2010 Gear Test Camps - Autumn At Tignes

Keen skiers and boarders can try out the new 2010 season equipment before anybody else at an exclusive test camp in Tignes, France. Ski and board retailer Edge2Edge has teamed up with holiday firm Mountainsun to offer a three-day break during September – December this year to the snow-sure glacier ski resort.

The camps, which cost from only £99 per person, will feature free equipment testing of gear from top manufacturers such as Atomic, Burton, Head, K2, Lib Tech, Rossignol, Salomon and Scott.

Tignes' Grande Motte glacier has 20km of pistes and a 750m vertical drop and skiers will also have the chance to compare Fall Line magazine's last three year's winners of the 'ski of the year' award as well as Atomic's Double Deck skis.

Boarders can see how the new rockered (reverse camber) Burton Custom – predicted to be next season's biggest trend - compares with Lib Tech's Skate Banana.

Skiers and boarders wanting to purchase any of the equipment tested at the camp can save money with discount vouchers, which are redeemed at Edge2Edge.

With panoramic views across the Isere Valley, visitors will stay at the three-star chalet hotel Les Melezes, which is located in the hamlet of Les Boisses and boasts easy access to the glacier.

The test camp runs from 25 September – 13 December and costs per person: £99 in September and October; £125 in November; and £149 in December.

The cost includes transfers from Geneva, three nights' accommodation, three-day glacier lift pass, breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner, and use of hotel facilities and test equipment. It does not include flights.

To book email chalet@skiandboardcamp.com or telephone Mountainsun on 07704 181351. Alternatively fill out the enquiry form on the test camp website. Please mention J2Ski when booking.

www.skiandboardcamp.com / www.edge2edge.co.uk

I've considered doing this for the past 3 seasons. I think Ellistine did one before but found very little open. I think you need to be there Nov or later to make it worthwhile?

J2 Skiers Meet mebbe? :D I'd consider it, so long as they can shuttle folks to the lifts, as there is some question over the buses running before the main season starts.

Well,
I'm not going to do it because the train tickets to Geneva cost about £250 return from London, and it wouldn't be worth it for only a few days ski-ing on a very small bit of piste.

Ally

I priced up a Eurostar + TGV Lyria return from Ashford to GVA, a few weeks ago for November 09 it was around £175. Flying was way cheaper.

In past years those attending these events have skied back to Val Claret, and some have enjoyed exceptional powder conditions, on a very cheap lift ticket. Still, I accept what you're saying, it's too little skiing for you, and too pricey for you to get there.

Flights should come in something like £150 return

Tony_H wrote:Flights should come in something like £150 return

Tony, I'm doing BA, LGW-GVA-LHR just before Christmas, £91 return. EZY was about £55, plus baggage charges.

Bandit,
You're quite right. Easyjet is amazingly cheap. From Bristol to Geneva and back it's only around £50, depending on days and dates etc. What a pity I'm trying to slow down global warming, and I only travel by train!

There are a few catches to this ski offer - I've just been looking at it. There's a supplement of £18 ppn for Friday and Saturday nights, single occupancy supplement of 50%, and £6ppn for room type A and £4ppn room type B. And there only seems to be one free transfer per day to and from Geneva airport in a minibus only carrying 8 people. They advise staying in a hotel in Geneva if your flight doesn't match their transfer. And the transfer time is 2 1/2 to 3 hours from Geneva to the hotel.

The good bit is that the last weekend you can have 5 nights, although presumably you have to pay a bit extra.

What they don't say (or I couldn't find it) is what exactly you do to test the equipment, other than ski/board with it. I would have thought they'd have been timing people etc. with the different equipment, if they really wanted to learn more about their gear. I think they're really trying to sell stuff, because they also give you a voucher for ski gear.

The only way it would be worth it for me would be if we went in October half-term and spent a few days in Geneva or somewhere as well, to justify the effort and cost of getting there by train.

Ally