23 November 24 November 2024

Val Thorens, Place Caron

The winter season launch weekend at Val Thorens is an unmissable event for winter sports enthusiasts. It offers a variety of activities, introductions to different disciplines and a test village to discover new equipment from more than 50 brands. Festive activities, a quiz and gifts liven up the weekend. On Saturday evening, a Raclette Party awaits you, followed by the “Grande Première Séance”, a screening of mountain films.

The opening event of the winter season

Come put on your skis for La Grande Première at Val Thorens, November 23 and 24, 2024!

The 2023 edition in pictures

It's THE launch weekend of the winter season and the meeting place for all snow sports enthusiasts with:

  • skiing, skiing, skiing, discovering the ski area and initiations to learn new skills or simply improve your skills.
  • a test village at Place Caron with all the new products and equipment tests. All types of skiing are on display thanks to the presence of more than fifty major brands of skis, snowboards, accessories, ski touring, freeride skis, etc. 
  • numerous festive activities throughout the weekend: a fun zone (mini-snowpark, etc.), Live DJ, quizzes, numerous gifts to be won, etc.
  • a Raclette Party on Saturday from 17 p.m.
  • a screening of mountain films on Saturday from 18:30 p.m. to 20:30 p.m.

The program of the 2023 edition

Friday 

  • 15h00 - 20h00 : Collection of test cards at the Tourist Office

Saturday

  • 8h : opening of the “Home” tent at Place Caron for collection of test cards. Free and open to all.
  • 8 p.m. : opening of the locker
  • 8h45: opening of ski lift ticket offices
  • 9h : opening of the ski lifts
  • 9h : opening of the exhibitor village and launch of tests Place Caron
  • 9h: Possibility of having your skis or snowboard waxed (limited places) – Offered by Prosneige
  • All day Place Caron : DJ, quiz with prizes to be won, photocall, initiation and discovery of the area with the UCPA, mini-snowpark (along the Castor and Pollux carpets)
  • 9h - 10h30 : Breakfast offered by Val Thorens Place Caron. Free and open to all.
  • From 11h : opening of the Brasseurs Savoyards ephemeral brewery – beers and goodies to be won!
  • 14 p.m. : activities in the exhibitor village, many prizes to be won! While stocks last.
  • 15 h : first edition of the Contest by Esf on the mini-snowpark (along the Castor and Pollux carpets) – Subject to sufficient snow cover
  • 15 p.m. : latest equipment loans
  • 16 p.m. : mulled wine offered on the UCPA stand
  • 16h30: live graffiti in the colors of Val Thorens
  • 16 p.m. : closure of ski lifts
  • From 17am : Raclette Party Place Caron offered by Raclette de Savoie and live DJ
  • 18h30 - 20h30 : screening of mountain films in the presence of valley riders at the Le Lac Blanc cinema in Val Thorens
    • 14 x 2000 wallows with Fab Maierhofer (40min)
    • The stars of the Earth with Victor Galuchot (25min)
    • On both sides with Lou & César Barin (8min) 
    • Friluftsliv with Victor Delerue, Paola Pyard and their son (18min)

Sunday

  • 8h : opening of the “Home” tent at Place Caron for collection of test cards. Free and open to all.
  • 8 p.m. : opening of the locker
  • 8 p.m. : opening of the ski lift ticket offices
  • 9h : opening of the ski lifts
  • 9h : opening of the exhibitor village and launch of tests Place Caron
  • 9h: Possibility of having your skis or snowboard waxed (limited places) – Offered by Prosneige
  • All day Place Caron : DJ, quiz with prizes to be won, photocall, initiation and discovery of the area with the UCPA, mini-snowpark (along the Castor and Pollux carpets)
  • 9h - 10h30 : Breakfast offered by Val Thorens Place Caron. Free and open to all.
  • From 11h : opening of the Brasseurs Savoyards ephemeral brewery – beers and goodies to be won!
  • 14 p.m. : “Happy Hour” animation – many prizes to be won! While stocks last.
  • 15 h : first edition of the Contest by Esf on the mini-snowpark (along the Castor and Pollux carpets) – Subject to sufficient snow cover
  • 15 p.m. : latest equipment loans
  • 16 p.m. : closure of ski lifts
  • 17 h : End clap!

Brands present in 2023

  • Skiing/ski touring: ADN, Armada, Atomic, blackcrows, Dynastar, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon, Scott and Stöckli 
  • Snowboard / Splitboard: Amplid, Bataleon, Borealis, Burton, Good, Academy, Deeluxe, Nitro, Rome SDS, Card ?, Rossignol, Salomon, Drake, Yes, Bent Metal, Gnu, Lib Tech, Roxy, Pallas, Jones, Nidecker, Now, Fjell, Capita, Union, Flow, Swoard and Weston
  • Snowscoot: Erectic Snowscoot
  • Accessories : L'Armure Française, Cairn, Julbo, Bollé, 100%, La Chaussette de France, Oakley, Go Pro, Out Of, Ski Mojo, Spy and Ski Mojo 
  • Beverage : Savoyard Brewers, Café Segafredo and Bonneval Waters 

Ski lift ticket office open for the La Grande Première weekend

Brands La Grande Première
  • Funitel Péclet cash desks from 8AM to 45PM
  • Forum J. Fontanet cash registers from 8AM to 45PM
  • Olympiad crates from 8AM to 45PM

Have you booked your weekend for La Grande Première? Pre-register for hardware testing

The tests will only be accessible to holders of a ski pass and a test card (free on presentation of the pass). Once pre-registered, this test card will be collected on site with 2 proofs of identity (identity card, passport or driving license + vital card, bank card, student card, etc.)

  • The day before the event, November 22 from 15 p.m. to 20 p.m. in the lobby of the Tourist Office
  • November 23 from 8 a.m. to 16 p.m. in the Place Caron test village
  • November 24 from 8 a.m. to 15 p.m. in the test village at Place Caron

Good to know: You must have ski or snowboard boots as well as ski poles because this equipment is not loaned to the test village.

Pre-registration link for hardware testing will be available in November 2024

Customers coming to the tests with their equipment will be able to leave it in a locker provided for this purpose. This will be a fully enclosed and monitored inflatable tent next to the test village (on the terrace of the Le Fitz Roy hotel).

Parking information

Parking in one of the station's car parks is obligatory. You will benefit from a preferential rate of €18 for the weekend (i.e. €9 per day) for La Grande Première.

Book your weekend for La Grande Première

Package from 144€ / person

  • Hosting
  • 2 day ski pass

NEW: package from 159€ / person

  • Hosting
  • 2 day ski pass
  • 2 hours of ski lessons on Saturday morning

Accommodation possible in an apartment, residence, hotel or UCPA youth hostel
The 2-day ski pass is a package Val Thorens – Orella

Be the first on the slopes and don't miss this long-awaited start of the season event!

Contact

Closed
Grande Rue district
73440 Val Thorens
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Do you like La Grande Première? We look forward to seeing you for La Grande Derniere, the closing weekend of the season!

Book online
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