Sainte Foy Tarentaise : 26 September 2020
‘L’hiver prochain’, Next Winter
The first snow has landed in Sainte Foy Station, and we are wondering what the next ski season has in store for us. We decided to ask around, and this is what we’ve been told . . .
The general consensus is that we have all had a summer season to get used to how to operate in a Covid-19 environment, and this experience has been invaluable in helping us prepare for this coming winter. Masks have become the latest fashion item. Fist pumping and elbow bumping have replaced ‘les bises’ kissing and hand shaking. And everybody is giving away free squirts of alcohol gel!
Ski Shops
Zigzags: Yoann told us that Zigzags‘ staff will all be wearing masks and be trained to work safely in the current Covid environment. All his ski and board equipment will be cleaned and disinfected between customers, including helmets and batons.
Like other shops in Sainte Foy renting winter sports equipment, Zigzags is taking equipment bookings online. You don’t pay for your hire equipment until you are here in Sainte Foy, so there is no problem about cancellation.
Intersport: Colin, from Intersport, has set up a ‘bootdoc’ scanner allowing him to precisely scan his clients’ feet to prevent them from trying on too many pairs of boots. They also have a ‘lineberty’ system that sends an SMS to the customer when their skis are ready, which avoids gatherings in the store.
SkiSet: Sandra, from SkiSet, invites you to reserve your equipment from her own shop’s website, so that you can pay in store when you get there. All equipment will be disinfected, Covid security distances will be respected. There will also be limitations on the number of people in the shops.
Ski Schools
ESF: Céline Fraissard, Directrice d’ESF Sainte Foy Tarentaise, advises that they are all ready to welcome you with their Covid safety measures, which include:
- Face mask required for everyone above 11 years old.
- Hydroalcolic gel will be at the disposal of the clients.
- Surfaces will be disinfected.
- Disinfection of loaned equipment (bibs, transceivers, etc.)
Evolution 2: Colin Waeckel, from Evolution 2 Sainte Foy, told us that alcohol gel will be provided before the start of each class, and it will be compulsory for their instructors to wear a mask during gatherings and to respect social distancing.
Their policy has always been to favour small groups (group lessons are max 6 children, and 4 children max for beginner groups 3 to 5 years old). They will continue on this basis without modifying their prices for winter 2020/2021.
They will also disinfect equipment daily and take extra innovative measures, for example this winter they will distribute the bibs at the start of the week and customers will keep them all week, which will limit exchanges.
Snocool: Misha at Snocool tells us that booking in advance is required, but they will only take payment when you get to Sainte Foy. Staff and instructors will be wearing masks and wearing a mask is compulsory for people aged 11 and over during gatherings at the start and end of lessons.
Children will keep the same bib throughout the week, and bibs and avalanche safety equipment will be disinfected. In their office, hydro-alcoholic gel will be available.
Restaurants
Vici Hatton from 1580m advises that all 1580m staff members will be wearing masks, and hand sanitisers will be available as you enter the restaurant. They will be also be working to all government recommended guidelines. A greater distance will be respected between tables and there will be a reduced number of people in the restaurant. They are also considering a 2 sitting rule in the restaurant, but this is to be confirmed.
Customers will also be asked to wear masks and not linger at the bar. 1580m’s terrace, (below), is already looking rather splendid with its first sprinkling of snow and its magnificent views.
Alex Agillianon from La Bergerie said there will be ‘pousse-pousse’, alcohol hand gel dispensers at every entry point to the restaurant, and that all staff will be wearing transparent masks, (so that you can see their smiles!). In line with French regulations, there will be a ten person limit per table, and they will have the regulatory one metre distance between all the tables.
La Bergerie also has a small six-person private dining room for those who may wish to enjoy a more secluded dining experience this winter.
Ski Lifts
Sainte Foy has two massive advantages over other ski resorts.
First, it is a small ski station with traditionally quiet, uncrowded pistes and wide open spaces. It doesn’t target younger skiers looking to party, so there isn’t the same issue with crowded bars and large gatherings as you get in some of the bigger resorts.
Second, all the ski lifts are open chairlifts with fabulous panoramic views and an unlimited supply of fresh air! You won’t be squeezed into a bubble lift or a télécabine with lots of other people!
Ski Passes
Here at Time to Ski, we can arrange these for you, and have them waiting on the table for when you arrive.
Time to Ski Properties
Nobody wants to catch Covid and we are doing everything possible to make sure that all our properties are safe in this regard. Ok, we can’t vouch for what you get up to when you’re outside of your Time to Ski accommodation, but inside, we will have taken all the precautions we can. We are providing three main things:
1: Privacy. Once you go through the door into your apartment or chalet, it is all yours. You won’t be sharing it with anyone. There is a key box at the entrance door, so you can gain entry as soon as you arrive and there is no need to meet anyone. We can take your security deposit online before you arrive.
2: Safety. We clean all our Time to Ski properties thoroughly and disinfect all surfaces. This year we are also using special fogging equipment to provide an extra level of protection. There is alcohol hand gel supplied in every property.
3: A generous refunds policy in line with other leading tour operators and accommodation providers. We understand the concerns of our guests and as we want to be both fair to you and fair to us, we have therefore updated our T&Cs to reflect this.
Below, is a photo of Chalet Nido dell’Aquila with its first coating of snow this season. If you look closely, and perhaps expand the photo, you can see an eagle soaring high in the snow-laden clouds. (Chalet Nido dell’Aquila is Italian for Eagle’s Nest, and as we are only three miles from the Italian border as the eagle flies, this all seems rather appropriate.)
Further Information
Face Masks: During the summer, Buffs were considered to be acceptable as face masks. We see no reason why this should change, but it’s probably worth carrying a traditional one in your pocket just in case.
General: France plans near normal ski operations this winter, and this article by snow-forecast.com provides some more general information. We hope you found this information useful. Stay safe and we hope to see you this coming winter. If you have any questions, please get in touch and we will do our best to answer them for you.
Read other articles about Sainte Foy on the Time to Ski blog page
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