Author: Romain Boisaubert

Following heavy snowfalls, with more than a metre of snow falling on the summits, Tignes is announcing an exceptional pre-opening of its ski area from Saturday 18 November. Thanks to the foresight of the slope and lift crews, mountain and snow lovers will be able to enjoy a preview of the 1,300 metre vertical drop linking the top of the Grande Motte cable car to the resort, with a return journey on skis. LIRE AUSSI: Opening dates for the 2023-2024 ski resorts: we take stock This pre-opening of skiing at Tignes marks the...

To celebrate the forthcoming opening of all our ski areas, Le Petit Montagnard is offering you an exceptional gift: 2 ski passes, valid in the resort of your choice. To take part in our competition, all you have to do is like our Facebook page and follow our Instagram page. All you have to do is leave a comment (on the Facebook or Instagram page) with the name of the person you'd like to spend the day on the slopes with. The result of our competition will be revealed on 25 November, the kick-off date of the ski season...

For several years now, Compagnie des Alpes (CDA) has been fully committed to supporting the only French manufacturer of snow groomers, CM DUPON, to launch several experimental projects aimed at developing a low-carbon snow groomer. Two series of tests on prototypes were carried out during the winters of 2021/2022 (La Plagne) and 2022/2023 (Tignes), with encouraging results. Performance in terms of autonomy and consumption proved conclusive, with a proven autonomy of 5h30/6 hours in real-life conditions. ALSO READ: Ski resort opening dates for 2023-2024: we take stock Thanks to the results of these first trials, the...

The ski season is fast approaching, with the first snowfalls having fallen recently. The first resort to open is Val Thorens, with La Grande Première on 25/11/2023. The Tignes-Val d'Isère ski area will also open at this time. Les 2 Alpes will follow on 02/12/2023. Find out all the opening dates for your resorts. Ski resorts opening dates in the Northern Alps ResortsOpening of the ski areaAlpe d'HuezAlpes du NordAlpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Ski from 02/12/2023 to 21/04/2024Arêches-BeaufortAlpes du Nord from 23/12/2023 to 01/04/2024Auris en...

If you're dreaming of a night under the stars in the heart of the mountains at a low price, Le Petit Montagnard has selected three trekking and bivouac tents for under 200 euros. Trekking dome tent - 2 places - MT500 Fresh & Black This model uses the Fresh & Black concept to give you comfortable nights in the cool and dark. Pre-assembled for ease of use, with two doors and two apses for added comfort. The benefits: Easy to transport: Total weight 3.1 kg. 11-litre compression bag....

Founded in 2006, this legendary triathlon race allows competitors to climb the 21 bends of the Alpe d'Huez in a festive atmosphere and exceptional setting. Discover the programme of the different triathlon events. The event is open to all triathletes and will be held from 23 to 26 July 2024. LIRE AUSSI: Tour de France 2024: The 7 mountain stages under the microscope Four races will be on offer: L (July 25, 200 euros) - 2.2km SWIM, 118km BIKE, 20km RUN M (July 26, 20 euros) - 1.2km SWIM, 28km BIKE, 6.7km RUN Duathlon (July 23,...

The highest ski resorts, such as Val Thorens, Courchevel, Tignes and Val d'Isère, all experienced significant snowfalls in early November. This is good news just a few days before the opening of the ski areas, when bookings for ski holidays are well under way. Here's a look back at the snow-covered landscapes.

The French sportswear brand of ski goggles, masks and helmets founded in 1888 is offering discounts on a selection of items. The ski season is fast approaching. With just a few weeks to go before the resorts open, it's time to get your gear out and dust off your winter wardrobes. And if you find that you're missing goggles, masks or helmets, Le Petit Montagnard has come up with one of its great deals for you. Around thirty Bollé products at -40% On the Bollé website, you can take advantage of discounts of up to -40%...

If you're looking for a holiday in the mountains where you can ski with your family or friends on the slopes of the world's largest ski area, Méribel has some great deals for you. Your next holiday in Savoie at a reduced price? It's possible with Méribel's Happy Ski "accommodation + ski pass "* package! To take advantage of it, simply select the accommodation of your choice from among those offered on the resort's website. Before finalising your order, you'll also be able to take advantage of a discount on your ski passes (-20 % on the 6-day pass).

Snowfarming is a technique used by some winter sports resorts to conserve snow so that there is enough for the start of the following season. The technique, which originated in Scandinavian countries, is beginning to spread to other European countries, particularly France, as Julien Lizeroux explained in an interview with Le Petit Montagnard. The aim is to recover the snow at the end of the season and store it in tarpaulins or sawdust," explains the former slalom and combined runner-up. Around 30% lost...

With the high-altitude resorts already a month away from opening their ski areas, the first figures for mountain holiday bookings are in. And it's a pretty good sign for our resorts! With just a month to go before the first slopes open in Savoie (Tignes and Val Thorens open on 25 November), the first bookings have been made. With a slight lead of 0.7% over the same period last year, winter sports fans are already turning out in force. All this despite an expected slight rise in ski pass prices, of between 6 and 7%...

The full route of the 111th edition of the Tour de France has been unveiled, with a finish in Nice for the very first time in its history, due to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Seven mountain stages will be on the programme of this 2024 Grande Boucle. Discover the details of these stages, with Christian Prudhomme's commentary on each of them. LIRE AUSSI: 2 Alpes: prices, programme, access... Everything you need to know about the Swnowboard Cross World Cup Stage 4 (138 km): Pinerolo (ITA)/Valloire "The race will leave Italy after a long climb towards the...

Winter tyres are compulsory for driving in the 34 départements that have signed up to the Loi Montagne. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in a fine of up to €135. Formerly known as snow tyres, the term winter tyres is now used to emphasise that this type of tyre is suitable for all winter conditions, not just snow. There are 2 types of marking: Manufacturers recommend that winter tyres should always be fitted in fours, whether your vehicle has two or four wheel drive. Winter tyres offer enhanced safety...

Les 2 Alpes has been chosen by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to host a stage of the Snowboard Cross World Cup (1-2 December 2023). This is the second year running that the Isère ski resort has hosted the competition. Tomorrowland Winter 2024: Tickets still available! "Les 2 Alpes made its return to the international scene by hosting a Snowboard Cross World Cup at the beginning of December 2022. This year again, the stage on 1 and 2 December 2023 will officially mark the opening of the Cup...

The Hautes-Alpes resort is modernising its ski area this winter with the replacement of the Rocher de l'Aigle chairlift with a new gondola lift. With 10 seats per gondola and a journey time divided by three, with a speed of 7 metres per second compared with 2.5 metres for the old chairlift, the Rocher de l'Aigle link promises a high throughput at the start of the new ski season. A new gondola lift that also requires fewer towers, down from 24 to 11. The old chairlift has been "recycled to 95%". The...

The new Glacier gondola will be launched on 16 December 2023. A new chapter was turned at the end of last winter with the dismantling and sale of the Bellecôte gondola lifts. While the departure site for the new Glacier gondola remains the same (Roche de Mio), the line will follow a new trajectory to arrive at an altitude of 3,080 m, in a new sector anchored in the rock. ALSO READ: Up to -40% on ski passes at La Plagne! After an ascent of just ten minutes, skiers and pedestrians will discover a landscaped area...

To kick off its winter season, the Savoyard resort has put together an exceptional offer with ski passes up to -40% on the La Plagne and Paradiski areas. Several offers (13-64 years) are available, ranging from 6 to 8 days, over all the weeks of the season. From 198 euros for 6 days From 6 to 12 January, for example, you will need to pay just 198 euros for a 6-day pass, 230 euros for a 7-day pass and 261 euros for an 8-day pass. For Christmas week, from 23 to 29 December, you will need to...

The record for the number of visitors to the mountains has been broken for the second time, with summer tourism up 2% on the 2022 season. The mountains are popular, even in summer. This is the result of the tremendous work done by our resorts to develop their new operating model, which is now based on four seasons. Why property is still a safe bet in the mountains Some departments that have historically been associated with the mountains in the minds of our fellow citizens, such as Savoie and Haute-Savoie, are even among the Top 20 most popular French destinations this summer, in the middle of the...

A major player in the ski lift and cable transport industry, Poma is one of France's leading companies. The history of Poma dates back to 1936, when Jean Pomagalski, a French engineer, founded the company in Grenoble, France. SEE ALSO: VIDEO: Discovering abandoned ski resorts In its early days, the company focused mainly on manufacturing ski equipment and ski lifts for ski resorts and ski areas in the French Alps. At the origin of the Aiguille du Midi cable car Over the years, Poma has developed an expertise in the...

The drought which has been affecting France for several weeks now has also spread to the mountains. With sometimes critical consequences. In the department of Haute-Savoie (74), some rivers have seen their flow eight times lower than normal. How big is Mont Blanc now after its two-metre fall? "Usually, in our mountain climate, when autumn arrives, the fog and light rain help to moisten the soil", confided Bruno Foret, President of SM3A, the syndicat mixte d'aménagement de l'arve et de ses affluents, in a TF1 report. But this year, the...