How to avoid a heatwave by the Tignes Chalet Company...

The temperature is rising as we sit here at the Tignes Chalet Company HQ in North Staffordshire.
With the impending heatwave we started thinking about how we could avoid getting all hot and flustered as we continue with our preparations for the upcoming season.

Here's a few ideas to keep cool in the office environment;

1. Paddling pool at the office

. 

2. Ice lolly break every 15 minutes?

3. Fanning device?

 

Or close the office...





http://www.thetigneschaletcompany.com

What's going on in Tignes over the Summer?

As you may know Tignes is just as alive in summer as it is in winter.
And a whole lot warmer!

Here's a run down of a few of the activities going on over the next few weeks in Tignes...

Savoie Cup, 26th to 28th June


It's a tourist rally dedicated to Porsche cars and to those who love the brand.

About 200 Porsche cars are expected in Tignes from June 26th to 28th to enjoy driving around the famous mountain roads in the area.

Nando de Colo basketball amateur training camp (NDC Basketball), 5th to 12th July


French Rugby Team Training,  15th to 26th July

The French first XV have chosen Tignes for their altitude training this summer ahead of the 2015 World Cup in England.
Once again this summer Tignes will play an essential part in the training of high-level sportsmen and women.


http://www.thetigneschaletcompany.com

Col of the Day... Col du Galibier

Introducing the Col du Galibier... located in the southern region of the French Dauphiné Alps near Grenoble. It is the ninth highest paved road in the Alps and the sixth highest mountain pass. It is often the highest point of the Tour de France.

From the north, starting at Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne (including the Col du Télégraphe), the climb is 34.8 kilometres (21.6 mi) long, gaining 2,120 metres (6,960 ft) in height (an average of 6.1%). The actual climb to the summit starts at Valloire and is 18.1 kilometres (11.2 mi) long at an average of 6.9% (height gain: 1,245 metres (4,085 ft)). The maximum gradient is 10.1% at the summit.

From the south, the climb starts from the Col du Lautaret (el. 2,058 metres (6,752 ft)) and is 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) long at an average gradient of 6.9% (height gain: 585 metres (1,919 ft)) with a maximum of 12.1% at the summit.

The Col du Galibier was first used in the Tour de France in 1911; the first rider over the summit was Emile Georget, who, with Paul Duboc and Gustave Garrigou were the only riders not to walk.

In the ski resort of Valloire, the Galibier starts. After a wall of + 10% just outside the village, the climb remains rather flat along the riverside Valloirette. At the restaurant Plan Lachat, the real climb begins. You pass the 2000 meter mark and the climb gets steeper and steeper. The average does not drop below 8% and often do you see white and black snow. The last kilometers remains tough, with 9%, but you get rewarded with one of the most splendid views into the Alps.

Cycling Facts:

Average grade: 5.5 %

Length: 34.9 km

Height start: 718 m

Height top: 2642 m

Ascent: 1924 m

Maximum: 12 %

http://www.thetigneschaletcompany.com

Col of the Day... the Col de la Madeleine

Introducing the Col de la Madeleine, it's not too far away from us here in Tignes and can be accessed from the Tarentaise valley between Moutiers and Albertville.
The col connects the valleys of the Tarentaise and the Maurienne, while the northern ascent is longer (28.3km at 5.4 per cent), the southern approach is steeper (19km at eight per cent). Either way, the road tops out at 1,995m, though the summit sign rounds this up to 2,000m.

The Col de la Madeleine is one of the most famous climbs in the history of the Tour de France and has been tackled 25 times, for me it is definitely one of the most memorable cols I have ever seen on the tour with it's spectacular climb into the mountains (as seen in the picture above).

Cycling facts;
Length- 19km
Average gradient- eight per cent
Start elevation- 479m
End elevation- 1,995m

http://www.thetigneschaletcompany.com

Col of the day... the Col de L'iseran

The Col de L'Iseran at 2770 metres elevation is the the highest paved pass in the Alps.
A part of the Graian Alps, it is situated in the department of Savoie, near the border with Italy, and is crossed by the D902 roadway.The pass is part of the Route des Grande Alpes. It connects the valley of the Isere (Tarentaise) and the valley of the Arc River (Maurienne) between Val-D'isere in the north and and Bonneval-sur-Arc in the south.

The north side of the pass road is well built with a number of galleries and tunnels, with maximum grade of 12 percent. On the northern side are the popular ski resorts of Tignes and Val-d'Isère. The pass is only accessible by road during the summer months. In the winter it falls within the Espace Killy ski area and is easily accessed by a series of pistes and ski lifts.

Cycling Facts:

Average grade- 4.1%

Length- 48km

Start Height- 815m

End Height- 2770m

Ascent- 1955m

http://www.thetigneschaletcompany.com

Green light for pre-season training!

We are offering the same great value accommodation package for pre-season training in Tignes.

If you're looking to get the most out of your training, this is the best option for you:

http://www.thetigneschaletcompany.com

Excercises to help you stay ski fit over the summer

Wherever you're lounging around this summer, be it in the Caribbean or Carlisle, remember the winter season is not too far around the corner.

It's worth keeping ski fit over the summer as not to wimp out on your first run or even day and make the most of your time in the snow!

Here's a few exercises to keep you ticking over during the summer months:

1. Romanian dead-lift: Using a bar bell, bend your knees slightly, then lean forward with the barbell  flexing at the hips then push your hips forward and return to your starting position. This will also help to prevent ACL injuries which are common amongst skiers by strengthening the knee joint.

2. Leg press- this is a simple excercise and one anyone can do in the gym, great for skiing. Set the weight to about 70-80% of what you can press, slowly lower the plate down with one leg and then push up with both, this will mimic the movements we make when we turn.

Stay tuned for more exercises to keep ski fit over the summer...

http://www.thetigneschaletcompany.com

'El Nino' season for New Zealand?

There's been a lot of hype down under regarding the possibility of an 'El Nino' season for them for their 2015 winter.
But for those of us who are  unfamiliar with this term, what does it mean?

Here we go... El Nino weather pattern is produced by warmer than average water in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific (so just off the North West corner of South America), it affects weather all around the world.
So how does this effect the New Zealand winter?
El Nino drags cold winds from the south, lowering the temperature and therefore increasing the chance of snow.
So far it seems to have done the trick, a couple of weeks ago resorts on the south island reported between 30-50 cm's of fresh snow. it also helped to create perfect conditions for snow making so that resorts with a lot of snow making capacity such as Coronet Peak (Queenstown, NZ) can fire up their guns!

Snow making at Coronet Peak

With more snow last week and another top up today is looking like the El Nino weather phenomenon could be setting up a great season for ski areas in New Zealand.

Its a well known fact that the snow over there isn't incredibly reliable which is why they sometimes have to rely on snow making to get them through the season.

Having spent time in Queenstown last summer I understand this well, last season was a particularly low snow season and some resorts would of struggled to open without snow making facilities.

When the snow is good, New Zealand seems to offer the perfect package for holiday makers and serious skiers to boot.

So fingers crossed for plenty of the white stuff!

Here's another pic from Coronet Peak today to wet the appetite...

Meadows Express beginner chair at Coronet Peak (Queenstown, NZ)

http://www.thetigneschaletcompany.com

Summer Turns...

So the winter season is well and truly finished here in the northern hemisphere.
Most of us have given our skis the ceremonial end of season service ready for a summer of damp and draughty garage skiing.
But what about those of us who still crave for more?
Well there a few options ranging from the more obvious through to the slightly bizarre;

1.  Southern Hemisphere skiing- Well first of all there's the obvious choice of getting down to the Southern hemisphere and skiing in New Zealand, Australia, or even South America. However, it's a long way to the other side of the world, and if the bank balance is still struggling after a winter full of excess then it's a definite no go. However if you have the means you are surely not to be disappointed with scenery like this (even if the skiing isn’t always amazing!)

View from Treble Cone ski area near Wanaka, New Zealand.

2. Glacier skiing in Europe- there’s always the many glaciers right on our doorstep here in Europe. Alright the skiing is drastically limited compared to the many kilometers available during winter. But on the other hand it’s a short flight away and not only can you enjoy turns on the glaciers but you can also enjoy some of the many activities on offer over the summer.

Paddle boarding on the lake in Tignes le Lac, France

    3. Water skiing- if you are by the ocean you could always switch snow for water. Similar to skiing you are standing on two skis but that’s pretty much where the similarities end.  On the plus side it’s just a short retreat back to the sun lounger and chilled drink if you’re that way inclined!

 

Water Skiing

4. Grass ski racing- you might think this is quite far out of the box and you would probably be right! But this is most commonly used as a form of training for alpine skiing (on snow). But as you can see this is also a sport in its own rights with competitions running during the summer. Instead of skis that slide on snow there’s a track or wheels which help you to move downhill plus gravity of course. But is this a feasible way of earning summer turns? If you can get hold a pair of these skis or even manufacture a pair of your own it could be the cheapest and most accessible way to earn your turns, but do expect a few funny looks from the local dog walkers!

Grass ski racing in Austria

5. Dune skiing- could this be the ultimate solution? A German Henrik May has pioneered this sport in Namibia and even offers guided tours through the ever-changing desert environment with his ski company Ski Namibia. Henrik reckons "It's similar to deep snow skiing but you don't sink as much".  This is an innovative way to get your summer turns and there could be no better setting than the cool dunes of Namibia with the Atlantic Ocean hovering in the background. Of course a trip to Southern Africa isn’t cheap but this could be the trip of a lifetime taking all things into consideration and is definitely a good trump card to hold over your ski pals.

German Henrik May skiing sand dunes in Nambia

So the only question is: where will you get you're summer turns?...