New changes in Courchevel for the season 2012 - 2013

For those not familiar with the resorts of Courchevel, we say that is part of Les 3 Vallées, the largest ski area in the world, located in the French Alps, in the department of Haute Savoie.

Courchevel is split into 4 resorts: Courchevel 1330, Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1650 and Courchevel 1850. These names correspond to the height of each of them (1330 meters, 1550 meters, etc.). One of the biggest changes for this season is the change of names. Being so far from:

Courchevel 1850 -> Courchevel
Courchevel 1650 -> Courchevel Moriond
Courchevel 1550 -> Courchevel Village
Courchevel 1330 -> Courchevel Le Praz

One reason for this change is because they try to give each station its own personality. Some complain that everyone wants to go to Courchevel 1850 because of his height, and they think that with the changes of the name stations below will not be under his shadow.

But other tourism professionals think everyone wants to go to 1850 because the station is giving best services, high quality accommodation, more variety of ski slopes, more events, haute cuisine restaurants, high-fashion boutiques, and so on. And this change of names only serve to confuse the regulars.

Time will tell who was right.

Another change that we will see this next winter is an increase in the safety of lifts, with the aim of protecting children during their ski lessons in Courchevel. The system consists of a holding magnet glued to lift the child in case of sliding on it. Definitely a great initiative.

Besides being restored some chairlifts, with an investment of 7 million euros, expect a greater capacity to move all skiers faster. A total of 3,300 skiers per hour.

On the other hand, in the Cospilot and Creux ski slopes are adding new snow cannons, to ensure a better quality of those tracks.

Courchevel is booming, and each year is better than the last. I certainly think not miss any, I have my forfait for this winter. :mrgreen:

[Link spam removed, account locked, but thanks for the info... :lol: read the rules next time, Adders]

Hello Link Spammer :D ^^^^

Courchevel 1850 was called that because their marketing department wanted everone to think it was at 1850m, they wanted to compete with Val D'Isere. The village height is actually only about 1790m.
One reason for this change is it's plain to anyone with a GPS navigation device (an iPhone!) that 1850 is a lie!

andyhull wrote:Courchevel 1850 was called that because their marketing department wanted everone to think it was at 1850m, they wanted to compete with Val D'Isere. The village height is actually only about 1790m.
One reason for this change is it's plain to anyone with a GPS navigation device (an iPhone!) that 1850 is a lie!

Their Marketing Dept never going to give you a job :mrgreen:

I think the name changes are a good idea, though reading some of the news stories a lot of locals don't agree.
To me resorts with numbers in the name sound purpose built ugly places, which can be far from the truth.
The improvements to the lift system just goes on, already the best linked area, it's just getting better year on year.

But GPS devices don't measure altitude well!


(Can I have the job with the Courchevel marketing department?!!)

I was at Courchevel this summer and there is building work going on all over the place. It's definitley booming judging by the amount of money being spent there! I am really looking forward to my first whole season on those slopes!

I had an e-mail from Meribel Alpina about their improvements, which included something about a new group lift pass for 3 people or more which is 15 euros cheaper per person than the normal one.