 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
How is this area for nervous older newish skier? I will get the lift back down at the end of the day and totally happy about that. I'm really looking for some easy greens, that I can just build some confidence on and enjoy being in the mountains. I have seen some older posts saying La Verte is problematic - is that still the case? (there is a suggestion that the piste map has changed)
On my trip last year (Lindarets) I got a bit better, but had various set backs. Instructor took me on a blue and I just froze on a steeper section. Not helped by constant issues with boots - I went through everything in the hire shop. I now have my own fitted boots and a trip to Hemel with them and a kind instructor did help a lot.
The green in Lindarets was really a main route back for many runs, so very busy with lots of people rushing up behind me and occasionally clipping back of my skis (I was with an instructor and an trying to ski in a predictable way). I didn't make it up to Avoriaz as didn't feel confident getting down the blues back to Lindarets - the one I tried was where I froze. So I'm looking looking for somewhere with a nice selection of wide not too busy green slopes and has good extensive options for my husband who is very keen skier and childcare (Val d'isere appears to have all of this).
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sat 3-01-26 11:26; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Bellevarde area
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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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| Biscuit4321 wrote: |
| Bellevarde area |
You can edit the thread title if you edit your first post. Click on the little scissors next to it to do this.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thank you 
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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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I take it you are staying in VDI.
Are you having lessons?....If so, are they Group or Private - and with whom?
The Borsat Area has easy skiing....but snow conditions can make a big difference. Verte can get a bit bumpy by the afternoon, but isn't steep. Don't drop below the Marmottes Lift, as the Green runs down to La Daille can get icy and crowded.
The other easy (Green) area is up on Solaise and is accessed by the Madeleine Chair.
Always get the Lift back down from both Solaise and Bellevarde.....and certainly also down to Lac from Toviere, which is accessed by a Black.
If you have lessons, the Instructor should take you on Pistes that are suitable.....and once you get the lay of the land, you will know what you can handle.
The best snow is usually on the Glaciers....and there are a couple of long, not too difficult Blues from the top of the Grande Motte (which join up).
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Thank you this is really helpful
We haven't booked yet but looking at VDI (but open to Tignes, but it looks like you have to take a blue to get to the greens).
I will book private lessons, as I don't feel I really fit the group lessons anymore, as I can just about ski, but don't want to be in a group doing blues because of my nervousness.
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| Biscuit4321 wrote: |
Thank you this is really helpful
We haven't booked yet but looking at VDI (but open to Tignes, but it looks like you have to take a blue to get to the greens).
I will book private lessons, as I don't feel I really fit the group lessons anymore, as I can just about ski, but don't want to be in a group doing blues because of my nervousness. |
Evo 2 are a good mixture of VFM and decent instruction. However, if you have a bigger budget, I can highly recommend some Instructors from Elevation, Mountain Masters, TDC , Progression or FreeFlo Floss....so just ask after checking out prices and I can give you some names. Good people get booked up early, so you need to get onto this as soon as possible.
VDI has more walking....and if S/C, you often have a longer walk to Supermarkets. The upside is you are in a proper town with more atmosphere.
If staying in Lac, you can always take the lift down from Toviere.
If staying in VC, once you get your ski legs, Henri is reasonably easy (Keep an eye for the right fork before the steeper red Piste). Remember, you can always get the lift down to Lac and get the ski bus to VC....which is not difficult, with plentiful busses and maybe around 10 minutes bus ride.
The ski bus connections in both Tignes and VC works really well.
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@Biscuit4321, it's an expensive resort for your type of skier, but the green runs from the Top of the Borsat and Grand Pre chairlifts are extensive and some of the best terrain for a skier like you.
I'm no longer a nervous skier but just love practicing my tech unique on these slopes
As above, get lessons if you can, download via the Olympic Gondola for VDI or the Funicular for La Daile. I really wouldn't attempt any routes back to resort level, from any of the different mountains.
There are two bits that are not green I'm:
1 The initial 60m of slope from the Top of the lifts as you emerge to the ski area..A few traverses will.do but it is quite busy or there are some steps you can go around.
2. Left off the top of the Borsat chair. In the morning it's just a bit steep, in the afternoon it can be like a very tricky red. There is a cat track to the fat side of the drop off that loops round and I'd suggest you always take that, but wait for a quiet gap
Enjoy, it's wonderful
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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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Thank you so much for the replies. That is extremely helpful and reassuring.
@old fartbag I had a look some of the ski schools - I'd probably go with one that offers 2 hour lessons to keep costs down a bit and gradually build up my legs, rather than half a day.
Thank you for the tips about the bits that won't feel green, that really helps me to know what to expect.
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One more question. I came across this and it suggests accessing the beginner area via La Daille lift, but I can't see a way from the top of that lift that isn't via blues to the greens?
https://www.valdisere.ski/en/easy-skiing
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Biscuit4321, The run from the top of the La Daille Gondola (the Follie Douce) to Mont Blanc, and the top of Mont Blanc to the Bottom of Borsat are short, but quite steep in places. Probably no worse than the first 100m at the top of Olympic to get to Verte, but you wouldn't want to take beginners down any of them untill they are comfortable traversing and turning both left and right.
The Folie to Mont Blanc bit can also be quite busy and boiler plate since it's the main link (via Tommeuse) to get to Tignes.
Personally, if you're worried about "dark" greens and blues then I'd stick with the area at the top of Solaise - the greens and blues up there are much more predictable. Most of the greens at the top of Belvarde have some very "dark" green sections.
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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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@judwin thank you that is really helpful too and definitely looks like Soliase is the place for me to start.
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Yes, I would definitely prefer the Solaise area for a start. The Madeleine green is, perhaps, a hair steep for a green, but it is wide, fairly quiet and entirely predictable. The Saint Jacques/Col de la Madeleine blues are also very gentle, and then you can upgrade a bit to the Plan Millet blue, which has a steeper section but is very wide - you can scope all of it from the Glacier chairlift. The other blues are a bit more difficult.
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You know it makes sense.
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@balso la Madeleine sounds perfect for my progress, as slightly steep green, is much better for me mentally to prepare for than a blue with steeper sections.
My husband is very excited too above going there as he loves reds and blacks, and was one of his favourite places he learnt to ski on a school trip. We also have found a great childcare option to suit our small child.
It has been like looking for a needle in a haystack to find an option that really works for all our different wishes!
We go in early March and I will report back how it goes!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Old Fartbag, please could you share your recommendations for VDI ski instructors who you think would be good with a nervous adult as I will probably head there at some one in the future and would like to build on my progress?
I recently got back from a trip to Avoriaz and had the most amazing instructor who really understood my feelings and taught me techniques that really made a massive difference to me and gave me tools to manage my fear better. I will probably always be slow and on gentle blues, and that's ok for me, but I'm so pleased with my progress! So for anyone who is in a similar situation and stumbles on this post I really recommend Laurent at Avoriaz Alpine ski school.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Biscuit4321 wrote: |
@Old Fartbag, please could you share your recommendations for VDI ski instructors who you think would be good with a nervous adult as I will probably head there at some one in the future and would like to build on my progress?
I recently got back from a trip to Avoriaz and had the most amazing instructor who really understood my feelings and taught me techniques that really made a massive difference to me and gave me tools to manage my fear better. I will probably always be slow and on gentle blues, and that's ok for me, but I'm so pleased with my progress! So for anyone who is in a similar situation and stumbles on this post I really recommend Laurent at Avoriaz Alpine ski school. |
No problem:
From personal experience:
Simon Mc Combe - Elevation
Dave Cowell - Mountain Masters
Aaron Cassells - Progression
Neil (Woody) Woodward - Progression
From recommendations/reputation:
Steve Angus - TDC
Rupert Goldring - Mountain Masters
Clare Burns - Mountain Masters
Rupert Tildesley- Mountain Masters
James Duffield - Mountain Masters
Floss - FreeFloFloss
James Allen - Elevation
Nicko Braxton - Elevation
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Old Fartbag, thank you!
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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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I think there is a beginners pass that just covers the magic carpets and green runs at Solaise. Might be worth looking at fit a day or two before getting a whole area pass. Since the top of Solaise was remodelled it really is an ideal beginners area with downloading on the gondola
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
It has just been turned upside down a bit as we are meant to be staying in a chalet with a bunch of other families (strangers, but we love this type of social thing) and our child would have other kids to play with/ski school with. We travel this Saturday.
They have messaged today to say we are the only family there and would we like to go instead to Les Bruyeres (Les Menuires) in the three valleys instead. Any one here familiar with this area or know local instructors that would be good with someone like me?
We haven't made a decision yet, but we really prefer not to be in a chalet on our own, the new one sounds great, but all my research had been for VDI and I have found and booked an instructor in VDI who sounds perfect for me. Plus I really like the sound of the ski areas at Solaise and Bellevarde.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Biscuit4321, Which Instructor have you booked?
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@Biscuit4321, I think those Solaise and Bellevarde areas are pretty uniquely brilliant for learners. Maybe biased as it’s where I first honed my skills  I do not think you will quite get the same experience in Les Menuires— I am a big fan of the area and to an extent you can learn anywhere but you will be on busier and softer lower runs back to the croisette. That said everything is a balance so if it suits your party better on the whole a good instructor will find a suitable place for you.
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| Biscuit4321 wrote: |
Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
It has just been turned upside down a bit as we are meant to be staying in a chalet with a bunch of other families (strangers, but we love this type of social thing) and our child would have other kids to play with/ski school with. We travel this Saturday.
They have messaged today to say we are the only family there and would we like to go instead to Les Bruyeres (Les Menuires) in the three valleys instead. Any one here familiar with this area or know local instructors that would be good with someone like me?
We haven't made a decision yet, but we really prefer not to be in a chalet on our own, the new one sounds great, but all my research had been for VDI and I have found and booked an instructor in VDI who sounds perfect for me. Plus I really like the sound of the ski areas at Solaise and Bellevarde. |
Bruyeres is a lovely area to stay and ski. I've not been to VDI for a long time but I do recall the green triangle at the top of Bellevarde area being a lovely big area to gain confidence so that is a big draw for someone looking to build confidence as you are. Les Menuires is also a lovely area to learn and gain confidence. I would say that there are a number of pistes that are in the 'Easy Blue' range rather than the "harder green range". So not much in it, but if the colour matters to you then the greens are much more limited.
And being a more traditional layout with the easier slopes lower down the mountain can mean they get busy and chopped up at the end of the day. Still blue and with an instructor you'd be absolutely fine skiing back, but definitely a bit more tricky skiing back to Bruyeres than the option in VDI to get the gondola down from the high plateau. The gondola down into Bruyeres is sometimes useful as a downlift if you want to avoid slushy spring slopes low down, but only if you've first been skiing the harder slopes high up.
The 3 valleys has plenty of good instructors, but maybe in LM there isn't the same volume of high end, British instructors focusing on (very expensive) private lessons. But you'll definitely be able to book someone who speaks good english, and will be a whole lot cheaper than someone in VDI!
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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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@Biscuit4321, the skiing in Les Menuires is much less appropriate for you than in Val d'Isere. There is one green run that is not a nursery run. It is lower altitude than the greens in Val d'Isere and it faces due West so will be much more like spring than in Val d'Isere, firm in the mornings and soft/slushy in the afternoons. From a building confidence on easy slopes perspective I don't think that the change in resorts would be positive
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@old fartbag I booked Woody at Progression
Thank you everyone. You are all very helpful. One thought is I could shuttle to Val Thorens as it appears to have lovely wide gentle runs and is higher up. But especially after my recent very positive experience with Laurent at Avoriaz I now truly appreciate getting the right instructor for me and what a difference it makes. We need to decide tomorrow.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Biscuit4321 wrote: |
@old fartbag I booked Woody at Progression
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Woody is great....Fantastic with my (then very young) Son who had Dyspraxia and was very shy....He is at least one good reason to remain in VDI.
It must be 20 years ago when he was working for Snowfun. On the Saturday we were leaving, he even invited my Son to join a Private lesson he had with a quiet and shy local English girl of the same age (who he had for a lesson every Sat). He said she would enjoy the company. It worked out splendidly.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Wed 4-03-26 20:41; edited 3 times in total
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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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| Biscuit4321 wrote: |
@old fartbag I booked Woody at Progression
Thank you everyone. You are all very helpful. One thought is I could shuttle to Val Thorens as it appears to have lovely wide gentle runs and is higher up. But especially after my recent very positive experience with Laurent at Avoriaz I now truly appreciate getting the right instructor for me and what a difference it makes. We need to decide tomorrow. |
I don’t think shuttling to Val Thorens is a viable plan. There isn’t a resort bus that goes so it would be a car or taxi. And the pistes aren’t any better for learning than Les Menuires. And they can be very busy which won’t help with confidence.
Neither Les Menuires nor Val Thorens are bad places to improve your skiing. It’s just that VDI, with its green triangle and gondolas back to resort to dodge the crowds and chopped up pistes, may well be the most perfect resort anywhere for a nervous skier looking to improve and enjoy a their skiing rather than just ski the nursery slopes.
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@bouquetin, There is a free bus between Les Menuires and Val Thorens, just not on Saturdays.
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You know it makes sense.
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Totally agree with @bouquetin.
@rjs, Can you definitely take skis on that bus? Whenever I have looked I have had the impression that the buses between the resorts are intended for foot passengers?
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Wed 4-03-26 21:06; edited 1 time in total
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Ah that is wonderful
If we do end not going to VDI I very much hope we will get there in the future and we'll try and make that happen.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@abricotine, It is supposed to be foot passengers only but there have been some people with skis every time that I have been on it.
I guess the OP could rent equipment in VT from somewhere that had lockers.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Biscuit4321, after all that effort I hope you go to VDI - usually you have to pay for ski lessons when you book, is that not the case? And I wouldn't bank on being able to book somebody good at very short notice. Being "the only family" in a chalet need not be a problem - we were, once, and one of the other guests spent a couple of hours out building a snowman with our daughter, who was about 8, whilst we sat in the warm! Having the right terrain, and the right instructor, is the key to your holiday.
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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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@rjs, good to know!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Biscuit4321, I don't think VT would be a great choice for you. There are big wide greens but they're also the main routes though the centre of the resort, so everyone has to use them. That means they get busy and you'll find some very fast skiers on them. The latter isn't helped by there being some very flat bits that you need to pole or skate over if you don't have plenty of speed.
I'd stick to VDI, especially as it sounds like you've got a booking with a suitable instructor.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thank you all we have decided to go to Val d'isere. Yay! The company were not able to compensate us towards the costs of the pre-booked lessons (we did appreciate them offering the other chalet).
Really looking forward to it and will report back after! Thanks again for all the advice and that video is really helpful.
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| Quote: |
will report back after!
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Please do..... and have a great week. 
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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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| Biscuit4321 wrote: |
Thank you all we have decided to go to Val d'isere. Yay! The company were not able to compensate us towards the costs of the pre-booked lessons (we did appreciate them offering the other chalet).
Really looking forward to it and will report back after! Thanks again for all the advice and that video is really helpful. |
Like others have said above - that is most likely the correct decision.....and do let me know how you get on with Woody. If I make a recommendation, I like to know it worked out OK.
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FAQ
