Tignes Snow Report: 2nd February 2012

Siberian sunshine. Freezing temperatures set to return

featured in Snow report Author Debbie Priestley, Tignes Reporter Updated 24 October 2014

Today looked beautiful. The sun was shining and the skies were clear. The temperatures, however, were freezing. Meteo France is describing conditions as Siberian sunshine, They’re also warning to watch out for frost-bite on all extremities (fingers, toes, ears, nose...). So really do wrap up warm for the next while.

Today was a great day to be on a mountain, even with the cold. This morning the pistes were perfectly groomed and even later into the day there was still some great skiing to be had. Early this morning I was out on my snowboard. I skied the Face on corduroy piste top to bottom, blasted over to Tignes and found the same under Les Lanches chair in Val Claret, Piste M was especially good!

This afternoon, however, I was back on blues and green runs learning to telemark ski. I’ve been trying to have a go for a long time now, and finally managed to make it up the hill with a friend who is a pretty awesome telemark skier. He rides in a yellow one piece suit, I mean you have to be good to pull one of those off! Telemarking is like nothing else, the closest thing I have experienced to it was touring on my split snowboard a week or so ago on the very occasional downhill sections we encountered on uphill tours (if you don’t know what a split board is, the easiest way to find out is to do a google search for ‘split snowboard’, or I would be writing an article entirely on that!). After today I would recommend anyone has a go at telemarking. You do need to be able to laught at yourself, pick yourself up, and have strong thighs though; the burn in mine is just starting to set in now! Ok, so it takes a while to grasp, but when you get it right it looks (and feels) amazing.

Back to the subject of weather, and every forecast is for clear and cold conditions from Saturday onwards. Friday and Sunday night look set to be the low points at resort level, with a wind chill induced temperature of minus twenty eight predicted at the top of the hill. And Sunday afternoon is the one to look out for, the wind is supposed to pick up to around twenty kilometres per hour, and with wind chill factor temperatures will be as low as minus forty. It will feel like we are in Siberia, even with the sunshine, hence 'Siberian sunshine'. This is pretty serious for anyone skiing, especially with young children. Take extra layers and don’t over estimate what you are capable of. I’ve had frost-bite and it isn’t pleasant. That said, the sun will be out and the piste will be amazing! Just remember to wrap up warm.

Plan ahead with hot chocolate stops, and try to keep from freezing!

Bon ski!