Morzine Apres Ski Report: 26th March 2013

As I’m writing this week’s blog it‘s snowing from the heavens outside. Despite this, the Facebook invites to some closing party or another are starting to appear. It’s time to face the cold, snowy facts. Winter ’13 is almost over, regardless of the weather.

The local’s paradise of Mont Chery closes this week, despite good snow levels right down to resort level. The decision to close the area so early in the season has angered many local folk but as is often the case, these things cannot be explained!

It’s the last ‘Toss the Boss’ at the Rhodos tonight (Wednesday that is), which marks the end of a very popular and drunken seasonaire staple in the Morzine weekly après calander. Le Rhodos is at the bottom of the Rue du Bourg in the centre of the resort in case you haven’t discovered it already!

Indeed the summer season is so close that up in Avoriaz, they’re making beaches. Yes, beaches. Between 29th March and 1st April Avoriaz celebrates ‘spring break’ with a beach party every day between 3pm and 8pm. There’ll be live bands, DJ sets and salsa to warm things up.

Over in Les Gets, the resorts newest and bestest après venue, appropriately named ‘L’Apreski’ is planning a right old shindig for their end of season party. Scheduled for Saturday 13th April, there’ll be ski tests, a BBQ and a DJ battle, a ‘gogo dancer’ (their words, not mine…) face painting and fancy dress along with competition prizes that include a snowboard and a pair of skis. L’Apreski can be found at the bottom of the Chavannes homerun in the centre of Les Gets.

The Happy Hours Bar in Ardent have planned their closing party for 19th April from 1pm. They promise hot tubs, a live band and DJs, cocktails and cheap prices. You’ll find the Happy Hours Bar at the bottom of the Ardent homerun, opposite the bubble lift and right next to the bus stop. This one’s likely to get messy!

But there isn’t a lot of excitement in looking towards the summer season in Morzine, especially for mountain bikers. It’s been announced in the last week or so that there’ll be no mountain biking on the Pleney this summer, effectively closing the resort off from neighbouring Les Gets. Construction work will commence on the Pleney bubble lift (which is much in need of an update) as soon as the winter season ends and it won’t open this summer. The La Crusaz chairlift on the right hand side of the Pleney, which gives access to the summer luge, will open and the Nyon gondola lift and chair lifts will be open for walkers. A decision has get to be made on whether the Super Morzine lift will open from 9th June and on whether there’ll be a replacement bus service between Morzine and Les Gets throughout the summer. Questions are also being asked about lift pass discounts to account for the smaller mountain bike area and more importantly, what will happen if the links between resorts are closed during the Pass’Portes MTB competition. We’re expecting an update from the Morzine Office de Tourisme on 30th March.

Further updates will follow!