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.

Featuring our mates at www.bluemilesnowsports.com

Snow Report Mont-Blanc dimanche 29 janvier 2012… Le couloir du Chapeau sur le domaine skiable des Grands Montets dans la vallée de Chamonix… Merci à Chamonix.net, Te-Crew, Fanny Gras, Sam Favret, Mickaël Lamy, Flo Tomei, “Chyko” Fabien Bodet, Rémi Peschier, “Coco” Pierre Tonin, Alexandre Marchesseau (GoPro)…
http://www.tvmountain.com

Face Sud des Courtes massif du Mont-Blanc ski de pentes raides… Merci à Te-Crew, Alexandre Marchesseau, Florent Gex et Luc Mongellaz…. Millet partenaire du Te-Crew…
http://www.tvmountain.com

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…

The best early-season bluebird powder day in the world.

Enrico Maioni, the Mountain Guide from Cortina, informs that a landslide on the Tofana di Rozes has changed the descent from the routes on the Pilastro, Primo Spigolo and Terzo Spigolo.

planetmountain.com

American climber Sasha DiGiulian has sent her third 8c+ Cosi Fan Tutte at Rodellar in Spain and on-sighted Maskoking 8b+.

planetmountain.com

An iPhone application with videos and exercises of all the main training methods to improve power, technique and stamina, created by Alessandro Jolly Lamberti and Piero Amato.

planetmountain.com

Steve and Angie Bradshaw provide some hands-on, in-depth information to the Psicobloc bouldering around Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

planetmountain.com