play, rest and work in la tania
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Situated between its bigger neighbours of Meribel and Courchevel, La Tania shares the huge ski area of the Three Valleys. The resort is now 16 years old and although it has expanded rapidly in the last few years it's still small enough for everyone to know everyone else (and what/who they're doing). Many people come back season after season (or stay forever!), lifetime friendships are forged. There’s a strong saisonnaire community spirit with reunions at the London Metro Show every year and an end of season Charity Day raising money for Cancer charities in France and the UK. The Charity Day was a saisonnaires idea eight years ago – with the idea of putting something back after experiencing the magic of the mountains - over 100,000 euros have now been raised. |
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The Hotel Telemark up the hill among the chalets has occasional live music, free WiFi and draught Stella. New for 2009 are pizzas for eat-in or takeaway. Le Farcon (was Pub L'Arbatt) is now a restaurant only (and a Michelin star one at that). The Jump in Courchevel 1850 is a popular spot with La Tania workers – though not cheap any more, as are La Boulette 1650 (taking over from Le Bubble Bar perhaps?), Chanrossa in 1550 and Darbellos in 1300 (Le Praz). TCs Bar and Le Brasero in Tignes, Le Lavachet are other haunts as former La Tania locals opened their bars there. We also have a large affinity with Brewskis in St Martin de Bellville, tales of naked jacuzzis, toffee vodka and end of season parties from 10 years ago abound. Sadly open evenings only in 2009 – it was a great place to take punters for lunch. Plumbers Crack above Col De La Loze is one of the more famous off piste runs. The Courchevel Freeride competition used to be held here down the large couloir accessed by walking up the ridge on the right - takes from 30 minutes to an hour to walk up. Avalanches frequently. There are three routes down the Col De Loze to the right of the Lanches chair (see Moguls below) accessed by walking across the ridge at the top. These are known locally as Gasex 1, 2 & 3. The Gasex machines are the large pipes that stick out of the mountain blasting out compressed gas to set off controlled avalanches. There were originally only three - suppose we could have a run called Gasex 16 now…. Again this can be unsafe and you must traverse right above the tree line to return to the piste. There is a route through the trees to the Folyeres piste but this can sometimes be tricky depending on snow cover and has narrow gaps between the trees – can be “fun” on a snowboard. Finally (we're not giving all our secret spots away) the runs through the trees around the blue Arolles piste can be fantastic after a heavy fall - although the trees tend to stop avalanches this can still be dangerous, as anyone who has fallen in to a tree hole will tell you. Moguls Speed Back
to top Events On piste The Courchevel Free Ride is a real spectacle - take some beers and watch some incredible skiing at the top of Col De La Loze – this hasn’t happened since 2007 however – but we hear something is going to replace it... La Tania was host to the first Natives Workers Challenge. This fun race and party afterwards was a great success and is now a much bigger event over the hill in the big city (also known as Méribel). Away Days Trips to La Taj Mahal Curry House in Annecy are now a thing of the past with Extreme Cuisine’s Delivery Curry Service to La Tania – it’s the real deal too. Shopping All the essentials are in La Tania – supermarket, newsagent, post office, tabac, bakery, tourist office and cash point, but for other stuff try Courchevel & Meribel, they have a lot more variety. Back
to top Eating Out Le Farcon is the most upmarket and boasts a Michelin star. Very French, very expensive - garlic ice cream anyone? Hotel Telemark has an excellent Bistro menu and new for 2009 are pizzas. La Taiga has a modern take on some Savoyarde specialities along with the traditional Fondues, Raclettes and Hot Rocks. The other restaurants in resort La Ferme, Les Chantarelles and Les Marmottons all offer Savoyard and traditional French fayre – including tartiflette, fondues, crepes etc. Mountain Restos McDonalds Shopping The Sherpa Supermarket in resort is there for emergencies and is not too expensive considering it's up the mountain. The Sausage Shop can be a chalet host's best friend sometimes – takeaway Roast Chickens, Roast Potatoes, Tartiflette, Home Made Lasagne, Cauliflower Gratin plus Pizzas and Bacon Sandwiches too! Mostly Geneva 130km (between two hours and six) - free internet access to while away those hours of delays though. Traffic queues form around Annecy and in towards Moutiers at peak times. There’s a new road for 2009 direct to Annecy from the Swiss border which should alleviate the queues at Cruseilles – could knock half an hour off peak time transfers from Geneva. Then Lyon 190km (motorway all the way and can be done in under two hours but again this can easily more than double with delays, traffic and snow). Chambery 90km (just over an hour usually). Small airport with less delays generally though can be completely fog bound while Geneva and Lyon remain open. St Ettienne is not used nowadays but Grenoble is becoming quite busy and around 2 hours on a good run. Whatever the airport, all traffic comes through Moutiers at the bottom of the valley as does all the transfer traffic (and self-drive traffic) for Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Val d'isere and Tignes - the Gendarmes have a queuing system along the motorway to prevent Moutiers becoming grid locked so expect huge delays on Saturdays in February and holiday times. Après-ski / Excursions Trips to VT (a bus back so you ski the area all day) or Champagny (for La Plagne and the Olympic Bob) are often arranged. Tandem parapenting is available directly above La Tania and Husky sledding which is great fun takes place just up the road. For a cheap, fun night out try the sledge run between 1850 and 1550 (take the gondola back up until 8pm). A great laugh and pretty fast and scary in places! Rent a decent sledge (with brakes!) for only 3.5 euros at one of the ski shops. Living Links MyNatives Join
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