Ski Champéry - Ski or Snowboard in Champéry

Ski Champéry - Ski Resort and Snow Summary

Champéry (Portes du Soleil), Valais, Switzerland (1040m to 2280m)

Key resort in the Swiss sector of the world's largest international lift-linked ski area (the Franco-Swiss Portes du Soleil). Skiing is reached by cable car from this large village with a mostly hotel-based après-ski scene.

Champéry Ski Facts

Champéry in brief Champéry Ski Resort is:- OK for Expert Skiers. Fantastic for Intermediate Skiers. OK for Beginners. Fantastic for Snowboarding.

for Intermediate Skiers for Beginners    5 Black Runs (4km)    31 Red Runs (47km)    32 Blue Runs (46km)    2 Green Runs (3km) 165km Downhill Pistes 10km Cross Country Trails 27 Ski Lifts 1240m Max Vertical 2280m Highest Lift 1050m Resort Altitude 1040m Lowest Piste Full Page Map of Champéry

The Swiss ski resort of Champéry (in Valais) is part of the Portes du Soleil Ski Area with access to 430 individual pistes, served by 209 ski lifts. In addition to the skiing in Champéry itself (165km of pisted ski runs), the appropriate ski Lift Pass will allow you to ski or snowboard in the other Portes du Soleil ski resorts of Champoussin, Les Crosets, Morgins, Torgon, Abondance, Avoriaz, Châtel, La Chapelle d'Abondance, La Grande Terche, Les Gets, Montriond, Morzine and Saint Jean d'Aulps.

With skiing above 2000 metres, snow cover is generally reliable.

Snowmaking :- Champéry is able to augment natural snow, on 50km of ski runs, with 636 Snow Cannons.

Ski Lift Capacity :- The 27 Ski Lifts of Champéry are able to uplift 26,450 skiers / snowboarders per hour.

There are two airports within two hours drive, so ski weekends, snowboard breaks and short ski holidays to Champéry are perfectly feasible.

Skiing in Champéry

The Portes du Soleil is a vast and remarkable ski area that truly offers something fort every level of skier or boarder. Most exciting for some perhaps is the thrill of skiing across an international border, as well as the enjoyable feeling of skiing from one resort to the next - a very rare combination. The difference between the resorts is also very marked with giant modern car-free and space-age Avoriaz a short trip from pretty, traditional Champéry, 110 years its senior.

You can imagine that these 13 different resorts, linked together by 650km (403) miles of runs and more than 200 ski lifts and spread over 400 square kilometres offer a vast choice of snow slopes, from easy beginner trails to the infamous 'Wall' black mogul field, jokingly called a brown run due to its deservedly infamous reputation. This run pitches at up to fifty degrees over its one kilometre length as it descends 400 vertical metres. In addition to the pitch, moguls can reach two metres (seven feet) high. An annual race down the slope has seen the fastest descent record set at 20 seconds by extreme skier Dominique Perret. Dominique also likes cliff jumping and set a record for jumping 38 metres off a nearby rocky overhang in the Pas de Chavanette. In addition to the marked piste there are hundreds of kilometres/miles of off piste freeride terrain to explore with a local guide. Heliskiing is another possibility (banned by law in France).

There is a huge choice of runs for 'normal' skiers who have about 220 blue or red category runs to enjoy. Amongst these the descent through the They Valley to Morgins is a 'must ski.' This 7.5km (4.5 mile) run was only created for the 2003-4 season and takes you down through peaceful and beautiful scenery from the top of Les Mossettes or the Pointe de l'Au, arriving in the centre of Torgon. An en route stop at the little Cantine de Tovassière is also recommended for some local specialities.

If you don't get enough skiing in the day you can try night skiing on Wednesday evenings through to 10pm (and Saturday to 7pm). The local restaurants get in to the spirit by offering special meals and added entertainment for night skiers.

Snowboarding in Champéry

Boarders have a huge choice of terrain to enjoy in the Portes du Soleil, most of it served by fast modern chair, gondola and cable car lifts that are easy to ride.

The region offers nine snowparks, three half pipes and four boardercross courses. The parks include an 'environment friendly' parek near Avoriaz which is created without the snowmaking and heavy machinery required to build most snow features at conventional terrain parks.

There are four 'local' parks for Champéry's guests on the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil. The largest is the Superpark at Les Crosets above the village itself. This has a wide selection of terrain features. A special section for children was recently added.

There are other terrain parks at Morgins (600m long) and Champoussin (300m long with two lines) and the new 500m long SnowPark Freeridezone at Torgon.

Champéry Après Ski

The main apres-ski bar is Mitchell's which has modern decor and large comfy settees to relax in. If the weather's good there's a terrace with spectacular views - it can be very busy in high season.

Another good choice is Cafe du Centre which has a Scottish owner and an enviable collection of over 100 fine malt whiskies. The feeling of relaxation these provide may be enhanced by the fact that the building has been fully feng shuied. It is centrally located within one of the oldest buildings in the village, with a small balcony from which the mayor used to address the villagers in days gone by.

It's as good idea to visit the tourist office on Monday evening (4.30-5.30pm) where a glass of gluhwein is offered and staff introduce activities available in the village and the diverse choice of weekly evening options which continues all season. Options include an introduction to curling, a fun game of traditional Eisstock (a cross between curling and petanque), darts matches, night skiing, snowshoeing, farm visits, pony trekking and even scuba diving lessons in the swimming pool at the Palladium.

Champéry Snow Reports by e-mail

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Also of interest for Champéry, Switzerland

Airport Transfers Geneva to Champéry Get Quote

Avoriaz Ski Chalets from €190 per week

Les Gets Ski Holidays from £605 per person