Mountain Mavericks gets more Fabulous!

This is a very exciting week in the life of Mountain Mavericks, firstly our new shiny staff have arrived to be given the MM stamp of loveliness (not that they need it!) and secondly we are playing host to the crew from Fabulous magazine - the glossy fashion insert to the News of the World.

More on the staff in a later blog....going to get a family photo first!

Back to being Fabulous!

Basing themselves at our totally fabulous chalet - Chalet Le Prele, the Fabulous crew arrived on Sunday to our little town of Morzine that was looking rather void of snow....with much looking at the forecasts we promised the blanket of snow was arriving overnight.....(no sleep for us, just snow dancing all night!!)......and blessed we were......We all woke up to a beautiful and stunning winter wonderland, just in the nick of time ( I have gone grey during the lead up to this!)

The first day of shooting was for the beauty shoot, which was taken around the chalet - wait till you see them.....amazing! I think due in the magazine towards the end of January...don't worry we shall keep you updated.

Today they have been shooting the 'Ice Queen' story at the stunning Lac du Montriond. I took a few behind the scene photos to give you an idea of a) the snow! and b) how amazing the shoot is going to turn out.

It's all very exciting. I shall keep you posted as the week goes on........

Can you believe it! We have Christmas available in Chalet Le Prele!!!!

Due to a last minute cancellation we now have our gorgeous Chalet Le Prele available for the Christmas week 20th-27th December 2009!

Imagine spending a picture perfect Christmas with family/friends in one of the most beautiful chalets in Morzine. Wake up gently to a hot drink brought to your bedside, feel energised for the day in the fab walk in showers, fill yourself with a hearty home cooked breakfast - what do you fancy today? Eggs, bacon, pancakes, omelette's - you decide. Be delivered to the pistes and met again at a time to suit you, before heading back to the roaring fire, freshly made cakes, mince pies, mulled wine - soak in the beautifully landscaped hot tub and smother yourself in the delicious L'Occitane goodies.

Diner....well, one of THE events of the day at MM. Your professional chef Dean ably assisted by Kylie will create and serve a masterpiece. Accompanied by carefully plucked wines - a real seventh heaven!

All topped off with traditional decorations, alpine tree, crackers, silly hats and lots more.

The published price for Christmas week is £7,500 for sole occupancy. At a much reduced price due to the cancellation we can now offer the whole chalet for £6,000 or £600pp

Do call and chat to Emma on 0033 6 34 04 04 67 -Merry Christmas!!!!

ooh like a good soak

Although we are constantly trying to improve our offering to you, many are quite small changes and this year a number are still not completed. However one of the more noticable works has been completed in the re location and landscaping of Le Preles hot tub. Settled a little further back it still commands the view over Morzine and Pleney, but keeps those enjoying a good soak out of sight.

Snow glorious snow

Our good friends Tammy and Paul went for a walk up the valley from Chalet Chambertin to see what they could see. The view was blurred but they were not purturbed, for everything was very snowy.

But you can see that for yourself in the pictures. Just think what it will be like up top.

Safely home to the snow

Having just got our eyes open after recovering from the mammoth drive, it's good to be home. especially as can look back on a good few weeks in good ol' london.
First off we had the ski show, there promoting our snow board camps (http://www.just-snowboard.com/) we hijacked the Quiksilver stand and invited our dudes along to represent.The following weekend was the Freeze at battersea powerstation, which had a great display of skiing snd snowboarding as well as bands, none of whoom I'd heard of, but enjoyed them all the same.
The icing on the cake is though, the litteral icing that morzine has all white and crisp, ahh it's good to be home.
Cheers to all of you who popped by to see us, look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Quiksilver news

Quiksilver launch new Int-Adv Snowboard Performance & Freestyle Camps with JUST SNOWBOARD

Quiksilver have joined forces with Just Snowboard to offer a range of Performance and Freestyle camps in Morzine, France for the upcoming season. Advanced qualified coaches, luxury accommodation, transfers, breakfast & dinner, lift pass, riding with Quiksilver Pro’s, and Quiksilver goodie bags all for just £780. This is the same price as most people will find themselves paying for an average snowboard holiday without the added coaching or added bonuses.

Camps
If you’re an intermediate snowboarder looking to improve your technical and freestyle skills you can sign up to these new Just Snowboard camps this winter with coaching from qualified instructors:

Quiksilver JustPerformance Lab – aimed at building on existing technical skills as well as dropping, spinning and slashing your way to a better riding experience.

Quiksilver JustFreestyle camp – all about freestyle trickery, be it kickers, rails, pipe or just jibbing about.

Mint Snowboard Coaching & Quiksilver Pro Snowboarders
You will be coached by the reputable Mint Snowboarding coaches, whose team of British instructors are qualified to the highest international level. They will ensure you progress to the best of your abililty as quickly as possible… providing you with easy to understand techniques and fun focused learning.
As well as pro coaching you’ll get the chance to ride with Quiksilver Pro Snowboarders James Stentiford, Jamie Nicholls, and James Thorne and hit them up for a few tips and hints.

Mountain Mavericks Accommodation
Accommodation is in one of Mountain Mavericks luxurious chalets. Complete with en-suite rooms, hot tub, lounge and games room. Breakfast and dinner with free flowing wine. Airport transfers and full Portes du Soleil lift-pass all included in the price. Centered around Avoriaz, which boasts the highest snow record in France, the chalet is a short walk from the lifts to access 650km's of piste (and all the bits inbetween).

Lib Tech Demo Centre
Just Snowboard are also supported by LibTech snowboards. Demo some of the latest advances in snowboard technology, from the most experimental factory in the world.

Dates 09/10
Just Performance Lab
12th – 19th December 2009 / 9th – 16th January 2010
Just Freestyle
13th – 20th March 2010

click on http://www.just-snowboard.com/ to sign up to one of the camps!

See us at the Ski Show.....London 21st-25th October 2009

We have a stand at this years Metro Ski Show 2009! We will be promoting our Just Snowboard camps, new snowboard chalet - MMSB and of course our gorgeous Mountain Mavericks chalets.

You will find us on stand number 760......

Drop by and say hi, it would be great to see you.

Useful to know

With the fluctuations the euro exchange rate has been going through over the last year or so, it has been difficult to plan and budget ahead for your holiday. By charging in pounds we make this a little easier on you, by taking on the head ache.
Recently have been made aware of another useful tool when spending money acrross borders.
The pre pay currency card. Works like any pre pay card, but you get a better exchange rate (if your organised and clever you can charge it up when the going is good and lock in the exchange rate then), can be charged online or by sms, no atm or transaction fees and free to get.
Dont believe me check out http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/ .
Nothing to lose.

New Just Snowboard site goes live

After months of hard work we are super happy to say that the new Just Snowboard site has gone live to the world. Just camps is a collaboration between Mountain Mavericks, Quiksilver and Mint Snowboard School here in Morzine/Avoriaz, providing the full camp package from the best of qualified instruction with luxurious accommodation and ultimate service.

A huge thank you to Mark and the guys at Origin(www.origincreativedesign.com) for creating and building such an awesome site and also a huge thank you to Meena at Quiksilver, for all the support in helping us provide the camps and image that we dreamt of.

Sooooo introducing .....(drum roll) ..... http://www.just-snowboard.com/

Let us know what you think.....

Mrs Maverick runs for Alex

Emma is running in the 10KM run in Jussy, Switzerland, this weekend. She has been donning the running shoes in preparation of this event on the 20th September 2009 to help raise money for Alex, her half brother in law to visit the States and receive the treatment he needs.



To find out more about Alex click www.justgiving.com/iamrunningforalex


Here is a photo of Alex with his Mum and Dad taken a year ago.

Mountain Mavericks presents MM Snowboard (MMSB)

We are really stoked to announce that our new chalet - Chalet Atelier is where we shall be launching our new snowboard chalet concept, MMSnowboard (MMSB), as an exciting addition to our Signature chalet's.

Chalet Atelier will also be the new home of Just Snowboard camps (http://www.just-snowboard.com/.............. *new website going live very very soon*) a perfect partnership of Mountain Mavericks, Mint Snowboard School and Quiksliver bringing you the very best of a camp atmosphere, tuition from Britain's highest qualified instructors and the Quiksilver team.

Chalet Atelier is only a short walk from the bottom of the Prodain cable car with fast and easy access to Avoriaz - "the snowboard capital of Europe" - as well as the rest of the Portes du Soleil. MMSB gives you the perfect chalet, location and service to call your home in the mountains.

The Chalet provides all the toys, fixtures and catering you would expect from superior accommodation, combined with in house guide, LibTech demo centre, service room and any additions a keen mountain user would require.

With MMSB fully catered weeks start from as little as £445 and the Just Snowboard camps from £780, check out http://www.blogger.com/www.mountainmavericks.com%20 for more information.

Glenda's Blog - What it's really like to work a winter season!

The winter of 2008/2009 will definitely be one to remember for me thanks to all the guests Ryan and I had stay with us in Le Prele. Each week we would eagerly await the transfer bus arriving and try to picture what ‘this week’s’ guests would be like. Lucky for us we had the most diverse, entertaining, relaxed, friendly mix of people we could have hoped for- it’s a cliche but no two week’s were the same.

This winter for me was a great escape- getting away from working in a bank during the good old economic crisis. I couldn’t have picked a better time or place to escape to. I had stayed with the MM team before and therefore knew what to expect from Olly and Emma, which for those of us who have been guests know to be a warm and enthusiastic welcome. What I wasn’t quite prepared for was just how much I would feel part of each group’s holiday. I realised that in my role as host it can be the tiniest touches which can make someone’s day or week whether it’s the comfort of a well made bed or a cup of tea in the morning. I found my favourite part of the day would be chatting with guests in the evenings when everyone was relaxed. It was lovely hearing about what they had been up to that day and getting updates from the kids on how their skiing had improved.

I also realised pretty quickly that I would learn to love and get excited about cleaning products- I never thought it will happen to me, suffice to say that my mother is very proud. The cleaning aspect of the job, whilst not my favourite past-time was outweighed by the time spent on the mountain. I hope Olly would agree that my snowboarding improved during the season after i sufficiently “manned up”.

A special mention has to go to the Just snowboard camp weeks - the guys and girls who joined us were ‘awesome’ - thanks for letting me join in. I can quite honesty say that being there to welcome people to Morzine and make the chalet their home during their stay is one of the most rewarding ‘jobs’ I’ve undertaken in a long time. It also helped having someone like Ryan to work with and cook for me every night for 5 months- I’ve had to relearn to cook since coming home!

Having had time to reflect after the season it’s so nice to look back at the positive comments that our guests took time to leave on Trip Advisor and other forums. It’s good to know that I in some way contributed you having a great holiday with Mountain Mavericks. Lucky for me Olly and Emma have asked me back for next year so I’m sure I’ll see a lot of our returning guests. I’ve started my countdown already- bring on the winter!!

New chalet for next winter

Forever wanting to improve our offering to you, we have taken on another chalet for next winter. Chalet Atelier is a little out of Morzine towards the Prodains lifts. Being walkable to the lifts and bars there, it is ideally suited for those that believe the on hill activities and apres are the most important ingredients to a holiday.

Recognising the combination of Mountain Mavericks service and mountain accessability Atelier is the new home of JustSnowboard Camps and has sponsorship from Quiksilver and LibTech.

This will mean amoung other things an in house LibTech demo fleet of boards.

The chalet, also has a large kitchen dinning area and open plan lounge, seperate games room, hottub, board store and 5 en-suite rooms.

Getting Itchy already

Just Having moment to sort some pictures from the last few days of the season. Fond memories, the pipe in Avoriaz was kept super well considering the 20+ temperatures and they built a big 'ol backcountry hip in Crozet, Happy days, bring on Winter10.

The seasons over.

As April ends the lifts have come to a stop, but it hasn't yet stopped snowing.
We have had a great season with plenty of powder days, meeting some fantastic people, but have to say looking forward to bit of a break.
Emma and myself would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that came to visit us this winter as well to Glenda, Hannah, Dean & Ryan for thier efforts in keeping up the Mountain Maverick standard.
As we are now busy planning for summer and start looking towards next winter we hope you are all well and that we get to catch up next year.
watch this space over the summer and we will keep you upto date on what we are planning, to make winter 2010 even better.

'Luc' the baby of Mountain Mavericks

We were not sure if anyone reads our blog.....but the more and more often we hear that you are! So thank you (big cheesy grin). But a topic of conversation that you all would like to see posted on a regular basis is that of our son Luc!

So.......


He received his first snowboard set up this week........

Last week of the season 2009 in Morzine/Avoriaz

Imagine spending the morning cruising the terrain of Avoriaz or playing in the parks in the gorgeous spring snow conditions then chilling in the sunshine with a cold beer or two, with other like minded snow lovers!

We are offering the last week of the season for only £200 for the week, half board. It will be a really relaxed week to enjoy the last few slides of what has been an amazing winter.

If you are interested to find out more and join us, then do email

iwanttoshreduntiltheveryend@mountainmavericks.com

Snowboard camp in fulll swing

This week Just Snowboard camps have one o thier Just4Girls camps running at Chalet Le Prele. Number of girls of all abilities are taking advantage of the great snow (yes we have more) and proffesional tuition, to take their riding to new heights. As well as a loads of fun off the hill.

We have signed up for the Portes du Soleil Multi Pass for this Summer 2009

You love Morzine / Avoriaz in the winter? Then you will love it even more in the summer.....

There are 12 villages that make up the huge area of the Portes du Soleil. Each tourist office has joined together to offer all visitors to the area unlimited access to numerous activities for only 1 Euro per day, when staying with a participating accommodation provider - i.e Us @ Chalet Chambertin, Mountain Mavericks!

Just for 1 Euro per person per day you can visit and use:-

4 swimming pools and 2 lakes

25 Mountain lifts for hikers

5 Cultural sites

9 Tennis courts

2 Ice rinks

3 Tourist road trains

Inter-resort bus services

Walk in 850 Km of foot paths



So for a family of 4, that's 4 Euros for the whole day!



The offer is valid from 15th June - 15th September 2009, so get in touch and come and stay!

Look at Le Prele!

We have had some new photos taken of Chalet Le Prele - thank you Jacquie!
We will be updating the website, but just to give you a sneek preview!
http://www.jcutlerphotography.co.uk/

The girls go to Praz de Lys

We visited a new resort this week - 'Praz de Lys' which is a 40 minute drive from Morzine, through Lets Gets on the road to Taninges. The guys from the Mountain Bus Company drove us gorgeous girls for a well deserved outing in the beautiful sunshine. The day started as we meant to go on - a bottle of Champagne at the bottom of the first lift to celebrate Milly's engagement!

Praz de Lys is a lovely little resort with many 'cruisy blues', but also some great reds and blacks that had even me going do them and turning too!!! Yes they we rather steep but so perfectly groomed that it was a breeze. We did most of the resort before lunch, well everything that was accessible with the lifts and avoiding the drag lifts at all costs!

We stopped for lunch at a super 'snack bar' with a very sunny terrace to catch some rays....delicious food, tasty wine (it was so cheap compared with Morzine and Avoriaz - a bottle of Rose wine for 6 Euros!)....but with one rather huge downfall.....the establishment had no loo!!! So only a few runs later we found ourselves in a very old bar/restaurant right at the bottom where we were being met by Mountain Bus - happily situated next to the open fire and the loo's!!!

It was a great day, thank you girls and a huge thank you also to Jacquie for the photos - check out her website & blog.... http://www.jcutlerphotography.co.uk/

Better late than never

I can only apologise for what despite my best efforts and early season promises, has been a very poor show in keeping our blog upto date.


My excuse, upto you wether you feel it's good enough, is that we are having the most amazing season and I have had so little time to be able to do so. But its true our sales are up 20%, and we have have more snow than we can deal with, literally. I am running out of places to put it when clearing the drive at Chambertin, you can no longer see all the view from the hot tub the mound is so high and I have developed snow shoveling muscles. But complaining i am not.

And to make things better today the 6th March, it has been dumping since wednesday night (today is friday) and it's not due to stop till tomorrow and then another 3 day dump at the beginning of next week. bring it on.

And I know I have been slack at keeping you posted, but most of the last 2 months would have read the same as i've just written here.

Credit crunch, global warming, not here.




This is the view from my desk 2 minutes ago, and we live at 800mtrs