| New in .... |
2005/06 |
HANDS FREE LIFT PASS SYSTEM This winter the Three Valleys ski area was equipped with
‘hands-free’ lift pass technology. The system checks the validity
of your lift pass at each lift and opens gates automatically.
The new lift pass has been named the ‘P&S’ which stands
for Prêt à Skier. It will be sturdier than the old lift passes
and look like a credit card with a built-in chip. This P&S will cost
3€ extra and will offer advantages over the old-style lift pass. It
can also be recharged via the internet.
Skiing is simpler with the hands-free ski pass system
Easier to purchase: no photo required (except for season passes, -5/+72yrs)
Smart card included in the ski pass price (no deposit fee),
Another major advantage is that the new pass will be insured
against loss or theft. The 3V lift company will replace your pass for the
remainder of its duration (minus a one day waiver and small admin fee) –
NB:You will require to produce the purchase receipt.
If you don’t want to spend an extra 3€ on the new ‘P&S’
lift pass, you can still opt to buy the traditional, throw-away type lift
pass. This old style pass is still available on all passes for up to 6 days
duration. It will still open the automatic gates at the lifts, but won’t
offer any of the other advantages of the P&S.
The Etoiles drag lift has been shortened and is now accessible to beginners.
The Practice "Novice Evolution Zone" (ZEN) has
been expanded onto the former Etoiles drag lift track.
Development of a beginner's run at the top of the Jardin Alpin gondola connecting
to the Practice and Ferme ZENs, as well as to Bellecôte.
To
improve avalanche safety in the valley, S3V have installed an ‘Avalanche
Camp’ at the foot of Suisses chairlift. This will introduce skiers to
techniques of search and rescue in avalanche situations and additionally increase
awareness of off-piste skiing risk.
As part of Courchevel's on-going commitment to maximise the
safety of all its visitors, the Pralong sector, an area which is heavily used
by beginners, has been redesigned and improved. Distinct areas have been designated
to help separate the traffic of good skiers and beginners returning to the
resort.
The center of Courchevel is undergoing a change of "look": stone,
wood and slate being used to rejuvenate this important and inescapable part
of Courchevel.The work has been spread over two years, and this year, the
old post office was demolished. It is replaced by the new tourist office,
opened in May 2005.
Slalom Stadium
Arrival area building completion, Water and sewerage network completion,
Grass planting. Zone for ARB (avalanche rescue beacon) initiation and searches
Creation and management of an initiation area for ARB use at the bottom of
the Suisses chairlift.
COURCHEVEL 1650
6-person variable speed Chapelets chairlift
Replacement of the Signal and Bel Air drag lifts with the new variable speed
chairlift.
Signposting
Improved signposting at the top of the ski area:
installation of relay poles, new directional signs, etc
INDIAN
THEME AREA
Installation of an area illustrating the theme of the "Indians"…
It's on the Indian run.
You can discover the Indians slope at Courchevel 1650 with an indian tent
and a real indian man called "Loup Gris" who will provide entertainment
every Monday and Thursday from 1.00pm to 5.00pm
COURCHEVEL 1550
Grangettes gondola. Replacement of the cars. Renovation of the departure station with replacement of the metal façades with wood and additional window surface area.
A lift between the road and the Grangettes gondola .Installation of a 16-person lift to facilitate access from the road to the ski pass office and the departure station.
Snowmaking equipment. Installation of 3 new snow cannons in the arrival area.
COURCHEVEL 1300 (Le Praz)
Ski itinerary from Le Praz to Saint Bon
Outdoor ice skating area to open at Le Praz
Work on the exit from the bridge on the Jean Blanc trail.
Great news for Le Praz! New gondolas to 1850. The lift company have finally replaced the ageing bubbles with more spacious transport up the hill in the morning. They have also built an artificial lake to purely service the snow cannons to the village.
On cold days at Courchevel 1300, the local firemen are hosing the natural lake beneath the gondola lifts. Because of recent low temperatures a layer of ice more than 20cm deep has already been created on the surface of the lake. Ice not to store and sell in summer as in the old days, but to form an outdoor rink open to tourists and locals. A variety of new activities are being considered, including ice carting.
La Tania
Latest
on the new green piste down to La Tania sees some new tree chopping where
the Murettes run splits off from the Moretta Blanche.
They are widening the path that leads to the Murettes red run to Le Praz, we guess they will then turn left to go back to La Tania but it is not clear yet. There is a sign up to say that they are clearing nearly 9,000M2 of forest.
Pics courtesy of Ferg at Ski Deep
Meribel
NEW MOGUL COMPETITION PISTE
The absence of a good mogul run in the Méribel Valley will be remedied
this season by the creation of a mogul competition piste on the "Mont
de la Challe". The new area will be at the side of the Bartavelle piste,
and should enjoy excellent snow cover because of the North-facing slope.
More snow makers have been installed on the Mottaret slopes. Snow canons now
cover the Bouvreuil piste, thus improving access to the Mont Vallon gondola.
To improve avalanche safety in the valley, S3V lift company has created an
‘Avalanche Camp’ at the bottom of the Plan des Mains chairlift.
This new area will introduce skiers to techniques of search and rescue in
avalanche situations.
Val Thorens / Les Menuires Valley
New pistes and lifts.
Modernisation of the ski area has continued over the summer. Lift company
SEVABEL have installed an 8 person gondola lift at the Roc des 3 Marches.
Starting from the Croisette in Les Menuires, this new lift will replace the
Combes chair lift and Mont de la Chambre gondola.
More ‘cultured’ snowmaking facilities will be installed before
the start of season: snow canons will be added to the Grand Lac piste and
cultured snow productivity will increase on the Petits Creux, Boyes and Menuires
pistes.
Improvements have also been carried out to several pistes
over the summer, including Allamands, Becca, Grand Lac, Gros Tougne, Boyes
and the Becca snow cross, and a new green run is being created parallel to
the Roc des 3 Marches gondola.
In Val Thorens snow canons have been installed on numerous pistes including
Moraine, Grand Fond, Variante, La Mauriennaise, Béranger and the Yannick
Richard Stadium.
A new 6 seater chair has replaced the Grand Lac and Choumes long drag lifts making an easier route between St Martin de Belleville and Les Menuires. The new lift will be called Les Granges and looks like it will have a cover like the Mont de la Chambre lift. There's new snow cannons on the Allemandes piste and a new snow park in the Combes Beca area.
The 3 Vallées 1 and 2 chairlifts, the main route back from Val Thorens, have been replaced by a Funitel (seating 20 people per pod), which will dramatically ease the frequent congestion. A new restaurant has been built at the bottom of the new Les Granges chair lift.
The very old drag lift in St. Martin ( rumoured to be the oldest in the Three Valleys) has been replaced by a new poma drag.
