Race against Graham Bell in Tignes

Ski Sunday presenter and ex-Olympic skier Graham Bell will be a first time competitor in the annual Dual Slalom race which the Ski Club of Great Britain’s organises in Tignes, France on Wednesday 6 April 2011.

Teams of four go head-to-head on a specially constructed slalom course, organised by ski school Evolution 2 in Val Claret, Tignes. Teams can enter to win the coveted Trophy and Plate competitions, as well as in additional fun categories such as ‘best fancy dress’.

All ages and abilities of skier and snowboarder can enter with a practice course set up throughout the day for anyone wanting to hone their slalom skills or simply have a go before taking to the gates with their team for the event itself.

Entrants can sign up for this year’s event at the Alpaka Lodge in Tignes le Lac between 6.15–7.15pm at or at the Alexandra Bar in Val d’Isère between 6.45–7.45pm from 3rd -5th April. Entry costs €20 per team (€5 per person) for Ski Club members and €30 per team (€7.50 per person) otherwise. Bib collection takes place from 9.30am until 10.30am with racing between 10.45am and 2pm and prize giving in the Evolution 2 restaurant, Le Coffee, from 3.30pm.

“The Ski Club Dual Slalom is really fun and is a great way to meet like-minded snow fans. It’s a chance to add something different to your holiday and even if you don’t want to race, it’s a fantastic spectator event.” Said Emma Bebb of the Ski Club of Great Britain.

http://www.skiclub.co.uk/

Tignes ready for the X Games

X Games in Tignes

Excitement is building at top French resort Tignes ahead of the ski centre’s second staging of the biggest Freestyle snowsports contest in Europe, the X Games from March 16th to 18th.

Crews from TV stations ESPN and Canal+ have arrived in the resort to set up the competition sites. The American shapers are also back to finalize the SuperPipe and shape up the six modules of the Slopestyle that will allow the riders to stomp their tricks with an amplitude defying gravity. Anyone interested by park design can follow the construction of the site day by day on Tignes Val Claret webcam.

During the competition fans will be able to catch the action from the greatest freestylers on the planet from spectator sites at the bottom of the SuperPipe and along the Slopestyle course. There will be elimination stages followed by eight final. Extreme riders will also carry out snowmobile demos.

Side events include, on March 17th from 9pm, the ‘2 Many DJs’ show featuring a Belgian duet who will set the snow front on fire with hits including ‘Can’t get you out of my head’ and ‘Blue Monday.’

For those who don’t speak X Games already, Tignes has created a very X glossary for those who wish to become fluent in freestyle. If you think “train” when your hear “rail”, if you are pretty sure “Bobby Brown” is a famous American singer or if the word “run” reminds you of Forrest Gump, then it is the place to go. You’ll also find a list of athletes so that you finally know who is hiding behind their ski goggles and full information about the SuperPipe and the Slopestyle courses.

Competitors to watch include Torin Yater Wallace, the 15 year old rookie, a silver medallist at Winter X Games 15 in Aspen earlier this year; Torstein Horgmo, the only snowboarder who managed to stomp a triple cork, or Sarah Burke, the queen of SuperPipe. In total the X Games will attract almost 120 athletes and award 8 gold medals.

http://espn.go.com/action/xgames/winter/2011/europe/