Summer Ski Race Training on the Glacier in 2 Alpes
Training on the largest glacier in Europe
For the second part of my summer training I moved from Val D’Isere to Les Deux Alpes. The glacier here had surprisingly good snow conditions considering the recent hot temperatures and with the snow freezing overnight I managed to do five great days of training.
Les Deux Alpes has everything for a summer ski resort. They have the largest glacier for training in Europe, although only one piste remains gate free for people [other than ski racers] to free ski on. It has a massive snow park which still has a half pipe and big jumps at this time of year. Be warned that the queues to reach the glacier in the morning are HUGE. The lift opens at 7am and people start queueing from as early as 5.30am… So if you are not fighting for the first run of the day I suggest not attempting to get to the glacier before 8.30am. Once you are up on the hill the queues aren’t too bad so you can still get plenty of runs in.
If skiing isn’t your thing there are miles and miles of downhill mountain biking tracks. There is also a jump park in the resort and plenty of shops to rent bikes, equipment or even take a few lessons. If you’re holidaying with children, or are just a big kid yourself, with your ski pass you can also enjoy free access to the luge located down in the resort. The bouncy castles, trampolines, football pitches, volleyball courts, swimming pool, roller blading courts and avalanche simulator available should manage fill the days of your holiday!
The highlight of my week in Les Deux Alpes has to be at the paintball! Paintball Commando is located just behind the Mercure hotel and you can easily take the bus with a short walk or drive to it. The staff provide an experience for all ages and are extremely friendly and helpful. It is also one of the most safety aware paintballs I have ever been to so you have nothing to worry about. Definitely make sure Paintball Commando is part of your visit to Les Deux Alpes to make it a truly memorable holiday!
The next time I put my skis on will be down in the Southern Hemisphere in Chile so I am saying goodbye to the European slopes until October. Summer is probably my favourite time of the year to ski. It might seem like a silly to say that, but it’s definitely one to tick off the bucket list if you’ve never given it a try!
