March 2012 Les Gets

Yo.del:(verb) \\to yodel\\the offi cial means ofcommunicating bythe inhabitants ofmountainous regions\\

www.yodelmagazine.com

les getsmarch 2012

chemmy alcott

michelin starred les getsles gets resort events

avalanche science

winter x games

Yodel-LesGets-March-12-Final.indd 1 13/02/2012 12:36

6 Big screens showinglive sports in 2D and 3D

Happy Hours every night10pm until 1am

Sunday Roast 2pm until 9pm

JC’s Breakfast ClubWednesday & Saturday 10am until Midday

All cocktails €6.50

2 Pool Tables, Darts, Babyfoot

Live Music every Wednesdayfrom 5pm

OPENING HOURSMon, Tues, Wed & Fri 4pm till lateWed 10am - midday and 4pm till lateSat: 10am till lateSun: 1.30pm till late

Jim, Kath and the crew look forward to seeing you soon!

opposite Mont Chery telecabine

Bar meals and snacks,eat in or take away

available 4pm - midnight

JCs.pdf 1 12/02/2012 19:15


stay in touch

[email protected]

[email protected]

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March is one of our favourite

months of the year at yodel. Here

in Les Gets the days begin to

lengthen towards the promise of

spring but we can still swoosh our

way down the perfectly groomed

pistes of the Portes du Soleil. It

really isn’t a bad life out here in

the mountains!

For this issue we had the absolute

pleasure of talking to the UK’s

best skier and Dancing on Ice star

Chemmy Alcott. She was a right

laugh and we’re all rooting for

her on the show. You’ll also fi nd

all your other regular favourites

including a full calendar of events

for Les Gets on the following

pages.

Enjoy and we’ll see you next

month when spring should have

well and truly sprung!

Legal Off Piste ..........................................................4Don’t get caught out!

Chemmy Alcott ........................................................5The UK’s best female skier talks to Yodel

The 82nd Geneva Motor Show ...............................8The world’s most important room of cars

How to make an Igloo ...........................................105 easy steps to a new winter holiday home!

Deborah Anthonioz ................................................12The Boardercross National Champion

Ride Safe .................................................................14Freestyle safety tips from SnowZone

Through the Keyhole .............................................15Inside Chalet Gueret

What’s On? .............................................................18Events in and around Les Gets during March

Avalanche Science .................................................20Snow awareness saves lives

The Winter X Games .............................................22We preview Europe’s biggest snow sports event

Helios Design Labs ................................................24Brothers Alex & Felix on designing for K2

James McPhail .......................................................27Life as a pro snowboard photographer

French Property Update ........................................28What will quarter of a million get you?

The Perfect Vin Chaud ..........................................29Yodel’s favourite recipe - and we've tried a few!

The Yodel Competition ..........................................30Win big with attack attack and Salomon

Stars in their Eyes ..................................................31A Michelin Star for Ferme de Montagne?

L’Ebouelle Contest .................................................32It’s nearly time!

Onesie of the Month ..............................................32The fashion fantastic return

Gadget Corner .......................................................33The most effective ski boot warmer!

En Francais… .........................................................33The French you’ll need to get about town

The Local View ......................................................34La Case K2 owners Carol & FredCover image © Duncan Gammon

welcome contents

Yo.del:(verb) \\to yodel\\the offi cial means of communicating bythe inhabitants of mountainous regions\\


The Combe des Marmottes (2,080m long) is a snow playground that is easily accessible by the Fornet chairlift. There is also the neighbouring slope called The Pschott, which is more technical with its successive natural canyons.

Brochaux (1,340m long) is a naturally bumpy wall that is accessible by the Brochaux chairlift.

The Frontaliére (1,150m) can be accessed from the top of the Mossettes chairlift and is a long and wide route down to the bottom.

The Crozats (3,122m long) starts from the Hauts Forts and joins up with the world cup downhill run into Prodains and is sometimes referred to as the ‘mythical’ Crozats run due to its wild nature.

We all love the thrill of off-piste skiing but let's be safe, not sorry!

In neighbouring Avoriaz, the snowcross slopes offer skiers and snowboarders the thrill of off-piste powder skiing but without the extra risks involved. These pistes are not groomed but are surveyed and kept safe by setting off avalanches and fencing off areas that are deemed too unsafe for the public.

Morzine Shuttle.pdf 1 08/11/2011 11:20


Chemmy Alcott is the British number one alpine ski racer competing on the World Cup circuit in all fi ve ski disciplines. In December 2010, Chemmy suffered a horrifi c crash during training which caused a double fracture in her right leg. Since then, Chemmy has not been able to ski but has taken a different path albeit temporarily by competing in the UK’s Dancing on Ice. Chemmy spoke to yodel about life as a skier and now…ice skater.

You started skiing at 18 months old, which must have given you a pretty good head start; do you think an early start is a necessity for people with ski career aspirations? I think if you are from Britain and want to be the best you have to start younger than your peers. It is all about time on skis and skiing in all conditions, you get a lot of feeling when the conditions are bad so don’t stop just because it is foggy or soft. Just lessen the tempo! Having said that I did start very young - I was a very fast learner and was already walking so my parents decided I was ready!

Did you ever see yourself becoming anything other than a professional skier? I lived in a fantasy world when I was younger and wanted to be a skier in the winter and a tennis player in the summer - that was my other love at the time. The older I got, the more realistic I became and had to give up one sport for the other. Skiing was always going to come fi rst!

Do you fi nd it easier dating someone else with a similar career who understands your constraints and aspirations? (Chemmy’s boyfriend is British downhill skier, Dougie Crawford). Most defi nitely. Dougie and I connect on every level from professional to personal. From the outside world we seem very different, I am just a bit more uninhibited and sillier than him! We understand when the other comes second place to skiing and that is what makes our relationship perfect.

You had a pretty terrible skiing accident when you were 12, how did that affect your confi dence? Maybe I am saying this with the beauty of hindsight but I don’t remember having any issues psychologically after I broke my leg. When you are that young you defi nitely think less! Injuries are just a nuisance as they stop you from playing. When you get older you have more responsibility to your family, friends and sponsors so the mental recovery is a lot tougher!

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Your accident in 2010 was also pretty brutal, how did you fi nd the road to recovery? I turned to my friends, family and Twitter! Seriously, UK sport dropped me, I had no support and my Twitter account became an avenue for rehabbing sponsors to get in touch. Third Space Medical Centre in London got in touch straight away and devised a fantastic recovery programme. Compex sent me machines to keep my dormant muscles stimulated. Game Ready sent me a fantastic icing machine without which I wouldn’t have been able to sleep. I had a house full of healing gadgets and tools and I became super busy doing all my rehab, which helped distract me from getting depressed.

What is the highlight of your career? When I became the fi rst British person to ever win a run at the World Cup in Sölden 2010. To be the best in Britain is special but to fi nally prove yourself on a world scale has always been my dream.

What are the best and worst things about being famous? I am lent some fabulous things! From my lovely Range Rover, to dresses for premieres. Also it’s the feeling that you have the opportunity to inspire people. Since I crashed and have strived to come back so many people have written to me to tell me I have motivated them to get up and be healthy again. That is a wonderful feeling. The worst…well, the other day I got papped and I looked like I was picking my nose - it was just an itch honestly! Also, occasionally people judge you without knowing your whole story.

Have you spent time in the Portes du Soleil? What did you think of it? When I was younger and stayed in Flaine a lot and we had lots of club races in Morzine and Avoriaz. I really like it there as I’ve had some great results. The skiing is also great as it’s high enough that you are guaranteed great snow.

What are your hobbies outside of skiing? Surfi ng, tennis and stand up paddle boarding (I live on the river and love the peace and quiet). In fact anything sport related or creative.

Do you think that there is a mass defi cit in the UK government’s snowsports funding? Yes. I am ranked 8th in the world and have no funding. But I will come back despite their lack of faith in me.

How do you feel about being the ambassador for charity Snow-Camp? I was so honoured to be asked to be their ambassador! To get involved with the sport you love and to be able to spread that love to people who haven’t had the opportunity to try it is amazing. But Snow-Camp isn’t just about teaching people to ski, it is about teaching them skills which

will enhance their life. From the camps they can opt to become teachers themselves, thereby learning responsibility, organisation skills, communication skills...the list is endless.

How did you end up in Dancing on Ice? Is it something you ever saw yourself doing? No to be honest it wasn’t part of my life plan but nor was breaking my leg and not being able to ski two seasons in a row. But fate sometimes intervenes, ice-skating is providing me with the opportunity to do some level of sport specifi c training when I am still not ready to ski. Also it is helping raise my profi le and the sport I love. It costs me and the Ski Federation £90,000 to allow me to ski each year and naturally with the economy as it is, it has got more and more challenging to fi nd sponsors. My biggest fear is to fi ght back from this injury then not have enough money for a world class programme - what would be the point? So I have to work harder now than ever.

What is your typical training and diet regime to ensure you stay in shape? It changes all the time depending on my goals and the time of year. My diet only changes in the amount I eat, if I am not training so hard then I eat less. I never eat carbs in the evening, always start the day with some kind of eggs and snack on maximuscle meal bars and fruit. I also love fi sh - I am going to grow fi ns one day! Training wise we have aerobic progression stages where we spend up to 4-5 hours a day on the bike supplemented with core and endurance weights. Towards race season the weight goes up and the rep goes down!

What are you most looking forward to at the moment? Skiing. I am dreaming of it and I feel so close right now. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE the skating but skiing will always be my fi rst love.

Who is the most famous person in your phonebook? Zara Phillips and Mollie King from The Saturdays, neither because they are famous just because they are friends. Zara is a fellow world-class athlete and we are really similar. Mollie and I went to school together and she was actually a fantastic skier!

What would you have been if you weren’t a professional skier? Some other sport - I would have needed to fi nd something to really get my teeth into, as I’m super energetic. Or doing what I am going to do when I retire…be a female adventurer!

Thank you Chemmy!No thank you YODEL EL O OOH WHOOOOO!


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• All food cooked fresh to order• Eat in or TAKE AWAY

• The only place in town offering English, Italian and Asian style cuisine, catering for even

the fussiest of eaters.

Les Gets

We have comfortable rooms available on Bed and Breakfast from 60€ per person on Double/Twin share.

www.mammas.fr

Tel: 0450377612 Email [email protected]

Opening Hours - 4pm - 10pm Daily!

"Once in our hands, like a Boomerang you'll keep coming back"

2259 Route Des Grandes Alpes, 74260, Les Gets.

Good Food at Great Prices

HAPPYHOUR5.00-6.00PM

BAROPEN4.00-1.00AM(FREE NIBBLES)

Beans_mammas_changes.pdf 1 12/02/2012 18:32


The 82nd annual International Geneva Motor Show or ‘Salon International de l’Auto’ takes place at the Palexpo Convention Centre in Geneva between 8th and 18th March. It’s the undisputed world champion of car shows and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

First held in 1905, the Geneva Motor Show once hosted the world’s first internal combustion engine, the first benzene powered cars and all of the most exotic supercars ever made have debuted in Geneva. All the major car manufacturers choose Geneva to launch their new models and prototypes and the show has a reputation for attracting an interesting mix of both production and concept vehicles.

But why does the most important major international car show in the world take place in Switzerland, a country with no automotive industry to speak of?

Switzerland has been long known for its neutrality as a nation and it’s thought that the event provides a level playing field for the world's automakers. Because there are no Swiss car manufacturers there is no bias or leaning towards local producers as in other countries and there is no political agenda. Usually at car shows, low volume and specialist carmakers are relegated to low visitor volume areas. In Geneva the most high profile cars are placed around the outside of the huge convention hall, while the smaller carmakers occupy the display space in the centre.

Geneva itself also has a history of attracting and servicing global leaders – many of the cities 5* hotels offer bedrooms for over €1000 per night during the motor show.

There are two dedicated media days at the show each year. Scores of new cars are launched to the public and there

1927

Fiat 509

Alfa Romeo 8C2300

Citroen 7 CV

Jaguar E Type Coupe

Ferrari 260 Pininfarina

Maserati Bora

Audi Quattro

Citroen Xantia Mercedes A Class Lamborghini Gallardo Skoda Yeti

1932

1935

1961

1968

1971

1980

1993 1995 2003 2009


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can be as many as 65 individual press conferences each day. The most high profi le car launch in the history of the Geneva Motor Show is thought to be the legendary Jaguar E Type in 1961.

Each year the ‘Car of the Year’ award is fi ercely contested. The seven fi nalists have already been shortlisted for this year’s event and they include the Citroen DS5, the Fiat Panda, the Ford Focus, the Toyota Yaris and the new Range Rover Evoque.

The Geneva Motor Show is a great day out, either from your base in Morzine, Les Gets or Avoriaz, or if you're fl ying out of the nearby airport. Between Monday and Friday the show is open from 9am until 8pm each day and at weekends between 9am and 7pm. Entry for adults is 16 CHF (around €13) and entry for children is 9 CHF (around €7.50). Parking is 20 CHF per day.For more details visit www.salon-auto.ch

Nissan Juke Aston Martin Virage

20112010

Piste des Vorosses - Téléski de la Turche74 260 LES GETSwww.restaurant-paika.comRéservation : 04.50.92.85.22

“Nuts about the The Bush since the year 2000”

Good Wines&

Great Beer

Cindy and Matt welcome you to the bestsmall bar in Les Gets if not the Alps....

Follow us on facebookand twitter @barbushlesgets

Find us in the old village next to the ice rink

Bar Bush.pdf 1 07/12/2011 15:20


1010

How to Make an Igloo

You’ll need:Lots of snow, a snow shovel and a saw

Jump up and down on a flat space of snow-covered ground and mark out a circle shape to form the footprint of your igloo. Don’t exceed 10 feet in diameter – the dome will be too big!

Using the saw, cut rectangular blocks of snow from the ground. If the top layer of snow is soft, hard snow can usually be found underneath. Large snow bricks are used at the base of the igloo, smaller ones are used at the top. Try to make your snow bricks about 10 inches thick, adjusting the height and width accordingly.

Stack your snow bricks one on top of the other in spiral layers. You have to bevel the edges of each brick so that the whole thing corkscrews upwards. Pack in any gaps between the bricks with snow, keeping the interior wall smooth so moisture can run down the side of the wall instead of dripping from the ceiling.

Make your entrance. Build a door in the ground about 18 inches lower than the ground inside the igloo. Tunnel below the wall into the igloo.

Using a stick, ski pole or something similar poke airholes all the way through the snow bricks from the inside to the outside. You don’t want carbon dioxide poisoning!

They are warmer than a tent, they can be built anywhere and they are fun and easy to make. Here’s Yodel’s guide to building an igloo.

For more inspiration, check out our competition on page 30.


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Food servednon stop frommorning to evening

menu from 15 euros

children s menu 7 euros

Relaxed friendly atmosphere

Reservations recommended in the evenings

La Case K2 155 rue du Centre 74260 Les Gets

Tel: 04 50 79 78 09 Find us on Facebook - La Case K2

Full English Breakfast

Maxi Burger + chips (beef, bison or chicken)

Crepes, Savoury crepes, omLettes, soup

Local specialities (fondue, tartiflette and more)

Eat in orTake away

morning to evening

Take away

K2.pdf 1 04/11/2011 16:41


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“I began skiing when I was two and a half years old growing up in the Haute Savoie but did not start snowboarding until I was 13 years old. Snowboarder cross did not exist back then so when I started competing the following year it was in regular competitions.

I moved to Les Gets 12 years ago but unfortunately I do not get to spend much time in the village because of my busy schedule and I really miss it. I love being there! I especially miss spending time with my friends and family.

I also love Avoriaz, my father lives there and I like to visit the snowpark and the pipe every time I come back to the area.

My Olympic medal is the most beautiful thing I have ever received. I will never forget the feeling when they awarded it to me and even now

Déborah Anthonioz is the three times French national champion for boardercross and now lives in Les Gets. She won a silver medal for France at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and is one of the most successful athletes in her field.


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when I think about it I still feel the same euphoria that I did on that day.

I never intended to be a professional snowboard cross rider but it just happened that way. I had always dreamed of competing in the Olympics though so when the boardercross became an Olympic sport in 2006, I really fought to be one of the competitors.Without a doubt, the proudest moment of my life was being awarded the silver medal. I had worked tirelessly since the announcement in 2006 to win a medal and was just ecstatic when it happened. At the moment I am working hard to ensure I am in the best shape to take a medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

I have always admired Karine Ruby so much, she was unbelievable and a good friend of mine. I often think of her. (Karine Ruby was a French snowboarder from the Haute Savoie region. She was a world champion 6 times and won two Olympic medals. Unfortunately Karine died in a climbing accident on Mont Blanc in 1999). I don’t think you can compete in this sport if you live in fear though, confidence is necessary to takes the risks you need to succeed.

I travel a lot with what I do and I really love Whistler in Canada. It is always a pleasure to go back there but the more I travel, the more I realise what an amazing place we already live in and get impatient to come back to Les Gets.”

Image © Sindy Thomas - www.blog.sthomas.fr


Ride Safeto be used in a series with no stopping such as a boardercross circuit and some are designed to be used for individual tricks such as kickers and jumps. The difference between the two will determine where you stop!

You can break a snow park feature or module down into 4 sections.

Be aware that freestyle features can change constantly due to snow conditions, weather, usage, grooming and the time of day.

Always wear a helmet and body armour! Have loads of fun but be safe!

For more information on the Avoriaz Snowzone visit www.snowzone.fr

The Portes du Soleil is well and truly on the freestyle snow sports map. More and more of us than ever before want to experience the thrill of bouncing off jumps, jibbing off rails and running through the boardercross. But nothing ruins a good day on the hill more than an injury. Here’s a handy guide to getting the most out of the local freestyle terrain while playing it safe.

Know your limits and your ability level and select the appropriate freestyle terrain for you. Natural and constructed terrain features in a dedicated snow zone are marked with difficulty levels. Choose yours wisely.

Only attempt a feature or trick if you are confident you can land it. When you lose your balance you can cause yourself serious injury. Push yourself, but be sensible!

Consider the condition of your equipment, your speed, balance, body movements, alignment and trajectory as you approach a freestyle trick. These things will directly affect your desired outcome and ultimately your success!

Stay in control so that you are able to stop or avoid other people or objects if necessary. Remember that skiers or snowboarders ahead of you have the right of way – it’s your responsibility to avoid them. Only stop in places where you are visible from above and always observe all posted signs and warnings.

Look before you leap – scope around the jumps first, not just over them. Work in pairs to check that your landing is clear. Know where to land. Focus on landing between the knuckle and the centre of the landing zone. As soon as you’ve landed clear the area quickly.

Know the intended use of the freestyle terrain you have chosen. Some of the features are intended

XS S M L XL XXL

Helmets and body armour are recommended

WARNING! Always clear landing areas quickly

Respect nature and the environment, Use bins

This is the zone for setting your speed and stance to use the feature.

This zone is for making moves that start your trick.

In this zone you’ll control your body in the air and prepare for your landing.

The prepared slope between the knuckle of the feature and the run out slope beyond it.

1

2 3

4

1. Approach

2. Take Off

3. Manoeuvre

4. Landing

difficulty levels

Ride SafeFreestyle Guide


151515

Through thekey hole

Chalet Gueret

There are some stunning buildings and

chalets in Essert Romand. People often call

Chalet Gueret one of the most beautiful

chalets in the area and they’re not far

wrong.

Originally built in the 1780’s during the

French Revolution, Chalet Gueret was

the family home of Dr Gueret. But in 1997

the chalet was razed to the ground after

an electrical fi re. The new Chalet Gueret

now sits on the original footprint of the old

building.

During a two year building project the

chalet was reconstructed using raw local

materials. Monsieur Berger, a local architect

renowned for restoring old buildings to

their former glory, oversaw the work. Slate

from the local ardoisiere was used on the

roof and a fi replace from 1814 was found

in a dilapidated chalet in Essert La Pierre.

Wood from other older chalets was used to

clad the new building.

Inside Chalet Gueret are large, bright,

cosy rooms with stunning views. Unique

bedroom furniture has been hand painted

by local artists to create delightful

Savoyarde character and charm.

Images © Jacquie Cutler


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Thrs 1st Mar 8.00am . . . . . . . . Village Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rue du Centre 2.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Snow sculpture workshop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maison des Gets Square 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Goat Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar

Fri 2nd Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Tour of the Cheese Dairy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Fruitiere des Perrieres 9.00am . . . . . . . . Snow Shoeing & Archery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office de Tourisme 10.00am . . . . . . . Rossignol Demo Tour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bottom of Pleney, Morzine 10.30am . . . . . . . X Speed Ski Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Combe piste, Nyon 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Introduction to Savoyarde Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town Square 9.30pm . . . . . . . . Winter Quiz Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush

Sat 3rd Mar 12.00noon . . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JC’s Sports Bar 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Case K2

Sun 4th Mar 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 12.00noon . . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JC’s Sports Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Music Quiz Night – free entry, win Champagne! . . . .JC’s Sports Bar

Mon 5th Mar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Welcome to Les Gets Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front de Neige

Tue 6th Mar 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Guided Tour of the Micro-Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Pub 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Tour of Caroline’s Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Folliets 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Torchlit night walk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Gets Lake 8.00pm . . . . . . . . Seasonaires ‘Request-A-Song’ Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush

Wed 7th Mar 3.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Ice Party – Games on the Ice Rink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Centre 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Apres live music with Jim the Strummer Beer . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Pottery Workshop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Beer Ping Pong. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Toss the Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar

Thrs 8th Mar 8.00am . . . . . . . . Village Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rue du Centre 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 12.00noon . . . . . . Live DJ – Wutr3e & Guest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L’Hottys, 2.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Snow sculpture workshop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maison des Gets Square 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Goat Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar

Fri 9th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Tour of the Cheese Dairy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Fruitiere des Perrieres 9.00am . . . . . . . . Snow Shoeing & Archery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office de Tourisme 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Introduction to Savoyarde Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town Square 9.30pm . . . . . . . . Winter Quiz Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush

Sat 10th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 12.00noon . . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JC’s Sports Bar 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Case K2

Sun 11th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 12.00noon . . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JC’s Sports Bar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Ascent of Perrieres – evening ski climb. . . . . . . . . . . . Perrieres Piste 10.00pm . . . . . . . Music Quiz Night – free entry, win Champagne! . . . .JC’s Sports Bar

Mon 12th Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Welcome to Les Gets Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front de Neige

Tue 13th Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Guided Tour of the Micro-Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Pub 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – 3 Aliens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maison des Gets Square 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Tour of Caroline’s Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Folliets 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Torchlit night walk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Gets Lake 8.00pm . . . . . . . . ‘Tash Bash’ Party Night. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush 10.00pm . . . . . . . Beach Party. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar

Wed 14th Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 3.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Ice Party – Games on the Ice Rink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Centre 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Dorin Gall Orkestra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maison des Gets Square 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Apres live music with Jim the Strummer Beer . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Pottery Workshop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Toss the Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar

Thrs 15th Mar 8.00am . . . . . . . . Village Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rue du Centre 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 2.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 3.30pm . . . . . . . . Tea Dance with Sebastien Guinet . . . . . . . . . .Salle de la Colombiere 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Goat Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar

Fri 16th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Tour of the Cheese Dairy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Fruitiere des Perrieres 9.00am . . . . . . . . Snow Shoeing & Archery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office de Tourisme

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Fri 16th Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Introduction to Savoyarde Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town Square 9.30pm . . . . . . . . Winter Quiz Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush

Sat 17th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 12.00noon . . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JC’s Sports Bar 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Case K2 9.30pm . . . . . . . . St Patricks Night with Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . .JC’s Sports Bar

Sun 18th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Annual Geneva Motor Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palexpo, Geneva 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 12.00noon . . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JC’s Sports Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Bin Bag Ball - The Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar

Mon 19th Mar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Welcome to Les Gets Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front de Neige

Tue 20th Mar 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Guided Tour of the Micro-Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Pub 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Tour of Caroline’s Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Folliets 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Torchlit night walk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Gets Lake 7.00pm . . . . . . . . Ebouelle Opening Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Resort Centre 8.00pm . . . . . . . . Seasonaires ‘Request-A-Song’ Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush Wed 21st Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Ebouelle Contest 3.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Ice Party – Games on the Ice Rink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Centre 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Apres live music with Jim the Strummer Beer . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Pottery Workshop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Toss the Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 12.00midnight . . Ebouelle Party Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Igloo Chalet Club

Thrs 22nd Mar 8.00am . . . . . . . . Village Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rue du Centre 10.00am . . . . . . . Ebouelle Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Resort Centre 12.00noon . . . . . . Live DJ – Francois Vasseur & DJ Duckk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L’Hottys 2.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Goat Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 11.00pm . . . . . . . Ebouelle Party Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Zebra Bar

Fri 23rd Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Tour of the Cheese Dairy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Fruitiere des Perrieres 9.00am . . . . . . . . Snow Shoeing & Archery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office de Tourisme 10.00am . . . . . . . Ebouelle Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Resort Centre 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 11.00pm . . . . . . . Ebouelle Party Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Zebra Bar 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Introduction to Savoyarde Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town Square 9.30pm . . . . . . . . Winter Quiz Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush Sat 24th Mar 10.00am . . . . . . . Ebouelle Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Resort Centre 12.00noon . . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JC’s Sports Bar 1.30pm . . . . . . . . Rock the Pistes Festival – Louis Bertignac Top of Belvedere chairlift 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Case K2 8.00pm . . . . . . . . Ebouelle Closing Party . . . . . . . . . . .3 Zebra Bar & Igloo Chalet Club

Sun 25th Mar 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 11.30am . . . . . . . Rock the Pistes Festival – Medi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindarets 12.00noon . . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JC’s Sports Bar 1.30pm . . . . . . . . Rock the Pistes Festival – Gerald de Palmas. . . . . . . . . . . Le Crosets 10.00pm . . . . . . . Music Quiz Night – free entry, win Champagne! . . . .JC’s Sports Bar

Mon 26th Mar 1.30pm . . . . . . . . Rock the Pistes Festival – Shaka Ponk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Plaine Dranse 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Welcome to Les Gets Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front de Neige

Tue 27th Mar 4.00pm . . . . . . . . Guided Tour of the Micro-Brewery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Pub 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Tour of Caroline’s Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Folliets 6.00pm . . . . . . . . Torchlit night walk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Les Gets Lake 8.00pm . . . . . . . . Seasonaires ‘Request-A-Song’ Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush 10.00pm . . . . . . . Horse Racing Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar

Wed 28th Mar 1.30pm . . . . . . . . Rock the Pistes Festival – Archive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arare Piste 3.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Ice Party – Games on the Ice Rink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Centre 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Jazz - Les Bloodies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Village Centre 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Pottery Workshop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Sarre Farm 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Apres live music with Jim the Strummer Beer . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar 10.00pm . . . . . . . Toss the Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JC's Sports Bar

Thrs 29th Mar 8.00am . . . . . . . . Village Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rue du Centre 2.00pm . . . . . . . . Chocolate Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chalet du Chocolat 5.30pm . . . . . . . . Tour of the Goat Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .La Sarre Farm 10.00pm . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zebra Bar

Fri 30th Mar 9.00am . . . . . . . . Tour of the Cheese Dairy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Fruitiere des Perrieres 9.00am . . . . . . . . Snow Shoeing & Archery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Office de Tourisme 10.30am . . . . . . . Kids Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Cry Ski Area 5.00pm . . . . . . . . Introduction to Savoyarde Cheese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Town Square 9.30pm . . . . . . . . Winter Quiz Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Bush

Sat 31st Mar 12.00noon . . . . . . Live Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JC’s Sports Bar 4.30pm . . . . . . . . Live Music – Cab Collective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Case K2


AvalancheScience

An avalanche has three ingredients; snow, a sloped surface and a trigger. It’s a common misconception that they strike without warning but most avalanches occur when their victims trigger them. Preventing an avalanche is far easier than surviving one. Having an awareness of the conditions that increase the avalanche risk means you’ll be safer on the mountain.

Atmospheric conditions such as temperature and humidity affect the size and shape of snowflakes as they fall to the ground. The snowpack – that’s the snow already on the ground – is made up of different layers of snow that have different properties according to the atmospheric conditions when the snow fell. Digging a couple of feet into the snowpack, the different layers of snow will be visible. Some of these layers will be stable, other layers on top will be less stable. One layer can detach from the other when there is a trigger.

Avalanches can occur on slopes that are between a 25˚ and 60˚ angle to the ground, but most occur

on 35˚ – 40˚ slopes. We asked avalanche experts Recco, the makers of avalanche rescue technology about the dangers of backcountry or off-piste skiing.

‘Getting caught in an avalanche is not simply bad luck. Avalanches happen for particular reasons at specific places and at specific points of time. Avalanche safety therefore relies more on identifying the danger as much as recovery’.

How do we identify the danger?• Avalanchesaremostlikelytooccurafterafresh

dump of snow. This new layer of snow could slide off the existing snowpack.

• Checktheavalancheriskattheliftstationinthemorning before you venture off-piste.

• Avalanche paths are often obvious. An openslope, bowl or gully will be more affected by atmospheric conditions. Know when to say no.

• Highwindsonexposedpistescould triggeranavalanche. Stay low and sheltered when the avalanche risk is high.

You can download Recco's 'White Book' on avalanche safety for free on the yodel website.

2020


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Restaurant and Bar Alt. 1750mMont chery, 74260, Les Gets

+33 679 425 886 | [email protected] | www.lagrandeourse.eu

Restaurant and Bar Alt. 1750mMont chery, 74260, Les Gets

+33 679 425 886 | [email protected] | www.lagrandeourse.eu

Complete your Portes du Soleil stay by visiting the ‘locals mountain’, Mont Chery.With its great skiing and stunning views of Mont Blanc, the mountain is the hidden diamond

of the region.

The acclaimed La Grande Ourse Restaurant, the highest in Les Gets and Morzine, is where you can find great food, a warm family welcome and a roaring log fire.

Our two floors offer different and diverse menus - the ground floor with its new Italian restaurant offers fresh homemade pasta and pizza prepared by our Italian chef.

In our central restaurant you can enjoy a mixture of classic food and a wonderful choice of some local dishes augmented with an imaginative twist.

Crackling Hog Roast every Sunday through the season from 12.30pm.Regarded by many as a ‘must do’ is experiencing a unique fine dining evening with a trip via

Pisten Bully (snow cat) a mile up the mountain for a slice of gastronomique heaven... amazing!!!

Last but certainly not least - daily meal deals enabling discerning customers to find quality at great prices before 10.30am and after 2.30pm on food and drink.

Grande Ourse.pdf 1 14/11/2011 18:46


The third European Winter X Games will be held in Tignes between the 14th and 16th of March. But just what are the roots of this extreme sports competition?

The X Games were started by American broadcaster ESPN in the summer of 1995 and were held on Rhode Island. They were originally called the Extreme Games and the fi rst lineup consisted of mountain biking, street sledging, rollerblading, skateboarding, bungee jumping and sky surfi ng. The games were a revelation in a country where baseball, basketball and football were the staple sports.

Despite being just its fi rst year, the magnifi cent arena reminiscent of the gladiator games attracted 200,000 spectators. The X Games became popular so quickly that in 2006 a second annual event was announced in the shape of the Winter X Games.

While the winter games had previously been focused in America and Shanghai, in 2010 a European Winter X Games was debuted in Tignes and has continued to be held there. Based in the centre of Tignes Val Claret, the Games hosts 8 events in total including men’s and women’s slopestyle and superpipe.

The 2011 Tignes X Games commanded 1900 hours of television coverage, which was broadcast across 198 countries and has only grown in popularity ready for this year. In 2012, more than 150 athletes will be heading to Tignes for the event. We take a look at just a few of the hopefuls.

2012 Hopefuls

Jamie Anderson, 22, is an American snowboarder from Lake Tahoe and is one of the greatest Slopestyle riders in the world. In the US X Games she claimed 3 gold medals, two bronze and a silver and took gold at Tignes in 2011 by spinning three different ways off the three kickers.

WINTERXGAMES EUROPE

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Jenny Jones, 32, is a British professional snowboarder and an X games stalwart. In 2009, she became the fi rst British rider ever to win gold at the US X Games by completing a front-side 720 on the last jump of her third run. Overall, Jones has won two gold and a silver medal at the US games in Slopestyle and a gold in the 2010 European games.

Iouri Podladchikov, 24, is a Swiss-Russian professional snowboarder and has been competing since 2000. At Tignes 2010, Podladtchikov successfully landed a Double McTwist 1260 making him the only other person in the world alongside Shaun White to have ever landed this trick.

Kevin Rolland, 22, is the French freestyle skier who is hot tipped to take medals at Tignes 2012. He has won gold in Superpipe at Tignes 2010 and 2011 as well as three further medals in the last two Aspen X Games meaning he’s taken back-to-back golds at the US and European Games in the previous two years.

The Winter X Games in Tignes will be particularly poignant this year following the death of Sarah Burke. A four-time Winter X Games gold medalist, Burke died following a training accident in Salt Lake City in January.

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Evenining shuttlesto Morzine andLes Gets

Day trips to Flaine,Chamonix, Annecyor elsewhere

Local shuttles toMorzine, Avoriazor Les Gets

ski-transfers.pdf 1 11/12/2011 19:26


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What are the roots of your company, how did you fi rst set it up?

Alex: I graduated into a recession; there were no jobs so I started freelancing and just never stopped. Eventually some other people stuck around as well.

Felix: I joined a couple of years later after a two season snowboard bum stint in Whistler.

What is your personal background in design?

Alex: I went to the Ontario College of Art and got me a fancy degree.

Felix: No degree here. Photoshop and Illustrator were brand new when we started and I just picked it up.

What has been your most exciting / challenging project?

Alex: Other than running your own business? Getting to work with explosives and high-speed cameras

on a Nokia commercial.

Felix: Having our own clothing line - OK47.

As they were your fi rst snowboard graphics, how did you go about designing for K2?

Felix: They contacted us after seeing an ad of ours in Vice magazine.

Alex: We just did what we wanted and they liked it.

Is it hard to design something original for someone like Coca Cola who have had such a wealth of different adverts over the years?

Felix: It’s always hard to do anything original and get paid for it.

How would you describe your work?

Alex: We try to come up with surprising or unexpected images that work for our clients, but usually there’s

Helios Design Lab is run by brothers Alex and Felix Wittholz and is a design studio that has completed work for K2 snowboards and Coca Cola. The siblings talk to yodel about their lives as designers.


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HeliosDESIGN LAB

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a bit of humour in there.

Felix: Surreal irreverence and experimentation tempered by corporate necessity.

Who is your dream client?

Alex: Any client that hires us for what we do well and then trusts us to do it well…and pays on time.

Felix: Someone willing to let us experiment with new techniques.

What are your main infl uences and inspirations?

Alex: The concept of collage; movies, music, art, books. Anything that’s nothing to do with advertising.

Felix: I used to follow specifi c designers, but now I just go on late night internet freestyle sessions.

How do you go about creating a project?

Alex: Depends on the project of course. We usually try to get as much information as we can and let it rattle around our heads for a while. Sometimes we’ll get an idea fairly quickly and other times it's like pulling teeth. This part of the process can be great or frustrating. In the end if we’re really stuck I fi nd that if you just sit down and start things will happen.

Do you come from a very artistic background?

Alex: No, but we travelled a lot as kids.

Felix: Our mum painted fl owers on cabinet doors once.

Do you listen to music while you work, if so what sort?

Alex: Yes. All kinds. Actually no, only the good kind.

Felix: I specifi cally hate Dixieland, Opera, New Country, Jazz Fusion, and Portuguese folk-music.

What are you working on at the moment?

Alex: We’re building an app that will show you the location of free drinking water in your area, working on an interactive documentary about the dangers of off-shore oil drilling, re-branding a sports channel, building an interactive virtual walkthrough of a university campus and renovating my house.

What is your average day from morning to night?

Alex: Pretty average.

Felix: Coffee. Walk dog to work. Coffee. Work. Walk dog home. Beer.

What do you think you would be doing if a career as a designer had not worked out?

Felix: I always wanted a caretaker job, like Jack Nicholson had in “The Shining”.

Alex: Raising unicorns and farming their tears.

Find out more at: heliozilla.com


27

Were you interested in snow sports before photography? Which came fi rst? I got my fi rst 35mm camera when I was eighteen and started shooting whatever caught my eye. I didn't start snowboarding until much later.

How did you become a snowboard photographer? What was your fi rst commission? At fi rst I just started shooting my friends and a few of them started to get really good and pick up sponsors. The best tip I can give to anyone who wants to shoot is to get yourself some friends that are keen and have got skills. Without good riders you're not going to get good photographs. When my shots started to look as good as the ones in the magazines I started submitting and things just grew from there.

James McPhail, photographer, has been at the forefront of creative snowboard photography for over a decade and his work for magazines such as Whitelines and Document Snowboard have taken him to remote corners of the globe. Here James tells Yodel about life as a professional snowboard photographer.

www.jamesmcphail.com

It took quite a few years of hard graft, shooting in the winters and working at other jobs in the summer to save for the season. Back then I was submitting freelance to all the UK and French mags. Most of my work went to Whitelines fi rst so they got the best of it. I started shooting full time when I landed the job as senior photographer and photo editor for Whitelines. My fi rst trip for the mag was a tour of Eastern Europe with about ten other people....... it was carnage!

What is the best part of your job? I feel very lucky to have spent as much time as I have in some of the most amazing mountains in the world. Travelling and getting to ride powder in far-fl ung countries is defi nitely top of the list.

What is the worst part? Hiking with a backpack full of camera kit then watching as somebody else gets the best lines.

If you weren't a professional snow sports photographer, what would you be? I used to build boats before snowboarding and I liked it lots so either a boat builder or an astronaut.

MY DREAM JOB


28

Many property markets in the Eurozone are facing collapse as a result of the global fi nancial crisis. For example, Spain has become littered with up to 1 million unwanted properties and there are reports in Ireland of brand new houses facing demolition because it is cheaper than selling them in the current climate.

As a country, France has remained popular due to the stability of its economy, making it an attractive country to invest in. This is especially true of the ski property market.

One major reason for the continued appeal of ski properties is the potential for a second home or bolt hole that also has excellent potential as a rental property. France is the most popular destination in Europe for buyers interested in the ski market and attracts a third of the market.

An important factor for buyers today is stability over fast returns. Ski property in the French Alps attracts

wealthy buyers that are less likely to panic sell during times of economic uncertainty, which in turn creates a stable market.

Contrary to popular belief, altitude is not the most important factor in the ski property market for all buyers. Many buyers are more interested in the actual infrastructure of a resort such as the lift system and accessibility to the nearby ski area. With easy access to over 650km of pistes throughout the Portes du Soleil, this has made Les Gets a popular destination for its great value properties.

The increasing popularity of Les Gets as a summer resort has also increased demand, expanding the letting potential to encompass another season. Other ski resorts, which may have great winter letting practically shut down in the summer with little to no chance of summer rentals.

Things are looking good for the ski property market across the

For many it is just a dream to own a property in the Alps. For some the dream will surely come true but for others it may have to stay that way after ski property prices bucked the trend for collapse following the global recession.


29

French Alps and specifi cally in the local area in 2012. It may be just about time to think about making that dream investment!

How does our resort compare? An average 2 bed apartment in this area will set you back approximately €250,000, but what will that money get you in other destinations?

London – For €270,000 you could own a garage in Stanhope Mews East, Central London. The exceptionally large lock up garage comes with a door and pretty much nothing else!

Bali – A luxury 4 bedroom villa with private swimming pool and views over the Indian Ocean on the tropical island of Koh Samui can be yours for just €248,000.

Burnley – You could buy 10…yes 10 properties in this town in North West England! The average two-bedroom terrace house will set you back around €25,000 and consists of two beds, a bathroom, lounge, kitchen and yard.

Paris – For €257,000 a ‘cosy’ apartment with an overall fl oor space of just 22m² could be yours. The apartment also boasts one room with a separate bathroom and kitchen…but no bedroom!

Monaco - You can get a 4 bedroom, four bathroom apartment in the centre of Monaco with a private roof terrace and swimming pool. Or at least you can live there for just under half a year with a whopping rental of €49,000 per month.

Vin ChaudWhen you think back to your

snowy holiday in Les Gets, you’ll probably be able to

taste the warm spiced red wine. Did you know how

easy it is to make at home?

Ingredients:1 bottle of a fruity red wine

4 cinnamon sticksZest of ¼ of an orange

4 tablespoons granulated sugar2 cardamom pods

(not essential, but they help with the spiciness)

5 whole cloves1/3 cup Cognac

Method:Mix all of the ingredients except the

Cognac together in a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to just under a

simmer over the lowest heat setting – it’s really important that you don’t

allow the wine to boilThe Vin Chaud is hot enough when the

sugar has dissolved. Strain the wine through a cheese-cloth lined colander.

Pour 1-2 teaspoons of Cognac into a glass or mug and ladle the Vin Chaud

over the top.

Enjoy


For this month’s competition the awesome attack

attack snowboard shop in Morzine are offering

two amazing prize bundles. And hopefully our

article on making your own igloo will be your

inspiration…

This month we want to see your pictures of snow

inspired structures and sculptures. Whether this

be your prize snowman, your well placed kicker

or your cosy igloo, we want you to get creative

with snow. Matt at attack attack will choose the

best entries at the end of the month!

This competition is subject to Yodel’s standard

rules and closes on 31st March 2012 at midnight.

Send your entries by e-mail to:

[email protected]

30

[email protected]

Girl'sPrize

Salomon - XPRO10 Goggles

Elm Co. - BeanieSalomon - XPRO10 Goggles

Boy'sPrize

Vans - Fresh Pow Jacket

Element - Savannah Handbag

Elm Co. - BeanieVans - Fresh Pow Jacket

Element - Savannah Handbag

Elm Co. - Beanie

Elm Co. - Beanie

For this month’s competition the awesome attack

attack snowboard shop in Morzine are offering

two amazing prize bundles. And hopefully our

article on making your own igloo will be your


31

There are ski resorts in France that have Michelin starred restaurants. Courchevel has 11 stars in total; the Chamonix area has the same. Could Les Gets be set to join them in the ranks of posh nosh?

Alan White is the Head Chef at Ferme de Montagne and describes his ambition to achieve a Michelin Star as the reason why he gets out of bed each morning. It’s the gold medal of cuisine after all. But Alan is realistic about things. ‘If you let Michelin drive you it will ultimately hold you back. No one really knows what Michelin inspectors look for so I try to cook what I like to eat, which is normally what our guests enjoy too.’

Alan is a unique breed – a self-taught chef, his big break came when he was appointed to the much sought-after role of Head Chef at Edinburgh Castle. During his time at Ferme de Montagne he’s been on several ‘stages’ (think work experience, but for Chefs) at Michelin starred restaurants in the UK such as Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons with Raymond Blanc

and Gleneagles with Andrew Fairlies. ‘I’d be happy to be half as good as either of them!’

But what impact would a Michelin star at Ferme de Montagne have on Les Gets as a resort? It’s likely to put the village on the radar of food lovers from the surrounding cities of Geneva and Annecy. There could also be more financial investment in the resort and Alan believes it could encourage others to open fine dining restaurants in the area.

So how does Alan describe his own food? ‘It’s the question every Chef dreads! I like to evolve and use many different styles of cuisine in my cooking. From Japanese to Scottish methods, I do everything with the discipline of French cookery!’

In any holiday resort it’s important that there are a range of different dining options to suit everyone’s tastes and wallet and Les Gets certainly has an excellent, varied mix. But wouldn’t it be great if Les Gets became part of the culinary elite?

France is the home of the Michelin Star and some

say the home of gastronomy. Which is ironic seeing as though Michelin is

actually a tyre company. Michelin launched their first guidebook in 1900 to encourage

road tripping in France. They then began anonymously reviewing restaurants for inclusion in

their guidebooks in 1926 using a 3 star system.


ONESIEOF THE MONTH

32

Now what have we here…? How on earth do you manage to fi nd such a spectacular onesie that matches your pink and blue dreadlocks so perfectly? Impressive! The waist tie is a new alternative to those cumbersome belts we typically see but darling… try harder with your helmet and goggles next time.

If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch with the Retro Rentals boys – www.retro-rentals.eu.

IEIE

If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch

Back for another year of music and snow sports madness, the Ebouelle Contest is Les Gets’ big resort-wide festi-val. It is a mix of snow sports, international music and graphic arts. Ski and snowboard test events, exhibitions and workshops pack the festival programme each day, followed by big party nights at Zebra 3 Bar and the Igloo Chalet Club each night. Amateur and professional skiers and snowboarders compete alongside each other in jib, road gap and airbag competitions, all with the accompaniment of piste-side bands. There’ll also be a huge stage in the centre of Les Gets, on which live bands and DJs will get the resort shaking! Last year an art contest was added to the wider Ebouelle Contest and it returns this year. Groups of artists are given a creative kit made up of unusual materials, with which they must create a symbol of the contest and Les Gets.

For more information visit www.ebouelle-contest.com or visit the Yodel website for the full festival programme.

go to the Yodel website for your chance to win a stunning Retro Rentals onesie PLUS free rental for you and your mates...


En Francais s’il vous plaîtEver get a little lost around town? Help is here! Lost in Translation Language School (www.lost-intranslation.com) helps you to � nd your way around with some basic directional phrases.

Directions

I’m lost. Can you help me?Je suis perdu. Pouvez-vous m’aider?(Je swee pair-doo. Poo-vay voo may-day)

Go straightContinuez tout droit(Con-tin-u-ay too dr-wah)

Turn left/rightTournez à gauche/droite(Tour-nay a go-che/dr-wat)

Where is…?Où est….?Oo ay….?

-The Police Station-La gendarmerie(La jon-darm-er-ee)

-The Hospital-L’hôpital(Lop-it-al)

-Post Of� ce-La Poste(La Poss-t)

-Supermarket-Le supermarché(Le super-mar-chay)

-The Opera nightclubL’Opéra Discothèque(Lopera disco-tek)

-Bus StopL’arrêt de bus(L’arr-ay de bus)

-The Town Centre-Le centre-ville(le son-tre veel)

UphillMontée(montay)

DownhillDescente(Des-sont)

En Francais s’il vous plaît

33

Anyone who has Anyone who has Anyone who has Anyone who has Anyone who has Anyone who has left their ski boots left their ski boots left their ski boots

in the car overnight in the car overnight in the car overnight will understand the will understand the will understand the

pain of trying to ease pain of trying to ease pain of trying to ease your feet back into them. your feet back into them. your feet back into them.

But could this agony be But could this agony be But could this agony be But could this agony be But could this agony be But could this agony be resigned to the history resigned to the history resigned to the history resigned to the history resigned to the history resigned to the history books? books? books? books? books? books?

The Go! PEET portable boot dryer The Go! PEET portable boot dryer The Go! PEET portable boot dryer The Go! PEET portable boot dryer The Go! PEET portable boot dryer The Go! PEET portable boot dryer could be the answer to your prayers could be the answer to your prayers could be the answer to your prayers could be the answer to your prayers could be the answer to your prayers could be the answer to your prayers as it dries and warms your ski boots as it dries and warms your ski boots as it dries and warms your ski boots as it dries and warms your ski boots as it dries and warms your ski boots as it dries and warms your ski boots ready to put on. The dryer contains ready to put on. The dryer contains ready to put on. The dryer contains ready to put on. The dryer contains ready to put on. The dryer contains ready to put on. The dryer contains small ceramic stones, which heat small ceramic stones, which heat small ceramic stones, which heat small ceramic stones, which heat small ceramic stones, which heat small ceramic stones, which heat up your boot and dry the residue up your boot and dry the residue up your boot and dry the residue up your boot and dry the residue up your boot and dry the residue up your boot and dry the residue moisture.moisture.moisture.moisture.moisture.moisture.

While these may not be effective in While these may not be effective in While these may not be effective in While these may not be effective in While these may not be effective in While these may not be effective in the same way as the commercial the same way as the commercial the same way as the commercial the same way as the commercial the same way as the commercial the same way as the commercial boot dryers found in many chalets, boot dryers found in many chalets, boot dryers found in many chalets, boot dryers found in many chalets, boot dryers found in many chalets, boot dryers found in many chalets, this downside may be replaced by this downside may be replaced by this downside may be replaced by this downside may be replaced by this downside may be replaced by this downside may be replaced by sheer convenience.sheer convenience.sheer convenience.sheer convenience.sheer convenience.sheer convenience.

The PEET boot dryer comes with The PEET boot dryer comes with The PEET boot dryer comes with The PEET boot dryer comes with The PEET boot dryer comes with The PEET boot dryer comes with two adapters which means that it two adapters which means that it two adapters which means that it two adapters which means that it two adapters which means that it two adapters which means that it can be used not only in your home can be used not only in your home can be used not only in your home can be used not only in your home can be used not only in your home can be used not only in your home but also by plugging into your car.but also by plugging into your car.but also by plugging into your car.but also by plugging into your car.but also by plugging into your car.but also by plugging into your car.

The dryer will set you back The dryer will set you back The dryer will set you back The dryer will set you back The dryer will set you back The dryer will set you back approximately €40 but we consider approximately €40 but we consider approximately €40 but we consider approximately €40 but we consider approximately €40 but we consider approximately €40 but we consider that a small price to pay for the that a small price to pay for the that a small price to pay for the that a small price to pay for the that a small price to pay for the that a small price to pay for the luxury of warm dry toes in a ski luxury of warm dry toes in a ski luxury of warm dry toes in a ski luxury of warm dry toes in a ski luxury of warm dry toes in a ski luxury of warm dry toes in a ski resort!resort!resort!resort!resort!resort!

You can learn more at You can learn more at You can learn more at www.peetshoedryer.comwww.peetshoedryer.comwww.peetshoedryer.com


While I was growing up in Essert Romand I really saw Les Gets grow up too. The resort is very international now and it’s a convenient town for a family to live in. You can get around town easily, it’s safe here, everything is well maintained and we get a lot of sunshine… and of course the summer is a lovely time too.

I think the main thing that’s helped Les Gets to develop is the expansion and upgrade of the ski lift system. It’s opened up the whole area and now people come here for lots of different kinds of holidays. It’s great for us because it means we can open our restaurant and be busy all year round.

In 2000 I left Essert Romand to study in Chambery and in the Pyrenees. I met my wife Carol in 2001 – she was studying too. After living and working in Canada for a little while we returned to the area and Carol worked in tourism while I was the director of the ski resort in Abondance. We really wanted to start our own business. We didn’t

specifically have Les Gets in mind, but it would have been our ideal choice – we wanted to live in a village that had a sense of community. In 2009 we found our restaurant!

Having our own restaurant means we get lots of interaction with our guests. This is the best part of our day. We have a collection of local books and people often come in to ask for advice on things to do and places to go. It’s like a big family here in the resort – lots of people come in and ask about our pregnancy, there is a lot of local support for families. The only downside is when there is no snow in the winter – but this could happen anywhere! We spend long hours in our business too, anything between 12 and 16 hours a day. There isn’t much time to ski but we’re working on finding a balance. We’ll need to when the baby comes along!

There are lots of new businesses in Les Gets these days. We’re lucky because our restaurant is Number 1 on Trip Advisor so people search us out when they arrive. We also make sure that we use as many local, quality products as possible on our menu too. It’s a bit more expensive for us to buy our food from local farms instead of from big catering companies but we like the personal relationships we have with our suppliers.

Please come in and say hello to us of your passing!

CarolAnquetiland Frederic

Lancon-Peguet are as local

as they come. Fred grew up just along the road in Essert Romand and

they now own and run

one of the most popular restaurants in

Les Gets – La CaseK2.While

they’re waiting for their first

baby to arrive they tell Yodel

about family life in Les Gets.

The Local View...

3434


.comwww.

brent

MEY

ER


• Private Tuition for individuals or small groups

• Junior Freeriders ski courses for 6-15 yr olds

• Ski Guiding full days in the Portes du Soleil

Inspirational ski & boardlessons in Les Gets& Morzine

www.skischool.co.uk - FR: +33 (0)615 105 211 - UK: +44 (0)203 286 3189www.skischool.co.uk - FR: +33 (0)615 105 211 - UK: +44 (0)203 286 3189

"From my initial contact to the endof the last lesson, the experience

was truly excellent"A Garner, Feb 2011

LGS.pdf 1 08/11/2011 17:15


March 2012 Les Gets

Documents

chemmy alcottmichelin

uks best skier

attack attack

yodel competition

ice star chemmy alcott

livesthe winter x games

snow awareness

female skier