Morzine Source Magazine - Winter 15

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Jenny Jones - life after sochi

Mini ShreddersThe Ski Instructor Debate

Resort Activities, News & EventsThe Source Service Awards

WINTER 14/15 - FREE

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ContentsBon Anniversaire Portes du Soleil.................................................................................................7

Morzine, Les Gets & Avoriaz Must Dos ...................................................................................8

The Jenny Jones Interview.............................................................................................................................10

behind the scenes..................................................................................................................................................................16

The Source Awards For Excellence .......................................................................................22

Droning On............................................................................................................................................................................................24

Piste Off The Ski Instructor Debate...................................................................................26

Resort Events.................................................................................................................................................................................30

The Mini Shred Movement....................................................................................................................................32

Live Like A Local.........................................................................................................................................................................36

Split The Difference The Rise Of Splitboarding...........................................................38

ski more, hurt less...............................................................................................................................................................42

Pretty Fly For A White Guy Speedriding with Paddy Morris ..............46

The Source Accommodation Directory.........................................................................49

Look Good, Feel Good..............................................................................................................................................56

To Buy Or To Build.................................................................................................................................................................64

Snohomes Interior Guide....................................................................................................................................70

Go Green Or Go Home...................................................................................................................................................72

The Virtual Ski Guide .......................................................................................................................................................74

European Gay Ski Week...............................................................................................................................................76

Snowboard Graphics With Adam Haynes ......................................................................78

Greybird Days...................................................................................................................................................................................80

The Woods Hardwear Guide........................................................................................................................84

The Bluffers Guide To Skiing......................................................................................................................88

Source Summer Courses......................................................................................................................................90

Triathlon Fit In 6 Weeks...........................................................................................................................................92

WIN A Jones Snowboard........................................................................................................................................96

welcome ContributorsWhat are you most looking

forward to this winter?

Rob Purver

Source Magazine Deputy Editor,Getaway Driver and Internet Warrior.

First tracks, big slashes and a beard full of snow. It doesnt get

much better than that

Chloe Hardy

Skier & Cooler Magazine Contributor

skiing loads! Doing some Freeride World Qualifiers, doing some

filming and just generally having an awesome time!

Paddy Morris

Speedrider, Ski Instructor & Serial Shirt Wearer

Hiking some new hills, skiing some new lines, and dodging work

as much as possible

Samuel McMahon

Whitelines Magazine Online Editor

What am I looking forward to most? Riding powder in the trees

an hitting pillow lines in Prodains

Regular readers of Source Magaz ine wi l l know exact ly what to expect when you turn the page. Were del ighted to br ing you the most up to date informat ion on what s new in Morz ine, Les Gets and Avor iaz th is winter , and once youre f in ished reading the mag, head to the websi te for our fu l l events guide. Were a lso very exc i ted to br ing you th is 100 page Winter 15 issue on 100% recyc led paper. Hopeful ly you l l love the feel of i t as much as we do!

But before you go any fur ther , we have just one smal l request . Wed l ike you to head to the App s tore on your phone and download the f ree Sk i 2 The Moon app. Dur ing your hol iday / season you can help youth char i ty Snow-Camp to ra ise important funds, just by sk i ing. The app uses Sk i Tracks technology to measure the dis tance you t ravel on snow, which contr ibutes towards everyones ef for ts in pursui t of the target d is tance - The Moon! 238,855 mi les away!

Wed love to hear your feedback on the magaz ine,so do drop us a l ine i f youve got something to share.

Amie - amie@morz inesourcemagaz ine .com

Design and reprographics by Cuttin Edge Solutions Ltd: www.cuttin-edge.co.uk / [email protected] in the United Kingdom by the Magazine Printing CompanyFront cover graphics copyright Morzine Source MagazineMany thanks to the Office de Tourisme in Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz & Portes du Soleil

Source Magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper.Please recycle this magazine.finished reading?pass it on!


ContentsBon Anniversaire Portes du Soleil.................................................................................................7

Morzine, Les Gets & Avoriaz Must Dos ...................................................................................8

The Jenny Jones Interview.............................................................................................................................10

behind the scenes..................................................................................................................................................................16

The Source Awards For Excellence .......................................................................................22

Droning On............................................................................................................................................................................................24

Piste Off The Ski Instructor Debate...................................................................................26

Resort Events.................................................................................................................................................................................30

The Mini Shred Movement....................................................................................................................................32

Live Like A Local.........................................................................................................................................................................36

Split The Difference The Rise Of Splitboarding...........................................................38

ski more, hurt less...............................................................................................................................................................42

Pretty Fly For A White Guy Speedriding with Paddy Morris ..............46

The Source Accommodation Directory.........................................................................49

Look Good, Feel Good..............................................................................................................................................56

To Buy Or To Build.................................................................................................................................................................64

Snohomes Interior Guide....................................................................................................................................70

Go Green Or Go Home...................................................................................................................................................72

The Virtual Ski Guide .......................................................................................................................................................74

European Gay Ski Week...............................................................................................................................................76

Snowboard Graphics With Adam Haynes ......................................................................78

Greybird Days...................................................................................................................................................................................80

The Woods Hardwear Guide........................................................................................................................84

The Bluffers Guide To Skiing......................................................................................................................88

Source Summer Courses......................................................................................................................................90

Triathlon Fit In 6 Weeks...........................................................................................................................................92

WIN A Jones Snowboard........................................................................................................................................96

welcome ContributorsWhat are you most looking

forward to this winter?

Rob Purver

Source Magazine Deputy Editor,Getaway Driver and Internet Warrior.

First tracks, big slashes and a beard full of snow. It doesnt get

much better than that

Chloe Hardy

Skier & Cooler Magazine Contributor

skiing loads! Doing some Freeride World Qualifiers, doing some

filming and just generally having an awesome time!

Paddy Morris

Speedrider, Ski Instructor & Serial Shirt Wearer

Hiking some new hills, skiing some new lines, and dodging work

as much as possible

Samuel McMahon

Whitelines Magazine Online Editor

What am I looking forward to most? Riding powder in the trees

an hitting pillow lines in Prodains

Copyright - Origami Media Ltd

Source Magazine is published in the UK by and remains the property of Origami Media Ltd.

All material in this magazine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved by Origami Media Ltd.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers.

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

Any correspondence and advertising enquiries should be directed to: [email protected] or visit www.origami-media.com




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The main event takes place on 17th January wi th a huge party a t 1950m on the Col des Portes du Sole i l (descend from the top of the Mosset tes into Swi t zer land on the blue pis te and hang a le f t ) to enjoy a f ree aper i t i f and l i ve music . On the same day there s a t reasure hunt across the whole sk i area, f ind four markers and you l l win a 1 day Portes du Sole i l l i f t pass .

Perhaps the most exc i t ing part of the bir thday ce lebrat ion occurs on the evening of 17th January on the P leney in Morz ine, when there l l be an at tempt to break the wor ld record for the longest ever torch l i t descent , current ly s tanding at 2854 people. Anyone can jo in in the

chal lenge by pay ing 5 for a torch, a l l proceeds wi l l be donated to char i ty . To enter v is i t portesdusole i l . com to regis ter , then col lec t your torch f rom the ESF of f i ce. I f spectat ing is more your th ing, there l l be snacks, hot dr inks and a DJ to keep the crowd warm at the bot tom of the P leney, and the whole event precedes a huge concert in the centre of Morz ine f rom 7pm.

Chal lenge Sk i P lus i s a season- long t reasure hunt across the Portes du Sole i l . Use your smartphone to hunt for markers and your chance to win next winter s sk i hol iday. Download the f ree app by searching portes du sole i l in your app s tore.

Our favourite ski area turns 50 this winter. Its still one of the largest connected ski domains in the world and you wont find a cheaper big area lift pass per skiable kilometer anywhere else.



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Just arrived in town and need some tips to get started?

here's our handy guide to our favourite must-do activities in Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets.

Let the fun begin!

MorzineFamily Fun Morz ine is host to i ts very own ice hockey team - The Penguins! They play several games a week at the Skoda Arena, inc luding f r iendl ies and league games. For an inexpensive and exc i t ing n ight out for the whole fami ly get down there and show your support . Go Penguins!

Mountain Fun

The Pointe du Nyon and Chamossire of fer some epic sk i ing c lose to home. With the best panoramic v iews and a se lect ion of fas t red and black descents , Morz ine s two largest sk iable peaks are not to be missed. The plateau at the top of the P leney is a lso the perfect locat ion for a p icnic , and prov ides amazing v iews of the one and only Mont Blanc.

Food

Heading into i ts second season, the Bec Jaune Brewery serves up a f ine se lect ion of excel lent homemade and organic food, as wel l as their own craf t beers . With a great se lect ion for carnivores and herbivores a l ike, i t s a refreshing change f rom meat , cheese, potatoes and mass-produced lager .

Aprs Host ing the biggest aprs party in the Portes du Sole i l , Le Trempl in on a Wednesday af ternoon is not to be missed. Rock up in your sk i gear f rom 4pm and dance t i l i t s d innert ime. Just fo l low your ears .

Nightlife

Once youve been back to your chalet and s tuf fed down your n ight ly wine-fuel led ca lor ie b inge, youre l ike ly to want to head back out into the night . Next-door neighbours The Cavern and Le T ibetan Caf of fer two very d i f ferent a tmospheres in one easy locat ion. Le T ibetan, wi th i ts a tmospher ic l ight ing, comfy sofas , wor ld-ar t and table serv ice of fers a sophis t icated venue for a moj i to or two. The Cavern is the other end of the spectrum. Loud s ing-a- long pop c lass ics , d isco l ights , a large dance f loor and a whole lot of fun.

AvoriazFamily Fun

Everyone agrees that f reesty le is a huge part of modern sk i ing and snowboarding, so what bet ter way to learn those death-defy ing manoeuvres than as a fami ly? The Burton Rig let Park in Avor iaz of fers a l l the thr i l l s and spi l l s of the larger snowparks but i s a f rac t ion of the s i ze and danger. A lso check out the Burton K ids Parkway and the Baby Stash, both of which are s i tuated under the brand new Proc lou chair l i f t .

Mountain Fun

At 2277m, Mosset tes is the highest l i f t -accessed peak in the area. Straddl ing the French-Swiss border, Mosset tes of fers great sk i ing down both s ides and s tunning v iews of the Dents Blanches (2759m) and Dents du Midi (3257m) mountains.

The infamous Pas du Chavannete pis te , commonly know as the Swiss Wal l i s another must do. C lass i f ied as an orange pis te ( too extreme to be ca l led a black) , The Wal l presents you wi th a once you pop you can t s top drop in, fo l lowed by a near-ver t ica l k i lometre of man-high moguls . Advanced appl icants only . The fa int hearted or sane among your group can take the l i f t down. There's absolutely no shame in that whatsoever. Food

The Wi ld Horse Saloon br ings a s l i ce of the Wi ld West to your a lp ine hol iday and has a great American themed menu; racks of r ibs , burgers and s teak. This p lace has the meat you need!

Aprs

A t the main Avor iaz intersect ion at the top of the P lateau chair l i f t , The Yet i i s in the perfect p lace to gather your comrades and re lax wi th a dr ink af ter a hard day on the hi l l . I t ' s not the craz iest of aprs spots , but wi th epic v iews, regular l i ve music and some of the las t sunrays to h i t the Portes du Sole i l , i t s the obvious opt ion for an af ter sk i beverage.



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Listen onLine!ski weather + resort guide in english

[email protected], follow us onwww.4uweather.com

morzineavoriaz, Les Gets, Valle daulps

Weekly goodies to Win

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Nightlife

The P lace is open unt i l 2am, wi th l i ve bands and DJs every day and when ten shots cost you just 15, why wouldn t you?

Les Gets Family Fun

The town centre ice r ink is a great p lace to get those l i t t le knees warmed up, whi ls t up on the mountain the amusingly named Grand Cry p is te is a dedicated Nat ive American themed k ids zone, wi th mini moguls , a t iny banked s la lom and wi ld animal safar i .

Mountain Fun

Lurk ing of f to the far r ight of the pis te map, Mt Chery may seem to have few runs and fewer l i f t s . But don t be fooled, th is sk ier s paradise misses the heavier t raf f i c of the main resort and of fers a f ine se lect ion of reds and blacks , p lus a n ice snowpark which has a good range of k ickers and ra i ls for a l l abi l i t ies .

Food

Mammas Restaurant & Que Tal Tapas Bar has a double hi t of great food opt ions. S i tuated below Chalet Le Boomerang, the menu is compi led of t radi t ional s i t -down tapas dishes, and the restaurant regular ly hosts BBQs and hog roasts , as wel l as hav ing a fu l l fas t food take away. Not many places can c la im to cater to such a large range of tas tes and appet i tes .

Aprs

A t Bar Le Aprs Sk i the name says i t a l l . S i t t ing at the bot tom of the main Chavannes pis te , Le Aprs Sk i does exact ly that : aprs!

Nightlife

Ig loo chalet c lub c la ims to be the oldest d iscothque in France and i ts record col lec t ion boasts over 60 years of Euro Pop to back i t up. The bar is open unt i l 5am; a l though we can only recommend you don t take advantage of the la te f in ish so as not to ru in the fo l lowing day s sk i ing!



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Image credit - Nick Atkins



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For many years, within the relatively tight-knit snowboard community, Jenny Jones was known as the golden girl of British snowboarding. All that changed on February 9th 2014 when she rocketed into public consciousness by becoming the first ever Briton to win an Olympic medal on snow at the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Jenny has been a regular v is i tor to Morz ine for many years and therefore has a lot of f r iends in town. The react ion to her Olympic f inal was t ru ly amazing. People were cry ing, dancing on tables , throwing dr inks around and general ly los ing themselves in the exc i tement . From the react ion, youd have thought she d won the ent i re Olympics . I t honest ly fe l t l ike she had.

Unsurpr is ingly , she s been qui te busy s ince the games and we were lucky enough to catch up wi th her . But before she te l ls us about l i fe af ter Sochi and her h is tory wi th our beloved town of Morz ine, le t s refresh our memory

heres the Jenny Jones career timeline!

Season in Tignes British Big Air champion

Seasons in Whistler and Vail USA

Broke onto the international contest scene: Triple Crown, Mammoth Gold and then Breckenridge Gold

Invite to X-games - "I was injured in training so didn't compete."Seasons in France and USA. Competing on the international circuit. Building on podium finishes over these few years

Burton European Open 3rd place- "this meant a lot to me as the European open is a great event & a tough one to podium in."Burton Japan Open 1st - "this was my first ever win at any Open so very memorable, and so was the party in Tokyo!"Finished 2nd in the overall global open series

X Games USA, Aspen, Gold.

X Games USA, Aspen, Gold.

X Games Europe, Tignes, Gold.

First podium FIS Snowboard World Cup, silver in Slopestyle, New Zealand

Olympic Bronze medal in the women's Slopestyle event in Sochi- finishing 3rd behind Jamie Anderson and Enni Rukajarvi.

1999

2000

2001/2

2002

2008

2009

2010

2011

2013

2014



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Thats quite a collection of medals and trophies youve got there Jenny. Have you got a special cabinet for them?

Haha yes i t s ca l led my underwear draw so they don t get scratched! I am not the cabinet type but when I s top compet ing I guess I wi l l th ink about maybe f raming some of my contest b ibs and medals for memory s sake.

In all seriousness though Jenny, huge congratulations from everybody in Morzine and the Portes du Soleil on your Sochi performance. We were in a massive emotional state watching you. Has any of the stoke faded since the games?

I t s been under a year so i t s s t i l l very new and exc i t ing!

Youre a household name now, has the fame changed your life?

Not dramat ica l ly but I do get recognised more, especia l ly in my hometown of Br is to l . The immediate months fo l lowing the Olympics were qui te a ro l lercoaster and I sat on many a breakfast show sofa and had some nice chats wi th var ious ce lebr i ty presenters . The Jonathan Ross Show was pret ty funny and nerve rack ing a l l a t once; chat t ing on BBC Radio 1; t ry ing to get a t least one quest ion

r ight on A Quest ion of Sport ; doing my best not to laugh too much on the panel of Sky 1 s A League of Their Own wi th James Corden, Freddie F l intof f , Jamie Redknapp and Jack Whitehal l . I have a lso v is i ted lots of schools and had several Q&A sess ions at assembl ies and sports days. I t i s such a di f ferent exper ience when you are thrown into a tota l ly new environment. I t s not l ike you have been t ra ined in ta lk ing to an audience of 500 high school chi ldren. I was def in i te ly nervous at the beginning but d id my best to take on the chal lenge. I t was awesome to meet so many chi ldren of d i f ferent ages and ta lk to them about the wor ld of snowboarding. K ids have tons of enthusiasm for snowsports and i t opened my eyes to how many ta lented youngsters we have coming through.

Youve been known to frequent the pistes and the nightlife of Morzine on occasion. Whats your history with the town?

The immediate months

following the

Olympics were quite

a rollercoaster

and I sat on many a

breakfast show sofa



13

Years ago whi ls t I was compet ing in Whist ler and Vai l , some of my f r iends were v is i t ing new spots in France, work ing seasonal jobs and then set t l ing in Morz ine. Af ter recover ing f rom my knee in jury back then I dec ided I wanted to ease back into r id ing in a n ice environment wi th mates. I jo ined the g i r ls in Morz ine and s tayed there for hal f the season, then s tar ted compet ing. I kept going back each year , being based wi th the g i r ls in Morz ine and having a great t ime. We would a l l go shredding together at the Baby Park or Les Crosets snowpark, some days we would meet up wi th other f r iends to go and bui ld powder k ickers , other days wed blast about the mountains or r ide powder in the t rees. There was a lways a n ice v ibe whenever I ve hung out there so

I have a warm connect ion to i t . P lus a few sweaty n ights in the Cavern and dancing in Paradis or Opera! Haha.

Will you be back this winter for some Chapelle park laps?

Def in i te ly . I might even head there for Chr is tmas I t depends on the contests and winter schedule but I m real ly hoping to do so as I d idn t manage to go las t year . I m looking forward to a n ice cof fee f rom Dotty s too, and I ve heard there are a few new places open for an evening dr ink so I m looking forward to check ing those out .

Whats your favourite place to ride in the Portes du Soleil?

Al l of i t , depending on the day, however I s t i l l haven t done the fu l l c i rcui t chal lenge so I might have to t i ck that of f the l i s t soon.

Are we going to see a Jenny Jones post-Olympic snowboard movie part from you in the future? Wed love to see a front 9 into the pow!

To be honest I don t th ink I wi l l do another fu l l snowboard part . However I do real ly hope to get some sol id t r i cks on f i lm and wi l l hopeful ly put that together in a smal ler edi t .

Every year we see more and more girls riding park, what advice can you offer to any of them who want to start competing?

plus a few sweaty

nights in the Cavern

and dancing in

Paradis or Opera!

get stuck in, because

the girls youre

competing against

are just other girls

riding a snowboard,

Image credit - Nick Atkins



14

I would say def in i te ly

g ive i t a go, ladies ,

and here s some things

to th ink about . How wi l l you s tar t

developing your contest exper ience

and sk i l l s? Learn tac t ics and s trategies

for how to best tack le a comp and prepare

for i t , as i t i s s l ight ly d i f ferent to a day r id ing

the park. However, get s tuck in , because the g i r ls youre

compet ing against are just other g i r ls r id ing a snowboard,

who wi l l most cer ta in ly be nervous and most l ike ly qui te

f r iendly .

Who out of the next generation of riders

do you think will go far?

From Br i ta in I would say Kat ie Ormerod & Matt McCormick.

Traditionally, when a country does well in an

Olympic sport, the funding and inspiration for that

discipline increases. Do you think competitive snowboarding

is going to snowball like cycling has? in the next 4 to

8 years are we going to see a glorious haul of winter medals?

I don' t th ink i t wi l l be qui te l ike cyc l ing s imply because i t i sn ' t as access ible and af fordable, however I do th ink there

wi l l be a general increase in part ic ipat ion because there has been such a huge surge of interest over the past winter . I

real ly hope people and fami l ies s t i ck wi th i t , then book some tr ips abroad to gain a real exper ience of the overal l feel you

get f rom a snowboard hol iday or t r ip. I t real ly i s unique and people get a lot more out of i t than they expect .

There was a lot of talk about the safety of Slopestyle and the size of the jumps

during the Olympics. Some of those kickers were monsters. Were they too big or do you

think the jump size was proportional for the biggest stage on the planet?

Honest ly , I th ink the jumps were mass ive! However, i t was more the way they were bui l t that was the di f f i cu l t par t ; in i t ia l ly they needed reshaping

and tweaking so that they were safer . I th ink once they had been changed, a l though they were s t i l l b ig , they were a lot more manageable and had more

room for error . So i f you went a l i t t le too big or too smal l there weren t such gnar ly consequences. For me though, I found the ra i ls pret ty t r i cky , as i t was

such a t ight course. I 'm not sure i t showed on the TV but the top ra i l sect ion was Image credit - Nick Atkins



15

Inspirational britishski & board lessons

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MLso c lose together , you had to be so accurate wi th your t r i cks , otherwise you wouldn t be in the r ight posi t ion to make the next ra i l .

Snowboarding takes you all over the world, wheres the best place youve been on your travels?

I have loved so many places, the BC backcountry in Reta l lack , [Canada]; S i lver ton, Colorado; Narv ik , Norway and Ice land.

And whats the worst?

Nowhere has been awful , but more that we didn' t score good powder or the terra in wasn' t as good as wed hoped. One place I would l ike to go for powder r id ing would be Japan because everyone ta lks about the awesome powder there. I have only ever been once, spec i f i ca l ly for a contest , so I real ly hope I can get out there soon to exper ience the magic .

What does the future hold for you?

Who knows? A l l I know is that i t wi l l def in i te ly involve everything I enjoy - snowboarding, sur f ing and adventures. I real ly hope to do the odd coaching course for those interested in improving their r id ing and t ry ing f reesty le , e tc . I m real ly exc i ted about th is year and wi l l keep you posted on developments .

Weve got a few quick-fire questions for you, no hesitation!

Regular or goofy? Goofy Frontside or Backside? Fronts ide Opera or Paradis? Paradis

Tacos or Scorpions? Tacos Early mornings or late nights?Both, just not a t the same t ime - I m not that rock and rol l , haha!

Whiteout Stash or slushy baby park? S lushy baby park

Tartiflette or fondue? Tar t i f le t te

Ok, Jenny. Thanks so much for your time. Well be keeping an eye out for you in a park near here this winter. Is there anyone youd like to give a shout-out to?

Massive thank you to a l l my sponsors : Salomon, Oakley , Pentax cameras, Nissan. The awesome Tammy at Mint Snowboarding. The guys at Morz ine who have hooked me up wi th a l i f t pass over the past years . Fami ly and, of course, Morz ine f r iends who I have so many awesome memories wi th, shredding the Portes du Sole i l together .

if you went a little too big

or too small there werent

such gnarly consequences.


www.morzinesourcemagazine.com16

Theyre the unsung heroes of the resort. The army of pisteurs, dameurs, security patrol and engineers who work day and night behind the scenes to keep the Portes du Soleil in perfect condition. For this issue of Source Magazine weve been behind the scenes with Jeremy Helvic, a Portes du Soleil pisteur and snowmaker, and youll find further instalments from our Behind The Scenes series on the Source website this winter.

Previously a pisteur in Chatel, Jeremy is moving to Avoriaz to join the snowmaking team.

Last winter I worked as a p is teur secour is te or sk i patrol in Chatel and of ten c loser to home in the Roc d Enfer sk i area. I d s tar t a t 8am to open the s lopes and f in ish at 5 .30pm, af ter c los ing the s lopes. Of course, i f there d been a f resh dump of snow overnight I d head in ear ly , around 6.30am, to help blast avalanches and make sure the area is safe before i t opens.

The job of a p is teur is an important one as we work to ident i fy dangers such as rocks , i ce , holes and bumps across the sk i area. We use ye l low and black poles to draw at tent ion to hazards and we mark the l imi ts of the pis te so sk iers can see where they s tar t and end. Throughout the

day we a lso keep an eye out for avalanche dangers and we spend a lot of t ime helping sk iers and snowboarders - broken sk is , los t poles and somet imes lost chi ldren - i t s a l l par t of the job! Of course our main area of responsibi l i t y i s to rescue anyone whos had an acc ident and needs medical a t tent ion - we work to get them of f the mountain quick ly .

Lots of people ask me what t ra in ing or qual i f i cat ions are necessary to work on the mountain, and the biggest chal lenge is def in i te ly the sk i tes t , which you need to do to prove your sk i l l level before youre accepted onto the course. The test i t se l f usual ly takes place on the gnar l ies t run and performance is judged by a panel who look at s ty le , speed and ef f i c iency. Once youve passed the sk i tes t then there s a 1 month course which covers how the weather af fects snow condi t ions,


your source of information for Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz17

British Instruction

Tailored Private Tuition

Small Groups

O-Piste Touring & Guiding Experiences

Teaching All Levels

Morzine - Les Gets - Avoriaz

+44 (0)870 446 [email protected]

British snowsport school providing rst-class private tuition to all ages and levels of experience.

For information: Massage Me offers well-being massage and beauty treatments by qualified non-medical therapists. Massage Me do not offer medical, para-medical or therapeutic massages.

Cancellations: Please be considerate and give 24hrs notice otherwise the full fee will be charged. Travel: Due to travel times certain resorts require a minimum booking.

Treatment menu developed specifically for your ski holidayGreat Value . Professional Service . Group Discounts

Enquire online at www.massage-me.com

+33 (0)6 12 65 34 52

Massage in the comfort of your chalet

rescue techniques and the rules and regulat ions of the pis te . Successful complet ion of the course g ives you a Brevet Nat ional des P is teur Secour is te , which is a nat ional qual i f i cat ion.

The best part of my job is def in i te ly feel ing that I ve real ly helped someone out , whether i t s just g iv ing them informat ion, or being able to ca lm them down and get them of f the mountain i f they need medical help af ter an acc ident . Other perks inc lude being the f i rs t person on the s lopes to dec lare them open , r id ing in a hel icopter and get t ing to blast avalanches. S i t t ing at the top of the mountain in the sunshine and apprec iat ing the amazing v iew is a lso pret ty spec ia l too!

The hardest part of my job is being ca l led to a bad acc ident . Mysel f and the rest of the team

act profess ional ly , because that s what our t ra in ing has taught us to do, but even when a rescue goes smoothly we s t i l l replay i t in our minds af terwards. That can be hard. We work as a team and we share our responsibi l i t ies so were able to of fer support to one another . I haven t found mysel f in any s i tuat ion that s been very dangerous and I keep my f ingers crossed that I wont!We do somet imes see some s i l l y th ings on the mountain and the worst b i t i s knowing people underest imate the dangers of going of f p is te when condi t ions just aren t r ight , or i f they don t have the correct equipment . Just because there are t racks leading of f p is te , th is doesn t mean you should fo l low them

Another quest ion sk iers of ten ask is whether i t s hard to balance safety wi th the need to keep the l i f t s running and

Image credit - Luca Zesta



18

the resort open. My answer is a lways no, because safety a lways comes f i rs t . The dec is ions on whether to open a s lope or c lose a s lope are made by a team of people us ing lots of informat ion. I f there s any quest ion mark over the safety of a run, we l l keep i t c losed.

In other sk i resorts they measure the number of p is teurs and other mountain workers that are in jured each season I ve seen s tat is t i cs as h igh as 1/5th of the team over in T ignes! This makes the job look and sound very dangerous, and a l though i t s l ike ly to be a real is t i c s ta t is t i c , i t s probably down to in jur ies such as sprained ankles . I t s real ly important that we take care of ourselves dur ing the season, otherwise we increase the l ike l ihood of get t ing in jured.

There are so many other important ro les on the mountain each day that you might not be aware of . Hel icopter p i lots br ing medical ass is tance to emergencies and they help us recover people f rom areas where there are no roads for ambulances. The hel icopters a lso help us to blast avalanches. A

team of doctors g ive advice over the radio and in person, and they of ten arr ive wi th the hel icopter or ambulance. The pis te basher dr ivers (or dameurs as we ca l l them) are a lso essent ia l as they help to make the s lopes bet ter and safer . L i f t ies a lso help to make the whole l i f t network run smoothly and safe ly . Of ten they are the f i rs t people to hear of any acc idents or inc idents so communicat ion wi th them is essent ia l .

This winter I have a new job in Avor iaz and I m very exc i ted about i t . I l l be a Nivocul teur or snowmaker, work ing f rom 5pm as the pis tes c lose for the day unt i l around 2am, or f rom 4am unt i l 1pm. I t l l be my job to make sure the snow cannons are a lways funct ioning and wi l l make snow when condi t ions are r ight usual ly when i t s between -3.5 degrees and -4 degrees. I t s very important that the cannons are swi tched on as soon as condi t ions are r ight , and th is expla ins our shi f t pat tern! A Nivocul teur s job begins wel l before the season s tar ts so that there s a good base when sk iers arr ive.



19

What else happens on the mountain after dark?

16.00 - The sk i l i f t s are s tar t ing to c lose. L i f t ies begin c lear ing the work ing areas around the l i f t s of any snow before tak ing down the s ignage and net t ing around the l i f t s ta t ion, ready for grooming. They a lso fo ld up the seats on the chair l i f t s in case i t snows overnight .

17.00 - Sk i patrol (p is teurs) begin careful ly patrol l ing the runs and of f -p is te areas, hurry ing a long s t ragglers and looking for anyone hav ing di f f i cu l t ies . I t may take several laps of each l i f t to check every p is te , whi le a l l the t ime i t s get t ing darker and darker .

17.30 - I t s t ime for the pis te bashers to move in and they l l be at i t for most of the night . Each run gets fu l ly p loughed up, f la t tened, and then a f inal groom. Bashers use a wide select ion of technology to get the job done: winches and cables to access the s teeper s tuf f , h igh tech GPS for when v is ib i l i t y drops to zero, and a whole host of computer-guided wizardry to keep them c l ing ing to the s ide of the hi l l .

18.00 - I f the temperature is low enough, the snowmakers wi l l s tar t work wi th the set t ing sun and carry on through the night . Snowmakers operate the vast network of snow cannons around the lower hal f of the mountains. A huge amount of ef for t goes in to keeping the Portes du Sole i l s 1500 snow cannons in peak operat ing condi t ion, something you l l be thankful for come spr ing!

03.00 - I f i t s snowing, road c learance teams wi l l be s tar t ing work around now, ploughing a l l the major routes to make sure they re c lear for the morning. You might hear them when you wake up, c lear ing the smal ler roads, park ing areas and footpaths.

06.30 - I f there s been a big snowfal l , ava lanche blast ing wi l l commence wel l before the sun comes up. Most b last ing in the area is done wi th the automated gas powered Gazex blasters , which you l l see poking out of some of the s teeper sect ions near or above the pis tes . However, there s s t i l l a requirement for someone to phys ica l ly h ike up and dynamite blast any part icular ly heavy looking or wind loaded areas of snow.

07.00 - L i f t c rews arr ive to hand-c lear the equipment and chairs . The l i f t barr iers and net t ing are re-erected.

08.00 - The P is teurs s tar t their morning patrols , check ing and marking hazards, and put t ing up poles and s ignage.

08.30 - Restaurants are c lear ing their terraces and f i r ing up the cof fee machine.

09.00 - The l i f t s are ready to go. Medical teams, ambulance dr ivers and hel icopter p i lots are s tanding by.

A great place to unwind after skiing or chill-out after dinner.Enjoy world wines or cocktails with flavoursome tapas.

PHONE ORDERS: 00 33 (0) 4 50 37 76 12OPENING HOURS: 4PM - 10PM DAILY!

Chalet Le Boomerang2259 Rt des Grandes Alpes, 74120 Les Gets

Tel: 00 33 (0) 4 50 37 76 12 Email: [email protected]

THEME NIGHTS AND LIVE MUSICTHROUGHOUT THE WINTER SEASONSEE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR ASK FOR DETAILS

Mammas QueTal Les Gets

SEE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR ASK FOR DETAILS

RESTAURANT AND TAKE-AWAYAll food cooked fresh to order

Eat in or take awayPhone orders taken for collection

Licensed premises with beer, wine and sodas available to take awayThe only place in town offering English, Italian and Asian

style cuisine, catering for even the fussiest of eaters.

LES GETSLES GETS

Hotel offering both bed and breakfast and half board accommodation

Mammas half page.pdf 1 16/09/2014 17:48

Image credit - Luca Zesta



20

More Stash

Shreddie, the Stash mascot , has increased the s i ze of h is a l l -natural snowpark habi tatin the woods of Avor iaz . The busy l i t t le beavers f rom Avor iaz SnoZone have bui l t anaddi t ional twenty or so more features for your enjoyment! Head there immediate ly !

New Skatepark in Morzine

Af ter many years of campaigning and a ser ious fundrais ing ef for t by the Concrete Community , a new skatepark in Morz ine has been g iven the go ahead. The new concrete s t ructure wi l l be bui l t on the s i te of the o ld park underneath the Super Morz ine Br idge. Work is expected to s tar t in the spr ing.

The Paradis Nightclub Reopens!

Undoubtedly one of the biggest news s tor ies th is winter i s the grand re-opening of the Paradis n ightc lub. Af ter c los ing in 2010 many people bel ieved that would be the las t wed hear f rom the legendary la te n ight haunt . Luck i ly for us th is i sn t the case! RudeChalets have expanded their empire and bought the o ld c lub, as wel l as the hotel on top of i t . They have s t r ipped and rebui l t the upper f loors to make the RudeLodge; wi th a cafe and aprs bar , and a se lect ion of dormitory s ty le and pr ivate bedrooms, th is 40-bed accommodat ion is a budget t ravel lers dream come true.

The nightc lub i tse l f i s in the basement, and the 70s decor remains untouched. Furry animal pr int furni ture, s t r ipper-poles, and the l ight-up dance f loor wi l l a l l remain as they were throughout the 80s and 90s but wi th updated fac i l i t ies to improve your exper ience. With many spec ia l events happening throughout the winter , look out for weekly retro nights , res ident Ib i za DJs and bar pr ices that won t break your hol iday budget - a rare f ind af ter 2am around these parts .

The bar is open seven days a week f rom luncht ime unt i l 11.00pm and the c lub is then open unt i l a hangover inducing 5.00am. V is i t rudechalets .com for more informat ion.

Deliveries to the Alps

Haul ing your sk is f rom your house to the tax i , the tax i to check- in, check- in to the overs i zed baggage desk (pay ing 10 a k i lo i f they re overweight) , wai t ing 40 minutes for them to appear (or somet imes not) on the carousel , then another 400 meter drag to the t ransfer van fo l lowed by a 25 meter i ce c l imb up the chalet dr iveway, and youre s tar t ing to wonder why youve bothered. Why not just have them del ivered? For as l i t t le as 2 per k i lo return, your luggage can be shipped door to door, fu l ly insured, wi th no weight l imi t , in a pr ivate vehic le . Say goodbye to that excess baggage s t ress and check out del iver iestothealps.co.uk for more informat ion.

A New Radio Station for the Portes du Soleil

More music . Fresh t racks . That s the tag l ine of the Portes du Sole i l s brand spanking new radio s tat ion A lps Radio. Founders Danie l Johnson of 4uweather .com and Michel Lefant , s ta t ion boss of RTL2 Morz ine to ld us: Community i s the main message behind th is venture. Were prov iding the la test sounds for the s lopes, a useful local weather forecast , an events guide, t ips and ins ider knowledge, and dai ly French language lessons to make you feel r ight a t home! A lps Radio wi l l be on a ir dai ly throughout the winter and summer seasons, wi th programmes f rom 7.00am unt i l 10.00am, 12 noon unt i l 2 .00pm and 4.00pm unt i l 7 .00pm, a long wi th non-stop music a t other t imes. For more informat ion v is i t a lpsradio.com

Ibex Beer

Unt i l recent ly i t was a lmost imposs ible to get a good dr ink in th is town. You could get a dr ink, many dr inks in fac t , wi th re lat ive ease. But a f reshly made craf t beer , produced wi th care and pass ion. No way.

Luck i ly for us lovers of ar t isan beer the t ide is turning. Ibex Beer are producing four var iet ies for our dr ink ing pleasure: An IPA, a pale a le , a chocolate s tout and an a lcohol ic g inger beer . With plans to be in several bars and chalets around the resort , keep an eye out for Ibex th is winter and take the opportuni ty to dr ink i t ( responsibly) as of ten as you can.



21

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The clever team at Counterfeit Clothing have created these custom t-shirts for the Winter 15 season and we think they make the perfect holiday souvenir.

Buy them from the Source web shop (morzinesourcemagazine.com/shop) and well deliver them to your accommodation before you head home. Or, well pop them in the post from right here in Morzine.

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22

Welcome to Morzine, Avoriaz & Les Gets'

tourism Oscars. Were looking for local

businesses that truly help to make our

three resorts fantastic and we want you,

our readers, to help us find them.

The Source Awards For Excellence launch

this winter with four award categories:

Favourite Accommodation

Favourite Food Favourite Service Favourite Bar

Heres how well choose the winners

1 We need you, the publ ic , to nominate your favour i te business by heading to the Source websi te and complet ing a nominat ion form. (or scan the QR code to make your way s t ra igh t to the nominat ion form)

2 On 15th March 2015 we l l announce which businesses have been nominated and the publ ic vote wi l l open for 14 days. When you vote, you l l need to g ive us a short reason for your choice.

3 On 30th March 2015 vot ing wi l l c lose, and a short l i s t of the top three businesses in each category wi th the most votes wi l l be announced. A panel of 5 top-secret judges (who have nothing to do wi th any of the short l i s ted businesses) wi l l dec ide on their winner based on v is i tor feedback.

4 The winners of each award category wi l l be announced at the Source Magaz ine Awards for Excel lence awards night on Sunday 5th Apr i l .

We want to reward the local businesses that do a l l they can to of fer the best exper ience to Morz ine, Les Gets & Avor iaz hol idaymakers , season workers and local res idents .

The Source Magaz ine Awards for Excel lence wi l l be awarded to the best business in each category at the end of the winter season.

get involved

For more information head to morzinesourcemagazine.com/awards

scan the QR code to make your way

straight to the nomination form



23Whether youve skied too hard or can't face

going to a restaurant or the supermarket, we can

cater for you. From that one-off special dinner to

a fully catered week, we can help make your self

catered chalet holiday a holiday for everyone

Call us today for more information

Our fully catered package includes 3 course dinners with wine served on 6 evenings, 7 breakfasts (6 served), 7 afternoon teas all left for you to help yourself to

Call Sarah on +33 (0) 6 47 82 98 89 or e-mail [email protected] Youll find more information on our catering services

on our website www.chaletchefs.net

Piedmont peppers & garlic breadLasagne & salad

Tiramisu

French onion soupTartiflette with salad, cured meats & pickles

Lemon sorbet & citrus fruit salad

Merguez sausage, chickpea, mint & cucumber salad in a lemon vinaigrette

Lamb tagine with Mediterranean vegetables & Moroccan cous-cous

Mango & lime cheese cake

Nacho chips with guacamole & sour creamChilli con carne with wraps,grated cheese & salsa salad

Chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce

Spring rolls & sweet chilli dipping sauceThai Green chicken curry & vegetable

pad Thai noodlesMeringues with kiwis & passion fruit coulis

Poppadoms with mango chutney & onion relishChicken & vegetable madras

with rice & minted yoghurtBanana samosas & coconut ice-cream

Menu 1 - Fixed Menu 220 per person per week, one off dinners charged

at 35 per person per night

StartersSauted poached pear slices & blue cheese

salad with a balsamic split dressingBayonne ham & celeriac remoulade

& truffle infused olive oilCaramelised onion & goats cheese tart

Wild mushroom risotto topped withrocket & parmesan

Trio of smoked fish with blinis & crme frache, lemon & dill dressing

Goats cheese & bacon lardons on mixed leaves with a warm honey mustard dressing

French onion soup with a gruyere crouton

MainsCoq au vin with Savoyard potatoes

Beef Bourguignon with mashed potatoConfit duck on braised red cabbage

Fillet mignon of pork with Armagnac cream sauceDijon & tarragon roast chicken with wild rice mix

Slow roast belly pork witha cassoulet of white beans

Local trout fillets with a rice pilaf

DessertsTarte tatin with vanilla ice-cream

Vanilla creme brulee & shortbreadLemon tart with black currant sorbet

& crme fracheBread & butter brioche pudding

with crme anglaisSticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce & custardCrepe suzette with caramelised oranges, orange

sauce & vanilla ice-creamChocolate rum pots, chantilly cream

& langue de chat biscuits

Fine Dining menu 3 also available

Menu 2 - Choose You Own Menus265 per person per week, one off dinners charged

at 45 per person per night(examples, more dishes on request)

chalet-chefs.pdf 1 17/09/2014 10:05



24

Tradi t ional ly these shots were obta ined by dangl ing a cameraman out the window of a hel icopter and were exc lus ive to only those wi th the biggest of budgets . For the more down to earth product ions i t was a l l about cable cams or sending someone up a t ree. As we are now almost in what Marty McFly considered to be the future, i t s not real ly surpr is ing that weve seen the emergence of drone f i lming.

A drone or UAV (Unmanned Aer ia l Vehic le) i s essent ia l ly a remote control a i rcraf t consis t ing of a smal l body conta ining a bat tery and the e lectronics , wi th mul t ip le arms support ing

a motor and a rotor . They come in var ious var iet ies but the most common types are: four rotors - a quadcopter , s ix rotors - a hexacoptor or e ight rotors an octocoptor .Drones feature an e lectronic s tabi l i ty control , which makes for a s teady and predic table

f l ight . They are GPS capable, can fo l low a plot ted route and have a g imbal led camera

mount , meaning not only are they super s table in the a i r but they are easy to f l y and easy to f i lm wi th. As the technology has become cheaper and more readi ly avai lable, an increas ing number of product ion companies and indiv iduals have s tar ted f i lming wi th UAVs.

Of course, these are not the f i rs t generat ion of radio-control a i rcraf t mounted wi th cameras. S ingle rotor remote control hel icopters have been on the market s ince the mid-ninet ies and are eas i ly capable of support ing a GoPro. So why didn t they ever catch on wi th the same enthusiasm of today s mult i - rotor copters? Qui te s imply they are

Watch any snowsport movie nowadays and youll notice one thing: nearly all have an aerial shot.

I think you would be hard pushed to find a winter film from the last few seasons that, at some point, doesnt feature at least a hint of aerial photography. Its like the time-lapse of the current age; it sets the scene, the mood and provides a nice bit of filler.

As we are now

almost in what Marty

McFly considered to

be the future

Ima

ge

cr

ed

it -

Wil

l N

an

gl

e



25

an absolute n ightmare to f l y . A few years back I purchased mysel f a lovely remote control chopper. Af ter 30 minutes of i t

heading in every d irect ion but the one I wanted i t to go in, i t h i t a tough patch of ground at around 60km/h and that was that .

THE FUTURE OF THE DRONE

The UKs C iv i l Av iat ion Author i ty (CAA) have been t ry ing to c lass i fy the legal s tanding of pr ivate and commerc ia l ly used UAVs for a whi le now. As i t s tands the current laws don t fu l ly cover a l l aspects of drone use, wi th l imi ts on proximity (50m from bui ld ings, 150m from large events) and the actual use of the drone fa l l ing under the user s responsibi l i t y to not spy or t respass.

To use a drone commerc ia l ly in the UK i t i s necessary to get a l i cense f rom the CAA in order to ensure that the pi lot has the required sk i l l s and insurance for drone f l ight . In January 2013 only 30 such l i censes were requested but , due to the ever growing popular i ty of the drone, they received over ten t imes the

amount of requests for l i censes in the las t month.

With the legal s tanding of drones s t i l l unconf i rmed due to out-dated laws, nobody is exact ly sure what wi l l happen in the worst -case scenar io of a p i lot been taken to court . I t s only a matter of t ime unt i l a ce lebr i ty s pr ivacy gets v io lated or someone crashes one into something s igni f i cant ly expensive and the current out-dated laws are tested by th is 21st century problem.

L ike a f ine wine of the sk ies , drone technology is only going to improve over t ime. With current range l imi ted by a usual maximum of f i f teen minutes f l ight t ime, and that being shortened s igni f i cant ly by any excess ive c l imbing, the fu l l s i zed hel icopter is unl ike ly to be replaced any t ime soon for b igger d is tances and larger sca le projects .

Where i t s real ly going to get interest ing is wi th the next generat ion of personal fo l low-cam drones. There have a l ready been a couple of concepts f loat ing about onl ine and very recent ly a K ickstar ter project smashed i ts funding target to develop a drone that wi l l lock onto your smartphones GPS s ignal and fo l low you around. I t s poss ibly the ul t imate upgrade over hav ing your mate s tand on a landing wobbl ing his helmet cam at you.

I th ink we can safe ly assume that drones are here to s tay . I d love to have a l i t t le hover ing robot that fo l lowed me down the pis ts and I m s toked at how c lose that technology is to being af fordable. But judging f rom the amount of helmet cams you see on your average mountain, can you imagine the madness that would ensue i f everyone were being fo l lowed by t iny l i t t le a i rcraf t down every s lope? In actual fac t , I can t wai t . I t sounds hi lar ious. Just remember to duck. And wear a helmet .

Its only

a matter of

time until a

celebritys

privacy gets

violated

or someone

crashes one

into something

significantly

expensive

Id love to

have a little

hovering robot

that followed

me down the

pists

Its possibly

the ultimate

upgrade over

having your

mate stand

on a landing

wobbling his

helmet cam at

you

ChaletManager has not only improvedand streamlined the way we work but it has

allowed us to grow and develop as a companyMark Livesey, Venture Ski, Sainte Foy

Url: chaletmanager.comEmail: [email protected]: +44 (0) 1865 522199

Skype: chaletmanager

Say hello to ChaletManager A simple and intuitive online application that gives you control of your chalet business.

So what can it do?Enquiries - straight from your website into ChaletManager;MyBooking - allows your guests to amend their own booking;Multiple users - unlimited users with custom levels of access;Finance - powerful multi-currency invoicing and expenses; Reporting - run reports on all aspects of your business;Real-time availability - displayed directly on your website;Online payments - guests can pay for their holiday online.

Transparent pricingSimply pay depending on your size of operation and the level of service that you offer. From just 0.79 per room per month. With no fixed contract or upfront costs.



Last year French pol ice went in , a l l guns blaz ing ( l i tera l ly) to arrest sk i instructor and business owner S imon But ler , who was deemed to be teaching in France wi thout the proper qual i f i cat ions, as wel l as employ ing underqual i f ied instructors . The fo l lowing media f renzy at t r ibuted the inc ident to a long-s tanding r iva l ry between the f rogs and the roastbeefs a f ter But ler s c la ims that he had been unnecessar i ly t reated l ike a cr iminal by the French pol ice. In the end he was f ined 30k and faced 200 days ja i l t ime, as wel l as being to ld by a judge that he might l ike to t ry work ing in Swi t zer land, where the qual i f i cat ion level i s much lower. Ouch.

So just what does i t take to teach sk i ing and snowboarding in France? As wel l as hav ing to achieve the top instruct ing qual i f i cat ion for your country , you a lso need to apply for a Carte Prof fess ionel le - a document that s tates youre legal ly a l lowed to teach in France. I t s a lso compulsory to complete

a speed test for sk iers , or get a cer ta in amount of F IS (Federat ion Internat ional du Sk i) points for snowboarders . Sk iers need to complete a GS course in 18% (24% for women) of the t ime of a wor ld championship racer , and snowboarders need to compete in F IS organised compet i t ions to gain enough points through e i ther rac ing or f reesty le to prove their abi l i ty . Phew.

The 2012/13 winter a lso saw the French author i t ies crack down on unqual i f ied sk i guides, in part icular chalet hosts who show guests around the pis tes as a hol iday extra and advise them on the best p laces to go for a hot chocolate. Fol lowing a h ighly publ ic and f requent ly appealed case in France, most hol iday-makers are now required to pay up to 350 a day for a fu l ly qual i f ied guide to show them around the t ra i ls , and l ike ly feel obl iged to buy them lunch. The case a lso saw a number of hol iday-company employees lose their jobs, and s truck fear into the hearts of

Its been subject of controversy in recent

months. People have lost jobs. People have been arrested. Theyve even

gone to court.You know what Im

talking about; the age-old problem of being a

ski instructor in France.

In this modern day and age, most

instructors can get by in most countries with

a Level Two instructor qualification, and

anything above that will have you teaching

more advanced skiers and snowboarders and making more money for

your troubles.

Not in France, though.

with these increasingly tight

restrictions and highly public arrests,

could potential new instructors be

put off going the distance to teach in

France because its too much hassle?


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Bri t i sh mountain dwellers; could it be illegal to show your grandparents to your favourite restaurant in the next resort?

Its estimated that there are currently 350 instructors working illegally in France, and many more guiding; Butlers arrest (whether intentionally making an example of him or not) shows that the French authorities are cracking the whip on this kind of behaviour. However, could these restrictions also put off potential new instructors from wanting to teach in France? And could this, in turn affect Frances winter tourism industry?

All these events pose the question to French snowsports authorities: Why so serious? Is it necessary for instructors to pass gruelling

technical exams, become semi professional racers, as well as off piste and touring guides? And is it worth it, to go through years of expensive and stressful training to spend six hours a day teaching tearful under-fives how to do a pizza on the nursery slope?

Well, the short answer is actually yes. The French authorities claim that everyone needs to be this qualified in order to provide the highest level of safety, even if theyre just showing you to the nearest hot chocolate station. But at least then we know that people who take the time to get the proper qualifications are in it for the long haul; teaching skiing and snowboarding is their career and their passion, not just a gap yah fad or a mid- l i fe cr is is .

Skiing isn't ingrained in our

culture the way it is in France

(as much as we like to pretend

thats not the case) which

could be why so many British

holidaymakers are more inclined

to seek out British instructors.



But there are a lso a number of cul tura l fac tors to th ink about , especia l ly when i t comes to teaching young k ids. France s largest sk i school , the ESF (Ecole du Sk i Francais) , c la ims that around 70% of i t s pupi ls are under fourteen years o ld. As they cater to many k ids who grow up in the mountains, i t s real ly important to make sure they know how to be safe. Compare th is to BASI (Br i t i sh Assoc iat ion of Snowsports Instructors) run schools , who s tate that their port ion of junior c l ients i s around 30%. Many French k ids are a lso part of local sk i c lubs, and compete in

race leagues, which could expla in why the French qual i f i cat ion sys tem, the Moni teur du Sk i , i s focused largely on rac ing and technica l abi l i ty . The BASI qual i f i cat ion sys tem is geared around teaching and making sure c l ients are hav ing fun, in order to keep them interested in the sport . So, bas ica l ly , were seeing sk i ing being taught as a l i fes ty le compared to a recreat ional past ime.

The ESF has around 250 schools and around 17,000 instructors , but there are a lso a number of smal ler , Br i t i sh run sk i and snowboard schools throughout the Portes du Sole i l who, thankful ly , have a l l taken the t ime to submit the correct paperwork and employ fu l ly qual i f ied instructors . This means that the S imon But ler case hasn t set th ings back for internat ional instructors the moral of h is s tory is that as long as you obey the laws of the country you are in , you wi l l eventual ly reap the rewards.

But le t s not forget about guiding. Now that i t s i l legal to guide unqual i f ied, could unnecessary s t ra in be put on sk i schools to pick up the s lack? And how wi l l ins tructors def ine the l ine between teaching and just showing people around the mountain? I suppose we l l jus t have to wai t and see. The court s dec is ion to ban guiding is current ly being appealed by a number of hol iday companies - but don t throw your pis te maps away just yet .

Would a lack

of British, or even

international

instructors, working

in France impact the

industry for the

worst? And is it wise

to upset the delicate

balance currently in

place, particularly

when it comes to

guiding?

From The Experts

Ian McKeller,Direc tor a t Avor iaz A lp ine Sk i School

We have a mixture of Br i t i sh and French instructors so can cater to both nat ional i t ies ; a l though every instructor has a di f ferent teaching s ty le so nat ional i ty doesn t p lay a ro le. Being a smal ler sk i school we can of fer you a more personal serv ice, but that i s not to say that larger schools l ike the ESF are bad. With regards to the qual i f i cat ion level in France, those who wish to commit wi l l achieve. L ike any profess ion you have to work hard to reap the rewards.

Graham Bell,Sk i Sunday presenter

I fu l ly support the fac t that you need to be fu l ly qual i f ied i f youre going to instruct and obey the qual i f i cat ion process in place for the country you intend to work in . BASI worked very hard to establ ish a pathway to become qual i f ied. I t s only fa i r that you need to be qual i f ied.

I m less convinced about the host ing regulat ions. I t s going to hurt the industry because i t s very obvious those guys aren t ins tructors . There s a b ig d i f ference between sk i ing soc ia l ly wi th a guide and t ry ing to teach people to sk i and improve their technique. No-ones ever sa id sk i guides and hosts are instructors .



29

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30

AVORIAZRock On UltimateLaunching the s tar t of the winter season in s ty le , Rock On Ul t imate inc ludes f ree equipment test ing, l i ve music and part ies , p lus an appearance by snowboarding legend Shaun White s band Band Things on Sat 13 at 5pm. Entry i s f ree.

MORZINENew Years Eve PartyBasscamp Sess ions DJ Thomas Gandy hosts aprs at Hotel Le Trempl in fo l lowed by a party unt i l 6am at L E ta le . A t the same t ime Le T ibetans annual party i s a lways great fun, you l l need to buy t i ckets in advance f rom the bar .

LES GETSThe Big Mountain Bat tleWorking in pairs , sk iers and snowboarders must cover a c i rcui t of l i f t s , runs and hikes, v is i t ing GPS tagged checkpoints over a three hour t ime per iod. The three quickest teams win pr i zes . The Big Mountain Bat t le a lso takes place on 24th January too.

MORZINEAlpine Challenge FundraiserAhead of March s Snow-Camp Alpine Chal lenge we l l be ra is ing important funds for the youth char i ty wi th a pub quiz a t the Bec Jaune Brewery. Come and jo in in the fun!

LES GETSSkiColourThey re ca l l ing th is a wor ld f i rs t part ic ipants wi l l sk i or snowboard down a dedicated run on Mont Chery as coloured powder explos ions are t r iggered a long the pis te . There l l be a fami ly f r iendly atmosphere and a concert a t the end of the day.

MORZINEDropzone800 people pack into the Pala is du Sport for a huge dance party , accompanied by a s tagger ingly huge sound system and some of the best French drum 'n bass and e lectro DJs .

MORZINE & PORTES DU SOLEILThe Alpine ChallengeAs you l l f ind out on page 44, Team Morz ine Source Magaz ine & Bec Jaune Brewery are the team to beat when Snow-Camp return to the Portes du Sole i l for the 6th A lpine Chal lenge. I f youre not tak ing part , keep an eye on your soc ia l media accounts for l i ve updates!

PORTES DU SOLEILRock The PistesThe f ree, p is te-s ide music fes t iva l , which las t year inc luded Br i t i sh bands Babyshambles and Klaxons, i s back for a 5th t ime. F ive big name acts are promised and we l l announce the fu l l l ine up on the Source websi te soon. What we do know is that Morz ine wi l l host a concert on Sunday 15th, Avor iaz on Monday 16th, and the plateau between Morz ine and Les Gets on Fr iday 20th.

AVORIAZEuropean Gay Ski WeekAs you l l d iscover on page 76, European Gay Sk i Week arr ives in Avor iaz for the f i rs t t ime th is winter . Expect hundreds of revelers enjoy ing music f rom internat ional DJs , ar t is ts and performers.

MorzineThe Cavern 247 Film FestivalWe l l conf i rm the exact date on the Source websi te as soon as we have i t , but the Cavern 247 is an unmissable event and i f youre in resort a l l season, you should most def in i te ly get involved. Rais ing money for important local causes, teams spend seven days before the fest iva l f i lming across the sk i area, a l l edi ts are screened at the Pala is du Sport the night a f ter f i lming c loses and a winner is announced!

MORZINEEnd Of Season PartyThis year s Morz ine Source Magaz ine and Retro Rentals end of season showdown in the centre of Morz ine promises to be even bigger and bet ter than las t year , wi th extra bars , more bands, DJs and a great a tmosphere. We l l a lso be ra is ing a s tack of money for char i ty !

T H E B I G O N E S

12th 19thDecember

12th 15thmarch

15th - 21stmarch

21st - 29th march

tbc

15thapril

31stdecember

10thjanuary

19thjanuary

31st january

7thfebruary



31

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MORZINE - 9.30pmle tibetanGreat bands f rom the local area and fur ther af ie ld perform l ive on the T ibetan s tage

morzine - 4.00pmHotel Le Cot tageDJ Candyman br ings the sound of funk to the heated terrace at Hotel Le Cot tage, just a few metres f rom the P leney l i f t in the centre of Morz ine

Nyon - 3.00pmInfernoThe Ul t imate Mountain Meal Exper ience br ings a whole new aprs exper ience to the Inferno on Nyon Plateau wi th l i ve bands and DJs each week

Morzine - 4.00pmLe TremplinThe biggest aprs party of the week k icks of f on Le Trempl in s huge heated terrace, to the musica l accompaniment of Morz ine s f inest Basscamp DJs

morzine - 4.00pmhotel Le Cot tageLocal bands inc luding Morz ine favour i tes Cab Col lec t ive are l i ve and loud dur ing aprs at Hotel Le Cot tage

morzine - 5.00pmle tibetanIndoor apres best a t Le T ibetan, where the bands a great , there s a cosy , warm atmosphere and table serv ice to boot

nyon - 4.00pmInfernoThe Fr iday Fancy Dress aprs Party inc ludes best dressed pr i zes , dr ink ing games and dr inks promos

les gets - 9.30pmBar BushThe pub quiz i s known local ly as one of the funniest ways to spend a Fr iday n ight in Les Gets

morzine - 11.00pmParadis NightclubEl Tropicana @ Paradis Nightc lub hosts the best in funky, t ropica l and deep house

MORZINE - 3.00pmLe TibetanLive sport ing act ion wi th large TVs showing a l l the 6 Nat ions and Premiership act ion you need

Nyon - 4.00pmInfernoSunday Sess ions at the Inferno on the Nyon Plateau involves l i ve bands and l ive DJs

You' l l f ind a fu l l l i s t of a l l weekly events on the source websi te .W E E K L Y E V E N T S

mondays

tuesdays

wednesdays

thursdays

thursdays

fridays

saturdays

sundays



At least that s what we were to ld as k ids and that s how i t s a lways been. Young chi ldren can t snowboard; they aren t s t rong enough. And wi th ear ly renta l equipment and teaching techniques, that was cer ta in ly t rue. Heavy, s t i f f boards, boots that only went down to an adul t s i ze f i ve and bindings bui l t f rom girders under a one s i ze f i t s a l l pol icy were the norm. I t wasn t that snowboarding was hard for a young chi ld, i t was genuinely imposs ible. They d have had bet ter luck removing one of the chalet s oak doors and r id ing that down the pis te . They d probably have gone fur ther , anyway.

So whats different nowadays?

Firs t ly , there s the technology. L ighter , more f lex ib le boards and bindings, which (a lmost more important ly) are rentable and af fordable. The other big change is in instructor at t i tude; they ve real ised that k ids are not s imply smal ler vers ions of adul ts . The way younger chi ldren are taught has improved dramat ica l ly in recent years , wi th lessons being s t ructured more l ike a fun game that happens to be on a snowboard. Smal l c lass s i zes , new techniques and f reesty le (AKA the real fun bi t ) being introduced f rom the word go have led to a fun learning environment des igned speci f i ca l ly for l i t t le bodies and eas i ly d is t racted minds.

Its easy to see why your little darlings can now come back from a morning snowboard lesson all smiles.

Mint Snowboarding are at the forefront of k ids snowboard instruct ion in Morz ine. Working wi th Burton Snowboards la test range of cut t ing edge k ids set -ups, Mint have made the superb Mini Shredders v ideo, demonstrat ing just what can be achieved by three to seven year-olds af ter a few lessons. I t s wel l worth a watch, especia l ly for f i ve-year-old Raphs mass ive ly hucked f ronts ide 180!

Kids cant snowboard until they are thirteen years old.

If you want your young children to come on a winter holiday, they have to ski.

Tammy from Mint snowboarding has put

together her top tips to help make your

youngsters experience as pleasurable as

possible. Because the most important thing

is that your children enjoy the experience

and have a great, memorable holiday.

Visit mintsnowboarding.com to watch the video and find out more about the mini shred movement.

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33

Choose a kid friendly resort(Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets all are great for kids).

Rent or buy second hand equipment unless youre in a position to hand it down, kids grow so quickly that it won't last.

Helmets are highly recommended to protect their little melons.

Wrist-guards are a good idea for older kids (eight plus) but for younger children its less important as they are lighter and have

less far to fall, plus it can be a real faff getting them on tiny hands.

Mittens are warmer than gloves and easier to get on and off too.

Keeping your kids warm is crucial to the success of your holiday. If its a supercold day, take regular breaks inside by the fire to keep enthusiasm levels high.

Go for goggles, not sunglasses theyre much more durable and offer betterface protection on impacts. Theyll also provide better protection from the sun.

Kids should be encouraged not to take their gloves and goggles on and off. Theyshould be able to do everything with them on, including doing up and undoing bindings.

Always keep an emergency chocolate bar/sweets in your pocket in case energy levels get low.

Speak to their instructor about where is suitable to take them out of lesson time don't believe your kid if they tell you theyve been down a black run on day two!

Picking the correct school to go with is essential. A proper kids program is crucial for nailing those first turns and setting them up for a lifelong love of snowboarding.

If you are opting for group lessons, maximum group sizes should be six kids per instructor(and even smaller groups for aged five and under). Make sure the school is professional

with enthusiastic and fun instructors. Learning should be hidden in games and kidsshould come back with gleaming smiley faces to prove how much fun theyre having.



34

Winter 13/14

Saw the complet ion of two key l ink upgrades. Replac ing the or ig inal ageing and tedious cable car was the highly impress ive Prodains 3s gondola, capable of l i f t ing 2500 people an hour up to Avor iaz in just four minutes.

A lso new last winter was the super h igh speed, low noise, energy ef f i c ient P leney cable car . I t i s capable of boost ing 3000 people per hour to the top of the P leney in only three and a hal f minutes, a f rac t ion of t

Documents

Morzine Source Magazine - Winter 15