Verbier Activity Review: 19th July 2011

This has helped to add a different element of drama to the Verbier Music Festival http://www.verbierfestival.com/ which started last weekend. The mixture of concerts and events allows some of the most talented musicians in the world to showcase their talents in the stunning mountain settings of Verbier. The festival focuses mainly on classical music and there is even some ballet for the more culture hungry amongst you. For more contemporary music the Fest’off, held over the same period, is a collection of street performances, performances in the bars and restaurants around Verbier and even on guided walks through the Verbier area.

For those less cultured or anyone wanting the other Verbier experience then the sports and activities around Verbier are all on offer at this time of the year. The backbone of these is the lift system which provides uplift from Le Chable to Verbier, Verbier to Ruinettes and over to La Chaux all day long. The Savoleyres and Tzoumaz lifts are also open but close between 12-1 everyday for lunch. Also the lifts are open all the way to the top of Mont Fort and to the rest of the 4 Vallees providing access to the higher mountains for walkers and sightseeing. Check the following link for opening times http://www.verbier-ete.ch/commun-horaires_installations___ete_2011-344-3.htm

If you are walking then you can take the La Chaux Express to get to the Jumbo and onto the glacier area but I would recommend walking from Ruinettes to La Chaux. The journey is a long but gently walk along a well kept road. The main reason I recommend it is that the view from the road is incredible and there is now also a sculpture exhibition along the road too.

For bikers there have been some welcome additions to last years increasing development of the downhill courses. The red has been significantly added to with north shore and hits galore and there are also a couple of new sections too. The whole track has now been cut in and in my opinion it is set in the most beautiful section of forest that the Verbier side has to offer. Check out the clips on Facebook to have a look at the various runs on helmet camera, courtesy of Triphon and the guys at Verbier/ Tzoumaz bike park. https://www.facebook.com/VerbierLaTzoumazBikepark

The other red that starts with a sequence of jumps by the start of the downhill track has also been added to. All the jumps have been built up and at the end there are two north shore jumps. Further down the sections in between the downhill have more dirt jumps and a really nice wooden drop. Although the downhill is still the same there has been a welcome variation in the middle section where there used to be a pretty big red jump there is now a smaller one next to it some you can practice building up to it. The blue has had a few more dirt ramps built into it too but you must take the higher track from Ruinettes at the moment as they are doing pylon maintenance on the normal route. The tracks over by Savoleyres and Tzoumaz are also in great condition and well worth a look as the terrain over there is less rocky. For those that are hardcore downhill bikers there are lots of options for a more relaxed family day out on bikes or the mountain scooters as the gravel and dirt roads go from the bottom of the lowest valley to the top of the highest lift.

Also do not forget that there are a host of other activities to do whilst in Verbier. The golf course is now in full swing and there is an ice ring, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, volleyball and tennis courts down by the sports centre. Also there is go-karting on the ice ring through the whole of summer and the stables in the same area have horses available fro trekking which is a great way to see the area. Another great way to enjoy the mountain scenery is to get airborne in a par-pont.

Whatever you do, be it sporty or cultural, do not forget the many bars and restaurants with sunny terraces, cold beer and good food to while away the summer days.

The weather over the next few days looks set to be mixed but hopefully the sun will come out soon. As the say, it can’t rain all the time.

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