Chamonix Apres Ski Report:4th February 2010
I'm a bit broken this week. There has been so much going on in town, the weather and conditions on the hill have been fabulous and oh yeah…..I have a job too..…it's all added up to a very tiring week!
We were very excited to have a leg of the Freeride World Tour in resort this week which meant that many of the world's best freeriders were roaming at large around town. Poor weather on Saturday meant that the event got pushed back a day, but Sunday dawned to bluebird skies and perfect conditions for riders and spectators alike. Taking place on the Hotel Face on Brevent, the competition attracted a big crowd who were rewarded with some jaw dropping action from the freeriders. In the end it was Frenchie Candide Thovex who took the men's title with an awesome descent at breakneck speed. His victory was even more impressive when you take into account that his usual domain is freestyling in the park, not freeriding on the big mountain.
Right in the centre of town, Place Balmat was transformed into a FWT village for the occasion, with several of the big mountain brands touting their wares and a stage was set up in front of the Casino where some very cold looking bands entertained the crowd. La Terrasse was host to the official FWT after party which was also shifted back to Sunday, but the fact it was a “school night” did not deter the party goers who danced the night away to DJs Electrosex and Lapin Bleu.
Elsewhere in town this week, we've seen the return of a very familiar face from season's gone by – Jerry Haglund (ex-of the Balboa's) who is playing at apres in South Bar for the next month. As anticipated, he popped in to join Rangan for his final set at Chambre 9 last Saturday but he'll be playing at South Bar in Cham Sud, everyday except Saturdays throughout February. We caught the tail end of his set there on Monday night – where the bar was surprisingly quiet by normal standards. South Bar is one of the main Scandinavian haunts in town, so you are usually guaranteed to find it teaming with hot and sweaty Swedish twenty somethings. Well now you've got another reason to go as Jerry and his band are certainly pro's when it comes to getting the crowd going at après ski.
Whilst it doesn't really need any publicity these days, après ski at Chambre has been absolutely going off this winter with the new band No Limits. I just can't get enough of them and have been finding it hard to force myself out and about a bit to go and see some of the other bands playing in town. Twice this week already I've found myself still in my salopettes at 2am having just popped into Chambre for a cheeky beer after skiing....Unless I develop some self control and make myself go home once they finish at 7pm, I think they are quite possibly going to be the death of me this season. I LOVE THEM!!!
So to next week…..there's a lot of good stuff going on in Cham Sud at the moment with Ladies Night at the Monkey Bar every Monday, where €5 will buy the girls all the champagne you can drink. Munster bar has got a great duo called Bodhizapha playing every Wednesday – a cool mix of surfy, reggae accousticky tunes that I've heard great things about. The Jekyll is really pulling the stops out this winter with an array of bands, DJs and happy hours going on throughout the week as well as their legendary Comedy Nights on Monday's - not every single week, but they've got another comedy line up for you this coming Monday, on the 8th.
The Winter Sessions boys are back again this week with another great night at the Podium Bar tomorrow night (Friday), this time with Foreign Beggars, one of the hottest hip hop bands in the world headlining! Orafice Vulgatron and Metropolis are two of the hardest working MC's on the club scene, doing over 300 shows a year and they never fail to make the place go off! Their new album 'United Colours of Beggatron' and the support tour with The Prodigy has set this up to be one of the biggest parties of the season. This is one show you just can't miss. Tickets are on sale at Zero G, Le Podium, Monkey Bar & Office du Tourisme or online at www.seetickets.com and cost €12 euros in advance or €18 euros on the door (doors open at 11pm).
Right, early night for me tonight, I'm going to need my second wind before tomorrow. Have a great week!
Don't forget to keep an eye on the What's On Calendar for a full list of events over the winter season. You can also find full Bar and Restaurant listings in the Dining and Going Out section of the site.
