Ep 83 Scottish Kirsty Muir and Val both win firsts.
1. Intro 6 December 2025.
2. Marco Odermatt wins the Beaver Creek Downhill.
3. Mikaela Shiffrin qualifies for her 4th Olympics.
4. Scottish Kirsty Muir wins her first Big Air World Cup title.
5. First prize for Val's communications team.
6. Avalanche in Austria.
7. Watch out for Lynx.
8. Limit early season pain and exhaustion!
9. Podcast, Website, links and the Calendar Page.
10. World Paper Free Day.
Special Offers I have Spied....
Many apologies for the pod-gap with podcast-less days….. was distracted by an unusual event that sucked up my time and energy but am now back, full focused and ready again for daily delivery.
Swiss speed skier Marco Odermatt stunned by adding a Downhill to his Slalom and Super G wins of this winter.
Meanwhile Mikaela Shiffrin now has 104 World Cup wins and has qualified for her 4th Olympics.
Scottish Kirsty Muir has put 2023’s serious shoulder and knee injuries behind and flew to her first Big Air World Cup victory in China this week.
Val’s media team are also celebrating….Winning 3 prizes in the
Les Trophées de la Communication
Including a first prize for the information that the Town Hall so generously and expertly share with us.
Last week there was a huge Avalanche in Austria, believed to have been set off by people skiing off piste, but it went onto an open piste. 8 people were rescued, alive and only 3 went to hospital. Thankfully nobody died.
Only ski off piste if all of your group are properly trained, recently trained, and fully equipped. Don’t rely on the pisteurs reaching your group ‘in time’.
If you are in the Northern Alps, and see a sign for a Lynx………slow down…… collisions are the highest cause of their deaths in France…….they are already endangered.
Huge admiration for people who Come here to ski for six days and
Ski for as many minutes in the 48 hours the pistes are open, as possible.
I couldn’t do it !
People who live here just do a few hours a day at the start of the season.
You also could do that in the UK….. look for the nearest indoor ski centre….
This could save you time, energy and euros on our slopes.
If you are in Hertfordshire
Has 160 metres to hone yourRhythm, refinement, repeated drills and muscle memory.
A bit about the podcast and website.
Aim is for short and sparky episodes filled with snippets and summaries of ski related topics that you can listen to over a coffee, walk to work or commute from chalet to slopes.
If you have a bit more time and curiosity there are links in the episode summary and more links in the transcript on the website.
Don’t forget to look at the Calendar
page, so you don’t miss something fab you would like to book for.
World Paper Free Day….. I am a scan and shred nut who is now heading to just having digital documents…… though worth keeping essential paper documents in case of a power cut…. Remember Pres Macron has recommended we all have a survival kit….
00:11 - Intro 6 December 2025.
01:01 - Marco Odermatt wins the Beaver Creek Downhill.
01:34 - Mikaela Shiffrin qualifies for her 4th Olympics.
02:05 - Scottish Kirsty Muir wins her first Big Air World Cup title.
02:29 - First prize for Val's media team.
02:48 - Avalanche in Austria.
03:33 - Watch out for Lynx.
04:05 - Limit early season pain and exhaustion !
06:39 - Podcast, Website, links and the Calendar page.
07:43 - World Paper Free Day.
Good morning Val d’Isère |
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Apologies for pod-gap over last week
I was involved in a once in my lifetime Experience That took More energy admin Organisation Preparation catering And time than I had hoped
However all is now set up For this podcast to run Daily
I can’t remember when we last had such A fabulous start to the season.
Days of blue skies Lovely snow Empty pistes……
Doesn’t get much better than that !
The weather has changed Cloudy and We have a snowy weekend…. As I always say…. Snow is ALWAYS good…
The temperature is below zero But dry cold And not in the nasty twenties !
The theory is that skiing in poor viz Is good for your technique…..
Remember that ! Though don’t forget your low light goggles.
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28-year-old Swiss speed skier Marco Odermatt Has started his World Cup season in a spectacular fashion
Showing his breath of skill by
Winning the Giant Slalom in Solden Super G in Copper Mountain And this weeks Downhill in Beaver Creek….
The fastest Frenchmen on Thursday were 12th and 13th .
Britains Roy-Alexander Steudle came 63rd although that was still less than six seconds slower than Marco.
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The ladies were Of course, Also racing….
NEEDLESS to say Mikaela Shiffrin Has qualified for her fourth Olympics…. After her One hundred and fourth World Cup win …..
Three out of three Slalom slams this season
Finishing again well over a second faster than the silver winner
Even more impressive as Almost a year to the day When a freak accident Left her with PTSD.
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MEANWHILE in China OUR Twenty-one-year-old Scottish freestyle skier Kirsty Muir Flew to Her first Big Air World Cup title.
This was her 2nd World Cup Victory And second podium Since knee and shoulder surgery Kept her out of the running For a year.
Well done Kirsty !
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Val d’Isère Has been Winning National prizes….
Three in the highly regarded media competition that has been
Les Trophées de la Communication Including a first prize For the information shared with us by the Town Hall.
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Did you hear about the huge Avalanche in Austria last week ? Believed to have been set off By people skiing off piste
Though The excellent rescue response Got everyone out alive And only 3 needed To go to hospital.
I will say this Or similar Many times If you are skiing off piste
Make sure everyone In your group is equipped With beep Probe And shovel And Knows how to use them
Practice regularly…. Regularly every week Not regularly Every ten years…
Seconds count…. The pisteurs may not Arrive instantly….
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When driving down through our Northern Alps Near Switzerland You may see Signs warning of Lynx….
Apparently they are not very Car-aware So the numbers of this Already endangered beast Have been Reduced further By collisions…
the highest cause of Lynx-deaths in France.
So if you see a sign… Be careful Slow down….
Hitting one will Also damage your car And delay your arrival on our slopes….
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Quick disclaimer…. Before you snarl….
I already know I am very lucky to Be living in Val….
At the beginning of the winter Most locals Only ski for a couple of hours A day
Fresh air Admire the scenery Get re used to all the kit
Head home When cold Viz turns flat Legs a teeny-weeny bit tired….
I REALLY ADMIRE Everyone who Comes for six days skiing…..
What a HUGE EFFORT…..
At the beginning of one season Neither me nor my bestie Could get our boots on….
The boots we had worn The whole of the season before….
Ended up having to force our feet in…. Laughing at how Ridiculous we must have looked
They were not Exactly Comfortable….
I now have a much loved Much used Boot heater…..
skiing from 9 until 5 …. On day 1 of my season….
A firm NO WAY ! Let alone also for The next five days….
Helmets off to you that do ! Aren’t you EXHAUSTED ??
There is another way To ease your legs in….
Find an indoor ski slope In the UK Near you….
Even a couple of hours Here and there Will remind your Feet Legs Torso And head How to Walk in boots Turn And STOP ….. SAFELY On skis…
That has got to save you A few days pain On our snow….
A lot of people Think they can Pick up their skills From when they last skied
the reality Is that it takes At least Hours More often days And then it is ALMOST Time to go home….
GB Slalom Champion Dave Ryding Learnt on an artificial slope And it Didn’t do HIM any harm…
SO think about it….
It could help you Make the most of all the euros You spend on a ski holiday….
You will of course Still need to adapt to the altitude… Food And drink
at least you Will already have Stopped your legs wobbling…
If you are near Hertfordshire Is on the list of the Uks Best ski centres for Pre-holiday practice. The one hundred and sixty metre slope Is enough for rhythm and refinement Or repeated drills To rebuild muscle memory.
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A bit about the podcast and
I am trying to keep the podcast Episodes And sparky Filled with snippets And summaries of ski related topics.
Designed to listen to over A coffee A walk to work Or commute from chalet to slopes
For those with more time To scroll, click and read There are links in the Episode summary And more in the Transcript on the website.
More important Is the calendar page…
A lot goes on in the area And is usually listed On many different sites.
ALWAYS annoying To hear Too late about Something You would have like to do…
I am adding Anything I see That could be of interest To YOU ….
Val, Tignes, St Foy, Seez, Bourg St Maurice, Les Arcs.. And EVEN in the UK
Again, links are included.
I don’t check everything everyday So before you rush To something Do check it hasn’t been cancelled.
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World Paper Free Day This is a very noble idea….
I have mentioned before how many tons of paper they will save when the French Autoroutes go paper free…….. and each is such a tiny square…….
I am a bit of a scan and shred maniac Started when I was lame So had pain When my leg was on the move… So spend days sitting and scanning
Boring it was But also useful…..
Can search and find Documents from many years back
I now try and Not have the paper at all…
Just receive and store Digital documents……
All fine until A
Remember France’s president Has recommended We all prepare
MAYBE still keep Some paper versions of essential Document…..
Enough from me today Skiing and doodling to do
Thank you everyone Who was worried By the podless days…..
I am back And focused…. Will be here everyday….
So Chat again tomorrow. |