Oct. 29, 2025

Ep 55 Win a weekend for two in Val !

Ep 55 Win a weekend for two in Val !
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Ep 55 Win a weekend for two in Val !

1. Weather 29th October 2025
2. More rescues of unprepared tourists.
3. Environmentalists vs Artificial Snow.
4. Holiday in Val with Henry Druce.
5. Win a weekend for two in Val.
6. Holiday accommodation choices.
7. Team GB Triathlete lost all limbs.
8. Hibou Halloween Party
9. Graham Bell votes for Val.
10. UK RSPB Feed the Birds Day.

Mixed weather day, but recent snow has put a metre on our pistes.

More rescues of the unprepared.... so novice they couldn't even dismantle their tent unaided.

Environmentalists are disappointed…they were hoping for a Winter Games without artificial snow.

Italy uses the most artificial snow in Europe. Otherwise many resorts would no longer be open, with the local economy devastated. Hard choices.

Why not book to ski with Henry Druce at the beginning of the season in Val.

He is also raising money for the charity Snow Camp. using snowsports to help disadvantaged young people.

Donate via this link

Why not WIN a weekend for two in Val....

Go to @valdisere on Instagram

Find the post ….

Like the post

Comment on the post – including the name of whoever you will be bringing with you.

Follow @valdisere

Val d'Isère (@valdisere) • Instagram photos and videos

What holiday accommodation suits you best ?

Chalet, hotel, self catered or a mixture ?

Former Team GB triathlete is raising money to help her live independently and for advanced prosthetic limbs after developing sepsis, and losing all her limbs.

If you can help, here is the link.

Hibou's Halloween party starts at 15.00 on Friday.

Costumes are encouraged !

UK RSPB Feed the Birds Day.

00:11 - Weather 29th October 2025

00:37 - More rescues of unprepared tourists.

01:08 - Environmentalists vs Artificial Snow

02:32 - Holiday in Val with Henry Druce.

03:15 - Win a weekend for two in Val.

04:10 - Holiday accommodation choices.

05:05 - Team GB Triathlete lost all limbs.

05:46 - Hibou Halloween Party.

05:58 - Graham Bell votes for Val.

06:18 - UK RSPB Feed the Birds Day

Good morning Val d’Isère

 

Looking like a mixed day

Sun, clouds, wind and precipitation….

Hoping the damp parts are more snow than rain.

 

The storm over the last week

Benefited most

 resorts in the North Western Alps ……….

Where WE are

 

a good metre high on our pistes…

Shame some was wind blown,

Good Start of a winter base all the same.

 

The weather forecasts

Are not just for general

Amusement

 

Last week’s snow shouldn’t have come as a surprise…

 

Forewarned should mean prepared………..

 

Not for everyone.

The Alpine Police were busy last weekend

Rescuing 2 tourists from their mountain bivvy

  in Chartreuse

 

two hikers at the Dente de Crolles

North East of Grenoble

were clearly novices ………

The rescuers even had to help them

Dismantle their tent……

 

Environmentalists are disappointed…

 

The last 3 winter Olympics

Were in traditionally non-ski areas

So they hoped the

Italian Olympics

Starting in 99 days

Will be truly trad snow…..

 

Sadly not completely

There will still be some

Flakes

Blown out of canons

Rather than falling from the sky

 

It gives control

Of the track conditions….

Perfect for the races

 

They are planning on

Using nearly

Nine hundred and fifty thousand cubic

Metres of water

To make

2.4 million cubic metres of

Artificial snow

 

The problem

the vast quantity of water

And the energy

Needed to

Spray the water

using

Compressed air

so the cold air

can turn it into fine snow

 

Italy

Makes snow

on

at least ninety percent of its slopes..

 

uses the most

artificial snow

In Europe

 

The President of the Italian Alpine Club

Pointed out that the Games are the tip of the iceberg

 

Unfortunately 

Hundreds of ski resorts

Would no longer be open

Without artificial snow…

 

No skiing

No tourists

No jobs

No income

No village

 

Not an easy decision.

 

Fancy a holiday IN VAL

with

Henry Druce

Former ski editor for the

Daily Mail and Telegraph ?

Henry will be leading you around

On piste or après ski

 

For a week from the 30th November

You will be staying at

VIP’s largest chalet

Just at the edge of the Santon’s piste.

 

Henry is also raising money for the charity

Snow Camp.

Who use skiing & snowboarding

to break down barriers,

broaden horizons and

address the biggest social issues

facing underserved young people today.

 

I have put a link in the episode description

Of where you can donate.

Donate via this link

 

I have a fab competition for you…..

 

Win

A weekend in Val for two people

The opening weekend……….

Last weekend in November

 

2 nights in a three star hotel

Ski passes

spots in the first bubble up of the season

 

A pair of Dynstar skis

EACH

 

So…..

How tricky is it to enter ?

EASY PEASY

 

Before 9th November

Go to @valdisere on Instagram

Find the post ….

Like the post

Comment on the post – including the name of whoever you will be bringing with you.

Follow @valdisere

Share the post to increase your chances of winning….

The winner will be sent a message on the 10th November.

 

ENTER !  NOW !

SOMEONE has to win………..why not you ??

Val d'Isère (@valdisere) • Instagram photos and videos

 

IF you haven’t booked already

NOW is a good time to think about your holiday….

And

how much of a ‘holiday’

It will be for

everyone……

 

Not just same chores

In a different place

When tired from skiing…..

 

Do Like shopping

Cooking

Cleaning ?

Self-catered for you

 

Want an easy life ?

Let someone else

Shop

Cook

Clean

And choose the menu !

They may even collect you from the airport

And

Drive you from chalet to piste……..

 

Catered chalet……. Or Club Med………

 

Flexibility on meal times

And menus ?

Book a hotel

 

Want a mixture ?

Self-catered apartment

 

Eat out

Have food delivered

or

Hire a private chef……….

 

Choices to suit everyone !

 

Remember to book

Your favourite restaurant

ESPECIALLY

In busy weeks

 on the

Evenings chalet staff have off……..

 

This is an awful story

But I am sharing it

So that you are always alert.

 

A former Team GB triathlete

A medical student

Last January

Put her symptoms down to a cold…

A week later she deteriorated……

Rash

A&E

 

Sepsis

2 cardiac arrests

Coma

 

Lost all her limbs……..

 

She is remarkably upbeat

now raising money

To live independently

And

For advanced prosthetic limbs

 

If you can help

In even a small way

I have put the link in the episode description.

 

If you are in Val this Friday

Hibou are planning spooky things

For their halloween party

From four pm.

Costumes are encouraged………though not compulsory !

 

I have always liked Graham Bell

British Downhill star

Five-time Olympian

Presenter on Ski Sunday…..

 

When asked recently to

Describe a perfect ski day

He IMMEDIATELY

No hint of hesitation

Said

VAL D’ISERE

 

UK Feed the Birds Day

Doodles

Are  definitely keen

Whenever they see birds eating off the ground

They know someone has left food

 

They rush towards them

Knowing the birds will flee

Leaving nibbles to be nicked

 

Not the result

 the RSPB intended……

 

Am off for a walk

Or doodle dwardle

 

Will be back tomorrow.