Happy New Year 2026 From Méribel

Hi everyone and Happy New Year from your favourite blogging Méribel ski instructor. I hope you have all had an enjoyable Festive period, and feel fully refreshed and ready to face this New Year. Crikey Blimey, it's been very busy here in Méribel and the rest of the 3 Valleys recently, with thousands of skiers enjoying the mountains. Yes it's a hectic time of the ski season, but nice being surrounded by so many people having fun on holiday. As ever, all of these photos have been taken by me during the last week.

The weather continues to be absolutely stunning here with never-ending blue skies and sunshine. The wait continues for some fresh snowfall, but I know this sunny weather is a real treat for those visiting the mountains whilst on holiday. To be honest, most of us in resort (ie working) are also really appreciating this weather. Since mid-week, the temperatures have started to drop even during the day, which has enabled snowmaking to increase.

In fact, I think this has been a positive, let me explain. Most of the time the snow cannons are switched on at night, when we are tucked up in bed, which means we don't get to see the cannons in action. Likewise, during the cold periods in November and December when very few people are here, the cannons are running. For thousands of skiers to see how the cannons work this week during the day, has been a education. Don't forget, the cost of your ski pass not only covers the daytime running of the ski lifts, but also the crucial snowmaking process.

In my previous article I wrote that there is still some good skiing to be had. I still stand by this, particularly in the morning after the pistes have been groomed overnight. Granted the lower slopes are icy in the afternoon, but fingers crossed this may change and improve with fewer skiers on the mountain this week, and also with further snowmaking.

Being New Year week, I knew there was a high probability that I would be called upon by the ski school to attend the New Year's Eve torchlight descent. And sure enough, my name was on the list. I've often written about this experience, so hope it isn't too repetitive? After all, every year is different with the snow and weather conditions, and the route that we take down to Chaudanne in the dark.

It was nice catching up with colleagues away from the rush of life, and experience twilight turn to darkness up the mountain. Oh and have a couple of vin chauds to warm us up.

This winter the preferred route with our torches wasn't available, ie skiing down the Stade (race piste). Often the second option would be to throw us all down the Lièvre blue piste, but this wasn't available either. Although snowmaking had taken place on Lièvre before New Year's Eve, it wasn't quite enough to be open. The final option was to fire us down the dreaded Gelinotte piste. Although this is a blue piste, it's really quite steep. The angle of the slope isn't a problem for us of course, but Gelinotte is a popular slope during the day, so skier traffic makes this piste extremely icy.

These days we use LED torches, instead of the wax and naked flamed torches of years gone by. A shame really, because the flames gave us a fighting chance of seeing something in the dark. The 'white light' setting on our LEDS are also quite good, but for some reason the ski school is obsessed with us having the torches set on 'red', which gives us diddly squat vision!?!

So how was the ski down? The less said the better, other than horrific. At least it was pitch black and the crowds at the bottom couldn't see what a pig's ear we were all making of it on the sheet ice. Fear soon turned to relief when we reached the bottom however.

Right, enough of that nonsense. Back to the present, and more importantly, the future. Whilst we are very patiently waiting for any fresh snow to come our way, we can continue to enjoy the sensational sunshine. And just like the UK and all over Europe right now, it's turning cold. Freezing cold in fact this week. My favoured weather forecasting source is a website called meteoblue, here's a link for you to check out if you want.

For four days this past week I've skied with a family from New York in the United States. Tania comes from Lavenham in Suffolk, and Shyam from India. They met whilst working in Bermuda and now live in Manhattan with their two sons. Tania and Shyam will feature in my next post, but needless to say we had a cracking time skiing together with some rather nice lunches each day.

I've worked for three weeks now with just one day off so have booked some off for rest and recovery; back on it again on Tuesday. In my mind I know what I want to blog about next time, something to do with a big confession that I need to get off my chest! In the meantime....... Live With Passion. Martin.