I tried out Moriond Racing in Courchevel: 3km of sledging downhill and SO much fun
My toboganning experience at Moriond Racing
Hello adventurers! This is @alicialenoir_. If you follow me on Instagram you’ll already know about my unconditional love for the mountains and the peaks. And you’ll also know that my path to Courchevel has been… let’s say “memorable”.
On 31 January, I swapped my ski touring boots and skis for a much less stable vehicle: a sledge!
Direction: Courchevel Moriond to try out the sledge run Moriond Racing.
The result? I’ve still got aching abs: not because of the ride, but because I literally laughed out loud for the whole three kilometres! Let’s rewind…
The departure (or ‘the calm before the storm’)
Arriving at the top of the Ariondaz summit, the ambience is amazing. As a mountain lover, I never get tired of it. And finding myself face to face with these incredible landscapes and magnificent peaks while sledging along close to the ground, gives a totally different perspective which is just brilliant.
You feel so tiny in front of the peaks of the Vanoise, but still have that fierce desire to speed down the slopes!
My friend looks at me, I look at her... no need for words. The challenge is on: “The last one down pays for the hot chocolates!”
An XXL sledging run in the 3 Valleys
The Moriond Racing toboggan run is not your average little sledging slope. We’re talking about 450m pure vertical descent over 3km of pure fun. As soon as I got to the first hairpin bend, I quickly understood that my technique was… in need of refining.
I tried to steer my racecar by distributing my bodyweight like a pro bobsleigh pilot, but centrifugal forces had other plans. First bend, and I found myself face down in the snow!
Tunnels, high speeds and LOLs
This toboggan run is really well designed, and that’s what makes it different:
Into the tunnels: the moment when everything speeds up! We plunge into the darkness, giggles rebounding off the walls.
Speed zones: You imagine yourself like an F1 pilot going up to 130km/h on the straights! (It goes without saying that I was clearly nowhere near that fast, and ended up in the safety nets two metres afterwards)
The hairpin bends: I have to admit that I rolled my vehicle more times than I can remember. Each bend was like a Russian roulette: either I styled it out pretty well, or I face-planted in the snow…
Final confession? Having eaten snow at practically every turn, I felt like I made it over the finish line with more snow inside my sledge than on the run itself! My dishevelled arrival as a sort of ‘human snow-plough’ definitely got some laughs from everyone watching at the bottom (and from me as well, it goes without saying!).
Why should you definitely try out the Moriond Racing toboggan run?
If you’re looking for a fun activity to spice up your holiday in Courchevel, look no further. Here’s why, for me, this makes a really fun addition to your ski trip:
A breathtaking panorama: Sliding down the mountain with a 360° view of the snowy summits whizzing past year eyes gives an incredible and unique sense of freedom. You make the most of the beauty of the mountains whilst also racing down them.
The feeling of speed and delirious laughter guaranteed: Whether you're an adrenaline junkie or more of a cautious type, this sledge track offers excitement for everyone. Between the straights where you can reach top speeds and the corners that can sometimes take you by surprise, the euphoria is totally immersive (and between you and me, seeing your mates struggle in the powder snow is a great cure for the blues!).
It makes a change from skiing: this sledge run is a great alternative to mix things up during a week’s skiing. Not only does it make a change of activity, you’ll give your legs a rest (although other muscles definitely get a warm-up, principally your laughing ones!).
Even better shared: it’s the perfect family activity or to do with friends. Youngsters will have an absolute blast, and older people will definitely rediscover their inner child. Whatever your age, you’ll finish with a massive smile on your face (and snow everywhere, as you’ll have understood by now!).
- Helmet: Indispensable (but provided if you don’t have one), especially if like me you enjoy extreme close-ups of the snow.
- Gloves: Tightened to avoid collecting half the piste up your jacket sleeves after a big tumble.
- Competitive spirit: Because even if you (often) end up becoming part of the scenery, the goal is obviously to overtake you friends and avoid buying the hot chocolates!
See you on the start line?
For more info on the pricing and times, go to the official web page for the Moriond Racing toboggan run.
