Over Easter weekend this April, the bells will be ringing out in La Plagne, with the tourist office hosting the first edition of a fun new event for all: the Mega Bell Course.
Taking place on Saturday, 19 April 2025, the famous French resort with the red hat logo has decided it’s time to celebrate the end of the season with this festive event full of whistles and bells, designed to re-boost spring skiing.
On paper, the creation of the Mega Bell Course stemmed from a strong desire on the part of the organisers to share their love of skiing with as many people as possible and in as entertaining a format as possible.
On the ground, the new event makes the most of three of the resort’s main strengths: an XXL-sized ski area at an altitude of over 2,000 m, original fun zones and an unfailing inventiveness, reinforced by the expertise of Gaylord Pedretti, renowned for his creativity in the field of event organisation.
“When I was young, I was always inspired by the energy of end-of-season events and it was this same fervour that we wanted to give the Mega Bell Course,’ says Mr Pedretti.
With six challenging courses, the Mega Bell Course is first and foremost an event for skiers who love to play. It includes a devilish obstacle course, a boarder cross fraught with improbable pitfalls, a supercharged version of the Funslope (the longest in Europe), a giant slalom that could get even longer, a tempting but oh-so hazardous waterslide and “double or quits” trials for those who want to play it strategically. ‘Winging it’ will not suffice, however: luck (or the lack of) will be a factor at the finish line, as some course options are a matter of chance. And, as the event’s ‘mascot’, as well as a regular feature of ski competitions, bells will definitely have a role to play!
In practical terms there’s 1 race, 2 formats and 6 courses that can be tackled on skis or a snowboard. The ‘S’ format is the easier one (aimed at those aged 8 and over, able to ski red runs is possible on three courses. Then the ‘XL’ format for more experienced riders (aged 12 and up, able to ski black runs) with five courses to choose from. The week leading up to race day, 14 – 19 April, is training week on the courses.
The intention of La Plagne’s teams is as clear as a bell and they have given free rein to their creativity to ensure that this original alchemy works in harmony with the relaxed end-of-season atmosphere. Gaylord Pedretti, no stranger to the organisation of challenging events, has accompanied the tourist office from A to Z, offering his expertise along with a little pinch of madness.
Various packages combining discounted accommodation, lift pass and race entry are available.
