Latest posts for the topic "Green SKi Runs"

Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:18:46 GMT

Hello,

My husband and I are taking our two young children skiing for the first time this year. They will obviously be beginners, and we wanted some advice on the best resorts. We want nice gentle green runs, as long as possible and as many as possible, so we can all ski together after they have a few lessons!

Any advice on accomodation in the resorts will be gratefully received too.

Thank you

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:27:41 GMT

Hi Clariana, welcome to the forum.

Green runs are few and far between these days, I very rarely come across them in Europe and when I do they are either really short or about 7 miles long and a flat road.

As much as it gets a battering on here, Niederau is a good resort for families and has relatively easy skiing with good ski schools.

And it's cheap!

Good luck
Nel

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:59:47 GMT

Clariana,

We took a succession of beginners (albeit adults) over the course of 4 seasons to Le Praz, just a bubble down from Courchevel where most of us learnt from scratch.

Lots of green runs there as I recall, easily reached magic carpet and a mix of tree line and open runs and always had good snow. Not been for a few years now - was pricey for lunch at 1650 but staying in Le Praz was no worse than other French resorts.

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:24:28 GMT

Ignore Nelly i think she is having an off day as there are tons of green runs out there if you know where to look.

Here are some resorts that have a fair few:

Alp D'Huez
Courcheval
Montgenevre
La Clusaz
Serre Chavalier

The longest green run i have been on was at Morillon and it was easy a couple of miles long and VERY quite, that would be ideal. Although it is the only green in that area.

Take a look at this site where you can download the piste maps for most resorts and you will be able to judge if they are suitable.

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:26:17 GMT

There is a long and wide green at Val Thoren with a magic carpet back up, if I recall?

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:44:38 GMT

Snapzzz wrote:Ignore Nelly i think she is having an off day as there are tons of green runs out there if you know where to look.

How rude. It's only becuase I ski with my eyes closed :wink:

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:47:59 GMT

I know there is a very easy long green run called Deux Lacs at Val Thorens, with its own chairlift, because I remember falling over crash at the bottom of it in a group lesson :lol:

However, I think Val Thorens might be rather scary for total beginners because it is so high up and bleak. I reckon Courchevel 1650 (out of the few resorts I've been to) would be much more suitable. Niederau sounds excellent as well, for beginners, although I haven't actually skied there myself.

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:21:04 GMT

NellyPS wrote:

How rude.

I prefer cheeky.... :-)

U know im kidding.

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:52:56 GMT

Snapzzz wrote:

NellyPS wrote:

How rude.

I prefer cheeky.... :-)

U know im kidding.

Yes, definately cheeky :)

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:21:40 GMT

I think more info is needed before diving into specifics.

What age are the children?
Vital !! Real tiddlies won't be getting very far and main criteria may be proximity to ski school from accomodation(carrying kit etc.). Also age is so important in choice of runs particulary what lift serves the run.

A lovely bubble to the top of a nice wide beginers area is a different kettle of fish to a drag lift to an easy road back down.
Verdons at Courchevel 1850 springs to mind here. Lovely ride up and then all afternoon back down on a run that goes from 300/400yds wide to maybe 50/60 at it's narrowest.

First week kids may not be getting much further than the nursery slopes anyway - so age dependent here.
What a 5yo and a 10yo will do in their first week can be completely different.

So .....
Clariana - info?
Age of children and experience of adults please.
Hint on your ability to dish out the dosh may help too :mrgreen:

My sons first @ 6yo had him in ski school and then a couple of times with me. I was happy to go on expeditions because I could pick him up and ski him down when needed (over the shoulder stuff!!) and get him past any tricky bits. I have, though, seen all too many tiddlies in a real pickle because parents have over estimated their ability to get down something.

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:37:30 GMT

I agree with OldAndy, age is most relevant.

Took my two kids for the first time last year, at age 8 & 9. They had about 8 'Snowdome' lessons (warm & dry) in UK and then in resort with no lessons (unusual ! ).

In resort we spent only spent half-a-day on a short part of a green run, 1 day on a couple of 'nice' blues 'finding our feet', then all over resort on blues for the rest of the week.

In other words, using my approach, don't focus too much on needing many greens.

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:40:14 GMT

Two of my friends went to to St.Foy for a couple of years, they had never previously put skis on. They loved it for the ease and enjoyment of the surroundings and the slopes they say were perfect for beginners. I did a week in Levi with the family last year and the slopes are beautiful, especially as they are floodlit (this adds to the experience, it doesn't make it harder). Hope this helps, good luck with your choice.

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:17:22 GMT

We learnt to ski as a family in Hemsedal, Norway. No nasty surprises, some decent green and blue runs and uncrowded slopes. I thought it was a great beginner resort.

Our 1st ski holiday was in April 2010 when our children were 12 and 10. They loved it. We're now a lot more experienced and a lot poorer after a further 4 skiing trips since then! The kids are now happy to tackle black runs.

I think Neillson arrange package trips as well as Ski Norway but we've always gone down the DIY route. Have a look in the scandinavian section of the forum for a report on our last trip to Norway.

Try to get your children a lesson or two in an indoor ski venue in the UK beforehand if you can. It really helped push our two on (and us adults).

Re:Green SKi Runs

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:25:31 GMT

Are Sweden is great for greens and easy blues and because it is spread out along a lake you really feel like your travelling.
Montegenevre as previously mentioned is excellent too.
IMHO with kids you don't need to worry too much about the amount of runs as they seem far happier than adults to redo the same slope practising their drills and playing about on any small bumps they come across at the edges, unlike most adults who are learning, kids seem to enjoy being slightly out of control/off balance.