Messages posted by : andyhull
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Forgot one, well prompted Tony.
Soldeu Pros Part of the massive Grand Valira ski area Ideal for beginners and intermediates (At least 75% of the skiers there were beginners) Anything remotely challenging was largely deserted. Great lift system. Miles and miles of cruising runs. Inexpensive food and drink. Cons Over-generous piste rating. The reds would be blue in most other resorts. Only a couple of genuine black runs. In recent years the price of a lift pass has spiralled 7/10 Loved my week there despite there being no advanced skiing to speak of. With the cost of the lift pass now that score would have to drop to 5/10. Prices off the slopes were inexpensive, quality wasn't always very high. Went we went it was fantastic value for money, we ran the trip as a beginners holiday, to bring new blood into the club. However since then the cost of the lift pass has risen and it's questionable whether Andorra still represents the value for money it once did. No plans to go back. |
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Alpe D'Huez
Thought I'd start a quick review thread for my favorite resort ADH. Pros Varied terrain, outlying villages all offer something different. Big ski area. Easy skiing close to town. The perfect resort for mixed groups. The red-run down into Oz is a must do run (knocks spots off Jerusalem in my opinion). Position of resort gives tendency for intense snowfall, followed by clear skies. Frequent powder days. Amazing black runs. Loads of lift served off piste. Cons When bad weather closes the higher lifts there's limited advanced skiing. (Epic when it reopens though) 9.5/10 My favorite resort, will keep going back again and again. |
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I didn't included Morzine in my previous list, because my visit was over 10 year ago so I'm not sure whether the Cons are still relevant.
Pros Massive ski area, particularly good in Les Gets and Avoriaz. Loads for all abilities Cons At the time was let down by the lift system, we went during a quiet week and were constantly queuing. The lift system compared very badly to other big linked areas, 3Vs, EK, etc which I also visited around that time. The journey from Morzine to Avoriaz was painfully slow. No idea how the system has been developed since, but I haven't seen much written about its transformation so presume it's still a problem. The mileage quoted for ski area are huge, describing bits of it as linked however is pushing it. 5/10 Although I really enjoyed the skiing, particularly in Les Gets, I have never felt the need to go back. It compares very poorly with other super-sized ski areas. |
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Val Thorens
Pros Amazing ski area, some of the best skiing in 3V Superb lift system, quick and easy, few queues Great for all abilities Often the best snow in 3V Excellent choice of places to stop. Cons Bit bleak in bad weather Can get busy if snow gets iffy in lower parts of 3V Bit of a trek across to Courchevel 9/10 Will keep going back to 3V, but would choose Meribel-Mottaret as a base as being central is better for exploring whole area. |
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I've listed in the order I last visited them.
Mayrhofen Pros Huge ski area, lots of areas all available on one lift pass Good lift system once on the mountain Varied terrain, plenty to suit all levels Very attractive town with a superb mountain vibe Cons Out dated access up onto and down from the mountain. Lets the resort down. Very slow with long queues even during off-peak weeks. Lots of travelling between ski areas, cuts down skiing time. Not many mountain restaurants and one or two weren't very good. 8/10 Would definitely go back, huge amount of skiing to explore. As long as you know what to expect and are prepared for travelling you'll have a great time. Meribel-Mottaret Pros The perfect base for 3 Valleys, half way up middle valley with quick and easy access to all parts of ski area. Excellent lift system. Attractive buildings, nicely set out. Quiet in the evenings for those that suits, night life down in Meribel a short bus ride away. Huge choice of mountain restaurants to suit all budgets. Cons Struggling to think of any. Fairly expensive. 9.5/10 Will go back. As good a ski area as I've skied, the perfect base to explore it from. Plenty for all abilities. Verbier Pros Amazing ski area, lots of challenging skiing Attractive town, with a great vibe. Cons Queues for main lists. Town spread over large area so a lot of chalets are a long way from lifts. Some of the lifts let the area down, too many drags in key areas. 8/10 Will go back. Suited to good skiers, not ideal resort for beginners. Val Thorens Pros Amazing ski area, some of the best skiing in 3V Superb lift system, quick and easy Often the best snow in 3V Excellent choice of places to stop. Cons Bit bleak in bad weather Can get busy if snow gets iffy in lower parts of 3V Bit of a trek across to Courchevel 9/10 Will go back to 3V, but would choose Mottaret. Great for all abilities. Val D'Isere Pros Espace Killy ski area is epic Fast efficient uplift, few queues. Proper ski town, mostly attractive buildings and a great vibe. Cons Resort runs get a bit busy at times. Santons shouldn't be a blue. 8.5/10 I keep going back. Love the place, would suit anyone. Alpe D'Huez Pros Varied terrain, outlying villages. Big ski area. Easy skiing close to town. The perfect resort for mixed groups. Position of resort gives tendency for intense snowfall, followed by clear skies. Frequent powder days. Amazing black runs. Cons When bad weather closes the higher lifts there's little advanced skiing. (Epic when it reopens though) 9.5/10 My favourite resort, will keep going back again and again. Les Arcs 2000 Pros Huge ski area, varied and enough to suit all abilities Linked to La Plagne Some epic runs up about Arc2000 Cons Arc2000 dead in the evenings Expensive lift pass Long trek across to La Plagne 7.5/10 Would go back, but ideally would choose Arc 1800. Tignes Pros Espace Killy see above Great lift system Better skiing early and late season Cons Purpose built and it shows, though later additions much more attractive. Bleak in bad weather 8/10 Will go back as Skiworld have superb big chalet there. Val D'Isere edges it in Espace Killy but only just. Val di Fassa – Sella Ronda Pros Amazing scenery – Simply mind blowingly beautiful. Huge ski area, varied resorts all efficiently linked by the Sella Ronda 'donut' circuit. Unique Italian/Austrian mix (was Austrian until after WW1). Fascinating history. Cons Large distances to be covered to get the most out of area, so need to be able to a reasonably competent skier. Big taxi bill if you mess up your timings and miss the last lift. 8/10 Would love to go back. Amazing area, I don't think there's anywhere else like it. Jackson Hole Pros A must do resort for advanced skiers. Friendliest place I've skied. Loads of lift served inbounds off piste. Loads going on in town. Microbrewery in town, amazing beer. Amazing food as long as you eat meat. Cons Exaggerated snow record. Ranch country, not recommended for vegies. 9/10 Loved it, would love to go back. More suited to advanced skiers. Meribel Pros Great buzz about the place. Great base for 3V Most attractive looked resort in 3V Epic nightlife Cons Sprawling, as mostly chalets. Need to use the bus to get about. 8.5/10 Would stay further up valley in Mottaret as it's better positioned Les Menuires Pros Some of the quietest skiing in 3V Great base if on a budget Well linked Cons Ugly, very ugly. Resort slopes get busy. 7/10 Would only choose if was on a tight budget, as there are better positioned bases. But as a cost effective 3V resort it has a lot going for it. |
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It is cascades then, spent a very enjoyable afternoon playing on there, using the last reserves of energy before heading off to catch the snow train. Just one more run...and another...
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If you rule out France I believe you are ruling out over 60% of the Europe's best skiing.
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I missed out on a pair of skis in the sales, they sold out three days before I got my bonus.
So I will be paying £400-500 on some new planks and bindings. I will be only too pleased to tell you what they are like. I'm hoping to get over to Milton Keynes to test some Atomic Theorys, can't decide between them and the alibis. My Rossinol B2s which I purchased back in 2006 have been skied into the ground and are, to use a technical term 'knackered'. I have at no point regretted buying them, a fabulous pair of skis, which at the time had won several awards and rightly so in my opinion. They replaced Salomon XScreams which again had been highly rated when I bought them. I've taken part in a couple of ski tests in the past, one on the dry slope and one on snow. Different skis feel different to ski on, even ones with a similar shape. Different skis take different amounts of force to get the most of them, so your physicality, ability and technique will change which ski suits. So I disagree all skis are much the same, they are not if you ski them hard enough. Whether ski technology moves on as quick as they'd like to suggest is debatable. |
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