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!
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 18:10 p.m.
The program of the 2024 edition
Friday
- 15:00 p.m. - 20:00 p.m .: Collection of test cards at the Tourist Office
Saturday
- 8h : opening of the “Welcome” tent at Place Caron for collection of test cards. Free and open to all.
- 8h15: opening of ski lift ticket offices
- 8h45: opening of the deposit
- 9h: opening of the ski lifts
- 9h: opening of the exhibitors’ village and launch of tests at Place Caron
- 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)
- 9 p.m. - 10:30 p.m .: Breakfast offered by Brioche Pasquier and Val Thorens Place Caron. Free and open to all.
- From 11 a.m.: opening of the Brasseurs Savoyards ephemeral brewery – beers and goodies to be won!
- 11h30: savory aperitif offered by Brioche Pasquier
- 14 p.m. to 17 p.m .: sale of drinks and cakes by the Parents' Association of Val Thorens
- 14h30: “High Basket Toss Battle” animation in the exhibitors’ village, many prizes to be won! While stocks last.
- 15h: Contest by ESF on the mini-snowpark (along the Castor and Pollux conveyor belts) – Subject to sufficient snow
- 15h30 : latest equipment loans
- 16h: instant snack offered by Brioche Pasquier
- 16h : mulled wine offered at the UCPA stand
- 16h30: ski lifts closed
- From 17h : Raclette Party Place Caron offered by Raclette de Savoie and live DJ
- 18h: fireworks Place Caron
- From 18h10: Grand First Session – Screening of mountain films at the Board amphitheater
- Petit Suisse – duration 52 min – With Maxime Chabloz and produced by Olivier Sautet
- Of A Lifetime – duration 44 min – With Victor de Le Rue, Xavier de Le Rue and Mila de Le Rue produced by Jérôme Tanon
- 20h: one man show by Mahé – Troupe du Jamel Comedy Club with his show “Mahé s'installe”. No need to introduce MAHÉ, most certainly the successor of Malik Bentalha. Free entry – Church of Val Thorens.
Sunday
- 8h : opening of the “Welcome” tent at Place Caron for collection of test cards. Free and open to all.
- 8h15 : opening of ski lift ticket offices
- 8h45 : opening of the deposit
- 9h: opening of the ski lifts
- 9h : opening of the exhibitors’ village and launch of tests at Place Caron
- 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)
- 9 p.m. - 10:30 p.m .: Breakfast offered by Brioche Pasquier and Val Thorens Place Caron. Free and open to all.
- From 11 a.m.: opening of the Brasseurs Savoyards ephemeral brewery – beers and goodies to be won!
- 14h30 : “High Basket Toss Battle” animation in the exhibitors’ village, many prizes to be won! While stocks last.
- 15h: Contest by ESF on the mini-snowpark (along the Castor and Pollux conveyor belts) – Subject to sufficient snow
- 15h30 : latest equipment loans
- 16h30: ski lifts closed
- 17h : End clap!
All weekend long, come and get your skis waxed at the Association Réseau Ski Partenaire stand for €15 upon presentation of your test card! (€21 without a test card).
New: enjoy a helicopter flight at a reduced price
Enjoy a helicopter flight from the altiport of Val Thorens throughout the weekend of La Grande Première! 10-minute introductory flight for 6 people at a reduced rate.
Price: 89 € per person
Brands present in 2024
- Skiing/ski touring: Armada, Atomic, Dynastar, Dynafit, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon, Scott and Stöckli
- Snowboard / Splitboard: Amplid, Bataleon, Borealis, Burton, Deeluxe, Nitro, Rome SDS, Rossignol, Salomon, Drake, Yes, Bent Metal, GNU, Lib Tech, Roxy, Jones, Nidecker, Furlan, Capita, Union, Swoard
- Snowscoot: Erectic Snowscoot
- Accessories : Cairn, Julbo, 100%, La Chaussette de France, Lavaline, Oakley, Giro, Out Of, Ski Mojo, KnockAround
- Beverage : Savoyard Brewers, Bonneval Waters
- other: CellAED
Ski lift ticket office open for La Grande Première weekend
- Funitel Péclet cash desks from 8:15 PM to 16PM.
- Forum J. Fontanet cash registers from 8:15 PM to 16PM.
- Olympiad crates from 8:15 PM to 16PM.
- Cairn – Caron – P4 boxes from 8:15 PM to 15PM.
Package for the weekend of La Grande Première
On the occasion of La Grande Première, benefit from a preferential rate on the purchase of a 2-day package for Saturday and Sunday. Price: €97,90 for 2 days.
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. Place Caron
- 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.
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 resort's car parks is mandatory. You will benefit from a preferential rate of €20 for the weekend on the occasion of La Grande Première.
Book your weekend for La Grande Première
Accommodation possible in an apartment, residence, hotel or UCPA youth hostel
NEW: Want to extend your weekend until Monday? Don't hesitate to contact Val Thorens Booking au 04 79 00 01 06 to add an extra night and a 3-day ski pass at the preferential Grande Première rate.
Be the first on the slopes and don't miss this long-awaited start of the season event!
Contact
Do you like La Grande Première? We look forward to seeing you for La Grande Derniere, the closing weekend of the season!
La Grande Dernière
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