TICKET TO RIDE

By way of a post-script to this blog's important guide to pop videos filmed on the slopes::

The Beatles' Ticket to Ride, filmed on the Austrian slopes of Obertauern, sees the fab four on skis, I believe for the first time.  Amateur instructors will approve of their can-do attitude, and developing technique.  I am sure there is a Stem Christie turn in there somewhere.

Click here to see the video

Forty years on, the place to re-live such an ambiance is of course Les Arcs.  Here is le pianist des neiges at Arc 1800 a couple of years ago:

ARMCHAIR SKIING: Mountain Blogs

With the season not too far away, a handy guide to ski blogs has duly appear on the IGoSki site.  It sees ski writers nominating their favourite blogs: a big thank you to our friends at Skipedia for nominating this site.

Out in front is the backcountry WildSnow blog (@wildsnow).  Its focus is on North American slopes; for some wild skiing closer to home, you could do far worse than start in the Tarentaise and strike out from the wonderful base station that is Sainte-Foy!

LA Radio Station

Les Arcs' fans will enjoy the R' Les Arcs Facebook page - which this week has been going back in time with these snowy retro pictures of Arc 1800.

I didn't know that the iconic L'Etranger bar (previously the Gabotte bar) was at one point called Le Grenier (the attic).

For more on the history of Les Arcs, including the story of Robert Blanc and the architecture of Charlotte Perriand, click here.

Back to the radio station.  If you are very keen, and can cope with its mixture of current Europop and 1980s hits - you can listen live from the comfort of your own living room.