It’s been a few weeks since I updated my blog because I took a week off to go to London. While I was in London I did two speeches to children at Thomas’s London Day Schools about skiing and chasing your dreams. It was great fun but by the end of the week I was ready to get back out to the mountains for the rest of the season. My season will finish up in March with the British and Scottish Championships in Meribel and Courchevel. Before then I still have a few more races, including the French Championships!
Meribel Snow Report: 4th March 2014
Meribel race report from Cara the Skier
I’ve had a great weeks training in Meribel. I trained Giant Slalom and Super G on the Meribel Stade. I was feeling really fresh after my week off and had some really good training runs that gave me a lot of confidence. I’m still working on a few things that I have been trying to improve all season like not moving off of my outside ski and the end of the turn too quickly and keeping my hips up.
This weekend I had two FIS races in Les Menuires. I was really looking forward to these races as I love the race piste at Les Menuires and I’ve had good results every time I’ve raced there this year.
On Saturday the conditions were very tough. They were about at the limit that you could allow the race to run! It had snowed a huge amount Friday and on Saturday morning so there was a lot of fresh snow around and the visibility was zero. The light was very flat so you couldn’t see any bumps or ruts on the course. There were a lot of very good skiers on the start list and I was starting way back in 46th out of 83 racers. On my first run I skied well on the steep and didn’t notice any of the bumps that I had be warned about so I let my skis go a little too much on the flat where I got jolted by a few of the bumps but when I reached the finish I was in 27th. In the technical events the top 30 after the first run are flipped for second run. This means if you finish in 30th you get to go 1st second run and if you finish 1st you go 30th. This is a huge advantage especially when the conditions are as bumpy as they were! Unfortunately I was pushed down into 31st place and missed out on starting first by 0.08 seconds! Despite this I had a good second run and finished in 24th place.
I was happy with the way I had skied but knew I could go faster the following day. The weather cleared up and the Three Valleys were greeted with bright blue skies and sunshine. However the 13th racer had a nasty tumble and had to be helicoptered off the hill. This meant the race was stopped for over an hour. I had a good start and skied well on the first steep. When I came onto the flat I went too straight at a gate which pushed me out into a pile of soft snow. I managed to hold on for one more gate before I was pushed too low and came out of the course. I was disappointed as I thought maybe I could have stayed in the course but this was the first time I had come out of a Giant Slalom since March last year so I knew it was going to happen at some point. I was just relieved I could ski down to the bottom and didn’t need a helicopter!
The race calendar in France is a bit empty for the next few weeks so I will be training up in Meribel. Next week I will be training three days of Super G on the Meribel Stade which I’m very excited about as it is where the French and British Championships will be held!
Airport Transfers in Meribel
Transfers for Meribel
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Private Airport Transfers
Geneva Airport to Méribel from €279 per vehicle one-way (weekend rate)
Enjoy a smoother journey to Méribel with this experienced Alpine transfer service, operating since 2012. Private door-to-door transfers come with professional drivers familiar with the mountain roads, flight monitoring to help manage delays and a choice of standard or VIP minibuses. Free child seats, onboard Wi-Fi, bottled water and handy pick-up reminders are all part of the service, making the journey from Geneva Airport that little bit easier.
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Scheduled/Shuttle Coach Airport Transfers
Quick and secure way to organise transfers by coach and bus from local airports and stations
A key booking portal for local coach and bus transfers in the French ski resorts. Using this service to coordinate your travel means getting to resort could not be easier.
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Shared Airport Transfers
Geneva Airport to Meribel from €85 per person one-way (weekend rate)
Run by a long-established Three Valleys transfer specialist, the service combines the lower cost of sharing your journey with many of the things you would normally associate with a private transfer: small vehicles, experienced drivers and, importantly, a door-to-door journey between Geneva Airport and your accommodation in Meribel.
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Private Airport Transfers
Geneva Airport to Meribel from €427 per minivan one-way (weekend rate)
With over 5,000 rides completed and 95% of clients returning, this private transfer service is designed around the needs of skiers, from reliable airport pick-ups to comfortable journeys to your accommodation. Experienced, professional English-speaking drivers, vehicles prepared for Alpine winter conditions and no extra luggage fees for skis or snowboards help make travelling easier. With airport meet and greet, door-to-door transfers, secure online booking and a focus on punctuality, you can organise your Meribel transfer with greater peace of mind.
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Shared Airport Transfers
Low-cost and professional shuttle bus transfer service to Méribel
Booking with them means your holiday won’t involve the stress of public transport, the cost of private transfers, or the hassle of fitting snow chains on a hire car.
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Private Airport Transfers
Geneva to Méribel from CHF 495 per vehicle one-way (weekend rate)
Enjoy direct door-to-door transfers, flexible collection times and exclusive vehicles for your group, with experienced alpine drivers and a choice of four airports. Travel comfortably to Méribel with private transfers tailored to your flight schedule, accommodation and group size.
Ski Hire in Meribel
Ski Hire in Meribel
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Hevana
Ski & snowboard hire at the P&V residence in Méribel Centre
You can’t wait for your next ski trip? Everything is already booked except your ski equipment? Don’t worry, we’ll help you find the perfect equipment to fully enjoy your ski holiday in Méribel Centre - Les Allues!
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Le Plateau
Ski rental at the Rond Point des Pistes near the Residence Les Carlines
Ski and snowboard hire in the direction of the altiport, just near slopes' round about (rond point des pistes) along the shopping gallery 'Plateau'. Slopes, skipass registers and the ESF skiing school nearby. Parking facilities and free shuttle to Meribus.. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
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Sports 1600
Ski rental in the heart of Meribel 1600, within easy reach of most accommodation
SPORTS 1600 is located at Altitude 1600, between the Route des chalets and the route de la renarde. Kerry and Romuald and team are on hand to welcome and assist you.
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Sports Meribel Village
Ski hire close to Fermes de Meribel Maeva residence in Meribel Village
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Meribel? Just visit the Skiset Sports Meribel Village store!
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Oakley La Chaudanne
Save 10% extra: use promo code STWSKI when booking ski hire online
This ski and snowboard rental shop is very conveniently place next to everything: ski school meeting points, underground parking, lift pass office, main lifts and free shuttle bus stop! It doesn't get more convenient than this.
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SkiPlace
Ski hire shop in the Galerie Ruitor, leading directly onto the pistes in Mottaret
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Meribel? Just visit the NetSki SkiPlace Meribel store!
Ski Schools in Meribel
Ski School Lessons in Meribel
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Group ski lessons
Small groups for adults and children of all abilities with a well-established and trusted ski school
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British ski schools in France and is renowned for its fantastic instructors and excellent customer service.
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Private ski lessons
Exceptional coaching tailored to your needs for unforgettable skiing
Operating across the valley, this world-class team of ski instructors is available at three convenient points in Méribel.
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Group ski lessons
Tailor-made ski and snowboard lessons for groups in multiple languages
Run by an Anglo-French team since 2001, this ski school knows the area inside out. Their highly qualified, multilingual instructors specialise in tailor-made lessons to suit every skier or snowboarder.
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Group ski lessons
Group ski and snowboard lessons for children and adults of all ages and abilities
This ski school offers group ski lessons for both children and adults, catering to all ability levels. Their group lessons provide a great and affordable way to improve your skiing in a safe, social and supportive environment.
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Private ski lessons
British school offering a wide range of private lesson options tailored to all ages and abilities
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
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Group ski lessons
British-run group ski and snowboard lessons for all levels
Parallel Lines is Méribel’s biggest British Ski and Snowboard School. With 28 instructors in peak weeks, whether you’re taking your first turns or exploring the off-piste that The Three Valleys has to offer.
Winter Things To Do in Meribel
Wintersport Things To Do in Meribel
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Snowshoe walks
Snowshoe walks for all abilities
Snowshoe walks offer a wonderful way to discover Méribel’s winter landscapes away from the ski slopes, with guided outings led by qualified instructors. Suitable for all levels, these walks are available in English and provide an opportunity to explore peaceful forests, mountain trails and traditional Alpine surroundings while learning more about the local wildlife, flora and mountain heritage.
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Helicopter tours
10, 30 or 60 minute private helicopter tours for up to five people
A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
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Heliskiing/boarding
Heliskiing/boarding trip in Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass.
For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
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Snow shoe walks
Half and full day guided snowshoe walks in and around Courchevel
Laurence is a certified mountain leader, who enjoys taking clients away from the busy pistes and spicing up your ski holiday with a guided snowshoeing trip.
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Bureau des Guides winter and summer activities
Off piste ski touring, heliskiing, glacier walks, snowshoeing and much more
Head out into the mountains with experienced guides in either summer or winter for some amazing experiences.
Read more about Bureau des Guides winter and summer activities
