Avoriaz January 2012

Yo.del:(verb) \\to yodel\\the offi cial means ofcommunicating bythe inhabitants ofmountainous regions\\

www.yodelmagazine.com

avoriazjanuary 2012

jenny jones

ski-dooingavoriaz resort events

ski food

tourism in avoriaz

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stay in touch

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Happy New Year Avoriaz yodel readers and welcome to the

January issue of your magazine.

The busy period of Christmas and

New Year is now behind us and

we hope you all ate, drank and

were sufficiently merry!

This month we are very excited

to have an exclusive interview

with Jenny Jones all about her

life as a pro-snowboarder. We

have also provided you with all

the information for what to do in

Avoriaz if you want a break from

playing on the mountain or the

weather decides to play up (touch

wood).

We hope you enjoyed Avoriaz’s

very first yodel in December and

are looking forward to this issue

just as much. Remember we

want you all to get as involved as

possible and really enjoy hearing

your feedback and article ideas

and seeing your best images of

our area.

Mont Blanc ...............................................................4Views of Europe’s highest mountain from Avoriaz

Jenny Jones ..............................................................5The pro snowboarder talks to Yodel

Ski Food & Nutrition ................................................8You are what you eat!

Twin Peaks .............................................................10A look at Morzine-Avoriaz’s twin town of Bonifacio

Avoriaz Film Festival .............................................12A look into Avoriaz’s glamorous past

Lights Camera Action! ..........................................14Tips from the area’s most talented

Through the Keyhole .............................................15A sneaky peak inside Chalet Toscana

What’s On? .............................................................18Events in and around Avoriaz during January

Bungalow Graphics ...............................................20Charlie Adam on his ‘funny retro cartoons’

Genepi ....................................................................23The lovely local tipple

Yo…! .......................................................................23Your slang-uage lesson

The Big Cheese ......................................................24Your guide to Savoyarde cheese

En Francais… .........................................................25The French you’ll need in restaurants

Ski-dooing in Avoriaz ............................................26A great après activity

Yodel Loves a Gadget ............................................27Quick Poles – an easy way to carry your skis

Down Days .............................................................28Resort activities for the non-skier

Coq au Vin ..............................................................30Discover the French favourite

Cold Weather Proofing ..........................................31Protect yourself against freezing temperatures

The Yodel Review ..................................................32We’re playing the Yeti Game and you can win one!

Onesie of the Month ..............................................32More from the fashion fantastic

Yodel’s January Competition ................................33Picture Organic, Absinthe DVDs, magazine subscriptions

Tourism in Avoriaz ................................................34Director Stephane Lerendu talks to YodelCover image Copyright © Christophe Margot

welcome contents

Yo.del:(verb) \\to yodel\\the official means of communicating bythe inhabitants of mountainous regions\\


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Mont Blancor the White Mountain, is best viewed on a clear day in Avoriaz from the top of Le Fornet. From the Fornet bowl take the Le Fornet chair lift up to 2466m to the viewing platform.

Mont Blanc lies between the ski resort of Courmayeur in the Italian Aosta Valley and Chamonix in the French region of Haute-Savoie. A cable car ascends and crosses Mont Blanc from both resorts, which you might spot if you have a very strong pair of binoculars! In 1965 an 11.6km tunnel opened beneath Mont Blanc and it quickly became one of the busiest Trans-Alpine transport routes.

It is believed that over 20,000 mountaineer-tourists summit Mont Blanc each year and despite its height the climb is considered to be an easy, yet long ascent.

Mont Blanc is 4,810.45m above sea level and is the highest mountain in the Alps. It is of particular significance to the Portes du Soleil ski area as it is said to encourage the creation of a microclimate which dumps a load of snow over the area during the winter. So cross your fingers while you’re up there looking at it!

Mont Blanc


Jenny Jones, 31, is a British snowboarding legend. Fact.

Four X game medals, an international following and an awesome attitude say so.

Here at yodel we were thrilled that she took the time to answer a few questions we had for her…

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How long have you been snowboarding for and how did you first get into it?

I first started snowboarding when I was about 17, my brothers and I had a free half hour lesson on our local dry slope. I then decided to go on a college trip to the Italian Alps and had a brilliant time. After my A levels I deferred a year from college and worked as a chalet maid in the French Alps so I could snowboard everyday.

What is your favourite European ski resort?

I like several resorts so it’s hard to say. The atmosphere in Morzine / Avoriaz is great and it has a bit of everything; beginning parks, tree runs and some powder sections. I think Mayrhofen has an awesome terrain park, it also has great powder runs but I am yet to discover them all. Another place I really enjoyed for fun off-piste was St Anton.

What's been your luckiest escape?

I would say when some friends and I were filming some heli-boarding in Europe and we landed on one of the peaks - nothing too crazy though. I was the first to descend and as I put in my first turn all the snow underneath me was suddenly moving. I had to do my best to ride out to one side, I had set off an avalanche and managed to get out near the top. We all watched as the snow made its way to the bottom in a big mushroom cloud. It was very frightening and it put me on edge the whole rest of the day. I would say that was an escape!

What would you have been if you hadn’t become a pro snowboarder?

I expect I would have gone to university - I was planning on studying advertising and marketing or teaching. If I could surf from a young age then for sure I would have liked to be a pro surfer, I enjoy

the sport so much and it’s kind of the opposite of snowboarding when it comes to hot and cold destinations.

What are you most excited about in the next 6 months?

Going snowboarding, riding powder, hitting jumps, learning tricks, having a few cheeky vin chauds. I guess I just still get very excited to go riding. Boring answer sorry.

You have done eight seasons, what would your top pieces of advice be to new seasonaires?

Yes you’re going for six months but I promise you that time flies by, for sure have some good nights out but don’t waste too many of your riding days with a hangover. You will regret it…unless that is you are going for the nights out and don’t care about the riding part, ha. Be careful discovering the off-piste, go with someone who knows the area and find out about how snow conditions work, how they affect which powder slopes you can ride on what days. Learn about transceivers, probes and shovels. Get friendly with the local bouncers, you’re going to need them for the next few months. Get the gear you want at the start of the season, you will be riding so much and will get your money's worth. Get insurance - no question. Maybe don’t snog the people you’re working with at the beginning of the season. There are lots of choices elsewhere, you don’t want that awkward weird thing all season.

Who do you most admire?

The weekend warrior who shreds from first lift to last lift and then sends it at the bar afterwards. These are the folks who just love riding for riding.

You've torn your ACL before, what other snowboarding injuries have you had?

Two broken bones in my left arm 6 Cop

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and I now have six-inch metal plates. I’ve also chipped a shoulder bone, broken my foot, two bad ankle sprains, fractured tailbone, several concussions and plenty of bruises!

What's your biggest achievement in life?

Making a career out of something I love and still enjoying it.

What are the five most important things in your life?

Friends, family, love, snowboarding and surfing in no particular order.

Yodel is entering the Snow Camp Everest Challenge. What do you think of the charity and its aims?

I think this is a great charity and have donated several bits of gear to the group. To be able to give these kids a chance to try something completely different in beautiful surroundings is great. The feeling of achievement they hopefully gain and the skills they learn will be priceless. What a brilliant challenge the Everest challenge is. I hope you get some pre season training in before this begins otherwise you are going to be suffering!!

Would you like to join Yodel's team for the Snow Camp Everest Challenge?

Hahaha I would love to but (and

you know there’s a but) it is right in the middle of my winter season and due to my schedule I genuinely can’t. I do wish you all the best though and keep me posted on how you get on please.

Tell us your favourite joke…

Why did the baker have smelly hands? Because he kneaded a poo.

Describe your perfect day…

Not necessarily a perfect day but a bloody good one…tonnes of powder on a great pitch that you know is uber safe, riding with a bunch of mates minus any crowds. A late afternoon in a slightly slushy terrain park with fun jumps learning tricks then a nice powder home run to the bar for some cheeky drinks; gin and ginger beers and some cocktails. A good live band followed by a funk soul DJ and a lot of dancing. What advice do you give to the aspiring pro female snowboarders that you meet?

Focus not on what everyone else is doing but on what you want to achieve and how you’re going to achieve it. Keep enjoying yourself and you will get there step by step.

If the day ever comes that you stop riding professionally, what do you think you will become?

A surf bum. 7


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Before your holiday…To make sure your body is in the best condition for ensuring you get the most out of your ski holiday, consume a healthy balanced diet. You will need to have optimised energy stores before the start of your holiday so you get the most out of your ski holiday.

During your holiday…Your skiing performance whilst on holiday will be affected by several nutritional factors. Firstly, as something we tend to forget about when we are on the slopes, hydration is key to delaying the onset of fatigue – something we all experience during a hard days skiing. Not only do you fatigue quicker, the all too familiar mid-afternoon dip, but being dehydrated can affect your concentration which is crucial for negotiating your way down a slope – whatever level of skiing you may be at. But who feels like drinking whilst on the snow?! Being at altitude means the air is drier so we exhale more water when we breathe. Being out in the cold, we generally don’t tend to think about taking on fluids during a hard days skiing. Combined with the notoriously inaccessible bathroom facilities on the mountain we simply don’t consume enough fluids – and no not the alcoholic kind! Lastly, if you don’t consume enough food and therefore energy during the day then you won’t have the energy to ski as well as you could or ski for as long as you may want to. Carbohydrates are the main fuel used by the body when skiing. If you don’t consume enough carbohydrate, then your muscles will have diminished energy stores, in the form of glycogen. With sub-optimal energy stores, your body will become fatigued much easier and quicker, which will directly affect your

skiing performance. In addition, carrying heavy equipment and the effect of altitude altering your metabolism, your overall energy requirements will be increased.

So what should we eat?Firstly, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and even more so when you are going to be spending a day on the slopes so this meal should not be missed. Try to base this around carbohydrates; a warming bowl of porridge will release its energy slowly throughout the morning compared with a bowl of cereal or toast and jam. Try adding stewed, fresh or dried fruit to your porridge to include 1 of your 5-a-day. A glass of juice also counts as another portion (no more than 1 glass counts as a portion in a day) and will contribute towards your daily fluid. Alternatively, a cooked option such as scrambled eggs on toast is a good healthy choice.

To keep hydrated during a morning of skiing, try and plan in a quick pit-stop mid-morning for a hot chocolate or tea using this chance to have a snack and top up your energy levels. Good snack ideas are dried fruit, which are easy to take with you; a pancake with chocolate and banana or a cereal bar. If you have a backpack then take a bottle of water with you or even fill up your camelbak if you have one.

For lunch, again base this on carbohydrates such as potatoes or pasta or bread to top up fuel stores and energy levels to set you up for an afternoon of skiing. A bowl of soup and a baguette; tartiflette and pasta dishes are the kind of foods to have at lunch and are nice and warming. Remember to include some vegetables in your lunch, whether it's a

Rosie Smith is a nutritionist and helps ski chalets to write a hearty and healthy menu for their guests. She is currently working with Skiology and here she

tells Yodel why food is such an important part of your ski holiday.

Ski Food and Nutrition


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side salad or vegetables or a vegetable soup to provide essential vitamins and minerals. Don’t forget to take on some essential fluids to keep you hydrated and avoid fatigue.

Once back in your chalet after a days skiing, this will be a key window of opportunity to replenish your energy stores so a slice of cake; bread and jam or a piece of fresh fruit in the afternoon are good foods to enable fast recovery. Of course don’t forget a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate to top up fluids! Remember, fluids don’t have to be in the form of plain water, they can be any liquid such as soft drinks, tea and coffee (in moderation) and even soups contribute as well.

What you eat during dinner won’t have a major impact on your skiing performance or energy levels. However make sure you do eat something to make sure you have re-fuelled in preparation for the next days skiing. If you’re enjoying a fair amount of the apres ski and nightlife, make sure you have a big glass of water before you go to bed to help prevent dehydration and your performance the following day!

What would the perfect menu look like…It should be something both balanced and nutritious while at the same time being something that you actually want to eat! You are on holiday after all! Some dishes I’ve recommended for this year at Skiology include:

•Savoiediotstewwithlentilsinsteadofpotatoes-the lentils act as a complex carbohydrate, giving a slower burning energy.

•APyreneanbullfightersbeefstew–beefishardto digest but when it is slow cooked this makes the fibres and meat tissue easier to digest and the nutrients are released quickly.


TWIN PEAKS

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bonifacio

Bonifacio is situated on the Southern tip of Corsica and is the closest town to the nearby island of Sardinia. Bonifacio’s old town is packed with narrow streets and beautiful medieval buildings, which teeter on the edge of Corsica’s impressive limestone cliffs. Some of the buildings in Bonifacio actually overhang the cliff edge. The windy roads in Bonifacio are of stark contrast to the more organised and regulated streets of central Morzine and open Avoriaz.

Bonifacio was built in 828AD and was founded by Count Bonifacio of Tuscany while Morzine was granted independence as an area away from the monks of St Jean D’Aulps in 1531. As a resort, Avoriaz was developed much later by Jean Vuarnet in the mid 20th Century.

While Bonifaco may not become a ski resort during the winter (temperatures for January have reached 21 °C in the past) it does share summer time with Morzine. Like Morzine, the terrain in Corsica is extremely popular with mountain bikers who flock to the mountains every summer to explore. Hiking is also extremely popular for holidaymakers and locals in the Morzine-Avoriaz area with specially produced trail maps. Similarly, Corsica is home to one of the most revered hiking trails in Europe, known as the GR20.

Morzine-Avoriaz has been twinned with Bonifacio since 2004 and it’s easy to see why. The similarities between the cliffs of Prodains and Avoriaz that tower over Morzine and the cliffs on which the town of Bonifacio, Corsica is perched are undeniable.


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Morzine-Avoriaz is famed for being a great ski resort in close proximity of an airport as opposed to the long transfer times usually related with a skiing holiday. The transfer distance is 80 km and takes approximately 75 minutes. Bonifacio meanwhile is situated around 125 km from Corsica’s main airport and the transfer time is just over 2 hours.

Morzine-Avoriaz is several hours drive from the nearest coastline, while Bonifacio is home to the busiest Mediterranean port in France consisting of three areas for pleasure, fishing and the area where the boat trips leave for Sardinia. There are also over 200 nearby beaches around the coastline of Corsica. It is in this tourism trade that the main similarities between the two towns lies. Since the mid 20th century Morzine-Avoriaz has been heavily reliant on the tourism trade to sustain itself as a town. Out of all the areas in France, Corsica is the least developed and therefore also relies heavily on the tourism trade.

While there are so many similarities and differences between our lovely twin towns, one thing we’re sure of at Yodel is they’re just as beautiful as each other and we’ll be planning a holiday to Bonifacio for more research asap!


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Paris…Rome…Avoriaz? Ok, so it might not sound like it quite fi ts in but Avoriaz actually has a pretty glamourous past. The town used to be known as the ‘little brother’ to the Cannes Film Festival for its annual fi lm awards.

Between 1973 and 1993 the town hosted the ‘Festival International du Film Fantastique d’Avoriaz’. The town would screen and judge science fi ction and horror movies in a festival that was highly revered for its choices. It was so called because of its focus on the fantastic fi lm genre and was considered the second most highly regarded fi lm festival after Cannes.

One of the greatest legacies of the festival was the interesting set of fi lm posters that accompanied each festival. The designs range from simple and striking to the wackier, one such example features a woman’s face looking skywards as it blends into the

mountains. The accreditation of winning at Avoriaz was often subsequently featured on the posters from the fi lms that won.

The fi rst festival winner at the fi rst ever festival in 1973 was Steven Spielberg for his directing debut ‘Duel’. It was a psychological thriller about a driver being stalked by an unseen trucker. The fi lm went on to win an Emmy and was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Movie Made for TV.

There are many other famous fi lms that have won the acclaimed Avoriaz fi lm prize including Heavenly Creatures by Peter Jackson who went on to win an Oscar for the fi lm and is now world famous for his Lord of the Rings trilogy. In 1981, David Lynch’s Elephant Man based on a hideously disfi gured man living as a side show freak won the grand prize and was then nominated for 8 Oscars. The fi lm festival attracted big names to our resort town such as Robert de Niro and Roman Polanski. James Cameron won

AvoriazFestival

Film


13

the grand prize in 1985 for his classic Schwarzenegger hit The Terminator and went on to direct Titanic, one of the biggest box offi ce hits of all time.

The festival was a predecessor to the Gérardmer Fantastique Film Festival, which began in 1994 and has the same horror/science fi ction genre. The most famous fi lm to have won the grand prize at the festival is Scream in 1997 at the awards held in Gérardmer in North Eastern France. Other fi lms to have won prizes at the new festival include Saw and The Bride of Chucky.

The Avoriaz fi lm festival was strongly loved in the town and people were so upset to see it moved away that there is even a group on facebook entitled “Avoriaz Film Festival R.I.P.” Avoriaz can be very proud that for a purpose-built ski resort, the town has such a colourful and interesting history. Here at Yodel, we just like the idea of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Pitt and Clooney at the end of a long days skiing!


Robbie Davies – apresimaging on Facebook To make your photos really stand out and have that ‘wow’ factor, you must experiment with your camera. Try different angles, foregrounds, backgrounds and focus. Never let disappointing images get you down – let it be a learning curve andthinkpositive!Practisemakesperfect!

Stewart Monk – www.reelfunmedia.com Keep your equipment organised – if your kit was expensive it needs looking after so you’ll need to store it, pack it and carry it correctly.

Use a faster shutter speed or a sports setting to capture action on the hill.

Damian McArthur – www.damianmcarthur.comLook after your athletes. Without them you are a landscape photographer!

If your waiting for your camera to come back up to room temperature but you need to begin the editing process straight away, take the memory cards from the camera and use a card reader. But seriously, leave the camera in the bag!

Neil Sharp – www.sharpography.co.ukAs a general rule of thumb when taking portrait shots, it’s best to have the sun behind and over either shoulder of the photographer. This means you won’t be shooting directly in to the sun and it won’t be shining directly into the eyes of the subject, causing them to squint.

Jacquie Cutler – www.jacquiecutler.com Don't be afraid to use the flash, even if the sun is out! When photographing children it can be hard to get them in the correct position – if they are between you and the sun use your flash to off-set the brightness.

To practise your skills find out about local events and experiment – if you're in the park for example, try looking for different angles to shoot from.

Emily Turnbull – www.emilyturnbull.comFreezing conditions can considerably reduce battery life in cameras so carry spare batteries in your coat pocket. You don’t want to miss out on anything!

It’s often difficult to handle your camera and it’s functions properly in the cold, especially if you’re wearing chunky gloves! Try wearing a thinner pair of gloves underneath your regular gloves to give you better control of the camera.

Jack Terry – www.jackterry.co.ukAlways allow your camera to come back up to room temperature before viewing your pictures to avoid the risk of moisture damage to circuitry.

To make the snow look white rather than grey, over expose your photos by 1 f stop

Visit the Yodel website for Jack’s top-secret snow sports camera settings that work every time.

Morzine has more than its fair share of talented photographers as the front covers of our magazines regularly testify! Here are a few tips from the best of the best to

make sure you get the photos your holiday deserves.

Yodel is always looking for talented new photographers to work with in Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz. Get in touch – [email protected]

Lights, Camera, Action!

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Through thekey hole

Chalet Toscana

yodel opens the doors to some of the most beautiful chalets in Avoriaz.

Chalet Toscana faces south / southwest and its large balconies take excellent advantage of the beautiful winter sunshine of the Portes du Soleil. The views overlooking the pistes and the valley are spectacular.

The fi ve bedrooms of Chalet Toscana are all uniquely designed in a very modern and comfortable style. Luxury bed throws and cushions create a warm and cosy feel, while the master bedroom has the feel of a funky loft apartment.

On the top fl oor the open plan lounge, kitchen and dining room must have been inspired by a 1970’s Bond movie – it’s more like a spie's secret lair! A ridiculously long purple velvet sofa faces a huge cylindrical fi replace while full-length windows look out over Avoriaz.

For more information on Chalet Toscana visit www.avoriaz-holidays.com


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Sun 1st 12.00noon . . . . Live Sport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Le Tavaillon

Fri 6th 6.00pm . . . . . . A Russian Christmas – Gypsy Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . . Ice Rink

Sat 7th 12.00noon . . . . Live Sport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Le Tavaillon

8.00pm . . . . . . Ice Hockey – Penguins v Briancon . . Palais du Sport, Morzine

Sun 8th 12.00noon . . . . Live Sport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Le Tavaillon

6.00pm . . . . . . Savoie Food Tasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tourist Office

Tue 10th 8.00pm . . . . . . Cabaret Nights in Restaurants . . . Details from Tourist Office

Wed 11th 8.00pm . . . . . . Cabaret Nights in Restaurants . . . Details from Tourist Office

Thrs 12th 8.00pm . . . . . . Cabaret Nights in Restaurants . . . Details from Tourist Office

Fri 13th 6.00pm . . . . . . Russian New Year – Fireworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ice Rink

Sat 14th 10.00am. . . . . . Burton Park Jam Tour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Chapelle Park

12.00noon . . . . Live Sport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Le Tavaillon

8.00pm . . . . . . Ice Hockey – Penguins v’s Dijon . . . . Palais du Sport, Morzine


Sat 21st 10.00am. . . . . . Avofest Big Air Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Chapelle Park


8.00pm . . . . . . Ice Hockey – Penguins v’s Amiens . . Palais du Sport, Morzine

Sun 22nd 10.00am. . . . . . Avofest Big Air Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Chapelle Park


Mon 23rd 10.00am. . . . . . Avofest Big Air Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Chapelle Park

Event listings\\January 2012\\

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We want to get as many people in our lovely resort involved in yodel magazine as possible! If you have events you would like to be added to this page, please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]

We regularly add new events and information to the yodel magazine website events listings, be sure you check it out!

Tue 24th 10.00am. . . . . . Avofest Big Air Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Chapelle Park

8.00pm . . . . . . Ice Hockey – Penguins v’s Gap . . . . . Palais du Sport, Morzine

Wed 25th 10.00am. . . . . . Avofest Big Air Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Chapelle Park

Thrs 26th 10.00am. . . . . . Avofest Big Air Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Chapelle Park

Fri 27th 10.00am. . . . . . Avofest Big Air Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . La Chapelle Park

8.00pm . . . . . . Ice Hockey – Penguins v Chamonix . Palais du Sport, Morzine

Sat 28th 12.00noon . . . . Live Sport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bar Le Tavaillon

6.00pm . . . . . . Avoriaz Party Nights. . . . . . . . . . . . Details from Tourist Office


6.00pm . . . . . . Avoriaz Party Nights. . . . . . . . . . . . Details from Tourist Office

Mon 30th 6.00pm . . . . . . Avoriaz Party Nights. . . . . . . . . . . . Details from Tourist Office

Tue 31st 6.00pm . . . . . . Avoriaz Party Nights. . . . . . . . . . . . Details from Tourist Office

8.00pm . . . . . . Ice Hockey – Penguins v Grenoble . . Palais du Sport, Morzine


There is some mystery surrounding the life of Bungalow Graphics creator Charlie Adam and this is reflected in his work. Some say that Charlie was born on the ‘love boat’, was the survivor of a

plane crash over Mont Blanc and now travels in a private jet or submarine to attend art exhibitions around the world. Others tell of Charlie finding a mystical pair of glasses in his garage that allow him to see into the past, to the era of funk music and roller disco and to the future to find the inspiration that he needs to create his pictures. What we do know is

that Charlie’s Bungalow Graphics brand is becoming more and more

recognisable across the Alps. With commissions for

the very swanky Clubhouse in Chamonix and several festivals and competitions in the area, prepare to see more of this retro,

futuristic mash-up.

‘I was born in 1975 – an excellent year

for Bordeaux wines, Swedish tennis and other things that I enjoy referring to in my work. My father was an architect and my mother a Charlie’s

Angel. I grew up

in the

20


Chamonix Valley and this is where I started doing what I do. Although I now live near Annecy I spend a lot of time in the mountains, which is I guess where my winter and ski images are inspired.

I’ve always loved graphics and my training came from reading comics, watching films, skiing and snowboarding. I started designing things on my computer and started having exhibitions in local bars. I painted some murals and was paid in beer most of the time. Then I got my first ‘serious’ project designing for Dynastar snowboards thanks to the people I met riding on the Chamonix slopes.

It’s really important to me that my work is accessible to all. I keep it fun and easy and you can see that I don’t take myself too seriously in the graphics. I like to imagine that only very stylish women and classy people with a superior taste and sense of humour enjoy my work. But my postman likes it too!

There is a tiki inspiration in my work, but tiki is a very specific thing. It’s about mid 20th century Polynesian pop, exotica and tropical kitsch, all things that we are geographically very far from here in the Alps! I became attracted to tiki via surf culture, surf art and maybe by the interest I have for secret agents, cocktails and lounge music! I do get a lot of my inspiration from the 1950’s, through to the 1970’s so sometimes I call my work ‘funny-retro-cartoon’ instead.

I like ‘space age chalet spotting’ wherever I go, and although there aren’t many left any more, they do exist! I grew up in a family of

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Charlie has also very kindly given yodel 3 limited edition prints to give away – visit our website for details on how you can win them!

architects; my dad, my uncles, my brothers and all those design and architecture magazines at home influenced me. It’s true that the chalets and buildings in my graphics aren’t typical Savoyarde homes, but it’s just the way my imagination works.

I’ve now perfected the creation process for my art I think. I usually have a magical revelation while enjoying a fine cigar and a mojito on my Chesterfield, in my dressing gown by a fireplace, watching the snow fall. So I write it down, then I leave it one or two years until I find the time to draw it! No, I’m joking. All the ideas come from my wife Andrea. I just steal them and put my name on it.

I’ve featured the resorts of Chamonix and La Clusaz in my work before. I find that the resorts of Morzine, Les Gets and Avoriaz have a really old school charm and I like finding ideas in new places. There are plenty of retro looking ski-lifts and bar signs, I like that!”

Bungalow Graphics prints are now available to buy at the Les Petits Papiers d’Alice on the Route de la Combe a Zorre in Morzine or on Charlie’s website:www.bungalowgraphics.com


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Génépi can be found all over Avoriaz; in souvenir shops, the supermarket and served as a digestif after a meal. But what exactly is in the green wonder? Génépi may be served in a decorative bottle with flowers inside but you have been warned – it actually has a very similar make-up to absinthe. Yikes.

Génépi is made up of plants from the wormwood family that are endemic to the mountains making génépi a popular Alpine speciality. While there are many varieties of wormwood plant dotted around the area, only three are used in génépi; Artemia Génépi, Glacialis and Mutellina. One similar wormwood plant you won’t find being used for génépi is ‘Artemia Absinthe’ and I think we can all guess what that’s used for.

The colour of génépi varies widely between a pale gold to illuminous green when food colouring is added for effect. There is often a green tinge even without food colouring though, which is dependent on the amount of chlorophyll in each plant.

It is a lot less sweet than other digestifs, however it must have a minimum sugar content of 100g per litre to be sold as liqueur in the EU. Génépi should be served either at room temperature or extremely chilled. The liqueur is also used in local produce including jams and chocolates. Yum!

Genepi Yo...As if trying to pick up a bit of French wasn’t hard enough this season, there’s now a whole new tongue to get the hang of… welcome to the language of the seasonaire.

Go to www.yodelmagazine.com to share your suggestions!

Licked the cat’s bum:Hanging out by yourself in a ski resort. Not much fun for anyone.

DONFI:Day off not f*cking interested.

Gaper:Any unstylish or ill-advised punter.

Gaper Block:A congregation of Gapers right in your way.

A Yard Sale:A wipe-out that leaves your hat, gloves, ski poles and skis sprawled across the hill.

Punter Gap:Forehead exposed between helmet and goggles. A great look. Not.

Dr No:Ski patrol / the piste police.

Trick Ditch:The half pipe, but only for those who are good enough to use it…

A Domino:The effect of knocking over one beginner in a ski school line, they tumble like dominoes!

SPORS:Stupid people on rental skis / snowboards.

Hillfrogs:A group of seated snowboarders lined up perpendicular to the fall line in the middle of a run.

Void the warranty:Doing something extreme.


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Abondance is a gourmet mountain cheese exclusive to the Haute Savoie region. It has a concave edge and an amber coloured rind that displays the marks of the cloth in which the cheese has matured. One hundred litres of full cream milk produces each cheese weighing between 6kg and 14kg and it is then matured for a minimum of 12 weeks.

The legitimacy of Abondance is strongly protected with the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC), which guarantees the methods used to produce it and the ingredients used. Only three types of cow’s milk are authorised to make the cheese from the cow breeds of Montbéliarde, Tarine and the Abondance.

Reblochon is produced in the Savoie region and the name comes from as far back as the 13th Century. To avoid the taxes charged on their yield of milk, the farmers would carry out an incomplete milking in order to pay less money. The name Reblochon comes from the word reblochaient, which means re-milking and refers to the second milking which was much smaller than the first but extremely creamy and ideal for making cheese, namely Reblochon.

The cheese was not however made in great quantities until the 20th Century alongside the rise of the tourism trade. Reblochon is uncooked but lightly salted and packaged in wax paper and a wooden container to maintain the condition of the cheese. Reblochon is most commonly used to make the popular mountain dish of tartiflette.

THE BIG CHEESE


THE BIG CHEESETommes is a cheese produced across the French Alps and in Switzerland. There are many different types of Tommes that are usually named according to their place of production. For example a very local cheese, Tomme ‘Gets’ is made in Les ‘Gets’ by the Fruitière des Perrières.

Tommes is usually produced using the skimmed milk that is left over after the cream has been removed to make richer cheeses and butter. They are usually relatively low in fat because they are not made from the richer milk. Tomme de Savoie, one of the most popular local Tommes is a semi-solid cheese with a grey-brown rind.

Raclette is not only a famous dish involving a grill, potatoes and salad but also the type of cheese used in the meal as well. It has a smooth and silky texture that is much softer than other types of Alpine cheese and is a semi-hard cheese that is aged between three and six months

Raclette cheeses are usually made in large wheels weighing approximately 6kg though you can also buy it in smaller portions and even slices in local produce shops and the supermarket. When used for the dish also called Raclette, the cheese wheels are heated up and scraped onto plates. The name Raclette comes from the French word ‘racler’ meaning to scrape.

This month, Lost in Translation Language School (www.lost-intranslation.com) bring you the basics to get around the local restaurants in French.

Please may I book a table for 4/6/8 people?Je voudrais réserver une table pour quatre/six/huit personnes?(Je voo-dray reserv-ay oon tah-bl por katr/sees/wheet pear-sonne)

To start, I’ll have…En entrée, je prends(On on-tray, jeuh pron)

For the main course, I’ll have…En plat, je prends(On pla, jeuh pron)

For dessert, I’ll have…Pour le dessert, je prends(Poor le dess-air, jeuh pron)

I would like my steak…please?Pour la cuisson du steak, …… s’il vous plaît?(Poor la kwee-sson doo steak, …… sil voo play)

-RareSaignant(Sen-yon)

-MediumA point(A pwan)

-Well DoneBien cuit(Bee-an kwee)

I would like…?Je prends……?(Jeuh pron)

-A red wineUn vin rouge(Un van rooj)

-A Vodka and CokeUn vodka coca(Un vodka coca)

Please may I have that with chips/vegetables/salad?Serait-il possible de l’avoir avec frites/légumes/salade?(Sir-ay-teel poss-eebl de lav-w-ah avec freet/legoome/sall-add?)

Could I have the bill please?L’addition s’il vous plaît(Ladd-i-sion sil voo play)

En Francais s’il vous plaît

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The range of non-ski and snowboarding activities in Avoriaz is quite staggering. Some of them can even be done at night time, once the rest of the resort is indoors and the pistes are empty. Ski-dooing in Avoriaz is an amazing opportunity to get out into the vast forested wilderness and experience a different kind of après ski.

Ski-doos or snowmobiles as they are also known, are land vehicles propelled by one or two caterpillar tracks. They are mounted with two small skis at the front to assist with steering. Originally designed as a fast and efficient way to get about on snow and ice, ski-dooing has become a really popular holiday activity in recent years, especially in Avoriaz.

From the meeting point just underneath the Seraussaix chair-

lift on the road to and from Avoriaz, ski-dooing trips follow quiet tree lined routes around the Proclou ski area, well away from the rest of the resort. Group sizes are kept small to avoid disturbing the local wildlife. Ski-doos have two seats so you can take turns experiencing the thrill of driving, or take a back seat (literally) to enjoy the experience. Groups are accompanied by a highly experienced instructor who will guide you across challenging terrain including deep powder, between the trees and speeding up and down ski runs in the moonlight.

Ski-doos are easy to drive and you don’t have to have any previous experience to use one – they’ll go at a speed that suits you. Remember to take your helmet and your goggles though!

Avoscoot’s base on the road to and from Avoriaz is just opposite the Restaurant Seraussaix and they can arrange free transport to and from Avoriaz for you.

Ski-dooingin Avoriaz


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Ski-doo rides take place between 6pm and midnight every day and advance booking is always recommended. Prices start at €90 for a solo scooter and €110 for a double scooter.

For more information or to book visit: www.avoscoot.comor telephone: +33 (0)4 50 84 00 93.

It’s called the Houston Handbag and whether you know its nickname or not you’ve probably seen it in action. It’s the technique many people use to carry their skis by looping the pole handles around the end of your skis. And now it’s just been made a whole lot easier thanks to Quickpoles.

The company that produce Quickpoles aim for you to carry both skis and both poles in one hand, without any of the awkwardness. The poles have a special clip that you position at the correct point of your poles so that they can be snapped into your binding. They simply grip into the heel and toe of your bindings and form a rigid structure, which is then easy to carry without the usual juggling act. You can also look like the hero by carrying someone else’s skis too!

The poles are a great invention, especially for mums and dads who usually get stuck carrying a whole collection of skis! They are available in black or white and aluminum or carbon fibre. They cost between €65 and €105 and are available from www.quickpoles.com.

QUICK POLES


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Most groups have a skier who isn’t desperate to be on the mountain every day and most people have a day of the week where the prospect of spending another 8 hours solid skiing or snowboarding just isn’t appealing. Luckily for them, Avoriaz does not just function as a ski resort but a little Alpine town too. As well as spending time exploring the shops and businesses, the resort is ready equipped for everyone, with all sorts of other activities to get involved with, rain or shine. Welcome to the world of the down day….

Go Bowling

Studio 9 bowling alley is a great way to spend a rainy day, with bowling lanes and a fantastic range of classic arcade games that are sure to bring back a few memories – they even have air hockey. The décor of Studio 9 is equally interesting and will take you quite a while to get through if you start reading…I’ll leave you with that riddle to go and explore for yourselves!

Contact: 04 50 74 06 77

Catch a film

The cinema in Avoriaz shows many of their films with English subtitles so you can still enjoy them even if your French isn’t up to scratch. There are also English film showings throughout the winter for you to catch all of the most recent films on a rainy day.

Contact: 04 50 74 09 46

Pamper yourself

Indulge in a day of relaxation and treatments at Avoriaz’s popular Altiform Fitness Centre. The Centre includes a sauna, hammam, jacuzzi and a popular power plate, which transfers the energy of vibrations through the human body. There are also a number of classes to take part in such as body balance, body sculpt and step classes to music.

Contact: 04 50 74 24 49

Ice SkatingAvoriaz is home to a new ice rink this year, which is slap bang in the centre of resort and open to all ages and abilities. The brand new 450m2 rink will be floodlit and open until 8pm every evening. It’s a great alternative to skiing while still getting out in the fresh air of this winter wonderland.

Contact: 04 50 74 02 11

DOW

N DAYS


Form your Body

Visit the Bodyform center in the Fontaines Blanches building to enjoy some competitive games of squash with friends…or foe! There are also weights and cardio-training facilities for you to stay in shape while you take a day off skiing. It is compulsory to book squash courts so if you’re planning on a game it makes sense to call early rather than later.

Contact: 04 50 74 03 95

Get Involved

The Office de Tourisme helps to organise all sorts of fantastic activities every week of the winter season. Typical weekly events include children’s workshops and historical tours. To find out more about what’s on in Avoriaz this month, see our events page in the centre of the magazine or the events calendar on our website.

Contact: 04 50 74 02 11

Watch a Hockey Match

The Morzine Avoriaz Penguins are based in the Palais de Sport in Morzine and it is well worth taking a trip down the mountain to watch a match during your time in Avoriaz. The fast paced and exciting nature of the game means it is enjoyable to everyone rather than exclusively to hardcore sports fans. Check Yodel’s event listings for details of the Penguin’s home games this winter.

See: www.hcma.fr

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There are few dishes better to tuck into after a long day on the mountain than the beautiful and classic Coq au Vin.

Ingredients (serves 8):

2 Chickens (approx. 1.6kg)1 bottle red wine2 bay leaves2 thyme sprigs250g bacon lardons60g butter20 small pickling or pearl onions250g button mushrooms1 teaspoon olive oil30g plain flour1 extra tbsp plain flour1 litre chicken stock125ml brandy2 tsp tomato puree1.5 tsp softened butter2 tbsp chopped parsley

Joint each chicken into 8 pieces by cutting through the centre of the bird.

Place the wine, thyme and bay leaves into a bowl with the chicken and season well with salt and pepper. Cover and leave to marinate overnight.

Lightly sauté the bacon lardons until golden and place into a separate bowl. Then using the same frying pan, melt a quarter of the butter in the pan and add the onions until browned. Set these to one side.

Melt another quarter of butter, add the mushrooms, some salt and pepper and sauté for 5 minutes. Again, remove and set to one side.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat the chicken dry but save the wine and herb mix. Add the remaining butter and oil to the frying pan and sauté until golden brown. Stir in the flour.

Transfer the chicken into a large saucepan or casserole dish and add the stock. Pour the brandy into the frying pan and boil, stirring, for 30 seconds to deglaze the pan. Pour over the chicken. Add the marinade, onions, mushrooms, bacon lardons and tomato paste. Cook over a moderate heat for 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

The History of Coq au Vin

Napoleon is thought to have unexpectedly stopped at an inn while travelling through France. The innkeeper had little food to serve aside from an old rooster and some inferior wine. In desperation the innkeeper cooked the rooster in the wine with onions, herbs and some vegetables. To everyone’s surprise it was very tasty, to the point that it became part of traditional French cuisine.

Until the 20th century it was common for rural families to have some chickens and a rooster. The rooster would be kept until it was too old to perform it’s duties, at which time it would be killed and eaten. Because the rooster was so old its meat could be tough and stringy so cooking it slowly in red wine would soften the meat and make it more edible.

Coq au Vin first appeared in an 1864 cookbook but the dish can be traced back as far as Julius Caesar. It is generally known throughout France as a national rustic dish but typically a wine from the region of Bourgogne is used in its preparation.

Coq au Vin

Yodel_january.indd 38 11/12/2011 20:53

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BRITISH RUN SKI AND SNOWBOARD SCHOOL.

BEGINNER TO BACKCOUNTRY.To Book Tel: 04 50 38 34 91

www.avoriazalpineskischool.com

Mobile phone – It is inevitable that when skiing you will need to take your phone, for safety if nothing else. The only problem being that in colder temperatures our phone’s battery can seize up and empty even if it’s fully charged. A simple solution can be found in just wrapping it up, you could use the case for your goggles rather than taking extra bulk up the mountain.

Camera - Similar problems can occur with your camera so it is also a good idea to ensure you have some kind of a case or warm wrap to protect it. Some people believe the battery lasts longer outside of the camera, so they keep it separate until they are ready to start taking photos. When returning from your days skiing try not to take the camera straight into the warmest environment but instead allow it to acclimatise in a cooler area.

Car – Always remember to lift your windscreen wipers away from the glass when you park otherwise you run the risk of them freezing onto it. Ensure you always leave your car in gear and preferably try to park with your wheels facing away from any slope. When appropriate, try to keep the handbrake off as moisture can freeze cables and brake linings.

Yourself! – If you feel yourself getting ill, which can often happen in the cold ensure you have a lie-in, relax and allow your body a chance to recuperate. It will be worth missing a morning’s skiing to save yourself for the rest of the week or even season.

COLDWEATHER PROOFING

English & French Breakfast

Non stop food from 11.30am - 5.00pm

Apres ski & “Apero” on our sunny terrace

Enjoy cocktails & tapas

TV’s showing sport all day

Avoriaz centre, near the Office de Tourisme

Fantastic.pdf 1 14/11/2011 11:12


ONESIEOF THE MONTHAt Yodel we’ve respected the super-powers of the onsie for some time now. We hadn’t considered their maintenance and upkeep until we encountered this scene. This onesie has all the key colours you need but gets extra bonus points for the peach squares. It’s so bright, it must require a regular launder, perhaps in a washing machine rather than a half frozen river.

If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch with the Retro Rentals boys – www.retro-rentals.eu.

IEIE

If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch If you want to look this cool this winter, get in touch 32

This game is like a frozen, upside down, distant cousin of snakes and ladders, but with a yeti. Set in a winter wonderland, the objective of the game is to stay out

on the mountain longer than anyone else, using ski-lifts and helicopters and avoiding the roaming yeti. The board itself is made from a handy spill-proof

vinyl. It’s tough and durable and rolls up to be portable. Adding an element of après drinking games to the rules would be easy, but at the same time

Yeti Mountain is great fun for families too.

yodel has a Yeti Mountain game to give away!

Question: What is the name of the yeti?Find out at www.yetimountain.co.uk

To win: e-mail your answer to: [email protected]

£22


ride | protect | share

Here at Yodel we are HUGE fans of Picture Organic. Their ethically inspired range of ski and snowboard clothing is bright and funky while being sustainably manufactured.

And guess what? They have very kindly offered Yodel readers some very special prizes this month…

The Challenge,it’s a picture comp,think organically...It’s the ‘Picture Organic’ competition you see…

Runners-UpTwo runners up will win:

Annual subscriptionto either Whitelines or

Onboard magazinesBassment t-shirt

100% organic cottonTwe12ve DVD

from Absinthe fi lms

To Enter…1. Put your imagination into gear2. Send us your inspired organic

pictures before 31st January3. Yodel readers will vote for their

favourite over the following 7 days4. We’ll have 3 winners!

1st PrizeThe Helsinki Jacket

made from recycled polyesterand a bioceramic membrane

Bassment t-shirt100% organic cotton

Twe12ve DVD

from Absinthe fi lms

ThePrizes...


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"Avoriaz is unique for so many reasons. Firstly it is a car free resort and is 100% ski in, ski out. We offer guaranteed snow cover during the winter and we’re one of the closest resorts to Geneva airport. Throughout the winter season we plan world-class ski and music events, which create a fabulous après-ski atmosphere in the resort. We’re also really pleased to have the Village des Enfants – a unique ski school that is innovative, modern and fun.

I think that Avoriaz is great for both families and groups of young people in equal measure. Children can go sledging in complete safety because there is no traffic. Then young people can stay out all night and party without having to think about transportation.

We like to keep adding to the resort and this winter visitors to Avoriaz will be able to enjoy five new tourist residences, our new ice rink, extra underground car parking and the spa and wellness centre. Currently under development is our new indoor waterpark Aquariaz – it will be the biggest mountain water park

in the world. There are four new tourism residences and work is underway on a new cable car to connect Avoriaz with Prodains.

Avoriaz is a really popular resort during the summer too. Aquariaz opens in July 2012 and there are lots of other activities to keep people entertained such as golf, children’s clubs, trampolines, beach volleyball, an adventure park and archery. And because we’re right in the middle of a huge mountain bike area, there are 23 ski lifts open during the summertime for riders who can then take advantage of 580km of runs.

250,000 people visit Avoriaz each winter and our research tells us that the resort is a popular holiday resort for 35 different nationalities. It is mostly British tourists who visit Avoriaz, but there are lots of Belgian, Russian, Dutch and German visitors too. We like to welcome everyone! 70% of people who come to Avoriaz say that they’d like to return – they love being in a car free resort. Visitors also tell us that the resort is convenient for the wider Portes du Soleil and young people absolutely love all of our snow parks and the Burton Stash.

I don’t actually leave Avoriaz during the winter – why would I? When the season is finished I spend a week holidaying in France and then in the autumn I like to go abroad and discover new countries and different people."

www.avoriaz.com

The tourist office in Avoriaz

is always at the forefront of

planning amazing activities and

competitions for all to enjoy.

yodel caught up with Director

Stephane Lerendu to get his

perspective on the Portes du

Soleil’s highest ski resort.

Tourism in Avoriaz


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Jan FD Yodel ad.pdf 1 07/12/2011 19:53


Avoriaz January 2012

Documents

Transcript of Avoriaz January 2012