A break from skiing

A combination of dry and unseasonably warm weather has resulted in many ski areas in Europe being closed or only partially open. The Three Valleys has extensive snow making and a large proportion of pistes high enough to take advantage any snowfall and colder temperatures. The snow is not perfect but there is still plenty to ski on and every night the Pisteurs do an amazing job. 

A combination of the conditions, New Year week and day visitors from other resorts have resulted in busier than normal Pistes especially after mid morning so we have been taking advantage of the many walks available from our front door. The most demanding is probably the track up to the two Refuges above Les Allues - Le Refuge de la Traie and Le Refuge du Christ. The climb of approximately 1.5 hours is on a well marked, wide track and the reward of reaching the plateau is that you can get lunch, hot drinks, cold drinks (including wine) and if things are really desperate a bed for the night.

The views on the way up to the Refuges are stunning especially on a clear sunny day.

If you have the legs continue past the Refuges for another 20 minutes to the Col de la Lune where you will be rewarded with more open views of the Meribel Valley and then views into the Belleville Valley.       

If you are lucky you may spot wildlife whilst walking, we were not lucky this time probably because one of the Village dogs decided to accompany us (uninvited). She spent a lot of time chasing scents here, there and everywhere and an equal amount of time burrowing in the snow no doubt seeking a local wildlife snack of her own. Despite many other walkers she stuck with us, waited patiently while we ate lunch and when we were within sight of Les Allues on the return leg she bounded off no doubt happy that her work as a Mountain Guide was complete for the day.

Dogs who take themselves for a walk is definitely one of the nice things about French Alpine life.

                

Contrasting winter scenery - Brisbane and Les Allues

Skiing has changed our lives in a big way even in Australia where we have chosen a warmer place to live and work (Brisbane) so that we get the right balance of seasonal sunshine and can still get to the beach.   The benefits have included:

• Ability for us to enjoy a wider variety of outdoor activity for much longer and stay in better shape for skiing

• New destinations just a short journey from our doorstep

• Much higher spring temperatures prior to departure for Europe.  At 5.30 pm 20th November 2015 the temperature had fallen to only 29 C. following a midday peak of 38 C.

The downside is hard to imagine but contrast this with Sunday 3.30pm 21st November when we arrived in Les Allues.

• Temperature a bracing if not bleak minus 5C
• Around 15 centimetres of fresh snow on the road
• Dark by 5pm 
• Night time temperatures plunging to minus 20C

So a 43C reduction in temperature but with it opportunity for bags of fun in the fresh snow which has started for us and Rufus the Alpine Ethos hound (below).

We are looking forward to another great season and the prospect of El Nino Weather patterns providing the right conditions for lots of good snow falls as the season progresses.  For now though the picture below says everything about why people go on a winter holiday each year and yes forgo the beach for something just as good or better!

Are electronic ski passes just fancy pants, or actually a source of useful information?

(Photo credit : Les 3 Vallées / David ANDRE)

The Internet of Things (IoT), is the network of physical objects or "things" embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data.

If you are looking for inspired ways of pulling together a value proposition for your own business and IOT then it is worth taking a look at how the experience of skiers / boarders is being brought into the 21st century by the IoT.     As far back as I remember ski field operators have been challenged by management and control of skiers.    

Ticketing Systems to automate the sale of access  to ski lifts initially relied on manual inspection then barcoding and now RFID tags (Radio Frequency Identification).  Their original purpose was to weed out people with valid ski passes from those who try to go for a free ride.   What we notice with our eyes is the Barrier control and the credit card style RFID chipped ski pass, but there is much more than just stopping free loaders from using the system without paying. Elaine and I began to notice lots of RFID enabled benefits which are win win for skiers, boarders and operators and ski lodge owners like ourselves:

• On line refresh and automated payment for next season ski passes - no need to queue up the same piece of plastic is re-used rather than thrown away.  This is cheaper for the resort with lower direct sales costs and 3rd party distribution margins.  For skiers / boarders simps - more time on the hill.  
• Lift queues are getting smaller even though the number of skiers and boarders in our resort has risen.   
• A comprehensive and ongoing lift upgrade program has seen RFID scanning used in conjunction with faster loading ski lifts shorten standing time 10 minutes or more on average to less than 2 minutes.  If you take 10-15 lifts a day on average the keener skiers / boarders amongst us can now fit in a few more runs.  
• For the resorts who are embracing technology their Net Promoter Scores are up.  People are making informed choices to return to the resorts with lowest queues.  
• We notice that many of the visitors to our ski abode are coming back year after year.  I think it's 50% our place and 50% the better facilities offered by the resort.   

Looking forward the possibilities are very interesting.  

• Investment in new lifts / retirement of old and opening of new areas is being influenced by the analytical data available on where people prefer to ski and how they get there
• The Meribel ski area www.meribel.net is able to offer promotional deals where skiers and boarders can ski on resort or at international partner resorts on the same ticket.  Meribel has partnerships with ski resorts in Australia, the USA and France which provide a limited number of free ski days in different parts of the world on the same lift ticket.  Great marketing idea that does not cut your own lunch.
• Pisteurs (the folk who drive the piste grooming machines) can groom pistes which have received the highest traffic volumes keeping the slopes safer and in tip top condition for our maximum enjoyment 
•  Cyclic maintenance and failures can be reduced by better predictive maintenance which takes account of the traffic volumes on the lifts.
• Ski field predictive analytics are now being used to report and action data gathered from skiers RFID tag reads.   In our resort the historical rapid closure of lifts due to storms isn't leaving 100's of skiers stranded in the wrong valleys when weather fronts come in.  The lift company uses RFID data to track number of skiers out on the hill and where they are to better control the pace of the shutdown of the lift network and ensure that skiers have a safe way of getting off the hill using the lift system wherever possible
• Skidata the company who have pioneered much of the ski field RFID development have expanded their RFID and Barrier technology developed for the ski fields across industries.  Ski data systems are common place for secure car parking, building access, construction sites, haz ops environments  and sporting arenas across the world.  This technology has allowed for safer and more cost effective management solutions where assets or people need access to controlled environments

I'm quite excited about the convergence between technology and skiing.  It isn't for free though and requires significant investment so a few things have grabbed my attention on how are the Ski Resorts may be justifying the expense:

• Asset replacement programs for ski lifts have allowances for IOT infrastructure built in.  IoT is part of the fabric of the facilities that are being upgraded or replaced.   The OEM providers for this type of facility are changing the cost structure of what they are selling to ensure their products continue to provide competitive advantage for their customers
• Ticketing systems investment in smart card RFID enabled hardware and software is self funding - ski resorts can prove with hard facts that their customers are returning.  They can show a lower incidence of revenue leakage due to conditions of no ski pass or loan out / theft of ski passes
• Better Net Promoter Scores are one facet but the analysis of the much more granular raw data now available from RFID enable data gathering is showing more skiers and boarders are coming back to their resort
• Queues are bad for the image of ski resorts and many other - they are disappearing as facility upgrades are executed
• We will likely see reduced maintenance spend on lifts and pistes as the predictive analytics available from RFID data collection better guides operational maintenance decisions in near or real time

Ski lesson ROE - Return On Enjoyment

Last year was my 24^th year of skiing.  For the past 5 years Elaine and I have skied most days each week of the Northern Winter. 

Like a lot of older folks we took ESF French ski school lessons when the clear and loud ….possibly only guidance to those at the back of the class was to BEND ZE KNEES TO TURN ZEE SKIS.   The madness of continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different outcome became clear and I drifted away from ski lessons for a long time and became self taught or “DIY” obsessed.

However you eventually realize that you reach a plateau of what you can do with self help books and ideas from mates. My own reservations about feeling short changed from past experience on lessons drove me towards investment in tangible things like new boots or new skis to drive improvement.  In hindsight the best kit in the hands of an average skier was not the best idea.

Winding the clock forward and today living in a village where a fair proportion of neighbours and friends earn their living from ski instructing it very quickly became apparent just from watching how they go about things that my skiing lacked much of what they did,  seemingly unconsciously.   I was in short:

•         Clock-work in motion rather than flowing and natural
•         Quite quick in my own mind but often not completely in control on steep, narrow or icy pitches
•         Somewhat prone to close scrapes with others on the slopes
•         Recognizable by others on the slope for my somewhat interesting style

Getting more from my skiing was becoming really important.  We live in the biggest and arguably the best ski resort in the world.   I somewhat reluctantly chose to take my first step in becoming a better skier by organizing private lessons.  My going in thinking was that I might get a few decent tips but overall my skiing needed a bit of tuning that’s allJ

How wrong I was! My skiing was technique needed to be reworked, not quite back to basics but definitely not just tuning.   I’ll never be a great skier but by golly the improvements from a small annual investment in lessons has transformed my skiing -  relative to the thousands spent on latest gear – yes I am a gear freak. I’m much more confident and get a real buzz out of big turns, bumps and floating through fields of powder.  

On reflection I have spent the preceding twenty odd years of my ski life thinking I had the skills to do this but without the coaching that a lot of us accept is part of our right in the workplace you just can’t break through barriers imposed by poor technique, which you are nearly always blind to yourself.

 So why say all of this you may ask.  Well it’s a call to action for lots of people like me who still spend lots on gear and expensive holidays but don’t take the necessary steps to get so much more out of their skiing.  This is what worked for me so far:

•       A pre vacation recommendation from your chalet or hotel proprietor on a named ski instructor who might fit in with your personality comes in handy. 
•       Finding a ski coach with whom I have been able to establish a strong rapport – someone who sees my strengths and my shortcomings as a skier
•         Set up a private lesson(s) to get an honest assessment of your level, your strengths and a plan for improvement, which they can guide you towards.  The plan must be based around realistic objectives of what you both agree can be achieved.
•         Ask the instructor for details of the drills that they practice to become better and find out why these drills make such a difference
•        Practice these drills on the easier slopes, where it is less crowded or on the way home.   An hour or so in a busy ski day as part of what you are doing pay’s dividends for me.   
•       Decide together how you will measure progress to becoming a better skier.  This might include technical video analysis, feeling much more controlled, having the time to look 3 steps ahead whatever the terrain.
•        When you feel you have reached an objective get back together for more lessons – change the terrain, find more difficult snow pack etc. 
•         Don’t let bad old habits slip back in – repeat the lessons to avoid reverting to type

Still not convinced then think about it differently:

•          The best ski instructors get lessons from each other.  You are never too good to learn.
•         In your own walk of life ongoing professional development may well be important to your career.  It’s the same for skiing!
•         How much better does a craftsman / artisan made piece of furniture look compared to DIY attempts at producing the same.  You might get there eventually with DIY but it is a much slower process

I hope my journey to improvement inspires one or two of the people who read our blog to take heart and invest in the ski tuition / training necessary to make a breakthrough in skiing technique and increase their ROE (Return on Enjoyment) in the ski fields this winter.

Back on line…...

It's been a long time since we posted but normal service has now been resumed. Nothing dramatic just a busy end of the season and an even busier return to non Chalet life.

Over the next few posts we will catch up on what has been happening at Chalet Vache Bleue and news from the Three Valleys and some treats to look forward to next season.

Season 2014-15 was certainly an interesting one. In terms of Chalet Vache Bleue we had over 90% occupancy through the season and welcomed guests from all corners of the world. One of the nicest things about meeting so many people who have skied all over the world is getting the low down on other resorts - especially when they say The Three Valleys and specifically Meribel top them all. 

So what do people like about our slice of heaven? Overall it would have to be the variety of runs and the efficient lift system. Regular visitors also appreciate the improvements which are made every year including re-shaped runs, faster lifts, better facilities (including more on-mountain toilets) and more extensive entertainment programmes.

Last season will not be remembered for an abundance of snow but as usual the superb Piste maintenance team in Meribel made the best of what we had. Many resorts in France had limited skiing available and some were forced to reduce ski pass availability to prevent overcrowding on the few slopes they were able to open. We haven't heard the long range forecast for next season yet but we know that with the altitude, direction of slopes, man made snow making and the great team who work every night in Meribel there will be plenty of snow to slide around on. Why not come and see for yourself?

Snowy walk around our Village January 2015

Summer in Meribel

Midwinter in the southern hemisphere and parts of the south east of Australia certainly knew about it this week with wild weather hitting Melbourne and Sydney. Great news for the ski resorts although current visibility at Blue Cow is slightly limited.

Conditions at Blue Cow this morning

While the Australian ski resorts enjoy snowfalls of over a metre just in time for the school holidays, the summer season in Meribel officially starts on the weekend. From the 28^th June to 29^th August the Tougnete and Pas du Lac lifts will be open to whisk holidaymakers to the summits to enjoy walking, cycling or simply the amazing views. In addition to the Meripass as detailed in our last post lift tickets are available on daily, weekly or even sector basis.

You don’t have to take lifts at all if you don’t want to, there are plenty of paths for walking and trails for mountain biking that can be accessed from different points throughout the valley. From our Village of Les Allues you can access easy walks up to Meribel Village or Meribel Centre, and across the valley interesting loop trails can be taken which go through small Villages giving a real insight into life in rural France. Feeling a little more energetic? The climb to Col de la Lune from Les Allues is well worth it for the views into the Belleville Valley. The area around the Altiport and the Golf course is picture perfect at this time of year, hard to believe that beautiful green grass was covered in snow just a few months ago.

If you feel like being a bit more adventurous perhaps exploring the glaciers and more dramatic peaks of the area, group or individual tours are available for beginners and advanced hikers. The destination depends on level of walkers and the weather but can include: the Vanoise glaciers, Grande Glière, Grand Paradis, Dôme des Ecrins, Mont-Blanc, Aiguille de la Vanoise, Le Petit Arcelin. Costs start from 95€ per person. For more information contact the Mountain Guides' office:

www.guides-courchevel-meribel.com 

Walking and Mountain Bike riding maps are available form the Tourist Office, like the winter piste map they cover all three valleys giving a huge choice of routes to follow. There are also commercially available maps for the area which show an even wider range of tracks you can follow, there really is no excuse for a lazy summer holiday in Meribel.

Part of the walking map around Les Allues - plenty to keep you going for an active summer holiday

So while the southern hemisphere shivers the outlook for this week in Meribel is sunshine and 20 degrees – perfect for getting out and exploring. Enjoy.

Time for Summer to arrive

Despite the snow which fell earlier this week as shown above the lifts have closed for the winter season and it's time to start thinking about summer activities. Chalet Vache Bleue is open throughout the inter season period as well as the summer season. This year Meribel is proud to be hosting the Mountain Bike World Cup Finals in August which promises to be a huge event with over 4,000 Athletes representing 9 Countries attending. We will post more information about the event closer to the time.

It's not all about Mountain Bikes during the summer in Meribel there are many other events planned from Flying to Fly Fishing, although of course you don't need to be attending a planned event to simply enjoy the magnificent scenery. The well marked paths and tracks throughout the area from the valley floor to the peaks should not be missed and during the main holiday period the lifts swing back into action to make the trip up a little easier on the legs.

During the summer access to the lifts and a range of other events can be achieved through the purchase of a Meripass. As Partners with Meribel Tourism we are able to off the Meripass at a reduced rate, we will include all the details in our next Post or e-mail us: chaletvachebleuemeribel@gmail.com for more details.

To mark the end of the winter season here is our favourite picture from the season which was taken in Les Allues on 6th February. The 2014/15 winter season will be upon us very soon but don't forget to take advantage of all the Alps during the summer.

Holiday time in Meribel

Carol singing in Meribel Centre

Although a little late Merry Christmas from Meribel - here's what has been happening here over the past 2 weeks.

Firstly Santa did leave us some snow along with his presents which was lovely. Christmas Day itself was not a bluebird day but plenty of lovely skiing on very empty Pistes. We find that most people have a slow start on Christmas Day and many do not venture out at all preferring to spend the time with family. This year the weather was certainly changeable, the sun tried to shine but was beaten back by ominous skies which eventually gave snow. 

Carol singing in Les Allues

Many people ask what it is like in Meribel at Christmas and the answer is very "Christmassy". Most Chalets are decorated with outdoor lights, the centres at each level of the resort have beautiful decorations and the activities from Church Services to Santa arriving on his sleigh are all available to be enjoyed. One of our favourites is the Carol singing which we have seen grow over the last couple of seasons. The first Carol singing event is held in Les Allues and features Vin Chaud and the opportunity to catch up with the locals and visitors alike. On Christmas Eve a second Carol concert was held in Meribel centre and a large crowd joined in with the Choir and local schoolchildren. Explaining Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer to a French person takes some doing but they do join in with enthusiasm and true Christmas spirit aided of course by the Vin Chaud.

We are enjoying more fresh snow over the next few days which means continuing great conditions for those visitors arriving for the New Year week. Here are a couple of pictures taken over the last few days

Berries remaining defiant against the snow in Les Allues village

9.00am waiting for the first lift from Chaudanne

Early morning sun from Saulire mid station

Welcome to winter

Not quite the 1st December here but the last Autumn leaves are fighting a loosing battle against the snow. Down at Les Allues Village level yesterday we had a steady fall of snow which lasted most of the day. Walking boots have now been replaced by snow boots with spikes on the sole and a ski pole is advisable to at least minimise the slipping and sliding. 

These pictures were taken yesterday on our walk towards the Refuge de la Traie at 1650m:

Last of the Autumn leaves

The current forecast for the next 5 days indicates a further 53cm of snow at the top of the resort so the opening of the lifts on 8th December should be great day. Temperatures are falling, even at Les Allues level we are bracing ourselves for a minus 16 degree Sunday night bbrrrrrrrrr.
Today has brought us sunshine so we may venture up to Mottaret and report back on how the new lift buildings are looking, we may even see a Piste basher out busy preparing the runs for next Saturday.

Why did we pick Les Allues?

One of the questions we frequently get asked is why did we decide to base ourselves in Les Allues. Deciding to be within the Three Valleys was easy - the largest ski area in the world. Meribel is the middle valley so a natural choice giving easy access to the other valleys.  At this point the choice became interesting. We have spent many ski holidays in Meribel predominately based in Mottaret in an almost ski in and ski out position which in terms of ease of access to the snow cannot be beaten but when thinking about running a business and being able to "sell" a little bit of France to visitors Les Allues won hands down.

Les Allues is an authentic French mountain village. More than 2,000 people live in Les Allues all year round, it is the home of La Mairie - the Mayor of the area. There is a primary school, a bread oven (or two) a beautiful church and even a Museum.

Museum Les Allues

The links to the ski area from the village are excellent. The Gondola stops in the village and travels on to the central lift network at Meribel giving you direct access to the whole area. There is also a free regular bus service to Meribel Village giving direct access to the Altiport ski area and the Loze link to Courchevel

After a day in the mountains you can return by the free bus, the Gondola or when the snow conditions are good via the Village run which ends in Les Allues, (conveniently opposite a bar). With all those year round residents to serve we have more than one bar plus several restaurants ranging from Pizza to fine dining. Add a small supermarket - fresh bread and pastries twice a day- a ski shop, a post office and even an ATM what more could you want?

Well yes if you want night clubs, casinos, all night parties and being woken from your well earned sleep by over enthusiastic apres skiers then maybe a purpose built ski resort is more your thing. It's a personal choice but we are very happy and proud to call Les Allues home and love to share this slice of mountain life with all our guests.

Looking across the valley from Les Allues

Christmas. December 2010

Along with Christmas comes very cold weather and the final opportunity to work outside until the return of the warmer weather. The exterior staircase and the two balconies to the small Apartment are completed and the focus changes to interior matters.
Meanwhile across Europe heavy snow brings travel disruption but smiles to the faces of those lucky enough to be spending Christmas and New Year Skiing in Meribel.

Cold days and sunshine

Exterior of small Apartment



The form work of the stairs to small Apartment

The small one. November 2010

The wrapping has all gone now revealing the exterior finish in all its glory. It really does stand out amid the older buildings but the woodwork finishes remind passers by that this is not a totally new building.Snow falls and the focus turns to interior work.

The greatest changes are being made in the small apartment building, the most impressive being the building of the amazing Oak staircase. The small apartment is four storeys high containing just one room on each floor, a small space which is designed as a real couples retreat. This is very different from the studio apartments more frequently on offer in French ski resorts for couples. In addition to the Oak staircase the apartment has two balconies and a cosy bathroom nestled in the roof space.

Staircase small apartment

It's snowing. September 2010

Just as the Chalet starts to look like a Chalet the mountains suddenly start to look like a ski resort. From sunny and warm one day to a distinct drop in temperature the next followed by snow falling on the mountain tops and sleet even as low as Albertville. The air is suddenly filled with the smell of wood smoke as fires are lit to keep warm at night.


First snow seen from Bride les Bains

The differences between renovation in Australia and renovation in France start to show when it comes to selecting fittings and tiles for the bathrooms. Between the two countries there is more than a language difference which is made plain by the quizzical looks on the faces of the Tilers when I try to explain using the same tiles on the floor as on the wall. You don't need a shared language to know they think I am crazy. Time will tell!
The building looks like a gift waiting to be opened covered by a protective layer to enable the Plasterers to do their work. The villagers have become more inquisitive now it is covered and stop to stare and often pass judgement on progress being made.

All wrapped up