4 Winter Events All About Snow Sports

• First international winter sports competition in 1908.
• First Winter Olympics in 1924.
• First Alpine Skiing World Championships in 1937.

In the Valley, competitions and demonstrations are a tradition.

The Kandahar Junior—Les Houches—Technique and fun against the backdrop of the “Erasmus of skiing”

Since 2014, the Kandahar Junior (the younger sibling of the FIS Kandahar) has been showcasing the future stars of competitive alpine skiing. At just 13 years old, more than 200 of the world’s top young international athletes gather for three days of races organized by the Les Houches Ski Club. Teams must be co-ed (yeah, gender parity!) and compete in slalom, classic giant slalom, and pro giant slalom. Two runs, and they have to wax their skis. The battle for hundredths of a second leaves no room for half-measures. The Kandahar Junior, however, remains an off-circuit challenge early in the season. The young athletes face less pressure and, above all, get a taste of the camaraderie and new experiences that come with an international event. Don’t miss the debuts of those who, one day, might compete in the grand white circus of the World Cup.

Cross the Line - La Flégère - Well-Organized Off-Piste Action

A local championship is always really cool. Add to that the excitement of a new format that blends ski cross and freeride—that’s the wild gamble taken on by the group of friends from Chamonix known as the Frost Company in 2018. Big jumps, speed, and technical skill are on the agenda. Thrills and excitement, too. The top two finishers from each group of four advance to the next round, and so on until the final. Simple and effective. Veterans and monoskiers have their own categories, and telemark skiers might soon have theirs. All in all, a great show, and a gathering spot that brings everyone together: the chill zone with snow skate intro sessions, test runs of the latest Scott skis, and mountain safety workshops with the La Flégère ski patrollers. The only thing missing would be for the event to be eco-friendly and raise awareness about protecting the slopes… Well, it is!

Telemark Chamonix - Grands Montets - Long live the free heels

The groundwork for this major gathering of the telemark community was laid in 2025. And given the enthusiasm for the most old-school of winter sports, the event has a bright future ahead. For one weekend, the formula is simple: ski, eat, ski, sleep, repeat. Aside from the timed race held on the Grands Montets boardercross course on Sunday morning, the vibe isn’t really about competition but rather about partying, showcasing style, and the joy of carving wild turns together on the valley’s iconic freeride terrain.

Freeride Day - Grands Montets - The End-of-Season Party

The ultimate finale. Freeride Day is the fun-filled day on the slopes that officially marks the end of the winter season in the Valley. For the occasion, the day pass is available at a bargain price. So yes, the snow is often soft… But the atmosphere isn’t! On the agenda: a costume theme for riders, snowball fights, and the famous Waterslide Challenge—a small pool to cross on skis (and for some, straight in their swimsuits). After that, the skis are stowed away in the attic for spring and summer… Unless you head back out for some ski touring with climbing skins?