gravité La Clusaz winter ski holidays, ski, snowboard, cross-country skiing experiences


The ski season generally starts the week before Christmas, continuing until late April. The scenery is stunning with the towering mountains being transformed by the first fall of snow into a real winter wonderland, enhanced by the pretty traditional Savoyard chalets and picturesque town centres. The numerous mountain cafes, offer a cozy havens with real log fires, and serve a variety of foods including typical Savoyard dishes such as Tartiflette, Raclette and Fondue. Downhill skiing and snowboarding are amongst the most popular winter sports and understandably so, as there is no feeling on earth like that of your first run of the day on a virgin piste, making fresh tracks with the sun on your face, whilst surrounded by bright white vistas and snow capped mountains. Not to mention the clear fresh air and the challenge of the next and subsequent runs. The ski resort of La Clusaz offers all this and more, catering for beginners, intermediates and experienced skiers or boarders. Combined with the resorts of Le Grand Bornand and Manigod the skiable area opens up to 220km of well maintained pistes, offering a variety of skiing and scenery, and sporting events (see below). Once a month La Clusaz offers the fantastic opportunity of going moonlight skiing. This unique event is unmissable and if you are lucky enough to be staying when it's a full moon, it's worth making the extra effort to strap on your skis for the 2nd time. The pistes re-open at 9pm, the bars are open and alive with bands and DJ's and glowing freebies are handed out so you can see fellow skiers on the slopes. If you can't make it for the full moon, don't worry la Clusaz still has floodlit skiing every Thursday night in the town centre and main slopes

This seasons 07/08 winter sports events in La Clusaz
Christmas fun: 10 years anniversary! - from 24/12/2007 to 31/12/2007 This festival, which is dedicated to children and totally free of charge, and we will be celebrating its 10th Birthday this year. A festival of fun and laughter where you will (re)discover the magic and traditions of Christmas, thanks to dozens of street performers, brass bands, story telling... A truly memorable and fun filled week during the Christmas holidays: unforgettable for the young... and the not so young! La Grimpée du Loup - 04/01/2008 This is a major night-time event for fans of ski mountaineering. The participants set out from the village centre on an initial hill climb before returning back to the start point and heading off to the summit of Crêt du Merle. This competition is one of the stages of the Mountain Ski Tour Somfy, a ski mountaineering competition that takes place across the Alps. FIS downhill slalom giant grand prix - from 10/01/2008 to 11/01/2008 Alpine skiing competition with the best national and foreign young skiers who represent the future champions. Full Moon skiing - 19/01/2008; 22/02/2008; 21/03/2008 This is an amazing event, where the nights are as beautiful as the days. There will be a party atmosphere with night skiing, lively mountain restaurants and bars open until the early hours... There are three of these magical full moon evenings to look forward to. Dog sledding contest - from 26/01/2008 to 27/01/2008 Races of the season finale contest. "Défi Rhône-Alpes 74" finale. Nordic Challenge - from 26/01/2008 to 27/01/2008 Competition with best cross-country skiers (junior, senior ladies & men). The Nordic Challenge is a selection race for Europe and World Cups. 3rd stage programme: - Saturday January 26th: KO sprint & skating event - Sunday January 27th: individual classic event (mass start). Carnival in La Clusaz - 05/02/2008 An institution for both the village and its inhabitants! Each year the temperature rises a notch and takes on an air of Rio... With brass bands in the street, themed floats and a firework display, there will be a hot party atmosphere right at the heart of winter. Retro ski "The development of snow sport techniques" - 13/02/2008; 27/02/2008 La Clusaz, winter sports and champions...Snow sports activities have evolved enormously since they first came on the scene at the beginning of the century. Ski equipment and techniques have developed and diversified. In a great sound and lights show, retrace the steps of the snow sports evolution. SFR freeskiing tour - from 20/02/2008 to 21/02/2008 Big Air on February 20th and night finale with French best riders with Freestyle initiation on the 21st for any one who fancies a go. Grand Raid Tour - from 15/03/2008 to 16/03/2008 Breathtakingly steep slopes, powder fields... Experience snow sports in total freedom. Skiers, snowboarders, telemarkers... Professionals and amateurs will race against each other over special timed slaloms in one of the resort's most beautiful off-piste sites. This freeride competition in teams of two is one of the 6 stages of the Grand raid evolution 2 across the Alpine massifs. Candide Invitational - from 27/03/2008 to 30/03/2008 For the third time, Candide Thovex, 2007 X-Games medal winner invites the best international freestylers to come and ride in his very own playground. In a relaxed, lively atmosphere and far from the competition circuit, skiers and snowboarders will compete against each other with the most incredible freestyle moves. This is a spectacular event that is not to be missed. Take a look at last year's footage... 21st edition - Defi-Foly - 27/04/2008 An exceptional, end of season event watched by more than 5000 spectators. For the waterslide event, 150 brave participants will attempt to cross the Confins lake on anything that slides but doesn't float! To end the day on a high note, the USO's - Unidentified Sliding Objects -, crafts that compete against each other both in terms of humour and imagination, attempt to achieve the impossible water-snow sporting record.

Cross country skiing
	This is a very popular sport with the French yet little known in the UK. Vincent Vittoz is the current world champion and La Clusaz is his hometown. There are 70km of cross-country circuits in La Clusaz at Lac de Confins and the Beauregard plateau. You will find that all the circuits are well prepared and clearly marked. Cross country skiing is mainly practised on level terrain, however similar to skiing and mountain biking there are graded circuits depending on your level of ability and stamina. These range from green to black, the latter being the hardest and most demanding stamina wise as they usually consist of a steep ascent and descent somewhere in the circuit. It is a good form of skiing for all ages and is similar to having a brisk walk in the mountains with long thin skis attached to your feet. There are two main types of cross-country skiing: traditional (or Nordic); or skating. The latter being the hardest to master. Local ski shops can supply all the equipment needed and passes can be obtained in advance. Maps can be provided for the main cross country areas and many have restaurants en-route or at the end of the circuits, for those much needed breaks.

Snow-shoeing
Very popular with the French and fantastic for non-skiers. There are many clearly marked routes throughout the hills and valleys of La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand. Many of which are are alongside the cross-country circuits at Lac de Confins and the Beauregard plateau. You will some of the most beautiful routes are through tree lined descents at Beauregard and on Danay. By far the easiest and most enjoyable way to enjoy a day out on 'rackets' is to take a ride in one the cable cars, enjoy the view at the top, have a nice lunch in a mountainside restaurant and then wander back down the mountain at your own pace. There are some more challenging uphill climbs and these can be hard and demand strong legs at times. Snowshoeing is a enjoyable form of winter walking in the mountains and a great alternative to skiing or boarding if you fancy a more leisurely day. The kids always love it, as it provides a perfect opportunity to play in the snow and ambush parents with snowballs!

Snowmen making and sledging
	Again one for those afternoons off, when the kids want to do something different and just play in the snow. We have a small garden at the chalet to practice your snow man building and In the centre of la Clusaz there are dedicated sledging slopes, away from the skiers, so no-one gets hurt. Even better are restaurants and bars at the bottom of the slopes so you can watch the kids with a vin chaud in hand! The local shops sell a variety of sledges, so there is no excuse not to have any fun. And of course what else can you do with snow - snowball fights and igloos!

Swimming, sauna and haman
La Clusaz boasts heated indoor and outdoor pools, with a flume. It offers stunning views of the snow covered pistes and and is a perfect place to end the day. It's definitely a unique experience to swim when it's snowing! Also at the pool is a gym, sauna and steam bath perfect to soak away those tired muscles!

Ice-skating and Ice karting
More popular as an after skiing activity or an alternative if the kids have had enough in the day. La Clusaz's rink is in the centre of the town and although primarily open air, it becomes covered when it snows. Ice karting is held on the rink every thursday and friday evening.

Paragliding
Although an extremely popular summer sport, paragliding can also be experienced in the winter. Weather conditions permitting. Many of the sites are supplied by the winter ski lifts in La Clusaz and Le Grand Bornand (2000m), so access is easy to the take off sites. However, you will need to be able to ski albeit as a beginner, as the landing is made on skis. Tandem rides with an experienced instructor can be booked through the local centres.

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Winter
	La Clusaz and the Aravis mountains are best known for winter sports, and attract many visitors although still predominantly French. This genuine mountain resort is friendly and lively, offering a good choice of dining and apres-ski at reasonable prices, both on and off the mountain. If you are not a skier or boarder La Clusaz still has plenty to offer, some are listed below but others include dog sledding, snowmobile rides and weekly vin chaud evenings and torch lit processions.