Eurogroup Holidays Blog

23 and 24 July 2008

Alpe d’Huez / Bourg d’Oisans

This year, the cyclists competing in the Tour de France will, for the 26th time, have to face the famous climb of Alpe d’huez.

The legendary climb with its twenty one bends is one of the most difficult, yet favorite stages of the race for many of the riders.

This year will be the 26th time the race has run through the resort, bringing with it the same passion, the same enthusiasm, and a great sense of fun!

This great event is organised by the Dauphiné Flying Club, together with Alpe d’Huez, in order to offer a unique demonstration of mountain flying. Over two days enjoy different demonstrations from both olden and modern day planes, from helicopters to parachutes, flight simulators as well as demonstrations from the French Air Force.  A great family day out with plenty entertainment for the kids and what is more - it’s completely free!!

Tired of watching youtube movies that are poor quality, snowzone, bring you the best of amateur and pro movies re-digitalised and optimised for an excellent online viewing experience.

KUMI YAMA FROM THE 4th to the 6th OF JULY…
Following in the footsteps of Tahiti (Taravana Freestyle, www.taravana-freestyle.com), Japan is the latest country to transplant a little part of itself to Les 2 Alpes! Delight in the authentic Japanese environment, Japanese ladies, typical dishes, ways and customs, dancing, sumo and hordes of fans, etc. This event will bring together the European freestyle ski and snowboard scene in an unusual atmosphere because it will have a Japanese theme with all that entails (a setting on the snowpark, a sushi party, Japanese spectacle, trips to Tokyo for you to win, etc.). Moreover, this event coincides with the 150th anniversary of Franco-Japanese relations. The novel concept of this freestyle ski and snowboard event lies in the team-based format of all the contests (snowboard, ski, kids [13-15 years old], goomies [9-12 years old] and photography). The icing on the cake will be a trip to a luxurious Tokyo hotel for the winners (plus 130,000 ¥ of prize money and over 900,000 ¥-worth of prizes)!
Les 2 Alpes snowpark, on the highest glacier in Europe, will be the playground for the riders, and new, totally novel and themed modules will need to be added to raise its European reputation still further, such as torii jib and gong bonk, etc… In teams of three (mixed is possible), the riders will do battle in slopestyle jam sessions(qualifications + finals).
The pro-riders invitational will be contested by 30 skiers and 30 snowboarders. But uninvited pros and amateurs will not be left out, because a wild card contest will act as qualification stage for them.
A “Japan air” best trick on a hip and a best trick “bonk” will also be organised, with the previously mentioned prizes at stake.

Programme of Events
Friday 4 July    -    Ski & Snowboard Wild Card Contests in groups of three, open to uninvited pros and amateurs.
Saturday 5 July  -  Final of the Ski & Snowboard Contest in groups of three (invited pros and qualified riders following the Wild Card Contest the day before). The best team of snowboarders and the best team of skiers will leave clutching tickets for a trip to Tokyo.
Sunday 6 July  -  Contests for Kids (under 16 years of age) & Goomies (8 to 10 years of age) in teams of three.

The programme of events also pays homage to photographers, with a competition bringing together professionals and amateurs. This photography competition is also team-based because each photographer must come with his or her graphic artist, who will be responsible for embellishing the images to give them an “art and design” dimension, touching up the colours and putting together sequences, etc. After two days of shooting, three photographs per team will be exhibited (a sequence, a portrait and a black, white and red photograph). Following the deliberations of a panel of professionals, the winning photographer/graphic artist team will be packing its cases for a stay in a luxury hotel in Tokyo!
This exhibition will take place on the evening of Saturday 5 July and be accompanied by a Japanese spectacle and sumo wrestling. Plenty of the Japanese beer Asahi will be flowing and you will be able to sample sushi, sashimi and other Japanese culinary specialities.
In partnership with Snowboard Collective, no fewer than 15 snowboard companies will
be in attendance in the snowpark’s “cool zone”, allowing the public to try out the 2009 equipment, free of charge and before anyone else. The following companies will all be there: Burton, Rome, Nitro, Ride, Apo, Forum, Vans, Flow, Allian, Bataleon, Imperium, Gnu, Lib Technologies, Magic Potion and Rossignol.

Eurogroup Vacances will be holding its annual summer barbecue on Thursday 26th June at its offices in Chambéry.

Eurogroup staff and their families can look forward to good food, great music and excellent entertainment for both kids and adults!

Check out our blog at the end of the month to find out what fun was to be had and to take a look at our photos!

Announcing the opening of a new resort at Valjoly, on the 27th of June.On the outskirts of the Ardennes and on the wooded shores of France’s largest lake north of Paris, we would be delighted to welcome you to Eurogroup’s brand new exciting holiday destination, Les Hauts de Valjoly. In a semi-detached house or a single-floored apartment, come and make the most of a great range of activities and entertainment. Valjoly is home to the fantastic Aquatica Water Park, where you can enjoy a wave-pool, waterfalls, jet fountains, a chute, a play-pool, a large swimming pool and a solarium….. We look forward to seeing you soon!

As if Skiing wasn’t risky enough; Les 2 Alpes are organising, what I think is the first ever Poker Week in the Alps.  From the 10th January to the 17th January 2009, the 2 Alpes Tourist office is organising a week dedicated to Poker Texas Hold’em.  Not quite sure how they are getting round the stringent gambling laws in France, but I am sure all will be revealed in time.  In the meantime, start saving your dollars!

The French resort of La Plagne has organised a week dedicated to relaxation, personal fulfillment and energising activities. This week of Zen will be taking place on the 21st – 25th July in the traditional village of Montchavin Les Coches.

One treatment on offer is the ‘Do-In’ (also called Daoyin, Dao-In and Tao-In), a self-help massage therapy that combines some of the principles of Shiatsu and Acupressure with stretches, exercises, breathing and meditation techniques. It is a traditional preventative treatment often referred to by the Chinese as a ‘higher-level treatment’ thanks to its reputation for maintaining health to the point of slowing the ageing process and strengthening the immune system.

Days will also be spent with your family in the mountains learning to sing with the support of percussion instruments and Alpine walks picking wild flowers. Afterwards the flowers will be used to re-create an easy recipe with Stephanie, the arts and crafts teacher. You and your family can also take a trip to ‘Le Chalet du Carroley’, an alpine chalet home to many local villagers. You will be integrated into rustic village life by feeding the sheep, goats and ewes and tasting the local produce.

Make the most of the arts and crafts workshops that will teach you a galore of handicraft treats including making scrap books, illustrating travel journals and recipes, flower arranging, bead making, Brazilian bracelet making and decorating picture frames. After a day of handicrafts, relax in a chaises longues and take in the serenity of the Japanese gardens which are scattered around Montchavin les Coches especially for the occasion.

Start booking your restaurants now!  Next years winter half-term week looks like it will be mega, with the vast majority of UK schools on holiday that week. Don’t forget it’s also Valentine’s Day, so get ready for some seriously romantic ski breaks, and lots of clients wanting a table for two for the first night in resort…

• In les 2 Alpes not a week goes by without some sort of event. They pride
themselves on the organisation of their events and entertainments programmes:
From 14th to 15th June: AYTON DAYS
From 19th to 22nd June: MONDIAL DU VTT FREE RAID CLASSIC VTT
Mag Mountain Bike Event
From 4th to 6thJuly: KUMI YAMA (a European freestyle competition)
From 5th to 12th July: KID’S WEEK
14th July: French Cycling Federation Cup,
LA TRAVERSEE DE L’OISANS
From 18th to 20th July: MOUNTAIN OF HELL
From 26th July to 1st August: LE DEFI DE L’OISANS running race
3rd August: LA FETE DES FOINS traditional fair
7th August: POTTERY MARKET (Venosc village)
16th and 17th August: ENDURO SERIES Mountain bike event
16th and 17th August: LE TROPHEE DES NATIONS DE VTT
Mountain bike event
24th August: LA CYCLOSPORTIVE PANTANI Cycling race