Where to Ski And Snowboard - Catch the Kandahar in Les Houches

Catch the Kandahar in Les Houches

28th January 2011, by Chris Gill

Chamonix valley from Les Houches [(c) C Gill]

World Cup action is underway in Les Houches for this weekend’s Kandahar races. And spectators outside of the Chamonix valley can take advantage of special shuttles and trains for just one euro.

While the event is free to watch, and Chamonix valley shuttles are free with a lift pass, the French Rhone Alpes rail and bus network is charging just one euro a transfer ticket, from 20 towns in the area. The promotion is to encourage visitors to leave their cars behind and go for the greener option – also part of Annecy’s Winter Olympic bid to show commitment to environmental issues in the region.

Up to 40,000 spectators are expected to gather at the Verte piste in Les Houches, for the second of only two French venues on the World Cup circuit (Val d’Isére being the other). The men’s downhill and super-combined races will take place on the 3343m long black run, which combines tactical jumps such as the Cassure and Goulet with an 870m vertical.

Spectators can watch the races from the Kandahar ‘village’ at the bottom of the course, by the Bellevue cable car. The downhill takes place on Saturday 29th and the super-combined on Sunday 30 January.

Training has already kicked off, with Klaus Kroell leading the way for Austria with a 2:02:53 time. And conditions? The course is firm and icy, as the racers prefer. Settled weather is forecast too.

Links: Official Kandahar site