V'al di'sere

Going snowboarding abroad next year and wondering if v'al di'sere is a good place to go ? if anyone has ever been please write back
cheers :)

Well... it all depends... 8)

A lot of people like Val d'Isere, and some don't. Very briefly:

Plus points:It's generally well connected with good, modern lifts (with some surprising exceptions) and a big ski area. And it's pretty snow sure, being fairly high. Transport connections are good, and a reliable ski bus service connects the different area.

Minus points:Poorly graded beginners runs ("Greens" with moguls?), and "Expert" runs spread out all over the place (it's a great place for intermediates and those who like to cruise!). Generally high prices (e.g. 3Euro for a can of drink), especially at peak times. Too many lager-skiers.

Tick-the-box-run 1: The Face, Black run returning to the village. Pretty easy (for a Black) except for the top of the final section which can be icy, bumby and narrow. Ski it early in the day, with fresh snow, and it's wonderful. Avoid it late in the day - half a mountain of over-tired intermediates make it their last run down, scrape all the snow off, get stuck, can't see the bumps in the fading light, fall over each other and... etc.

Tick-the-box-run 2: The downhill competition run - marked as a Red and worth doing just to see if you can get within 20 minutes of the average race time!

Caution: There is a lot of off-piste that looks very enticing, and can make for great skiing. Much of it is prone to avalanche so always check the risk level for the area you're hoping to ride in - and don't venture far from the piste without a guide.

So, depends what you want really...

Go there a lots. It's a cool place to board and there are loads of places off piste to ride that are really fun and safe. Check out The Spot over in Tignes or on the Glacier in Val D'Isere. Watch out for the flat bits coming into back into Val from the link with Tignes. Sorry can't remember the name of the run right now.

Sorry admin, for boarders I do not argee about The Face, keeping to the main piste is bad news on a board with all the weak skiers about. Better at the sides when there is enough snow to get over the rocks.

It all depends what level you are. There is masses of off piste, to much to mention here and anyway you need to know what you are doing or take a guide. If you are a beginner, its an ok place but I think other less busy resorts are better for beginners to start at. Examples, La Plagne, La Rosiere which are both nearby. BUT if you want the night life as well. Then Val D'Isere is a really great place to party, but you need a big wallet.

Whatever you decide, enjoy and ride safely.

I would say that Tignes it's a better resort for snowboard.
Bid snow park, very technical sometimes !
Better snow and in Val d'isere tourist and ambiance are more skiers.
You can also take a skipass Espace Killy which give you access to the both !!

If you want piste map on www.freeridelodge.com

Have fun !

Val is a really tough place to ski in if you are realitivly new.

Runs can be undergraded, so be careful, and yes there are moguls on the greens!