We’ve all had those days where we have risen in the morning, looked out the window and seen a complete whiteout. Depressing thoughts cross your mind and you question what you’re going to do with your day. Fear not because we have been investigating your options should you call a weather day and not want to hide under the duvet.
Only the keenest skiers will be up on the hill in bad weather. That is undeniably true, and most of us will always have that thought in the back of your mind that you’ve still got plenty of time left for those epic days where you are on the lift at nine and only just making it to après at five. As a result, it’s very easy to call it and sit twiddling your thumbs in the flat wondering what exactly to do, but believe us when we say there is plenty going on in town even when it’s snowing.
Our first port of call would have to be the new sports centre. Shinier than a new copy of The Mountain Echo, this place has everything you could wish for to satisfy your sporting needs.
The swimming pool is its pride and joy and you can see why. You can lounge around in the various Jacuzzis or seating areas and look out onto the piste with the smugness of someone who isn’t about to lose feeling in their feet. Alternatively, you can get active and get in the pool itself. We had heard rumours that the water was a bit cold, but after extensive on site research, we’ve concluded that the people who say it’s cold should man up.
There are also saunas and steam rooms available, but you’ve got to pay a little bit extra for those. Having said that, if you’re planning to spend your whole day in the water, then it could be worth the few extra pennies.
Thankfully the sports centre isn’t just about the pool or the gym, as if you tried to stay there for a whole day you might get a little bored. There is also a great area for climbing with a full wall as well as a small bouldering wall, providing something a little different to get your veins coursing with adrenaline. You don’t need your own equipment. Shoes and harnesses are provided, but if you’ve never climbed before we might suggest one of the tuition sessions so you don’t drop your best mate off the wall when you aren’t concentrating.
As its name suggests, there are also basketball, badminton and squash courts. With classes on offer in the studio, it’s one of those centres that offer pretty much everything. If you can’t bear to sit around when the weather is bad then allow us to direct you there to burn off all the excess energy.
If you’re more of a sedentary type then the natural suggestion would be the cinema. There are two options: improve your French and go and see a showing in the native tongue of Val d’Isère or go to one of the English showings which might prove to be a less taxing and more enjoyable experience.The cinema is also kind enough to put on extra showings during the daytime on bad weather days, so you don’t have to wait until 5pm for your cinematic fix. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the movie while the crazy folks outside huddle together to shield themselves from the elements.
If you’re brave and think that you might be able to drive better than ski or board then you can wander towards La Daille and take on some of the Audi driving experiences. Personally I think I’d rather be on my skis than behind an Audi TT, but I’m also a girl and don’t give cars too much thought.
Next to that, if you wrap up warm you could give some ice karting a spin. This is pretty brave on a weather day because you’ll be in an open go-kart with questionable steering instead of a warm, safe Audi. That said, it’s pretty fun in bad weather and certainly adds that extra bit of excitement to the experience.
Weather days often find many heading back to the comforts of their duvet, but if you are able to drag yourself into town you might want to rent a DVD to watch while you’re underneath it. The Phillips shop does DVD rental and has loads of English films, so if the cinema is too much for you but you don’t really fancy doing nothing then either find a nice friend to get a DVD for you or don some jogging bottoms and grab one for yourself.
I know it sounds boring, but weather days are fantastic days to clean. I realise I sound like my mother but when there is nothing that you’re really missing out on then what better time to get the bathroom shining and the living room looking like someone could actually live in it again. Grab your marigolds and think how good you’ll feel once you’re done.
Frequently on weather days I find myself bar hopping, mainly looking for entertainment and hot chocolate. The bars will be busy in town simply because everyone is avoiding the mountain, so you can guarantee that you’ll find someone around. Try not to get too drunk though because if it’s snowing and the weather clears you don’t want to be missing an epic day on the mountain.
There are also a variety of bars around town that have board games. It may sound silly but an intense game of monopoly amongst friends can enjoyably while away the hours, especially when there are forfeits involved. While we’re talking games in bars, we couldn’t miss out pool or table football. You could take the day to train for one of the leagues in town, make a mid season entrance into the standings and then surprise everyone with the skills you have managed to acquire when the weather is bad.
So next time there is a day that even Arctic explorers wouldn’t be seen out in, we suggest you take a pro-active route and actually do something with your day. Rope a few friends in and you’re probably going to have a bit of fun. Childish behaviour works wonders when you’ve got nothing to do, so we’d definitely recommend regressing a few years and just enjoying yourself. No-one will be looking down on you for not skiing, so ignore that duvet and do something different. God knows, you might even enjoy it
Tags: S5E12
