Temperatures are falling. The sun is setting earlier and earlier. There’s no doubt about it, winter is on its way! So, to make sure you’re not caught off-guard and are ready when the first snowflakes fall, we thought it wouldn’t hurt to remind you of the basics.
Put on your best woollen socks, dig out your beanies from the bottom of your drawer, here’s a checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything as we approach the most beautiful, but also the most demanding, of seasons.
1. Equipment
No way are you going to be ill-equipped and that goes for both on the slopes and at home. When the cold weather arrives, you need to be ready to make the most of favourable conditions, know how to entertain and please the whole family. A quick logistical reminder so you don’t neglect comfort and pleasure!
- Sharpen your edges and wax your skis. They need to slide effortlessly along so you don’t end up last in the queue for the chairlift.
- Fit winter tyres to your car or practise putting on chains. This might be considered a beginner’s mistake, but road safety is no joke.
- Expert level: stock up on logs (the wood, not the chocolate variety.) The must-have item for cosy evenings in front of the fire and, in the event of a power cut, they’re a real life-changer!
- Dust off the fondue and raclette machines at the back of your cupboards and invite your mates round. Alone, we go faster… together, we go further. Speaking of food, let’s move on to point 2.
2. FOOD
We’re not marmots, but we might as well take inspiration from experts in the field. After a summer of sweating in the sun, it’s important to get back on your feet again! Our bodies have amazing powers of adaptation, so a nutrition check-up is essential if you want to survive the harshness of winter like a chef.
- Fill up on fat. Unbutton your trousers and, from autumn onwards, start filling up regularly on cheese, cold meats, potatoes and a little salad.
- A little tip! To comply with the government’s advice on healthy eating and exercise: don’t forget to get the big table out so you can do a few steps while serving your guests.
- If you’ve got a sweet tooth, don’t forget to make your foie gras with Christmas chocolates. But be careful not to fall into the fatal trap of After-Eights and Mon Chéri…
- Fill up on anti-freeze at the Distillerie des Aravis. The old-timers’ little secret for fighting the cold can be summed up in one word: génépi. The local herbal liqueur and magic potion! (Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health; consume in moderation).
3. Physical and mental preparation
Whether you’re a beginner or a world champion, the price is the same for everyone. It’s all very well having nice gear, but having a good engine is far more important. No pressure though, a few basic exercises should be enough to stop your thighs getting stiff on the first bend of the season.
- For the most motivated: do the chair exercise every morning. Everyone finds their own pace and level, and all you need is a wall to train on. A very useful exercise to prepare for skiing, or if by mistake you find yourself in a squat toilet.
- Move around a bit to stay supple. More than one daddy skier has jarred his back hurtling down a mogul field, thinking he was still 18. Your honour depends on it!
- Get in the mood. Visit us on our social media sites: Facebook for the older generation, Instagram and TikTok for those who keep up to date, LinkedIn for those who mix business and pleasure. That was our bit of self-promotion. We can do what we want; it’s our magazine!
4. planning
Whether it’s for the whole family, a day out with friends or a solo session carving the first tracks, there’s no secret to it. Winter is something you have to earn and, above all, to prepare for. A bit of careful planning is required to work out the best days for weather and to find the best spots.
- Negotiate with your boss. Christmas for the magic of the festive season? January to have the slopes all to yourself? February because everyone in the family is skiing? We’ll let you decide. You can also sweet-talk your boss, explaining that we organise great seminars here.
- Study the location. If you want to know everything there is to know about your destination and visit the valley from top to bottom and everywhere in between, then we invite you to install our new La Clusaz mobile app.
- Study the programme. Here, we party as much as we ski, so check out our online programme. P.S. There are more events as spring approaches.
- Trust the locals for top tips and in-places. Just ask and we’ll be happy to let you in on a few local secrets (not all of them) to make your stay unforgettable.
Opening of the Ski Area
Pre-opening on December 7 and 8, 2024, in the Balme sector.
Continuous opening of the ski area from December 14, 2024, to April 27, 2025.
