Esater arrives in Verbier

It's Saturday and the crowds expected for Easter have started arriving. The slopes today were full of competitors for the Verbier High Five event including some pros such as Hermann Maier. Elsewhere in the resort it was remarkably quiet on the pistes.

The snow forecast for yesterday and today has failed to materialise in the quantities expected. However clouds are gathering this evening so it could be that the forecast is a couple of days late.

Air temperatures have been chilly in the morning but snow has been fairly soft due to overnight clouds stopping frosty conditions. High on the main mountain conditions are still good - especially in the morniing. Savoleyres remains empty and still a good option for morning skiing along the top and back. Although the front Le Sud piste and Route Carrefour have been shut due to snow melt.
Tomorrow is forecast as sun and rising temperatures with more of the same at the start of the week. No more snow is forecast in the immediate future - although mid April usually sees a heavy fall so fingers crossed.

The forecast

Before I bang on a bout the weather and the pistes and all the usual guff, I thought it would be only fair to give Sandy some weel earned congratulations, because - after all the stick we give him about his suspicious hair style, falling over antics and gruff northern demeanor - he's played an absolute blinder and passed his European Mountain Security Exam.

Now that may sound like an odd qualification for french bouncers, but it's actually a desperately difficult off-piste exam. And the wee man passed yesterday. And he's probably still in Casbar.

As for Verbier - all's good...

OK the forecast snow seems to have gone missing, but instead we've had blue skies and more uncrowded pistes, despite the fact that the Carlsberg High Five has drawn loads of people to Verbier to help celebrate the sport of skiing with a few pints of Danish Champagne.

And the forecast says that the weather is going to be a mixed bag of sunshine and occasional snow flurries for the foreseeable future - although these are the same people that promised us about 15cm of fresh snow last night.... pinch of salt anyone?

2006/7 Staff Photo

staff photo copy
Originally uploaded by European Snowsport.

The Team

Another impressive day

I hate to tell you, but today has been another stunner - and none of the predicted cloud and snow arrived, leaving us free to cruise around Verbier and enjoy great empty pistes (even through the most notorous of Verbier's bottlenecks).

Of course these benefits pale into insignificance when weighed against the fact that the flat and resort are sadly Sandy-free at the moment, while he's off taking his European Mountain Security exam in the aptly named Le Grave.

Still, much as everyone at ES wishes the slightly-lanky-falling-over-machine all the best, we all agree that if he chooses to leave his slightly radioactive trainers somewhere in France, Verbier will not mind in the slightest...

Anyway, here's a picture of someone standing at the top of Atalas today looking thoughtfull. Bless them.

Uncrowded slopes and blue skies - perfect in Verbier

Blue skies and warmer temperatures on uncrowded slopes have made Verbier the place to be this week. Piste conditions have been great from early in the morning right through the day. Moguls on the main mountain are best attempted in the afternoon when the snow is somewhat softer. Although the main itineraries and Mont Fort have good conditiions all day. Other areas worth trying for those seeking bumps are at Savoleyres on the north side under the 6 man Le Nord lift and under the 4 man Tailley lift.

Conditions for beginners at Les Esserts are very good with the lower temperatures allowing snowmaking to maintain the slopes.The Route Carrefour back from Savoleyres to the main mountain is also open but watch out for bare patches in the last 100m.

The Verbier High Five sponsored by Carlsberg is set to go this Saturday 31st March. Five competitions open to downhill skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers are on the agenda: a giant slalom, a boarder cross, a mogul run, a fun "triathlon" and a parallel slalom to sort out the best of each category. Providing an opportunity to race with champions, the day will finish with a lively après-ski at the resort. Sign-up under www.verbiersportplus.ch

The next couple of day are forecast as a mix of cloud and blue skies with cooler temperatures. The next snow forecast is for around 5cm on Friday and the same again on Saturday.

Fantastic conditions in Verbier

Perfect pistes and great weather in Verbier it hasn't been better all season!!! The clouds of earlier in the week have now cleared to give blue skies and fantastic on-piste conditions. Yesterday there was hardly a soul to be seen early morning on Attelas but the perfectly groomed slopes were amazing.

Off-piste was also in great condition. Tortin had bumps in the main fall line but still plenty of powder along the traverse. Col des Gentianes also looked good with the bumps being soft and gentle. further afield on Combatzelline on the other side of Siviez the carving pistes were uncrowded although somewhat icier than those in Verbier. The Vallon D'Arbi and Col des Mines itinerary routes have also been opened up after the recent snowfall - so get out there and enjoy while the cold conditions keep the snow good.

The Verbier Xtreme event went ahead today in great conditions up on the Bec Des Rosses. Crowds were at Col des Gentianes to view the event and later on in the town to see close ups on the main screen. The runs down were awesome - these guys and girls really have some guts and the show was as spectacular as always.

The next couple of day are forecast as cool temperatures of around -5C with some sun and some cloud but no new snow. From Tuesday temperatures are set to rise again with the possibility of a little snow. The next main snowfall is forecast for Friday.

The more things change...

Actually, nothing's really changed, so it's no surprise that the weather has stayed the same - still cold, still cloudy and still snowing.

The only variations have been the enthusiasm with which it's been snowing - a bit or a lot - and the distance you can see in front of you - sometimes it's a bit, sometimes it's a bit less...

Which is a shame as I'd planned on filling this blog entry with pictures of our instructor training with Kevin Mocherie (a wise man in the world of skiing, however, Kevin, perhaps it's time to have a chat with Roddy about upgrading the goggles).

So, instead, here's a picture of clouds. But the good news is that things look like they're about to (brace yourselves) change and get sunny.

Just in time for the Holidays, but maybe not soon enough for the Verbier Extreme tomorrow...

Crumbs.

Snow and more snow..........

Loads more snow in Verbier it simply hasn't stopped for the last 3 days. While temperatures have also been much lower than recent weeks this has provided an excellent top up for the rest of the season.

Low visibility has remained a problem particularly in the afternoons where there have been shouts heards of - Hello is anyone out there????? However, today proved better all round and winds speeds have also decreased providing soft powder on -piste well below Ruinettes.

The 12th O'Neill Xstreem competition is setting up in Verbier. The famous freeskiing competition with 24 invited skiers and boarders attempting the Bec Des Rosses is set to go for this weekend. Get your position sorted at the Col des Gentianes on Saturday from 10am or see it later on the big screen on the Rue du Medran. Expect a wealth of entertainments and skills demonstrations, this is sure to be a truly great sporting event - and an opportunity for freeride pros to assist in the campaign to prevent off-piste skiing accidents.

Tomorrow morning has some sun forecast with snow arriving later. Friday and Saturday also have cloud and snow forecast with temperatures of around -5C. From Sunday expect clearer skies and time to seek out the off-piste again and get those fat skis on!!!

Making it's mind up

It's been pretty nippy up there for the last few days, but today it wasn't sure if it wanted to be spring or winter - so Verbier swung from sunny and beautiful to cloudy and invisible.

Still, we're getting snow and it's staying cold - and all the snow cannons are churning out tonnes extra - so Easter should have great conditions on piste even if Verbier has another transformation and goes dead hot like last week.

And this pretty much sums today up - is it murky and sinister or sunny and glorious? Who knows...

Where is Verbier?????????

Verbier has been rendered almost inviisible by the low cloud and snowstorms of the last couple of days. The new snow is great but finding your way around the mountain is somewhat challenging!!

Conditions on the mountain are thick powder everywhere. Most of the runs are open but people are sticking to the lower slopes where trees make it easier to find your way around. Morning skiing is providing the best conditions - in the afternoon watch out for scraped off areas of ice in-between the piles of powder.

Also beware of large icy bumps hidden by the new snow. A BASI trainer (who will remain nameless) reportedly came to grief a number of times on attempting Fontaneys. As you can see the ES team are enjoying the weather on their all week training session.

The final run down to Medran is still shut after the melting snow last week made it almost bare. But an alternative route for the last section is available which brings you out at the top of the Medran car park.

The next few days are forecast to continue with more snow and low visibility. With on mountain temperatures of around -9C made colder by some gusting winds. Wrap up warm - winter has arrived at last.

More snow and it's going to be FREEZING

As predicted the sunny weather has disappeared and been replaced by some pretty wintry stuff. So when the clouds parted for a few hours this morning we were treated to views of the resort that usually belong on the front of postcards.

Not a bad day at all, and made even better by the fact that top British instructor trainer and all round skiing guru Kevin Mocherie has flown in to run a week of training for ES instructors, giving us some inspired tips and advice as well as generally keeping everyone on their toes and terrifying us with his video camera...

And the wintry weather is set to continue for the rest of the week, getting even nippier - with the wind-chill the temperature could dip to -27°C tomorrow morning.

So training could be interesting.

More soon.

Snow forecast for the next week in Verbier

Verbier is expecting some more snow and lower temperatures over the week to come. Apologies for those of you missing the reports as I've been in Pila, Italy for the last week where conditions were even hotter than Verbier - 20 C during the day!!!

Conditions on the mountain are reported as good on-piste down to the 1936 bar - level with Carrefour. Below that things are distinctly slushy or bare in places - OK if you are on rental skis but best avoided otherwise.

The top of the mountain is still the place to head for better skiing conditions and Tortin, Mont Fort and Col des Gentaines are excellent if you enjoy moguls.

The next few days are forecast to have temperatures of around

-9C and some snow which is set to continue for the rest of the week. Wind speeds should be low so enjoy the new stuff

More blue skies but it's all about to change...

There have been very few surprises over the last couple of weeks - the skies have been blue, the sun's shone, Louis' been a bit camp and the weather has been consistently amazing.

However, to continue with the topsy-turvy way that things have gone this winter, now spring has arrived, it's about to get absolutely freezing...

January and February were mostly warm and sunny, then the moment we get to the time of year when it's supposed to be warm and sunny, arctic temperatures descend on us.

Bonkers.

Still, the snow will be a welcome sight as the lower pistes into resort are looking a little 'agricultural' to say the least.




And we have some brilliant news - all the ES instructors who took their Off Piste Mountain Safety instructor module last week passed. And all six of us have spent today looking a trifle pasty after celebrating rather enthusiastically at Louis' gig last night in T-Bar...

Crikey

Now, as you may have guessed, the only reason for an gap on the continual stream of ES blogs is going to be one of two things...

Either there's been an enourmous staff party and the entire ski school is still recovering, or the conditions up there are so good we're all so exhausted at the the end of the day we neglect to let you know what's been happening.

Suffice to say that we've been pary free as the conditions here at the moment are amazing, and the fact that I'm in the middle of an off-piste instructor exam means that I've been enjoing the sunshine and brilliant snow from places so remote that even the music from the Powder Spirit bar can't reach us.

I know - it barely seems possible.

The gret news is that the sun is staying with us for a few more days and then the snow will be back - and judging by the forecast there should be some pretty heavy falls coming our way...

In the mean time, here are a few pictures of us in the mountains. I've also sneaked in a shot of Claire and the girls - I know this shouldn't be a forum for me to show everyone picture of my clients, but I promised...

A pretty amazing day

As you may or may not be aware, the training for Ski Instructors is a very lengthy and ongoing process, and we all have to keep taking modules and assessments.

Which is why six of ES's instructors have disappeared off on an Off-piste Mountain Safety course for the week.

Suffice to say, the skies have been perfect and blue, and there's been a lot of bouncing down the off-piste, as well as looking at maps, climbing up things and digging snow pits, whilst all the time Roy (our guide and trainer) makes wise and intelligent observations, tells us about avalanches, animal tracks and all the kind of stuff that only he and Grizzly Adams know about.

And so far - with two days of the six completed - everybody's walking around grinning a lot. Hopefully the grins will still be about after Thursday and Friday's assessments.

Here's what it looks like when six instructors get handed a load of maps and are sent up a mountain with the most enthusiastic man on earth...

We can see at last..........

Weather conditions in Verbier have been changeable. With a couple of days with white-outs then clouds then blue skies again today

The avalanche risk has now reduced to 2 and the off-piste is once again more accessible. With a couple of centimetres of new snow last night conditions were soft snow on a crust. On Crevlet jump turns were necessary but still great fun and a good depth of powder was to be found. Col des Gentaines and Tortin both have great coverage of snow although moguls are developing rapidly.

On-piste skiing remains excellent above the Ruinettes station although somewhat slushy lower doen and bare in places on the run into Medran - take the lift down and enjoy it higher up is the recommendation.

Lac des Vaux 1 lift is again operational so no need to use the traverse to get back to Attelas. However, there were some problems with the La Chaux Express later on today.

At the top of the Funispace there is the opportunity this weekend to try out a variety of snowboards for free. Although watch out for the wild animals taking advantage of this - see picture.

The next couple of days should be sunny with temperatures of around 2C and good visibility. Winds should also be light, more cloudy weather is due on tuesday but not the overcast low visibility we have experienced in the last few days.

Sunshine

Well, the sun's finally poked it's head out and the views from Verbier have been pretty stunning.

And it's exactly what everyone's been waiting for after loads of mixed weather - cold, clouds, snow etc - we've finally had one of thiose fantastic spring days.

Which makes it a bit vexing as yesterday was my first day off for weeks, so Tom, Toby and I decided to spend it hiking up mountains. In the worst white out of the winter. We saw very little. And to prove it here's a picture of Tom and Toby seeing very little.



Anyway, here are a few pictures of what it all looks like when the clouds finally leave us alone, and a picture of what it looks like when the clouds are here and Tom "double eject" Howard can't see the floor (I know mate - it was "a problem with your bindings")...

Sun and powder fun in Verbier

Sunny warm conditions again today after new snowfall last night was welcome after low visibility on Monday.The forecast was for snow today but bright blue skies amid fluffy clouds made for a perfect day's skiing.

The top of the mountain opened yesterday and with the better weather the Medran lift had crowds back through the entry gates by 9.30am. Keen skiers eager to sample the fresh powder weren't disappointed as the main itineraries of Tortin and Col des Gentianes were once again available. The avalanche risk has now reduced to 3 but proper equipment including transceivers are still strongly advised for those seeking the fresh stuff.

Conditions on-piste on the main mountain are chopped up powder - all great fun. Although the Lac des Vaux 4 man chair is out of action due to maintenance so expect a hike back along the high track if you intend skiing this area today.

Yesterday at Savoleyres the airport blue run and adjacent red run down to the Tailley lift were perfect packed powder - as good as they have been the whole season. However, the La Tzoumaz sledge run is shut today for maintenance work.

A mix of sun, blue skies and some cloud is the forecast for the next couple of days. Light winds and above zero daytime temperatures mean sunscreen is essential as is booking those outside table for lunch at Carrefour, Marmottes or Chez Dany. Further ahead the next prediction of snow is for a 1-5 cm fall on Saturday

Not a lot to see

It's been a pretty tricky day up on the hill - not only was the snow falling spasmodically and the wind picking up a little, but the cloud came in and visability got rather challenging at times...

I took some pictures but they just came out looking like blank sheets of paper. Beleive it or not, somewhere in this picture Emma C is escorting a client down Savoleyres...



The good news is that it cleared up at the the end of the afternoon and we were treated to stunning views across the valley as the last rays of sunshine hit the 1936 bar below the Combe chair lift (my clients decided to nip in for a quick medicinal drink, you understand).

However, with all the wind and fresh snow, together with some varied snow types falling over the last few days, the off piste is decidedly risky - so please don't be tempted to to nip off for a dabble if you're not certain what you're heading in to.

The risks are extremely high, as the people below found out after being helicoptered from beneath the Atelas couloirs...

Sun returns to Verbier

Sun returned at last to Verbier after a couple of days of rain and snow. Weekend crowds moved in to take advantage of the good weather and recent snowfall.

Huge drifts of snow up to 8m deep in places at Mont Fort have kept the top of the mountain closed due to the high avalanche risk. However Tortin was open for ther first time in several days and was crowded out with seekers of off-piste excellence.

Snow coverage on-piste is good but fairly compacted due to the rain and wet snow conditions below 2500m over the last couple of days. Low down and south facing areas are rather slushy in the afternoon and the run down to Medran is best avoided for the nervous at the end of the day.

Corporate groups have moved in to replace the half term holidaymakers but things are set to get quieter over the next couple of weeks. Blue skies are set to last just for today with the return of lower temperatures cloud and 5-10 cm of snow tomorrow. Later in the week we expect to see more snow Wednesday and Thursday with fairly low wind speeds.

A bit soggy...

Not the best day to be in resort - it was pouring all morning which discouraged just about everyone from heading up the hill.

However, if you were brave enough to take the plunge it wasn't as bad as it looked.

OK, it was pretty windy at times and it was snowing little icy pellets, but in the afternoon the cloud started to break up and we had some amazing runs through the fresh powder on Fontanays.

Michel also has also heard that there have been record snowfalls on Mont Fort with drifts rumoured to be up to 8 meters deep.

The avalanche risk is correspondingly huge too... And even more snow is forecast.

Anyway, here's a picture of Olly trying to look brave at the top of the La Chaux Express lift:

48hr Snowstorm in Verbier

The last 48hrs has seen a mix of snow rain and occasional glimpses of blue sky in Verbier. Snowstorms and high winds up top caused closures on the main mountain yesterday and today and the avalanche risk has been upgraded to HIGH (4). Rain overnight at resort level turned to snow again this morning as temperatures dropped and more snow is forecast over the next couple of days.

Snow conditions are good on-piste but the off-piste powder is wind blown and heavy - better for boarders than for skiers. Lift queues have been longer than usual due to closures of areas and extra crowds in the busy swiss holiday week. Get out there early to avoid long waits.

The Route Carrefour and most of the itinerary runs remain closed due to avalanche risk. Runs below Ruinettes are open on the main mountain but expect rather wet compacted conditions.

Forecasts for the next couple of days are for slightly higher temperatures and some rain tomorrow followed by clearer skies and some sun on Sunday. More rain and snow to return by Monday. Winds are expected to drop which should open up the higher area around Mont Fort and also access to Tortin and Col des Gentianes runs.