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


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 and 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 10/11 winter sports events in La Clusaz
18-19/12/10 Nordic skiing (Cross country) 2010 World Cup - A huge event for La Clusaz which will take palce in the fabulous nordic area of Les Confins. 22-31/12/10 Christmas magic - special events over ten days, with Father Christmas, varied activities and entertainment for children of all ages every day. Street entertainers, story tellers, brass bands... 15-20/01/11Freeride World Tour Qualifier - following the success of Candide Thovex last year - where else could they hold it! 21/01/11 Moonlight skiing - this is an amazing event, where the nights are as beautiful as the days. There will be a party atmosphere with night skiing, lively dinners in the mountain restaurants and resort bars open until the early hours… Defi Foly - An end of season event where 150 crazy sportsmen and women, attempt to cross the Confins Lake in La Clusaz. With two main competitions, the waterslide challenge and the Unidentified Sliding Objects (USOs). Every year, more than 6000 spectators head to the Confins Lake to watch with BBQ's and beer!

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.