Event Previews & Reviews from Alpe d'Huez

Whether you fancy a trip to the PicBlanc, a peaceful and tranquil tour of the historic church or the hustle and bustle of an ice hockey match there’s always plenty of things to do away from the slopes.

The Alpe d’Huez International Comedy Film Festival brings some glitz and glamour to resort each year and last week was its 20th edition. 

The famous torchlight descents by the fabulous ski instructors of the ESF ski school are always one of the highlights on the events calendar in Alpe d’Huez, and last Wednesday was no exception.

The gnaliest race in Alpe d'huez is easliy the Megavalanche. A top to bottom, mass start downhill race with hundreds of competitiors racing from the glacier to the town.

Whether you fancy a trip to the summit of the Pic Blanc, trying curling or visiting the museum, there’s always plenty going on away from the slopes.

A good-sized crowd was in attendance for the first round of the 2019 French Long Distance Cross-Country Ski Cup in Alpe d’Huez on Sunday, January 6th.

It’s always crash, bang, wallop when you mix an ice hockey match with a dash of local rivalry – and this match was no exception.

That's it for another epic week of riding and racing at the 2016 Megavalanche.. the snow was deeper and longer than it's been in the past 5 years, creating much more challenging conditions for the riders taking part this year.

There has been plenty going on over the first three days with the festival taking over several bars and clubs in the resort to host parties from various different UK club nights and DJs.

2017 certainly arrived with a bang here in Alpe d’Huez with a huge outdoor party at the leisure centre in the middle of resort. Although this is an annual event, it was, in fact, the first time in ten years that I've managed to go. This year with nothing particularly planned we decided to head up and see what it was all about.  

The 26th season of the high octane action Trophee Andros makes its much anticipated return to Alpe d’Huez next weekend. Racing will take place on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th December at the ice racing track, which is situated behind the leisure centre in the centre of town.

Next weekend sees the 20th edition of the prestigious Pyramide d’Oz ski mountaineering race, a race that regularly forms part of the French National Cup (Coupe de France) – on a course that was used in the 2009 World Cup. Around 150 to 200 competitors are set to tackle the gruelling course.

There’s loads going on as the French school holidays continue for another week or so in Alpe d'Huez.