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So you love winter sports, you love the exhilaration of speeding through the mountains on the most challenging slopes you can find (on or off piste) but have you ever thought about taking that adrenalin rush a step further? How about taking on the pistes you love at night… in the dark? Night skiing is becoming increasingly popular in Europe with many resorts installing floodlighting to some of the slopes to offer a night time winter sports experiences. Sound tempting? Well, for those skiing in Les Menuires this season, night skiing could be a reality as the resort has introduced floodlighting and late lifts to open a selection of runs after-dark. Les Menuires Of course there’s more to skiing in Les Menuires than just venturing out after the sun’s gone down. Set in the heart of the famous Three Valleys area with its 600km of pistes, Les Menuires has great opportunities for advanced skiing in its own right: 38 per cent of the resort’s runs are marked either ‘advanced’ or ‘expert’. Of all the Three Valley resorts, Les Menuires is also the least well known and, therefore, the least crowded. Whether you choose to stay close to home or venture up the valley to nearby Val Thorens or over the mountain to Méribel or Courchevel, you’ll have more than enough daytime skiing to keep you and your group occupied. Night Skiing at the Resort Imagine heading out as the daytime crowd are heading home, that’s the deal when you and your mates sign up for a night skiing experience. You’ll watch the sun set over the mountains and then the floodlights will click on and you, and a handful of adventurous spirits, will have the mountain virtually to yourselves. While everyone else is tucked up by the fire with a vin chaud you and your mates will be ripping down the slopes under a star-lit sky. Top Tips For Night Skiers • Bear in mind it’s going to get cold You may be used to mountain temperatures during the day but once the sun goes down the temperature will plummet. Make sure you’ve got proper thermals and a number of layers; glove inners, snoods, face covers, and hand and feet warmers are all a good idea. • You’ll need special goggles Make sure you wear goggles that are specifically created for low light, the floodlights are good but you will need all the help you can get seeing those lumps and bumps in the dark. • Keep an eye on the weather Weather changes quickly in the mountains and a clear night can quickly become a snowstorm so make sure you’re prepared for all conditions. • Take your own light The floodlights are great but a helmet light will mean you are able to see even in the shadows or where the light begins to fade. Night skiing in Les Menuires is a fantastic experience that you will never forget so above all else, take the time to enjoy it. The perfect activity for a group of friends who are all confident winter sports practitioners, you’ll see the mountain in a completely new way, under the stars with the resort lights glimmering in the distance. Author Plate Belinda Smythson works for Ski Amis, a specialist ski travel agency and booking service that has been helping avid skiers craft their perfect winter holiday for over a quarter of a century. If you're looking for the best ski chalet accommodation in the Three Valleys, Paradiski, Espace Killy or Chamonix Valley, and tips on skiing in Les Menuires or anywhere else in the region, Ski Amis is the go-to company for winter sports fans searching for the experience of a lifetime.
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