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Weekend ski report: 28th – 30th January

by: Luke Entwistle
27/01/2022

Still no snow forecast this weekend at the region’s resorts, but there will be plenty of sunshine and no shortage of events on offer, including a festival at Les Deux Alpes.

Isola 2000 – There are currently 20 ski slopes and 13 ski lifts open at Isola with around 70cm of hard snow. There’s no fresh snowfall expected over the weekend and, given the fact no snow has fallen at the resort since Christmas Day, the snow canons are working overtime. The forecast is for sunny skies, with a little more cloud expected on Saturday. There will be highs of 11°C and lows of -3°C. The col de la Bonette and la Lombarde roads are closed until the end of the winter season.

Auron – There are currently 22 ski slopes and 14 ski lifts open at the resort, with around 30cm of standing snow. It is expected to be largely sunny over the weekend with highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C. There will also be winds of up to 27 km/h on Friday. In terms of access, Route de la Tinée, Route de la Bonette, Piste de la Moustière, Piste de Demandols all remain closed. The resort will be hosting a range of family-oriented events over the weekend, ranging from treasure hunts to snowshoe hikes with stunning panoramic views.

Les Deux Alpes – There is a large choice of runs at the resort with 80 ski slopes and 38 ski lifts currently open. There is 50cm of soft standing snow. It is expected to be largely sunny throughout the weekend, with slightly cooler temperatures compared to last weekend with lows of -2°C and highs of 6°C. The snow festival ‘Snowattack’ will be taking place in the resort until Saturday featuring a whole host of different DJ sets.

La Colmiane – There are 11 ski slopes and five ski lifts open at the resort, together with between 40 and 30cm of standing snow. As it is throughout the region, conditions are expected to be sunny over the weekend with winds of up to 33 km/h on Friday. There will be highs of 9°C and lows of 0°C. The resort hosts a market on Saturdays, and will continue to do so until the end of March.

Greolieres les Neiges – There are five ski lifts open and 40cm of hard standing snow at the resort. It will be sunny throughout the weekend with highs of 12°C and lows of -2°C. The resort isn’t reporting any road closures..

Limone Piemonte – The Italian resort is reporting 16 open runs and 11 ski-lifts, while snow levels vary from 10cm to 45cm. Visibility should be good throughout the weekend, with sunny skies and lows of -1°C, highs of 11°C. Passage through the Roya valley currently isn’t possible due to the collapsed bridge at Tende. Drivers must instead pass through Ventimiglia and the journey from Monaco is currently approximately three hours. On Saturday, there will be a guided snowshoe hike to the Colle di Tenda forts.

Valberg – There are 18 ski slopes and 11 ski lifts open. The resort currently has 40cm of standing snow, but – like the rest of the resorts – there has been no snowfall since Christmas. Conditions are beautiful, however, with plenty of sunshine and highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. The resort is hosting a range of events on Sunday including the Dragon Cup u8, u10 and u12 races, whilst there will also be an Escape game.

 

Note: Snow tyres must be worn on the roads up to the ski resorts.

 

Photo: Webcam footage from Les Deux Alpes

 

 

Rose Ball 2022: new date

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/01/2022

This year’s Rose Ball has been pushed back a few months to July to increase the chances of it going ahead, after the high-profile event was cancelled last year due to Covid.

The Salle des Etoiles at the Sporting Monte-Carlo will again set the scene for one of the year’s most anticipated social events, the Rose Ball (Bal de la Rose). Created in 1954 by Princess Grace, it is usually held in March, but due to ongoing problems associated with the pandemic, organisers decided to postpone the event until 8th July to ensure guests will be in total comfort and safety. Due to Covid, last year’s Rose Ball was cancelled completely.

Each year, the Rose Ball brings together the social elite for a night of splendour and is currently presided by Prince Albert II and Princess Caroline of Hanover, but at the heart of the event is an internationally accepted charity event.

The auction prizes are legendary and include paintings and sculptures from renowned artists with all proceeds going to the Princess Grace Foundation, of whom Princess Caroline is president. Since 1964, the Foundation has taken steps to help children in need through philanthropic and humanitarian projects.

The theme of the Rose Ball changes every year and is decided upon by a big-name personage. This year, the chosen one is none other than high-end footwear maker Christian Louboutin, whose theme of “The Twenties, The Return” is sure to be one for the history books.

Guests will be asked to step back in time to the oh-so chic 1920’s, so expect intricately beaded dresses, smart black-tie suits and people dancing the Charleston. No doubt, many fashionista guests will also be sporting his gorgeously crafted shoes, made notable by their distinguishing red lacquered soles.

Louboutin has other reasons to be in Monaco in July, as his summer retrospective, L’Exhibition(niste), opens its doors the day after the ball on 9th July at the Grimaldi Forum. The exhibit will run through to 28th August.

The Rose Ball is already a sell-out, but there is a waiting list for those who are willing to attend last minute. For more information or to get on the wait list, call +377 98 06 63 41. 

 

Photo of 2019 Rose Ball by Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace

 

 

 

ASM transfer round-up: Pellegri, Badiashile, Eriksen

by: Luke Entwistle
26/01/2022
AS Monaco's Performance Centre, La Turbie

It has been far from a revolving door at Monaco in this January window with only one incoming and one outgoing. With just days left, the focus is seemingly on player retention.

Vanderson’s arrival on the opening day of the window has not been built upon. Instead, Paul Mitchell, in collaboration with new manager Philippe Clement, have decided to trust in their current squad. Wilson Isidor has been the only player to depart thus far, but with vultures hovering, the Principality club will be looking to avoid losing their star assets in the closing stages.

Benoit Badiashile – linked by L’Equipe to Monaco. Since the Geordie club’s takeover, they have been looking to splash the cash, already bringing in Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood. They are, however, still looking for defensive reinforcements and have been in intense discussions with the Principality club about bringing Badiashile to Tyneside. L’Equipe, amongst others, reported that Monaco rejected a €40 million offer from Newcastle for their promising young centre-back earlier in the window. They remain undeterred. Discussions have continued and the centre-back’s future at the club will likely remain in-limbo until the window shuts.

Pietro Pellegri – linked by Gianluca Di Marzio to Torino. Pellegri’s departure is more planned and would prove much less disruptive than if Badiashile were to leave. The Italian striker is in the middle of a not so fruitful spell on loan to AC Milan. He has yet to score since his arrival in the summer, yet talks initially revolved around the Italian side securing a permanent deal for the Italian before loaning him out. Those talks seemingly broke down.

The most likely scenario is now a severance of ties with AC Milan, and another loan to Italian rivals Torino. It is currently unclear as to whether there will be a purchase option in the contract. This is one of the more likely deals to be concluded before the end of the window.

Christian Eriksen – linked by Nicolo Schiara to AS Monaco. In terms of incomings at the Principality club, it has been a quiet window. They got an excellent bit of business wrapped up early with the purchase of Vanderson, but have been seemingly reluctant to delve back into the market. Very few players have even been linked with a move to Monaco, and it remains the case that Monaco’s policy regarding incomings is likely to be based on outgoings. One spectacular rumour that has emerged is the potential arrival of Christian Eriksen.

The Danish midfielder, who suffered an on-pitch cardiac arrest in this summer’s European Championships, has been without a club since Serie A regulation meant it wouldn’t be possible to honour his contract with Inter Milan. He is therefore available on a free, and so the transfer is not obliged to go through before the deadline. A deal, although a possibility, does seem unlikely. The Athletic have recently reported that English club Brentford have offered the Dane a contract, and an agreement could be wrapped up in the coming days.

Monaco will be hoping for a quiet end to the window, in which retaining their young talents has been the priority. The retention of Badiashile, as well as the much coveted Aurelien Tchouameni, would therefore likely constitute a successful window.

 

Photo of AS Monaco training stadium in La Turbie by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

 

 

Prince’s photo competition returns for 2nd edition

by: Stephanie Horsman
25/01/2022

The Prince Albert II Foundation Environmental Photography Award contest is back and inviting photographers to reflect on the human relationship with nature as well as on the link between human and planetary health.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Prince Albert II Foundation in 2021, a photo contest was launched and the response was nothing short of astounding. More than 5,700 images were submitted, resulting in an exhibition that has travelled from Monaco to Rome and is continuing its journey into this year.

Now for 2022, professional and amateur photographers are being called on to put forward their most splendid nature photos for the 2nd edition of the Environmental Photography Award.

Entries will be accepted until 20th March and this year there are five categories to choose from, including Polar Wonders, Beneath the Canopy, Life Under the Surface, Humanity Versus Nature, and Toward a Sustainable Future.

The contest, a collective effort put on by the Prince Albert II Foundation, Barclays Private Bank and SEK International University, is a way for creative talent to put their skills to good use by raising environmental protection awareness.

The best of the best will be presented at an exhibition that will start in the Principality and be exported to cities around the globe. Additionally, the shots will be elegantly portrayed in a book which will be distributed to the Foundation’s partners and benefactors.

The jury is made up of professional photographers and include President of the Jury Daisy Gilardini, Ragnar Axelsson, Laurent Ballesta, Nick Danziger, Frederick Dharshie Wissah, Sergio Pitamitz, Kathleen Ricker, and Ami Vitale.

The grand prize will go to the PA2F Environmental Photographer of the Year 2022 and will include a €5,000 grant, an expenses paid invite to visit the Amazon Research Station of the University of Ecuador to do a photo documentary in the heart of the Ecuadorian jungle, and invitation to the 2022 award exhibit in Monaco and public relations support from the Foundation via its numerous communications channels.

Each of the five category winners will receive a €1,000 grant and public relations support equal to that of the grand prize winner.

Additionally, there will be a Public Award, which is selected by the world community from the shortlisted photographs, giving the winner a €1,000 grant.  

Last year’s winner was 2022 jurist Kathleen Ricker, whose incredible image of a young male gorilla in Uganda stole the show.

The Prince Albert II Foundation has been vocally advocating the protection of the environment for over a decade and a half and has become a well-regarded NGO touting sustainable development education and nature preservation. The foundation has contributed to nearly 700 projects whose focus has been climate change, biodiversity and water in three priority areas: the Mediterranean basin, the Polar regions and in the world’s least development countries.

Entry is free by going to the website and registering at https://www.photocrowd.com/photo-competitions/photography-awards/pa2faward-2022/#section-1893

 

 

Photo of 2021 winner by Kathleen Ricker 

 

 

 

Chanel celebrated in exceptional ballet

by: Stephanie Horsman
24/01/2022

Modanse, starring prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova and members of the Bolshoi Ballet, will present two exceptional performances dedicated to dance, music and beautiful costumes this April.

As far as spectacles go, this one rates high on the charts. Acclaimed Bolshoi prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova will be on stage two nights at the Grimaldi Forum in April, for not just one, but two strikingly different dances in one single performance.

Zakharova, who is notable for being the first and only Russian Etoile at La Scala, will be dancing in a double bill by MuzArts entitled Modanse. The show commences with Come un Respiro (Like a Breath), a celebration of George Frideric Handel’s Baroque style music complemented by a dance choreographed by Mauro Bigonzetti and elegant costumes designed by Helena de Medeiros.

The second part of the performance will be the ballet Gabrielle Chanel, a tribute to the fashion icon and legend. The show takes the audience through Coco Chanel’s journey from an obscure provincial singer to becoming an enduring household name in the world of fashion and design. Her connection to the ballet was cemented over the years through her collaborations with great artists and choreographers including Serge Diaghilev, founder of Ballets Russes.

The show will feature over 80 costumes that were specially designed by Chanel Creative Studio Creative Director Virginie Viard and will use archived photos and videos to further enhance the beauty of the event.

Svetlana Zakharova will be joined on stage by a star-studded cast of dancers from the Bolshoi ballet, including Jacopo Tissi, Vyacheslav Lopatin, Mikhail Lobukhin, Denis Savin, Anastasia Stashkevich and Ana Turazashvili.

Modanse, organised by Luxpro and Valna Management Muzarts Production, is coming to the Grimaldi Forum’s Salle des Princes on the 7th and 8th April.

 

 

Restoration of Boulevard du Larvotto underway

by: Stephanie Horsman
24/01/2022

As steady progress continues on Testimonio II, the project’s partners are initiating works to restore Boulevard du Larvotto to its original state, allowing for traffic flow to return to normal.

Road works will begin on 24th January to revisit the original outline of Boulevard du Larvotto. Groupe Marcozzo and VINCI Immoblier will be in charge of the project which will connect the new section to the historic road.

The operation will include some traffic disruptions that are expected to go on for two and a half months with completion in April. During this period, an alternating traffic system is being established to allow for access and to limit disruption.

As the works on the road start, network projects are simultaneously being worked on in Testimonio II’s public technical galleries, many of which will run under Boulevard du Larvotto. These networks will serve the entire district, including the thalassothermy network incorporated by the government.

This will require another alternating traffic situation running from April to mid-July, though exact dates have yet to be announced. This will signal the completion of this phase of works on the road, until 2024, when a roundabout will be created on the Boulevard to facilitate entry and exit from the car park at Testimonio II.

Testimonio II is one of the Principality’s largest construction projects currently underway. It will be made up of two residential towers with 348 state apartments and a 50-place creche, and will be the new home of the International School of Monaco, accommodating 700 pupils. Parking on 13 levels will accommodate 1,100 vehicles, including 850 for the state and public parking. There is also a private residence, Bay House, which will be comprised of 56 apartments and five villas.

The state apartments will account for roughly 10% of the country’s current stock and the total surface area of the project is approximately 150,000m2 using nearly 10,000m2 of land. The project will use 16,000 tonnes of steel and 120,000m3 of concrete. During peak times, there are more than 1,000 workers on site.

The project has not been without hiccoughs, though. They builders are working on a steep slope, reduced rights of way and with complicated hydro-geology and geotechnics.

The project was green lit in 2015, and has been progressing gradually, despite the pandemic, ever since. It is expected that the first tower and creche will be ready for occupation by the end of this year, with the second tower being complete in the 3rd quarter of 2023. The International School will be able to open its doors in 2023 as well. Finally, Bay House is set to be ready in 2024.

“Testimonio is more than a construction site for us: it is a major project for Monaco, which provides concrete solutions adapted to the needs of Monegasques and residents of the Principality,” said Céline Caron-Dagioni, Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning. “It is also a project that requires going through many stages before seeing the end of the tunnel. We still have one important task left so that Boulevard du Larvotto can be returned to full traffic and alternating is the only solution: since the beginning of the year, we have been working with the promoter and the builder to adjust a device that allows for the completion of the work and will not cut off traffic.”

 

 

Image of the future Testimonio II project by DR, Monaco Government