Alternatives to downhill winter sports #1
Cross-country skiing. What a dumb thing to do when there are chairlifts that take you to the top of a hill so you can enjoy the slide down. And that’s why it’s taken me until this year to try it …
Tag: sport
Yoga in French
This week, I braved yoga in French. No worries: a fellow Aussie with better French language skills was joining me so there was safety in numbers. With a camping mat under my arm, we headed to the class in the …
It’s never really summer in the Alps
Yesterday was a really beautiful day for Le Bélier marathon here in La Clusaz, France. Participants who climbed the five peaks of the resort either walking from 7.30am or running from 9am were grateful for the cooler morning temperatures after …
Swimming across Lake Annecy
Some 597 swimmers braved the unusually chilly water of Lake Annecy, surrounded by the French Alps, yesterday to complete a 2,400-metre race. Registration was somewhat subdued, with rain dolloping down, but the clouds cleared and the race finished with blue …
Annecy loses 2018 Winter Olympics bid
This is how the green fields of the Paquier area of Annecy could have looked in seven years’ time had they won the 2018 Winter Olympics bid. However, favourite contenders Pyeongchang in South Korea won, leaving the Paquier full of …
Annecy 2018?
With just weeks to go before the decision of who will host the 2018 Winter Olympics is announced, I spotted this graffiti in Annecy. In case you didn’t guess, “NON” in French means “NO” in English, and this sign is right …
A nice way to see La Clusaz
Pictured is a very good friend of mine who loves paragliding. A few years ago, he couldn’t ski, but he was motivated to learn so that he could see the winter scenery of La Clusaz in all its glory — …
Sleepy French village gets extreme
St Jean de Sixt is home to free-range chicken eggs, some tennis courts and of course some mannequins. If you want to go for a swim, you have to get on a local bus to La Clusaz or Le Grand …
Backyard travels part 1
So, a few weeks ago, I challenged my readers to travel in their own backyard. I took my own advice on the weekend and managed to visit something in La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand and Annecy all in one day. …