Snow
skiing and winter sports
The annual
ski vacation is almost obligatory, especially for families, whether it's taken
in November, over Christmas, or in February. While downhill skiing (ski alpin)
and snowboarding are popular throughout the Alps and farther away in the Pyrenees,
the Jura is well known for its cross country (ski du fond) trails. To
arrange a holiday, visit one of the regional tourism centers located on avenue
de l'Opera, or ask at your local travel agency. If you work for a large company,
its comite d'entreprise may organise weekends or weeklong outings.
Paris on ice:
For your skating pleasure, there are three ice rinks in Paris open to the
public each winter! Last year, from December to 23 February, in addition to
the traditional 1 200 m² ice rink on the square in front of the Hôtel
de Ville, there were two other ice rinks : place Raoul-Dautry, near Montparnasse
in the 15th arrondissement and at the Bassin de la Villette, place de Stalingrad,
in the 19th arrondissement. Plus, of course, the patinoire at Bercy. Skate rental
is possible.
Snowtime
Great site, with English, French and Italian available. It gives
results around the world for downhill, cross country, snowboard and jumping
competitions, but also provides useful links to resorts, all of which have an
English language version. Among the selection, there are two resorts shown for
France, Val d'Isere and Avoriaz; 4 for
Switzerland, including St. Moritz; and 8 in Italy.
http://www.snowtime.com
(choose an icon).
Ski France
Everything you wanted to know about skiing in France, and in
English! Videos, readers' questions and reviews, ski station and hotel reservations
and info.
http:/www.skifrance.com
Skiinfo
This is a private company that provides everything you need
for a ski vacation, including the possibility of reservations for lodging and
training.
http://www.skiinfo.fr/
La Plagne
This is an excellent site if you're heading for La Plagne. Everything
you need for a weekend or longer of skiing:
http://www.la-plagne.com
Ski France site, in English
This site provides lots of helpful information on its 100 member
sites.
http://www.skifrance.fr/
"The French Winter and Summer Ski Resorts Mayor's Association groups together
almost one hundred mountain resorts divided between the five French massifs
(the Alps, Auvergne, Jura, Vosges and Pyrenees). Created in 1946, the Association
continues its work today focusing on two main objectives :
To defend the "mountain characteristics" of the resorts to the authorities
and to represent their interests to Parliament and Central Government.
To promote the resorts in France and abroad so that they maintain their position
as one of the main tourist destinations."
Fédération francaise
de la montagne et de l'escalade
This site, the French federation of mountaineering and climbing,
provides information on all sports that have to do with mountains, whether skiing,
snowshoeing or trekking. It lists the ski clubs, licenses, training, a calendar
of competition events, plus weather and avalanche information.
http://www.ffme.fr/
Fédération francaise
de ski
This site is dedicated to professional competition, with
information on how to get involved. French only.
http://www.ffs.fr,
tel: 04.50.51.40.34
Snowboarding
Association francaise
de snowboard, good info, good links.
http://www.afs-fr.com
Agoride
"Video magazine", but that's not all. Lots of
international links, including federations and all in English.
http://www.agoride.com
Board the world
For a really clear understanding of the state of snowboarding
in France, go to http://www.boardtheworld.com
and click on the French flag at the bottom of the page (look for the link to
a Russian site)
Ice sports
Fédération francaise
des sports de glace
Looking
for hockey, bobsledding, ice skating? This site gives lots of info, in French,
but its links page provides international sites.
http://www.ffsg.org, tel: 01.53.92.81.81