Briancon. Or is it Serre Che 1200?

Briancon. Or is it Serre Che 1200? Never been there before.
We are a mixed ability group with one abs. beginner booked in for January via DIY with Easyjet. Can anyone help with advice on how best to start our sole beginner on his way? Shuttle Bus to Chantemerle? or Villeneuve? or is Briancon itself ok for nursery slopes? What might be a good package of lessons, lift pass, ski hire etc.for him?
Looking forward to all of J2 chat & advice from all the Briancon experts out there! Thank you all in advance.

RWBURGESS wrote:Briancon. Or is it Serre Che 1200? Never been there before.
We are a mixed ability group with one abs. beginner booked in for January via DIY with Easyjet. Can anyone help with advice on how best to start our sole beginner on his way? Shuttle Bus to Chantemerle? or Villeneuve? or is Briancon itself ok for nursery slopes? What might be a good package of lessons, lift pass, ski hire etc.for him?
Looking forward to all of J2 chat & advice from all the Briancon experts out there! Thank you all in advance.

hello and welcome

Ok so I'm not an expert but I've skied serre chevalier 3 times and stayed in briancon once.
It's a working town with plenty going on, best part is the old walled town up the hill but a fair distance from the Prorel lift.

Have a search online and book your friend into lessons as he isn't going to learn anything or enjoy himself without going through the initial basics. The local ski schools will offer a package, and ski hire and boots will be available from any of the local ski shops. You might get a discount booking online in advance.

It's a brave decision taking a total beginner on a DIY trip as the package holidays for beginners really are excellent value and its all organised for you.

As for beginner slopes, there isn't much at the top of Briancon which I'd regard as easy or learning slopes. Everything is up the mountain and the best place I saw for newbies is up the frejus bubble or pontillas gondola and frejus chair, both of which go up from Villeneuve which is also known as la salle des alpes.

Hope this helps

When I was in SC last season the very beginner slopes above Briancon were behind the restaurant at the middle station of the bubble up from the town and then the progression seemed to be a couple of drag lifts accessed from the top station of the bubble.

So a bit of an up and down on lifts for the skiing.

Chantemerle nursery slopes are at the top of the cable car out of the station and for Villeneuve and Le Monetier the slopes are at resort level (with reasonable snow in mid March last year).

Hope this helps! Although I am not sure which to suggest as your best option, whichever you choose, Briancon or further up the valley your newbie is going to need looking after or feel completely on their own for much of the day as ski school is probably only a couple of hours morning and/or afternoon.

Couple of suggestions.....
Phone a tour operator or two who goes to Briancon and ask, giving the impression you are thinking about booking and ask about beginners.
There is an English ski school, but the name escapes me, find them and phone and have a chat to see what they suggest.

Hi, your beginner should be fine learning on the slopes above Briancon. Here is the link for the interactive map... http://plandespistes.serre-chevalier.com/ It's a gondola not a chair so easy for newbies to negotiate.

And I think the English speaking Eurekaski school has a base there(eurekaski.com). There's also a choice of ski hire shops - most offer discounts for pre-booking.

Prob worth getting an area pass for the week so you can all ski together and make the most of your week. But 'Semaine Cool' lets you ski 5 days out of 7 so you can skip the bad weather days and 'Holiski' is pay-as-you-go but needs the account setting up beforehand.

There is a good cafe/restaurant at Pra Long, the half-way point which is ideally placed for beginners - you can arrange to meet there. Or go right to the top and enjoy a beer with an amazing view at the little hut Rocher Blanc. Once they are reasonably confident on blues, from there they can take the short pull up to the top of Prorel and go down Myrtille which is a fab blue down to Grande Alpe - and another cafe. This is in the Chantemerle sector. Then take Bois des Coqs lift and come all the way down Vallons - another beginners favourite. Big choice of eateries in Serre Ratier (Chantemerle mid-station) where you'll end up.

January is a great time to come too as it's not too busy and you'll probably have some slopes all to yourself. In fact we'll be there too then!

I reckon the best learner slopes are at Monetier as they are in the village. A free bus transits the whole area very regularly. There are lots of decent ski schools around and most speak good english. I agree with the "food stops" mentioned but found Pra Long quite expensive. Le Ratier has a great reputation for food but whatever you will have a great time in Serre. Don't forget to do some serious Apres at La Grotte!!! :-)

Ah yes agree b-e - they may not be the best slopes at Briancon but when your mates are still under the duvet or already halfway up the mountain and you're all alone at the bus stop waiting for a 20-30 min ride to start classes at 9.30 then it might be a bit grim. But if everyone is heading that way then that would make sense to have lessons in Monetier - or elsewhere up the valley.

Pra Long isn't the cheapest - but ok for a hot choc with sneaky brandy from a flask to fuel a hard-working newbie over to Chantemerle sector to eat.

Best meal deals are at the bottom of the Luc. This is a black run but the green Briance criss-crosses it to get beginners down in one piece. Find the start behind the Coombes lift in Serre Ratier.

Not tried the Apres at La Grotte - would prob end up missing the bus home if I did ;-)

SerreCheSkiGirl wrote:A

Not tried the Apres at La Grotte - would prob end up missing the bus home if I did ;-)

You'd end up missing the rest of the season more like :wink:

RWBURGESS wrote:Briancon. Or is it Serre Che 1200? Never been there before.
We are a mixed ability group with one abs. beginner booked in for January via DIY with Easyjet. Can anyone help with advice on how best to start our sole beginner on his way? Shuttle Bus to Chantemerle? or Villeneuve? or is Briancon itself ok for nursery slopes? What might be a good package of lessons, lift pass, ski hire etc.for him?
Looking forward to all of J2 chat & advice from all the Briancon experts out there! Thank you all in advance.

Any idea where exactly you're staying in Briancon?
I would certainly not recommend learning in Monetier if you're stopping in Briancon as its a good half hour on the bus.
I'm sure I've seen beginners up above Briancon, but if I was choosing an area to learn in Serre Che it wouldnt be there tbh.
Like I said, great ski area for those can get about, you'll love it.