Events & Competitions this Winter in Paradiski

The lifts open in Les Arcs and La Plagne on the 14th of December and then the two resorts will connect once again on the 20th of December.

This winter will the be tenth year of the Paradiski area and there are some special celebrations planned as well as a host of cool events this winter in La Plagne and Les Arcs. Here's some of my favourites.

The first event is a celebration of the the 10 years of the Paradiski: Paradiski Gravity. On December 16th two slackliners are going to cross the gap between the two Vanoise express cable cars.If you want to be part of this pretty bonkers event you can be in the two cable cars when the walkers make their crossing. Visit the Paradiski Facebook page to enter the competition.

With the two resorts connected you can travel between La Plagne and Les Arcs to the events, festivals and competitions that are coming up this season. Just don't miss the last lift back home.

Over Christmas and New Year each of the resorts and levels will have their own celebrations but if you can make a trip to Arc 1950 on Christmas Day at 5pm and New Years eve from 11 for their fireworks displays.

The first competition that's worth going to see starts on the 11th of January in Arc 1800: The Red Bull Line Catcher. The Linecatcher has been going from strength the stregth and is one of the best Freeride competitions outside the Word Tou.

After the Line Catcher it's the turn of the Ice Climbers in Champany en Vanoise. The Ice climbing wall in Champagny is one of the most impressive in the wrld and each year there are a number of events and competitions held here. The First event in 2014 will be the Gorzderette on the 25th and 26th January. Then at the end of January the Ice Climbing World Championships will take place on the 31st and 1st. Finally it's the World Youth Ice Climbing Championships on the 8th and 9th of February.

To be honest Champany is a bit of a hassle to get to but if Ice Climbing interests you then it's worth making the trip.

February is pretty quiet in Paradiski but things pick up again in March with the GMX in Arc 1800. GMX stands for Gavaggio Monster Cross and the event, which is a ski cross festival for kids,will run from the 4th to the 7th of March.

After the kids have had a go at Ski Cross it's time for the adults when the World Cup Skiercross and Moguls come to La Plagne from the 19th-23rd of March.

Then a day later it's the competition hosted by La Plagne's favourite son Kevin Rolland. Kevin Rolland's Shred It will run from 24th-25th of March and should be one of the Freestyle highlights of the season with world class athletes fresh from Sochi being invited to hit the custom built kicker in Kevin's back yard playground of La Plagne.

The last two events coincide on the 5th and 6th of April in La Plagne there is a Freeride World Tour Qulaifier and then there is a brand new event in Les Arc on the 6th: The B&E Invitational. A freestyle super comp hosted by Phil Casabon and Henrick Harlaut with a course shaped a little like a willy.

There are other more regular events in both resorts for example in Les Arcs on Wednesday nights from Christmas Day onwards. Sledge down the Rodeo Park Toboggan in the dark. And on Thursday mornings from 9th January enjoy First Tracks. Meet the lifties at 7.45 and enjoy sunrise at the top of the Arpette followed by breakfast and a chance to ski down before the lifts open to the public at 8.30.

If you are holding an event or competition let us know and we'll add it to our Calendar.

Have a great winter and we'll see you on the hill.