Cross-country skiing | Biathlon: Bessans opens its Nordic area this Saturday morning
It’s the big day. At 8am on Saturday 2 November, Bessans (Savoie) will once again be the first French resort to open its Nordic ski area.
Thanks to the snowfarming technique, with snow preserved since the end of last winter under a thick layer of sawdust, it has been possible for the services of the village in Haute Maurienne Vanoise to lay out a 1.5km piste over the last few days . The loop should be extended to 2.5 km or more this Saturday evening, following work on the section above the biathlon stadium.
This eagerly-awaited opening for the Nordic tricolores comes just a few weeks after those in Idre Fjäll (Sweden) and Vuokatti (Finland), a few days after Livigno (Italy) and the day after Sjusjøen (Norway) and Davos (Switzerland).
The S.N.O.W. to kick off hostilities before becoming the place to be at the start of the biathlon and cross-country skiing season
The programme for this first day of cross-country skiing in Bessans includes two training slots reserved for elite athletes, including the French B cross-country skiing team, from 8am to 11am and again from 11am to 1pm. All this before giving way to S.N.O.W., the Ski Nordic Opening Winter. This is the season-opening event organised by the resort to celebrate the resumption of Nordic activities.
It’s worth noting that all the groups in the French biathlon and cross-country skiing teams, with the exception of the men’s biathletes who will soon be heading off to Norway, will be skiing in Bessans before the start of the international season.
The selections for the IBU Biathlon Cup are scheduled to take place here on 14, 16 and 17 November, while the French Cross-Country Skiing Cup will open here on 27 and 28 November , followed by the Biathlon Cup on 30 November and 1 December. In short, Bessans is the place to be at the start of winter.
The full programme for the S.N.O.W. 2024 in Bessans
Saturday 2 November
- 8am-1pm: opening of the ski area reserved for elite skiers and biathletes
- 1.00pm-5.00pm: free admission to the estate for all
- 1.00pm-5.00pm
- ski tests with specialist brands and equipment suppliers, waxing and maintenance demonstrations
- introduction to biathlon with laser rifle shooting
- sled dogs on hand for petting and selfie sessions
- photo exhibition by and with Olivier Trompette, mountain guide for Bessans and Haute Maurienne Vanoise, and presentation of the Moonbike activity
- ski market: you can test equipment before buying it
- 1.30pm-4.30pm: free introduction to cross-country skiing (registration required, places limited)
- Bessans to open its snowfarm on 2 November, Les Saisies on 11 November
- Para Nordic adapted skiing: the 2025 World Championships to be held in Bessans
