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Read reviews of the best Meribel events
March is magical, longer days, milder weather, fun in the sunshine and great snow conditions.
With fewer families around, you tend to find far fewer ski schools on the hill, which of course, means an end to those long, snaking trails of beginners. And there are plenty of extra fun events in March. You can take part in ski races, let your hair down with DJ sets, music and comedy festivals, or watch freestyle demos and more.
Read on for a look at what we like to get up to when spring arrives.
Despite headliner Norman Jay being cancelled at last week’s Ronnie Loves Music Festival, the event was a huge success. With the use of The Rond Point’s more-than-spacious outdoor terrace, it seemed the perfect venue to host a week of incredible live music, bangin’ DJ beats and ultimate party vibes.
With weather predictions for more sunshine and glorious spring skiing days, this week it’s all about Meribel’s largest season event, The Piste Bash Festival.
Hosted and supported by multiple venues around resort, this year the festival is headlining Krafty Kuts, Chali 2NA, Lazy Habits, Ed Solo, Dutty Moonshine and The Mouse Outfit. Alongside endless supporting acts, local bands, stand-up comedy line-ups and plenty of food and drink deals throughout the week, it’s a party not to be missed and one we’ve been looking forward to all season.
La Patrouille de France, France's answer to the Red Arrows, painted the skies above Méribel red, white and blue this week in an amazing aerial display.
The crowds came out to watch their daredevil display which you can see part of in the video below.
Last week Meribel played host to an array of incredible music acts, fabulous comedy, international food varieties and plenty of local side parties around resort.
With the excitement of last week’s Piste Bash Festival now over, we look forward to a new month of Spring weather and a new week of live music and après events in Meribel.
As 2014 drew to a close I wrote a New Years Eve post on this site urging you to get out there and show your appreciation to the mountain workers of Meribel for their hard work maintaining and running the resort, and, lets be honest, they are doing a marvellous job.
My suggestion was to take those leftover mince pies and go and show love to the lifties and peace to the pisties. Unfortunately, when it came down to it, I was weak. I went into the kitchen, I looked at those mince pies and like a man possessed I was reaching for the brandy butter before I even knew what was happening. Crumbs.
I was instantly overcome with a feeling of shame that I had not experienced since the last time I woke up after a night out drinking and rolled over only to realise I was sharing the bed with a greasy cardboard box and a pile of salty chicken bones. Only this time I had the added guilt of not sticking to my word. There were victims. Blissfully ignorant victims…but victims nonetheless.
Unable to live with myself, I roped in a couple of friends and hit the kitchen. Three hours later, five cakes were made (lemon, chocolate, marble, banana and apricot white chocolate if you were wondering) and cut into 60 individual pieces. Each piece was wrapped up and “Meribel Alpina Appreciation Day” was born.
On the morning of Wednesday 7th January 2015, 7 seasonaires and one token punter set out on a mission of goodwill and it was largely a success.
One of us got a kiss from a lift operator. One member of piste patrol loved his cake so much that he strategically went to our next cake drop location so he could blag himself a second piece (fair play). About 15 members of mountain staff posed for selfies. Three lift workers misunderstood what was going on and tried to take the entire box of cake from us. One piece of cake got skied over and one lift operator told us that he was a cowboy and his horse was tied up behind his hut.
It was a beautiful day that ended with a warm fuzzy feeling inside and I’d like to turn it into an annual tradition. This time next year, get those aprons on and get ready for the second annual Meribel Alpina Appreciation Day.
Video to follow!
It’s been a beautiful week of sunshine here in Meribel. We’re due a little smattering of snow followed by yet more sun and the slopes are in prime condition so there really is a lot to be cheerful about.
In addition to the skiing, you’ll be spoilt for choice for fun activities to get involved in over the next week including horse riding shows, international alpine ski racing and free giant raclette tastings.
Read on for our pick of the best events for the whole family coming up in Meribel over the next week.
The Last Track – Fancy being one of the last people on the mountain at the end of the day? Head to Les Pierres Plates restaurant at the top of Saulire/Pas du Lac at 4pm for well earned drink before a beautiful guided ski on an empty mountain as the sun goes down. Reservations: 04 79 00 42 38 (also taking place on Thursday 4th Feb)
Meribel Vertical Night Race – An organized race between various mountain restaurants across the resort. Open to all, €7 will gain you entry to this after hours event to help introduce you to mountaineering skills and discover some of the resort’s best mountain venues. The entry fee includes registration and a meal at the chosen restaurant of the day. 5.15pm – 9.30pm. For info and registration email: meribelsportmontagne@gmail.com
Ice Hockey Match, Meribel vs. Vaujany – Home team Meribel facing off against Vaujany in an adrenaline filled match at the Olympic Centre Ice Rink. €7 for adults and €4 for children and very reasonably priced drinks. Come support your resort team.
Inuits Fair – Enjoy lots of fun & games at the Inuit Village including snow bowling. 1pm to 4.30pm.
The First Track – Much like Tuesday’s ‘Last Track’, First Track gives you the opportunity to (you guessed it) be one of the first people up on the mountain in the morning. Meet at the Pas du Lac lift in Mottaret at 8.10am and head up for a hearty breakfast at the Pierres Plates restaurant in the early morning sun before laying the first tracks of the day on the freshly groomed piste guided down by ski patrol. €25 by reservation on 04 79 00 42 38
Savoie Evening at Le Clos Bernard – Meribel’s newest restaurant, Le Clos Bernard, tucked away in the woods near Meribel Village host a fun, firelit, Savoie Evening every Wednesday. Expect a torchlit walk through the woods, live accordionists, a welcome drink and delicious food. €49 for adults and €19 for children. Reservations: 04 79 00 00 07
Fishing Mystery – Come grab a fishing rod and try and hook one of the many mysterious objects in the Inuits Lake and they will be yours. Complimentary hot chocolate for all from 3pm. 1pm to 4.30pm.
Thursday Moon Session – Whatever your age and whatever your level, come and show off your best tricks at the Moon Park between 1 and 4pm to resident Shapers Benjamin and Maxime. A fun event for all with prizes on offer for the best and most inventive tricks.
Inuits Golf – A snow golf course has been built over on the Inuits Village so come and pop the skis off and see if you can score a hole in one. 1pm to 4.30pm.
Alpine Skiing FIS Race Ladies Super G – International speed races that count towards the skiers FIS standings. Come and see how the pros do it on the now legendary Roc de Fer piste that hosted the World Cup last year. 8am to 2pm.
Horse Riding Show – A short equestrian display followed by the opportunity to try out the Pony Sled and Ski Joering. Open to all and free of charge at the Equestrian Centre on the Truite Piste (running from Mottaret to Meribel). For info call 04 57 37 17 21.
Raclette Tour – We’ll end on a special one! Everyone’s favourite gooey Savoyard treat. At the bottom of the Combes chairlift in Mottaret you’ll find a giant outdoor wood fired raclette machine and the opportunity to try some of the popular regional dish – all free of charge. Who doesn’t like free cheese!? 4pm to 8pm.
Memory Inuits – Lots of fun Memory Games for the young ones to take part in from 1pm to 4.30pm.
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Find more events on our what's on calendar for this season and beyond.
Meribel’s World Cup final week has now come to an end. I was lucky enough to be a part of it by forerunning the mens and ladies downhill races and training runs. For the remaining races I was alongside the other +15000 people in the finish area to cheer on the best competitors in the world.
Whilst I was inspecting the men’s downhill I was feeling pretty scared. There were some big jumps and the course went really straight so I knew it would be fast. The fastest men went from 0-100kmph in the first ten seconds of the course! The light was really bad and you couldn’t see any of the bumps so I took it pretty easily and I was surprised that I wasn’t scared at all when I crossed the finish line and I actually really enjoyed it. The ladies course then seemed almost easy after having skied the men’s! On race day there wasn’t a cloud in the sky so I could really let my skis run and go for it. I had the best time ever and I couldn’t believe that I had actually done a men’s World Cup Downhill and survived it!
Lindsey Vonn took home the win for the ladies downhill and also took home the Overall World Cup Downhill title which is an amazing feat for the speed queen returning from injury. The men’s race was won by the Norwegian speed demon Kjetil Jansrud followed by Didier Defago who ended his incredibly successful skiing career the following day at the age of 37.
The following day was the Super G. Although I was originally meant to be forerunning I was put on reserve and so I didn’t get a run. I still got to hang out in the start though and watch the competitors get ready to race. I had my fingers and toes crossed that Lindsey Vonn would win and even after I stood by her as we watched Anna Fenniger’s fantastic run she still brought home another victory, her 67th win and her 20th overall title. She won by 5 tenths of a second proving that she really was the best woman speed skier of the season.
The men’s brought a surprise win for Dustin Cook, his first ever WC win, just 5 hundredths of a second ahead of Jansrud who was only 3 hundreths of a second in front of the French man Brice Roger. This was also Roger’s first ever WC podium and it was wonderful that it happened for him on home soil. Only 11 hundredths separated fifth and first place so I was on the edge of my seat the throughout the whole race!
The speed events were now over so it was onto the slalom and giant slalom which were the deciding races for the Overall Season titles. The Men’s GS was a surprise with the young Norwegian, Henrik Kristoffersen winning by nearly a second and the German Fritz Dopfer and French man Thomas Fanara finishing the podium. The favourites Alexis Pinturault, Ted Ligety and Marcel Hirscher all finished far off the lead. The girls race was won by Mikaela Shiffrin allowing her to win her third Slalom Overall title in a row and she’s only just turned 20. She was followed by Frida Hansdotter, only 5 hundreths behind. The highlight for me was to see Veronika Zuzulova from Slovakia in third place. I think it’s brilliant that some top nations and skiers were knocked off the podium by this upcoming slalom super star.
Today was the last day of races and despite the weather being near catastrophic both races were able to run. Anna Fenninger won the ladies GS ahead of her Austrian team mate, Eva Maria Brem and the Slovenian Tina Maze. This meant that Fenninger took home the Overall GS globe and the ultimate prize, the overall title for the season. Today was the turn of the men to tackle the slalom. Hirscher showed that he could still be the fastest on the hill by winning by 8 tenths of a second. The podium was completed by the Italian Giuliano Razzoli and the Russian Alexander Khoroshilov. The French favourite Alexis Pinturalt missed out on the podium by just 2 hundreths of a second. Hirscher broke the world record this year by winning his fourth overall title in a row.
There weren’t too many surprises in Meribel for the overall titles but there a few up and coming skiers that have made their mark in Meribel that will be ones to watch when the next World Cup season comes around in December.
My season is long from over as this week the Delancey British Championships are on in Tignes. I have a lot of titles to defend from last year so hopefully I can ski my best and fast!
French half term, English half term, Parisian half term, public school half term, private school half term… It's safe to say that busy season has well and truly begun here in Meribel.
This doesn’t have to mean all doom and gloom and endless queues for chairlifts - there are plenty of things to do all over resort if you fancy popping the skis off for a change.
Friday 19th Feb
Street Party outside the Meribel Tourist Office from 5pm until 7pm. A free open air show with mulled wine for all featuring the group ‘Mister Clean’ who will be playing a fun mixture of cover songs to get everyone up on their feet.
Sunday 21st Feb
Horse Riding Show at the Equestrian Centre on the ‘Truite’ piste between Mottaret and Meribel at 5pm. A 15 minute equestrian display followed by your chance to have a go at pony sledding or ski-joering. Free and open to all and accessible by skis or on foot.
Tuesday 23rd Feb
The Last Track - Your opportunity to be the last people of the day on the mountain. Take in incredible panoramic views at Les Pierre Plates restaurant at the top of the Pas du Lac lift before a guided dusk descent. €20 by reservation. Call 04 79 00 42 38
Vertical Night Race – Cote 2000 - Open to all, a night race to the Cote 2000 restaurant in Mottaret. A chance to experience the mountain in a completely different way. €12 includes entry and a meal at the restaurant.
Kid’s Show ‘Kachtelane’ - Magic, illusions, clowns and music. A fun, free show at Meribel Auditorium for children aged 3 and up. Call 04 79 08 60 01 for more info.
Ice Hockey Match, Meribel vs Chamrousse. Come support Meribel at the Olympic Centre Ice Rink. Starts at 8.30pm and goes on until 11pm. There is a bar selling drinks and snacks and always a great atmosphere. €7 for adults and €4 for children (free for under 6s).
Wednesday 24th Feb
The First Track – Much like ‘The Last Track’ mentioned previously but here, you guessed it, you get the opportunity to be one of the first to ski the fresh cord of the day. Depart on the Pas du Lac lift at 8.10am for a continental breakfast at the Pierres Plates before a guided ski down to jump on first lifts at the bottom. Call 04 79 00 42 38 to book.
Thursday 25th Feb
Pierre Sibille – Free Soul Concert at the Auditorium from 8.30 – 11pm. Jazz Radio have organized this event that will be broadcast live on air. Music from a talented trio playing a mixture of blues, soul and jazz.
Find more things to do & see this season on our events calendar or take a look at the range of winter activities you could do whilst you're here.
It’s an exciting week in Meribel and as well as skiing there is a smorgasbord of fun activities for the whole family both on and off the slopes.
Here is a rundown of the best activities taking place on the slopes all over the Meribel valley this week.
Meet the Husky Dogs – The Husky Dogs will actually be around from the 8th of Feb, every single day until 4th of March so there is plenty of time to come and meet them. Their Musher, Karine, will also be on hand to answer and questions you may have. The little ones might even get a chance to ride on a small husky drawn sled if they are lucky. Every day in the Inuit Village from 1pm until 4.30pm.
Welcome Drink & Savoyard Breakfast – Start the week off right with a free tea or coffee and Savoyard breakfast treats at the departure station of the Saulire Express. This is also a great opportunity to ask the piste patrol any questions you may have about the resort and get their best tips for the week ahead. 9-11am.
Family Freestyle Contest – The staff at the Moon Park will be on hand to give tips and also to judge the whole family to see who has the best freestyle skills. 1pm to 4pm.
Building Challenge – Igloo Building Challenge at the Inuits Village in the Altiport area of Meribel. Free to all with tools and help provided by the lovely Meribel Alpina. Call for info 04 79 08 65 32.
Himalaya Night Sledging – Grab a sledge and head to Mottaret Centre for the change to sledge down a floodlit piste. Race with your friends and family with no risk of bumping into any skiers and boarders. Once you are ‘sledged out’ you can finish your evening by roasting marshmallows on an open fire. Free for under 13s. For everyone else it is €5 for 1 run or €10 for the full evening. 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Inuits Fair – Participate in many fun games at the Inuit Village including snow bowling. 1pm to 4.30pm.
Carnaval Mask Party at La Folie Douce – Drinks, music and dancing at the famous Folie Douce. Come and get involved, dance on the tables or just sit back and enjoy the legendary show. 1.30pm to 5pm.
Children’s Show – A family show at the Meribel Auditorium. This fun, puppet show is the story of a clever little ‘Dirtball’, his adventures around Europe and the people that he meets. 6pm. Free of charge. Ages 3 and up.
Ice Hockey Match – ESF Meribel vs. ESF Courchevel - Expect a fun evening of light hearted rivalry and fast paced sport as some of Meribel and Courchevel’s best instructors swap their skis for skates. GO MERIBEL! Takes place at the Olympic Centre Ice Rink at 8.30pm. Adults €7, Children €4.
The Last Track – Fancy being one of the last people on the mountain at the end of the day? Head to Les Pierres Plates restaurant at the top of Saulire/Pas du Lac at 4pm for well earned drink before a beautiful guided ski on an empty mountain as the sun goes down. Reservations: 04 79 00 42 38
The Story of Les Allues – A presentation about the history and story of this valley taking place at the Les Allues church from 6pm until 7pm. For info call 04 79 00 59 08.
The First Track – Much like Tuesday’s ‘Last Track’, First Track gives you the opportunity to (you guessed it) be one of the first people up on the mountain in the morning. Meet at the Pas du Lac lift in Mottaret at 8.10am and head up for a hearty breakfast at the Pierres Plates restaurant in the early morning sun before laying the first tracks of the day on the freshly groomed piste guided down by ski patrol. €25 by reservation on 04 79 00 42 38
Children’s Torchlit Descent – A torchlit descent open to all children with a 3 star ski level or above. Give your children a memory they will never forget with the opportunity to join the ESF as they snake down the mountain. There are separate descents taking place in both Meribel and Mottaret. Call 04 79 08 60 31 for details.
Savoie Evening at Le Clos Bernard – Meribel’s newest restaurant, Le Clos Bernard, tucked away in the woods near Meribel Village host a fun, firelit, Savoie Evening every Wednesday. Expect a torchlit walk through the woods, live accordionists, a welcome drink and delicious food. €49 for adults and €19 for children. Reservations: 04 79 00 00 07
Fishing Mystery – Come grab a fishing rod and try and hook one of the many mysterious objects in the Inuits Lake and they will be yours. Complimentary hot chocolate for all from 3pm. 1pm to 4.30pm.
Free Makeup Party – Free make up and face painting open to all from 10am until 4.30 on the Inuits Piste.
Serenity Day – Free games, shows and hot drinks for all in Mottaret Centre. The piste patrol will be on hand to talk about and demonstrate what they do in resort and why it is so important. A fun, relaxed evening activity for everyone. 6-8pm, Mottaret Centre.
Ice Party – For one evening only the Olympic Centre Ice Rink becomes a disco on skates with a DJ and disco lights. Come strut (or slide) your stuff on the ice between 4pm and 6pm. Free of charge and open to all.
Jazz Concert – Ilaria Graziano and Francesco Forni will be taking the audience on a musical journey through Mexico and Texas with a mixture of folk and blues and a touch of Argentine Tango. The show will be broadcast live on Jazz FM. 8.30pm until 11.30pm at Meribel Auditorium. Free of charge.
Archery Initiation – Fancy yourself as the next Robin Hood or Katniss Everdeen? Head to the Dragon de l’Altai piste (Loze Chairlift) for your chance to give this fun sport a try. Free hot chocolate and tea for all participants. 9am – 4.30pm, Free to all.
Himalaya by Night – Night skiing on Mottaret’s new floodlit piste. Nice, cruisey runs to extend your ski day into the evening followed by hot drinks and marshmallows over the fire. €8 for the whole evening. 5.30-8pm.
Ice Sculptures – Come to the Dragon de l’Altai piste between 9am and 4.30pm to witness ice sculpting artist, Nicolas Gombert as he sculpts his cold creations. Free demonstrations.
Street Party – Outdoor concert with free mulled wine and hot chocolate for everyone. Pop cover band ‘To The Sun” will be helping holiday makers celebrate the end of their week in resort with an outdoor party open to all. Free of charge, 5pm – 7pm.
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Find more events on our what's on calendar for this season and beyond.
February is a popular month with entertainment for children over the school holidays.
There is rarely a quiet moment on the slopes in February. With the school holidays in full force, on the slopes and throughout the resort it's buzzing with activity. Méribel lays on plenty of entertainment, with regular events and parties going on in the bars, hotels and clubs around town.
Read on for a look at what we like to do in resort throughout February.
The Little World Festival in Meribel is five days of skiing, live music and parties. The Feeling have traditionally headlined this music festival returning to the resort where they played as a cover band before becoming one of the biggest bands of the late 00's. The main stage is on the snow just below the Rond Point and all the gigs are free.
Méribel knows how to part,y and the night of the 31st of December is the biggest, brashest bash of the year. Here’s where to eat, drink and party this “Saint Sylvestre”.
The evening starts in traditional style with a family-friendly torchlight descent by the valley’s instructors, followed by a fireworks display. To keep out the cold, tuck into the complimentary mulled wine and hot chocolate. The fun starts soon after 18:00 at three locations: la Chaudanne in Méribel, Méribel Village and Mottaret. The fireworks displays can be seen from most points in the valley, so wherever you are at this time, remember to watch out for them.
For the big countdown to midnight, the most popular place to be is Méribel centre by the Tourist Office square. Expect a throng of happy revellers, bagpipes, renditions of Auld lang syne, being kissed by complete strangers, flying champagne corks and random fireworks in this most exuberant of unofficial celebrations.
Meribel has some fantastic event this season. From ski races to music festivals, there is plenty to do and see in resort during your season or holiday visit.
With the likes of an epic opening day, lots of festive fun and interesting shows, this season hopes to be one of the most exciting and engaging. Here's a quick rundown of some of the best events you can expect over the winter.