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When to ski in Europe if you want to avoid the ski holidays

When to go skiing to avoid ski school holidays in Europe. Photo: The-Ski-Guru @ Pila.

Maybe you have the luxury of being able to choose when you go skiing. For all of us having kids, we are slaved to go on our half term holidays, but these dates differ depending on where you are. And maybe, only maybe, you can choose when to ski in Europe if you want to avoid the ski holidays.

Growing up in Argentina I remember I just took the time off school or university to go skiing and it was not a big deal. With fines in the UK, it is not the best. Plus, schools here are super fussed if you take time off.

If you put your kids through private schooling, then you have an extra week usually, when all state school kids are still in the classroom. It is much cheaper to jet off that prior week than when everyone is doing so. It would be much better to drive and/or take the train (albeit expensive in half term), to take care of our planet, that is in dire straits at the moment… and for all snow lovers, if we do not take care of it, we’ll not have it anymore!

There is a great grid published by Eric Bonnel of Val Thorens Tours putting which countries have holidays when.

To see the chart, go to bit.ly/EuropeanSchoolHolidays or click on the photo.

 

Days of school holidays in different countries.
Days of school holidays in different countries. Chart by Eric Bonnel of Val Thorens Tours.

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Meeting President Carter in Crested Butte

A photo of the CBMR team with President Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter. Photo: Tom Stillo.

I had the luck to have met President Jimmy Carter, who has just had his state funeral in the United States. He used to come to Crested Butte when I was working in the Events, PR and International Sales department of CBMR under Gina Kroft. This was in relation to “The Atlanta Project”, a program President Carter and his wife Rosalyn put together to take care of disadvantage inner city kids of Atlanta, GA.

Shovelling snow in Crested Butte. You can see it in my shop here.
Shovelling snow in Crested Butte. You can see it in my shop here.

They used to bring a group of kids to Crested Butte that were exposed to come skiing for their first time. The CBMR ski school took care of their first steps on the snow, as well as the Crested Butte Adaptive Sports Center did for those that were not physically able. President Carter helped the ASC to start its for people that needed adaptive equipment and teaching to enjoy the big outdoors. Here is a short podcast of CPR retelling the story.

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What I am up to? January on a very cold day- rethinking my business

Ciaspolata in Pila. Photo: The-Ski-Guru's hubbie.

What I am up to? It is 10th January, on a very cold day, and I am rethinking my business!

I know I am a busy body, so I need to feel I am doing something all the time. This year I came to the conclusion that I want to relate more all the things I do in my life- because, after all, they are all related and they are all who makes me what I am. And they are the inspiration for my art, after all.

Camp4Coffee, in Crested Butte. Lovely little cabin with colourful number plates in downtown CB. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Differences between skiing in North America and Europe
Camp4Coffee, in Crested Butte. Lovely little cabin with colourful number plates in downtown CB. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

My early days in the ski business. What I am up to? January on a very cold day- rethinking my business.

Thankfully I work in a business I love, the ski business, in the tourism side of it. Counting years, I’ve realised that I’ve been 38 years involved in this business. How come? Started working in the back of a ski shop near my university in Buenos Aires- the shop was Buenos Aires Ski of the Cascio and Ronchetti families. I was in the back of the ski shop and when people came to buy their ski equipment or clothing, they were ambushed by me, to sell their ski holiday they did not know they needed!

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Our White Christmas in the Aosta Valley skiing in Pila

Our White Christmas in the Aosta Valley skiing in Pila. Photo: The-Ski-Guru

Just got back from a sixteen-day holiday for our annual white Christmas in the Aosta Valley skiing in Pila and enjoying all what the Aosta Valley has to offer.

Having a home in the small town of Morgex, the heart of the valley of Monte Bianco, called the Valdigne of Monte Bianco, allows us to go many times in the year to this beautiful spot-on earth.

Chaumont in the morning. Photo: The-Ski-Guru
Chaumont in the morning. Photo: The-Ski-Guru

The Drive to and From the Mountains. Our White Christmas in the Aosta Valley skiing in Pila.

We drive from south-east London each time, taking our dog and the kids (now teenagers) with us. Skiing is a holiday that everyone wants to come to, and I hope this keeps on happening for years to come, as I do enjoy our time together as a family. And skiing is the best thing that can get us all together!

As soon as school has closed for the holidays, we left on an early morning to Folkestone, the Eurotunnel site this side of the channel. I prefer taking the Eurotunnel over the ferry, as it is super easy. You just get your car on the rail and in 35’ you are on Calais, ready to drive on the continent. Plus, your trip is not cancelled for bad weather!

You can drive all the way to Morgex, in the Aosta Valley in one day. (11 hours).  We are just 10 minutes down of Courmayeur. Courmayeur is located just after crossing the Mont Blanc Tunnel. But for me, driving all in one day is not agreeable!  We always take two days to go and two days to come back.

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How Sustainable is Vail Resorts for the Future Years?

Family Ski School Instruction in Vail, CO. Photo: Jack Affleck. Vail Resorts. The Must-Read Guide to Vail.

These last weeks there were lots of news on Vail Resorts, for the wrong reasons, and got me thinking how sustainable is Vail Resorts for the Future Years?

I actually think this is a bigger problem, that can include Alterra and Powder Mountain and all the conglomeration that has been going on on the ski business worldwide.

Vail Mountain Wooden Clock, painting by Martina Diez-Routh in soft pastels, pan pastels and pastel pencils on pastel paper 80x60cm unframed, on sale framed.
Vail Mountain Wooden Clock, painting by Martina Diez-Routh in soft pastels, pan pastels and pastel pencils on pastel paper 80x60cm unframed, actually exhibiting at the QC Terme hotel in Courmayeur. Check it in my shop here. 

It is a love/hate relationship that one has now with Vail Resorts and all the conglomeration of ski passes. Part of me thinks is just plain wrong, that they are killing the character of resorts, and really gets me angry seeing these big companies trying to purchase European and Japanese resorts. But then, having studied Economics in my younger life, I can see that the scale economies work… but to whose advantage… not employees for sure, maybe the CEO of a public company, that has her job pretty well paid of.

This video below of Peak Rankings give you a thorough report on the state of Vail Resorts and what their last report might mean for its future.

You can see my Must-Read Guide to Vail here – even I am in two minds with the resort 🙂

More of PeakRankings here.

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Pila has opened its new cable car Couis 1- Platta de Grevon

Pila has opened its new cablecar Couis 1- Platta de Grevon. Photo: Pila sPa.

After an intense year of work, on 14th December Pila has opened to the public the 10-seater cable car section from Couis 1 to Platta de Grevon.

This is one part of the full project that will be opened next year, from Pila all the way to Platta de Grevon. The part that has just opened has replaced an old double chairlift from the 80s, offering a new fast way to get to the top of the mountain. When one arrives, there is a new skiweg piste that will unite the two sides of the mountain, offering visitors more time to ski or snowboard at the resort.

Going up the new lift from Couis 1 to Platta de Grevon allows you to have magnificent views of the 4000s m peaks... as the Cervino or Matterhorn. Photo: Pila sPa.Pila has opened its new cablecar Couis 1- Platta de Grevon
Going up the new lift from Couis 1 to Platta de Grevon allows you to have magnificent views of the 4000s m peaks… as the Cervino or Matterhorn. Photo: Pila sPa. Pila has opened its new cablecar Couis 1- Platta de Grevon

In only 4’30” the new cable car will take all mountain lovers up to 2,700 meters. During the journey, you can see spectacular views of all 4000 meters peaks of the entire alpine arc.

Amazing views of the Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc), the Cervino (Matterhorn), the Monte Rosa, the Grivola and the Gran Paradiso can be seen from the top. You can also view in the distance the valley where the city of Aosta is, known by connoisseurs as the Rome of the Alps.

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The Women Ski World Cup is Returning to La Thuile

Audi FIS Ski World La Thuile.

Tickets will be available online from 21st December. You can watch the races of 14 and 15 March 2025 from an exclusive seat! A smart idea for your Christmas gifts.

In La Thuile next winter will really sparkle because the Women Ski World Cup will come back here after 5 years.

The queens of speed will challenge each other on slope “Number 3- Franco Berthod” on Friday, 14 and Saturday, 15 March 2025.

A unique show not to be missed: the slope is the steepest in Italy and the race is one of most difficult of the circuit.

Downhill on Friday, Super G on Saturday: this will be the last date before the Finals in the USA.

Skiing in La Thuile- Soft Pastels, Pan Pastels, Pastel Pencils and Charcoal on La Carte Pastel. 60 x 80 cm. In my shop!
Skiing in La Thuile- Soft Pastels, Pan Pastels, Pastel Pencils and Charcoal on La Carte Pastel. 60 x 80 cm. In my shop!

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Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis have opened thanks to the latest snowstorm.

A chairlift in Grandvalira full of snow. Photo Grandvalira. Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis have opened thanks to the latest snowstorm.

Thanks to the last snowfalls, Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis are now opened. The snowfall of 100 cm in parts has been celebrated by locals while more snow is expected. The descent of the temperatures allows to produce more man-made snow to touch the more tracked areas.

Grandvalira has started the 2024-25 ski season with partial opening in the sectors of Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig, and then it opened the sectors of Encamp, Soldeu, El Tarter and Canillo.

In numbers, the Andorran ski domain of Grandvalira Resorts look like this:

Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis have opened thanks to the latest snowstorm. Photo: Grandvalira Resorts.
Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis have opened thanks to the latest snowstorm. Photo: Grandvalira Resorts.

*308 skiable km, the biggest area of the Pyrenees mountains and the south of Europe.

*217 pistes of all different levels

*123 ski lifts with a transportation capacity of 180.115 skiers/hour

*3,135 hectares

*66% of terrain with snowmaking, to guarantee skiing conditions

*79.8 km of snow shoeing circuits

*81.3 km of circuits for ski mountaineering

*+25 activities of adventure

*87 restaurants/bars on the mountain.

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The Settimana Bianca for the Italians has got more expensive as per Il Corriere/Altroconsumo

Starting to ski, by La Baraka. This past season (23-24) it was closed. For me it was the best bar, more when Freddy was in charge (a rockabilly kind of guy with great music and hot chocolates!) Food was great too. Lovely terrace. Hopefully this is re-opened by the 24-25 ski season. Just off the top of Chamolé lift (by piste 2).

Sky-high prices for ski weeks- here are the costs to go for the Settimana Bianca in nine ski resorts, as per an article published at Il Corriere della Sera with AltroConsumo.

Italians tend to go skiing on their Settimana Bianca in two different weeks. First week is for the New Year’s Eve week and the second week is during Carnival.

My youngest with my husband after his ski lesson in Madonna di Campiglio. 7 things that can help you when taking kids skiing.
My youngest with my husband after his ski lesson in Madonna di Campiglio.

Between travel, accommodation and ski pass. New Year’s week is more expensive than Carnival week, like 40% more.

Prices for New Years have increased 14% in respect with last. And the year before, the prices already have increased by 20%. For Carnival Week, rates have increased by 5%

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Coming up the 12 Days of Christmas Promotion

12 Days of Christmas promo is coming up

Starting on 1st December comes the 12 Days of Christmas Promotion. Each day, Ill be offering one painting at a knockout rate, only for my VIP newsletter followers.

These are paintings I do love a lot, and many of them are decorating my walls at the moment, but now, I am feeling I can let them go to a home that will cherish them as much as I do.

Coming up the 12 Days of Christmas promotion
Coming up the 12 Days of Christmas promotion

Amongst my artwork, there will be pieces of when I have started my art career, doing. My work is majorly made in soft pastels, a medium I have mastered doing mountain portraits.

The paintings will be offered with a sale price for one day only, and will be sold to whoever contacts me first, just by responding to my email.

To be able to participate in this promotion, you have to register to my art newsletter here.

To keep abreast of the ski news – check www.the-ski-guru.com 

Or read my Must-Read Guides to different ski resorts to plan your holidays.

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