Tuesday, April 30, 2019

2020 Winter Ski Gear Preview

2020 Winter Ski Gear Preview - Sneak Peek

Winter is in full swing, with big snowstorms bringing powder days everywhere from Lake Tahoe to Austria. While we’re definitely fans of living in the moment, it’s always fun to look ahead to what is coming up next. With this in mind, we wanted to bring a sneak peak of the newest and best 2020 ski gear that will be coming out in the fall of 2019. From lighter boots, to new 2020 skis, there is a lot to be excited about. Plus, who doesn’t love checking out the new topsheet graphics and outerwear trends?

READ ON... 

Monday, April 29, 2019

Our Winter 19 Portes du Soleil Highlights


Our Winter 19 Portes du Soleil Highlights






With all those kilometres of piste to explore, venturing beyond Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz is always recommended by the team at Morzine Source Magazine. Here’s what you can expect to find beyond the resort limits this winter…

LE CONTAINER

It’s always fun to ski to the very edge of the Portes du Soleil piste map, but now there’s another good reason to head to Torgon this winter. Le Container is a piste-side snack bar run by Anaïs and Cyrille and as the name might suggest, it’s housed within a shipping container. You’ll find Le Container on the Plan de Croix piste and although the menu is still in development, you can expect savory and sweet crepes and homemade soups. Le Container is open between 8.30am / 9am and 5pm / 6pm (depending on the season) and you can find out more at lecontainer.ch

ROCK THE PISTES

Back in 2011, the powers that be at Les Portes du Soleil launched their very own music festival. The concept was relatively simple (though we wouldn’t like to be in charge of logistics!); piste-side concerts on specially erected stages in resorts across the ski area, straddling two different countries. Festival-goers could enjoy the music free of charge, skiing from one stage to another during the course of the week. Rock the Pistes returns for its ninth year between 17th and 23rd March 2019 and the festival continues to go from strength to strength. All gigs take place on the snow with concerts commencing at 1.30pm each day in a different location. We’ll include the full line-up on our website once it’s released but in the meantime head to rockthepistes.com for updates.

ALAÎA WAVE BASIN

Here’s an exciting new development for those of you who enjoy summer holidays in our region. Over in Sion on the other side of Les Portes du Soleil, the construction of a surf pool has been proposed. Sion is just 1 hour, 50 minutes from Morzine by car and construction is expected to commence in the spring with the facility opening to surfers in 2020. The pool will produce up to 1000 waves per hour, ranging in size from 20cm to 1.8m. Other facilities such as a gym and tennis courts are also proposed for the site. For further updates, head to facebook.com/alaia.actionsports

NEW PIERRE-LONGUE CHAIRLIFT

We absolutely love a new ski lift here at Morzine Source Magazine, though you’ll have to head a little further into the Portes du Soleil for this one. Over in Châtel the original 4-man Pierre-Longue chairlift has been replaced by a 6-man detachable Poma chairlift, increasing the flow of skiers and snowboarders from 2600 per hour to over 3000. The new lift will make it much easier to cross back into Avoriaz after a day spent exploring our huge ski area.
SOURCE: HTTPS://WWW.MORZINESOURCEMAGAZINE.COM/OUR-WINTER-19-PORTES-DU-SOLEIL-HIGHLIGHTS/

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Winter 19 Avoriaz Highlights

The Portes du Soleil’s highest resort gets better and better each winter. Here’s some of Morzine Source Magazine's favourite unmissable developments in Avoriaz, fresh for Winter 19.

LAUNCHING LE ROC

Bowling is a big deal in Avoriaz and we’ve been massive fans of the retro bowling lanes and old school arcade games at Le Bowling for many years. This year, courtesy of its new owners, Le Bowling is getting a massive face-lift in two distinct stages. Le Lounge Roc is a brand new lounge bar complete with a VIP area, a DJ booth, cigar club and cocktail and tapas menu, the space incorporates the buildings adjacent and connected to Le Bowling to create one huge, swanky venue. The original bowling alley will remain untouched for this winter season, becoming Le Strike Roc after a huge refurbishment, commencing in April 2019. The new owners have promised us even more bowling lanes, which is very good news indeed! Follow the progress at facebook.com/lerocavoriaz

VILLAGE IGLOO

As you’ll discover on page 128 of our current issue, the construction of Avoriaz’s Village Igloois a carefully planned mission each winter and this year you’ll have three excellent reasons to pay a visit. The Ice Bar, as the name suggests, is entirely made from snow and ice; it’s the perfect place to enjoy a morning coffee or an après drink before skiing back into the resort at the end of your day. The restaurant serves a selection of local cheeses and meats on Wednesday and Saturday evenings from 7pm (reservations necessary). You also have the opportunity to stay overnight at the Igloo Hotel, too! For details head to village-igloo-avoriaz.com

SNOWBOXX 2019  READ ON

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Why the Portes Du Soleil keeps solo skiers coming back!

Why the Portes Du Soleil keeps solo skiers coming back!

The solo ski experts at The Ski Gathering tell us what is attracting first-timers and veteran solos to Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets.


Across the board, solo travel has grown enormously in recent years, mirroring a general trend in ‘independent’ and socialising hobbies. Today, people use apps and websites to find flatmates, meet gym buddies, arrange car shares… and plan their solo-travel adventures.

This is particularly noticeable with ski holidays, where solo travellers are increasingly making their mark. Some solos prefer to ski alone, enjoying the total freedom of the mountain. But most see it as a social opportunity to meet other skiers or boarders and avoid paying the empty-bed supplement. For the latter group in particular, the Portes du Soleil has become a focal point in the solo travel revolution. Why is that?

It’s Perfect for Mixed-Ability Groups
It’s Day One of your solo ski holiday and you’re heading out with a group of people you’ve never skied with before. Head for the Les Gets Bowl - the perfect starting point for mixed-ability groups. Here, five lifts serve twelve interconnecting pistes of varying levels of difficulty. Perfect if you all want to try out different slopes but still meet for the lift ride back up or a swift vin chaud.
The speed demons can head straight for the steep Tulipe red run off the Ranfoilly lift; the less flamboyant can find their feet on the more slow-and-steady Reine des Pres.

Beginners won’t be left out
Resorts like Les Gets and Morzine are perfect for beginners. Friendly people, great ski schools, plenty of beginner slopes, and an easy(ish) descent back into resort. While you’re having lessons, the rest of the group probably won’t be too far away, so meeting up for a long social lunch is still on the cards.

Find time for yourself
One of the best things about solo travel is having the total freedom to do what you want, when you want. You can opt out of group activities and blaze your own trail any time you like. For an afternoon in your own company, intermediates and advanced skiers should head over to the back of Mont Chery in Les Gets. It’s so quiet over there, you can virtually have the mountain to yourself. Soak up the silence and get away from it all for the afternoon.

Looking for an adventure
Solo travel is all about creating unforgettable experiences, so set your alarm and have a crack at the Portes du Soleil ‘Loop’. A big day even for serious skiers, this will take you around the perimeter of this, the world’s largest ski area. Probably not one for snowboarders or inexperienced skiers, this is a demanding day’s exercise and you’ll probably need a guide who knows the way without consulting a pistemap. But those who finish the Loop will never forget the experience. Or stop bragging about it.

Have a guide show you the backcountry off-piste
If you’re traveling independently but are not joining a group of solo skiers, a week can be a long time to ski in splendid isolation. One way to break this up is to get lessons or a guide. The Portes du Soleil has vast off-piste skiing opportunities which are essentially off-limits without an experienced guide, so why not kill two birds with one stone? Explore the road less travelled while getting a bit of company for a day.

Discover hidden treasures
If you’re skiing with other solos, you will probably soon forget that you ever travelled out on your own: we often say that solo travel holidays are for groups of friends who haven’t met yet. A great way to cement this kind of dynamic is to discover new things together, and the Portes du Soleil has plenty of hidden treasures for you to seek out. One example is ‘Les Lindarets’, better known as The Goat Village. Named after the many goats which fill the village in summer, this magical location could scarcely be more picturesque and is the perfect spot for a lunchtime stop-off. It’s a skier’s heaven.

Those looking for an equivalent hell might head for the Swiss Wall. Only to be attempted by the most experienced mogul skiers, this near-vertical drop marks the entry point into Switzerland. Ski or snowboard down it, or watch in admiration from the chairlift to meet up at the bottom. You’ll need a head for heights either way.


So, if your group can’t make it this year, or your friends just won’t even try skiing this winter, there’s really no excuse for stayi

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

7 Excuses to Visit Les Portes du Soleil

STORY BY Megan Hughes 

A hugely popular ski area, Les Portes du Soleil is one of the top destinations in the Alps. Here at InTheSnow.com we are giving you a rundown of 7 reasons why you NEED to visit Les Portes due Soleil this year.

1. Size Matters

With over 650km of marked piste and 196 lifts, Les Portes du Soleil is one of the largest ski areas in the world. It boasts over 300 runs, 2/3 of which are either red or blue, meaning that skiers of every level will be able to enjoy themselves with an abundance of runs to ensure good variety throughout your visit. Due to the immense size of the ski area, there are good pre-marked trails and circuits that are often popular with holidaymakers due to the ease that comes with their being well signed. If you prefer to make your own routes however, this is simple too thanks to a free app that creates and plans routes based on your ability level and preferences.

You could spend a whole season there and never get bored, so whether you’re thinking of heading off for a week’s holiday or working a winter season, Les Portes du Soleil will provide you more than enough pistes to play with.

2. Superb Snow Parks....READ ON

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Mountain Pit Stops in the Portes du Soleil


mountain pit stops morzine

When you are spending all day sliding around a mountain, sometimes you just need a little break. This is especially the case in Morzine, as we are located in the largest ski area in the world, the Portes du Soleil. With all this fantastic terrain, you may find that you want to rest your legs, warm up with a hot chocolate or refuel with a quick crêpe. We have been selfless and scoured the Portes du Soleil to find the best mountain pits stops. It was tough work, but it is just one of the many things we do for our guests.

Morzine

The Pleney side of the valley has lots of great tree lined runs that are suitable for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. There are many pistes that have beginner friendly gradients that are ideal to hone your skills on. This is great for guests staying in our self catered property, Apartment 101, located just over the road from the Pleney bubble lift.
When you are learning, it is a good idea to give your legs a rest from time to time. Luckily there are some very easy-to-get-to pit stops for quick break.  READ ON

Le Tremplin

le tremplin

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Morzine in Winter: The Ultimate Guide

More Moutain have recently published their ultimate guide to Summer in Morzine tand thought that they should continue the theme with the ultimate guide to Morzine in Winter . Morzine is often overlooked for winter holidays, as people tend to think the Morzine is too low and we don’t get enough snow. This is a common misconception and you need to look past these vicious rumours! There are many reasons why our guests come back year after year….and why we live here.


The Epic Ski Area

Imagine being able to ski in two different countries in one day, in the largest ski area in the world. Well that is entirely possible while staying in Morzine. Morzine is located in the Portes du Soleil, this is a huge area that straddles the French – Swiss border. During the Winter, the 12 resorts that span the Portes du Soleil are linked with 650km of pistes, with around 200 ski lifts servicing 1036 km2 over 14 valleys.
All of this means that during a week’s holiday, most people will only just scratch the surface of what is available to them. There are so many possibilities here, you will find it difficult to get bored.
Great for Beginners...READ ON

Sunday, April 7, 2019

Why Morzine France should be your next Ski destination


         Why Morzine France should be your next Ski destination



When asked what my favourite ski resorts are around the world, Morzine France is always in my top 5. It is a resort that suits all types of groups from family ski holidays to a bunch of friends flying in for a weekend. It offers a wide range of activities on and off the slopes and also has a large selection of restaurants and pubs to cater for your needs. Not to mention it is part of one the biggest ski areas in the world, Portes de Soleil, with over 650kms of runs and is only around an hour and a half from Geneva airport. Because of this, it is fast becoming incredibly popular with British skiers/snowboarders.

Out of the 12 resorts that make up the Portes du Soleil ski area, Morzine is the largest and probably the most convenient in regards to resort hopping. It is one of the reasons why I have been here on several occasions during the ski season. It is also the only resort, where I have ever experienced extreme weather conditions from -26 with arctic winds to thunder and lighting while skiing.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Why the Portes Du Soleil keeps solo skiers coming back!

Why the Portes Du Soleil keeps solo skiers coming back!

The solo ski experts at The Ski Gathering tell us what is attracting first-timers and veteran solos to Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets.


Across the board, solo travel has grown enormously in recent years, mirroring a general trend in ‘independent’ and socialising hobbies. Today, people use apps and websites to find flatmates, meet gym buddies, arrange car shares… and plan their solo-travel adventures.

This is particularly noticeable with ski holidays, where solo travellers are increasingly making their mark. Some solos prefer to ski alone, enjoying the total freedom of the mountain. But most see it as a social opportunity to meet other skiers or boarders and avoid paying the empty-bed supplement. For the latter group in particular, the Portes du Soleil has become a focal point in the solo travel revolution. Why is that?

It’s Perfect for Mixed-Ability Groups
It’s Day One of your solo ski holiday and you’re heading out with a group of people you’ve never skied with before. Head for the Les Gets Bowl - the perfect starting point for mixed-ability groups. Here, five lifts serve twelve interconnecting pistes of varying levels of difficulty. Perfect if you all want to try out different slopes but still meet for the lift ride back up or a swift vin chaud.
The speed demons can head straight for the steep Tulipe red run off the Ranfoilly lift; the less flamboyant can find their feet on the more slow-and-steady Reine des Pres.

Beginners won’t be left out
Resorts like Les Gets and Morzine are perfect for beginners. Friendly people, great ski schools, plenty of beginner slopes, and an easy(ish) descent back into resort. While you’re having lessons, the rest of the group probably won’t be too far away, so meeting up for a long social lunch is still on the cards.

Find time for yourself
One of the best things about solo travel is having the total freedom to do what you want, when you want. You can opt out of group activities and blaze your own trail any time you like. For an afternoon in your own company, intermediates and advanced skiers should head over to the back of Mont Chery in Les Gets. It’s so quiet over there, you can virtually have the mountain to yourself. Soak up the silence and get away from it all for the afternoon.

Looking for an adventure
Solo travel is all about creating unforgettable experiences, so set your alarm and have a crack at the Portes du Soleil ‘Loop’. A big day even for serious skiers, this will take you around the perimeter of this, the world’s largest ski area. Probably not one for snowboarders or inexperienced skiers, this is a demanding day’s exercise and you’ll probably need a guide who knows the way without consulting a pistemap. But those who finish the Loop will never forget the experience. Or stop bragging about it.

Have a guide show you the backcountry off-piste
If you’re traveling independently but are not joining a group of solo skiers, a week can be a long time to ski in splendid isolation. One way to break this up is to get lessons or a guide. The Portes du Soleil has vast off-piste skiing opportunities which are essentially off-limits without an experienced guide, so why not kill two birds with one stone? Explore the road less travelled while getting a bit of company for a day.

Discover hidden treasures
If you’re skiing with other solos, you will probably soon forget that you ever travelled out on your own: we often say that solo travel holidays are for groups of friends who haven’t met yet. A great way to cement this kind of dynamic is to discover new things together, and the Portes du Soleil has plenty of hidden treasures for you to seek out. One example is ‘Les Lindarets’, better known as The Goat Village. Named after the many goats which fill the village in summer, this magical location could scarcely be more picturesque and is the perfect spot for a lunchtime stop-off. It’s a skier’s heaven.

Those looking for an equivalent hell might head for the Swiss Wall. Only to be attempted by the most experienced mogul skiers, this near-vertical drop marks the entry point into Switzerland. Ski or snowboard down it, or watch in admiration from the chairlift to meet up at the bottom. You’ll need a head for heights either way.


So, if your group can’t make it this year, or your friends just won’t even try skiing this winter, there’s really no excuse for stayi

Partying Hard In Morzine and Avoriaz

  Partying Hard In Morzine and Avoriaz ...