Issue 9 - Summer 2017 - Morzine Source Magazine

summer 17

The Ultim ate

Ski Holid ay wort h over

â‚Ź4000

meet Amy Williams food glorious food route des grandes alpes

hot property

Resort activities, news & events wellness & kit guides, technology & more

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welcome You’re on a wellness holiday, but you probably don’t even know it.

You see, there’s something about our little corner of the Alps that induces a slightly slower pace as you walk down the street. It makes your food taste that little bit better. It makes your eyes shine that little bit brighter.

It makes that post-ride beer all the more refreshing. Don’t worry, no one is about to force feed you chia seeds or lace your drink with almond milk. We do wellness more organically here in the mountains.

visiting Morzine, Les Gets or Avoriaz for the first time this summer, standard protocol may not be so obvious. Winter Olympic gold medalist Amy Williams had never been to Morzine before completing the 146km l'Étape du Tour last summer. Read her first impressions of our village, plus her thoughts on road cycling, wellness, becoming a mum and the 2018 Winter Olympics in this issue of Source.

On the 99 pages that follow we’ve profiled a stack of locals who are in the business of wellness. Whether you’re here to cycle up hills or down them, to swim in one of our incredible lakes or to try your hand at Triathlon

training, we know the men and women who can help you. You’ll also find news, information, events and an update on how the Mairie de MorzineAvoriaz plan to spend €147.9 million on piste and lift development over the next 20 years.

It’s set to be an action-packed summer across the area, as always head to morzinesourcemagazine.com for the latest news.

Until winter…

Amie henderson | publisher amie@morzinesourcemagazine.com

in

e n! .

What goes on across our valley during the winter months is obvious. We ski.

We snowboard. We après. But if you’re

www.morzinesourcemagazine.com

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Copyright Origami Media Ltd 2017 Source Magazine is published in the UK 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 Origami Media Ltd. Printed in the UK by Swallowtail Print Ltd. With thanks to the Office de Tourisme in Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz, Vallee d’Aulps and Les Portes du Soleil. #lovemorzine

#lovelesgets

#loveavoriaz

Contents

your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz

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What’s new this summer?....................................................................... 8 Hello Express Morzine-Avoriaz ...................................................10 Meet Amy Williams ...................................................................................... 12 The Science of Play................................................................................... 18 A Leap into the Unknown.....................................................................22 The 2017 Source Award Winners ....................................................26 Tri Montagne ................................................................................................. 28 route des Grande Alpes .....................................................................30 Light Mobility................................................................................................ 34 #Trending – MTB Kit................................................................................. 36 Meet Liv............................................................................................................... 38 The Wellness Directory...................................................................... 42 Splash Your Mountain........................................................................... 48 Sway.......................................................................................................................50 The Source Accommodation Directory.................................52 Hot Property................................................................................................. 56 Ultra-Running with Edwina .............................................................62 #Trending – Road Cycling Kit........................................................ 64 I Love Food ...................................................................................................... 66 The Then & Now of Wellness .......................................................... 68 Book Review................................................................................................... 70 #Trending – The Great Outdoors...............................................72 The Fear...............................................................................................................74 Adventure Travel ......................................................................................76 #Trending – Wellness ...........................................................................78 #Trending – Family Summer Fun ....................................................80 Food Glorious Food .............................................................................. 82 Climbing for Wellness..........................................................................90 PyeonChang 2018 ....................................................................................... 92 News ...................................................................................................................... 94

Contributors Chloe Hardy Claire Garber Natalie Elvy Cameron Hall Edwina Sutton Peter McEwan Susan Greenwood Samuel McMahon

/MorzineSourceMagazine

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Summer Lifts 2017

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Télésiège Pointe de Nyon

#lovelesgets

Téléphérique de Nyon

Télésiège Nauchets Express

ST JEAN D'AULPS Jeu / Thrs

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Télécabine Grande Terche

#loveavoriaz

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What’s

new this summer?

Wibit Park des Gets

We’re huge fans of Les Gets’ swimming lake in the summer. It’s warm, it’s part of the MultiPass and it offers stunning views. And this summer it’s set to get even better with the introduction of an inflatable water play area called Wibit. Thirty different modules including climbing walls, slides and trampolines are suitable for both adults and children (aged 6 years and over) offering a floating play area of 1200m2. There’s even a human catapult! We’ll see you there.

park now measures a huge 3 hectares, there’s a mini jump park and a kids zone too, not to mention a coaching track, pumptrack and videopark. In Les Gets three lifts are dedicated to mountain bikers and there’s a team of over 40 to help manage and maintain the bikepark.

La station de

NOUVEAUTÉ NEW 2017

A new website for cyclists CHRONOPARK Système de chronométrage automatique permanent. Demandez votre

en caisse ou chez les loueurs VTT. Permanent timing system. Ask for In celebration of thepuce many highyourprofile cycling chip at liftroad ticket office or MTBevents shops. that return to Morzine www.lesgets.com/chronopark year after year, a new website - morzinemountaincycling.com - now provides roadies with all the information you need to plan your routes. There are route 22 profiles and descriptions, all available to view online, download and print as miniguides. Interactive maps allow you to discover the mountain passes and Attray their distance from your Morzine base before you head out the door, while advice, 25 are also useful telephone numbers and information on any road closures Le Pleney available too.

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15 21 22 23 25 27

Better than a World Champion?

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21

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This is likely your only chance to beat current French Champion, former World Champion and Les Gets regular Loïc Bruni this summer. On one descent in Les Gets’ Bikepark you’ll be timed as you ride the course and at the bottom your time will be analysed and compared against Loic’s. Bon chance!

PDS

La Mouille

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Cherche Midi

La

100 Skies Relaxation Event

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Taking place between 19th and 23rd July and organized by Les Gets locals Barbara and Catherine, this is an event to encourage us all to slow down and disconnect from the stresses of life. Open to adults and children, 100 Skies includes group workshops and individual sessions lasting between 45 minutes and two hours in length. Expect yoga, meditation, pilates and fit ballet alongside qi-gong, Toltec and tactile workshops using clay. Weather permitting, all sessions will take place outdoors and you can find more information here – lesgets.com/evenements

Bik Elect

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In previous issues of Source MagazineLeswe’ve debated the increasing Lassare popularity Mouilles of eclectic mountain bikes in our beloved mountains. Love them or hate them, e-bikes are here toF stay and DU Bik Elect is a 3-day exhibition in theCOUNTRY centre of Morzine TOUR PLATEAU DE LOEX CROSS to showcase new developments and innovations. You’ll find free bike trials, demonstrations and organised rides aimed at everyone from pros to kids. The event takes place between 7th and 9th July.

Plan

Altitude Altitude

Max 1644m

E-Pass’Portes du Soleil

Max 1644m

If you’ve always quite fancied the annual 80km pedal across the Portes du Soleil but lacked the energy to sign up, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the event, now in its 14th year, now includes a special 60km circuit designed specifically for electric mountain bikes. There’s increased positive elevation and recharging points along the way and the course begins in Les Gets, host resort for this year’s event and exhibition.

RETOUR LES GETS PAR LA ROUTE

1h20 1h 1h50 Sommet Chavannes Express Lairon (1630m) Véruy (1615m) 1h20 1h (1565m) 1h50 Sommet Chavannes Express Lairon (1630m) Véruy (1615m) (1565m)

Harley Days gets bigger

20min

5min

Temps restant

20min

5min

Temps restant

Le Sincerneret (1350m) Le Sincerneret (1350m)

Les Puthays (1210m) Les Puthays (1210m)

Min 1170m

Les Gets (1170m)

Min 1170m0km

3,1km

5,1km

10km

Les Gets 12,5km 13,5km (1170m)

0km

3,1km

5,1km

10km

12,5km 13,5km

Distance parcourue

You’d be forgiven for thinking there couldn’t possibly be a Harley Davidson motorbike anywhere Delse in mainland Europe during Morzine’s biannual Harley TOUR DU MONT-CHÉRY CROSS COUNTRY Days festival. Our village is packed from one end to the other with leather, chrome and big exhausts. Turns out you’d be wrong, as this year’s Harley Days event is set to get even bigger. One big Harley Bar will replace the smaller beer tents in the Tourist Office square. There’ll also be a new third stage for live music acts in the area outside the Office de Poste and you’ll be able to enjoy all the concerts on giant 60m2 screens. Harley Days takes place between 13th and 16th July 2017.

Distance parcourue

Les Placettes

Altitude Altitude

1h30

1h15

45min

Sommet 1h30 TC Chéry (1525m)

1h15Mont-Caly (1489m)

Sommet TC Chéry (1525m)

Mont-Caly (1489m)

45min 20min Col de l’Encrenaz (1450m) La Mial - Zone technique Lassare Col de l’Encrenaz (1355m) (1333m) (1450m) La Mial - Zone technique Lassare (1355m) (1333m)

Max 1593m Max 1593m

20min

Min 1170m

Temps restant Temps restant

ZONE TECHNIQ

Les Gets (1170m) Les Gets (1170m)

0km Min 1170m

2,5km

5,3km

9,5km

13km

0km

2,5km

5,3km

9,5km

13km

Distance parcourue Distance parcourue

An authentic mountain experience at La Tapiaz Les Gets Bikepark Improvements

Thanks in part to the arrival of Crankworx last summer on a three-year deal, Les Gets’ very own bikepark has continued to grow. There are now 95km of marked tracks, 14 downhill trails, 1 freeride track and 6 cross-country routes. The jump #lovemorzine

ESPACE During the winterSECURITÉ months, Claude and Veronique guide tourists through the Attention ! Merci de respecter la charte MTB beautiful mountain to La Tapiaz, an authentic mountain refuge 1. Priorité aux piétons landscape ralentir aux croisements.

Pedestrians are priority, slow down on junctions. accessible only with snowshoes. This summer you’re promisedPATROUILLEUR an equally warm 2. Respectez les parcs et le bétail, ne coupez pas les fils.

MTB BIKE PATROL Respect cows park and landscape, don’t cut wire.

Les patrouilleurs que vous croiserez sur le welcome and a truly authentic mountain experience as Veronique prepares a meal 3. Respectez le code de la route, le mobilier urbain et les zones piétonnes.

#lovelesgets

Respect french driving rules, as well as facilities in the pedestrians areas.

4. Utilisez du materiel adapté et des protections (casque, dorsale, genouillère).

Wear adapted protections for your safety.

terrain ont pour rôle : la surveillance du domaine, afin d’assurer la sécurité de tous les pratiquants, le conseil sur les itinéraires et #loveavoriaz la pratique, faire respecter la charte MTB ainsi que le balisage, vous renseigner, entretien des pistes.

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using ingredients foraged from surrounding mountain pastures. Advance booking is always necessary by calling +33 (0) 6 77 77 74 64 and if you’re lucky, after dinner, Claude will play beautiful acoustic tunes by the fireside.

Self Catered Chalets & Apartments | Morzine | Les Gets

A Spartan for Everyone

This is Sparta. Or at least it will be during the weekend of 1st and 2nd July. When the Spartan Race arrived in Morzine for the first time last summer, no one knew quite what to expect. Back then, three different race options were available, this year there are five. The Sprint includes 6km and 20-23 obstacles while The Super covers 13km and 24-29 obstacles. The Beast does exactly what it says on the tin, offering up 21km and 30-35 obstacles and for the first time anywhere in France, you can now take on The Super Beast. Covering 42km and involving 50 obstacles with several technical sections, The Super Beast is the only Spartan event with time limits. The Junior Spartan also offers three different distances and obstacles for children of all ages. Head to spartanrace.fr for more details.

Multi-activity holidays

Evolution2 have expanded the range of mighty summer activities they now offer in our valley. Using skilled, experienced, local professionals, you can take to the skies to try paragliding, the water to enjoy the thrills and spills of hydrospeeding and into the mountains, quite literally to give caving a go. Horse riding, rafting, canyoning, guided hiking and via ferrata are also on the Evolution2 menu this summer. Head to evolution2-morzine.com for a full summer activity guide.

www. mountainxtra.com

More e-bike trails

Continuing their mission to make the mountains accessible to all, Avoriaz has developed new trails for e-bike users. There’s now 1 green track, 3 blue and 3 red slopes, allowing you to progress from beginner to intermediate e-bike rider with ease. A variety of routes have also been carefully planned, from a tour of Avoriaz Lake, which covers 4.5km of terrain and 90m of ascent to an 11km loop to Morzine and back. You’ll find two handy charging stations in the centre of the resort too.

Trail running reinvented

Over 2000 metres of altitude is accessible on foot from Avoriaz, so it’s no surprise to learn that the resort is set to become the new home of trail running in the Alps.

With such a wide variety of terrain on offer, beginner trail runners won’t be too intimidated, while experienced professional runners training for big events can often be found scaling peaks. As of June this year there’ll be 400km of dedicated, marked trail running courses with 6 different degrees of difficulty; easy, medium, hard, expert, skyrun and KMV (vertical kilometer). There’s even an easy-to-use app to help you plan your routes. Get yours at tracedetrail.fr.

Aquariaz opening times

Certainly the most popular attraction in Avoriaz, Aquariaz is a covered waterpark that includes features for children of all ages, and adults too! The water tree play area is a fun, colourful space dedicated to small children, while the sidewinder (a 10 metre high water half pipe) keeps everyone else happy. The relaxation area includes a lazy river, bubble lounges and massage benches and there’s an outdoor Jacuzzi too. Ready to go? Aquariaz is open daily from Sunday 9th July until Friday 1st September between 10.30am and 7.30pm. Admission is €9 for adults, €6 for children aged 3 – 11 years and €5 for children under 2 are free. Boys, here’s the good news. Board shorts are totally allowed in Avoriaz. /MorzineSourceMagazine

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white water adventures. call: +33 (0) 609 308 077 email: info@frogsrafting.com /MorzineSourceMagazine

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Say Hello to

EMA

By Amie Henderson

On Friday 21st April 2017 most of Morzine turned out for an extra-ordinary meeting of the town’s planning commission. On the agenda was a presentation officially confirming the resort’s intention to build an extensive new lift connection between Morzine and Avoriaz. Of course, we’ve all been listening to rumors of the new connection since as far back as 2009. And even though there’d been no official announcement concerning the plan, an opposition group had already formed to take legal steps to halt progress.

Express Morzine-Avoriaz has its base at the top of the Rue du Bourg (to the right of the Odlo shop and opposite the opticians) and runs over the rooftops of Morzine, connecting to the existing Prodains Express base at the foot of the Avoriaz cliffs. From here 'EMA' as it’s now known, continues on to Avoriaz. With construction scheduled to begin in 2019 and completion anticipated in 2021, an eye watering €35 million budget has been allocated to the project, with a further €11.6 million to be spent on the construction of surrounding infrastructure.

A tunnel beneath the village links the new lift to the Pleney Express, making the connection between the Morzine-Les Gets side of the valley and the wider Portes du Soleil easier than ever before. Additionally, a new bus station will be created beneath the new lift station in the area known as Le Plan (site of the current carpark in front of Carrefour). In total, the Mairie de Morzine-Avoriaz has committed a staggering €147.9 million to the development of pistes and ski lifts over the next 20 years, titling the project “Morzine-Avoriaz 2020”.

The volume of investment promised in the Morzine-Avoriaz 2020 project is almost unpredicted in European ski resorts.

The Mayor has a clear objective to integrate the two resorts as much as possible and many consider the new lift link to be necessary to safeguard Morzine’s future as a worldclass mountain resort. At the same time, many disagree. A number of prominent local business owners have founded the Association pour de Development Harmonieux de Morzine Avoriaz, or ADHMA for short. Their mandate is clear – they are in favour of improving the links between Morzine and Avoriaz – but not at all costs.

#lovemorzine

“We are in favour of improving the link between Morzine and Avoriaz” an ADHMA spokesperson told Source. “On the other hand, the one proposed does not correspond to the objectives displayed by the municipality. We propose two possibilities; one by cable car, with a departure point near to the Hotel La Clef des Champs to join at Les Prodains, and the second, a more simple extension of the Super Morzine lift to Avoriaz. The costs of these two alternatives would be significantly lower than the EMA.” With over 200 prominent local members, ADHMA will provide a formidable opponent to EMA. The group’s objective is to preserve the natural and built heritage of MorzineAvoriaz and to provide advice on projects that may affect the harmony and quality of life in the village. We will of course keep you posted on developments and oppositions at morzinesourcemagazine.com.

Meanwhile, over in Les Gets…

Another long-talked-about major lift project is the proposed ‘teleporter’ link between the Chavannes on one side of the valley and the Mont Chery mid-station on the other. The new connection would make it easier for skiers and snowboarders to explore the incredible terrain in one of the Portes du Soleil’s quietest corners, breathing new life into the bars and restaurants on the mountain. But perhaps unsurprisingly, the prospect of a new lift floating 50 metres above the rooftops of one of the prettiest alpine villages hasn’t been well received by all. After many years of debate however, this project looks set to proceed, although an official announcement has yet to be made.

Mountain bikers in the Ranfolly bowl this summer will see that the Ranfolly chairlift is being entirely replaced in time for the Winter 17/18 season. The current 4-man lift, originally constructed in 1986, will become a 6-man capable of carrying 3300 skiers per hour with a total investment of €9.5 million.

#lovelesgets

#loveavoriaz

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DINING

RIDING

Salads · Burgers · Grill Tapas · Vegan · Breakfast

Bike Wash · Storage · Films MTB World Cup · Buy & Sell

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TODAY?

SMILING

LOUNGING

Cycling · Activity Holidays Golf · Hiking · Yoga

Sun Terrace · Cocktails Craft Beer · BBQ · Music

#BEMOREMOUNTAINMAVERICK /MorzineSourceMagazine

FIND OUT MORE:

@MorzineSource

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#lovemorzine

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your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz

Meet

Amy Williams

By Amie Henderson

Winter Olympic medals of the gold variety amongst Team GB athletes are as rare as a good hair day for Donald Trump. It takes a special kind of talent, in a very particular set of circumstances, for our national team to triumph on snow.

Amy Williams became the poster girl for winter sports at the 2010 Vancouver Games, yet she doesn’t ski or snowboard.

Instead, she launches herself, head first, face down, on a frozen track using what looks like, to the untrained eye, a tea tray reaching forces of up to 5G and speeds of over 130km/h.

Skeleton racing is not for the feint hearted but becoming Team GB’s first gold medalists in an individual event for 30 years was Amy’s reward.

Now Amy has an even bigger achievement; her son Oscar is just five weeks old when we meet to talk Tour de Celeb, wellness, PyeongChang and the future.

The Channel 5 show Tour de Celeb was a reality-based series featuring celebrities (Amy Williams, Louie Spence, Hugo Taylor, Austin Healey, Darren Gough, Jodie Kidd, Lucy Mecklenburgh and Angelical Bell since you asked), all tasked with riding L’Etape du Tour, a notoriously difficult 146km stage of the Tour de France, which arrived in Morzine from Megeve during Summer 2016. The series covered their grueling training sessions and the thrills and spills of cycling downhill, at speed, on a road. Hats off to you all, I’d have bailed at the first climb.

“I missed having a purpose to train” Amy explains when I ask her why she decided to take part in Tour de Celeb. She’d recently undergone major knee surgery; “I had just three months to go from zero fitness to the top of a mountain on a bike. I did it for the challenge - I’d barely cycled before!” As is the mindset of a super-successful Olympian, Amy doesn’t do things by halves. “I had a wicked coach and I wanted to complete L’Etape to the absolute best of my ability. I gave it 100%, I joined Bath Cycling Club, I set up a turbo trainer in my garage and watched endless episodes of Sex and the City.

There was lots of falling off, those cleats take some getting used to! But there were lots of mini-achievements along the way - conquering a 15% climb for the first time and then an 18% climb.” /MorzineSourceMagazine

@MorzineSource

continued›› /MorzineSourceMagazine

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It was 38°c in Megeve on Saturday 23rd July as Amy climbed onto the saddle, 3,335 metres of vertical climbing across the Alps ahead of her. “Yes, it was harder than I’d expected. In fact it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done” Amy told me. “All around me there were hundreds of professional looking cyclists and even the first hill - which didn’t even register as a climb on the route map - was harder than anything I’d done

before.” Over 11,000 cyclists took part in the event; “there were tires blowing out, cyclists crashing right in front of me, incredibly fit looking people walking their bikes up the mountains. I was able to stay in the saddle as I’d planned my feeding right.”

“Yes, I would do it again” is a bold statement but I really believe that Amy means it. “With a solid amount of proper training under my belt, I’d give it another go. I didn’t know until shortly after the race that I was four or five weeks pregnant when I took part in L’Etape du Tour. So Oscar was right there at the top of the Col du Joux Plane with me!”

By now I think we’ve established that L’Etape du Tour isn’t something that anyone can simply jump on a bike and have a go at. I asked Amy for some tips for other keen road cyclists considering the challenge. “Be realistic in your goals. If you have a full time job, you’ll need to plan your training carefully. Join a local cycling club and collect tips and advice from others to help improve your confidence. A really good trainer will help you plan a programme and provide support, while having a turbo trainer means you’ve no excuse not to cycle, whatever the #lovemorzine

weather. For me, the key thing was getting my nutrition right. I ate every 20-30 minutes during the race - a piece of banana or a cereal bar, just to keep the energy levels flowing.”

I feel almost sad that Amy’s first glimpse of Morzine came at the end of this super-human slog across the mountains on a bike.

The view from the top of the Col du Joux Plane is something else, and the descent into the village

is unmissable. “I was trying so hard to concentrate as I had tears in my eyes! I was literally crying at the top! There were so many locals lining the route, the support was incredible. At the end we sat on the grass, the finish line on one side of us, a lovely stream on the other. Then we found a bar!”

Wellness isn’t something that you think about everyday as a professional athlete. It’s who you are, it’s what you do, but how does that change when you retire? “Social media has changed the concept of wellness over the last five years I think. I was just an athlete doing a job to win a race, but since retiring and going through the transition to normal life, I’ve discovered that I can’t eat all the food I want!” Amy explains. “Being pregnant with Oscar taught me to moderate cake is fine in moderation, so is ice cream. I was jogging until my 29th week and did a yoga session on the morning I went into labour. My approach to wellness is more wholesome now. I like to do a bit of everything and now I build fitness into my everyday life.”

For someone with a media personality and a strong work ethic, I can imagine these first #lovelesgets

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Alpine French school.pdf

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13/04/2016

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

French - English Summer Camps Residential Summer Camp 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

“Yes, it was harder than I’d expected. In fact it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done” continued››

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Exciting adventure activities, excursions and much more!

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

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few weeks of motherhood are a juggle. “I’m not sure we’ve struck the work-life balance yet.

Some weeks are busy, some are quiet, but I still say yes to everything!” Amy still speaks in schools, at corporate events and is currently lining up new TV projects, especially in the run-up to PyeongChang 2018.

Which brings me nicely back to the Olympics at a time when our Team GB winter athletes have never been so well funded. Amy is a Team GB ambassador and hopes to be heavily involved in the build-up TV coverage and then commentary of the Games, which take place between 9th and 25th February in South Korea. “The Vancouver Games were the big breakthrough games for Team GB. We returned home with a gold medal, which raised the profile of our winter athletes. Sochi in 2014 had more funding and more coverage and there’ll be even

more interest in PyeongChang” Amy believes. But who does she have her eye on for success?

“There’s absolutely no reason why Lizzy Yarnold won’t get a medal in skeleton at these games, and she’s a strong contender for the gold. Skier Dave Ryding matched Britain’s best ever World Cup finish in Kitzbuhel this winter and the women’s curling team have already established themselves as world class. It’s exciting to see how the freestyle skiers and snowboarders will do; James Woods & Billy Morgan have stacks of potential. And then there’s short-track speed skater Elise Christie who missed out in Sochi but has won everything since!”

The Olympic anticipation is something Amy remembers well.

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At the end of the first day of competition in Vancouver she had a significant time advantage over other competitors and went on to break the track record not once, but twice. How did it feel to become Team GB’s first winter gold medalist in 30 years? “I always new I could stand on a podium at this level of competition, but it was always a silver or a bronze. My coach would joke that I was always the champion in training, but I could never quite get there in competitions. I knew I could do it in Vancouver and my immediate feeling was one of relief. Finally! And then immense pride, happiness and exhaustion.

Shortly after I did an interview with Clare Balding, she quoted all these stats and I hadn’t released the significance until it actually happened!”

In the years that have followed, Amy has joined the Ski Sunday team, taking on in-depth

interviews with winter athletes that have really demonstrated her own passion for sport. “I love following the athletes and getting under their skin. I have that ‘behind the scenes’ knowledge and they open up to me. I’m hoping to do more of this in the lead up to PyeongChang.” It might come as a surprise to learn that Amy doesn’t ski or snowboard.

Graham Bell once tried to teach her on Ski Sunday and future winter holidays are on the cards after a few more lessons. You never know, you might end up sharing a Pleney bubble with her this winter.

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“My coach would joke that I was always the champion in training, but I could never quite get there in competitions.” #loveavoriaz

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Bon Appetit Source Advert.pdf

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28/03/2017

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THE GOURMET FROZEN MEAL COMPANY We stock and deliver a delicious International Menu Indian, Thai, Chinese and other family favourites.

SIMPLY ORDER ONLINE & WE DELIVER TO YOUR DOOR. Just Heat, Eat, Bon Appetit!

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The of

play

By Claire Garber

Slackers. That’s what I called them. Those lazy folk, who never seemed to work, always seemed to be on some wanderlust adventure and were too happy for their own good on their Instagram feed. ‘One day they’ll have to grow up’ I chirped to myself as I sat down to plan out a 60-hour working week, highfiving myself at my own industriousness.

But now it appears that the slackers had it right all along. Not only should we be working much less than we do, we should also be playing much more. For our health, our happiness, our relationships and for our career goals daily play time has become priority number one. Which means that those cool cats who put wakeboarding, all day hikes, yoga retreats and even lakeside BBQs before working were light years ahead of me. So often I’d disparaged these lazy play hounds, but could the reason I hadn’t achieved certain career goals actually be because I wasn't more like them? Was it that I hadn’t played hard enough, rather than not having worked? I, and my 60-hour working week planner, needed to know more.

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What is play?

According to Dr. Stuart Brown, the foremost scientist and play researcher, there are seven properties that accurately describe play. Play must be purposeless. Voluntary.

There must be an inherent attraction to it (who isn't attracted to thigh deep powder days?). While doing it, you should lose track of time. It diminishes the conscious self (no one cares what they look like after a face shot). Play has improvisational potential (like the games you make up when somersaulting into a lake, or the new tricks you try in the snow park); and finally, play has a ‘continuation desire’

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which makes you want to do it more. Dr Stuart Brown’s definition is internationally accepted and makes the French Alps look like the birthplace of Original Fun.

Play for your brain Play has psychological and physical benefits. Play literally lights up the brain, the frontal lobe coming alive with impulses. Play has been shown to release endorphins, improve brain functionality, and stimulate creativity. Studies have shown that it improves memory and stimulates the growth of the cerebral cortex. It has also been shown to trigger

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the secretion of BDNF, a substance essential for the growth of brain cells. It improves cognitive functioning, helps you deal with stress with greater ease and can even help keep you young and feeling energetic.

It’s not just about the humans We’ve all seen dogs play, cats chase string, elephants spray each other with water, or dolphins playing in the waves. No one taught these species to play or made them listen to a TED talk about why it might be beneficial to their health. It is as deep rooted in their genetic make-up as their ability to hunt, swim, climb and reproduce. Play also transcends species. There is incredible footage, shot in Northern Canada, of a polar bear and a husky playing together. The group of huskies had been tethered together by Norbert Rosing who was hoping to photograph them at sunset. From nowhere a 1200lb female polar bear approached, hungry after months of winter starvation. Terrified onlookers prepared themselves for a bloody fight to the death. But as the female polar bear approached, one husky crouched to a bow and started wagging her tail. The polar bear recognised the play signal and, in spite of hunger, decided to respond. What followed was a filmed incident of these two creatures play-fighting, showing how play has a universality about it that is almost difficult to comprehend. How do they all know about play?

continued››

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Play for your life The opposite of play is not work. Dr Stuart Brown says ‘The opposite of play, is depression’. When laboratory animals have been restricted from playing, the result has often been fatal. A group of laboratory rats were restricted from playing with each other and a second group left to do so.

The two groups were then presented with a cat-saturated collar, which provoked their natural fight or flight response.

Both groups hid, as they should, from the potential threat, with the group of rats who’d been allowed to play eventually venturing back out. But the play-deprived group never did so. They stayed hidden until eventually the entire group died from starvation.

Play more, work less It’s not just that you need to play more.

You also need to work less. There is an emerging field of thought which believes that working for more than four hours a day is entirely and totally pointless. This ‘emerging field of thought’ isn't debt laden university geography students. It’s actual scientists, studying other, accomplished scientists. They found that they were no more productive if they spent nine hours in the laboratory than if they had been there for only four. The likes of Darwin, G.H.Hardy and Charles Dickens all subscribed to this work ethic. As did authors Alice Munro, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Anthony Trollope, scientist John Lubbock, director Ingmar Bergman and mathematician Henri Poincare. They didn't get within spitting distance of a nine hour day and were all done and dusted by lunchtime, spending afternoons on hikes, swims, tending to their gardens or just napping.

Your play project.

1. Write down a list of three things / activities that you could do for hours on end. If you are not sure what constitutes play, go back and look at Dr Stuart Brown’s seven-point definition of play. If you are still not sure, think back to what you liked doing when you were a kid. But before you reach for your remote control, watching TV and films doesn't count, as both are passive activities and often a form of numbing and avoidance. Play requires us to be actively engaged. So get a book or better still, get off the sofa and out the house.

2. Carve out time in your calendar to play. Even when you are at your busiest, protect play time as you would protect work conferences, PTA meetings and hospital appointments.

3. Make time for daily play. Play is not an annual holiday or a bi monthly event. It should be the first thing you pencil in to you day planner, every single day.

Many dot com company's have of course long since realised this. Apple has Blue Sky, which allows workers to spend work time on pet projects (aka, Play). Microsoft created The Garage, a space for employees to build their own products (aka, Play).

Richard Branson announced unlimited holiday for his staff at Virgin, saying “smart” not “hard” is the new way to work, before flying off to one of his many islands.

Extra Credit.

So it seems that in the world of work, play is king, success is down to doing less and that play needs to be at the top of our daily To Do list. We must work less. We must play more. And if we don't it will be to the detriment of our health, happiness and probably our wealth. We must give ourselves permission to play every day.

Why not make play lists with family members, loved ones and friends?

Are your ideas of play the same or different? Are you schalpping yourselves round art galleries at the weekend when you’d all rather be BBQing up at the lake? Dr. Brene Brown PhD, TED speaker and researcher found that the activities her family traditionally participated in on holidays were not the things that ended up on each of their play lists. This became transformative when planning family holidays. eezy.com

- Vect illustrations credit

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Crankworx is Back!

When the best mountain bikers and the biggest brands rolled into Les Gets last summer for Crankworx, they brought a downpour of biblical proportions with them. Yes, our outstanding memory of Crankworx 2016 was getting wet and muddy, but let’s be honest, it really didn’t spoil the fun. Crankworx is back for the second of a three-year stint in Les Gets between 14th and 18th June and once again we can expect five days of extreme pedaling from the cream of the crop.

Competitions mainly take place on Les Chavannes in the centre of the village and even if mountain biking isn’t your thing, we guarantee you’ll enjoy watching the slopestyle competitions, the dual speed and style and even the pump track action too, all with an incredible atmosphere.

Here’s the full program of events and you’ll find more detailsFarmhouse.pdf at lesgets.com 1 08/05/2017 15:19

Wednesday 14th 10.00am VIP ride with Loic Bruni 4.30pm Kidsworx DH Finals 7.00pm Official European Championships

presented by SPANK Thursday 15th 11.30am Dual Speed & Style

timed runs and seeding 2.30pm Dual Speed & Style Finals 8.00pm Light on MTB 10.00pm Girls Night Ride with Tahnée Seagrave

Friday 16th 4.00pm Mini Bikes Challenge Finals

7.00pm 10.00pm

Pump Track Challenge Finals Free music concert

Saturday 17th 11.00am

downhill Finals

presented by iXS

1.00pm

Kidsworx Pump Track Finals Cheese rolling Light on MTB Free music concert

6.30pm 8.00pm 9.00pm

Sunday 18th Fox Air DH Finals 1.00pm Kidsworx DH Finals 3.30pm Slopestyle FInals 11.00am

The oldest building in Morzine, built in 1771 is today one of its most special destinations 18th Century Farmhouse | 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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www.morzinesourcemagazine.com

a leap into the

unknown

By Natalie Elvy

In February 2016 my other half, Jeremy, texted me suggesting we go to Chile for Winter 2016/17.

He had just recovered from a serious illness and his healthscare had brought on the idea, encouraging us to re-order our priorities.

We were both on temporary work contracts for winter, and enjoying working hard for our business, Frogs Rafting, in summer. We have a mortgage that needs paying. We have a little boy, Soen, who would turn three while travelling. These commitments to our ‘grown-up’ life made me hesitate and left me torn. We’ve worked hard over the past six years to feel stable in the Alps - did we really want to risk it all with a leap into the unknown?

However I couldn't say ‘no’ outright: who knew if we’d ever get the opportunity again?

Without consciously making any decision, we ‘forgot’ to re-apply for our winter jobs. We started to consider the trip a ‘research

and development’ opportunity for Frogs (Chile has world-class white-water), rather than a five month holiday. We managed to let our house to seasonaires for the ski season. The major worry for me was the practicality and safety of travelling in Chile with a child. Some basic research confirmed that people in Chile have children too, and so it would follow they also have activities and provisions for them. What’s more, there are no horribly dangerous or poisonous species lying in wait for little hands exploring dark holes. Solutions found to the major obstacles, we bought return tickets so we’d be home in time for the summer rafting season.

“in Patagonia you realise how the landscape in Morzine has been doctored, tamed and controlled”

We left France in November and headed straight to Pucon (central Chile). From here we planned to go to Patagonia on the Carretera Austral route, Pinochet’s famous ‘Road to Nowhere’. We bought a 4WD and organised a mattress in the back for us, while Soen

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slept on the horizontal driver’s seat - fortunately we have a child that sleeps like a brick. We had a camping stove and a chilly-bin and I have to say, it was pretty easy to begin with: smooth roads, nice weather, beautiful green farming countryside; more rural England than the outback Chile I’d imagined. Little by little we crept south. The (already steep) prices increased, the roads became gravel and it got cold. The wind was fierce and relentless. But it was amazing.

Rugged, enormous, sparse, unpopulated and unforgiving frighteningly beautiful. Imagine the beauty of New-Zealand combined with the distances of China. Living in Morzine, we’re used to beautiful mountains and gorgeous panoramas, but in Patagonia you realise how the landscape in Morzine has been doctored, tamed and controlled: electric lines, ski lifts, hiking tracks, good roads. These nods to civilisation give confidence and reassurance that you’re not alone.

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“I hadn’t anticipated the feeling of total solitude and with it, the increased sense of responsibility to someone who relies on you absolutely.”

The further south we headed, the fewer people, petrol stations and supermarkets we saw. We became increasingly aware of how misplaced we’d been in the assumption that we’d find whatever we needed, whenever we needed it. We bought a spare tank of petrol the first chance we got, and lots of dry food (we lived exclusively on pasta and sauce).

We invested in a jerry-can of water and spare cooking gas.

While the practicalities of travelling to Chile might have been straight forward, the reality of travelling to Patagonia with a child was more complex. I hadn’t anticipated

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INVESTING IN A LUXURY CHALET OR APARTMENT? BC

THE BOUTIQUE CHALET COMPANY

image credits - Nata lie Elvy

www.theboutiquechalet.com

the feeling of total solitude and with it, the increased sense of responsibility to someone who relies on you absolutely. My imagination (always active, and even more-so since Soen’s arrival) went into over-drive. I spent long nights listening to the howling wind and worrying variously about Soen surviving, and what kind of a selfish mother I was.

Parents aren’t meant to make their off-spring suffer just so they can fulfill their own passing fancies. Aren’t our ambitions meant to be put on hold so we can help our children fulfill their own potential? This parental guilt wasn’t something that had entered my head when planning the trip. I’d never questioned my assumption that all travel, at any age, is beneficial.

In Patagonia it dawned on me that I’d never honestly considered what Soen would make of it all.

Were my aspirations of mindopening, character-building world-travel expecting a bit much of a three year old whose main pre-occupations are food, play and sleep? There are few things more guilt-inducing than a threeyear-old alternately begging and screaming to play on a slide when you can’t find one anywhere, and he’s been sitting in his seat in the sun for hours on a bone-rattling, dusty, gravel road. The poor child would have been happy staying in France in a park with a slide, but we’d dragged him to one of the most unforgiving landscapes we could find just so we could explore.

The Boutique Chalet Company is one of the leading specialists in the management and operation of ultra-high end property in the Alps. As well as providing exceptional bespoke holiday experiences to our clients, we also help investors design, build and manage their luxury property assets, either for commercial operation or private use.

MOUNTAIN LUXURY REDEFINED The luxury ski holiday isn’t a new concept, and it hasn’t changed much in the last twenty years.

Unless of course you’re staying with The Boutique Chalet Company. Our unique service includes our very own Kaiseki dining experience which brings Japanese fine-dining to the Alps.

This is just one example of the influences we take from around the world, be that New York or Asia, to redefine your mountain holiday.

“There are few things more guilt-inducing than a three-year-old alternately begging and screaming to play on a slide when you can’t find one anywhere” /MorzineSourceMagazine

@MorzineSource

+33 (0)4 85 80 05 80 info@theboutiquechalet.com

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“The landscape is prehistoric and it was impossible not to look at it from Soen’s point of view after he started asking whether a tree had been knocked down by a dinosaur or burned by a dragon.”

Luckily (for all of us), the natural wonders of Patagonia are impressive enough to knock the socks off even a three-yearold who’s no stranger to the incredible backgrounds generated

by Pixar and Dreamworks. The animals were as curious about him as he was about them.

We could get close enough to guanacos (lamas) for Soen to claim he can spit like one, and to be able to run like a nandu (emu). There are icy-blue glaciers you can hear moving and watch the ice cleaving into the water below. Fantastic water-falls and crystal clear rivers where you can spot trout swimming. Volcanos with steam coming out the top, lava lighting up the night sky.

Marble pillars in the middle of turquoise lakes. The landscape is prehistoric and it was impossible not to look at it from Soen’s point of view after he started asking whether a tree had been knocked down by a dinosaur or burned by a dragon. Thanks to Soen, even small walks became dinosaursafaris, packed full of excitement (occasionally tipping into terror if we got too caught up in the narrative forgetting that Soen's only little).

Entertainment for Soen was sparce, but he embraced the little

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there was with gusto. Evenings were spent stone-throwing, fishing with a cork, or collecting sticks. Chat usually revolved around dinosaurs or where his fishing-rod / stick / stone might be. If we were fortunate enough to happen upon a play-park, he’d have an hour’s manic play - if we were really lucky there were other kids! Happily play-parks are all similar (bar a few poorly conceived metal slides which heat up to boiling point in the sun), and tag, hide-and-seek and ball games are universal. We planned our time so he’d be able to have a nap (ideal driving time), as well as get out of the car and have a run around before bursting with un-spent energy. We invented games (spot the truck/tractor/ steam roller) to make the boring parts of drives more fun, and we had a tablet loaded with favourite

films for when the going got too tough for us all!

Inevitably we got lost, had car problems, food issues and temper tantrums. While I felt guilty and responsible for all problems and any long-term negative effect they may have, the great thing about a toddler is that you know when they’re not happy. Soen would have a melt-down, we’d find out why and sort it. Seconds later, tantrum forgotten, he’d

be talking about his friends at home / what he’d just seen / what he’s looking forward to (school, seeing our dog, watching Ben & Holly). He was content just to be.

He was always in the present, either enjoying it or being cross about it, but not worrying about the what-ifs or if-onlys. He could move on from obstacles without holding onto any negative feelings, so he wasn’t angry, irritated or saddened for any longer than it took to right them.

“It dawned on me how tiny and unimportant I am in comparison to the massive, timeless landscape that’s careless of anyone’s worries or anxieties.” #lovelesgets

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Natalie and Jeremy’s company Frogs Rafting host a growing range of river-based activities including white water rafting, hydrospeeding and canyoning on Morzine’s River Dranse all summer long. Visit frogsrafting.com for more details.

Along with Soen’s perfect example of living in the present, I found that the enormity of Patagonia changed my perspective too.

It dawned on me how tiny and unimportant I am in comparison to the massive, timeless landscape that’s careless of anyone’s worries or anxieties.

It’s overwhelming and feels un-tameable, un-manageable.

Paradoxically, I began to find that being surrounded by the huge, indifferent landscape was a relief: it brought home to me

that there’s very little in life that matters as much as we think it does, and even less that we can control; we’ve just got to find a way to ‘go with the flow’ and count the blessings of now.

We returned to Pucon at the end of January and Jeremy spent February working as a kayak and rafting guide. We continued our travels north to the Atacama Desert and Bolivia, and returned home in April, excited to get back to work on the river!

GREAT VALUE PROPERTIES IN THE HEART OF MORZINE www.alptitude.com

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source

awards For the third year in a row we asked locals, holidaymakers and season workers to nominate their favourite resort based businesses in four different categories during the Winter 16/17 season. The aim of the Source Awards is to recognise those local businesses that really go the extra mile for their customers and guests and this year we received more nominations than ever before. Thanks to everyone that got involved in the spirit of the awards!

Your winner: Reach4theAlps – reach4thealps.com

One finalist provided the judges with a staggering 116 nomination forms to consider, which made them our winners in this category for a third year in a row.

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Your winner: La Marmotte d’Or – lamarmottedor.com

AliKats // Les Marmottes Lindarets // Spice Garden Takeaway // Guerrilla Dining

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Your winner – AliKats Mountain Holidays – alikats.eu

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The Source Awards for Excellence will return next winter! #lovemorzine

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Once again giving our judges a huge volume of nomination forms to consider, our winners carry home this award for the third year in a row.

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Arguably one of the most important elements of your winter holiday, 17 different local eateries were nominated in this category and 3153 votes were cast. Our finalists were:

AW AR

Favourite Food

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Café Chaud // La Marmotte d’Or // Tibetan Café // Bar Le National

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AW AR

Favourite Bar

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Your winner: Sojourn – sojournmorzine.com

Always a busy category, 14 different watering holes were nominated and 4169 votes cast.

Our finalists for 2017 were:

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Our judges enjoyed reading a range of lovely comments for our winning business on nomination forms, and on Trip Advisor too!

FAV O

AliKats // Mountain Voyages // Sojourn Luxury Chalets // Alpine Action Adventures

IT E S E R

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You nominated 15 different businesses in this category and voted precisely 4931 times, taking the following four businesses through to the final round:

AW AR

Favourite Accommodation

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Our team of top secret judges praised the outstanding comments left by guests on the nomination forms of our winning businesses.

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AliKats // Mountain TV // Mountain Voyages // Reach4theAlps

FOR EXCEL L DS

CE EN

Our readers nominated 14 local businesses and 3581 votes were cast during the public vote.

Our four finalists with the most votes in this category were:

AW AR

Favourite Customer Service

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Two prestigious luxury developments in Les Gets 27

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Annapurna FINAL PROPERTIES REMAINING

High specification interiors designed to suit your tastes and requirements Ranging in size from 2 - 5 bedrooms 150m from Mont Chery Telecabine, 200m from Les Chavannes Exclusive swimming pool, spa, lounge bar and concierge service Underground parking, ski lockers and storage Remaining properties starting from â‚Ź717,500

www.alpine-lodges.co.uk

Kinabalu NEW RELEASE, RESERVING OFF-PLAN

Spacious floor plans and luxury customised interiors Ranging in size from 1 - 6 bedrooms Minutes from the Mont Chery Telecabine and pistes Full-service development including a spa, concierge service and exclusive restaurant Underground parking, storage and ski lockers Remaining properties starting from â‚Ź350,000 Visit our central Les Gets sales office and speak with our experienced, bilingual team.

Show apartment also available to view by appointment /MorzineSourceMagazine

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Le Draguet, 258 rue du Centre, 74260, Les Gets +33 (0) 4 50 79 31 82 | info@alpine-lodges.co.uk /MorzineSourceMagazine

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By Amie Henderson

For years our valley has been the stomping ground of many a professional Triathlete. After all, Mother Nature blessed us with the very best Triathlon training facilities, and it was only a matter of time before a professional club was formed.

Over the last five years, the team at local fitness company Buzz Performance has seen interest in Triathlon soar. As we’ve reported in previous issues of Source Magazine, the sport is now a big deal around these parts and it’s from here that Tri Montagne, the valley’s very own Triathlon club, was born.

“The vision for the club is to create pathways for locals wanting to get into the sport” Buzz Performance and Tri Montagne’s coach Amelia Pearson told us.

A former professional triathlete herself, Amelia retired from top-level competition in 2012, having experienced great success throughout her career in Sprint, Olympic, Long Course and Ironman events around the world. Indeed, it was triathlon that first brought Amelia to Morzine in 2005, when racing in the French Federation Triathlon Grand Prix. Amelia is now part of

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a team of nine locals who’ve joined forces to formerly launch Tri Montagne.

Amelia has trained for Triathlon for over 20 years. She once told me about how she’d set her alarm for 5am each day to get some solid swim training in before school, then head back out for another training session once her lessons were done for the day. If anyone can motivate you to swim, bike and run, it’s this girl.

Also on the Tri Montagne team is Joe Pearson, an experienced race director.

“We’re keen to host our own Triathlon event in Morzine one day” Joe told us, even though Tri Montagne is a club for all levels of experience and ability.

“There are different membership levels to cater for different levels of interest, but anyone keen to find out more about the sport should definitely give it a go” Joe explained.

If you’re keen to try a Tri, you’ll find Tri Montagne offer friendly, inspiring

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coaching sessions to help you develop in each of the three disciplines. To get started you’ll need swimwear, a swimming cap and goggles, a bike along with a helmet and comfortable riding clothing and finally, comfortable running trainers and clothing and an all-important water bottle.

Tri Montagne is a fully registered and insured French ‘Association’, which means you can be assured that all coaches are professionally qualified and experienced.

The club is also registered with the Rhone Alpes Triathlon Ligue and the French Federation of Triathlon. Membership costs just €45 per person per year and includes weekly club training sessions throughout the summer season, the opportunity to purchase club kit as well as membership discounts with supporting partners.

There’s also the option to add membership of the FFTRI (French Federation Triathlon) to your membership package for €91 per adult or €35 for juniors.

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If we’ve whet your appetite and you’re keen to try a Tri, head to trimontagne.com for more information about taster sessions, membership inclusions, events and more.

Here’s one final word from Amelia; “We promise that everyone and anyone is welcome to join Tri Montagne. It’ll be both friendly and inclusive, training sessions will vary depending on experience and all levels will be catered for.”

Chez Toi Source Advert.pdf

1

24/04/2017

10:25

Chez Toi YOUR PRIVATE CHEF

CHALET AND PRIVATE CHEF SERVICE IN MORZINE

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

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

www.cheztoi.biz

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Cycling from the sky to the sea:

conquering Route Des Grandes Alpes Last year I set myself the challenge of taking on Ironman (the triathlon not Robert Downey Jr).

In order to truly prepare myself for the 226km self-propelled event endurance race in Zurich, I wanted something that would push me more than the Ironman itself.

By Cameron Hall

image crecit - cameron hall

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By chance, an old friend got in touch to ask if I would like to join him cycling the The Route des Grandes Alpes, I said “pourquoi pas?” without knowing what I’d really signed up for.

With my new road bike, complemented by a fetching

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had explained to us, it would be a leisurely 65km ride to help break us into the week. 97.5km and over 3000 vertical metres later, we soon realised that our schedule wasn’t perhaps as detailed orientated as it could have been.

“97.5km and over 3000 vertical metres later, we soon realised that our schedule wasn’t perhaps as detailed orientated as it could have been.” pink lycra number, I was as ready as I’d ever be to cycle my way from the mountains to the sea, starting in Morzine with our final destination, Nice. A motley crew of seven lads had been assembled to take on the challenge, with a support van in tow.

Our destination on day one was Notre Dame de Bellecombe, and as our itinerary master Jamie

Our first major climb was Col de la Colombière, a gruelling 14.5km stretch in the basking sunshine.

The 10% grade sections were a baptism of fire (quite literally on the legs) and a summit which never seemed to get closer meant a tough initiation into the trip.

At the top of the Col with water bottles replenished, the tough ascent was made worthwhile with the realisation that what goes up, must come down.

route d’avoriaz

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col de joux plane

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was unrelenting and the drain on energy levels began to really kick in with climb after climb. Undeterred, a perverse sense of fulfilment crept in, knowing that if I could make it to our evenings lodgings in these conditions, Ironman would be nothing but a peddle around the park.

As we moved into day two, whilst the heat made the cycling tough, the views of the route were awe-inspiring and the fast descents were the perfect way to cool down, hitting top speeds of 78km per hour.

On days three and four, the weather began to turn and we were greeted on our way up Col du Galibier and Col d’Izoard with wild thunder and lightning - a humbling experience to make you realise just how exposed to nature you really are - as the thunder clap rattled our ear drums like a hard thump round the head.

With Ironman in my mind, I wanted to cycle - whatever the weather - and get the mileage in my legs to help with the main event the following month.

On the fast downhills, hurtling round the chicanes of the immaculate alpine tarmac, I had to take a more reserved approach as the rain continued to fall.

The following morning team leader Jamie tasked me with writing out the daily route for our designated driver.

Being a stickler for the rules, I jotted down directions in keeping with the official route, and off we went.

At the top of Col de la Cayolle it dawned on me that the lads were quite far off the pace. Unknown to me at the time, the rest of the group had opted for a different route altogether, meaning I was flying solo on an extended version of the leg. The heat

As the evening began to draw in, I was greeted with a rapturous round of applause in Saint Dalmas by my fellow lycra warriors. The cheers were swiftly followed by the obligatory “where the **** have you been?” heckles, as I told the tale of my 159 km adventure and over 5,700 vertical metres of climbing in a nine hour ride - only stopping for a quick selfie and water refill.

Smugly, I was pleased to hear the lads had been caught up in another rainstorm on their detour, where as I hadn't seen a drop of rain throughout the entire day.

On the final day, the cycle down to the sea in Menton was exnihilating as the end was in sight. As the water crept ever closer, the weight of the

image crecit - cameron hall

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achievement began to sink in as the goose bumps started to tingle down the back on our necks. Arriving in Menton, the bikes were ditched, the lyrca was stripped off and into the sea we dipped for the most rewarding swim of our lives (boxers on and dignity intact).

Falsely we had assumed we’d finished, but we had to find more in the tank to complete our journey along the Côte

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Seven lads cycled 675.9 km from Morzine to Nice, in six days with 24,535 vertical metres climbed, fast decents and stunning views. In comparison, Ironman has nothing on Route des Grandes Alpes, as does little else. Quite simply, it’s one of the best things I've ever done...

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summitspecial@chaletgentiane.com Cameron Hall is Founder of Holmlands, providing media solutions for brands with a sense of adventure. holmlands.co.uk

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morzine

light mobility

By Amie Henderson

In an effort to reduce the number of car journeys made in the valley by quite a significant amount, the Marie de Morzine Avoriaz has launched a ‘Light Mobility’ campaign this year.

The problem they’re trying to solve goes as follows. As Morzine grows in size and spreads in all directions across the valley, there aren’t enough parking spaces to go around. The Mairie would rather the parking spaces that are already in existence are prioritsed for holiday makers, rather than occupied by locals making what they describe as ‘short urban trips’. The ‘Light Mobility’ campaign encourages locals to leave their vehicles at home and walk into the village centre, reducing pollution and saving parking spaces for tourists.

Last summer the local powers-that-be tested out various pedestrianisation strategies throughout Morzine to make the village centre more friendly for those on foot, and to reduce the flow of traffic. Town councilor Elisabeth Anthonioz explained, “The holiday makers who come here are usually from the city and are used to using busses and bikes; it’s time we Morzinois did the same!” Fair point. But how is the Mairie de Morzine-Avoriaz going to make this work for everyone?

Travel in Morzine

60% - individual cars

27% - on foot

9% - on public transport

2% - on bikes

2% - on mopeds

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A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS… Spa Séréni-Cimes, harmony for your body and mind SPECIAL OFFER READERS:

Electric Bikes

Get 10% discount on your stay of 2 nights minimum, on half board basis, with free access to the hydrotherapy area and the swimming pool.

Previously launched in Les Gets with great success, a supply of electric bikes will slowly appear in various locations across Morzine, along with charging stations, beginning this summer. Now these aren’t the power-assisted crosscountry or downhill bikes that we’ve seen across the Portes du Soleil since 2014. Think London Boris Bike with a mini engine, they’re designed for short journeys to the bank, the supermarket, the pub…

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Improved Pathways Morzine is on a major path mission, designed to encourage you to leave your car in the garage and walk into town. Over 600 metres of new pavements were created in 2016. These improvements mean that snow clearing can take place during the winter season, with handrails added to several sections too. Plans to create a cycle path between Les Gets and Morzine are also under consideration, much to the excitement of mountain bikers.

Restaurant La Biskatcha Follow us on Facebook

Landscaped Areas There’s a strong commitment from the local council to develop landscaped areas in various places in the village centre, particularly in the Le Plan area between the Carrefour supermarket and the Dereches area. The area around the tennis courts and the skate park is now traffic free during the summer months.

Join us in our Alpine chalet “La Païka” for a weekly barbecue!

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

The Future Now Source is no stranger to a takeaway Cappuccino from Satellite Coffee on the Rue du Bourg. But there is talk of pedestrianising the town’s main shopping street, which will have a huge impact on the many shops, cafes and bars along the road, not to mention our caffeine levels. The most recent announcement from the town council is that the Rue du Bourg will not be pedestrianised in the near future. Phew.

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Chalets-Hôtels**** La Tapiaz et La Marmotte & Spa 61 rue du Chêne - 74260 LES GETS 33 (0)4 50 75 80 33 | info@hotel-marmotte.com la-tapiaz.com | hotel-marmotte.com

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Summer is here and that means only one thing in the mountains – it’s time to get our bikes out and hit the trails! Whether you’re going lift-accessed crossed country, using your leg power to pedal or hitting the downhill tracks, we’ve got some must-have accessories to make your day in the saddle that little bit easier, safer and more fun.

- mountain biking Troy Lee A1 Helmet MIPS

RRP €179.00 It looks good, feels comfortable and protects your brain – the Troy Lee A1 Helmet brings all the goods. Perfect for enduro missions or cruising the Portes du Soleil on a hot day, it’s super lightweight with lots of ventilation to keep your head cool, and includes a life-saving removable, anti-odour, washable lining.

It also has an easily customisable fit that you can adjust to your head shape or chosen eyewear. But perhaps the best thing about the A1 helmet is that it comes with MIPS, a revolutionary low-friction layer within the helmet shell that slides in the opposite direction to your head on-impact, helping to reduce the stress on your brain associated with concussion. troyleedesigns.com

Marsh Guard 275

RRP €12.00 - €15.00 A cheap, cheerful and effective solution to keeping mud and spray off your clothes, face and bike, Marsh Guards fit easily on all wheel sizes up to 27.5" and you can order them with or without cable ties if you’re really on a budget. The low-profile, no-frills design is pretty much weightless, easy to unclogg and super-simple to fit or replace. marshguard.com

Dragon Vantage Sunglasses

RRP €180.00 The ultimate combination of sporty and stylish, the Dragon Vantage sunglasses will expertly see you all the way through a day on the trails to the evening BBQ afterwards.

The big frames keep mud and dirt out of your eyes, and the Performance Polarised lenses are scratch, water and dirt resistant, as well as anti-smear. The wrap-around design includes rubber nose-grips for extra security on tricky steeps and for multi-usage points, the Vantage model is included in Dragon’s H20 Floatable range, so they float, bonus! However, if you want something a little cheaper, there is also a non-floating and non-polarised option available. dragonalliance.com #lovemorzine

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Evoc FR Trail 20L

RRP €190.00 A pack that provides everything you need for a day on the trails, whether you’re on a long-distance pedal or going on a lift-accessed adventure. The standout feature of the Evoc FR Trail is that is has a built-in (and removable) back protector that’s comfortable and won’t be a massive faff to take off if you get too hot. It’s also got a really handy helmet carry system, is hydration-bladdercompatible and has a designated tool compartment. The twenty-litre volume is the perfect size for storing extra layers, snacks and gear without feeling too bulky on your back, plus it also doubles as a daypack for hiking or ski touring if you’re looking for that all-important multi-use tag.

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Topeak Mini 20 Pro

RRP €39.00 An award-winning mini multi-tool, the Topeak Mini 20 Pro is the ultimate trailside (or roadside) lifesaver. Ultra-light and small enough to fit in your pocket, this small but mighty tool can perform 23 functions (and includes an all-important bottle opener) and features an easy-to-use, simple folding design that means you can’t lose any parts. Your best pal for on-the-fly repairs, whether you’re on a fast and light enduro mission or spending a day on the singletracks. topeak.com /MorzineSourceMagazine

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living

the dream

By Chloe Hardy

If you live in or around Morzine, you’re probably used to overtaking road cyclists (or being overtaken) on a daily basis from early spring to late autumn, and seeing hordes of mountain bikers around town throughout the summer months. Even in the UK, mountain biking and road cycling have been growing in popularity over the last few years as a great way to keep fit, get outdoors, commute to work and generally have a good time. After all, I think we can all agree, a nice ride to a country pub or the top of a mountain beats a hangover from the club every time.

image credit - S. Lorence Photo

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Healthy lifestyles are fast becoming the norm nowadays, and while cycling has predominantly been seen as a man’s world, more and more women are saddling up and hitting the trails, cols and the commuter routes. Activities such as yoga and running already have a massive female following and host booming brand markets, yet biking is still largely maledominated. As a result, the sport has been lagging behind in terms of women’s bikes and gear.

This is where Liv comes in. Launched in 2011, Liv is an allwomen’s cycling brand which you may well have heard of if you’ve been on two wheels a while. Sister company to biking moguls Giant, Liv not only makes bikes, clothing and accessories for women, it also strives to create a community for female cyclists and a welcoming atmosphere in their stores.

We wanted to find out more about Liv’s origins and what it’s like to work within an all-women company so we tracked down Liv’s global PR and communications manager Isabel Del Castillo.

“Bonnie Tu was and still is the head and heart of the Liv project” Isabel explained. “After some time in the cycling industry and her own cycling experience with the products that were available at that time, she realised that women didn’t have the same opportunities.”

Bonnie Tu, often hailed as the ‘godmother of women’s cycling’, is a founding investor, current CFO and Vice President of Giant, the massive Taiwanese cycling company she inherited from her uncle. It wasn’t until she wanted to participate in a cycling event herself, that she realised there was little or no choice when it came to clothing and gear. Bikes were being sold to women in an intimidating and impersonal manner, presenting a huge gap in the very market she worked in. “She decided that women should have the right to choose products made and design for them specifically, and that is what she exactly did” Isabel told me. “She invented a brand that could solve this need.”

But why not make women’s gear under the already well-known Giant label? “We decided to have two separate brands because we believe women and men have different ways to look at products” Isabel explained. “Their purchasing habits are different, the way they consume content and what they are interested in is different, and they look for different messages and brand values as well. That's why it makes sense for us to starting talking to the female consumer with a different voice.”

And it really works. According to Isabel, Liv now accounts for 25% of Giant’s major sales markets and achieved triple-digit growth in engagement this year. The steady buzz around the company has allowed the brand to gradually increase its product range and expand its team since 2011. Liv now boasts a large range of road and mountain bikes, as well as clothing, tools and safety gear and is still growing.

Why does it work? Obviously being born from an already globallysuccessful bike company helps, but Liv also sets itself apart from other cycling companies in a number of ways. “Liv is a small team compared to Giant, but incredibly efficient!” Isabel told us. Could this be because the Liv team is made up entirely of women? “From engineers to product and category managers, graphic and industrial designers, marketers, demo drivers and top managers” she explains. “Isn’t it amazing? Besides designing what we believe is the best option for female riders, we believe in creating opportunities and breaking barriers.” Not only a genius marketing device, all the women on the Liv team really believe in what they do, which results in an even better product. “We are lucky here at Liv to have so many talented and passionate women working together. Every continued››

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woman that works here usually says something similar about her view on Liv. They feel it’s more than a just product. Liv is a cause, a mission to get more women on bikes and therefore empowered through their journey in life.”

All Liv bikes are designed and built from scratch.

“We don’t take a men’s bike and make minor changes to placate female consumers. At Liv, every step - from the concept, to the bike, to the accompanying gear is designed for women.” The end result is actually noticeable, not to mention beneficial, to female riders. “In most cases, the first time the customer jumps on a women’sspecific bike, they totally feel the difference and they normally end up purchasing one” Isabel explains. There is plenty of science to back it up; from rigorous product testing, customer reviewing and mapping out the differences between men’s and women’s bodies, Liv make bikes that are optimised for a woman’s size and strength pattern. One major example is that men generally derive strength from their shoulders, arms and torso, whereas women’s strength is rooted in their legs and lower bodies, therefore necessitating that women’s bike frames be designed with this in mind.

What really struck us from our conversation with Isabel is how Liv strives to create a welcoming community for women all over the world, whether they’re beginner or expert cyclists. From their friendly shop fronts to their massive online presence, it’s all about getting women into cycling, sharing their stories and talking to one another in a way we don’t often see in men’s cycling. “It’s safe to say that women are different than men in many ways.

The physical differences are obvious, but there are mental differences as well” Isabel explained. “At Liv, we believe that designing products specifically for women is important, but making a space for them is equally important, especially in a male dominated world like cycling.

We’ve made great strides in putting together campaigns and communities where women feel welcome to join in the fun, learn and grow their cycling ability.

We’ve noticed all levels of athletes, from pros to first timers, engaging together in these campaigns and forums, teaching each other and just enjoying cycling together.”

If you’re female and looking to get into cycling, or if you’re a seasoned expert looking for some riding buddies and a way to share your experiences, look into Liv. The company has big plans for the future ranging from their new campaign, How We Liv, to a global ambassador program that allows women from all over the world to apply to represent Liv, regardless of age, body shape or ability. We can’t wait to watch it develop.

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free bike wash @ Hotel Le Cottage Mountain Mavericks are bringing their tried and tested food formula to the huge sunny terrace outside Hotel Le Cottage in the centre of Morzine this summer.

Le Cottage is just metres from the bottom of the Pleney and this summer you’ll find an outdoor

pizza oven, huge burgers and a snack food menu that includes bacon and sausage baps to eat in or take up the hill with you. Also available at Le Cottage is a free bike wash for all customers to use, as well as regular live music sessions.

A new airline for your winter holiday

Powdair launches in December 17, connecting 6 regional UK airports and 2 European destinations with Sion Airport in Switzerland. And whilst Sion is 2 hours from Morzine, versus Geneva’s 1 hour 15 minute journey, Powdair are offering some seriously good fares, which include ski carriage, making the airline a very cost-effective way to travel, especially during those school holiday weeks.

“The extended transfer time from Sion Airport into the Portes du Soleil should be offset by the

reduced amount of time you’ll spend in the actual Airport” an airline spokesperson told us.

“Sion is a small airport handling a small volume of flights, so those dreaded queues at security are avoided!” Powdair will fly three times a week from Bristol, twice from Edinburgh, five times from London Luton, two flights from Manchester, four times from Southampton and twice from London Southend. Antwerp and Hamburg also feature on the schedule. Head to powdair.ski for more schedule and fare details.

Barbara de Moubray’s Exhibition If you’re a regular at Montriond’s La Marmotte d’Or watering hole, you’ll likely have spotted the giant Marmotte made of copper wire standing proud on the terrace. It was created by local artist Barbara, who uses wire to create incredible structures and drawings in both 2D and 3D. Between Thursday 3rd and /MorzineSourceMagazine

Monday 7th August Barbara is hosting an exhibition at La Salle d’Expo in the centre of Morzine between the church and the Mairie. She’ll be joined by other artists who make wool mandalas and a budding photographer from Le Biot.

Find out more at facebook.com/ barbarademoubrayartist @MorzineSource

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the

wellness directory When Source first moved to Morzine eight years ago, you couldn’t get your legs waxed never mind do a spin class. In the intervening years a number of inspiring and experienced folk have set up camp in our valley, providing some of the most effective wellness services and techniques available. We’re delighted to present them all to you, here, in the very first Source Wellness Directory.

Spas & Massage Séréni Cimes Spa at Hotel La Marmotte

Morzine Massage

Featuring a multi-coloured meditation sauna, steam room, multi-sensory shower and Kneipp footbath, this award-winning central Les Gets spa offers top-notch relaxation. There are 10 treatment rooms in which a huge range of massages, body wraps, facials and scrubs are available and a herbal infusion room with an open fireplace too. A 17x7m infinity swimming pool and Jacuzzi are available to hotel guests.

This team of British qualified sports therapists headed up by long-time local Bev, offer both massage and reflexology treatments in the comfort of your own accommodation. Also on the menu you’ll find hot stone massages, deep tissue treatments, Swedish massage and even the opportunity to book an exclusive therapist for an afternoon or evening of indulgence. +33 (0) 6 67 52 49 36

Open 9am - 8pm

morzinemassage@yahoo.co.uk

+33 (0) 4 50 79 86 09

morzinemassage.co.uk

serenicimes@gmail.com hotel-marmotte.com/en/spa

Mobile Mountain Massage

The Little Mountain Spa

Nicole is a fully trained therapist offering a fully customised and personal wellness experience. Treatments include deep tissue or sports massage, hot stone and pregnancy massage and Auryvedic facial massages in addition to leg rescue and back reviver treatments. All treatments take place at the Mobile Mountain Massage treatment room at L’Aubergade in the very centre of Morzine, where Nicole has created a relaxing space for you to chill out in.

Offering a full compliment of massage, reflexology and beauty treatments from the comfort of a beautifully relaxing Morzine treatment room, Carrie works wonders on those tense shoulders and tired legs. Skincare treatments using Dermalogica are also on offer, as are OPI nails, Aromaworks deep tissue massages and the full range of wax treatments too. Check availability and book online!

+33 (0) 6 04 49 42 32 +33 (0) 7 71 10 54 26

mobilemountainmassage@gmail.com

hello@thelittlemountainspa.com

mobilemountainmassage.com

thelittlemountainspa.com Lynn Dearlove - Bowen and Emmett Technique Les Gets Luxury Spa

Located in the centre of the resort and open during July and August, facilities at this spa include a bubbling jet pool, a therapeutic hammam and a sauna in addition to two treatment rooms in which you can enjoy facials, a selection of different massages and a full range of beauty treatments including manicures.

The Emmett Technique is a unique body therapy used widely to ease pain and discomfort while increasing movement and flexibility. Lynn is a full practitioner in the technique, which involves the application of light finger pressure at specific points on the body, resulting in changing muscle tensions. Lynn has her own treatment room at her home in St Jean d’Aulps, or she can come to yours.

+33 (0) 7 83 71 09 29

+33 (0) 7 81 46 94 27

info@lesgetsluxuryspa.com

dearlynn@live.co.uk

lesgetsluxuryspa.com Mountain Rehab

Offering sports, deep tissue, or relaxing post-exercise massage, the team at Mountain Rehab offer sessions in both their treatment rooms at L’Aiglon and as a mobile service. +33 (0) 6 37 13 02 64 info@mountain-rehab.com mountain-rehab.com

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Personal Trainers

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Fresh Fitness - Amy Beswick

Amy focuses on free weight, gym-based sessions using a TRX and body weight training, but she’s equally happy to train clients in the outdoors or at your chalet if you’d prefer. Sessions are tailored to your needs and Amy also offers specialist three and five day juice detox and exercise programs too. +33 (0) 6 47 35 91 76

•

Beautiful apartments

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Perfectly located

•

Secure parking

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On site gym

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Fitness Classes

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Sauna

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Treatment rooms

info@amysfreshfitness.com amysfreshfitness.com Lifecycol Fitness & Yoga - Amy Johnston

Progress in life through adventures. That’s Amy’s mantra. An experienced personal trainer based year-round in Morzine and offering both one-on-one and group sessions, Amy’s specialties include cross training and yoga. Lifecycol Fitness & Yoga also host regular breakfast clubs, which include a 45-minute yogainspired workout followed by a delicious, nutritious breakfast. +44 (0) 7976 942915 amy@lifecycol.com lifecycol.com Buzz Performance - Joe & Amelia Pearson

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The team behind all of those spin classes, road cycling camps and the valley’s new Triathlon club, Buzz Performance also offer personal training sessions to suit you. Available as 1-to-1s or in small groups, Joe and Amelia work towards your personal goals, whether they are improving your strength or endurance, loosing weight or toning up. +33 (0) 6 42 50 40 12 / +33 (0) 6 42 50 38 74 info@buzzperformance.com buzzperformance.com FitLife - Flora Mugnier

Flora specialises in training for challenging events as well as coaching for a healthy wellbeing. She’s based in Les Gets and works across the valley, either on a 1-1 basis or in small groups. Expect boot-camp style sessions, ‘Fit’Possette’ classes for mothers and babies, trampoline workouts, powder walking, stretch sessions and even pole dancing classes too! +33 (0) 6 76 84 61 69

FREE 15 MINUTE

MASSAGE * ADDED ONTO YOUR TREATMENT WHEN YOU QUOTE SOURCE DURING BOOKING

info@fit-life.fr facebook.com/fitlifesuissefrance

JOIN US AT OUR NEW CENTRAL MORZINE

Edwina Sutton Ultra Runner

An experienced international ultra runner living and training in Morzine, Edwina offers personalised coaching plans to help you achieve your running goals. Bespoke plans are created to fit your life and current fitness and Edwina helps runners of all ages and abilities. From running 5km to completing ultra marathons over mountains, no distance is too small, no dream too epic. Edwina also offers guided trail runs for visitors to the area. +33 (0) 7 68 82 04 97 suttonelc@gmail.com edwinasutton.com

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TREATMENT ROOM AT HOTEL L’AUBERGADE OR MAKE USE OF THE MOBILE SERVICE WHERE WE WILL COME TO YOU

FOR OUR FULL LIST OF TREATMENTS VISIT

WWW.MOBILEMOUNTAINMASSAGE.COM

+33 (0)3 36 04 49 42 32 @MorzineSource

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Nutrition Waternelonwell - Melanie Atkinson

Live Love Breathe Yoga - Emilia Valvano

Long-time valley resident and life-long foodie Mel has spent most of the last 12 months travelling and learning. With a focus on nutritional healing to help reverse chronic health conditions, Naturopathic Nutritionist Mel offers personal consultations after which she designs a treatment plan to radically change your health and wellbeing. Mel has the knowledge to help you implement practical lifestyle changes to bring about maximum health benefits and is involved in several nutrition retreats too.

Providing something for every mood and every level of experience, from dynamic flow to more relaxing restorative classes, Emilia offers group classes in both Morzine and St Jean d’Aulps. She’s also available for 1-2-1s and for small group chalet-based sessions too. Emilia’s yoga is perfect for relaxation, sports recovery and to lengthen and strengthen muscles to prevent injury. +44 (0) 7817 792 334 livelovebreatheyoga@hotmail.com

hello@watermelonwell.com

facebook.com/livelovebreatheyoga

watermelonwell.com Sue Molony Yoga

Yoga Instructors Maureen Hansman

Maureen believes that regular yoga practice can create a sense of calm and improve overall health and fitness levels and after living and teaching yoga around the world, she now bases many of her retreats in our valley. One-to-one sessions are also available.

After more than 12 years practicing yoga, Sue is passionate about sharing both the physical and mental benefits, while making it accessible to everyone. Private sessions for both individuals and groups are available. +33 (0) 6 89 07 23 41 suesannamolony@gmail.com The Yoga Pixi - Jo O’Neill

maureen.hansman@gmail.com maureenhansman.com Audrey Pernet - Ambika Yoga

Morzine native Audrey teaches her classes at Hotel Le Petit Dru in both French and English, but she also offers 1-to-1 and small group classes in your home too.

Trained in India and focusing on Hantha disciplines, her focus is on combining physical, mental and emotional wellbeing for all ages and physical abilities.

Offering up to 10 group yoga classes each week, Audrey is also experienced in meditation principles too.

Offering private yoga sessions in the comfort of your home, or even your business, Jo’s sessions are usually on a 1-1 basis or in small groups with a maximum of 5 people. Her passion is restorative Yin yoga but sessions are adapted to suit your own needs. Kids yoga classes are also available. +33 (0) 6 09 99 20 21 theyogapixi@gmail.com theyogapixi.com facebook.com/theyogapixi Sylvie Walls

+33 (0) 6 32 41 83 90 helona3@hotmail.com facebook.com/Ambika-Yoga-Morzine Lifecycol Fitness & Yoga - Amy Johnston

A fully qualified YTT200 and Yoga Alliance accredited teacher, Amy’s knowledge is enhanced by the additional experience she’s gained as a personal trainer. Amy offers varied yoga and yoga-inspired sessions such as stretch and strength for cyclists using yoga techniques and sessions can be tailored to individual and group requirements.

Specialising in injuries and alignment, Sylvie teaches four yoga and somatics classes at the Mountain Rehab studio in Morzine each week as well as at her specially designed treatment and yoga room at her home. Sylvie also practices a number of alternative therapies such as crystal therapy, cupping, reiki and hopi ear candles for a full, all-round wellness session. +33 (0) 6 14 56 14 32 mountainspiritms1@gmail.com element-ame-energie.co.uk

Mediation

+44 (0) 7976 942 915 Art Adventure - Sue Neal

amy@lifecycol.com lifecycol.com Strength & Serenity - Nicole Croyton

Taking place on the stunning sun deck of Hotel L’Aubergade in the centre of Morzine, Nicole offers all of your favourite yoga styles in addition to specially developed pre and postnatal sessions. Designed for the many dynamic mums out there who suddenly find themselves at a bit of a loss yoga-wise while they have a baby on board, Nicole also specialises in pregnancy massage. Look out for special kids yoga lessons too!

Meditation, but not as you know it. Drawing, sketching and painting have been proven to induce a psychological boost, combine this with a beautiful Alpine landscape and you’re winning. Sue Neal offers individual, group and family art lessons for all ages, designed to be relaxing and mindful. +33 (0) 6 43 37 37 65 susiewendy1365@gmail.com artadventuremorzine.eu

+33 (0) 6 04 49 42 32 mobilemountainmassage@gmail.com mobilemountainmassage.com

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Pilates Instructors

Gyms & Fitness Classes

Mountain Rehab at L’Aiglon

Mountain Rehab at L’Aiglon

Taking place in the newly developed studio, classes are available for all levels, including beginners, intermediates and advanced Pilates lovers. There are nine sessions during the week, head to the Mountain Rehab website for the full schedule.

Kitted out with all the equipment you’ll need for a full on gym session, this is the facility that local folk have been waiting for! One-off passes for the gym cost €15, while a weekly pass is €35. Open 7am – 8pm on weekdays and 8am – 6pm at weekends, you’ll need to book your sessions in advance using the contact details below.

+33 (0) 6 37 13 02 64 info@mountain-rehab.com

+33 (0) 6 37 13 02 64

mountain-rehab.com

info@mountain-rehab.com

Chiropractor

mountain-rehab.com Spinning, Suspension Training & More

Morzine Chiropratique - Shane Procter

Chiropractic healthcare provides a holistic approach to your body’s wellbeing. A visit to Shane in his central Morzine practice will help you to find the cause of any health problems, treat any underlying issues and provide advice on rehabilitation to prevent any future recurrence. +33 (0) 4 50 83 70 10 shane@morzinechiropratique.com morzinechiropratique.com

Cycling indoors may sound ironic considering our location, but locals are very grateful for spin classes during inclement weather. Spinning is a brilliant fatburning cardio workout, while Total Body Conditioning classes build a stronger functional core. FIRE (Frequent Intervals of Resistance Exercises) classes do it all – strength, stamina, sculpt and sweat, while Suspension Training sessions offer a gentle, low-intensity workout to improve balance, mobility, flexibility and strength.

And if that’s not enough for you, Total Body Balance is there to boost fitness, stamina, muscle tone and flexibility. You’ll find the full class schedule on the Buzz Performance website. +33 (0) 6 42 50 40 12 / +33 (0) 6 42 50 38 74 info@buzzperformance.com buzzperformance.com

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Wellness Products

Wellness Retreats

Young Living Essential Oils - Lindsey Rodriguez

Live Breathe Hike

With a vision to bring the life changing benefits of essential oils into every home, family and lifestyle, Young Living offer a complete range of oils that can be diffused, inhaled, applied topically or incorporated into massages. Lindsey is based yearround in Morzine and passionate about the power of oils.

Based in Vallee Brevon, not far from Morzine, this catered weekend break combines yoga with hiking. Daily classes include hatha, ashtanga, meditation and mindfulness, all held in beautiful surroundings. Trips are lead by experienced Mountain Leader and a talented yoga teacher Tanya Perret. Dates confirmed for this summer include 30th June to 2nd July.

+33 (0) 6 71 92 33 77 info@chaletmorzine.com

+33 (0) 6 73 77 05 18

youngliving.com

info@livebreathehike.co.uk

Fitness Camps

livebreathehike.co.uk Yoga Mountain Weekends

AliKats Mountain Holidays

Taking place in April each year, this health and fitness week based in a beautiful luxury chalet is designed for those who love being active outdoors, eating healthily and having fun. Activities include morning stretches, skiing, mountain trail running and Pilates, all accompanied by a delicious, nutritious menu.

Taking place between 22nd and 25th June, this residential weekend of yoga in Morzine is hosted by Katie Pearson on the yoga front and Mel Atkinson on the nutrition front. Each day begins with a short meditation session followed by a 90 minute dynamic vinyasa flow class then brunch. Evenings feature relaxing restorative sessions before the sun sets and Mel serves up an imaginative and colourful vegetarian dinner.

+33 (0) 6 89 38 81 49 info@alikats.eu

+44 (0) 7823 774 105

alikats.eu

downwardblog@gmail.com downwardblog.com

Buzz Performance Triathlon Camps

Coordinated by local Triathlon training specialists, a Buzz Triathlon holiday is for those looking to improve technique, endurance and performance. Expect coached swim sessions with video analysis, endurance cycle rides with stunning backdrops, run sessions on varying terrain to improve technique and transition training too, all from a pair of experts with over 20 years experience in the sport.

Lifecycol in partnership with Katie’s Yoga Space

Reset, reground and rejuvenate this July. Taking place between Wednesday 19th and Sunday 23rd, this retreat includes two to three days of yoga and functional strength group training sessions in addition to an insightful alignment session, a guided hike with an experienced local Alpinist, guided meditation and clean, tasty, vegetarian meals. Prices start from €530 per person including airport transfers.

+33 (0) 6 42 50 40 12 / +33 (0) 6 42 50 38 74 info@buzzperformance.com

+44 (0) 7976 942915

buzzperformance.com

amy@lifecycol.com lifecycol.com

Fierce & Fearless Fitness Retreat - The Works

This residential retreat is based at The Works’ Chalet Symphony in the peaceful village of Essert Romand between 18th and 25th June 2017 and includes challenging, high-energy workouts designed to help you break through fitness and weight loss plateaus. A clean and delicious menu is planned for each day to nourish and fuel your body. There’s also an Unplugged Retreat taking place between 14th and 17th September too.

Physiotherapy Mountain Rehab at L’Aiglon

Sarah is the only French and UK registered physio in Morzine and her specialism is sports injuries and rehabilitation. With over 20 years of experience, Sarah works from a treatment room in the centre of Morzine by appointment.

+33 (0) 7 81 41 60 47

+33 (0) 6 37 13 02 64

emma@theworksmorzine.com

info@mountain-rehab.com

theworksmorzine.com/retreats

mountain-rehab.com

Lifecycol in partnership with Better Cycling

Wellness Coaching

Taking place in Morzine between Sunday 2nd and Sunday 9th July, this road cycling and triathlon training camp includes six days of guided and supported cycling through iconic mountain landscapes. There’s a choice of either luxury or standard accommodation to suit all budgets and alternative activities are available for noncycling partners. Prices start from £550 including breakfast, a post-ride snack and dinner with three courses including wine on six nights out of seven.

Relationship Coaching – Michele Willmott

Michele is a fully certified coach and contemporary psychotherapist based in Samoens, just 30 minutes from Morzine. She works with couples to improve communication and also provides support and inspiration for women with anxiety and stress management issues and those experiencing a lack of fulfillment in work life.

+44 (0) 7976 942 915 amy@lifecycol.com

+33 (0) 7 50 27 50 13

lifecycol.com

info@michelewillmott.com michellewillmott.co.uk

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Road Cycling Tours Elevation Alps

Create your own bespoke cycling packages to suit your entire group while staying in a luxury self-catered Morzine chalet or apartment. Holidays are available for single riders and larger groups, while supported rides are coordinated by local experts who can really help you to achieve your fitness goals. You can add just a single ride to your stay, or create a weeklong tour to take in the area’s famous cols and passes.

Buzz Cycling Holidays

Velovation - The Climb Company

These tours are all about being out on your bike; climbing cols and improving your fitness while having fun with like-minded cyclists in a beautiful location.

Taking in what the experienced team considers to be some of the best cycling routes in the world, holidays are based around schedules of varying difficulty.

There’s even a Buzz Tour de France holiday, an Alpine Tour and (our favourite), a Buzz, Bike & Brews Holiday, which samples some of the best beers in the Alps.

Offering supported road cycling tours to help you accomplish some of the best and most famous climbs across the French Alps, Velovation are a local team of experienced road cyclists. Available for a day, a weekend or a weeklong cycling tour, routes are planned, researched and tested to ensure that each day delivers a classic climb, sensational scenery and a massive sense of achievement.

+33 (0) 6 42 50 40 12 / +33 (0) 6 42 50 38 74

+33 (0) 7 71 04 04 29

+33 (0) 6 50 26 70 95

info@buzzperformance.com

info@velovation.co.uk

info@elevationalps.com

buzzperformance.com

velovation.co.uk

elevationalps.com Yellovelo Lifecycol

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned roadie, Lifecycol can organise your cycling adventure from start to finish, all you have to do is turn up and ride.

Routes are planned and accommodation is booked along the way with safety as the main focus. Lifecycol will guide and support your group with tours either beginning at or ending at their beautiful Chalet Avenir in Morzine.

With a training camp to suit all ability and experience levels, Fleur and Alex are experienced locals with a true passion for all things relating to road cycling. Their camps this summer include an Etape du Tour training camp featuring five days of riding, commencing 12th June. Their 3-day Mountain Newbie Camp begins on 7th July, the Mountain Goat camp on 21st July and especially exciting Lady Riders Rookie Camp begins on 28th July. Fleur and Alex are also available for bespoke ride packages, day rides and one-to-one training programs too.

+44 (0) 7950 699 803 ian@lifecycol.com

info@yellovelo.com

lifecycol.com

yellovelo.com

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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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making a

big splash in Morgins

If you haven’t already heard of Splash Waterslides, then prepare yourself. Every city, town, village and mountain resort should have one. But what does it take to erect a temporary, inflatable 500-metre long waterslide on a piste? Founder Sebastiaan Boogaard explains.

“I live in Holland, which is a pretty flat country, as you probably know.

But my hometown of Nijmegen near the German boarder has some hills and I’d just watched a video of a waterslide event in the US on YouTube. Inspired to create a bigger and better version, I pitched the idea to my boss at the events marketing company I worked for. In 2016 we launched the first waterside event in the middle of Nijmegen; it was 150-metres long and trailed right through the city centre. We sold 6000 tickets for the three-day event and Splash your City was born.

the facts

Splash your Mountain is interesting for ski resorts who want to add more awesome activities to their summer season programme and we’re delighted to be working with Morgins in the Portes du Soleil this summer. With Splash your City, it can often be difficult to find locations that are steep enough for a waterslide. But in the mountains, we have plenty of opportunities!

When Splash your City or Splash your Mountain arrives in a destination, everyone starts talking about the event. There’s a lot of media attention so a resort can really distinguish itself from similar destinations. Europe’s biggest waterslide is coming to Morgins this summer and that’s big news. The slide itself will be specially created by an expert Dutch manufacturer and it will be 500-metres long. We’ve made some adaptions to ensure it’s entirely tethered to the ground, but otherwise it’s easier to create a slide for the mountains than for the city. And on this slide you’ll reach speeds of up to 55kmph!

Even though a 500-metre long side is the longest in Europe, if there’s space, we can build a much longer one - we’re always open to suggestions for new locations! We could build a 1200-metre version if you know a piste that’s 1200-metres long! Maybe we can bring Splash your Mountain to the Morzine valley very soon.”

Splash your Mountain will be erected on the Géant piste in Morgins between 28th July and 6th August. Driving to the resort from Morzine takes an hour, or you can use the Portes du Soleil’s summer lift system, but be sure to plan your route with enough time to get back.

Tickets are 30CHF for 3 hours at Splash your Mountain, or 25CHF when booked in advance. You can slide as many times as you like with your ticket and there are 4 timeslots available commencing at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm each day. Tickets are available at splashyourmountain. com You’ll need to be aged 10 or over to Splash!

Rain doesn’t stop play! The more water the better Dress like you’re going to the pool. Boys, you CAN wear board shorts

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Wear watershoes or trainers Lockers are available for a small charge It’s absolutely fine to slide with your GoPro Food and drink is available at Splash You’ll slide one by one, not in pairs Inflatables aren’t allowed on the track There’ll be good food, refreshing drinks, live DJs playing summer vibes and after parties too.

#loveavoriaz

your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz Alpine Van Man SOURCE advert.pdf 1 01/05/2017 10:49

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

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Morzine, Les Gets & outlying villages.

Our services range from total chalet management to ad hoc cleaning, catering or babysitting

CARRYING GROCERY SHOPPING, FURNITURE, PAINT, SKIS, SNOWBOARDS, BIKES AND EVEN PALLETS

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Summer or Winter, we have a range of options to suit you.

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sway

By Amie Henderson

If I’m not mistaken, we’re not supposed to be within 100 metres of our iPhone (other time and energy-sapping devices are available) when attempting to relax. But it’s a struggle; I’m not going to lie. Time spent exercising, practicing mindfulness, perhaps meditating, often sleeping… only to find 17 emails, 2 missed calls, 3 Facebook messages and 3 new Twitter followers on return.

It’s simply not possible to truly switch off with your phone nearby. Fact.

It’s an assumption contested by Peng Cheng, founder of technology company PauseAble. Having suffered for years from depression and stress, Peng Cheng gave himself six months to recover using a combination of meditation and Tai Chi. Tai Chi inspired the globally successful app Pause, a collaboration between PauseAble and London-based digital product studio usTwo, which launched two years ago. Now we have Sway – an interactive meditation app for iOS that’s designed to help users practice mindfulness in everyday life.

“Pause was inspired by the Chinese Tai Chi practice - the slow, continuous, gentle body movements that direct attention away from negative thoughts and anchoring attention to the present moment” Peng Cheng explains. Having left his native China for Denmark 15 years ago with studies in interaction design under his belt, Peng Cheng believed it possible to apply the slow, continuous and gentle movement principle onto your fingertip and therefore onto your smartphone screen.

“As it turns out, it is possible to achieve all the benefits of mindfulness using your iPhone. ” “Pause is simple and effective, it worked so well it cured my depression. But with the finger movement, it began to feel quite limited” Peng Cheng explains. Sway works by encouraging movement rather than screen interaction. “With Sway we wanted to liberate the interaction, using a device’s motion sensitive technology to enable a full body experience.”

Scientifically validated, Sway allows you to practice mindfulness using subtle wrist movements or expressive arm movements with your phone in your hand, or you can pop it in your pocket and simply sway. As it turns out, it is possible to achieve all the benefits of mindfulness using your iPhone.

“We look at technology as a new way to express ancient wisdom. It’s about how we design the interactive and digital

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experiences, not to compete for limited human attention, but to help restore and cultivate attention. That’s the message we want to send with Pause and Sway” Peng Cheng told me. Sway works using the gyroscope and accelerometer motion sensors that already exist in your device. They detect your slow, continuous, gentle body movements and provide a digital visual and audio experience to help you sustain mindful movements for a longer period of time. The end result is a mindful state, tried and tested by yours truly.

“...guided meditation has never really worked for me before. I’m easily distracted and very likely to simply fall asleep if left in a quiet room for too long.”

Now I don’t want to sound like a skeptic, but guided meditation has never really worked for me before. I’m easily distracted and very likely to simply fall asleep if left in a quiet room for too long. How does the interactive meditation offered by Pause and Sway compare to a more guided approach? “Guided meditation is powerful, but it requires dedicated time and quiet places to practice and you must be in a passive state to follow instruction. Interactive meditation puts the user in the driving seat; it’s driven by your choice of body movements in a mindful way. The technology provides the feedback to support the process” Peng Cheng explains.

It’s clear that both Pause and its newer sibling Sway are laying the foundations of interactive meditation. But what does the future hold?

“We look forward to introducing more unique benefits of interactive meditation to the world” Peng Cheng told me. “We’re going to create a more constructive relationship between design, technology and human wellbeing”.

Travel and Wintersports Insurance

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Both Pause and Sway are available to download for iOS devices from your App Store, Pause is also available on Google Play.

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The Tast y Ski Company

ALPTITUDE CHALETS

Chalet Morzine

We have a handful of luxury catered chalets in Morzine and Le Grand Massif. Delicious food in amazing locations is the name of our game. Hot tubs, saunas, sky TV, log fires, Bose sound systems and our unlimited drinks service all included! Available in both summer and winter.

An experienced and independent company specialising in affordable and great quality selfcatered accommodation in Morzine. We have chalets and apartments that sleep from 5-12 people in great locations. We also offer great deals on liftpasses, transfers and ski hire. Owner operated – we believe in providing exceptional customer service all the way through your booking.

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

thetastyskicompany.com

alptitude.com

chaletmorzine.com

+44 (0) 7538 761 767

+33 (0) 7 86 71 14 12

+33 (0) 6 71 92 33 77

info@thetastyskicompany.co.uk

info@alptitude.com

info@chaletmorzine.com

Simply Morzine The original and best Morzine specialists, established in 1995. All properties have hot-tub, pool or sauna. 4 luxury ski-in ski-out &/or central catered chalets. Unique French chalet-style hotel on Pleney pistes. Self-catered on-piste apartments ideal for families. Superb cuisine, renowned personal service. Geneva airport transfers & resort shuttles. Discounted lift passes & ski/board equipment hire. Highly-regarded family summer activity holidays.

Treeline Chalets

Aiglon Morzine

An award winning independent chalet company with a range of catered & self-catered chalets in Morzine. Excellent service, gourmet cuisine and exclusive perks come as standard in our centrally located chalets. Contact us for a quote today!

12 stylish and contemporary alpine apartments within a stunning 'residence de tourism' situated in a great location, less than a 5 minute walk from both the centre of resort and the Super Morzine lift. Open summer & winter. The ultimate MTB retreat. Family fun, Multi-Pass member. On-site gym, sauna, treatment rooms and fitness classes.

Secure parking.

simply-morzine.co.uk

treelinechalets.com

aiglonmorzine.com

+44 (0) 1664 568 902

+44 (0) 1483 220 505

+33 (0) 6 82 05 81 12

info@simply-morzine.co.uk

info@treelinechalets.com

info@aiglonmorzine.com

Apex Morzine

SKPski Morzine

Hunter Chalets & Apartments

Le Morzenettaz offers comfortable, relaxed accommodation in a renovated 170-year-old farmhouse, close to Super Morzine lift and town centre. Our 2 bedroom self catering apartment sleeps up to 6, available on a weekly basis. The B&B sleeps up to 14 in 5 en-suite bedrooms, flexible arrival days, minimum stay 3 nights. Free WIFI. Open winter and summer.

Award winning luxury catered chalet holidays – SKPski are an owner-operated chalet holiday specialist, offering 5* Chalet Chelmer featuring an outdoor hot tub & barrel sauna, log fire, 5* menu & personal service (2015, 2016 & 2017 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence). Luxury accommodation - book your unforgettable ski and snowboard retreat today! Quote ‘SOURCE2017/18’ for 10% OFF all group bookings.

Hunter Chalets & Apartments provide genuine luxury catered and self catered holidays for families, friends and corporate groups. Each holiday is tailored to your requirements. Catered chalets come with a private chef, driver, concierge, hosts & an all-inclusive bar. Come and stay with us in winter or summer in some of Morzine’s most luxurious properties.

apexmorzine.com

skpskimorzine.com

hunterchalets.com

+33 (0) 4 50 74 65 49

+44 (0) 7813 191 717

+44 (0) 20 3745 3452 +33 (0) 7 71 86 65 47

apexgroup@free.fr

info@skpskimorzine.com

info@hunterchalets.com

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Mountain Mavericks

Alpine Residences

Snow & Trek

With 2 hotels, 3 chalets, a great hostel and 2 luxury mazots, Mountain Mavericks offer holiday options for every type of holiday goer in Morzine. Don’t hesitate to get in touch for availability and visit our website or social media channels for more information. Hotels: L’Aubergade and Le Cottage.

Chalets: Le Prele, Chambertin, Kaplamaki. Hostel: Ridewell Lodge

Situated just a short distance from the centre of Les Gets and just 30 metres from the Perriers ski lift, Residence K2 features 12 x 2 bed apartments and a 3 bed penthouse, available both summer and winter. Modern design and furnishings feature throughout, as does the latest technology whilst kitchens are fully equipped. Prices start from €50 per night.

Morzine’s short break specialist with no set arrival days and 3+ night stays. Centrally located apartments, chalets and B&B. Transfers, on-line ski pass booking and ski hire delivery. In resort office.

15 years of delivering quality holidays in Morzine.

mountainmavericks.com

alpineresidences.fr

snowandtrek-morzine.com

+33 (0) 6 24 94 81 23

+33 (0) 4 50 79 31 82

+44 (0) 1243 379 970

thechalet@mountainmavericks.com

info@alpine-residences.fr

info@snowandtrek-morzine.com

Morgan Jupe Chalet de mes Rêves

Morgan Jupe Chalet des Amis

Morgan Jupe Chalet Chardon

Comfortable 9-bed chalet located just below the Retour des Nants piste in Morzine. Perfect for 2 small families or a group of friends seeking exclusive occupancy. Book self-catered summer holidays from £1,400 per week or enjoy winter in style with our unrivalled catered chalet experience from just £5,280 per week.

Spacious 12-bed chalet in an exclusive location offering stunning views from the living area and balconies. Perfect for up to 3 families or a large group of friends seeking sole occupancy. Book self-catered summer holidays from £1,500 per week or enjoy winter in style with our unrivalled catered chalet experience from just £6,000 per week.

Charming 8-bed chalet located just below the Retour des Nants piste in Morzine, offering incredible views from the outdoor hot tub. Perfect for a large family or a group of couples seeking exclusive occupancy. Available on a self-catered basis throughout the summer from £1,400 per week and during winter from £2,880 per week.

morganjupe.co.uk

morganjupe.co.uk

morganjupe.co.uk

+44 (0) 7 739 692 908

+44 (0) 7739 692 908

+44 (0) 7739 692 908

jess@morganjupe.co.uk

jess@morganjupe.co.uk

jess@morganjupe.co.uk

Morgan Jupe Apartment Florimont

Chalet Uxello

Chalet L a Cote

Modern 4-bed apartment located just 5 minutes walk from the centre of Morzine with easy access to the ski lifts and local bus routes. Available on a self-catered basis all year round from just £595 per week during summer and £1,200 per week during winter. Covered parking space, lockable bike/ski storage, WIFI, smart TV and washing machine.

Chalet Uxello, a luxury 5-bed chalet on Route des Chavannes, Les Gets, next to the ski lifts, trails and tracks. Summer brings hiking, swimming, golf, cycling and mountain biking with dedicated trails.

We host retreats all year round for yoga, nutrition and health. Uxello is wonderfully situated for all these activities with amazing views up and down the valley.

Enjoy a boutique ski experience at Chalet la Cote just 5km from the lifts of both Morzine and Les Gets.

Luxurious furnishings, candlelit evening meals, champagne welcome, delicious afternoon teas, outdoor hot tub, panoramic mountain views, private minibus to and from the slopes, glorious log fire. Ski weeks start from £650 and long weekends from £450.

Sleeps 8 in en-suite bedrooms.

morganjupe.co.uk

chaletuxello.com

chaletlacote.com

+44 (0) 7 739 692 908

+44 (0) 7973 662 421

+44 (0) 7770 920 293

jess@morganjupe.co.uk

bookings@chaletuxello.com

nic@grischot ti.com

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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…

CHALET IODA

SASKIA APARTMENT

CHALET ARKOR

Recently refurbished to a high standard, this large chalet accommodates up to 10 people and offers stunning views over the resort. Facilities include WiFi, TV, beds made before arrival, daily cleaning service, towels and firewood provided, sunny terrace and washing machine and dryer. You’ll love the large, open plan living room.

Located on the 4th floor of the Saskia Residence in the Falaise area , this apartment sleeps 6 people in comfortable rooms. There’s 1 double bedroom, a bunk room and a sofa-bed in the lounge. Facilities include beds made before arrival, WiFi, TV, kitchen with microwave, fridge and dishwasher. The southwest facing balcony offers stunning views!

An individual chalet offering accommodation for up to 10 in a huge, beautifully decorated space over several characterful levels. Facilities include WiFi, beds made before arrival, fire wood and towels provided, secure ski storage, laundry room, sauna, fitted kitchen with all the appliances you need, large dining area and several bedrooms to suit your whole group.

ASTER APARTMENT

ALPAGES APARTMENT

Fontaines Blanches Apartment

Sleeping 6 in modern comfort, this 3rd floor apartment has been recently refurbished and offers great views over the local pistes. Facilities include secure boot and ski storage, beds made before your arrival, WiFi, flexible bedroom arrangements, a fully-equipped kitchen and a south west facing balcony. We love the Savoyarde themed décor in this property!

This is a functional, well located apartment sleeping up to 4 people in 2 rooms. It’s on the 6th floor, which makes the views spectacular while other features include a ski locker, beds made before arrival, WiFi, a kitchen with microwave, fridge and dishwasher. There’s 1 double bedroom, 2 single sofa beds and a south facing balcony from which you can enjoy the views.

A charming apartment with modern décor, this residence offers accommodation for up to 4 people on the 4th floor of the building. Features include WiFi, beds made before arrival, a kitchen with a fridge, dishwasher and microwave while the bedrooms include 1 double room and a double sofa bed in the lounge. There’s also a south facing balcony too.

CHALET KOURIA

Malinka Apartment

SASSAFRAS APARTMENT

This beautiful, uber-modern chalet sleeps 10 people in 5 bedrooms. It has it’s own private lift, a beautiful living room with a large fireplace and a fully equipped kitchen. Other features include heated boot warmers, laundry room, access to an indoor swimming pool, hammam, sauna and beautiful south facing balconies.

Accommodating up to 4 people over 2 rooms, this charming apartment is on the 8th floor of a centrally located Avoriaz residence and enjoys south-west facing balcony views. Facilities include beds made before your arrival, WiFi, a kitchen featuring a microwave, hotplates, dishwasher and fridge in addition to a nice dining space. There’s 1 double bedroom and a sofa bed for 2.

A duplex apartment sleeping up to 8, this property offers Avoriaz charm and style throughout. Facilities include beds made before arrival, flexible bedroom arrangements that include a mezzanine level which is perfect for children, a fully equipped kitchen and a large living room with plenty of comfortable seating for all.

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

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peace

of

mind

By MPI Brokers

Summer or winter, a trip to the mountains is a great way to relax, unwind and simply get away from the usual pressures of a busy modern lifestyle.

There are many reasons for choosing a mountain holiday, from leisurely enjoyment of the scenery to more vigorous activities such as hiking, climbing or mountain biking. Retreats are also on the increase, for the ‘more gentle’ types of exercise such as yoga and pilates, which are becoming a popular reason for visiting the Alps, ideal for calming oneself surrounded by the clean, pure mountain air. Then there’s also the attraction of snowsports in the winter months.

While striving for wellness of body and mind, you should never overlook the important part that travel insurance plays in this process.

For you to enjoy complete peace of mind, your travel insurance should be in place as soon

as you book a trip, so that you won’t be out of pocket if you have to cancel. Although the majority of winter alpine visitors ensure they have a suitable travel insurance policy in place to cover their wintersports activities, many aren’t so vigilant about obtaining cover for the ‘lesser risk’ summer activities.

Your policy should also cover all the activities you plan to participate in, so there need be no worries about medical costs or repatriation if you have an accident.

A third important element is liability insurance, in case you accidentally cause injury to another person.

He says the best advice before purchasing any travel insurance product is to read the policy conditions.

So don’t forget

‘It’s not the cost that matters but the cover that counts’

Thirty Years on the River Dranse

Chalet Parquets & Stores opens It’s no longer necessary to travel down the valley to choose flooring and curtains for your renovation or building project. Skilled local tradesman and owner of property renovation and interior works company Chalet Multiservice Manu Strijker has launched Chalet Parquets & Stores to provide the local area with solid wood floors and custom-made curtains of the highest quality. Wood is either reclaimed or sourced from sustainable forests in huge sizes, adding flexibility and versatility to your project.

flooring we provide can be found in high profile shops such as Mango and Starbucks, and we’ve just finished a Chateaux renovation project in Samoëns”.

Flooring samples are available to view and discuss at the beautifully presented Chalet Parquets & Stores showroom in La Cote d’Arbroz, just 10 minutes from the centre of Morzine, which is also where you’ll find examples of curtain supplies.

Manu and his team specialise in creating curtains for those oddshaped windows and even supply blackout varieties too!

“All of our flooring projects are custom-made for individual projects” Manu told us. “The

Find out more at parquets-stores. com or call +33 (0) 6 88 27 90 98 to arrange an appointment.

/MorzineSourceMagazine

Michael Pettifer, Managing Director of travel insurance specialists MPI Brokers, says: “Not all travel insurance is the same, with policy conditions and costs varying considerably from insurer to insurer. As a general rule, the lower the premium, the less the cover.

White water rafting has always been a big deal across the local area, but back in 1987 summer-specific activities for holidaymakers were few and far between. This summer 7Aventures celebrates thirty years of rafting on the River Dranse and the company now offers a wide variety of fun activities from its base in Bioge on the Route de Thonon, just 25 minutes from the centre of Morzine or 30 minutes from Les Gets.

“Of course the River Dranse has mostly stayed the same over the

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last thirty years and we continue to offer exciting rafting trips to tourists” owner Gilles Damnon told Source. “But now holiday makers look for more activities to take advantage of our beautiful mountain location. We can offer hydrospeed trips, canyoning and canoe kayak experiences in the water and via ferrata, climbing, archery and guided hiking tours on the land.”

For more information on the various summer activities offered by 7aventures, head to 7aventures. com or call +33 (0) 4 50 72 15 12.

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hot property

Ferme la Rochet te A beautiful, modern renovation of a traditional 1796 semi-detached farm in the picturesque Vallee de la Manche. It’s close to the Nyon cable car and there’s a bus stop at the bottom of the road. Spread over two levels plus a mezzanine, there’s 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a suntrap garden, south east facing balcony, beautiful views over the pistes, a garage and off street parking, with the river Dranse flowing below. What more could you want?

The volume of construction taking place across our valley at the moment can’t have escaped your attention. Properties in Morzine, Les Gets, Montriond, St Jean d’Aulps and Essert Romand are hot right now. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some incredible renovation projects and ready-to-go ski boltholes on the market too. We asked a stack of local experts for their choice picks.

€790,000 CONVERTED FARMHOUSE

MORE INFO:

Carrie Marsh - Pastures Greener +33 (0) 6 50 20 82 68 info@pasturesgreener.net pasturesgreener.net

Chalet R’biole

From €1,195,000 to €1,345,000 NEWBUILD CHALETS

Available off-plan with completion 6 months after purchase, this development sits on the sunny side of the valley between Morzine and Montriond, facing the Pleney, high above the Parc des Dereches and just 5 minutes from the swimming pool. Each property is designed by local architect Jean Francoise Cottet Puinel, is 191m2 and features 6 en-suite bedrooms, a 2-car garage and personalised interiors.

MORE INFO:

Jean François Cottet Puinel +33 (0) 6 08 06 59 87 jfcottet@orange.fr

Montriond Character Chalet

€779,500 READY TO GO

This beautiful family home basks in the Montriond sunshine, just minutes from the ski lifts of Ardent. The outside has been completely re-clad in brushed wood while windows and doors have been replaced with triple glazing. Inside there’s 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, lots of storage and beautiful interiors. Outside, a vast garden of almost 3000m2 should be ample space for a summer party!

MORE INFO:

Teresa Gordon - Leggett Immobilier +33 (0) 6 87 38 40 37 teresa.gordon@leggett.fr frenchestateagents.com

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Build Buildmy myhome home For more information and images, head to morzinesourcemagazine .com/chalets-rbiole-montriond

Chalets

La R’biole

     

More MoreInfo Info: :jfcottet@orange.fr jfcottet@orange.fr +33 +336608 0806 0659 5987 87

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Penthouse B301 – Annapurna

€1,947,500 NEWBUILD PENTHOUSE

This prestigious central Les Gets development is currently reserving offplan. Penthouse B301 is one of the final remaining properties and features 4 bedrooms over 2 levels and panoramic views over the ski resort. There’s a huge open-pan living and dining space with a feature fireplace and an interior designer is on-hand to help you. Included within the development is a private swimming pool and spa complex, a lounge bar, underground parking and fantastic access to all Les Gets has to offer.

MORE INFO:

Samantha Gates - Alpine Lodges +33 (0) 4 50 79 31 82 info@alpine-lodges.fr alpine-lodges.co.uk

from €1,110,100

Le Clos Bernard

NEWBUILD APARTMENTS

Located in Les Gets, just a short walk from the resort centre and the ski lifts, this is an exclusive new development of six luxury, south aspect apartments, two of which are Penthouses. Construction is by a local, high-end chalet builder and each property benefits from two underground parking spaces within the price.

MORE INFO:

Wendy Bull - Wendy’s Houses +33 (0) 6 81 65 38 69 info@wendyshouses.com wendyshouses.com

Chalet Grange Neuve

€595,000 RENOVATED BARN

This beautiful barn conversion includes 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and is just a short walk from the centre of St Jean d’Aulps. It offers a real wow factor with a stunning kitchen, double height ceilings, exposed beams and huge picture windows. There’s also a separate selfcontained 2-bedroom apartment, which would make the perfect holiday rental property.

MORE INFO:

Ailsa Bishop - Alpine Property ailsa@alpine-property.com +33 (0) 6 71 14 68 08 alpine-property.com

Les Greniers des Hôtelières

€525,000 NEWBUILD APARTMENT

Built by one of the area’s best developers and located in a sought after location at the foot of the slopes in Les Gets, this small development of 10 apartments and 2 chalets is an ideal ‘lock-up and go’ ski property.

Currently for sale is a ground-floor apartment with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a large private terrace with access to shared gardens.

MORE INFO:

Catharine Hunt - France Property Angels +44 (0)1225 442 128 catharine@francepropertyangels.com francepropertyangels.com

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Source Advert Chalets Parquet.pdf

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27/04/2017

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Custom made flooring for all personalities Incomparable wood floor as unique as you MANUFACTURED FROM SUSTAINABLE GERMAN FOREST OR RECLAIMED OAK BEAMS FOR A TRULY AUTHENTIC LOOK. BOARDS UP TO 40CM WIDTH AND 5M LONG.

Bespoke fitted curtains with an unlimited choice of colours and fabrics IDEAL FOR AWKWARD SHAPED WINDOWS PERFECTLY SUITED TO TRAPEZE WINDOWS & TILT AND TURN WINDOWS The only wood flooring showroom in the area A reliable, small, bilingual team Showroom by appointment : 53, Route du Contat 74110 La Côte d’Arbroz Tel : +33 (0)4 50 84 10 66 E-mail : info@parquets-stores.com Website : www.parquets-stores.com

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Farmhouse with Wiews

€490,000 REFURBISHMENT PROJECT

Montriond has become one of the most sought-after hamlets in the valley and this farmhouse is a rare opportunity to undertake an exciting refurbishment project. The property is semi-detached and currently offers 2 bedrooms, a large open plan living room and kitchen and plenty of storage space. But it’s above the current living quarters that offers so much potential; 120m2 of barn space ready for renovation.

Outside there’s a sunny terrace and garden area.

MORE INFO:

Sylvie Payen - Century 21 Call Home info@callhome-morzine.com +33 (0) 4 50 04 94 76 callhome-morzine.com

€690,000

La Marmot tiere

NEWBUILD APARTMENTS

Currently reserving off-plan, these 9 luxurious apartments occupy an enviable position on Piste B of the Pleney, while the centre of Morzine is just 700 metres away. Including 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, a terrace, storage cellar and underground parking, all residences offer superb views over the village and surrounding peaks.

MORE INFO:

+33 (0) 6 19 57 01 99 info@majestic-morzine.com majestic-morzine.com

Family Chalet with Views

€850,000 READY TO GO

This is a well-presented 5 bedroom, 2 bathroom family chalet in the La Mernaz area of Morzine, just a 10 minute walk from the resort centre.

It’s in an elevated position offering breathtaking, panoramic views and benefits from sunshine throughout the year. There’s an open-plan kitchen and dining area, a cosy living room with open fire, a balcony, terrace, storage and a garage.

MORE INFO:

Paul Watts - Morzine Immobilier +33 (0) 6 25 59 13 27 paul@morzine-immo.com morzine-immo.com

€715,000

St Jean d’Aulps Chalet

READY TO GO

Located in the heart of the vibrant village of St Jean d’Aulps, this 6-bedroom chalet also includes a separate study and a mezzanine area.

There’s charm and character throughout with double-height ceilings in the living space and an open fireplace. Outside you’ll find over 2000sqm of sunny garden, there’s even a stream at the bottom MORE INFO:

Joanna MacGovern - Geranium Immobilier info@geranium74.com geranium74.com

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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.

alpine-property.com | + 33 (0)4 26 10 10 72 HSP Source Advert.pdf

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15:46

07/10/2016 14:51

Traditional and Contemporary Plaster & Paintwork, Tiling and Floor Screeds interior, exterior, commercial & domestic, thoroughout the Alps.

Steve Ward 487 Route du Jourdil, Les Mouilles, St Jean D'Aulps, 74430 +33 (0)783 99 60 30 stephen.ward@sfr.fr

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Running with

edwina

By Edwina Sutton

image credit - aprés imaging

Those ultra runners deserve a whole heap of respect. Imagine the volume of time needed to train for those insane distances. Local girl Edwina Sutton is one such runner. With World Championship Triathlons on her sporting CV, Edwina made the switch to ultra running after becoming a mum. Here’s her Morzine running story.

Once the skiers move out, Morzine is really the perfect place for both beginner runners and those looking for more challenging runs.

Hurry past the hustle and bustle of the centre and there are many marked routes of trails to explore. Everybody loves Morzine in the winter, but in the spring and summer, I think it’s at its most beautiful and is best seen as high as your lungs, legs and heart will take you!

By March, with bated breath, I’m watching the snow receding up the mountains. As others are binning their lift passes for

#lovemorzine

another year I’m getting ready to head up under the empty chair lifts to see what winter has left behind. Rocks and ridges reappear, the first green shoots of alpine flowers begin to poke through the trail. Hit the snow line and you are rewarded with stunning views, but razor sharp snow that stubbornly clings to the mountains until spring arrives proper.

There are some moments when I do question what I am doing. Losing my footing over ridges, hearing the thunder rolling in in the distance and knowing I’m up high and a likely lightening target, feeling half deranged with

#lovelesgets

dehydration in Prodains and pushing myself to climb back up to Avoriaz for the third time that morning. Lots of my friends think I’m crazy, lots of my friends don't really have a grasp of what I do, but that’s fine by me. My sport, though a great community, is a sport of how much you are willing to suffer, how brave you can be on the day. What it really all comes down to is how much you want it.

Since I had kids, this is where my mental focus has really changed. My drive to compete and achieve before was very individual, but now my training, my racing,

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my work its all about showing the kids what you can do if you commit and believe and most importantly, if you fall over you get back up and try again. Trail running is part of our family and the love of the mountains already runs deep in all three of my children.

Living with a young family, even in such an idyllic spot, is still hard work. Day in, day out, there are chores to be done; laundry, cooking, homework, more laundry.

Getting out the door every day gives me the strength and energy to cope with the never-ending parenting of young kids. Trainers on, dog called and I'm off, often not planning my route before I go, but taking a trail with the sun or following the river until it becomes a stream or disappears back into the mountain.

accessible, challenging, fun - yoga for everyone

As I head higher, the constant noise of life slowly decreases. The run becomes about me, my body, listening to my breathing, worries disappear or answers to problems spring to mind. The landscape changes, silence falls. I feel the change in the air, the rush of the wind as it hurries down the valley or round the peaks. It’s early; the dew is clear and fresh. The sun peaks over from Avoriaz, tipping me a wink with the promise of a beautiful day. As the heat rises the sweat is dripping into my eyes, my throat is parched and I stop to gather up water from the stream. The path is becoming rocky and treacherous, I have to concentrate, everything is focused on my feet. Rocks hurtle down either side of the ridge, but something inside keeps driving me to go up, up, up. Sport is often talked of as a way of escaping reality, but this is reality.

This is life. Hard, relentless, unforgiving.

One to one At home On your holiday Group classes Retreats www.maureenhansman.com maureen.hansman@gmail.com +33 7 84 07 18 73 chalet-chefs.pdf

Earn your right to be here, I tell myself. Don’t give up, take strength from the mountains. Breathe the air they give you, it’s worth every drop of effort. The view when you get to the summit of every climb is always worth every moment. Like anything in life, the harder fought the battle the sweeter the victory. A quick stop, a single moment, and I have to turn back for home, every run a little bit stronger, every run a little bit wiser and a little more humble.

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Hire a private chef to make your holiday a holiday for everyone

And this is why I love the mountains. They have taught me resilience, sacrifice, they have shown me the inner strength I hold within, that even as a mother I can still achieve great things. Don't be fooled, they have conquered me many times, left me on my knees, broken and bruised, but I always go back the next day wanting to do better.

Menu 1 - €230 per week

home cooked, filling dishes such as tartiflette, chilli and lasagne

MENU 2 - €275 per week

I take the lessons learnt from the trail back to my children, telling them to practice, never give up, follow your dreams and most of all take the time to savor what the mountains give to all of us, belief. Belief in what you can do with just a little bit of courage and a whole lot of heart.

classic, chalet style food such as beef bourgignon and slow roast belly pork

MENU 3 - €350 per week

our fine dining option including beef wellington and rack of lamb

“Huge thanks to my sponsors La Sportiva, Mountain Rehab and Centurion Running Team for keeping me on the move!”

Follow Edwina’s journey at edwinasutton.com

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www.chaletchefs.net | +33 (0) 6 47 82 98 89 @MorzineSource

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Road biking is great; it’s super good for you, you can do it anywhere that has roads and unlike our other favourite pastime (snow sports) you can do it easily almost all year round. But road biking in the Alps is a little different to what you might be used to, so with some expert help from Tim from Torico Morzine, we’ve put together five of our favourite road biking essentials!

- road cycling -

Scott Solace 10 Disc

RRP €2800 Let’s be honest, most of us road bikers in the Portes du Soleil aren’t racers, but we can go the distance! The Scott Soalce is designed for endurance but has racy undertones that even the toughest of riders will enjoy. The two-part carbon frame is split into two zones: the Power Zone and the Comfort Zone, resulting in a stiff and stable but responsive ride that’ll tackle the ice-damaged cols of the Portes du Soleil with ease and provide you with fun, confidence-inducing descents. Plus, the wide-ranging gears are perfect for the hilly mountain roads of the Alps. scott-sports.com

Garmin Edge 25

RRP €199

with HRM function

Strava fans, beware. The Garmin Edge 25 is light, compact, easy-to-use and accurate to a tee. Use this tiny cycle computer to plan your routes, track your speed, distance and elevation and even measure your heart rate. It has around ten hours of battery life (allowing you to use your phone for other things like emergency calls and taking photos), a flawless GPS signal that doesn’t rely on 3G and works even in thick forest or the middle of nowhere. It’s also got an IPX7 water-resistance rating for those who like riding in torrential rain and it can be easily connected to your other devices so you can download your data and measure your progress – genius! buy.garmin.com #lovemorzine

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Morzine

Massage Prices

60 minute massage 80€ pp 45 minute massage 63€ pp 30 minute massage 45€ pp 2 or more consecutive 45 / 60 minute massages 5€ reduction pp Pre book an evening of indulgence for just 215€ (3.5 hours) Let us massage away those aches and pains in the comfort of your accommodation.

Clif Bloks

RRP €3.30 each RRP €43.50 for a pack of 18 Long bike rides mean you’re burning hundreds of calories per hour and that means you need a way to keep your energy levels up! Clif (of CLif Bar fame) Bloks are perfect for fighting fatigue and hanger (hunger = anger) in the saddle; they come in packs of 33 calorie gel cubes that can be kept close to hand and are easy to eat on the move. Not only does this make it easy to keep track of your calorie intake, Clif products are made mainly from organic, natural ingredients and don’t contain any nasty stuff like hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. They also taste surprisingly good and come in lots of different flavours. Yum.

Reflexology

Deep Tissue Massage

*An additional 15€ per treatment

Book now: +33 (0) 667 52 49 36 www.morzinemassage.co.uk Morzine nd

Les Gets

Grande

BOOK ONLINE

Montrio

MSC advert.pdf

clifbar.co.uk

*Hot Stone

Terche Aulps

St Jean d’

mand

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Endura Pro SL 11 bibshorts

RRP €100 If there’s a pair of shorts designed for summer road biking, it’s these bad boys.

Available in two different leg lengths with three pad width options, you can truly tailor these to your preferences. Plus, they’re made from Italian Power Lycra for optimal compression and muscle support, with performance-enhancing Coldback technology and SPF 50+ sun protection. The bib section is made from ultra-breathable 3D mesh to keep you comfortable on long, hot days, plus the padding has an anti-bacterial treatment so you don’t need to worry about stinking out the bar after your ride. endurasport.com

z Morzine Ski Chalets Our speciality is your perfect getaway!

www.morzineskichalets.com

Torico Water Bottle

600ml: €6 - 800ml: €8 Everyone needs a good water bottle or two, or even three, especially for long climbs on hot days, and what better way to support a local business than by treating yourself to a unique Torico water bottle? These BPA-free bottles are exclusively available to buy from Torico bike shop on the Rue du Bourg in Morzine. A great reason to stop buying single-use plastic bottles, keep yourself hydrated and go in and say hello to Tim and the guys – they’ll do a great job of fixing your bike, too!

Our speciality is your perfect getaway!

www.morzineskichalets.com

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A Recipe

for disaster

By Chloe Hardy

I love food. Eating it, cooking it, reading about it; and I know lots of people who feel the same. Food is connected to feelings of cosiness, general health and wellbeing, guilty pleasures, family, friends, and of course, survival. Eating a healthy and balanced diet can give you more energy, help you feel more focused and can even help control symptoms of allergies and long term health conditions.

Many of us out here in the mountains like to eat well to give ourselves the fuel to go skiing, biking, hiking and all the other active stuff you can do here.

But in amongst the hordes of health bloggers, Insta-dieters, cook book writers and contradictory food studies, how on earth are we supposed to know what’s actually good to put in our bodies?

This winter I spent a disproportionate amount of time watching UK daytime TV show Food: Truth or Scare (in my opinion, it deserves a dinner-time slot) and reading the health and fitness section of The Guardian. And before you stop reading because of the sheer middle-class-ness of that statement, it made me realise just how difficult it is to work out what’s healthy, as well as the general ignorance a lot of people have about food. I mean, we’ve all been guilty of indulging in something we think is healthy only to find out that it’s clogging our arteries with big lumps of fat and giving us cancer.

How do we get around this? The media is full to the brim with food propaganda; this winter alone saw the devastating news that we should in fact be eating the madeup amount of ten portions of fruit and veg a day instead of the previous made-up amount of five (in made-up 80g servings,

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in case you were wondering what counts as a portion). Many internet users were shocked to discover that you can’t just replace your nightly chocolatey dessert with a slice of apple pie and that you can’t just spend all day eating satsumas - ‘cos fruit’s jam packet with sugar, which just isn’t good for us either. It’s also why drinking smoothies and fruit juices have gained a bit of a bad rep over the last few years; a ‘healthy’ breakfast smoothie can contain as much sugar as a can of coke.

Yes, the subject of what’s healthy or not healthy has never been more up for debate; phrases like ‘dairy is scary’ and #cleaneating are being thrown around like cocktail sausages at a kid’s birthday party, encouraging people to stop eating food groups such as gluten, dairy and carbs.

However, this year we’ve also seen a study from Harvard University that proved cutting out gluten can actually increase the risk of developing type two diabetes

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(unless you’re a celiac, obviously). The National Osteoporosis Society also got on board, expressing its concerns for young people cutting food groups (particularly dairy) from their diets because it can be detrimental to growth and development (resulting in osteoporosis, obviously).

Most recently, a study by cardiologists was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine claiming that saturated fat doesn’t contribute to heart disease - a subject that’s currently being hotly contested by pretty much the entire medical community.

And that’s just what the experts say people with actual real qualifications that prove they know stuff. Even they can’t agree sometimes. It’s no wonder that people start looking to social media, where lean, good-looking people will tell you all their dietary secrets, FOR FREE. The internet is full of self-proclaimed diet gurus from @freeleethebananagirl, whose diet pretty much consists of large quantities of bananas and potatoes, to slightly more legit Deliciously Ella, whose vegan diet helped her overcome a host of health problems while at university. Then there’s the massive list of high-profile celebrities who shun gluten, dairy and carbs in the name of health. Of course, some of them do have genuine food allergies or celiac disease, but it’s also good to remember that to stay healthy and in good shape, most celebrities have

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a personal trainer and will have consulted a nutritionist or dietician before cutting out major food groups.

I haven’t even gotten to the environmental impact of what we eat yet - don’t worry, I’ll be brief. Our quest for cleaner food and ‘healthier’ substitutes for food groups is leading to a high demand for foods there’s never been demand for. Take avocados.

I love avocados (damn you, parents, for making me read The Avocado Baby), but

they are, in fact, terrible for the planet.

Most avocados are imported from Central and South America (which I don’t think anyone is offsetting the carbon emissions for) and they also need tonnes and tonnes of water to grow. Not to mention the fact that most avocado plantations in Mexico are controlled by cartels (so when you buy a Mexican avocado, you’re likely to be funding organised crime) and in general, Latin American fruit workers are subject to minimal pay and poor working conditions.

Anyway, back from that tangent, and with all this in mind, how can we stay healthy, energetic and still eat yummy food without ruining the planet, funding slave labour and messing up our own bodies? A good place to start is to remember that everyone’s different. Morzine-based nutritionist, Melanie Atkinson of WatermelonWell believes there is no fixed diet that works for everyone. “Your optimum diet depends on your age, gender, where you come from, physical activity levels, genes and any health conditions. Vegan diets work amazingly well for some people and paleo diets for others. We need to listen to our bodies and pay attention to any symptoms we are experiencing to see what we need for optimum health. However, most people need to drink more clean water and less fizzy drinks, tea or coffee.”

Mel explained that one of the biggest misconceptions people have about food is that fat is bad for you. “Omegas 3 and 6 are crucial for every cell in our body to function so a 'fat free' diet is a seriously bad idea. Our brain is the fat richest organ in the body so it's important we’re getting these healthy fats and a good amount of

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high quality animal fats and eggs too. Fatty foods make us feel full, so make sure you add some nuts, seeds or avocado, as well as a high-quality olive oil or coconut oil to your salads.”

I spoke to Amy Johnston, personal trainer and co-owner of Lifecycol about the best ways to maintain a healthy diet alongside an active lifestyle. “Ultimately, it’s about sitting back and applying common sense” Amy explained. “Logically, on a very sedentary day we require less energy, therefore less carbohydrate than on a very active day.

If you're mega active, be sure to refuel properly, within a fairly short period of time after exertion to aid recovery.”

Mel also believes the best health food we can eat is local organic and seasonal produce. She pointed out that the local area has a range of options, from La Vie Claire organic supermarket and the weekly fresh produce market, to l’Epicerie, a local non-profit group that grows and sells fruit and vegetables throughout the summer.

There are also a number of dairy farms and fromageries in and around Morzine where you can buy good quality, fresh milk and cheese. And don’t forget, France as a country is pretty traditional; the majority of fruit and veg is seasonal only, while ‘Made in France’ stickers are like a badge of honour.

So there you have it - eat what makes you feel good, try to stick to local and seasonal produce and chow down on that fat. Make the most of your time in our valley by checking out the seasonal produce on offer and visiting the local farms, restaurants and fromageries. Experiment with fresh vegetables and try making meals from scratch (it’s quite fun really). And most importantly, if you think you might have a food allergy or intolerance, go and see a nutritionist or dietician to safely work out a diet plan that works for you.

Thanks to Mel and Amy for their help with this article.

Check out Amy's amazing work at lifecycol.com and head to watermelonwell.com for details on personalised nutrition consultations with Mel.

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the then & now of

wellness trends

By Chloe Hardy

Then: Going to the Spa I’ve never really been one for spas myself, but I hear it goes something like this: Enter a lovely, relaxing place with lots of swimming pools, being handed a white fluffy robe by a nicesmelling lady which you’ll wear for the rest of the day and then indulge in massages, beauty treatments and lots of hot-tub time, feeling the stress melt away until the spa closes at 6pm and you’re forced to leave. Ahhh…

Now: Uber-saunas For most people, the sauna is the worst part of going to the spa. It’s really hot, you get all sweaty and feel like you might faint. Your skin goes all red and blotchy until you look like you’ve got some sort of disease. But hang on, what’s that? We’ve been doing it wrong the whole time? Unlike the good people of Scandinavia and mainland Europe, us Brits don’t know how to do a good sauna. What’s all the rage on the continent right now is Sauna Aufguss, which involves going to a sauna (much larger than the 6m sq. faint-boxes we’re used to) and watching ‘Sauna-meisters’ infuse invigorating scents around the room via rituals involving wet towels, flags or tree branches.

Some of them will even sing or do dance routines for you. Yes, in the sauna. Taking things a step further is SALT in Oslo, Norway,

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whose 100-person sauna looks out over the Nordic sea and is the location for events such as poetry readings, performance art and live music. It may sound like a one-way ticket to blacking out, but apparently, in the current ‘loneliness culture’ we live in, the social aspects of going to the sauna help us to feel happier and more socialised, as well as reap all the other health benefits saunas provide. When used properly, of course.

Check out SALT (salted.no) in Oslo and giant sauna experience, Loyly (loylyhelsinki.fi/en) in Helsinki so ensure your next trip to Scandinavia is a good one.

Then: Feng Shui An ancient Chinese philosophy used to determine where tombs, homes and significant structures would be placed, the art of Feng Shui was butchered in the late ‘90s when housekeeping and teen magazines tried to dupe women and girls into believing their lives would be blissfully enriched by moving their furniture around.

I mean, we all feel better after de-cluttering our work and living spaces, but… no. Just, no.

Now: Wellness Architecture Much easier to stomach than Feng Shui, wellness architecture is as simple as it sounds: muchneeded architecture optimised

for human health, comfort, wellbeing and productivity, whether it be a workplace, school, hospital or luxury retreat. The International WELL Building Institute has developed standards for buildings to meet, so new spaces can be designed for optimum natural light, clean air circulation, comfort and energy, while the Well Living Lab conducts research into what makes buildings healthier (and more pleasant) places to be in.

Things to look out for include special energy-generating algae embedded into walls, buildings designed to get us moving around more and better acoustics for a more stress-free environment.

Emphasis is also put on using greener materials to build and design with, so we’re not being sealed into toxic box of air pollution when we’re at home or work.

Hotels and wellness retreats are at the forefront of healthy architecture and design, and there are some right here in the Alps! Check out Six Senses Courchevel (one-courchevel.com) or Alpine Lodges (alpine-lodges. co.uk) for something a little closer to home.

Then: Being a Weed smoking Hippy It used to be that the path to mental enlightenment involved

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running off to join a hippy commune with a random man you met at an Eric Clapton concert, where you could stick it to The Man by wearing flowers in your hair, taking copious amounts of drugs and living off your commune’s smallholding. And that’s good while it lasts, but the financial boom of the ‘80s proved to many that money was more important than freedom.

Now: Cannabis-infused Health and Beauty Products Now that weed has been legalised in a few US states, its health benefits are starting to emerge on a mainstream scale.

And if you want to make the most of them without having to choke on a bong, get the munchies and fall asleep in a pile of crisp crumbs, potinfused beauty products could be right up your street. Most of these products, such as soaps, moisturisers, essential oils and food supplements contain the nice part of cannabis, CBD, which helps with issues such as insomnia, stress and chronic pain. They contain minimal amounts of THC, the psychotropic part of the plant, meaning they won’t make you high, but are completely legal. Most products you can buy in Europe are infused with hemp oil although Canadian company, MOTA (which, fun fact, is Mexican slang for

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weed) makes THC-infused soaps and other products. Oh, and, most CBD-infused products are organic and made with natural ingredients. Win, win.

Make bath-time even more relaxing, check out carun.uk, thehempshop.co.uk - even The Body Shop has a range of hemp products.

Then: Self-help Books Another good example from the ‘90s is that episode of Friends when Rachel quotes a feminist self-help book to Ross: ‘“How am I supposed to grow if you won’t let me blow?”’ As with saunas, I’m not really one for self-help books, but ’90s TV and film does a great job of summarising them; books by self-proclaimed ‘gurus’ that help you find love by advising you to alter your personality in order to seduce the opposite sex, or promote ‘the power of positive thinking’ to help cure your crippling depression and feelings of inadequacy. Generally with no scientific evidence other than the experiences of the person who wrote the book…

Now: Evidence-based Techniques for a Healthier Mind Now, I haven’t read all the self-help books in the world,

so I’m not saying they’re all terrible, although the last ten years has seen a surge of people coming around to evidencebased books by actual real scientists, or people who aren’t scientists but have consulted real scientists and done a lot of scientific research. These books are constantly topping best-seller lists and contain tips, instructions and examples that help us train our minds and improve our focus, memory, productivity and stress levels.

After all, we train our bodies to be fit, strong and healthy, why should we leave our brains to get rotten and flabby while we stress out at work, binge on Netflix and mindlessly scroll through Facebook, dead-eyed and flappy-jawed? The best thing is that training your brain doesn’t have to take up all your time, as stated by psychologist Richard Wiseman’s 59 Seconds and Ruby Wax’s A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled (see page 70 for a full review), which is based on the legitimately successful Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).

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Other books to check out include Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist, Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit and Mark Williams and Danny Penman’s Mindfulness: a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world.

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Ruby Wax A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled

By Chloe Hardy

When I say the word ‘mindfulness’, what’s the first thing you think of? It’s probably not wacky, red-headed comedienne of the ‘90s, Ruby Wax. Yet this is exactly what makes her the perfect bridge between hard science and mental enlightenment in her book, A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled.

You might wonder what a wacky, red-headed comedienne is doing writing a book about psychology, but Wax actually holds a Master’s degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University and has been awarded an OBE for her services to mental health.

Having struggled with depression and breakdowns throughout her career, Wax went on to study the mind and discover that there is actual scientific proof that practicing mindfulness can improve your focus, productivity and general feelings of wellbeing. The book is peppered with examples of her own experiences that explain why we need to take a step back and be mindful. Ranging from those as mundane as forgetting to order a new bathmat, to the all-to-familiar feeling of self-loathing and poor self-worth because you could never possibly be as good at anything as your friends / co-workers / people on Instagram. After all, she explains, our brains haven’t quite caught up with the hustle and bustle of the 21st century and the demand, technology and work ethic that we’ve created for ourselves. This causes us to become ‘frazzled’; stressed, tired, unable to focus and (worst-case scenario), depressed.

What exactly is mindfulness, anyway? Far from just being something people do when they go to a yoga class, Ruby is adamant that mindfulness is a skill that can be honed and practiced anywhere - our minds are plastic and they can be trained. Phew! The actual concept behind mindfulness is really very simple: it’s about teaching yourself to focus, be aware of your body and be kind to yourself. It can be as simple as listening to the sounds around you, to remembering to chew and actually taste your food.

Sound weird? Luckily, Wax has structured this book to begin with the science behind mindfulness and why it’s good for us. It ends with a number of different ways and situations in which to use it - there are even sections on mindfulness for babies, children and teenagers. Sandwiched in the middle is a Six-week Mindfulness Course, a gentle build-up of exercises to strengthen your mental platform. The goal is a more focused, calmer you who’s able to get through a to-do list without getting distracted halfway through and generally not stress so much about the pressures of 21st century life.

MORE FOR YOUR READING LIST…

I feel there’s no-one who understands the frazzledness of everyday life better than Ruby Wax, which is why she’s created mindfulness exercises you can literally do anywhere; on the train, while eating a sandwich, exercising, doing the shopping. It’s flexibly tailored to anyone, from those who love a good om in their yoga class, to those who really can’t stand the idea of meditation. Her belief is that everyone could learn a little bit about themselves from spending a few minutes being mindful every day. Even if it’s just to appreciate a good sandwich that little bit more.

more wellness…

Rest - Alex Soojung-Kim Pang “It is neither wealth nor splendour, but tranquillity and occupation, which give happiness” wrote Thomas Jefferson back in a time less frantic than our own. Rest is based on the principle that you get more done when you work less and the

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book encourages us all to find a way to truly recharge.

And no, that doesn’t mean late-night TV binges or hours spent checking your Facebook feed. It means proper rest, which is not as simple as it sounds. Rest is written by a Silicon Valley consultant, so

its pitch is aimed more at creative entrepreneurs than the everyman amongst us, but there is something for everyone. “Read this book and you’ll see how time off helps us learn and create better” writes 3-Star Michelin chef Ferran Adria on the sleeve.

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more business…

The AirB&B Story - Leigh Gallagher

Call Home

Whether you’re a host or a guest, AirB&B has changed the way many of us travel. In less than a decade the company behind the website has become the largest provider of accommodation in the world, opening up destinations and neighbourhoods to travellers like never before. This book is a fascinating insight into one of

the most highly valued startups ever seen, profiling its founders, their challenges and their ‘travel like a human’ ethos. This book is also bang up to date; published in February this year, it offers a great snapshot of the global travel industry and what we might expect in the months and years to come.

more adventure…

At the Edge: Riding for My Life - Danny MacAskill

614, avenue de Joux Plane - 74110 Morzine

If there’s a man who knows how to deal with ‘The Fear’ it’s trail rider Danny MacAskill and At the Edge is a memoir of mayhem from the YouTube legend responsible for Way Back Home and Go Play.

Danny shares tales of his early days as a street trails rider on the Isle of Skye (his first bike, aged

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four, was pulled from a skip by his dad) and a life of thrills, spills and the huge global audience that followed. Whilst there’s truth in the claim that without YouTube, MacAskill wouldn’t be able to do what he does today, there’s also an unwavering commitment to be the best trick cyclist out there.

+33 (0)4 50 04 94 76 www.callhome-morzine.com Chaque Agence est Juridiquement et Financièrement Indépendante

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There’s no denying that getting outdoors is probably the best thing ever. But with any outdoor adventuring comes the need for lots of gear, which isn’t good for your travel budget, your storage cupboard, or the environment.

We’ve scoured the shops to find the best multi-use items for outdoorsy people that’ll see you through all your outside exploits, while being handy in dayto-day life at the same time.

- Outdoor Essentials

-

Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 30 OutDry Backpack

RRP: €110.00 We love multi-use items! Better for the planet and better for your storage cupboard, this stylish daypack has a generous thirty-litre volume that easily fits anything from a family picnic to everything you need for a night in a refuge.

If you cycle to work, even better; thanks to Mountain Hardwear’s OutDry technology, the main compartment is totally waterproof, ensuring your gear stays nice and dry, even in heavy rain. Plus, the outer attachments can accommodate anything from a flask of water to a set of ice axes or ski poles.

Mountainhardwear.eu

Stance Hike Socks Five Ten Æscent

RRP: €23.50

RRP: €90.00 Arguably one of the most well respected brands in outdoor footwear, Five Ten have managed to accomplish the impossible in creating functional outdoor shoes that don’t look like orthopaedic geriatric slippers. Our favourite is the Æscent, an all-round approach shoe that’ll tackle climbs, scrambles, technical hikes, downhill bike tracks and the subsequent trip to the pub afterwards with ease. The sole is made from Five Ten’s proprietary rubber, Stealth Mi6, which will stick to any surface, rain or shine, while the breathable mesh upper is ideal for summer Alpine weather.

There’s nothing better than the simple pleasure of a good pair of socks, especially when they’re kind to your feet. The merino wool, Nylon and poly/ cotton knit provides the optimal blend of warmth, moisture transferral, durability and cosiness, plus the colourful patterning will look great with your hiking boots. Comfort-inducing extras include seamless toe construction to stave off blisters, as well as strategically placed compression zones and extra-breathable mesh.

Regular socks will pale in comparison.

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Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket

RRP: €140.00 Looking for lightweight weather protection that won’t hotbox your sweat on rainy summer hikes? The Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket sets the benchmark for packability, breathability and storm protection and it won’t break the bank compared to its Gore-Tex equivalents. Patagonia upgraded the Torrentshell last year, now made with Bluesign approved 100% recycled Nylon face fabric, plus their waterproof and breathable membrane, H2No Performance Standard, is one of the best in the industry, keeping you warm and dry, inside and out. Plenty of colour ways will keep even the pickiest of shoppers happy and it’s so light you can pack it into the hand pocket and stash it away in your pack until the rain comes.

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the

fear

By Amie Henderson

We’ve all been there. At the top of a cliff of certain death. If I point my skis even slightly downhill, all kinds of terrible things will happen. How the hell did I imagine that I could ski down here and why the heck am I now frozen to the side of this mountain? Of course, in reality, it’s just a red run. But I’ve got the fear. And I can’t get rid of it.

The ‘cliff of certain death’ was long forgotten when I arranged to interview sports psychologist Louise Jones. One of the most respected and experienced experts in her field, Louise has worked with high performance athletes over an enormous range of sports, from professional rugby players to talented triathletes, downhill mountain bikers to rally drivers and big wave surfers to Olympic medal winning snowboarders. In fact, it’s Louise’s involvement in Workshop by Jenny Jones that we’re here to talk about.

Images of Jenny, Olympic bronze medal around her neck and a massive smile on her face, inspired a new army of snowboarders, not just in the UK, but around the world.

Jenny is a British snowboarding legend and her success in Sochi was the culmination of

years of hard preparation, hard training and hard knocks. Her new mission, ‘Workshops

by Jenny Jones’ shares her knowledge and experience on a board with adventurous snowboarders during a unique mountain experience. Each weeklong workshop during Winter 17 sold out in a matter of days and Jenny even hosted a kids workshop here in Morzine.

Louise, sporty from an early age, always knew the career path she wished to follow.

An undergraduate degree in psychology and sports science preceded a masters degree in applied psychology, taking her to Canada and introducing her to the complexities of ice hockey. “It’s all about helping people be better at what they do” is how Louise explains her job. Whether it’s the athlete or the coach, Louise works with everyone that can influence the environment of a promising sporting star.

Is mental preparation the key to sporting

success? “It’s no different to preparing for anything else in life - a job interview or something else important - you can’t wing it as a professional athlete. You can’t take the risk, especially if you’ve got government funding supporting your sport!” Louise explains. The role of a sports psychologist is to help athletes be ready for the unexpected, to give them confidence and to ensure they’re mentally on form to perform at the best of their ability. “The brain and the body then work together in sync - there’ll be rational, mindful thought and any fear subsides”.

Louise spent ten years guiding Jenny Jones to Olympic success. “Jenny is such a hard worker.

Even though I’m working to lessen the impact of emotions on sporting performance, I was crying my eyes out when she won bronze in Sochi. It went right down to the wire for her.

She called me five minutes later and we just screamed down the phone at each other. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

With Louise’s career successes so entwined with the performances of the athletes she works with, I start to wonder how she’d coax me down the ‘cliff of certain death’. I wasn’t after a free therapy session, you understand.

But ‘the fear’ is surely an issue for pro athletes, especially when a 100-foot kicker lies ahead of them.

“If you ignore the fear, it’ll come back and it’ll get worse. If you’re prone to freezing in tricky situations, you should accept that it’s going to happen and have a plan to deal with

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Yoga provides all the tools you need for physical and emotional wellbeing

it.” Louise explains. “You can still function and perform with fear, but you need to put it in the back seat of your car. You’re driving. Fear won’t be your overriding emotion when you recognise it and relegate it.”

“One thing you need to understand about ‘the fear’ is that it’ll get worse the older you get” Louise tells me. “In that case, I may never ski again” I think to myself. “When we’re older, we perceive threats differently – we have more experiences to draw on and more responsibilities to consider”. True that.

“The second thing you need to do is accept it. It’s OK to feel fear. It’s normal. It’s part of being human. It will subside.”

Fight, flight or freeze were my only options on ‘the cliff’. I froze for a while (I’m guessing it was a minute or two, my best mate Suzie would tell you it was 10 at least), but I knew I needed a plan.

“The next part of the process is for you to decide whether the situation you’re in – the top of a piste, the top of a mountain bike run or the top of a steep

road descent – is a threat or a challenge. Consider each option – imagine there’s a pair of doors in front of you – the choice is yours.”

I eventually made it to the bottom of ‘the cliff’ after what Louise described as a ‘f**k it’ moment. I lived to ski another day, and ski another red run later that day as it happens. “You have to consider your personal performance objectives when you get ‘the fear’. Why are you out there?

Do you want to be better?

Focusing on the views, the weather, the friends you’re with and the overall experience will keep you in the present and help you combat ‘the fear’.”

Ambika Yoga offers traditional Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa and Meditation to help you: - Optimise your body for sport - Relax your mind and body - Improve strength, regardless of age

Private sessions available in your home or chalet

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It’s these skills that Louise offers during Jenny’s workshops. Through a series of sessions, Louise helps to exercise and strengthen your mind to advance your performance. Of course she’ll cover ‘the fear’, but also how to deal with setbacks, how to push your boundaries and help you to achieve a better level of mindset to improve your snowboarding.

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travel for

wellness

By Peter McEwan

Much Better Adventures is a travel company born out of a love for the natural environment. Each year we organise weekend mini-adventures for time-poor, experience hungry professionals, all of whom come to us because they want something different. They want to spend their leisure time consciously, enjoying experiences and adventures in unique, remote locations with handpicked independent, local guides.

But adventure travel for wellness isn’t a new concept; as the rest of the world has done so many times before, we look to Scandinavia where the Nordic philosophies teach us a thing or two about the value of spending time outside. I’ve often wondered why our Scandinavian tour operators have a soft, soothing tone to their voice when I talk to them on the phone. I’ve often asked ‘how are these guys so damn relaxed all the time?’

‘Friluftsliv’ directly translates to ‘fresh air living’ (pronounced ‘freelooftsleez’) and this idea is nothing new to Scandinavians.

But what actually is it? The concept lies somewhere between being a national pastime and a state religion. In Norway, public holidays are respected whole-heartedly and skiing on these public days is encouraged, to say the least. Try contacting a Norwegian on a public holiday. I dare you. Norwegian law is set up to allow public access to nature to any citizen, and is colloquially known as the ‘Allemansratten’ or ‘all man’s right’. Can Norway’s healthy relationship with nature be reason it is consistently in the top-10 happiest countries on earth?

Spending a lot of time exercising in natural environments seems to have a wide range of proven health benefits, for the body and mind. We probably all intuitively know this.

Compare your mood when you return from

a commute home in the crowded sweatbox of a tube, to when you’ve just returned from a bluebird powder day in the mountains.

Incomparable, right? But now there’s scientific evidence to back it up.

Japan is the only country in the world to have a specific word for ‘death from overwork,’ (It’s Karoshi, by the way). The problem has become so endemic that Japanese scientist Yoshifumi Miyazaki has decided to study how to counteract it. He has been studying natural therapy for a total of 33 years, and has found some surprising data on subjects walking in

the woods. He tested participants for levels of cortisol in their saliva after walking in the forest as opposed to the city. Cortisol is the stress hormone. It’s makes you go grey.

It gives you road rage. Miyazaki found that levels of cortisol were down by 12.7% in those

subjects after a walk in the woods. It looks like a happier, less stressed mind is literally a walk in the park.

Is it that surprising? During the 5 million years homo sapiens have been on the planet, we’ve spent 99.9% of our time in forests and 0.1% in artificial places, like over-air conditioned offices. No wonder our bodies find it stressful. When speaking to one of our partners in Norway, Johannes Apon, he told us that “Friluftsliv is not about going out to enjoy nature. It is a return home.” And in a biological sense, this is true.

Another part of getting out into the wilderness and exercising is the added benefit of being out of phone signal. A lot of people may see this as a curse, but it’s a remarkable blessing.

There are precious few places left where we can be undisturbed by the bossy black mirror in our pockets. Sometimes all it takes is a weekend without the constant beeps, tweets, likes and comments for us to unwind and enjoy the moment. Try it one weekend. Turn off your phone and leave it at home. You might like it.

The whole image of adventure travel is going through a much-needed makeover. The animal-loving vegan yogi has replaced the baggy trousered adolescent liftie. Gone are the days of ending a day’s skiing dancing on

image credit - muchbetteradventures.com

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the table of a generic mountain bar whilst listening to men with dreadlocks playing saxophones. You’re more likely to catch the skiers of today ending their day with a spot of yoga before polishing of an acai bowl.

Activities like meditation and yoga are traditionally aimed to reduce mind wandering, by placing a point of focus on one thing. The result is to help that active little problem-solving brain of yours to slow down. Instead of wondering who’s liked your photo, if you’ll fall behind on rent or even what to have for dinner, you’ll find a sense of balance by thinking of, well, nothing. With more people concerned about mental health and wellbeing and less about poisoning themselves for leisure, the growth of wellness focussed travel is an undeniable trend. Don’t miss this bandwagon, because it’s here to stay.

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Smart solutions for your business and your home

Adventure and wellness travel is great for the body and mind. Great for Instagram lovies and hipster buddhas in the making, but the value of this form of travel reaches further.

Our Scandinavian partners tell us often that when they have hikers return from an expedition hiking the UNESCO world heritage Naeroyfjord, they return with a renewed respect for conservation. In such a place as the fjords, leaving a chocolate bar wrapper on the floor is unthinkable. Criminal, even. But the rate at which we all consume plastic, petrol and meat products continues to remain the same. Fresh-air living is all about leaving a place exactly how you found it. The state of the world currently is certainly not how we found it, and if we aren’t careful, we’ll soon have to leave it. If experiencing natural beauty can help to shape our thinking on how to protect it, then that can only be a good thing.

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This issue, we’ve been focusing on wellness; feeling less stressed and more relaxed, energised and happy! Being in the mountains in summertime is a massive boost to most people’s general wellness levels, but here are a few products and services to help you navigate the general hustle and bustle of daily life.

- Wellness Lumie Bodyclock GO 75 Alarm Clock

RRP: £74.95 Forget phone alarms, clock radios and alarm clocks that jerk you out of a pleasant sleep with a stressful, soul-crushing jolt. The Lumie Bodyclock GO 75 wakes you up naturally over twenty, thirty or forty-five minutes with a light sequence that mimics the sunrise and non-offensive sounds. Don’t worry though, it has an alarm beep for backup! This ‘simulated dawn’ eases your body out of producing sleep hormones and helps you wake up in a stress-free, relaxing manor. This gives you more energy and helps you start the day feeling fresh, instead of tired and traumatised. The best thing is that it also works the other way, with a light and sound function that eases you into a good night’s sleep, too. lumie.com

prAna Nomad Travel Yoga Mat

RRP: €50.00 There are many physical and mental benefits to practicing yoga – any yogi will tell you. If you can’t get enough of strengthening, stretching and mind-clearing, or if you want to begin your yoga journey right, the Nomad Travel Mat is a great place to start. Made by eco-friendly, sustainable clothing brand, prAna, it’s lightweight and compact but doesn’t compromise on grip or cushioning. It’s also non-toxic, recyclable and biodegradable and is protected against sun damage. Plus, the closed cell structure means you can lay it anywhere and it won’t absorb harmful bacteria and odours. Namaste! global.prana.com

BRUU Tea Club Monthly Subscription

£10

per month (and they ship internationally!)

There really is nothing better than tea. There are so many different types and they can do anything from help you sleep and ease your pain, to making you feel more awake. That’s why we love BRUU’s monthly tea subscription service; you can try three new loose-leaf teas each month, and they’re delivered directly to your door! Like Netflix, you just enter your tea preferences online and they send you teas they think you might like. The best thing is that BRUU’s teas are all ethically sourced and made with fresh ingredients, so all you need to do is sit back with your cuppa and relax! bruutea.co.uk

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Simply Spas 1-2 page advert.pdf

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• HOT-TUB • SWIMSPA • SAUNAS • • SEASONAL SPA HIRE • TRADE IN •

Faith in Nature Hemp Soap

RRP: £10.90

(for a pack of six)

If you read The Then and Now of Wellness Trends feature you’ll know that hemp is really good for you; a strain of the cannabis plant, it has all the parts that make you feel calm and relaxed but none of the parts that make you high.

This hand-made hemp oil and green tea soap from Faith in Nature is awesome because it’s made from sustainably sourced, natural and organic ingredients.

It’s also vegan, hasn’t been tested on animals, doesn’t contain any parabens and is super cheap. A guilt and stress-free shower awaits! faithinnature.co.uk

WE SELL GREAT SPAS, SAUNAS, SWIMSPAS & STEAM ROOMS

PauseAble Apps

Pause: £1.99 - Sway: £2.99 An app that teaches you how to meditate? Yes, really. Not just hippy mumbo jumbo, PauseAble have created two science and research-based apps that provide interactive meditation sessions designed to fit into your hectic schedule. Interactive meditation is based on the kind of meditation involved in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, but is tailored to (and proven to be more effective for) busy, noisy environments, like the bus, train or workplace.

Meditating using sound and movement helps the body’s ‘rest and digest’ response kick in and draw your attention away from the hustle and bustle going on around you. And you come out the other side feeling de-stressed, focused and ready to go. Want to know more? Check out our interview with Peng Cheng, the

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Morzine and the Portes du Soleil has SO much on offer for families, whether it’s hiking, biking or generally just getting outdoors. The summer holidays are without a doubt the highlight of the year for family time, but of course, finding things to entertain the whole family can get pretty tricky! Fear not, we’ve compiled a collection of goods that will make for the ultimate family holiday this summer.

- Family Fun Commencal ramones 12”

RRP: €189.00 Kids love bikes. Fact. And what better way to introduce a little one to the fun and games of cycling than with the Commencal 12” Balance Bike? Not only will they be the coolest kid in town, it’ll help improve their balance, get them on a real bike sans stabilisers way quicker, and generally just have a blast. This model is the smallest in Commencal’s kids’ range and is prepped for the addition of a rear brake disc in case they start getting a little too adventurous for comfort! commencal-store.co.uk

Naturaband Mosquito Bracelets Nutcase Little Nutty Helmet

RRP: £9.95

It’s a well-known truth that kids (and most grown-ups) don’t really like wearing helmets, which can drive parents crazy! But don’t worry, they will love this one. The Little Nutty Helmet is designed for kids aged two to seven thanks to its adjustable dial, and comes in a massive range of cool colours and designs little people will love. The magnetic buckle is easy-to-use and pinch-free - a relief for both kids and parents - while the removable brim will keep their faces out of the sun and the street style (and of course, the safety certification!) is ideal for all sports, from bike riding to skateboarding.

There’s nothing more frustrating than spending your entire summer holiday being eaten alive by mosquitoes - but don’t worry, that’s where the Naturaband comes in. The phrase ‘stop scratching it!’ will become a distant memory once you’ve got everyone kitted out with one of these anti-insect bracelets. Made from soft microfiber and treated with insect-repelling essential oils instead of harmful chemicals, Naturabands are inoffensive, kind to your skin and most importantly, will keep the bugs away for up to seven days. Even better, they’re super cheap, can be bought in packs of seven, and can be adjusted to fit on even the smallest of wrists.

fr.nutcasehelmets.com - Distributed by Now Company

amazon.co.uk

RRP: €69.95

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Little One.pdf

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A new clothing, interior furnishings and gift store in Morzine for children aged 0 - 8 years

Sea to Summit X-Set 3

RRP: £90.00 A little camping at Lake Annecy, a night in a refuge, a mountaintop picnic, even just a BBQ at the chalet, the possibilities are endless when it comes to a holiday in the mountains. Get the camp stove fired up with Sea to Summit’s award-winning collection of collapsible cookware; made from hardened aluminium and heat-resistant silicone, these ultra-light camping sets pack down super small and are perfect for picnics and outdoor cookouts. Thanks to its compactibility, you can use more pack space for yummy food, and no-one will be complaining about having to carry heavy camping gear! We love the X-Set 31 for its versatility across small and large adventures.

MINGO. | ORGANIC ZOO | TOBIAS & THE BEAR | ELODIE DETAILS | DONE BY DEER

www.littleone.fr +33 (0) 6 35 24 07 62 72 Route de la Combe a Zore, Morzine Instagram - littleoneboutique | Facebook - littleoneboutiquemorzine A2SKI advert.pdf

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seatosummit.co.uk

Airport Transfers Pre booked in resort Cab Service, including lifts to and from Rafting.

Day Trips to Annecy, Chamonix, Aosta Valley, Thonon Les Bains and Evian etc.

Outlifts for road cyclists, all locations considered.

Daily hire also available.

Hive Pocket

RRP: €24.95

A2ski.co.uk wishing you a fantastic summer.

Like chess but more fun and less time-consuming (assuming you’re any good, that is!), Hive is an innovative boardless board game for kids and big kids alike. Each hexagonal piece represents an insect that has its own unique set of moves, and the aim of the game is to capture your opponent’s queen bee before they capture yours! This smaller, travel version of the game comes in an easily-transportable pouch and the boardless design is ideal for playing anywhere from picnic blankets, to car seats to ferry decks. Just make sure your kids don’t lose all the pieces! gen42.com/hive /MorzineSourceMagazine

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For further information and all other inquiries please email us at info@a2ski.co.uk or visit our website a2ski.co.uk

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food

glorious food The Superfood Bowl Kate and Amie established The Superfood Bowl to encourage healthy living with a strong belief that diets are short-lived and processed foods will never make you (or your waistline) happy. Their Superfood Bowl website and Facebook page includes a stack of really accessible, easy-to-make, healthy dishes and you can even download their e-book for free! Here’s a selection of our favourites. thesuperfoodbowl.com

Ingredients: 1/2 green apple 2 handfuls of spinach juice 1/2 lime 1 celery stick 1/4 cucumber 1 ripe banana 2 cups of water

Method: Dice all fruit and veg roughly before placing them into a blender. Add the water and blitz until smooth. You can sieve the mix out into a glass if you wish, for extra silkiness. Or try using coconut water, almond milk or ice cubes in place of the water as an alternative!

Sup er Sla w Ingredients: 1/4 red cabbage, thinly sliced 6-8 spring onions, roughly chopped 1 large carrot, peeled & grated 1 handful of fresh coriander 25ml olive oil or chilli oil if you prefer a little spice juice of 1/2 lime pinch of black pepper 1 tbsp of mixed seed

Method: This has to be the simplest side dish on the planet! Add all of your ingredients to a large lunchbox, secure the lid, and shake until the mix has fully combined. You can add extra seeds or coriander to serve if you wish!

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Sm ok ed Ve gg ie Ta gi n e

(se rv es 2)

Co co nu t & Go ji Lo af Ingredients: 175g desiccated coconut 330ml coconut milk 225g coconut or brown sugar 230g spelt or whole meal flour 1 ripe banana (mashed) 2 tbsp almond milk 1 tsp baking powder 2 tsp vanilla extract 130g frozen berries 70g goji berries

Method: Mix together the desiccated coconut and coconut milk in a small bowl, cover with film and set to one side (it’s best if left for an hour to fully combine).

Turn the oven to gas mark 5 / 170 °C and line a small loaf tin (approx. 10x20cm) with baking paper.

Sieve the flour into a large bowl, add in the sugar and baking powder and stir together until fully combined. Add in the mashed banana, almond milk, vanilla extract and coconut mixture, stirring thoroughly before adding the frozen berries and Goji berries.

Stir together once more before spooning the mixture into the loaf tin. Place in the middle of the oven and bake for 1 hour before checking with a skewer.

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Ingredients: 1 whole aubergine, cut into wedges 1 can chickpeas, drained & rinsed 1/2 sweet potato, peeled & diced 1 onion, finely sliced 4 garlic cloves 2 tsp smoked paprika 2 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp harrissa paste pinch of salt & pepper 1 can tinned tomatoes 2 veggie stock cubes 1 tbsp tomato puree 2 tbsp cranberry sauce 1 pint tap water 175ml red wine 2 handfuls fresh coriander 2 handfuls fresh mint

Method: Add the vegetables to a large deep pan with a drizzle of oil and cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring once.

After 5 minutes, move to a low heat and cover with a lid.

Using a pestle and mortar, blend together all the spices including the garlic cloves and harrissa paste.

Add this to the veggies in the pan and stir together until fully coated in the spices.

In a blender mix together the tomatoes, cranberry sauce, red wine, stock and water. Add this to the veggie pan along with a handful each of the fresh herbs. Allow to simmer for 50 minutes to ensure the flavours have fully absorbed into the veg Before serving, stir in the remaining herbs and top with a swirl of chili oil.

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Kayleigh MacKenzie Catering Keyleigh is an experienced private chef on a mission to use as much seasonal and local produce as possible. Although she likes to keep things clean and fresh in her dishes, Keyleigh is no stranger to a foie gras macaroon or a pineapple tart tatin, following years spent catering for the tastes and requirements of her clients. kayleighmackenziecatering.com

Me xic an Bre akf ast Sal ad

wit h Frie d Egg s (Ser ves 2 for brun ch)

Mi so, Av oca do & But ter Bea n Sal ad

Ingredients: 100g of dried black beans, soaked and cooked or 1 tin of black beans drained Coconut oil or olive oil to fry ¼ red onion finely chopped pinch of chili powder pinch of ground cumin Sea salt 1 ripe avocado, stoned, peeled & sliced 1 ripe mango, peeled & sliced juice of ½ lime or to taste Sprigs coriander 2 free range large local eggs 2 tbsp sliced drained jalapeños

Ingredients: 150g broccoli, heads broken into little pieces 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds 2 tbsp sesame seeds 2 handfuls of baby salad leaves 1 ripe avocado 1 x tin butter beans

Dressing 1 tbsp brown miso paste (available at La Vie Claire in Morzine) 1 tbsp rice vinegar 1 tbsp ponzu or soy sauce Juice of ½ a lime 4 tbsp natural yoghurt Sea salt

Method: Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the beans, onion, chili, cumin and salt. Stir-fry over a medium heat until well warmed through.

Method: Make the dressing by mixing all the ingredients in a wee jug. Add the salt sparingly to taste.

Blanch the broccoli in boiling water until just cooked but still lovely and bright green. Drain and cool.

Toast the pumpkin and sesame seeds in a dry pan until golden, then cool. Pile the salad leaves into a bowl, chop the avocado and add it along with the butter beans and broccoli to the bowl. Pour over the dressing, toss lightly and serve topped with the toasted seeds.

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In a bowl gently toss the avocado, mango lime and coriander. Divide this onto 2 plates.

Fry the eggs until set but still runny.

Serve the bean salad with the mango and avocado straight away, topped with a fried egg and some jalapeño slices.

Chefs tip:

Serve this with some warmed corn tortillas and if mangos aren’t available or ripe, substitute for some quartered cherry tomatoes in all colours.

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Ch ar red Fla tbr ea ds Ingredients: 350g Self raising flour (Farine de ble pour Gateaux in an orange bag in Carrefour) 1 tsp baking powder 350g natural yoghurt (Optional garlic and herb butter) 2 cloves of garlic Bunch fresh soft herbs (parsley, basil etc) 40g unsalted butter

Ol i’ s Sm ok ey W al n ut & Cu m in M uh am ar ra (serves a crowd) Ingredients: 75g walnuts (plus a few extra for serving) 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 3 roasted red peppers, peeled, de-seeded & chopped (make sure they’re really roasted and blackened) ½ tin of canellini beans (AKA haricot blanc) 2 tbsp tomato puree 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses if available (or use 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar and 1 tbsp runny honey) Big pinch of chilli flakes Juice of ½ a lemon Sea salt and pepper 4 tbsp good quality olive oil

Method: Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix together with a spoon, then use clean hands to pat and bring everything together. Dust a clean work surface with flour, then tip out the dough. Knead for a minute or so to bring it all together. Put the dough into a floured-dusted bowl and cover with a plate, then leave aside.

Method:

If making the garlic butter, peel the cloves and crush them. Finely chop the herbs, discarding the stalks.

Melt the butter in a small pan over a medium heat, then stir through the garlic and chopped herbs, then set aside.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Put the nuts and cumin seeds on a baking sheet, bake for about 6 minutes until the nuts are starting to toast and the cumin smells wonderful. Watch like a hawk as they burn very easily!

Dust a clean work surface and rolling pin with flour then divide the dough in half, then divide each half into 6 equal-sized pieces, roughly the size of a golf ball. With your hands, pat and flatten the dough, then use a rolling pin to roll each piece into 12cm rounds, roughly 2mm to 3mm thick.

Tip the nut and seed mix into a food processor with the red peppers and blitz to a paste. Add the rest of the ingredients except the oil and blitz again. With the motor running slowly add the oil until it’s really smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more lemon, salt or pepper as necessary.

Use a knife to cut 6 lines into the centre of each round, leaving about 3cm at each end. Place the griddle pan on a high heat, then once hot, cook each one for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until barmarked and puffed up, turning with tongs.

Serve in a pretty bowl with some extra crushed walnuts on top and a dribble of olive oil.

Chefs tip:

Brush the flatbreads all over with herby garlic butter as they come off the griddle.

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If you have any left, this is amazing spread on some good bread with a poached egg!

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Chez Toi Jo and Mark certainly know a think or two about using food as fuel.

As the in-chalet caters for Buzz Performance training camps, they’re well versed in dishing up protein-packed meals for athletes, while at the same time designing dishes to serve their very own Chez Toi clients and guests at their chalet, Ferme de Printemps. cheztoi.biz

Chez Toi YOUR PRIVATE CHEF

ic ke n Gr id dl ed Choca do, Spi cy Qu in oa

Method:

wi th Sm ash ed Av & Len til Sal a (se rve s 2)

Bring the chicken stock to the boil and cook the lentils for about 15 minutes until al dente.

In a separate pan, bring 200ml of water to the boil, and cook the quinoa on a low heat for around 15 minutes.

Put the florets of broccoli into a microwavable bowl with a few dashes of water, cover and steam for around 3 minutes.

Ingredients:

Once both the lentils and quinoa are cooked, drain off any excess liquid and add to a mixing bowl. Leave to cool for around 10 minutes. Meanwhile make the dressing and the raita dip.

3 chicken breasts Olive oil 85g lentils 400ml chicken stock 85g quinoa 100g tinned chickpeas, washed and drained ¼ broccoli, cut into small florets 1 red onion, sliced thinly 1 tbsp chopped coriander 1 tsp dry chilli flakes (optional) 2 tbsp pine nuts &/or pumpkin seeds 100g feta, crumbled ½ red chilli, sliced 1 avocado - soft & ripe Salt & black pepper

For the dressing, add all the ingredients together and whisk briefly. For the raita dip, slice the cucumber around half a centimetre thick, and then cube. Finely chop the mint and add both to the natural yoghurt. Mix until well combined. Put both to the side.

Add all ingredients except the chicken and avocado to the mixing bowl, along with the dressing and mix through gently.

Set aside until needed.

Rub a little olive oil onto the chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. Heat a frying pan (or iron griddle if you have one) to a high temperature and add the chicken. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until nice and golden. (If the chicken breasts are quite large you may need to finish them in the oven for a few minutes to ensure they are cooked through.)

For the dressing: 1 minced garlic clove 3tbsp fresh lime juice 6 tbsp avocado or olive oil Salt & black pepper

Whilst the chicken is cooking, peel and remove the stone from the avocado, add a little salt and pepper and smash with a fork.

For the raita dip:

Place the cooked chicken onto a chopping board and slice through the breast diagonally. Place a handful of the salad on to the centre of your plate, top with the smashed avocado and place the chicken on top with a spoonful of raita dip. Decorate with more seeds and fresh chilli.

¼ cucumber, thinly cubed 1 pot natural yoghurt Small handful of finely chopped mint

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Ref uel Pow er Om let te

(Serv es 2)

Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive Oil 4 eggs Âź broccoli, cut into small florets 6-8 cherry tomatoes, halved Handful of washed spinach, stems removed 60g feta, crumbled Small handful of toasted pumpkin seeds Salt & black pepper

For the yoghurt dressing: 75g Greek yoghurt 1tsp chopped coriander

Method:

Wi ld Blu ebe rry (Mak es 2-3 large glass es) Rec ov ery Sm oo thi e

Add the oil to an oven proof frying pan over a medium heat.

Gently fry the broccoli in the pan for 3-4 minutes, and then add the cherry tomatoes and spinach. Cook for a further minute, or until the spinach is starting to wilt.

Break the eggs into a bowl, whisk and add salt and pepper.

Turn the heat down to low and add the egg mix to the pan over the vegetables. Use a palette knife to make sure the egg is evenly spread across the pan.

Ingredients: 340g frozen wild blueberries 1 small banana 170g plain Greek yoghurt 1 tbsp chia seeds 1 tbsp walnuts 150ml coconut water 1 kiwi fruit

Cook the omelette for about 5 minutes, uncovered. Every now and then draw the edge in gently with a palette knife, as this will give it a rounded edge. Once it looks nearly set, sprinkle the cheese on top, then place it under a hot grill, cook until golden and bubbling on top. The omelette should be cooked through but still moist in the centre.

Method: Blend all the ingredients until smooth.

Take the omelette from under the grill and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds. Let it rest on the side for a few minutes.

Meanwhile, add the chopped coriander to the Greek yoghurt.

Sprinkle the top with more chia seeds and serve with a kiwi wedge. Enjoy!

Slice the omelette into portions and serve with a dollop of yoghurt.

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Satellite Coffee No trip to Morzine is complete without visiting Sally and Paul at Satellite Coffee on the Rue du Bourg.

Opened in December 2015 with the aim of providing an affordable, healthy alternative to breakfast and lunch, yes you’ll find bacon sandwiches on the menu, but there’s also treats such as homemade granola bowls for breakfast and delicious halloumi stuffed pitas and veggie and vegan specials for lunch. The coffee is something very special too. ‘Stopping in at Satellite’ has become an actual activity these days.

Facebook.com/SatelliteMorzine

Ingredients: 150g desiccated coconut 150g fresh blueberries 225g ground almonds ¼ cup almond milk (or other alternative) ¼ cup maple syrup 4 tbsp chia seeds

Optional:

1 tbsp melted coconut oil 1 tbsp maple syrup

Method: In your food processor, blend all ingredients together, except chia seeds. Once the mixture starts to roll around in one big ball remove and place in a mixing bowl. Add chia seeds and mix well.

Lightly wet hands and roll the mixture into medium sized balls.

Raw Haz eln ut Ma ca Bro wn ie (Veg gie & glut en free)

Optional: mix together a tablespoon of coconut oil and maple syrup to make a glaze, and coat each ball in the glaze. Sprinkle with chia seeds or desiccated coconut.

Ingredients: 100g hazelnuts - roughly chopped 100g almonds 100g oats (or gluten free oats) 20g maple syrup (or alternative) 40g coconut oil 40g raw cacao 40g maca protein powder 250g deglet nour dates (soaked overnight and pitted)

Refrigerate to solidify, they’ll keep for up to a week in the fridge.

Method: Line a small, deep, rectangle baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.

Blend the oats and almonds in a food processor until fine. Set aside in a large mixing bowl.

In your food processor, blend together the dates and raw cacao. Add maple syrup and coconut oil and process further. Scrape out the date mixture and add into the oat/almond mix. Mix in chopped hazelnuts and maca powder, until all ingredients are fully incorporated.

Press the mixture into your lined baking tray and place in the freezer for an hour to set. Once set, cut into pieces and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

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your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz Snow&TrekWinter16-17.pdf 1 01/11/2016 11:35

SNOW & TREK offer self-catered apartments and chalets in great locations around central Morzine, with a B&B option at Chalet Poppy just 400m

from 3 nights to season length stays.

We can help organise all aspects of your ski holidays, including: SKI PASSES

EQUIPMENT HIRE

TRANSFERS

CHILDCARE

SKI LESSONS

Variety of PROPERTY MANAGEMENT options available.

W: SNOWANDTREK-MORZINE.COM T: +44 1243 370243/+44 7725 082141 SPECIALISTS IN MORZINE SINCE 2002 WIM source advert.pdf

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la grange.pdf

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inspiration, information & celebration cuisine gourmande et régionale

Open for lunch and dinner Located in the centre of Morzine

04 50 75 96 40

restaurant@lagrangemorzine.com If you’re considering the beautiful French Alps for your wedding celebration, we’ve gathered everyone you need to talk to on one handy website.

60 chemin de la coutettaz

Run by a group of locals, we’re here to help you plan a truly memorable occasion in our stunning valley.

Generous seasonal cuisine and local specialities A warm welcome and a cosy atmosphere… the perfect place for an alpine meal

weddingsinmorzine.com | info@weddingsinmorzine.com weddingsinmorzine

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climbing

for wellness

By Susan Greenwood

If you were to take Emerson up on his urge for you to ‘live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air’ there are many ways to do it that do not include the fear, tactical considerations and exertion of rock climbing.

Even those deep within the sport admit that to the untrained eye, it looks a rather pointless pursuit.

French climber Lionel Terray famously referred to his fellow enthusiasts as ‘conquistadors of the useless.’ Climb up, rappel back down, walk away. “You get to the top of a wall, there’s nothing up there. Yeah, the end result is absolutely useless,” commented Yvon Chouniard, whose love of the environment and climbing rocks led him to create outdoor brand Patagonia. Yet this is a format that is increasingly appealing to humans. According to the International Federation of Sports Climbing (IFSC) 25 million people are climbing regularly worldwide while the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) estimates that the number of indoor walls in the UK has risen from 300 to 400 in the past five years. Increasingly climbers and their feats - Tommy Caldwell freeing the Dawn Wall, Margo Hays in Siurana, Alex

Honnold, Adam Ondra, Shauna Coxsey - are breaking into the media mainstream reflecting a public appetite for the challenge, discipline and adrenalin rush that climbing can offer.

Academic literature frequently points to the benefits of exercise on our physical and mental health. A study led by Hannah Forbes at the Manchester Centre for Health Economics published in March, found that exercise had a significant impact on how well people felt, while relaxation increased levels of happiness.

If you also factor in the positive benefits of being close to nature - a 2015 study of New Zealanders directly linked wellbeing with access to nature - rock climbing looks like a rather good bet for upping your endorphins along with your muscle tone. Kelly Aikins, an osteopath, Patagonia ambassador and yoga teacher who runs Alpine Yoga in Chamonix

(aplineyogaonline.com) and a clinic in Geneva (genevaosteopathy.com) said: “The combination of strength, power, and endurance, with the addition of aerobic training accessing climbs (depending on what kind of climbing you're doing), makes it a very wellrounded workout. It uses most major muscle groups, as well as many finer ones.”

Just as your body gets fitter, climbers and coaches alike point to the positive effects of climbing on mental wellbeing. Kelly again: “Numerous studies support the benefits of spending time in natural settings on everything from stress levels to glucose tolerance, and activities that present challenges and require focus keep us grounded in the present moment.

There is an unlimited potential to progress in climbing, and whether you climb a 10m sport route or a high-altitude peak, the feeling of accomplishment is amazing.”

In his training book ‘The Rock Warrior’s Way,’ climber, author and erst-while philosopher Arno Ilgner sees climbing as an opportunity for the mental training and the accompanied freedom that we usually associate with yoga and meditation. “Your goal is to live fully within the challenge rather than try to escape it,” writes Ilgner. “Avoid the fight-or-flight mentality and embrace the effort as an opportunity for learning.

You’ll keep your conscious mind quiet … you’ll focus on the journey not the destination.” In a world where Instagram climbers pull their bodyweight on one finger, where grades are demolished weekly and the Olympics stamps climbing definitively as a sport not a soulful dance with granite, Illger shows a way to not only breathe the benefits of a day in the mountains but how to keep those benefits with us in Carrefour on changeover day.

Susan’s Favourite Climbing Trips Climb Catalunya Just because you’ve been doing something for a while, it doesn’t necessarily make you good at it.

Unless you’re Climb Catalunya. The climbing options and support are impeccable, accommodation perfect and now this trip throws in yoga because, although strong shoulders are a must for climbing, a hunchback isn’t. climbcatalunya.com

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Cowdance The Lake District may not have the sun of Spain or the sea views of Sicily but that’s why British climbers are nails. This trip combines top rope coaching if you’re a newbie or bring your partner if you’re leading.

Yoga is in four sessions over the long weekend. cowdance.co.uk

Marissa Land Yoga Are you a woman wanting to climb but without the guys? While climbing is pretty egalitarian, some people just get on better with their own sex.

In which case check out this retreat in legendary Rocklands, South Africa. No rope skills required as it’s all about the bouldering so be prepared to be strong, powerful and totally chilled with daily yoga weaved among the rocks.

Climb Mediterranean Kalymnos is where climbing egos go to flourish or die. But there’s a reason for that - the climbing is insane. Lots of companies run coaching courses out there but Climb Mediterranean combine theirs with yoga to help you come to terms with either your successes or failures. climbmediterranean.com

marissalandyoga.com

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summer

caving kayaking hydrospeeding electric mtb paragliding canyoning Via Ferrata, Rock Climbing.

To access the fantastic climbing on Morzine’s doorstep you’ll either need a mate who already knows the ropes or you’ll need to get to grips with your knots (and your biceps) indoors first. Vitam near Geneva is a great place to start or Bloc Trotters on the outskirts of Annecy is a cute indoor bouldering gym (climbing low walls with no ropes.) If you’ve done all that already and you’re heading outside, here are some options:

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Families or teaching mates:

Elephant rock in St Jean D’Aulps. You’ll definitely not write home about the routes but there’s good wall time for kids, the walk-in is short and you can use the lower walls for teaching mates the basics.

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Beginner: Secteur Piliers close to

Abondance. Good little walk-in, pretty secluded and lovely climbs with moves that flow. A great place to get into the vibe of climbing.

Intermediate: Turbostyle near Mieussy. It’s polished. It has big moves.

The grades are incomprehensible. But as you move into the intermediate stage you need to start dealing with unwanted challenges other than the moves themselves! That said, there’s a lot of routes here.

Advanced: Foron, Col d’Encrenaz.

Overhanging, epically steep walk-in, easiest grade is 6A. But you can climb here even when it rains and in terms of polishing your overhang technique, this is the place. Make a weekend of it and camp in the field at the base of the crag.

image credit - BMC / Alex Messenger

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winter

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ski school & adventure ski & snowboard lessons off piste / guiding

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Are The

winter olympics Snowboarding’s Highest Peak?

By Samuel McMahon

The Olympics are coming. Well, that is if South Korea still exists come February, but let’s assume it will. Despite this cycle marking twenty years of inclusion for snowboarding, our sport has had an uneasy relationship with The Games ever since it debuted in 1998.

It’s by far the most anticipated and watched contest on the calendar, but is it a fair representation of this thing we love called snowboarding?

A game of football in the park looks by and large like the World Cup final, but how does halfpipe, slopestyle and now big air stack up against an average rider’s experience? But first, how does one even get there in the first place?

Olympic snowboarding got off to a bad start when the job of overseeing qualification was controversially handed to

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the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) over the existing International Snowboard Federation (ISF), which at the time already managed a world tour. Even with megastars like Terje Håkonsen boycotting the resultant qualifying tour, this led to reduced attendance at established contests every four-year cycle, competing tour schedules and, crucially, two world champions crowned by two governing bodies every winter. Unlike virtually every sport on earth, there was no real way of determining the best athlete from year to year.

You would have thought that twenty years later, snowboarding might have

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sorted itself out and either boycotted the Olympics until governance was brought back to a body of snowboarders, or accepted defeat for the good of the sport and embraced FIS control. Not so - these days things are worse than ever, with the number of competing events and world tours for freestyle snowboarding becoming confusing even for guys like me who are paid to know about this sh*t.

There’s the FIS World Tour, as well as their separate World Championships (this year held in Spain in springtime - not conditions conducive to a good winter sports competition). There’s also the World Snowboard Tour (WST) which took

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over from the ISF when it disbanded in 2002. The X-Games isn’t a tour (and has a suspiciously opaque qualification format) but is regarded by many as snowboarding’s blue ribbon event. Meanwhile Shaun White’s Air + Style big air events crown a World Champ after three stops, plus there’s the Dew Tour and US Grand Prix as well as one-off competitions like the Laax Open, Pleasure Jam and Burton US Open, often taking place at the same time on different sides of the globe!

This means that it’s rare to find the best snowboarders in the same place at the same time for a contest - imagine if Murray and Djokovic never played each other because Wimbledon and the French Open were scheduled over the same weekend - so world titles become meaningless. Almost by default every four years the Olympics become the definitive measure of who’s the best snowboarder at the time, despite decimating everything else for the 206 remaining weeks between games.

But given all of that, Olympic snowboarding doesn’t really match up with most snowboarder’s experiences - the majority of riders will likely never have seen a full size halfpipe given the expense it takes to maintain one, and whilst most resorts these days have terrain parks that resemble something like the PyeongChang slopestyle course or big air kicker, the tricks we’ll see going down on them are hard to grasp even for enthusiasts, let alone casual viewers.

Triple cork 1440s (spinning four times and

simultaneously going off-axis three times during a jump) and variations of the same are fairly standard these days amongst elite riders, and we’ll likely be witnessing several quad corks in South Korea.

The average rugby player will experience rucks and tackles similar to those he or she will see on telly, just the same as a road biker can attempt the same mountain passes as the Tour de France, or runners can run the same marathons at the same time as World Champions. Even ski racing is more relatable than today’s freestyle snowboarding - there’s

a run in a ski resort, fastest person down wins. Simple. They’re all elite sports but similar versions of the same experience.

Riding pistes and attempting the odd bit of powder (i.e. what snowboarding is to most participants) is almost completely removed from what we’ll see in February and is becoming more akin to dreaded ski aerials every year. Even dedicated snowboard magazines are more likely to fill their pages with photos of far-flung places and pow slashes than contest jumps.

So what, you might say. Does snowboarding

even need a contest structure? Well no, not really, but competitions are what attracts big sponsors and - crucially - money into the sport. Plus it allows new stars to rise through the ranks without having to know the right people. It expands the sport and allows it to develop. Part of the reason snowboarding is suffering financially now is that there’s no clear overall tour to stick a logo on - you might be fine with that but as someone who loves snowboarding more than some family members, I ain’t.

But what if I told you there already was a competition that was relatable, has a clear qualification process and can legitimately crown winners each year? The Freeride World Tour (and the Freeride World Qualifier series) does just that, pitting riders against each other down off-piste faces in legendary destinations like Chamonix, Alaska and Verbier, places that speak to the roots and soul of snowboarding. In recent years it’s begun to shake off its kooky Euro image with stars like Sammy Luebke adding in freestyle elements and more stops being added to the calendar - next year will even see the first stop in the freeride mecca of Japan.

It’s brilliant fun to watch, even for nonsnowboarders, (who doesn’t want to see people huck themselves off twenty metre cliffs) and is presented in the clearest fashion by the likes of Tim Warwood and Ed Leigh, for free! Hey, there’s even some skiing to be seen as well, apparently… Keep your kickers and quads, come February I’ll be tuning into the FWT.

Samuel is Video Editor at Whitelines and Onboard

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The AJ Bell Alpine Challenge

The Source Sessions Here at Source Magazine there’s nothing we love more than getting a bunch of business owners together to gather ideas and inspirations. Our regular Source Social events have always been over-subscribed so this September we’re super-sizing things. The Source Sessions are a full day event taking place at the Domaine du Baron on Lake Montriond on Tuesday 5th September 2017.

This one-day event features speakers from across the mountain sports industry with the objective of passing on skills and new techniques to help us all market our businesses and our destinations more successfully.

Branding experts will introduce concepts on consistency, while international journalist and lawyer David Freeman will consider the likely impact of Brexit on the mountain holiday industry. We’ve also invited along official bods from the Mairie de MorzineAvoriaz and the Portes du Soleil tourism office to join in and we’ll

announce four more interesting, relevant and engaging speakers in the run up to the event.

“It’s been suggested that there might be difficult times to come for the mountain holiday industry” Source Magazine publisher Amie Henderson explains. “But I believe that Morzine and the surrounding valley has a unique set of characteristics that make it so popular with tourists. I hope our Source Sessions event will unite many local businesses, so we can all be inspired to develop our businesses effectively. If there’s enough support, we’ll host the event in both English and French.”

Returning to Morzine for the ninth time, the AJ Bell Alpine Challenge raises vital funds for the awesome youth charity Snow-Camp.

Participants ski or snowboard in teams of four, covering 150km of GPS tagged terrain across the Portes du Soleil ski area during just one weekend. Each year this event gets bigger, better and more competitive and the team covering the most checkpoints and kilometers is crowned champion.

Each team commits to raising sponsorship money in advance of the challenge, which Snow-Camp

then use to work with inner city young people, providing them with opportunities to participate in snowsports-based youth training and vocational programmes, making a massive difference to their lives and future choices.

Registration for the 2018 Alpine Challenge opens soon and the dates are confirmed as 25th - 28th January.

Find out more at: snow-camp.org.uk.

The Source Sessions will also be your first opportunity to see our new Source Benchmark for Business platform in action.

For more information on our Source Sessions event and to reserve your space, head to www.source-sessions.com

.org.uk

snowsports youth charity

source posters

Each issue of Source Magazine includes artwork that we print as posters. You’ll find this summer’s poster on page 6 and limited stocks of our previous posters are available to buy at morzinesourcemagazine.com/shop. They’re A2 in size, hand screen printed on 100% recycled paper and only available in limited quantities. We’ll post them to the UK for you, or if you’re in the area, we’ll deliver them free of charge. Happy shopping! #lovemorzine

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POW Launches in the UK OPEN DAILY

empowering individuals to take simple and rewarding actions, which will in turn create consumer and corporate pressure for sustainable products and investments.

Protect Our Winters (or POW as you might know it), is a US climate activist group started by snowboarder Jeremy Jones in 2007. It’s objective is to mobilise the outdoor sports community, encouraging individuals and corporations to take more positive action on climate change.

Now POW has launched in the UK and Founder Sandy Trust told Source “Winter sports enthusiasts are at the front lines of climate change as we’re seeing it happen before our eyes.

Profound glacial retreat has been witnessed in many regions around the world and volatile temperatures have resulted in inconsistent snow conditions.”

POW UK hopes to encourage action by changing the narrative around climate change and educating and

8AM-10PM

AUTOMATIC LAUNDERETTE - COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY

Founder Sandy Trust continues, “We need to take action now. The Paris Agreement was a great start but we must accelerate the movement to a low-carbon, sustainable economy to avoid catastrophic warming.” Ski Sunday presenter Ed Leigh is one of POW’s first high-profile ambassadors, while pro snowboarder Sam Smoothy and The Telegraph’s Warren Smith are also supporters.

POW UK’s objective is to rapidly build an engaged community, launch a website and to continue to develop an innovative climate change action concept. There’ll be an official launch at the Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Show this autumn and the group are on the hunt for like-minded ambassadors and corporate sponsors. Because we all need winter.

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FREE PARKING

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weddingsinmorzine.com gets a facelift Our sister website weddingsinmorzine.com is a destination guide designed to inspire you to get married in our beautiful valley. This spring we’ve revamped the website and included the wedding stories of several couples who were lucky enough to tie the knot in the mountains. And to inspire you further, we’re constantly adding new local businesses that would love to help you plan your big day. From venues to accommodation for your guests, photographers to videographers and much much more, weddingsinmorzine.com is here to help.

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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WIN THE ULTIMATE SKI HOLIDAY The prize is worth over

€4000!

With Morzine Source Magazine and L’Aiglon Once again we’ve partnered with some of our favourite local businesses to offer our lucky readers the chance to win the ultimate weeklong ski holiday. The holiday to Morzine is for up to FOUR people, arriving on Saturday 3rd March.

WHAT YOU WIN: Accommodation - aiglonmorzine.com L’Aiglon in the centre of Morzine is a beautiful Residence de Tourisme with individual, spacious apartments sleeping between 2 and 9 people. Each apartment offers modern interiors, great views from a private balcony or deck and a fully equipped kitchen.

There’s even a sauna, gym, treatment rooms and exercise classes too! You’ll stay in a 2-bed apartment during your stay, sleeping up to 4 people on a self-catered basis.

TRANSFERS - powdercab.com The experienced team at PowderCab Alpine Resort Transfers will whisk you from Geneva Airport to your accommodation in no time, before delivering you back to the airport at the end of your holiday using their shared airport transfer service.

SKI LESSON - skibeyond.co.uk Fully qualified and thoroughly experienced ski instructors Helena and Ricey of Ski Beyond know the local ski area like he back of their hand. They’ll spend a morning with you, touring the local pistes and offering tips on techniques if you’re an experienced skier, or introducing you to skiing if you’re a beginner.

EQUIPMENT RENTAL - doorstepskis.com The team at Doorstep Skis pride themselves on offering a great selection of ski and snowboard equipment and a professional, friendly service. They’ll kit you out with skis, boots, poles and helmet or a snowboard and helmet if you’d prefer, for the duration of your holiday. They’ll even deliver and fit your kit at your apartment!

INSURANCE - mpibrokers.com Specialist ski insurance company MPI Brokers will provide our four lucky winners with standard cover, single trip, winter sports insurance. Conditions apply.

MASSAGES - morzinemassage.co.uk Bev and her team will pop around to your apartment when you return from skiing one afternoon to provide relaxing and rejuvenating 30 minute massages for each person in your group. You’ll be ready to hit the slopes again in no time!

MEALS - bonappetitalpes.com Bringing high-quality catering and convenience into the comfort of your apartment, the team at Bon Appetit will deliver gourmet frozen meals for your group to enjoy on 2 evenings of your stay.

APRES SESSION - café-chaud.com Every ski holiday deserves one big après session and the team at Café Chaud are here to help. They’ve provided a €50 drinks voucher to help you get the party started.

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 Send us your BEST holiday photo

You’ll no doubt take a stack of great photos during your Morzine, Les Gets or Avoriaz-based summer holiday this year and we want to see your very best image.

Email it to competition@morzinesourcemagazine.com before midnight on 15th September 2017. Our judges will pick their favourite single image and we’ll announce the winner shortly after. *1 image per entry please!

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 you accept these terms. image credit-jb bieuville

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At MIDAS Kitchens you not only get the best in terms of design and product but we also take care of all the other essentials such as electrics, plastering, flooring etc all project managed locally.

So for a free design please give Tony a call.

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

www.midaskitchens.fr

Part of the Burnhill Kitchens Group