Event Previews & Reviews from Alpe d'Huez

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.

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.

Now the clocks have gone forward here in resort there's even more time to do things away from the slopes when you’re here on holiday.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.