1. Weather 26th November 2025.
2. Lighting the Olympic Flame
3. Germany's Olympic Champion suspended.
4. French National Service.
5. Crisis in the French Wine Industry.
6. Gremlin in the website show notes.
7. Katie Hensien hopes to be back this season.
8. Slovenian Neja Dvornik's season is finished.
9. Slovakia sponsors Snowsport England.
10. Tartiflette World Record.
11. Vie Val d’Is.
12. UK Fuel Poverty Awareness.

Link to the website.

Calendar

Special Offers I have Spied....

Beautiful snow in Val, but thick clouds predicted for Olympia.... will they be able to light the flame, or will they need Monday's Backup ? 

The Pisteurs are running an avalanche prevention plan this morning, so expect bombs and don't even think of walking up until they are finished. 

Reigning Olympic Cross Country champion Victoria Carl, had a cough, was given a syrup by a military doctor, drank it, failed a drugs test and is now suspended for the whole season so won't be able to defend her title in February. 

Emmanuel Macron was the first President not to have done National service, but now wants to reintroduce it as he feels the threat from Russia is very significant, and France could do with more people with military skills.

Louis Sarkozy would go further .... make it compulsory for criminals, immigrants and 10% of recently arrived foreigners. 

There is a crisis among our wine makers..... including global warming, tariffs and ..... people drink less wine...

Apologies if you had problems reading the show notes.... no idea why it suddenly changed the format. They are now all easily readable.

US Katie Hensien broke her tibia in training but hopes to be back  racing later this season. 

Slovenian Neja Dvornik's season is finished after breaking both tibia and fibula during a pre race warm up. 

Slovakia is sponsoring Snowsport England and Snowsport Scotland, in the hope that it will encourage UK skiers to visit Slovakia's ski resorts. 

People in Albertville made a nice big tartiflette.....2.02 tons of tartiflette ! This was a World Record.

If you work in Val, why not join The Vie Val d’Is .. or at least check if you are eligible. 

Lots of advantages including reduced price lift pass.

if you can volunteer to  help at any time, particularly the Welcome Party on the 10th December, please email them.  [email protected] 

UK Fuel Poverty Awareness Day......being cold is miserable and leads to both physical and mental health issues. 

If you can, please donate to To National Energy Action 

1. Weather 25th November 25.
2. Cars, crampons, snow chains.
3. Mikaela Shiffrin victorious again.
4. French slalom ladies.
5. St Foy in Global Top 10 small resorts.
6. Tree skiing.
7.  Additions to the Calendar page.
8. South Wales ski slope and tropical Waterpark.
9. Why not Team GB World Cup footie ? 
10. Ice diving in Tignes.
11. UK White ribbon day. 

Link to the website.

Calendar

Special Offers I have Spied....

We are loving the snow we are getting , but not that far away there has been heavy rain and mud.

Make sure you, your shoes and car are prepared for the winter weather.

American slalom sensation Mikaela Shiffrin took her 103rd World Cup victory in Gurgl.

The French ladies didn't do as well as hoped. 

St Foy is included in the Telegraph's 10 favourite global small ski resorts. 

While Snomad praised Peisey for it's tree skiing.

There are many and varied additions to the Calendar page, and more will be added each day so please look there regularly. There is even a fun party at the Folie on Friday....

South Wales have planning permission for a huge leisure complex which will include the UK's longest ski slope and a tropical waterpark. 

Ever wondered why we don't have England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the Olympics, and Team GB in the FIFA World Cup ?

Want a break from Skiing ? Try Ice Diving in Tignes. 

Book with Evolution 2

UK White Ribbon Day : stop violence against women. 

The full and accurate transcript on the website includes links, but may not appear for a few hours after this episode is loaded. 

The transcript on Apple and Spotify are AI generated so apologies for any botty errors !

1. Weather 24th November 25.
2. Disappointing start for French Ski Jumpers
3. Cost of skiing.... Europe cheap for Americans.
4. Ski outdoors on real snow in the UK.
5. Kind rescue teams.
6. Was it a wolf or a dog ?
7. Ryan Weddings post-Olympic career.
8. Spot Ryan and nab a swanky flat in Val.
9. Georgia cancels 2 World Cup Events.
10. 260 Skiers Dressed in Peking Opera Costumes.
11. Digital Carte Vitale.
12. International Unique Talent Day.

Link to the website.

Calendar

Special Offers I have Spied....

Snow and more snow with subzero temperatures.

Lillehammer wasn't a great event for the French Ski Jump Team.  Though the Brits didn't feature at all. 

Cost of skiing is certainly hitting the Brits, but it is relatively cheap for Americans, especially those who already have a season Multiresort pass that has some European options.  

Val has recognised that not everyone wants a smart restaurant lunch, so has built warm indoor picnic areas, some with spectacular views Like the Lounge at the top of the Solaise Bubble. 

You could of course stay in the UK and ski... Cairngorm and Cumbria's volunteer run Yad Moss are already open.

Continuing my admiration of Mountain Rescue teams anywhere.... recently one of the Kinder Mountain Rescue Team slipped, mid rescue, and fractured her tibia and fibula...  

We have both dogs and wolves in Val. How do we tell the difference from their prints in the snow ? Wolves go direct.....doodles dawdle, sniff and wander.

Career options for retired Olympians.....Canada's snowboarder Ryan Wedding is on the FBI's most wanted list, 15 million dollar bounty on his head, for apparently running an international drug network. 

If you claim the reward you can buy a nice new flat in the centre of Val. Still a few for sale for around 10 million euros.

Georgia have cancelled two FIS World Cup events.... not sure why....FIS trying to arrange new venues.

If you can get onto X, look at this link..... 260 skiers Dressed in Peking Opera costumes

If you are covered by the French Healthcare System, you can get a digital carte vitale..

International Unique Talent Day……….why not go to Maison de Val and see the exhibition of art from our art group, Couleurs et Toiles. 

Many thanks again to our Inspirational leader Rozenn Roszak…  

There will be a full transcript with lots of links on the website (may come up a few hours after this episode is published).  The transcripts on Apple and Spotify are AI generated, so may have botty errors and won't have the links I have added.

1. Weather 23rd November 2025.
2. Tignes opened yesterday.
3. Train Rouge is running.
4. Savoyarde Paco Rassat wins slalom in Gurgl.
5. Cheer for Caitlin McFarlane in Gurgl's World Cup Slalom.
6. 2 World Cup Skeleton golds for Team GB.
7. Swiss champion Lara Gut-Bahrami is injured.
8. Jessie Diggins planning to retire.
9. VIP Chalets have Black Friday deals.
10. Preseason event at Tignes Spirit.
11. We only share good experiences.
12. UK Stir Up Sunday.

Link to the website.

Calendar

Special Offers I have Spied....

Snowing here and some buses are running here, but download Vivre à Val d’Isère App  to keep an eye on the timetable. 

Tignes had a great torchlight descent at the end of yesterday's opening day. 

Paco Rassat, from near Chambery, won his first World Cup slalom in Gurgl yesterday.

14th in first run, but very impressive second run... made it look so easy.

Val’s Victor Muffat-Jeandet came 7th  

Clèment Nöel 12th. 

Team GB's Billy Major came 17th, just 1.15 seconds slower than Paco,  Dave Ryding 25th and Laurie Taylor 33rd.

In Stubai, heavy wind and poor viz cancelled the World Cup Freeski Slopestyle. 

The ladies are racing in Gurgl today, with Mikaela Shiffrin planning another victory.

No Team GB, but you could cheer for French lady Caitlin McFarlane as she does have a British mother.

British Skeleton won 2 World Cup golds in Cortina.  Matt Weston won both, with Tabby Stoecker pairing with him in the Team event. 

Brad Hall captains today's 4-man bobsleigh World Cup event in Cortina.

34-year-old Swiss star Lara Gut-Behrami has injured her knee, putting her 4th Olympics in doubt. 

American Cross country champion Jessie Diggins is planning to retire at the end of this season. 

VIP Chalets have Black Friday Deals. I have put the details on the

Special offers I have spied page…

Tignes Spirit are having a MASSIVE pre season event

With deals on new and second hand skis, snowboards, boots, clothing, accessories……..

We don't share 'bad' reviews..........but happy to share good experiences. 

Today is the day to make our Christmas Puddings......... remember raisins, currants and sultanas are highly toxic to dogs...... keep your pooches away from the kitchen !

1. Weather 22nd November 2025
2. Tignes opens today.
3. World Cup Slalom and Freeski Slopestyle today.
4. Join Snowsport England to Race in Bormio
5. Toy sale today.
6. Val in the press.
7. Yeti race in Tignes tomorrow.
8. Folie Douce Saisonnaires party. 
9. New fee on small parcels. 
10. Prepare a survival kit !
11. Peak Retreats Black Friday Deals
12. Links and transcripts.
13. Kimchi.

Link to the website.

Calendar

Special Offers I have Spied..

Sun today but a metre of snow is on its way..

Tignes opens, and has a torchlight descent and party this evening.

World Cup racing... 3 Team GB men slaloming in Austria.

Freeski Slopestyle is in Stubai. 

The English Alpine Championships will take place in Bormio in March…

Join Snowsport England to be eligible to race…

Second hand toy sale to raise money for events for local children is in Maison de Val today.

Val has been praised .....highly desirable, and expensive, property. 

The team Yeti race takes place in Tignes tomorrow.

The Folie Douce is having a special party for Val's seasonal workers 

on the 3rd December.  Music, food, prizes..... free entry but you must register.  

More expensive to send small parties from the UK to France, as no longer 'EU'.

The French Government believes everyone should be prepared..... war...cyber attack... natural disaster.... nuclear accident.

Peak Retreats have Black Friday Deals, in particular for Paradiski from 13th December. 

I try and put as many links in as possible to episode description and transcript on the website, but I can't control the AI transcript that Apple and Spotify use.

Kimchi...... 22 health benefits and 11 ingredients, hence celebrate on the 22nd November.

Not much 'hot' food in Val.....

Coloured portraits are on agenda today.....after a doodle in the snow !

1. Weather 21st November 2025.
2. Cairngorm Mountain opening this weekend.
3. AirBnb…. Rules…..fines…
4. Taxes for toilets.
5. Hiker hitched by a belt.
6. Neck guards for Olympic Ice Hockey players.
7. Environmental considerations for J.O. 2030.
8. Alcohol ban in Sölden.
9. No uphill on Obertauren’s downhill pistes.
10. Ski in a Tunnel in Brisbane.
11. Gingerbread cookies, cakes, loaves and houses.

Link to the website.

Calendar

Special Offers I have Spied....

Snow and more snow, including snow in Scotland. - Cairngorm Mountain is opening this weekend, before Val ! Though sounds a bit limited. Don't just turn up - book your ticket beforehand, and bring your own kit as hire shops not  yet open. 

If you are thinking of renting  your second home out through AirBnB, check the rules in  your area..... or risk a hefty fine..... 

More property rules.... taxes on luxurious interiors......inside toilets, heating, shower, washbasin.... there is an outcry.....

A hiker had good friends.... a fall and a serious head injury.... a belt attached him to a tree so didn't fall further while waiting for rescurers...

Ice Hockey players will have to use neck guards in the Olympics. Remember Adam Johnson who died after having his neck cut by a skate.

The UN Environmental team are considering concerns about the possible damage caused by the French Alps Olympics in 2030. 

Sölden is banning alcohol in public places.

Obertauren is banning uphill skiing or walking on the open downhill pistes. No parking without a lift pass. No camping. 

From 2027 you will be able to ski in  a rotating tunnel in Brisbane ! Like a hamster wheel, but more glamorous. 

UK Gingerbread day.

1. Weather 20th November 2025.
2. Tignes is opening on Saturday.
3. Val Thorens wins "World's Best Ski Resort".
4. Olympic Gender Equality improvements.
5. Olympic Torch heading to Naples.
6. Tom Daley knits for the Winter Olympics.
7. Learn to Bobsleigh.
8. Hepatitis A outbreak in Czech Republic.
9. The Savoie has an 81 year old  Triathlon World Champion.
10. USA National Absurdity day.

Link to the website.

Calendar

Special Offers I have Spied....

Snow ! Lots predicted...

Tignes Funicular opens on Saturday, and there is a Torchlight Descent and Après fun that evening.  Lift pass prices increase from 40 euros a day this weekend to 75 from the middle of December.

From Sunday until Thursday 150 elite athletes are in Tignes for their annual 'Sports Stars' event which focuses on mentoring rising talent. 

The World Ski Awards have given 'the World's Best Ski Resort' to Val Thorens for the 10th time..... 

Milano Cortina have made gender equality a 'big thing'.  47% of the athletes will be women, and they will compete in 53.4% of the events.  Better than the 4.3% women in the first Olympics in 1924, when they could only compete in Figure Skating. 

The Olympic Torch will travel 12,000 km across Italy from Rome down to Naples.

Olympic diver Tom Daley's knitting will be worn by Team GBs flagbearers.... From 8th December you can buy your own hats and scarves. BenSherman.co.uk  Team GB shop.

La Plagne is just down the road…..And has France’s only Bobsleigh and skeleton track…..try the Bob Raft….or Bob Racing, or learn to be a pilot....

If you are going skiing in Bozi Dar, or visiting anywhere in the Czech Republic, be aware that there is a serious outbreak of Hepatits A. Careful with your hygiene… consider a vaccination.

The Savoie has a new Triathlon World Champion... in the 80-84 year category.  Congrats to 81 year old Albert Dulac.

USA National Absurdity Day.  Plenty of candidates for people or events to mock....

1. Weather 18th November 2025.
2. Emily Harrop… French Ski mountaineer.
3. Happy Birthday Lara Colturi.
4. Clément Noël, Dynastar, Lange and Look.
5. The Surrey Schools Championships.
6. Snowcentres, SnowWorld and France.
7. TikTok, the Mountain Guide.
8. White Christmas with Simply Val d’Isère.
9. World Humanitarian Day.

Link to the website.

Calendar

Special Offers I have Spied....

Introducing ....for those that don't follow ski mountaineering....Emily Harrop. Born in Bourg St Maurice to British parents, and is France's big hope for an Olympic gold, or two.

Albanian Italian Lara Colturi celebrated her 19th Birthday by coming 2nd in Saturday's FIS World Cup Slalom.

Dynastar, Lange and Look will continue to keep Clément Noël in skis, boots and bindings for another 3 years.

The Surrey Schools Championships was a great success at the weekend.

Snowcentres have combined with SnowWorld and together they will run 12 indoor ski areas across UK and Europe, including France's only indoor piste.

Heard of mad and reckless behaviour, but 2 inexperienced and badly equipped hikers using TikTok to navigate the German Alps needed a helicopter to save them. They received a nice, big bill !

If you are dreaming of a white Christmas, with skiing thrown in, contact Kim at Simply Val d’Isère- they have just got another beautiful chalet....

World Humanitarian Action Day - remembering War Doctor's lunch with Queen Elizabeth, and all those who work with MSF . It is not easy. Many are left with PTSD.

Off to Annecy to cook a vegetarian lunch with Benoit Vidal !

1. Weather 17th November 2025
2. Breakfast beer
3. Mens racing in Levi - Proud to be British.
4. The Vonn Collective
5. Marcel Hirscher feeling more optimistic.
6. Cyprien Sarrazin coming as a spectator to Val's Criterium.
7. The Garage 'Welcome-Back' drinks.
8. Caitlin McFarlane skis for France.
9. Heidi.com
10. Bring and Buy sale in Tignes.
11. Unfriend Homemade Bread

Link to the website.

Calendar

Special Offers I have Spied....

Know we are heading to winter when party stragglers drinking beer are spotted in the streets as others are heading off to work.

Lots of news from the World Cup Slalom in Levi at the weekend. Val's own reigning Olympic Champion Clément Noël came 2nd in his first race since he was injured last year.

Team GB for the first time had 4 skiers in the same race, 3 ended up in the top 30, 2 in the top 10 with 38 year old Dave Ryding 7th and Laurie Taylor had a career best of 4th. Billy Major came 27th.

Luca Carrick-Smith had a brave debut but didn't finish.

Brazil had their first ever World Cup victory, when Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won.

He named his reindeer Bjørn in honour of his father.

Lindsey Vonn, in her spare time, when not training for her 5th Olympics, has launched a ski wear collection made by Head.

The Vonn Collective….

After months of doubt and worry Marcel Hirscher says he will race again in January.

31-year-old French champion Cyprien Sarrazin won't be racing this season but will be in Val, as a spectator, for the Criterium in December.

23-year-old Caitlin McFarlane came 13th on Saturday.....for France !

Born in Sydney, father Australian, mother English, lives in Morzine.

Have heard good things about the ski holiday finding Heidi.com and they have a Black Friday sale...

Lo Terrachu by the lake in Tignes Is having a bring and buy sale on the 3rd of December…

At least ten percent of all sales will go to the charities.

Solea and Snowcamp.

UK Homemade Bread day….

USA UnFriend Day.

1. Weather 16th November 2025.
2. Mikaela Shiffrin has a new reindeer.
3. 4 racing for Team GB in Levi.
4. Changes on the Autoroutes.
5. St Foy rumour…. Don’t panic !
6. Accident at the Villa Roger bubble lift site.
7. Lucky Utah base jumper.
8. World COPD day.

Link to the website.

Calendar

Special Offers I have Spied....

Mikaela did it ! 102nd World Cup victory, and 9th reindeer.

The men are racing today .... Laura is watching Val's Clément Noël and the four Team GB racers.... Dave Ryding, Laurie Taylor, Billy Major and 20 year old Luca Carrick-Smith who is making is debut on the World Cup stage.

Watch out on the autoroutes, eco friendly toll changes.... the first is 'fine' as you don't take a ticket but still pay as you leave. However some areas you have to pay online, or face a fine...

Don't panic if you are looking forward to your booked trip to St Foy. Although the parent company for the ski lifts and groomers has gone into liquidation, the mayor has assured everyone that the lifts will open as planned on the 12th December. From next June they will work in collaboration with Tignes.

The new Villa Roger bubble is still on schedule, despite an accident where a worker was buried in a trench, before being helicopter to hospital and treated for back injuries.

A base jumper in Utah was unlucky to hit the cliff but lucky that his parachute caught on a rock, suspending him hundreds of feet above the group for a few hours before a helicopter pulled him up and away. Watch part of the rescue here.

World COPD Day.... Chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease.

A miserable, progressive, incurable condition that limits everyday activities, let alone skiing at altitude.

If you have any spare pounds or euros, please donate to

Asthma and Lung UK

Their research may find a cure…