As the cloudy weather engulfs our mountain home, the words ‘fresh powder’ seem to be on everybody’s lips. The resort waits impatiently for the murky memories of off-piste days to return to reality - but don’t hang up your poles yet.
With a dump scheduled for this week, it’s about to get all snowy, and with a golf-themed freestyle competition, some great Swedish led après and a Zumba class to burn some beer-induced calories, it looks to be another great week in resort.
If you haven’t seen Swedish powerhouse On Hale Ice yet at Aprés, you’re missing out. Possibly the best band to get the crowd grooving so far, they are sure to rock your socks off. With charisma, attitude and bags of talent, they’ve been drawing the crowd in for the past week and set to play until Thursday. Covering hooky pop songs from the likes of Bruno Mars, they also pander to the rockers amongst us meaning they fit the bill whatever your musical taste. With the usual ski shot (literally a shot poured down a ski), the customary bar dancing and more atmosphere than anywhere in the Alps, this week’s Aprés is the place to go for your post-ski kicks.
As much fun as it is throwing shapes to live music, there are times when nothing beats a stunning mountain view, washed down with a cold glass of Fendant (a local Valais wine) on a sun-kissed terrace. If this sounds like you this week, then there is one place that arguably has the edge over all vistas in the resort. Le Chalet d’Adrien, a Relais et Chateaux hotel located right next to Savoleyres lift, combines class with serenity and with an extensive list of Crêpes, it’s a perfect place for a well-earned aprés snack. Tranquility, peace and grandeur are the names of the game and albeit on the pricey side, with a postcard-perfect view of the towering Swiss Alps, you pay for more than just a cooling drink.
If you’re worried that this season’s partying is taking a toll on the waistline, there’s a sure-fire way to beat off those looming rolls as well as indulge in something a little different. Run by Verbier local Jenny Jarman, Zumba is a Latin dance inspired fitness class that takes place every Friday night at 19:30 at the 4 Valley’s very own Wholeycow Dance studios. Bring trainers, your finest fitness rags and your trusty water bottle and get ready to dance the night away Latin style. Easy, fun and whether you’ve got two left feet or you’re the next dancing queen, it’s open to all abilities. Prices start at 15CHF for members and extend to 20CHF for non-members. Go with friends or on your lonesome, as either way you’re bound to meet some great people. So lace up those trainers and get into the groove.
As the Verbier Freeride World Tour Finals looms like a much desired snow cloud, anticipation is beginning to flood through the resort. In case of ‘can’t wait syndrome’ Nick and Chris Southwell have soothed the inevitable butterflies by bringing us the Park 9 competition. Taking place on Saturday at the Verbier Swatch Snow Park, the competition adopts a golf theme, transforming the park to look like a golf course. Showcasing skiers and riders from around the resort, the emphasis is on amateur talent and is a great way to finally show off what you learnt in some of those much worked at park days. Teeing off at 11:15am on Saturday, results take place at 2:00pm, but the party doesn’t stop there: with after-parties at Farinet, Pub Mont Fort and Casbah, it looks to be one of the highlights of the season. Competition entry places are filling up rapidly so email chris@southwellenterprises.com soon to ensure yourself a place amongst the freestyle royalty.
To get you in the mood, check out last year’s footage top right.
As usual, check out our events calendar for a detailed description of this week’s antics.
Happy freestyling everybody!
