The Ski Magic French office is now up and running for the Winter season. Some staff have already arrived in resort and are very excited about the amount of snow already fallen. The rest of the staff will be joining them shortly.

Courchevel 1850 opens tomorrow and allegedly links will be open to Val Thorens and the Three Valleys.  The La Tania lifts open next Saturday 12th December.  The snow has well and truly arrived, see photo below of Folyeres, the blue run into La Tania, taken on 3rd December.  It snowed again all last night and more snow is forecast for the coming days.  So for all you powder hounds who have booked for a pre Christmas holiday, you are in for a treat! Empty pistes, bargain price chalet accommodation and cheap lift passes as well as an abundance of snow-what more could anyone ask for?

As the start of the new season fast approaches, the Ski Magic UK office is preparing to move out to France. Our staff, both new and some  old hands are all packing up their skis and boards to move on over to La Tania ready to embark on their training for the coming Winter season.

The weather is turning colder and heavy snow is forecast over the coming weekend.

Lifts open in Courchevel 1850 and Meribel on 5th December and in Courchevel 1650, 1550, Le Praz and La Tania on 12th December. Our first guests arrive in La Tania on 12th December to enjoy the quiet pistes and to take advantage of the reduced price lift passes and cheap accommodation on offer for this week. Why not join them if you want to escape all the pre-Christmas hype? We still have some limited availability for this week.

According to Sarah Munro, head of Travel Services for the Post Office, “Prices in Courchevel, in the Trois Vallees area of the French Alps, have fallen by 11% this year despite the strong euro, making it one of just two resorts to show a fall in prices.”

“French ski resorts have responded well to the pressures imposed by the strong euro by slashing prices, and Courchevel now rates as one of the cheapest eurozone ski destinations as a direct result.”

Skiers and boarders these days are looking for “value for money”.   Considering that the Three Valleys is one of the World’s largest and best ski areas as it is so varied, extensive and snow sure and with the price reductions must surely rate amongst the top skiing destinations this season.  La Tania, located in the Courchevel valley offers many holidays at cheaper prices that it’s neighbour, Courchevel, and yet still accesses the same ski area.

How about this for first tracks?  Photo taken on Combe des Pylones, off Saulire at 11am on 11th November 2009.  Clear blue skies, half a metre of powder and no-one on the mountain-Heaven! It’s looking good now for the start of the season.  Why not book for week beginning 12th December and enjoy quiet pistes such as these and catered chalets at self catered prices? See our special offer page. Photo courtesy of Vincent www.les3vallees.com and www.latania.co.uk

We have heard a rumout that SP3 may announce that they are to launch a “mini pass” for La Tania for beginners to be able to use the Tania gondola instead of having to buy a full Courchevel valley lift pass if they want to ski down the green or blue run into La Tania.  Prices are still to be confirmed but should be significantly cheaper than having to buy a Courchevel pass.  Currently one trip on the gondola costs 6 euros.

It looks as if Winter has finally arrived in La Tania today, November 2nd,  as it is snowing and the temperature is 5 degrees.  It is forecast to snow on and off for the next few days.  Fingers crossed it carries on for the next few weeks!

In the Courchevel valley the French ski school, ESF, are using a new sytem to improve children’s safety on chairlifts.  All children receiving tuition with the ESF will be equipped with Magnestick back protection which quite literally, sticks the children to the chairlift using magnets. Not all chairlifts are equipped with with the Magnestick technology yet but the Signal, Dou des Lanches (the lift over from La Tania) and Chatelet are now.

After a glorious and long hot summer, the weather in La Tania has now turned very cold and wintery and the first few snow flakes have fallen down to resort level.  More snow is forecast over the next few days over the peaks and whispers have been heard from the locals that a good winter is predicted this year. Bring it on!

Another beautiful Summer season in La Tania is now drawing to a close as Autumn moves ever closer which also means that Winter is just around the corner!

For those people that missed La Tania in the Summer this year, there are so many activities on offer in La Tania itself and the surrounding area such as mountain biking, golf, tennis, swimming, horse riding, quad biking, white water rafting, canyoning, archery, climbing, via ferrata as well as the simpler things such as lazing by a pool or mountain lake or walking in the summer meadows.  The lifts open several days a week to take walkers and mountain bikers up to the summits where they can walk or ride back down.  Perhaps you can retrace your skiing runs of the Winter and see how different the slopes look without the snow in the Summer?

In any event, Summer in La Tania certainly has something to offer everybody.