2002-2003

10 one-hour documentaries on the finest resorts in the Alps, with Jean-Luc Brassard.

1. The Heights and Depths of the Grand Massif of Samoëns

Jean-Luc Brassard takes us along on a journey of discovery in the everlasting snows of Samoëns, as well as its deep, mysterious and terrifying gulfs. Following a flight over the Grand Massif and an encounter with cross-country ski enthusiasts, a daring cave exploration and an adventure with sled dogs, the thrills continue as we learn mountain climbing. A fitting finale to this excursion in Samoëns: an opportunity to savour some of the region’s specialties.

Jean-Luc Brassard introduces us to the world capital of skiing and mountain climbing: Chamonix and Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in the Alps. He thrills us with a fantastic ski run down the side of the giant, the Vallée Blanche, which enjoys a worldwide reputation. The cradle of French skiing and host of the first winter Olympics, this village in the Haute-Savoie gave rise to a large ski resort surrounded by legendary mountains full of history.

3. Val Thorens, 1,000 peaks for one resort

Jean-Luc Brassard presents Val Thorens, a child-friendly mountain, with champion Vincent Millet and the highest ski resort in Europe – a paradise for on and off-piste skiers as well as daring young freestyle halfpipe skiers. From here, you can see more than 1,000 of the Alps mountains, all along the edge of the magnificent Vanoise National Park. It is a paradise where ski crossings can take a week and you can discover new trends, including an extreme ski festival. It is also a dream location for snowboarders and snowskaters. In addition to being part of the world’s largest skiable domain, with some 600 kilometres of runs and trails, Val Thorens also boasts the world’s largest cable car. What a magical place for a torchlight parade!

Jean-Luc Brassard serves up a downhill run at more than 200 km an hour at the Tarentaise’s Les Arcs resort. He enjoys this bit of madness with the champion of the flying kilometre, Clarisse Jasmin. But if the speed isn’t exciting enough for you, he’ll introduce you to skijoring, a sport where skiers are pulled by horses. From the top of the Aiguille Rouge, at an altitude of 3,226 mètres, you can ski down 2,100 metres along the edge of a natural reserve of spectacular beauty. Created entirely in the 1960s, Les Arcs is a resort that was developed with the environment in mind – a novel concept for the times. Bourg-Saint-Maurice has retained its authentic character, remaining faithful to its mountain culture.

With Jean-Luc Brassard, we explore Tignes, the vast, dazzlingly white skiable domain where he trained regularly. Jean-Luc immerses us in its history…the history of a village sleeping at the bottom of a lake behind a famous dam. Tignes hosted the 1992 Olympics’ freestyle ski events. It is the Killy Space, unquestionably one of the most beautiful ski areas in the world. Here, you can ski on the Tignes glacier almost 365 days a year. Summers, Tignes becomes a training ground for French and foreign competitors, its powder runs transformed for downhill or slalom skiing. We also learn the subtleties of telemarking with skier Suzanne Lemelin.

Jean-Luc Brassard takes us to Bellecôte, at an altitude of 3,417 metres, to the mega-resort of La Plagne, a favorite of downhill skiing aficionados. During this program, we will deal with safety and nivology, a science, which among other things, helps us to better understand and control avalanches. La Plagne is also known to be at the cutting edge in a number of fields related to sliding sports. In addition, it is involved in making winter sports more accessible to the physically challenged.

With Jean-Luc Brassard, we discover Serre-Chevalier, a ski resort consisting of thirteen mountain villages surrounded by such famous peaks as the Barre des Écrins rising 4,102 metres up, Mont Pelvoux at 3,946 metres and the entire Massif des

Cerces. Serre-Chevalier offers 240 kilometres of alpine ski runs and 45 kilometres of cross-country ski trails…as well as an off-piste domain that is a dream. We visit Monêtier, with its hot-water springs and sheer ice. We attend the World Alpine Ski Championships and travel to Briançon, a fortified town worthy of the High Alps.

8. Megève: new horizons

Jean-Luc Brassard introduces us to Megève, founded in 1916 by the Baronness de Rothschild returning from a brief stay in Switzerland. If, in the 1920s, the resort acquired celebrity and stature, it is because of the Baroness, the snow-covered mountains surrounding the village, and visiting personalities. It is also due to some remarkable individuals like Émile Allais, who have helped sustain the prestige of skiing and the resort. Megève is known for its tasteful après-ski and world-class hotels. Following a torchlight parade down the ski hills, we explore the famous resort in the company of the famous Duvillard family.

Jean-Luc Brassard takes us to the Menuires resort, nestled at the heart of the valley of Belleville, with its baroque chapels and old-world chalets. The first of the Savoy’s 3-valley complex, its success is as extensive as its skiable domain. This resort has its hero, Léo Lacroix, a native of the Jura who watched the Menuires grow along with his medal wins. He introduces us to his ski domain, in this area where, until the mid-1960s, there was nothing but meadows. Since 1968, however, a large resort has been welcoming skiers here. During this trip, we discover the nights of the Menuires. We watch the French team train with as much hope as Mélanie Suchet and discover a snow park where young athletes cut loose.

Here, Jean-Luc Brassard leads an adventure of discovery through two fabulous resorts – Meribel, the beautiful, and the land of King Killy, the incomparable Val d’Isère. In Tarentaise, in the valley of Les Allues, stands a world-class resort: Meribel. It is located near Péclet-Polset, the most beautiful glacier in the Savoy. While the creation of the resort in 1939 was originally inspired by the British, its development really began in earnest in the 1950s. Meribel is not at a very high altitude, a position that confers a distinctive charm and accounts for its relatively mild climate. Boutiques, fine restaurants and British-style pubs make for very trendy resort living.

We then move on to Val d’Isère. The Face de Bellevarde is a true peak of glory and a source of pride for this large and prestigious resort.

With a starting gate located at an altitude of 2,809 metres, the Face was the site of alpine skiing events at the 1992 winter Olympics. Today, this same face is accessible to good skiers seeking thrills on the hills. Arriving safe and sound at the base of the Face, skiers are awarded a certificate signed by Jean-Claude Killy, the king of alpine skiing in the 1960s. Between the glacier of the Grande Motte and that of Pincailla lies a grand skiable domain: 600 kilometres of ski hills…and off-piste skiing that goes on forever. The hamlets and villages that make up this resort are connected by the famous "train rouge"…a free shuttle service.