The Chamonix Collective

Who Needs First Bins

The Chamonix Collective — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:46:21 +0000

We have been told that no first bins were harmed during the making of this, something that we like to here in this town. So if you are sometimes that little bit lazy or just don’t feel like getting up at 6.30 to wait in line outside the base stations. This should reassure you that powder can still be found, if you know where to look!

If you want to check out more of Paul Mckeen’s videos from around the valley, head over to his blog here.

Avalanche On Piste

The Chamonix Collective — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:25:10 +0000

Off piste, on piste – always wear a transceiver. You never know if some fool is going to trigger a slide above you. Ski safe everyone…

VIDEO

I hear its been snowing… DEEEEEEP – From Nate Wallace

The Chamonix Collective — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:54:26 +0000

Another short from Nate and friends, this time getting some fresh lines down the VB.

Salomon Rocker2 Review

The Chamonix Collective — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:34:36 +0000

Lorne Cameron has been testing some of the skis Local Chamonix, a rental shop in Chamonix Sud has on offer for their clients. Today he was out on a pair of the Salomon Rocker2′s. Check out his blog for an in depth review of the ski and the conditions down in Les Houches.

CHASING ICE Trailer

The Chamonix Collective — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 11:57:18 +0000

On May 28, 2008, Adam LeWinter and Director Jeff Orlowski filmed a historic breakup at the Ilulissat Glacier in Western Greenland. The calving event lasted for 75 minutes and the glacier retreated a full mile across a calving face three miles wide. The height of the ice is about 3,000 feet, 300-400 feet above water and the rest below water.

In other words – MIND BLOWING

The Messenger – Website live!

The Chamonix Collective — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 10:36:13 +0000

The ‘what’s on’ booklet around town has gone all digital on us giving people an up-to-date really easy to use resource to whats on when around town.

Nice work guys!

Hit it up HERE

Waiting for the lifts to open….

The Chamonix Collective — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 09:41:12 +0000

Still at home waiting for something higher than Les Houches to open? Well why not check out a Secret Spot, the latest film from Nicolas and Loris Falquet, featuring Candide and Xavier De La Rue.

http://www.zapiks.com/a-secret-spot-1.html

Lift updates are available here if you don’t already have the page up.

Downday Entertainment – Project Blondie

The Chamonix Collective — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:41:34 +0000

Not the best weather here in Chamonix today, rain and lots of it, with many of the higher lifts closed due to high winds. Conditions in the magic forest up at Grand Montets was said to be like “super heavy sticky cement rather than snow” today, thank you Graham for the report. So we thought it best to bring you one of Nathan Wallace’s videos to help cheer you up.

Project Blondie was filmed in early January off the Aiguille Du Midi and features Maria Ludvigsson and Lionel Hachemi, Enjoy.

Meanwhile in Italy

The Chamonix Collective — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:36:34 +0000

Cedric Bernardini was on the Italian side of Mont Blanc today, with Tom Grant and Davide Capozzi. For more great shots and a better idea of their route visit Cedric’s site here.

Grand Montets Conditions + Edit

The Chamonix Collective — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:04:10 +0000

With rain falling in Chamonix last night, most people thought that the best idea today would be to head high! This meant either the Midi or top of Grand Montets. We took our chances with Grand Montets and booked ourselves top tickets for 11.25. We arrived late at GM, but given the time of the year, we didn’t expect to queue for too long, but we were wrong! Opting for the chair lift as the tele cabin queue was out the door, we rounded the corner to find the lift line stretching 20mins back.

Once up we headed straight for the Herse to get a few laps in before our top ticket. Choosing to go skiers right off the lift, as this was the way the wind was blowing, we stumbled upon some nice windblown powder that lead us all the way back to the piste. The snow was mostly smooth but a little tricky to get used to, after finding out speed was your friend, things quickly started to look up though. Nina on the other hand was having no problems on her snowboard!

The top bin was running a little slow because of the wind, so we had to wait a little while before our reservation. Once at the top we found out why; the wind was very strong and almost took your skis off you as you made your way down the stairs. We quickly got ourselves ready and headed off down the back to avoid the wind. Waiting a little down the hill, we watched to see the conditions as others made their way down and decided to return to the front face. Back on the front we could see that the wind had blown a lot of snow into the dip on the far skiers right. The snow here was great, very smooth, wind blown but still a little soft and lots of fun! We skied top to bottom,camera on, not wanting to stop as we would lose our speed. This is where the footage from the edit is from.

We managed one Lavancher right down the middle. The snow there was also smooth and windblown like the top. However the conditions deteriorated a lot lower down, so we headed through the tunnel. By the time we arrived back at the mid station the lifts had closed as the wind was now too strong.

The forecast for the next few days says snow. Hopefully the temperature and wind will drop too and we can enjoy a little more powder before the holidays start up again! Weather forcast link here.