 Poster: A snowHead
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So, I’ve booked Grand Massif in March with the family, and am now able to get a sneaky week away with hubby in early Jan.
Ideally would like quiet wide blues or easy reds a the main purpose of this trip is to overcome my nerves and regain my technique. We also would like some mountain restaurants for frequent stops (or me stopping to let husband do a few reds without me)
Would St Francois de Longchamps fit that bill? Hubby thinks it might be short of “on mountain” restaurants. Other resorts we are considering are La Plagne, Alpes D’Huez, Les Arcs but open to anywhere really.
He also thinks in Jan we should look for tree lined pistes to cut wind and helps with visibility - is he right?
We’ve only really skied Feb so anything else we should consider? do we need to go high ?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I would think number of huts would be dependent on ski area size
There are a number of resorts in that area of St FdL. Les Sybelles, Valloire/Valmeinier Val Cenis. All small in comparison to the other 3 you mention.
Take a look at piste maps & count huts if that is what is important. Also check out if they are purpus built resort or a 365 day town - you can go back to town for lunch!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@skimummk, sounds to me like you're describing the Dolomites, particularly with your mountain restaurants requirement....
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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You won’t regain much technique with frequent stops.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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As @swskier says, Alta Badia in the dolomites, probably based in Corvara or San Cassiano. This is the perfect place for confidence building wide open blues and lots of great mountain restaurants. I've always found the instruction to be top quality and relaxed too.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Fri 15-12-23 10:16; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I think Cervinia would be ideal. Quiet, wide, easy runs covering the whole area. My wife used to suffer with confidence issues and Cervinia was always her go to to build herself back up. Plenty of good mountain food as a bonus too.
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@skimummk, Looking at your last bit, you are concerned that Jan is not when you go and the resort requirements may be different.
Firstly Jan has one big advantage over Feb for the nervous skier that is it tends to be less busy, quieter slopes are usually nicer.
There is probably as much variation between months as within months but I think you're right that tree lined slopes can be advantageous particularly in poor weather and light.
Being lower they can also have disadvantages if the weather is very warm when the snow quality can be poor or paradoxically sometimes when it is very cold and you can get a temperature inversion and it feels colder and sometimes the surface can be icier. Particularly watch for end of day runs to low resorts where ice can be a problem
If possible I would choose a resort with skiing above and below the tree line, particularly if booking in advance.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Another vote for the Alta Badia resorts in the Dolomites. Corvara, La Villa or San Cassiano would suit your requirements perfectly
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Thanks all - we'll have a look at the Dolomites - that was actually hubbys first choice for March, can't remember why we ended up in Grand Massif lol!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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So, after much deliberation - we have ended up at "none of the above" - well actually @gored mentioned Valloire/Valmeinier - we've been there before. Last time was in 2020 our last day was the day France locked down. I was probably the last person on a chair lift in France that year as I was late coming back across the valley on the single chair lift and my friend had to beg the liftie to keep the next lift open after 5pm so that we could ski back!
Last time we stayed in a lovely private chalet but we had a 20-30 min walk (most uphill) before we could ski - so this time we have booked an appartment near the main piste. We (hubby) knows which slopes I enjoyed and was confident on last time (and which to avoid) - so rather than take a chance with a "new" area we hope repeating slopes I've done before will help with my confidence, so all we need now is some decent snow in the next couple of weeks.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| skimummk wrote: |
anything else we should consider? |
Lessons?
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FAQ
Maybe Suisi (sp?) or Alta Badia for lots of lovely wide slopes?
If you're stuck with France, La Plagne would be my pick.
