Issue 7 - Summer 2016 - Morzine Source Magazine

summer 16

The Ultim ate

Ski Holid ay wort h over

€3500

Phil Liggett’s Tour Legends A-Z of Summer The Dixie Micks

Local Produce Guide

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I’ve no shame in admitting that summer is my favourite season in the mountains. I don’t long to schuss down a mountain on my skis and I can definitely wait to see snow falling from the sky again. For those of us who live here all year round, summer is a time to wind down the pace, catch up with the friends (and often family) that we abandoned during the busyness of winter and take the opportunity to enjoy all our area has to offer. And if you’re joining us this summer, congratulations. You’ve picked a good’un.

Never before have so many massive events visited Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz in one summer. These are global events, and that’s no exaggeration. Over 60 million people are expected to tune in to watch the Tour de France warm up event, Le Criterium de Dauphine

on Mont Chery in June.

3.5 billion people will watch the penultimate stage of Le Tour roll into Morzine on Saturday 23rd July. 20,000 people will pack into Les Gets for Crankworx, making it the biggest event hosted

by Les Gets in a long time. We’ll all remember Summer 2016 for many years to come.

Whilst I like to imagine that you’ll read this magazine from cover to cover, you definitely shouldn’t skip past page 96. There’s a fantastic winter holiday worth more than €3,500 up for grabs, including everything from accommodation to champagne, lift passes to private airport transfers and much more besides.

In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine…

Amie postings | publisher amie@morzinesourcemagazine.com

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l ag it fi e as e is m s ni r sh ecycle th pas ? ed r e adi n g

Copyright Origami Media Ltd 2016 Source Magazine is published in the UK by and remains the property of Origami Media Ltd. All material in this magazine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved by Origami Media Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers.

Dates, information and prices are believed to be correct at the time of going to print but are subject to change and no responsibility is accepted for omissions or errors.

Any correspondence and advertising enquiries should be directed to: info@origami-media.com or visit www.origami-media.com Design and reprographics by Cuttin Edge Solutions Ltd: www.cuttin-edge.co.uk / info@cuttin-edge.co.uk Printed in the United Kingdom by Swallowtail Print Ltd Front cover graphics copyright Morzine Source Magazine Many thanks to the Office de Tourisme in Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz & Portes du Soleil

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Contents What’s Hot in Morzine, Les Gets & Avoriaz ............................ 8 Phil Liggett’s Tour de France Legends .................................. 12 The A-Z of Summer ..................................................................................... 18 Vive Le Tour......................................................................................................22 Canyoning – What’s it all about?............................................... 24 Women On Top – The Queens of MTB........................................... 28 Crankworx ......................................................................................................32 The 2016 Source Award Winners ................................................... 34 Live Like A Local.......................................................................................... 36 The Rise of Triathlon..............................................................................40 The Jodie Stimpson Interview......................................................... 42 An Annecy Day Trip................................................................................... 44 The Dixie Micks Interview.................................................................... 46 Day in the Life - Avoriaz MTB Park Shaper ........................... 48 The Source Accommodation Directory................................50 Trending – Bike Essentials ................................................................ 54 Trending – Hike Essentials................................................................ 56 Trending – Lifestyle Essentials ................................................... 58 Via Ferrata.......................................................................................................60 The Architecture of Avoriaz ...........................................................62 Day in the Life – Tour de France Rider..................................... 64 Summer Events ............................................................................................. 66 Local Produce Special......................................................................... 69 Art in the Mountains ...............................................................................76 The British love affair with Morzine ........................................78 Drone Alps....................................................................................................... 84 Trending – Wearable Tech ................................................................ 88 How to do a Winter Season .............................................................90 Competition – Win a Winter Holiday.......................................... 96

Contributors Phil Liggett Rob Purver Robin Ecoeur Chloe Hardy Natalie Elvy Rosie Wheat Jo & Amelia Pearson Dave Harrison Richard Bromage

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what's hot this summer MultiPass If only everything in life were as simple and as cheap as the Portes du Soleil MultiPass. When you’re staying with an accredited MultiPass accommodation provider, €2 per person per day gives you access to 21 mountain lifts, swimming pools and bathing lakes, cultural centres, ice rinks, tennis centres, mini-golf, resort transport and much more between 11th June and 4th September. The pass also offers free or discounted entry to over 50 different action-packed activities across the area. If you’re not staying in accredited accommodation, then the pass is just €8 per day, giving you the full range of benefits. And those of you sticking around for the whole season pay just €65 for the entire summer! Find out more at portesdusoleil.com Weddings Imagine saying ‘I do!’ under a beautiful blue sky as the fresh mountain breeze flitters past and the sound of champagne corks popping rumbles around the mountain. It’s a dream that several couples make a reality here in Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz every summer. From the shores of Lake Montriond to the heights of Restaurant La Pointe de Nyon, the charm and character of The Farmhouse to the stunning views of Mont Blanc from Le Vaffieu, there are many perfect wedding venues to choose from. Couples with their hearts set on a mountain wedding will find loads of experienced local photographers, caterers, videographers, cake makers, hairdressers and anything else you might need to make your big day go with a bang.

Brunch Whilst the concept of dining half way between breakfast and lunch isn’t new, the brunch craze sweeping across Morzine and Les Gets certainly is and we’re holding the team at Montriond’s La Marmotte d’Or entirely responsible. Where else in the local area can you feast on a monster Club Sandwich in the blissful sunshine overlooking the whole valley? Served only at weekends and packed from start to finish (that’s 10am – 2pm), you’ll find classics including Eggs Benedict and that all-important Full English on the menu. Other very fine brunch hot spots include Satellite Coffee on the Rue du Bourg in Morzine where the menu is fresh, locally sourced and delicious, and Alba in Les Gets where a pot of Yorkshire Tea is a welcome addition to any weekend.

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Spinning

Sharing

You’d struggle to count the number of different road ride permutations in the local area, but the sheer volume of available kilometers hasn’t stopped the growth of spin classes in Morzine. Spinning inside the relatively warm, controlled environment of a fitness studio is far preferable to lugging your road bike through the variable conditions of a Morzine winter, and perhaps because of this, Buzz Performance Spinning classes have been packed to the brim since they launched in January. The summer timetable includes classes to suit all schedules and whether you’re new to a saddle or you’re an experienced roadie, you’re sure to find the sessions both challenging and rewarding. Visit buzzperformance.com for more details.

Nothing says you’re on holiday like a selfie. And now that mobile roaming rates across Europe have been capped ahead of their abolition in June 2017, it has never been easier to spread #HolidayEnvy across your social network. When you tag your Instagram pics with #LoveMorzine, #LoveLesGets and #LoveAvoriaz, they automatically appear on our website homepage. Each day we share our favourite picture on our Facebook page too so make sure you’re following us!

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The European Mountain Villages Football Championships Football fans will no doubt know that France hosts the European Championships this summer. This early-season event is its little brother, taking place on a specially made football pitch at the top of Morzine’s Pleney at 1550 metres between 2nd and 5th June.

Mountain teams from 12 different countries including France, England, Germany, Spain and Italy will gather in their quest to become champions over the four day event, which is accompanied by live music each evening at the Palais du Sport.

Source favourites The Dixie Micks are even on the line-up! See page 66 for match fixtures and music concerts.

Access to all matches is only via the Pleney cable car or on foot.

For more details visit morzine2016. bergdorfem.com

Bespoke ski holidays to suit your business

Treading Lightly at Morzine’s L’Aubergade

Travelling to the mountains with a bunch of work colleagues can be an inspiring way to motivate and challenge your team and Morzine’s proximity to Geneva Airport makes the Portes du Soleil the ideal spot for your next team building or client entertaining ski trip. Launching this year with a mission to provide truly bespoke corporate ski trips, Corporate Peaks is a full service event planning service run by Morzine resident Holly Hull. “I’ve worked tirelessly to hand pick luxury establishments offering the most spacious, professional and qualityassured locations” Holly told Source.

Corporate Peaks offer three different packages that act as a starting point for your own group requirements and include resort based activities and team building events. Visit skicorporatepeaks.com for more details.

Eco missions are the new big thing in travel but here in the mountains, the looming threat of global warming is real. Will there be snow in Morzine in 20 years time? How hot can our summers get? Based around a ‘protect our playgrounds’ mentality, the team at Morzine’s L’Aubergade Hotel have stepped up their eco mission.

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This summer you’ll find an allotment at the back of the hotel, where vegetables and those all-important cocktail garnishes will grow. €1 from every vegan and vegetarian main course ordered will be invested in a community allotment for summer 2017 and there’s also meat free staff and guest meals. It’s all part of the ‘Treading Lightly Mission’, you can find out more at laubergade.com

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Much Better Adventures and ChaletManager join forces Our favourite travel planning website has integrated with our favourite time-saving accommodation reservations platform, offering a stack of advantages to users of both. Much Better Adventures co-founder Sam Bruce told us “The adventure travel market is incredibly fragmented and generally lacking in live pricing and availability data.

As a result, the very best specialist holiday operators can often be the hardest to find and book with online. Our integration with Chalet Manager helps us take another step towards our mission to make it much easier for travellers to discover and book amazing active and adventure holidays with the best local and independent operators”.

If you’re not a ChaletManager or Much Better Adventure user, then visit chaletmanager.com and muchbetteradventures.com

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phil ligget t's

of the Tour de France

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This July, the Tour de France – La Grande Boucle – will make its 103rd journey around the hexagon of France with a few incursions on to neighbouring soil. Since its beginning in 1903, only two World Wars have temporarily halted this amazing event in its wheel tracks. My first Tour was in 1973, won by the great. French-loving Spaniard, Luis Ocana. Now 44 years on, I am probably the longest English-speaking reporter on the race, never having missed a day in all these years.

The word “legends” is bandied about all too easily, but the millions of words written about the Tour over the years has made these fabled cyclists, exactly what they are. To name 10 is difficult, as other great names have to be omitted, but here we go in the order of the year of their first attempt to reach Paris.

GI NO BA RTAL I

This great Italian was, along with Fausto Coppi, one of the two heros of Italy throughout their careers. Gino found all the emotions of a cruel sport that had taken his 20-year-old brother Julio in a road race in 1936, the same year that Bartoli won his first Giro d’Italia. In 1938 with WW2 on the horizon, Bartoli won his first

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1938 & 1948

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Tour de France. Then followed the war years and finally a return to the French race when he won again, 10 years later. He had a long career, which ended with a traffic accident in Italy, a year after he rode his last Tour de France.

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Fausto Coppi was a more accomplished rider than his Italian rival Bartali.

They both feuded throughout their careers and only really came together as friends after retirement. Coppi however, was a fragile individual and a fall usually resulted in broken bones. Coppi could do it all; from pursuiting on the track (where he was a World Champion) to winning the Tour de France twice in three attempts. This lanky rider with gaunt features was the first to conquer the (now) famous Alpe d’Huez climb, which he did on atrocious

To ur s rid de n:

between 1949 and

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roads in 1952. After this, the Alpe was never climbed again until 1976 and

To ur s wo n:

now is a regular on the Tour route. Coppi died from malaria, contracted in

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Africa in January 1960 when he was 40 years of age.

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1952

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JAC QU ES ANQ UET IL

Maitre Jacques was an Aristocrat who lived in a Chateau in Rouen. He never looked tired when in the most rugged terrain and was even said to keep a comb in his back pocket. Without doubt the greatest time trial rider of his era, he was virtually unbeatable in the Tour de France, becoming the first member of the “Famous Five” club, of which today there are four five-

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between 1957 and 1966

Tou rs fini she d: 1957 & 1961 – 1964

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time winners. In 1961 he led the Tour from day one to the end in Paris, but he

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could not claim he had led it from start to finish, as sprinter Andre Darrigade

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had won the morning stage before Jacques took control in the 28km time

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trial around Versailles in the afternoon. He died from cancer in 1969, refusing

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treatment until after he had followed, as a radio reporter, his final Tour.

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RAYM ON D PO UL IDO R

If “Poupou”, as he was known throughout France, had ever worn the mailliot jaune, then his image would have been gone forever. This most likeable man from Limousin, who became known as the eternal second (although third would have been better) gave Anquetil his hardest moments. They say that Raymond was too unintelligent to beat the Aristocrat, but it was he that the crowd loved the most. His comedic face, his battling through to finish with

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broken bones and the love of the people made him one of the biggest legends

Tou rs fin ish ed:

of the Tour. He did “win” the yellow jersey once – in a prologue – but then it was taken back as the timing was in error. Thank Heavens, as Poulidor was never meant to wear it and the deception would have been over.

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Even to the present day, there are few people who dispute that The Cannibal (so called because he refused to let others win a race) was the greatest rider ever seen. He rode in 1500 races and won 525 of them. There are no honours left in Belgium that can be bestowed upon him, and he is a legend in every sense of the word. It was in Morzine in 1975 where he 7

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between 1969 & 1974

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struggled to the top of Avoriaz, suffering from a crash and a fracture of his lower face. He had refused to give up and finally lost his first Tour to Frenchman Bernard Thevenet. This was the first time the race ended on the Champs d’Elysees and even in defeat, Merckx was the hero of the hour saying “If I had retired no one would have seen Thevenet as the true winner, which he was.”

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JO OP ZO ET EM EL K

Now this is the man who should have been called the eternal second. After all, the Dutchman took second place on the podium on six occasions. But, when Bernard Hinault abandoned the 1980 Tour in Pau with a painful knee, “Joopy” finally got his win in Paris – the first for a Dutchman since Jan Jansen in 1968. To this day he is the only rider to have ridden and finished all 16 Tours he rode.

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BER NAR D HIN AULT

All of France knew about Hinault, whose nickname was “Le Blaireau”.

He was kept back from riding the arduous Tour too soon, and when he did in 1978, as French Champion, he won easily. Hinault works as protocol manager on the Tour these days, but as a rider, France has not seen an equal since. His Tou rs ridd en:

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between 1957 and 1966

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Tou rs fini she d:

injured knee. He was wearing the mailliot jaune and could so easily have been the first rider to win six times.

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between 1978 & 1985

Tou rs won :

saddest moment was when he was forced to retire in Pau in 1980 from an

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The American with the French sounding name was a champion from his junior

G R EG L E MOND

days and as he progressed his career alongside Hinault, the two were destined to become rivals on the same team. It happened in 1985 when LeMond could have won the race, but was told to wait for Hinault and help him win his fifth title. In return Hinault offered to help him win in 1986, but in that race, for a long time, LeMond felt he was facing a perfect “double-cross”, as the Frenchman turned out to be his biggest rival once again. In the end, LeMond won and Hinault finished second, but a friendship had been lost along the way. LeMond then missed the next two tours after being accidentally shot in a hunting accident. He came back in 1989 and won by the narrowest-ever margin of eight seconds, and again in 1990.

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1986 & 1990

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This handsome, quietly-spoken Spaniard was not the most dazzling of stars, but he was the most elegant on the bike and an absolute master. He didn’t finish his first two Tours, but he did cause LeMond to ask who he was in 1986.

MIG UE L IND UR AIN

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consecutive 1991-199

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He didn’t win his first Tour until 1991 and never lost again until 1996, when he passed through his home town of Pamplona, far behind the eventual winner, Bjarne Riis of Denmark. Indurain could so easily have stopped, but instead he continued to Paris, where he finish 11th in his last tour.

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2012

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A British rider had never remotely looked like winning a Tour de France in its 98 years, but the 99th edition introduced a great Olympic track champion to the top spot in Paris.

Wiggins, who was knighted by the Queen for his effort, won at his 6th attempt with the support of Kenyan-born Brit Chris Frome, who finished second and won the 100th edition a year later. Wiggins has never been back to the race, and will never come back, such was the effort and concentration required to win in 2012.

phil ligg et t

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year s com men tatin g on Le Tour : awa rded MBE: Indu cted into the Brit ish Cycl ing Hall of Fame :

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by Rob Purv er

There’s a huge range activities and events to chose from during summer in the mountains. Whether you’re young or old, here for adventure or relaxation, there’s something for everyone.

AVORIAZ The cliff-top town of Avoriaz is one of Europe’s premier ski destinations and the world's rich and famous once gathered to experience the resort’s natural beauty and pristine ski slopes. Fast forward 50 years and the celebrities have made way for us regular folk. Avoriaz is a great starting location for any summer adventure. Whether it’s hiking peaks, shredding bike tracks or relaxing at Aquariaz, Avoriaz has all you need for an excellent summer holiday.

BIKES Downhill, trail, cross-country or road. The choice of disciplines here is staggering.

Once you immerse yourself in each of the genres you’ll quickly realise the area has a huge range of choice, whatever type of cycling you’re in to.

CRANKWORX With one of mountain bikes biggest events visiting Les Gets this summer, expect some serious development of the village’s facilities and trails. Crankworx will showcase some of the world’s premier cycling talent. For more information see page 32.

PARC DES DERECHES Running along the valley bottom between Morzine and Montriond, this green and tranquil strip is easily accessed from (and a great route to shortcut between) both sides of the valley. A great spot for dog walking, river paddling and with a kids play park, indoor and outdoor pools, high ropes course and horse riding stables, it’s the perfect place to cool off from the summer sun.

EVENTS There’s so much happening over summer we’ve dedicated an entire page to it. Check out page 66 for what’s on in the area this summer.

FISHING There’s plenty of lakes in the area and the alpine fishing here is some of the best in France, if primarily for the scenery, more than ease of catch. Simply register for a local licence for a day, a week or two weeks at Ardent Sports in Montriond and cast away.

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GOLF With endless summer days, fresh mountain air and rolling alpine meadows, it’s as if the area was designed as a golfing paradise. With local courses in Avoriaz and Les Gets plus many more within a short drive, any golf enthusiast is spoiled for choice.

HORSE RIDING Take a tour of the Parc des Dérêches on horseback, or walk your little people around Les Linderets bowl on a Shetland Pony. There are few better ways to quieten your children up for an hour than letting them plod along on a pony!

ICE HOCKEY

French Courses Intensive Courses

Yes it’s summer, so ice related sports might not jump to mind at first. But with a proper professional ice hockey team based here in the valley, there’s no excuse not to cool down on the ice. Keep an eye on the Morzine Source Magazine Facebook page for details of games over the summer, or pop over to the Parc des Dérêches website for skating times and prices.

JOGGING If you like running around your own town, you’ll love running around here. Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz are likely to be much prettier, plus there’s less traffic and the air quality is second to none. Be aware there are some small hills around which have been known to prematurely exhaust the odd holidaying jogger.

Weekly Group Lessons Private Lessons GCSE + A-level tutoring Skype and online options Conversation Classes Exam preparation courses

French - English Summer Camps

K AYAKING On the rivers or in the lakes, Kayaking is a great way to explore the area and enjoy yourself out on the water. There’s nothing like paddling to the centre of Lac Montriond and having a floating picnic on the water.

LUGE You might have noticed the two luge tracks gently meandering down the slopes of the Pleney and assumed they were a fun family activity. You are both correct and incorrect in that assumption. Yes, they are a wholesome and affordable option for entertaining the kids, but they are also super fast and incredibly gnarly. After various tests last summer, some nasty friction burns and several items of semi-melted clothing, we can confirm that you really do need to use the brake.

Day camps Camps include: Lessons for children and teenagers learning English or French Phonics, reading and writing in English or French GCSE and A-level tuition Exciting adventure activities, excursions and much more!

MULTIPASS One pass to rule them all! The Portes du Soleil Multipass is a great way to gain free access to, or make savings on, nearly all the activities in the valley. Get yours from the lift pass office or check if your chalet or hotel is part of the MultiPass Premier scheme. /MorzineSourceMagazine

Residential Summer Camp

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info@alpinefrenchschool.com Tel: 04 50 79 08 38 www.alpinefrenchschool.com

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NYON

TENNIS

Located just upstream from Morzine, Nyon is one of the hidden gems in the area. From high ropes courses, raging waterfalls, epic ridgeline hikes, flowerfilled mountain meadows and stunning views of Mont Blanc, Nyon is an unmisible location for a day in the hills. Plus with the Nyon telecabine and Pointe du Nyon chairlift running for pedestrians, all of that altitude can be gained with very little walking involved, making it great for younger children and older relatives.

A popular pastime for all the family with locations in Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets, it’s a fun family activity and great for keeping fit.

ORIENTEERING

Ultra Violet makes up a significant part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the sun; it bathes our planet constantly and is responsible for our daily dose of vitamin D. In a roundabout way we’re trying to say it’s sunny here, very sunny. They don’t call it the Portes du Soleil for nothing.

VIA FERRATA

Take yourselves, a map, some hydration and nutrition and head off into the wilderness. Mother nature really knows how to party here, and there’s no shortage of stunning vistas available to those with a little willpower and fitness.

You'll find a great guide of local walking routes at the Office deTourisme in each resort.

Originally a means to sneak troops across mountain ranges, now a chance to give you some seriously scary rock climbing thrills, whilst still in the relative safety you’d expect from a family holiday. Read our full Via Ferrata feature on page 60.

WHITE WATER

PARAPENTE The sport of parapenting was invented not far from here and parapenters can be seen almost every single day of summer, soaring high like eagles around the peaks.

For a meagre handful of euros, true flight can be achieved and you can get up there amongst the birds. There are several schools who offer everything from single trip tandem taster flights, to full ‘earn your wings’ training courses.

QUIZES Maybe the weather has turned and we’re having one of our famous summer storms.

Or maybe you just really love a bit of general knowledge. Whichever, there’s an option for testing yourself against the hardened locals at a variety of locations throughout the summer. Our favourite is the Bar National quiz in St Jean d’Aulps.

Check their Facebook page for details.

READING SOURCE MAGAZINE You are doing it right now. Carry on.

STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING Tranquillity, balance, one-ness with nature. All of this and more can be gained whilst SUP’ing on Lac Montriond.

Alternatively go full pirate and invade your friend’s vessel with the intention to capsize. Either way you get to enjoy epic views, a good workout and an escape from the worst of the summer heat.

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Rafting, kayaking, canyoning or hyrospeeding. All involve large volumes of turbulent water, some dodgy looking neoprene outfits and a whole heap of fun. Our local river, the Dranse, starts as a gentle stream way up at the head of the Valley de la Manche and by the time it reaches us it’s a healthy mid-sized river. But when it meets a sister river just past St Jean d’Aulps the real fun starts. With the hydroelectric dam holding back a fair percentage of the day’s water flow and letting it all go in one hit, the already high river is transformed into a raging torrent. Check out our feature on the latest trend in white water action, Canyoning, on page 24. (e)XCURSIONS A daytrip can be a great way to break up your holiday and provide new experiences for all.

Our top picks include Annecy, Salevé, Genève, Chamonix, Evian, Montreux and Samöens.

YVOIRE A chance to get out of the hills and down to Lac Leman shouldn’t be missed and if you do happen to get down to the waters edge, Yvoire shouldn’t be missed. This medieval town is steeped in history, and is one of the most beautiful villages you are ever likely to see.

ZIP LINE What’s an A to Z guide to the area’s activities without mentioning the Fantasticable? It’s a 120kmph zip line between two 2000m peaks over a 150m drop and is accessed from the top of the Chaux Fleurie chair lift. It’s a handy option for the letter Z and an unmissable part of any adventure holiday in the Alps!

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Alp Nav Transfers launch Drop-n-Ride Whilst there’s many a road cycling route in the local area to keep a busy cyclist in daily challenges, Drop-n-Ride is a new service designed specifically for local cyclists who’d like to tackle Cols across the wider area. Drop-nRide gives you the opportunity to explore popular climbs around Annecy, Chamonix, Megeve and even further afield, all within a single day, before heading back to Morzine or Les Gets under your own pedal power. Available for up to 8 riders with 8 bikes, you could

even use the drop-n-ride service to deposit your group in Thononles-Bains before starting the full 180km route of Lake Geneva.

Pick-ups after a hard day in the saddle and even a return service are also available. Drop-n-Ride should also interest mountain bikers who’d like to explore the trails in Flaine and the Grand Massif too! Prices start at €80 per minibus each way and the service is available between May and September. Call +33 (0) 6 73 43 46 91 for more information.

Librairie Passaquin gets a facelift After extensive refurbishment, Librairie Passaquin is set to reopen this summer with a new modern interior and an extended range of products. Situated in the very centre of Morzine, the bookshop sells both French and English titles and newspapers,

magazines, lots of stationary and gifts too. Librairie Passaquin is also where you’ll find a huge stock of Source Magazines for you to take away and enjoy! The shop is open 8am – 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 7.30pm each day.

Morzine gets a new Road Bike shop Purveyors of the finest Pivot mountain bikes and suppliers of the best bike mechanics, Torico in Morzine have opened a new dedicated road bike shop on the Rue du Bourg, just a few shops further up the hill from their

/MorzineSourceMagazine

existing mountain bike shop.

Here you’ll find a selection of Scott road bikes to hire, including disc-equipped road bikes from €55 per day or €275 per week.

Find out more and book online at toricomorzine.com

@MorzineSource

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By amie postings

Any road cycling lover that’s ever watched Le Tour on T V can’t have failed to notice the sheer passion on the faces of roadside spectators. Le Tour may well have a global T V audience of 3.5 billion, but it’s the fans camping for days along the route that truly deserve our respect.

But if you think you’ve seen the passion of Le Tour on T V, just wait until it rolls into Morzine this summer.

It was awfully kind of my newly adopted hometown to deck itself in bright yellow I thought, waking up on my 30th birthday in 2010. There were traffic deviations, enormous TV screens and police everywhere. I was in for one heck of a celebration! Back then I didn’t really get the Tour de France, the world’s biggest annual sporting event. Those lycraclad peddlers just weren’t my thing. Whilst I’ll remember July 2010 for my milestone birthday, die-hard Tour de France lovers will remember the Morzine-Avoriaz stage finish for many other reasons.

Lance Armstrong ended his competitive cycling career on the molten tarmac of Avoriaz, finishing 12 minutes behind stage winner Andy Schleck.

banned from professional cycling for 2 years following a doping scandal that’s said to have originated in Morzine.

The 2016 stage finish in Morzine-Avoriaz has a lot to live up to and it’s impossible not to be swept up in the excitement. When Stage 20, the penultimate day of Le Tour and the ‘Grand Final’ for the climbers, rolls into town on Saturday 23rd July, all eyes will be on Morzine. The very next day, the winner will be crowned on the Champs Elysee in Paris.

Here’s the details you need to make the most of your Tour experience:

Bradley Wiggins hit a wall (not literally) on the final approach, just before the climb started to ease, crossing the line in 14th place in the general classification.

Leaving Megeve (1050m) at around 1pm, the 146km race passes through Le Grand-Bornand, Scionzier and Mieussy before ascending the Col de la Ramaz (1619m) into Taninges then Samoens, followed by the epic final climb of Le Tour – the Col de Joux Plane (1691m).

Alberto Contador, eventual winner of the 2010 Tour, was later stripped of his title and

The Col de Joux Plane will be closed to vehicles for 12 hours before and after Le Tour

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passes over this steepest of mountain passes.

There are several great spectator points on both the climb and the descent, which you can either drive up to the day before, or walk up to on the day.

Expect the resort roads featuring on the route to be packed with spectators hours before the riders even leave Megeve. There’ll be some very necessary traffic restrictions, deviations and road closures across Morzine from Friday 22nd until Sunday 24th July. We’d recommend travelling into town on two wheels rather than four.

Le Tour is expected to descend the Col de Joux Plane into Morzine from 5pm, give or take half an hour. Riders will make the sharp left-hand turn past the Sporting Hotel, down towards the Pompiers / fire station, then take another sharp left towards Place d’Eglise, the Mairie and left again up the Rue du Bourg, finishing in front of Morzine’s Office de Tourisme, in the very centre of the resort. Cue podiums, medals, a massive crowd and an incredible, unforgettable atmosphere. #loveavoriaz

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Operation Pois Rouge If you’re visiting Morzine before or after Le Tour, and you’re wondering what all the red spots are, let us explain. Le Tour 2016 is made up of 21 stages and a red polka dot jersey is awarded to and worn by the best climber at the end of each mountain stage, making him the ‘King of the Mountains’.

Stage 20 of Le Tour in 2016 is the final mountain stage and to celebrate, Morzine is bedecked in red polka dots. /MorzineSourceMagazine

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As each and every summer issue of Source Magazine demonstrates, there’s never any shortage of activities to keep all members of the family entertained. But have you ever wondered what your white water rafting guide does for fun? He’s on the river all day long after all. Where does he go for his adrenalin rush?

Take Jeremy Helvic from Frogs Rafting as an example. Last autumn, after a busy summer on the River Dranse, Jeremy travelled all the way to Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean to get his kicks. Lying in wait were the legends of the canyoning world, including Trou de Fer (the Iron Hole, but don’t let that put you off), Takamaka, Bras Rouge and Ravine Blanche. Jeremy’s group included expert canyoning and climbing guides, spending 12 hours a day tackling virtually inaccessible canyons. And the good news?

Canyoning is available in Morzine this summer.

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Canyoning, in a nutshell, is a technical descent down a gorge. It involves rope-work, abseiling, heights and currents. It also involves walking, slipping and swimming down a riverbed as water rushes past. Wetsuits, harnesses and helmets are essential, as is an appetite for adventure. Canyoning is mentally challenging, daring you to jump into a void, side down a chute or launch your abseil. In return, you’ll experience seldom-visited gorges filled with clear, clean mountain water, beautiful waterfalls, natural pools and a joyful sense of elation when you overcome your own fear. Canyons are nature’s very own adventure playground.

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CHALET AND PRIVATE CHEF SERVICE IN MORZINE

jeremy in reunion...

What inspired you to travel to Reunion?

It’s a tropical island, it’s exotic and it’s renowned for being one of the best places on earth for canyons - I couldn’t resist the opportunity!

What did you find there?

Huge, long, challenging canyons that are on a totally different scale to those in Europe. The size of the abseils and length of the canyons means you can easily pass a couple of days in them. And then the cultural element of the island: it’s a French colony and the people there are a melting pot of cultures; African, Indian and French. It was a super-chilled out atmosphere where everyone seemed pleased to see you.

Professional catering for you in your chalet, from fully catered weeks to one off dinners, bbqs and lunch packs, we have menus to suit all budgets, even the hungriest of mountain bikers. Contact us for availability

As a river guide, you experience the thrill of rafting every day. Did any of the canyons in Reunion scare you?

Yes! I was grateful to be part of a really strong team of two pot-holers, a climber and a kayaker, so we had a great mix of disciplines and skills for the canyons. I feel confident in water, but when you hang over 400m voids, you quickly find the limit of your comfort zone and skill set! Throughout the trip I felt my perspective change. Abseils I couldn’t look down at the start of the trip seemed less intimidating by the end.

/ChezToiMorzine + 33 (0)7 82 72 56 45 bookings@cheztoi.biz

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How did your experience compare to canyoning in Morzine?

Reunion is quite a challenging island. The volcanic rocks are sharp, the vegetation means even walking to the start of a canyon is full on and it’s very isolated. This all adds to its mystique for canyoners, but it’s hostile and unforgiving for people who just want to give canyoning a try. By contrast, Nyon Canyon in Morzine is accessible, the rocks are rounded and carved by the water so they look less intimidating and they allow for fun slides and chutes. Nyon is colder, but I have always felt that we’re very lucky in Morzine to have such a nice, all-round canyon so close to us. There are fantastic jumps, slides and abseils, which makes it a challenging but balanced canyon and an excellent introduction to the sport.

If Jeremy’s tales of adventure in Reunion have inspired you to take the plunge, the 400m canyoning route at the Cascade du Nyon in Morzine is a great place to start. It’s thrilling enough to satisfy adrenaline junkies, but reassuringly for the rest of us, there’s always a quick route out of the canyon. Along the way you’ll discover deep pools of refreshing mountain water and at the very end you’ll find a 25m abseil as your reward for bravery.

You’ll also be comforted to know that French canyoning guides are some of the most comprehensively trained in the world. “Often when people sign up to come canyoning with Frogs, they’re not sure what they’ve let themselves in for” Jeremy told us. “So I use my wife Natalie, a writer, as the guinea-pig upon which all Frogs’ activities are tested!”

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Natalie in Morzine When did you first give canyoning a go?

Eight years ago, Jeremy’s suggestion of ‘doing a canyon’ sounded so exotic. I didn’t give much thought to what might be involved, imagining a walk along a steep path or a scramble over a couple of boulders. I was surprised when I was squeezed into 5mm wetsuit long-johns before stepping into a complicated jacket with a diagonal zip and hood. I felt pretty darn intrepid when I wiggled my wetsuit clad bottom into a harness with a piece of pvc covering my buttocks (called a ‘nappy’). With harness tightened and carabiners rattling impressively from various loops and toggles, I stumped sweatily to the van.

What were your first impressions?

As we set off walking down a rocky, slippery riverbed, I watched Jeremy lithely hop from rock to rock, accepting that my balance was not as good as I’d thought. Humbly, I slid and slithered over bigger obstacles on my nappy-clad bottom, focusing on keeping upright. Before long we reached a waterfall and I thought that was that.

It was short and sweet, and I smugly decided that all the gear was to make me feel less like a tourist, more like an explorer. Jeremy pulled me to his side of the gorge and clipped my harness to a handy wire (‘so you don’t fall off’ he explained). Excellent. Assuming he was going to take an action snap of me at the waterfall’s edge before we got out, I posed and watched him tie himself on to my wire before organising a really long rope. He smiled reassuringly and told me he’d not be a second, he was just setting up the abseil down the waterfall and I wished I’d thought to ask more about what was involved at the start.

What was the best part?

In the canyon, with the shock of cold water entering your wetsuit, the concentration taken to absorb and understand something new gives you focus and clarity. I was fully aware of myself and my surroundings in a way I hadn’t even realised before and it felt great. The scenery was fabulous, the rock was beautiful, the water was clean and clear. As a grown-up, I rarely have to learn new things, and I hardly ever leave my comfort zone. Canyoning forced me to do both so I could experience a brand new environment and it left me buzzing. It was well worth the trepidation I felt at the start of the trip!

Canyoning is a challenging, potentially dangerous sport. If you are new to it, it’s important not to underestimate the dangers. Taking part in the activity with an experienced guide greatly decreases the likelihood of injury.

Frogs Rafting offer canyoning for over 12s, contact them at info@frogsrafting.com or +33 (0) 6 09 30 80 77 or check out their website frogsrafting.com

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your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz Majestic Morzine Source.pdf 1 07/05/2015 09:21

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by rob purver

For a small isl and nation, the British Isles often punches above its weight in the world of sport.

And when we’re good at something, we make it that bit more special.

Take cycling for example. Chris Froom battling in the peloton. Victoria Pendleton and Chris Hoy collecting medals like Pokémon cards.

Bradley Wiggins breaking world records on the track. Right through to the other end of the spectrum, with Liam Phillips winning gold at the 2013 BMX World Championships, Gee Atherton winning the 2014 Downhill World Cup and his sister Rachel Atherton winning pretty much every title, record and award

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going in woman’s downhill, for the umpteenth time running. The Brits are dominating in the saddle right now.

Rachel is dominating the sport of downhill mountain biking in a way that echoes such greats and Usain Bolt in the 100 meters and Michael Schumacher (get well soon Michael!) at the height of his Formula 1 career with Ferrari. Rachel is seemingly untouchable, but

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if anyone can knock her off the top spot this season or beyond, it’s the two British friends and national treasures, Manon Carpenter and Tahnée Seagrave.

Both Manon and Tahneé are regular visitors to Morzine and Les Gets, Tahneé especially, having grown up here. We caught up with the girls whilst they were training for this year’s UCI Downhill World Cup Series.

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Name: Manon Carpenter

Name: Tahnée Seagrave

Age: 22

Age: 20

Hometown: Caerphilly, Wales

Hometown: Mid Wales

Years riding bikes: Before I can

Years riding bikes: 12

remember age

Years as a professional: 4

Years as a professional: 5th year in 2016

Best WC finish: 2nd Place

Number of WC wins: 3

Sponsors: FMD Racing,

Sponsors: Madison Saracen

Transition, Fox Head, Fox

Factory Race Team, Monster

suspension, Shimano, Oakley,

Energy

Crankbrothers, Ergon, Redbull, Les Gets, Marshguard.

What got you started in the sport?

I’ve always loved all outdoor sports but MTB has been the one that’s stuck. My Dad used to run a race series in South Wales called Dragon Downhill so I’ve been around Downhill races since I was seven years old, watching, working and eventually racing!

Manon:

Tahneé: My parents moved to the French Alps when I was eight, so it’s just a normal summer activity out here and my Dad was pretty into bikes.

What in your career so far have you been most proud of?

Tahneé: So far it’s my second place at Fort William and dealing with the pressure of raising £10,000 for charity and giving away my bike!

Winning the World Champs in Hafjell in 2014. Results don’t get much better than that!

Manon:

What would be your ultimate achievement?

Manon: Continue enjoying and progressing in all types of bike riding and create a fulfilling life from it.

What’s been the biggest challenge in becoming successful in this male dominated sport?

Tahneé: I don’t think I’ve had much trouble promoting myself as it’s what my Dad and I have done pretty well and it’s how I’ve managed to get where I am today. I would say the hardest thing is expanding the sport to the female audience. More brands should open up to the fact that there are a lot of girls out there that kick arse!

It’s not really a challenge because I have always been well supported by my team, it’s more of a frustration that when I’m talking to people working in the industry, the majority of female racers are still seen as less valuable than their male equivalent. We are still working to prove our worth and show that women sell bikes too.

fit but you also have to be able to perform on the bike, with confidence when it counts. Likewise you could be the best rider in the world but if you aren’t strong or fit then you won’t be able to last the full length of a World Cup track.

Tahneé: I would say it’s how smart you are with recovery. It’s all good to train as hard as you can and as much as you can, but you have to let your body accommodate the changes. And know when it needs a rest so it can go 100% and make the most out of the training sessions. Seriously, it’s the hardest part!

How many behind the scenes heroes are in your support team and what do they do?

From team sponsors to physios, there are a lot of people in the support network that I have accumulated over the years. Having team manager Will Longden at races has been very helpful over the years when I need advice, as has being able to work with Sport Wales psychologist Louise who I see from time to time and who always knows what to say to make me feel 10x stronger and more confident. There are people I can go to who I know I can trust to put the effort in to help me; physios, coaches, staff at the races and sponsors. It’s good to know the backing is there when you need it.

Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?

Not really, I just prefer to be positive rather than negative. I like a saying from a friend Monet Adams, ‘water your own grass’ – you’ve got to do things yourself to make it happen.

Manon:

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Tahneé: It’s only over the past few months that I’ve realised where it comes from. It’s imaginary.

It’s a goal that hasn’t yet been achieved. It’s the picture of me, at my very best, at my fittest, strongest and healthiest. It’s not impossible, that inspires me. Is it egocentric? Of course not, I’m just very self-driven.

Manon:

Tahneé: My mum and Dad go through HELL. They are awesome and support me 100%. They do everything. Also behind the sponsors names there are people who are so dedicated and excited to see my progression that they go beyond just the support with product. I have formed many great friendships from it, they know who they are.

How many times in the last few years have you been to hospital, and why?

Tahneé: It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the hospital, the last time was when I was 14 and broke my femur and I hope to keep it that way!

I’m not so lucky, four times for injuries; a broken humorous in 2010 and a broken collarbone in 2012. Then a couple of times to get checked out after a crash. I tried riding the next day in 2012 when I didn’t realise my collarbone was cracked, so now I like to get checked out if I’m hurt!

Manon:

What was the best advice you were ever given?

Manon:

Be confident.

Manon:

What aspects of your training that are keys to your success?

All of it! There is so much that goes into training for Downhill; you need to be strong and

Manon:

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Also a few times recently just checking out the plate in my arm from the crash in 2010. Old injuries needing work to keep them in check.

Does the huge TV coverage add much pressure when you’re racing?

If you hadn’t gotten into DH, what would you be doing now?

Manon:

I had a place at University to do Zoology and Spanish before I decided to give DH a go full time. So I’d probably be studying a Masters in a South American rainforest somewhere! Or I’d be a Marine Biologist, I love the sea.

Manon:

Tahneé: I’d be doing another competitive sport of some kind.

Where is your favourite place to ride in the Portes du Soleil?

Last year it was Pleney, the year before, Super Morzine. I love the steep stuff! Then finishing up with a swim in Lake Montriond.

I’ve never even thought about it! I’m so focussed on race day, it’s never crossed my mind.

The only time it really hits home is when you’re on the gondola heading up the hill and you can hear noise from the spectators on the track. Meribel World Cup was pretty crazy, heading up on the chair lift we could hear chainsaws and all sorts of noise coming from the rock garden half way down the track. That definitely starts the adrenaline going!

Well, let’s be realistic, it isn’t huge. I like to think of F1 as huge. But no, that doesn’t pressure me at all. It’s more if I don’t qualify well that I’m like ‘Damn, Mum won’t get to see my run on TV!’

Quick fire round!

What three words define you?

Manon: Capable, focussed, adventurous.

Driven, determined, stubborn.

Tahneé:

Dust or mud?

Manon: Mud for fun, dust for less washing!

Rocks or roots?

Tahneé: Roots

Tahneé:

Wind or rain?

Both: Rain!

Manon:

No wind please!

Manon:

Tahneé:

I LOVE Champéry!

And in the world?

It’s too hard to pin point one place! I love the Andorra racetrack; it always gets me grinning.

I’m out in Queenstown, NZ at the moment. We’ve ridden some great trails whilst being in New Zealand, be it in Rotorua, Nelson or Queenstown.

Everything here is awesome!

Manon:

You can’t beat some of the tracks in the UK to be honest, but Andorra and Norway World Cup tracks are pretty up there too!

Tahneé:

What’s been the greatest advancement in DH in recent years?

Women’s racing for sure. I don’t think it’s ever been this hard to win a World Cup!!!

Which race are you most looking forward too this year?

French or English brakes?

Manon: English

Tahneé: French, I did grow up in France!

Tahneé: I honestly can’t choose, I’m just so excited to get racing!

OTB or Tank slapper?

For me it has to be Fort William and Val di Sole World Champs.

Tahneé: OTB, they are usually easier to get away

Manon:

And which are you least looking forward too?

I’m not not looking forward to it, but praying we get some good weather for the Fort William National this year. It’s such a shame whenever the weather plays against us – lets have some sun please!

Manon:

I don’t think I have one. Val di Sole is tough, and the bar will be raised as it’s the World Champs.

Tahneé:

Tahneé:

Manon:

Tank slapper! They generally hurt less!

with. Usually!

Singletrack or bikepark?

Manon:

Singletrack

Tahneé: Both

XC or pumptrack?

Manon:

Pumptrack

Tahneé: Both!

Chocolate or Harribo?

Tahneé: CHOCOLATE!

Manon: Yes, chocolate every time Image Credit © - Boris Beyer 2016

Pedal to the shin or knuckles on a tree?

Manon: Ouch, umm knuckles on a tree Tahneé: Knuckles on a tree by far

Rob Warner or Claudio Calouri?

Tahneé: That’s just mean!

Manon: Haha that’s not fair! I can’t choose, I

wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings!

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by rob purver

15th - 17th June 2016 The biggest event in freestyle mountain biking comes to Les Gets

Crankworx is a celebration of mountain biking at its most gnarly. The main event of the week is the second round of the Triple Crown Slopest yle series, whilst the rest of the events taking place during Crankworx take their cues from slopest yle too.

Crankworx falls so early in the summer season, there’s a good chance you’ve already missed it as you read this magazine. Worry #lovemorzine

not. The event has been confirmed on a threeyear deal for Les Gets, so simply head back next year to get in on the action.

What is slopest yle?

Slopestyle is the trick based side of mountain biking. Riders have to navigate a meandering downhill track with massive jumps, drops, wallrides and platforms to jump on and off.

The aim is to do a trick on every obstacle.

The more technical the trick, the smoother the landing and the more style executed, the higher a rider will be scored out of 100 by a panel of judges.

The Triple Crown series are the most prestigious events of the slopestyle calendar, meaning live footage from the event will be broadcast to audiences worldwide.

Crankworx is massive. But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what leading professional mountain bikers have to say on Crankworx: #lovelesgets

“It’s a really cool event! With cool people in the best place on earth! France! Everyone should come to enjoy the event and party!” Yannick Granieri “Crankworx to me is where the progression of slopestyle happens. In a sport where the progression rate is astronomical, Crankworx is what showcases the impressive growth of our gnarly riding”

Nicholi Rogatkin

“Crankworx is pret ty much the world championship for freeride mountain biking and the best festival on our calendar. It’s awesome that it’s coming to Les Gets and the combination of the sick tracks and nightlife are going to make it an awesome week!” Sam Reynolds #loveavoriaz

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MORZINE’S

LIVELIEST BAR

SPECIAL SUMMER DRINKS PROMOTIONS

Along side the slopestyle events, there’ll be a whole host of other competitions during the course of the weekend. Tradition states that there must be a whip-off; a competition over the last jump of a slopestyle course, with the aim to ‘whip’ (get the bike sideways in the air) as hard as possible.

Whip-off’s are a real crown pleaser and definitely worth a watch and this will also be the first event of Crankworx.

The event will finish with a downhill race, presented by IXS, incorporating the old World Cup track on Mt Chéry. This iconic track has been closed to the public for nearly a decade and was last used for a big event way back in 2004, with Steve Peat winning a World Cup event there.

There’ll be plenty of other smaller /MorzineSourceMagazine

events going on too, including an e-bike hill climb, a minibike descent, a night ride with Tahnee Seagrave and a downhill ride with current World Champion Loic Bruni, both of whom are on the Les Gets Bikepark team.

Alongside all of these exciting bike related events, there’s an action-packaged calendar of live music in the centre of Les Gets village. If you’re lucky enough to catch Crankworx this year, we’ll see you there. Else not we’ll see you next year for what promises to be the biggest event to hit Les Gets this decade.

SPECIAL ETAPE DU TOUR AFTER PARTY

OPEN 9PM – 2AM EVERY NIGHT for more information checkout: crankworx.com/les-gets

FIND US IN THE CENTRE OF MORZINE

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We launched our Source Awards for Excellence in December 2014, giving visitors to Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz the chance to shout about their favourite resort business. It’s not easy maintaining high standards in a busy resort-based business throughout the winter season so we decided to offer up recognition to those doing an outstanding job.

Our award categories were open to every business across the valley and nominations came from the general public. In March, we opened a public vote, the top three businesses in each category going through into the final round of secret judging. Our judges used the comments left on nomination forms to choose their winners. This year we also added an Eco Award into the mix, asking local business owners to nominate themselves by demonstrating their commitment to sustainability.

Well done to all of our winners!

FAVOURITE ACCOMMODATION - Sponsored by the clever team of geeks at ChaletManager.com 385 individual nominations for 10 different businesses 7355 votes cast FINALISTS: Prestige Mountain Chalets, Sojourn, La Ferme du Lac Vert From the winner’s nomination forms:

Prestige Mountain Chalets in La Cote d’Arbroz

“Undoubtedly the best ski accommodation I have experienced” “Phenomenal standard of cuisine” “Stunning views, huge comfy sofas, hot tub, log burning fire and local chocolates on our pillows” FAVOURITE BAR - Sponsored by local clothing brand Counterfeit Clothing 295 individual nominations for 7 different local watering holes 5530 votes cast FINALISTS: La Marmotte d’Or, Bar National, L’Aubergade From the winner’s nomination forms:

La Marmotte d’Or in Montriond

“The friendliest, most welcoming bar I have ever been to” “This bar has it all. French, English, pies, burgers, cigarettes, gambling and Guinness” “Pies. Tuesday nights. Awesome staff” FAVOURITE FOOD - Sponsored by the lovely bar staff at Morzine’s Tibetan Café 354 individual nominations for 10 different local eateries 3917 votes cast FINALISTS: La Ferme du Lac Vert, AliKats Mountain Holidays, The Chalet Host Co From the winner’s nomination forms:

AliKats Mountain Holidays

“The menu added a whole other level to our skiing experience” “It was apparent that the chefs had a real passion for food and enjoyed sharing this with the guests” “The food was the best of any chalet holiday I’ve been on” FAVOURITE CUSTOMER SERVICE - Sponsored by the inspired designs of Matt & Nicola at Snohomes 512 individual nominations for 15 different local businesses 8456 votes cast FINALISTS: Real Snowboarding, La Ferme du Lac Vert, Onyx Snowboarding From the winner’s nomination forms:

Onyx Snowboarding

“Infectious enthusiasm and top-class knowledge” “Anyone who can teach a full day on the mountain at Energizer bunny levels of enthusiasm with no second thought about time off or rest deserves a customer service award!”

THE SOURCE ECO AWARD We asked our nominees to demonstrate their efforts in sustainability, mindfulness of the local environment, waste management principles and their eco plans for the future.

The winning business demonstrated:

Fan-Attic in St Jean d’Aulps

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Commitment to re-purposing, re-using and recycling A local service accessible to everyone The use of reclaimed materials They produce practically no waste Our 2017 Source Awards for Excellence will launch in December. Check out our next issue for more details. #lovelesgets

#loveavoriaz

NEWBUILD SKI PROPERTY FOR SALE - LES GETS • High quality finishings • Personalised interiors

• 20% VAT rebate possible • Prime location near ski slopes

LUXURY APARTMENTS & CHALETS TO RENT Please call us for details on our fantastic properties to rent in Les Gets +33 (0)4 50 79 31 82

Alpine Residences www.alpine-residences.fr

www.alpine-lodges.fr

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live like a local tried and tested tips and recomendations from those in the know

Where will you head to watch the arrival of Le Tour in Morzine this summer?

This year, Le Tour is on our home turf, so we know there are many pretty good spots to view it from but we’d say that one of the best spots would be on the Samöens side of Joux Plane, where the gradient is the steepest, about 5km from the top just before La Combe Emeru. Vive le Tour!

Fleur & Alex - Yellovelo

If you’re looking to buy a property in the local area, when’s the best time of year to visit?

The winter season is the time when we take on the most property as second home vendors take the opportunity to list their properties, so combining a February/March skiing holiday with property shopping can be a great idea. If not July/August can be an ideal time as we have restocked our window so there is a nice selection and it should be possible to complete for the coming winter.

Joanna - Geranium

Which one ‘must do’ activity do you always recommend to visiting friends in the summer?

When my friends are coming, I want them to have a unique day. It usually starts early with a hike and we'll take bread, saucisson and cheese with us to enjoy once we're at the top.

Then Lac de Montriond is the best place to relax and have a swim. The view is amazing. At night, a special thing to do is eat typical Savoyard food in an old chalet, with people playing accordion, drinking local spirit and singing old songs.

A great day you could not have anywhere else in the world!

Robin – Morzine Source Magazine

What’s the best thing to do with little ones on a rainy day?

Morzine is an amazing place to bring up kids but when it is raining, there isn't as much choice of things to do! Without going too far, there are a few soft plays in Thonon for various ages that are a good option (one of which is also at a bowling alley), indoor swimming in Morzine or at Aquariaz. Or just accept that you will get wet and take to the great outdoors for a bike ride or a walk followed by a hot chocolate or a smoothie! Further afield there is the Natural History Museum in Geneva, Vitamparc near Geneva and a larger soft play in Ville La Grand, Annemasse. It's also worth noting that mountain weather can be very localised so sometimes when it is raining in Morzine, it can be beautiful and sunny down

by Lac Léman/Lake Geneva or in Annecy!

Helen – Alpine French School

What’s your favourite restaurant in Morzine?

We really like L'Aubergade in Morzine, it's lovely outside on a summers day, does good cocktails (especially my favourite espresso martini!) and great Sunday lunches. You can watch the parapenters landing and even have a game of crazy golf!

An all round great place with lovely staff and good events throughout the year.

Mark & Jo – Chez Toi

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Which website do you use to check your summer weather forecast?

I mainly use the weather channel weather.com/en-GB as it provides an hourly forecast for the next 48hours, a 3 day forecast and a 10 day forecast, but I must admit I often cross reference it with chamonix-meteo.com as this site specifically covers Chamonix, which being only one or two valleys away, is sometimes more accurate.

Dominic - Mountain Xtra

Which is your favourite summer ski lift and why?

My favourite summer lift for biking is the Telecabine at Super Chatel, because from here we can climb on up and get the huge hidden descents down into Switzerland, then catch the train back round to Champery and on to Morzine.

www.mountainxtra.com

Justin – Wendy’s Houses

Where do you head when you need some peace and quiet?

My favourite spot is Graydon above Essert Romand. It is unspoilt, quiet and you can walk right up towards the back of La Grand Turche for some incredible views across the surrounding valleys in one direction and back over towards Avoriaz in the other. The route is lovely in spring and it’s also invigorating to blow the cobwebs away on the wild and not so sunny days!

Sue – Artist

This summer’s signature cocktail is…

Anything Prosecco based. The bubbles taste amazing after a long day hiking in the mountains. My favourite is a Raspberry Prosecco Bellini. It’s one part Raspberry liqueur topped with four parts Prosecco with a sprig of fresh basil.

Tony – Tibetan Café

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The best spot for a traditional Alpine lunch is…

La Grange restaurant in the centre of Morzine town. Alex and Fred serve up the alpine classics and it's extremely good value if you go for the set lunch menu, which is best enjoyed on their new outdoor terrace. If you are up for a challenge try the enormous Raclette for two people!

Tim – The Tasty Ski Company

For a day trip away, we’d recommend…

The shores of Lac Léman, or Lake Geneva as you might know it. Between Thonon plage, Exconovex and the medieval town of Yvoire there are so many things to see and do in and out of the water and some amazing spots to eat with a stunning view over the lake.

Craig – Bar Nash

The one thing we recommend to new road cyclists is…

To ride safely and have respect for other road users. Don't ride two abreast down a narrow lane, it will only annoy other road users and put you at potential risk. Be aware of what’s going on around you and don't always presume that the car won't pull out on you or a pedestrian wont step off the curb. And enjoy it of course!

Tony – Velovation

Where can you find the healthiest lunch menu?

Savoyard cuisine has evolved through a need to nourish the region’s hard working rural community in the pre-ski industry days. As much as we love half kilos of melted cheese and Flintstone sized pieces of chargrilled meat, us modern day “non lumberjack” locals have to find less salopettebusting alternatives from time to time. Satellite Coffee in Morzine is my top recommendation for a light wholesome lunch, and their coffee’s the real deal too.

Sharif – Guerrilla Dining

The best local route for an early evening road cycle is…?

A 45km ride with 1280m of ascent on mainly quiet lanes with stunning views.

From Morzine, head to St Jean d'Aulps via Essert la Pierre, then ride up to Les Onchets via the Route du Mont d'Evian and the Route de Bellecombe. At Les Onchets loop back down the other side of the stream to the abbey. From St Jean d'Aulps cross the Dranse by the secondary school and head to Essert Romand and up the Col de L'Encrenaz. Descend to Les Gets and then back to Morzine.

Amy & Ian – Life cycol

Where’s the best place to get away from the summer

Take a walk on Mont Chery, catch the telecabine up and follow the signed walk ways through the trees to Mont Caly, where you can stop for a bite to eat and a glass or two of rose at Les Chevrelles whilst enjoying the peace and quiet of the mountains. On a clear day the views of Mont Blanc are fantastic!

holiday crowds?

Nicola & Matt - Snohomes

What’s your favorite budget friendly kids activity?

In the summer it's a trip to Lac de Montriond which is only 10 minutes up the road and it’s lovely and cool on a hot day. It’s also great for swimming (something I love to do!) and I tend to hire a standup paddle board or a canoe to mess about with too. It’s just €10 an hour and it'll keep 3 or more kids entertained for the duration.

Gareth – Alpine Properties

Where’s the best place to walk dogs in the area?

My favourite walk is called ‘the hamlets and villages’ and it starts and finishes in St Jean d’Aulps. It takes you into Seytroux, then along the top of the valley to Urine. You descend to the main road and climb up the other side of the valley to the village of Le Biot, which is the perfect place to stop for lunch!

Richard – A2Ski

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Eat like a Tour de France Rider

The average human being burns around Tour de France riders burn a whopping 1000 calories 90 calories per hour when resting. per hour when racing, amassing a staggering That’s around 2100 calories each day.

8000-calorie burn on each day of Le Tour.

Consequently, a lot of food is required to sustain both the weight and the energy levels of riders. Could you eat this volume of food in one day?

Breakfast:

During a 4-hour stage:

(3-4 hours before the race begins)

(quantities will vary depending on the stage profile and weather)

1 bowl of porridge

3 gels (about 100 calories each) 1 bar (about 220 calories) Small rolls with jam, rice cakes and energy bars

(150 calories per cup, cooked)

with a banana (105 calories per banana)

(roughly 380 calories each)

and some nuts

8-12 bottles of sports drinks

(529 calories per cup of almonds)

(50 calories per 8 ounces)

1 big plate of pasta

Post-race:

(174 calories per cup)

1 piece of cake

Recovery drink

(roughly 225 calories)

(209 calories per cup of chocolate milk)

Coffee (1 calorie per cup) Fruit juice (122 calories per serving)

(216 calories per cup)

Post-breakfast snack:

203 calories per cup)

Cereal bar (about 120 calories) Farmhouse.pdf 1 28/04/2016 Fruit juice (122 calories per serving)

1 bowl of rice with ham 14:48

Pre-dinner snack:

Greek yogurt (100 calories per portion) with granola, (280 calories per cup) Dried fruits (roughly 100 calories per ¼ cup) Water (0 calories)

Dinner:

Salad Risotto, (about 280 calories per serving) with: chicken breast (500 calories per breast) vegetables (50 calories per serving of broccoli) potatoes (163 calories in a medium-sized potato) Fruit salad (about 74 calories per cup)

Post-dinner snack:

and parmesan cheese (22 calories per tablespoon)

Fruit (105 calories in a banana) Crackers (about 13 calories per cracker)

The oldest building in Morzine, built in 1771 is today one of its most special destinations 18th Century Farmhouse | Delicious cuisine every evening | Perfect destination for winter & summer breaks

11 STUNNING BEDROOMS • CHARMING RESTAURANT • WINTER & SUMMER WEDDINGS www.thefarmhouse.co.uk | +33 (0) 4 50 79 08 26 | info@thefarmhouse.co.uk /TheFarmhouseMorzine

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THE RISE AND RISE OF THE TRIATHLON By amie postings

Triathlon can’t have escaped your at tention. According to the sport’s official body British Triathlon, it's the fastest growing sport in the UK right now, with race participation increasing more than 300% in the l ast five years.

A triathlon is a multi-sport challenge consisting of swimming, followed by cycling, followed by running. Races are continuous with no break between the three disciplines.

The first recorded triathlon took place in San Diego way back in September 1974, while the first triathlon on British soil took place in 1983.

Whilst triathlons come in many shapes and sizes, it’s widely agreed that there are three main distances. The ‘sprint’ distance features a 750m swim, a 20km bike ride and a 5km run.

The ‘standard’ or Olympic distance includes a 1500m swim, a 40km cycle and a 10km run.

And if that’s not tough enough for you, there’s always an Ironman triathlon. That’s a 3.8km swim, a 180km cycle and a 42km run. Yes, consecutively.

Getting triathlon ready is not for the feinthearted. A solid fitness base, focused determination and a fair amount of time are just a few prerequisites for any wanna-be triathlete. You’ll also need a descent bike, somewhere to swim and a good pair of #lovemorzine

running shoes and often, these things don’t come cheap. So where has the new popularity come from?

The sport was given a major boost in 2012 when British Olympic triathletes (and former Source Magazine cover stars) Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee won gold and bronze medals in London. The brothers continue to be at the very top of their game and both were pre-selected to represent Team GB in Rio this summer. And then there’s the female triathletes, blazing a trail across the World Triathlon Series and becoming role models for the ‘fit not thin’ campaign. These girls are strong, they’re determined and they’re very accessible via their social media channels.

Triathlon is also the perfect workout programme, strengthening and conditioning the whole body. Swimming and cycling burn as many as 700 calories each, while running can burn up to 900 calories, all the while toning legs, arms and your upper body. No wonder tri suits are so tight – who wouldn’t want to show off those lean muscles. #lovelesgets

Or perhaps it’s the staggering number of new triathlon events popping up across the UK and also in the Alps. Last summer we saw the Evergreen Endurance launch on the shores of Lake Montriond, a race which this year offers three different options; the grueling Evergreen 228 (4km swim, 181km cycle and 43km run), the challenging Evergreen 118 (2km swim, 95km cycle and 21km run) or the more accessible Evergreen 58 (1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 12.5km run). Along with it’s strong eco credentials, we expect to see the Evergreen Endurance grown into a huge event over coming years.

Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz provide the perfect natural training ground for triathlon training camps. And while you’ll see many a pro triathlete lapping Morzine’s outdoor pool at 7am or making easy work of the hairpins on the Route de Avoriaz on their bike, tri-camps are usually made up of amateur athletes, combining their love for their sport with the stunning scenery and fresh air on offer in the Alps.

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Torico Source half page.pdf

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image credit - © david powell

route d’avoriaz

col de joux plane

At this summer’s Rio Olympics, triathlon is scheduled to take pl ace bet ween 18th and 30th August.

Fift y-five athletes will compete in each of the men’s and women’s events, with the spectacul ar Fort Copacabana as a backdrop.

Representing Team GB at Rio ’16 in triathlon are Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, Vicky Holl and, Non Stanford and Helen Jenkins. visit evergreen-endurance.com for more details on the next event, taking place bet ween Montriond and Chamonix on 10th and 11th September

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buzzperformance.com offer structured triathlon training and coaching sessions in Morzine britishtriathlon.org is where you’ll find information on events taking pl ace in your area

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Our questions landed in Jodie’s inbox around the same time as an email that started “We regret to inform you that you have not been selected to represent Team GBR in the Rio Olympic Games’. “Dream gone, heart broken” was the title of Jodie’s next blog post. “This was the hardest email I have ever had to read in my triathlon career so far. Not because it wasn’t what I was expecting - I knew after my performance on the Gold Coast that I wouldn’t be going to the Games but it is hard to read, and hard to digest” Jodie recorded on her blog.

With the help of Joe & Amelia from Buzz Performance, I sat down to write these questions for one of the UK’s bestknown triathletes and Commonwealth gold medalist Jodie Stimpson. At the time Jodie had it all to play for. Selection for Rio ’16 was just around the corner and no one doubted that she’d be part of Team GB this summer.

She’d finished in 1st place in two high profile competitions earlier in the month so qualification for Rio seemed like a formality. Watching Jodie compete is an inspiration and she has many many fans and friends around these parts.

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Qualification for Team GB was based on two triathlon events in 2015 and a final event on the Gold Coast in March 2016, where she ranked Number 1. But it didn’t happen for Jodie. Despite intense training and mental preparation, she crossed the line in 12th place, watching her Rio dream disappear in the process. “Words cannot truly express how I felt when I crossed that line, and that feeling still remains now. It’s so tough to put into words what’s happening in my head and heart.” Jodie wrote. Locally, many amateur triathletes will cite Jodie as the source of their inspiration when it comes to this most grueling of sports. She may not be heading to Rio this summer, but in her own words “don’t worry, I’ll be back”. Which makes her even more of an inspiration.

When did you start competing in triathlons and why?

My Dad taught me to swim when I was four years old, then when I was nine my Dad and my Uncle took me to my first event.

Which part of a triathlon is your strongest?

At the moment I would say my run.

And your weakest?

Swimming.

What is your training schedule?

Every day is different, but generally I train 3-4 times each day covering swimming, cycling and running.

What are the unseen challenges in the life of an elite athlete?

I love my job and yes it’s amazing

#lovelesgets

the places we travel to, but you don’t actually see the places most the time unless you are based there for more than the race weekend. That’s why it’s great to be based in Morzine, as I get to see the stunning area. I spend a lot of the time away from my family and friends, which is very tough but it’s what you have to do to compete in the World Triathlon Series.

Are there times when you think “why am I doing this?”

Yes of course, especially when things aren’t going my way! But it never lasts for that long.

You have spent a few summers training in Morzine.

What makes it such a great place to live & train?

Firstly, the people are amazing! Then you have a stunning 50m swimming pool and a indoor 25m pool. For cycling you can not beat going up and down the mountains that are right there on your door step and the running is breath taking. Yes, it’s hilly but stunning and totally worth it.

What goes on inside your head during a competition and how do you keep yourself going?

I have a check list that I go through mentally to get the best out of myself.

It’s all I think about during a race – I concentrate on the process and nothing else.

How long do you see yourself competing in triathlons?

I will always be a triathlete, I can’t see myself ever not competing as I love the sport, even with the ups and downs!

What’s your advice for someone just starting in triathlon?

Practice what you want to do in the race and go for it. Also, have fun and it becomes addictive after that!

Follow Jodie’s blog at jodiestimpson.co.uk

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Treat yourself to

AT C H A L E T G E N T I A N E

Beautiful 8 bedroom catered ski chalet in Les Gets, at the heart of the Portes du Soleil.

To find out more please visit:

www.chaletgentiane.com email

summitspecial@chaletgentiane.com or call

+44 (0) 7931 934312

BE THE

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EE!

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image credits - Š jodie stimpson

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By Rosie Wheat

Annecy is a town best explored on foot, with an insatiable appetite and a camera. Nestled in a mountainous valley by a lake, with its waterways and winding cobbled streets, this town rivals even the beaut y and magic of Venice. It’s so romantic, it has its own Le Pont D’Amour – yup, a love bridge.

It’s just an hour and a quarter’s drive from Morzine to reach a town I’d heard famed for its beauty. Stumbling into La Vielle Ville, ‘The Old Town’ and I see why. Everything explodes with colour, the closest you can get to a blooming urban garden. Terracotta pavements, pink houses, eggshell blue shutters… you can’t help but follow the River Thiou deeper into the town’s painted walls as if in a pastel-coloured dream.

Having torn my gaze away from the third chocolaterie in five minutes, I come across a floating palace, complete with its own nonchalant swan guarding its turrets. Tourists stand beaming on the bridge, taking turns to snap their postcard-perfect photo of the stunning Palais d’Ile. Originally a prison from the 11th Century, I can’t help but think the criminals had it easy with a view like that out of their narrow windows.

I try to appreciate its architecture, but honestly my insatiable sweet tooth is getting the

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better of me. Around every corner there’s a patisserie, their tiny windows glowing with coiled croissants or glistening Pain au Raisin.

Chocolateries compete for the most sensational designs, shelves piled high with chocolates and colourful cakes straight out of a fairy tale.

I succumb, and as with many things in Annecy, the indulgence comes with a price. I accidentally spend €30 on one box of biscuits that lasts me two days. The tin is for life though.

I can resist no longer. I pop into one of the grandest-looking chocolateries, Au Fidèle Berger on Rue Royale, and am instantly charmed by its vintage Tea Rooms and pearlwearing clientele. Boggled by the choice of bonbonneries, I settle for framboise macaroons and a frothing jug of salted caramel hot chocolate. One word: divine.

Of course, the savoury-toothed can be satisfied as well. The River Thiou branches off into numerous pretty canals, each lined with traditional French restaurants shadowed under red-striped awnings. Being a vegetarian, I always have fun in France making up new dishes with the waiters, and I order a delicious salade au lardons at La Rive Gauche restaurant, sans the lardons.

But it’s at Au Cure Gourmand, the famous biscutier, where I feel like I’ve stepped inside the witch’s gingerbread house from Hansel and Gretl. Biscuits of every flavour; coconut, vanilla, almond and strawberry are piled high. Chocolate bars line the walls, neatly-dressed assistants revolve the shop floor with open biscuit tins to drag you down into sweet submission.

Deeper into the old town and I discover Annecy is ideal for shopping and souvenirs. There’s an abundance of local artisans here from the surrounding countryside; honey-makers, spiceries, basket weavers and potters, some pull me into the depths of their shops to share their favourites, others shoo my camera away and watch me warily from their doorstep.

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New

This Winter in Morzine www.evolution2-morzine.com

It’s a bit of a culture shock to go from the old to the new within a few minutes’ walk, so I escape to Lake Annecy. One of the cleanest lakes in Europe, the azure water practically laps the shops’ doorsteps. Walking along its banks, in a bowl of brilliantgreen mountains, you can see the potential for adventure here.

As well as transforming into a water sports playground in the summer, with everything from boat tours to paragliding on offer, the lake also offers guided

walks and mountain bike trails to explore. What better way to spend a weekend away than climbing to the top of Le Semnoz, surveying a kingdom of castles and lakes from your handlebars, and descending on a winding path down to one of the prettiest towns in Europe?

ROSIE RECOMMENDS:

(you deserve it)

La Rive Gauche Restaurant

Great location by the river but away from the crowds, cheap pizza and smiling waiters Go to Au Fidele Berger

st jean d'aulps morzine

les gets

For the chocoholics

Kiss on Le Pont D’Amour

Rumoured you’ll stay together forever if you pucker up here, so choose who you take wisely!

Visit Le Chateax D’Annecy

It’s not the prettiest castle ever built, but with an 800-year history of entertaining counts, surviving fires and sheltering soldiers during the wars, it’s now an art museum that’s well worth a visit coffee in Les Cafes Des Arts

Filled with artists, it’s like a scene out of Amelie. Enough said

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HOME . CHALET . HOTEl

In stark contrast, the newer part of Annecy is far more functional and modern, with supermarkets, pharmacies and clothes shops.

Less picturesque, but vital for any shop-starved Brit who needs to replenish their wardrobe or stock up on supplies.

* unWIND. REJUvinate. de-stress

see website for full treatment list 0033 (0)604 494 232 www.mobilemountainmassage.com facebook.com/mobilemountainmassage *quote source 16 for a 10% discount on a 1 hr massage

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Interview by Robin Ecoeur

image credit - © dixie micks

More than just a band, The Dixie Micks are local legends. Hailing from Dublin, they are the only band in Morzine guaranteed to get the crowd bouncing. Classical ballads and Irish folk music, rock classics and instrumental mayhem, allow us to introduce you to the madness of our local rock stars.

Hi guys! First up, could you quickly introduce the band for our Source Magazine readers?

In the line we have Mick McNamara on guitar and vocals. Garry O’Meara on banjo, mandolin and harmony vocals. Paul Kelly on fiddle and mandolin

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and the latest member, Alan Doherty on flute, whistles and vocals.

Nice one. You have been coming to Morzine for quite a long time now. How did it all start?

It all started around 2000 when Pascal, the owner of The Dixie Bar, was on a visit to Dublin and saw Mick playing at the famous music bar Oliver St John Gogarty. They struck up a conversation and Pascal invited Mick to come to Morzine to perform. Mick took Pascal up on his offer and came over during the next four seasons with different musicians. In 2004, Mick asked Garry and Paul to join him in Morzine and Pascal realised that this combination was really special. A CD was subsequently recorded and a name was needed for the band. The Dixie Micks was the choice and so it came to pass!

What’s so special about The Dixie Bar? The Dixie Bar and Morzine are like a second home to the band. We are all busy with other musical projects at home and abroad so our seasonal trip to Morzine together is like a homecoming for us.

And of course Pascal Anselmet has always treated us really well and is very appreciative of the music we play and the work we do to keep all the people who come and see us happy and satisfied with their evening out. One interesting thing, which we have noticed over the years, is that whereas in the early

#lovelesgets

days we just used to play for mostly ski tourists, we are delighted that we now have a following amongst the seasonaires and locals alike!

Talking of which, how is the Morzine crowd?

Well, no two gigs are ever the same at The Dixie Bar. Though maybe the fact that most who come to see us in Morzine are in party mode and maybe newcomers have been told that the nights in The Dixie can be special, adds to the unique atmosphere that the gigs often generate.

“

The Dixie Bar and Morzine are like a second home to the band

”

Share with us the most rock and roll story of The Dixie Micks in Morzine?

Ok, we hope Paul won't mind us spilling the beans on this one! Some years back, after we had finished the first gig of the year in the Dixie and imbibed more than a few 'dry sherrys' afterwards, we set off on foot for our accommodation at Chalet Eira, owned by our great friend Simon Roberts. It was

#loveavoriaz

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your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz

Paul's first time to stay there and as there had been a big dump of snow that day it was hard going trudging uphill to the chalet. At some point Paul began to lag behind Garry and Mick so that by the time he took the last turn to the chalet, the other two lads were nowhere to be seen. Paul then opened the unlocked door and headed inside to what he thought was his chalet.

He made various unsuccessful efforts to find his room and eventually collapsed in a heap beside the couch in the lounge. Sometime later on awakening, he was still in an advanced stage of 'disorientation', noticing some flapjacks on the table which were left out for the following morning's breakfast. He decided (if you believe he was capable of deciding anything that night!) to eat one while considering his options. Just then he heard a loud noise behind him. He turned around to see three extremely agitated guys in underpants wielding various implements in a very aggressive manner and shouting 'Who are you?' What the f**k are you doing in our chalet?' All Paul could say was: "Jaysus, youse look really funny!" Of course they were not amused as they thought they were confronting a burglar in the chalet.

Luckily, one of the guys recognised Paul from the Dixie and the situation was (somewhat) diffused. He then managed to leave the chalet in one piece and eventually found the correct one - next door!

Great story! Garry, I have seen a video of you jamming with Mumford And Sons…

Yeah, Mumford and Sons were doing some dates at Dublin's O2 Arena and one of their back line musicians, an extremely talented American fiddler called Ross Holmes, happened to have guested with Garry on his solo album, "Pickin' Time" a couple of years ago. Ross invited him and some mutual friends from another great Irish Band, "We Banjo 3" to the gig and he insisted that we brought our instruments for a bit of a session afterwards. So, that's exactly what happened and a great night was had!

Sounds unbelievable.

What’s up with the band when you’re not rocking out in Morzine?

Well for the last number of years we have been taking our music to Hong Kong in the middle of March as guests

/MorzineSourceMagazine

of The Hong Kong St Patrick's Society.

They used to rotate the entertainment every couple of years but we just seem to get invited back year after year.

We are also very busy with individual projects but we are planning to devote more time to The Dixie Micks and we’re already in the early stages of preparation for recording a new CD. We are also considering different management options at the moment with a view to taking part in various festivals and tours around Europe.

Fully supported cycling tours in and around Morzine and multi day trips throughout Europe.

“

we are at the early stages of planning a new album which we should have available for early next . year

”

www.velovation.co.uk | info@velovation.co.uk UK +44 (0)7533 747 674 | France +33 (0)7 71 04 04 29

The question which is on everyone’s lips…

When will you be back in Morzine ?

We are delighted to have been asked to perform on June 4th at the Palais des Sport as part of the European Mountain Football Championships taking place that weekend. And of course we hope to fit in a couple of gigs in The Dixie while we're there.

Nothing is finalised for our return next winter yet but usually we play in Morzine the last two weeks of January and the last week of February/first week of March.

Where can we buy your records ? Have you got a new album on the way?

The Dixie Bar should have copies of our CD available for sale. We hope to have the latest CD, Down in the City, available on Spotify soon.

The Dixie Micks’s autobiography so far would be titled…?

MSC advert.pdf

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z Morzine Ski Chalets Our speciality is your perfect getaway!

www.morzineskichalets.com

Our speciality is your perfect getaway!

High on a Mountain! Or ‘You will have your Saucisson!’

www.morzineskichalets.com @MorzineSource

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Behind the Scenes with a Bikepark Shaper Neil Sharp - Avoriaz MTB Interview by Rob Purver

If you’re in the area and you’re riding bikes, you’ll have an appreciation of the work that goes into building a track net work like we have in the Portes du Soleil. If you’ve ever built your own tracks you’ll have an acute knowledge of the time it takes to build a single jump or corner.

T wo years ago during the disastrous #summerofmud, most of the Avoriaz net work was not only rideable, but in pret t y good nick while other bikeparks melted into a quagmire. That’s thanks to the team at Avoriaz MTB and their track development and maintenance programme. Neil Sharp is part of the Avoriaz MTB team, who work tirelessly on improvements for us all to enjoy.

Two years ago it was ridiculously wet. Most tracks were pure mud, and then last summer was hot and dusty. You guys don’t get a break do you?

Evidently not. In stark contrast to the year before, the biggest problem early last summer was lack of water. It’s not easy to maintain tracks when the earth doesn’t stick together. Luckily we had a bit of rain in the latter half, which made life easier. Dusty, dry trails are great, but when you have to clean the 4×4 everyday to keep your lungs healthy, it becomes a bit of a drag!

How do you choose a route for a new track? Is it as simple as ‘here’s the start, there’s the end, we need to avoid this and that, go!’?

If only. Things are never that simple. Especially when the land is not yours. First we come up with a general idea.

Scope out the land, see what we think will work and what obstacles are in the way. Then we tell the boss, who checks who’s land it is before seeking permission. A lot of the time this goes smoothly, especially in Lindarets as most of the land there is communal. On Super Morzine things are more difficult. Most of the land under the Zore lift is communal, but it is also used by the farmer for his cows to graze on. There are also the ski pistes, which we can’t do anything on. We also can’t cut down a tree without permission from the Office National des Foréts.

Added to that, there are parcels of private land that we can’t touch. On the lower half of Super Morzine, from the #lovemorzine

Telecabine downwards, it is all private land. This is why we only have one official piste that runs down to Morzine, and the 4×4 track. We strongly advise people to not ride where they are not allowed; it creates tension between landowners, users and ourselves. Hopefully, one day, we will be able to build a couple of tracks down to the bottom to supply the demand. This in turn should stop people using the illegal tracks, and then the land and homeowners will be happy too!

How do you build a new track?

With a couple of diggers, some shovels, rakes, hoes, pickaxes, a chainsaw and lots of elbow grease. It depends on what kind of track it is really. For the bikepark style (wide and smooth), one digger roughens up the earth and does the general pre-form and line. Then the second digger comes down and shapes it up and packs it down.

We then come behind with rakes and shovels to shape the corners and pat them down, ready to be shredded.

We tidy up the sides (roots etc) and make sure that if someone flies off into a tree they don’t get poked in the eye by a branch. For the other, more technical tracks, we try to build by hand as much as possible, to keep the track more natural.

Is it a lot of work getting the place up to speed for the summer after a winter of snow and rain?

It’s not too bad actually. We tend to do some maintenance in the Autumn if the tracks really need it.

The snow in the winter and the melt off in the Spring #lovelesgets

helps to smooth out the tracks and pack down the earth.

You may have noticed the two tabletop jumps on Tutti Frutti have got a bit smaller over the three years they’ve been there. That’s due to the snow.

What are your plans for the area in the future? Are there any long-term plans to open up other areas, Arare or Fornet maybe?

We’re going to finish off the tracks on Super Morzine and get good numbers on the lift throughout the season.

Then the aim is to improve Lindarets so that we get more people riding there. Perhaps then we can expand and add new areas and tracks. We’d probably have to employ more track builders and more workers for the lifts. It’d be great to expand the area, but we’d have to convince people higher up the chain. I think there is some real potential in the terrain we have. First of all we have to show that we can look after the tracks we have.

It’s well known that Pleney is riddled with ‘secret’ or ‘illegal’ tracks. Are there more in the wider area?

I’m aware of one secret track on the Lindarets side. It was actually used by a bike school for beginners! But seriously, I think the Pleney lends itself really well to secret tracks. There is a lot of terrain there that is ideal.

Steep, rooty and with plenty of earth. On top of that, it’s next to town, so easy for locals to get up there and dig. Also, there are few legal tracks, so that leaves lots #loveavoriaz

your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz

Torico Source half page.pdf

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Image Credit © - Savoie Mont Blanc

of space for the secret ones. Lindarets is further away, harder for uplifts out of season and is mostly bedrock, so hard to dig in. We even struggle with the digger sometimes. Having said that, there is potential for some awesome tracks there, in my opinion.

Do you think the rise of the do-anything trail bike or ‘enduro’ bike as it’s commonly misnamed, will force a change in bikepark design? and do you have plans to create longer and more pedaly tracks to accommodate this increase in popularity?

Tough question. I think bike park tracks will always be popular as they are accessible to any level of rider, from the day-tripper to the World Cup racer. They are good places to learn basic skills. To advance and improve, people need to ride more technical and, most likely, natural tracks.

This is where the trail bike is king. There are plenty of natural tracks in the PDS for this type of riding. I think bike park tracks will stay the same. Perhaps opening more lifts to higher and more remote areas will open up more areas for trail bike riding. /MorzineSourceMagazine

What’s the hidden gem or your personal favourite of Avoriaz MTB trails?

My personal favourite is the 'Bleue de Brochaux' in Lindarets. It’s only a blue but can be challenging to ride fast, especially in the wet. It’s had a revamp this year so is even longer and more fun. Also, the start of the 'Coupe de France' in Lindarets is one of my favourite sections.

Follow Avoriaz MTB on Instagram (@ AvoriazMTB) or on Facebook (/AvoriazMtb) for further updates.

You can even get a great Avoriaz MTB t-shirt from the lift office at Super Morzine or in Avoriaz, at only 12€ it’d make a great souvenir! @MorzineSource

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ALPTITUDE CHALETS

CHALET MORZINE

THE TAST Y SKI COMPANY

Quality self catered chalets and apartments in Morzine. We offer our clients impeccable service and great value. With 20 properties in our portfolio, we are sure to have something to suit everyone.

Ski in, ski out luxury catered chalet in fabulous central Morzine location. Privately run by French ski instructor and his English wife since 2002. Family friendly, separate cinema/games room, huge sledging field in front. Stunning views, quiet location, only 2 minutes walk from central Morzine and just 5 minutes from all lifts. Hot tub, WIFI, flat screen UK TV, PS3

The Tasty Ski Company have a handful of luxury catered chalets in Morzine and Le Grand Massif.

Delicious food in amazing locations is the name of our game! Our chalets are packed full of luxurious extras including hot tubs, saunas, Bose music systems, UK Sky TV, heated boot racks and HD movie rooms!

alptitude.com

chaletmorzine.com

thetast yskicompany.co.uk

+33 (0) 7 86 71 14 12

+33 (0) 6 71 92 33 77

+44 (0) 7538 761767

info@alptitude.com

info@chaletmorzine.com

info@thetast yskicompany.co.uk

MOUNTAIN LETS

SKP SKI

TREELINE CHALETS

Self-catered accommodation specialist in Morzine providing comfortable and premium accommodation to suit your needs.

Award Winning Luxury Catered Chalet Holidays Outdoor hot tubs, sauna, log fires, breathtaking mountain views, 5* personal service, luxury accommodation. Book an unforgettable ski and snowboard retreat for Winter 2016/17 with 10% OFF group bookings of 6+. LAUNCHING 2016 SKPsummer – Offering catered & self catered chalet holidays in Morzine. Golf, cycling and adventure!

An independent chalet company offering catered & self-catered chalet holidays in Morzine. Family owned & operated, we pride ourselves on excellent service, gourmet catering and exclusive perks in our beautiful centrally located chalets, a very personal service without the price tag. From a summer activity holiday to a winter ski trip, we care about every detail of our guests’ holiday!

mountainlets.com

skpskimorzine.com

treelinechalets.com

+33 (0) 6 37 82 50 43

+44 (0) 7813 191717

+44 (0) 1483 220505

info@mountainlets.com

info@skpskimorzine.com

info@treelinechalets.com

APEX MORZINE

SIMPLY MORZINE

L’AUBERGADE HOTEL

Le Morzenettaz offers comfortable and friendly accommodation in a renovated 170-year-old farmhouse, close to the Super Morzine lift and town centre. The B&B sleeps up to 10 in 5 en-suite bedrooms. Flexible arrival days, minimum stay 3 nights. We also have a 2 bedroom self catered apartment, sleeings up to 6, available on a weekly basis. Free WIFI.

The original and best Morzine family summer activity holiday specialists – est. 1996. Exclusive activity programme including free & discounted activities!

A range of catered and self-catered luxury chalets & apartments plus French chalet-hotel. Properties have hot-tub, pool or sauna. Fantastic locations with gardens &/or large sun terraces. Superb cuisine, inclusive Geneva transfers & renowned personal service.

Sleeping 45 people with a busy bar, restaurant and events schedule L’Aubergade is the perfect slopeside retreat. The large sun terrace has a crepe stand and a weekly BBQ on a Tuesday. The bar often has live music & film evenings with a daily ‘Plat du Jour’ & cocktail special everyday. Ride to the door, leave happy!

apexmorzine.com

simply-morzine.co.uk

laubergade.com

+33 (0) 4 50 74 65 49

+44 (0) 1664 568902

+33 (0) 6 24 94 81 23

apexgroup@free.fr

info@simply-morzine.co.uk

contact@laubergade.com

#lovemorzine

#lovelesgets

#loveavoriaz

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your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz

MORGAN JUPE CHALET DES AMIS

MORGAN JUPE APARTMENT FLORIMONT

MORGAN JUPE CHALET DE MES REVES

This spacious chalet is available throughout the summer on a self-catered basis and offers great outside space with incredible views. Sleeping 12 guests it’s perfect for exclusive occupancy by two or three families and is located on the Tour de France route just a few minutes from the centre of Morzine. Prices from £1,960 per week.

This spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment is available on a self-catered basis all year round.

Located just a 5 minute walk from the centre of Morzine it offers convenient access to the local amenities and ski lifts so is perfect for a summer or winter activity holiday with family or friends. Prices from £800 per week.

This stylish chalet sleeps 8/10 guests and is perfect for exclusive occupancy by two families or a group of friends. Located on the Tour de France route just a few minutes from the centre of Morzine with amazing views of the valley. Available throughout the summer months on a self-catered basis from £1,400 per week.

morganjupe.co.uk

morganjupe.co.uk

morganjupe.co.uk

+44 (0) 7 739 692908

+44 (0) 7739 692908

+44 (0) 7739 692908

jess@morganjupe.co.uk

jess@morganjupe.co.uk

jess@morganjupe.co.uk

MORGAN JUPE CHALET CHARDON

HOTEL LES SAPINS

alpine residences

This charming chalet is available on a self-catered basis throughout the summer and is located just a few minutes from the centre of Morzine on the Tour de France route with stunning views. Sleeping 8/9 guests in 5 en-suite bedrooms this chalet is perfect for exclusive occupancy by two families or a group of friends. Prices from £1,400 per week.

A traditional Savoyarde chalet with 18 bedrooms, a cosy restaurant with open fire and homemade food, bar and charming family atmosphere. Set on the shore of the magical Lake Montriond, which is frozen during the winter. Located opposite the free ski bus stop, Ardent and Montriond are less than 10 minutes away. Authentic, good value accommodation for everyone.

Alpine Residences are specialists in the rental of high end properties in the French Alps. Located in Les Gets and Courchevel, we offer a wide range of personalised services to our international guests.

Our new built properties are available during summer and winter, to enjoy the mountains in all possible ways.

morganjupe.co.uk

hotel-les-sapins74.com

alpineresidences.fr

+44 (0) 7 739 692908

+33 (0) 4 50 75 90 56

+33 (0) 4 50 79 31 82

jess@morganjupe.co.uk

hotel-les-sapin@orange.fr

j.coppel@alpine-residences.fr

ADVENTURE BASE L A KINKERNE

CHALET SeRF

PRESTIGE MOUNTAIN CHALETS

Looking to immerse yourself in an authentic alpine hotel for the week at a really reasonable price? La Kinkerne is the place. Half board with breakfast and dinner is served in the restaurant.

La Kinkerne’s ‘Petit Chalets’ are perfect for couples looking for a romantic break. Be prepared to join La Kinkerne’s Dawn Patrol, our early-bird hike up the mountain.

A luxurious chalet, sleeping 12 in 6 en-suite bedrooms, located in the town centre, next to the Super Morzine cable car. Superb access for MTB and walkers. Swimming pool, tennis courts and river park, accessed via the steps directly in front of the chalet. Facilities include separate cinema/ games room, utility room, secure bike storage/wash down area and outdoor terrace and BBQ area.

Proudly presenting the award winning Chalet Belle Chery. Admire the incredible views across the valley to Morzine, Avoriaz and beyond. This chalet, available both summer and winter, truly does offer the WOW factor. Exquisitely renovated, vaulted ceilings, delicious cuisine, private shuttle to the slopes, terrace hot tub & welcoming staff.

adventurebase.com/hotel-la-kinkerne

chaletleserf.co.uk

prestigemountainchalets.com

+44 (0) 845 527 58 12

+33 (0) 6 71 92 33 77

+44 (0) 2380 266 453 / +44 (0) 7775 866 632

sales@adventurebase.com

info@chaletmorzine.com

contact@prestigemountainchalets.com

/MorzineSourceMagazine

@MorzineSource

/MorzineSourceMagazine

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Avoriaz Holidays offer all you need to pl an a perfect holiday in the Portes du Soleil’s highest ski resort. All properties are ski-in, ski-out, bed linens are included, flexible meal plans including breakfast delivery are avail able and we arrange discounts on ski passes and equipment rental on your behalf. Here’s a selection of our properties…

Saskia Apartment

Aster Apartment

Chalet Cridelf

Charming apartment sleeping 6 – 8. Renovated in 2014 and located on the 6th floor, offering incredible views. 2 separate bedrooms and one mezzanine for children, one bathroom and one shower room. Fully equipped kitchen, dining area and lounge. TV in each room, WIFI, sofa bed, balcony with views of slopes.

Sleeping 6 in 3 / 4 rooms, the Aster residence is at the top of Avoriaz, an enviable ski-in, ski-out location with stunning views. Double bedroom with balcony, twin bedroom and separate cabin with 2 bunk beds. Fully equipped kitchen including dishwasher and hotplates, dining area, lounge, South facing balcony.

Sleeping 14 in flexible bedrooms with private bathrooms, Cridelf is an individual chalet on the piste with sunny South facing balconies. Daily cleaning is included, wood provided, breakfast service available. WIFI, fully fitted and equipped kitchen, laundry room, home cinema room, living room with fireplace, cosy dining area.

Crozats Apartment

Chalet Doriaz

Fontaines Blanches Apartment

Two room apartments sleep 4 comfortably in one double bedroom and on a convertible sofa. South facing balconies make the most of the views. All beds are made before arrival, TV and DVD player included, fully equipped kitchen and dining area, bathroom with a separate WC.

An incredible stand-alone chalet in the very heart of Avoriaz. Sleeping 12 over 3 floors, bedrooms feature luxury bathrooms and interior designed furnishings. Ski locker with boot dryer, sauna, WIFI, daily cleaning service, fully equipped kitchen, dining room, lounge with open fireplace and balcony.

Sleeping 4 in 2 rooms, this ski-in, ski-out apartment also includes a ski locker, TV, WIFI and beds made upon arrival. Bathroom with separate WC, a fully equipped kitchen including a dishwasher and a South facing balcony to make the most of the stunning views. Dining and living area.

Kouria Apartment

Malinka Apartment

Douchka Apartment

This beautiful 6 room apartment, refurbished in 2014, sleeps up to 10 in exquisite luxury. Vast, open spaces accommodate living and dining areas alongside a beautiful kitchen with Nespresso machine. Exclusive access to the residences’ swimming pool, Jacuzzi and hammam are included, as is a daily cleaning service.

Offering incredible views from the 8th floor of the Residence Malinka, this apartment has 1 double bedroom and a lounge with convertible sofa. The kitchen is fully equipped and includes a dishwasher, plus dining room and living room with a South-West facing balcony. WIFI, TV and beds made before arrival.

Sleeping 6/7 in 3 rooms, Douchka is a ski-in, ski-out residence. Apartments include 1 double bedroom, 1 bunk room and a convertible sofa. The kitchen is fully equipped with a dishwasher, washing machine and dryer. There’s also a large living room and dining area in addition to a South facing balcony.

a selection of avoriaz accommodation from avoriaz-holidays.com | +33 (4) 50 74 16 08

your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz

Corporate Peaks Source advert.pdf

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The 2017 Harley Days Festival Those HOG’s (Harley Owners Group to those not in the know) certainly know how to party and they’re set to return to Morzine for their biennial town takeover in 2017. Friday 14th to Sunday 16th July 2017 will see the resort packed with shiny chrome, a lot of leather and a huge free music concert in the centre of Morzine.

Previous acts on the Harley Days line-up have included Status Quo, Toto and Beth Hart and we can’t wait to see which rock group are rolled out in 2017. Keep an eye on the Source website for line-up announcements, or visit hogfrance.fr for more event details.

September.

Bespoke Corporate Ski Holidays & Events in the Portes du Soleil

We've hand picked the area's finest hotels, chalets, apres hot spots, dining experiences and fun activities for your corporate ski group Guaranteeing you an exciting, well managed and memorable time from the moment you arrive in Geneva until the moment you depart Relax! It's our turn to do the hard work.

We're based right here in Morzine, so drop us a line if you'd like an informal chat about your next corporate ski trip

www.skicorporatepeaks.com morzinesourcemagazine.com – Your Ultimate Guide to the Local Area Whilst we’ve done all we can to pack as much local news and event information into this 100page issue of Source Magazine, this is only part of the story.

Our website is where you’ll find live resort information, covering last minute events, weather conditions, live lift information, opening and closing times and much more. It’s also where you’ll

find interviews with the likes of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Bear Grylls, the Brownlee Brothers, Ben Fogle and Jenny Jones. Our online business directory is also a great place to start planning your next visit to the local area. It features hotels, apartments and chalets, transfer companies, taxis and estate agents, as well as anything else you might need.

Little One Boutique launches in Morzine for Winter ‘17 Whilst Librairie Passaquin gets a facelift, a whole new shop has been created just next-door.

In it, from December onwards, you’ll find Célia Bassani and her beautiful range of clothing and gifts for babies and young children aged up to eight years.

Inspired by Morzine’s recent baby boom, Célia has carefully curated a selection of interior

/MorzineSourceMagazine

furnishings, blankets, soft toys, night-lights and clothing including baby grows, dresses, scarfs and hats from a range of small, independent baby brands such as Noodoll, Organic Zoo and Mingo.

Everything you’ll see in Célia’s 30sqm Little One Boutique will also be available to buy online.

Find out more in our Winter 17 issue.

@MorzineSource

/MorzineSourceMagazine

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Lightweight, quick drying, and comfortable performance clothing that’ll keep your temperature down and your levels of style up. Here’s our pick of the best bike products this summer.

Our MTB Essentials Troy Lee Designs D3 Carbon

RRP €429.99 The D3 is the most iconic full-face bicycle helmet on the market, leading its field in quality and style. The carbon edition is stronger and lighter that the standard D3, which is widely regarded as one of the best helmets of all time. New for 2016 is the MIPS system, mimicking the skulls own technique of brain protection against rotational forces, the helmet comes equipped with a low friction layer between the inner and outer shell, significantly reducing the rotational force in an impact. There is simply no better protection for your head.

Ion K_PACT Kneepads

Fox Ranger Short

RRP €85

RRP €56.99

A slim, lightweight and breathable pad, suitable for trail riding, backcountry adventures and even the bikepark. Featuring Ions Sanitized technology, meaning not only do they look good, feel good and protect your knees. They’ll still smell good after a long day on the hill.

The Ranger Short is a rare example of a piece of technical bike wear that doesn’t look like you’re a Power Rangers reject. Clean, simple lines, street conscious fashion and a removable padded liner all make this a great short for on and off the trail.

Oakley Airbrake MX Goggles

RRP €85 Developed originally for use on snow, but effortlessly transferable into the world of bikes and even motorbikes, the Oakley Airbrake is a tough and versatile goggle that’s going to hold up to whatever level of abuse you throw at it. Oakley claim their lenses are some of the toughest on the market, meaning the goggle acts as a continuation of the helmet, leading to 360 degree protection. #lovemorzine

#lovelesgets

#loveavoriaz

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your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz

Aerial Video & Photography Visit us: dronealps.com Like us: facebook.com/dronealps Call us: +33 (0)6 51 44 10 06

Loose Riders Morzine jersey

RRP €49.90 The Loose Riders brand are taking over the world one resort at a time, with great quality, good value, current style and featuring exclusive localized designs. New for summer 2016, the Morzine chapter of Loose Riders have released two signature jerseys and a t-shirt. Bags of style and a nice souvenir of your time here.

Property

Sports FiveTen Freerider

RRP €119.95 As one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of climbing and cycling footwear, FiveTen certainly know how to make a good shoe. Their range is huge; from super tough, clipless race shoes all the way through to this, the lighter and more versatile Freerider shoe. We’ve selected the Freerider as our top pick for two reasons; firstly, it’s a great shoe, grippy, tough and long lasting. Secondly, if you didn’t know better, you’d think it was a normal street or skate shoe, so you can happily wear it on and off the bike. Useful if you’ve got to travel with a huge amount of bike related kit already. /MorzineSourceMagazine

@MorzineSource

Commercial /MorzineSourceMagazine

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Buying kit in advance of your next jaunt into the mountains can seem a bit daunting. This stuff isn't cheap, and with so many variants on the market, the choice is overwhelming. Here’s a few of our favourites.

Our Adventure Essentials Black Diamond Nitro 22 Pack

RRP €90 Weighing in at a long-day-happy 900g, the Black Diamond Nitro 22 pack is the perfect companion for a day through the misty woodland or along the sunbaked ridges of the Portes du Soleil. With enough space and pockets to store all your essentials, external trekking pole straps and reACTIV suspension with highflow OpenAir back panel, this pack keeps the weight balanced and supported on your back, whilst letting excess heat and sweat escape easily. For longer treks and multi-day missions there’s a full range of larger sizes available.

Kleen Kanteen 800ml + Sport Cap 3.0

RRP €25 On any good adventure you’re likely to need a little bit of fluid. Whether it’s a long glug of water as you summit a peak or a warming sip of hot coffee outside your tent on a chilly morning, you’ll need a vessel to contain said liquid. Kleen Kanteen produce a broad selection of stainless steel drink containers, ranging from the standard water bottle with sippy top shown here, right through to insulated coffee cups, kids bottles, steel pint mugs and larger flask-like insulated bottles.

The bottles are lightweight, strong and BPA-free. Plus they look great, feel great and Kleen Kanteen have great eco credentials too.

Patagonia Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover

RRP from €120 Hailed as the jumper that made fleece popular, the Synchilla pullover is the ultimate mid-layer for every occasion. It’s thin and light enough that it folds easily into your pack, yet insulating enough to keep you cosy on the coldest of nights. As with all mountain-wear, you get what you pay for. And as with all Patagonia products, you get well made and ethically produced goods that you can expect to last you a lifetime. Available in six colours, men’s and women’s shapes, two thicknesses, plus sleeveless vest and hooded versions.

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o chalet source advert.pdf

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Ô CHALET bar burgers & crêpes

Marmot PreCip Jacket

RRP €80 The point of a rain jacket is that you only need to wear it when its raining and in the meantime you’ll have it tucked away in your bag. That means the key requirements of a decent rain jacket will be waterproofness, breathability, minimum weight and a small pack-down size. Sure, Marmot produce jackets that are smaller, lighter and more breathable, but you’ll easily pay triple for the privilege of owning one. The Marmot PreCip manages to tick all of those boxes, whilst being in the budget friendly sub-€100 category - an amazing achievement for such a high quality jacket. Available in an astonishing thirty different colours to suit every taste, three different lengths and in male or female fit.

Bar, crepes, galettes Central Morzine Gourmet burgers Bacon rolls every morning Authentic Hot Dogs Music & TV sports Happy hours

Outdoor Research Sombriolet Sun Hat

RRP €40 In the cool mountain breeze its easy to forget how savage the midday sun can be in the mountains. Of course it’s always recommended you wear sunscreen, but on longer days adventuring it’s easy to forget to reapply regularly and a bit of shade on you noggin is always welcome. The Sombriolet is a true adventure hat featuring a light, crushable design, venting around the crown to keep you cool and a wicking material around the brim to keep you sweat free, adjustable synch cord for fit and a removable chinstrap. Perfect for a wide range of summer activities, available in three sizes and six colours. /MorzineSourceMagazine

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Life isn’t all about trekking up mountains, sending big jumps, slashing or splashing your way down mountains.

Sometimes it’s simply about sit ting back, relaxing, having a BBQ, or watching the kids play.

Our lifestyle Essentials Flexifoil Buzz

RRP €59.99 Kite flying, believe it or not, is making a comeback. The childhood dream of a lazy summer day, wind in your hair and the sun beaming down as you run and whoop with a kite is almost forgotten amongst todays youth, who’s idea of fun can be limited to completing a few levels on Angry birds. With the Flexifoil Buzz, you get what is in essence a miniature version of the parapente wings you’ll see flying high above the valley. Easy to set up, small and lightweight to transport, incredibly hard to break and easy to not only fly, but fly with style. The Buzz offers the whole childhood experience, with the benefit of modern materials, multiplying the fun.

Available in various colours, plus in the larger Big Buzz size for those who want to experience a taste of the real power of the wind.

Kleen Kanteen Beer Growlers

RRP €39.99 The growler is the accepted method of artisan beer transportation around the world. If you’re going to take a craft beer with you to an event, gathering or simply out into nature, a growler is how it is done.

Kleen Kanteen offer two sizes, two colours and the option of insulated and non-insulated. Ideal for transporting not only beer, but wine, iced coffee, Pimms and anything else you’re going to need a large volume of in an outdoor situation. Manufactured with the same slick and practical design, the stainless growler is significantly lighter than its glass equivalent.

Rumpl Puffy

RRP €175 Everyone loves a blanket. There’s nothing better when you’re a bit chilly than wrapping up in a cosy extra layer. The problem is that blankets are usually relatively large, heavy and bulky. Not great when you’ve got limited space in your luggage. In steps Rumpl, who’ve taken current down ‘puffer’ jacket technology and made it into a blanket. Lightweight, breathable, water resistant and a small pack-down size means their blankets come with you wherever you go.

Available in two stuffing materials, synthetic or organic down, and in a huge range of sizes, the Rumple will fast become a constant travel companion. #lovemorzine

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your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz

EVENING SLEDGING IME

WINTER T

YOONER TEEPEE DINNER SNOWSHOEING SNOWSCOOTER TOURS IGLOO DINNER

Nixon JJF Camera Bag

TREETOP ADVENTURE

RRP €139.99 Nixon are best known for a huge range of excellent watches for the extreme sports markets. Along side that staple, they make a solid range of accessories, clothing, phone cases and bags. The JJF Camera bag is one of their finest examples of luggage. Featuring padded, adjustable and removable camera dividers in the lower section and a spacious, multi-pocketed upper section, this bag is perfect for the photographer who needs a lighter option for a daytrip, or the budding amateur who’s setup doesn’t exceed two or three lenses.

PAINTBALL DISC GOLF VIA FERRATA LASER GAME SUMMER

Converse Jack Purcell Signature X Hancock Waterproof Trainers

RRP €185

Yes, you read that right. Converse, those comfortable canvas trainers, are now available in a waterproof material. Traditionally they aren’t known for their outdoorsy qualities, but with this new collaboration with British clothiers Hancock, they’ve been upgraded to handle some serious countryside. Featuring a breathable yet waterproof outer, OrthoLite in-sock and sharing Nike’s Zoom Air technology in the soles, this rugged upgrade on the original shoe is a great option to gain some practical footwear, without looking like you’ve joined the local rambling club. /MorzineSourceMagazine

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CAVING RAFTING PARAGLIDING HYDROSPEED OFF ROAD 3T CANYONING MOUNTAIN BIKE /MorzineSourceMagazine

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Via Ferrata

Get ting High Around Morzine

By Richard Bromage

Across Europe, Via Ferrata is becoming increasingly popul ar.

Yet few people have ever heard of it, let alone tried it.

Initially created to aid troops passing over the Dolomites in Italy during the First World War, modern day Via Ferrara routes have been developed to provide non-climbers with access to the mountainous terrain only previously accessible to highly skilled mountaineers.

Via Ferrata translates as ‘Iron Roads’. A combination of metal hand and foot holds, ladders, bridges and natural rock features create a clearly marked route, which climbs and traverses through the mountains.

Climbers attach themselves to a safety cable, which is periodically fixed to the rock using two safety lanyards. As long as you’ve got a head for heights and a reasonable level of fitness, you’ll enjoy unrivalled, breathtaking and unique views of the mountains and the wildlife that live in them.

Here in France, Via Ferrata vary in difficulty, with routes ranging from F (facile / easy) to ED – (extremement difficile / extremely difficult). Each route can take as little as 30 minutes to complete, up to two or three hours.

It’s impossible to talk about scaling local mountains without mentioning the necessary #lovemorzine

safety equipment involved. Whilst it’s possible to attempt the Via Ferrata course in Avoriaz without any previous climbing experience, it’s always recommended that you take a professional guide with you. They’ll make sure you’ve got the correct kit and the necessary physical strength you’ll need before your foot touches the first iron peg. You’ll need a climbing helmet, a harness, shock absorbing lanyards and gloves to make your first Via Ferrata experience a safe and enjoyable one.

La Via Ferrata des Saix de Miolène Chapelle d'Abondance One of the longest in the area with easy access and parking available, this route takes around three hours and is divided into three sections, each increasing in difficulty. It’s great for beginners as it doesn’t gain height too quickly and has an escape route after each section.

The third section is quite committing and there’s a long climb up to finish.

Around Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz you’ll find many Via Ferrata sites which, weather permitting, are accessible from early Spring right through until late Autumn. Sometimes local Via Ferrata sites restrict access to protect nesting birds or other wildlife, but you can find plenty of information at your local Office de Tourisme, where you’ll also find the details of excellent local guides.

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image credit - © Vallee d'Aulps Office de Tourisme

LGL Spa

Here’s our top 3 local Via Ferrata courses: LA TETE DE L’ELEPHANT/ L’ŒIL DE L’ELEPHANT St Jean D’Aulps

Via Ferrata Saix du Tour Avoriaz

Here you’ll find two very good Via Ferrata, one being a lot more strenuous than the other and both gaining height quickly. They offer fantastic views of Mt Blanc and the Valley D’Aulps, plus there’s plenty of parking.

A fantastic Via Ferrata offering the participant an array of different terrain and obstacles to negotiate. This is a very difficult Via Ferrata and takes around 2.5 hours to complete. The approach is around a ten min walk from Avoriaz resort centre.

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By amie postings

Nowadays it’s often described as one of the less at tractive ski resorts in the Alps, but the architecture of Avoriaz is unique in so many ways. That said, the resort does have a lot to live up to. Standing proud above Morzine, a vill age rich in traditional Alpine charm and character, those imposing accommodation blocks do stick out like a sore thumb, even though that was never their intention.

The land on which Avoriaz now sits was originally used entirely as a summer grazing plateau for cattle owned by the local Roverée family. The peaks of Chavanette and Hauts Forts were the stomping ground of many a local hiker, among them was Jean Vuarnet who grew up in Morzine before winning a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California.

Vuarnet returned to Morzine from California inspired. He wanted to open up the snowfields of Avoriaz by building a purpose built ski resort, the likes of which had never been seen before in the Alps. He struck a partnership with Gerard Bremond, the founder of holiday group Pierre & Vacances and together they planned a new resort concept – no cars, reduced pollution and electric heating throughout. In the era of the car, this was a brave move. They also commissioned a team of young, ambitious architects to help them. Jacques Labro, Jena

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Jacques Orzoni and Jean-Marc Roques were tasked with developing an architectural style that integrated the new resort into the existing landscape, rather than taking inspiration from the established Savoyarde chalet concept.

The incredible architectural geometry of Avoriaz was born on 28th December 1962.

Morzine’s town hall approved the proposed development of a new ski resort and the installation of the new ski lift network. At that time there was just one restaurant on the plateau and many, many cows. The Hotel les Dromonts opened in time for Christmas 1966 and it was the first building to be finished in modern day Avoriaz. Featuring cosy corners, raised platforms, crossing walkways and open fireplaces, it’s the building that best expresses the influences of the surrounding mountains.

In Avoriaz every door opens onto a piste. All buildings are clad in red cedar tavaillons

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or shingles, which are left varnish free so the natural elements change their tone and colour. The roofs of all buildings incline to cope well with snow coverage and all balconies face the sun. It’s perhaps for this reason that the resort became known as Saint Tropez de Neige, such was its popularity with the glitterati of the day. Brigitte Bardot was said to have fallen for her ski instructor in the resort, while Steven Spielberg was a fan during time spent in Avoriaz during the annual International Fantasy Film Festival.

Modern day Avoriaz is still known for its high-rise accommodation buildings with acute angles. It’s a style that was described as contemporary, avant-garde and fantasy

by Jacques Labro, part of the original architectural team who still works on new building projects in Avoriaz. Now 80 years of age, Lambo recently said “I started my career with Avoriaz, and I will finish with it.”

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France Property Angels half page.pdf

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Professional Property Finders & Estate Agents Free personal service to help you find the right property

Let us do the leg work so you can spend more time enjoying the mountains Property for Sale We can offer you the largest selection of property for sale in Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets, St Jean d’Aulps, Le Biot, Essert La Pierre

www.francepropertyangels.com | info@francepropertyangels.com | +44 (0) 1225 442128 /MorzineSourceMagazine

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08.30 10.00 12.00 12.30

Leave the team bus to warm up on a turbo trainer and undertake any last minute media interviews. Each rider will also need to officially ‘sign-on’ with race organisers at this point

(Approx.) Race finish in Morzine. Celebrations and post race interviews accompany a full warm down back at the team bus. Riders will shower and have a quick bite to eat, either on the team bus or back at the team hotel

A specially prepared, nutritionally unique dinner is served to each rider by the team’s dedicated chef. Riders usually eat then relax, either lying down or with their legs up against a wall while drinking lots of fluids to aid the dispersion of toxins from their muscles. Riders also use this time for social media updates and calls to their family

12.15

Rider briefing and team tactics discussion on the team bus

Arrival at the race start location, where riders will stay on the team bus enjoying a final coffee

17.00

Leave the hotel and travel to the start location

Kit preparations and relaxation at the team hotel

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Whilst the world of professional cycling is very much a closed one, there are some things we do know about the routines and habits of professional road cyclists, especially when it comes to Le Tour. A rider’s daily pl an will depend on the t ype and duration of each stage. here’s how your sporting idols are likely to pl an their day on Saturday 23rd July.

Enjoy both breakfast & lunch back to back, a minimum of 3 hours before the race begins.

Breakfast will consist of muesli followed by a highcarb lunch. Each rider will burn approximately 5000 calories today!

Wake up at the team hotel near to the starting point in Megeve

09.00

A day in the life of a Tour de France rider

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By Alex & Fleur at Yello Velo

Each team has roughly one physio to 2/3 riders.

Massages take place at the team hotel, concentrating mainly on legs and lasting 45 minutes. Typically team leaders are at the front of the queue when it comes to massage!

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Bedtime. Riders and team managers will be up early to travel to Geneva before jetting to Paris on a specially chartered Air France flight for the final day of Le Tour. Caretakers, mechanics and the rest of the team will drive overnight to meet them there!

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Race start in Megeve. Just 146km to go!

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PICTURE YOUR PROPERTY HERE. UNDER THE NOSE OF 10,000 POTENTIAL BUYERS. EVERY DAY. Each month our property listings receive over 1 million pageviews from over 100,000 individuals looking for their ideal Alpine home.

With our friendly team of 20 locally based, bilingual staff, we will work with you to price, promote and sell your property.

Experts in their regions, they know the area, the buyers and the local contacts you will need to make a successful sale.

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there's loads of great things happening over the summer, here's a selection for you.

2nd June European Mountain Villages Football Champs The opening game (France vs Austria) kicks off at 2pm, the official opening ceremony is at 6pm and Queen tribute band CoverQUEEN play at the Palais du Sport at 8pm 3rd June European Mountain Villages Football Champ England play Ireland at 2.20pm and Germany at 5.50pm. Swiss yodeling group Oesch’s Die Dritten play at the Palais du Sport at 8pm

24th June Pass’Portes du Soleil

2nd July Spartan Race

The annual MTB challenge involves completing an 80km spin around the Portes du Soleil in just one day

Sprint, Super or Beast? Which one are you? If you’re not taking part this weekend, it’ll be fun to spectate from the start and finish line by the Palais du Sport.

5th June Criterium de Dauphine 2016 Prologue to the unofficial Tour de France warm up, pro riders will ascend Mont Chery in a 3.9km time trial with a 9.7% average gradient 15th June Crankworx Les Gets Until 19th June, Les Gets will be packed with mountain biking royalty for this truly huge event. There’ll be events and entertainment all day and a party atmosphere across the whole resort

10th July Etape du Tour

4th June European Mountain Villages Football Champs

The Tour du France but for extremely fit amateur cyclists, the route follows that of the pros, travelling over no fewer than four of the most challenging Cols in the Alps. Good luck to you all!

England play Sweden at 9.40pm.

The competitions quarter finals start at 3.30pm and the legendary Dixie Micks play at the Palais du Sport at 8.30pm 5th June European Mountain Villages Football Champs The final rounds of the competition begin at 9.30pm, followed by the final at 4pm. There’s a live DJ and a huge party at the Palais du Sport from 8pm

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15th June Pleney Chainless The first Bike Morzine event of the summer involves descending Pleney without your bike chain. Thrills and spills guaranteed

30th June Adventure Art Exhibition Local artist Sue Neal’s exhibition starts today at the Salle des Expositions in Morzine until 7 July

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13th August Trail des Hauts Forts 21st July Avoriaz Mountain Festival For a whole week Avoriaz showcases life in the mountains with this animal-packed family friendly festival

A grueling trail running challenge that offers up some of the most stunning scenery around. The race starts in Morzine and finishes 45km and 3300m of vertical climbing later in Avoriaz

23rd July Le Tour de France

1st September Rallye du Mont Blanc

3.5 billion eyeballs from across the globe follow Le Tour into Morzine for the penultimate stage of this year’s Grande Boucle

For an entire weekend Morzine will be packed with go-faster stripes, mechanics and a lot of noise for this annual event.

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1st August Lounge Music Festival

10th September Evergreen Endurance

Each summer Les Gets plays host to over 40 free concerts taking place over a two week period.

The epic Evergreen Endurance triathlon starts on the shores of Lake Montriond for its second year, this time with three different distances – 58, 118 and 228.

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local produce your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz

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organic vegetables craft beers performance cooking local passion

image credit - dave branfield ibex beer /MorzineSourceMagazine

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Editorial bRINGING PEOPLE TOGEthER

T

heir names are L’Épicerie, Le Bec Jaune and Ibex Beer. They share two things in common: the area they are from and their love of local produce. Nowadays, everyone cooks. Everyone watches Master Chef. Everyone takes pictures of their dishes before uploading them to Instagram. Why? Perhaps because food, maybe more than music, soothes the soul. It brings people together. Who knows?

What I do know however, is that our region has incredible produce on offer, along with amazing people who, everyday, make a great effort

to cultivate and improve the way we eat. I’ve realised that they all bring us together. Whether you are in a restaurant, drinking a local craft-beer, wandering around little local shops or just cooking at home.

Food brings us together.

The new trends in food are often organic. Gluten free wherever possible. Homemade for sure. And, let’s face it, sometimes calorific.

This special supplement to Morzine Source Magazine helped me understand the meaning behind food, especially here in France. It’s a revolution. Beer is outdoing wine.

Organic surpasses standardised, mass-produced food. Mentalities are changing.

This supplement is a love letter to those who are passionate about food. Those who care about our lands, our past and our future.

Those who are devoted to make us eat better.

And never forget. You are what you eat.

Robin Ecoeur

Bar & grill breakfast / Dinner / cocktails déjeuner / dîner / cocktails 30 ROUTE DES UDREZANTS MORZINE +33450790610 #lovemorzine

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local produce special

Stick A Cork In It. wINE IS

DONE

In the world of wine, beer is not king. However, the take over is near and beer has never been so popular. In total, there are more than 800 breweries in France, a number that’s doubled over the last 10 years. Each region now has its own local brews, breweries and pubs. Morzine is no exception.

I

t’s now socially acceptable in France to order beers in a restaurant, and not just as an apéritif. Stick a cork in it. Wine is done. Brews are now getting the respect they deserve. The people to thank are your local brewers, restaurant owners and other beer aficionados who believe in raising beer to the same level as wine. Many people consider artisanal beer to be healthier and tastier than its mass produced counterpart and smaller brewers are not shy of experimentation. They use a lot more hops and they don’t filter their beers, all of which contributes to the taste.

The Craf t Beer Brewer Christian Luthy, aka Chrigl, owns Le Bec Jaune in Morzine. It’s their last official day of the winter season when we meet and Chrigl is working on a new beer with a taste more sour than usual. “This beer

And the new trends?

Don’t get him started!

Imported beers? “They are just imported flavored-water, brewed half a year ago!” is an experimentation. That’s the nature of craft beer. There are loads of different kinds of beers, loads of different flavors out there. I would get bored making the same beer over and over again” explains Chrigl, who mastered his craft in America and then in London at the Kernel Brewery. After opening in 2013, Le Bec Jaune is now thriving. Chrigl brews over 30 times during the winter season and in the kitchen, they are trying new things with Asian style cuisine. “I wanted a

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place where people could come and have a good time, eat good food. Now, people enjoy the simpler things in life. We are doing what feels right to us”. And the new trends? Don’t get him started!

Imported beers? “They are just imported flavored-water, brewed half a year ago!”

or at lunch time which isn’t a “shitty lager “ or an 8% stout. “Ibex started almost like a bet,” Dave confesses.

But he went along with it. He’s refined his project, visited breweries, pitched his idea to Brewdog and read every book about craft beer. In total, Ibex is

Honey Beers from the Abbey

“If a beer tastes good, then I want to make the exact same beer for my customers. It’s very important.”

The Abbey of Saint-Jean d’Aulps has an important history. It’s one of Cistercians, religious orders, monks and nuns. In an effort to bring its glorious past back to life, Arnaud Delerce and his father Michel, a bee-keeper, had an idea. A honey beer. “We are looking to create a tasting beer, a high-class product in the same vein as the Trappist beers” explains the Abbey scientist Arnaud. It’s a bold move. Though it cannot be labelled as Trappist, the ‘bière d’Aulps’ will combine the name of the abbey and the honey produced on the site to become as close as possible to the beer the monks might have made if they hadn’t left in 1792.

Its USP? The acclaimed honey. Bees are foraging in the medicinal plants around the cloister, which gives it its unique taste. “We also want to the break the wine-cheese combination. Beers also pair well with our local cheeses and I want to change people’s minds!”

The opposite of a shit t y l ager

eight years in the making and this is just the beginning. La Marmotte d’Or, a bar in Montriond, were first to stock Dave’s beers, Beanies in Morzine and Bar National in St Jean d’Aulps quickly followed. Next winter Dave aims to have nine bars and restaurants serving Ibex around Morzine. With his new set-up ready by the end of July, he’ll be able to store more bottles and kegs. “I only brew 160 litres a time. So I brew a lot! But thanks to the new buildings, I’ll brew at a much bigger scale” Dave explains.

His ethos is not to experiment too much, but to remain constant. “If a beer tastes good, then I want to make the exact same beer for my customers. It’s very important.” His newest beer is called Salut Kiki, Kiki being the very first word spoken by his son. There are always good stories, even behind beers.

“I can tell you now, because it’s official.

We are expanding Ibex and becoming ten times bigger.” It’s a bombshell dropped

by Dave Branfield, master brewer of Ibex Beers. The former photographer has two hobbies; cycling and drinking beer. The concept for Ibex is simple. It’s a beer you could drink at the top of a mountain

Craft beer is more than a trend thesedays. It’s a way of life. Even brewing giant Heineken has taken inspiration and bought two new brands, Mort Subite and Lagunitas . Why? To make them cool again. How? By marketing them as a new craft beer. Is this already the beginning of the end?

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It translates as ‘the grocery store’ in English, but our local L’Epicerie is much more than that. It’s a hidden gem based in Montriond and it’s quickly becoming the town’s best-kept secret for food lovers.

l’epicerie The concept is simple. Everything sold is organic and locally sourced.

€

35. That’s the cost of an average basket of products at L’Épicerie.

The association, created in January 2013 by Hélène, Marie-Josèphe, Martine and Karima, has grown into a thriving partnership. The gang of girls quickly hired a full-time gardener, Guillaume and their aim is to offer a good range of healthy and locally sourced products. Their ethos goes beyond that of just gathering food.

L’épicerie is intended to be a social, almost political place to raise awareness on food-related issues.

Pesticides, junk-food, an additives monopoly. There’s also a not-forprofit policy. “There is no hierarchy here” explains Hélène. “Everyone can come to help with the orders, make sure everyone has got what they have bought, give a hand to Guillaume around the gardens” she continues. In fact, the key philosophy here is to bring people closer.

Less expensive than supermarkets Here’s how it works. Every two weeks a list of locally sourced products, from fresh meat to dried tea, is emailed to all members of L’Epicerie. You select what you want to order and arrive at a set time to collect your groceries. While you’re there, you’ll end up chatting with other members, exchanging #lovemorzine

local news. The atmosphere is very neighbourly and community spirited.

Marie-Laure, an ESF ski instructor, was one of the first to join the association. “I don’t always know where products are from when I go to the shop. Here, I don’t have to worry about it. I know everything is fresh and local. I trust them.”

Aside from the traceability of their products, L’Epicerie can also compete with the supermarkets on price. Sometimes they even beat them. As Pascal Grouleau, who sells organic bread, explains “In the French countryside, bread is priced at €2.70 for 500g. My bread is the same price as your local bakery but it’s all organic, with great care taken to choose the ingredients.”

Pl ans to expl and L’Epicerie have various plans underway at the moment, and even more on paper. The biggest is the creation of new garden in Essert Romand. The idea is to create a vivid, educational, creative and experimental location in which organic vegetables will be grown.

It’s based on a Mandala garden, a concept that is used in Permaculture because of its combination of aesthetics and practicality. As gardener Guillaume explains “the aim is to take really good care of the soil, to observe our environment and share our knowledge”. I enjoy his optimism. #lovelesgets

The Essert Romand Mandala Garden Created on land donated by the Mairie de Essert Romand, the Mandala Garden is a joint collaboration between the commune, L’Epicerie and the local school to benefit the local community.

A Mandala Garden is a circular garden divided by paths running through the centre to create segments. The technique includes several Permaculture principles, including a ‘no dig’ approach to prevent disruption to soil ecology and rotation cropping.

Growing in the garden this summer, you’ll find potatoes, courgettes, pumpkins, cucumbers and tomatoes, all of which will be available to buy through L’Epicerie.

Seventy hard-working volunteers turned out to help create the garden and ongoing help is needed to manage and maintain its development. If you’d like to get involved as a volunteer, or if you’d like to become a member of L’Epicerie, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/lepiceriemorzine

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local produce special

drink like a

Brasserie & Tapas Bar Outdoor terrace Live music

local

For more information: 33 (0)4 50 84 55 35

Thinking of ordering a coffee to end your meal? No way. If you want to drink like a local, you’ll need to know about these four locally produced digestives.

gENEPI : The Cl assic Also called the genep’, Genepi is an herbal liqueur. Being one of the most famous spirit in the Alps and popularised by the growth of ski resorts, it naturally became symbolic to the region.

Nowadays, the picking of the eponymous flowers is regulated to protect this treasure.

Follow us on Facebook Restaurant La Biskatcha

La Chèvre : The Outsider Everyone has their own recipe to make this spirit, which is fermented for two months in a pressure barrel. The ingredients?

Cider, rice wine, mixed spices such as cinnamon, honey, beer yeast and sugar. Back in the days, farmers used to cover the barrels with goat skins to keep them cool. Maybe they had one too many!

La Gentiane : The Heavyweight Describing the taste is difficult. It’s a bit like munching into the grass at the top of a mountain. Gentiane has a very earthy tang.

It is made from the eponymous plant, which grows well in the Alps. Trust me, its bitter taste is not for everyone

La Poire : The Refined Another must-drink. La Poire simply refers to the fruit pear.

In other words, it is a fruit brandy produced by means of fermentation and double distillation. There are two versions. ‘Le Poiret’, which is made with pears which have seen better days, and ‘La Poire’, which is made from Williams pears whose taste is much more refined. So be careful! Always go la Poire, not Poiret.

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NEW THIS SUMMER!

Join us in our Alpine chalet for a weekly barbecue!

For more information: 33 (0)4 50 92 85 22 Follow us on Facebook

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cooking for

performance

breakfast should be taken at least 3 hours before the race to digest it well.

Overcooked pasta and dry chicken. They were dull days in the Tour de France of yesteryear. Today’s riders actually eat better food than you do. Teams now hire high-class chefs to spice up their recipes and give riders the comfort and nutrition they need after a testing day in the saddle.

Times have certainly changed for Le Tour.

Gone are the days when riders would chain smoke cigarettes all the way to the finish line. The usual pasta dishes have been replaced by slow roasted bavette with lemon zest and parsley on roasted courgettes. Or peanut chicken kebab with snap peas and cucumber salad.

Nowadays, the diets of riders are more carefully controlled than they used to be.

Consequently, their food is much better, in line with their peformances.

Until not long ago, riders used to eat at hotels. However, the monotony of their meals was shocking. Tinned carrots and beans, overcooked meat and pasta almost everyday. As you’ll see from our infographic opposite, today’s riders enjoy up to six meals a day. They are constantly eating, cycling or resting. To improve conditions, teams have hired high profile chefs to cook for their protégé, usually in specially adapted catering vans, which follow Le Tour, shopping along the way.

Hannah Grant is one such high profile chef on Le Tour. With a pedigree that includes a coveted position in the brigade at two star Michelin restaurant Noma in Denmark, Hannah’s focus is on nutritional development. In fact, she’s so obsessed with what is now termed ‘performance cooking’, she’s written ‘The Grand Tour Cookbook’, available later this summer. Recipes include easy to prepare, allergy friendly dishes that use natural, unprocessed foods, all tried and tested during Hannah’s time preparing meals for Tour de France riders. After five seasons with the Tinkoff-Saxo team on the World Tour, we expect Hannah knows what she’s talking about!

riders usually have pasta, rice or eggs to start the day. with A hot beverage, sometimes bread and yoghurt

of their daily nutrition is provided by carbohydrates.

between

and

calories are needed per rider each day

equivalent to 6 big mac, 6 big fries, 40 chicken nuggets and 3 ice creams

è

during a race, riders usually drink water or sweetened water. They also have fruit and energy bars to keep them going.

riders can have up to 6 meals a day.

Breakfast, a quick bite before the race, bars and cakes during the stage, a small meal just after, a dinner and a late night snack.

In total 8400 food packs and 66 000 bottles of water consumed

Find out more about Hannah at hannahgrantcooking.com

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it works as fuel for riders

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Tremplin Summer Source Advert.pdf

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27/04/2016

75 11:10

The Talk Of

The town In Morzine, many locals continue to believe in the ancestral traditions of a bygone age. Our valley has always been filled with a fertile soil and throughout the years locals have gathered an invaluable knowledge of how to use it.

T

he sun is shining. It’s a perfect spring day, when it feels like summer but the winter breeze reminds me it’s only April. Fernande is sitting next to her garden. At 89 years old, she’s lived here all her life (except that time when she flew to Paris, only to discover she wanted to spend the rest of her life in Morzine). In her little veg patch she plans to plant green beans, potatoes, strawberries, onions and courgettes. The classics. Her pal Stella arrives to have a chat. Life goes on and we eventually end up talking about Fernande’s garden. “An old saying in France is that you must wait for Les Saints de Glace to pass before starting planting” she maintains. The country folk in most of Europe, especially in our little corner of paradise, still believe firmly in the traditions that must have come through the Middle Ages. Maybe beyond.

Special prayers are still said in all rural churches to avert a late frost that might damage the crops on Saint Mamert day (the 11th of May), Saint Pancrace day (12th of May) and also on Saint Servais day (13th of May).

“Another one says that if you plant beans the day of la Saint-Didier on the 23rd of May, you will get a ‘plein panier’ (a full basket)” explains Stella. It also means your garden full of vegetables and fruits ought to swell nicely, ready in time for the picking season.

and brasserie

Situated at the departure of Le Pleney telecabine, with a large sunny terrace & family friendly activities Our healthy, delicious homemade summer menu is served non-stop Apres bike parties featuring live music or DJs on the terrace Yoga sessions twice per week on the grass, don’t forget to register Games to entertain the kids while you relax with lunch or drinks Ping-Pong tournaments, Mexico Loco and more...

An onion and the moon

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Call: +33 (0)6 74 53 54 74 us w book

ac e

follo on f

Folk law also determines that the signs of the zodiac are crucial in influencing the growth of plants. For instance, Virgo affects flowers, while Taurus and Aries are said to have a positive influence as well. Aquarius, Pisces and Libra are the days you want to avoid. And it does not stop here. According to Fernande and Stella, moon phases are also very influential. “When the moon is waxing, it benefits all produce that grows out of the ground. The waning moon benefits the vegetables which grow inside the ground” explains Fernande, flicking through her Almanac. “And there are more sayings too” remembers Stella. When an onion has a thick skin, it means there will be lots of snow. The same goes if there are still bees buzzing around in September. And to finish, a special Morzine saying. “As long as there’s snow at the top of Nyon, don’t plant anything.” You’ve been warned!

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alpine art uncovered The mountains are like a talent magnet, the beauty and atmosphere here tend to suck in creative people of all types from all over the world. Per person, the ratio of artists, designers, writers, sculptors and endless other artistic genres across

Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz easily beats the ratios of other creative meccas, London or Berlin for example, by a mile.

Here we profile three artists who are blazing a trail in their own discipline and using the local peaks as their inspiration.

Sue Neal Adventure Artist

I use a variety of artistic mediums, from watercolours, acrylic and oil paints right through to plaster, ceramics, metals and clay. I like it when my subject has some depth of matter – the mountains and the sports performed here throughout the summer and winter need to have a vibrancy and depth of movement which is unique to each piece.

I’m often commissioned to work in chalets, either producing bespoke paintings, large murals or creating custom signage for properties. I’ve also been asked to work on sculptures for private residences, family portraits and I’ve even completed the occasional pet portrait to eternalize a beloved companion.

My art workshops are for both adults and children and I welcome both holidaymakers and local residents. Adult sessions run every Saturday morning from 9.30am and cost €20 for two hours with all materials provided. Children’s workshops are on Wednesday afternoons from 4pm and cost €10 for two hours. If you’d like to join me, get in touch - susiewendy1365@gmail.com or call +33 (0) 6 43 37 37 65

Jess Oliver Inking & Sketching

My love for the Alps definitely grew during a summer and winter season in Morzine a few years ago. Skiing in the Portes du Soleil showed me the mountain in all conditions and at all stages of the season, which acted as a great backdrop to draw. My winter-long sketchbook became my diary for the season when I eventually headed back to the UK. At the moment I’m working on a commission to create personalised postcards for a chalet in Austria. I’ve also been asked to complete a large drawing for a chalet interior, which is a great way of coping with my post-season blues. It’s great to see my work being used in different ways!

I find Instagram is a great way to share my work and my inspirations with the world and many people get in touch with both feedback and requests for sketches. You’ll find me at @ ink_andsketch and my website is inkandsketch.com #lovemorzine

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Lois Vero Dotwork & geometric. Clean & current

There are so many tools available to illustrators these days, especially those of a digital variety, but I always start with pen and paper. That said, I couldn’t live without my drawing tablet.

So far my work has made it on to magazine covers, business branding, editorial illustrations, film graphics, clothing, event posters and more. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing people including Whitelines Magazine, Grindhouse Media, Satellite Coffee, Bec Jaune Brewery, Descent World and of course Source Magazine!

Being surrounded by nature in its rawest form is intoxicating for me. I’m addicted to seeing the variety of shapes and colours the mountains have to offer. Every day the same view looks different. I take inspiration from nature in many abstract forms as well as literally. My work includes both landscapes and mountainous creatures.

I’m currently learning to tattoo! You can follow my progress and watch my illustrations evolve at loisvero.com or on Instagram @loisvero

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A Brief History of Tourism The British Love Affair with Morzine

By Chloe Hardy

Us Brits. We do like to get around, don’t we? And no, I don’t mean like that. I’m talking about living in and visiting other countries, of course.

According to the latest UN statistics, France is the third most popul ar expat destination for Brits in Europe, behind Spain and Ireland. It’s also the most visited country in the world, thanks to tourist hotspots such as Paris, wine country and over 200 ski resorts; that’s probably why so many of us have ended up spread across the delightful towns of Morzine, Les Gets and St Jean d’Aulps. #lovemorzine

There’s no doubt about it. Over the past fifteen years or so, the area’s popularity with the British population has skyrocketed. More people are buying second homes and holidaying here than ever before, which in turn, means more people are relocating here to start businesses, do summer and winter seasons or work remotely.

And why not? The Morzine area is an absolute gold mine for anyone wanting a better quality of life; the French mountain town vibes are much nicer than those of some slightly higher French ski resorts I can think of, plus there’s the snow-sure resort of Avoriaz, amazing mountain biking, hiking and Geneva Airport right on your doorstep.

There only used to be a few British kids in the local schools, but now the ratio of British to French kids in the local school system is pretty equal. And thanks to 2008’s recession, which saw large companies such as Crystal Ski and Mark Warner leave the catered chalet game, there are probably more independent chalet companies in Morzine than in any other French resort. Cue the birth of many-a-transfercompany, ski rental shop and bar and it’s easy to see why Morzine Office de Tourisme statistics show that the British, more than any other nationality, visit Morzine every year.

#lovelesgets

But how has this massive influx of Englishspeakers affected the community? We spoke to local resident, Helen Watts, director of Morzinebased language centre, Alpine French School.

Helen has lived in Morzine for sixteen years and has noticed that “since I moved to the area, there has been a huge increase in the British / expat population. In terms of tourism, this has been a huge benefit as the number of tourists coming to the area has also greatly increased.

The only downside is that the two communities are somewhat separate, despite some efforts on both sides for this not to be the case.”

Anyone who’s lived here for a while will know this to be true, and will know the segregation and occasional friction that it causes. Morzine’s popularity with the British has also resulted in rapidly rising property prices for such a rural area, high amounts of development and of course, a more raucous nightlife, which some French (and British) residents aren’t always happy about. But Helen sees that things are changing: “this influx has brought with it an increased amount of expats wanting to learn French and also French wanting to learn or improve their English. In my personal opinion, most people could make more effort to integrate with each other, but some expats

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image credit - © guill aume reynaud

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are very integrated into the French community and I think this becomes easier for families with children at nursery and school.’

As I write this, the UK is engrossed in the big Brexit debate, and while many politicians and newspapers have stated that Britain leaving the EU won’t affect people living abroad, there is no telling what an EU exit could do to Brits who own businesses in France, or who own British registered companies that also operate in France. That will be up to France (which, bearing in mind, has seen the anti-immigration political party, the Front National, gaining massive popularity over the last two years), and there’s no telling what the government could decide. While it may still be fine for British people to live in France, the reality of running a business, owning a home or even just having access to medical care over here could change dramatically and see people moving back to the UK of their own accord.

/MorzineSourceMagazine

So in the knowledge that this could all change, I’m going to sign off by saying I hope that it doesn’t. We may have Britain-ised it a bit, but Morzine has a certain charm that just keeps on giving, wherever you’re from. Maybe some of us could do with a few language lessons, but otherwise we seem to have cobbled together a system that works; many of the British-run businesses out here cater to the large amount of Brits and other nationalities that keep coming back year after year, so the French don’t have to.

Not too much, anyway. Despite growing property development, modernisation and rising property prices, Morzine is still the mountain town we all know and love and everyone who lives here, British, French or other, seems pretty happy with that.

DixieBar.pdf

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10/05/2016

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Live sports on 10 screens Large choice of beers Spanish bar|Wine bar|British bar Snacks Live Music 11am - 2am

www.dixiebarmorzine.com @MorzineSource

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The Source Poster Trilogy

A2 in size Hand screen-printed 100% recycled paper Limited availability

€19.95

It all started with our ‘Portes du Soleil by Numbers’ infographic in 2015. We produced a limited number of 100 hand screen-printed posters on A2 sized recycled paper and they sold out in a flash. Our ‘100 Words for Snow’ poster that followed was just as popular. Now we bring you the final print in the series: Our 2016 ‘Tour de France’ poster. #lovemorzine

Our new poster features a tonne of stats and facts from Le Tour to celebrate its arrival in Morzine this summer. If you’re already a proud owner of our previous prints, this will definitely complete the series.

Order online at: morzinesourcemagazine.com/shop We’ll deliver your poster to you in Morzine, Avoriaz or Les Gets or post it to the UK for you

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your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz ALBA source advert.pdf 1 10/05/2016 08:54

LES GETS 'Our Standards Aren't Standard'

Serving breakfast, lunch & dinner from a fresh, contemporary menu in the centre of Les Gets Enjoy our local, seasonal ingredients with dishes to suit everyone Open Wed to Sun

Breakfast ...................... 9am - Noon

Landscaping Design - Creation - Upkeep

Lunch ............................... Noon - 3pm

Plants > Pruning > Earthwork > Riprap > Access Roads and Utilities > Landscaping Stonework Ornamental Woodwork > Fences > Ponds Play Areas Irrigation Sprinklers > Snow Clearance

Dinner ............................ 7pm - 10pm

133 Route des Grandes Alpes 74110 MORZINE +33 (0)450 79 20 51 contact@jardiflore.com

GE

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www.jardiflore.com

IT

A

For reservations call +33 (0) 7 71 71 13 65 Find our menus and promotions at facebook.com/Alba-Les-Gets For directions and further info visit albalesgets.com

RE

PROJEC

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OFFICES IN ST. JEAN D’AULPS, FRANCE & MANCHESTER, UK phone FR: 0033 (0) 450 79 57 20 phone UK: 0044 (0) 161 237 5500 email:info@just-h-architects.co.uk website: www.just-h-architects.co.uk

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The Taste of Summer Cajun Salmon, Sundried Tomato Fried Gnocchi, Red Pepper Sauce, Mango & Avocado Salad

Here’s a meal that’s quick to cook, even quicker to prepare, it’s healthy and most importantly it’s super tasty. The team at The Chalet Host Co have really cracked it with this one. Bon appetite!

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83

4 15mins Cooking time: 20mins Serves:

Prep time:

For the salmon:

4 salmon fillets, skinned 4tbsp. Cajun spice To make your own Cajun spice, mix the following together in a bowl :

1tsp. salt 1tsp. garlic salt 2tsp. smoked paprika ½tsp. ground black pepper ¼tsp. cayenne pepper 1tsp. dried thyme 3tbsp. sunflower oil

For the gnocchi:

500g dried gnocchi 100g butter 1 jar sundried tomatoes salt & pepper

For the sauce:

½ onion 1 red pepper 100ml white wine 200ml single cream ½ veg stock cube For the salad:

1 small packet Mache salad 1 soft mango 1 soft avocado 8 cherry tomatoes 2tbsp. olive oil 2tbsp. sunflower oil 1tbsp. vinegar (any) 1tbsp. honey 1tsp. wholegrain mustard

Method:

Marinate the salmon. Mix the Cajun spice with 3tbsp oil and rub the salmon fillets generously until completely covered. Leave in the fridge until later.

baking parchment. Remove the salmon fillets from the fridge and lay them out on the tray. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until the fillets have reached 75°c.

Make the sauce. Heat a small frying pan with a little olive oil and finely dice the onion and red pepper. Fry in the oil until soft, then add the white wine and stock cube. Cook for a further 5 minutes and add the cream. When the sauce begins to thicken, remove from the heat and pour into a blender or heatproof jug and blend until smooth with a hand blender. Pass the liquid through a sieve to get the smoothest, creamiest sauce. Leave to one side for later.

Finish the sauce. Put the red pepper sauce back on a low heat to warm through.

Make the salad. Finely dice the avocado and mango, mix together in a bowl and leave to one side for later. Put the olive oil, sunflower oil, vinegar, honey and mustard in a cup, cover tightly with cling film and shake thoroughly until completely combined - this is your salad dressing.

Cook the salmon. Preheat your oven to 180°c and line a baking tray with

Finish the gnocchi. Heat a large, non-stick frying pan and add 100g of butter. When the butter begins to bubble add the gnocchi to the pan.

Roughly chop 4 sundried tomatoes and add to the mix. Season with salt and pepper and toss occasionally.

When the gnocchi begins to go golden brown and crispy, it’s ready (about 10 minutes).

Serve. Remove the gnocchi from the heat and check the salmon. If it’s done you’re ready to go! Make a neat pool of red pepper sauce in the center of each plate, then spoon a generous portion of gnocchi on top, followed by a salmon fillet. Mix the avocado, mango, dressing and Mache salad in a bowl and serve in the center of the table.

This recipe is brought to you by the chefs at The Chalet Host Co. – thechalethostco.com /MorzineSourceMagazine

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By John Layden & Dave Harrison

Drone Alps was born during a January whiteout. We were becoming increasingly frustrated with wobbly helmet-cam footage and were longing for a filming solution that could capture the mountains in all their glory. Our conversation turned to drones.

My co-founder John had first worked with drones back in 2008 during his degree in aerospace engineering. Tasked with building an aircraft capable of autonomous flight, he decided to design a drone. During the research phase of the project he had the chance to experiment with some of the University’s pre-existing designs.

The maximum flight time was a short five minutes, the aircraft was disastrously unstable and the controls required feline reflexes.

All of this for the cool sum of £20,000!

Fast forward eight years and drone technology is almost unrecognisable. For a fraction of the price, modern drones are capable of speeds of up to 90km/ hr, have up to 25 minute flight #lovemorzine

times, use GPS tracking to stay in position, can be set up for autonomous and pre programmed flight paths and take off and land automatically. Add a stabilised 4k camera into the mix and you have yourself an incredible piece of filmmaking equipment, a tripod in the sky.

There’s no such thing as a typical day for the Drone Alps team. We are now 18 months down the line, have over 30 projects under our belt and every single day has been a different challenge.

Keeping up with Freeride World Tour riders gives us a huge adrenaline rush, as there’s only one take to get the shot right.

They don’t slow down for a drone!

On the other hand, filming Land Rover Evoques for promotional material takes several days of shooting to perfect! Every client has a different set of needs; from chalet owners who want to show their property in the best possible light, to event organisers who are looking for hair raising footage of athletes pushing themselves to

the limit against the incredible backdrop of the mountains.

We quickly found out that there is a lot more to filming with drones than first meets the eye. It’s not enough to just be a skilled pilot; every shoot requires careful planning and preparation.

However, the resulting footage is well worth the effort! The French system has a lot of red tape to navigate and, as fines for illegal pilots carry a penalty of up to €75,000, we have always made sure that we operate on the right side of the law. In order to charge for services as a professional drone pilot, our operators all have to complete a pilots’ theory licence in French, which is quite challenging when it might not be their native language! The police are taking more of an active role on the mountain now too. On a recent project in Val Thorens, the team were stopped by a slick cohort of skiing policemen (fully expecting us to be lacking the proper paperwork), who remarked that

#lovelesgets

we were the first operators that they had ever stopped who had all their documentation in order.

Needless to say, they had a great time being filmed once they had done their duty! There’s been a noticeable increase in the frequency of Gendarmerie spot checking (on 7 of our last 10 shoots no less) which although inconvenient at times, is a really promising sign as it shows that the authorities are taking the legality and safety of drones very seriously.

The possibilities for drone use in the mountains are endless, reaching far beyond our current focus of conventional film production. In the near future it will be commonplace to see drones used by mountain rescue teams to quickly locate lost and injured mountaineers. Another tool in development for the rescue teams are avalanche detection drones, which will allow for extremely fast detection and rescue of those trapped beneath the snow. #loveavoriaz

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image credits - © drone alps

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Dr on e Al ps ha s so me big pl an s fo r th e fu tu re .

Ke ep an ey e on ou r ad ve nt ur es at : facebook .com/dronealps or youtub

e.com/dronealps dronealps.com

dr on e Fil mi ng pr oc es s ch ec k Lis t Of fsi te

Aero nau tica l map s to be chec ked care fully for any rest ricti ons Dec lara tion s sent to the loca l auth orit ies Che ckin g wea ther fore cast s for wind and prec ipita tion (dro nes don ’t like rain !)

Arra ngin g acce ss and land own ers perm issio n for take off poin ts Prep arin g wai ver form s if nece ssar y Liai sing with clien t for stor y boa rd or shot list Eq uip me nt

Soft war e chec ked and upd ated for airc raft Insp ecti ng equ ipm ent for dam age Form attin g and prep arin g mem ory card s Full y cha rged batt erie s Gen erat or topp ed up for onsi te cha rgin g On sit e

Ons ite insp ecti ons of take off and land ing zone s and any rele van t haza rds Perf orm ing pre fligh t safe ty chec ks Ensu re that the pilo t is carr ying all nece ssar y doc ume ntat ion (to app ease the Gen darm erie !)

Disc ussi ng and plan ning spec ific fligh ts and shot s with the clien t Prog ram min g way poin ts for auto mat ic fligh t path s Imm edia te onsi te revi ew of the foot age with the clien t

As drone technology continues to evolve, so does the law that governs their use. A recent amendment to French law in January 2016 allows the pilot to ski alongside their drone, opening up a host of new filming techniques. Watch out for those in our Showreel!

/MorzineSourceMagazine

Due to the advances in automatic obstacle avoidance and subject tracking technology, drones are about to become even more accessible to the mountain sports enthusiast. An “off the shelf” self-flying drone rental service is not as far-fetched an idea as it would have been just a couple of years ago. @MorzineSource

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Evergreen Endurance returns to Lake Montriond Following a successful inaugural event last summer, the Evergreen Endurance is back but this time there are three different distance triathlons to test you. The entry-level Evergreen 58 distance includes a 1.5km swim in Lake Montriond, a 40km cycle and a 12.5km trail run.

The Evergreen 118 features 2km in the lake, 95km in the saddle and 21km on the trails, while the superhard Evergreen 228 features a 4km swim, 181km bike ride and a 43km run.

The whole event is based on a strong eco concept and the organisers take their environmental responsibilities very seriously indeed. The Evergreen is a completely paperless event, only organic, locally sourced produce is used at fuelling stations and the organisers actively encourage fundraising for environmental charities.

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Ski Sleeper Train Under Threat Each winter thousands of British skiers head to the Alps on the ski train – an overnight service from Paris servicing many Alpine transport hubs, our local station in Cluses included. Travelling by train rather than plane offers two extra days on quiet slopes at either end of your holiday, in addition to being a bit of an adventure too.

But now, after 100 years in service, the French Ministry of Transport has announced that unless a train operator steps in to take over the service, it’ll be terminated. This is sad news for eco-conscious travellers, who’ve previously enjoyed the reduced levels of pollution and carbon emissions compared with flying to the Alps.

As with all good protests, there’s now an online petition to save the sleeper train.

Have your say at change.org/p/sncfsave-the-french-sleeper-trains

Upon landing at Geneva Airport, it’s not that obvious that there are two separate sides to the airport – the French side and the Swiss side. It’s often when you try to book a hire car that things become interesting.

Renting a Swiss vehicle from a hire company on the Swiss side has the advantage of coming with a ‘vignette’ – a tax disc style sticker on the windscreen, necessary for driving on Swiss roads. Rental rates are often cheaper from the Swiss side of the airport too. However from 1st May 2016, rental company Alamo, citing a new EEU directive, no longer permit their hire vehicles to be driven into France. It’s likely that the other rental companies will follow suit.

Several travellers have reported confusion and cancelled hire policies when arriving at Geneva Airport to collect their vehicles and the problem looks set to escalate during the busy summer season. Keep an eye on the Source website for further updates.

image credit - © david powell

Sign up at evergreen-endurance.com.

Changes to rental car policies at Geneva Airport

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Beautifully designed custom furniture made using locally sourced wood by skilled local craftsmen.

Visit our 4 floor showroom in Montriond for furniture, gifts, kitchenware, fabrics and much more.

Montriond le Lac, 74110, France www.sculpteursdulac.com /LesSculpteursduLac +33 (0) 4 50 75 99 66

founded in 1976

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With the smartphone revolution we saw technology become smaller and significantly smarter over a very short period of time. It was only a handful of years between the pinnacle of mobile tech being a colour screen, calculator, a blurry camera and Snake, to suddenly having 1080p slow-mo video, a full word processor, GPS, augmented reality and games that put the consoles of the mid 2000’s to shame.

Our Wearable Technology Essentials As this ever-miniaturising, non-stop march of progress continues, we are seeing more of a need for additional supporting hardware. The phone alone is no longer enough. Now we’re into the world of wearable tech.

The range of products already available is broad but not

hugely impressive, especially if you keep in mind that the first smart watch was developed in the mid 80’s. Today’s generation of wearable tech has succeeded where previous attempts failed, due to the support of powerful smartphones taking over the main workload. The point of the wearability is simply an

interface to the device left your pocket, or as a sensor gathering data for your smartphone to process.

Here we take a look at four of the best wearables out there, ranging from the all-bells-andwhistles iWatch, right through to the smallest and simplest of devices available.

Microsoft Band 2

€250 Aimed to be the exact halfway point between a smartwatch and a fitness band, the Band 2 should appeal to those who want functionality over style and a great piece of kit at a more reasonable price point. Featuring universal compatibility for those twisted enough to want to mix and match Apple and Microsoft products, a full range of health and sleep tracking functions, Microsoft’s version of Siri - Cortana, who many claim has better functionality and intelligence, plus you can do all the standard smartwatch tricks, like read your messages, check notifications and answer calls.

Apple iWatch

From €400 As soon as rumours of the iWatch’s development started circulating, you knew two things would be certain about Apple’s first attempt at the wearables market: It would be great, and it would be expensive. The iWatch pulls no punches and is currently the most advanced and versatile smartwatch available. Featuring the usual sleek Apple design, intuitive interface and 10,000+ downloadable apps, the iWatch is a strong competitor in the wearable’s line up. With two sizes (38mm & 42mm), plus four materials available (aluminium, stainless steel, rose gold & yellow gold) and many options for band colour and material, you can tailor the watch’s style to your own. And with the power of the App Store behind you, you’ll never be short of excellent software to match the quality Californian designed hardware.

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Fitbit Blaze

€229 The previous entries on this list are smart watches with fitness functions, whereas the Blaze is a fitness band with smart functions. Designed to be the perfect workout buddy by monitoring and calculating your body’s rhythms, tracking steps, comparing your performance and generally offering up a bit of encouragement when you’re in the prime zone for fat burning, the Blaze handles the fitness side of the deal admirably. When you consider the addition of GPS for tracking your routes and distances, plus full smartphone compatibility for checking messages and notifications on the go, the Blaze is a very powerful little tool.

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your business. published.

Misfit Ray

€100 Billed as a fitness and sleep monitor, the Ray is the one of most stripped down and simplified wearables on the market. Relying heavily on smartphone app support, the Ray is essentially a set of sensors in a pretty package. Most of the processing is done ‘in app’, so the Ray is free to quietly monitor your activity, steps and sleep patterns without fuss.

So little fuss in fact, that battery life is in the region of half a year, unlike some of the others on this list that you’ll be lucky to squeeze half a day out of at full functionality. Simple, inexpensive and beautiful, the Ray makes technology into jewellery and doesn’t suffer for it. /MorzineSourceMagazine

@MorzineSource

marketing strategy | social media public relations | client magazines based year-round in morzine

info@origami-media.com origami-media.com +33 (0) 6 43 80 65 82

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How to do a winter season

by Rob Purver

A winter ski season was always a must-do part of any gap year, but recently seasons are becoming increasingly popular with the retired, professional couples and folk of all ages who simply want out of the rat race. Of course you still get the gap year’ers and even a few gap yah’s. But the majority of seasonaires these days want a good time, a decent goggle tan and a lit tle break from the everyday grind of the ‘real world’.

It’s surprisingly easy to do a winter season. Here’s our guide to the best and most common employment choices for any aspiring seasonaire in Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz. You have six main ‘career choices’ to consider!

Chalet Host

Transfer Driver

Probably one of the easiest jobs to get but one of the hardest to do, Chalet Hosts work a long week, usually involving early starts to serve breakfast and late finishes after serving dinner. The shift pattern can be a little overwhelming for some, but if you’re organised, efficient and hard working, you can really make this job work for you.

One of the harder resort jobs to get because of the various licences required for transporting paying clients in France and Switzerland, the initial start up costs involved in becoming a Transfer Driver can be high. Transfer Drivers earn a much higher weekly wage but they’re expected to find their own accommodation and pay their own way through the season. You will inevitably have to clean up sick at some point, you will be asked the same questions over and over again by excited holiday makers, you will fall asleep in a car park and you wont have a regular sleep cycle over weekends.

Duties include making beds, cleaning and serving breakfast and dinner to your new extended family each week, as well as being friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the local area and resort facilities. In return you’ll usually have your accommodation and meals provided, as well as a season lift pass, transportation to and from resort when your contract starts and ends and you’ll be paid a weekly wage that varies between £100 and £200, depending on which company you work for. And then there’s the tips, which can add up to a sizable amount of beer tokens and Tartiflette each week.

There are many benefits to the shift pattern though. When you’re not working, you’re as free as a bird and there’s a lot of joy to be had in watching the sunrise over misty mountains. You’ll have multiple entire days off, make good money and actually get to leave resort and explore the wider world (between here and Geneva at least).

best for: Couples, budding chefs, gap yah’s and those who’ve only recently left the nest

best for: Night owls, lone wolves, amateur rally drivers

Not good for: The unsociable

Not good for: Party animals, nervous drivers

French required: Basic

French required: Knowledge of driving directions and road signs plus basic language skills

When do you usually recruit your Chalet Hosts for next season?

What are the current licence requirements to be a transfer driver?

“Our main recruitment push begins in June, but we are open for applicants from the end of April for the following winter. Then we like to have all our positions filled by August/September time. We have a lot of returning staff so it's good for prospective new applicants to get in early!”

“To be an airport transfer driver you must hold 2 years professional driving experience or hold a RoSPA chauffeur certification” Sarah Whitemore, Getaway Vans

Amy, Treeline Chalets #lovemorzine

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Call Home

ã Jean-Baptiste Bieuville

agency! e t a t s e ly d friend sympathique ! n a c i m A dyna dynamique et ence Une ag

Bar Staff It’s the iconic season job and because of that, these positions get snapped up quickly. If you want to make as many friends as possible during the short winter season, this one is for you. You’ll be up late most nights and you’ll find it very hard not to go out after work, even if you finish at 2am.

There’s good money to be made and some local bars provide accommodation packages too.

On the flip side, expect to develop a mild drinking problem, have some very interesting experiences and end up on a seven-day-a-week party schedule.

You probably won’t make it up the mountain before lunchtime and don’t expect to make a huge amount of progress on your skis or snowboard.

best for: Party animals, socialites and amateur alcoholics Not good for: Powder hounds French required: Fluency ideal What level of French do you need to work in a local bar?

"Here at The Cavern we require a basic level of French as we get a lot of ESF instructors and other locals in the bar. It's not essential though. If someone is really experienced and doesn't speak French then we can make it work”

www.callhome-morzine.com 04.50.04.94.76 Chaque Agence est Juridiquement et Financièrement Indépendante

Russ Price, Cavern Bar

/MorzineSourceMagazine

@MorzineSource

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Cleaner

Ski Tech

A real ‘behind the scenes’ position, cleaners are the unsung heroes of a ski resort. There are minimal requirements for public interaction, a solid wage and plenty of time off, making this a job that’s tiring, dirty, but often rewarding. Occasionally the rate of pay is set per chalet or property so if you engage beast-mode and smash it out quickly, you’ll earn a great rate.

These positions are rare and usually experience is required. The job comes in two varieties: mobile and static. As the mobile variant, you’ll need a driving licence and a deep well of patience. You’ll spend your weekend driving from one chalet to another delivering ski boots, snowboards, helmets, poles and skis to the masses. It’s a fun, rewarding job that gets you out and about, plus it gives you a whole load of spare time to get up the mountain during the week.

You’ll end up looking a bit bleach-stained-state after a days work, but nobody will have seen you and you’ll be able to slink off home with a bag of swag, usually consisting of butter, olive oil, cornichons, half finished vodka and the €3 you found down the back of the sofa. best for: Hard workers, clean freaks, the unsocial

The other kind of ski tech is the basement dweller. Working in a shop deep into the night, you’ll have 75 pairs of skis to wax by the next morning and for the right kind of person this job is heaven. Night work, good pay and zero contact with the public might well be your dream.

Ski Bum

Not good for: The squirmish

Could it be that the best solution to working a winter season is to simply not work at all? You’re never likely to miss a powder day and a hangover morning at work is always better if you don’t actually have to get out of bed.

French required: None

Where can people find resort cleaning jobs?

“I’d recommend looking on local Facebook groups and also the Far and Wide Workers website. If you’re already in resort it’s even better because you can chat to people and ask around, someone always knows something! Start searching for jobs as soon as possible, but bear in mind most companies probably won’t be looking for staff until the end of the Summer / early Autumn.”

But is the dream really all that dreamy? With large overheads, little or no structure and no immediate work related social group, you may struggle with various aspects of the ski bums lifestyle. If you’re taking a gap year from high flying lifestyle, have money behind you or are simply willing to trade some aspects of normality and comfort for more days on the hill, it could well be for you.

Not good for: Workaholics French required: It helps, especially when begging for out of date food at the supermarket

Sarah Tucker, owner of Trust & Dust

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best for: Trustifarians, lazy people, all day everyday skiers/ snowboarders

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Our three favourite Tour de France books…

Simply Spas 1-4 page advert.pdf

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The Yellow Jersey Club

Whilst it’s not actually published until 30th June 2016, we’re expecting big things from Edward Pickering’s new book, which promises to take us inside the minds of the Tour de France winners.

The book offers unprecedented access to the secrets of cycling’s greatest; there are only 26 living members of The Yellow Jersey Club after all. Pickering set out on a mission to ask all 26 about their dedication to the sport, their brutal selfsacrifice and their extraordinary physical attributes, making this book an essential read for anyone pondering the difference between a keen road cyclist and the very best the sport has ever produced.

RRP £9.99

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SIMPLY SPAS ALPINE COLLECTION 2016 Designed by us to endure freezing winters, searingly hot summers & holidaymakers!

Innovative, unique technology, superstrong structure and amazing insulation.

These spas will not only save you money but look & feel amazing too!

The Tour de France Miscellany

www.simplyspas-alps.com

44-46 Rue de la Gare (opposite the Tourist office) Samoens 74340

Everyone loves a good book of facts and stats and John White doesn’t disappoint in this new book, covering 110 years of Le Tour. Featuring all the historic moments Tour fans will remember, and many others long forgotten, amongst these pages you’ll learn hundreds of fascinating facts with which to impress your friends as you climb your next Col. This is the sort of book you’ll want to dip in and out of rather than read as a whole, making it a staple for the coffee tables of many Morzine chalets this summer.

+33 (0)6 48 47 27 58 | simplyspas@orange.fr

le rocher.pdf

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Savoyarde Specialties and Take-Away Pizza Open from 9am until 1am every day

RRP £9.98

The Great Bike Race

Have you ever wondered how the Tour de France became the most watched annual sporting event on the planet?

Forty years after its original publication, modern cycling critics still universally revere this book by Geoffrey Nicholson as the benchmark English-language volume on the sport. It tells the entire story of a full tour, captivating the reader from start to finish. You’ll explore the culture of Le Tour, learn all about its well-established traditions and discover the personalities, which have kept the sport alive over the years. This book is sure to entertain and educate, even Tour aficionados will enjoy the read.

5 4.5/

Tel: 04 50 75 78 47

36 Route de Morzine - 74110 - Montriond www.lerocher-montriond.fr

RRP £12.99 /MorzineSourceMagazine

@MorzineSource

/MorzineSourceMagazine

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By Robin Ecoeur

Whilst it’s not news that people learn to ski, snowboard and stuff themselves with Raclet te in ski resorts the world over, there’s something very unique about Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz during the snowy season. Ten things, to be exact…

1. Dinner in a Teepee

3. Sleep in an Igloo

5. Watch the Dixie Micks

Here’s the idea. It's 6pm in the evening and the sun is about to go down. Take the Pleney lift to the top of the mountain and partake in a very special event with just a sledge and a head torch. Along with your guide you’ll sledge through the forest, where a teepee filled with mulled wine, Tartiflette, a traditional dessert and coffee await.

Drink, eat and sleep in a real snow house for a truly unforgettable night. Each winter a Village Igloo with a surface area of 350m2 is constructed on the Arare sector above Avoriaz.

It takes 10 sculpteurs 21 days to construct and decorate the igloo with beautiful ice carvings and unforgettable grottos. The average temperature inside is a toasty 2 degrees, perfect for enjoying the bar, restaurant and cosy bedrooms.

If our interview of page 46 has got you in the mood for a good olde Irish jig, then keep an eye on our Facebook page for details of their next trip to Morzine. The Dixie Micks are a right of massage for any seasoned après professional, you’ll love their classic ballads, traditional Irish folk music and their infectious enthusiasm. This is the soundtrack to your apres-ski! Our tip: Get there early, it's always a full house!

Find out more at village-igloo-avoriaz.fr

6. Take a moment to relax

4. Enjoy a proper Ice Hockey game

After a long day exploring the Portes du Soleil, treat yourself to a blissful pampering at the Les Gets Luxury Spa. Whether you just want to simply chill out in the pool, have a full relaxing massage or sweat off last night’s Fondue in the sauna, this magical place should do the trick.

Book in advance with indianaventures.com

Morzine’s team Les Pingouins are in the French premier league. Throughout the winter, experience the atmosphere of the ice rink, the energy of the players and the passion of the local fans. That's if you think you are tough enough! Home matches are played at Morzine’s Skoda Arena and we regularly give away free tickets on the Morzine Source Magazine Facebook page.

2. Valentine’s Day in a cable car!

Buy your match tickets in advance at hcmag.fr

A fancy dinner? A bottle of wine? A box of chocolates? That’s a bit too obvious, right? In Les Gets, real romantics celebrate Valentine’s Day on the Mont Chery cable car! Each bubble is decorated with fur, cushions and candles, and each time you pass through the lift station, another course is served. If that’s not a hook, we don’t know what is!

7. Get away for the day

Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets are all part of Les Portes Du Soleil, a massive 650km stretch of piste. Encompassing two countries, this is the biggest linked ski area in the world. With many different routes available, booking a professional ski instructor or guide is the best way to explore 330 slopes, snow parks, and freestyle zones. One day might not be enough…

8. Adrenaline-Junkies

Visit lesgets.com for more details, advance booking is essential. #lovemorzine

Open every day between 8am and 8pm, call +33 (0) 7 83 71 09 29 to book

The latest trend to hit the slopes is Speed Riding, a mix between free ride skiing and #lovelesgets

#loveavoriaz

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Our family run business provides peace of mind for property owners, and hassle-free holidays for your guests.

image credit - Š avoriaz office de tourisme

Total Chalet Services

paragliding. Here in Morzine, the man to show you how it’s done is Albert Baud, a pioneer of Speed Riding. Be careful, Speed Riding is highly addictive, with a sensation of freedom guaranteed!

For more information visit aireole. com/speed-riding/

Morzine, Les Gets and outlying villages.

Our services range from total chalet management to ad hoc cleaning, catering or babysitting. www.totalchaletservices.com

10. Party in the sky at Rock The Pistes Festival

Babyshambles, Klaxons, Lee Skratch Perry and many others have graced the mountain-top ! stages of Rock the Pistes Festival since it launched in 2011. The concept? Each day, there is a free gig in a different location, spread around the Portes du Soleil. All you need to get there is your lift pass. The best view is in Morgins, just in front of the Dents du Paradis. Amazing!

Total Mountain Specialising in bespoke alpine holidays.

Summer or winter, we have a range of options to suit you. www.totalmountain.co.uk UK: +44 (0) 7870 191 144!

Fr: +33 (0) 6 47 94 65 69! e: info@totalchaletservices.com

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! ! ! !

Keep an eye on rockthepistes. com for the 2017 line-up announcement.

9. Shop with your skis on

Avoriaz is famous for many reasons, one being its no cars policy. During the winter months, cars must be left in the car park and luggage is transported by horse drawn carriage. This means you can go shopping, visit restaurants and travel to your accommodation on skis. How cool is that?

/MorzineSourceMagazine

@MorzineSource

/MorzineSourceMagazine

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WIN THE ULTIMATE SKI HOLIDAY The prize is worth over

€3500!

With Morzine Source Magazine

We’ve partnered with some of our favourite local businesses to offer two lucky Source Magazine readers the chance to win the ultimate 1 week ski holiday to Morzine, arriving on Saturday 14th January 2016.

WHAT YOU WIN: Accommodation - mountainxtra.com Stay in MountainXtra’s modern, self-catered Boston Glen apartment for 1 week and enjoy a bottle of champagne on arrival. It’s centrally located with a hot tub and a beautiful view. What more could you want?

Lift Passes MountainXtra have also generously supplied lift passes for our lucky winners!

Private Airport Transfers - a2ski.co.uk Our friends at A2Ski will whisk you between Geneva Airport and Morzine on a private transfer and return you to the airport at the end of your holiday.

Ski Lessons - avoriazalpineskischool.com To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Avoriaz Alpine Ski School will teach you both to ski in daily group ski lessons in snow-sure Avoriaz.

Equipment Rental - alpine-sports.eu The experienced team at Alpine Sports will kit you out with skis, boots, poles and helmets for the duration of your holiday.

Winter Sports Holiday Insurance - mpibrokers.com Specialist insurance providers MPI Brokers will cover our two winners under their Wintersports France policy.

Night Sledging - indianaventures.com Equipped with a sledge and a head torch, you’ll descend the Pleney at dusk, accompanied by a guide from Indiana’Ventures.

Massages - morzinemassage.co.uk You’ll each enjoy an hours massage treatment from the experienced therapists at Morzine Massage in the comfort of your apartment.

Dinner - lagrangemorzine.com Restaurant La Grange will provide the perfect traditional Savoyarde dining experience on one night of your holiday, with a €80 voucher towards your meal.

Ice Hockey Tickets - hcmag.fr Our local ice hockey team The Penguins play in France’s premier league.

You’ll enjoy a home match at the Skoda Arena in Morzine, courtesy of the club.

Apres Session - tibetan-café-morzine.com On one night of your holiday, enjoy a good old après session at Morzine’s Tibetan Café, complete with live music and a €50 drinks voucher

Source Goodie Bag - morzinesourcemagazine.com In your accommodation when you arrive you’ll find a bag stuffed with treats and souvenirs from Source Magazine.

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how you win

What’s your favourite thing about Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz in the summer?

Tell us in less than 50 words by sending an email to competition@morzinesourcemagazine.com or by completing the online entry form at morzinesourcemagazine.com/competition.

All entries must be received before midnight on 15th September 2016.

THE SMALL PRINT All elements of our competition prize above are subject to our Source Magazine terms and conditions, which can be found at morzinesourcemagazine.com/competition. When you enter the competition via email or via our website, you accept these terms. image credit - Š oreli b - avoriaz tourisme

/MorzineSourceMagazine

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Snow-Camp confirms 2017 Alpine Challenge dates skiing or snowboarding over two consecutive days, navigating checkpoints along the way. Entry is £350 per person which includes flights, transfers, accommodation, lift passes, challenge entry, parties and much more. Enter before 22nd July 2016 for just £300 per person. Find out more at snow-camp.org.uk/events/ alpinechallenge.

Here at Source Magazine we’re massive fans of youth charity Snow-Camp and their annual Alpine Challenge skiathon across the Portes du Soleil each winter is loads of fun (whilst raising important funds for charity of course…) The 8th Alpine Challenge takes place between 19th and 22nd January 2017 and once again challengers need to clock up 150km of GPS tracked

A2SKI advert.pdf

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Celebrating 25 years in Avoriaz

Les Gets’ New Ski Lift Update

Avoriaz is consistently listed as one of the snowiest resorts in the Alps, a fact that Avoriaz Alpine Ski School founder Ian McKeller surely foresaw 25 years ago.

Winter ski holidays were very different back in 1992 when Ian first set up his ski school, but the one thing that has remained consistent is the ski school’s passion for teaching standards, quality and safety. In our next winter issue you’ll be able to read all about how the Portes du Soleil has changed for Ian and his team over the last 25 years.

In the meantime, win a pair of group lessons with Avoriaz Alpine Ski School on page 96 and visit avoriazalpinesskischool.com for more details.

As we’ve reported in previous issues of Source Magazine, controversial plans to connect the Chavannes area of Les Gets with Mont Chery mid station via a new Teleporte lift across the village have been proposed. At an estimated construction cost of €8million, it’s no wonder the decision making process is both lengthy and complicated. This spring locals were given the chance to have their say in writing at the town’s Mairie, and at a recent public meeting, a much cheaper alternative to the new lift was proposed. It’s thought that significantly increasing the number of petit trains that service the route between the bottom of the Chavannes and the Mont Chery base station would convince more skiers to cross the valley and explore one of the hidden gems of the Portes du Soleil. Based on its eco credentials alone, we far prefer the petit train idea.

13:15

Competitively priced airport transfers and in resort cab company.

Pre booked cab service operating: Monday to Thursday - 6pm to 2.30am Fridays- 6pm to 12pm subject to availability

For further information and all other inquiries please email us at info@a2ski.co.uk or visit our website a2ski.co.uk Wishing you a fantastic summer from the A2Ski team.

Specialist in ZIP n LINK beds and Quality Bed Linen, Towels and Duvets (Heritage, Luxury, Comfort and Essential Ranges), to suit Hotels, Tour Operators and Chalet/Apartment Owners.

|

info@lingedesalpes.com | +33 (0)6 43 22 28 27 | www.lingedesalpes.com SHOWROOM - Essert Romand 74110

+33 (0) 6 46 89 96 11 #lovemorzine

+33 (0) 7 83 17 52 35 #lovelesgets

#loveavoriaz

Tél. +33 (0)4 50 79 07 13

Part of the Burnhill Kitchens Group

Modern kitchen meets traditional Ski Home - The perfect combination

New Showroom now open in Les Gets

From UK to Portes du Soleil

MIDAS Kitchens, the French arm of Burnhill Kitchens, a family-run business based in Kent with a long-established reputation for excellent allround design and installation service. MIDAS Kitchens can offer you the same professional service here in the Haute Savoie region. This is our 5th year in the area and our portfolio and reputation are growing, so please call into the new showroom in Les Gets for a free design service.

Lion d’Or 175 rue du Vieux Village 74260 LES GETS sales@midaskitchens.fr UK Office: +44(0) 1732 373515 FR Office: +33(0) 640 922527 www.midaskitchens.fr

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