Doorstep Skis

Its a fascinating subject- well, it is to us ski wax geeks!, but here's a little insight into the eco friendly waxes we use in the workshop at Doorstep Skis- MAGIC POTION designs and distributes the eco friendly “wax” for alpine, snowboard and Nordic skiing. MAGIC POTION is an innovative & ecological formula designed as a substitute for traditional waxes. Its originality lies in its high gliding performance combined with it’s long term efficiency. FAST, EASY,EFFICIENT, and especially MOUNTAIN FRIENDLY • MAGIC POTION is an ecological “wax”. It contains no paraffin or fluorine additives. • Its formula is composed only with non-toxic, environmentally-friendly ingredients. • In contrast to traditional waxes, MAGIC POTION does not gradually disintegrate in contact with abrasive snow and does not leave any

Bit of a title there, but does exactly what it says on the tin! Pete at Freedon 2 Ski is offering the following ski host training course date's in Avoriaz. Dates and times: Tues 13th Dec: 1.30-4.30pm - 3 spaces left Wed 14th Dec: 09.30-12.30 Thurs 15th Dec: 09.30-12.30 and 1.30-4.30pm They meet in Avoriaz, at top of Les Prodain Telepherique. Private chalet sessions and mixed one's too. Ski Hosting Course info: A 3 hour course aimed at ski and snowboard hosts working for quality chalet businesses in the PDS. The course is designed to equip, help provide knowledge and confidence to new and returning ski hosts. This will enhance your product as the ski host will be better prepared to serve your clients on the hill. Session Content: Customer care, the ski way code, practical group leadership and safety, to include - mixed ability groups, chair lift safety, weather hazards, snow hazards & general mountain hazards, a practical accident scenario / dealing with incidents, res

With snow forecast going into the weekend, local mag "Yodel" asked Ian McKeller, an advanced driver trainer registered with the Driving Standards Agency in the UK for his tips on staying safe on the mountain roads this winter. Ian runs skid prevention courses in the UK and in Morzine so we asked him - how does a skid happen? 'A vehicle skids when one or more of the tyres loses normal grip on the road, causing involuntary movement of the vehicle. This happens when the grip of the tyres on the road becomes less than the force or forces acting on the vehicle. A two-wheel drive vehicle with winter tyres will outperform a 4x4 with normal tyres. Snowchains are essential as the local police may insist you fit them before ascending to Les Gets, Morzine and Avoriaz. Know how to fit them. You're at risk of skidding on snow, ice and heavy rain while driving in the Alps in the winter. But remember - wet mud, damp leaves & oil cause sudden slippery patches too. Look out

If you've not already seem it then the Morzine tourist office has a great virtual tour of the area, seen in all its glory with a full coating of snow. Check it out and then tell us you don't fancy going skiing or snowboarding in Morzine, Avoriaz or anywhere in the Portes du Soliel!.... LINK

A few weeks back we had a quick look at the cost of taking trains to the Alps so how does it comparewith packing up the car and heading over... Well, driving to The Alps can often work out cheaper and more ecological, especially with four or more people in the car. It also allows you to pack as much luggage as you want and there's no waiting around for trains, taxies or coaches to and from the airport. Access to a car in The Alps also enables you to take daytrips to surrounding resorts, towns, and cities. Self-catering guests can also save money by accessing out-of-town supermarkets which are considerably less expensive than resort shops. The cost Eurotunnel is offering journeys to Calais from £58 each way, per car this winter and ferry company SeaFrance is offering crossings from £23 each way. SeaFrance recently researched the total costs for a family of four travelling to Chamonix in France on a week-long holiday, comparing driving with flying. SeaFrance concluded that it

Nice little interview worth watching featuring the world famous ski mountaineer Chris Davenport. Inspirational stuff that's got us chomping harder at the bit for the snow to arrive... Watch

Get live video updates direct from the resort, and indeed direct from the pistes this season with Morzine Weather. To give you a taster of what to expect this season, check out their "remember last year" vid here . The boys at Morzine Weather will let you know exactly how the pistes are skiing, what shape the snow's in, what's forecast and just about anything else you need to know from the hill. Live and direct!

If you're in and around Montriond you've probaly seen it, but if not then there's been a British ambulance parked outside the Tabac for quite a while now. Some folks like Yodel, worried that it was stolen and someone was moonlighting as a British paramedic in Morzine! Now we know the full story and it is an absolutely brilliant one... Read on

Ski Skills #1 - Transform you carving - with Warren Smith Ski Academy. Some fresh ideas on how to get the most out of yourself, and your skis. Check it out on- http://vimeo.com/6925178

Ou est la piscine? It's been two years in the making but finally we are just a couple of months away from the opening on the new swimming pool complex in Morzine. Details have just been released from the Morzine Office de Tourisme. Here's an artists impression of how the new building will look, with the Super Morzine bridge above and the existing outdoor swimming pool in the foreground. The new indoor swimming pool in Morzine will open on 17th December - it coincides with the opening of the lift system in the resort. The new swimming pool itself is 25m x 15m and the complex also includes 3 saunas, 2 hammams, a learners pool and a kids pool. The whole site has been constructed with sustainability in mind - it has a grass roof and the pool is heated from the town's wood fired generators. We've tried to get confirmation on the entry prices for adults and children to no avail! We'll let you know as soon as we have them. A new lift will run from the top of t

Ski School for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad is a series of apps that will help all levels of skier develop and improve their ski technique with a series of simple, effective lessons. Each app has been tailored to a specific level of skier, from absolute beginner to advanced, and will guide the user through the natural skiing progression. Watch high quality videos, filmed in stunning scenery, presented by professional ski instructor Darren Turner. The videos are accompanied by intuitive cue cards to help reinforce the topics and enhance your learning experience. The apps have been designed to complement on-slope tuition with a qualified instructor; to clarify the basics, give you a head start and make sure your skiing is heading in the right direction. www.skischoolapp.com