J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Gaz C

Not a place that I've ever really yearned for either. Although with such a big fan-base it must be doing something right. Only suggested it as a snow-sure alternative. I know I'd be mighty p!$$£d off if I went half way across the world to ski porridge and mashed potato. Off to VT (with an open mind) late April to extend my season because it's snow-sure.

Looking good for all you guys this weekend. Hope you all make it to your respective airports. Loads of snow already for the piste skiers. The predicted 'fresh' will be just the job to improve the crusty off-piste. Have a good one y'all.

diogocyrineu wrote:

I looked at: http://www.igluski.com/france/avoriaz-snow-history_23520

Now my question is: Are these predictions realible?

The short answer to that one is, 'Who knows?' They are reflections of the snow conditions over the past four years as opposed to a prediction of the conditions of this coming year. I'd like to think they were accurate: I think that if they weren't, someone would have shot them down in flames by now. If you really want to ski Avoriaz, and you are flexible on your accommodation, you could just book your flights to Geneva and leave the choice of resort until nearer the time. This would leave the option to ski Avoriaz open until you are sure about the snow cover there, or allow you to go for one of the higher, more snow-sure areas.

I thought that you would have got a few more opinions on this by now; especially from the fans of the 3 Valleys. Perhaps they are all away skiing it right now -) . 3 Valleys doesn't have to be mega-expensive. La Tania and Les Menuires seem reasonable and there are sometimes good deals for Val Thorens. Also Brides-les-Bains (cheap as chips), if you don't mind being based in a working town in the valley and a 25-minute gondola ride up to Meribel every morning. Come on 3 Valleys fans! Give this guy some help :D !

Didn't find it too expensive when we were there. That was in 2004 mind you, and I think the area has gained a fair bit of kudos since then. That generally gives the 'boogers' an excuse to put up the prices :evil: . I imagine we are talking about costs in resort as there seems to be some decently priced packages.

andymol2 wrote:

Early March fine, but late March one of the higher altitude resorts would be a better bet. You can get lucky and have fabulous snow in April but the reason the cost of the accommodation is less is because it's less snow sure.
If you are coming all the way from Brazil to ski you don't want to be disappointed by lack of snow so go high.

My thoughts exactly :thumbup:.

I would play it safe and go to Tignes/Val d'Isere. Avoriaz will almost certainly be OK for snow then but conditions could be decidedly dodgy in the surrounding, lower-lying resorts that are more exposed to the sun. If that's the case, every man and his dog in the Portes du Soleil area (650km) will be converging on Avoriaz.

I skied there about 10 years ago (based ourselves in Chatel) and loved the area. My mate is in Morzine as I type, seeing to a bit of 'unfinished business' with the Swiss Wall -) . We went the fourth week in March: it was getting slushy by mid-afternoon and some of the sunnier runs in the Super-Chatel/Morgins area were hanging on by the skin of their teeth. It really is a super area with loads of skiing for all abilities and I'd love to go back but I don't think I would chance it so late in the season.

Tignes, on the other hand, is about as snow-sure as it gets. The Espace Killy area, while only about half the size of the PdS, is still vast and, more importantly, the lowest villages are at about the same altitude as Avoriaz (the highest village in the PdS area). Val Claret is at 2300m and skiing on the glacier above it goes almost to 3500m.

Another option might be 3 Valleys. Val Thorens is right up there with Tignes in the snow-sure department. I'm sure someone who knows more than I do about that area will be more than happy to 'clue you up' about it.

Sharky. It seems I'm guilty of providing you with 'duff gen' :oops: . I checked on the web-site and found that flights are included in the price after all. So it's good news. They will deduct the price of the flights if you preferred to drive there yourself. £100 per person with BA is a good price, so unless you have a phobia of flying or are allergic to airports, I can't see why anyone would want to.

Saas Fee is a good shout. A colleague at work went with his family a couple of years ago and loved it. I also know a guy who returns to Seefeld year after year. That's a recommendation in itself.

Tony_H wrote:

.....preciesley why I'd go for la plague. Altitude rules every time. Unless you can go once you into there's been fresh snowfall