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Events in Val Thorens in winter 2015-16

In this section, find out about Val Thorens events. The season begins on Saturday 21st November 2015 with the Ski Force Winter Tour, and the following weekend, there's the Rock On Snowboard Tour. In early December, there's the Trophée Andros on the ice racing circuit, and later that month, the World Cup Skicross. At Christmas and New Year, there are torchlit descents and fireworks, in January the SFR Freestyle Tour takes place, and in February the Tournoi des 6 Stations rugby tournament returns. Festi Valtho is in March, and in April, there's the 3 Valleys Enduro Rally. The season comes to a close with Apotheose Days and Dutch Week. Read about events in Val Thorens here.

Val Thorens events: Saturday 30th April to Friday 6th May 2016

Saturday 30th April 2016

12.30-4pm Monoski forever. An hour of monoskiing tuition, with Zenith ski shop and Ski Cool. At Zenith ski shop, free. Continues on Sunday

11am Children's workshop for children 3 to 6 years old, making craft objects. Lasts about 45 minutes, book at the tourist office

Apotheose Days. Afternoon activities and entertainment, including pony rides. Continues on Sunday

Sunday 1st May 2016

May sales at the shops of the resort

Apotheose Days and monoski forever, see Saturday above

Monday 2nd May 2016

Dutchweek begins

Tuesday 3rd May 2016

7 to 8.30am Touring skiing in the early morning, with the Office de la Montagne. Book in the Maison de Val Thorens the evening before. Free

Wednesday 4th May 2016

11am to 3pm Fight Ski Club Skicross race. Book at the Club des Sports. Free

6pm Card games evening. Book at the tourist office, free

Thursday 5th May 2016

8.30pm Cine Concert Jazz à Vienne. Pianist Vettraino accompanies the film 'Duel'. Church, free

Val Thorens events for winter 2015/16

These are the special events in Val Thorens for the 2015/16 winter season.

Val Thorens events: November 2015

Saturday 21st November 2015: season opening

Val Thorens opens for the 2015/16 ski season.

Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd November 2015: Ski Force Winter Tour

A chance to test the new models of ski from many brands, including Atomic, Black Crows, Blizzard, Dynastar, Head, K2, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon, Scott, and Volkl. The tent village/test centre is at Rond Point des Pistes, but register on the terrace of the restaurant le Rendez-Vous. 

Free mulled wine in the test village from 4 to 5.30pm. DJs from the collective What's Up will host an open-air concert in place Caron from 9pm to 1am on Saturday, with music and mapping video.

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th November 2015: Rock On Snowboard Tour

Free tests of the latest snowboards for the 2015-16 season, from twenty-five brands, including Burton, K2, Nidecker, Oakley, Rossignol, Drake, and Roxy. There'll be a kids' snowgarden, a temporary snowpark, and rock concerts in the evening.

The same weekend, the Freegun Snowscoot Tour takes place, with tests of snowbikes from the eight main manufacturers, and snowscoot clubs and associations present.

Val Thorens events: December 2015

Friday 4th to Sunday 6th December 2015: Trophée Andros in Val Thorens

The first stage of the car and motocross ice circuit competition is in Val Thorens. There are races with petrol cars, electric cars, and motocross bikes. €18 per day for entry to the middle of the circuit, or €30 for the weekend; free viewing from outside the circuit. The Trophée Andros continues in other French ski resorts, including Alpe d' Huez. This video shows the action at last year's Trophée Andros (including Sébastien Loeb's appearance in one of the races):

Tuesday 8th to Saturday 12th December 2015: Skicross World Cup

The best ski cross competitors in the world will be in Val Thorens for this World Cup event, including Val Thorens's own Olympic champion Jean-Fred Chapuis. In fact there are two World Cups. Training on Tuesday and Wednesday, qualifications on Thursday, semi-finals and finals of the first World Cup on Friday, and semi-finals and finals of the second on Saturday. Free for spectators. This video shows last year's World Cup:

Saturday 12th to Saturday 19th December 2015: Ski and Boarderweek in Val Thorens

Ski and Boarderweek week brings mainly German snowboarders and skiers to Val Thorens. There are ski and snowboard contests, including on the airbag and on the boardercross course. They set up an Easy Fun Park on the Voie Lactée, with free coaching by experts. There's also entertainment, including live concerts, a Bungee Ejection, and a freestyle ski show. A bracelet allowing access to all the events costs €26.50 from the tourist office.

Wednesday 16th to Saturday 19th December 2015: European Cup & French Cup Skicross

Training and qualification on Wednesday and Thursday, finals of European Cup on Friday, French Cup on Saturday.

Saturday 19th to Saturday 26th December 2015: Magical Christmas

 

Father Christmas will be staying in a cabin in Val Thorens this year, so there's an opportunity to meet him at the Lapland-themed village. A Christmas Eve show at the Rond Point des Pistes, including the traditional torchlit descent by the instructors of the ESF, and fireworks.

Thursday 31st December 2015: New Year's Eve (Valtho Crazy Night)

There'll be a torchlit descent by the instructors of the ESF, entertainment for children, a DJ on place Caron, and fireworks at midnight. This is what it was like a couple of years ago:

Val Thorens events: January 2016

Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd January 2016: SSV Quad Ice Tour

This is a competition for quad vehicles, held on the Alain Prost Ice Circuit. To be confirmed.

Monday 11th to Saturday 16th January 2016: SFR Tour

Slopestyle competition in the snowpark, with some of the best freestyle skiers. This video shows some of the action from January 2014:

Dates from 20th January 2016: Dynafit Snow Leopard Track

An introduction to touring skiing, with a walk up to the Chalet de la Marine using touring skis and skins, for mulled wine and onion soup. 20th & 27th Jan, 10th, 17th & 24th Feb, 2nd & 9th March, and 6th & 20th April 2016.

Val Thorens events: February 2016

Sunday 14th February 2016: Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day in Val Thorens there'll be free mulled wine (with ginger), and roses for the ladies.

Monday 15th February 2016: Tournoi des 6 stations rugby on snow

Six teams, representing six different ski resorts, play short games of Sevens Rugby on snow. There are usually some ex-internationals taking part, including Marc Lievremont. Recommended. See the video from 2015 (when it was properly cold):

Val Thorens events: March 2016

Thursday 3rd & Friday 4th March 2016: Rossignol Demo Tour

A chance to test the latest skis and snowboards from Rossignol (ID required to borrow kit). There'll also be entertainment and games.

Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th March 2016: Festi Valtho

Loud dance music at the Chalets du Thorens (electro, house, techno, trance, and low). There'll be a big air bag on site, and fireworks at the end on Thursday evening.

Val Thorens events: April & May 2016

Sunday 3rd April 2016: 3 Valleys Enduro Rally

A series of 'specials' set up around the Three Valleys under the name 3 Vallées Enduro. Enter as a team of three, and go and try the Big Air Bag, giant slalom, freeride course, ski cross, and more. There were about 1,500 participants last year. Prizes for everyone.

Friday 29th April to Monday 2nd May 2016: Kontum ski

Ski event in support of associations in Vietnam, with 3-day ski breaks, plus a fun competition, and profits going to charity.

Friday 29th April to Sunday 1st May 2016: Apotheose Days

A series of events and entertainment, to celebrate the closing days of the season. All activities are free for children up to and including 8 years old.

Saturday 30th April to Friday 6th May 2016: Dutch week

The traditional Dutch week in the spring in Val Thorens, to celebrate Koningsdag (the King's birthday - actually the 27th April).

Sunday 8th May 2016: the last day of the season

Squeeze the last drops out of the ski season. The lifts close at the end of today!

Make the most of all the Val Thorens events!

Val Thorens, world capital of skicross

While Val Thorens hasn't hosted any World Cup slalom or giant slalom races on its stadium for a number of years, it has instead invested in a world-class skiercross course. 

That decision has paid dividends, with a World Cup skicross event now a fixture every December. It helps that current Olympic champion Jean-Frédéric Chapuis is a native of Val Thorens. The skiercross course is now named after him.

Val Thorens events: street market

There's a market in place Péclet, every Tuesday and Thursday of the winter season (and in the summer season), where you can buy honey, cheese, craft items, clothes, and more. Read more about Val Thorens market...