More snow than can shake your proverbials at.

A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!

We have been full on the last couple of weeks with training and getting the final preparations done before first guests next weekend.

In meantime Avoriaz has been opening it's lifts and the tales coming back from the hill have been almost unbelieveble. As we haven't been up, have not had chance to assertain for my self but here is a shot from out front of the chalet, just to give you an idea of how much snow there is right now.

I've been coming here for 10 years and never seen town so white, can't wait to get up the hill.

Le Prele improvements

Today we had a quick meeting with the lovely couple whom we rent our Chalet Le Prele from. At the end of last season we mentioned to them various improvments that would make a big difference to the chalet. Having not mentioned anything over the summer we were doubting as to how much of our advice they took on board.

However we were happy to find out that they had taken eveything we said and made it a reality. Thus it's great to be able to say that Le Prele has had all brand new high quality bed linen, proper down pillows and extra large bath towels as well as a large 6 seater hot tub.

I love Pat Meurier

Purely platonically of course. Pat is K2 snowboards in the UK, and during my time working in the industry Pat and I spent many a late night discussing the geekier elements of snowboard technology. One of the more recent, developments is rocker, anti-camber or banana shapes, depending on which companies version. To me they look like boards that bend the wrong way and go against my inner understanding of how a board should work. Pat on the other hand had had the opportunity to ride the new boards and was completely converted, not only that it worked but was revloutionary in what it could do for your riding.

Because he is such s lovely guy, and partly probably to prove a point Pat very generously gave me a K2 Turbodream with rocker. Yesterday with the aforementioned opening of Avoriaz I was able to put it to the test for the first time.

Oh my god, how good is it. I rode a centered stance and charged the pow, being able to pressure my front foot without fear of sinking the nose. It was stable, fast, floaty and fun. I will now have to agree that rocker tech is as groundbreaking as the hype says. Funny for something that has been revived from some of the earliest boards.

Thank you so much Pat, for the first time in 15 years my board of choice is not a Burton.

Avoriaz opens it's lifts

In response to the great snow conditions Chatel, Les Get and Avoriaz all opened their lifts this weekend. The opportunity to get the season started pulled quite a crowd, for what turned out to be a glorious day of sunshine and fresh powder.

With a load more snow due for the end of this week we are off to a great start.

Sex & Snow

Snow is like sex,

you never know how many inches you'll get or how long it will last.

Another great night last night.

Avoriaz knackering but worth it for the snow.

After being defeated yesterday on our ascent to Avoriaz we tried again today with much more success, and a better suited vehicle. Once in town we hiked the Arare, it took an hour and half, at some points literally upto my jewels in freshies.

Despite being absolutely knackered, still found the energy to woop the whole way down. Having been so invigorate by the quality of the run down we quickly decided to built a little kicker and get our first air time of the season, to add to the first powder turns.

Oh what a day, the season has started, FACT

Chefs raise the game, 10 courses and all wanting more.

This week we invited 16 of our good friends to dinner, so that Dean & Ryan, our chefs for this winter, could have a chance to get used to the kitchen and flex their culinary muscles.

Not wanting to disapoint they pulled all the stops and provided the following 10 course degustation menu.

Creamy Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Soup w/ Rosemary Croutes

Char Su Pork Steamed Rolls w/ Bell Pepper Jam

Pepper and Dill Seared Local Salmon w/ Citrus Stifado

Twice Baked Abondance Cheese and Chive Soufflé w/ Cauliflower Puree, Pistachio

Fresh Picked, Wild Mushroom Risotto w/ Pancetta, Pea, Shaved Pecorino

Chilled Prawn, Lime Avocado Salsa, Celeriac Remoulade, Tomato Tian w/ Chive Oil

Pear, Rocket, Walnut, Prosciutto Salad w/ Balsamic Crème

Seared Pork Fillet w/ Soft Parmesan Polenta, Brussel Leaves, Green Apple, Mustard, Red Wine Jus

Baked Peach Coconut Custard w/ Almond Tuille Wafer

Selection of Local Cheeses, Citrus Date Puree, Pear and Grapes

Not only does it sound good, it looked amazing and tasted even better. We are so looking forward to working with these guys this year and being able to take out guests perceptions of chalet cooking to a new height.

First time for everything

We have had an exciting week, personally Emma and I got the keys to our first house, Luc made his first steps, we made our first turns and our chefs had their first opportunity to cook for a full house, more reports on that to come.

We tried to get upto Avoriaz today, to make the most of all the lovely snow we've been having, but unfortunatly too much of a good thing and we couldn't make it up the road, so settled for a quick hike up from Prodain and still managed the first turns of the season. Which for Kylie was the first time shes ever seen and played in snow, kids in the candy store.

The trouble with weather forecasting

Patrick Young once said, "The trouble with weather forecasting is that it's right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it."

So to support reports of the coming snow this weekend and not get carried away with the hysteria that is growing in town, I have been checking every weather forecasting website I know about, and a few new ones, to establish what I can about the coming weekend.
Based on a mid station height (between 1500 - 1700 meters depending on report) we are expecting between 80 - 115 cm of snow over the weekend. It will settle down to 200mtrs at some points, but can expect 50 cm in the town of Morzine, with much more on top.

But that is not the good news, it is basically due to snow off and on for the next 2 weeks, without warming too much in between.

I'm off to wax my board, see ya.

Politics Aside

Politics aside, when the vote is cast, we're hoping for the numbers to gently swing our way. Not because we deserve four feet of fresh. Not because we are worthy of the fine grained drifts. Not because we deserve the benefits of our particular brand of control over the blizzardy precipitation. Oh no. That's not why.
It's because we want it more than the next guy; It's because we are the vocal minority who cried out the loudest and longest; and it's because when the polls are closed and the results announced, when it snows, all will be right with the world.
and the world is about to become right again.

Meet the STAFF!

We are so happy to be able to introduce our team for this year, as we are sure they will not only be able to continue our high standards, but make sure all the ingredients for a great holiday are blended and working together.

Taking care of the food we have Ryan and Dean. Having worked together in some of Oz’s best restaurants, and made the finals of young chef of the year, we are so fortunate to have their skills and input.

The rest of the chalets hosting is being taken care of by Hannah and Glenda. Who taking a break from professions at home after enjoying the Mountain Mavericks service themselves in the past have returned to do a proud job.

This year we have an extra fulltime member of staff, returning after doing a few weeks for us last year David is now our full time driver and assisting me with with the mountain hosting.
As always we will be keeping our hands on and taking care of all desires outside of the chalet. And this year we have little Luc keeping us all in line.

A special offer for a very Happy New Year

Considering the doom and gloom of the economic climate not only back in the UK but all over the world, we thought that we would like to take the pressure off a little in JANUARY and offer all bookings taken from now until the beginning of the season (8th NOV - 14th Dec 08) a 10% discount.

Avoriaz to open at the end of November!

With reports this week of Avoriaz opening it's 'doors' on the 29th November, the snow cannons have been 'blowing' all week to supplement the snowfall we have been having, making it offical that winter is just around the corner - it's getting rather exciting here at Maverick towers.

With another 'DUMP' due next week, keep logging in to see our first lines of the season........

Here's hoping

According to a Guardian newspaper article from September the 1st, we might be in for a snowy, cold winter.
In the piece entitled ‘Is summer really over?’ a long-range forecaster named Harry Kershaw, using a technique known as simililarity forecasting, has said that 2008’s weather patterns are following those of 1962, which entailed a wet September and a briefly fine October, before descending into a bitter cold winter throughout the start of 1963. So cold in fact, that it became known as The Big Freeze of 1963, and according to the national CET records - which record temperatures going back to 1659 - was only beaten by the winter of 1739-40.

In 1963 the thermometre dropped to -16C, which led to the sea freezing to a distance of 1 mile from Herne Bay, the Thames was briefly turned into a skating rink, and snow settled on much of the country from January until March, with many parts of the country reporting drifts of up to 6 metres.

Cam't be bad.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/sep/01/weather

A magical morning

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?

J.B. Priestley

Oh! the snow

Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, Filling the sky and earth below, Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet.

J. Watson

Taken this morning at 1120mtrs

Avoriaz snowiest resort in France - fact

Recently trying to persuade an old friend of mine to do a season here in Morzine, I again found myself defending the area. He has lived in Deux Alps for a number of years and depsite many an occasion of me gloating to him about having more snow over here, he can't get passed the missconception that a low resort won't have any snow.

Knowing the fact of it and understanding there have to be other factors that effect snowfall, other than altitude, I started to research.

among many other things I discovered that according to the Daily Mail ski magazine, with an average just shy of 8m snow a year, Avoriaz is the snowiest resort in France and 5th from across Europe. November 08 issue.

There is a very good entry on the all Mountain Holidays web which discusses this very topic and gives a good number of reasons.

http://www.allmountainholidays.com/weblog/

Also worth a read on this subject: http://www.white-peak.com/weblog/?p=7

and just to ice my argument, it is snowing in Avoriaz as I write this.

Work is never ending

Were still cracking on trying to get things finished before the fast approaching winter. This week we have recarpeted all the bedrooms and the tv room, as well new wood flooring through the upstairs lounge. Could find decent carpet out here so persuaded Carl and his team to bring it all out form the UK and install it, ooh it's lovely.

Ooh he makes us proud

Those of you that came to stay with us last year, will probably remember us karting little Luc around as we came to visit the chalets of an evening and how he would happily sleep in his carry thing like the little cute baby that he was. Well he had his first birthday yesterday and he's still just as cute but not nearlly as quiet or still as he used to be, but were still just as proud of him.

Here he is playing pirates with his friends.

Winter has started

The trees have only just started to turn colour, a couple of weeks ago we were still in shorts, but already we have snow. It is only just into October and we don't expect it to stay for long but it bodes well for the future. There may not look like much down here at the chalet, about an inch. But we are only at 1100mtrs our nextdoor neighbour was on top of Pleney this morning (at 1600mtrs) where there was nearly 10 cms. Definitely time to break out the winter woolies and wax the board (just in case).

Note to self

Blogs are funny things, certainly when you have one for the first time. Never too sure if anyone is reading what you write or not, it's sometimes hard to know how much energy to apply and how much information people will be interested in. But the other day I met some one who admitted to reading our blog on a regular basis. This simple act of recognition has given me a renewed passion, so I would like to start with saying hello to Chris and then make a promise to keep my posts regular and keep anyone who wishes to be upto date on conditions and goings on in Morzine.
Please feel free to ridicule me if you feel I am slacking in my endevours.

#1 by your opinions, Thank you

We would like to say a big thank you to our guests, who have written reviews on Tripadvisor. We are now listed as the #1 lodging in Morzine & Avoriaz. This means a great deal to us as reviews are anonymous and unbiased.
If you are interested to see what previous guests have had to say about us please visit

Read unbiased opinions about
Chambertin and
LePrele at TripAdvisor.

Here comes the hot tub

It's here finally, our lovely new hot tub. It's been a while to wait but after lots of deliberation and planning Chalet Chambertin can now boast a hot tub amoungst it's other comforts. All we need to do now is complete the decking around and we will be in for a good soak.

New for Summer 2008

Not wanting to slow momentum, we are continuing to improve our chalet and what we can offer. New for this summer will be a hot tub housed in it's own decking out the back of the upstairs lounge. We will also have dressing gowns and complimentary slippers to go with this.

We are adding french doors to the dinning room so that the decking can be accessed directly from there. The bed rooms are getting a make over with three more getting redecorated and they are all getting carpeted with a new real wood floor in the lounge.

Here is an artist impression of the front of the chalet and some themes for the bedrooms to be decorated.

Chalet improvements

Over the last year we have been constantly improving our chalet. As some of you may be aware this is what we have done over last year.

Renovated and expanded kitchen.

Stage 1 in decorating the bed rooms, the family room.

Big decking and BBQ out front in time for summer.