Ski Alpe d'Huez - Ski or Snowboard in Alpe d'Huez

Ski Alpe d'Huez - Ski Resort and Snow Summary

Alpe d'Huez (Grandes Rousses), Isère, France (1860m to 3330m)

One of the world's top resorts, Alpe d'Huez offers one of the greatest unbroken verticals in the world. Built above the original village of Huez, the resort has expanded in all directions over the past 20 years. There is a huge beginners area directly above the resort and those going on to the top of the lifts will be able to see a fifth of France, on a clear day, from the top station.

Alpe d'Huez Ski Facts

Alpe d'Huez in brief Alpe d'Huez Ski Resort is:- Excellent for Expert Skiers. Fantastic for Intermediate Skiers. Fantastic for Beginners. Fantastic for Snowboarding.

for Expert Skiers for Intermediate Skiers for Beginners for Snowboarding    16 Black Runs (66km)    34 Red Runs (74km)    32 Blue Runs (53km)    38 Green Runs (47km) 236km Downhill Pistes 50km Cross Country Trails 85 Ski Lifts 1470m Max Vertical 3330m Highest Lift 1860m Lowest Piste 1860m Resort Altitude Full Page Map of Alpe d'Huez

The French ski resort of Alpe d'Huez (in Isère) is part of the Grandes Rousses Ski Area with access to 292 individual pistes. In addition to the skiing in Alpe d'Huez itself (236km of pisted ski runs), the appropriate ski Lift Pass will allow you to ski or snowboard in the other Grandes Rousses ski resorts of Auris-en-Oisans, Oz-en-Oisans, Vaujany and Villard Reculas.

The ski resort itself is above 1500m, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With pistes above 2500 metres, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.

Snowmaking :- Alpe d'Huez is able to augment natural snow, on 62km of ski runs, with 900 Snow Cannons.

Ski Lift Capacity :- The 85 Ski Lifts of Alpe d'Huez are able to uplift 94,000 skiers / snowboarders per hour.

There are three airports within two hours drive, so ski weekends, snowboard breaks and short ski holidays to Alpe d'Huez are perfectly feasible. Grenoble Airport is just one hours drive away, in good driving conditions, so you can be on the piste quickly.

Skiing in Alpe d'Huez

The 2230 metre vertical down from Pic Blanc, the highest peak of the Grandes Rousses Massif is one of the largest in the world and leads to some of the planet's longest descents, including the 16km (10 mile) long Sarenne run, the longest black in the world and one of 11 above the resort. Beginners might not be too interested in that, but they will find the wide slopes immediately above the resort are open sunny expanses with largely gentle gradients. There is also a free lift for first timers use.

For intermediates there is almost endless terrain, with some of the best around the slopes of Le Signal d'Homme and the Plat des Marmottes. Passes of six days or longer also include a day or more in several neighbouring resorts including Serre Chevalier. There is also a joint ticket with Les 2 Alpes.

The Ecole du Ski Français in Alpe d'Huez is more than 400 instructors strong and offers tuition in all disciplines and in a wide range of languages. It has a particularly good reputation and regularly dominates the annual 'Instructor Challenge' competition for French ski schools. The International Ski School also operates in Alpe d'Huez and the Mountain Guides Office can arrange a multitude of snow-based activities including off-piste runs one evening a week to a mountain restaurant for a fondue.

Cross country skiers have three signposted and maintained tracks, the easiest being the Brandes loop leaving from the Altiport. The 10km Poutran loop is classified blue whilst the 'Loop of the Lakes' is graded red and is 20km long.

Snowboarding in Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d'Huez is a very active snowboarding centre with the two major schools giving snowboarding tuition. Snowboarders have the Nature Snowboard Space to themselves - on top of all the pisted and off-piste terrain. Created next to the Rond Point des Pistes - Alpe d'Huez's central spot - the Park was inaugurated in 1996. There are slides, quarter pipes and a Rossignol poutlet. A second, newer park features more modules and a boardcross course.

The resort has hosted the World Snowboard Cup in recent years and a member of the Alpe d'Huez sports club, Isabelle Blanc won in the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games.

The Mountain Guides Office can arrange snowboarding excursions on the glacier and off-piste.

Alpe d'Huez Après Ski

One of the livelier French après ski scenes feeds off more than 30 bars and restaurants including the popular Zoo Music Bar, the 'O' bar, the Last Bar and the Underground. Smithy's Tavern is also normally busy. Later on there are four nightclubs to choose from. However, many visitors head for the Palais de Sports or one of the other sports facilities in the resort after the lifts close.

A variety of events are staged throughout the season, including an ice driving competition in December and a comedy film festival in January. A classical music concert is organised every week.

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