Powder + Skiing with Graham Bell = A very happy Jane!

Jane was pleased as punch to get some powder skiing in at the end of the season and with a famous skiier to boot!  

Skiing powder at the end of April?  Skiing with Graham Bell the day after he ran the London marathon too.  Surely I am making things up?  Not so, the  20^th Anniversary ABTOF Conference was held in Arc 1950 on 22^nd -25^th April this year and we had 2 mornings of the most fantastic conditions I had ever seen.  Take a look at the picture of us with Graham Bell if you don’t believe me…

Yep that is Jane (on the right) skiing with Graham Bell!

Jane gives the new Avoriaz Premium Apartments a big thumbs up

Erna Low’s Managing Director Jane comments on the new L’Amara residence in Avoriaz which opened it’s doors winter 11/12…

The lovely new Pierre & Vacances premium apartments in Avoriaz are great.  We were lucky enough to get a tour round this season and they have a fabulous location and are very well designed.  The spa facilities which are exclusive to PVP clients are very welcome after a hard days skiing.  Avoriaz desperately needed some up-market accommodation and now it has.  Would definitely recommend it.

Typical L'Amara Bedroom

 Why not contact the sales team now to book your apartment for winter 2012/13!  Call us on 0845 863 0525 or email info@ernalow.co.uk, we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Simon’s Season: Courchevel and the 3 Valleys

At Erna Low HQ we’ve been asking our team members to write guest blog entries on anything ski related!  Simon in the sales team was happy to oblige and here he gives us the low down on where to ski and be seen in the ever stylish Courchevel and the 3 Valleys… with insider tips like these you can’t go wrong! 

Courchevel
After working a couple of seasons in Courchevel, I cannot recommend this resort highly enough.  One of the great advantages of this little piece of heaven on Earth is not only the variety of skiing, but also that it has extensive slopes for beginners as well as intermediates and advanced skiers and boarders.

Courchevel 1850
I worked my first season in Courchevel 1850 and though it has changed significantly since then, it provides a great base with immediate access into the main skiing area and into the 3 Valleys beyond.  This is the most expensive part of the resort, as the designer shops and Porsche 4×4’s will testify to – but there are still some good value options available – for a premium residence try Les Chalets du Forum, which sell out quickly due to their excellent location or for more value Les Ecrins, which is still in the centre of the action.

There are great off slope diversions in 1850, including a bowling alley, climbing wall and amazing tobogganing course which descends to Courchevel 1550, 300 m below.  You can rent toboggans in the sports shops and do as many laps as you can handle, returning to 1850 via the Grangettes bubble lift (included in your lift pass)

There is some excellent advanced skiing to challenge you here, including the couloirs on the Saulire as well as some long black pistes down to Le Praz, which are also normally very quiet.  The pistes down to La Tania are also excellent and a good stop for a quick drink before returning to the adventures above.

Cable car to top of Saulire, Courchevel 1850

Some other favourite runs include Marmottes, an undulating and very long run all the way down to Prameruel (which is the main link to Courchevel 1650) and Suisses, a real leg burner!

Fields of powder all to ourselves – Courchevel (Loze sector)

For beginners, the excellent Jardin Alpin area allows access to a varying length of green runs which allow good progression and the chance to feel like you are really skiing the mountain.  By the end of your first week, because of the excellent linked skiing, you should be able to ski over to Courchevel 1650 for lunch and back again.

Courchevel 1650
I am a big fan of Courchevel 1650 – it offers a more relaxed and ‘village’ feel compared to 1850, as well as some great value accommodation.  If you have a large group, Les Montagnettes – Les Chalets de la Mouria are a great option.  For smaller families, couple or small groups of friends, great value can be found in the Maeva Le Moriond apartments.  For those wanting to splash out, Le Portetta Lofts offer amazing luxury (but with a price tag to match).

There is a great array of blue and red slopes here and I would always find myself skiing here more than any other part of the valley as it was always so deserted.  The Signal and Chapalets are both modern lifts and allow to you ski various runs endlessly – I never bored of this area and the views over to the Vanoise Parc National will take your breath away.  There is also an excellent restaurant at the top of the Ariondaz bubble lift called the Bel Air, by Courchevel standards it offers good value and has a much appreciated 3 tier terrace, perfect for lounging in the sun with a beer.  Another great little restaurant/bar in the centre of Courchevel 1650 is La Boulotte, which offers great fresh food and hospitality.

Empty slopes in Courchevel 1650

Courchevel 1550
The smallest of the 3 Courchevel resorts but also the best value.  It is linked straight into 1850 by the Grangettes bubble lift and has a great local bar, called The Bar, which is a very popular and entertaining place for a night or two.  We have two good value residences in 1550, Les Brigues and Les Grangettes as well as a lovely family run hotel Les Ancolies.

Further afield
From Courchevel, you have two access points into the 3 Valleys, the largest linked ski area in the World.  I generally always accessed the other parts of the 3 Valleys via the Saulire, as this gives you the option of heading into either Meribel Mottaret or Meribel Centre, which is where the main onward lifts depart from.  Also the pistes from the top of the Saulire are great fun too!

Some of my favourite areas of the 3 Valleys, outside of the Courchevel Valley are:

Meribel
Mont du Vallon – 2 mega red runs descending from the highest point in Meribel.  I always warmed up on the piste to the right of the lift as you look up, before the main event to the left.  There is also some amazing off-piste around here (always hire a guide!).

Olympic/Tougnette – an under visited part of the Meribel valley – quiet blue and red runs with good snow conditions.

Cote Brune – similar to the Mont Vallon area – great fast red runs and the main return route from Val Thorens – leave some energy in the tank for the return.

Venturing further afield - Top of Mont du Vallon, Meribel

Val Thorens
Pointe de Thorens – the highest point of the Val Thorens resort, offers a fantastic red and generally good snow as it is on a glacier.  Watch out for the high winds!

Cime de Caron – an amazing journey to the top by cable car and even more mind blowing descents.

Grand Fond – various fast red pistes.

La Folie Douce – the only need for ski or board boots here is for dancing on the tables.  If you have been to the Val d’Isere version – this is much more fun (remember your fancy dress).

Orelle – the magic 4^th Valley.  I always accessed via the Grand Fond lift as the pistes from here to the Plan Bouchet, where the Orelle lifts head up from will made you scream for joy.  The highest point in the 3 Valleys (or should we say 4 Valleys) is here and is a must for any strong intermediate/advanced skier.

La Folie Douce, Val Thorens – a great place for friends, music, beer and bananas!

Les Menuires / St Martin de Belleville
Jerusalem – this red run into St Martin just keeps on going and giving.

There are a lot of great cruising runs in Les Menuires that are fantastic for the afternoon sun, but the one stand out area for me is La Masse – a huge hulking piece of mountain that nobody seems to bother with (so keep it quiet).  Long red and black runs are the order of the day here and some great off piste opportunities too.  Just beware the run back towards Les Menuires gets narrow and moguled towards the bottom.

La Masse – don’t tell anyone

Emily’s first ever ski lessons in the mountains

For those who read my previous blog, you would know me as the “newbie” to skiing – I never knew how to ski prior to working at Erna Low nor had I been to the mountains before (to be honest I’m like a lizard and quite happy to lie in the sun!). The only snow I’ve come across is the stuff that causes widespread panic when it settles in the UK and leaves me trapped in my car overnight …

On April 13^th it was time for the Erna Low guys and gals to have a little fun of our own and on April 13^th we headed to Montgenèvre for our end of season weekend. It was my turn to experience what you Erna Low clients love to do year after year….

I was booked in for two 2 hour private lessons with A-Peak ski school to develop on what I had previously learnt at Hemel Hempsted Snow Centre in August, and early Saturday morning I was met by my instructor Philippe. Was I nervous? Yes, Yes I was but I really shouldn’t have been as Philippe made me feel relaxed and comfortable. As Saturday is the changeover day the beginner slope was extremely empty therefore if I were to make a fool of myself I could do so without being extremely embarrassed!

Emily heads off with Philippe for her first lesson on the mountain!

After quickly going over the basics such as how to carry and put on the skis, walking around and climbing up the slope it was time to take the button lift and re-learn how to do a snow plough and use the space across the slope. Slowly but surely I was able to convert my weight so I could successfully control my turns and not once did I fall over – good start! Next was learning to go across the slope with my skis parallel and pushing my inside edges into the snow, then changing into a controlled snow plough to turn before taking my skis back parallel. I was thrown off by my lack of balance to begin with however soon learnt to put more pressure where needed.

Each time we went down the slope I was asked to do different things such as alternating lifting my knee so I could learn to centre my balance or sticking my arms out wide so I could get used to using my leg to control my turns not my shoulders. Gradually we took the lift higher and higher and towards the end of the lesson we finally did a few runs from the top of the slope. I must admit my first lesson wiped me out but after a well deserved drink and a trip to the spa I felt back on form and excited for my next lesson.

"This is how you put your skis on"

Overnight we had a fresh fall of snow and on the Sunday the slopes were bustling with new arrivals, therefore I now had to learn to compete with the other learners on the beginners slope by navigating my way down without knocking into anyone.  After doing a few runs on the beginners slope and dodging children half my size I was now told it was time to hit the Green Slope.

Emily re-charged in the Le Chalet des Dolines spa area

I felt comfortable leaving the beginners area, onboard the lift I felt like an excited toddler as it was my first time using a bubble lift and my first experience on a proper ski run. Once we reached the top I followed Philippe down the slopes and felt at ease even though others were whizzing past me. The scenery was amazing and the views so spectacular that it was quite hard for me to try and concentrate on the slope ahead of me and wipe the smile of my face! I did at one point take a tumble at the edge of the slope but was quickly pulled back on my feet – it really is tricky getting back up when you land in the most awkward of positions! We were able to fit in two runs, both were exhilarating and I certainly felt a rush – why hadn’t I done this before!?

Enjoying the exceptional snow conditions in Montgenevre

I didn’t realise how much I would learn in the two 2 hour private sessions I had, I didn’t even think I would head down a green run on day two…but I did! With a private lesson you can’t hide behind others, the focus is purely on you and your development, I was always told how to improve but at the same time acknowledged and supported on what I did well. A note for beginners: be relaxed and try not to get too frustrated and overwhelmed. It’s just like learning to ride a bike for the first time in which everything will soon come naturally after practise!

I cannot recommend enough A-Peak ski school, I enjoyed every minute of my lessons especially with such a patient and professional instructor and Montgenevre was certainly the perfect place to learn.

Will I be going skiing again….well I’m already rounding up some friends to tackle the mountains with me next year….

A snowy April weekend in the Alps with Team Erna

Following our blog post the week before last, the Erna Low team returned from the snowy Alps last Monday after an amazing weekend in their new favourite resort, Montgenevre.  Read on to hear all about their trip…

Looks like January but trust us this is the current April snow conditions!

At silly o’clock on Friday morning, we met at Gatwick and boarded an Easyjet flight to Grenoble.  We all caught up on some sleep on the flight and 3 hour transfer to the resort, which took us through the Tunnel de Frejus over to Italy – as the Col du Lautaret was closed.  Going through the Italian resorts, we could see the great snow cover still lining the roads and we weren’t disappointed when we reached Montgenevre.  It was cold and snowing, so it was settling nicely and we were all getting very excited about the conditions that awaited us on the mountain.

Inside the lovely Chalets des Dolines

The boys couldn’t wait, so headed up the mountain that afternoon to get a feel for the area. The girls, however, took a slightly more leisurely approach and ventured to the resort centre for lunch, followed by a spa session at the luxury Residence Le Chalets des Dolines.

Cold and snowy conditions - Meet the ladies that lunch (Vic, Polly, Nicky, Emily and Sappho)

We were given several two bedroom apartments and found them to be very well appointed, with large living areas, modern kitchens and beautifully soft beds.

The spa area offered sumptuous facilities, with views of the surrounding mountains from the pool. It’s safe to say we made the most of this, as well as the Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms. There’s nothing better than a bit of pampering after a hard day up the mountain.

Le Chalets des Dolines luxurious pool and spa area

On the Saturday morning, we were all booked in with A-Peak – the ESI ski school in Montgenevre.  Emily, who had only ever had one days ski lessons at the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead (see past blog here), had her first ever lesson on the mountain, whilst the rest of the team were led by Sebastian, an A-Peak guide and instructor to explore the local ski area.

Approximately half of the Montgenevre ski area was open as the resort is starting to close down for the winter (too early we say, given the current superb snow conditions!).  The base is currently 70cm at the bottom and the top 120cm deep. Much to our delight, we found fresh powder all over the mountain.  Coupled with quiet pistes, we really felt like Montgenevre was our own personal playground for the weekend.

Amazing snow conditions

Sebastian took us up the main lift from the resort, the Chalmettes, which has both chairs and bubbles. He explained this was perfect for taking a group of ski school children up in one go, if parents were worried about their little ones being on a chair lift alone.  Montgenevre have put a lot of thought into how to make children (and parents) happy, and has been rewarded for its efforts with the ‘Famille Plus’ label resorts strive to achieve.  For example, there’s a large beginner area at resort level, a number of calm green runs easily accessible for all, dedicated sledging areas for different age groups and from the top of lifts there is often the choice of green/blue/red runs which meet at the bottom, giving everyone a chance to ski at the own ability.

Starting out with A-Peaks's Sebastian

Sebastian explained for the more adventurous, there is some great off-piste available in the area – even for those without much experience.  A-Peak can organise off-piste guiding for half days or full days to show you where to go and how to do it, as well as drive you back when you can’t ski back to resort.

There are three ski area/pass options available to guests; one covers Montgenevre only and is sold per day, ideal for beginners or visitors.  The most popular is the ‘Mont de La Lune’ covering 110km of pistes and includes the neighbouring Italian resorts of Claviere and Cesana (and no you don’t need to carry your passport with you to ski there!); while the largest ski area available is known as the ViaLattea (aka The Milky Way), which easily rivals the 3 Valleys with 400km of pistes.

Ouch - Joe's tremendous face-plant!

Philippe Chartier, the manager of the Skiset shop located steps away from both the residences we feature in Montgenevre, explained to us that in order to make the most of the ViaLattea it is well worth investing in a guide as their local knowledge will ensure you make the most of your time on the slopes, showing you the best there is to offer.

Montgenevre itself is a beautiful traditional resort, which is expanding with a new area to the far side of the resort where our accommodation was located.  The resort has a selection of restaurants and bars to suit all budgets and tastes and is easily navigated along a promenade style level main road through the resort.

Team EL on the slopes

All in all, we had a great few days in Montgenevre and we’ll definitely be highly recommending it to our client’s, especially families and beginners – now we’ve had firsthand experience of this amazing resort.

GETTING TO MONTGENEVRE:-

• Drive with our inclusive Eurotunnel crossing from the UK (ferry options also available) – 10hrs drive from Calais (which is the same time it takes to drive to our other family favourite resort of Arc 1950)
• Fly to Turin/Grenoble/Chambery airports and hire a car or book a transfer to resort – 1.5hr to 3hr transfer to resort
• Take the train from the UK to Oulx (indirect) followed by a 30min transfer to resort.

Last ones standing (Joe, John, Vic and Gary)

It’s snowing again!

Just as April showers are hitting the UK, the snow has returned to the Alps making this season’s snowfall records even more epic!  So if you thought the ski season was over – you were very wrong – it’s the perfect time to head out and the Erna Low team are going to be doing just that this weekend!

Each winter we work our little ski socks off to earn ourselves a staff weekend away in the Alps to do what we all love best.  This year we have the pleasure of heading to Montgenevre where many of our suppliers are making this trip possible for us for which we are all very grateful.

We are all very much looking forward to sampling the spa area and making the most of the ski in ski out location at the luxury CGH residence Les Chalets de Dolines during our stay there…

Le Chalets des Dolines

… and the Montgenevre tourist office have kindly organised our ski passes and guiding with A-Peak to help us make the most of our time exploring the ski area; while Skiset our equipment hire partner are providing our skis, boards and boots for us.

We were ready to pack our sunscreen and expect a weekend of sunbathing but have been pleasantly surprised to see the weather reporting snow for the rest of the week.  Montgenevre have posted a picture on their facebook page this morning of a car covered in 80cm of snow and with more to come, we are sure to have amazing time on the slopes this year!  We’ve also been checking out their webcams for a real time view of the slopes.

Amazing April snowfall in Montgenevre this morning

When compared to the ‘snow’ we found during last winter’s staff trip to Avoriaz (below), you can imagine our joy at seeing the picture above!

Avoriaz staff ski weekend April 2011

If you fancy a quick trip to the Alps to make the most of this amazing snow give us a call on 0845 860 0525 now or visit our website www.ernalow.co.uk.

 We are open 9-5:30 today (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday) – however please note our our office will be closed Friday 13th April.

All aboard the Southern Alps express!

Join Gary from our Admin team on an educational trip to the Southern Alps…

So as I’m sure you’ve all read a little further down the blog, Rob left the company on Monday after six years of service. Of course, this left us with no option but to head out for a few farewell drinks. ‘Great’ I thought, I like a beer as much as the next man – ‘this should be good’. And then it dawned on me… Wednesday night was chosen for the soiree, with my taxi booked for 4am on the Thursday to start the journey to Serre Chevalier. Problems.

After an hour sleep and a little bleary eyed, Louisa and I set off on our merry way. We flew into Grenoble and after a couple of hours on the windy road (with several double espresso coffee stops) we arrived in the village of Chantemerle, Serre Chevalier.

We were staying in the SARA residence L’Adret and our first impressions were good. The residence has a contemporary design with an indoor/outdoor pool at the front, bar area and reception inside. We had a studio for 2. Having travelled a fair bit and lived in some suspect places, we fully expected to have little room to relax and the whole resort to know exactly what we’d eaten for breakfast that day, as our clothes gradually release the elegant smell of sizzling sausages – slowly but surely. We were however, pleasantly surprised. The studio was a great size with a large kitchen and dining area and a good sized double bed, separated by a sliding door giving the feel of a small one bedroom apartment. The studio followed the modern theme of the communal areas, with a slick black kitchen, (confirmed as the colour of the moment by the choice of our CEO for the kitchen in our soon to be completed new offices) and modern fixtures and fittings.

The Residence L'Adret in Serre Chevalier

There wasn’t time to head up the mountain that day, so after a quick nap we headed into the night to explore the village and scout out a place for the mountain pizza we’d both been craving for way too long. A short stroll from the residence to the centre of the village showed there was plenty on offer. Although it was already becoming clear Chantermerle is the quieter of its Serre Chevalier neighbours, we found a bar for a quick beer and grabbed some food. After last night’s antics on the famous King’s Road, it was definitely time to call it a night and stroll down the not quite so famous, but by far prettier Route de Grenoble – back to the Residence L’Adret.

Bright and breezy the next morning we were up and ready to head to the resort of Risoul, as SARA had very kindly invited us to have a look around the resort and ski the Foret Blanche area. After fifteen minutes of hard graft, we finally managed to squeeze the snowboards into the back of the rented Chevy Spark. I can only compare it to that first attempt to slip into your favourite pair of skinny jeans after a particularly enjoyable Christmas. It looks like it’s never going to happen – then one final deep breath and you’re in. Getting back out should be interesting.

After an hour’s drive with a couple of snowboards bumping the back of my head at every slight dip in the road, we climbed to 1850m and arrived in Risoul – feeling a little like Churchill… the nodding dog and not the ex prime minister, just to avoid confusion.

Our first impressions of Risoul were good. SARA have a great set up here, with accommodation ranging from 4* to 2* with everything in between. The pick of the bunch for me was the Residence Antares. A beautiful modern apartment building, offering all the facilities and comfort you could ask for – including swimming pool. For those that prefer, there’s also the 4* Residence Les Balcons De Sirius, which offers a similar standard of accommodation but in a more traditional style. The 3* luxe residences offer a slightly more basic standard of accommodation but still have the swimming pool facilities, which is great for families. The 3* residences all fall under the name of the Foret Blanche as they are all built and furnished the same. The apartments here are comfortable and would suit those who aren’t fussed about the extra facilities and just like a good solid apartment to head back to and crash after a hard day on the slopes. The great thing about all of the SARA residences is they are all right by the piste, as far as I could tell – you wouldn’t have to walk (or drag) the kids any more than three or four minutes. In fact, it has to be said – SARA has got the convenience of the resort spot on. Everything is there, in one place ready for you to enjoy. Bravo SARA.

We were then met by Roland Bernaudon, Director of SARA residences and Sermont (the lift operator), who was to be our guide on the Foret Blanche ski area for the afternoon. It was at this point, as I’m sure you can imagine – I began to regret my choice of baggy purple board pants and patchwork jacket. I’m usually not too bad at dressing suitably for an occasion. I’ll put the blame on packing after Rob’s leaving party. There’s a joke in the Erna Low office, ongoing for six years now and set to continue for at least that again. If it all goes wrong – blame Rob.

Gary, enjoying the view in Risoul

Having never really skied the Southern Alps, I wasn’t sure what to expect of the slopes. The Foret Blanche is shared by Risoul and Vars and the resorts are basked in over 300 days of sunshine. We were told the cut off point to be described as ‘Mediterranean’ weather was Les Deux Alpes, about 90km north just over the Ecrins national park. I can hear the cries of ‘what about the snow then?’ echoing out from blogosphere. The Foret Blanche has a great snow record and Roland explained the weather patterns in the area mean when it snows, it snows a lot in a short period of time and then generally goes back to being sunny. Overcast isn’t in the Southern Alps translation guide you’ll be pleased to hear. The area offers over 180km of pistes and it left me wondering whether the 400km of pistes the bigger boys pride themselves on, is actually necessary. There is more than enough here to keep you occupied for at least a week. One of the great things about the Southern Alps is the Melezes tree. They are unique as they grow a lot higher up the mountain then you’d find in the rest of the Alps, allowing you to ski tree lined pistes, almost to the top.

All in all Risoul is a great choice for people looking for convenience and a great ski area, with a superb beginner’s area and plenty to keep the more experienced skier occupied.

We said our goodbyes and headed off down the road back to Serre Chevalier. The rest of the weekend was filled with a great ski in Serre Chevalier and a night with a 22 man strong French stag party. I’m good at wandering into situations like that, but I feel that story is best left for another time – perhaps over a beer at the next Erna Low meet the staff event.

Farewell Rob

The Erna Low staff are saddened to report that after 6 years of service, Rob Saville left the company last week to pursue his dream of returning to work in the Alps.

Regular Erna Low clients will know him for his Irish charm and charisma at the end of the sales line and Facebook followers will no doubt remember him from the famous ‘Ask Rob’ series.

We all wish him the best of  luck for his wedding in August and hope he has fun this summer in the UK before setting off to the mountains – we are all very envious!

The office won’t be the same without you and your Irish banter Rob…

Ask Rob.... how many beers had he had before this photo was taken at the Art of Flight premier last November?

Erna Low Property on the slopes of Valmorel

Francois, Joe and Joanna from Erna Low Property enjoy the luxury of Club Med in Valmorel, in perfect ski conditions.  They were given private viewings of the Club Med luxury chalets – just a few left for sale in the first phase.

An excellent life-style investment – where else could you buy a freehold chalet with generous rental returns that also allows 3 weeks per year free all-inclusive Club Med holidays in your purchase?

Erna Low HQ are wishing they were on the slopes…

While we at Erna Low HQ slave away at our desks, working hard to ensure our clients are booking up their ski trips to the Alps with ease, we can only dream of hitting the slopes later in the season when things have quietened down a little.  So you can imagine our envy as our colleague Polly has been able to ski this past weekend and enjoy the superb conditions currently on offer!

She is we should point out working at the Grand Ski, meeting all current and prospective suppliers planning for winter 2012/13 in the French Alps.  But it isn’t all work work work – as this picture proves she has been able to enjoy a ski in La Rosiere and also St Foy the lucky thing!

Polly pretty in pink in La Rosiere

We are sure she will update us all on her return and post a blog to let everyone know how she got on and most importantly what the skiing was like, so watch this space for more information…