Tag Archives: Leisure

Switzerland, Graubünden: Biathlon & Night skiing (Day 2)

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

The Biathlon Arena Lanzerheide

Okay, today the weather is not good. But this second day in Grisons is one of the most exciting of the last months! This morning, our small team is going to try a new activity: biathlon at the Biathlon Arena Lenzerheide. As always, I don’t think too much before. Guess what? I have no specific idea about the program! I imagined a very physical cross-country session, plus something, but what exactly? Nope!

According to the definition of Wikipedia: “The biathlon, from the Latin bi,” two “, and the Greek athlon (ἆθλον) “combat, struggle”, is a competition combining two disciplines. By tradition, when we talk about biathlon, we talk about the combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting”.

Quickly we forget Nordic skiing and concentrate on the sporting shooting, partly due to the fact that it is snowing and also to avoid disturbing the Swiss national team training. I’ve never done sporting shooting! After a theoretical initiation given by a famous trainer, we are all aligned, lying on the snow, facing our respective targets. And it’s great, despite the cold and bad weather!

 

Above: Photo 1, I try to aim one of the small targets facing me. To shoot when you are stand up is much more difficult than laid on the ground. It is not easy to remain perfectly still, to aim well, arm and reach the target. Very quickly the arms shake! Photo 2, the training air seen from the cafe of the Biathlon Arena Lenzerheide.  

Below: Photo 1, the biathlon rifle. Photo 2, the targets with the bullet impacts. When l am not stand up, I can reach the small targets without problem. But standing it is very disappointing! The small targets are the inner darker circles in the the big black circles. Photo 3, While training: one of the athletes of the Swiss national team.

Back To The Hotel

The weather Clears Up

Light lunch and long break at the restaurant of the Hotel Schweizerhof Lenzerheide. Then we pick up our ski equipment rented at the Sportshop Pesko, located opposite the hotel. Surprising detail: an ibex seems to climb one of the store’s giant walls (pictured above).

Night Skiing

SnowNights 

You won’t see much! My smartphone has a very poor definition in low lights, sorry! I ski at night for the first time (video below)! And frankly, it’s GREAT! I loved it so much that we did twice the slopes for the beginners before we stopped at a mountain restaurant!

And I prefered skiing quiet with a monitor, because all the rest of our little team has a very good level of skiing and snowboarding. Just a tip: forget the dinner in a slope restaurant, because then going back on slopes becomes pretty problematic! Especially if you are tired (LOL)!

 

Photos & Vidéos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

Graubünden FerienFerienregion Lenzerheide, Arosa TourismSWISSSwiss Travel System (STS)Switzerland TourismBiathlon Arena Lenzerheide, SnowNights

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to the Graubünden Ferien, Lenzerhaide, Arosa, Switzerland Tourism, SWISS and Swiss Travel System (STS) for this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.

Switzerland: Graubünden Ski Weekend (Day 1)

Allegra (Hello)!

Perfect Timing

Flight to Zurich with SWISS airline, then a train and bus to Lenzerheide with a Swiss precision and I really enjoy it! From Brussels center to the hotel in Lenzerheide, it takes more than half a daytime in transportation.

Stunning landscapes and pure air: a real change of scenery, the Swiss Alps (first picture of the post). Welcome to the Graubûnden! In the early afternoon, we arrive at the cozy Hotel Schweizerhof Lenzerheide, ideally located opposite the bus station in the center of the village. 

The sun plays hide and seek. What a pleasure to discover my vast bedroom! As always, I didn’t sleep the day before my trip. The bed looks so comfortable … Neat simple interior design, I feel like in a nice cocoon with a panoramique mountain view from my balcony (below pictures).

  

The Scalottas Terroir

  

Gourmet Dinner

For this first evening: a 5-course tasting menu dinner at the Scalottas Terroir, elaborated with local high quality products. The restaurant is a 5 minute walk and belongs to the owners of the hotel. Forget the high heels, wear after-ski boots to go to the restaurant. LOL! My little team was really entertained when I arrived at the hotel reception desk in high heels!

Left picture above: our table nicely set up in the “Mountain Pine Parlour”. The atmosphere is cozy (thanks to Simone, our super waitress!) and the concept is based in slow food. The restaurant selects its ingredients at local producers concerned about sustainable development.

Since I don’t eat meat except chicken, I had a slightly different menu. Let’s say a (chicken) version of the menu dishes (below pictures):

a Grisons tartar duet (with une brioche de pomme de terre), Mountain pine soup (composed with apple raviolis), Swiss egg (poched egg with patatoe, cabbage, waffle and Andeerer Grantit cheese foam) and Highland ox duet. The dessert (a mix of sorbet and fruit pie) is also delicious. To be continue …

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

Graubünden FerienLenzerheide, ArosaSWISSSwiss Travel System (STS)Switzerland TourismHotel Schweizerhof Lenzerheide & Scalottas Terroir 

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to the Graubünden Ferien, Lenzerhaide, Arosa, Switzerland Tourism, SWISS and Swiss Travel System (STS) for this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.

Club Med Peisey-Vallandry, France: Ski, Activities & Heritage

The Daft Punk Mode

Maybe because of the goggles. It is the first time I wear a mask on my helmet! I am more glasses than mask, well I thought … I arrived yesterday for the press conference of the Skiing Into Spring event. And this morning, I join Gary my ESF ski instructor to discover a bit of the ski area of Peisey-Vallandry.

Then we swing by Les Arcs, at the Arc 1800. In one of my previous posts, I reviewed you the Lodge at Mille8 (Arc 1800). I really enjoy of the superb panorama with serrated mountains, nor skiing on the tracks lined with fir trees!  

 

Baroque Walk

  

The Gorgeous Notre Dame de Vernette Chapel

In the afternoon, my walk in snowshoes is canceled due to lack of snow. so I go along with a group of walkers. In the program, visit and heritage of the astonishing Notre Dame de Vernette chapel. A jewel of the Savoy baroque art, nestled at 1816 meters above the village of Peisey-Nancroix.

I highly recommend the guided tour organized by the Fondation Facim. Exciting!

    

Instrospection

Contemplative Mood

Beautiful scenery reminiscent of Japanese prints. A moment for me in communion with nature. This bench lost in the middle of nowhere brings more magic! But we have to go back to cars because the weather is becoming threatening.

Who said there was no snow?

Epic Back Home

Last day… already! It’s been snowing non stop since last night. What a surprise when I discovered the landscape from my room terrace (photo-montage above)! Finally everything is white and a few hours later, I leave the Clud Med village under heavy snowfall.

Who said there was no snow? LOL!

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations   

Skiing Into Spring, France MontagnesClub Med Peisey-VallandryTourism Office of Peisey-Vallandry

Related posts : LIFESTYLEDESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to France Montagnes and the Club Med Peisey-Vallandry for this beautiful invitation! As always are my opinions.