Face de Bellevarde - Olympic Downhill to Wine

The 1992 Olympic downhill that drops 850m straight into Val d'Isère village. Henri Oreiller, 'The Acrobat,' won France's first Olympic ski gold in 1948 after learning to ski here. Jean-Claude Killy trained on these slopes before his 1968 triple gold. The O.K. slope is named for both legends. Ski it, then celebrate with wine where they celebrated.

What to do there

4 things to do

1. 1 Find Where 'The Acrobat' Learned to Fly After Fighting Nazis History · Free

   Henri Oreiller - 'The Acrobat' - was a French Resistance fighter who became France's first-ever Olympic ski gold medalist in 1948 (2 golds, 1 bronze at age 22). His family relocated to Val d'Isère in 1945 post-WWII, and he learned to ski on these exact slopes after fighting Nazis in the Alps with an elite winter combat unit. Walk to the base of Face de Bellevarde near ski lifts and look for signage about Piste Oreiller-Killy (the 'O.K.' slope) and Henri Oreiller plaques. Ask any lift operator: 'Where can I find information about Henri Oreiller?' Read about his acrobatic style (flying over bumps, regaining balance mid-air) and tragic death at 36 in a Ferrari crash during Grand Prix de Paris in 1962.

   Backup: If no physical memorial is visible, search ski patrol office or tourist information for Oreiller history panels. The resort celebrates him as the legend who put Val d'Isère on the map.

   Log Memory
2. 2 Ski the 1992 Olympic Downhill That Made Austria Cry Adventure · Price: moderate

   The Face de Bellevarde hosted the men's downhill at the 1992 Albertville Olympics - 2,900m long with 850m vertical drop, averaging 46% gradient (24.7 degrees), the world's steepest World Cup downhill. Austria's Patrick Ortlieb won gold by just 0.1 second in one of the most dramatic Olympic downhills ever broadcast. Designed by Swiss Olympic champion Bernhard Russi, the course was controversial - racers said it was too steep, better suited for Super-G. Take the Olympique or Bellevarde gondola to the top (2,800m), ski the marked Olympic downhill route to Val d'Isère village below, and feel the 850m drop over 2.9km.

   Backup: If conditions are too advanced for your skill level, take the gondola down and WATCH racers during World Cup events (Critérium de la Première Neige in December). The viewing experience is just as powerful.

   Log Memory
3. 3 Toast Where Jean-Claude Killy Trained for Triple Gold Wine · Price: moderate

   Jean-Claude Killy was brought up in Val d'Isère after his family relocated in 1945 (same year as Oreiller) and trained on these slopes before winning the triple crown - ALL THREE alpine events (downhill, giant slalom, slalom) at the 1968 Grenoble Winter Olympics. The entire ski area was renamed 'Espace Killy' in his honor for the 1992 Olympics. After skiing or riding the gondola, enter a wine venue with views of the mountain at the base of Face de Bellevarde - ideally La Table de l'Ours or nearby spots. Order a Savoie wine (Mondeuse, Jacquère, or Roussette) and toast to Killy's 1968 triple gold. Ask staff: 'Is Jean-Claude Killy still involved with the resort?' (He co-founded the 1992 Olympics bid with Michel Barnier, future EU Brexit negotiator).

   Backup: If weather blocks views, simply toast while holding your wine and reciting this fact: Killy won 3 golds in 1968, the resort was renamed for him in 1992, and you're drinking wine from the region he called home.

   Log Memory
4. 4 Decode Why the Downhill Was Too Steep for Olympics Adventure · Free · Optional

   The Face was controversial in 1992 because racers complained it was too steep (46% average gradient, 24.7 degrees) for downhill - they said it was more suitable for Super-G. Yet Bernhard Russi (Swiss Olympic downhill champion and respected course designer) built it anyway, creating a 0.1 second separation between gold and silver - one of the tightest Olympic downhills in history. Stand at the start gate at the top of Face de Bellevarde and look straight down. Try to visualize launching yourself at 130+ km/h on a 46% slope where a 0.1 second mistake costs gold. Ask any ski patrol or instructor: 'Why did Russi make it so steep?' Listen for answers about drama, spectacle, and creating a course worthy of Oreiller and Killy's legacy.

   Backup: If no one is available to ask, simply observe the pitch, then ski (or ride gondola down) and Google 'Bernhard Russi Face de Bellevarde controversy' to read about the design philosophy. The steepness was intentional - to create legends.

   Log Memory