Ep 53 Flying Freddy and the Birds of Prey
1. Snow and webcams.
2. Freddy Carrick-Smith had a good World Cup Debut.
3. Marco Odermatt.
4. Tignes reviewed by The Telegraph.
5. Birds of Prey.
6. Lightning Strike In Arizona.
7. Property Prices.
8. Alpinexpress Pass
9. Chocolate Day.
Brochures | Val d’Isère : Alps ski resort and winter sports
Snow today, sun tomorrow. Why not have a peek at the webcams....
Freddy must have been pleased with his debut ! Under 4 seconds slower than the very experienced Marco who eventually was declared the winner. And top of the podium is Marco's plan for each time he races this season.
Tignes rightly got a good review.
Look ahead to see what is happening each week in Val.. either Valscope from the Tourist Office or my calendar page. Then you won't miss a visit from the Birds of Prey and their handlers.
Two survived a lightning strike in Arizona. Top tip - don't take photographs on a peak in a big storm.
No real surprise.... property prices in good resorts, like Val, continue to rise.
For those travelling by train to Morzine or Avoriaz the Alpinexpress Pass will give you discounts. We all like a bargain !
Finally..... chocolate day........am VERY HAPPY to celebrate that one !
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Good Morning Val d’Isère More snow today Before we see the sun tomorrow. If you want a peak yourself. Don’t forget Val’s webcams are live….
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Yesterday eighteen year old Freddy Carrick-Smith Made his World Cup debut In Sölden
What To ME Looked like a smooth faultless run That he was enjoying
At one minute, 2 point 35 seconds it was just under four seconds slower than Swiss Marco Odermatt Who Eventually stood top of the podium
Because the times are SO TIGHT At this level This put Freddy at fifty fourth So not in the top thirty Who qualified for the second run
Still A very good start to his World cup life
Twenty year old Flavio Vitale From Tignes finished tenth.
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Twenty eight year old Marco Odermatt Will be pleased with his first As when asked recently what his ambition Or Plan was for this season It was simple… To win every race !!
That is a clear goal !
As you know He is extremely talented Unusual As has records not only In Giant Slalom But Super-G And Downhill….
Generously And rightly He thanks his skier parents For his victories
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More reviews The Telegraph Names Tignes As the most snow dependable Winter destination In France
Something to do with the Three hundred kilometres of pistes And more than seventy lifts
Of COURSE Most of us view Tignes as PART of Val d’Isere…… But if you have just arrived Or are planning a trip And given the option of a Cheaper pass That only covers Val d’Isere.. Should you take it ?
To me It is a no brainer If you can already Ski …. Remember the Tommeuse chairlift On la Daille Is ACTUALLY a Tignes lift….
Though You could also happily spend A week Exploring Val’s three Varied areas…
Many people who live And work in Val buy the season Pass that Only Covers Val……. I love Tignes.. I love skiing in Tignes……….. Though I REALLY LOVE Living in Val !!
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Before you Come to Val Do look ahead at the weekly brochure you can get from the Tourist Office or online
OR Look at the calendar on Where I will be adding Any events That I hear about In Val, Tignes, Seez, St Foy Or Bourg St Maurice… The Link is in the podcast episode description
During the winter we often have Events That surprise and delight ! Like the birds of prey That occasionally visit
So you can see them up close Learn about them Watch them fly
We of course have our Own Resident Eagles and Gentle but fierce looking Bearded vultures
Though they tend to Stay high in the sky When there are People on the pistes.
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We get some IMPRESSIVE Storms In the interseasons in Val
This week in Arizona Two hikers Were taking photos Of a storm From the top of a mountain
Suddenly Struck by lightning.
Weirdly they didn’t know each other
They managed to call for help
Helicopters couldn’t fly Because of the weather So rescuers had more of a challenge To get them down And to Hospital.
I don’t have further details on their condition But people who survive The initial strike Often have nerve damage Symptoms similar to after a concussion And Post traumatic stress disorder.
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Not really NEWS As it is what we All sort of know….
The latest Knight Frank Alpine Property Report Puts in black and white That Alpine property prices Are Going up Not down… Increasing by twenty three percent In the last five years…..
Val is obviously high on the desirable list Not only due to the Winter Snow conditions But also As there is more and more to do here in the summer…. When the temperatures Are more COMFORTABLE Than in Extreme heat wave Often Affecting the Less mountainous areas of France.
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I previously told you that my Favourite route from Central London To Val Is Eurostar…… To Bourg St Maurice Where there is a bus waiting To nip us up the mountain….
There is a new initiative Which gives discounts for people Training it to the mountains…
Recognising That travelling by train is not Always the cheapest Or fastest Way of getting here…
Looking through the website It looks as though Most discounts At the moment Are for Morzine or Avoriaz Rather than Val or Tignes
Still useful As you might fancy A change of scene… Even if it just reinforces How AMAZING Val is !
No personal bias here !
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The day to make me smile….. Chocolate day………… I happily live without alcohol But Chocolate……… A ban would be cruel…….
Off to find my stash…. Will be back tomorrow.
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