Summer Skiing on The Glacier
History: Les 2 Alpes has been a summer skiing destination for over 40 years! Encouraged by ski clubs and major national and international teams, especially from Italy, summer skiing has seen rapid development. The glacier has quickly
become the place to be and a perfect location to train for future competitions and winter championships.
Where? It's the largest skiable glacier in Europe with ski runs between 2,900 and 3,600 metres.
A Glacier groomed for Snowsports: To optimise summer snowsports, the ski lift company begins laying the ground for summer back in the winter season. The team carries out a series of measurements at various points in the snow mantle,
testing temperature, thickness, and melting speed, etc. Doing this means that the best techniques, such as Snow Traps (stockpiling snow with wooden barriers or a series of half-tubes embedded in the glacier, and using snow ploughs to transport the collected snow to the glacier's ski slopes) can be used to guarantee the entire high-altitude ski area is ready for skiers come the summer season.
FACT: An average of 1,500 skiers every day (10,000 in winter).
PRO SKI CONDITIONS: Professional and National teams and ski clubs train on the glacier from 7a.m. in snow conditions as good and suitable for pros as in winter. Up to 140 slalom runs can be in use on the glacier.
FREESTYLE: freestyle is the number one discipline on the slopes in Les 2 Alpes, accounting for 40% of skiers. In summer, the Snowpark is located at 3,400metres, providing 18 hectares of fun open from 07:15 to 13:30.
The park caters for beginners, advanced, lessons or individuals and is served by 2 drag lifts and a dedicated ski tow for the 2 pipes (one of which is an Olympic-size super pipe).
SKIING FOR EVERYONE: The geographical characteristics of Les 2 Alpes glacier guarantees skiing for everyone, with green and red runs, freestyle in the snowpark and freeriding too. Beginners even have their own slope at 3,400 metres, complete with a ski tow.
The glacier (shallow incline and wide runs) is great for learning to ski or snowboard. Ski
instructors give lessons and children can achieve their medals, just like in winter.
THE KUMI YAMA SNOWSPORTS EVENT from 5th to 7th July: The only summer snowsports event, combining the world of FREESTYLE, professionals and stars in a warm, welcoming Japanese-style atmosphere. 3 days of SLOPESTYLE, best tricks and a children's competition.
GENERAL INFORMATION ON SUMMER SKIING
- The ski slopes open between 7.15am and 1.30pm for skiers and until 4.30pm for walkers and mountain bikers.
- 90 hectares of runs: 4 blue, 2 green, 2 red, a beginners' zone, a FREESTYLE zone and an OFF-PISTE zone.
- Access up to 3,200 metres in under 30 minutes via the JANDRI EXPRESS cable car.
- 16 ski lifts (51 in winter) : 2 gondola lifts, 1 cable car, 2 chair lifts, 7 drag lifts, 2 ski tows, 1 funicular and an inclined lift.
- "LE 3200" restaurant on the glacier at 3,200 metres:
- Sports shops hire out ski and snowboarding equipment just as they do in winter.
- Ski schools are similarly available (fifty instructors, 10 schools offering traditional skiing or snowboarding lessons, ski racing, training for state skiing).
For more information, visit http://www.les2alpes.com/
And, yes, because J2Skiers do it all year round, you can search for available Summer Accommodation in Les Deux Alpes right here...