Skiing deep powder is what we might think of as perfect, but there’s much joy to be had skiing the spring snow. The slushy corn snow lets you go steeper, faster and with less turns. Find yourself a pitch like this one on Le tour and come home with a smile on your face.

The Kandahar world cup ski race has had a tough time of it in the past few years, with scant snow cover creating less than ideal racing conditions. Not this year.

The Chamonix leg of the AUDI FIS Ski World cup will be held this weekend on the Verte piste in Les Houches. It’ a free event to watch and easy to access, although public transport to and from Les Houches is recommended due to limited parking.

Chamonix Mont-Blanc and the Verte piste in Les Houches welcomes the 18th Kandahar Event

This legendary race has become the main sporting event in Chamonix and is one of the reasons for the valley’s celebrated skiing reputation. Today it is among the greatest downhill courses alongside Wengen and Kitzbuhel. Since 2004, the Chamonix Mont-Blanc event on the Verte piste in Les Houches has taken place on an annual basis. In 2009 the Alpine Skiing World Championships and in 2010 the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver did not leave room for the event to take place. In 2011 and this year’s edition of the Kandahar s finally reunite with its public!

The downhill events, which are on the World Cup circuit, will be held on Friday 3d, Saturday February 4 and the Super Combined (downhill and slalom) on Sunday February 5, 2012.

Being equipped with the only men’s Downhill World Cup approved piste in the region, Chamonix and Les Houches have a unique and precious privilege.

A rendez-vous amongst the world’s elite skiers the Kandahar is a major event thanks to the cooperation of all the local participants.

Being lucky enough to ski with Charlie from Charlie Davies Photography on Grande Montets the other day, it turned out he had his GoPro2Hero head-cam out to film this short run down the gun barrel on the front face above the top of the Hearse lift. Looks fun doesn’t it?

If you’d like your own sick video, then have a look at Charlie’s new ‘You Are The Pro‘ photography product.

FAMILY/SMALL GROUP PACKAGE

Half Day : 175 € Groups of up to 6 people.

Inclusive of 3 1⁄2 hours filming, professional editing, Compact disk containing 150 HD still photographs, 5 min HD film accompanied by music of your choice. Enlarged canvas prints available on request at extra cost.

Full Day: 350€ Groups of up to 6 people

Includes full day of filming, professional editing, Compact disk containing 300 HD still photographs, 8 min HD film accompanied by music of your choice. Enlarged canvas prints available on request at extra cost.

YOU ARE THE PRO – DIRECTORS CUT
Full day: 60€ pp. *Minimum 2 people. Groups of up to 6 people.

CUSTOMISED CORPORATE PACKAGES

For larger groups, Charlie and his photography assistant are available for hire on both a half day of fully day basis.

Freeride World Tour, Chamonix

21st-27th January 2012

As home to the stunning Mont Blanc, Chamonix is arguably the world’s most renowned alpine resort. Host of the first ever official Winter Olympics in 1924, skiers and snowboarders come from all over the world to take on its vast range of steep “couloirs.”

When it comes to Freeride locations, Chamonix Mont Blanc has few rivals, so it’s no surprise that the Freeride World Tour is back for a third year in 2012. Chamonix Mont Blanc will host the season‘s first stop where local favourite and current world champion Aurelien Ducroz will be looking to repeat his win in 2012.

Samedi 14 janvier 2012… Face sud des Courtes dans le massif du Mont-Blanc après une petite montée par la face nord dans la voie des Suisses… Beau temps chaud depuis une semaine et bonne neige en montagne… Merci à Chamonix.net, Alexandre Marchesseau, Florent Gex et Luc Mongellaz…
http://www.tvmountain.com

Here are a few top tips from Mark Gear for skiing deep powder snow!

A two footed platform

Aim to push both skis into the snow when intitiating your turns, this will provide you with a two footed platform of pressure through your turns.  It’s important to change your edges similtaneously and not sequentialy.

>

Make smooth shaped turns

Go for smooth, fluid movements, this will encourage smooth shaped turns.  Any abrupt movements or turns will have an abrupt effect on your balance. Smooth turns and a good rhythm are essential for a fluid powder skiing run.

Push the heels downwards

Not to be confused with learning back!  In deep snow we should push the heels downwards a little to keep the ski tips up.  This will stop the feeling of the ski tips wanting to dive deep into the snow which is oftern proceded with the classic forward face plant.

Remember to pole plant

Smooth co-ordinated pole plants are very important.  This will help you to build fluidity and rhythm into your run.  The pole plant also helps for commiting to the turn and helps move your body forwards and in the direction of the turn.

Hope you enjoy the ski tips and all that great powder!

Mark Gear Head Coach All Mountain Performance

3 janvier 2012… Vallée de Chamonix Aiguille du Midi Petit Envers du Plan… Merci à Michel Bordet Romain Aubrun Chamonix.net et Cilao…

http://www.tvmountain.com

Today we have added some very useful lift status pages for the Chamonix ski areas. The data is kept up to date by the COMPAGNIEDUMONTBLANC.COM  from whom you can buy your ski pass online before you arrive.

25 décembre 2011… Glacier de Toule, une bonne neige de Noël… Merci à Michel Pellé Aventure en Tête à Chamonix.net à Camille et à Zoé…

http://www.tvmountain.com

If you’re wondering how all this fresh snow looks on the Aiguille Du Midi with a view to skiing it, then take a look at this video from TV Mountain. Shot on the Petit Envers Du Plan on Friday 23rd December 2011. It looks…. frankly….. sick.

Vendredi 23 décembre 2011… Aiguille du Midi, Vallée Blanche, Petit Envers du Plan… Itineraire ouverts la veille par les guides de haute montagne Michel Bordet et Yan Raulet… Ca passe plutôt bien… Merci à Jacques Larrière, Bistrot des Sports…