Skiing the World with Keely Kelleher

Val-d’Isère: “The Most Beautiful Ski Area in the World”

By Keely Kelleher, 12-15-09

	Wine and Cheese store La Fermette de Claudine

The tedious eleven-hour drive from Kaprun, Austria to Val-d’Isère, France was well worth the wait. This morning, tearing open the blinds in my quaint Hotel La Becca room, above me the majesty of the Rhône-Alpes. I am fortunate this week to race in Val-d’Isère, the resorts’ self-titled, “Most Beautiful Ski Area in the World.”

Being a first-timer to this region of France my initial thoughts were to experience the food and drink of the Rhône-Alpes. Already my first night in La Becca, the dinner consisted of a cheese squash soup and baked tomato-basil on flat bread smothered in mozzarella-like foam and topped with syrupy balsamic vinaigrette. For dessert, a traditional French crêpe topped with apricot sorbet and smothered in melted butter, creamy caramel and honey.

If that didn’t make your mouth water, here’s what will: vast mountains that seemingly go on forever and endless acreage of off and on piste skiing. I am positive that in the five short days I am here racing, I will not be able to experience everything Val-d’Isère has to offer. What a wonderful excuse to come back!

The people alone in Val-d’Isère give me reason to enjoy the experience. Their welcoming and friendly demeanor towards visitors makes the small ski town feel even more sincere. Today in the heart of downtown I found myself in a cheese and wine shop, La Fermette de Claudine. The owners insisted I try the cheese and drink in their store.

One such drink, the famous French genepi, which is a type of schnapps made from aromatic alpine flowers of the Rhône-Alpes. I have tasted different schnapps by insistent hotel owners in Austria. It is the favorite and traditional drink to have after dinner or upon arrival. The Austrian’s call it the “Mountain Water” of the Alps. Genepi is the French version of schnapps and the number one après-ski drink.

Claudin, the owner of La Farmette, insisted that my teammates and myself try a sip of each flavor she had of genepi. Every time we would take a sip a huge smile would flash across Claudin’s face at our reaction. It went down so smoothly and had a flowery, almost herb-like taste. Be careful drinking to much genepi, it’s forty percent alcohol content takes effect quickly - and the absent taste of alcohol can be misleading. I’ll just say that after we left the tasting with Claudin both my teammates and myself were feeling a bit warmer after only a little taste.

This weekend Women’s World Cup action continues. Hopefully the plethora of French crêpes, cheeses and meats will help me towards the podium! Watch the races online at www.universalsports.com!
Keely’s Top five: Reasons to visit Val-d’Isère!

1. Skiing over 300 km of slopes, not too many lift lines here!
2. Eating crêpes, cheese and meat. Enough said, the French got it going on!
3. Hotel La Becca, feels like a Montana Bed and Breakfast.
4. Built in the 1930’s, Val-d’Isère’s history is to be explored!
5. Val-d’Isère’s European small ski town appeal and après-ski atmosphere.

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