Corporate Events Blog

Saturday was a pretty good day in Chamonix; early snow had prompted the Grands Montets lifts to open before the scheduled date. It was the alpine equivalent to rush hour on the London underground as people crammed themselves onto the GM cable car.  The mountain was ramajammed, it seemed that most of Cham had popped up to test out the snow.  There was a mix of people either feeling a little rusty or expert skiers who zipped down the mountain like they’d been skiing all summer long.  For the rusty lot it had the makings of a great social skiing day to ease gently back in.

Since Saturday, Grands Montets has quietened down and with a sprinkling more snow on Monday, the conditions are great up the mountain.  With blue skies and fresh snow, Chamonix has had a promising start to the winter season.  For people who enjoy a bit of variety, the rest of the mountain areas aren’t far behind, opening next weekend.  Roll on the bus rides and chats about which is the best ski area.

Today yet another corporate group  we are looking after this year are about to enjoy the ultimate day out here in Chamonix.  Like the vast majority of our clients this year, they have signed up for  a “heli-paret” experience.  It has become the most popular extra activity that we organise this year – and that’s come as absolutely no surprise to us!

The group are skiing now, at Grands Montets,  in the blazing sunshine, and will stop for lunch soon at one of the best mountain restaurants. After lunch they get a full afternoon skiing in, before meeting at 4 pm at a traditional little restaurant tucked away in the forest,  called Le Cremerie.  Only the organisers of the group will know at this point that they are there not just for the hot wine, but for the heli-port next door.  Most of our clients decide to keep the helicopter trips as a surprise for their guests until the very last minute, which genuinely does add to the thrill.

With the cat out of the bag, the clients will next board the helicopter in groups of up to six. They are then treated to an exhilarating, stunning 15 minute flight with panoramic, breath taking views over the pistes, glaciers, the massif and Mont Blanc, with the helicopter soaring as high as 4000 metres.  The pilots we use have been flying in Chamonix for over 20 years,  so we’re always in very safe hands for this mind-blowing visual spectacular.

The groups will be dropped at another mountain side heli-port in a nearby resort called Les Houches.  They will all eat and drink together in the early evening at one of our favourite mountain restaurants called Les Vielles Luges – a 250 year old alpine farm chalet, run as a traditional Savoyard restaurant by the very friendly Claude and his wife Australian Julie.

In the dark they will enjoy part two of the experience – the “paret”.  Each client will have been given an old fashioned wooden sledge with one runner – used by French school children centuries ago – and each client is also given a head torch.  With guides supervising, and permission gained from the ski resort, the clients have the piste all to themselves as they  hurtle to the bottom on their new toys,  by the light of the moon and their torches.  Their journey down – depending on tumbles – will take about half an hour, and is guarantueed to have them laughing and shrieking all the way.

The heli-paret is an utterly unbeatable, unforgettable day (and evening) out and must be tried to be believed.  Happily most of our clients and their guests are doing just that this season.

Next Wednedsay the 18th March will see most of Chamonix heading up to the Grands Montets for a festival which has become an unmissable fixture in every saisonnaire’s diary. Celebrating it’s 20th birthday this year, the Boss de Bosses is an inter resort mogul contest, with skiers, boarders and telemarkers competing from Chamonix, Val D’Isere, Meribel, Zermatt, Verbier and Courchevel. Each team is made up of 9 skiers – 2 women, 7 men; 2 snowboarders, and 2 telemarkers.

Twenty years ago this event that has become an institution was born out of a late night argument about which town had the best skiers between Chamonix and Val D’Isere skiers. The gauntlet was thrown and the two towns have been trying to outdo each other ever since, joined by other resorts.

The competition starts at 11 am. Spectators get to watch some of the best skiers in the Alps and enjoy great DJs, and a barbecue. From 3 30 pm there will be live music at the bottom of Grands Montets at the Marmattons bar until 5 30 pm. Then buses take everyone to La Terrasse bar in town for the prize giving, and vast quantities of beer etc.

Ten80 Events will be showing our support as many of our friends are involved in the organisation or sponsorship of the event including our photographer Adam Johnston of www.photoski.eu and chalet companies Dynamic Lives and Hip Chalets. It’s one of those days when we know we can catch up with nearly everyone – and get a sun tan whilst watching others put in the work behind an event instead of us!