UP IN THE AIR? The Plan for La Plagne

The plan was clear: a new Montalbert télécabine for December 2014, followed by the arrival of a new 8-seater Colosses lift at Plagne Bellecote for December 2015.

The excellent www.perso-laplagne.fr site has just published a post which suggests the order of ceremony may be about to change.  Although work on the new Montalbert lift has started, the cloud on the horizon is last November's report from the local DREAL environmental agency.  This declared that not enough work had been done on the impact on the local flora, fauna and animal life.  A new dossier has duly been submitted by the SAP lift company, and a response is expected by 15 March.

The ensuing uncertainty has prompted gossip that the SAP is preparing a Plan B, namely to bring forward the construction of the new Colosses lift to link Bellecote with Plagne Centre.  This would indeed provide some welcome relief to the site of what are probably the worst lift queues in the whole of the Paradiski area. Perso-La Plagne finds more evidence on the www.domaines-skiables.fr site, where it notes that a 4 person chairlift has just come onto the market.

The downside to this plan is that the environmental dossier for the new Colosses lift hasn't been done either.

To be continued....

Source: www.perso-laplagne.fr

SKI-CROSS: Disaster (and Triumph)

In the event, the ski cross was a bit of a disaster for Marielle Berger, crashing out almost instantly.  Later on, veteran Alpe d'Huez skier Ophélie David crashed out when in sight of a medal position.

But the locals will take some solace though by the performance of the men in the ski cross. The all-French podium included two Savoyards: Jean-Frédéric Chapuis, born in Bourg-St-Maurice, and a member of the Val Thorens club, took gold, folowed by Beaufort skier Arnaud Bovalenta.  TheHaut-Savoyard Jonathan Midol took bronze.

Bravo aux garcons!

SOCHI 2014: Tous avec Marielle!

Les Arcs has its own Olympic heroine: Marielle Berger goes in the Ski Cross this coming Friday.  There will be a "parade" in her honour at Arc 1800 on Thursday.  Followed by a rendez-vous at the ESF chalet in 1800 at 0845:

Follow Marielle on Facebook and @MarielleBerger

Marielle is a true local: born in Bourg St Maurice, the daughter of a ski instructor, and graduate of the Ski Club Les Arcs.  Last season, in her second on the circuit, she finished every world cup race:

Marielle's background contrasts with the British team, who are called the "Fridge Kids". Katie Summerhayes says the other teams can't believe the Brits learned their craft on dry and indoor slopes.

Ski cross has been at the centre of an almightly row over the non-election of Emily Sarsfield, who will not be competing against Marielle: more here.

With all this excitement, it seems appropriate that it is Les Arcs which will host the French ski cross championships next month, between 4-7 March.