World Cup telemark skiing in Les Houches this weekend
It's time to get down on bended knee in Les Houches this weekend and no, we're SO not talking about marriage proposals, but the uber graceful alpine sport of telemark skiing. The best of the best free-heelers from all over the world will be descending on Les Houches in the Chamonix Valley for this World Cup event.
The event opens on Friday 12th December with the handing out of bibs in the village centre. The skiing comps begin at 11:00 on Saturday with two rounds of the Classic Sprint race. The prize giving and raffle will take place in the village centre from 18:00. No sporting event in France would be complete without a bit of 'knees up' (excuse the pun) afterwards and the World Cup Telemark event is no exception, with a free concert by No-Mad-Band and So Trumpy (!) at Espace Olca in Les Houches from 21:00.
The telemark racers shouldn't be staying out too late as it's the start of the Classic race on Sunday at 11:00 with the final prize giving takes place at the Maison Neuve parking area from 15:00.
There are free minibuses ('navettes') running between Bellevue and Prarion to Maison Neuve so you can get a good view of the action and prize giving even without a lift pass. As it stands, the Prarion bubble lift wasn't due to open until the 20th Dec, but it *may* be open for the event this weekend.
If you're already a keen telemarker or simply fancy having a go, there's a test centre courtesy of Chamonix store Otavalo as well as clothing from Nike ACG, not forgetting the tombola and a few litres of vin chaud.
With excellent snow conditions throughout the Chamonix valley, the Telemark World Cup is set to be a great event for competitors and spectators alike this weekend in Les Houches.
