Val d'Isère's winter events, how have the Critérium de la Premières Neiges and the Avaline Trax become major sporting events?
The history of Val d’Isère is closely linked to that of French downhill skiing, and its worldwide reputation is driven by various downhill competitions such as the famous Critérium de la Première Neige. Over the years, the resort has become a legendary venue for downhill skiing of international renown, but it also continues to welcome and promote other winter sports such as ski touring, by organising sporting events such as the Avaline Trax. Throughout the winter season, this ski-touring competition challenges skiers and snowboarders by giving them the chance to go solo or in a team for some thigh-warming climbs!
If you’re a fan of downhill skiing or ski touring, or would like to find out more about these two sporting events in Val d’Isère, we’ll explain everything in this article.
The Critérium de la Première Neige, from the birth of a resort to the 1992 Savoie Winter Olympics
Image source : Club des Sports de Val d’Isère
Like the resort of Val d’Isère, this competition was born of a combination of a passion for downhill skiing and the intuition of people who loved the sport. 70 years later, this event has become a legendary tradition, giving the resort of Val d’Isère and the greatest names in the sport international exposure. The event was crowned by France’s hosting of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. None of this would have been possible without the birth of Val d’Isère.
The history of the Val d’Isère resort
It was 94 years ago today that Jacques Mouflier, following a stay in Val d’Isère, fell in love with the place and convinced its mayor, Nicolas Bazile at the time, of the possibility of turning it into a resort. The resort project was born in 1931. In 1932, the first ski lessons were given by Austrians who introduced the famous “snowplough” method. The first French Ski School, staffed by around ten instructors, was founded in the winter of 1936. Following this, a number of infrastructures were built, including hotels, electricity and water supplies. The inauguration of the Route des Grandes Alpes in 1937, followed by the creation of the Société des Téléphériques de Val d’Isère in 1938, marked the end of the work needed to create the resort. Work began in 1939 and lasted until 1960. If you’re a motorbike fan, you can read our article about a roadtrip to Val d’Isère and the Col de l’Iseran.
The birth of a competition and a major sporting event: the Critérium de la Première Neige
Like the history of the resort, that of the Critérium de la Première Neige began in 1950 with the conviction of two men, Louis Erny, president of the Val d’Isère Sports Club, and Charles Diebold. They wanted to create a major event during the skiers’ training phase, a novelty at a time when most competitions took place from January onwards. They also wanted to make Val d’Isère a world-renowned winter sports resort. From the very first editions, it was the skiers of the French Alpine skiing team who shone, winning Olympic medals and world titles. It wasn’t long before skiers from all over the world were inspired by the Critérium de la Première Neige’s training methods and included the race in their season’s programme.
1981 marked a major turning point in the history of the Criterium. It was during the December 1981 edition that Jean-Claude Killy, former three-time Olympic alpine skiing champion, together with Michel Barnier, Member of Parliament for Savoie and President of the Savoie General Council, suggested the idea of organising the Winter Olympics in Savoie. The following year, at the winter edition of the Criterium, these same two men, accompanied by Henri Dujol, then Mayor of Albertville, officially announced the town’s bid to host the world competition, scheduled for 1992. The dream came true a few years later at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, sealing the history of the Avalin Criterium as one of the world’s greatest winter sports competitions.
The Avaline Trax, a major sporting event for ski touring fans and enthusiasts
Image source : Club des Sports de Val d’Isère
Organising sporting events throughout the ski season seems to have become a tradition for the Val d’Isère Sports Club. It was with this same conviction that they came up with the Avaline Trax, which once again makes the resort of Val d’Isère the training ground for winter sports enthusiasts. This event takes place several times during the winter and welcomes ski touring enthusiasts and athletes to climb the slopes of Val d’Isère. There are several event formats on offer: solo, team, timed or untimed, to suit everyone’s objectives. Starting at La Daille, participants will discover a different route for each edition, leading them to La Folie Douce at the finish, where a well-deserved meal awaits them. A tombola is also organised, and each participant has the chance to win prizes offered by the event’s partners: pairs of skis, winter equipment, meals or stays in local establishments. We advise you to take part in this event if you feel like it, to enjoy a sporting experience while admiring a sunset with a breathtaking view of the mountains surrounding Val d’Isère.
To see or attend these 2 typical Val d’Isère winter events, you can find all the practical information on the Val d’Isère Sports Club website.
