Ski

The top 20 cheapest ski stations in France named in new study

France has one of the lowest rates for ski passes in the world

No snow: Largest ski resort in Pyrenees delays its opening date

So far the only snow has been a light covering of artificial powder at 2,500 metres altitude

From Devon and Serre Chevalier to the South Pole; para-skier's epic challenge

Former army officer sets off on a world-first 911km solo South Pole trek

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Human error may have caused Val Thorens ski lift crash, says prosecutor

The crash injured eight workers, including two severely

French ski station voted as best in the world

Savoie resort popular with international skiers wins for a record ninth time

Closure of major ski station in France pushed back by one year

Local officials have acknowledged public support and a crowdfund of €200,000

2024-25 dates for ski slopes to open in French Alps and Pyrenees

Most resorts are set to be open before Christmas, with the first opening next month

Ski resort in the French Alps to close

Funds to complete an ‘all-season’ conversion project have run out

Work to protect birds from dangers of French ski resorts is a success

Simple actions like attaching brightly coloured discs to electricity wires and ski lift cables is helping to prevent accidents

Electric skis offer same thrill without the snow, says French inventor

If you miss skiing there are now motorised skis on wheels you can strap on in the city

SEE: Old French skis turned into colourful tables and benches

A cooperative is selling the recycled pieces to mountain businesses or members of the public

Skiers delight as up to 60cm of snow set to hit French resorts

Heavy snowfall in the Pyrenees and Alps is a boost for tourism but avalanche warnings are in place in some areas

Ski-speak: Eight expressions to speak like a local skier in France

Peuf, le dahu, des virolets, dré dans l’pentu - we show you how to blend in during your next mountain holiday

American and Briton die in separate sports accidents in French Alps

The American tourist died ‘speed riding’ while the Briton died in a skiing accident. A second Briton also died this week after suffering a heart-attack while skiing

LOOK INSIDE: French mountain chalets on sale for up to €1 million

We look at five getaways for people dreaming of a white Christmas

Major ski stations in France to open early as metre of snow arrives

The Alps have seen heavy snowfall over several days as stations prepare for the winter season

How can I get to the ski resorts in France?

A look at flights, trains and buses to help you get to the mountains this winter

France sees strong interest in cross country skiing despite less snow

The sport which saw a boom during the Covid years continues to attract participants

Highest ski station in Pyrénées-Orientales to close

Investors had sought to diversify activities but a lack of snow in 2022 ended the plans

Ski results for 2022-23 French Alps season and winter open dates

Results were down due to soaring costs and Britons outnumbered other foreign tourists on the mountains, figures show

French ski stations appeal higher costs for seasonal employees

They argue that their fixed-term contracts are different to the short-term contracts on which the government is levying extra charges

French regions mull joint bid to host 2030 Winter Olympics

It is more than 30 years since France last held the sporting extravaganza

How to get your hands on some vintage French ski cabins from the 1970s

They could make a nice addition to your French garden

Appeal for help over son’s mystery death at French ski resort

Patrick Findlay’s body was found at the foot of a cliff – his mother is calling for anyone who saw him to come forward

Man dies after falling 40 metres from cable car at French ski resort

“It’s terrible. It's the first time an accident like this has happened at the station,” said the director of ski lift firm at Les Deux Alpes. The man was said to be drunk when the accident happened.

‘Run of my life’: French skier hits 255.5km/h to break speed record

Simon Billy, 31, broke the record on a 98% incline slope at the World Speed Skiing Championships in Vars

French hospital inundated with 80 - 100 ski accidents a day

The situation has been blamed on mild temperatures causing more ‘slushy’ snow and a rise in slope visitors

Three ski deaths in France including an American and a British tourist

The accidents all occurred in the Alps at the weekend and involved falls whilst skiing off-piste or snow touring

Crossing boundaries for ski services in Vercors, France

We look at how not-for-profit associations from different departments are coming together to offer skiing in Les Coulmes at the Col de Romeyère, Presles and Rencurel

iPhone raises alert as confuses skiing with accidents in France

Ski resort says a new safety feature in the phones is causing confusion as it is automatically calls the emergency services in case of steep slopes and sudden stops

Why we drive rather than take the train to ski in the French Alps

A reader from the UK who has been travelling for 40 years to ski defends his choice

Rising renovation costs, €20,000 folding house: French property update

We also look at soaring prices in ski resorts, the tenant who was evicted for a radical bathroom makeover, and hear why the former PM is against banning energy inefficient homes from the rental market

French ski workers call ‘unlimited’ strike just before half-term break

End of month protest coincides with nationwide strike action

Chance to buy a part of ski history from resort in French Pyrenees

50-year-old cable car cabins to be sold at auction to raise money for sick children. Starting price is €500

Ski holidays in France: why British tourists shun the train

The vast majority of the million skiers coming from the UK travel by plane

British skier dies in French Alps avalanche during outing with guide

The woman, 45, was airlifted off Mont Blanc glacier but died of her injuries

Ski stations in France see some snow after major lack in mild January

Snowfall is predicted in the Alps and Pyrenees over the next few days, with the most above 2,000 metres, but it may not be enough for struggling lower-altitude stations

Hiring UK staff for French chalet work ‘very complicated’ post-Brexit

It is easier and cheaper to recruit from Australia and New Zealand, says business owner in the Alps

Holidays are ending but France’s winter fun is hopefully just starting

Samantha David anticipates a busy ski season ahead – and you do not have to take to the slopes themselves to tap into the entertainment

Energy efficiency rules could put French ski resorts at risk

France is considering extending a ban on renting out poorly-insulated properties to include short-term holiday rentals

French ski resort bans cigarettes on pistes in European first

Les Gets collected 3,000 cigarette butts while cleaning up its pistes last spring. This measure aims to reduce the pollution created by such litter

Ski hotels in French Alps are ‘just like home, but better!’

We spoke to an interiors architect about two upmarket Alpine ski resort renovations and what customers really want after a day on the slopes

Updated: French ski resorts opening and closing dates 2022-2023

Missing dates for the 2022/23 ski season in France will be updated when they are announced

French ski resort Val Thorens postpones opening due to lack of snow

The resort has said that there is enough snow at higher elevations but not lower down, and so will wait a week before opening

Energy crisis: Will French ski resorts raise their prices this year?

Several options are being considered, including slowing down ski lifts, adapting opening hours or turning off Christmas lights

French ski stations under pressure as energy contracts up for renewal

Prices up to 20 times higher than before are putting the opening of several resorts in doubt with sector professionals issuing a ‘cry for help’

Sale of ‘iconic’ tourism office in French ski town sparks controversy

The traditional, chalet-style building in Courchevel will instead become a luxury jeweller

Green news France: tobacco firm butt tax, 3D printed scuba reef

And an ice-rink in Niort is melted to water trees - we look at current initiatives aimed at supporting the environment

Vintage French ski cabins up for sale for €500 each

The 30-year-old ‘eggs’ are being sold to individuals and companies alike

No Britons, no problem: French ski resorts report successful season

Covid rules meant that most British skiers were banned from France for around one month, but resorts have said that other factors have compensated

French ski station offers passes at €1 to voters, to limit abstention

The Alps station is offering a saving of €36.40 to anyone who can prove they have voted in the first round of the presidential elections today

Tignes, the flooded French Alpine village that moved up a mountain

New Tigne is a vibrant ski resort but some villagers are still angry about the forced evacuation to make way for a hydo-electric dam

Father calls for stricter ski rules in France after son, 7, badly hurt

The boy spent days in intensive care after being hit by a dangerous skier, prompting calls for reckless skiers to have their passes revoked

The Pyrenees village where Napoléon III and Victor Hugo went to bathe

The thermal spa village of Cauterets has a long history of welcoming France’s famous names, who came to relax and enjoy its stunning scenery

Hautes-Alpes: ‘Snow Plan’ launches in Briançon to keep access open

Plans Neige involve measures to make it easier to visit winter resorts at times of heavy snowfall

Covid face masks no longer mandatory on French open-air ski lifts

They remain obligatory in enclosed spaces and recommended when outside

Helicopter rescue for 44 skiers stuck on chair lift in French Pyrenees

Emergency services were called after the machine broke down, trapping skiers for more than two hours

France’s Covid travel test rules are blocking recovery, says ski firm

UK tour company owner claims the possibility of testing positive and not being able to go on holiday is deterring bookings - or pushing customers to book other destinations

Bookings at French ski resorts exceed pre-pandemic levels

The return of international clients has been described as ‘encouraging for the end of the season’, with resorts stating they are ‘ready’ to welcome UK visitors

Video: driver in 80s ends up with car on red ski run in east France

Skiers could not believe it when his white estate car emerged onto the piste in late afternoon

Calls for compulsory helmets on French ski pistes following death

There are also calls for piste colour allocation to be re-examined on a case by case basis

Tributes flood in for French actor Gaspard Ulliel after fatal accident

The César winning actor was skiing in Savoie when he collided with another skier at the joining of two blue runs. He was 37

France reopens to UK tourists: Rules for adults and children

We explain how to get a QR code for the French health pass (pass sanitaire) and the rules for ski stations

Man charged with manslaughter over ski crash which killed girl, five

Ophélie was hit ‘at high speed’ by the skier as she took part in a lesson on a blue run

Five-year-old British girl dies in ski accident in France

The incident happened in the Haute-Savoie ski station of Flaine while the girl was taking part in a ski lesson. She was accidentally ‘run over’ by a man in his 40s, who is now in custody

‘Happy and relieved’: French ski resorts prepare for British visitors

Flight bookings from UK to France soared 600% when the rule relaxation was announced yesterday

‘Heartbreaking’: Ski industry devastated by new UK-France tourism ban

Two industry professionals say the new rules will have a huge impact, especially as they have been announced just days before the holiday ski season is set to begin

Covid-19: What will France’s ski season look like?

Skiers will be able to ski without masks, but they will be required while on chairlifts, along with other restrictions.

France lockdown: Will ski resorts open in December?

Currently the answer appears to be yes, with ski stations preparing to open - although it is not yet clear if restaurants, bars or cafes will be allowed to open

French ski slopes gave architects a platform to build boldly

Modern techniques and pioneering ideas defined many of the ski resorts built in the 1960s and 70s in France, with some even classified as historic monuments

Many jobs in French ski resorts on offer to English speakers

Brexit has made recruitment harder for UK residents wanting to work the ski season – but there are opportunities for English-speakers already living in France or the EU to do the jobs instead

‘Incompatibility of French-UK Covid systems harming French ski season’

Constant Covid-related rule changes - and issues between systems - are making life very difficult for the ski industry, says the head of a French Alps’ accommodation business

Masks, passes: what Covid rules apply for this ski season in France?

We explain the rules for adults and children - on the lifts and on and off the slopes

MAP: French ski slopes begin to reopen after Covid closure losses

It comes after the Covid-19 pandemic all but closed ski resorts last year, after all ski lifts were closed, with station directors saying they ‘are looking forward to seeing clients back’

France ski season 2021: Face masks to be mandatory

The prime minister said the rules would ‘guarantee the Covid health situation for skiers’ and allow the restart of economic activity in the struggling sector

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