Poster: A snowHead
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Although there is still a bit of boarding to be done this year, conversation at the weekend turned to where we should go next year. Having done 3 valleys and Espace Killy to death by now we reckoned it would be better if we went elsewhere next year.
We'll probably have at least 10 in the group, mostly boarders, but probably 2 or 3 skiers. I'd imagine everybody in the group will be reasonably competent. However we'd prefer to avoid resorts with a lot of drag lifts. We'd also prefer a resort with a lively nightlife (preferably not mainly Brits as well). A good snow record is also pretty important as that's the main reason we've went to EK and 3V so often. So having considered all that here are some resorts which we've put on the shortlist.
St Anton
Cervinia
Avoriaz
Flaine
Les Arcs/La Plagne (mainly because we'd prefer to take the train)
Zermatt
Any others we should consider? Any opinions on the resorts in the shortlist.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'd recommend Cervinia, but if you have mainly boarders, definitely consider Laax. It does have quite a lot of drag lifts (though at least one of the big ones will be converted to a chair next year). However it does have a lower level of Brits (Flims has more), is great for boarding, some good parks, a monster pipe and the piste map and start of run markers distinguish traverses where boarders would have to walk. The area can take a bit of effort to move around a lot, but the runs are often quite long and there are plenty of graded off-piste, free-riding areas. Sno record's pretty good, though I'd think not as good as Cervinia, and it is more susceptible to wind.
I've just come back from there and thoroughly enjoyed the place.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Try Mayrhofen, nightlife is great and I found that there was people of various nationalities. It's quite popular with snowboarders and very good for intermediate skiers.
The only drawbacks are, low altitude but there is a Glacier nearby in Hintertux, the only run into the resort is a black on top of the Ahorn.
A recommendation if you do go there, if you get the option of Innsbruck rather than Salzburg then take it, I didn't and had to endure a 3 hour transfer!
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Haven't been to enough off those resorts to comment on them versus each other. But if you end up at Les Arcs/La Plagne would recommend staying in Les Arcs. Although both have good challenging high sections - closer to the resorts there are some great blues/reds around some trees in Les Arcs, whereas in La Plagne I remember them as being very motorway like, with pretty barren views and architecture. Don't shell out for full area pass everyday - but just upgrade on the days you want to go over as the ski areas are both huge...
Whatever you do don't end up in 2000 or 1950 as there is no nightlife there - make sure you're in Arcs 1800!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Just noticed the "prefer to take the train" bit. This adds another bit to the Flims/Laax pros. Train from Zurich to Chur (about 1hr 15, bus from Chur to Flims, about 1hr if the traffic's bad).
Cervinia you'd have to get the bus from Milan (or Turin) and maybe change at Aosta or St. Vincent(? - the place with the casino). There are trains to to Aosta, and you can get a bus from there, but the bus service will do you better.
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For nightlife St Anton is way ahead of the others on your list, and the skiing is great too. Unless you're going very late (April), or are virtual beginners, I would forget Cervinia - it doesn't really compare for quality of skiing/boarding with the others. Les Arcs/La Plagne is basically the same as 3V/Espace Killy, but not (quite) as good. If you want a change from France, go to Zermatt.
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skanky wrote: |
Just noticed the "prefer to take the train" bit. This adds another bit to the Flims/Laax pros. Train from Zurich to Chur (about 1hr 15, bus from Chur to Flims, about 1hr if the traffic's bad).
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Had considered Flims/Laax for a long weekend. Dunno why I forgot about it when I was making up the shortlist. Do you know if there are any package holiday operators which go there as there aren't many according to the other place. We haven't yet decided if we'll do it ourselves or just book a package.
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St Anton is the only place that comes close, on all counts but expensive. You have to try it loads of skiing followed by unbelievable apres, to be in the moos or the Kangaruh at 5pm (great party) something I have not witnessed any where else. I would cross out Flaine from a night life point of view, but the skiiing is great. Cervinia I really enjoyed but that was in the days when I could actually manage to do both night life and ski, however I am keen to go back.
Strange thing is I have never skied in the 3V or EK.
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Lager wrote: |
skanky wrote: |
Just noticed the "prefer to take the train" bit. This adds another bit to the Flims/Laax pros. Train from Zurich to Chur (about 1hr 15, bus from Chur to Flims, about 1hr if the traffic's bad).
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Had considered Flims/Laax for a long weekend. Dunno why I forgot about it when I was making up the shortlist. Do you know if there are any package holiday operators which go there as there aren't many according to the other place. We haven't yet decided if we'll do it ourselves or just book a package. |
I think there's one company that only goes to a ***** (which explains the accents of most of the Brits that you do hear), and maybe one that does weekends.
I'd seriously recommend going DIY if you go there. The Tourist office sorted us out a great apartment (it was in a quiet area of Laax, but the Laax bars and and lifts were walkable, and there's a night bus to/from Flims which has more nightlife), and you can get some good hotel/lift pass deals (wait until November and they'll appear on the resort website).
Book Swiss or EasyJet to Zurich in June (when the winter timetable comes out, and you'll get cheap flights), and the train/bus is about UKP40 return.
For first timers, the ski/snowboard school do a great package deal of rental/lift/lessons.
The main decision I'd think, is whether the resort is for you. If you hate T-bars, give it some serious thought, if you love parks, pipes and "free-riding", then you'll love it.
Oh, and if you avoid last week and this week (half-term, carnival time, etc.) it'll be pretty quiet during the week.
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Lager - ever considered Serre Chevalier. Well known for loads of natural bowls and popular with boarders and skiers alike. You can get a train down to Briancon direct from Paris, or fly into Turin which is a 1.5 hour transfer.
The snow there this year has been superb from the end of November, but it's normally best to wait and see before booking as the region is quite far South. There's loads of off-piste if you're looking for it, and more than enough for a heavy week's boarding/ski=ing.
If you want a lively resort in the area, Le Monetier Les Bains is probably the best bet.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sorry, meant to say that if you travel (anywhere on their system) with SBB (the Swiss rail system), their website has section where you can create a "personal" timetable, which can be emailed to you as a .pdf file. I've found this very useful in the past.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Verbier - great nightlife, not overrun with Brits, hardly any drags, high altitude, and most importantly loads of challenging runs and masses of off-piste if that's your cup of tea. This is a serious ski resort!
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Sounds good, not been there before. Looks like I'll be checking that out for next year. We have a couple of beginners, any idea what it's like for them?
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You know it makes sense.
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Verbier isn't the best place for beginners, but not as bad as somewhere like Chamonix - at least they'll still be on the same mountain as the rest of you!
Verbier excels in its off-piste area, so they wouldn't be able to make the most of that.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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As you've got beginners I'd cross Verbier off your list The few nursery slopes that there are are at the top of the village in an awkward place, and there are very few green runs. Once they venture onto blues they will find that they can suddenly turn into reds with no escape route. Also the piste map is atrocious! For example you can get to the top of a lift with a "blue" run down, but in reality there are only reds.
But I guess the biggest tell-tale sign that Verbier is not for beginners is that I didn't see a single group of learners in the week I was there.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Okay, thanks for that. It'll have to keep a year or two, I suppose.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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masopa / xyz- I am off to Verbier in a few weeks, have you got any experience of hiring a guide for off piste?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Way hey! 300 posts!! Sorry, I was only there for a few days and spent a bit of that time tearing my MCL. Didn't hire a guide - but maybe I should have!
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No, I don't venture off-piste (yet). Did see a few guided groups though... As I say, there is an awesome amount of terrain there.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Bend Zinees, thinking about it a bit harder, I seem to remember that's where Warren Smith's Ski Academy is based. They won't be cheap, but should be good! If they don't do specific guiding (I know they do training weeks, and that may be all they do) I'm sure they'd recommend another school...
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Warren Smith is there, also worth looking at altitude, english speaking outfit. Also the bureau des guides via La maison de sport the offical swiss ski school. There's some fantastic ski touring too in the spring. But also plenty of stuff that is off piste but safe unguided. Tortin, col des gentianes, fontenay,vallon d'arby, and of course stairway to heaven if you don't mind a hike. Just be sensible and check the risk, saw a massive avalanche back in January not far off piste, left one boarder dead and another in hospital.
Also if you're good but want to find your way around join ski class for 3 days, in the advanced groups 5 & 6 you should do most of these for £15 for 3 hours and get some useful tips as well. Tell the teacher you want to get about and they'll almost certainly take you. Best value anywhere.
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mountain man wrote: |
But if you end up at Les Arcs/La Plagne would recommend staying in Les Arcs...... La Plagne I remember ..... as being very motorway like, with pretty barren views and architecture.
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Different strokes for different folks: I'm a La Plagne fan. La Plagne does have a reputation for boring motorway skiing and ghastly architecture. It does have examples of both, but there is much more to the place. Belle Plagne is almost cozy, and Montchavin is a largely unspoilt farming village. The lack of black runs is easily compensated by the huge off-piste possibilities. In January we were skiing almost to the bottom of the valleyl (Macot and Champagny le Haut), drops of 2000 metres.
I agree completely about the lift pass: stick to the local one (Les Arcs or La Plagne) and only pay for the Vanoise Express if you use it.
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The itinary routes in Verbier are only safe if open. The avalanche which Steve refers to happened on the Col des Mines route, which I believe was shut at the time. I skiied Tortin when it was open and that was a fantastic run.
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