DESTINATION CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC WINTER 2014-2015 PRESS PACK 2014/2015 www.compagniedumontblanc.com 1
GRANDS MONTETS MAJOR CHANGES A new telecabin for access to Plan Joran A major innovation at the Grands Montets this winter with the construction of a new telecabin which will replace the Plan Joran chairlift. Without dwelling on the technical details, this lift has nothing in common with the old one and is bound to improve considerably the flow of ascents and descents in this location which regularly causes problems More comfort, more capacity (10 seats) and replacing two chairlifts with a single lift which is in line with the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc s environmental direction. The opening of this new lift is set for the end of this year. The middle station is rejuvenated Redesigned, re-laid out and landscaped, the Lognan middle station has also had a «face lift». The use of the latest technologies for presenting and enhancing the site allows for a better and more welcoming reception and a waiting area for those wishing to climb to the «top» of les Grands Montets which is more functional and nicer to be in. Changing the cabins on the cable car The two cabins on the first section of the Grands Montets cable car, Argentière > Lognan are being replaced. These cabins have been ordered from the Swiss family company GANGLOFF established in Berne since 1928 http://www.gangloff.com. They will have the specificity of being fitted with wide windows in specially treated glass, which will thus retain greater transparency over time and provide better outward visibility to appreciate the climb through this superb setting at its best. Automatic doors will also facilitate embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. Capacity which depends on the total weight of the finished cabin will be largely the same. Snowpark: A proper boardercross course_ The Grand Montets snowpark, now well known and recognised for its quality, will see the creation of a proper boardercross this year. The ground is being prepared and a course of this type has been awaited for two seasons now. It will be ready from the end of the year and with the additional option of filming your run and picking up the video on line. A good way of seeing your mistakes and improving and having a few good laughs http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/presentation-des-sites/les-grands-montets 2
FLÉGÈRE MONT-BLANC LEGEND! The world of the ice fairy «A very long time ago, after being brusquely dismissed from the valley, an extremely poor old lady put a curse on this enchanting place. In a few seconds she transformed it into a frozen wasteland and all forms of life became impossible. Ah, but keep listening because magical creatures, Sylphs and ice giants, are sleeping there.» This winter an original fun zone on the theme of Chamonix s legends will be created at la Flégère in conjunction with the company Ho5. This will be more than just a snow-riding experience and skiers will be immersed in a unique world which will mix together stories, heritage, magic, sharing and discoveries. The area will foreground several legends for an enjoyable experience. All winter, a snow village with characters to bring it to life is to be found on the les Evettes piste. Discoveries, challenges, treasure hunts, magic trails and enigmas a whole world of entertainments to discover with your family this winter! Creation of the Boardercross After the reshaping of the la Trappe piste, a proper boardercross course will be laid out on the right side of the piste. Built in partnership with the company Ho5, that has already created a course of this type on the Grands Montets, 2 skiers or snowboarders will be able to line up together on the start line. Who will finish first? http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/presentation-des-sites/brevent-flegere 3
AIGUILLE DU MIDI WE RE BUILDING THE FUTURE Two lifts instead of one! The lift to the top of the Aiguille du Midi has had its day. It will be replaced by two lifts made by SCHINDLER over the winter. The total capacity of the lifts will not be greater but doubling the number of ascents and descents will allow greater fluidity of access should one break down. Installing them in the same position as the old lift necessitates enlarging the shaft; difficult work which will start this autumn. Accordingly, access to the summit terrace and le Pas dans le Vide will be closed from 15 September 2014 to the spring of 2015 (exact date to be established) The «tube» is making progress The work being undertaken to connect the Aile Mont-blanc to the Rebuffat terrace and thus enable visitors to move round the Aiguille du Midi without retracing their steps is continuing. The shell is about to be completed and the installation of the metal structure and then the assembly of this new facility should begin within the time allowed. This spectacular undertaking is still scheduled to open in spring 2016. Changing the cable on the Panoramic Mont-Blanc Changing the tractive cable of this telecabin has been planned for autumn with work expected to last about 8 weeks from mid September. The necessary work will unavoidably lead to some mountaineers having to change their routes as moving or parking under the line and access to the terraces and the Rebuffat gangway will have to be forbidden Replacing the cabins to reach the summit 2 of the 4 cabins providing access to the arrival platform of the Aiguille du Midi at an altitude of 3877 m will be changed this autumn. The cabins on the 2nd stage are involved and will be taken down and replaced between now and the end of November 2014. The manufacturer who won the tender is the Swiss company CWA Constructions, based in Olten in the canton of Soleure, in Switzerland: http://www.cwa. ch/en/home.html Much more panoramic and comfortable, these cabins will have a capacity of 66 people. http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/infos-societe/investissement/investissements-aiguille-du-midi 4
BRÉVENT AVANT-GARDIST! Piste grooming goes «green» This season, the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc is investing in a new flat tracked piste grooming machine with an electrically controlled reamer and blade, completely hybrid. This machine, of which only two or three are currently operating in French resorts, will thus be tested in real winter conditions. The PistenBully 600 E+, the first Diesel Electric "hybrid" piste-grooming machine on the market is a real revolution in energy and environmental terms in the world of piste grooming. Built by KASSBOHRER, this machine which costs about 50 K more to buy than a so-called «standard» machine is in keeping with the environmental driving policy that the Compagnie du Mont Blanc has been following for several years. Permanent slalom course with timing and filming facilities Skiers and snowboarders, enthusiasts of racing gates and high performance, rejoice This winter a new permanent slalom course with timing facilities will be available at le Brévent in Planpraz. This course will also have filming facilities and you will be able to pick up the video of your run on line. http://w ww.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/presentation-des-sites/brevent-flegere 5
MONTENVERS-MER DE GLACE HIGHER AND HIGHER Flight over the Mer de Glace PROJECT Ever more projects in this location, from the end of September, an outdoor trial of an airship over several days. The airship should meet two objectives: An environmental objective as it will be able to carry measurement instruments and cameras, which will be able to follow the evolution of the glacier and note the changes in climatic conditions there. A tourist objective as visitors will be able to board the airship and have one of the most fantastic aerial panoramas over the location. After these tests, carried out by the company AIRSTAR, who designed the flying machine, we will know if the project is feasible or not and consider setting it up. Watch this space This winter the MONTENVERS-MER DE GLACE is coming to life Meeting Father Christmas Every Saturday and Sunday in December, from the 13th of the month, Father Christmas will come and stay at the Montenvers to meet children every afternoon between 2.00 and 4.00 p.m. Tales, entertainments, Christmas games and two trains specially decorated to carry all ages to the magic of Christmas! Mountain or ice floe? Every Sunday during the February holidays, the Montenvers Mer de glace invites you To discover the mountains, their legends, customs and songs Or to live like the Inuit, to understand their traditions, to hear their tales One of these two worlds to discover and experience live on location every Sunday Courtesy of some extraordinary characters These activities are included in the price of your ticket, entry without reservation. A more detailed programme will be unveiled for you at the beginning of December 2014 Throughout the winter season, an igloo village This winter, an igloo village will be set up on the historic site which overlooks the Mer de Glace. You will find a fun experience with sound in each of the snow domes build on the site. Get aboard the famous little rack railway train and come and penetrate the mysteries of the history of the peoples and the ice. http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/presentation-des-sites/ montenvers-mer-de-glace 6
LES HOUCHES Will you be the next world champion? From this winter you will be able to assess your downhill technique on the famous Verte in les Houches, site of multiple World Cups and Championships, courtesy of the «Skimovie» system, which will film you in action over the first few metres of this legendary piste. In the Col de Voza sector, at the tops of 3 chairlifts, take up the challenge and put yourself in the boots of the world s best slalom skiers by hitting the start line of the legendary Kandahar piste. A giant slalom laid out by professionals, 500m of timed and filmed downhill run, starting from the famous start hut opposite an extraordinary view Then pick up your video on our web site and find out if you re going to be the next Killy or Dénériaz! SKICAMP : The wilderness From the opening of the les Houches area, families will have access to a completely new activity area: the wilderness. Learn how to recognise our mountains flora and fauna, be able to recognise animals from their tracks, discover their habitat, their specificities, solve riddles built by real rangers, you will be able to reach this world on skis or on foot and take away some wonderful memories The Plancerts Piste: top snow coverage! Good news! Uncompromising fans of one of the finest pistes in the ski area will be happy to learn that the Plancerts red piste has been fitted with 5 independent snow canons ensuring quality snow coverage throughout the season. http://leshouches.compagniedumontblanc.fr 7
BALME Take the train to go skiing Courtesy of the reopening of the SNCF railway line Chamonix > the Swiss border, you can now take the train from the centre of Chamonix to ski in the Balme area. Get off at Vallorcine and take the telecabin the bottom station of which is just a few metres from the station and you re on your skis without the worry of driving or parking! Easy access and free of charge with the visitor card issued by your accommodation provider.. 8
THE COMPAGNIE DU MONT-BLANC A short, medium and long term INVESTMENT POLICY DOMAINE SKIABLE DES GRANDS MONTETS DOMAINE SKIABLE BRÉVENT-FLÉGÈRE DOMAINE SKIABLE BRÉVENT-FLÉGÈRE DOMAINE SKIABLE DU TOUR DOMAINE SKIABLE DES GRANDS MONTETS DOMAINE SKIABLE DES GRANDS MONTETS DOMAINE SKIABLE BRÉVENT-FLÉGÈRE TÉLÉCABINE DE PLAN JORAN ESPACE DÉBUTANT À PLANPRAZ TÉLÉSIÈGE DÉBRAYABLE DE LA PARSA TÉLÉCABINE DE CHARAMILLON ESPACE DÉBUTANT À ARGENTIÈRE TÉLÉSIÈGE DÉBRAYABLE TABÉ/MARMOTTONS DISPOSITIF D ACCÈS À LA FLÉGÈRE 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 CUSTOMER SERVICE: Ever more It has been the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc s practice for several seasons to offer ever more service to its customers who ski on our pistes or visit our attractive tourist areas. So they take away good memories of their holiday and above all share them with those who have not yet had the chance to visit our mountains, several filming systems or interactive terminals will be installed by the SKILINE company in conjunction with the motor manufacturer BMW in the ski areas, for example: Photopoints, a meeting point to immortalise your exploits, your laughs and your visits in short all the pleasure of being at one of our attractions and in our ski areas - in a few snapshots «Panocams», high definition cameras, capable of taking panoramic pictures as they can turn through 360 all day long at our various locations A souvenir so you can say «I was there» «Altimeters» interactive terminals, situated at the bottom of the main lifts to enable you to follow your movements over the ski areas, to check on the kms of piste covered, the gross ascent made, and to pick up your photos at various photopoints. 9
THE COMPAGNIE DU MONT-BLANC IN LA FLÉGÈRE And always http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/brochures-hiver THE SPEED PISTE filmed with a speed check will enable you to be ever more motivated to raise your adrenalin level AT THE BRÉVENT THE BIG AIR BAG the activity that amuses as many little ones as big ones is back here this year just like before THE FIRST TRACKS breakfast at the top of the Brévent, after the piste patrols been secured the pistes, it s up to you to make the first tracks before the skiers arrive! IN BALME INTRODUCTION TO DRIVING A PISTE GROOMING MACHINE, in the process of being organised once a week in the evening on the Savoy (Exact details currently awaited) IN LES HOUCHES The FILMED AND TIMED SLALOM PISTE open once again all winter. Not counting our snow shoe routes covering all sites, to be found on our piste map. GO BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE RESORT during school holidays in conjunction with the ESF et and Les Houches entertainment department and discover the ski area and learn about its jobs (snowmaking, piste patrol ) WIN A TRIP IN A PISTE GROOMING MACHINE AT DUSK every week during school holidays. The BOARDER CROSS at the top of the Shuss des Dames chairlift The TOBOGGAN RUN at the top of the Prarion telecabin The SKI TOURING ROUTE: 800m of gross ascent for those proficient on skins only The MARKED SNOWSHOE TRAIL at the top of the Prarion telecabin, «the little Prarion circuit» 10
EVENTS FALLING LIKE SNOW SATURDAY 13 RD DECEMBER 2014 5TH MONT BLANC SKI CHALLENGE BALME SITE Downhill skiing race (1,280 metres descent). 17 TH AND 18 TH JANUARY 2015 FRENCH ALPINE SKIING CHAMPIONSHIP BALME SITE www.ski-alpinisme.com 24 TH AND 25 TH JANUARY 2015 (or postponed to during the week subject to snow and weather conditions) SWATCH FREERIDE WORLD TOUR 2015 CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC BY THE NORTH FACE BRÉVENT-FLÉGÈRE SITE Freeride World Championship for men and women, skiers and snowboarders, 1st stage in the tour! The freeride elite from around the world are competing with a view to winning the world freeride title. SUNDAY 22 ND FEBRUARY 2015 FÊTE DE LA GLISSE GRANDS MONTETS SNOWPARK Ski and snowboard competition, open to all, Activities in Chamonix. SATURDAY 14 TH MARCH 2015 BANZAG 3# BALME SITE Freerando competition, itinerary timed for the ascent and noted for the freeride descent. FROM 3RD TO 6 TH APRIL 2015 BLACK WEEKEND THE GRANDS MONTETS SITE Day and night time electronic music festival where the pleasures of winter sports and the mountains join forces with electronic sounds. FROM 9 TH TO 12 ND APRIL 2015 LES PIOLETS D OR A major event in mountaineering history, Les Piolets d Or reward the best ascents of the year. An emblematic mountain climber will also be rewarded for his career. www.pioletsdor.com Find all the information on our website: www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk 11
OUR LIFT PASSES FOR EVERY CLIENT THERE IS AN IDEAL PACKAGE Still two flagship passes in the de Chamonix Valley, the CHAMONIX Le Pass for skiing in Chamonix up to an altitude of 2500 m and the MONT-BLANC Unlimited, which enables you to enjoy the whole Chamonix Valley and the flagship attractions like the Aiguille du Midi, the Montenvers, the Mont-Blanc Tramway and to try out the partner ski areas of Courmayeur and Verbier Grand Ski and enjoy multiple advantages to be found on our web site. http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/forfaits/chamonix-le-pass http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/forfaits/mont-blanc-unlimited Annual and season pass super promotion Treat yourself to the Chamonix Valley at a super preferential price by buying your season-annual pass on line up to 40% off. Offer only available from 11 October 2014 until 30 November! 2014/2015 Prices CHAMONIX Le Pass (from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Friday 10 April 2015 inclusive) CONSÉCUTIVE DAYS ADULT 16-64 years REDUCED 4-15 years 65-74 years VETERAN +75 years MONT BLANC Unlimited (from Saturday 20 December 2014 to Friday 10 April 2015 inclusive) FAMILY 2 adults + 1 youth 4h timed 42,50 36,10 - - 1 DAY 48,00 40,80 24,00 136,80 6 DAYS 241,00 204,90 120,50 686,90 CONSÉCUTIVE DAYS ADULT 16-64 years REDUCED 4-15 years 65-74 years VETERAN +75 years FAMILY 2 adults + 1 youth 1 DAY 58,50 49,70 29,30 166,70 6 DAYS 285,00 242,30 142,50 812,30 12
Beginning and end of season offers For snow afficionados who want to be amongst the first to leave their tracks at a lower cost, the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc has set up specific prices from the opening of the pistes until the beginning of the Christmas holidays. These are the «First snow offers». These offers return at the end of the season, so you can be the last to ride on the spring snow. "1st snow" and «Spring skiing» promotional offers From 29 November 2014 to 19 December 2014 inclusive and from 11 April to 3 May 2015 inclusive CONSÉCUTIVE DAYS ADULT 16-64 years REDUCED 4-15 years 65-74 years VETERAN +75 years FAMILY 2 adults + 1 youth 4h timed 34,00 28,90 - - 1 DAY 38,40 32,60 19,20 109,40 "1st snow" and «Spring skiing» promotional offers From 29 November 2014 to 19 December 2014 inclusive and from 11 April to 3 May 2015 inclusive CONSÉCUTIVE DAYS ADULT 16-64 years REDUCED 4-15 years 65-74 years VETERAN +75 years FAMILY 2 adults + 1 youth 1 DAY 58,50 49,70 29,30 166,70 2 DAYS 92,80 78,90 46,40 264,50 3 DAYS 92,80 78,90 46,40 264,50 4 DAYS 174,40 148,20 87,20 497,0 0 5 DAYS 209,60 178,20 104,80 597,40 6DAYS 228,00 193,80 114,00 649,80 CHAMONIX RapidCard The CHAMONIX Rapid Card for «lovers» of Chamonix http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/fr/forfaits/chamonix-rapidcard The little card that doesn t stop growing and attracting fans of skiing and activities who regularly come to the Chamonix Valley! The CHAMONIX RapidCard is a guarantee of the best daily price all year round with a winter price of 44.50 instead of 58.50 for example (adult price). Easy and quick to use, weekly payments, directly debited to the holder s bank card and above all special prices and promotional offers throughout the year. An opportunity from which more than 3700 loyal clients now take before the evening of 19 December to benefit from a preferential price of 25 instead of 50 which will apply from the morning of 20 December! 13
GET CONNECTED! AVAILABLE ON BUY ONLINE & SAVE MONEY! www.compagniedumontblanc.co.uk iphone, ipad and Androïd apps Tel. +33 (0) 4 50 53 22 75 LET S MEET UP THIS SUMMER! Buy 6 days and only pay for 5! ChamonixFans ésope chamonix / Photos : Compagnie du Mont Blanc, E. Moy, M. Dalmasso. OUR PARTNERS Press Contact : Fabienne MARTINEZ +33 (0)4 50 53 87 69 +33 (0)6 12 68 18 86 fabienne.martinez@compagniedumontblanc.fr