4 Winter Events: 100% Skiing

Since 2014, the Kandahar Junior (little brother of the FIS Kandahar) has seen the future stars of competitive alpine skiing. At just 13 years old, more than 200 of the best international mini-athletes come together for 3 days of competitions organised by the Les Houches ski club. Teams are required to be mixed (yay for gender parity!) and compete in slalom, classic giant slalom, and pro giant slalom. Two runs and then it's time to wax. The battle, down to hundredths of a second, leaves no room for error. The Kandahar Junior remains, however, an early-season challenge outside the traditional circuit. The youngsters experience less pressure and, above all, enjoy the interaction and encounter of an international event. Don't miss the debut of those who, one day, may well compete in the grand white circus of the World Cup.

A home championship is always a blast. Add to that the excitement of a new format that blends ski cross and freeride, and you have the ambitious challenge taken on by the Chamonix-based group of friends from Frost Company in 2018. Big jumps, speed, and technical skill are on the agenda. Thrills and emotions, too. The first two from a four-person start win the heat, and so on until the final. Simple and effective. Veterans and monoskiers have their own category; telemark skiers might soon have theirs. All in all, a great show, and a rallying point that everyone agrees on: the chill zone with snow skate initiation, tests of the latest Scott skis, and mountain safety workshops with the Flégère ski patrollers. The only thing missing is for the event to be eco-friendly and raise awareness about protecting the sites… Ahh, well, it is!

The foundations of this major gathering of the telemark community were laid in 2025. Given the enthusiasm for the most old-school of snow sports, the event has a bright future. For one weekend, the formula is simple: ski, eat, ski, sleep, repeat. Aside from the timed race on the Grands Montets boardercross course on Sunday morning, the atmosphere isn't really competitive but rather festive, showcasing impressive style and the sheer joy of carving epic turns together on the valley's iconic freeride terrain.

The very last one. Freeride Day is the fun & snow day that officially marks the end of the winter season in the Valley. For the occasion, the day pass is at a bargain price. So yes, the snow is often soft… But not the atmosphere! On the program: a theme for riding in fancy dress, parents' races, and the famous Waterslide Challenge - a small pool to cross on skis (and for some, straight into their swimsuits). After that, the skis are stored in the attic for the spring/summer… Unless you go back for skinning up on a ski tour?