Skiing in Champoluc (Monterosa area) this Feb & I've only ever skied on indoor slopes!

Hi, so I've heard Monterosa maybe isn't the best for beginners but it's a really nice area regardless and my friends and I are skiing only for half a day there (we'll be seeing small towns in the area and going to the spa the rest of the time)

Thing is, I've only ever skied at Ski Dubai. I only went for a maybe 2 or 3 hours a weekend a few weeks in a row over the summer and that was it. I was okay on the red run there, but I have no idea how this would translate to skiing on an actual mountain in Europe, and my parallel skiing could be better I think.

For what it's worth, I'm only thinking of going on the blue runs while there. Do you think I'll be okay? We'll only be taking the half day ski pass and I want to make the most of it.

You'll be good, but...

Check the map of Champoluc here.

If you take the gondola straight out of Champoluc it goes to a dedicated beginners area that's great for first-time beginners and youngsters.

You might find that too easy as you've done some skiing, but the other runs you can access in that area are Reds, and not particularly easy (narrow in parts with a couple of steep pitches and can be icy).

If you're nervous you could start above Champoluc, but if you fancy progressing I think you'll find it better to head up the valley a few minutes drive above Champoluc to Frachey. If you don't have a car then you can hop on the free ski bus in Champoluc.

There's a funicular up from Frachey that brings you to a plateau where there's a cafe. You can take one chair up from there and then a long (nice and easy, wide, and scenic) confidence-building Blue brings you back.

If you do that and feel confident you can then go back up the same chair and take an easy Red across to the next chair that goes up to Bettaforca. Fabulous views from up there, and another small cafe. You can then take a long Green back down to the plateau - or even the alternative Red if you're doing well.

Rinse and repeat.

Should be a fun half day! 8)

If you can get a little more skiing, or even a lesson or 2, before you go (snow dome?) then that'll help.

Hi Admin, luckily we'll be actually staying at St Jacques which is closer to Frachey than Champoluc!

I'm looking at the piste map now, is the easy red you're talking about the Liaison piste that ends at the lift to Bettaforca?

Also is there anyway to get from the blue at Frachey to the blue in Champoluc? There's a nice long one called the Belvedere piste in Champoluc that I might want to try.

breeshz wrote:I'm looking at the piste map now, is the easy red you're talking about the Liaison piste that ends at the lift to Bettaforca?

Yes, that's the one. From memory part of it follows a road so is Red because it's relatively narrow, rather than steep.

breeshz wrote:Also is there anyway to get from the blue at Frachey to the blue in Champoluc? There's a nice long one called the Belvedere piste in Champoluc that I might want to try.

IIRC, you have to take a Red to get there - via a hilariously old 2-way chair I think - and I probably wouldn't recommend for an early skier TBH.

If you're reasonably fit and the snow's good then maybe ok. If you do go that way you then have to either go up and take a Red back to Frachey (which is steep and can be icy at the top IIRC) or download on the gondola to Champoluc and then bus back (to Saint Jacques?).

BTW, the Red "home run" down from Crest(?) to Champoluc can be benign if the snow is fresh, or total carnage if it's any of slushy/icy/crowded!

HTH.

I'm always impressed by Admin's knowledge on such things :)

dobby wrote:I'm always impressed by Admin's knowledge on such things :)

Ha! The places I enjoy the most, I remember the best... :thumbup: