Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Let is snow, let it snow, preferably on our turf! Frankfurt and Paris were snowed in, but the sad news for skiers in Switzerland 10 December is that the snow that fell last week in the Jura has turned to mud, and the Alpine ski resorts are still waiting for the big snowfalls to arrive. You have a few more days to continue your pre-season warmup exercises and to reflect on safety on the slopes.
Weather forecast
Sun today! The first village house to get warm rays, canton Vaud 9 December
Temperatures are expected to go no higher than 2C throughout the Lake Geneva region this weekend, with sunshine alternating with partly cloudy skies. Expect resorts in Valais to have the same weather, but if you are longing to get warm, head for Ticino, where temperatures will reach 15C.
Alpine and Jura resorts updates
Shirley Curran writes from the Jura resorts area that “sadly, after last Saturday’s memorable start to our ski season where we were skiing with feather-light powder up to our knees, not a cloud in the sky and no crowds, this week’s torrential downpours and high winds have blown or washed away most of the Jura snow. The lifts will not be operating this weekend. However, they will be running every day from 18 December. You can keep up to date with information and webcams at montsjura.com.”
Several resorts in the Alps are offering reduced fares and special family offers. Sierre-Anniviers, which groups together several medium-sized resorts above the lakeside town of Sierre, including family-friendly Zinal and Vercorin, has a new special deal for parents. It allows a couple to share one ski-pass, for parents who are alternating taking care of children. It’s valid only in low season, basically January and March, but offers a good practical solution for many couples with small children or babies.
Anzere has a very good deal for this weekend, 11-12 December: CHF10 for kids and CHF20 for adults for a day pass, or CHF15/20 for two days, well below the season day pass price of CHF47. Slopes open for the season 17 December. Children up to age six are free and families of four get a 10 percent discount.
Verbier has put together an information page on parking and public transport, with useful emergency numbers, part of the effort to encourage skiers to be a bit greener.
On the lakefront, Geneva remembers a glorious moment from its past, and eats chocolate
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Very icy road conditions and record low temperatures have race officials scrambling in their preparations for Saturday 4 December’s 33nd edition of the Course de l’Escalade, Switzerland’s most popular street race. More than 27,000 people of all ages participated in last year’s race, and organizers expect at least that many this year. Organizers are clearing the the route of snow and ice, especially in the Parc des Bastions, and are hoping it does not snow Saturday morning.
Some 5,000 foreigners are expected, most from neighbouring France but some coming from as far away as Great Britain, including top runners Kenyans Mike Niget and Linet Masai, according to the TdG.
There are 42 different categories for people of all ages, including those over 70 running distances of between 2 and 8km through the old town, down along the rue basses, and along past the university. Children’s races begin in the morning, and the races continue all afternoon.
Information about the race:
Tel: 022 700 59 02 (afternoons)
Fax : 022 700 59 52
E-mail : secr@escalade.ch
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The 27,000 runners who participated in the Escalade race in Geneva Saturday 4 December can now download films of their finish, available Tuesday 8 December, a project by supermarket Migros and the Escalade race organizers. GenevaLunch was there, with runners, their families and friends sporting our distinctive colours!
Links to other sites: download finish films, Escalade race
Click on images to view larger
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Kenyan men took the first three places in the annual Escalade race round the old town of Geneva. The 7.25 km race was won by Titus Mbishei in a time of 20’26, the 14th victory by a Kenyan in the last 16 races. The women’s race was also taken by a Kenyan, Caroline Chepkwony. More than 27,000 runners ran in the race, which is part of the celebrations of the Fête de l’Escalade to commemorate the victory of the citizens of Geneva over Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy in 1602.
The main festivities take place starting 11 December and feature Geneva’s citizens offering each other chocolate pots. Their shape recalls a famous pot of boiling soup poured over the heads of Savoy soldiers as they attempted to scale the city walls.
Links to other sites: Le Matin,Tribune de Geneve
Title: Course de l’escalade – Escalade Run
Location: Old Town, Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: The original, the only Course de l’Escalade. A run through the old town of Geneva for professionals to beginners of all ages. Last year there were more than 25,000 of us. (you must register)
The day ends with the course de la Marmite which is a general ramble through town in the most original costume you can find.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 5 Dec 2009
A very soggy Escalade race in Geneva 6 December 2008. Photo: Catherine Nelson-Pollard
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - 26,000 runners took part in the this year’s Escalade race, most of them children. In the elite men’s race, Kenyan Mike Kigen won from Ethiopian Tolossa Chengere and Eritrean Abraham Tadesse. It was the 13th Kenyan victory in the last 15 years.
The women’s race was won by Ethiopian Olympic champion Departu Tulu. Details, Le Matin, Fre.
The event formally closed after the last of the races took place: the “marmite race” where runners dress up for a shorter, fun, event where everyone who smiles, is a winner. Visit our gallery to see some of the fun pictures of the evening.
Photo: Alistair Scott, reproduced with permission
Lake Geneva region, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Rain and snow have made driving slower than usual in the region, so if you’re heading for the mountains, try to get an early start Friday evening.
Geneva, Switzerland (20 Minutes, Fre) – The city might be flat, on the waterfront and normally short of snow in winter, but it will have its ski hill this winter, just as it did in 2007 in time for the big Escalade festival. The snow will be carried by biodiesel trucks from the Vernet ice rink where it is the byproduct – without chemicals – of icemaking machines, reports 20 Minutes.
Title: Fete de L’Escalade
Location: Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: The City of Geneva goes back on time: over 400 years to be exact. All you have to do is go downtown and travel back in history.
Start Date: 12 Dec 2008
End Date: 14 Dec 2008
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Hundreds of people dressed in old Genevan-style costumes and carrying 17th century arms and flags took over the streets of the Old Town 9 December for the yearly “Fête de L’Escalade,” a commemoration of the city’s defeat of Savoy 400 years ago.
Photo: ready for battle. To see more images, visit the GenevaLunch Escalade 2007 photo album.
Thousands of people crowded the streets to view the reenactments of the events that took place 11 December 1602. It was during the longest night of the year, according to the Julian calendar, when the Duke of Savoy and his brother-in-law, Philip III of Spain, launched a night attack on the independent city-state of Geneva.
The 2007 celebration began Friday evening with a series of public lectures, exhibits and music concerts sponsored by La Compagnie de 1602.
The ancient Monetier Passageway, normally closed, was opened for the occasion, allowing a rare look into Geneva’s past.
For the second time in more than 100 years a delegation from a German-speaking region joined the parade. Zurich’s “Zunft zu Wiedikon” was amply cheered by the crowds.
Some schools, neighbourhoods and community centers will celebrate the actual anniversary, 11 December,
with parades, music, hot wine and soup. To see the GenevaLunch Escalade photo album click here.
