Chamonix Apres Ski Report:8th April 2010
Hello again après skiers. Now whilst I have no intention of putting my snowboard away for another 4 weeks (Grands Montets doesn't close until 9th May this year!!), the après ski scene will begin to wind down from here on in. This weekend sees the first of the bars closing parties taking place with both Choucas and La Terrasse holding events. The Choucas party is taking place on Saturday with a night of electro sounds from DJ Ralph, one of France's top DJ's and a late licence til 5am; and if you've got any strength left after that then La Terrasse is closing it's upstairs bar on Sunday night and will have a load of drinks promo's on the go all night.
If you're arriving at the weekend then make the most of the last après ski live music sessions this week as they too are coming to an end. After closing their upstairs bar, La Terrasse will be in full swing again on Monday with Bodstock – their annual gathering of some of the finest musical talent in town. This one night only performance is now in its 9th year and gets an excellent turn out of both talent and support each year. All proceeds from the €5 entrance fee go to Cancer Research so you will be partying for a good cause. The other big après ski event next week is the ultimate final après party at Chambre 9 on Friday 16th when we'll have to say “tack” and “fåravel” (I think that means thanks and goodbye in Swedish) to No Limits, the resident band. This event is usually twice as hot & sweaty than normal après if that is possible, so don't wear much, accept that you will have beer spilled on you and embrace the hangover the next day with open arms – this party is worth every twinge of pain!
Getting off the booze theme a little, there are a couple of really nice events taking place this weekend, starting with WOW Chamonix or “Women of Winter”. This is networking event where like-minded women can get together to “exchange ideas, share skills and experiences and plan future adventures” in and around the mountains. If that sounds like a bit of a turn off, what the weekend is actually involving is a whole stack of ski and snowboarding clinics, avalanche awareness and ski touring skill sessions, kit demos, a bit of yoga, some pampering, BBQ's, drinking and dancing – now that all sounds a bit more appealing, doesn't it? And the great thing is, the proceeds from the event go to two very worthy charities – Breast Cancer Research and Alpine Initiatives. The event is running from Friday 9th until Sunday 11th and you can find the full schedule for the weekend on the WOW Chamonix website. As well as taking advantage of the free equipment tests and skill clinics, I'll definitely make sure that I catch Bodhizapha playing their chilled out surf/reggae après set at the Marmottons restaurant at the base of the Grands Montets - Saturday from 4.30pm – 6pm.
After the massive success of this year's tour, next weekend, Friday 16th – Sunday 18th, the Winter Sessions crew are back for one final blow out this season with their Winter Sessions Weekender. Three days of music and shenanigans at the foot of Mont Blanc starting with the Brevent Village Fete next Friday, just at the top of the Plan Praz gondola at 1850m. From 12pm-4pm, there will be a high altitude ping pong competition, an iPod battle and an alpine cake bake off (remember things don't rise at altitude like they do at home…) and of course the Winter Sessions DJs will be laying down the tunes and BBQ will be fired up to keep the hunger pangs at bay. At night, it's off to the Podium Bar for two huge rooms of sound with hip hop from Rodney P, Drum n Bass from Shy FX and a beatbox, flute playing explosion from Nathan Flutebox Lee & Wandon. On Saturday, the party heads to Grands Montets and the HO5 Snowpark where there will be a Snow Jam with demos from pro-riders and prizes for Best Tricks. A stage will be set up on the balcony at the Lognan mid-station where the sounds will be pumping out from, and at 3pm lift your eyes skywards for the Chamonix Air Show – wing suiters, base jumpers and speed riders – jaws will be on the floor at this spectacle! Afterwards there will be a fancy dress BBQ in rue des moulins followed by the Fancy Dress Trash Ball (dress code Burlesque/carnival/weird & wonderful) so a good excuse to step out in something other than jeans and a hoodie for a change! Sunday will be a cool down after party and BBQ at the Cantina from 5pm, and with all that is planned for this weekend, people are going to need a chill out!
As always tickets are on sale from La Cantina, Zero G, Le Podium, Tourist Office, Monkey Bar and www.seetickets.com and a weekend pass will only set you back €35 and give you a range of drinks promos & discounts around town. If you want to pick and choose which parties you go to, then you can also buy individual entrance tickets for €20 – but numbers are limited so get in quick!
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.
