INTRODUCTION
This trip is for those of you out there, either experienced xc
skiers, or fit beginners, who are looking for a winter holiday with
a difference! We are lucky enough to have the
Transpyrenean xc ski marathon happen on our doorstep each year,
offering its entrants the opportunity to skate or classic
around either a 5km, 21km or 42 km route at the Plateau de Beille.
In order to prepare us for the event we offer 4 days of fantastic
and varied skiing across 3 of the best cross country ski areas in
the Pyrenees. You are led by James
Thompson, our director, and a SSE XC ski instructor, who will help you to reach your full skiing potential before the race.
Even if you are a complete novice to XC skiing, but are either a
regular road cyclist or runner, then this could be the winter
training challenge that you are looking for. For athletes who
have good overall aerobic fitness, plus reasonable balance and
coordination, it is not only feasible that you would be able to
complete the Marathon after only 4 days of learning, but also we are
sure that you will become a complete convert to the sport, and use
it as winter training for years to come. Believe us,
there is an alternative to being stuck in the gym during those grey
British winter months!
Whilst this trip keeps the flexibility that we have in our other
xc holidays, where we aim to offer a balance of orientation and ski
tours, plus promoting your independence, what this holiday offers in
addition, is a rolling training programme to hone your skiing
techniques and posture aided by video feedback techniques.
These are naturally voluntary so those of you who just want to get
some distance in, gather some speed and maximise your glide, can
concentrate on covering the km's. We are fortunate to
have such high quality dedicated
cross-country ski areas
on our doorstep, where the tracks are beautifully maintained and
clearly marked so orientation becomes very easy to do independently.
During the week we base ourselves in Ax-Les-Thermes which
is a pretty thermal spa town straddling the river Ariège
with everything you would expect from a French town and the addition
of a recently refurbished Thermal Bath.
HOLIDAY ITINERARY
The
itinerary remains flexible to accommodate for the snow conditions.
We intend to be on the slopes by 10am and aim to finish by 4.30pm.
You do not need to be on the go all the time, as all areas have
cafes offering fine mountain views.
You will be given a key to the van, so at any stage during the day
you can have access to spare clothing, different skis, etc.
Every morning
there
will be formal instruction into a particular aspect of the skiing
technique with video feedback and rolling programme of training
during the afternoons.
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Day
1:
Travel day
Today is about getting to Ax-Les-Thermes in time for dinner at the
Hotel Terminus. Airport transfers are provided to tie in with
flights listed below.
Day
2:
Plateau de Beille
After breakfast there will be a briefing to go through all aspects
of the holiday. We will then transfer to the Plateau de Beille via
the ski hire shop.
There will be time for an
introductory ski before lunch.
Lessons will be provided for beginners and those new
to snow. Experienced skiers will have the opportunity to explore the
ski area with Cathy.
Day 3:
Domaine du Chioula
Transfer
20 mins to the ski area of the Domain de Chioula.
We intend on skiing as much of the ski area as
possible and informal lessons will be given throughout the day.
Day 4:
Capcir
Today we take a day trip to the ski area of Capcir which is a 1hr 30
mins transfer each way. This vast ski area is relatively flat and
gives us the opportunity to try out the distance we are hoping to do
on the race day
Day 5:
Plateau de Beille
Preparation is the key to any event and today we will ski the route
of the half Marathon which takes us to the far end of the station
and back again (the full marathon is two laps).
Day 6:
Day off Skiing
In order to give our mussels the best chance of recovery is sensible
to have a slightly more relaxing day! In the morning we will
'sign in' and get our race numbers and there will be an opportunity
wax your skiis to optimize their performance (instruction given). The afternoon can be
spent in the Thermal Baths or you could go for a walk and enjoy the
tranquillity of this beautiful corner of the world. Tonight's dinner
in the hotel will be tailored to our sporting needs for tomorrow’s
race/marathon.
Day 7:
The Transpyrenean ski marathon!
After a substantial breakfast we transfer back up to Beille for the
Transpyrenean ski marathon (see below). After the event we can enjoy
a few beers and celebratory dinner in the Hotel Terminus.
Day 8:
Travel Day
In the morning we transfer to Carcassonne or Toulouse
airport in
time for the flights listed below full of the memories of a
fantastic holiday xc skiing.
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IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
This track cross country skiing trip is aimed at fit beginners (eg runners or
cyclists) who are looking for a new challenge, roller-skiers who are
wanting to move over to snow or seasoned skiers who are looking for
a new goal or a challenging aspect to their normal skiing trip.
The holiday is open to both classic or skating styles, although
'beginners' are advised to concentrate on the classic technique
during the week. If you are a complete beginner and know nothing at all about the
activity, or want a reminder about the types of skiing and kit, you may find it useful to have a quick read of
our xc skiing article,
which explains a bit more about how the sport works, the equipment
etc. This will give you a better idea about whether you think
it might be for you (we know it will be!). Please note that there is no off-piste skiing on this
holiday.
It is important to us that people book
the correct trip - Please do not hesitate to
contact
us if you have have any questions.
THE TRANSPYRENEEN SKI MARATHON
The Transpyreneneen is one of the top 4 cross-country ski marathons
in France. It is a celebration of the sport and is open to everyone,
regardless of age or skiing experience. The event is not sold as a
'race', but the people near the front naturally try to go as fast as
they can! You can choose between the 5, 21 or 42km events and there
are sub categories for men / women and classic / skating styles. You
can decide on your distance 2 day before the event. The exact
route changes every year, but it should be noted that it is one of
the more challenging ski marathons in Europe with over 1000m of
climbing. Whether you are new to
cross-country ski events or a regular competitor, you will love the
buzz of this event.
DATES
Monday 8th March to Monday 15th March 2010 (Trip Code XFP J11)
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The holiday costs £630, starting at Toulouse or Carcassonne Airports. Flights are
not included but can be picked up very cheaply if booked in advance.
Allow about £50 for drinks and the meals not included (outlined below).
Accommodation
is normally allocated on a twin share basis with shared facilities
but a single room can be guaranteed for a supplement of £120 (please let us know at the time of
booking). There are no other local payments or hidden costs. Please
note that we offer a 5% discount if you book more than 3 months
before the departure date. We also offer group and loyalty
discounts.
This price includes:
Airport transfers, 5 days transport to different ski regions, 4 days
guided skiing with one or two guides, formal ski instruction, 7 nights 2** Hotel in Ax-Les-Thermes. 7 breakfasts and 6 evening meals. Ski
pass that gives access to the prepared ski tracks. Entrance
fee for the Ski Marathon.
WHERE DO WE STAY
We stay in a small, comfortable 2 star hotel in the town of Ax-les-Thermes.
Known for its friendly atmosphere and good cuisine, the
Hotel Terminus
source the meats and fish for their traditional French dishes, from
local producers.
The house wine is organic, plus they have an extensive wine list with
choices from both near and far. Traditional French breakfasts are provided. The hotel is a short walk from the town centre, and is situated on the banks of the River Ariege.
All of the peaceful rooms have views over the river.
FOOD
Breakfast: Continental style breakfasts are provided by the
hotel. We supplement these with cereals and 'ready brek'.
Lunches: These are not included so you can choose your own
diet while skiing. There are excellent restaurants serving soups,
salads, pasta etc. in both ski areas or you can make up your
own picnic from the many bakeries in town.
Dinner: 6 evenings meals will be taken together in the hotel
restaurant and normally consist of 3 generous courses of local
French specialities. A special 'sportif' dinner will be
served on the Saturday night and the meal on Sunday is not included,
so that you can try one of the fine restaurants in Ax.
Special diets: The hotels are very used to providing
excellent meals for vegetarians and celiacs. Please
contact us if you have any other special dietary requirements.
GETTING AROUND
Throughout the trip you transferred to and from the ski areas in a private
minibus. James has lots of experience of driving in
snowy conditions. The buses are naturally fitted with snow tyres and
chains are carried. Each day we transfer 15 to 45mins depending on
snow conditions on the road.
CLIMATE / SNOW CONDITIONS
During March we can expect the daytime air temperatures to be from
10 to 18 deg C in the sunshine. However it is fairly usual to get
fresh snow falling at some stage in the week so temperatures can
drop way below freezing. Despite the sunshine the snow remains in
good condition due to the very cold night-time temperatures (the ski
areas are very high) and the meticulous daily piste preparation.
We do however get some transformation of the snow during the day.
SKI HIRE
Ski Hire is not included, so you can hire the type and quality of ski
you want, or even try out different skis / boots as the week progresses.
Basic
classic ski hire starts at €49 per week, including boots and poles.
We are very lucky to have a ski hire shop with an excellent
selections of equipment. The Ski's are mounted with NNN bindings. In
addition there is a very good outdoor clothing and gear shop in
Ax-les-Thermes, 200 meters from our hotel - see
Telemark
Pyrenees (external website).
NB: You are welcome bring your own
skis on this holiday. However, the ski areas are not suitable for wide skis with
metal edges and 3 pin bindings. Grip-wax classic skis can be used but
you need to be aware that the snow temperatures can vary a lot as
the day goes on during March.
There is a waxing room at the cross-country ski hire shop which is
available for all our clients to use even if they are not hiring
skis. The room is kitted out with vices and irons. Brushes etc
can be borrowed from Marmot Tours.
MASSAGE SERVICE
On most evenings of this trip Cathy Thompson will be offering
Therapeutic Massages at the Hotel.
More info>>
WHAT TO BRING
Cross country skiing can be fairly energetic, so you will need lots
of layers, ending in a windproof shell. You will need to be able to
carry some water with you while you are skiing. A suggested kit
list will be sent to you on booking.
TRAVEL :: HOW DO I GET THERE?
We get people coming on our holidays from all over the world, so it
is impossible to include all the information on our website. The
notes below are tailored to travellers from the UK. People from other
countries please
contact us for advice.
Free minibus transfers to / from Toulouse or Carcassonne Airports are offered to tie
in with the flights from London, Bristol or Nottingham. There are however other
flights from UK Regional Airports arriving at different times. If it is easer for you to take one
of these flights then you will need to make your own way to Ax-Les-Thermes (easy / cheap bus / train journey) or you could
extend your holiday by arriving the day before and spending an
afternoon / evening exploring the vibrant and ornate red bricked
city of Toulouse. We would pick you up from your hotel on the
day of our transfer.
Please see the
transport
section of our website for all travel options (air, road and rail) plus
information on getting to the Hotel Terminus independently of the
group transfer from Toulouse / Carcassonne or Barcelona Airports.
We would like to emphasise that for this cross-country skiing
holiday the 'ski train' is a fun, cost effective and environmentally
friendly alternative to air travel, please
see our
Green Travel pages.
Airport transfers:
For this cross-country skiing holiday the airport transfers are scheduled to tie in with the
following flights. If any of these flights are delayed then the
transfer will naturally be rescheduled:
Easy Jet flights from Bristol to Toulouse.
OUT: departs Bristol at 1230, arrives Toulouse at 1515.
IN: departs Toulouse at 1545, arrives Bristol at 1635.
Easy Jet flights from London Gatwick to Toulouse.
OUT: departs Gatwick at 1325, arrives Toulouse at 1610.
IN: departs Toulouse at 1645, arrives Gatwick at 1735.
Ryan Air flights from East Midlands to Carcassonne.
OUT: departs East Midlands at 0805, arrives Carcassonne at 1105.
IN: departs Carcassonne at 1130, arrives East Midlands at 1240.
Ryan Air flights from Dublin to Carcassonne.
OUT: departs Dublin at 0930, arrives Carcassonne at 1240.
IN: departs Carcassonne at 1305, arrives Dublin at 1420.
Alternatively flights with independent
transfers:
Please see the
transport section
of our website. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in
contact.
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