Messages posted by : Dorset Boy
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New Year and Feb half term (UK + Paris week) are the busiest of the season by far, with New Year being a bigger holiday than Christmas in France.
Plenty of resorts are served well by the train. The Cluses / St Gervais line will take you to the likes of Flaine & the Grand Massif resorts, plus the Chamonix valley and the french side of the Portes du Soleil. The Moutiers / Aime / Bourg St Maurice line covers all the monster resorts in the Tarantaise. I think, but may be wrong, that there is a line along the Maurienne valley for some of the less well known (amongst Brits) resorts such as Valloire, Valmeinier, Saint-Sorlin, Saint Jean, La Toussuire, Aussois, Termignon, Orelle, La Norma, and would also imagine there are trains to Grenoble for Alpe D'Huez and Les Deux Alpes. Generally the resorts are very easy to get to from the local station, with a 30-45 minute transfer up the hill. Accommodation will also be expensive! As a fellow passenger commented on our way home this year, ski in the holidays and pay twice as much for half the skiing! That said the lift systems in France tend to be excellent, and is a 10-15 minute queue that much of a problem, when 10+ years ago you'd queue for an hour to get up lifts in resorts in other countries. |
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Big difference in north America is that it is the resort putting on the service, not individual TOs. Those hosts are probably suitably qualified, and don't offer a week long service as the TOs do.
Having guided, sorry hosted, for 5 seasons, I know from experience that a significant number of British clients go with the hosts as a free alternative to ski school. They'd probably had 2 weeks of lessons in their life and think that snow ploughing down an easy red means they no longer need lessons ever again. I do still think that there should be a compromise worked out as I proposed earlier. The ESF could earn some early season money, probably pick up more clients as the hosts would be in a stronger position to say no to some skiers, and those that can't or won't read a piste map for themselves can enjoy the service they want, once they can ski to an adequate standard. If this whole affair puts people off France, then great for those of us who aren't!! |
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This all started in the late 80s when the ESF took Ski Cocktail to court in an effort to prevent them setting up the first private ski school in France. They lost and then turned their attention to the UK tour operators ski guides, with arrests being made every now and then.
The problems include too many Brits thinking they can ski when they should still be taking lessons, and using the guiding services as a free ski school light. There have also been guides over the years who were simply not competent. The protectionist nature of the ESF is another problem. There should be a simple solution - licence the guides. They should have to undergo a week's mountain safety and leadership course at the start of the season. The course content could surely be agreed between the TOs and a 'reasonable and forward thinking ESF'. Fail and they're out. Also there should be strictly enforced limits to the size of guiding groups and the minimum skiing ability. It's a shame, and the ESF will do themselves no good in the eyes of many British skiers. The shame is they've picked on a small special TO, Le Ski, and not one of the big boys who might have the financial muscle to take the ESF all the way to Strasbourg.... |
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It certainly is. Great achievement for LittleW!
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1. Meribel
2. Val D'Isere 3. Whistler Zermatt might be 4. Not done St Anton. Do like other less fashionable resorts too - Flaine & Valloire, and also liked Alpe d'Huez. Hard one! |
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Have you skied St Anton Tony? If not, how come that's not on your list? Likewise Whistler.
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St Anton.
One of only 2 Austrian resorts that appeal. |
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Why thank you Mr W.
Is Little W doing, or has she done her ESF Gold this year? DB junior did his Bronze , finally starting to carve and look like a real skier!! |
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