Must-Dos & Must-Sees in France’s Almighty Trois Vallees
I think I’m right when I say that the Trois Vallees ski area in France is not only Europe’s but also the world’s biggest skiing and snowboarding area. I want to go there this year, as France and the French Alps to boot are going to be the place to be this winter. My friends, though, think I’m wrong.
What They Think:
They think we should all go to Austria and spend our annual ski getaway somewhere different. Secretly, I think it’s because most of them are from California and root for Schwarzenegger and don’t really know the first think about skiing in Austria or skiing in France for that matter; they just want to sound manly when they say, “we’re going to Austria for some skiing.”
What I think:
I’ve come up with a list here of things that are going on in the Trois Vallees resorts in France this year (outside of skiing and snowboarding). In doing this I hope to convince my lifelong buds that they should forget about Austria, there is much more to do in France, especially since two of them will be toting the family along this year—so there’s plenty for the kids as well.
The Ice-Skating Gala (Gala de Patinage) takes place on December 23rd this year 
and always gets a huge crowd for the Christmas season. Also, the twelfth anniversary of the The Week-long Olympics takes place from December 7th till December 12th (I know, not exactly a week but close). Plus, there is also a National Heritage Film showing, a totally new New Year’s Festival (Les Festives du Nouvel An) that lasts four days, a huge New Year’s Dance Party (one night only of course) on December 31st, the Fire & Nighttime Ski Show on New Year’s Evening, the International Festival of Pyrotechnic Art in February, and the X-Wing Rally in April. The winter time in Courchevel is packed with even more things to do than can actually be done by one person or family. This is why the Trois Vallees rocks!
Val Thorens offers so much during the winter ski season that I just have to be biased and put it here—plus the skiing is just too good to pass up. At any rate, starting on December 12th this year is the thirteenth Annual Ski Camp and Boarder week-long festival, the Alpine Skiing Cup competition on December 3rd, the Festival Val Thorens (Festi’Val Thor it’s smartly put) for two days in March, the North Face Ski Challenge in March for two days, the Luge Cup on April 13th, and who could pass up Gastronomy Week starting on the 18th of January, the Carnival Follies at the end of February, and too much more too simply list here. For a complete list of events and more information about Val Thorens, click here.
What you think:
The Three Valleys in France is so big that it’s near impossible to list all the events here. If you have any other argument in favor of Les Trois Vallées as a ski destination (OK, or arguments against it, or arguments in favor of Austria) then put them here. Cheers for the favor.
I snowboard in the three valleys last year but stayed for almost 18 days from Korea. The festivals were so big and so great with so many peoples and friends. We went for three days to the Les Menuires skiing resort but snowboarding we tried just some times. My friends and me never slept for two whole days and had party after another and just too much after snowboarding. You must choose France to have the best and funnest time in your life.
I want to ski in Val Thorens this coming ski year too but think I may have friends in the other parts of the Trois Vallees. The best time to come for the festivals I find out last year was during Christmas, when all the places do so many festivals and lights and fires and circuses and so much fun. I think I was in La Tania in Saint-Bon and we had so much fun. There was a lights festival and some sports competitions during the day and lots of music and dancing and bars at night. You should go there to see the real party France.
In Val Thorens I ski since 1982, in average every second year.
As log-time (50 years) ski enthusiast I have tested practically all larger (known) ski center within Austria and Italy but nowhere is like 3-Vallée. I tested other French ski centers, but i am always returning to Val Thorens and I hope still many years. See you in Val Thorens next March !
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