Independent Mountain

Salon International 4×4, SUV, Quads…

claire — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:23:52 +0000

Exhibition and trials of off-road and mountain leisure vehicles
Val d’Isère reinvents the 4-wheel drive and off-road motor show created in 1984.

A new name, new organisation and a new concept are all planned for one of the main events of the alpine summer season.

Car manufacturers and retailers will be housed in a 9000sq m village on the wide plain of La Daille. The latest models will be displayed and numerous innovations presented.

Two test areas: one near the village for SUV vehicles and one at the top of Bellevarde for off-road vehicles.

Famous names, plenty of entertainment for the public and exhibitors alike, debates, exchange of ideas on “green” innovation, sustainable mobility, reduction of carbon dioxide, clean energy….. all this and more during the International Show.

Friday 8th - 17 August 2008

9:30am to 7pm

For accommodation in Val D’Isere click here

Fete des Vins de France

claire — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:58:49 +0000

Every summer Tignes hosts the annual Fete de Vin de France - Festival of the Wines of France. The main street, usually home to the market on Thursdays and Sundays, will be populated with white wine tasting tents as far as the eye can see. Well…at least as far as the end of the road anyway. Vinyards from all over France will be represented offering everything from big reds to pink Champagne and everything in between. This is a great chance to try a variety of wines and to stock up your wine cellar. The festival runs for 5 days in the centre of Le Lac.

13th - 17th August 208

For accommodation in Tignes click here

MORZINE OUTDOOR SPORTS FESTIVAL

James — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:49:31 +0000

26th July - 1st August

The Morzine Outdoor Sports Festival is a multi-disciplinary event open to all. It is unique in showcasing top athletes and fun family activities.
1 week of free activities! During the Festival.
The principe is simple: every day from 5pm a sport will be showcased in the village centre.
The outdoor sports fair planned outside the Tourist Office will feature the main players in the field who are taking part in the Festival with their latest gear on show.
Morzine has great respect for the mountains and an ecology exhibition is planned to raise awareness on the subject.
If sport is one vital ingredient of this year’s Outdoor Sports Festival then having fun is another. Concerts, shows, theme nigths,…in short, a coordinated entertainments programme to ensure a friendly atmosphere.
Information from the Tourist Office: 04 50 74 72 72

If you need a place to stay then click here for Morzine Accommodation

Summer timetable and tariffs of the Grand Massif

claire — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:05:38 +0000

All timetables and tariffs for the lifts of the Grand Massif opened in the summer.

Les Carroz, the Kédeuze gondola

Open every day
From July 5th to August 29th 2008
From 10 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 to 5 pm

Single adult ticket	6.50 €*
Single child ticket	5.00 €*
Return adult ticket	8.00 €*
Return child ticket	6.50 €*
Pass with 10 adult/child one-way tickets (valid only for summer 2008)	38.00 €

* Presentation of 2007/2008 winter season ski pass (Grand Massif or Massif) entitles you to a 50% reduction. This offer is may not be combined with any other offers.

Child : from 5 to 15 years old.

NB : in the event of bad weather (rain, or storm), the lifts will be closed all day. If you need more information : Tel. +33 (0)4 50 90 00 42.

Grand Massif, lifts for Les Carroz, Flaine, Morillon and Sixt Fer à Cheval

Les Carroz : La Kédeuze gondola, opened every day, from July 5th to August 29th 2008, from 10 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 to 5 pm.
Morillon : Bergin and Esserts chair lifts, opened every day, from July 5th to August 24th 2008, from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 1.30 to 4.30 pm.
Flaine : DMC cable car, open July 27th to August 15th 2008 (closed on friday and saturday), from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 to 5 pm.
Sixt Fer à Cheval : Vagnys chair lift, opened every day, from July 5th to August 24th 2008, from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 13.30 to 16.30 pm.

1 day mountain biking Grand Massif pass	15.00 € (suitable in Les Carroz, Morillon, Flaine and Sixt)
6 days mountain biking Grand Massif pass	31.00 € (suitable in Les Carroz, Morillon, Flaine and Sixt)
Season mountain biking Grand Massif pass (Picture compulsory)	58.00 € (suitable in Les Carroz, Morillon, Flaine and Sixt)

NB : in the event of bad weather (rain, or storm), the lifts will be closed all day. If you need more information : Tel. +33 (0)4 50 90 00 42.

For accommodation in Les Carroz click here

Chatel Mountain Style Contest

claire — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:05:53 +0000

On a track created espacially for the event, of 300 m long ,160 m of difference in level, 100 m wide and completaly reshaped by the Châtel’s BikesPatrols and RadicalFilms (Kranked)Riders.

Professional and amateur Riders vwill have to prove their multivalency in their way of “droping and riding”.
It’s not enough to do some backflips or 3.60, it’s also a matter of choosing the good line wiht fluidity, envolvement and control.
Riders will be judged by a jury of three people with “Ben Walker/Team Scott” as president.

The motivated and passioned partners are involved at 100 % to get a maximum of professional riders and to shape a terrific site with the help to the “Kranked 8″ Riders!!!

22 pro riders coming from all over the world are already registred to enter the event, as :

Timo Pritzel (Ger) , Lance McDermott (Uk) , Christopher Hatton(Fra) , Kyle Norbraten (Can) , Kyle Jameson (USA) , Kyle Ebbeth(USA) , Damien Huszsc (Fra) , Dylan Dunkerton ( Can ) , Curtis Robinson (Can) ,Etienne Perron (Fra) , Niki Leitner (Aus) , Julien Fournier (Sui) , Yoann Paccard (Fra) , Damjan Siriski (Cze) , Phil Meier (Sui), Richard Gasperotti (Cze), Robin Chauvin (Fra),Steve Romanuik (Can), Pierre Edouard Ferry (Fra), Antoine Dubourgnon (Fra), Thibault Vasselet (Fra), Jeremy Brulet (Fra)

Friday 4th July
*9am-5pm*	Run inspection for pro & am
8.30-8pm	Aperitif and hip-hop concert on the church square with TH City.
Saturday 5th July
*Morning*	Run inspection for pro & am
*Afternoon*	Qualifications in 2 runs for professional and amateur riders.
*4pm*	Dirt Contest
*6pm*	Partner’s special evening.
Sunday 6th July
*9am*	Run inspection.
*10.30am*	1st final for pro & am
2pm	Final
	€ 6000 Prize money and lot of partners’ prize to share ! For more information www.mountainbikeparkchatel.com For accommodation in Chatel click here

France Tops Switzerland for Ski Popularity

claire — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:43:16 +0000

France has pipped Switzerland to the post in a ranking of winter resorts according to holiday homes rental specialist Interhome. The accommodation provider saw Tignes take the number one resort slot for the winter season, up three places from last year and, knocking Nendaz in Switzerland off the top slot for the first time in a number of years.
Tignes experienced a 61% increase in bookings year-on-year. Madeleine Winship, Director, Interhome Ltd said: “Tignes is high up and offers glacier skiing – an added bonus in a season when snow conditions have been unpredictable.” Chatel in France has also seen an increase in bookings year-on-year. Overall, the accommodation specialist has recorded a 1% increase in winter bookings year-on-year while turnover has increased 2.5%. Booking durations have not changed : the majority still opting for the traditional one-week stay even though Interhome offers flexible stays from three to six nights at many properties. However, short breaks have increased for the company - 19.5% with most short break bookings for three and four nights. Chamonix emerged as the resort with the highest number of short break bookings – possibly because it is within such easy reach of Geneva. Val Thorens fared less well, despite it being the highest ski resort in Europe, probably because most apartments offer less flexibility with stays from Saturday to Saturday only, thus cutting off the short break market.

Grands Concours Hippique

claire — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:53:47 +0000

Europe’s best horse riders compete in this prestigious equestrian event which takes place in the Perrin parking lot by the Sports Center. The infrastructure, which includes an impressive arena, is built to a world class standard attracting both amateur and expert riders.

11 ^th Official Horseriding competition, Verbier

2nd - 10th August 2008

The 10th anniversary will remain in our memories as a great success: more than 2 200 parking nearly 30 000 spectators during the 9 days of the event. The spectacular event Masters offered by Anouk and Mike Hornung in honor of the past 10 years of this event was a great moment filled with emotion and suspense.

Verbier and the Val de Bagnes are pleased to be able to once again available to riders across Europe as part of this magnificent plateau sunny with a massive Combins background. The particularity of the contribution from Verbier also lies in the atmosphere resulting from the meeting of the equestrian world and a cosmopolitan clientele. The audience, composed as many specialists as novices, also contributes to creating this atmosphere like no other, where it is found in the village of animation located just above the paddock. It should be noted that this year the entrance to our event is free.

The Horseracing Official Competition is very good in the event of Verbier policy which aims to promote the station by demonstrations of quality.

This year 2 events are scheduled, including two spectacular events of six bars and power. The elite Swiss ponies will be present in the paddock of Verbier with a Grand Prix PV qualifier for the championship Switzerland Pony Tuesday, August 12. In the grand finale will take place Grand Prize category IIC qualifier for the championship Switzerland Elite Sunday, August 17.

Saturday, August 9, a demonstration of fighting queens of the race Hérens be the attraction of the day. And you can attend Sunday, August 17 to a spectacular presentation of dog agility.

And that’s not all!

The Jumping Verbier Golf Cup will be organised for the partners of the competition and their guests Saturday, August 16, 2008.

To secure funding for this competition, the organizing committee is counting on its partners and sponsors. This case presents the different possibilities of support. We hope that one of them will seduce you and we welcome you among the artisans of the success of the Concours Hippique Official Verbier, a contest extraordinary.

Saturday, August 4, a presentation of dog agility will be offered and Sunday, August 5, a demonstration of fighting queens of the race Hérens be the attraction of the day.

For accommodation in Verbier click here.

Les Arcs Music Festival Academy - The annual get together for music lovers.

James — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:15:57 +0000

35th Festival Academy of les Arcs : from 20th July till 04 th August 2008

Since 1973 Les Arcs and Bourg Saint Maurice have hosted the Les Arcs Academy Festival, a large-scale event in the world of French music.

Join the 15, 000 spectators that rush to Les Arcs and Bourg Saint Maurice for this exceptional musical rendez-vous that is completely free of charge. Soak up the friendly atmosphere of the Baroque churches and fall under the spell of the tunes echoing over the mountain tops…

Enjoy the soothing sounds of the varied music and meet the 140 French and foreign music students who have come to perfect their skill with world-famous teachers. There are a few surprises for the Festival…

26th & 27th July - SAAB SALOMON MOUNTAIN X-RACE

James — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:17:32 +0000

It’s official! Morzine is playing host to the last two stages of the SAAB-SALOMON MOUNTAIN X-RACE ! To celebrate, there’s Morzine’s inaugural sports FESTIVAL which is open to all.
Friday 25 July
4pm-10pm: Huge party night + Trail test open to all (with events and activities in the centre of the village including a live gig and giant prize draw).
Saturday 26 July
Morning: 60km Team Orienteering race starting and ending in Morzine.
Midday: expected arrival of the first orienteering teams in the centre of the village.
Late afternoon: 3km Trail Running Challenge Relay in the village.
Evening: prize-giving.
2pm-6pm: activities in the centre of the resort with plenty of goodies to win.
Details from the Tourist Office: 04 50 74 72 72
(www.mountainxrace.com).

For Morzine accommodation goto: www.independentmountain.com

14th July - MORZINE-AVORIAZ CYCLE RACE

James — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:55:35 +0000

Saddle up for the Morzine/Avoriaz road bike climb… riders following the winding road that leads to Avoriaz will attempt to beat the 33 minute record set by Bernard Hinault during the Tour de France in 1979.
Registration takes place on the day of the climb at the open-air hall by the Church.
For information call : 0450 747272