition from an instructor.

The system can be used for introducing absolute beginners to the sport, or for training the world’s top skiers.

Those purchasing the slope have the opportunity to welcome Britain’s number one Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott to open the facility and provide a demonstration or a masterclass.

In addition, Skiplex can supply BASI (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) instructors at a cost of £100 per hour plus travel and accommodation costs.

The slope can be purchased by private individuals, ski and fitness centres or event organisers as the ultimate party entertainment for £150,000 + VAT.

To enquire about purchasing your very own endless ski slope, call Mark Strachan on 07802 408 133, email m.strachan@skiplex.co.uk or visit www.skiplex.co.uk.

Copperhill Mountain Lodge, Åre, Sweden
With its new extended Sami-inspired spa opening in December, Copperhill Mountain Resort has yet one more outstanding feature that makes it Sweden´s best ski destination. Drawing inspiration from Åre’s grand era of copper mining, the lodge boasts a warm helping of rustic mountain charm, while at the same time featuring all the comfort and services of an exclusive resort. The 112 rooms range from doubles to eight-bed suites, all with magnificent views – the perfect spot to cozy up with a cup of hot cocoa after a jam-packed day skiing and exploring Jämtland. Apart from snow mobile safaris, dog sledding, ice driving with specially prepared cars, guided off-piste and helicopter skiing, this winter the Copperhill´s own Skier’s Inn “Coppermine Co” offers après ski with live music and rustic dishes. The right choice for a romantic evening is the “Fireside Lounge & Bar” with soft piano music.
(http://designhotels.com/copperhill)

Hotel Nevaï, Verbier, Switzerland
Known for its luxurious and alpine-chic ambience, Hotel Nevaï, Verbier is surrounded by more than 400 km of slopes for skiers of all levels. With its name denoting “snow” in Patois (the language traditionally spoken in this region of Switzerland), Nevaï draws its inspiration from its surroundings. The 33 rooms offer stunning vistas of the Swiss Alps and all come with a private south facing balcony. In the evening the restaurant is a buzzing place to feast on grilled meats, fish and vegetables, after which a drink can be enjoyed in the cozy Nevaï bar. The hotel’s famous Farm Club is still the place to see and be seen later on, where an international crowd has been mingling for over 35 years.
(http://www.designhotels.com/nevai)

Rocksresort, Laax, Switzerland
Rocksresort offers everything needed for a superb winter holiday, including a ski and snowboard school and a variety of restaurants, clubs and bars. The hotel is situated adjacent to the base station in Laax, Switzerland’s leading freestyle winter resort, and offers a range of four-star services on request. Finished in rough-hewn stone, the cubic exterior of this hotel complex succeeds at blending in with its environment. The sleek self-contained, minimalistic complex houses furnished holiday apartments, shops, restaurants and bars, all arranged around a central square. Although consciously unpretentious and minimalist, the self-catering apartments offer a warm and inviting atmosphere using precious natural materials such as untreated gnarled oak, aged linden wood, coarse linen and concrete. For the best ski-in ski-out experience, rocksresort is located at the base station of Laax, at the bottom of the slopes. Due to its altitude, the resort has gained a reputation for being a reliable place to find natural snow.
(http://www.designhotels.com/rocksresortin)

The Omnia, Zermatt, Switzerland
The Omnia is located in the center of Zermatt, 45 meters above the rooftops of the alpine village with 300km of pistes and more than 70 lifts. With its warm atmosphere and personalized service like homemade cookies and milk brought to the rooms, guests know immediately this is a place to feel at home. The interior is a modern interpretation of a ski lodge and is a magnificent place from which to take in views of the Matterhorn. By ski bus, electro-taxi or on foot, the slopes are only five to 15 minutes away. After an action-packed day in the snow, the open fire at The Omnia´s lobby invites guests to relax and delve into the numerous art books of the hotel´s library with a mulled wine.
(www.designhotels.com/omnia)

The Cambrian, Adelboden, Switzerland
Nestled deep in a valley in the Swiss alpine village of Adelboden, The Cambrian looks out onto one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. Combining smooth, modern design with an innovative use of natural, local materials, The Cambrian’s interior effortlessly reflects its natural setting. The central lobby’s stone fireplace, the indoor pool and waterfall, the outdoor thermal pool that actually seems as though it is flowing right into the mountains and the Finnish Sauna with Bisazza mosaics, all maximize relaxation. However, the highlight of Adelboden are the extraordinary sports like freeride tours and lessons, fullmoon snowshoe hikes and sledding by day or night. To finish off the night, an igloo is the setting for a romantic dinner, followed by an après ski drink as DJs perform live at the hotel. (www.designhotels.com/the_cambrian)

The latest information appears to predict a “La Nina” and positive “North Atlantic Oscillation” (NAO+) which would forecast a colder than normal start to the season (which is great for freezing the ground so the first snowfall sticks) followed by a mild, wet winter which normally brings abundant snow to the higher ski resorts, such as Chamonix, Val d’Isere, Tignes.

Last season was an El Nino and NAO- which resulted in the coldest UK winter in 30 years with 7 consecutive days where the temperature did not exceed zero degrees celsius.

Post-1950 years with La Nina and NAO+ are in green. Source: pistehors.com Red line shows 5th order polynomial trend line