Travis Rice “Never leave a good time for a good time”
From the Art of Flight to Natural Selection
Louis Citadelle Everesting Nyon, Twice
INTERVIEW
From the Olympics to the X Games FEATURE
Zoe Atkin “30 seconds of my life”
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Welcome,
Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz lovers to another fantastic winter season in our beautiful corner of the Alps. Perhaps this 24th issue of our magazine feels a little weightier than usual? That’s testament to the long list of exciting news, activities and events that we have to share with you this winter. We’ve balanced a tonne of local information with some big names from the world of winter sports. Who ever imaged that we’d interview the legendary Travis Rice for our little resort magazine? Or that we’d have the chance to speak to some of the most exciting emerging winter sports talent? I really hope that they inspire you on the pages that follow.
Let’s talk quickly about Louis Citadelle’s article on page 34. Louis spent 50 hours in the saddle of his mountain bike, lapping Nyon in pursuit of a double Everest climb, which took him 44 laps to complete. He did this because he could; for no other reason than that. This is an incredible story of mental agility, community and patience. It was also a lot of fun to talk to Team GB half pipe snowboarder and X Games gold medalist Zoe Atkin as we steam towards another Winter
Bonjour à nos lecteurs français !
Olympic Games. She’s balancing her career as a professional athlete with her studies at Stamford University - imagine that!
As you may also have come to expect, we’ve dedicated quite a few pages of this magazine to property - local homes for sale, local interior design, inspiration and more. This winter’s Through The Keyhole is a particular highlight! We’ve also tried to answer as many of your holiday questions as possible while expanding the restaurant and bar guide to account for the ever-growing range of excellent eateries in our villages. There really is something for everyone!
All that remains is for me to wish you a wonderful winter holiday.
Until summer… Amie - amie@morzinesourcemagazine.com
Si vous découvrez Morzine Source Magazine pour la première fois, bonjour et bienvenue. Bien que les pages du magazine que vous tenez actuellement soient en anglais, nous aimerions vous diriger vers la version française. Scannez simplement le code QR ici et vous trouverez notre magazine complet en français, ainsi que des liens pratiques vers toutes les entreprises locales qui figurent dans ce magazine. Nous espérons que vous apprécierez lire ce magazine sur nos merveilleux villages cet hiver. Scannez le code QR la françaiseversion
brought to you by…
This is the largest issue of Morzine Source Magazine we’ve ever produced and it wouldn’t be possible without this wonderful team of contributors. Thanks to you all!
Michael Henderson | Louis Citadelle | Nicky Iseard | Simon Leclerc | Natalie Elvy | Chauncy Johnson Dr Lucy Obolensky | Roisin Timpson | Jessa Gilbert | Gareth Jefferies | Tony Soutter
note on our paper…
We love our paper and we’re proud that it’s sustainably sourced and recyclable. We’re also very proud to support the following organisations…
places stay
The local holiday accommodation landscape is changing. Once upon a time I’d share a long list of brand new catered ski chalets on these pages, ready and waiting to welcome you. These days there’s much more variety on offer; self-catered penthouse apartments; huge chalets with a meal delivery service; flexible serviced apartments next to the ski lifts. You’ll find all of these and more across Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz, Montriond and Saint Jean d’Aulps this winter.
Entirely unique and resembling an English country cottage in the heart of Avoriaz, Chalet Babayaga is available to rent for the first time this winter. Spanning three floors and including six bedrooms, this beautiful ski-in, ski-out property sleeps groups of up to 12 people with 250m2 to enjoy. The living space is warm and welcoming, there’s an all-singing, all-dancing kitchen for selfcatered holidays and the views from the balcony over the slopes of the Arare are exceptional. Chalet Babayaga is available to rent exclusively through Avoriaz Holidays as part of their premium holiday range.
This newly-constructed ski-in, ski-out chalet in Les Gets sleeps up to 14 people in six bedrooms with seven bathrooms and a stunning location. Check out the interiors first however… the spacious, open plan living area will be perfect for group gatherings in front of the fire after a day on the slopes - there’s even a sauna and a hot tub too! The south-facing terrace will be perfect for springtime afternoons whilst the games room is sure to be a hit with mini skiers. Le Grizzly comes complete with the Chalets 1066 premium service, including champagne on arrival, lift pass delivery and a final clean.
Chalet Babayaga
Chalet Le Grizzly
Cosy by name, cosy by nature. This gorgeous little chalet is in Ardent, at the foot of the telecabine with quick and easy access to Avoriaz. It’s more like an authentic alpine refuge than a chalet, sleeping groups of up to five people in one double bedroom and one bunk room. Interiors are traditional and welcoming, there’s private parking immediately outside and there’s a ski hire shop and bar just metres away. Le Cosy is offered on a self-catered basis and includes a quirky but well-equipped kitchen. There’s also WIFI, a log burning stove, heated, secure boot room and a concierge service too.
Extensively renovated for this winter season, this three-bed townhouse chalet is just five minutes from the centre of Morzine and sleeps groups of up to six people with loads of luxurious extra touches. Sliding glass doors lead to south-facing balconies, there’s an outdoor hot tub located on a secluded deck that’s perfect for apres bubbles. Inside there’s a stylish, open plan living space with an extra TV snug complete with games and an X Box that’s perfect for children. There’s an eco-friendly pellet stove, an all-singing, all-dancing kitchen and well-planned ski storage too. Petit Chalet Robin also comes with private parking right outside and superb mountain views.
Le Cosy
Petit Chalet Robin
Located just 1km from the centre of Morzine, this beautiful, bright chalet sleeps groups of up to 10 people in six bedrooms, all of which have private bathrooms. In good snow conditions you can also ski back to within metres of the chalet on the Retour des Nants green piste. The fully-equipped kitchen is perfect for self-catered holidays and includes everything you need for a stress-free break. There’s also a TV with UK satellite channels, WIFI and two parking spaces.
Brand new for this winter season and occupying a slightly elevated spot between Morzine and Montriond, the incredible interiors are the star of the show at Chalet Kaya. Groups of up to eight people can enjoy the stylish four bedrooms here, there’s also a private cinema room, a garden and sunny terrace too. Gather around the log fire after a day on the slopes or take in the valley views from the enormous full-height windows. We love the unique artwork, the huge kitchen and the location, just a short walk from the free shuttle bus stop.
One of the most luxurious chalets to launch in Les Gets in a long time, this huge chalet is perched on the side of the valley, overlooking the rooftops of the village, pistes and peaks. Inside you’ll discover five large bedrooms, six bathrooms and hotel-style facilities such as a private sauna, hot tub and hammam, luxury bed linens and towels plus an allsinging, all dancing kitchen which is perfect for self-catered holidays. There’s also lots of extra space, such as a TV corner, children’s room, private terraces and a garden, plus a garage and a secure ski locker room.
Redefining contemporary accommodation in Avoriaz, this eight-person, triplex property has been extensively refurbished for this winter season. It’s in the charming Dromonts quarter with easy ski-in, ski-out access and handy storage space too. The living area inside Apartment Sosna is bright and spacious with double-height ceilings and access to a south-facing balcony. There’s a compact but well-equipped kitchen and dining space plus flexible sleeping with many sofa beds, cabin areas and two double bedrooms. A spiral staircase connects the floors and the views from each are incredible.
Chalet Verve
Chalet Kaya
Chalet Avalon
Apartment Sosna
Brand new for this winter season and located just a snow ball’s throw from the bottom of Morzine’s Pleney, this beautiful new apartment from More Mountain sleeps up to six people in three lovely bedrooms. Named after the internal curved wall that resembles a half moon, interiors are bold and fresh while big windows take advantage of the surrounding views. There’s also an underground garage, plenty of ski storage and even bike lockers too! The kitchen is all singing, all dancing, making it perfect for a self catered break.
One of the most distinctive chalets on the sunny side of Morzine’s valley, Le Mirador has been entirely reimagined by its owners; sumptuous, expansive interiors are on display throughout and you’ll notice those signature Shep&Kyles interiors too. The chalet sleeps groups of up to 16 guests in 5 bedrooms, with 6.5 bathrooms spanning 4.5 levels and there’s plenty of functional things, like EV charging in the garage, plenty of storage and a laundry room. You’ll love the wrap around balcony, children’s games area, cinema room and the enormous kitchen.
Apartment Demi Lune
Chalet Le Mirador
winter
essentials
There’s a never-ending list of new things to share with you in each of our magazines, and this winter is no different. F rom developments in the ski areas to new events, restaurants, activities and more, let’s begin…
An Upgraded Beginners Zone on Les Gets
The Mappys beginner zone on the Chavannes in Les Gets gets an upgrade for this winter season, with a 102m long covered magic carpet to protect us all from the elements. This beginner tapis replaces the existing one and will have a capacity to carry 1200 skiers per hour. It’ll serve a newly-extended 125m-long green piste that’s perfect for your first turns on snow. There’ll also be a dedicated beginners ski pass, which is excellent news for beginner and progressing skiers as it covers not just the beginners zone but also 12 other ski lifts with access to 13 green and blue pistes across the Les Gets ski area. The special price is €21 for children when buying online (or €27 when buying at the office) and €23 for adults (or €29 when buying at the office).
Reserve your Les Gets lift passes: pass.lesgets.com
Morzine’s Petit Train Returns
We’re sure you’ve spent many hours lapping the village with your little ones on Morzine’s famous petit train. It’s official purpose is to connect the Super Morzine base station with the Pleney telecabine, guaranteeing connections around the Portes du Soleil for those unwilling or unable to walk across the village. Yet the petit train is more than that; it’s become a charming and characterful part of village life during the winter season. For reasons relating to ongoing maintenance, the petit train was replaced by a mini bus service last winter, but many of you found this alternative to be clunky and inconvenient, especially with small children and their accompanying ski kit. The petit train returns to the streets of Morzine this winter, with a circuit that begins at 8.45am each day, running continuously until 5.45pm. Hurrah! Also new for this winter season, the petit train will be used to host cultural and heritage tours of the village on two evenings each week. This will be an excellent way to discover a different side to Morzine, with the commentated tours operating on Wednesday and Thursday evenings between 6pm and 7pm. Book your space at the Morzine Office de Tourisme in advance.
A New Home for the Chemin des Zouzous
It’s always fun to hunt out the wild animals lurking in the trees on Pleney and the Chemin des Zouzous is a fun, easy alternative to skiing the steeper sections of Piste B with your little ones. At the same time, it’s one of the first casualties when snow conditions are less than perfect; with this in mind the animals of the Zouzous have a new home this winter. You’ll find them on the Choucas piste, a cruisy, treelined blue run with a higher, more snow sure altitude. To get there take the Pleney télécabine then the speedy Belvédère chairlift. At the top you’ll discover the Granges (blue piste) which descends to the Charniaz chairlift. Take this to the top and you’ll quickly discover Choucas, which has some wonderful hot chocolate stops en-route.
In a further amendment to the Morzine - Les Gets piste map this winter, the excellent Eagle Park snow park has moved from its old home just above the Nyon plateau to the Freux piste, where there’s usually a natural accumulation of snow each season. Les Freux is a blue piste and is easy to access via the Têtes chairlift in the Charniaz bowl; it continues onto the Pâquérages blue run and into the trees, which is always lots of fun. Fans of the Eagle Park bordercross course will find it located in its usual spot, just above the Nyon plateau and accessible via the Poireaux drag lifts. There’s days of fun to be had on Nyon this winter! Head to page 56 for details.
Introducing The Hideout Social
The restaurant at Hideout in Morzine regularly ranks as one of your favourite places to eat. While the same delicious pan-Asian dishes stay on the menu this winter, there’s a whole new bar concept to be found on the floor beneath the restaurant, in what was previously Laury’s Bar. Remodelled to become The Hideout Social, the bar is designed for your pre- and post-dinner drinks, or as the owner Kyle Dickson calls it, “the bar before you go out bar”. There’ll also be live music, cocktails, vinyl-only DJs and a weekly darts competition too. The Hideout Social is open every evening from 5pm until midnight and until 1.30am at weekends. Meanwhile, upstairs, the restaurant continues to open seven nights a week with apres meal deals from 4pm each day and a brand new takeaway menu too.
menu updates and table reservations: stayhideout.com/hideout-restaurant
Avoriaz Calling! Join the WhatsApp Group
The award-winning marketing team at the Avoriaz 1800 Office de Tourisme have launched a hugely successful WhatsApp broadcast channel and we’re all invited to join. Updated regularly with live information on piste conditions, ski lift news and weather forecasts, this group is a must for anyone holidaying in our villages this winter. The team also share updates on events and activities in the village, special offers on accommodation and pre-season teasers when the snow arrives. The oneway broadcast channel also means your phone’s not constantly pinging with all those notifications.
Scan this QR code to join the fun!
La Galta - A New Concept Store for Les Gets
Les Gets does ‘concept stores’ very well indeed. These are quirky, themed shops where the merchandise changes regularly and they’re perfect for finding stylish, functional pieces and memorable home decorations. At La Galta, seamstress Ingrid brings forgotten treasures back to life, offering unique and eco-friendly products. She’s personally selected the items for her store for their character and history so we can expect to find some real gems this winter. Ingrid will also host upcycling workshops and offer interior design services to local homeowners too.
Discover more: legaltadesgets.com
Brand new for this winter season, you’ll find a beautiful eight person sauna on the shores of Lac de Montriond. Available to rent by the hour or for private use from the team at Hotel du Lac and priced from just €15 per person, this is the ideal spot in which to warm up after a brisk walk around the lake or a day on the slopes. There’s even a changing shed too! You’ll find the Lost Sauna just next to the children’s play area in a spot overlooking the frozen lake and the beautiful cliffs.
availability and book online: lacdemontriond.com
By popular demand, the team at Hotel du Lac have launched an eat-in and take-away pizza menu for this winter season. Available between 5pm and 9pm each day, enjoy an apres-ski beer and pizza deal in the cosy restaurant or use the app to order online for take away. The restaurant’s a la carte menu is also available each evening between Tuesday and Saturday and at lunchtimes each weekend; this is an unmissable, extra special dining experience on the shores of the lake. Monday Raclette Night also continues, while Sundays at Hotel du Lac are dedicated to a long, lazy Sunday Roast served between midday and 9pm. Hotel du Lac also offer a free cab service for diners, collecting you from and returning you to your accommodation in Morzine or the surrounding villages when you book a table for dinner between Monday and Friday evening.
for menu updates, special dining events and table reservations.: lacdemontriond.com
A New User Name for the Avoriaz Lift Operator SERMA
The ski lifts of Avoriaz 1800 are operated by SERMA - the Société d'Exploitation des Remontées Mécaniques d’Avoriaz - a private company who have, for many years now, explored the opportunities of four seasons tourism in the mountains. To firmly reinforce this intention, SERMA will now be known as Avoriaz Domaine de Montagne in all customer-facing communications. “This new brand underlines a transition determined a long time ago,” explains Maud Baud, head of marketing and communications at the newly branded Avoriaz Domaine de Montagne. “But also it identifies everything we hope to become in the future with the diversification of our mountain activities. We’re committed to these mountains, all year round.” Avoriaz Domaine de Montagne already operate Avoriaz Bike Park, Avo Park high ropes course, the play areas around the Lil’Stash and an immensely popular bivouac on the same site. “Avoriaz Domaine de Montagne is a promise to immerse visitors to Avoriaz in magnificent nature and to make the mountains more accessible to everyone,” Maude concludes.
Of course no trip to Les Gets is complete without a visit to Alta Lumina, a majestic woodland story told though light and sound. Immerse yourself into the fantasy world of a holographic music maker who’s hot air balloon has crashed in the forests above Les Gets during a storm. The Alta Lumina experience is perfect for little ones of all ages and takes place after darkness falls. It takes around an hour to follow the (mostly flat) trail through Alta Lumina and you must book your spaces on each tour in advance. Children’s visits are priced at €10.50 each and adults at €19.50.
The view from Morzine’s rue du Bourg towards the Ardoisiere cliffs and on to Avoriaz is surely one of the most photographed in our village. New for this winter season, you’ll be able to take a pause, step off the pavement and enjoy the vista from one of two brand new suspended terraces along the route. These half-sphere shapes will be the perfect spot for photos, especially when the rooftops of Morzine are white!
Don’t forget to tag us in your pics: @morzinesourcemagazine
Welcome To Avoriaz
As covered extensively in our previous magazines and on our website, the old Prodains gondola top station has been extensively remodelled to become the HQ of the Avoriaz ski lift operator Avoriaz Domaine de Montagne. A project that began in 2021 opens for the first time this winter and alongside the administrative building you’ll also discover a wonderful new welcome centre. Sustainable renovation has been at the heart of this project; the new building occupies the same footprint as the old lift station, while the visual impact has been reduced with the removal of one floor at the top if the old building. The architecture compliments the surrounding buildings and you’ll notice the striking French-origin Douglas Fur cladding.
Elsewhere inside the new building you’ll discover a beautiful, state of the art welcome centre with visitor information points and superb views across the valley and towards Morzine. There’ll be automatic terminals for lift pass collections, a shop selling Avoriaz merchandise and a cosy waiting room too.
But perhaps the most exciting part of this new space is the Spot Cafe, perched on the cliff within the welcome area. Settle in for your morning coffee with exceptional views, wait for the rest of your group to arrive or pass by for a quick eat-in or take-away lunch. The Spot will remain open throughout the day, imagine sunset drinks with those incredible views!
Avokart - The Winter Version
As the name suggests, Avokart is go karting experience in Avoriaz and it’s possibly one of the most thrilling apres-ski activities you’ll find in our valley this winter. Gather at the top of the Prodains Telecabine as the sun sets for a safety briefing and to equip yourself with a helmet, head torch and reflective vest. You’ll then descend on a designated route down the Crot piste; that’s 3.5km of descent with a 600m vertical drop inside your own three-wheeled snow kart - and yes, it does have a break! There’s also a guide too. Stop for a moment to take in the sunset views on the way down. Avokart is for those aged 18 and over with a minimum height of 1.4m and weighing less than 110kg. Advance booking is required, each session takes around 1.5 hours and you absolutely need to wear your warmest ski gear for this activity - don’t forget your gloves!
This stand-alone ski area is just a 15 minute journey on the local bus network from the centre of Morzine and it’s a hidden gem amongst the resorts of the Portes du Soleil. There you’ll discover 51km of pistes including 31 trails for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities, 16 ski lifts and two beginner areas too. The Roc d’Enfer is included in your Portes du Soleil ski pass, alternatively you can buy day passes for just €37 per adult. You’ll also discover quiet slopes, cosy restaurants and wonderful views.
Discover more: rocdenfer.com
Ski Touring Expeditions with Easy2Ride Avoriaz
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not necessary to be a top athlete to practice ski touring and the experienced team at Easy2Ride in Avoriaz have created a beginners session that’s suitable for skiers of an intermediate level and above. The Col Ratti is often the setting for your first tour as it offers a gentle assent and descent, giving you the chance to hone your skills and take in the incredible views. Experienced skiers may prefer the Tête de Bostan at 2500m, but whatever the weather, your Easy2Ride guide will plan an itinerary that suits your abilities.
Discover more: avoriazski.fr
Buggy Rental in Morzine
It’s one of your most frequently asked questions on our social media channels; can I hire a winterised push chair in Morzine? If you’re keen to avoid bringing your usual push chair, or if you need a winter-specific one on account of the snow, then Intersport Le Bourg in the centre of Morzine has a range of Mountain Buddy strollers for you to rent by the day or by the week. These durable, hard working push chairs are perfect for the mountain streets, they’ve even got some ski attachments for the wheels too. You’ll find the Intersport Le Bourg store at the top of the Rue du Bourg, the push chair rental section is on the ground floor.
Chalets for Pet Lovers
Les Gets holiday specialists Chalets 1066 have added a new range of chalets to their extensive collection - properties for pet lovers! On their website you can now search for your next holiday chalet in the ‘animals accepted’ category, which includes an extensive list of properties, from new-build apartments to large, spacious chalets sleeping up to 14 people. They’re all in excellent locations around the village, many have hot tubs, open fire places and gardens so your pet can enjoy the trip as much as you do.
Discover more: chalets1066.com/pets-allowed
Save €1000 when you Travel by Train
The team at AliKats Mountain Holidays have partnered with Flight Free UK to help more skiers reduce the cost and carbon emissions of their ski holiday. “The positive environmental impact of rail travel over flying is huge,” explains Al Judge at AliKats. “We want to share this message and introduce an exciting discount to skiers to opt to arrive by train.” €1000 is the saving when you book to stay at AliKats Chalet Bizet this winter and use the train rather than the plane for your journey. Chalet Bizet is a beautiful, three-bed chalet with its very own bar, open-plan living and an excellent location, just minutes from the ski lifts of Morzine.
Discover more: alikats.eu
A Dog’s Life
With so many of you driving to the mountains for your holidays these days, it’s good to know that there are so many pet-friendly places for you to stay and to visit during your trip . Aimee at Le Paw De Soleil also offers a dog walking service across our valley, providing ‘Adventure Hours’ and also ‘Canine Escapades’ so that you can continue to enjoy a full day on the pistes of the Portes du Soleil. She also provides an excellent dog grooming service that comes highly recommended by the Morzine Source Magazine Pup, whilst cooking up a long list of healthily, natural dog treats too.
Discover more: search for Le Paw De Soleil on Facebook
A lot of local people don’t know this, but you might be eligible for funded French lessons, regardless of whether you’re employed or self employed. Every year, and as soon as you have your French social security number, most of us cumulate a Compte Personnel de Formation in an online account and these credits can be used on a range of different training courses. For example, if you’re a full time employee, you’ll get around €500 per year to spend on improving your skills. At PDS Formation, Debs and her team guide their students through this process to access the funding before providing quality group or private French lessons at their language centre in Morzine. Courses are personalised and can even include simple conversational French practise. Group lessons are a fun and engaging way to learn too.
Discover more: pdsformation.com
Funded French Lessons with PDS Formation
Perfect Pistes, 83% Fewer Emissions
Diesel engines are the primary source of greenhouse gasses in a ski area, representing 69% of carbon emissions in a domain such as Avoriaz. During the Summer 24 season, Avoriaz Domaine de Montagne (formerly SERMA) experimented with the use of the nonfossil based biofuel Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in their vehicles and engines with great success. HVO is a waste product and therefore doesn’t require any agricultural processes in its production. It can be used to power any thermal engine and this winter it will be used in all 17 of Avoriaz’ piste bashers. It’s expected this change will result in a significant reduction of between 80% and 83% in CO2 emissions across the Avoriaz ski area.
Avoriaz, the home of Freestyle
It’s not news that Avoriaz is famous in the world of freestyle ski and snowboard; the snow parks across the ski area are perfectly planned, constructed and managed throughout the winter season. This winter Avoriaz defines its snow parks even further with an avalanche of upgrades. Aesthetic wooden seating and a large hammock net have been installed above the Chapelle snow park in the centre of the village to encourage passers by to stop, stay and watch the riders on the modules below. We’re also expecting the sunset to be pretty epic from this location! Meanwhile in The Stash, the line previously knowns as ‘sous le télésiège’ (under the chairlift) becomes Send Wood. You’ll find it’s been entirely remodelled to be more accessible for progressive freestyle skiers and snowboarders. But that’s not all… the Arare snow park was the first in France and it returns this winter with a new shape inspired by the style and philosophy of surfing. Don’t miss this!
Avoriaz Chill Zone
Most of you will remember that the old LacIntrets chairlift on the Arare side of Avoriaz was replaced by a faster, high capacity alternative ahead of the Winter 24 season. This winter you’ll discover that the arrival platform of the old lift has been transformed into a high altitude relaxation zone, offering a 360 degree panorama of the most beautiful peaks in the Portes du Soleil, including the Haute Forts, Dents du Midi and the Roc d’Enfer. On the deck you’ll discover a furnished cabin, picnic tables, deckchairs and a giant hammock.
“I Do”
Our valley has been a popular wedding designation for a long time, and it’s easy to see why. The stunning views, incredible venues and relaxed atmosphere really help couples to make the most of their special occasion with family and friends. Vanessa Smith at Mountain Weddings has planned many such events and she’s noticed a number of fun trends during recent wedding seasons. “Many couples are now planning ‘last look’ photoshoots,” Vanessa explains. “These are a lot of fun. Couples spend the day after their wedding dressed once again in their beautiful outfits. We take them to an epic mountain location with a photographer so they can really make the most of the destination, without it detracting from their big day.” Doesn’t that sound marvellous? “I planned a wedding recently for a lovely couple called Alex and Perry. We did their ‘last look’ photoshoot just hours after their dance floor closed, capturing some amazing sunrise shots on Mont Chery.” Vanessa also predicts what we’re in the ‘adventure bride’ era. “Brides paddle boarding on Lac de Montriond in their wedding dresses, or arriving at their mountain-side ceremony on skis. I’ve planned all of these things for my clients.”And whilst the summer season continues to be the most popular time of year to get married in the Vallee d’Aulps, winter weddings have a very special appeal. “Planning a winter wedding is a dream,” Vanessa explains. “Think cosy, fire-side ceremonies with close family and friends before taking to the pistes to ski in your wedding dress!” Vanessa’s website is full of mountain wedding inspiration.
discover more:
mountain weddings.co.uk
@mountainweddingseurope
A Makeover for Restaurant Le Wetzet in Les Gets
This is one of our favourite piste-side hot chocolate stops in Les Gets and you’ll discover that an extensive renovation and kitchen extension has taken place ahead of this winter season. Expect a list of new à la carte dishes, entirely new decor and faster service to keep skiers on the move. The authentic, simple, warm and friendly Wetzet atmosphere that we all know and love remains but we’re looking forward to seeing the cosy new interiors. Whilst taking a sneak peek at the menu I spotted paninis, homemade soups, omelettes and the speciality Reblochon crepe too. See you there!
Avoriaz Up & Down Updates
Since the disappearance of the much-loved Portes du Soleil live app last winter, Avoriaz Up & Down became our first port of call when looking for live ski lift info and weather guides while on the move. The whole Up & Down app has been redesigned ahead of this winter season to provide easier access to live slope conditions, waiting times at each ski lift, snow cover, avalanche risk alerts and more. Make sure you download the app before you head out tomorrow!
There’s a new company operating Morzine’s ski lifts this winter. Comprised of the old company plus new partners including Sofival, the owners of the Avoriaz ski lift operator SERMA, Domaine de Loisirs de Morzine (DLM) were given permission by the Mairie de Morzine-Avoriaz to operate the mountain area for the next 25 years. It’s quite a complicated arrangement to explain but the main takeaway is this; DLM have committed to investing €115 million in developing the mountain area over this period. We understand that projects currently on the table include a brand new Nyon Express telecabine to connect the centre of Morzine (close to the Hôtel la Clef des Champs) with the Nyon plateau by 2028. A number of older chairlifts could also be replaced or retired, new pistes added and the existing Nyon telepherique is likely to be renovated and upgraded. Winter development is all well and good, but we’re more excited about the plans for the three other seasons in the year. There’s a proposal to build a four seasons coaster (similar to the one in Les Gets) on the Front de Neige on Pleney, plus the creation of a large zip line on Nyon. We’re also likely to see the summer bike park open up into new areas, including Charniaz. You will of course find new updates on this whole project on our website, socials and in future issues of our magazine.
Ridge Recovery Room
We’ve all experienced those Wednesday morning leg aches during a ski holiday. Whether you’ve been doing endless squats to get your ski legs ready or not, a midweek tiredness always seems to creep in. At Ridge Recovery Room, Jude and Laurie use a combination of traditional massage techniques and the latest massage technology to help you recover in time to make the most of your entire winter holiday. Various package options are available and treatments include massage guns, compression boots, an auto back stretching mat and good old hand massages to reinvigorate your whole body. Mobile sessions are available and there’s also a treatment room in Prodains too.
discover more: ridgerecoveryroom.com
Art in Avoriaz
The famous street artists NESTA has been hard at work beneath the Datcha tunnel in Avoriaz. There you’ll find two huge and colourful frescoes with fun, lively graphics that are sure to inspire your time in the mountains. NESTA is a self-taught graffiti artist from Grenoble and he’s known for his collaborations, playful themes and optical art that pushes the boundaries of urban painting. We’re very lucky to have an example of his beautiful art right here in Avoriaz!
Hypnobirthing in Morzine
For many years Nicole Coryton has been helping expectant mothers to stay relaxed and active with her pregnancy massages and prenatal yoga classes. Nicole now completes the circle by offering hypnobirthing courses in our valley. “Hypnobirthing is a proven approach that uses relaxation techniques, visualisation and breathing exercises to help mothers feel more in control and reduce the fear during childbirth,” Nicole explains. “It is a gentle, yet powerful method which really can make a difference.” Nicole’s sessions take place in person and she delivers techniques to help reduce anxiety, manage discomfort and create a positive mindset around birth. She helps you develop techniques to stay relaxed and focused throughout your labour, leading to a smoother and more joyful experience when you meet your baby for the first time. “One of the most important and unique aspects of hypnobirthing is that it’s not just for the mothers to be,” shares Nicole. “Partners are needed too and actually play a really vital role before and during labour; together you will learn practical, empowering tools.”
contact Nicole: bonjour@mobilemountainmassage.com
All About the Apres
Camp Tremplin is the pop-up, festival-style temporary venue created by the team at Le Tremplin while their extensive renovation project continues - and it returns to the bottom of the Pleney this winter. After a summer season dishing out tasty pizzas and freshly cooked BBQ plates, this winter sees the team concentrate on what they do best; the apres ski party. There’s an all-singing, all-dancing musical line up with some of your favourite live bands and DJs and the party starts at 2pm each day. There’ll be no food available at Le Tremplin this winter, but you’ll be delighted to hear that the renovation project is on schedule, with the brand new extended terrace, bar and restaurant expected to open in the time for the Winter 25/26 season. Let’s party! Le Tremplin’s new owner Roisin Timpson writes about the vision for the new venue on page 100 of this magazine.
This is a brand new cultural initiative in Morzine, spanning the six months between October 2024 and March 2025. Each month sees a famous or notable national performer appear on the stage of the Palais du Sport, giving the local population access to theatre, comedy and musical concerts which will be fun for all of the family. On 22nd December we’ll enjoy a children’s show with a festive feel and everyone is welcome to join. Simple meals and drinks are available at the venue, tickets are available to buy in advance on the Maire de Morzine-Avoriaz website and are priced at €5 for children and €20 for adults. You can even buy a season pass for all six shows!
Morzine En Scène
“never leave a good time for a good time”
Travis Rice
by michael Henderson
If one person has challenged the way the world views and thinks about
Travis Rice
. He’s
there
snowboarding,
it’s
won pretty much everything
is to win during a professional career that spans 20 years, but during this interview it becomes very obvious; that would never have been enough for Travis. Every other interview describes him as one of the most influential snowboarders of the last two decades, and I agree. But that’s not where this story ends; Travis Rice is only just hitting his stride.
“SKIING IS FANTASTIC.. BUT I’VE NOT SKIED ONCE SINCE I DISCOVERED SNOWBOARDING.”
Born in 1982 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Travis skied between the ages of two and 12 years old. “Skiing is fantastic,” he explains. “But I’ve not skied once since I discovered snowboarding.” As you’d expect while living in a mountain resort (with a ski patroller as a dad), Travis spent most of his formative years on snow and lists snowboarding legend Bryan Iguchi and free ride coach Lance Pitman as his earliest inspiration. “I got the occasional chance to see these local riders in the resort, and that was it for me. I was hooked.” An 18 year old Travis drove himself to Mammoth Mountain in California for his first snowboard competition and launched his professional career the next day. Travis is now a 41 year old father of two, founder of the Natural Selection Tour, he features in no fewer than 20 of the biggest snowboard movies of all time and he’s promised me a few big announcements in this interview too.
If you (like me) are old enough to remember the days when the latest snowboard DVD came attached to the latest issue
of Whitelines Magazine, you’ll remember your first Travis Rice film (it was Transcendence by Absinthe Films in case you’re wondering). Snowboard movies were a huge deal in the early naughties. “Kingpin Chronicles and Nineteen Ninety-Nine are probably two of my favourite classic films,” Travis recalls, before we dive into his own career in front of the lens. After several projects with the Absinthe team and other production outfits, along came The Community Project for the winter 2006/07 season. “That was the first film where we had total creativity, doing whatever we wanted,” explains Travis. “It was session based, not park based and it was brand agnostic for riders, they didn’t have to pay to be in the movie, Oakley funded the whole thing and invited everyone, it was the more the merrier.”
Even if you’d never heard of Travis Rice and aren’t a fan of snowboarding, you’ve surely heard of The Art of Flight. Shown in cinemas across the world, this 2011/12 release is widely considered to have spurred a revolution in action>>
sports media, blending sport, culture and community with an incredible soundtrack; it instantly became iconic. Directed by Travis Rice and Curt Morgan and featuring a long list of GOATs including Jeremy Jones, Mark McMorris, Scotty Lago and Mark Landvik amongst others, The Art of Flight was the first (and likely the only) snowboard movie to cost over $4 million to produce, with a further $10 million spent on marketing and promotion by Red Bull. The documentary film spans locations from Alaska to Patagonia and at 80 minutes in length, the videography is captivating, changing perceptions of the sport via the latest camera technology and creative angles. Everyone took something away from The Art of Flight. I’m keen to know if Travis anticipated the hype?
“It’s interesting because when you're in a documentary movie, you definitely have an altered perspective,” Travis explains. “Admittedly we didn’t really know what the effects of those projects would be - all we knew was that this was some carpe diem shit - everything that we’ve worked towards, let’s put everything into this.” The Art of Flight was preceded by the 2008/09 movie That’s It, That’s All, which laid the ground work for what was to come. “We were just in this beautifully supported place of creativity,” Travis continues. “And we were just sending it, going for it. I think we wanted it to be different, we wanted it to be epic, from pushing the film making craft to the back country adventure craft to the snowboarding itself. Look, you go out and you collect these moments and then you wish you had more time to assemble the thing. And a lot of it you’re kind of shooting from the hip, you’ve got a little plan but it changes and I think that coming out of the chaos and into those super professional films and how they landed was really special. Everything we had done in our lives, our careers, all seeded working up to The Art of Flight.”
So significant was The Art of Flight and its portrayal of human endeavour in the wildest of natural environments, Travis was named as the 2012 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. Awarded for extraordinary achievements in exploration, conservation and adventure sports, Travis told the magazine that “experiencing the world through endless secondhand information isn’t enough. If we want authenticity, we have to initiate it.” “I don’t think there was a trophy,” he tells me. “But that award was a funny one. I mean look, National Geographic is great, I grew up with those magazines, those yellow-framed covers. I think it was a lovely acknowledgement of what we were trying to do in The Art of Flight, the places we were trying to go to. There was a lot of far away travel, it was rough and it was raw and yeah, it was an adventure. But that accolade came out of left field and I was like yeah, sweet. I don’t recall there being an actual award though.”
So much has already been written about the professional snowboarding career of Travis Rice, I’m not going to regurgitate it here. >>
“WE DIDN’T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE EFFECTS OF THOSE PROJECTS WOULD BE - ALL WE KNEW WAS THAT THIS WAS SOME CARPE DIEM SHIT.”
Because actually, I’m more inspired by the postprofessional Travis; the founder of the Natural Selection Tour. “The first Natural Selection was in 2008 in Jackson Hole,” Travis explains. “I’d been competing for 10 years; every year, all the major competitions around the world. A couple of years earlier we’d identified this opportunity to host a back country event in my home resort. And we thought ‘what if?' So I spoke to the resort and at the time I think Jackson Hole were between resort managers, so we knew we had this little window of opportunity. They were like - “yeah sure, why not?” - and they really supported that event.” Natural Selection aimed to replace the traditional snowboard competition format of manicured courses and spin-to-win judging with natural terrain and the reality of mountain weather conditions.
“So we put an invite out to a collection of pro snowboarders in the fall and had an incredible group of characters come for one week. We manifested prime conditions and created two venues; Casper Bowl and this area called Dick’s Ditch. We did a bit of snow work, put in hips and stuff down this gulley with this huge mile-long cable camera. It was a cool event and it was one of the snowiest weeks in history in Jackson; we got like five or six feet over a week, everyone had to fly into different airports and drive into the valley and it ended up being such a legendary event. Jackson Hole mountain resort was riding as good as it ever had and the events went phonemically, it was an amazing week.”
Yet it was five years until the world would see the Natural Selection Tour format once again, and I wonder why, considering the success of its launch? “The reality is that terrain and topography is such a critical component for this event; they determine what is possible for a rider’s creativity and to have a contest run that’s as good as someone can possible do,” Travis explains. “So we went back to the drawing board and started hunting a location that we could actually work with and adapt during the summer time. It took about five years to find it, but it’s Baldface in British Colombia, Canada. There’s a face called Scary Cherry and we ended up changing the name of the event to Red Bull Supernatural. We did a full summer’s worth of work on the face, with an incredible bad ass team including local arborists, lumberjacks and other back country architecture specialists. Supernatural 2012 turned into another amazing event, we learned a lot but we were our harshest critics.”
Five further years of location scouting followed by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic put further pause to the Natural Selection Tour. In the meantime, the Freeride World Tour (FTW) came calling for Travis with a much-coveted wild card entry. Now, I’ve always considered the FWT to be the European competitor of the Natural Selection Tour. Both take place in big mountain environments where creativity thrives; both are thrilling to watch, both call up the best global snowboarders. Did Travis join in 2019 as ‘research’? “I dabbled a little bit in the FWT because I just wanted to better understand>>
“EVERYTHING WE HAD DONE IN OUR LIVES, OUR CAREERS, ALL SEEDED WORKING UP TO THE ART OF FLIGHT.”
the event,” Travis tells me. “I love that it exists and have respect for the team that worked for 15 years to develop and enhance the Tour before its sale to the FIS two years ago. They put a lot of effort in and it was definitely born from more of a European mindset, and by that I mean a European free riding mindset. Simply put, and using their own verbiage, it’s the best locations, best conditions and best riders. Had it been that in reality, then I think I probably would have done more and pursued the challenge. But I think there were questionable venues and a questionable approach - a machismo - who can jump the biggest cliff and who can almost fucking cripple themselves the most. I have some respect for that kind of riding, it’s just not what I think is the most skilful or showcases a riders mastery of snowboarding. A single run format is all or nothing, that fine line between nailing it or nailing yourself. It helped me to realise that with Natural Selection, we’re trying to highlight the true essence of how different riders approach different terrain. I want it to have a bit more freestyle opportunity. Bringing freestyle and creativity to the big mountain has been the holy grail of where snowboarding and skiing has been heading for its entire existence.”
And whilst the FWT targets only the current crop of professional snowboarders, the Natural Selection Tour does the opposite. Maybe there’s hope for me yet! But that’s not my question. “Natural Selection is about a lifetime of snowboarding experience in many different modalities. We’ll have a 20 year old up-andcoming rookie competing against a 50 year old, wisdom-filled veteran of the sport and that levels the playing field for all involved. Frankly I think the FWT is great, it totally delivers on its intentions and it’s great that there is a better connection between youth events. Ultimately the FIS bought it because it’s another great Olympic event, just like the surfing we saw this summer. These adventure sports have good ratings, which in turn sells sponsorship. I think it’s great that the FWT exists because it frees us up from not having to be that kind of event - we are not the road to the Olympics, we are the path to absolution. We want to see those events get better, hell we may even help them out - the future is bright.”
The Natural Selection Tour retuned in its newlyperfected format in 2021 and has taken place each winter since then. But if there’s one thing the tour needs more than anything - that winter sports need more than anything - it’s snow. As snow lines retreat and the global weather becomes more erratic, how sustainable can an event based entirely around snow be? “The selection of the venue itself is the most critical part of our decision making,” Travis explains. “We don’t really pick super high locations because of the wind exposure. We crunch a lot of numbers and we do probability assessments on the majority of the potential venues that we look at. We try to find that little goldilocks zone or sweet spot on a mountain, that’s protected from wind, where we’re higher than the freeze line, not too much in sun but just enough. There’s a >>
“WHO CAN JUMP THE BIGGEST CLIFF AND WHO
pattern, 100%. Beyond that there’s a little bit of a misnomer that we can only do these events in the most epic spots. We’ve been lucky enough to be able to do events in pretty incredible places but our events can be run in a myriad of different conditions. A bullet proof rain crust, yeah that’s probably gonna cancel an event but all you need is a little bit of softness and a run that’s devoid of moguls. Most of the time we're riding powder that’s only a couple of inches deep or there’s a wind slab going on. Some of our venues are very enhanced, some of them are entirely natural and then we have backup venues too. We’ll have a once in a blue moon situation, when the stars align over a brilliantly safe, snowy venue versus an overcast day when the snow's not that good. Yet we still have the best riders in the world and it's incredible to see what they can do with treacherous conditions. They’ll still make it look good.”
And how does Travis go about making sure the riders make the venues look good? He competes himself. In his own event. And he’s won twice since it’s relaunch. “For the first two years I was part of the selection committee, then I recursed myself from the process, just because,” he explains. “We take the selection process pretty seriously and we have an independent committee including five individuals and they just want to make sure that the most deserving riders are getting a crack at the Natural Selection. Each year there’s a lot of change up as we take the top half of the field of 24 riders for the following year and that frees up 12 places for new riders each year.”
In considering the Natural Selection Tour as a talent show for new riders, we’ve come full circle. I wonder if identifying the snowboarding talent of the future was part of Travis’ master plan? “100%, though I don’t think I had that mindset back in 2008,” he confirms. “We were just doing it because it was awesome and fun. But over time, as things got a bit more serious and we were looking at starting the actual Natural Selection Tour, there was definitely a bit more of a hey, there’s bit of a void here, who’s helping to usher in the potential of the future? This community has given us so much and I want to be part of that process and pay it back. I want to leave it better than I found it. And I’ve had some incredible advice from my peers from the very beginning. Jeremy Jones told me to aways start a run from the top and don’t start with caution - start with speed. He also told me to never leave a good time for a good time.”
“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey along the way,” is one of the most memorable lines from The Art of Flight. I wonder, can Travis name his finest journeys so far? “Every year there’s a handful of memories, but I always look back fondly on the 30 days I spent with Jeremy Jones on the Deeper film. For that matter, I look back really fondly on a couple of months trip I did sailing from the east coast over to French Polynesia during the summer time. I feel like the further I’ve gotten away from the daily distractions - and for the record I appreciate
More Info:
FollowTravis’s adventures this winter on Instagram @travisrice. Keep up to date with all the news from the Natural Selection Tour - naturalselectiontour.com and watch all the action live - redbull.com
“NATURAL SELECTION IS ABOUT A LIFETIME OF SNOWBOARDING
day to day life and family life and the ability to connect with people and build things - I appreciate those things, I love them - but some of the most impactful times for me have been when I’ve been able to take a month or more be super present and focus on the task at hand. There’s nothing like a good adventure immersed in the outdoors to put you in a state of presence. They compliment each other very well.”
Travis had hinted at a few new announcements at the start of this interview. Rumours that Natural Selection would add a European stop to the tour abound. How much would you love to see a Natural Selection Tour date in Europe? I cross my fingers… “I would say we’re getting closer to a European stop, but I can’t give you an update on that right now. Ask me again next year, I’ll probably have an announcement for you then!” But in the meantime, a very excited Travis shares the expansion of Natural Selection with me. “We’ve been working hard for years on building out the Tour, so we’re launching a full ski event this winter and a surf event this summer. We’ve been playing about in mountain biking for the last three years but in February 25 down in Queenstown, New Zealand, we’re putting on a world class MTB event. We’ve been working on these things for the last couple of years and we’ve received so many requests. Natural Selection has synthesised itself into this place where there’s space. These extended efforts are more about
Natural Selection getting behind individuals who want to see change and evolution within their space and sport. It’s not like Natural Selection is saying ‘we’re going to do a surf event because we think we can do a better surf event.’ It’s more that after years of conversation on the subject of help and support, there needs to be something else - another way of doing things. For example in surf, the World Surf League has a legacy of over 50 years, it’s not going anywhere but it’s now this very serious world championship that’s very heavily unified and it’s a qualification for the Olympics. What we’re doing is a little more culture first and it’s the same with ski; the first year we did the Natural Selection Tour in 2021, the skiing community was like ‘awesome, where’s our event?’ Yet no one has stepped up to that yet, so we’ve been synthesising and speaking with friends of ours in skiing. How can we help? Let’s build something that is authentically for skiing by skiing.”
Without doubt snowboard culture is changing and Travis agrees with this. “Life is tough, especially for those of us who live in the mountains. We all need some level of support in one way, shape or form. But the beauty of a community when it comes to the mountains or snowboarding - and that’s as narrow or as wide as you want to make itis the commonality around our approach, perception and awareness. I think a lot can go unsaid when you have a group with
shared similar experiences in the mountains. Someone who’s spent a lot of time in the mountains - decades - that still has a smile on their face and has an optimistic outlook on life. You know that that person is defined in many ways and has a different worldly outlook. It’s a shared understanding, a spiritual root that life in existence is not necessarily what we were taught in school. With that comes the strength of being able to call on help when you need it, or show up to support someone when they need it.”
The Farmhouse is a charismatic boutique hotel set inside Morzine’s oldest building. With 11 luxurious bedrooms, delicious cuisine and wines, cosy sitting room and bar (with a stunning open fireplace), we guarantee you the warmest welcome in town.
building the
Avoriaz Village Igloo
It’s one of the most fun and fascinating ways to experience the mountains, but have you been inside the Avoriaz Village Igloo? Constructed from scratch each winter at an altitude of 1850m, it takes a team of expert snow crafters approximately 15 days to build the whole thing. “The igloos are actually made from artificial snow,” Jeanne Leblanc at Village Igloo tells me. “Real snow doesn’t last as long, and wouldn’t allow us to stay open until the end of the winter season.” Which makes perfect sense, because a whopping 8,000m3 of cultured snow is needed to build the huge structure; when finished it spans a surface area of 180m2 and stays open until 15th April.
Once the team have amassed 8000m3 of artificial snow, construction of the igloo can begin. Moulds of different sizes are placed onto the compacted ground then inflated to create the structure. “We modify the layout each winter, so even if you visited us last year, you’ll find an entirely new igloo this season,” Jeanne promises. A turbo mill is then used to gradually project snow at the inflated mould, gently crafting the shape of the igloo. Once hardened, the mould beneath is carefully deflated and eventually removed; a perfectly solid igloo remains. And so it continues; “we then start again on the next module,” Jeanne tells me, “creating a corridor interlinking the rooms or an entirely new room”. Once the whole structure is in place, the fun begins. Ten days are spent fitting out and decorating inside the igloo, with a team of 15 people that includes carpenters, architects, electricians, sound technicians and of course the famous ice sculptors.
Each winter at the Avoriaz Village Igloo theres a different theme; it’s used to bring together the exceptional ice sculptures and carefully crafted wall carvings and it’s a heavily guarded secret each season. We won’t know this winter’s theme until the doors open on 14th December! “The talents of our sculptors are used to give the igloo an identity,” Jeanne explains. “The fascinating creatures on the walls add an artistic dimension, bringing the whole thing to life and we love seeing the reactions of our customers, especially the children who’ve maybe never been in an igloo before.”
It’s entirely free of charge to explore the igloo, which you’ll find to the left of the blue Arare
piste, just before the final descent into Avoriaz. The ice bar is usually your first discovery once inside and it makes the perfect meeting point, especially if you’ve some non-skiers in your group. The Avoriaz Village Igloo is easily accessible from the top of the Prodains telecabine on a dedicated path to the side of the slopes. The bar is sculpted entirely from ice; grab a drink then settle down on a blanket inside the igloo to take it all in. “Temperatures are always lower than 0º inside the igloo,” Jeanne explains. “Otherwise it wouldn’t be solid enough!” As a warmer alternative, there’s a sunny terrace immediately outside, lined with deck chairs and beautiful views and small lunch plates are served each day between 11am and 3pm.
terrace and the entrances, clean the internal surfaces, prepare the rooms, store kitchen deliveries and take care of the rubbish each day, but it’s at night when the igloos truly become magical. “Spending the night in an igloo is a bucket list experience,” Jeanne believes. On Wednesday and Saturday evenings (and on Thursdays during school holiday weeks,) you can book in advance to enjoy a traditional fondue dinner inside the igloo. With a mountain guide to accompany your walk from the Prodains telecabine up to the site, observing the twinkling lights of Avoriaz as you go. “Our guests often wonder how they will find the 10 minute walk, because I suppose it seems a bit steep,” explains Jeanne. “But usually they find the experience to be quite magical, with a beautiful view of Avoriaz illuminated below”. You’ll arrive at the igloo just in time for dinner, which can also include arrival drinks, wines and dessert too. You can even arrange a snow cat journey to the igloo as an alternative to the walk, but don’t forget to wrap up warm as temperatures can be a low as -2º inside!
The extra adventurous amongst you can even stay in the igloo overnight. Enjoy an authentic Savoyarde supper, featuring soups made from vegetables gown at La Cordée de Légumes down the valley in Morzine, followed by a traditional fondue and charcuterie. Bed down for the night in one of the igloos cosy bedrooms, where up to 16 guests at a time can sleep beneath the ice in one of six bedrooms. “With our cosy duvets and the right outfit, you’ll stay warm all night!” Jeannie promises. Breakfast is then served, either within the igloo or on the terrace outside so you can watch Avoriaz come to life.
A team of seven people take care of the Avoriaz Village Igloo each day during the winter season. They work together to clear snow from the
Visits:
Visit the Avoriaz Village Igloo and take a drink from the ice bar from 10am each day until the slopes close. It’s not necessary to book your visit in advance, the Igloo is open to everyone during the day.
Lunch:
Small plates are served between 11am and 3pm each day
Dinner:
Served inside the igloo on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, and also on Thursdays during the school holiday periods, you’ll rendezvous with your mid-mountain guide outside the Prodains Telecabine at 7pm. Dinner is priced at €25 for adults and €19 for children under the age of 13. Note that night trips to the igloo are not recommended for children under the age of five years because of the temperatures.
Dinner includes a guided walk to the igloo and a three-cheese fondue Savoyarde. A premium option featuring wine, water or soft drinks with dinner and charcuterie plates is also available for €39 while the prestige option also includes all of the above plus Prosecco or cocktails on arrival, desserts, hot drinks and digestifs for €59 per person. The children’s menu also includes fondue, a waffle for desert and a soft drink.
Snow cat trips to the Village Igloo are also available for €20 per person.
Stay:
There are six bedrooms inside the igloo; four rooms sleeping two people and two rooms that sleep up to four people, making the total capacity 16 guests.
Your overnight stay includes a guided walk to the igloo, a fondue, your overnight stay and breakfast and is priced from €249 per couple.
Events:
The Avoriaz Village Igloo has the capacity to accommodate up to 350 for events, making it perfect for birthday celebrations!
Cheeky Monkey's was formed in 2005 by Sharon McCrae to provide a quality childcare service in Morzine to families on holiday throughout the French Alps.
Their aim is to ensure the entire family can have an enjoyable stress free skiing holiday experience.
Services offered... Private nanny in chalet | Babysitting Lunch club with ski school pick ups | Equipment hire
Nyon,EverestingTwice
*Everesting:
The concept of Everesting is fiendishly simple: Pick any hill, anywhere in the world and ride repeats of it in a single activity until you climb 8848m
Essentially, I was born on two wheels. My earliest memories on a bike involve me rolling around at my grandparent's bungalow when I was around three years old. My dad got me into it and I fell more and more in love, joining the Les Gets bike club when I was seven. I'd spend my next 10 years training with my friends. I did a lot of racing too, focusing on downhill as the terrain in Morzine is most suited to that. The area in which we live and play has grown and changed so much since I started! I was always attracted to the more natural and rooty bike trails, where you really have to be dialled in to be rewarded by the trail and carry speed. Nowadays there are so many more wide machine-built trails with big corners and safe jumps, which isn't a bad thing at all. I just didn't have that when I was a kid, at least nowhere near what it's like now.
I saved up for ages to buy my first GoPro when I was 12. I'd wear it all the time and make little edits to post on Pinkbike and show to my friends; Instagram was just getting started and for years videos couldn't be longer than 15 seconds. I slowly stepped away from racing as I didn't enjoy it as much so in the winter of 2018/19 I flew to New Zealand to do a summer season riding bikes with my friend. We bought a camera together and ended up making a film out of it. From there my life as a mountain bike videographer snowballed. I saved all my money from the little jobs I was doing and invested in camera gear. I was quite insecure and so never asked friends to go film with me. I made self-shot MTB videos, which were always very well received and this gave me the confidence to commit to making a living out of filmmaking. Fast forward four years and I'm now filming for the biggest mountain bike teams in the world, travelling with them on the World Cup circuit and working for brands and athletes all over the world. It all happened very gradually and I'm super grateful for everything I learned along the way.
“I did a single Everest on Nyon two years ago in some of the worst conditions I could have asked for; a heatwave all day and a huge rainstorm for the final seven hours.”
But we’re here to talk about the time I double Everested Nyon on my bike over 48 non-stop hours, covering 289km in distance to achieve a doubleEverest cumulative altitude of 17,848m. I did a single Everest on Nyon two years ago in some of the worst conditions I could have asked for; a heatwave all day and a huge rainstorm for the final seven hours. I also had heavy downhill tyres and flat pedals, which meant I was wasting a lot of energy. As soon as I completed this challenge I knew a double was possible with more optimisation. At the time I thought no one had done a double everest on a mountain bike, but since then two other riders have managed to do it elsewhere in the world, which motivated me even more. And especially since one of them was Ben Hildred, a legend in the world of ultra-MTB missions. He was wearing casual gear and making no fuss about it on the internet. So the original idea came from within me, but these two riders inspired me to really make it happen.
The idea has consumed me since the end of last year. And since the start of 2024, every single decision I've made has had this challenge in the back of my mind. I was always thinking about whether or not I'd find time to train if I accepted a particular job, or if I went for dinner with my friends, etc... I really did sacrifice a lot to try and train as much as possible, >>
which is hard considering how packed my work schedule is. The travelling doesn’t help, so I often find myself jet-lagged, without my bike, or when I do have a bike and a bit of time on my hands, I've just been living off airport and petrol station food for too long, so I don't feel energised. So I'd argue the physical preparation wasn't as good as it should have been, but what I lacked in my physical game I made up for in my mental game. I had a rule of always putting myself in uncomfortable situations, mostly on the bike but sometimes off it too. I'd go out training in the middle of the night, in the snow or after a 16 hour editing day for example. Whenever there was an easy way out and a good excuse not to do some training, I'd force myself to do it, knowing I was getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, which is what this challenge is all about. I have to say the logistics for the ride were made up last minute though. I knew what I needed, but actually coordinating it with family and friends happened about five days before the attempt.
People kept asking me if I was Everesting Nyon twice for a cause, or a charity. When I did my single Everest two years ago, I reached out to some charities but never got a reply. And considering how much work I already have on a daily basis, I just couldn't be bothered to reach out again this year. I also wanted to keep this as small as possible. I didn't tell many people I'd been training for this, didn't tease anything on social media, I just wanted to go out and get it done without any external pressures.
When I set out on 3rd August, I felt amazing at the beginning; my target was a 42min climb for each lap and I was doing 36-37min laps without forcing anything. At this point I knew I'd done everything in my power to be ready for this challenge and all I had to do now was ride my bike and prove myself right. I knew things would get very repetitive and monotonous so I simply surrendered myself to the mountain, got in the zone listening to what my body needed and cut out all distractions.
Despite the fact that I’d tried to keep things quiet, I had an overwhelming amount of people show up on this challenge. I created a small group chat with my closest friends in town, telling them what I was up to and asking them to join me for a lap if they had time, knowing very well not everyone would be able to. In the end pretty much everyone in that group chat came at least once! Out of 44 laps, I don't think I did more than 17-18 by myself, which is crazy. I even had a friend drive from Chatel to ride with me between 2am and 5am on the second night. I'd told them the first night was the hardest thing I'd ever done in my life. Even though I didn't talk as much as I'd have liked as I was so focused on my body, just having people around me lifted a lot of weight off my shoulders. But ultimately, I only managed to pull this off because of my family. They would come regularly to bring food and whatever I craved and it motivated me so much to complete this ride and hopefully make them proud. I don't see myself accomplishing this challenge without all the people that showed up for me and I am forever thankful for what they did!
The high point each day was seeing the first light appear after riding through the night. I just felt so much more stimulated, my body temperature slowly warmed up and without trying I would pedal to the top faster, without any explanation. Seeing people waiting for me at the end of each lap, to either go back up with me or just show support was a huge help too. Looking back now, a big positive of this ride is everything I learned about myself. I've never been in such a flow state in my life, nothing comes even close to this. It's like I had no peripheral vision, I had my head down, focusing on the road in front of me, I rarely used music (usually, I always pedal with music), I had no external thoughts, I was just in the moment, taking it one pedal stroke at the time. I guess that ties in with what I mentioned earlier about surrendering to the mountain and the challenge, knowing that the only way out of this was to keep going up.
The night shifts were by far the hardest parts of this mission. It felt like a whole different world riding in the dark. I've obviously done plenty of night rides before, but never from sunset to sunrise. It turns the volume up in your head, riding with no stimulation, no views, no friends, no music, just you and your thoughts, focusing on getting feedback on how the body is feeling and what it needs. Fighting sleep deprivation got very hard and it took a lot of discipline to get going again whenever I'd finish a lap, sit down at the car while I was fuelling up before moving on again. I slept a total of three hours and 20 minutes out of the 50 hours this challenge took me. That was one 10 minute nap followed by a second 17 minute nap on the first night, then three hours on the second night after I slept through an alarm i'd set for an hour nap. Nutrition and digestion were the other big low points in this challenge. I knew exactly what I needed to eat and at what frequency, mixing chemical gels and cereal bars with plain food like pasta, bread and rice. After 24 hours however, it became impossible to eat more of those gels and I could feel my intestines all clogged up and my gut couldn't handle the taste of those chemical bars. Considering my legs still felt fine, I decided to only eat those plain foods, which ended up sorting out all my problems within a few hours. I still took a few gels and electrolytes every now and then but still reduced my food intake a lot, which is something I never expected to do!
It's funny, I’d been visualising this ride for months and months. I could picture every scenario in my head and how I’d handle it. I'd also visualised the end of the ride, where I'd collapse on the floor, just like I did after my single Everest. So when I did complete the challenge I didn't show anywhere near as much emotion as I should have, because I'd pictured myself succeeding for so long; it simply felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I could pat myself on the back. I was obviously drained out of all my energy so I couldn't have those celebrations where I run and scream, but I do wish I would have shown more emotion and gratitude for all the people who were there to see me at the end. It did take a few days to sink in, but now the more I look back on this the more I realise this is a big achievement and I should be proud of myself.
I don't want to do this challenge again, however. I already knew that when I started this ride. I did this challenge to test my limits and to learn about myself, and now I want to apply those lessons to my next big thing(s). I'd like to do other riding challenges, but instead of doing loops, I would like to do A to B type rides, so I can see new places instead of feeling like I'm in a hamster wheel. I did have a lot of fun in this ride though, it wasn't just pain and am very glad I pushed through. I learned things about myself that I would never have learned and that's what makes me the happiest. When people ask me ‘what’s next?’ I like to consider a broader perspective, rather than just cycling challenges. I know I keep repeating myself, but the lessons I learned doing this have made me want to keep thinking big and following my gut. I've always been a bit of a workaholic and want to keep growing in my professional career as a cinematographer. I have plans and ideas of what I want to do with my camera in the next few years, but I’ll keep them a secret for now. I know that if I put my mind to something, surround myself with the right people and avoid distractions, I can reach heights I'd have never thought were possible for me, because when I first found out someone had done a single Everest challenge back in 2018 I thought they were the craziest people ever and couldn't even fathom the idea of attempting this in the first place. And then I did it. Twice.
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Imagine being able to put your ski boots on in the chalet boot room, the sub-zero-degrees car park, restaurant or wherever, with zero effort/maximum ease… Enter Nordica's super rear-entry boots. The HF (Hands Free) line was released for winter ‘20/21 and, four seasons later, Nordica has launched a new lower volume line of rear-entry boots. The HF Pro boots for this winter are a step up from the HFs, not just due to the reduced volume, but because of how superbly they ski. The lateral drive is hard to believe. The adjustments on the HF Pro mean you can get the tension around your leg and foot bang-on, allowing you to ski with power and precision. Yes, these are different to a two-piece overlap boot, but the skiing is ace. The liner has PrimaLoft insulation for warmth, comes pre-shaped, and is heat mouldable. Using Nordica’s Infrared tech, your boot fitter can thermoform the shell too. Available in 95 and 105 flexes for women, and 110 and 130 for men.
Nicola Iseard Fall Line Skiing magazine Publisher and Editor
Nordica HF Pro boots
RRP €599.90 nordica.com
The women's ARW 100, and men's ARV 100, are freestyle skis with an identity crisis – they could just as happily sit in the all-mountain or freeride categories. The width underfoot (100cm) means they're great in the soft stuff, and superb when conditions are less than ideal – they can handle bumps and ruts no problemo. Then back on the pistes they dish out more than enough grip and an energetic reaction edge-to-edge for something this wide. The skis are far from being 'noodles' and they're not just about skiing the jump park either – we’d argue they transform the entire landscape into a park, highlighting every natural feature as a thing of beauty to boost off. They're ideal for advanced skiers looking to push their all-mountain skiing, carving included, but thanks to the distinct lack of a metal layer and plenty of rocker, the ARV/ARW are not overwhelming, so intermediate skiers will handle them well, as long as they’re ready for something that’s 100mm underfoot. This season, Armada has changed the core to poplar, from caruba, increasing the power, dampness and ride quality, as well as potentially meaning the skis will hold their shape for longer.
In the market for a lid upgrade? The Adapter is a new helmet from Sweet, with 19 adjustable vents to keep your noggin temperature just right. It’s light, thanks to the in-mould construction, but this is not just a basic, weight and money-saving build. It has different zones, allowing them to tailor the rigidity and elasticity in key areas, enhancing safety and comfort. It also has the Mips sliding layer, for further safety benefits. Sweet helmets are very comfortable, and you can remove the ear pads, or add in audio gear. The slight recess for the goggle strap maintains the clean outline. It's available in various colours too. Sweet Protection Adapter helmet
This new ski-specific outfit from Rab uses Gore’s ePe PFC-Free membrane, so no harmful fluorocarbons, and a lower carbon footprint, and they use 100% recycled material for the face and backer fabrics. This outfit looks great and is as practical for touring as it is for lift-accessed freeride. The hood easily fits over a helmet, and you can remove the powder skirt, so you can use this year-round. The two-way jacket front zipper and longer rear are welcome additions for full-on adventures. The fabric has a warm backer, adding a little insulation, and helping to wick moisture from inner layers. The jacket and pant have large, well-placed outer pockets, and there are more pockets inside the jacket. It's available in various colours and for men and women.
The Radium Prime is one of Salomon’s most high-tech goggles, and this new black colour with bold pink accent really stands out. The lens is attached via 16 strong magnets, and it’s another model that makes changing lenses an absolute doddle. The standard lens for this colour is the cat. S3 Sigma Gun Metal, which is fab in everything from bright sunshine to overcast conditions. The Sigma tech gives superb contrast and definition. The included Sigma Silver Pink lens is lovely when the weather closes in, and for many it’s easier on the eyes than a bright yellow. The protective zippered case takes the worries away when travelling to resort.
Montagne Verte is our valley’s localised approach to reducing the carbon impact of your ski holiday. It’s a not-for-profit association, established and run by local people and it has a simple mission - to develop solutions that help Morzine and the surrounding region to reduce the environmental impact of tourism. Here we take a look at some of the current Montagne Verte projects and you’ll discover many more details at montagneverte.org.
Train Travel Guides
Did you know that between 50% and 75% of the carbon emissions generated by your mountain holiday come from your air travel? Changing the way you journey to and from the mountains can have an enormous impact on your carbon footprint and Montagne Verte propose an excellent alternative - the train. The AlpinExpress scheme has grown considerably since its launch a few years back; there’s now a long list of benefits and discounts available to anyone that makes the majority of their journey by train. “We understand that train travel may not always be the most affordable or fastest option,” explains Montagne Verte’s Sara Burdon. “So we’ve collaborated with local partners to provide a wide range of discounts to incentivise you.” These discounts are now available on accommodation of all shapes, sizes and budgets, there's discounts on your Portes du Soleil or local area lift passes plus food, drink, massage treatments, equipment rental, activities, ski lessons and much more. Combined, they’ll certainly help to minimise any increased costs associated with taking the train over the plane and getting your Alpin Express pass is simple. Complete the form on the Montagne Verte website and you’ll receive the certificate you need to access the long list of discounts.
*If you’re a local business owner and you’d like to offer a discount as part of the AlpinExpress Pass, get in touch with the Montagne Verte team now!
To compliment the AlpinExpress Pass, Montagne Verte have created a series of train guides; they demonstrate the specific ins and outs of train travel to the mountains, how to change stations in Paris and how to complete your journey from the train station into your ski resort. They’ve even included detail on where to find the toilers in the train station! The idea is to help people, especially non french speakers, navigate public transport and feel more confident about using the train and local bus services. As Sara explains, “getting the train is a lovely way to travel here, but many people say they are nervous about the final part of the journey. We've created these guides to help make that easy and clear including everything from how to cross Paris, to where to find toilets, to making sure you find the right bus.”
You’ll find the Train Travel Guides on the Montagne Verte website and we’d love to hear from anyone who travels here by train!
During 2024, organic waste regulations were enhanced in France, requiring restaurants to reduce, sort and recycle their biowaste. Montagne Verte’s BioCyclette initiative was ahead of the game, collecting organic waste from a number of local outlets by bike. Several local restaurants now hand over their bio waste over to Montagne Verte using the door to door service; it’s then converted to biogas instead of being deposited in a landfill site. As Sara explains, “Food waste is incredibly energy consuming to deal with when added to normal waste, so it's important to separate it. Check with your hotel or restaurant what they are doing about theirs!"
*If you’re a local restaurant and you’d like more information on the Montagne Verte BioCyclette collection service, there’s stacks of detail on the website.
The AlpinExpress Pass
The BioCyclette
You’ll find this great little shop on the rue du Bourg in the centre of Morzine and it should be your first port of call when you need to replace a lost pair of gloves, when your little ones have outgrown their salopettes, or if you find yourself in need of quality extras during your holiday. The aim here is to reduce the volume of new sports clothing and equipment that we all buy by offering second hand alternatives at a fraction of the price. Inside you’ll also find jumpers, trousers, hats and more. Head to 162, rue du Bourg in Morzine - happy shopping!
*Instead of taking your unwanted ski clothing back home after your holiday, why not donate it instead? There’s a wooden box at the entrance of the shop for your donations.
Making ‘green’ choices when you’re buying things can be difficult. With this in mind, Montagne Verte have invested an extraordinary number of research hours compiling the ultimate purchasing directory - they call it the Green Pages. You’ll find it online and it includes contacts for construction and renovation projects, sustainable packaging, renewable energy suppliers, cleaning and hygiene products, transportation and more. There’s even handy links for anyone renovating or making home improvements, covering the financial aid available for sustainable property upgrades.
Montagne Verte are asking their local business stakeholders to take part in an ambitious but voluntary collection fund. This involves collecting €9 per visitor, guest or client towards the carbon impact of their travel to the resort. Local businesses who join the fund will collect the contribution from their guests before passing it on to Montagne Verte. It’ll be used to finance local climate adaptation initiatives such as expanding rail travel, improving local transport options and supporting local businesses and residents to prepare for the future in a changing climate.
La Friperie - A Second Hand Store
The Green Pages
Sustainable Mountain Futures Fund
“30 seconds of my life.”
zoe atkin
INTERVIEW
by michael Henderson
The Zoe Atkin story could have been one of intense sibling rivalry; a desire to ski better at all costs. But Zoe is way too nice for that. “She’s an amazing role model for me,” says Zoe of her big sister Izzy, owner of Team GB’s first ever Olympic medal on skis. Zoe’s five weeks into her preseason freestyle ski training programme in New Zealand when we speak.
Born in Boston, USA in 2003 to a British dad from Birmingham and a Malaysian mum, Zoe learned to ski at the age of two, trailing her big sister around their local mountain. In 2017 she made her professional debut at the age of just 14, before winning World Cup half pipe gold at Copper Mountain in 2019. She followed that with a bronze medal at the 2021 World Championships in Aspen, then made her Olympic debut for Team GB at the 2022 Beijing winter games. An X Games gold in 2023 followed by a silver in 2024 completes Zoe’s professional skiing resume to date, but I feel like she’s just getting started.
How’s pre-season training going Zoe?
Honestly, it’s a little bit rough! I went to Australia before we arrived here in New Zealand, I’ve been here for five weeks now and the weather has been so bad; we’ve probably only skied seven days so far. Yes, this is a winter sport, but if it’s snowing too hard, or if its super windy, it’s unsafe to train at the level we want to. And the only way I can practise tricks in the half pipe is by being in the actual half pipe! But other than that, it’s good to get back on snow after a couple of months off in the summer. It’s good to get back to winter in general.
Has the training taken you away from your studies?
I’m studying at Stamford University but because I’m quite an indecisive person, I’m not really sure what I’ll study next. I’m interested in so many different things! Psychology from a skiers perspective is super interesting, because I work with a sports psychologist to manage the pressures of my sport and the fear and that stuff. Right now I’m leaning towards this major called Symbolic Systems, which is kind of hard to explain. It’s Stamford-specific and it combines the fields of computer science with linguistics and psychology, so it’s like AI and machines and systems that are symbolic of the brain. It’s all over the place and every time I explain it I’m like… this really makes no sense, that’s why I want to study it.
Juggling school and sport isn’t easy at all. When I was still in high school I was just missing a lot of school because of training camps and competitions all over the world. I would make up all of the assignments and tests and stuff that I missed when I got back, and I got used to that. But I knew going into university, I wanted to really feel like I was at university, like I was really there and learning and not leaving all of the time to ski or grunting through my work and not immersing myself in the material. So for the past two years at Stamford I’ve been on a 1/4 system, so there’s four terms per year and I’ve been taking the winter 1/4 fully off school. That allows me to train >>
and compete from mid December until April; to fully be off school. I’ll then do the summer 1/4 instead. However, as the 2026 Olympics in Italy comes up, I’m actually taking more time off school, so right now I’m taking the fall 1/4 off as well as the winter one, so I’m basically doing half time school now. I can ski a lot more and ski a lot harder and really focus on skiing going into the next Olympics.
Psychology in sport is huge now. Is that your experience, as an athlete?
During these times it’s been really inspiring to see people and athletes really talk about their mental health. For a long time it’s been swept under the rug; I personally see a sports psychologist regularly, I know a lot of my friends in the sport also do. It’s a really important part of my sport, especially with the extreme things we do - we have the actual fear, it’s very scary and rooted in a real risk. That’s something we have to deal with, the fear and being able to overcome it. It’s really important to train your mental strength as well as the physical because we’re constantly wrestling with fear and overcoming it. No matter how much I compete, the better I get, the harder I train, I still have the same fears, they’ll always be there. I’m always learning and relearning how to overcome fear and having a sports psychologist, someone to talk to about it, discovering the mechanics behind fear, has been really helpful for me.
I definitely consider myself to be a timid person, I’m pretty fearful. If you think about the sport I do, you’d assume that I’m a crazy adrenaline junkie, but thats a false perception of who a lot of people in this sport are. I mean, we are adrenalin junkies to a certain extent, but we’re also very calculated people, managing the risks and rewards. It would be crazy if we did the things we do and weren’t scared of them - we should be because there’s real risk involved! That makes it an interesting sport to watch and be a part of. It’s cool that we’re starting to talk about mental health in sports more, the mentality of athletes is super interesting.
Let’s talk about the Olympics…
I mean, they’re a really big focus for sure, but also the X Games happens every year and for me, that is the pinnacle of our sport. The X Games has that legacy in action sports, so that’s always a big focus for me every year. Also this season we have the World Championships, which are at the end of the season and only happen every two years so that’s also a very big event to focus on. But I guess, in general, the Olympics have that international renown. When I went to Beijing in 2022 olympics I felt like I didn’t perform the way I wanted to. Going into the next Games, I want redemption from Beijing; I want to land a run that I’m really proud of. Mentally, the Olympics are also a game because obviously they are very important and they do matter but we don’t want to let it build up in our head too much. At the end of the day it’s a 30 second run, 30 seconds of my life. I want to train my hardest to do the best I can in those 30 seconds, but at the end of the day its 30 seconds and yeah… it's an interesting one. Tricking your mind into thinking ‘this doesn’t matter, calm down’. But in the back of my mind this is the biggest moment ever, I’m so excited.
Excited to do better than your big sister, maybe?
So, Izzy is retired now and has a regular adult person job, she’s no longer throwing herself off massive jumps. Hopefully she’ll come to the Games in Italy with me and we can finally have the family gathering that we missed in Beijing because of the pandemic. That was so sad; it’s super
“No matter how much I compete, the better I get, the harder I train, I still have the same fears, they’ll always be there.”
weird to compete in front of no one! Even though me and my sister were in the village together, COVID-19 meant our family couldn’t come and watch, which was saddening. Plus, it’s always weird to ski in front of no one.
Has there ever been any rivalry between the two of you?
Thats an interesting question. I grew up skiing in the ski school at our local mountain. My parents took me out on skis when I was really young, just like two years old with my dad holding me up between his legs on the easy runs. My family is really big into skiing, we were at the mountain every single weekend, no exceptions, even if there was a really big event like a birthday party; no we're going skiing. That’s how I learned to ski, in ski school and with my family. When I was seven and ski school ended I had to choose between either racing or freestyle. Izzy is four and a half years older than me, so I grew up following her into terrain parks and hearing her talk about how much cooler freestyle was than racing. I really liked hitting the jumps; catching air in any sense of the word was super fun so I started doing that. Then my family moved to Utah so Izzy and I could pursue skiing professionally. That’s when I got into my first half pipe as a nine year old. I liked how flowed, I liked going from the walls and I ended up competing and really liking it.
But oh my god, the rivalry was so intense for a little while. I don’t know if this was for both of us, or if it was just one sided. I remember that everything I did was to beat her. Everything I did on skis. I had to learn everything before the age she was when she did it. So every time I learned a new trick I would confirm with my dad that I was younger than she was when she learned it. And any time I did well in a completion I’d instantly need to know where she came. But because of the age difference we were always competing in a different category and it’s only recently that we both started being on the World Cup circuit. When we both reached the highest level we chose different disciplines; she did slopestyle and I did half pipe. It was my biggest fantasy to be at the same competition as her and to beat her, but it never ended up that way. I think that was for the best, because then we could really support each other in our respective events and not have so much rivalry. She has more medals than me anyway. She has an Olympic medal so I gotta catch up to her! It’s really all love and I've always been inspired by my sister and I’m only where I am in skiing because of her. I call her all the time, she’s really someone that I can lean on because she’s been there and she understand. She’s an amazing role model for me.
How did you choose to ski for Team GB rather than Team USA? Obviously we’re glad you did…
For me, it was all about the family connection. A lot of my family lives in the UK and my mum is from Malaysia so I had all of these parts all >>
over the world, so I don’t know. I feel the family connections and it’s really cool to see everyone representing their heritage and culture. It’s cool that there are other international Brits in other sports too. There’s no negativity about this, maybe occasionally random people on social media will ask questions and I understand where the curiosity comes from. But it’s up to the athlete and how they identify. I am British with a British passport and I have an American passport too and I’m half Malaysian and all these different aspects of my identity can’t be ignored. And I don’t really feel the need to justify my position or my choice. I had the choice, I could have skied for the USA, but Team GB made more sense to me and aligned more with how I felt. Its up to the athlete to make the decision for themself and represent whoever they want to represent.
Also, the better the Team GB freestyle team does, the more funding the sport gets, so this can only be a positive thing. I want to inspire people or to get them watching a sport that they didn’t know existed. We’ve some really amazing athletes right now; Kirsty Muir and Mia Brookes for example. We have such a strong team and it’ll be really fun to watch all the athletes in the upcoming Games.
Is part of the appeal of the Olympics because you get to compete as a team?
It's so important for me because it can be lonely doing an individual sport. At the end of the day, if I don’t do well, it’s all on me and I’m the one technically at fault. So it’s really important to have all these people that I rely on because it really goes take a village. When I’m training, my coach is there helping me deal with fear, refining my tricks. Then I have my family and my sister who I can call on for advice if I need it. Every time I don’t have a good training session and I’m about to compete, I call my sister because she knows what it's like to be in that situation. And to have other people on the team also having the same experience and doing the same things, it really creates that fire. It’s so important to lean on those people and it’s a reminder that there are things outside of your sport, like your friendships and identify which really help when things aren’t going that well. And then when things are going well in your sport, it’s nice to have people to share that with and your team mates are almost as hyped for you too. Team dinners, birthdays, they are just so special because we live such unique, crazy lives and it's cool that we can all relate to each other.
Why do you think the culture of action sports is often more supportive than competitive?
We’re all very competitive people but at the end of the day, you’re really only competing against yourself. We all love this sport so much and we’re all really passionate about it and we see what the potential is for ourselves individually, but also collectively as a sport. So when we see someone pushing the boundaries and doing something really cool, we can all admire the artistry and the progressiveness and the stoke for the sport and moving it forward. This is especially true in women’s sport; were all very supportive and we all want the sport to be really cool and for people to watch it and enjoy it. We’re all very supportive of each other’s tricks too. Ultimately you want everyone to do well because you know how hard it is to land a run that's perfect, that’s been perfected. It takes a long time to get to that point so we can appreciate the hard work as well. Obviously we all want a medal, that’s the goal and we try to develop our runs so that they are good enough to medal, but at the end of the day if I land my run and I feel like it’s the best I can do and it didn’t medal, then I have to be happy with that because
“if I land my run and I feel like it’s the best I can do and it didn’t medal, then I have to be happy with that”
there’s a lot of work I put in to do that run. It feels so good to put it all together and land it regardless of the result. I’m always very happy to have a landed run that I’m proud of and I’m proud to have people watch it.
The judging for freestyle is so subjective though. Is that frustrating for athletes?
It’s so subjective, that’s really true and represented in the way we all ski very differently. We all value different things in our run, like I always want to be a skier that’s very smooth and stylish and maybe isn’t doing the hardest tricks necessarily but is very smooth doing them. I put my run together and I want it to be very creative and artistic in that sense. There’s a direction that we all want to sport to take and there are only so many different ways to do a run. The judges will deem what they think is the best bit, there’s no objective ‘best' in any competition because someone will value something over something else and that’ll be different every time. That’s a really cool part of our sport; we can watch all of the runs and they’ll be really cool and unique in different ways.
What does a down day look like for you?
It depends on where I am but even on rest days, I go up to the mountain. I’ll do a little warm up, I always stretch and foam roll. I pretty much exclusively ski in the half pipe these days, unless it's a crazy powder day. I’ll do some warm up laps, some straight air runs then, depending on what I want to work on that day, I kind of rank my tricks in terms of scariness. So I’ll have the trick that I want to do that day and I’ll build up to it from there then I’ll refine my tricks, working on going bigger out of the pipe with more amplitude, which can be scary. I’ll be working on holding my grabs longer, which helps with the style factor and is one of the criteria for judging. Or I’ll work on taking the steps to learn a new trick. Some days I go there and just try to find flow on my skis and not think too much about progressing super hard and just finding the passion again. It all depends on how I’m feeling; there are days when I’m like ‘it’s a good day, sunny, perfect, I’m in the right mind set, its a day to push’. Then there are days when it’s just about maintaining my tricks, keeping it chill and finding the flow.
This being a World Championship year and with the Olympics on the horizon, there are a couple of tricks that I’m hopefully going to add this season. I’m having mental blocks with one of them right now but I’ve done it a couple of times so I’m excited to bring that back. It’ll be a fun addition to my run it’s gonna add some flair and variety and people will be stoked on it.
I’ll be excited if I land it. There are so many fun things to look forward to this season but I’m keeping these new things quiet for now! Watch the X Games or the World Champs this season and hopefully you’ll see it!
TSI our philosophy is a simple one. We want to help you learn, develop, transform and enjoy, so that you can get the most out of your time spent on skis. We’re a British run ski school, with a
the
harder battle... the
By Simon Leclerc
Back in 2021 I wrote the story of my creations in the Avoriaz Stash and the Lil’Stash for this magazine. I’m a sculptor, a sign maker and an artist and I’m based in Arenthon, which is between Annecy, Geneva and Chamonix, right here in the Haute-Savoie. I design and then create imaginative installations, each project is inspired by childsplay and having fun, but mainly by the natural environment in the mountains. I’m particularly proud of my work in Avoriaz, maybe you’ve already taken a ride on the big banana swing, or a run through the treehouse in the Lil’Stash? Maybe you’ve already stopped for a selfie with Sheddie in the Stash? I hope you enjoyed it.
The forests around Avoriaz are constantly growing, it makes sense to me that my creations in these locations should evolve too. The objective ahead of this winter season was to connect the two worlds of the Lil’Stash and the Stash with the La Chapelle park, which sits between these two worlds. They are on a common line, each with their own character. They’re connected by creativity, wood and playfulness.
I work often with Antonin from Dreamwood Outdoor, they created the walkways and platforms in the Lil’Stash treehouse. This year he offered us a magnificent viewing terrace overlooking the La Chapelle snow park, facing the setting sun. On this ridge you’ll now find a giant Shreddie, he sits proudly above the park, embodied within his posture you can tell that he’s the master of this place. The broken axe he brandishes attests to his commitment to the protection of the forest; it’s a fight that he’s been leading for more than 10 years already, since the creation of The Stash by Jake Burton.
As you glide beneath the entrance arch to The Stash, I hope you’ll notice the new decorations. I added leaves and various fruits to the existing poles; proof of the vigour in the forest surrounding The Stash, of course. The little bird of The Stash even went out to count for me, he observes everything, calmly perched in place. Will you be able to find him? With these new elements we wanted to demonstrate Shreddie’s stronghold on Avoriaz; invite skiers and snowboarders to take a detour through this beautiful universe.
For me as a sculptor, working in the mountains is always a challenge, but the harder the battle, the more beautiful the victory. We started working on this project during the summer season and we’ll continue, whatever the weather during the autumn, until everything is finished. My hope is that when you see the new installations, you feel that you’re immersed in a universe with hidden characters. I hope you’ll want to seek out the new decorations, they must be found, unearthed. It’s up to you to discover them.
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A tight fitting boot for advanced snowboarders, the Infuse is the very top of the Vans range. It comes with classic Vans styling on the outside, but it’s on the inside where the magic happens. They’re equipped with a thermo-formable liner and Flashdry technology to keep your feet warm and dry. They also come with two removable tongue stiffeners so you can adjust the flex to suit, or add flex as the boots begin to soften from use. There’s also hybrid boa fastening which tightens around your instep, a waterproof shield to keep the snow out and breathable valves that are designed to let moisture out of the boot while stopping snow and water getting in.
This is an all-mountain powerhouse designed for riders who crave versatility and performance. Featuring a hybrid camber profile, it combines the stability and pop of camber with the forgiveness and float of rocker, making it ideal for a variety of conditions. The lightweight, durable construction ensures it handles everything from groomers to powder, while the progressive sidecut delivers precise edge control. With a responsive yet playful feel, the Aeronaut is perfect for riders who want a board that can handle technical terrain while still offering plenty of fun and creativity.
Michael Henderson Morzine Source magazine creative director
Combining a large field of view with Clarity photochromic lens technology and a topic lens shape, these Fovea goggles give absolute trust in vision in all conditions. The malleable frame and triplelayer face foam give a comfortable an secure fit, they’re flexible and comfortable in even the coldest conditions. At the same time the lenses give optimum vision across a range of light conditions; it also features a molecular coating which darkens when exposed to sunlight, which is really very clever.
POC have added a range of updates to their classic Fornix helmet, based around their constant pursuit of safety. This version has been tuned for the back country (hence the ‘BC’), giving you an extra layer of protection as you head into the wilderness. There’s digital integration in the form of an NFC ID chip and a Recco reflector too. Combined, these elements mean the helmet can communicate for you. There’s also MIPS, Aramid panels, ventilation ports and more, as we’ve come to expect from POC helmets across the range.
With over 30 properties in Morzine and Les Gets to choose f rom, we can accommodate groups of different sizes, in both winter and summer
Union Falcor
RRP €339.95
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If they're good enough for Travis Rice, then they’re good enough for me. These are a lightweight, responsive option designed for riders who demand precision and performance on the mountain. Featuring a stiff flex and carbon-infused highbacks, these bindings offer excellent power transfer and support, making them ideal for aggressive riders tackling technical terrain. The Duraflex ST baseplate provides durability and responsiveness, while the Thermoformed EVA footbed offers cushioning without compromising board feel. With tool-less adjustments and a secure, comfortable fit, the Falcon Bindings are built for those who want high performance in all conditions, whether you're charging down the mountain or navigating tight lines.
This is top-tier performance and durability for serious outdoor enthusiasts. Made with a three-layer waterproof and breathable fabric, both pieces provide excellent weather protection, keeping you dry and comfortable in harsh conditions. The jacket features a sleek, technical design with ample pocket space, a helmet-compatible hood, and fully taped seams for added waterproofing. The bib pants offer a high-rise fit for extra coverage, adjustable straps, and reinforced areas for durability. Both are designed with mobility and comfort in mind, making them perfect for backcountry adventures or deep powder days. Whether you're riding or hiking, the 3L Tech Jacket & Bib Pants are a premium choice for those seeking reliable, all-season gear.
beyond medals 3l tech jacket and bib pants
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Overl��king the r��ft�ps and pistes
When it comes to ways to spend your days in Morzine this winter, you’re spoilt for choice… but don’t forget about Nyon. Many things have changed around Morzine’s most iconic peak in recent years and activities now sit beneath the Nyon Experiences umbrella. Nyon is an area dedicated to mountain adventures; discovering the natural environment and exploring a pristine wilderness, off the beaten track, in complete tranquility.
A Fox Hunt: You’ll find the Chemin du Renard walking trail just next to the fire station in Morzine. The footpath follows the river Dranse for a couple of kilometres, climbing very gently towards the base of the Nyon telecabine. En-route, look out for the foxes that give the trail its name, then stop off at the famous waterfall to check for ice climbers. Also along the trail you’ll discover useful information boards that explain the geology and nature of the valley. This route is great for small children and you won’t need snow shoes to enjoy it. Return on foot to Morzine or take the free shuttle bus from the telecabine station.
The Ultimate Day Out WITHOUT SKIS WITH SKIS
A Mountain Lunch: The Pointe de Nyon restaurant sits at the top of the telecabine and it’s the perfect place to rendez-vous for lunch with the skiers in your holiday group. Take the free bus on the N line from the centre of Morzine then buy your ‘up and down’ pedestrian lift pass from the ticket office at the lift station. These are priced at €9.70 return per adult and €8.40 per child. Under fives ride for free. Enjoy the beautiful views as you ascend in the telecabine then walk the flat trail for two minutes to reach the restaurant. Top tip, there’s a fantastic (and free) children’s play area and ball pool in the basement of the restaurant and the food here is excellent too.
A Big Bird Show: On the rear terrace of the Pointe de Nyon restaurant you’ll find the Aigles du Leman falconry with eagles, vultures, falcons, buzzards and owls homed within large aviaries. Regular demonstrations take place in front of the restaurant each day (usually at 12.30pm and 2.30pm, excluding Fridays), giving you the chance to see these incredible animals in their natural habitat, while accompanied by their falconers. This is a free activity and is a wonderful chance to learn more about Nyon and its wildlife.
A Show Shoe: Nyon provides the perfect terrain for snow shoeing. There’s a dedicated, self-guided route which begins just beneath the telecabine station. Follow the signs to learn more about local wildlife then rest for a moment within the beautiful fir tree forest. The route takes between 30 and 45 minutes to complete and is perfect for little ones too. Alternatively, take a guide and explore deeper and higher in the forest for the ultimate Nyon adventure.
The 1000D: This isn’t a new piste, but it’s a clever combination of existing trails that culminate in a 1000m descent of Nyon from top to bottom. Yes, your thighs will be screaming. 1000D begins at the top of the Pointe de Nyon lift; follow the piste markings down the red trails before picking up the tree-lined blues that conclude in the car park at the bottom. Head back up in the telecabine to do it all over again.
The Void: Le Pas de l’Aigle is a viewing platform perched 2019m above the ground and accessed from the stairs above the Pointe de Nyon chairlift. The platform spans 15m over the void and offers 350º views, which are breathtaking if you can bare to open your eyes. It’s free to visit le Pas de l’Aigle with your lift pass.
The Birds: At 10.30am each morning (except Fridays), gather in front of the Pointe de Nyon restaurant for an unforgettable adventure. The birds will follow you as you ascend on the chairlift before soaring down the slopes beside you; you’ll need to be an advanced skier to keep up! Advance booking at the Morzine Office de Tourisme is required for this activity, which lasts 45 minutes. It’s also possible to take part in falconry courses too.
The Freeride: The Chamossière freeride zone is famous on powder days; this is an ungroomed but supervised off-piste area with steep descents and winding couloirs to give you a big mountain experience. A dedicated team operate safety drills with avalanche equipment to keep everyone safe.
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This is an affordable action cam that delivers solid performance for everyday adventurers. With a 4K video resolution and 20MP photo capabilities, it captures sharp, vibrant footage, while electronic image stabilisation helps keep your shots steady during movement. The camera is compact, lightweight and comes with a variety of mounting options, making it versatile during your day on the mountain. While it doesn't offer the same advanced features as higher-end models, the Brave 8 Lite is a great budget-friendly option for capturing quality action shots and videos on the go. The Morzine Source Magazine team will be testing this camera in the mountains this winter, you’ll see the results on our Instagram - @morzinesourcemagazine.
Designed for high-performance athletes (and those who like to ski like one), these glasses are available for you to try and buy from La Lunetterie in Morzine. They have reactive lenses that automatically adjust to changing light conditions, providing optimal visibility in both bright sunlight and low-light environments. The aerospace design with a lightweight, durable frame ensures they’ll be comfortable on your face all day. There’s also wide coverage and a secure fit too. Julbo glasses are also famous for their excellent ventilation which prevents fogging, even during intense days in the mountains.
This is a top-tier option for anyone who loves the mountains, offering warmth, comfort, and versatility. It’s made from soft, breathable merino wool, it provides excellent temperature regulation and moisture-wicking properties, keeping you dry and warm in cold conditions. The design is sleek and lightweight, making it easy to wear under helmets or other headgear. Its natural odour resistance ensures freshness during extended use, and the snug fit offers full coverage without feeling bulky.
Michael Henderson Morzine Source magazine creative director
julbo FURY REACTIV
Santa Rosa Merino Balaclava RRP €39.95 eu.monsroyale.com
We love this versatile, durable cap. It’s made from a quick-drying, moisture-wicking fabric, which keeps you comfortable and dry during touring trips. The adjustable strap ensures a secure fit, while the sleek, minimalist design looks good both on and off the slopes. With its breathable panels and lightweight feel, it’s perfect for hiking, or casual wear in warmer weather. Whether you're hitting the mountain or enjoying a sunny day, the Snowfarer Cap provides reliable sun protection and comfort.
You need high-quality, performance-oriented insoles while you’re in the mountains; ones that are designed to enhance comfort and support whether you’re skiing, snowboarding, trail running or sledging with the kids. These options from Remind Insoles are made with a combination of durable materials and adaptive foam, they provide excellent cushioning and shock absorption. They’re designed to improve foot alignment, reduce fatigue and prevent injuries. Their customisable fit also ensures a secure feel in various types of footwear, making them versatile for both everyday use and high-intensity sports. Overall, Remind Insoles offer a noticeable boost in comfort and support, making them a solid choice for anyone looking to improve their footwear experience.
Glasses, sunglasses, children’s eyewear, sports glasses, eye tests, accessories and more
closed closed MEANS
By Natalie Elvy
You’ve been excited about your ski holiday for months and at last you’re in resort, kitted out in your newest gear and itching to get on the snow. You take the first ski lift up and arrive at the piste you’ve fantasied about doing all your tricks on… but it’s closed. Sod it, you’ve bought your ski pass, you’re insured and you want to get your money’s worth - but is it ever worth ducking under the ‘Piste Fermée’ sign?
As a mediocre skier and generally risk-averse person, even I have followed people under the ‘fermée’ barriers stretched across access points, and it seems I’m not alone. I’m lucky enough to live with a Pisteur Secouriste (Ski Patroller) and although there are no official stats, some tragic accidents have hit the headlines in recent years. My tame Ski Patroller reckons more and more of us are choosing to slide under and ignore the warning signs. And it’s Ski Patrol who would know; they’re best known for their role in rescuing people when things go wrong. They are also the men and women responsible for assessing hazards throughout the domaine skiable - and closing the slopes when required.
Pisteurs Secouristes (AKA slope security) are employed by ski areas to ensure the domaine skiable (ski
area) is as safe as possible. The ski area is the area accessible from the highest altitude ski lifts down to the bottom - including any designated off-piste areas. The obvious danger in throwing ourselves down steep, slippery slopes on sharpened edges at high speeds makes the ski patrol’s presence reassuring. They’re at their most visible, either end of a blood wagon, charging at speed down a slope in a hip rending snowplough, or as the comfortingly earnest and competent-looking professionals crouched behind crossed skis, calming shaken-looking people. During winter 2023/24 the 50 plus Ski Patrollers in Avoriaz recorded over 1,600 rescues across the ski area. Being on standby for emergencies is clearly a crucial part of their job, however the majority of a Ski Patrol’s time is actually spent doing discrete and routine slope-cleaning and maintenance. >>
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Accident prevention, hazard recognition and signalisation, as well as learning about their individual responsibilities and liabilities, accounts for a significant part of their training. In Avoriaz, each member of Ski Patrol is assigned to one of the ski area sectors - Arare, Chavanette, Lindarets, Super Morzine or Mossettes - and they are responsible for the good housekeeping of these pistes. Off-piste areas are not maintained - if you reckon you’re competent, going off-piste is your prerogative (but remember to check your insurance first). You’ll spot Ski Patrollers weighed down under a backpack, balancing piste markers, drills, crash mats, shovels and other pieces of piste hardware over their shoulders (ski poles are a waste of space, with so many other things to carry), looking for nets that need digging out, piste markers that have fallen over or anything else cluttering the pisted zone. If hazards are too complicated to make safe immediately, the Ski Patrol are responsible for closing the slope. This involves placing the ‘Fermée’ barrier across the entrance to the piste and any other areas that might inadvertently allow access, while notifying the Central Office to update online piste maps. These signs should be taken seriously because if you elect to go down a closed piste you are not insured, and the ski area cannot be held liable as they have signalled the danger.
Pistes are usually marked closed for security reasons. Dangerous conditions are the most obvious - perhaps there hasn’t been enough snow to cover tree roots, or the snow has been blown off and left sheets of ice and/or obscene moguls. When a piste is deemed unskiable, it’s not because Ski Patrollers assume that tourists aren’t good enough; rather that the team responsible for that area do not want to put themselves in danger, should they need to rescue someone. Ski Patrol will rescue anyone in the ski area, including off piste, but if a piste is closed, they have deemed it unnecessarily dangerous. By taking the risk, you are voluntarily and knowingly putting anyone who may have to follow you to perform a rescue in danger.
The ‘closed’ sign may be there after significant snow fall, increasing the possibility of avalanches. Usually avalanches are triggered before the resort opens each day and it’s rare you’ll be held up with a delayed opening of the lift network. (And it’s exciting to hear the explosion booms early in the morning!) Dynamite is used to trigger avalanches;
the snow can fall unpredictably and need clearing, or (very rarely) the explosives don’t ignite. In this case, the area has to be secured and no one has access until the all explosives are accounted for and disposed of.
Slopes are also routinely closed at the end of each day when the Ski Patrol clock-off. After putting the ‘closed’ sign in place, their final run down will verify that no one remains on the piste - they will snow plough a few metres behind any unfortunate beginners who have underestimated the duration of their descent - it’s excruciating, but necessary. When certain the piste is empty, the Ski Patrol will radio the Central Office to confirm its closure and the night-shift of snowmakers and piste-bashers take over with their heavy machinery and cables, safe in the knowledge they’ll not meet anyone who isn’t supposed to be there.
The Ski Patrol are responsible for opening pistes in the morning too. Enjoying first tracks, they will be on the look out for any dangers between the piste markers, marking manageable obstacles with crossed yellow and black poles, or removing them - this includes stones or branches, which are thrown off the side of the piste. If there are big piles of snow from the canons, ice patches, rocks, fallen trees, or any obstacles that could cause you significant problems getting down the slope, the Ski Patrol will not accept liability for the piste. Only if a piste is considered skiable will the ‘Fermée’ barrier be removed and the piste marked as open on the online maps.
It's probably not a surprise that the take-away point from this article is that it’s never safe to use a closed piste. A ski resort relies on its pistes being open, so the decision to close slopes is not taken lightly and everything will be done to get it re-opened quickly. Any decision you make to ignore clear directives from professionals who know their part of the mountain better than anyone else, should not be taken lightly either. While there is no quantifiable penalty for going down a closed piste - Ski Patrol are not employed to police anyone going outof-bounds - the risks - and potential consequences of doing so goes beyond what most of us would consider worth it. If you have questions, the Ski Patrol are there to give you information. They are happy to share it so don’t hesitate to ask them for alternative routes or advice about where to go. They’re there to help!
Just in case :
Before you go on the slopes make sure you have a piste map in your pocket - all the information you need is on that. And double check you are insured - being rescued is expensive.
And if you do get in trouble :
• Work out where you are by looking at the piste markers, the name of the piste, and the number you are closest to.
• If you can, move to the side of the slope, or cross your skis in front of the accident to help people see and avoid hitting you.
• Call 112 (Europe) 144 (Switzerland) or whatever the Piste Central Office number is of the resort you are in (eg. Les Gets, Avoriaz, Chatel). This number is found on your piste map.
• You’ll be asked where you are and details about what has happened. Details will be radioed to the appropriate Ski Patrol team so they can come and find you.
• After assessing the situation they’ll work out the best way to get you off the mountain safely and to appropriate medical attention.
If you are considering going off-piste (beyond playing on the edge of the piste), double check you’re insured. Make sure everyone taking part has a transceiver, shovel and probe (packs can be rented from ski shops). You’re transceiver should be on your body (not in your backpack) and turned on to transmit - double check its batteries. Make sure you know where you are and where you’re going in case you get in trouble and you need to call for help.
Remember, all the gear is useless unless everyone knows how to use it, so it’s worth practicing before you go: there are plenty of ski instructors and schools offering off piste courses. Don’t hesitate to ask Ski Patrol for advice on the best routes and where snow is good - it’s a pleasure to help people riding responsibly!
This little book was put together during 2024 by members of the Secours en Montagne du Chablais; they’re the equivalent of m ountain Rescue in our area and the teams are comprised of highly skilled volunteers. 2024 marks their 70th anniversary and the story of the book is based loosely on real events with Mont Billiat, Brevon and its environs as the setting. The book’s objective is to give readers an insight into what takes place during a rescue, both from the perspective of the person being rescued, and the rescuers.
Written in French, it is aimed at people with no technical mountain rescue experience, so introduces mountaineering and ski related vocabulary in a clear and concise way. If you’re into the mountains and keen to improve both your French and your mountain knowledge, the text is accessible and engaging for people from a B1 level. The local references and descriptions of the environment will help keep you anchored and on track!
SECOURS EN MONTAGNE DU CHABLAIS
A must-have book for every coffee-table
by natalie elvy
I’d recommend reading the stories chronologically, starting with Mémoire des Cimes (Summit Memories). This story starts with a call to the Secours en Montagne at 14h59 on Saturday 23 February. It then rewinds to five hours previously, so we see what lead up to the moment of the incident and how even the best laid plans can change in an instant. The Chronique d’une Intervention (Story of a Rescue Mission) picks up the story at 14h59 and we read about the wheels that are set in motion from the moment the Secours en Montagne are mobilised.
In Mémoire des Cimes we meet Jean-Louis, a 72 year old retired ski patrol from Bellevaux. He’s taking his teenage grand-daughter Alice, from St Jean d’Aulps, ski touring up to the summit of Mont Billiat. Starting that morning, we follow them through their preparation and departure on their well-planned ascent. The tone is kind, appreciative and relaxed; an experienced mountaineer enjoying and sharing these moments with his family. In the chapters that follow we join the seasoned ski tourers as they make their fresh tracks through the snow and trees, chatting about their surroundings. Jean-Louis reminisces about his past as the President of the Secours en Montagne du Chablais for 20 years. Through his explanations to Alice, we learn how the organisation came to be, its evolution and how it helped create and train the public bodies it now interacts with, such as the fire service and the Pelotons de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne or PGHM, who are specially-trained Gendarmes. He recalls various rescues, his learnings, and how they affected him. He explains how technology such as mobile phones, GPS, DVA transceivers and helicopters can help, but how none of this can replace the experience of well trained rescuers who can be relied upon when bad weather means that technology can’t be.
Despite his many years experience in the mountains, it is Jean-Louis, the seasoned mountaineer and ex-president of the Secours en Montagne, who finds himself in difficulty on Mont Billiat; it’s he who makes the call to his Secours en Montagne colleagues at 14h59. Throughout the call he maintains his calm, logical and relaxed timbre, showing his grand-daughter his confidence in his colleagues, and keeping her panic at bay.
Flip to the other side of the book and their story is picked up in the Chronique d’une Intervention. At 14h59 Greg, the President
of the Secours Montagne du Chablais - Val du Brevon section, receives a call directly from his old friend Jean Louis (Loulou to his pals), and sends a text request calling on any of the team available to help.
We are introduced to the people who respond (Romaine, Olivier, Muriel, Stephan and Clément) as their Saturdays are interrupted to go and help their friend and mentor. It’s a reminder that each member of Secours en Montagne is a volunteer, prepared to stop what they’re doing at a moment’s notice. Greg will be stationed at the command post in charge of logistics and in radio contact with the five rescuers, who will be his eyes on the ground.
There is urgency in this story and the tone is pressing. Greg keeps an eye on the clock and, having read the first story, it’s impossible for the reader not to feel the pressure as the time passes and the team come together. Yet - paradoxically - we also observe how quick and efficient it is to get everyone to a meeting point with the correct equipment. We witness the technical and organisational details of a rescue mission in potentially worsening conditions; the organisation of the group, the management of each of the team’s skills, from technical knowledge of ropes, materials and the mountains and sheer strength, to the organisation of municipal workers to clear tracks and helicopters put on standby. The contingency planning, forecasting and technological constraints brought on by bad weather, as well as the physical, psychological and technical demands placed on the rescuers and support team during the ascent and descent, is overwhelming. The reader is left in no doubt of the necessity of a functioning, well trained and efficient team in rescue situations.
The emotional investment made by everyone involved in Secours en Montagne is implicit in both stories, as is the humility and respect shown to one another, the victims and the mountains. The book’s message is eye-opening and uplifting, it does not discourage us from enjoying the mountains - in fact there are four itineraries included for people to discover the local area. The overarching message is as humble as the organisation; Secours en Montagne are ready and willing to be there, should you need their help.
Secours en Montagne du Chablais can be purchased from tourist offices of Morzine and Chatel, Quincaillerie Mechoud, Librarie du Passaquin, or send an email to : secours.montagne.saintjeandaulps@gmail.com
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“Build A Thick Skin”
THE Maisie Adam
INTERVIEW
by amie Henderson
Whether you’re into comedy or not, a night (or more) at the Les Gets Comédie festival is a fabulous accompaniment to your winter holiday. During January each year we’ve been entertained by a long list of British and French comedians, from Tom Houghton to Maisie Adam and many more in between. The cream of the French comedy crop take to the stage between Saturday 25th and Thursday 30th January, with local funny man Gaëtan Roos performing on 25th. Friday 31st is a night dedicated to English language comedians including Pierre Novellie, Ian Smith and Catherine Bohart and I can’t tell you how excited I was to see Maisie Adam headlining once again.
You’ve surely seen Maisie on TV in recent times. She hails from Harrogate, North Yorkshire and as well as being hilariously funny, she’s also known for her unique hairstyle; it looks like your regular fringed bob from the front but is almost entirely shaved at the back. She’s a regular on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, QI, Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie To You? and The Last Leg. She’s also in the middle of a huge 73-date UK and European tour when we speak.
Maisie, when you’re writing new material, how do you know if it’s funny or not?
“That’s such a great question because it’s one that I’m still working out. It’s very much trial and error; so many people think we just rock up and say funny things as soon as they come into our heads. We do a lot of ‘work in progress’ nights, where you’re allowed to go on stage with a pen and paper and work it out as you go along. And they are really fun because nine times out of ten, the audience know that’s what they’re showing up for, they’ve paid a pittance to come in on the proviso that not everything they hear will be polished and funny. Also, you’d be so surprised, I’ve written jokes before that I’ve thought, honestly Mais, that’s a banger, take the rest of the day off. And then you go and say it on stage and it gets a little titter. Then similarly, on the other hand, you can say something in the spur of the moment and it gets such a laugh and you think god, all that stuff I’ve written, it got a little titter and I’ve just said this out of the blue and it got a huge laugh. So, it’s a lot of trial and error but also - and this is something that I learned from appearing on Mock the Week, if you just stay up to date with the news and try and write a couple of bits every day, basically taking the piss and making light of whats’ going on in the world, that will keep you match fit. Not to compare what we do to athletics.”
How did you find the Les Gets crowd last year? There was quite a lot of heckling, is that normal these days?
"It’s really not normal and we were all surprised by the heckling as well. In the UK, hecklers are really not that common. It’s a question I get asked the most when I do interviews, or if I get chatting to somebody. How do I deal with heckles? I always find myself going, ‘you’d really be surprised by how little that happens’. Then you go to Les Gets and you’re like… no, it actually does happen. I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline after being on the slopes all day, people just feel a bit more vocal. Or they’ve been down at the Apres Ski bar, they’ve been on the jager bombs, but yeah, they’d definitely had 50p put in them. I wonder as well if it’s the excitement that we’re there. If you’re at a comedy club in the UK, it’s on a lot of people’s door step. They can come any time. I mean, Les Gets is fantastic but I don’t think it has comedy all year round, so some people in the crowd get a little bit like excited, there’s school children vibes in the audience - you’re here!”
If you weren’t a comedian, what job would you do?
“Oh, that’s tricky because my GCSE results were not good. I used to want to be a sports journalist, I wanted to get paid to go and watch football or the athletics and then write match reports, that kind of thing. I’m very sporty and I think the idea of either writing or commentating would be where I ended up. I even do it when I’m in Les Gets as I’m skiing, I’m commentating on how people are going down the runs, they don’t know I’m doing it, it’s just for my entertainment.”
Do you get nervous or anxious before shows?
“If I’m going a gig like the one we have in Les Gets, or if I’m on tour with my own show, then no, I don’t. I get nervous if it's something different. I got very nervous before we did the Royal Variety Performance because you’re aware of the other acts that are on that night and the room, who’s
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L'ETALE
L’ETALE,
in there. I think it’s anything when you’ve got to do something out of the ordinary, like you have to finish and bow to the Royal Family and then the audience. Obviously there is no other gig in the world where you’re required to bow and you have to make sure you don’t turn your back to them, so anything that gives you extra things to think about makes me nervous. Live comedy is spinning so many plates in your head - your material, you need to stay in the room and keep track of Helen and Steve who are teachers, but we’ve also got this hen do group over there, so you’re spinning all of these plates and you’re constantly thinking of a line for the people on the front row too. To then mix all of these protocols that you’ve got to follow, that was definitely one where I did get a bit nervous. And anything where I’ve done a TV gig for the first time, trying to make sure that you come across alright and that you remember all of the news stories."
What’s been your favourite TV series so far?
“Do you know, I can answer this dead quick. A League of Their Own is my favourite series to do because the stuff they have us doing is ridiculous. It’s not actually gone out yet, but a couple of months ago we filmed the A League of Their Own rally. Me and Jill Scott were one team, Jamie Redknapp and Alan Carr were another, then it was Michael Richards and Tom Davis and we had to leave the UK, drive across France, Switzerland and Italy in this rally car and it was a race, we were racing each other with different ways of getting across. Me and Jill are driving and I was like ‘I know this place, I’ve been here before’ but I had no idea where we were. ‘I’ve gigged in that room,’ I told Jill. We were driving through Les Gets! Gill was like, no you’re getting mixed up, but I said you watch, when we drive through there’ll be a big roller coaster on the mountain and we went passed it and she couldn’t believe it. I was pointing everything out to her, I was like the tourist information. That was my favourite one to do, we went up Mont Blanc and a couple of days later we were in Turin. Oh and we’d come through Paris on the way, and one of the challenges was to take the most romanic photo because its the City of Love. We went full method and went to a bridal store and got massive wedding dresses. We were running through the streets of Paris trying to find the most romantic location for a photo. A lot of Parisians thought we were an actual couple and tried to congratulate us.”
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in comedy?
“Build a thick skin. You’ve got to be ready for anything and everything to pop off. I’ve done gigs where there’s been fights in the audience, there’s heckling. If you’re gonna gig in Les Gets, get ready for some heckles! No two gigs are the same either. I’m between two legs of my tour at the moment, the first leg was 41 dates and no two were the same and I’m doing the same show every night. It’s because the audience always changes. So yes, build a thick skin, keep match fit, keep writing and keep gigging. There are so many people who only gig within a 10 mile radius of where
they live, or only if the fee is a certain amount, or if the tech is this or that. But you need to gig in rooms above a pub, at festivals, in comedy clubs, at awards shows, take every gig you can because it will only make you a better comedian. It’s like with anything, the advice is to practise, practise practise for sure.”
How do you choose which members of the audience to involve in your show?
“It’s an instinct I think, which again builds up with practising over time. So when you start, you get chatting with maybe the most vocal people in the crowd. You then realise that some people come to a comedy night because they fancy themselves as a bit of a comedian, usually they’re the people who heckle. And nine times out of ten, they’re made to look like a tit because they forget they’re going up against professionals. When you’re just starting out, you think they’re the best people to talk to because you get something back from them. Sometimes people love to sit on the front row because they want to be chosen, they want to be picked and say something funny when you ask them what they do. But it’s never as funny as what you can make from an actual answer. So, you learn to avoid the people who come along wanting to be part of the show. If you think about what makes the best comedy, it’s relatable stuff. I love gigs when you can see the audience nudging each other and saying ‘that’s you, you do that’! I want to chat to people with real lives and real jobs and real ways that they met, I want to find the funny relatable-ness. I don’t like to make fun of people and I know that people are always nervous when comedians speak to them. Instead I try to draw out the comedy from what might seem like a normal scenario. You can tell the people who don’t want to be spoken to also!"
What’s the best part about being a comedian?
“Getting to see all of the other comedians do the thing you love. I don’t think anybody gets into comedy unless they’re a fan of comedy. That’s the most fun aspect, certainly when you’re coming up through the ranks and you get booked for these weekends at a comedy club and you get to stand at the back of the room and watch the headliner. That’s something that I still find very special, getting to work with people who were my heroes as I was growing up. You hear it in other industries as well. Jill said that was a huge part for her, playing with players that she’d watched as a kid. There’s not many lines of work where you can be star struck by your colleagues. That’s what I love about comedy, you find yourself looking up to and eventually working with the people who’ve inspired you and made you want to be a comedian in the first place. And you never stop learning. Last night I was filming Have I Got News For You and I was with Jason Manford and John Richardson; I went to go and watch them when I was like 13 years old. And there I was, working alongside them on a panel show. It’s amazing, I was just watching Jason host and trying to pick up little things that he did to make sure everybody spoke. You’re always learning from people because it’s an always evolving industry.”
Is there a down side?
“You’re away from home a lot, and that can be tricky. You have to have very understanding family and friends. You have to make peace with the fact that you’re going to have to say no to a lot of things, birthdays and parties and things. When people plan things four weeks in advance but your diary is booked up for six months. Yeah, that can be hard. I don’t think I’ve got a Saturday night free until April! I’m not going to be able to make your Christmas do in two weeks time! There’s a lot of that, but if you’ve got really nice, understanding family and friends that get that, then it becomes easier to focus on the positives, for sure.
Do you ski? That’s a very Tom Houghton question, I know.
“I’ve been very lucky, my mum taught my dad to ski and they’d go every other year. Then me and my brother were born so we’d come too, often to France and Austria. Since I’ve met my husband I’ve roped him into it also. So I ski and I snowboard and I absolutely love it. I’d never been to Les Gets before coming out to do the gig, so it was amazing to discover a new resort and the runs are fantastic, I absolutely love it. When we came last year, literally on the day we arrived, there was a massive dump of snow. I’ll be the first one up the mountain every day while we’re in Les Gets, and the last one off. If I could ski to the gig I would. Last year we watched the French comedy acts and that was a learning curve. They were incredible, we all went to dinner with them and they put us to shame with how good their English was but it’s always nice to mingle with comics from another scene.”
Who is your comedy hero?
“Victoria Wood has definitely inspired me a lot, in terms of her relatability and creativity and creating a platform. Even now, there’s still a lot of people who say ‘I don’t usually like women comedians’, or ‘I don’t usually find females funny’ and I say ‘yes you do, Victoria Wood was selling out decades ago!’ Some people are always going to see the same stuff. So Victoria Wood for sure, Peter Kay and Lee Evans were big inspirations when I was growing up, being a northerner Peter Kay was very relatable.”
What’s next?
“As soon as I get back from Les Gets it’s straight into the second leg of my tour, which is continuing across Europe; Helsinki, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin, all of these places where again, I’m sort of going ‘please say there’ll be some English speakers’. I’m hoping it’ll be like in Les Gets, with loads of English folk abroad. We get everywhere. And then another 32 dates in the UK so there’s a lot of that and I’ve got some very exciting TV bits coming up which is exciting.”
Follow Maisie's tour on instagram @maisieadam
Les Gets Comedie takes place between 25th and 31st January
kids -
The perfect mitt for young adventurers, this option from Howl also happens to look pretty cool too. It’s designed to keep kids' hands warm and dry on the slopes, because as any parent knows, nothing spoils a family day on the mountain quicker than a child with cold hands. We also like that the palm is made of (vegan) leather, which makes them durable and tough, especially amongst little skiers. There’s hyperloft insulation too, a bungee and toggle closure system and a removable leash. There’s three cool colour ways too!
32 have set the benchmark for bib pants across the board and they’re now available in youth sizing. There’s a REPEL 15k dura-stretch fabric upgrade in this Basement model, alongside a reinforced construction to make them last longer, particularly around the knees. They come in a roomy, relaxed fit with triple-stitched durability, the shoulder straps are easily adjustable and there’s a handy bib pocket too. The bright orange and black colour way makes them easy to spot on the mountain which we love!
amie Henderson morzine source magazine editor
By popular demand, the Piste X Code slope safety campaign have produced this cool neck warmer featuring their Monty the Yeti mascot. They’re seamless, soft and flexible and they’re perfect for all of your mountain adventures. There’s one size, which works for both adults and children and they’re available to buy exclusively at Little One Boutique in the centre of Morzine or on the Piste X Code website. All profits from the sale of the neck warmers will be used to create awareness of the principles of piste safety to help everyone avoid accidents on the slopes.
For anyone that wants to avoid giving their child a smartphone to use in the mountains, while at the same time wanting to keep tabs on them, the Bounce is a smart watch with two-way text and voice messaging, real time GPS location technology and up to two days of battery life between charges. You’ll need a Garmin LTE subscription for €10.99 per month but the watch also includes quizzes and games, it’s waterproof and can manage up to 20 contacts so you can determine who has access to your child’s watch.
The perfect beginner snowboard for any little groms in your group, the reverse camber and soft flex of this board makes learning a cinch, minimising edge errors and preventing too many tumbles. It’s symmetrical twin-tip shape is also idea for intermediate snowboarders heading to the park to learn their first freestyle tricks. And for those wondering, Scott Stevens is a CAPITA team snowboarder famous for his creative tricks and mind bending innovations.
Bridging the gap between a hiking boot and a full on snow boot, these options from Mountain Warehouse have been tried and tested by the junior Morzine Source Magazine team. The fleece lining keeps little toes warm and cosy, while the outer shell is entirely waterproof with an inner taped membrane. The soles are super grippy and we love that they lace up to the very top of the boot to prevent any snow from getting in.
No family ski holiday is complete without a game of werewolves and this boxed up version makes it easy to play in restaurants, around the dinner table after supper or even during your journey. Miller’s Hollow is a small village haunted by werewolves. Each player in the game is secretly assigned a role using cards from the game, the aim is to discover who the wolves are before they kill all of the villagers. Hours of fun ensues…
The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow rrp €9.99 amazon.fr
Hello Morzine, we’re UpTones, a four-piece party band based in Bristol, UK and we’re delighted to return to the Cavern Bar this winter. We all met while studying music at university (BIMM Bristol) way back in 2014 and we haven’t stopped playing together since! We’ve got Sophie Griffin from County Tyrone on lead vocals, Alex Rudhall on guitar and Dan Canvin on bass, both of whom are from Somerset, and Dom Mosley from South Gloucestershire on drums.
We do a lot of gigs, events and weddings in the UK, but we auditioned for our first apres-ski tour in 2019. It must have gone well because we’ve been back to the Alps every year since then. If we were to describe our performances in two words, they would be High Energy. That’s what you want from an apres ski band, right? Performing live is collectively our favourite thing to do and our biggest passion in life. Every time we step on stage we have the absolute time of our lives and we leave nothing behind - we could be falling asleep on our feet, but as soon as the music starts we’re in our element. We’re all lifelong lovers of music with a huge range of tastes and influences, and have all been playing and performing since we were kids. To put it simply, we just have so much fun performing, and always get such a buzz from our crowds.
We bring something slightly different to the table by taking everything from pop, dance, hip-hop and rock (to name a few genres) and injecting it with a large dose of bombastic energy. Expect floor-filling
medleys, sassy pop belters and head-banging anthems, all together with your classic aprés tunes sprinkled in for good measure - it’s like handing the aux cable to a crowd with completely different tastes, but a shared love of good times, music and partying!
We’ve come to learn that there absolutely is a perfect formula for an apres-ski party; it’s all about the energy and atmosphere! You can really tell people are absolutely up for a party after a long day out on the slopes - when you enter a venue and can feel the buzz in the air, it's totally electric and just fixes us up perfectly for the set. In five years of playing aprés parties, we’re yet to come across a crowd that weren’t up for it.
We absolutely love Morzine as a place, and the Cavern Bar has sort of become our home ground. All the staff are like our family away from home and the gigs there are something else. It’s perfectly setup for live music, with a banging PA system and full-on lighting rigcomplete with smoke machine for that touch
of vibe! The Cavern’s owner Russ is a straight up legend of a man and he truly makes us feel super looked after, welcomed and at home. If you see him, offer him a shot of tequila from us…
Morzine, we hope you’ve brought your dancing shoes, whatever energy you’ve got left and you’re ready for three hours of non-stop bangers to carry you through the night! No matter what your taste in music, we’re guaranteed to have something you’ll love. From current chart toppers to absolute classics and everything in between, we’ve got you covered.
You might imagine that we spend our days in Morzine out on the mountain before our apres gigs. We really wish we did, but we tend to save our energy for the stage! We get asked this a lot, and while none of us are avid skiers or snowboarders, we absolutely adore just being in the Alps and existing in the landscape and scenery they have to offer. We’ll never get bored of the mountains, and I think this adds to our excitement each time we perform.
The best thing about being in an apres ski band is getting to see the world and meeting new people, all while performing music - it’s why we all do it. We’ve had countless bookings for weddings and parties in both Europe and the UK after people have seen us in the Alps, and getting to see those wonderful faces and bring the party again is the icing on the cake!
More Info:
“Get Stoked”
THE Siddhartha Ullah
INTERVIEW
by michael Henderson
There’s some incredible emerging talent in the world of professional snowboarding
at the moment and 17 year old Siddhartha Ullah
is
no exception.
Here we discover which rider inspired him, his hopes for the coming season and what it’s like to have a mum who hates the cold.
When did you first step on a snowboard Sidd?
If it wasn’t for my mum, I wouldn’t be doing any of this. She’s British-Bangladeshi, she emigrated to America from England and she raised me as a single parent. She hates the cold so much, she moved from New York to Los Angeles to escape it. I was born in 2006 (which makes me 17 now), and I first tried snowboarding when I was two years old and our neighbours invited us to take a trip with them. I don’t think anyone ever imagined that I’d eventually be representing Team GB at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in South Korea.
How do you balance being a professional athlete and a student?
I’m writing this from a training camp in Saas Fee and the weather has been terrible for three days in a row. But I’m also supposed to be studying at Stamford, California, where I’m in my second year. I’m interested in architecture, design and neuroscience, but I’ve not decided what I’ll major in yet. Last year I took the entire winter term off so I could focus on training and competing, but in the summer I was in Japan and getting up a 1am to take online classes back in California, going back to bed at 3am then waking up at 6am to go train. That was a pretty rough balance and I just need to make sure that I communicate with my teachers as much as possible. Actually, I have an exam online at 8pm tonight, so I better go study.
Who inspired you while you were growing up?
I was five years old when I started snowboarding every week, and seven when I watched a 15 year old Hirano Ayumu compete for Japan at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He won a silver medal and I remember thinking, ‘I want to do what he’s doing’. So I trained hard and stayed focused. The training camp I’m on right now is with friends I’ve trained with since I was eight or nine years old, we’re all sharing this journey together, we’re all still riding together. I’ll be 18 in a few days and I’ll be here with the friends that I started this journey with ten years ago.
Do you get time to snowboard with your mum?
As I mentioned, my mum hates the cold and still wonders why I couldn’t have been a surfer or a skateboarder. She’s learnt to snowboard though… sometimes, at competitions, you need to be able to ride to the half pipe, so if she wants to watch, she has to get here. We often ride a few laps together, it’s fun and hopefully I’m paying her back a little for the chances she’s given me.
“Getting
my place on Team
GB’s
Park and Pipe
team ahead of the Gangwon games earlier this year was obviously incredible.”
What’s been the highlight of your professional career so far?
Getting my place on Team GB’s Park and Pipe team ahead of the Gangwon games earlier this year was obviously incredible. The pathway from being a recreational snowboarder, riding around with my friends, to being a professional athlete was really a mentality switch. I’ve always been competitive but it takes a lot of dedication and some sacrifices when you have to switch your schooling to online, leave your friends and family back at home and dedicate the majority of your time to training. I’m pushing through and really keeping my eyes on the prize. But in snowboarding, and especially in the pipe, there are only so many things that a rider can control. At each competition I’m trying to perfect my runs, step them up, make different variations.
What advice do you give to the kids that you’re inspiring right now?
I’d tell kids to remember why you’re doing this, take the time to snowboard for yourself as much as possible. Get stoked, that always makes you ride better. It’s super easy to get burnt out by training and to get into a specific mindset that’s not much fun. The snowboard community is really close knit, it started off quite large for me, but got smaller as I reached a certain point in my career. We feel like a family now, exploring all of
years on screen 75
The brand new feature film from the iconic film maker Warren Miller is titled ’75’; it’s a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the franchise and there was much excitement across the winter sports industry ahead of it’s premier in September 2024. Of course Warren Miller himself sadly died at the age of 93 in 2018 but with this new film, his legacy lives on.
For those not in the know, Warren Miller was an American ski and snowboard film maker born in LA in 1924. He borrowed a camera from a friend to make a short film during a Christmas holiday in Yosemite in 1944, before buying his own camera in 1946. He improved his techniques and experimented with brand new ones by filming his friends while working as a ski instructor in Sun Valley, Idaho. He founded Warren Miller Entertainment in 1949 and began making one feature film a year, touring small venues in ski resorts across America. Some tours would take in over 130 stops, such was the appetite to see the latest Warren Miller edit.
Many Warren Miller films were made with a shoestring budget and perhaps its because of this that their popularity grew phenomenally. They captured the stories of skiers and snowboarders across the winter world, uniting the sport and showcasing some glorious parts of the planet. They showcased emerging athletes, creativity and storytelling. Professional skiers and snowboarders were queuing up to take part; you’ll see the likes of Shaun White and Jeremy Jones in a few edits too.
Warren Miller Entertainment has had various changes in ownership over the years, but the man himself continued to make one film a year for decades. It’s a legacy that continues even after his death and 75 celebrates this historic anniversary. It’s stacked with unbelievable action and unexpected stories with locations across the world, bundled into ten all-new, original segments. There’s a diverse lineup of snow sports legends, up and coming talents and world champions. For information on how and where to view the new film, head to warrenmiller.com/film-tour.
“Warren Miller’s films were the mini highlight of the ski season in a pre-social media time. They were how we found out about the skiing all over the world, places we could only dream of, people doing the unimagined as well as seeing the pro skiers who were making the movies. Skiing had limited media attention back then, Warren Miller’s films massively increased the global fanbase by providing a fantasy world for those who didn’t ski and a bucket list and inspiration for those that did.”
“Warren Miller came to the restaurant I was working at in Vail, Colorado many years ago and everyone was in total awe of this absolute legend of the ski world. But he was just skiing, he wasn’t doing any filming. He said to me, “I absolutely love this sport.” There was no pomp or ceremony and of course I didn’t charge him for the smoothie that I made him. He left us a $20 tip too! Legend!”
We asked a couple of our favourite winter sports athletes and personalities for their take on a life spent behind the lens.
Chemmy Alcott, Team GB Alpine Ski Racer
Tim Warwood, TV Presenter
Réservez en ligne / Book
By Chauncy Johnson
The Snow Angel Foundation
My wife Kelli and I grew up together and experienced our first day skiing in the 5th grade on a school ski trip. I started snowboarding shortly after and Kelli became passionate about skiing. We continue skiing and riding with our kids to this day. From time to time I’m asked why I still ski after the tragedy that struck our family several years ago.
On the afternoon of Christmas Eve 2010, Kelli and I took our kids—Elise, 5, Milli, 3, and Logan, 4 months—to our local hill in Casper, Wyoming, where we lived at the time. I had started the afternoon skiing with Elise and then asked Kelli to ski with her so that I could look after the two youngest. What happened next would change our lives forever. While skiing together, Elise’s ski came off. As Kelli was helping her get her ski back on, a speeding snowboarder violently collided with her and Elise. The snowboarder was a 23-year-old local man who frequented the ski area. He was riding at approximately 50 miles per hour when he collided with my girls. Kelli doesn’t remember anything from the moment of impact.
I remember overhearing from ski patrol that there’d been a terrible collision, that three were down, and only one had a pulse. I didn’t know that my girls were involved until a young man brought me a helmet and asked if it was my daughter’s. It was Elise’s helmet, the inside of it shattered and the shell broken. Shortly after, ski patrol and other first responders brought Elise on a sled, followed by the snowboarder a few minutes later and finally my wife Kelli. I would soon learn that the collision killed my daughter Elise and the snowboarder, and left Kelli with multiple injuries including a severe traumatic brain injury. It was an unprecedented tragedy. No one in the ski industry could recall a skier-skier collision resulting in the death of two people.
The following week, I would have a funeral for my daughter and begin to learn what I could do to help Kelli heal. She would spend three months at Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado; a hospital that specialises in spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. She was placed in an induced coma and when she was brought out of it, would learn to walk, talk and swallow food again. She could not remember for twenty-four-hour periods until a month after the accident. At that point, I was finally able to tell her what happened.
A year later to the date, I would get back on my snowboard, full of paranoia and anxiety with scenes from the aftermath of the accident rushing through my mind as I made myself get on the lift. Luckily the 10 inches of fresh snow eased my tensions a bit and allowed me to feel better about being on the mountain, but it wasn’t the same. I realised quickly that getting back into snowboarding would include efforts to improve the safety culture.
I decided that I needed to promote collision awareness and do everything I could to prevent this kind of accident from happening to somebody else. So I made a nervous phone call to the National Ski Areas Association, who were very welcoming and agreed to partner on what became the Ride Another Day safety campaign. After receiving invites to speak at ski resort employee orientations and getting through the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2023, my wife and I formed the Snow Angel Foundation. Through the Snow Angel Foundation we provide slope safety training to school children and teens, ski clubs and ski area employees. >>
An authentic, family-run Savoyarde hotel in the perfect location
Mid-way between Morzine and Avoriaz | 300m from the Prodains Express lift station
foot of the Prodains cliffs and surrounded by fir trees | Ski to the door
Through education and intervention tools, we believe that we can bring everyone together to change the culture and become better mountain citizens. Over the past several decades, skiing and snowboarding have grown in popularity, steadily bringing more and more people to the mountains. This is great news! Not only are more people getting outside, gaining the health benefits of winter sports and enjoying the grandeur of the mountains, but the industry needs a constant supply of new enthusiasts to sustain itself as well. We are witnessing a growing population of people from more diverse backgrounds coming to the mountains because of better outreach and inclusion efforts. It is an exciting time to be sure, but what training and resources are we providing guests to ensure that their enthusiasm continues? How do we help people exercise good judgement with
“ As an industry and community, we must educate skiers new and old with knowledge to reduce the inherent risks of skiing and create a safer environment.”
Fear for personal safety is increasing. Inquiries have come to our organisation from across North America and Europe from individuals and organisations asking what can be implemented to reduce the fear of other skiers’ reckless behaviour. Are these concerns real or perceived? They are quite real. In fact, surveys from a major US ski area insurer indicate that a guest’s biggest fear while skiing is being hit by another skier. This level of fear among skiers indicates that more must be done to improve the on-hill environment. Healthy fear of challenging terrain or learning the trails on a new mountain are to be expected, however, fear of others’ behaviour shouldn’t top the list of safety concerns and can be reduced through concentrated efforts.
We tolerate disrespectful, dangerous behaviour and we shouldn’t. We all
the inherent risks that they take on? Are we providing a welcoming environment, or one that shouts, “get out of my way” as soon as they start down the mountain? As an industry and community, we must educate skiers new and old with knowledge to reduce the inherent risks of skiing and create a safer environment.
There is a lack of education that the skiing public receives and internalises before hitting the slopes. Providing effective education from basic etiquette to the effects of speed on stopping
distance and what it means to be in control is in everyone’s best interest. Some would argue that skiers will figure these things out over time on their own. While time on the hill improves knowledge and skill, there is a gap in basic safety understanding. Don’t believe me? Look up ski or snowboard collisions on Instagram or Tik Tok and read through the comments. For experienced skiers who know the code, prepare to be shocked by the lack of understanding exhibited as skiers and riders chime in on who is at fault.
love the thrill of skiing and that keeps us coming back. However, ask anyone that skis regularly if there is anything that they dislike about it, and you will hear some variation of other skiers and riders skiing too close to them when passing or being used as human slalom gates. The only reason that these behaviours persist is because we tolerate them and don’t intervene when they happen. It’s understandable; in those moments, it’s hard to intervene as the other skier flies by, perhaps not to be seen again. These risks can be mitigated
with appropriate intervention strategies when they are reported or seen by mountain staff. Education prior to this behaviour occurring is even more powerful and there are several mediums that could be used to provide it.
At a recent training at their ski area, I asked a group of staff how many had ever seen something unsafe in their life happening, but didn’t intervene. All the hands in the room went up, including mine. If you’re a living, breathing human being, you’ve witnessed something unsafe or you’ve sensed that something was headed in the wrong direction and never said anything. Hopefully in that situation, the outcome wasn’t tragic.
Why is the intervention question so important?
Because it’s necessary to ask ourselves why we don’t step in when action is needed. I don’t believe that it is a matter of not caring for others, but it can be uncomfortable to confront unsafe situations.
I lost my five-year-old daughter in a tragic ski collision that could have been prevented. I wonder how the outcome could have been different had staff or guests checked in with the snowboarder after noting that he appeared inebriated and was known to ride recklessly.
To be clear, I don’t harbour any ill-will toward those involved on the day of our accident. After all, these were also staff who assisted in saving my wife’s life and did everything they could to save my daughter and the snowboarder. Had they known that something so tragic was about to occur, I am certain they would have done everything in their power to prevent it.
I believe that there is day in the future where skiers are looking out for each other’s safety and the mountain experience is even more enjoyable. There is a day that avoidable collisions are a thing of the past. Let’s make sure that everyone feels like the mountain is theirs to enjoy, no matter their skill level or background. Let’s make the mountain more inviting to come back to day after day by improving the safety culture so that we can all Ride Another Day!
A Note From Amie:
As many Morzine Source Magazine readers will know, I started a piste safety campaign with my friend Louise following a tragic incident in a nearby resort in early 2022. Louise and I were desperate to remind skiers and snowboarders about the wellestablished rules of the piste in an effort to make everyone safer. We called our campaign the Piste X Code and we very quickly discovered Chauncy, Kelli, their family and their story. Since then Chauncy has been an irreplaceable source of knowledge, inspiration and motivation for us. The Snow Angel Foundation is a phenomenal campaign, the family have made significant and impactful progress, which has undoubtedly prevented accidents. Louise and I want to take this opportunity to thank Chauncy, Kelli and the Johnson family for sharing their story and for blazing a trail that we both follow.
Chauncy is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Snow Angel Foundation Inc. Discover more at snowangelfoundation.org
Au Pied d’Hauto
A beautifully renovated semi-detached farmhouse in the tranquil hamlet of Le Lavanchy, between Montriond village and Lac de Montriond. Le Refuge Au Pied d’Hauto is a comfortable blend of old and new, with traditional Savoyard workmanship sitting alongside Nordic-inspired interiors & decoration. The apartment consists of a generous 110m2 spread over two floors, with three double en-suite bedrooms.
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Chalet Avalon
A large and brand new chalet in Les Gets with stunning interiors and flexible accommodation sleeping up to 12 people. Enjoy the breathtaking, panoramic views across the rooftops of the village from one of many terraces and balconies. The living space is bright an open plan, making it perfect for family ski holidays. The kitchen is fully-equipped and the whole property is powered by renewable energy.
myhomeinthealps.com
+33 (0) 9 54 76 22 30 info@mhita.com
Ride & Breakfast
Ideally located in Montriond centre, near Morzine-Avoriaz, at the heart of Les Portes du Soleil, across Switzerland and France. Our chalet is well-equipped with a large capacity, 6 en-suites bedrooms (sleeps up to 18) and large living areas. The perfect place for mountain holidays with friends, families or colleagues. Enjoy the breathtaking view in the outdoor jacuzzi and large very well equipped living areas. A dedicated place to live and share your love for outdoor activities.
We offer catered and self catered chalet holidays across 15 exceptional properties in Montriond and Morzine, which accommodate groups from 2 to 18 people. Head to our website to see the full range of property options
La Cordée Côté Sud
Owner-run and occupying a stunning location on the sunny side of Morzine, inside are two individual apartments which can be reserved together to accommodate 22 people. Flexible, en-suite bedrooms, cosy living spaces, terraces and balconies, a garden and a sauna area with private parking, all located just moments from the bus stop and a short walk from the village.
Olivier & Alexia welcome you to their chalet located in the heart of the village, at the gateway to the Pleney sector or the ski lift to Avoriaz. Our chalet can accommodate up to 10 people in the 5 en suite bedrooms, we prepare your ski passes, a gourmet breakfast, a mid-stay cleaning of the chalet's common areas and optionally a flexible private chef for dinner. News: The redevelopment of the SPA area: hot tub-sauna-massage of 50 m²!
croc-blanc-chalet.com
+33 (0)6 31 45 30 21
olivier@croc-blanc-chalet.com
Elevation Alps
North Star Chalets
Your ideal choice for self-catered and catered accommodation in the heart of Morzine. Our properties are perfectly located in the village centre, close to the ski lifts, shops and restaurants. Our dedicated service ensures an unforgettable alpine experience for families and groups. Experience the warmth of Morzine’s hospitality with Northstar Chalets.
We aim to provide a flawless experience from your initial enquiry to the end of your stay. Our portfolio is made up of a small selection of self-catered properties ranging in size from 2-5 bedrooms, all furnished to a high standard and well-equipped with everything you need for a holiday with family or friends. Our superb locations put you within walking distance of the lifts and give you immediate access to the local buses. Sales Director Jess will provide support throughout the booking process, ensuring a hassle free experience. Standard and flexible booking options available.
Hotel du Lac
Located on the tranquil shores of Lac de Montriond you’ll find our cosy, fun-filled hotel featuring 20 en-suite bedrooms, a beautiful bar and a restaurant with views across the lake. Stay mid-way between Morzine and Avoriaz for easy access to the pistes of the Portes du Soleil each day before retreating to our stylish, contemporary hotel each evening.
lacdemontriond.com
+33 (0) 6 03 56 85 05
info@lacdemontriond.com
Alptitude
morganjupe.co.uk
+44 (0) 7739 692908
jess@morganjupe.co.uk
Residence Annapurna
Enjoy a luxurious winter holiday at the heart of Les Gets village with Annapurna as your base. Select one of 24 beautiful apartments in varying shapes and sizes with access to exceptional hotel-style services and facilities including a spa, swimming pool, private ski room, concierge service and two distinct restaurants.All just 150m from the slopes.
alpine-resorts.fr
+33 (0) 4 80 94 95 96
booking@alpine-resorts.fr
An extensive portfolio of self-catering chalets and apartments sleeping 5-13 guests. A great choice of central village locations, plus a selection of more peaceful locations away from the hustle and bustle. From comfortable to more luxurious and all at superb value. We provide a unique and personal service which is second to none from enquiry to departure. All Alptitude clients also benefit from discounted lift passes, airport transfers and ski hire.
alptitude.com
+44 (0) 7891 021 292 info@alptitude.com
Stay Hideout
Modern, functional en-suite rooms, in a central Morzine location, above one of the finest restaurants in the village. Choose from twin, double and triple rooms and if you are on a budget, we also have mixed, shared 6 or 4 bed dorms. All rooms features comfortable beds with linen and towels included, en-suite bathrooms and a continental breakfast.
stayhideout.com
+33 (0) 7 68 63 48 21 info@stayhideout.com
Apartment Chaux Fleurie
Contemporary, spacious and in a fantastic location, inside you’ll discover 2 beds, 2 baths, a fully equipped kitchen and open plan living space that’s perfect for family holidays. From the balcony enjoy views towards Mont Chery and Pleney. There’s heated ski lockers and an underground garage with power too. A short walk from the centre of Montriond, and minutes by car or bus from the ski lifts of Ardent, Avoriaz and the Portes du Soleil.
mountainxtra.com/cfl
+44 (0) 1483 608396 info@mountainxtra.com
Apartment Terrasse Du Soleil
A large, self-catered, duplex garden apartment on the ground floor, with parking for two cars. There’s a log burning fireplace, south-facing views of Pleney slopes Pointe De Nyon. The property has its own hot tub for relaxing evenings after a day out on the slopes and sits in a tranquil setting. It’s well suited to groups and families due to the size and space. It comfortably sleeps up to 6 people in 3 spacious bedrooms with 2 bathrooms.
woodlandschalets.com
+33 (0)7 68 66 04 64
info@woodlandschalets.com
45 Degrees North
45 Degrees North is a family run business offering affordable catered and self catered holidays in our centrally located chalets. We are a family run company priding ourselves on a warm, welcoming and relaxed environment for your holiday where it feels like a home away from home. Whether you are here for one of our cycling holidays or just to explore the area in summer or winter, we are here to take care of you.
45degreesnorth.co.uk
+33 (0)7 69 44 52 69 hello@45degreesnorth.co.uk
Award winning chalet company in Morzine with a range of catered and selfcatered properties. Three time winners of ‘UK Best Chalet Company’ in The Telegraph’s ‘World Snow Awards’ and Morzine Source Magazine’s ‘Favourite Accommodation’ two years in a row, we love to provide a personalised holiday experience so you can truly kick back and relax. From luxurious 6 bedroom catered chalets to great value 2 bedroom self-catered apartments, our friendly team full of local knowledge are here to help from the moment you enquire.
Chalet Le Grizzly
Chalet Grizzly is a new luxury chalet with ski-in/skiout access. This spacious retreat features 6 en suite bedrooms for 14 guests. Enjoy amenities like a fireplace, sauna, ski and bike storage, and a game room. The luxury pack includes Champagne, linens, towels, bathrobes, and full cleaning service. Just 500 meters from the village center and 200 meters from the lifts, Chalet Grizzly ensures a memorable stay.
chalets1066.com
+44 (0) 207 183 5082
info@chalets1066.com
Apartment La Renardière
Welcome to La Renardière, a brand new duplex in La Turche, perfect for 11 guests. This spacious apartment features 6 bedrooms, 4 baths, and a large hot tub on one of its two terraces. Enjoy stunning views, a fireplace, ski and bike storage. Located next to Philippe Sport shop, it's 200 meters from the lifts. Pets are allowed.
chalets1066.com
+44 (0) 207 183 5082 info@chalets1066.com
Snow and Trek
22 years of providing quality holidays in Morzine with 40+ self-catered properties from studio apartments to 6 bedroom luxury chalets. Short breaks are our speciality with any day arrival/departure. Office in central Morzine. Property management solutions.
Chalet Uxello Les Gets
snowandtrek-morzine.com
+33 (0)4 50 75 14 22 info@snowandtrek-morzine.com
+44 (0) 1483 220 505
info@treelinechalets.com
Chalet Le Mirador
Le Mirador is one magnificent beast of a chalet which commands unrivalled views overlooking Morzine, situated on the sunny side of the valley. The chalet was renovated in 2024 by the owners who had the vision to modernise the layout and capture the essence of the chalet. Le Mirador is split over 4.5 floors, it has 6 large en-suite bedrooms sleeping 15, a 9-seater hot tub and garden.
airbnb.com/h/chalet-le-mirador-morzine
+33 (0)6 14 17 51 12 miradormorzine@gmail.com
Chalet Uxello is a large self-catering chalet situated on the Route des Chavannes in the resort of Les Gets. It affords spacious accommodation that can sleep 10, ideal for families or groups. The chalet has an open fireplace in the sitting room and a large dining room with views of the valley, and a hot tub on the terrace.
vrbo.com/en-gb/p6877928 +44 (0) 7984
Treeline Chalets
The Fat Fox Lodge
Whether it’s winter or summer we make sure you’re ready for whatever mountain you’re about to summit. During snowy months all your meals are cooked by our amazing whole-foods-obsessed chef, as well as daily yoga in our earth room, and a private shuttle to the mountain. From June till October we keep it simple with bed and breakfast, and always with a barista brewed coffee. Mountain nourishment at The Fat Fox Lodge.
fatfoxlodge.com
+33 (0)7 53 79 88 23
info@fatfoxlodge.com
Skiology Chalets
Open summer and winter. Skiology has a varied selection of catered and self-catered properties sleeping 4-14. Morzine chalets only 200m from the lifts and town centre. Base of Avoriaz chalets (Les Prodains) only 500m from the lifts. Montriond chalets 500m from the village. Guests come back for the menu, great service and our environmental commitment, we hope to see you soon!
skiology.co.uk
+44 (0)207 183 0688 stay@skiology.co.uk
Chalet Roc
Detached, modern chalet in central Morzine with 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, outdoor (under cover) hot tub, full digital entertainment (Netflix, Spotify, Alexa, Starlink Wifi, UK Freesat TV) and modern log burning fireplace. Only a short (400m) walk from the restaurants and bars in town, and both cable cars. Mention Morzine Source for a discount
chaletroc.com
+33 (0) 7 57 67 66 94
reservations@chaletroc.com
This unique and romantic escape with views of the stunning Lac de Montriond is the perfect place to stay for winter and summer relaxing escapes or adrenaline filled adventures and is ideally positioned for guests of weddings at the Domaine du Baron and Hotel du Lac. Sleeping up to 2 adults and 1 child, this stand-alone lodge with secluded garden, offers easy access to the Portes du Soleil.
lepetitrevemontriond.com
+33 (0)7 71 86 47 45
lepetitrevemontriond@outlook.com
Simply Morzine
Chic chalets. Awesome apartments. Fabulous food. The original Morzine specialists, offering high-quality winter and summer alpine holidays since 1995. Soughtafter central / on piste catered chalets, plus stunning self-catered properties in the best locations in town. Highly regarded amongst the local French & expat communities for having stood the test of time with quality and integrity. Unique summer activity holidays, designed for all ages and interests including families. simply-morzine.co.uk
+44 (0)1664 568902
info@simpy-morzine.co.uk
Panther Snow Co
We have two luxury self-catered properties available for rent winter and summer in the Portes du Soleil. These consist of one luxury chalet in the charming hamlet of Essert Romand, Chalet Aix (sleeps 8) and one high-end new apartment in Morzine town itself, Marmottiere (sleeps 8+2). Please see our website or call Richard for further details.
panthersnowco.com
+44 (0)7836 611 076 info@panthersnowco.com
A local French business, providing high quality, self-catered holiday accommodation in Morzine. We have 24 chalets and apartments, ranging in sizes and budgets. So whether it be a 2 bedroom ski in/ski out apartment, or an 8 bedroom chalet with hot tub, we pride ourselves with our flexibility and amazing locations. Our concierge service comes as standard in the lead up and for the duration of your stay, and our range of extra services, including flexible catering options, means that you can create the perfect getaway.
puremorzine.com
+33 (0) 6 30 03 11 33
info@puremorzine.com
Le Petit Rêve - Lac de Montriond
Pure Morzine
Avoriaz Holidays and Avoriaz Premium offer all you need to plan a perfect holiday in the Portes du Soleil’s highest ski resort. All properties are ski-in, ski-out, bed linen is included (breakfast delivery and dedicated concierge service included with Avoriaz Premium), and we arrange discounts on ski passes and equipment rental on your behalf. Here's a selection of our properties:
Chalets des Hauts Forts
Located in the oldest neighbourhood of Avoriaz, facing the Dromonts Hotel, discover these 2 incredible chalets. Modern, spacious and designed with high quality materials, the chalets have a capacity of 11 guests.Built in a traditional 'alpine' style but with all the perks of a new build, they will make you feel settled in and relaxed from the moment you walk in. Available to rent from 7,332 € per week.
An exceptional modern alpine living space set in a prime central location. Designed
architectural style, upon which Avoriaz is
Chalet
is comprised of 5 luxury-grade triplex apartments each able to accommodate 10 to 14 people, with quality interior design and decor and 400 m2 of shared space dedicated to spa, heated pool and ski room. There is also a fitness room and a massage room. Available to rent from 7,082 € per week.
Douchka Apartment
Located in Falaise district, this modernised 3-room apartment with a surface of 51.21m2 is ideally placed with quick access to the slopes and the village. Ideal for 5-7 people, there is 1 double bedroom, a bunk room and sofa-beds in the living room. It offers a fully-quipped open kitchen, a large living/dining space with high ceilings and a south facing balcony with magnificent views of the mountains and valley. Available to rent from 2,290 € per week.
Residence Kouria
This beautiful contemporary apartment sleeps 10 people in 5 bedrooms. It has a bright and spacious living room with a large fireplace and a fully equipped kitchen. Other features include heated boot warmers, laundry room, private sauna, access to an indoor swimming pool, hammam and south facing balconies with magnificent views.
Available to rent from 3,645 € per week.
Amazing 340 m2 chalet accommodating 16 people on 3 floors located in the Ruches area of the resort. With an extension built in 2017, this large chalet has high-end furniture; home cinema, sauna, two living rooms, fire place and 8 bedrooms. Thanks to its central location and comfort, the chalet is ideal for a perfect stay.
Available to rent from 10,296 € per week.
Chalet Aspen
in Jean Michel Villot's iconic
typically built.
Aspen
Chalet Alaya
where is the wilderness?
By Dr Lucy Obolensky
Wilderness adventures are having a moment; they’re undoubtedly becoming more sexy and accessible. It’s never been easier to travel to corners of the earth that we never thought possible, documenting the whole thing for social media as we go. Let’s take Everest Base Camp as an example. There were 20,000 visits in 2004, versus over 60,000 during 2024. Kilimanjaro was summited by 25,000 climbers in 2004 and 55,000 climbers in 2024. Closer to home, the post-pandemic surge in ski touring or randonnee has also vastly increased. The ski touring equipment industry is now booming and sales of kit have more than quadrupled over the last four years. Wilderness tourism gives you the chance to explore, discover and experience, so it’s easy to see the appeal.
I’m an expedition medic working in remote locations across the globe. I’m also an adventurer at heart, so my job takes me to some incredible places. I was the doctor for the BBC Planet Earth series with Sir David Attenborough and also on Blue Planet II. These projects took me to Antarctica, Costa Rica, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Chernobyl and more. I learned a great deal about the planet and the changing climate, which made me more mindful of how we choose to live. I’m also the medical advisor for the British Exploring Society. This is a fantastic charity which encourages young people to take on expeditions and I’ve done many with them to the Himalayas, Iceland and Norway. Joining people on their first expedition, taking them into nature and seeing them challenge themselves is hugely inspiring for me.
“In medical terms, ‘the wilderness’ is anywhere that’s more than two hours from a hospital.”
Having worked in the NHS, my family and I moved to France just after Brexit and I had the idea to start a business called Endeavour Medical. I wanted to bring together a community of like-minded people - colleagues that I’d worked with over the years - to deliver high quality and equitable medical education, worldwide. The profits that we make on our European Endeavour courses go towards delivering first aid and gender equality projects in low and middle income countries; this is where my passion really lies. I get to take my kids along on some of our humanitarian projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, giving them a passion for travel too. That said, some of our best adventures have been wild camping together in Scotland, Dartmoor or on secret beaches in Cornwall.
But what do we mean by ‘the wilderness’? Where is it, exactly? In medical terms, ‘the wilderness’ is anywhere that’s more than two hours from a hospital. That might not seem far to you, yet if you rolled your ankle up the Vallee de la Manche or en route to Tête de Bostan and the weather comes in, then ’the wilderness’ suddenly becomes a lot closer than you’d think. This is also something we also need to consider if you’re heading beyond the managed ski areas this winter. Who are you going with? What level of skill does the group have? Who’s leading the group? What level of >>
knowledge do they have? How far from help are you going to be, and is it likely that mountain rescue can reach you? Does someone else know where you’re going and when to expect your return? Do you have appropriate safety kit and a reliable method of communication? Answering all of these important questions will help you to determine the risk involved in your wilderness adventure.
Of course, avalanches present the most significant risk if you’re going into the back country this winter. Many avalanche courses do great training, demonstrating how to search beneath the snow for the rucksack with the transceiver, but then seem to stop when you find it, with huge applause. I advise you to look carefully at avalanche courses because finding a person buried under the snow is not where a rescue ends. You can carefully and effectively dig someone out, but you also need very simple but life saving skills in how to clear an airway or how to support someones airway. CPR refresher training is a must, in addition to learning the importance of getting someone off the cold snow quickly. A few really simple things but could be life saving.
“mental fitness and team dynamics are the real make or break during any trip.”
When I’m adventuring further afield during the winter, I’ll often ask our group guide and group members about their level of first aid training. I’ve seen femoral (leg) arterial bleeds from ski cuts, head injuries and broken limbs whilst ski touring. Thankfully these things are rare, but a few simple and key skills in first aid, group management and team dynamics can make a big difference to the outcome. For longer, multi-day trips, I also think about personal and team wellbeing. My specialist area is in mental health and wellbeing on expeditions, so I always like to bring this in with any group, whether I’m there as a medic or simply part of the group. Altitude, a lack of sleep, tough weather conditions and poor nutrition wreak havoc on our mental wellbeing. We often think of training for big events or personal challenges as being physical, but mental fitness and team dynamics are the real make or break during any trip.
At Endeavour Medical we host advanced first aid training specifically for non-health care
professionals, so that they can look after themselves, their friends, family or groups while in the wilderness. Many micro adventures or causal mountain expeditions seem rather benign initially, but if the weather comes in, or if you get caught out, you can suddenly feel like you’re in the wilderness very quickly. You need to think about how long you might have to manage a casualty, or how you could facilitate an evacuation if needed. If you dislocate your shoulder ski touring, do you want your friend to be trained in advanced pain relief or have some knowledge on simple and effective methods to relocate it?
A little bit of well-taught first aid knowledge is always a good thing but we’ve created our Wilderness First Responder courses to go beyond this. Spanning everything from managing emergencies, developing navigation and camp skills, dealing with environmental illnesses caused by altitude, heat or cold and mental heath and wellbeing over six days, this specific course has an American accreditation because the governance is considerably higher than in the UK or Europe. Our courses are taught by healthcare professionals with experience in real life situations; they do this day in, day out with an understanding of the nuances, tips and tricks of the profession. This is not your standard first aid course!
And because I absolutely love wilderness adventures, we also offer expeditions with Endeavour Medical. Our trips to Norway and Kyrgyzstan are much more about self development, learning new skills and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone with a mix of individuals. I recently went as a group member on our Arctic Norway Expedition, where we had an age range of 24 to 60 and a real mix of people and professions. I laughed every single day during the expedition; when its -27 outside and blowing a hoolie, you simply have to work together to get your tents up and stoves on, otherwise you’ll freeze. You’ll also learn to smile and laugh whilst doing it. During this trip I also learnt a lot about myself and how to manage group dynamics in challenging situations.
The best thing about being an adventure medic is the amazing people I get to meet and work with. Working with the young people at the British Exploring Society, many of whom come from really disadvantaged backgrounds and have never owned a pair or walking boots or rucksack, is very rewarding for me. Seeing them bag their first peak, whether that be a Munro in Scotland or a 5000m summit in the Himalayas, is both elating and humbling. Flying in a hot air balloon with Sir David Attenborough was pretty cool too!
You’ll find details of all Endeavour Medical courses and expeditions at endeavour medical.co.uk or you can email Lucy on hello@endeavourmedical.co.uk
A friendly snack stop at the heart of the ski area that’s perfect for all appetites. Find us just below the Telecabine de Ardent Une halte gourmande conviviale au cœur du domaine skiable qui saura satisfaire tous les appétits. Retrouvez-nous juste en dessous de la Télécabine d'Ardent
A friendly snack stop in the Lindarets plateau Une pause gourmande et conviviale sur le plateau des Lindarets www.lequarantesept.com Croque Monsieur, Burgers, Sandwiches, Wraps, Little treats & plus encore...
Doors to the Sun The
HAPPY 60 TH BIRTHDAY TO THE PORTES DU SOLEIL
As you tour the 650km of marked pistes in the Portes du Soleil this winter, journeying through 13 different resorts (seven in France, five in Switzerland), travelling on 208 different ski lifts spanning 14 valleys and 1,036sq kilometres of terrain, wish the world’s second largest ski area a happy 60th birthday. It’s name originates from the Portes du Soleil pass between the valleys of Morgins and Les Crosets, but how did the ski area come to be?
Between 1934 and 1963 mountain villages across the Haute Savoie and Valais regions began to construct their own individual and independent ski lifts. Embracing the new trends for winter sports and mountain tourism, Morzine built Le Pleney in 1934, Boule de Gomme came to life in Les Gets in 1937 and the Super Morzine hoisted skiers to new slopes on the opposite side of the valley in 1952. The opening of the Prodains Telecabines in 1963 made access to Avoriaz more accessible.
But it was in 1956 that the first connections in what would become the Portes du Soleil were made. Super Châtel, a small French village on the border with Switzerland, always had close ties with neighbouring Morgins, just a few kilometres away and across the border. Frenchman Pierre Béteille created a connection between the Coq and Corbeau lifts so skiers could seamlessly pass between the two
counties with ease. The concept of skiing without borders was born.
Eight years later, at the National Exhibition in Lausanne, a group of ambitious change makers presented their idea for the first time; an international ski area that they hoped would become the premier destination for skiers during the decades to come. They’d prepared a 1:10,000 scale model to propose the connections between the villages and valleys; the concept was a huge success. As the story goes, Jean Vuarnet, the forefather of Avoriaz, proposed to call the ski area the ‘Portes du Soleil’ and in 1968 both Champéry and Avoriaz both built their respective chairlifts to connect at the top of Chavanette. The first cross-boarder ski pass was introduced the following year.
Further connections, including those between Morzine and Les Gets, came to life over the years, making the Portes
du Soleil a truly unique place to ski. Adverts from the 1970s described a ski area that varies ‘from the quaint hamlet perched on a mountainside to a futuristic ski-in, ski-out resort, you’ll find the resort that suits your taste and budget’ and we think this mantra remains the same today.
More recent decades have been punctuated by a drive to diversity, opening the mountain lifts during the summer seasons for mountain bikers and hikers. The launch of the Portes du Soleil MultiPass in 2009 made alpine summer holidays more affordable to many people; the pass gave unlimited access to the summer lift network plus free or discounted access to many local activities for just €1 per person per day when it launched. 15 years later you’ll still pay just €2.50 per person per day for all those things, and more.
Discover more: en.portesdusoleil.com
home from home MORZINE IS OUR
By Roisin Timpson
We first came to Morzine ten years ago and loved it from the very beginning. There’s so much to Morzine and we discover new things to love each time we visit; from the mountains, the skiing, the hiking, the boulangerie, the community, the fun times and the friendships we’ve made. These things make Morzine the place we want to be with our family in the mountains. We love the friendly atmosphere and as mum to three (now grown up) children, it’s always been fun to enjoy the apres-ski in Morzine, letting our hair down with the kids in tow. These days Morzine is very much our home from home, in all seasons.
We’ve been regular visitors to Le Tremplin since we first came here; it acted as a magnet to us, and I’m sure many other people, after a fun day skiing. It’s a place to meet friends old and new, to have a few drinks and to enjoy the music. The location is first class, so when we heard it was for sale we jumped at the chance.
Our family business provides key cutting, shoe and watch repairs and many other services in over 2000 shops in the U.K, yet hospitality has also been part of what we do for over 20 years.
Our first project was a pub called The White Eagle in Rhoscolyn, a small hamlet by the sea in Anglesey, an island off the coast of North Wales. We then opened The Oyster Catcher just down the road, with a focus on recruiting and training disadvantaged young people from the
local area, giving them a career in hospitality. In many ways The Oyster Catcher is very similar to Le Tremplin. It’s located on the beautiful beach of Traeth Llydan in Rhosneigr and is popular with families and water sports enthusiasts alike. Just as Le Tremplin does apres-ski, we do apres-beach, with our ‘Dunes & Tunes’ all summer long.
More recently we added The Partridge, a beautiful country pub with rooms near to our home in Warrington, Cheshire. While Le Tremplin might be in a different country and with a different culture, I believe that the spirit of brilliant hospitality and service is international; it underpins everything we do. We have built a very successful business on “great service by great people” and this carries through all of our businesses in the UK and Ireland.
As anyone who knows Le Tremplin might expect, the previous owners Sophie and Gilles left us with big shoes to fill. We all worked together for a year to make the transition from one family to another as seamless as possible, discovering our shared values along the waythey were great partners!
We understand the legacy that we’ve inherited at Le Tremplin, and we’ve taken on Sophie and Gilles’ planning permission and vision. Our mission is to keep the same lively, fun atmosphere, where you can let your hair down and everyone is welcome. We wish to protect the legacy of Le Tremplin for many years to come.
Protecting that legacy, for us, means keeping Le Tremplin open while we renovate. It might have
been easier to close the whole venue down during the building work, but we didn’t think that was the sprint of Le Tremplin. We wanted to keep that spirit alive, so Camp Tremplin is our pop-up, festivalstyle temporary venue, shifting its location around the site while our amazing builders continue their work. So far, Camp Tremplin has been a success, and we’ve learnt a lot that we can implement this winter. We’re very grateful for the support we’ve had from the local community so far!
We’re excited to introduce you to the upgraded Le Tremplin over the months to come. Inside you’ll find beautiful interiors, fun spaces, new bars and a restaurant, and we’re converting the bedrooms into 12 stunning apartments for weekly rental, ranging in size from two to five bedrooms, and each with their own living space and kitchen. We will have a fantastic restaurant inside, while outside you’ll discover a larger and brighter terrace which plays host to our bigger and better apres ski and bike parties. We’re also planning a “Kindness Wall” and commissioning resident artists to help us make Le Tremplin a true home from home. There are some exciting surprises too, on which I am sworn to secrecy - for the moment!
When Le Tremplin reopens in full, you’ll find the best location in the village, offering amazing hospitality day in, day out. Our desire is to build on this legacy so we can offer Morzine and it’s visitors a welcoming venue to visit all year round. We hope all ages, and all nationalities feel welcome at Le Tremplin 365 days a year, whatever the weather.
If you’re looking for a cosy lunch after an autumn hike, somewhere to celebrate after your first parapente flight, kayak or cold water swim, or just to gather with friends on a sunny springtime afternoon, we will be open for you.
At the moment, and without counting our chickens too early, our renovation project is currently on schedule. Winter 24/25 sees the relaunch of Camp Tremplin - a bar with a lively apres-ski schedule that’s open each day during the winter season. By summer 2025, Camp Tremplin expands and, all being well, in December 2025 we’ll open our newly finished terrace and ground floor bars and restaurant. The complete project, including the apartments, will be finished for the 2026 summer season.
We can’t wait to welcome you to our home from home, and my hope is that it will become your home too.
story
Gone are the days when the Morzine Source Magazine team (i.e. both of us) would spend a few minutes selecting an appropriate image for our next front cover. In more recent times we’ll spend endless hours searching for the right graphic artist; one that understands our mountain environment, our communities. One that represents mountain sports and our passion for them. Each new issue of our magazine now features a custom made piece of art on the cover and for 2025 we’re delighted to welcome Jessa Gilbert as our artist in residence.
Jessa’s art is both bold and emotive; it’s incredibly different to any other cover art we’ve commissioned before. Her paintings and drawings emerge from her experiences in the backcountry; they’re playful and authentic. Here, Jessa explains her journey so far and how the Morzine Souce Magazine front cover came to life.
NAPOLITAN STYLE
“I grew up in New York State in the town of Red Hook. It’s a small town of cows and corn, amidst the rolling Catskill mountains. I started making art at a really young agejust drawings and paintings without any real direction, at first. I think, for me, it was a place I could escape the noise of my home and get a bit lost in the flow of creating something. These days I live in Squamish, British Columbia, which is a stunning little city between Vancouver and Whistler in Canada. I love it - it’s an easy place to find inspiration in the natural world, and the access to adventure and sport is amazing. My main passions would be creating art, whether that’s painting, drawing, or making large scale murals, but also exploring wilderness, whether that be split boarding, mountain biking, or trekking. I work as a backcountry guide as well as an artist, which allows me to bring people into the experience and share in the joys of the
mountains, physically. Whatever I do, It’s all derived out of play and a passion for sharing joy.
My mountain guiding career came a bit out of the blue, if I’m honest. I was up at Baldface as a guest years ago, still very green from the East coast. To keep a long story short, I was offered the opportunity to come work as a guide the following season. I didn’t have any guiding courses under my belt, except my AST 1 (a basic avalanche course), nor was it a career I’d thought about, let alone understood could exist for someone like me. But I love snowboarding, people, and I figured hell, why not give it a shot? I thought, if I fail or dislike it, I can always go back to another desk job. Seven years later, I love working as a backcountry guide and I love how it compliments my career as an artist. They feed off each other, and allow me a bit
of balance to keep things fresh. I go into the mountains for inspiration and play, which I bring back into the studio as inspiration for my artwork - to share and recreate the tones of those experiences. Inevitably the studio process leads me back into the mountains, seeking more compositions or experiences to draw from. For me, my artistic practice gives my explorations purpose and meaning - I’m not out mindlessly walking through the mountains, I’m constantly looking and searching for moments of awe, joy, splendour, and maybe a bit of playful magic.
With the changing of the seasons, the medium changes. I absolutely work less in the studio in the winter, where I give myself permission to focus more on chasing good snow in the shortened days. I’ll still draw and make small pieces throughout the winter, but I tend to work more out of my sketchbook in the
“it was a place I could escape the noise of my home and get a bit lost in the flow of creating something.”
mountains than at an easel in my studio. I allow myself to be more focused on guiding and play, which I’ve found allows me to come back into a more robust studio practice in the spring and summer. I’ve often thought about what it could be like to work solely in my studio all year - would the work be different? Sure, probably. But I think it’s important to have some variety in life, at least for me. Otherwise there’s too much pressure on the one thing. Whether guiding or painting, it’s all creative problem solving and play, so while it looks different externally, the internal method is unchanged.
Of course the mountain community is important to me, and I want my work to celebrate the arena around the community. I’m grateful to have my work accepted and/or celebrated within the mountain community - I believe there’s so much creativity and expression in that world that often is unseen or showcased in the art world. One of my goals as an artist is to bring more art into the outdoor industry and mountain culture so that more people can see their creative potential as >>
part of, not separate from, art culture. That said, I try to create without care of how the audience receives it, if that makes sense. I think once you start allowing the pressures of praise into your practice, your work begins to become less pure and a bit more homogenous with what’s already in the world. The one thing I know I can do better than anyone else is share my experience of the world, so I do my best to focus on that in the studio… and then hope it connects down the road. We all want to be accepted, of course, but I think one of the skills I try to keep sharp in the studio is the acceptance that I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, nor should I be. My paintings are expressions of myself in so many ways, and I think having the courage to put myself out there without directly focusing on how it’s going to land has allowed me to not only surprise myself, but to create something different. From that baseline, the way it connects with people feels really authentic and meaningful.
I’ve just returned from Patagonia; what an adventure! I spent the month of October in South America and Antarctica for a proper blend of work and adventure. I was based out of Ushuaia for a couple of weeks, where I reconnected with a few local split boarders for some riding and filming. My Spanish is pretty poor, but it was so fun to connect on a shared love of the mountains, though I did attempt a few months of Duolingo leading up that and it proved to be very little help. I haven’t spent much time in South America, and I wanted to share in their world a bit more before heading to Antarctica for two weeks of splitboard guiding. The real icing on this trip, for me, was painting a mural in Ushuaia while I was there. I didn’t want to just visit and then move on, but to create more of a connection with that corner of the continent - to celebrate and showcase their landscape from my lens. It was so meaningful to have them welcome me in the way they did, and to have the opportunity to share my work with their community. I then got to return to Antarctica to splitboard guide and spend two weeks on a ship with a great community of guides and guests. I feel really lucky to have gotten that month, and how it all blended together in the end. I love travelling with my splitboard, and how that shared joy can connect you globally. It’s the same thing with art - it’s a universal language. My Spanish may have
“what I’m trying to get at with my painting has less to do with the literal place and more to do with how it feels to spend time outside.”
been incomprehensible, but I found real connection with the community there through a shared love of the mountains and a colourful celebration within my mural.
I’m looking forward to a deep winter in British Columbia (hopefully)! I guide at Baldface Lodge, and it’s been fun to build relationships there over the years with the guests. I’m now leading groups there, which has been such a fun process. I also got myself a camper van this winter, so I plan to spend time split boarding out of that and chasing snow a bit. I’m super excited about this spring, too. I’ll be a part of the TIDAL artist residency in Laax, Switzerland, and then I’ve booked time to spend a few weeks split boarding in Europe. I’m not exactly sure where I’ll go, but I’m excited to spend some time in European ski culture and mountaineering!
Something about my work resonated with the Morzine Source Magazine team and the whole community and that’s a real honour to hear. So much of what I’m trying to get at with my painting has less to do with the literal place and more to do with how it feels to spend time outside. I’m grateful that the Morzine community felt that connection and gave me the opportunity to lend my hand to this year’s covers! The inspiration for the cover came out of our conversation around one of the stories coming out in this issue, as well as local photos and videos of Morzine. One of the stories was around a local man Everesting locally, and doing something like 40 laps from the valley to the alpine in Morzine. I kept thinking about how it feels to be pushing above something literal or perceived. I imagined the clearing that could have happened at the end of that epic challenge, and what the last summit push might have felt like; moving up and out of doubt found in the valley, a thick layer of clouds, as the summit stood proud in the evening light. The direction for this cover came out of a desire to show the intense focus of the mental side of mountain pursuits. There’s so much that can cloud our vision, but, in the same vain, some ideas have an inability to be covered up, and will boldly stand in your mind until you see them through. The mountains provide so many lessons, or highlight so many ideas, in this way. The rising peaks from a dark border, to me, represent the focus and intensity felt and explored within the mountain community around Morzine.
Amie at Morzine Source Magazine asked me if I could do just one thing - snowboard or paint - which would I choose? That’s an impossible question to answer. Both give the other purpose, and having a purpose and passion as a compass in life is so important to me. I love split boarding and how this playtime activity can connect us around the world, but it has its own barriers to entry that can separate me from others - cost, access, skill, time, etc. While the act of painting is cathartic and meditative in itself, I want to use paint as a medium >>
to connect and communicate something. The work comes out of lived experiences, not from a vacuum. As airy as it might sound, split boarding and spending time in the mountains has taught me a lot about painting, and so too painting has shown me things about spending time outside I would have otherwise missed.
I have a few ideas and projects percolating right now. I’m going to be instructing backcountry courses with the Risk Maturity Collective, which offers avalanche safety and mountain rescue courses for professionals in the backcountry setting. It’s big for me because I’m working alongside, and at times teaching people I really admire and look up to. I still go through bouts of wondering how I got a seat at the tables I’ve landed at, and stepping deeper into the educator role is something I’m still growing within. What I’ve loved about these courses has been the two way learning process - we have athletes and industry professionals come and talk about their relationship with the backcountry, whether that’s a close call, how they pick lines, or dealing with the mental side of professional snowboarding. These help to humanise the experience, and really connect the community, not only with each other but with a shared understanding of the risks and responsibilities in the mountains. It’s been a real joy being a part of that process, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we grow it.”
“painting has shown me things about spending time outside I would have otherwise missed.”
We are a property development and construction company run by a couple; one with an expert knowledge in all things building, and the other who is bilingual, grew up in the valley and has an excellent knowledge of French building regulations and red tape; the perfect combination to run a construction company here in Morzine and surrounding areas.
“architecture is my life”
INTERVIEW THE George Clarke
by amie Henderson
Unless you’ve been living under a (small, perfectly formed and much-loved) rock for the last 20 years, you’ve surely seen architect George Clarke on your TV screens. He’s the presenter of several property shows including The Restoration Man and Old House New Home, but perhaps most famously George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, which showcases unconventional renovations in unusual spaces such as old boats, dilapidated caravans, aircrafts and woodland cabins. I’ve always been fascinated by George for a few reasons; firstly, he’s from the North East of England, like me. He also loves a renovation and is frequently outspoken about several issues relating to property. When we speak, George is in a voice over booth in West London, preparing series 13 of Amazing Spaces; ‘that’s my biggest brand,’ he tells me. ‘It’s so distinctive.’
George, I read that both of your grandads were builders, as were mine. Did they inspire you to become an architect?
“They definitely did. My Grandad Ted in particular was a big inspiration. He was a builder, a grafter, a maker, as well as being in construction. He built his own fishing trawler and became a captain, fishing in the North Sea for years. I spent a lot of time around him, watching him make and build things and he always told me to watch the world around me, to keep my head up. He also bought me some of my first books on building and construction when I was about 11 years old. I was 12 when I decided to become an architect. I suppose I could have been a builder, but I used to draw a lot. My dad was a bit of an amateur cartoonist, we’d draw together, and then I was on building sites with my grandad. So in some ways, when I think back, even though hardly anyone in my family had been to university and certainly no one had ever imagined being a ‘professional’ like an architect as they were all working class grafters, it does kind of make sense. Of course I didn’t really know what an architect was until I was about 12 or 13, but I wanted to draw buildings and be part of the building industry. Then I started reading books on architecture and that was it, I never wanted to be anything else.
That said, did I want to play football for Sunderland? 100%. And I would have definitely put that before becoming an architect when I was 11 years old. I love football and I played football a lot, but I was never at that level unfortunately. Football was a massive part of my life, I never missed a Sunderland game when I was a teenager. But then architecture is my life and I can >>
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be doing architecture - designing and drawing buildings - until I drop, but when players retire from football, what else is there?
Instead of doing my A Levels, I left school when I was 16 to do an apprenticeship with an architect in the North East, working on small residential projects. It was a tiny team with one architect and two architectural technicians, I was their 16 year old apprentice. But I was working on real projects, real buildings from the age of 16.”
So, how does a lad from Sunderland become an architect?
During my degree at Newcastle University I had to work for a year, so I went to FaulknerBrowns, an architect in Newcastle and actually, they’re still going strong today. There I worked on swimming pools, university libraries, a huge range of projects. Then I graduated and went to London to do a second degree at University College London. There were five big name architects in the UK in the 1980s, everyone dreamt of working with them. They were Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, Sir Terry Farrell, Sir Nicholas Grimshaw and Michael Hopkins. I got a job working with Sir Terry Farrell, he’s one of the most notable architects and urban designers of our time. We worked on airports, transportation centres, skyscrapers, commercial buildings. I worked in Hong Kong for nearly a year, working on railway stations linking Hong Kong with China and other urban master planning schemes for places all over the world. It was a massively diverse career but then I set up my own practise in 2000 to focus predominantly on residential work.
“did I want to play football for Sunderland? 100%. And I would have definitely put that before becoming an architect”
I never thought of myself as being entrepreneurial at the time, I think you just need to be; you sort of become that by default when you open your own business. I was just 22 years old then and I had a building company not long after that, so we’d design and build homes for people. I went into property development after that. Maybe I’m just a control freak, I love being my own boss. When you make that step to be your own boss at a young age… I mean, I’m unemployable now. No body would give me job!”
How did you find yourself on TV?
"I had my own practice and at the same time I was teaching architecture at Newcastle University. I was asked to do research for the university, but I couldn’t really do it because I was busy and I’d just become a dad for the first time, I was as busy as anything. Someone at the university suggested that I write a book instead, because if you get a book published, then that counts as research. So I went to get a literary agent in London, I remember meeting her on a Thursday at 10am, and I signed for her with an idea to write book a some point. Then she called me on the Monday to ask if I’d ever thought about doing TV. As it turns out, she was both a literary agent and a broadcasting agent. I did a screen test the next day and got the job. It’s been an unusual career path I suppose! But then I guess if you asked Jamie Oliver while he was training to be a chef at the River Cafe if he could see himself in the position he’s in now, he would never have dreamt of it while working like mad in a kitchen as a teenager. Opportunities come along and you make decisions on whether or not to take them.”
There’ve been many series over the last 20 years, which are you most proud of?
Amazing Spaces is my longest running series, it’s been around for 12 years and series 13 is underway. To have that longevity and have a series be so successful for so long is incredible. It’s massively unique, there’s nothing quite like it. I’m here today recording the voice overs and for the first time I’m seeing some of the things that the team have been off to film without me. It comes up here on the screen and I’m like ‘what is that? That’s incredible, show me again, play it back’. So if I’m still reacting to that after 13 series, then there’s still life in it.”
For you, what makes a home?
“The people. A house at the end of the day is bricks and motar, sections of timber. What makes a home is the people and what happens within it. My home feels like a nice home because it’s got all of the things I love in it, my kids come back from uni and school, that’s what makes it special and unique and personal. Charm and character are really important things, if I go into a house that feels a bit sterile and anonymous, I don’t connect with it as well. You can feel it, when you’re in a home. It’s also a beautiful piece of design and it’s loved; even if I don’t meet the family who live there, as I’m walking around I get a sense of who they are and what their tastes are. That makes me sound really nosey! I get the place because of the people. Otherwise it’s just another piece of architecture, another object.
I’ve recently written a kids book in the Little Experts series on this subject for six to nine year olds, it’s called ‘How To Build A Home’. In the intro I tell the story about when I was a kid and I’d get confused because people would say ‘come to my house’ or ‘I’m going home’ and I’d be like, what’s the difference? Why do we have two words for this? A house is the physical product of construction; the bricks, cement, timber and glass. A home is what people bring to it, that’s what makes it special, unique and personable.” >>
Do you have a view on people building new homes as opposed to renovating old ones?
“This is a big big one for me. I love old buildings, I’ve been making television for 20 years and I’ve never done anything on a new build house on TV. You might not have noticed that, but it’s all been renovations, conversions, recycling and refurbishing, repurposing. I’ll always be an advocate for retro fits and restoration, because they’ve got a story to tell, they’re more sustainable and ecological because you are recycling an old building. They've got all of that embodied energy in them. If you can breathe new life into it and give it another few hundred years, that’s always going to be a good thing.
At the same time, I’m not against new builds because we need them. Even if you did up every old building that we’ve got in the UK and also filled every empty building that we’ve got in the UK, it still couldn’t solve the housing crisis. People get upset about new builds when the quality just isn’t good enough. Let’s think about lovely Georgian houses that were built back in the day, or even some of the beautiful Edwardian and Victorian houses that you’ll see around the UK. A lot of us think that Georgian crescents and streets were built by the landed gentry of the day, they weren’t. They were built by speculative developers, as new builds are today, but the quality was far superior.
There’s lots of land in the UK that could be built on. Believe me, I love the countryside more than anyone, but there’s some pretty shabby land out there that’s just growing grass that could have a better purpose. I’m a firm believer in protecting our beautiful countryside but I’m not against new build development. I’m against bad new built development and ugly homes. I just don’t understand why we’re not designing and building really beautiful streets. We were doing it hundreds of years ago, now it’s all Noddy box houses thrown all over the countryside in some random, scattered fashion, built too quickly, not built by skilled people so the standards aren’t high enough. I’m not saying this is every developer before I get myself into trouble but architectural standards are definitely not good enough on mass house building. Often it’s just about building as much as possible, as quickly as possible to make as much money as possible. It’s not good enough. Every single town that’s been built in this country was built on green land - London was a river with greenery on either side of it. We need to build. We’ve only built on 8% of our land mass here in the UK - what if we built on 12% and we did it really well, that might solve the housing crisis. First and foremost, let’s repurpose and recycle what we’ve got, then let’s build on brown field sites in the right places that won’t destroy any genuinely beautiful countryside. Let’s build good, medium density areas that make the most of the land. Developers just want to build the same two story houses that look the same all across the country, then build the roads to connect them all; it’s not very clever at all.
Speaking of all this, I did a post on Instagram a few months ago, criticising a new build housing estate and I got a barrage of abuse. “These are people’s homes, you’re a snob,” was the response. I had the newspapers calling me up asking how I feel about being called a middle class snob. I’m just a working class lad, actually. I wasn’t judging their homes, if anything I
was on their side. It’s the responsibility of developers and house builders to build better quality products for the people who are buying them. We should be raising the standards of architectural design and house building so the people who buy them can live better and improve the built environment. We all share that, we all see and experience it, so it should be the best.”
What advice would you give to someone considering a renovation?
“Obviously I’m going to say, get a good architect, that’s a predictable answer. What is a good architect? Someone who understands the brief and gives the client what they want - gives them more than they expected. At the risk of sounding like the middle class snob, you should never be picking anything based on price. Yes, it’s got to be affordable, but going for the cheapest thing just by implication, that’s never the best strategy. You’ll probably be disappointed.
“I’ll always be an advocate for retro fits and restoration, they’ve got a story to tell”
Also, make as many design decisions as you can before you start. A lot of people think they can decide on details later, even some architects will suggest that. It’s the simplest thing in the world, you’ve got to make the decision anyway, make it early. The faster you make it and the more that decision is included into the drawings and the spec, and maybe even ordered in advance - the less stressful your build will be. On my own projects I specify virtually everything before I even begin. That might sound a bit OCD and staggeringly organised but it gives me peace of mind and then everyone just knows what they’re doing. There’s something about the building game that can be a bit ad hoc and disorganised.”
What does your amazing space look like?
“I’ve got a garden studio, which is a nice little hidden bolthole. I’ve also got my cabin up in the Lake District. Actually, that’s not so hidden, because it was on TV. In the final episode of first series of Amazing Spaces, we launched my renovated caravan, which I’d bought for £300. I got 10 years out of that. Then on the 10th anniversary of Amazing Spaces, we decided to say goodbye to it; it was recycled and we designed and built a new eco cabin on the same site during series 11. The caravan was on a National Trust site and the National Trust want to be zero carbon by 2030, so I designed a replacement to show how sustainable and ecological it could be compared to the caravan. I love it. I get in the car, I leave London, drive for five hours to the Lake >>
District. I love being in the mountains and I turn up to my very very simple 30ft x 9ft structure. It’s an arts and crafts inspired cabin with stained glass windows, a vaulted ceiling inside and William Morris detailing. There’s no TV, just books and an ethanol fire; it’s my hideaway and I love being in the Lakes.”
Is there one amazing space from the series that stands out?
“That’s impossible for me to answer. If I was making a series that was just about doing up houses, you’d probably be able to pick out your favourite. But Amazing Spaces is so diverse, how can I choose between someone turning an airplane cockpit into an amazing space over someone who’s built a bunker underground or a treehouse, or a camper van, turned a military truck into an amazing space? But to be honest, that is the beauty of the series, and that’s why it’s been around for so long. I genuinely couldn’t give you my favourite. And I know the series inspires people. The small space revolution was just beginning when we stared the series in 2012. These places were already out there, so we didn’t start this, but we’ve certainly encouraged it. We’ve just filmed a young lad called Eli Baxter, he’s 17 year old and he’s back with his second amazing space in this next series. We filmed his first one last time when he was 16 but he was just three years old when I started making Amazing Spaces. That makes me feel really old.”
You campaign on a lot of important issues, do you feel like you have a responsibility to shine a light on certain things?
“No, not really. The word ‘responsibility’ is a bit heavy, but I suppose I feel like someone needs to speak up sometimes. In 2011 I did this big campaign about empty homes. I couldn’t understand why we have so many in the UK when we’ve got over a million people on the housing waiting list. Why aren’t we building more genuinely affordable homes for social rent? More recently I talk about the housing crisis, and I work with young kids. I launched an educational charity called Mobie with the aim of inspiring young kids to reshape the homes and communities of the future. So no, I don’t view it as a responsibility, but it’s certainly a passion."
What do you do in your downtime?
“I love to read and I try to switch off from technology because I’m not a big fan of it. I take a lot of holidays. From Monday to Friday I’m living in a hotel, living out of a suitcase. But when I get home for the weekend I switch off from everything. I’m also one of those people that finishes a holiday and needs to know when the next one is. I’ve even planned my holiday for next summer. It’s a privilege doing this job and I have no time to get bored!”
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“First and foremost, let’s repurpose and recycle what we’ve got, then let’s build on brown field sites in the right places that won’t destroy any genuinely beautiful countryside. ”
George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces returns to Channel 4 for series 13 in early 2025.
For more information on George’s charity Mobie head to mobie.org.uk
George’s book for the Little Experts series titled How To Build A Home with illustrations by Robert Sea-Heng is published by Harper Collins.
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property
Studio Andante, Avoriaz
Tastefully renovated and spanning 20.32m2, this typical Avoriaz studio apartment is located in the centre of the resort, just opposite the excellent Village des Enfants ski school and provides a cosy mountain retreat. Ski-in, ski-out location is perfect for your holidays, while the views from the large windows are sublime. There’s a separate toilet, bathroom, living area and a smart, fully-equipped kitchen; there’s also a handy ski locker and storage on a lower level of the building, from which you also have ski-in, ski-out access.
Discover eight unique lodges inside the brand new Kangto development at the heart of this vibrant, four seasons mountain village. Varying in size from three bed to five bed and each featuring exclusive interiors and first class fixtures and fittings, apartments range in size from 84m2 to 152m2. You’re just 150m from the ski lifts of Mont Chery and the amenities of the village are on your door step. Each lodge comes complete with storage cellars and ski lockers, 4* hotel services and access to the spa and swimming area at Annapurna, just next door.
Chalet Altevue is a modern, semi-detached chalet in Essert Romand, built in 2021. It is found on a quiet, no-through road just minutes from the village centre. Constructed to meet the latest stringent energy requirements, it received a C rating on its DPE report, making it thermally efficient and low-cost to run. The chalet offers unobstructed panoramic views of the village and surrounding mountains. It is a bright, modern chalet with fantastic views.
MORE INFO:
Mountain Base - Knight Frank +33 (0) 4 80 96 50 03 | sales@mountain-base.com mountain-base.com/chalet-altevue
In the ever-evolving world of the local property market, there’s one thing on which you can be sure; there’s always variety in the range of properties for sale at any moment in time. Whether you’re looking for a simple, lock-up and leave holiday apartment for your weekend adventures, a larger family forever home in the mountains or a renovation project on which you can get your creative juices flowing, you’re sure to find it in Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz or the surrounding Vallee d’Aulps. Here’s a selection of some of our favourites for sale right now.
€185,000
From €1,045,000
€720,000
€1,800,000
Chalet La Côte d’Arbroz
Magnificent farmhouse renovated into a luxurious chalet in the heart of the village of La Côte d’Arbroz, just a few minutes from Morzine and the Portes du Soleil. A 4-room apartment on the ground floor with terrace and sumptuous view allows immediate rental profitability. The chalet part upstairs offers a sublime living room with exposed cathedral beams, breathtaking volumes and resolutely high-end materials. In the annex, a cellar, a double garage and a charming mazot converted into a studio!
MORE INFO: Agence My Home in the Alps - Lucy Pilcher +33 (0)6 95 73 17 79 | info@mhita.com myhomeinthealps.com
€300,000
Les Chalets des Mouilles, la forclaz
This chalet offers a unique renovation opportunity in a sunny, peaceful hamlet. The substantial property includes a 4-floor main house, built in the 1950s, with multiple living spaces and a second building with stables, a barn and a living area. Both require full renovation. Situated on a 1650m² plot, the properties offer stunning views and potential for multiple dwellings, subject to permissions. Located 20 minutes from Lake Geneva and the Portes du Soleil ski resorts.
For a free valuation of your property, please contact the team.
Mountain Base | Knight Frank 185 rue du Bourg 74110 MORZINE sales@mountain-base.com +33 4 80 96 50 03
MORZINE - CHAMONIX - LES HOUCHES
The Farmhouse, St Jean d’Aulps
Exclusive to Wendy’s Houses! Charming farmhouse for sale in St Jean D’Aulps, with a sunny aspect and a spacious characterful undeveloped barn for conversion on the upper floor. On the ground floor is an apartment of approx. 80 m² with fantastic renovation potential and an air source heating system newly installed in 2023. The farmhouse features a very attractive garden with two Mazots to renovate. Close to the ski station and situated on the road up to the Roc d’Enfer, and on the bus route.
Recently renovated by an architect to carefully consider the space and functionality, this beautiful apartment centres around a bright living room which opens onto a west-facing balcony complete with superb views over the village and beyond. Elsewhere there’s a beautifully built and fully-equipped kitchen and dining space followed by two double bedrooms, each of which can accommodate three people. One bedroom also has access to a balcony. There’s a shower room, a bath room and a separate toilet, all within a wellkept residence in the centre of the village.
Two private, new-build chalets to be ready in time for the 2025/26 winter season, Kandahar overlooks the rooftops of Les Gets, offering panoramic views in a quiet, residential neighbourhood. Both chalets are to be constructed from the highest quality materials, offering the most up to date in-home technology and utilising the skills of an experienced interior design team. Accommodation is arranged over three levels with underground parking and storage in each chalet, open plan living spaces and bedrooms occupy the upper floors.
Chalet Austin is a nice, modern chalet in Morzine, built in 2016 and situated just a 20-minute walk from the heart of Morzine centre. It boasts unobstructed panoramic views across Morzine and the surrounding mountains. With four spacious en-suite bedrooms, each featuring a generous, modern bathroom, the chalet offers both comfort and style. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the chalet showcase the breathtaking views, while vaulted ceilings in the bedrooms enhance the sense of space.
A rare property for sale in an exceptional location. Discover this large property divided into 3 apartments in the centre of Montriond village with large building plot. Whether for a main residence, a vacation home or a rental investment, it offers great potential and an ideal location. This highly sought-after and central area guarantees you calm, sunshine, proximity to shops and will facilitate your access to the Portes du Soleil ski areas.
MORE INFO: Agence My Home in the Alps +33 (0) 9 54 76 22 30 | info@mhita.com myhomeinthealps.com
Chalet Laydevant, essert romand
This charming farmhouse in Essert Romand, minutes from MorzineAvoriaz, boasts a kitchen-living room, two double bedrooms (one divisible), a bathroom, WC and walk-in cellar. A barn on the first floor offers fantastic potential for conversion. The property features a well-kept garden, parking for 2-3 vehicles, and a traditional Savoyard mazot. Situated on a quiet lane near a ski bus stop, it combines Alpine tranquility with proximity to Morzine's vibrant amenities and activities.
Immaculately presented, ground floor four bedroom apartment with a very attractive south-facing landscaped garden for sale, exclusive to Wendy’s Houses. Situated in a small private residence of three apartments in the sought after area of L’Ele in Montriond, which is a quiet and sunny location offering easy access to Montriond and Morzine villages, and to Ardent telecabine with direct access to Avoriaz. Renovated in 2018/2019, sold furnished and with a secure integral garage for small car.
Owned and remodelled by architects, this could be one of the most unique and exciting properties for sale in our valley right now. Renovated with refinement and with enough space to sleep 20 people, inside you’ll discover a cinema room, several extra special children’s bunk rooms, elegant, open plan living spaces and several double bedrooms too. There are multiple balconies and a large main terrace complete with hot tub, from which you can ski in and out of the property. This is a rare gem in the Portes du Soleil!
Chalet Chéry is a beautiful 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom chalet in the popular Chavannes area of Les Gets. In an elevated position, the chalet has impressive, panoramic views over the valley across to the peaks of Mont Chéry, which can be enjoyed from the various balconies and terrace. This is a very nicely renovated chalet in an enviable position. It is a 15-minute walk down to the town centre, with the ski and night bus passing close to the chalet.
MORE INFO: Mountain Base - Knight Frank +33 (0) 4 80 96 50 03 | sales@mountain-base.com mountain-base.com/chalet-chery
Chalet Explorer, les gets
Superb chalet with luxury services and refined decoration for sale in Les Gets facing the slopes of La Turche. Everything has been thought out down to the smallest detail to offer you six beautiful ensuite bedrooms and high-end equipment in the heart of the Portes du Soleil. After a day in the great outdoors, recharge your batteries in the sauna followed by a few bubbles in the outdoor jacuzzi. At the Explorer chalet, to go skiing or mountain biking, nothing could be simpler, just cross the road to access the area.
MORE INFO: Agence My Home in the Alps +33 (0) 9 54 76 22 30 | info@mhita.com myhomeinthealps.com
€795,000
€3,175,000
€1,495,000
€2,400,000
€128,000
Appt le Relais S4, st jean d'aulps
This beautifully renovated ground-floor studio in the "Le Relais" residence offers tranquility in the heart of the ski resort. Overlooking woodland, the apartment features a new kitchen, bathroom, heating, and furnishings, plus a dedicated sleeping area, dining space, and a large west-facing terrace for al fresco dining or summer barbecues. Included are a spacious storage cave and access to a communal car park. Just 100m from the cable car and near resort amenities, it's a perfect alpine retreat.
Charming, detached chalet for sale, located just a short walk to the Chavannes pistes and the Les Gets lake. Built by a renowned local builder and has been a private home since construction. Immaculately presented, interior and exterior, four double en-suite bedrooms and spacious TV/ cinema room. With attractive landscaped gardens, mountain views, exterior jacuzzi and wrap around balcony. Integral large garage. Rarely available in this prime location.
• Seasonal renters commit to longer contracts, offering a more stable and predictable income than the fluctuating returns of weekly rentals.
• You receive the majority of the rental revenue upfront, prior to the start of the season.
• Factors like demand and weather can significantly impact weekly rentals, resulting in less financial certainty.
LOWER VACANCY RISK
• Seasonal renters book in advance, reducing the risk of empty weeks or months
LOWER TURNOVER AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK
• No requirement for check-ins/check-outs, cleaning, or guest communications.
• Avoid expensive cleaning and changeover costs.
UTILITY SAVINGS
• Seasonal renters cover utility costs, including heating, water, and electricity, while weekly rentals often include utilities, which can lead to higher costs if guests aren't mindful of usage.
Beds n Board are specialists in winter and summer seasonal accommodation and have been operating in the Alps for over a decade.
If you are interested in listing your property for seasonal rental please contact us
The team at Berchen, who are based in Morzine and create and craft stylish, bespoke kitchens, have shared their insights into the top kitchen trends for the 2025 winter season; it’s all about integrating bars and sophisticated drinks cabinets, as Helen Lavendar from Berchen explains.
“More and more, we are receiving requests from clients and interior designers to incorporate party-ready spaces within the kitchen so that our clients can enjoy apres-ski with their family and friends in the comfort of their chalet. These can range from elaborate mirrored drinks cabinets, complete with wine coolers, ice makers, and cocktail stations, to fully integrated bars that flow seamlessly from the kitchen area. It’s all about creating a warm, social space where everyone can gather, relax, drink, and enjoy food after a long day on the slopes.
To make these bar areas stand out from the kitchen, we use unique materials and design elements not typically seen in traditional kitchen craftsmanship. One of our favourites is ALPI, a wood composite applied like a veneer, available in a variety of stunning colours, textures and finishes that combine designer patterns with the natural elegance of wood. ALPI collaborates with a number of celebrated designers including Piero Lissoni, an architect, art director and designer, famous for his realisation of the ShangriLa Shougang Park in Beijing for the 2021 Winter Olympics. For bar tops we opt for industrial metals, vibrant quartzites, and timeless granites. Every bar is personalised and custom-built in collaboration with our clients, sometimes even designed to fit their favourite champagne flutes or bottles of liquor.”
To see examples of Berchen’s work visit: www.berchen.co
trending
- interiors -
Autumn is often the busiest time for shep&kyles design as we work on final design details and furnishings for our projects. For this installment of my regular trending interiors article, I am highlighting six products that are currently inspiring us.
Pols Potten is a Dutch brand who offer a fresh take on decorative art. Stylish, timeless, yet with playful bursts of shape and colour, we love their decorative accessories. Bubbles and Bottles are a perfect example. Hand crafted, they work particularly well as a central grouping and are available in a variety of colours and sizes.
Saunas are now featuring highly on our client wish-lists. Not only are they increasingly recognised for their health benefits, but an outdoor barrel sauna means that they do not need to take up valuable internal space in a chalet. They also smell wonderful – especially the cedar models! Simply Spas have options to suit everyone – including those with panoramic domes so that you can appreciate the beautiful mountain scenery whilst relaxing inside.
Described by The Times as "The antidote to bland decor", Rockett St George was launched in 2007 and are famed for their quirky furniture and accessories. We currently love the collection of aged style mirrors, especially the Absinthe, Bières et Vins model. À la santé everyone!
kyles garrett interior architect shepandkyles.com
Rocket St George Decorative Mirrors rockettstgeorge.co.uk
Simply Spas Barrel Sauna simplyspas-alps.com
Pols Potten Bubbles and Bottles polspotten.com
We are constantly on the lookout for small yet stylish armchairs and once again Roche Bobois have come up with a gem. The Hubba is by the Ukrainian designer Andrii Kovalskyi, has a boldly rounded form, comes in a variety of colours and fabrics and also has a cute matching footstool.
William Yeoward Paint Collection williamyeoward.com
Perennial shep&kyles favourite Bocci have just released their 100 series in a beautiful pale pink. And it is simply gorgeous! To create these sculptural pendant lights, several glassblowers work in unison to form interlocking glass spheres. These ethereal clusters are beautiful when displayed in multiples and we can’t wait to use them!
Bold painted walls are a key element on our projects and we are thrilled that William Yeoward have recently launched a paint collection of 114 sumptuous colours. High quality and beautifully manufactured, their collection covers our favourite hues, tones and shades. As one would expect, their blues are particularly lovely (we currently have Deep Teal on two of our projects!), whilst our absolute favourite is Grey Ink – a fabulously rich dark grey.
Bocci 100 Series in Pink bocci.com
Roche Bobois Hubba Armchair roche-bobois.com
THE WINTER 2024
REPORT property market
by gareth jefferies marketing director at alpine-property.com
It's November ’24 and we are looking forward to the upcoming winter season. We have just had three wonderful weeks of Indian summer here in the mountains. The valley towns of Thonon, Cluses and often Taninges on the other hand have spent those three weeks under the cloud whilst we have been living under the most wonderful sunshine. This gave us a chance to reflect on what was a rather short and sweet summer. We had a very long, cold spring and an election in both the UK and France. Finally the weather started to improve in July and finally came good for the Olympics at the end of the month. The opening ceremony was really unlucky, being held under a downpour, but it was not a huge surprise to us. The following weeks were excellent in the Alps, resorts were very busy with people on holiday too and it felt like everyone was cramming in their summer in one go. The summer broke early and we ended up with one of the wettest Octobers on record!
All of the above matters when it comes to discussions on the local property market and traditionally, an election will suppress a housing market too. The Olympics, two elections, the weather… this summer we had everything! The Ukraine war still rumbles on and the Middle East is a mess, coupled with the worries of a wider war with Iran. So it may come as no surprise to learn that it has been a slow property market in 2024 when compared to previous summers. There was a definite boost at the end of the summer, but the market is still generally in the doldrums. Trump has now been elected in the US, the currency
markets think this will hit the euro harder than the pound, this now means the pound is at its strongest against the euro since around 2016.
Difficulties with mortgages have now eased however and rates at below 4% have become the norm. They might come down a touch more, but no big changes are expected in the near term. One interesting development that has occurred with mortgages has been to do with the DPE (Energy Performance Diagnosis) ratings. These play a crucial role in assessing the energy efficiency of buildings and properties. Anyone interested in buying,
selling or renting a property will know that the DPE is a really important piece of the jigsaw. Some mortgage companies are saying that before they will lend on a property with a DPE in categories F/G (the two lowest levels), the purchaser will have to show that they have the money to bring the property up to at least D or E category. If they haven’t got the cash for this, the bank will suggest an “Éco-Prêt à Taux Zéro" or Éco-PTZ (Zero-Interest Eco-Loan) but these are only available to French residents.
I take part in a regular Q & A podcast. One of the regular questions is about “taxes on Brits
with second homes”, I assume this is something that is written about in the UK papers. I do still follow some of the UK press, but obviously not the ‘right’ publications. As far as I know, there are no taxes aimed at British second home owners. I can only assume they are referring to the taxe d’habitation. This is a tax that is now only paid on properties other than a main residence and that includes French second home owners too! The local councils have been given permission to increase this tax by up to 60%. This increase is intended to discourage the use of housing as secondary homes in areas where affordable housing is scarce. So this means that some second home owners have seen big increases in this tax. The average cost of the tax was around 500€ to 1000€, so we are now talking of taxes between 800€ and 1500€ in some areas. It is very variable, so it’s a question to ask when looking at a new property. Don’t be fobbed off by a bill issued in 2023 either. You need to see the “avis d’imposition" for 2024, they are being issued as I write this.
“Trump has now been elected in the US, the currency markets think this will hit the euro harder than the pound...”
And then there’s the plan for upgrading the Morzine ski area over the next 25 years. You will see that this has been spoken about elsewhere in the magazine, and you might remember Alpine Property’s commitment to 1% for the Planet. What do we think about all this development? Is it sustainable? It’s yet another conundrum that we have to deal with. On one hand, continual development undermines our commitment to our environment. On the other hand, continual development can seem to clash with our commitment to environmental responsibility. However, the reality is that the ski and holiday industry is a key reason why many of us are here. We rely on this industry for our livelihoods and community, and that creates a tension. If I had unlimited resources, I might choose to be in a quiet, uninhabited part of the Alps, Scotland, or Wales. But here we are, and we must balance our dedication to the environment with the economic reality. While we support the region's efforts to plan for the future, we believe that expansion must have its limits. Personally, I have joined demonstrations opposing further expansion, as I feel strongly about preserving what we have. At the same time, I support making the best possible use of our current infrastructure. Improvements to what already exists can, and should, be done in the most ecologically responsible waytaking into account the practicalities of running a business.
The way I see it, it’s a bit like electric vehicles (EVs). EVs aren’t perfect for the environment, but they’re still better than the combustion engine. Ideally, we would all walk, cycle or take the train, but if that isn’t possible, then driving an electric car is the next best choice. Similarly, while expansion may be unnecessary, upgrading and optimising our infrastructure within ecological constraints is a responsible compromise.
DECO D,EN HAUT
Located in the heart of Morzine, our showroom offers a warm and welcoming setting, perfect for exploring the latest trends in decoration.
At Deco d’en Haut, we believe that your project deserves to be unique and reflect your personality. From the design to the realisation of turnkey projects, our team offers customised solutions to meet your needs.
Meet Laurane and Julie, interior decorators, who are ready to welcome you in our Showroom • Boutique à Morzine.
news PROPERTY
A New Website for Wendy’s Houses
In an effort to streamline your search for a new home in the mountains, the team at Wendy’s Houses have revised their website, making it easier for you to view properties in a range of different criteria, from location to budget and beyond. They’ve also added a wealth of useful information to their website, including guides on how to buy your first home in France, interior design tips, how to work with French mortgage brokers and more. Wendy and her team have been selling homes in our valley since 2005. This is a family business specialising in providing local knowledge to international buyers and you’ll find a tonne of inspiration on the new website. Head to wendyshouses.com
Beneath the (very friendly and knowledgable) Gabrieli Carriages tile shop in Morzine you’ll find the brand new fire place showroom of Art & Feu. Featuring a huge range of different fires and stoves from brands including Jøtul Stoves, Barbas/Bellefires wood and gas fireplaces and Glammfire bioethanol, electric and water vapour fireplaces, there’s certainly plenty of choice. From the traditional to the contemporary, there’s also a larger showroom in Thonon-lesBains, just 40 minutes away. For more information and contact details, head to artetfeu.fr. You’ll find the Morzine showroom at 388 route des Grandes Alpes.
Art & Feu
The Hub
Renovations for Rental
Cat and Chris at Ski Cosy Property specialise in building renovations and upgrades specifically for owners looking to offer their alpine home on the holiday rental market. They provide one single point of contact throughout the renovation process, advising on things like layout, facilities and decoration to help you maximise the returns of your property. Once finished, you can even enlist the help of the Ski Cosy holiday rentals and property management team to market your property, manage cleaning and changeover services and undertake regular property maintenance inspections too. For more details head to skicosyproperty.com.
Considering a seasonal rental?
There’s no shying away from the fact that our valley has an affordable accommodation problem. Many seasonal resort workers find it difficult to secure places to stay during the winter season, or all year round for that matter. If you’re a second home owner, you might be interested in renting your home on a seasonal basis to a company such as Beds n Board. They’ll work with you to determine a rental rate, they’ll manage the process of finding tenants and they’ll administer the whole thing on your behalf. For more details head to bedsnboard.com
who is BY
KEEPING AN EYE ON YOUR SECOND HOME
in Morzine, Les Gets or the Vallee d’Aulps?
Your much-loved holiday home in the French Alps is often your escape; your retreat in the mountains and your precious bolthole; but what happens when you're not here? Owning a second property in Morzine, Les Gets or the surrounding valley is a dream for many, but often that means your investment is left unattended for extended periods, especially during the off season.
As idyllic as the mountains are, properties - especially empty ones - are vulnerable to the same risks as those in any city across the world. They could be damaged by the weather for example, water leaks or by other maintenance problems.
Whilst our valley is a relatively safe destination, burglaries and squatters are not unheard of. During 2023 alone, there were 44,000 burglaries of second homes reported in France, while extreme weather events triggered 987 red or orange weather warnings across the country.
At the same time, second home insurance policies vary in their coverage; you may not be aware that leaving your home unattended for 15, 30 or even 45 days at a time can invalidate your policy, leaving you without insurance coverage should your home be damaged.
The KeyMasters Solution: Peace of mind for second home owners
We offer a trusted and professional second home monitoring service, giving you peace of mind that your second home is being taken care of in your absence. KeyMasters carries out regular, tailored property inspections that not only ensure that your property insurance remains valid; we make sure that your investment stays protected too.
A KeyMasters agent will visit your property at a frequency to suit you. This can be monthly or even every two weeks. During the inspection, they will complete a comprehensive checklist, covering everything from utility and functionality checks to flagging potential issues like storm damage, vandalism or plumbing failures. The concept is simple; KeyMasters, gives you peace of mind when you're miles away. Every property inspection is fully documented along with timestamped photos and videos. By logging into the KeyMasters secure client portal you will find each
detailed inspection log, offering a proof of visit. This keeps your insurance valid and gives you visibility on your mountain home from afar.
By keeping a regular eye on the essentials, KeyMasters can help you avoid any costly repairs or maintenance issues that might be waiting for you when you next arrive at your mountain home. KeyMasters agents can also empty your postbox and upload any important letters with the inspection reports.
Why Choose KeyMasters?
KeyMasters is a team of locally-based, qualified and experienced property professionals. We understand the unique needs of mountain properties and the risks associated with owning them. We can become your trusted partner, caring as much for your second home as you do. For more details head to www.key-masters.com and discover how KeyMasters will monitor your mountain home so you can rest easy, knowing your property is in expert hands.
•
CHALET LES
THROUGH THE KEYHOLE AT sapins
LES GETS
Were we to judge Chalet Les Sapins by the old adage ‘location, location, location,’ it would surely be best in class. Perched on the side of the valley and overlooking the rooftops of Les Gets, this beautiful property sits just metres from the pistes. Like me, you might glide past on your skis and wonder what it’s like inside; what it’s like to own a custombuilt ski chalet right on the piste. Fortunately owner Keith Harrison alongside architectural designer Kyles Garrett of shep&kyles design were happy to take me through the keyhole.
Keith, what motivated you to built a chalet in Les Gets?
We had been looking across the French Alps for the right place to build a chalet for sometime and had been to Morzine on numerous occasions, but it was really Les Gets that captured our hearts. It is a rare magical gem of a village that is only just over an hour from Geneva airport and manages to tick all the boxes whether during the winter ski season or during the buzzing summer. There is something for everyone, be it hanging-out with friends or relaxing together as a family. It’s also higher in elevation than neighbouring Morzine, we love the picturesque ski runs and the exciting luge through the trees, and of course the vast network of biking and hiking trails. Les Gets itself has a wonderful village vibe, with a gorgeous old town and winter ice rink, great boutiques, plenty of restaurants and stunning views. Principally, what attracted us to build Les Sapins was its locationstrolling out of the chalet, we can very quickly be on the piste in the winter, swimming in the lake in the summer or just enjoying an apèro in the village at the end of the day.
How will you personally use the chalet?
We built Chalet Les Sapins very much as a cosy home from home; for us to spend time together as a family. We have a fabulous, large, sunny terrace and garden, so lazing in the sunshine and sharing long summery lunches at home or in one of the wonderful mountain restaurants is as much fun as curling up in front of the crackling fire on a snowy winter day. Whether with our kids, our friends or as couple, we also love visiting for long weekends in the spring and autumn because life just seems to slow down at those times of year and the colours of the changing seasons are just breathtaking.
Which is your favourite part of the chalet?
For our youngest child, it is unquestionably the cinema and games room, but the older kids love working out to music in the gym which, with its floor to ceiling back-lit mirror, just makes it a great space to train. I think my wife loves nothing more than being out on the deck in the garden with a good book, gazing at the skiers or bikers swishing down the slopes through the pine trees. Personally, I love the main living area, not just for the wonderful views of Mont Chèry, but because it’s the magnet that draws everyone together, whether relaxing on the fireside sofa, gathered around the breakfast bar for evening drinks, or sat around the dining table enjoying a good meal it epitomises exactly what the chalet is all abouttime with family and friends.
What advice would you give to anyone considering building a chalet in the Alps?
Other than the obvious advice of selecting a great builder (we used Kévin Jeandin) and plot, if there are three top things to get right and invest in, I’d say choose the best wood you can because it defines the chalet, invest in getting the lighting right >>
because it creates the ambience, and most important of all, and singularly the best thing we did, was find super-star interior architect and designer – Kyles of shep&kyles design. A native English speaker but fluent in french due to living and working in the area for decades, Kyles’ reputation spoke for itself and she became our voice and go-to on almost everything. This encompassed space and room layout, liaising with Kévin and all the contractors, sourcing absolutely everything from kitchen units to bathroom tiles, taps and sinks, the ski room furniture and living room fireplace not to mention designing the lighting, sourcing the wood and of course all the soft furnishings tooshe even helped with the landscaping! We knew from looking at her project portfolio that she had an amazing eye for creating that chalet wowfactor but what we really admired the most was her wonderful ability to listen to what we wanted and to always steer us in the right direction.
Kyles, the chalet’s layout had already been determined on this project, what modifications did you make?
We were appointed to this project as design consultants by the client. They had purchased Chalet Les Sapins off-plan and wanted us to be involved in honing the design, in the choice of materials and fixtures, and then the interior design of the chalet.
We began by looking at the proposed layout of the chalet, tweaking, adding and tailoring it to the requirements of our clients. We re-designed the boot room, added a cinema/games room, and laundry room, then reconfigured the top floor of the chalet into a master suite with a large, south facing bedroom, bathroom, dressing area and adjacent study/snug. We also opened up the main floor of the chalet to create an open plan salon/dining area/kitchen across the whole level. In addition to reconfiguring the interior space, we designed the electrical and lighting plans for the chalet, specified the bathrooms and kitchen, and determined the chalet finishes, including the wooden structure, cladding and internal finishes.
One of our tasks was to add bespoke details to the chalet. We designed a feature staircase – a bespoke stair design teamed with minimalist glass balustrades and an illuminated stone rear wall. This rises up through all four levels of the chalet, with a nine-metre long central glass chandelier. We added a glass floor section to the living area, allowing light from the adjacent south facing terrace down to the corridor of the bedroom level below. As part of the top floor re-design we included a beautiful copper Catchpole and Rye bath and a walk-in dressing room. Bespoke cabinetry was designed for the bedrooms, for the salon/dining area and for the boot room. Finally we created a well-appointed gym with large back-lit mirror with “arrowslit” internal windows – an unifying feature for the lower level of the chalet.
Which signature shep&kyles design details are on display here?
Every project we design is unique and specific to the architecture of the property and desires of our clients. However, over the years we have developed a style with some signature shep&kyles design elements that clients often request. Our key colour palette is one of our identifying elements, and was an initial request from the client - vieux bois (old wood) teamed with deep, painted walls, custom designed cabinetry and a lot of glass! In their wish-list, the clients also referenced our previous bathroom designs, and bespoke vieux bois niche units. As always, we created a multi-layered lighting scheme throughout with striking feature light fittings.
The chalet has stunning views, does that influence how you design the interiors?
Chalet Les Sapins is beautifully located. It is ski-in (the piste runs above the chalet garden), it has incredible views across towards Mont Chèry, is very sunny at all times of the year, it is located in a quiet location and has a large garden. We were >>
incredibly lucky to have all of these pluses! Maximising the light and the views were key – the guest bedrooms have balconies and amazing views across to Mont Chèry, while the master bedroom has an elevated south-facing view of the garden. The main living floor has views to both sides – a balcony with the mountain views and the garden on the opposite side. We maximised this with large balcony doors and a large dining terrace.
How has this chalet been designed to be multi-season?
In addition to the specifications of the chalet itself, we worked with the clients on a comprehensive design for the garden. The owners love outdoor living and as the property has a large south-facing garden that backs onto the piste, we wanted to create a space where you can relax and entertain. The hardwood deck accommodates loungers and a large dining table, there is a split level grassed garden and a multi-level leisure area with a sunken spa and steps up to a panoramic barrel sauna. Both have spectacular views across the mountains. There is a natural stream to the side of the garden and a comprehensive planting scheme including evergreens, shrubs, a wild flower field and aromatics.
You’ll find more details on local projects by shep&kyles design at shepandkyles.com
It’s possible to stay at Chalet Les Sapins in Les Gets via the Boutique Chalet Company. For more details head to theboutiquechalet.com
At Mountain Weddings, we create weddings for couples seeking an unforgettable celebration amidst the stunning peaks of the French Alps. Specializing in picturesque alpine locations , including the charming resort town of Morzine, we o er bespoke mountain top weddings with a twist of adventure and a whole lot of fun.
Visit www.mountainweddings.co.uk to start planning your Morzine wedding today.
Have we made a difference?
By Tony Soutter
I have to tell you, it was never easy for me to go on national TV and talk so frankly about my late daughter. I’ve taken part in media articles, made presentations at snow shows, I’ve probably even met a few of you during my relentless drive to find funding for The Ellie Soutter Foundation. I’ve been humbled by the generosity of so many of you, donating your time, money and products so we can continue our work. I’m also surrounded by an amazing team of committee members and volunteers; this charity wouldn’t exist without them.
Ellie took her own life in 2018, on her 18th birthday. That might feel like a harsh detail for me to share with you, but it’s an important one. She was a professional snowboarder, all of her dreams were coming true. She’d been selected to represent Team GB at the Youth Olympic Winter Games and her future was incredibly bright. She was fanatical about free ride and soon found herself ascending the rankings of the Junior Freeride World Tour. In 2017 she became Vice Champion of the World. She’d also sustained a number of concussions during training sessions and in competitions in the months before she died. It’s now my belief that these concussions contributed to her mental health and subsequently her death.
I decided to set up a legacy foundation while still grieving and struggling myself. My brother explained that I now had a clear mission - to prevent Ellie’s struggles from happening to another child. Ellie was a very sensitive young woman, she cared way more about everyone else’s wellbeing than her own. She especially worried about me and she hated the financial sacrifices I had to make to get her to training camps, competitions, buy her kit and more. This was a really big issue for Ellie. She also had to endure the pressures of elite competition, and although you wouldn’t have thought it, she hated being in the spotlight. How could I help other aspiring winter sports athletes in both of these areas? Financially and mentally…
The Ellie Soutter Foundation now uses funds raised during events, through corporate sponsorship and through the sale of our #Riding2Win merchandise to support the careers of our athlete team. Ellie would be incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made and the athletes we support. It’s my pleasure to alleviate the financial burden on parents too, Ellie hated that so much. So whilst it’s important for me to look right back to the beginnings of a charity I started in memory of my daughter, it’s equally important for me to consider our successes to date and our hopes for the future. Have we made a difference? I really do believe so.
“How could I help other aspiring winter sports athletes in both of these areas? Financially and mentally…”
Our Athletes:
Our athletes team at the moment consists of Team GB freestyle snowboarder Charlie Lane, Alpine ski racer Xavier Poynton and Team GB snowboard world cup team member Maisie Hill. They’re all set for a fantastic winter season this year, so look out for them! The foundation is also extremely proud of our previous grant-funded athletes including Team GB world cup bordercross athlete Maisie Potter and the current FIS freestyle snowboard World Champion Mia Brookes. I truly feel that our foundation has contributed to their success and I’m sure that you’ll see one - if not two - of these guys at the next Winter Olympics.
Our Partners:
As I mentioned, Ellie loved being part of the Freeride World Tour. She was part of the family there, where the athletes and the organisers looked out for each other. Their set up is really fantastic. I was very proud when they made The Ellie Soutter Foundation an official charity partner in 2022. We now provide their athletes with ImPact Baseline concussion assessments, host workshops and support their wellbeing too.
Our Workshops:
Ellie’s Safe House is a local initiative, it’s role is to support people in our own mountain communities. We want to help the parents of teenagers so none of them go through the things Ellie’s mother Lorraine and I have been though. We host workshops for season workers, teenagers and their parents, organise ‘walk and talk’ sessions and open water swims, and we’re joined by mental health professionals who can really make a difference.
Our Concussion Tests:
I knew nothing about concussion baseline tests when Ellie was competing. We now partner with ImPact Baseline, providing simple and easy to use testing kits for everyone to perform in normal conditions. Should you have a bang on the head while skiing - or in any environment - your baseline test can be used to assess the extent of any concussion, then medical treatment can be tailored towards your own injuries. These tests are such an important breakthrough. >>
Meet Xavier Poynton
Discipline: Alpine Ski Racing Age: 14
I’m going to hand over to some of our athletes so they can introduce themselves and tell you more about how we’ve helped them.
Claire, Xavier's Mum: “We are not a wealthy family. We have lost sleep over ski bills but we have a young boy who, despite injury, autism and limited opportunities compared to most in the sport, has never taken anything for granted; it’s just driven him to work harder. Without funding from The Ellie Soutter Foundation, we would have to tell Xav that, despite everything he’s achieved, the effort he has put in and the sacrifices we have all made, he’d have to give up. Xav is part of the GB Children’s Team, which shows he has the ability. The funding from the Foundation allows him to realise his dreams and show the world what anyone can achieve with support and determination. Xavier will never be able to express enough gratitude for the impact Ellie and the Foundation have had on our family.”
Meet Charlie Lane
Discipline: Snowboard Freestyle Age: 17
Says Charlie: “I use the grant funding from Tony and the Ellie Soutter Foundation to help pay for my travel, accommodation and coaching fees and my mum and dad are working seven days a week to try and support my dream. Seeing the world, visiting amazing places and meeting incredible people is the best thing about being a professional athlete. I’ve made some friends for life. But the hardest thing is being away from home, a lot of the time I’m on my own - it’s a tough life for everyone, both emotionally and financially. Tony is a great ambassador for our sport, his enthusiasm is amazing and he’s become a close friend. It’s fun to have him with me at free ride events and he often visits when I’m on training camps too. We thank him and his foundation for their support.”
Career highlight to date: European Youth Games slopestyle gold medalist, big air silver medalist
Meet Maisie Hill
Discipline: Snowboard Freestyle Age: 22
Says Maisie: “I started snowboarding when I was around 10 years old. My dad was super into surfing back in the day; he wanted to try something new so took me with him! Snowboarding is definitely a very mental sport, so learning to have courage every day has been pretty wild but I love it. When Tony first launched The Ellie Soutter Foundation I was considering quitting my ambitions to be a professional snowboarder. It was so expensive and I hated the strain it was putting on my parents. I couldn’t believe it when Tony told me I was receiving the Foundation’s very first grant. It meant I could afford to go on my first training camp and begin to push my limits. The best thing about being a professional athlete is being creative and I definitely love the adrenaline. The worst thing is not knowing whether you can afford your next season and to travel, but the Ellie Soutter Foundation helps me so much. My advice to other young athletes is to never compare yourself to others - comparison is the thief of joy and you’ll never get better if you’re constantly making comparisons.”
“Finally, I just want to say that I went to school with Ellie. We also went to the European Youth Olympics together. She was a year older than me, I always looked up to her, she was so cool. If I’m ever having a hard time, I think of her. I will never give up because I’ve gotta do this for her, if not myself.”
Meet Maisie Potter
Discipline: Snowboard-Cross Age: 27
Says Maisie: “I discovered snowboarding when I was nine years old, after being kicked out of ski club. I was obsessed and had contests every weekend. I was 19 when I joined the Team GB World Cup team and I stayed with them for six years. I had a season-ending injury just two months before the 2018 Winter Olympics; shattering my heel became a long mental battle. This is when the Ellie Soutter Foundation stepped in. They relieved the financial pressures of being a self-funded athlete, without increasing the pressure to perform. They felt like family and they cheered me on. Tony was amazing at arranging the best therapist for me. I’ve since retired from professional racing and I’ve transitioned into coaching, which chanels everything I’ve learned from my own experiences into mentoring the athletes on my team. Their mental wellbeing is my priority.”
Career highlight to date: European Cup 2nd place
MONTY SAYS...
The Piste X Code aims to make us all more considerate on the mountain, avoiding accidents and keeping each other safe. This is a community initiative for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz supported by local businesses.
SKI AND SNOWBOARD WITHIN YOUR ABILITY
Control your speed, avoid other mountain users.
CONSIDER YOUR CHOICE OF PATH
The downhill skier or snowboarder always has the right of way. It’s your responsibility to avoid them. Leave space while passing.
THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU'LL STOP
Always at the side of the piste, never in the middle! And never beneath the brow of a hill.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Look up and down the slope before you set off or re-join the piste.
SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR CHILDREN
Teach children about piste safety and the importance of the Piste X Code.
RESPECT PISTE SIGNS AND MARKINGS
If a piste is closed, it’s closed for your safety. Watch for signs advising you to slow down.
YOUR ROLE IF THERE’S AN ACCIDENT
You are duty bound to assist. Cross your skis upright in the snow above the incident and call 112.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
Be sensible with your alcohol consumption, don’t listen to music on the pistes and never use ski apps that challenge your speed.
Dear Skiers and Snowboarders,
We’re Amie and Louise and in February 2022 we launched the PISTE X CODE, a bilingual campaign to remind everyone of their safety responsibilities on the slopes. We’d both been deeply shocked by the tragic death of a little girl skiing in a neighbouring ski resort in January 2022. As parents ourselves, we’d both noticed a significant increase in the number of out-of-control skiers and snowboarders on our local slopes. The mountains are incredibly beautiful and they’re amazingly good fun for families; we all deserve to be able to enjoy them in a safe way.
Motivated by the support of our local community, we gave ourselves a deadline of just two weeks to produce the entire campaign. With the wonderful help of local videographer George Treble and a raft of ski schools, we filmed a safety video on the pistes of the Super Morzine. BBC Ski Sunday presenter Ed Leigh introduced it for us, while we also cobbled together a website and social media channels to support the campaign. We launched everything on the eve of the February school holidays and we were overwhelmed by the feedback we received.
The winter sports industry needs this campaign but we’re not here to scare you with accident statistics, horror stories and tales of near-misses. That will never be our focus. Instead, we’re implementing positive change around the subject of piste safety, reminding those who learned to ski many years ago about their responsibilities on the slopes and those who are new to the mountains about the etiquette that makes them a safe place to have fun.
Since we launched, our PISTE X CODE campaign has featured in various international ski magazines, in national newspapers, on blogs and websites across the globe. We enlisted the support of POC Sports; it’s their mission to protect the lives and reduce the consequences of accidents for athletes and anyone inspired to be one, so this was an ideal first partnership for our campaign. We were also invited to meet with the various different French government organisations charged with monitoring, managing and improving piste safety across the country and we were pleased to contribute towards their own #PreventionHiver campaign last winter.
This winter we’ve a long list of new projects and initiatives to introduce to you. Firstly, say hello to the Monty pin badge. With the support of several local ski schools, we’ve created Monty in recognition of the piste safety knowledge passed down from instructors to children. Thirteen local ski schools will award Monty to their junior skiers and snowboarders this winter, we hope it inspires them to take piste safety seriously and develop their knowledge as they become more confident on the slopes.
Of course piste safety isn’t just a problem on our local slopes in Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz, so we were delighted when residents of other resorts across the Alps started to get in touch. During Winter 2024 we’ll launch the PISTE X CODE in La Plagne, we’ll begin to create awareness in Tignes and we’ll be represented at events in various other alpine resorts too. Creating a network of motivated PISTE X CODE ambassadors in resorts across Europe is now our focus, so if you’d like to help us amplify our piste safety message in your home resort, we’d love to hear from you.
We were equally thrilled when the Ski Club of Dubai contacted us. They’ve hundreds of members, many of them are regular skiers in Europe too and we’ve just sent them a batch of Monty pin badges to award to the children in their ski lessons.
But perhaps our biggest project to date is launching an animated video aimed specifically at children. The objective is to deliver our piste safety message in an eye-catching, memorable way and we’ve enlisted the help of a professional, award-winning animation company to help us make this happen. As you might imagine, this is an expensive project and we’re hoping to fund it through crowd funding. If you’d like to make a small contribution, tap this QR code and we’ll be eternally grateful for your support!
Please look out for each other on the slopes this winter and please help to spread the PISTE X CODE message whenever you can!
Louise
Amie &
SCAN TO DONATE
A versatile skate shoe that blends comfort, durability and style, this option from Etnies also works brilliantly on the streets of a snowy mountain village. Featuring a durable suede and mesh upper, it offers a breathable yet sturdy design, while the Pro Foam 1 footbed ensures cushioning and support for both skating and casual wear. The high-traction rubber outsole provides excellent grip, while the shoe’s sleek, low-profile design works well whatever the conditions. This is a shoe that can handle everyday life, wherever you happen to be.
These socks are a perfect blend of comfort, style, and performance. Made with a mix of soft cotton and stretchy elastane, they offer a snug, breathable fit that keeps your feet comfortable all day long. The socks feature targeted cushioning for added support in key areas, and the arch support helps reduce foot fatigue. With a stylish design and durable construction, they’re ideal for both casual wear and active use, whether you’re skating, working out, or just lounging.
Michael Henderson
Morzine Source magazine creative director
This is a high-quality, cosy option for both outdoor adventures and casual wear. Made from soft, sustainable fabrics, it offers a comfortable, relaxed fit with a slightly oversized design for added warmth. The hoodie features a unique looped fleece interior, which enhances insulation while remaining breathable. With its minimalist design and eco-friendly materials, it’s perfect for those who appreciate both style and sustainability. Whether you’re layering up for a chilly day or hitting the slopes, the Loop Shred Hoodie combines performance and comfort effortlessly.
This is a durable, versatile belt built for both outdoor adventures and everyday wear. Made from a stretchy, lightweight webbing material, it offers a comfortable, flexible fit that moves with you. The microadjustable buckle ensures a snug, customisable fit, while the design is low-profile and slim, making it ideal for travel or active pursuits. Whether you're hiking, climbing, or just need a reliable belt for daily use, the Atlas Adventure Belt provides excellent support without sacrificing comfort or style. A great choice for those who need performance and practicality in one.
#go penguins
THE STORY OF THE HOCKEY CLUB MORZINE-AVORIAZ
Hockey Club Morzine - as per it’s name when it was founded in 1963 - is one of the oldest ice hockey clubs in France. The game had become popular in the region during the 1930s, when keen sportsmen and women would gather on frozen natural lakes, forming impromptu teams to compete against each other. But it was a handful of Morzine residents who came together at the end of 1963 to officially create the ice hockey club that we know and love today.
The club’s first home was on an open-air ice rink in the centre of the village and in 1966 they bought their first set of perimeter railings from the Swiss club in Chambéry, establishing an enclosed rink for the first time on the banks of the River Dranse. Willy Trolliet became the club’s first salaried player coach, inspiring the young people of Morzine to take to the ice themselves, and to watch their comrades play. His success was incredible; during the late 1960’s and well into the 1970’s, Willy Trolliet trained the players hard, taking the juniors all the way to the national championships. Between 1978 and 1982 the youth team reached the semi finals of the French Championship four years in
a row, loosing each time to their rivals in Gap. They finally became national champions in 1979.
During the decades that followed, Hockey Club Morzine’s fortunates varied, both on and off the ice. The club swung from championship title winners to relegation zones as the seasons progressed, while at the same time attracting plays from high profile teams across the globe. In 1995, Hockey Club Morzine won the French N2 championship for the second time, but by 1997 the village could no longer financially support the club and they were relegated to what’s often described as ‘the hell’ of division three.
During the 1970s, a motto was established at the club; “strong is the one who knocks down, stronger is the one who gets back up,” and it was by this mantra that the club gave young, promising players from within its own ranks the opportunity to step up into the newly renamed team - Hockey Club Morzine-Avoriaz. They made a triumphant return to the top league under the ambitious eye of ex-Chamonix player Stéphane Gros and for their 40th anniversary year in 2003/2004, they fielded not just one, but two senior teams in the French championships. The first was comprised of 50% homegrown players, the second of 100% and a true testament to the academy ranks, junior
teams and quality coaching available in Morzine. The first team won the league with ease, gaining promotion for the first time to the top tier of French ice hockey; the brand new Ligue Magnus.
Top international players from Canada, USA, Finland and beyond flocked to Morzine for the following season and in 2006/2007, the club succeeded in their pursuit of the Super 16 final after an epic winning run. They lost to Grenoble but retained the hearts of the entire village and it’s from this experience that Morzine dares to dream again today.
In 2016 HCMAG (as was the name when the club brought in the village of Les Gets for a three year partnership) were forced to merge with the Pionniers de Chamonix-Mont Blanc, following the professionalisation of the Ligue Magnus and forming a single club in the Haute-Savoie. Relegation to D1 followed and for various organisation, logistical and financial reasons, the Penguins withdrew from the project. They began the 2017/2018 season at the very bottom of the French national ice hockey ladder, in D3, winning promotion to D2 during the 2018/2019 season.
This winter, HCMA play alongside 16 other semi-professional teams in the French D1 league. Emboldened by their coach and ex-French national Olympic player Anthony Mortas, it’s a strong, experienced and brave team that take to the ice this season.
To discover which ice hockey matches take place at the Skoda Arena in Morzine during your holiday this winter, head to hockey-morzine.com Buy your tickets online to avoid disappointment, as many matches will sell out before the puck hits the ice.
Blancheneige, Chemin des Combes, Essert-Romand
the stash beanie rrp €34.00 thestash-avoriaz.com
As you’d imagine, this is a stylish and functional piece of winter head gear designed with skiers and snowboarders in mind. But it’s also from The Stash, which makes it a much-soughtafter souvenir from one of the best places on the planet. Made from a blend of soft, warm materials, it provides excellent insulation against the cold while remaining breathable. The fit is comfortable and snug without being too tight, and its minimalist design makes it versatile enough to wear both on and off the slopes.
The good people of Les Gets have put some serious effort into designing and producing a range of #madeinlesgets merchandise in recent times. Available from stockists in the village, you’ll discover t-shirts, shopping bags, socks, umbrellas and caps. Everything in the range is made in France with sustainability in mind and we love this thermos flask. It makes the perfect souvenir! You can also view and buy the range from the Les Gets Office de Tourisme in the centre of the village.
It’s impossible to have too many tote bags in your life! This beautiful ‘Fondue’ example was designed locally to raise money for the APE of our local schools. Profits from the sale of the bags will help to fund activities and trips for local school children while also brightening up your shopping experience. To buy a bag email apeblancheneige74@hotmail.com or visit our webshop.
amie henderson morzine source magazine editor
As Natalie Elvy describes in her review of this beautiful coffee table book on page 64 of this magazine, our local mountain rescue service celebrate their 70th anniversary this year and they’ve published this excellent book to showcase the origins of their association and the work they do. Published in French and available to buy from Librairie Passaquin, Intersport and Quincaillerie Mechoud in Morzine, the book takes you on a mission with the team of highly trained volunteers as they attempt to rescue one of their own. This is a wonderful book, an excellent
Local photographer Jacquie Cutler established Finesse Art in response to constant requests for her photography in print. At finesse-art.com you’ll now discover hundreds of high quality images from across our valley, including your favourite views. They’re available to buy in a variety of different sizes and formats and are printed on a selection of different materials including canvas, alu-dibond, HD mental and even on acrylic. You can also select Jacquie’s images to match your interior colour schemes using the handy ‘browse by colour’ function on her website. Happy shopping!
Secours en Montagne du Chablais
Finesse Art Prints
resort
events
OUR PICK OF RESORT EVENTS TO HELP YOU TO ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY
Rock On Snow
Avoriaz -13th - 15th December 2024
Avoriaz opens the winter season in the Portes du Soleil as it means to go on, with a massive festival of snow, live music and events across the village. Rock On Snow centres around the area directly outside the Prodains telecabines, where you’ll find 80 different ski and snowboard brands offering their new equipment for you to test for free. Expect to see professional skiers and snowboarders across the ski area, there’ll also be special rates on lift passes from €25 per day.
Discover more: rockonsnow.com
- 23rd Dec 24 - 5th Jan 25
Morzine does Christmas beautifully and within the pedestrianised village square you’ll find carefully planned activities and entertainment for families and children of all ages. Christmas Eve is particularly festive, as you might expect; a parade of lights from the Pleney to the centre of the village is an unmissable treat, there’ll be a brass band, fireworks and the arrival of Père Noël as he makes his way back to the North Pole to begin work.
Discover more: morzine-avoriaz.com
Morzine - 15th December 2024
Morzine kicks off the winter season with this super tough event; it’s a punishing and demanding course around the snowy mountains and it’s not for the faint of heart. Both distance events take place on the same day this year. There’s the snappy 10k winter trail which ventures through forests and around the pistes, as well as the challenging 21k trail distance with varied terrain and by that we mean lots of climbing. Prepare for all eventualities, Spartans! The average temperature during these races is just five degrees…
Discover more: spartantrail.com
Avoriaz - 27th & 28th December 2024
Christmas is extra special at an altitude of 1800m and in Avoriaz they make Christmas Eve a truly interactive event using videos, music and lights to welcome Père Noël. Expect a candy forest, a toy workshop and more, with everything designed to rekindle everyone’s faith in the magic of Christmas. The show begins at 7pm on the Dromonts piste in the centre of the village, there’ll be fireworks too!
Discover more: avoriaz.com
Les Gets - 21st - 27th December 2024
You maybe didn’t know that Father Christmas coordinates proceedings at the North Pole from his holiday home in forests just above Les Gets. Within his secret hut he’s delighted to meet children of all ages, popping them on the naughty or nice list as he goes about his business. This is a magical experience for everyone and the elves are a real treat! Each visit lasts 40 minutes and should be booked in advance on the lesgets.com website. Entry is free for children aged under three years, it’s €7 for children aged three to seven and €8 for children aged eight and over.
Discover more: lesgets.com
Les Gets - 31st December 2025
Les Gets raises the New Year’s Eve party game considerably this year with one huge dedicated apres-ski party on the slopes. Gather on the Front de Neige in the centre of the village from 4.30pm for hot drinks and a wonderful children’s concert. There’ll also be extra special torchlit descent by the ESF. Expect a spectacular fireworks display around 6pm then a DJ set on a snowy dance floor until 8pm. We’re promised a marshmallow party, lashings of hot chocolate and a Champagne bar too.
Spartan Winter Trail
Père Noël Habite Aux Gets
Morzine’s Enchanted Village
Morzine
Apres Party Like It’s 2025
Christmas in Avoriaz
Les
January 2025
The summer version of this trail running event has grown significantly over the years but this winter version is brand new for 2025. Four different routes are available; two different distances for children, starting with an 800m event at 4pm and then two adult runs - 10km and 20km - which begin at 6.30pm. This event is a wonderful opportunity to explore the magical forests high above Les Gets by torchlight and it concludes with a warm and friendly meal at the Salle de la Colombière in the centre of the village.
Discover more: lesgets.com
Les Gets - 25th - 31st January 2025
As you may have read elsewhere in this magazine, this comedy festival is one of the highlights of the winter season in Les Gets. A beautiful blend of French and English comics are on the line-up this year and there’s a special English-speaking evening on 31st January. Be quick however; this event is always a sell-out! It takes place at the Salle de La Colombière in the centre of the village and tickets are available in advance online and priced between €20 and €40 per person.
Discover more: lesgetscomedie.com
Burton
Avoriaz - 1st & 2nd February 2025
Get ready for a banked slalom slope through the streets of Avoriaz for this year’s event, which brings together junior, amateur and professional riders, united by a common love of snowboarding. Last year’s event was a real spectacle, so even if you’re not there to compete, you should definitely turn up to watch!
Discover more: avoriaz.com
Avoriaz - 8th February - 2nd March 2025
Taking place every Thursday evening during the February school holiday period, Avoriaz comes alive to the sound of live music, dance and wonder. Children are encouraged to dress up and join the carnival as it proceeds through the streets of the resort. There’ll be gourmet workshops, sled races, the chance to try electric snowmobiles, treasure hunts and more. The carnival takes place between 6.30pm and 7.30pm and it’s free to join.
Discover more: avoriaz.com
Les Gets - 10th February - 3rd March 2025
This is an unmissable part of your family holiday in Les Gets. Gather on the Front de Neige at dusk to witness a remarkable display by the ESF and the village’s piste services team. You’ll see rescue demonstrations, snow grooming techniques, some impressive ski and snowboard skills and a huge torchlit descent followed by a spectacular fireworks display. The Red Ski Show takes place on Mondays during the February school holidays and the start time differs each week.
Discover more: lesgets.com
Avoriaz - 15th - 22nd March 2025
More than just a music festival, Snowboxx is a week packed with huge live music acts, onpiste entertainment, apres parties, fancy dress and more. Tickets will likely be sold out by the time you’re reading this, though some main stage events such as Groove Armada or Gok Wan at apres will likely still be available. There’s a unique atmosphere at Snowboxx so if you have the chance to join a rave at 1800, you absolutely should do so!
Discover more: snowboxx.com
Rock The Pistes
Portes du Soleil - 16th - 22nd March 2025
This is an entirely free music festival; your lift pass is all you need to join the fun. Over the course of the week the Portes du Soleil comes alive with the sound of music from international artists performing on piste-side stages across the ski area. On the line up for 2025 you’ll find La Femme, MC Solaar and Royal Republic to name just a few of the acts. There’ll also be smaller live music events in villages around the Portes du Soleil. Locally, you’ll find MC Solar playing in the Montriond / La Lindarets area on 19th March at 1.30pm, events for Morzine, Les Gets and St Jean d’Aulps are still to be confirmed.
Discover more: rockthepistes.com
Trail Des Gets
Gets - 18th
Les Gets Comedie
Mystery Series
Avoriaz Carnival
Red Ski Show
Snowboxx
Restaurant & Bar Guide
Le Local - Morzine
A fantastic community pub and restaurant in Morzine with a menu that’s constantly changing. Expect holiday classics as well as Sunday roasts, fish and chip suppers and the odd spicy curry thrown in for good measure. There’s also lighter bites, cocktails and a kids menu too. Head to the back of the bar for a big screen TV that’s regularly showing live sports action.
Reserve your table
+33 (0) 6 19 19 96 37 lelocalmorzine.com
L’Etale - Morzine
One of Morzine’s most popular restaurants, L’Etale has an enormous menu that’s certain to suit all tastes; think pizzas, pasta dishes, noodles, steaks and Savoyarde classics including fondue and raclette. You’ll find the restaurant just metres from the bottom of Morzine’s Pleney telecabine and food is served all day, non-stop, between 11am and midnight.
Book your table in advance
+33 (0) 4 50 79 09 29
Pif Paf - Morzine
A brand new brasserie in the centre of Morzine centred around savoury and sweet crepes. On the menu you’ll discover your favourite crepes and galettes alongside some contemporary alternatives. There’s also a delicious list of tapas and sharing places, wines, beers and a tasty range of gins too. Pif Paf is a very cool venue run by Guillaume and Estelle, it’s open between 3pm and 11pm each day. Find Pif Paf at 93 Taille de Mas du Pleney.
follow along on Instagram @pifpaf.morzine
THE MORZINE SOURCE MAGAZINE WINTER
Au P’tit
Croute - Morzine
If you’re gathering up a picnic to enjoy on the mountain or in the cable car, head directly to Au P’tit Casse Croute in the centre of Morzine. Choose a sandwich or piadina (folded Italian flatbread) stuffed with delicious, fresh ingredients, plus salads, sweet drinks, tea coffee and more. This is a great place for a post-ski hot chocolate too!
Reserve your picnic in advance
+33 (0) 4 50 75 94 24
La Bokka - Les Gets
A chic cocktail bar, a large, funky restaurant and late night entertainment venue combined under one well-located roof in the centre of Les Gets. The menu at La Bokka combines fresh, authentic Italian ingredients. Expect live bands and DJs to keep the party going long after dinner has finished with a very fine wine list to accompany.
Reserve your table in advance
+33 (0) 4 80 16 12 60 bokka-lesgets.com
Le R - Avoriaz
Ski-in, ski-out of this very stylish deli in Avoriaz, where there’s a focus on local products, high quality wines and cosy areas for you to stay and enjoy a moment as the snow falls outside. You can also pre-order meals to enjoy at home, while a visit to the wine cave is unmissable! You’ll find Le R at 85 Place des Dromonts in Avoriaz.
view the menu at traiteur-avoriaz.com
Casse
Le Lounge Roc & Le Strike - Avoriaz
Two separate venues in one beautiful Avoriaz location. Lounge Roc is a chic, luxurious cocktail and wine bar with an adjoining restaurant and it makes the perfect location for a late night out. The fun continues next door at Strike Roc, Avoriaz’s famous bowling alley which also includes arcade games, a pool table, baby-foot and more.
discover more roc-avoriaz.com
IBEX The Wood Yard - Montriond
The Wood Yard is the restaurant and tap room adjoining the Ibex Brewery. Inside you’ll discover ten lines of beer including your Ibex favourites and guest beers too, alongside an exciting, unique menu that features street food and a changing lunch menu. This winter we can expect tasting events, live music, brewery tours and more. The Wood Yard is located in Montriond, walk there along the Dereches river path.
discover more at ibexbeer.com
Fat Tom’s Deli - Le Biot
Located in the village of Le Biot and delivering across our valley, Fat Tom’s Deli & Delivery serves up fresh, delicious meals, delivered to your door or available for collection from the deli. They can be reheated at your convenience, making them perfect following a day on the slopes. Expect seasonal ingredients, regional cheeses, cooked and cured meats with loads of added flavour.
discover more at fattomsdeli.com
La Grange - Morzine
One of the busiest restaurants in Morzine, La Grange has an excellent reputation for serving up classic Savoyarde dishes and it’s our favourite place to go for a fondue. This is a cosy, traditional restaurant and over the years owners Alex and Fred have gathered a loyal following of holiday makers who return year after year. Of course that means you’ll need to book in advance.
La Cachette - Avoriaz
One of the most characterful and atmospheric restaurants in Avoriaz, La Cachette has been recently refurbished in an authentic mountain lodge style. The focus here is on the most traditional of Savoyarde dishes so expect fondue, raclette and beyond. There’s a handy online booking function on the website and dishes are available to take away too.
discover more & reservations lacachetteavoriaz.com
+33 (0)4 80 16 12 81
Expanded last winter to include a cosy indoor dining space, Kamado Kitchen continue to serve up delicious pan-Asian dishes to eat in or to take away. Think Thai Massaman, Japanese Katsu, Cambodian Aubergine and Korean Japchae to provide the perfect break from your cheese and ham-fuelled mountain holiday.
order in advance
+33 (0)7 57 67 02 72
Enhancing Morzine’s speciality coffee scene and located on the rue du Bourg in the centre of the village, Solide serves up a long list of hot beverages, a delicious range of homemade cakes and a lunch menu that changes regularly and relies heavily on the freshest, local produce. There’s a cosy space inside for those colder days and a sunny terrace out front that’s perfect for springtime.
opening hours and menu facebook.com/solide.cafe
As previously mentioned, a night out at an ice hockey match is an essential part of your ski holiday; but don’t forget about the bar! Overlooking the ice at the Skoda Arena in the centre of Morzine and open in advance of home games, inside you’ll find a well-stocked bar and a tasty list of pre-game snacks that are perfect for the whole family. The chicken nuggets are quite famous, actually.
For more information follow @morzinehockey
Solide Cafe - Morzine
Kamado Kitchen - Morzine
The Penguins Bar
Le Colibri - Morzine
With a menu to suit all appetites and including great children’s options, Le Colibri comes complete with a little indoor children’s play corner, cosy seating and a relaxed vibe that’s perfect for little ones. Whether you’re looking for a place to settle for the afternoon and drink hot chocolate while the snow falls outside or an early evening supper, Le Colibri is the perfect spot in the centre of Morzine.
Book your table in advance
+33 (0) 4 50 06 18 53
Le
- Morzine
This lively bar in the centre of Morzine is perfect for pre-dinner drinks and you’ll discover a huge range of great drinks behind the bar. Le Crepu is usually packed from late afternoon until late in the evening, so there’s always a great atmosphere on the terrace and inside, especially during apres hours. It’s also just minutes from some of Morzine’s best restaurants too.
instagram @le.crepu
There’s always something a bit special about dining in a hotel restaurant and at Le Dahu, the lights of Morzine twinkle below you. The menu embraces fresh, local and seasonal ingredients to offer you a true taste of the mountains. There’s a cosy bar for pre- and post-dinner drinks and a beautiful dining room from which you can enjoy the stunning views across the whole valley. You absolutely must book a table in advance to dine at Le Dahu
Book your table in advance
+33 (0) 4 50 75 92 92
The tea room at the majestic Abbaye d’Aulps in St Jean d’Aulps is a beautiful spot, in the shadow of the ancient ruin and facing the beautiful working gardens. On the menu you’ll discover a large range of herbal teas, specialist Abbaye beers, homemade terrines, sandwiches, soups, cakes and ice creams, all served in this unique, quiet spot. The tea room is open each day between midday and 6.30pm.
discover more abbayedaulps.fr
Located within the Hive gym in Morzine and serving up healthy, fresh meals and smoothies, some slightly naughty cakes and a very tasty coffee. It’s location makes it handy for those post-workout snacks while the cafe itself is a great place to hang out with your laptop for a couple of hours. Try the Hoisin Duck wrap, you won’t be disappointed!
for menu details Search Wild Beets Kitchen Morzine
For those nights when you want to simply snuggle up on the sofa and enjoy a simple, home cooked dinner, minus the actual cooking. Bon Appetite deliver delicious frozen dinners directly to your accommodation. Simply pre-order on their website and they’ll arrive the following day, ready for you to cook. Think warming cottage pies, really excellent curries and even deserts too.
Pre-order now bonappetitalpes.com
Famous for contemporary cuisine and exceptional service, the restaurant sits within this exceptional four-star hotel. As you’d expect, the vibe is tres chic and the bar is a very cool place to hang out for apres. Open for lunch and dinner, there’s an intimate, cosy vibe that feels very different to everywhere else in the resort.
reservations & menu hotelmil8.com
Brand new for this winter season, La Hutte is the name of the sports shop that originally occupied this space before becoming Intersport. Inside you’ll find a lively venue and bistro with sports bar vibes, a tasty menu and a lunchtime plat du jour that’s excellent value. La Hutte is perfect for apres-ski drinks, it’s great for families and there’s a huge terrace overlooking the valley for those warmer spring days.
Follow along on nstagram @hutte.morzine
Abbaye Aulps - St Jean d’Aulps
Hotel Mil8 - Avoriaz
Dahu Hotel & Restautant - Morzine
Bon Appetite Alpes
Wild Beets Kitchen - Morzine
La Hutte - Morzine
Crepu
The Ice Bar - Avoriaz
Located inside the Avoriaz Village Igloo and open every day from mid-morning until the ski lifts close for the day, the ice bar is - as the name suggests - sculpted entirely from ice and it makes the perfect base, whatever the weather. Take a drink from the bar, explore the various rooms of the igloo then settle on the terrace outside for a simple but tasty lunch. There’s no need to book.
discover more
@village_igloo
L’Improviste - Morzine
In many ways a pizza makes the perfect apres-ski meal and at L’Improviste in the centre of Morzine you’ll find a long list of both classic pizzas and unexpected toppings to eat in or take away. Available to order by telephone for take-away or to enjoy inside the really cosy yet contemporary restaurant for a very casual dinner. If you’re felling adventurous, try the Sicilienne, you won’t regret it!
Book your table or order a takeaway
+33 (0) 4 50 04 63 80
Located within the Annapurna residence in Les Gets, Vina is a chic, contemporary restaurant where the menu has been carefully constructed by Michelin-trained chef Anthony Trezy. It features the finest local ingredients, the service is slick and the atmosphere refined. It’s always a good idea to book your table in advance
reservations
+33 (0) 4 50 86 31 12
This ski-in, ski-out restaurant at the Chavannes mid-station in Les Gets was extensively refurbished a couple of winters ago and has an expansive terrace with a menu featuring all your favourite mountain dishes, plus some exciting extras. This is a real foodie lunch and the restaurant can also be access easily on foot via the Chavannes cable car.
Reserve your table
+33 (0) 6 75 11 31 58
Vina Annapurna - Les Gets
La Croix Blanche - Les Gets
Satellite Coffee - Morzine
Because sometimes, a long, sit-down lunch in a restaurant isn’t in order, Satellite Coffee on the rue du Bourg in Morzine serve up fresh, tasty dishes with a healthy twist alongside tasty cakes and incredible coffee too. There’s also those famous bacon and sausage baps to collect on your way to the lifts each morning. Available to eat in or take away, there’s a sunny terrace also.
to view the menu visit satellitecoffee.fr
Changabang - Avoriaz
Good times guaranteed inside this fast food eatery in Avoriaz, which sits directly opposite the Prodains Express top station. Perfect for those days when the sun is shining and you’ve no time to waste at a restaurant table, Changabang is also a really popular end of day beer stop before taking the home run back to the bus stop. Follow changabang on Instagram for updates throughout the season.
instagram @le.changabang
Cavern Bar - Morzine
Morzine’s Cavern Bar is the home of your holiday party and you’ll find a unique, memorable atmosphere until the early hours. The Cavern is the place to go to hear incredible live music, with a selection of superb touring bands regularly taking to the stage. Check Facebook for gig announcements and updates.
facebook
TheCavernBarMorzine
Le Chaudron - Les Lindarets
Located at the heart of the famous goat village and offering the warmest welcome, Le Chaudron is a ‘must do’ lunch spot in the mountains. The menu is vast and delicious, offering everything from local and regional specialities to fresh salads and more, plus there’s a great children’s menu too. Dine on the sunny terrace and watch the skiers go by or take refuge inside the cosy restaurant if the weather is less than perfect.
book your table in advance
+33 (0) 4 50 74 05 35
La Petite Auberge - Essert Romand
The charming village of Essert Romand, just a couple of kilometres from Morzine, is home to La Petite Auberge, a familyrun restaurant with a menu that’s sure to include all of your Savoyarde favourites. There’s a pretty outdoor terrace and cosy decor inside, plus a warm welcome from a lovely team.
table reservations
+33 (0) 4 50 37 31 96
La Rotonde - Morzine
La Rotonde in the centre of Morzine is perfect if you’re looking for something a bit special as the menu not only includes Savoyarde favourites but also global flavours, extra-fresh salads and there’s a super wine list too. Come springtime, the pretty garden is the perfect place for lunch.
book a table
+33 (0) 4 50 79 16 30
Le Quarante Sept
Perfectly positioned in the centre of the Lindarets bowl, Le Quarante Sept is a fantastic snack bar and lunch stop mid-way between all of the lift stations, which also makes it a brilliant meeting point. Pass by for a quick coffee and pastry in the morning, return for a tasty, homemade lunch including sandwiches, burgers, panini and more. Leslie and her team are super friendly and this is a fab venue for families too. Open every day until the lifts close.
discover more @lequarantesept
Hotel du Lac - Montriond
A rite of passage during every holiday in our valley, Hotel du Lac is the perfect setting on the shores of Lac de Montriond. Settle into the hotel’s cosy restaurant to enjoy a menu that carefully considers fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. Keep an eye on the hotel’s Facebook page for menu updates, live music events and speciality cocktails.
facebook lac.de.montriond
Hideout - Morzine
One of the busiest restaurants in Morzine, which makes advance booking essential, the menu at Hideout is packed with panasian dishes and takes inspiration all the way from Vietnam to Osaka. There’s also a list of weekly specials, in case you manage to make your way through the whole menu.
reservations
+33 (0) 7 49 28 27 56 eat@stayhideout.com
Refuge L’Abricotine - Avoriaz
There’s no shame in admitting that you like to consume cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner during your ski holiday. We’d argue that it makes you ski faster. Stock up with Benjamin and his team at Refuge L’Abricotine, where specialities include tartiflette, berthoud (Abondance cheese, boiled potatoes and smoked ham) and the Gratinée de l’Abricotine featuring potatoes, lardons, cream and more Abondance cheese. L’Abricotine is located at the base of the Brochaux and Mossettes chairs above les Lindarets.
For table reservations
+33 (0) 6 28 70 05 59
O’Chalet - Morzine
Widely regarded as the best burger bar in Morzine, the menu is available to eat in or to take away. The selection is huge and its great for families too. Here’s a top tip for vegetarians; every burger on the menu is available as a veggie alternative! Savoury and sweet crepes are also available, as are bagels, which make a really great breakfast on the run. You’ll find O'Chalet on the Route de la Combe a Zore in the centre of Morzine and on the Rue du Centre in Les Gets.
get in contact
+33 (0) 4 50 79 17 18
Tibetan Cafe - Morzine
This is the late night watering hole your holiday needs! Open until 2am every night and with live music or a live DJ every evening, the Tibetan is a lively bar with an enormous range of speciality gins. It’s also a great place to watch live sport with several HD TVs around the bar for your viewing pleasure. Stay up to date with gigs and sports coverage on their Facebook page. - TibetanCafeMorzine
facebook TibetanCafeMorzine
Le Rocher - Montriond
A warm welcome awaits you in this popular Montriond restaurant, where the menu includes delicious pizzas, Savoyarde favourites and an extra special specials board. Located in the beautiful village square opposite the church, pizzas are also available to take away. Book your table to avoid disappointment!
For table reservations
+33 (0) 4 50 75 78 47
Claudie coffee & Co - Les Gets
Can there be a better treat after an hour on an outdoor ice rink than a freshly-prepared, Nutella-loaded crepe with an accompanying hot chocolate? We think not, so it’s exciting to hear that the existing creperie adjacent to Barnes Immobilier and directly opposite the ice rink in Les Gets gets a new lease of life this winter. You’ll notice some subtle changes to begin with such as an exceptional new range of coffees, ahead of a larger refurbishment project in the springtime, but know that the crepes are exceptional.
view menu claudie-coffee.com.
While the extensive renovation project continues at the bottom of the Pleney, the fun doesn’t stop at Le Tremplin. Camp Tremplin is the pop-up, festival-style temporary venue in the same location, hosting epic apres-ski parties from 2pm - 7pm each day. Expect your favourite Tremplin DJs for a family-friendly experience.
For music schedules this winter facebook.com/LeTremplinMorzine
La Marmotte d’Or - Montriond
You’ll find this cosy pub-style bar and restaurant in the centre of Montriond, serving up a large selection of beers including locally-brewed options in addition to a tasty menu that features French classics and global flavours. The bar is open from 3.30pm until 11pm each day with food served between 4pm and 9.30pm.
view the menu lamarmottedor.com.
Camp Tremplin - Morzine
The Spot Cafe, Avoriaz
Located within the newly redeveloped Prodains top station and perched on those famous cliffs of Avoriaz, The Spot is a brand new cafe, meeting point and social space with some of the best views in the area. Open all day and closing as the ski lifts come to a halt each evening, inside you’ll discover a menu packed with fresh dishes, quick bites and warming drinks too. Available to eat in or take away, The Spot is sure to become your meeting place of choice this winter.
Apeeling Cakes
Afternoon tea is one of the highlights of a ski holiday, and if you’re staying self catered, there’s no need to miss out. Sarah at Apeeling Cakes bakes fresh, tasty treats to order and she’ll deliver them to your accommodation each afternoon. She also makes birthday and celebration cakes too, so if you’ve got a special occasion during your trip, you need to know about Sarah.
discover more @apeelingcakes.com
If staying in is the new going out, there’s no need to miss out on some exceptional wines during your holiday. At The Chef’s Cellar you can select your holiday tipple online, in advance; there’s even a handy wine pairing selector on the website to help you! Wines available have been specially selected from small producers and next day delivery is available too.
discover more thechefscellar.com
La Crapahute
If you’re looking for an extra special dining experience, La Crapahute is located at the end of the beautiful Vallée de la Manche; it’s just a short but fun walk up towards Lac des Mines d’Or and the views from the restaurant are absolutely worth it. Open for dinner on request, the menu includes traditional Savoyarde classics. Book to dine in one of the individual outdoor cabins for a unique experience, or inside the beautifully cosy restaurant.
book your table in advance +33
Located slightly down the valley in St Jean d’Aulps, Bar Le National is always a great night out with a proper pub feel. It’s busy from apres until late each day throughout the winter season while the kitchen serves up incredible pizzas and many other treats. Plan your night right and you might even end up winning a pub quiz!
facebook barlenational
One of our favourite mountain restaurants, Les Mouilles shares its name with the ski lift that sits right outside and it makes a great meeting point half way up Pleney. Open every day and offering stunning views across the valley, the menu features all of your favourite mountain dishes including tartiflette, omelettes, great kids dishes and more. The team is super friendly and there’s a lovely deck outside for sunny afternoons.
facebook restaurantlesmouillesmorzine
Le PaSsionNant - Morzine
This gastronomique-themed restaurant is housed inside a beautifully refurbished barn on the outskirts of Morzine, along the route des Nants. The menu features classic French dishes such as foie gras wrapped in truffle crust pastry and lamb with a honey and sherry reduction, making this a memorable fine dining experience in beautiful surroundings during your winter holiday.
book your table in advance
+33 (0) 6 46 14 80 59
This restaurant is perfect for non-skiers, skiers with children or big groups. Located at an altitude of 1480m, you really feel like you’re in the mountains, but pedestrian access is easy via the Nyon telecabines. Inside the restaurant is cosy, the menu features all of your favourite mountain classics as well as seafood. There’s a good children’s menu, the service is warm and friendly and the views from the terrace are lovely on a sunny day.
book your table in advance restaurantlapointedenyon.fr
The Chef’s Cellar - valley wide
Restaurant Les Mouilles
Bar Le National - St Jean d’Aulps
La Pointe de Nyon
Our Landscape Photography Calendars
This is the fifth year that we’ve compiled some of the most beautiful landscape photography images from local photographers into a calendar - huge thanks to everyone that’s bought one so far! Thanks also to the photographers who made a contribution to this project. This year, profits from the sale of the calendars will be used to support the Piste X Code campaign, which aims to promote safe behaviour on the pistes and to reduce avoidable accidents. The calendars are priced at €15 each, they’re available to buy on our website for international delivery, or from Little One Boutique in the centre of Morzine. The 12 different images chart the seasons in our valley, making our calendar the perfect gift for the mountain lover in your life!
Buy yours here
shop.morzinesourcemagazine
_The_Source_Files_
We’re continuously toying with the idea of launching spring and autumn issues of Morzine Source Magazine in support of the many local businesses trying to push forward with the idea of four seasons tourism. In the meantime, we compile a weekly email that’s packed to the brim with useful and accurate local news and developments - the things that maybe don’t make it into our magazines or onto our social media channels. We also share special offers, last minute availability, ski pass discounts and more in these emails, as well as answering your frequently asked questions. These mailers are free to join and they’re never spammy, we promise!
Subscribe here
Our Magazine Subscriptions
Quite a few of you already know this, but you don’t need to wait until you’re in resort to grab your latest copy of Morzine Source Magazine, because we deliver! Our list of postal subscribers has skyrocketed over the years and we now dispatch copies of our printed magazine every six months - in December and in June. Our magazines are still free of charge, there’s just a small €15 postage and packaging charge for two issues.
Buy yours here
shop.morzinesourcemagazine.com
Our Summer 25 Magazine
It’s always strange to begin work on a summer magazine in January, but begin we must. There are several excellent events and developments taking place during the summer months and it takes a little while to compile everything into magazine format. Morzine Source Magazine is a unique, independent publication with a huge reach, both in print, on line and via our social media channels. If you’d like to work with us in the future, we’d love to send you our updated media pack.
Email Amie amie@origami-media.com
summer CALLING!
Forget the Med. Forget cramming onto packed beaches. The mountains are the perfect summer holiday destination, whether you’re into bikes, hikes or long, lazy days by the pool or the lake en-famille. It’s also wonderful to explore the trails that you’re used to skiing down during the colder months! Here’s a selection of our favourite things about summer in Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz, you’ll find many more on our website.
The
This incredible, Portes du Soleil-wide pass gives free or discounted access to a huge list of local activities throughout the summer months from just €3 per person per day when you stay in a Multi Pass accredited accommodation. You’ll also enjoy unlimited access to the summer lift system, passing through 12 different summer resorts and two different countries as you go. For those not staying in Multi Pass accommodation, the pass also represents excellent value for money at €14 per person per day, while passes for under fives are free. Each summer the list of free or discounted activities grows longer so you can explore more!
Discover more en.portesdusoleil.com
Welcome, les Femmes
For those not in the know, Le Tour de France Femmes is the official female race of the actual Tour de France and this summer this incredible bike race passes through Morzine. The village is no stranger to Le Tour, having hosted several stage starts and finish lines over the years. This will be equally exciting as we gather along the famous Joux Plane to watch the best female road riders in the world take on one of the toughest challenges. Stage 8 on Saturday 2nd August begins in Praz-sur-Arly and finishes in Châtel, 124km later. At an altitude of 1,691m the Col de Joux Plane climb is the toughest on the stage before the riders descend into the village, on to Le Biot and through the Col du Corbier. Don’t miss this!
Discover more letourfemmes.fr
During 2025, this event celebrates its 15th birthday in the Portes du Soleil’s highest resort. Taking place between 23rd and 29th August 2025, you can expect huge names from the world of international dance to take to the stage. There’s plenty of performances, but also lessons for young and old with salsa, bachata, hiphop, rock and tango on the line up. The packed schedule begins at 8am each day and the party continues until 1am or 2am in the morning. You can join in the fun with a day pass, or a week-long festival ticket.
updates and ticket info avoriaz.com
Lazy Lake Days
There are three wonderful local lakes that you need to know about. The first is in Les Gets, in a beautiful spot just above the village that offers wonderful views. This is a man-made, supervised lake, filled by snow melt each spring. There’s a pebble beach, a fun water slide and a huge Wibit floating water park. The second is Lac de Montriond, one of the largest lakes in our region and well served by the local bus service. Walk the 3.5km path around the circumference of the lake before settling at the supervised swimming pool for a paddle. And finally, we have Lac Leman, or Lake Geneva as you might know it. It’s just a 45 minute drive from Morzine and you’ll discover loads of great beaches and activities around the shoreline. You can even learn to drive a powerboat to host your family and friends’ water sports activities with Sail Thonon. They provide English-language powerboat, keelboat and dinghy training from their base in Thonon.
For more information sailthonon.com
A Car-Free Goat Village
Many of you will have been following the story of the Goat Village in Les Lindarets, which is part of la Vallée de Chéravaux, above Montriond. Various efforts have been made over the years to pedestrianise the village, which is - as the name suggests - home to a flock of wonderful local goats. Each year an average of 20 goats are injured by vehicles passing through the village, but after complete pedestrianisation during the summer 2024 season, not a single goat was hurt. The road between Ardent and the Goat Village was closed between 10am and 5pm each day, with tourists using the Ardent Telecabine to access the Goat Village and the beautiful walks beyond it. There’ve been a number of other enhancements too; there’s now a fun children’s play area, public toilets and picnic benches. A little train now connects the top of the Ardent telecabine with the Goat Village and for the summer 25 season there'll be new pavements, afternoon activities for families to enjoy and improved signage on the walking trails between Lac de Montriond and Les Lindarets.
The return of the MorzineMontriond - Avoriaz Triathlon?
After several very successful years, this popular triathlon took a pause last summer but we’re promised an event on Sunday 17th August 2025. Our valley is the perfect location for a triathlon; in previous years this event involved a swim on Lac de Montriond, a cycle up the famous Col de la Joux Verte and a run that involved our local trails. Amateur and professional triathletes from across the region turned up for the challenge and we’re excited to see what’s coming next!
