Ok so i'm not the bravest of skiers...........having been to Austria a few times now i'm getting fed up with blue runs that run parallel to a red but because it is shorter is classed as a blue, or runs that are 75% blue and 25% of it steep, narrow, moguled apparently blue! The time has come to forego Alpine charm and concentrate on the pistes :-)
So all you France fans out there help please!
I am looking for some ideas for resorts with nice long, wide, open, gradual descent pistes (i dont mind the odd steep section for when i get brave). And do "green" runs actually exist as a concept ie. even gentler than a blue run?
I am ploughing through the brochures and considering the likes of Morzine, Avoriaz, La Plagne, Valmorel, Valmeinier, Les Deux Alpes, Chamrousse, Montgenevre. Don't really want a transfer more than 2hrs 30mins which i know restricts me slightly.
Any views/comments are gratefully accepted.
Thankyou :)
I'm sick of the "blue runs" in Austria...............where to go for some gentle stuff in France?
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Thanks so far everyone....................Crashandburn - if you like unpredictable piste maps and strangely graded runs then Austria is for you! Don't get me wrong i love it but feel i just need a couple of trips elsewhere to build some confidence and technique
Pablo Escobar........oh for the cash to go to North America - when i win the lottery i'm straight there! In the meantime i've definitely decided on France :-)
Can you let us know where you have been to? Sounds to me like you might have been to St Anton, although I havent come across such a thing as a blue because its shorter than a red....!!!
If you like no nightlife, ridiculous prices, rudeness in the lift queues, high winds and closed lifts, then France might be right up your street.....ok, so I am generalising too.
On a serious note, my friend loved Les Arcs and he is a relatively inexperienced skier, so that might suit. I loved Serre Chevalier and yes it has green runs, and I am going to Alpe d'Huez which offers a lot for timid skiers around the village area I am informed.
However, I have to say that of my trips to Austria, I have prefered them to France, but its probably wrong to generalise. Maybe you just picked places too difficult for your ability level.
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Started by Mel C in France 27-Apr-2009 - 35 Replies
Mel C posted Apr-2009
Crashandburn
reply to 'I'm sick of the "blue runs" in Austria...............where to go for some gentle stuff in France?' posted Apr-2009
Hi Mel C - I assume you're not one of the Spice Girls!!!!
Anyway - I can't comment of some of the resorts that you mentioned but I'd suggest La Plagne, before Avoriaz/Morzine for the type of skiing you want. There will always be areas that are steeper than you expect from the piste map. But La Plagne has more than enough 'gentle' piste to keep you happy.
Avoriaz/Morzine is a great area too - but perhaps a little more testing.
Avoriaz is close to Geneva, well within your transfer limit. I've flown into Grenoble 3 times to La Plagne and it nearer 3 hours - although 45 mins is going up the mountain - to the views help pass the time.
Your post does make me laugh - I've skied so much in France, I now want to do Austria!!!!
Anyway - I can't comment of some of the resorts that you mentioned but I'd suggest La Plagne, before Avoriaz/Morzine for the type of skiing you want. There will always be areas that are steeper than you expect from the piste map. But La Plagne has more than enough 'gentle' piste to keep you happy.
Avoriaz/Morzine is a great area too - but perhaps a little more testing.
Avoriaz is close to Geneva, well within your transfer limit. I've flown into Grenoble 3 times to La Plagne and it nearer 3 hours - although 45 mins is going up the mountain - to the views help pass the time.
Your post does make me laugh - I've skied so much in France, I now want to do Austria!!!!
You'll never know, unless you try...
Pablo Escobar
reply to 'I'm sick of the "blue runs" in Austria...............where to go for some gentle stuff in France?' posted Apr-2009
Ideally you want somewhere in North America, get away from the crowds!
Other than that don't specify that you don't want Austria or specifically want France (unless you really really do) as there are literally hundreds of resorts you won't have been to which you could check out under recommendation!
Other than that don't specify that you don't want Austria or specifically want France (unless you really really do) as there are literally hundreds of resorts you won't have been to which you could check out under recommendation!
Brandyaitch
reply to 'I'm sick of the "blue runs" in Austria...............where to go for some gentle stuff in France?' posted Apr-2009
La Plagne was my first ever ski trip and there were plenty of gentle, wide blue runs that the ski school instructor took us on from day 3 onwards. There is just one short (appx 1km) training green in the middle of the main resort. Second trip was to Meribel, which I would suggest does not meet your requirements, quite steep blues, but we went over the mountain to Courcheval which I think would suit, but has an expensive tag. Transfers to both around 3 hours.
Mel C
reply to 'I'm sick of the "blue runs" in Austria...............where to go for some gentle stuff in France?' posted Apr-2009
Thanks so far everyone....................Crashandburn - if you like unpredictable piste maps and strangely graded runs then Austria is for you! Don't get me wrong i love it but feel i just need a couple of trips elsewhere to build some confidence and technique
Pablo Escobar........oh for the cash to go to North America - when i win the lottery i'm straight there! In the meantime i've definitely decided on France :-)
Pablo Escobar
reply to 'I'm sick of the "blue runs" in Austria...............where to go for some gentle stuff in France?' posted Apr-2009
Just for the record (generalising here), there are much cheaper places than France.
Tino_11
reply to 'I'm sick of the "blue runs" in Austria...............where to go for some gentle stuff in France?' posted Apr-2009
I have generally found the grading far more consistent in Austria than France, excluding St. Anton that is, which is more than a tad bizzare (think they downgrade runs where restaurants are).
Go to Filzmoos in Austria, fantasic wee resort for learning at.
http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Austria/Filzmoos.html
Go to Filzmoos in Austria, fantasic wee resort for learning at.
http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Austria/Filzmoos.html
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Edited 1 time. Last update at 27-Apr-2009
Tony_H
reply to 'I'm sick of the "blue runs" in Austria...............where to go for some gentle stuff in France?' posted Apr-2009
Mel C wrote:Ok so i'm not the bravest of skiers...........having been to Austria a few times now i'm getting fed up with blue runs that run parallel to a red but because it is shorter is classed as a blue, or runs that are 75% blue and 25% of it steep, narrow, moguled apparently blue! The time has come to forego Alpine charm and concentrate on the pistes :-)
Can you let us know where you have been to? Sounds to me like you might have been to St Anton, although I havent come across such a thing as a blue because its shorter than a red....!!!
If you like no nightlife, ridiculous prices, rudeness in the lift queues, high winds and closed lifts, then France might be right up your street.....ok, so I am generalising too.
On a serious note, my friend loved Les Arcs and he is a relatively inexperienced skier, so that might suit. I loved Serre Chevalier and yes it has green runs, and I am going to Alpe d'Huez which offers a lot for timid skiers around the village area I am informed.
However, I have to say that of my trips to Austria, I have prefered them to France, but its probably wrong to generalise. Maybe you just picked places too difficult for your ability level.
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Topic last updated on 29-July-2009 at 17:44