Event Previews & Reviews from Les Arcs

It’s the most magical time of the year. The mountains have become a winter wonderland complete with abundant snow, twinkling fairy lights and the entwined intoxicating smells of wood-burning fires and gently simmering mulled wine wherever you go. There is nothing quite like skiing on Christmas day, as excited families enjoy the slopes between opening their presents and (over-)indulging themselves in hearty Christmas fayre. To help you have a wonderful, very merry Christmas and a happy New Year, here is all you need to know for the next couple of weeks.

There is only a month left before the ski-lifts reopen and, whilst thoughts naturally turn to the snowy slopes, the start of the season also brings a wealth of “extra-curricular” entertainments to keep you feeling good during your stay. Les Arcs has got so much to give this year, so here is our brief introduction to what’s going on this winter.

Katie Summerhayes from Sheffield is back on snow for the first time since her ACL injury. She talks about the freeski scene to come out of Sheffield Ski Village and how Woodsy helped to push her when she started out on the European circuit.

It's the school holidays and the resort is full to the brim with families.

Stage 17 of the Tour de France 2016 took the riders from Bern, the capital of Switzerland, to Finaut-Emosson on the Swiss-French border, just around the corner from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.

A new Guinness World record was set in Les Arcs last night, as 2887 people streamed down the pistes, fluro batons in hand, creating the largest torchlit descent ever seen.

The Relentless Freeze Festival did exactly what it said on the tin and those not wearing their ski jackets could be found with teeth chattering, huddled around the vin chaud stand wrapping themselves in a fruity alcoholic blanket.

Highlights of the 2009 Columbia Speedflying Pro in les Arcs which was once again won by Antoine Montant.

Billy Morgan is one of the Britian's best chances of a Freestyle snowboarding medal at the Sochi Olympics.

As 15,000 people cycled the penultimate stage of the Tour de France 2016, from Megeve to Morzine in the Etape du Tour on Sunday, the drama of the actual race was unfolding in the Pyrenees.

So far we've seen not only some fantastic racing, stunning scenery and nail-biting sprints from the 2016 Tour de France, but we've witnessed several unusual crashes, the yellow jersey literally running up Mont Ventoux and more than one incident of an over-enthusiastic fan causing disruption.

Professional Skiers & Snowboarders put their bodies through alot. This episode looks at the injuries Freestyle Team GB have suffered and the road to recovery and the Olympics.

After four exciting days of racing in the Alps, Chris Froome emerged victorious in Paris for the third win of his career. Equalling the records of Philippe Thys, Louison Bobet and Greg LeMond who all have three Tour wins under their belts, and becoming Britain's first three-time winner.