Latest posts for the topic "best for experts"

best for experts

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:54:18 GMT

I skied St Anton this winter and Zermatt the year before. I'm thinking about making it over again this coming winter. At St Anton someone said I have to go to France to find the best advanced skiing.

Chamonix of course has a reputation, but I don't want to have to hire a guide, and I want lots and lots of different lifts accessing long expert runs.
Am I right the big French resorts are Courcheval (3 Valleys), Les Arcs(Paradiski) and VAl D'isere. And then there is Verbier. Has anyone skied all those resorts? Where can I find long, lift-serve steep runs where I won't need a guide. I'll likely be traveling and skiing by myself. I know those 3 are a pain to get to from Geneva, I'll have to hire a car, seems easier than a train. Verbier is handy by train, does it measure up to those other 3 French resorts?

I skied Zermatt in December, it was almost all open, but I didn't find it very challenging. St. Anton I really liked, but am hoping to find something even better for me in France. What's the story. I'm coming from the USA.

Re:best for experts

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 06:08:48 GMT

To find out more about the Les Arcs area, have a look on here at Snowcrazy's season long reports of runs and conditions. I've skied with him and he's a rather good skier :D

To get to Les Arcs or anywhere else in the Tarentaise, catch the bus from Geneva airport.

You can ski the best bits of Chamonix by joining a group and share the cost of a Guide.

If you want lift served off piste then La Grave should be on your list. There are no pistes, just your choice of ways down.

Make sure you are well insured, there has been lots of debate about off piste insurance clauses in the past few months, both here and elsewhere.

Re:best for experts

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:14:59 GMT

He might also like Engelberg maybe?

I've skied part of 3 valleys but only as a beginner, so the only place of those I can comment on would be Verbier, where I had my first experiences of off piste and itinerary routes, and have to say I thought it was a fantastic ski area.

Re:best for experts

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:07:11 GMT

Vebier has an awesome off-piste terraine accessible from lifts. And if you are up for a hike it's right from the magazine. If you can ski well you won't get bored. The better you ski the more terraine opens up. It has Mont-Gele and it's totally unpisted, with one marked route and some no-fall traverses. It has steeps, couloirs, rock gardens. Chamonix is also well-worth vising. even skiing just what is marked there is a special experience. Blacks are real blacks. And the veiw is unreal. Right under Mont-Blanc. And the guide for a day is a good investment and Vallee Blanche tour. Or La Grave, though I suspect the guide is almost a must there too. at least for a day.

Re:best for experts

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:49:44 GMT

I guess any of those big French resorts would do, or Verbier or Chamonix. I have a few more frequent flyer trips in my pocket, and I plan on using them the next few years.

Speaking of LeGrave. Have you read this book - Ski The World: A True Story Of Love, Courage And Danger. Written by a Brit who skied all over the world, everyday for a year with his girlfriend. It was perfect reading material while I flew to Zurich this January. The point is, sadly, she died at Le Grave in a couloirs after the year was over. I would like to ski Le Grave, but I wouldn't want to be pushed to be climbing ropes and go in no fall zones etc. Not that I'm a wuss, just that I get plenty of fun and exercise by skiing the good stuff w/o taking huge risks. And I've skied for almost 40 yrs, w/ no serious injuries and i want to keep it that way! (and I haven't put a helmet on yet)

Maybe I'll just plan on Verbier, it's easy to get to. I had a room/trip booked there in Dec 09 but there was no snow and I changed my plans to Zermatt, which worked out well, although I hardly found a mogul on the entire hill, anyway it was a great first ski trip for Europe.

re: Engleberg - actually I have looked at that map and it looks up my alley.

Also, crazy at it might seem. I'll only be there for 3 full days of skiing, and i would like to land at 8am and be skiing by 1:30p. I did it last year at St Anton w/o any undue wear or tear. I even prolonged my day by missing my lift and had to catch a bus back to my hotel.

Well guess there won't be too many replies with you folks all worked up about Kate and all that.

Re:best for experts

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:02:07 GMT

Glenncz,
Liked the sound of the book until you gave the story away!

And funnily enough as I was listening to the radio this morning the presenter was saying the Americans are obsessed with 'Kate and all that'
Will you be watching??

It's kind of passing me by - It's on the TV and radio here, but nothing like the Charles and Di fever we had in the 80's.

Happy to get a bank holiday out of it though.

Dids

Re:best for experts

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:07:41 GMT

My friends go to La Grave every year for a weekend but they always take a guide. It's not all extreme, but some lines can be that's why a guide is needed.

No-fall zones happen in many off-piste itineraries. Valle Blanche even that being a relatively easy skiing (the classic route) starts with a no-fall traverse - a fall there will see you rolling probably all the way down to Chamonix, which is about 2500m below, but thousands are still doing this itinerary quite safely every year and it's a spectacular descent, a definite must-do if you are staying in Chamonix. Plus you can ask the guide to take you through some variations of the classic route which involve more steep skiing.

I've never skied in 3 valles but I heard that compared to Verbier or Chamonix it is quite flattering. I skied in Zermatt and resort skiing there is while spectacular, still easy and December is too early for the itineraries from top of Stockhorn to be open. Go to Verbier, you won't be disappointed. They stage xtreme freeride worldtour final for a reason. But you should carry avi gear and know how to use it even if you don't need a guide generally (the guide is still can be helpful as they know the area and can take you to the best snow). but in early December itineraries might not be open. you can probably still ski some (if the lifts taking you back up are running - and they are if the neighbouring ski areas are open) but it may have insurance complications if you have to be rescued. Chaussoure-Tortin is as hard as the mogul runs can be and moguls are guaranteed there - steep, big and rock hard for 700 meters vertical, none of these fluffy bumps seen in instruction videos or competitions. or Gentianes-Tortin, which is even harder and longer and you can extend it more if you start from top of Mont-Fort, another 300 vertical meters of fairly steep bumps and a good preparation to what's ahead. If you land in Geneva at 8am you will be skiing by 1.30. And for 3 days you can do without a guide - you will be plenty occupied with what is marked on the map and will have some left for your next trip.

Re:best for experts

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:30:26 GMT

Get the book I mentioned above, probably $4 shipped, it's a good read written by an interesting old school kind of guy.

Yes, i think Verbier it will be. It's big and I can take the train, and it is reliably known for it's good terrain.

Does Verbier tend to have better snow than Chamonix? I know last year was a bad snow year for Cham.

If you euro's ever can get to USA, go to Salt Lake City and particularly Snowbird! A dream trip would be 4 days in Salt Lake and 3 days in Jackson Hole, an easy interstate drive away.

Re:best for experts

Sun, 1 May 2011 09:29:13 GMT

It all depends on which direction the wind is blowing. Generally, this part of the world doesn't get as much powder as North America and this winter was exceptionally dry and followed by a very early and very warm spring, still was well-skiable. I skied in Chamonix about 10 days last winter - went for a weekend and then again for a week, and it snowed at least once on both occasions. verbier last season had on average one powder day per week and the season before after a very dry strat to the season it started snowing end of january and didn't stop till May. Having said that, it's not far from Chamonix so conditions are often similar.

Re:best for experts

Mon, 2 May 2011 10:25:57 GMT

The author is Arnie Wilson, editor of Ski + Board magazine and ski correspondent of the FT. I've met him a few times and correspond o occasionally. A top bloke and his book is a great read.

You might find Engelberg a bit on the small side (I like it for its ease of access and the Laub off-piste run!) but a bit surprised no-one has recommended Val D'Isere.

Massive ski area, lots of steep pistes (like St Anton, the runs are underclassified), and loads of easily accessible yet challenging off-piste in Val D'Isere and in Tignes.

Plenty of buses etc from Geneva airport as well.

Re:best for experts

Mon, 2 May 2011 11:52:29 GMT

LOTA, the OP suggested VdI in his initial post. He seemed to feel it was hard to get to by public transport. Most folks get the bus from GVA and change in Bourg St Maurice. Les Arcs is better IMHO, especially when in the company of Snowcrazy, as it's been his backyard for years :D

Re:best for experts

Tue, 3 May 2011 11:32:20 GMT

Yes, Bandit, that's why I was surprised no-one had 'bigged up' Val D'Isere - which, by any reckoning, is one of the great ski resorts of the world. I much preferred it to Les Arcs, but that's a personal view.

Re:best for experts

Tue, 3 May 2011 13:40:39 GMT

Not having been to either, given the choice I would 100% choose Val d'Isere over Les Arcs.

Re:best for experts

Sat, 7 May 2011 16:31:42 GMT

Closest to the Haute Tarentaise is Chambery not Geneva.

If you really want to go for it then check out the North Face of the Bellecote.

http://www.ski-best.com/Galeries/Pages/Bellecote_05.html

Contact me if you need a guide.

Re:best for experts

Sat, 7 May 2011 16:37:31 GMT

Tony_H wrote:Not having been to either, given the choice I would 100% choose Val d'Isere over Les Arcs.

Les Arcs and La Plagne = Paradiski )

If you go to Val d'Isere you wouldn't avoid Tignes.

Paradiski is unlimited, (relatively) safe, accessible off-piste at what I would consider a much better price. On the other hand if you have 25 euros to buy a burger,chips and a coke then Val is the place for you.

Re:best for experts

Sat, 7 May 2011 18:44:44 GMT

I don't really fancy either

Re:best for experts

Mon, 9 May 2011 18:17:34 GMT

Val D'Isere and Tignes are worth the effort and expense - Premier division resorts in every respect.

La Plagne is more second division although the link to Les Arcs makes it a promotion contender!

It surprises me that, as a serious skier, Mr Wickham that Val D'Isere doesn't appeal. (Each to their own, of course!!!)

Re:best for experts

Mon, 9 May 2011 18:57:11 GMT

LOTA wrote:Val D'Isere and Tignes are worth the effort and expense - Premier division resorts in every respect.

La Plagne is more second division although the link to Les Arcs makes it a promotion contender!

It surprises me that, as a serious skier, Mr Wickham that Val D'Isere doesn't appeal. (Each to their own, of course!!!)

Defiantly not my kind of resort LOTA, Never really had the urge to ski Val, Les Arcs or La Plagne
unless there is the offer of a freebe :lol:

Re:best for experts

Wed, 11 May 2011 11:11:58 GMT

Defiantly? No need to be quite so aggressive, :) !!!

I have tired of the French ski factories over the years, but for the range, variety and amount of skiing, Val D'Isere is most definitely in my top five resorts. I think only St Anton comes anywhere close, Courchevel a distant third and La Plagne/Les Arcs some way behind.

Having said all that, I think next season will be a Dolomites debut for old LOTA!

Re:best for experts

Wed, 11 May 2011 11:32:57 GMT

LOTA wrote:Defiantly? No need to be quite so aggressive, :) !!!

I have tired of the French ski factories over the years, but for the range, variety and amount of skiing, Val D'Isere is most definitely in my top five resorts. I think only St Anton comes anywhere close, Courchevel a distant third and La Plagne/Les Arcs some way behind.

Having said all that, I think next season will be a Dolomites debut for old LOTA!

Ohh LOTA , I'm not aggressive, I'm just a big ole pussy cat :lol: anyway like you I think we intend to aim for the Dolomites as well this year :thumbup:

Re:best for experts

Wed, 11 May 2011 16:55:50 GMT

I feel drawn towards skiing in Switzerland :P

Les Arcs/La Plagne is as good as Val if you know where to go )

Re:best for experts

Wed, 11 May 2011 17:49:06 GMT

bandit wrote:I feel drawn towards skiing in Switzerland :P

Thought you'd just spent 16 hours driving away from it? :lol:

But seriously...

bandit wrote:Les Arcs/La Plagne is as good as Val if you know where to go )

This. And (sweeping generalization) can be done a bit cheaper too.

Re:best for experts

Wed, 11 May 2011 22:50:42 GMT

I am thinking about going to Tignes, instead of Courchevel, for our main holiday, for the week after Christmas including New Year, because the chalet we go to is doing Monday to Monday, whereas the self-catering in Courchevel would be Saturday to Saturday, which doesn't fit in for us with New Year and Christmas.

But I looked at the price of flights from Gatwick or Bristol to Geneva and back for that date, and it was GBP226 each! That's about 3 X what we paid in October! :shock:

I thought the week after Christmas would be much cheaper than Feb half-term, but it's working out almost as bad :cry:

I would like to ski Tignes and Val D'Isere. So far we've only been able to ski on the glacier at Tignes because of going in October.

Ally

Re:best for experts

Thu, 12 May 2011 07:31:42 GMT

AllyG wrote:I thought the week after Christmas would be much cheaper than Feb half-term

That's the New Year week and it's always a peak week Ally; if you can manage the week after then it'll be much cheaper. Similarly the week before Xmas will be much better value (and likely to be very quiet).

Re:best for experts

Thu, 12 May 2011 08:11:53 GMT

Thanks Admin :D

The trouble is that I don't want to ski at Christmas and miss seeing all the family back home, and my friend's kids have to be back in school on Thursday 5th Jan, so we can't go Sat 31st Dec to Sat 7th Jan (which are the dates I'd prefer).

Ski holidays seem to be about GBP250 more per person for the New Year week than for the week before or after. In fact we could bring my husband as well for Christmas week instead and pay the same total price as New Year, but we'd still miss the rest of the family, and he doesn't like snow.

It's all very annoying :evil:

And, even if my friend's kids decide to miss 2 days of school and come to Courchevel with us, Eurostar can't tell me if they're going to be running a direct train to Moutiers on Sat 31st Dec. They say I will have to wait until the tickets come on sale at the beginning of July to find out!

So, I am trying to forget about ski-ing at the moment.

Ally

Re:best for experts

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:43:13 GMT

Admin wrote:

bandit wrote:I feel drawn towards skiing in Switzerland :P

Thought you'd just spent 16 hours driving away from it? :lol:

My Sat-Nav thought it was a shortcut :D

Re:best for experts

Sat, 21 May 2011 17:48:33 GMT

AllyG wrote:Thanks Admin :D

The trouble is that I don't want to ski at Christmas and miss seeing all the family back home, and my friend's kids have to be back in school on Thursday 5th Jan, so we can't go Sat 31st Dec to Sat 7th Jan (which are the dates I'd prefer).

Ski holidays seem to be about GBP250 more per person for the New Year week than for the week before or after. In fact we could bring my husband as well for Christmas week instead and pay the same total price as New Year, but we'd still miss the rest of the family, and he doesn't like snow.

It's all very annoying :evil:

And, even if my friend's kids decide to miss 2 days of school and come to Courchevel with us, Eurostar can't tell me if they're going to be running a direct train to Moutiers on Sat 31st Dec. They say I will have to wait until the tickets come on sale at the beginning of July to find out!

So, I am trying to forget about ski-ing at the moment.

Ally

One of lifes dilemmas: do you go when you want to/have to irrespective of cost, or do you try to adopt a more flexible approach and save a bundle?
Sounds to me Ally like a) you wont let yourself be flexible on dates and b) you're something of a creature of habit in where you go.

Fly outside of those peak times and you'll pick up a bargain, especially if you go midweek and not a weekend.

Alternatively, you could go to an expensive resort at a time when its expensive to fly and moan about it on an internet forum )

Re:best for experts

Sun, 22 May 2011 10:11:21 GMT

Tony,
The main problem is trying to find a week during the two week Christmas period that will suit me and my two daughters (my older one now wants to come too), and my friend and her two kids as well.

We all had a lot of fun last ski holiday, ski-ing together, and it would be great if we could do it again. It's just very difficult to organize.

Ally

Re:best for experts

Sun, 22 May 2011 11:28:23 GMT

AllyG wrote:Tony,
The main problem is trying to find a week during the two week Christmas period that will suit me and my two daughters (my older one now wants to come too), and my friend and her two kids as well.

We all had a lot of fun last ski holiday, ski-ing together, and it would be great if we could do it again. It's just very difficult to organize.

Ally

Like I said, you're not being flexible enough on dates. If you're one of these people who doesn't feel able to take kids out of school, you're stuck with the peak times and highest prices, as well as least amount of availability.

Re:best for experts

Tue, 24 May 2011 08:22:42 GMT

There always seems a lot of flu around normally around the middle of January every year normally comes on around the end of one week and continues all the way through to the following weekend
:wink:

Re:best for experts

Tue, 24 May 2011 09:31:20 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:There always seems a lot of flu around normally around the middle of January every year normally comes on around the end of one week and continues all the way through to the following weekend

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Ah, the old "7 day flu"... strangely localized occurrences of volcanic ash can sometimes mean you have to keep your children off school for a week too... Wales is quite close to Iceland isn't it?

Re:best for experts

Tue, 24 May 2011 09:36:25 GMT

I do firmly believe that a weeks skiing is part of a kids education, at present our junior school is very understanding but it seems that the change comes when they go up to secondary school. The fun will start in a couple of years time :lol:

Re:best for experts

Tue, 24 May 2011 19:50:19 GMT

With a bit of luck both my kids will be at Uni by Christmas, and neither of them will be able to miss lectures etc. And I can't very well tell my friend and her kids that they should miss school :lol:

I have registered for the early tickets for the direct Eurostar going out in the day on the 31st Dec and back at night on the 7th Jan, in the hope that the train will actually be running. But I won't know that until they contact me to sell me the tickets in July. And if my friend and her kids have made up their minds by then to come with us, I will buy tickets for them as well. Even Inghams don't know yet if the train will be running, as they don't seem to be selling Eurostar tickets for the 31st.

Plan B is to fly to Geneva and ski at Tignes Monday to Monday, straight after Christmas. That way no-one has to miss school or Uni. But I prefer plan A.

Ian, as you said, you have all this to come. Schools can do horrid things like arrange an assessed A Level practical exam for the first week back in January without letting the parents know. When my kids were young they did take time off school to go ski-ing. I used to fill in a form for the holiday and they were okay with it. And I'm sure they did learn more during that week than they would have done if they'd been in school. And I saved a great deal of money :D

Ally