Event Previews & Reviews from Alpe d'Huez

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.

This week in Alpe d’Huez sees the 2016 edition of the RedMountain Ski Event which is organised in conjunction with Danski.

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.  

Be it taking 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 here in Alpe d'Huez.

The London Ski and Snowboard show is for many the first event of the winter. Pick up the latest kit, catch up with friends and enjoy the party. It'll be a couple of months before you can do it for real.

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

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.

The London Freeze is the ski and snowboard event that brings together international live music acts and some of the world's best riders. The two day festival is the last weekend in October and in 2011 we caught up with X-Games medalist James Wooods for a chat about his Olympic hopes.

Just because you are on your holidays here in resort it doesn’t mean you will have to miss a minute of the thrilling action of this year’s eagerly awaited RBS 6 Nations Championships, which gets underway on Saturday 4th February.

You know the ski season has officially started when La Folie Douce opens its doors, the music starts pumping, the champagne corks start popping and crowds of people jump up to dance on tables in their ski boots.

New Years Eve celebrations certainly got underway with a bang here in Alpe d’Huez, albeit in somewhat tricky visibility. Celebrations got underway at Les Bergers at just after 5.30pm with a torchlight descent by the ski instructors of ESF Ski School, with hundreds of blue, white and red torches forming a fantastic French tricolour, a truly wonderful sight.

Deciding to go and watch the Tour de France is a 'no-brainer' for me, but trying to describe the overwhelming sense of passion, enthusiasm, fun and camaraderie to those who have never been is difficult. It can be hard to persuade the uninitiated to come with you.