Moonlit skiing in La Clusaz

Fire on le Cred du MerleEvery winter, La Clusaz advertises moonlit skiing if there’s a full moon. When the conditions are right, it’s good fun. Take this photo from a few years ago as an example. It was warm enough to take lots of photos, including this one of my friend, Lilly, while some loon danced next to her. We were at one of the four pubs that run down the ski piste (le Cret du Merle) that was open that year, drinking mulled wine, playing with the flashing lights handed out for free and listening to music by the warm fire while overlooking the village of La Clusaz with all its lights below. It was glorious.

This required a number of factors including:

  1. A clear sky so the moon creates enough light for skiing
  2. A well-groomed piste so there are no surprise jumps in the dark
  3. Temperate weather

Okay, the temperate weather is not a requirement, but the other two really are. Last year, at least one moonlit ski was cancelled due to no clear sky, but this year, the moon was out and everyone rejoiced. However, the weather was freezing cold (way below zero), and as soon as I stepped outside, I felt the heat my lips and cheeks disappear. With such cold weather, the pistes could only be icy, and with so little snow since December, quite patchy and rocky too.

The pub, with a live band playing to celebrate the moonlit skiing event, seemed like a much more attractive option. With the piste ending next to the pub, I watched a snowboarder attempt to get down the last twenty metres. Sections of the piste were shining like an ice rink, and the whole lot was as hard as a rock. This guy couldn’t stand up for more than one second before his board would slide from under him again. I watched him fall three times consecutively, with his snowboard making that ‘shhhhhhhhrrrrrrkkkk’ sound (the ‘kkkk’ being his rump hitting the ice). As I walked to the pub, I heard that sound another two times. He was still less than half way down.

It’s such a shame that the weather was so cold and the pistes lacking snow for such a great event. The real enjoyment comes not so much the skiing at night (one run and the novelty has worn off), but from stopping in at each pub, listening to DJs or live bands and sipping something hot while chatting with strangers and friends alike. I’m already looking forward to the next one and keeping my fingers crossed for better conditions.

About

I'm a technical author, journalist and writer from Australia who has been living in Europe since 2000 and exploring the world from there. My passions are writing, snow sports and travel.