Event Previews & Reviews from Les Arcs

How the team trains for the Olympics and how they came to be a team in the first place.

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.

Fête de la Musique is the celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21st June in cities, towns and villages across France.

Dom Harington is a Halfpipe Snowboarder from Leeds who has missed the last two Olympics due to injuries after winning the Europa Cup Halfpipe. Sochi is probably his last chance to be part of the Olympics and he's giving it everything he has.

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.

July brings with it all sorts of sporting events. This year we have the EURO 2016 hosted in France at the start of the month, the annual tennis tournamant at Wimbledon and Formula 1 action at Silverstone, Budapest and Hockenheim.

It may be the last month of the year, but the ski lifts are open and Christmas is on the horizon.

Meet one of Britian's best Freestyle medal chances at the Sochi Olympics; James Woods.

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

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.

This year, Saturday 15th December is a very significant date indeed. Not only will the Les Arcs lifts open, ferrying the first, fortunate passengers of its 50th year as a fantastic ski area, but it is also the 10th anniversary week of the annual Les Arcs Film Festival. Snow, movies and birthdays all round, it’s going to be a great time to celebrate!

It's very cold, so wrap up warm and get outside to find new year adventures.

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

As the best freeriders in the world gather in Revelstoke this weekend for the first stop on the all-new Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face, we were fortunate to be able to have a sit down with a free skiing legend, holder of the world record for the highest cliff jump and super nice guy - Fred Syversen.

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.