April in Alpe d'Huez: What's On & Weather

As the winter draws to a close for another year, the temperatures rarely dip below freezing, usually falling between a low of -1°C overnight and a high of 6°C, plus there's still the chance of snow and therefore a last minute powder day isn't unheard of.

Sarenne Snowbike 
The popularity of fat bikes is fast on the increase and there is no better way to test your downhill mountain biking skills than entering the legendary Sarenne Snowbike MTB race. Not just any old MTB race, this one takes you down the slopes of the legendary Sarenne black run from the top of the Pic Blanc at 3,300m all the way down to the old mountain village of Huez. This 16km test of skill and nerve is a spectacle either as a competitor or as a spectator and sees the riders drop a total of over 2,000m. Previous editions have seen the riders start on snow and finish on lush green mountain glades. There are plenty of shops in resort that hire MTB, cross-country and fat bikes so there is no excuse not to enter, simply choose your steed!

French BBQ Championships - Date to be confirmed
Yes, believe it or not, this is a real championship! With wall to wall sunshine almost guaranteed by mid-April, BBQ week has been a long-standing event on the end of season calendar in resort. This isn’t your average BBQ, this is the French National BBQ Championships and it’s truly mouthwatering. Masterclasses and demonstrations take place across Alpe d'Huez and virtually every bar in town enters into the spirit, filling the whole resort with the wonderful aromas of top-notch BBQs. What better way to spend a few hours in the glorious spring sunshine.

Mudialito Futsal
Hosted at the Palais des Sports et des Congrès (the leisure centre), this top-quality five-a-side football tournament regularly features legends from the French Ligue One giants of Lyon, Marseille and St Etienne to name a few. Played in a world-cup format and featuring many ex-pros, the quality is always top-end – don’t let some of the players veteran status put you off, the games can often be quite spicy. The tournament culminates in the World Cup Final on the final evening, entrance is free and it’s a great event to catch when you are in resort. Futsal is slightly different from normal five-a-side football in that the ball is a size smaller, a size four, and it’s 30% less bouncy. The pitch has boundary lines like traditional football, taking out the reliance on the walls and giving the game a real skill-based edge.

April and the Easter break is a popular time for families. Here are our insider's top tips for the school holidays:

1. It will be almost impossible to book private lessons over this period, group lessons are the best option. Make sure to get your ski and snowboard lessons booked well in advance to avoid disappointment.
2. If you're not in ski school, be an early bird. Arrive at the lifts before they open so that you get up and away before the ski school classes set out around 09:15.
3. Ski over lunchtime. The slopes are calmer between 12:00 and 14:00 while the French take a leisurely lunch break.
4. Pre-book your lunch and avoid the queues. Some restaurants offer a Click & Collect service. It's the best way to avoid the queues and make the most of your time in the mountains.
5. Seek out the peripheral areas. Try to avoid the busy main ski areas. A great tip to get away from the madding crowd is to hop onto the AlpAuris lift (aka the 'scare chair') at the Les Bergers area of resort and head across to the Auris sector of the ski area. It’s always much quieter over there and there is something for everybody with plenty of variety.
6. Get off-piste. Competent off-piste skiers can book a local mountain guide and explore the vast off-piste areas in the valley or even go touring to find complete solitude in the backcountry. 

Closing parties
Part of every season's end is the closing parties that accompany it. Basically, the principle is to drink the bar dry and give this incredible season a fitting send-off. Up on the hill, the closing party at La Folie Douce is never to be missed, whilst in resort ever-popular haunts such as Smithy's Tavern, The Underground Bar, Freeride Pub and O’Sharkeys will host great parties from mid-April onwards.