Chamonix Apres Ski Report: 22nd April 2010
Not being someone who normally wishes life away, I have been finding myself recently praying for the end of season to arrive so that the barrage of abuse to my body can come to an end! There's just too much going on at the moment with all the end of season parties and I don't want to miss out on anything……but I have to confess, I have reached my limit after the last 2 weeks and so I've spend 3 very enjoyable evenings on my sofa this week with nothing more potent than a San Pellegrino in my hand. I've even resumed running and so I'm feeling a little bit pleased with myself tonight!
However, this leap onto the wagon is the result of some really great nights out, starting, of course, with final après at Chambre. Now if you've been reading these reports over the season, you will no doubt have gathered that I'm a bit of a fan of C9 and the band and final après is always one hell of a send off. This year was no different with some of my friends assuming position in the bar at midday, just to make sure that we got the best table in the house (the one along the window in case you're wondering). Now that's dedication for you! The band started around 5pm to a very enthusiastic (and rapidly very drunk) crowd – there was moshing, crowd surfing and a good deal of nakedness as the band pounded out tune after classic tune in 4 awesome sets. The heat mounted, the windows steamed up and the crowd went crazy until the last chords were struck just after 9pm. Happy Days – what a top night – and a big thank you has to go to the hard working bar staff who kept smiling and kept the beer flowing throughout the carnage. So although I'm now a little lost with no No Limits to watch when I come off the hill, at least the bar itself remains open year round, so we can still reminisce in familiar surroundings as we ease into a lovely summer of lunches on the terrace and rosé after work.
Last weekend was also the Winter Sessions Weekender – 3 days of music and mayhem both on and off the slopes. The Village Fete on Brevent on Friday afternoon attracted some seriously impressive cakes in the Alpine Cake Bake Off and on Saturday at Grands Montets, there were a lot of eager competitors for the Best Trick comp in the snow park and then all eyes went skywards for the wing suiters, base jumpers and speed riders in the Chamonix Air Show. In the evening the Trash Ball at the Podium Bar, attracted the biggest array of freaks, wierdos, burlesque and black tie outfits ever seen in Cham. A really great weekend and we're already looking forward to next winter and another programme of top names and amazing party nights from the Winter Sessions boys.
Tuesday night was the Wham Bam Thank You Cham end of season seasonnaires party up in the woods in Les Praz. I have to confess I didn't make it up there this time, instead accepting the challenge to drink South Bar dry (not all on my own of course….) which was needless to say a very, very messy night but a lot closer to home that the Wham Bam party. However, by all accounts the woodland creatures in and around the Paradis des Praz didn't know what hit them on Tuesday night as a hoard of excitable seasonnaires headed into the forest and partied like never before. The drinks were flowing, the BBQ sizzling and an array of local DJs had everyone dancing until they dropped. A fitting send off to what has been one of my favourite seasons actually – and I've done one or two I'll have you know…. ;O)
So, now that the volcanic ash is clearing, hopefully some of you will still be heading out this way at the weekend because it'll be your last chance to ski Brevent/Flegere and Le Tour until next winter now, as all of these areas are closing on Sunday. Brevent is going out with a bang with a party on Saturday afternoon/evening – live music up at Plan Praz from the Vickar's Band from 2pm followed by big screen action and music from a couple of local DJs in the parking area from 3.30pm til late. Don't forget that the Grands Montets ski area is open for another 2 weeks yet (closes 9th May) and we've still got the Freeride Days to look forward to up there on May 2nd, so still time to get a few more turns in this season.
Also on Friday, the Chamonix ladies ice hockey team – the Chamonix Angels - are organising a Country & Western fest in conjunction with the MBC bar. It'll be held at the running track which sits right in the middle of the ice rink and the MBC and you can expect some thigh slapping tunes, a bit of line dancing maybe and one of the legendary MBC BBQs and delicious home brewed beers. Starts at 4pm and is free to pop along – yeehaw!
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.
