Frank stops to admire the view of Mont Blanc before making another run
A chance encounter during a visit to Les Arcs helped conjure up a whole series of reminiscences for former Skier & Snowboarder magazine editor Frank ‘Scoop’ Baldwin.
I am standing in the middle of Arc 1950 village and before I tell you more about my visit I have to admit to a special interest.
The Les Arcs ski area, of which Arc 1950 is part, was the first place I ever skied on snow back in 1986 and it is where I became hooked on skiing. I loved the sensation from day one, even when my efforts consisted of a timid snow plough while looking like I was trying to sit down on a toilet. And what sealed it for me was the beauty of the snow-covered mountains, and my love for these has never diminished.
On my recent visit while staying at Hotel La Cachette at Arc 1600, I bumped into, and had a ski with, Joanna Yellowlees-Bound, an old friend whose links with Les Arcs go back even further than mine. And in another coincidence, she also has past connections with Erna Low, the company I was staying with in Les Arcs.
Frank and Joanna in the centre of Arc 1950
Joanna started working for Erna Low in 1982. The tour operator, which has just celebrated its 90th anniversary, began selling ski holidays in Les Arcs after Arc 1600 opened in 1968 and Arc 1800 in 1974. Joanna eventually became MD of the company in 1996 and four years later she found herself standing in an empty mountain meadow which had been earmarked for a new Les Arcs development – Arc 1950.
She recalls: “I remember it particularly well as it was a beautiful sunny day – the kind of day when you just want to do a Julie Andrews and sing ‘The Hills are Alive’ at the top of your voice. I also remember trying to imagine what it would be like after its transformation into a vibrant ski village. It seemed unreal to me.”
Although Erna Low played no part in the development of the existing Les Arcs villages, other than being a tour operator partner, the company was asked by the Canadian developers Intrawest to assist in the creation of Arc 1950 and its promotion to the UK market.
In 2003 I was invited to the official opening of Arc 1950 to see the new ski-in ski out pedestrianised village with 5* residences for myself.
This season the village is holding celebrations to mark its 20th anniversary. These were launched on 16 December and coincided with the Les Arcs Film Festival.
Other events include: The Magic of Christmas (23-30 December) and New Year eve celebration (30 December 30 – 6 January) when there will be parades, fireworks, live music and magic; Live Concert and M Radio (12 January); XXL Ski Show (14, 21, 28 February and 6 March) – The Barrebus team will be putting on a display of freestyle tricks; plus every Thursday throughout the season there will be a programme of concerts and dancing to pop, rock & roll, and soul groups live in the village squares, together with free aperitifs from the retail stores.
Photo opportunity at the top of the mountain
The development of Les Arcs, which includes another village at Arc 2000, mean skiers and snowboarders already have a vast array of choice in terms of accommodation and terrain, and this was extended even further when the area linked with La Plagne to form the massive Paradiski, which is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this season.
Joanna decided to step down as MD of Erna Low Travel in 2010 to give herself more time to develop the growth of Erna Low Property, which was formed following the early success of Arc 1950. Joanna explained: “I discovered that there was a huge demand for the British to buy properties in the Alps as homes – and many of those purchasers had been old travel clients.”
Erna Low Travel was sold in 2019 to NUCO, another ski and snowboard holiday specialist, and in January 2023 Joanna sold Erna Low Property. Joanna said: “I reached the time of my life where I wanted new challenges and my husband’s career had exploded as he was the Director of Exploration of the expedition that discovered Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, 3,000m down under the ice pack of the Weddell Sea.
“He then went on to write a Best-Seller book – The Ship Beneath the Ice – and we have both enjoyed the most amazing year doing book tours all over the world, since it was published in October 2022. Next Autumn 2024, a cinematic film will be released on the discovery of the ship – so it is non-stop!”
TRAVEL FACTS
- Frank Baldwin travelled to Les Arcs with Erna Low – ernalow.co.uk/en-gb – which is part of NUCO Travel – nucotravel.com
- Erna Low offers holidays across all the Les Arcs villages
- He stayed at Hotel La Cachette at Arc 1600 – ernalow.co.uk/en-gb/france/arc-1600/hotel-la-cachette
- For more information on Les Arcs go to: lesarcs.com
- And for more information on the 20th anniversary celebrations and other winter events in Arc 1950 go to: arc1950.com
Categories: France, Resort News & Reports