La Clusaz - Unreliable snow?

Hello!

I am very close to booking a ski holiday for a group of beginners and intermediates of all ages to La Clusaz at the beginning of January.

Most sites say that due to the low altitude of the village (1100m), the snow is unreliable. However, most reviews I've read have said that this isn't a problem and that the snow cannons are great and widespread. One review that I read, though, had photos of very bare grassy slopes from last January and this scared me off a little.

So what is your experience? And what is the snow generally like in the resort at the beginning of January. As we are travelling with some beginners, I'd hate for there to be great snow on the upper slopes while there are bare slopes closer to the village. Looks like some great beginner runs through the trees. What is the snow coverage on these runs like?

Thanks in advance for any advice! :)

I wonder how many resorts below 2000m are still suffering the effects of the poor 2006/2007 winter. It was a very bad year that one but obviously it isn't like that every year and the early indications this year seem to be that we are in for an average/good winter. Average is good though. I'm sure the people of La Clusaz, and their visitors, will be happy with an average year :D

Hi, I have been at La clusaz for the last two years running, around the middle to end of January. True, last year was pretty poor but we got a full week skiing although it was a bit limited, which I believe happened in most places last year. We also went to Bulgaria last year and it was even worse. The year before last however, was really good with all slopes open, so I wouldn't put too much emphasis on last year. I'm no expert but I hear it was one of the worst seasons in 30 odd years. I going again this year and am counting down the days!

Thanks for both your answers. I know last year was a once off, but I can't help being slightly nervous anyway! :wink:

Out of interest, is it possible to ski right down to the village?

Yes you can ski right down to the village.

And although the village is 1100m the slopes and skiing is nearly all above the village, and so there are less issues with the snow quantity and quality than the village height might have you believe.

For example - there are green nursery and beginner slopes at 1450m on Beauregard Plateau, which is accesses by a high speed gondola and so you have a great area to learn on good snow.

Most of the skiing is above 1400m, and they do have a very good network of snow cannons to top up all of the key runs and slopes.
Last year was my 7th in the area, and certainly by far and away the worst. January was unseasonally warm (+10C when it should be -10C) and removed much of the good work that the resort had done with artifical snow etc.
Having said that - all of our guests that stayed with us skied everyday, and the reports back in the UK media were often far different from what was actually happening on the slopes!
It was certainly a tough year, and although its so hard to say - the start of this year is much more favourable. It has been cold (the ground is freezing) and we have had a few good snowfalls already, with the tops of the Aravis already very white. We have had snow in the village and the base on the upper slopes is looking encouraging already.

Apart from going to a real high altitude resort (Val Thorens etc) then I feel confident that La Clusaz will be as good (if not better) in snow terms than any of the other resort choices....

You can find details of the slopes and also a link to the webcam at
http://www.karibuni.co.uk/ski_holidays/aravis_region/aravis_slopes.html

Plus - also make sure you find the best slopes to ski on - again we have some details here of where is good to go.

Hope that helps, and you have a good time in La CLusaz

Cheers

Paul

Just to back up what Paul was saying...

Apart from going to a real high altitude resort (Val Thorens etc) then I feel confident that La Clusaz will be as good (if not better) in snow terms than any of the other resort choices....

We also had guests staying with us here in La Clusaz last winter who had skied in Val Thorens the previous February half term. They were telling us that the temperatures at that altitude had been so bitterly cold that they could only ski with the kids for an hour or so before having to retire to the apartment or restaurant to warm up again. So high isn't necessarily best! I was also told by a guide from La Grave that La Clusaz has the best snow record for its altitude across the whole of the Alps! Looking out the window today you certainly wouldn't doubt that! :wink:

This year, the snow cannon coverage has been extended to over 150 cannons to open up even more runs back to the village should we suffer a repeat of last season. You will have a great time here - don't worry! :D

Is there any 'nightlife' in La Clusaz, or is it more family orientated?

Bit of both really. The resort is certainly good for families and they have quite a bit going on in the village during the main holidays periods (Christmas and February particularly)

But - there is also a decent amount of nightlife too.

There are a number of really cool bars which are open until 2am, and 2 clubs which keep going until 5am. The resort is certainly not overrun by the English and its mainly a French feeling to the nightlife, but there are certainly choices to suit all tastes...sports bars, live music, cool funky wood cld lounges and nightclubs with glass dance floors over a mountain stream!