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mountain_echo_dec_3.indd 1 24/12/2014 11:18

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If you’d like to advertise with us, write for us, send us photographs, or just give us free stuff (which we really like) feel free to contact us via the phone number or email address

above.

Kene Ezeji-OkoyeJosh Hillman, Justine Mulliez Ben Pryor, Dr. Alan Griffiths

www.themountainecho.co.ukval@themountainecho.co.uk

+33 (0) 674 755 236FB: themountainecho

Echo Publications, Ltd. Head Office:

6 Manchester Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK, SK17 6SB

ISSUE 174 - 16 JAN 2014

questions with AFM 4henry’s avalanche talk 7

bar & event listings 9sport listings 13

directory 14news 16

the girls crew 18bar & restaurant guide 21

restaurant review 25the week in pictures 26

Renelle Mortimer 34photo comp 36rumour mill 39

celebrity lookalike 40the last word 42

COvER: JOHAnnA DAviDSSOn By StEPHEn ‘CHiPiE’ WinDROSS’

Echo: Hi Anne-Flore, how did you start snowboarding?Anne-Flore: I started snowboarding young, and was originally all about freeriding and backcountry since my resort didn’t have a park. I then got seriously into street and rails, moved onto park and big air contests with all of the European events. During all of that, I was already filming with the Psychopit crew, the French crew doing a lot of backcountry filming, and that carried on when I started riding more in the US for slopestyle events like the X Games, US Open, and the Vans Super Crown in 2005.

Echo: How did you evolve into being a freeriding machine?Anne-Flore: I had been riding in the backcountry to hit kickers for many years and as I progressed, I started looking around for more stuff to do, using more of the natural terrain to do tricks on. The thought process I went through was ‘Oh maybe I could do this trick on a small cliff, or maybe not as big of a trick on a bigger cliff.’ The more I started pushing it, the bigger the features were. Then I started thinking, ‘Why don’t I start from the top, really make this a sick line?’ Then I’ll include the cliff, then that line…

Echo: Can you talk about some of the risks involved in freeriding at the pro-level?Well, the goal of freeriding at our level is to get really good images and visually impressive features. As a rider, you’re looking for some super steep lines and adrenaline. So, really, you’re exposing yourself to an increasing level of risk all the time. Maybe, freeriding means less frequent hard shocks to the body, but there’s no room for mistakes. In freestyle, you might break an arm or a knee but you have a comfort zone, a more controlled environment.

In freeriding, you miss your line by 1.5m, and you might die. There are avalanches, there’s slough, if you fall on a line in Alaska, you can tomahawk so hard and so fast that you can break yourself instantly. Risk and progression are intimately linked. Especially in this sport, if we ever want to progress, to push our limits, and reach a higher level, it either works, or it breaks!

Echo: You have a movie coming out soon called ‘SEDNA’, about your adventure in Greenland. Can you tell us about it?Anne-Flore: So Greenland was absolutely fantastic. I had never been in a place so beautiful and so harsh. We were sailing through the fjords of Greenland through icebergs, looking at the mountains with the binoculars, choosing where to put the anchor down. In the morning we would get dropped up at the bottom of the mountain, and would hike 2000m each day to get some fresh lines in the middle of absolutely nowhere. All of that came with splitboarding because before that, snowboarders couldn’t access places like this. Splitboards have changed so much for me. Now there are no boundaries, no places or mountains that we can’t reach.

Last week, Franco-swiss pro snowboarder

anne-FLore Marxer was in town with soMe

Friends and graciousLy took tiMe out oF

her shred-athon to Meet with the echo.

here’s what she had to say about being a

snowboarder First, a FeMaLe snowboarder second,

an industry activist, and an adventurer aLways.

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GETTING PERSONAL WITHWITH ANNE-FLORE MARXER

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Echo: You’re one of the rare women who continue to film video parts year after year. Why do you think there are so few women filming?Anne-Flore: Unfortunately, the video crews are a kind of manhood, and there’s definitely an issue with funding and budgets. As a woman, you can’t just turn up and suddenly be in those filming trips because you first have to prove yourself. You have to make sure that the guys know that you can ride all the same spots as them, that you won’t hold them back. They have to respect you and accept that you’ll be on the trip. And once you’re there, whether it’s a kicker or a line, you’re still in competition with the guys, the way that they are with each other, to get the shot that everyone wants for their video part.

I don’t have to worry too much anymore about imposing myself because I have spent so many years out there doing it, but that’s where we’re limited as women. Being out there takes a lot of experience and a lot of time in the mountains to have the riding ability to work with the guys. Fewer and fewer girls get the chance to build up that experience because nowadays, there aren’t many opportunities for women. Women who are filming can’t find the money for sponsorship to actually keep on making movies.

Echo: Why do you think women are more limited when it comes to funding and budgets than their male counterparts?Anne-Flore: Honestly, it’s because men are handling the marketing budgets. What’s really frustrating is that 40% of people skiing and snowboarding are women. And as athletes, we all live from a brand’s marketing budget, which is a percentage of its sales. So technically, all companies out there

Photo: JERoME tANoNE

are making money from women buying their products, but that money isn’t being allocated to support female athletes in those marketing budgets.

This, and the wrong kind of media exposure really prevents our growth. Like last month, Act Snowboard Magazine printed an article about ‘why girls aren’t as good as guys’, written by a guy who’s never been good enough to get his name out in France. He’s also the Vans’ team manager. He’s the kind of person who has the budget to organize a girl’s session or something that could help women progress, but instead of using that space to talk in a mag about a cool girl who rips, he talks shit about women.

Even this Women’s Issue we’re doing here, often people do that so they put all of their women content in the same place and then forget about it. I’m not okay with that! Really, there shouldn’t even be a women’s issue because we should have just as much exposure as men.

Echo: Do you think the women’s market has evolved in the last couple of years?Previously you had to wait for a snowboarding magazine to talk about you to get exposure. But nowadays, you have social media, POV cameras; you can pretty much go out and show the world how good you are. If you’re kind of smart, if you’re kind of funny, you know whatever it is, you can actually make it, which is a massive game changer. Even if you’re a girl, if you’re really good, you have a way to show what you’re capable of.

Contests over the years have also been super important because it pushes the level of riding. For top riders, there’s prize money to win during contests meaning that you could actually go from contest to contest without having to rely on outside sponsorships.When we started, at the first European Open, they wouldn’t let us ride. They told us that slopestyle was too dangerous. for women. They

actually removed me and Cheryl Maas from the park, like physically removed us! Nowadays, they have slopestyle in the Olympics and the girls are kicking ass. There’s 20 girls riding, and you can’t tell who’s going to win because they’re all pushing so hard, so in that way, it’s getting better.

Echo: How do you think we can continue to push the progression in women’s snowboarding?Anne-Flore: The smallest but most important thing is for girls to ride together and motivate each other; that’s the first step. If you always wait to fit in with a crew of guys, you tend to think that it’s normal for them to be better than you. And you don’t have to think that way. I remember the first time I went to Austria, because in France I was basically the only girl riding at that level, there was a whole crew of girls riding together. And they didn’t give a shit; they were having such a good time! They were laughing, building kickers together, and they had such a fun energy and that was the coolest thing. At the end of the day, we ride because it’s fun, that’s the main reason. It’s not about the level, it’s not about the gender, it’s about having fun!

Echo: How are you going to push your level of riding, have fun, and continue to be awesome this winter?Anne-Flore: Every year I try to have something going on, This year I’m back on the Freeride World Tour which I won in 2011. I’m pretty stressed out though because this year, there’s no snow, and I come from doing videos so I like fresh tracks in deep pow. Doing sketchy turns and jumping cliffs in the middle of rocks is intense, so that’s my new challenge, and I do love new challenges!I’d like to thank my sponsors for supporting a women through supporting my snowboarding, couldn’t do it without them! Swatch, APO snowboards, Oxbow, Sosh, Racer Gloves, Blue Tomato, Buff, Crans-Montana and Keep a Breast cause they are awesome!!

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snowFaLL is the order of the day, but don’t forget that persisting weak layer in the snowpack!

Saturday 17th: Heavy overnight snowfall. It will carry on snowing all morning, lessening off into snow showers during the afternoon. A few flakes are expected right down to low lying areas. Moderate NW winds. Cold temperatures. Sunday 18th & Monday 19th: Sunday: Cloudy day with a few bright spells. Snowfall during the night. Cold for the time of season. Monday: Cold and snowing right down to low altitudes. Tuesday 20th & Wednesday 21st: Cold for the time of season. W to NW weather system. Snow showers right down to low altitudes. off piste snow conditions

Snowdepths are still well below normal for the time of year. All this fresh snow will be very welcome! Earlier this week we had a fresh layer of wind blown snow which which was humid below 1700 m. Drier above - quite dense wind blown snow. It has often been wind-affected, especially at high altitude. There may also be some surface crust, all of this on top of a sugary unconsolidated layer of snow in most places. snow stability

The avalanche danger rating has been at a considerable rating of 3 above 2500m, and at 2 below this altitude level for the last couple of days. With all the fresh new snow forecast for Friday onwards, there’s a real chance that the instability will increase and triggering something that will slide will become increasingly likey. See our HAT advice for what all the danger ratings mean: http://www.henrysavalanchetalk.com/avalanche-forecasts-danger-rating. The snowpack has been consolidating a bit this past week, but areas of windslab still persist, particularly above 2500 m (caused by strong W to N winds, and S winds too). Sub-layers are still weak in many places where faceted grains persist. (We clearly saw this layer of ‘sugar snow’ from a few centimetres under the surface in places and about a metre down during a snowpit demonstration

on a Henry off-piste course earlier this week). These weak sub-layers could lead to avalanches being set off by the weight of one or several skiers, especially on steep slopes. We need to pay particular attention to N through to SE facing slopes, and on the slopes along the windy French/Italian border (e.g. Le Fornet area of Val d’Isère). Below 2500 m, the avalanche risk seems to have lessened, due to several episodes of rain permeating down through the entire snowpack and helping to consolidate the layers. After all this fresh snowfall, we could see some snow slides, particularly on steep slopes. We could also see the development of new windslab, caused by the W wind. tip of the week

Keep a close eye on the avalanche forecast bulletins each day, recent avalanche activity and talk to the ski patrol in your area about where they are seeing releases of avalanches during their avalanche control with explosives.

We’ll be posting images and updates frequently on Twiter @HenryOff_Piste and on the HAT Facebook page (see link below).

The daily avalanche bulletins by Meteo France are now being published. Check them out on this link: http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-montagne/bulletin-avalanches, entering the mountain area of your choice. We’ll be updating our blog as much as possible, if conditions start to look unstable, or if we have some nice photos from a great ski on www.henrysavalanchetalk.com/blog also on Twitter @HenryOff_Piste and Google+ and Facebook

ride hard !! ride safe

Henry’sAVALANCHE

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EVERYDAY - DRINKS DEALS & MOREMoris Pub: Happy hour 4pm-6pm + 9pm–11pm, 10 for 20e Flavoured vodka shots, 5 for 15e jager bombs, Daily burger and drink dealsUnderground: Happy hour 5-8pmBananas: Happy Hours 6:30pm-7:30pm 10:30pm-11:30pm €3.50 Big Beer, €2 Small Beer, €3 Glass of wine €2 Shots.Doudoune: Happy hour and Free Entry from 12:00-1:00amCocorico: APRES SKi - Live Music, DJ & Entertainment HAPPy HOUR 2pm - 4pm on beer & SodaCafe Face: Hourly beer prices. Starting at 4pm, going up 10cents every hour. Free nibbles. Le Graal: Free shuttle bus & burgers from €7 until 5am.Dicks tea Bar: Apres: €4.50 Pints 5-6pm, free nibbles & beer pong!Pacific: €13 Jugs of Beer or Cider for Beer Pong!Le Petit Danois: Free popcorn & free shots with every drink at apres!Le Lodge: Happy Hour 4:00-7:30pm €3.50 for large beer €2.00 sodavictors: Happy Hours 16-17 and 22-23.30. 2 shots €5 2 glasses of wine €6 2 pints €7 2 drinks €8.Bananas: Happy Hours 5pm-6pm and 10:30pm-11:30pm€3.50 Big Beer / €2 Small Beer / €3 Glass House WineBlur note: Free nibbles and cheap beers at apres (3-6pm)

SATURDAY 17thLe Petit Danois: Live DJ Charlie Love 22hMoris Pub: Moris Breakfast Club 12-4Le Graal: 4 CRAZy DJs Electro swing to Minimal Progressive

Bananas: Cheese night: Playing the best hits from the 80s and 90s! 3€ Jager Bombs, 18€ Seasonnaire Menu: 3 courses plus a small beer or glass of wine!the Fall Line: Saturday Fun Club Cocorico: Après Ski Karen Live with DJ niclas KarlsonLe Lodge: Dj k2 plays house on lodge every Saturday from 7:00pm

SUNDAY 18thDicks tea Bar: “Charlie Love” who has played all across Europe comes in to jump on the decks.the Fall Line: LivE MUSiC with APE HOUSE from 10pm!!Moris Pub: Suzy’s Champagne Breakfast Club 12-4. Sunday Funday Feeling lucky Punk, Lucius Brave on the decks and free booze if you beat the dice in tOSS tHE BOSS.Le Graal: DJ SCOOt-BE and Guests play reggae and trap hip hopLe Petit Danois: the Dominoes Apres 17h-19h with DJ Charlie Love at 22hBananas: SUnDAy ROASt! Roast dinner with all the trimmings!! 10 Flavoured vodka Shots for 15€ in the barDoudoune: Johan Holt returns to the decks!Pacific: SUPER SUnDAy - Live Football and RugbyCafe Face: Soirée Kitch/Cheese (best of the 80’s to dance your night away)victors: Live music from 4pmCocorico: Après Ski Live Music with Ed (MULLit) + DJ Phil GarnerSaloon: the Famous George More Apres 5-7!!next Bar: Live hip hop night party “Ma j and Dj twix”

BAR & EVENT LISTINGS

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MONDAY 19thLe Graal: tHE niGHt CRAWL Doudoune: Scandi night with Johan Holt and Phillipe CostDicks tea Bar: Live music for apres with APE HOUSE from 5pm with nibblies and of course beer pong.Pacific: OPEn MiC, bring yourself, come watch or play and sing with Sophie and theo. From 22h30.Moris Pub: Shake off the powder with Killerbeez for apres and Firekind Rocking till late.the Fall Line: DJ Pocket Sized Dave from 9pm.Bananas: toss the Boss 8:30pm-10:30pm. Roll the dice and beat the bartender to win your round free of charge!Cocorico: Après Ski Live Music with FiREKinD & DJ Phil GarnerLe Petit Danois: Dirty Dance Apres 17h-19h, DJ Charlie Love on the decks from 22h

TUESDAY 20thDicks tea Bar: We have our resident DJ “Joakim Alfvegren” from Sweden playing alongside “Charlie Love” which is now a tuesday night special every week.Saloon: €15 jugs all night €15 House shooter trianglesLe Graal: AKMA MiX tHE HOLLy GRAiLBananas: Dolls night! 4€ House Spirit Mixers, 2€ Glass Wine and 2€ Flavoured vodka Shots for the ladiesLe Petit Danois: the Elements Rock Apres 17h-19h, DJ Charlie Love at 22hDoudoune: DJ Adrian LuxMoris Pub: Apres: twin peaks exclusive 2 hour tour... What a voice! Eve : Elements… all four of them , eeexxcelent…mwahahathe Fall Line: Live Music with the amazing Pete Leakey from 10pm

Cocorico: Après Ski - Live Music with Ed (MULLit) + DJ Phil Garner / Silent Disco insidenext Bar: “Mardi Gras” Dj mid law plays techno

WEDNESDAY 21thDicks tea Bar: Chicken wing Wednesday during apres and check out LUCiAS tHE BRAvE on the decks. Our After Dinner Club with Dan Blaxx on sax and Sofia Landgren on electric violin, backed by DJ Joakim Alfvegren.Moris Pub; Wed après : 1 man 2 guitars 3 pedals, Mikey Gray BEASt MODE OnEve : Alpha delta MORiS FRAt PARty.. with the DUB PiStOLS. Shots fired..Le Graal: the Famous Electro GraalBananas: €5 FreestylersDoudoune: Club 21 with Phil Garner & Petit JeanLe Petit Danois: REtRO REntALS SKi OUtFit PARty Apres 17h - 19h, DJ Charlie Love spinning from 22hPacific: Wed Jan 7th: 6PM Ed Mullit acoustic set + free nibblesCocorico: Seasonaires Big Après Ski - Live Music Cab Collective & DJ Phil Garnerthe Fall Line: Hot Choc Apres - 5 Euro alcoholic hot chocolate 3-6pmSaloon: the Famous George More Apres 5-7!! Joss night!! 1 Joss €3 - 10 Joss €25!!next Bar: next bar present 80s party

THURSDAY 22thDicks tea Bar: tapas thursday during apres. Luna night with guest DJ Barney who is Currently a resident at the winner of London’s Best Club Award 2014, DStRKtSaloon: thisty thusday - €15 Jugs of Long island all night!!!Le Graal: BARBAPAPA SHOtMoris Pub: Sweet Sweets for your eyes and ears the Beautiful B-tRiX Kiddo

Le Petit Danois: Harbour Band Live at Apres 17h-19h, Pocket Sized Dave on the decks from 22hBananas: Guys night4€ Big Beer, 4€ House Spirit Mixers and 2€ Flavoured vodka Shots for the fellasDoudoune: DJ Klingandenext Bar: Reggae, Ragga party avec Dj twixthe Fall Line: Wine and Cheese night with LivE MUSiC from the Unbelievable Sofia!!victors: Live Music from 10pmCocorico: Après Ski - Live Music with Ed (MULLit) + DJ Phil GarnerCafe Face: “From Russia with love” vodka specials from 10pm.

FRIDAY 23thDicks tea Bar: Soul Division the classy duo are back - no further introduction needed!Saloon: Jagerbomb night! €3.50 Jagerbombs all night long!!Moris Pub:après : Master of strings Mike and his nemesis Richie the flutebox generation rock. Eve : there back , they’re Beautiful - the DOMinOS!Cafe Face: Fluro Folie Friday @ Face - it’s going to be colourful!Le Graal: Party tunes by GuimBananas: FiSH & CHiPS FRiDAy PLUS DJ LUCiUS BRAvE!! Fish & Chips in the restaurant and DJ Lucius Brave busting out beats downstairs from 11:30pm. Hell to the yeahDoudoune: RDv - DJ Philippe Costethe Fall Line: Whisky ClubCocorico: Après Ski - Live Music with the Firekind & DJ Phil GarnerLe Petit Danois: George More live apres music at 17h, DJ Charlie Love at 22hnext Bar: Hugo Hi-fi , Reggae, Dub, Jungle and Drum and Bass

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SAtuRDAY 17 JAN14h00 SARACENS V MuNStER16h00 QPR V MAN utD16h00 SPuRS V SuNDERlAND16h15 NEWCAStlE FAlCoNS V DRAGoNS18h30 NEWCAStlE V SouthAMPtoN18h30 SAlE ShARKS V ClERMoNt20h45 hARlEQuiNS V l oNDoN WASPS

SuNDAY 18 JAN14h00 GlASGoW WARRioRS V MoNtPElliER14h30 W’hAM V hull16h15 CoNNACht V EXEtER ChiEFS16h15 toulouSE V BAth RuGBY17h00 MAN CitY V ARSENAl18h30 oSPREYS V NoRthAMPtoN SAiNtS ***hANDBAll***19h00 SAuDi ARABiA V DENMARK 19h00 EYGPt V FRANCE

MoNDAY 19 JAN21h00 EVERtoN V WBA

tuESDAY 20 JAN19h00 FRANCE V iCElAND ***hANDBAll***19h00 DENMARK V GERMANY 20h45 liVERPool V ChElSEA

WEDNESDAY 21 JAN20h45 SPuRS V ShEFFiElD utD

thuRSDAY 22 JAN ***hANDBAll***19h00 AlGERiA V FRANCE 19h00 RuSSiA V DENMARK

FRiDAY 23 JAN20h55 CAMBRiDGE utD V MAN utD

SPORT LISTINGSBRouGht to You BY PACiFiC BAR

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EnGLiSH MEDiCAL CEntRE Dr. Alan Griffiths - in the MEDivAL Building, opposite the Spar Petrol Station04 79 40 26 80

PiStE SECURity / SKi PAtROL Put these numbers in your phone right now!val D’isere – 04.79.06.02.10tignes – 04.79.06.32.00

POMPiERS (Paramedics / Firefighters) Dial 15 from a landline or 112 from a mobile phone

POLiCE MUniCiPAL (Local Police)04.79.06.10.96

GEnDARMES (national Police)04.79.06.03.41

ROADSiDE ASSiStAnCEPoint Auto, La Daille 04.57.55.50.28

AvALAnCHE SAFEtyHAt run weekly avalanche safety talks as well as excellent beeper training courses - 06.29.21.33.00

SKi SCHOOLSProgression Ski & Snowboard School - 06.21.93.93.80 www.progressionski.com

new Generation - 04.79.01.03.18 www.skinewgen.com

PiZZA DELivERyFlash Pizza - 04.79.41.96.06 www.flashpizzavaldisere.com

PHySiOtHERAPy / REFLEXOLOGyMASSAGE / PiLAtESProgression Physiotherapy and Massage - 06.21.93.93.80

RADiO/tv vAL D’iSERE 96.1FM and online www.radiovaldisere.com - 04.79.06.18.66

SWiMMinG POOL / SAUnA / GyMClLiMBinG WALL / yOGAthe Aquasport Lesiure Centre at the bottom of the Face. 04.79.04.26.01

MOBiLE PHOnES / SiM CARDS / DvD & HEADCAM REntALPhilips Shop, near the tourist office - to hire DvD’s or headcams you ‘ll need to bring your passport and pay a deposit.04.79.06.05.64

tOURiSt inFORMAtiOnOffice de tourisme, located at the main roundabout. Open 7 days a week from 8:30 am until 7:30 pm. - 04.79.06.06.60

LOCKSMitH/KEyS CUtAndy @ Prestige Renovations - 06.74.73.92.41

ACCOMODAtiOn Pierdor - Accomodation by the week, month or season - 06.80.47.11.70

AiRPORt tRAnSFERSEurope transfer - 06.29.52.37.50

Stvi (Lift Pass offices)04.79.06.00.35

WHEN CALLING FROM A FOREIGN PHONE ADD 0033 AND DROP THE FIRST 0

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The latest edition of Charlie Hebdo sold out within hours, with the print run now extended to five million. The front cover depicts the prophet Mohammed carrying a ‘Je Suis Charlie’ banner and the headline ‘All Is Forgiven’. 10,000 French troops have been deployed after last week’s attack on the magazine’s offices and a kosher supermarket which resulted in seventeen deaths. The gunmen were subsequently killed in a standoff outside Paris, and the Yemeni branch of Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. A peace rally last Sunday attracted more than a million people, including several world leaders. An orthodox Jewish newspaper then airbrushed all the women, including Angela Merkel, out of the resulting photo; we didn’t get to see whether Barack Ohaha would have suffered the same ignominy as he failed to attend, prompting a Texas congressman to tweet that even Hitler thought it more important to get to Paris than the President. The Moroccan-born mayor of Rotterdam told fellow Muslims who do not appreciate the freedom of living in the West to ‘pack your bags and f*** off ’ on live TV. Why can’t we all just get along.

Handbags in the House of Commons, as David Cameron is refusing to take part in the televised election debate involving Labour, the LibDems and UKIP unless the Green Party is involved. The other leaders have labelled him chicken and yellow; rich coming from two cocks and a LibDem. The debates are set to proceed with an empty lectern proposed if the Prime Minister does not turn up; still likely the Tories best option, and reminiscent of the 1993 episode of

Have I Got News For You when Roy Hattersley’s last-minute cancellation resulted in producers substituting a tub of lard in his place, ‘something imbued with much the same qualities and liable to give a similar performance’.

A Blackpool man has been convicted of selling bottles of urine and faeces as vodka and whisky; clearly a local authority that’s not a fan of recycling. Justin Bieber went unnoticed after accidentally crashing a meeting of gay Republicans at an LA restaurant; can’t think how he blended in with a group of Republicans. People who work more than 48 hours a week are apparently more likely to develop a dangerous relationship with alcohol... or work hard, play hard as I prefer to call it. An adulterous father of five has had his manhood chopped off twice by his wife, once while sleeping at home and the second time while he was recovering in hospital after having it re-attached; last time he does anything twice a night.

And finally, some of Kanye West’s fans, after his recent collaboration with Paul McCartney, took to Twitter to thank him for shining a light on unknown artists, suggesting that Mr McCartney is going to be huge; a mere half a century after the Beatles played Shea Stadium and they were declared bigger than Jesus, the Hindenburg and even Kim K’s ass. Until next week, I’m off to weep for the future.

World NewsWITH BEN PRYOR

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Route du Parc des Sports, 73 150 Val d’Isère Tél: +33(0)479060652 E-Mail: Victors@langley.euKeep skiing, keep it simple and spend your nights at VICTOR´S

FANTASTIC

What exactly is the Girls Crew?the Girls Crew is a group for girls seeking a skiing, snowboarding, and adventuring community of like-minded enthusiastic females looking to progress, learn new skills, and have fun along the way.

Why the need for an all-women’s community?Like many other girls out there, i’ve often been the only girl in all-guy crews. i’ve loved it, but over time, i found that it wasn’t necessarily the best environment for me to learn. yes, it always made me want to prove myself, but it’s easy to stagnate after a while. Ripping hard and fast all the time didn’t necessarily give me a time to learn new things because that meant going slower, thinking through things, or falling, eating shit, and having to get up again. Personally, i think all-girl crews make for a more welcoming environment for trial, error, failure, and progression in a community setting. Other girls share your fears and your goals, they understand the challenges you’re going through, and they’re an amazing support system, relishing in your triumphs as much as their own. the other thing is, if a guy does a back-flip off a kicker, i’m impressed.

if a girl does a back-flip off a kicker, i’m inspired, i’m full on stoked, because that means that maybe one day i could be good enough to do the same.

What will the Girls Crew entail?it’s really a matter of giving local women more opportunities to meet each other and ride together. i’m especially excited to start working with various instructors around val d’isère and tignes to create different clinics. Whether you’re a beginner, a pro-level rider, or something in between, i’m looking to offer every girl at every level an opportunity to learn something new in the backcountry, in the park, on the cross-country skiing track… basically anywhere we can get active, do fun things, and have a great time.

How do we join?i’ve set up a Facebook group called “the Girls Crew” that women can join, and once you’re part of the group, you’ll get updates on the different clinics we’re looking to have, different ride day opportunities, après-ski meet-ups, and other useful info. From that point on, it’s our community, so it can be anything we want or need it to be.

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THE GIRLS CREW...

vaL d’isère LocaL Justine MuLLiez is a huge Fan oF girLs riding and progressing together. FoLLowing anne-FLore Marxer’s advice, she’s decided to cre-ate a group For girLs in the espace kiLLy who want to get out and ride! introducing ‘the girLs crew’.

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FACEBOOK.COM/HOTELLAVANCHER

Genuine and charming

DiCKS tEA BARLocated in the centre of town, does this place really need an introduction? Open from 4pm to 5am with great (read: sexy) staff, an amazing lighting and sound system as well as a cosy amibance during apres. Drinks promotions every night from 11pm – 12pm. Book ahead for viP tables. 06.77.03.61.20

LE GRAALOne of the smartest nightclubs in town complete with a flashing dance floor. Free shuttle bus 11pm - 5 am: see following page for details. Free wi-fi and an all-night burger bar make it a great place to hang out before the crowds show up (about 10:30pm-1am) or a great spot for a late night snack.

MORiS PUB25 seasons old and still going strong with the chalet girl’s favourite drink, the 1080, live music every après and evening there is plenty on offer at the Moris. the Home of val’s Best Gourmet Burgers, homemade & huge. the Brave take on the legendary doubledecker Moris Burger. Also offering up veggie choices as well as massive portions of wings & nachos. Come hungry...

SALOOnLocated on the slopes and in town at the same time, this place is a good meeting spot during the day and party spot at night. Après ski is wedged in the middle with live music and even a ski attendant. Keep an eye out for their epic theme parties!

BLUE nOtELocated next to the hotel Omelune, opposite the ESF office. Serving up all your classic drinks to a mixture of jazz and funk. Atmospheric and friendly with free nibbles and specials at aprés (3pm-6pm). they also have a pool table as well as table football and show main sporting events especially boxing due to owner Matt’s armchair obsession.

DOUDOUnE CLUBDoudoune Club opened 2008 and has since then brought some of the biggest nights to val d’isère.World class residents Phil Garner & Phillippe Coste will together with weekly guest DJs give you a clubbing experience you won’t forget! Located under Cocorico - Apres Ski. Open daily from midnight - 05.00. Free pick up 06.01.45.69.07

FLASH PiZZABetter known for its delivery and take out service, it also offers an eat-in service with a relaxed atmosphere, super friendly service and wine bar. it is located next to the Galerie des Cimes in the centre of town. 04.79.41.96.06

tHE FALL LinEnewly renovated after being bought by 3 of val d’isere’s most legendary barmen, you won’t recognize the old Bar la Foret. A great cocktail list, reasonable prices, an abundance of chalet girls, plus Handsome Giles and Charming timmy behind the bar, what’s not to like?

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BAR L’ALEXAnDRALocated near the post office and run by the fanatic Kiwi Phil. it’s the best pool venue in town. there’s also a top level sound system so Phil and his antipodean friends will be throwing some loud parties. Great for big groups. Check the listings for live music.

RiZE COFFEE BARLocated at the front of the Portillo. Serving freshly ground Baristo style coffees, smoothies, yummy paninis, homemade cakes and soup. A selection of great beers and wines also available! Open daily, 8:30-19:00. Chilled, comfy and cosy!

COCORiCO - APRèS SKiCocorico is a new Après Ski concept in val d’isère opening its unique terrace for the season 14/15. Open every day 2pm - 8pm. Live Music, DJs & Entertainment daily. Ski in, Walk in, Bus in!

LE PEtit DAnOiSOffering good all round service and live music at apres. Will create your hangover at night with the highly intoxicating Red Erik and scandie fun but cure it the next day with a full English breakfast. Open for food all day from 10am to 10pm serving traditional breakfasts, the Danois also serves pies, great wraps, salads, curries burgers, and steaks. Located in the centre above the bus stop roundabout. LOOPLocated at the foot of the slopes in the centre of tignes Le Lac, Loop is a perennial favourite for tourists and seasonnaires alike. Great DJ’s & live music at night. When the sun shines, there is no better place than the terrace overlooking the lake and peaks to kick back with a gourmet burger and refreshing beer.

PACiFiCJust past the second roundabout in the centre of town. Well known for its huge selection of cider, live music during apres and in the evening, plus the raffle every

thursday where you can win yourself a pair of Salomon skis/board. there’s Beer Pong on the go all the time plus fee cheesy nachos and 12€ jugs of beer and cider at apres. All live sports shown, hand ball, footie, rugby, F1, cricket, superbowl....... you name it.

UnDERGROUnD CAFEA sleek basement bar situated right in the center of town it’s got a modern new york feel, great DJs and has some of the best cocktails in town. it’s sister restaurant is just above it on the corner and features a great selection of burgers to eat in or take away.

FOLiE DOUCELocated on the mountain on the OK/Orange, this ‘daytime nightclub’ creates one hell of a party up there with live DJ’s and singers mixed together. the mountain restaurant offers a full range menu in a luxury environment. Eat inside or out and soak up the party atmosphere!

CAFÉ FACELocated in the centre of town, this is a cosmopolitan bar with live music from five. Hourly beer prices from 4pm going up 10 cents an hour until 10pm and free gastronomic finger food.

P’tit CREUXAlways our favourite pit-stop on the way home from a long night out P’tit Creux is open all day serving tasty cooked-to-order takeaway pizzas and kebabs. the fact that we’ve spotted a famous 3 Michelin star chef walking away with one of their kebabs speaks volumes.

LE LODGERight in the centre of town this is a great place to eat in a vibrant atmosphere. it’s always busy so book ahead. it’s fondue is pretty much the stuff of legend, and the bar downstairs has a great happy hour and chilled house music. 04.79.06.02.01

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Zgeg KLG

(mix élec

vtro swing)

Yvonopitch

(Mix techno)

Brice KLG

(Mix minimal progressive)

Flextoflex KLG

(live set pumping swing)

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01

20115

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tiGnES CUiSinEBased on the slopes at tignes Le Lac you can ski to their south facing terrace for fast and fun asian cuisine. they steam fry their dishes to ensure the fresh ingredients remain healthy and tasty. Look out for some super-tasty new menu items this year.

4 SEASOnSSituated in L’Alexandra (next to the post office), this restaurant offers a great alternative menu, including Wraps, Curry, thai, in a fresh relaxed atmosphere. Eat in and take away, it’s open for lunch midday till 2pm weekdays and open for dinner 6:30pm till 11pm 7 days.

BAR JACQUESin the middle of town Bar Jacques is a great, cosy, family run restaurant with a menu focusing on food from south-western France and the Savoie. Fantastic Foie Gras and the best Cassoulet you’ve ever tasted. 04.79.06.03.89

DAnS LE JARDin DES ALPESval’s newest restaurant in the end of the Gallerie des Cimes features a unique concept with a deocor that brings the countryside indoors (think massive trees and a starry sky), an upmarket sandwich shop (featuring the cheap and HUGE Hunger Breaker) and a chef who puts his own touch on mountain classics - not one to miss! 04.79.07.93.04

viCtORSLocated above the Spar supermarket. if you enjoy good cocktails and being surrounded by attractive Scandinavians this is the place to be. starts out with excellent cocktails and finishes off with full on craziness. the restaurant offers food until 11pm, some say it’s the best value for your money. 04.79.06.06.52

ARBRE DE viE‘the tree of Life’, one of val’s newest restaurants located in the Galerie des Cimes opposite the Bus Station. Manu, Caro, and the rest of their ‘Fab’

team welcome you with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Open every evening, as well as at midday on the weekend, their chef uses fresh quality products to bring you Alpine specialities with a touch of world flavours. 04.79.06.17.97

BAnAnASLocated steps off the snowfront, Bananas is back in full-swing! A great little tex-Mex influenced restaurant by day serving up Fajitas, tacos, Steaks, Salads, Burgers and more. now featuring Fish & Chip Fridays, Sunday Roasts, and affordable 3 course menus for seasonnaires on the weekends! At night it turns into a great little basement bar with an amazing ambiance famous for bringing in chalet girls by the truckload. 04.79.06.04.23

L’AvAnCHERthis hotel/restaurant is a piece of val d’isere’s history, first opening in 1958. now operated by a young, ambitious team for the second year running, its reputation is maintained by the quality of its Savoyard specialities and the fresh, local products used, but you can also enjoy a large variety of main dishes, including the Chef tom’s famous hamburger! Located after the UCPA bus stop towards the Fornet. Reservations are strongly advised. 04.79.06.02.00

nEXt BARLocated kitty-corner to the bus station underneath the famous tocade Burger, you’re in for a nice surprise if you’re popping in to next for the first time. A cosy decor, pinball, pool, games on the tables, and one of val d’isere’s most passionate barmen make it an ideal place for a Belgian beer or great cocktail with ingredients made in-house. they’ve also got a nice little menu on offer as well as live music/DJ nights a couple times a week.

Four Seasons

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Four Season is a firm favourate among the french seasonaires especially. nestled inside Alexander Bar on the left-hand side Four seasons provides a great menu you can enjoy in the restaurant, bar or takeaway. the menu really does cater for everyone but includes a couple of great noodle dishes that aren’t easily found in oher restaurants around town.

the choice really is wide though with the menu ranging from thai Curry to burgers and sharing platters to the Pag thai King Prawn rice noodles we had. We also dipped into some nems (spring rolls) to get us going and they certainly didn’t dissapoint. My only critism would be that the portions are huge! After a starter and the Pad thai i was in a serious food coma... so maybe order light if you need to do anything productive afterwards!

Four seasons is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner service with fantastic food, big portions and for a reasonable price. Stop in soon and see for yourself!

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The

WEEKIn

PICTURESStudents love to get naked!Dinosaurs?!

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Ask Lou about here new dice shot game... it’s been creating some interesting combinations!

This is what winning 310e worth of drinks looks like....

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Post Baloon!

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I’m Joey and if I want to get naked and sit in the snow I will!

naMe: reneLLe MortiMerhoMetown: currentLy Live in Messanges, sw France. originaL hoMetown is caLoundra, austraLiahoMe resort: tignesproFession: snowboard instructor & basi trainer/exaMiner

Why Tignes/Val d'Isère? It's everything you could want from a mountain resort, instant accessibility to varied terrain, fantastic lifts, high altitude and snow quality.

Where did you grow up riding? Who taught you how to snowboard?I taught myself to snowboard on a drunken teenage holiday with my best friend in Thredbo, Australia. Soon after I booked a flight to France to work in a chalet with my sister in 1994. My first lesson was on a BASI level 1 Snowboard Instructor Course in Tignes; I was 24.

RENELLE MORTIMER...

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What does your job entail?I coach kids for national freestyle competitions, provide group/private lessons to holidaymakers and squeeze in women specific seasonnaire sessions. Overall, I spend many hours cruising around the mountain developing riders technical level by analysing & correcting faults, teaching people to understand their individual learning style whilst breaking through psychological barriers. And my not so favourite part of my job is admin, lots of admin.

What is your favourite part aboutteaching people to snowboard? Watching people walk away after a session buzzing with a different energy & newfound confidence after learning new skills or breaking through barriers.

What do you notice as the biggest difference between all-women courses and co-ed ones? Less competition, which enhances creativity and encourages people to do things outside normal limitations, there's more camaraderie and less need to perform in order to gain mutual respect. Everyone is in it for the fun & pure joy of riding. And there's a huge hunger for technical information.

According to your experiences teaching all-women's groups, what are the greatest limiting factors to women's progression in snowboarding? Definitely psychological limitations, including lack of confidence and fear. Women are naturally more cautious than men. Men use the trial, error, fall, ouch, get up, don't do that again approach. For women best results are achieved with clear technical explanations together with safe progressions. Women prefer to understand technically first, then assess/analyse the potential dangers, understand what that might feel like, and then give it a go. Even though women can be more cautious initially, once the skills are mastered, women are more graceful, precise, flowing and a pleasure to watch!

RENELLE MORTIMER...

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PHOTOgRAPHER: STEPHEN “CHIPIE” WINdROSS RIdER: JOSEfINE AlEx (TIgNES CUISINE)

NExT WEEk IT COUld BE YOU!Each week we host a photo competition sponsored by our favourite homegrown brand:

PLAnKS. it’s free to enter and the winner gets to grab themselves a beanie from their fresh new 2014-15 lineup.

think you can do better? Prove it. Send your entries to val@themountainecho.co.ukthe Fine Print: By sending in a photo in you’re giving us the right to publish it, crop it, and generally use it in any way we want to.

Kind of like your mum. Prizes must be collected in person at the Planks store in val village.

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22nd January

One Show only

in Val D’Isere

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facebook.com/moris.pub

TUESDAY |Apres- Twin PeaksNight- The Elements

THURSDAY|Night- B-TRIX Kiddo DJ SetFRIDAY |Apres- Mike & Richie Night- The Dominos

THE DUBPISTOLS

with

THE DUB PISTOLS

This Wednesday

FANCY DRESS PRIZES

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tossing JJTheo ski world co-ordinated a ski trip kitty to take on Toss-The-Boss at the Moris Pub in aid of the fact it was his girlfriends Nia’s birthday. This is straight from the inbox: “Oh god, we didn’t get to 500e but we managed 310e. Nia rolled a 3 and our hearts stopped but the boss (JJ) tossed a 1 – Winning!! We then bet the same round again and lost… still we managed to consume a total of 620e worth of drinks in an hour!” – Solid effort ski world!

table EtiquetteCrash Chris got so smashed up at après that he went to victors for dinner and threw up on his main. I’m sure he wants to take this opportunity for minor celebrity stardom to apologise to the Victors staff.

Out of PracticeGina (Wasteland/Busc Head Office) recently ended her four-year relationship, Though she’s a ski trip veteran, enroute to resort as a singleton Gina confided in us that she was infact terrified of the idea of having sex on this ski trip. “What if they’ve changed sex?! Four years is a long time! It might have changed a lot!”.

this is HorseshitScandi Adam had a thing for a recently fired ‘young single and easy’ Izzy. Despite it being her last night, him informing her how much he loves eating horse meat back home and her being an equestrian lover with several ponies they still managed to get together just in time for Izzy’s last night before being sent home… may as well go out with a bang aye? In the back of a Subaru? In -10˚C?

This may not be Adam’s actual car.

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HarrieBasecamp

Mila KunisActress/Goddess

Quotes of the Week“I just have a habbit of getting one nipple out for Tom, the left one!” Monty (Dicks).

“Can you get from the bunker to the dick?” Luke May (Sound engineer for the Sunset Sons).

“Oxford Brookes are the clotted cream of British universities. The two main charachteristics of clotted cream are rich and thick”. Alex Allen (Bluenote)

“You’re Australian? My brothers been to Australia!” (Brookes Student 1)“Cool, so have about a billion other people.” Dan (Bluenote)

“I really want an Australian accent.” (Brookes Student 2).“Cool, just bang an aussie guy and you’ll catch one.” (Alex Allen)“Really!, wait is that your chat up line?” (Brookes Student 2).

“No, I’m clearly English!” (Alex Allen).

Standard night-out attire in a

ski resort?! We understand getting

dressed must be a challenge let alone

passing a degree!

As usual, nothing printed in the Rumour Mill has been proprly researched and everything should be taken as fiction rather than fact.If you’ve got any questions or comments, or just want to spill the beans on your mates shenanigans, please feel free to contact us at val@echomag.co.uk Don’t forget to throw us a like on facebook.com/themountainecho too.

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The LASTWordSo, this weeks ‘Women’s Issue’ has been headed up by local Justine Mulliez with contributions from herself and two female professionals Anne-Flore Marxer (before she embarks on the 2015 Freeride World Tour) and Renelle Mortimer (Pro snowboard instructor and Basi examiner here in the Espace Killy). It’s important to note that none of these ladies are men haters they are just in agreement that in order to allow the progression of female riding in the most productive way the facility for girls to ride and train with each other will in most cases benefit the inidividual more greatly. If a girl starting out only has the option of riding with guys that want to rip hard they may end up loosing confidence and just doing a partying season. This is the reason Justine wants to facilitate a ‘Girls Crew’ option here in Val which if it means more babes riding - we fully encourage! On that subject you may have seen Anne-Flore wasn’t too enamoured with our ‘Women’s Issue’ idea as there should be an equal amount of features on girls in the mag anyway rather than their standard appearences doing body shots on a bar. The problem is a case of Chicken & the Egg... If there currently aren’t as many ladies ripping up the mountain, then evidentally it’s more of a struggle to get features on them. However if you girls are ripping and we don’t know about it please send us in an update, photo or video! We need some ladies for Echo Army to film with too!

In other news we’ve just heard Kene’s car has broken down over three hours from Val for the second time this season... Lesson learnt, buy French Cheese not French cars! So in light of this you may well have to endure me and my horrific spelling for another week. Enjoy! Josh

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PIZZA BY NIGHT COMING SOON!!