27-Jul-2010
We had a great afternoon yesterday trying some of the outdoor activities in Les Deux Alpes. The excuse was that Ben – 12 and visiting from the UK – wanted to do the luge, but actually we were both keen to try some of the stuff that we residents usually don’t get around to…
26-Jul-2010
Category : Les 2 Alpes, MTB
Adding another celebrity to this summer’s growing list, top British MTB rider Marc Beaumont is in town to promote next season’s downhill bikes for his team, GT Bikes. I fully admit to knowing nearly nothing about mountain biking but had heard a rumour that the team were in town to allow MTB journalists to try the new equipment on our trails.
Photos and info about the new bikes is strictly embargoed until next week, so for now you’ll have to make do with this photo of Ben and The Boyfriend checking them out…
19-Jul-2010
Category : Events, Les 2 Alpes, MTB
As you can see from the photos, posts and video, I spent most of the weekend trailing MTB riders around Les 2 Alpes. Despite this year’s winner knocking a whopping eight minutes off last year’s winning time, there weren’t too many injuries. Only one trauma was reported, two broken elbows and one broken knee… ouch!
19-Jul-2010
17-Jul-2010
Category : Events, Les 2 Alpes, MTB
British rider Hazel Wakefield stunned herself and her team-mates by finishing top in the female category of this year’s downhill race, the Mountain of Hell. With a time of 00:39:09 she beat off fierce French competition but had no expectations of a place on the podium. The 27 year old isn’t a professional rider and came out to Les 2 Alpes for the first time this weekend with a group of friends from the Cornwall Freeriders club.
14-Jul-2010
Category : Les 2 Alpes, Snowsports
Skiers and snowboarders in Les 2 Alpesreturned disappointed from the Jandri Express this morning, as the lift was closed when winds reached 54km/hr. By late morning the Jandri Express 1 was running, allowing hikers and MTB riders to access the pistes of the front face and the Toura-Cretes section, which are sheltered from the southerly wind. With no snowsports on offer the resort was far more lively this morning and afternoon activities have started earlier than usual, with the climbing wall already busy.
12-Jul-2010
The 2010 Megavalanche is over and I had a great time filming and photographing the crazy event, widely considered to be the most extreme MTB race in the world. Check out my flickr page for more photos and here’s the video of yesterday’s final…
10-Jul-2010
Category : Alpe d'Huez, Events, MTB, Other Villages, Video
Filmed in Alpe d’Huez and Allemont this morning, the latest video from Destination Oisans brings you the speed and the snow of today’s Mega Ladies race. Hope you enjoy it…
10-Jul-2010
Winner of today’s LadiesMega, Anne Caroline Chasson, completed the course in just over an hour, with British rider Meggie Bichard coming third, with a time of 01:18:00. The ladies started on the glacier above Alpe d’Huez at just after 9am, riding across the snow before hitting the freeze level and the more forgiving, muddy trails.
09-Jul-2010
Category : Alpe d'Huez, Events, Featured, MTB
Content with its status as a mecca for cyclists, this week Alpe d’Huez adjusts its loyalties and welcomes the chunky tyres, full body armour and death-defying speeds of the sport’s rowdy younger siblings, the mountain bikers. It’s Megavalanche week and if you’ve not heard of this event before, here are some stats: 2000 riders; 40% Brits; 1450m vertical drop to qualify; 2600m vertical drop in the final; fastest recorded time: 45minutes, 37 seconds. It’s mental!
And I’ll be there over the weekend to take a few photos and catch some of the race on video. There’s just one slight problem. It’ll take me about about twice as long as the competitors to get from start to finish, and that’s not even on a bike. I’ll be recording in the snow at the top of Pic Blanc, 3330m, and at the finish line down in Allemont at 730m. The finals take place on Saturday (Ladies and Mega Challenger) and Sunday (Megavalanche and Mega Amateurs) and with temperatures hovering around 30ºC, it’s bound to be a hot and sweaty weekend. Check in later for photos, videos and results.
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