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Chamonix Apres Ski Report: 22nd February 2008

featured in Nightlife reviews Author Helen McGrory, Chamonix Reporter Updated

The Nissan Outdoor Games was great! Hopefully some of you were out here to watch the events that went on last weekend, but it was a very entertaining few days courtesy of some very talented sportsmen & women and their film crews. The aerial show that took place last Saturday on Grands Montets drew a big crowd, and we weren't disappointed by the paragliding, speed riding, BASE jumping display that went on overhead. The BASE jumpers in their flying suits were particularly incredible; 5 of them plummeting out of a helicopter from around 3000m and reaching speeds in excess of 160 kmh! The crowd on the terrace at Lognan was open-mouthed as they zipped above our heads, and then had fingers in mouths as we were all wondering just how low they would go before pulling their chutes. About 500m above the valley floor it seemed! My attempts to photograph them resulted in shot after shot of empty blue sky so I've included one taken by someone slightly more competent in the photography department than me….

In the evening, again the crowds gathered in the Triangle de l'Amitié to watch the finished films from the 7 teams. It was a bit late in starting and despite the musical entertainment and a steady flow of vin chaud, we were only able to watch the first 3 films or run the risk of having to be chipped off our deck chairs from the cold. Fortunately though, it was the 3rd film from Ride the Planets that took the Aiguille d'Or trophy and the €10000 prize money so we saw the winner after all. You can read more about the results of the Games in the News section of the site.

There's been plenty other things going on in town this week too, starting with the FIS Nocturnal Slalom competition at Planards. The first leg was last night but you can catch it again this evening from 6pm with the heats taking place at 6.30pm and the finals at 8.30pm. The prizes will be given out at 10pm followed by fireworks. I popped up there last night and it's absolutely freezing so wrap up warm, but thankfully, someone has had the foresight to set up a vin chaud and snack stall so sustenance is close to hand. Activities continue at Planards on Saturday morning with the Sebastien Rung French Cup Challenge for handiskiers. Races take place at 10-11am and then 12.15 – 1.15pm followed by the prize giving.

This weekend brings two big events in the Chamonix calendar – the Rip Curl Girls Tour and the Swatch O'Neill Big Mountain Pro Freeride Contest. After a highly successful first edition last year, the Rip Curl Girls Tour is back and travelling round 17 different resorts in the Alps this winter. As the name implies, the tour is a laydeez only event aimed at encouraging girls from 7 to 77 years old, to try out snowboarding and freestyle skiing absolutely free of charge! Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider, you can try out these activities in the Grands Montets snow park with professional supervision from certified instructors. Alexandra Barrère, Shelly Jones and other riders for the Rip Curl Girls Team, will be there to show off their demonstration moves and to give advice to participants. After a hardcore girls-only training session, the gutsiest of you can take part in a mini-contest to win some great prizes! Don't miss the after party in Choucas on Saturday night with music from Hell Well whom I've never heard play, but they sound like they should be suitably gnarly!

The Swatch O'Neill Big Mountain Pro is an 8 day freeride competition that brings together 24 of the world's best snowboarders and skiers for a competition like no other. Free to roam the European Alps in search of the optimum conditions, it kicks off this year on Sunday February 24th with a freestyle session at Montenvers, followed by the opening ceremony. With six regional guides keeping an eye on all the best terrain and snow conditions that the Alps has to offer, the two VIP buses are ready to set off with no restrictions throughout the mountains. Helicopters and lifts will provide access to wherever conditions prove best. A live webcast of the event can be seen every day of the event from February 24th until March 1st between 14.00h and 16.00h on www.bigmountainpro.com, O'Neill TV www.oneilltv.com, www.swatch.com as well as on www.freecaster.tv

Off the slopes, there is a load of live music going on around town this week. If you're here this evening (there's lots going on tonight, sorry if you're arriving tomorrow!!) head down to Le Vert in Les Gaillands where Seargent Garcia will be DJing, rounding off their Vert Festival. If you've never been to Le Vert you really should check it out. It's a 15 minute walk out the bottom end of town (past Le Vagabond) but they have some absolutely legendary nights in there. Radio 1's Gilles Peterson was playing there on Monday night and last winter, Tuggy from Basement Jaxx played there not once, but twice!! Tonight's event costs €14 to get in but most of their party nights are free entry. Well worth the walk!

Elsewhere, there is après ski as always with the Balboas in Chambre 9, the Soul Rats in Monkey Bar and Angus Newton in Privilege. DJ sessions every night in La Cantina, Le Tof, No Escape and Le Garage, with the latter two clubs offering a little extra entertainment if you fancy. If you're prepared to splash a bit of cash, head to 7th Heaven Gentlemans Club in No Escape where you can get a quick lap dance if the mood takes you, or how about Lingerie Night at Le Garage every Thursday for a more economical way to stare at women wearing very few clothes.

It's obviously a big sporting weekend coming up with the next round of 6 Nations matches on too. The Vagabond, Le Pub, the Jekyll and Munster bar in Cham, and the Office Bar and Fubar in Argentiere, are all great places to sink a few pints and shout at the big screen with your mates.

If you plan to avoid the rugby like the plague, why not go to ChaChaCha for some wine tasting. They hold tasting sessions every evening with wines from different regions of France as well as champagne, beer and spirits. Tonight it is the turn of the “Grands Crus” – your chance to taste some of the best wines in France. Alternatively, if you fancy having a bite to eat whilst supping some delicious wines - then Le Lapin Agile is where you want to go. A couple of doors along from McDonalds (can't believe I'm describing somewhere in terms of McDonalds, but sadly most people seem to know where it it…) Le Lapin is a quiet and relaxed little wine bar and café that is perfect for pre-dinner drinks (with free tapas served from 6.30-9pm) or somewhere to have a light bite to eat and spend the evening sampling an array of their delicious wines from around the world. Definitely one of our favourite places in town. Just one word of warning – don't touch the dog – she is lovely but she doesn't like being petted by people she doesn't know. And who can blame her, what girl does??

Have a great week!


For a full list of this week's events, check out our What's On Calendar.
You can also find full Bar and Restaurant listings in the Dining and Going Out section of the site.