Bringing up the rear on the resort reports comes news from Les Arcs! We're always last to open down here in the backwaters of Vallandry. The resort's only been open for a few days - and most of those have been spent drunk, hungover or out of resort looking after our guests - but the season's started well, with a great snow base, and lots and lots of returning faces for the season.

Snow conditions:
The snow's been mixed, mainly due to 2 days of rain last week. But there's a good base, and it's definitely a way better start than this time last year, with a little bit of snow on Boxing Day. Everything's open in Les Arcs, and while there are a few sketchy runs lower down, the top slopes have had loads of snow. We even found an untouched powder field on the Grand Col - lots of fun, and pretty good going for Christmas week.

Resort news:
There are loads of familiar faces back again for the season. It's one of those resorts that people just don't seem to be able to leave. The guys are back in Jimmy's with another really bad song for the winter. We're told that it's an improvement on last winter's chart topping - 'McDonalds, McDonald's, Kentucky fried chicken and a pizza hut' song. Literally translated, the new one goes ... 'I'm riding on my water scooter, going toot toot toot, ah toot toot toot, at all the fit birds on the beach'. There's actions and everything. Excellent. We're not convinced ... but the Dutch seem to love it!

The Mont Blanc has had a face lift - a last minute decision about 2 weeks ago to totally redo the bar has had everyone pulling 18 hour days to get the painting done. Good effort guys, it looks cool ... and the best bit is the new table football, as requested (aka nagged incessantly) by Tony. Thank you :o)

There are two new chalet companies in the area this year - bringing the staff numbers up significantly, and making a dent into the 15 to 1 boy girl ratio. Definitely good to have a bit more female presence around to even things out a bit ... a couple of the guys have even been seen in shirts! I've just read that back and realised how tragic this place sounds. Vallandry is a very special resort ... it is good, though, honest!

Planet Subzero news:
The Planet Subzero crew don't arrive here in Les Arcs until the first week in January, but we've been pretty busy getting to know the guys staying with us in Tignes and Chamonix. Our attempts at an 80's Christmas mountain bar crawl, followed by Christmas dinner, turned into just Christmas dinner dressed up in stupid outfits. My hair still hasn't recovered from the back-combed pineapple effect, and definitely in pain now, but had the best Christmas for years. A proper feast - sprouts and everything - and didn't even poison anyone.

Currently finding it hard to think about ever drinking again - but looking forward to a good new year and a fab season.

Report from Steph Lightfoot - Natives Resort Reporter in Les Arcs

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