Event Previews & Reviews from Alpe d'Huez

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 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.

Last night the slopes of The Signal here in Alpe d’Huez were truly lit up in fantastic style by the instructors of ESF Ski School, as the huge crowd were treated to the second of three torchlight descents to coincide with the U.K and French Half Term Holidays.

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.

Last night crowds gathered outside Alpe D’Huez Palais de Sport for the highly regarded International Comedy Film Festival.

Rumours about Tomorrowland coming to the Alps began to rumble in March 2017 and it soon became apparent that Alpe d’Huez was amongst the forerunners to host this epic event. The rumours became official in March 2018, and it’s been all systems go since then.

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.

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 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.

This years Snowboxx festival was a sell out in Alpe d'Huez. Oli & Neil were there checking out some of the action on and off the slopes.

The New Year celebrations got started here on Friday evening at 6pm with a fantastic torchlight descent by the ski instructors of the ESF ski school.

April may be round the corner but there’s still plenty to do away from the slopes here in Alpe d'Huez.