The Ski Holiday Blog

Where to ski – Great resorts to go to early in the season

By Jim | Published: November 26, 2012

Where to ski – Great resorts to go to early in the season

There is a lot to consider when planning an early season ski trip. The main worry is always going to be the snow and the amount of terrain that is open for you to play on. Fortunately there are lots of options to choose from so that you can have great early season ski trip. Each year many members of our team head out for an early season trip, so we asked them for their recommendations.

Les Arcs – Will

If you’re looking for some early season snow, look no further than Les Arcs. The highest village is set at 2000m and with the Glacier within a couple of lifts there is plenty of guaranteed snow to keep you happy. Les Arcs has had a good start to the snowy season, and is all set to open in the next couple of weeks. With 200km of pistes just in Les Arcs there is plenty of terrain to keep your ski legs working! Prices for the early season are great, starting at around £399 for your flights, transfers and catered accommodation of 15th December, so why not log off the snowheads forum about what skis are best for carving a blue run and get your wallet out!

Courchevel – Marisa

Courchevel is an excellent choice for an early season ski holiday. With the top village, Courchevel (formerly Courchevel 1850) at 1750m, the only way is up! It’s consistent early snowfall has seen it as a favourite amongst those who like a great expanse of well maintained slopes and some of the best off piste in the Three Valleys. The snow has already started falling and the season is set to be as good if not better than last year. Even if the snow hasn’t fallen as thickly as it could, there are snow cannons covering the majority of pistes. There are some fantastic last minute deals to be had starting from as little as £399 it’s hard to find a reason not to get on the slopes.

Selva, Val Gardena – Adele

If you’re looking at going somewhere slightly different than the usual French resorts then why not try Selva, also known as Val Gardena to the Ski Sunday fans out there! This is part of the Dolomites ski area in Italy which is home to 500km of interconnecting slopes. The resort opens from 6th December this year which just proves how much snow they’re due to expect in the early stages of the season; if the snow’s a little late then not to worry as 90% of the area is covered by snow cannons so you’ll always have the best possible skiing conditions. Selva is particularly appealing to mixed ability  groups or families due to its great range of runs for beginners, intermediates and experts. The transfer time is only 1 ¾ hours from Innsbruck which is relatively short in comparison to other resorts! So why not book your December trip now and enjoy this fantastic Italian snow sanctuary!

Verbier – Alex

Home to over 400kms of piste, some of the best lift served off-piste in Europe and a buzzing nightlife – Verbier has a reputation for being quite expensive but if you can get away before Christmas you can experience the best of this stunning resort for much less than a trip at the end of February! Verbier has great early season conditions with its glacier and often has excellent powder in the first week of December – queues are totally non-existent outside of the school holidays and tables at some of the best mountain restaurants in the Alps are easy to secure.

Perfect for advanced and intermediate skiers who want to test themselves on the infamous itineraries, you can also enjoy some equally infamous après ski at the Farinet bar and the Farm Club as well as the up and coming Le Rouge bar and restaurant.

Val d’Isere – Lucy P

Val d’Isere is a fantastic choice for your ski holiday if you’re looking to set off early in the season! The resort itself is set at the dizzying height of 1850 metres and with the Le Fornet glacier, snow is a guarantee! For those days when you would rather not hit the slopes the busy village centre has plenty to keep everyone amused. Tignes makes up the other half of the Espace Killy region and offers an equally huge selection of pistes for you to tackle. The resort’s picturesque, traditional architecture make it a fabulous place for a pre-Christmas trip – getting into the festive spirit whilst skiing in one of Europe’s best resorts.

Les 2 Alpes – Jim

If you’re looking for a early season trip with some friends a great place to go is Deux Apes. This is a resort where you can still go skiing in the middle of June so early December up at the glacier at 3288m so no problem with snow. With packages starting at £515.00 per person with buy one get one free lift passes this is a perfect place for a good value early season break. It’s world famous snow park is ready, even for the start of the season and is always very well maintained.

Obergurgl – Max

For early season skiing it is tough to beat Obergurgl’s combination of high altitude and quiet slopes. Set amongst the mountains of Austria’s highest district, heavy flurries typically kick in from November coating the entire landscape in a thick layer of sweet, sweet powder. Forget pathetic glaciers; Obergurgl is the real deal. With mile upon mile of pistes and Hochgurgl offering a more sheltered bowl should the weather close in; you can rest assured that at 3080m this resort will have some of the best December conditions going. Families in particular will value the small, intimate nature of the village and largely queue-free lifts.

Mayrhofen – Nick

You might think a resort situated at 630 metres is an odd choice for early season jaunt. However, the slopes above Mayrhofen are at a very respectable height and the towns low altitude mean they are relatively crowd free during the early part of the season. The whole valley ski pass covers a whopping 170 lifts and just features just under 650km of piste, with the Hintertux glacier situated at one end providing year round skiing then you realise this is a resort that means to be taken seriously when it comes to early season snow time.

Whether you are a young family on one of your first trips or a group of young adults looking for a party the resort somehow manages to keep you both happy. For some Tyrolean fun this December don’t ignore Mayrhofen.

Solden – Steve

If you want a low price early season winter break with guaranteed snow, then there is nowhere better than Solden in Austria with 150km of pistes and a short bus link to the excellent resort of Obergugl with a further 110km . At just a short transfer from Innsbruck, the slopes have been open since the 1st November this year with keen skiers hitting early season powder up on the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach Glacier with skiing up to 3250m. The resort will give you everything you want from low priced Tyroler huts to early evening après ski continuing into the early hours with affordable accommodation. Get yourself to Solden this year to make the most of early season snow and quiet pistes.

La Plagne – Claire

If it’s a great deal you’re looking for in the early season, La Plagne could well be the resort to choose. Fantastic, high altitude skiing, a glacier at 3417m with almost guaranteed snow, and villages located at up to 2100m to ensure good conditions right to your doorstep. Although the Vanoise Express link over to Les Arcs doesn’t open until 22nd December, there are over 220km of pistes just on the La Plagne side of the mountain, so for holidays departing before then there will still be more than enough to keep you busy. On 15th December prices start at just £339pp for a catered chalet with Gatwick flights and transfers included; you’ll be hard pushed to find a better deal anywhere else!

Whistler – Jonny

Always wanted to ski in North America – why not book an early season ski trip to Whistler? The resort is benefitting from some excellent early season snow with 40cm of fresh falling in the past week; the snow levels on the lower piste are already at 98cm. The resort opened on the 22nd November and there are some great last minute deals to be grabbed, so break the Europe mould and try something different this winter.

Tignes – Phil

If your last ski holiday seems like a distant memory, why not beat the crowds and get out for an early season trip? As one of Europe’s highest resorts, Tignes is one of the most snow-sure resorts, and most of the slopes are well above 2000m. The Grande Motte Glacier in Tignes is already in great shape, and has in fact been open since October. With just weeks to go until the main lifts open, grab a bargain today and treat yourself and a loved one to an early Christmas present.

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Now you can ski from the age of one

By Jim | Published: November 26, 2012

Now you can ski from the age of one

If you are looking for a way to get your children into skiing even earlier, then look no further than the babysnow. Designed by an ESF instructor in Les 2 Alpes, it is essentially a pram for on the piste. This invention allows you to take your child on the slopes from as young as one.

It is designed so your infant can experience the joy of gliding on snow and really get familiar with skiing at an early age. The design consists of a mini snowboard with a handle and a fixed frame that the child sits in.

If you want your youngster to try this out then you can get lessons and equipment at from the ESF in Morzine or Les 2 Alpes.

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The History of Alpe d’Huez

By Jim | Published: November 21, 2012

The History of Alpe d’Huez

Up until 1950 Alpe d’Huez was a coal mining town. The extreme deforestation that resulted from the mining caused the town to be buried under a succession of avalanches in the late 1940s. It was an avalanche in 1950, which hit a dorm and killed 12 people that finally ended the mining.

It was due to the mining activity that Huez got its first cable car in 1905. This was not for the use of skiers, but for the transportation of coal to the valley town of Bourg d’Oisans. Skiing was first introduced in 1911 by a local school teacher. As word spread about the quality of the ski touring in the area a small tourism boom started.  But it wasn’t until the French Touring club paid a visit and decided that they would build a refuge for its members there, that the potential started to be realised.

In 1928 the Touring Clubs refuge, in what is now known as Alpe d’Huez, was completed. Over the next few years more people took interest in the village and investment started to come in and the station slowly expanded. Hotels started springing up and plans for a Cable car to the peak of the 3330m Pic Blanc began to take place. The other major development that was ongoing at this time was the infamous road to Alpe d’Huez, with its 21 hairpin bends, now synonymous with the mountain stages of the Tour de France.

The road was completed in 1935 which led to a turning point in the resort’s history the following year. In 1936 the resort’s first ski school was opened along with a pioneering drag lift. This drag lift was built by a Polish man called Jean Pomagalski, and this was the beginning of the ski lift company Poma which we now see in ski resorts around the world.

During the Second World War development stopped and the region became an area famed for skirmishes between the Nazis and the resistance. Many local people in Alpe d’Huze harboured allied pilots that had been shot down as well as Jewish refugees.  One popular story from war time Alpe d’Huze is about a commander in the German army who defied orders to murder all the men in the village due to his love of alpine sport.

Once the war had ended development of the resort resumed. The resort became fashionable due to the sunny slopes of the mountains, which is also why it is called the Island of Sunshine. Over the 20 year period from the end of the war in 1945 over 30 hotels were built and the ski area expanded.  It wasn’t until 1950 that work finally started on the Cable Car to the Pit Blanc summit. This was completed in 1962, but during this time the network of lifts began to expand.

The Olympics came to Alpe d’Huez in 1968 when the resort hosted the Bobsleigh completion during the Grenoble Winter Olympics, which boosted the resorts profile and infrastructure. If you go to Alpe d’Huez today you won’t find the bob run in resort any longer. Due to the sunny nature of the resort the track had to be refrigerated to keep it useable which made it expensive to build and maintain. It would also have been expensive to run after the Games, so it was constructed as a temporary structure and removed after the Olympics had finished.

By 1980 the resort had 58 lifts in operation but was under pressure to keep up with  the purpose built resorts that were starting to pop up in Savoie region. The next thirty years saw more major developments in the resort including the impressive Marmottes cable car. Today the resort boasts 84 lifts and 263km of piste, putting it in the top 20 largest ski resorts in the world.

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By Jim | Published: November 2, 2012

Top Independent Ski Schools In The Alps

We asked our followers on Facebook and on Twitter for their recommendations for their favourite small and independent ski schools in the Alps. We he have narrowed them down to a top 4 that represent a selection of what is out there. Some of the ski schools are part of a larger company that operate in several resorts and some only operated in one resort. Let us know if you have a favourite ski school in the comments below.

The European Ski and Snowboard School – Les Deux Alpes

“Friendly, reliable and honest. Good instruction in lots of languages.” – Alex Chapman. This ski school is based in Les Deux Alpes and was recommend by our Facebook fan Alex Chapman. As Alex says the European Ski and Snowboard School (ESS) are able to instruct in several languages due to the mixed nationalities that they have as instructors. Each instructor holds the highest qualification in their respective country as well as the required French equivalent. Along with all the usual courses you can expect, the ESS also run Freestyle and Freeride lessons, enabling you to really improve in the area you choose.

Tinderbox – Chamonix

Tinderbox was recommended by our Twitter friend and follower @SkiGrimentz. The reason they were suggested was “for their approach and attention to individual technique problems, plus they are lovely folks too”. We have struggled to find anything that contradicts their good nature and it seems that they really are keen on the individual approach; the ski school prides itself on tailoring lessons to the needs of the pupil. Much of the instructing is done by Chris Fecher, a professional British Freerider. Anyone who has had a generic group ski lesson will be able to tell you that progression is slow and what held them back was the lack of attention from an instructor. This is something that you won’t experience with Tinderbox.

New Gen – St Martin de Belleville

Chalet Owner James Greenway recommended New Gen and he says that “There isn’t a better ski school in the alps.” James who runs the La Maison and The Loft in St Martin has a good relationship with the New Gen ski school and recommends them to all his guests. If you are recommending a company to your own customers you need to know that they are going to provide the service you have promised. It is this reason that New Gen is a growing as a ski school across the Alps with schools in the Three Valleys and the Espace Killy. New Gen is fast becoming the preferred alternative to the established ESF with British tourists.

Optimum Snowsports – Saas Fee

Optimum Snowsoports was recommended through Facebook by Lesley Nicholson. The ski school started in 2009 and has been offering ski and snowboard lessons ever since. They are the only British run school in Sass Fee. The team is friendly and keen to help anyone improve no matter what their standard and all the instructors have a real passion for the mountains. Optimum offer a variety of packages for group or individual lessons, or you can get an instructor for the day from about £300.

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What happened this weekend in the Alps

By Jim | Published: October 30, 2012

What happened this weekend in the Alps

Forget the Relentless Freeze Festival and the Birmingham Ski and Snowboard Show this is what actually happened in the Alps this weekend.  On Friday many of the resorts were green and warm. During Saturday and Sunday all that changed and now they are beautifully white and cold.  We posted this first picture of how the snow had changed Val d’Isere on our Facebook page. People liked the image so much we wanted to show you the difference  that the recent snow has made in more resorts.

Val d'Isere with snow

La Plagne

la plagne

Courchevel

courch

Alpe d’Huez

Alpe d'huez

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Great Resorts To Spend New Year’s Eve

By Jim | Published: October 16, 2012

Great Resorts to Spend New Year’s Eve In

The staff at Interactive Resort have been in the mountains to welcome in the New Year on many occasions.  Seeing in the New Year in a ski resort is always fun especially if you like to party and there is no better way to get rid of that New Years Day headache than a blast down the mountain. We asked our team to tell us their NYE stories.

Val D’isere – Sam Brook

ny_courchevel_400

The best New Year I have had in the Alps was last year in Val d’Isere. Though there were big name DJ’s playing in Dick’s Tea Bar, we chose to go to Morris pub instead for just 10 Euros each. Here the legendary British band ‘Mullet’ was playing who live out in France during the winter season touring resorts. The pub was packed with a mixture of seasonaires and guests all drinking 1080’s (pint of wine, Cassis, and lemonade). After dancing the night away to live covers tracks of The Killers and The Strokes we did the countdown to the New Year which was followed by everyone rushing outside onto the main street. From here we could see the awe inspiring firework show after which there was the biggest snowball fight I have ever seen with one side of the central street against the other.

Verbier - Alex Chruscikowski

For one night a year the Swiss throw away any notion of Health & Safety regulations and give a good go at challenging the Austrians to the title of “Biggest Party Animals in the Alps” -  Verbier has the best New Year’s Eve countdown in the entire country and you can’t help but be caught up with the energy in the Place Centrale.  You will see:

  1. Naked people climbing 40ft up telegraph poles.
  2. People setting off huge rockets by just holding them above their head.
  3. 200 bottles of champagne being popped at once.
  4. DJ’s playing very loud music.
  5. Everyone having a brilliant time

If that’s not the recipe for a great New Years then I don’t know what is…..

St Anton – Toby Ruddle

On NYE the whole high street, becomes one big party. The bars open their doors and the giant decking above the Picadilly’s, in the heart of the highstreet, hosts numerous DJs, musicians and the all important countdown. By the time the clock strikes for the 12th time everyone is singing, smiling and hugging the stranger standing next to you. People are in every doorway, line every alley and even hang from the trees to enjoy the Austrian après scene on this vast scale!

La Plagne (Bellecote) – Claire Davey

Although La Plagne may not be the obvious destination for your New Year getaway if you’re looking for a big party, surprisingly, the resort does provide a fantastic celebration for the arrival of the new year. For new year week the Front de la Neige at Plagne Bellecote is transformed into a party zone, with a huge stage, sophisticated lighting and sound system, as well as beer and wine tents and info areas. All the bars and restaurants fronting the piste also put on some special deals  and the mulled wine and champagne flows aplenty.

The party gets going when it gets dark and continues until about 1 or 2am. With live singers and a DJ set later in the evening, all the elements are there for a great night of Europop fun to bring in the new year. If you want to carry on later, Cosy nightclub in Bellecote and Saloon bar in Belle Plagne both stay open until the small hours and both will drop you home to your accommodation in their free minibus service. It’s a surprisingly good night out and should definitely be considered for a New Year’s Eve with a difference.

Tignes – Phil Machin

Tignes is a great resort no matter when you visit, but it really shines over the New Year week. Most importantly of course, you are pretty much guaranteed good snow conditions as the resort is so high. You even have access to two glaciers in the Espace Killy. The ski area suits every ability of skier or boarder, from complete beginner to the most advanced, so everyone will be kept happy. The most noteworthy event is on New Year’s Eve itself – there is a massive outdoor party on the snow – thousands of holidaymakers and locals alike flock to the centre of Tignes Le Lac for a live DJ set (from the likes of David Guetta and Laurent Wolf), which runs until midnight. As the clock strikes twelve, there’s an impressive firework display, then the bars and clubs stay open late for those that want to party into the small hours. Loop Bar followed by the Caves du Lac would be my pick! Just remember your hipflask and wear a lot of clothes – it gets pretty chilly outside at 2100m at midnight!

Goldegg am see – Jim Duncombe

I have spent one New Year’s Eve in Goldegg with my family. It was a pleasant and fun evening suitable for all the family. Celebrating with me was my grandparents, who were 70 plus years, my mum and dad and my younger sister, age 10. I don’t remember which restaurant we based ourselves for the evening but there was local singing and dancing. It was a very traditional affair compared to the euro party you would get elsewhere. I was very young at the time but I remember it fondly and we all talk about it still. So if you’re looking to for a quite time in a less commercialised resort, then Goldegg am see may be the resort for you this New Year’s Eve.

To chat to one of the above team members about spending your NYE in a ski resort, then please call us on 020 3080 0200.

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Snow Train Tickets Now On Sale

By Jim | Published: October 11, 2012

Ski Train tickets on sale now!

Snowtrain

If you are planning to travel to the Alps this winter by train then the time has come to book your ticket. The Eurostar direct service from London operates on Saturdaysfrom the 21st December until the 13th of April.  Ticket went on sale from the 11th September and will cost from £149 return.

France

The direct train goes from London to Bourg St Maurice and will stop in Moutiers and Aime. If you alight in Moutiers you can access Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens in the Three Valleys very easily. The station of Aime allows a very short transfer to the many villages of La Plagne.  Next to Bourg St Maurice station is a bus service that has regular coach services to Val d’Isere, Tignes and La Rosiere.  There is also direct access to Les Arcs on the funicular that runs up to Les Arcs 1600 every 10 -15 minutes.

You can also get access to other French resorts by using the new Eurostar’s Swiss Service, (see below), as the train calls at Aigle and Martigny. Aigle allows you to get short transfers to resorts in the Portes Du Soleil, such as Morzine and Avoriaz. The train also calls at Martigny where you can change for the Mont Blanc Express that will take you to Chamonix and the many resorts in the Chamonix Valley.

Switzerland

MuellerThe train for the Swiss resorts is not quite direct as it does involve a small change. But the Eurostar team have made this as easy as possible. The Train will depart from London St Pancras at 06:57 it will arrive in Lille at 09:26 where you will cross the platform onto a waiting train. From Lille you will head towards the snowy resorts of the Alps. The train will then stop at Martigny, Visp and Brig. From Martigny, you can access the resort of Verbier which is a 30 minute transfer. At Visp you can either catch a bus up to Saas Fee or get on the Gotthard Railway to Zermatt.

To book accommodation in any of these resorts go to our website catered-ski-chalets.co.uk

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Best snow parks in Europe

By Jim | Published: October 3, 2012

Best snow parks in Europe

The first official, purpose-built snow park was created in Vail in 1990. This sparked a large change in resorts’ attitudes towards snowboarders, and ski resorts soon realised that there was a lot of money to be made by attracting boarders, rather than outlawing them. Thanks to the prevalence of ski and board movies, international events such as the X Games and of course the introduction of freestyle events to the Winter Olympics programme, freestyle skiing and boarding is becoming increasingly popular.

The last 22 years or so have seen snow parks grow in number and size. Rather than having just a few jumps and a rail or two, most parks now have a massive range of features. You’ll find everything from beginner level to monster kickers (we’re talking 100 ft or so), along with different shapes of rails and boxes, half-pipes, spines and even the occasional oil drum.

Most European resorts now have at least one snow park, but there are a few that are particularly well known – and for very good reasons. We’ve handpicked some of the top European resorts that every ‘park rat’ should visit!

Les Deux Alpes

Les Deux Alpes Snow Park

The parks in Les Deux Alpes (L2A) are some of the most famous in Europe. There’s a large park in winter that’s looked after particularly well and has a wide range of features, but where the resort really shines is in summer. L2A’s glacier is open for summer skiing, and (along with race training) it’s mainly used for freestyle training, camps and comps. The park is set up in such a way that you can hit kicker after kicker and choose the size of jumps to suit / push you.

Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen Snow Park

Mayrhofen attracts a lot of freestylers, thanks to the Vans Penken park. Being sponsored by one of the biggest brands in extreme sports gives an indication of its quality and reputation. Along with the ubiquitous kickers, you’ll find a massive range of other features; step ups, huge spines and a large range of rails and boxes.

Val d’Isère

Val d’Isère Snow Park

Val d’Isère boasts a great park that occupies a large section on the La Daille side of the Bellevarde area. Easily accessible from both Val and Tignes, the park is served by a drag and a button lift to keep you riding all day long. The park is sponsored by another Giant in snowsports, Oakley. Some of the kickers are enormous and you’ll regularly see sponsored riders and pros perfecting their tricks.

Val Thorens

Val Thorens Snow Park

If you’re looking for a huge, flowing park, search no further than Val Thorens. While the landings can be a little hard in the colder months, the altitude of Val Thorens really lends itself to riding the park in the spring. Where other resorts’ parks can suffer towards the end of the season, the shapers and groomers in VT work tirelessly to keep the park in pristine condition, right up until May.

Méribel-Mottaret

Méribel-Mottaret Snow Park

The DC Area-43 Park above Méribel-Mottaret is a staggering 1.2km long. You’ll find a massive number of features that suit all levels of skier or rider, and you can choose a number of different lines to really vary your runs through it. Sitting in the heart of the Three Valleys, it’s easily accessible from Val Thorens and Courchevel, with quick links to get you back home at the end of the day.

Avoriaz

Avoriaz Snow Park

The concept of the Stash Park was developed by Jake Burton, founder of the world famous snowboard and clothing manufacturer. The original Stash was founded in North Star, CA, and Burton chose Avoriaz as the only European resort he considered suitable for a version this side of the Atlantic. No metal is used in the construction of the various obstacles and features as the stash is 100% natural, using local timber to create the ‘rails’, ‘boxes’ and kickers.

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Stay in an igloo and go skiing

By Jim | Published: September 25, 2012

Ever wanted to stay in an igloo?

Capture3When deciding what chalet you would like to stay in on your annual ski holiday are you looking for a good meal, open fire, lovely wine, warm sleeping bag and walls made of ice and snow? If this sounds like your ideal accommodation you are probably keen to stay in an Igloo. If this doesn’t sound like your perfect holiday maybe a more traditional ski chalet may suit you.

If you chose the former option then you may want to consider taking your ski holiday in La Plagne this winter. Since 2008 there has been an Igloo village in the resort and it is open for you to book into for a night of wintery fun. The igloo village is run by a company called Black Sheep Igloos who offer a selection of igloo based activities for those that think skiing just isn’t enough fun.

Capture1

The first option is for a meal only experience where you will get a welcome Vin Chaud, followed by cheese fondue and dessert. This all comes accompanied with local wine and probably a Griolle to finish. This is a perfect place to eat on the chalet staff night off. The second option that after your meal you can spend the night in the igloo. You can opt to share one with 4 other people or if you are looking for something more is romantic you can get an igloo for two, although this does come with separate sleeping bags.

Prices for the meal only are €45 and if you want to spend the night then prices start at €80, the company takes advanced bookings. To find out more you can go to their website www.blacksheep-igloo.com.

Capture

If you want to book a holiday to La Plagne then check out our website that is dedicated to holidays in La Plagne www.laplagnechalets.co.uk .
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Our Top Five Ski Runs

By Jim | Published: September 18, 2012

Our Top Five Ski Runs

Often top five lists of the greatest ski runs feature impossibly difficult runs that suit the hardened ski racer, rather than the casual tourist. That’s why when we decided to choose our favourite runs we considered what we thought made them enjoyable. After we all had our say we asked the run’s champion to describe why it was so special to them. Feel free to share your favourite run in the comments below.

groomed-pisteFolyeres, La Tania – Championed by Matt our Sales Manager

For those who have skied it, the mere thought of sitting at the top of the Folyeres piste in La Tania is enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Sitting above La Tania and lined by trees from top to bottom, the Folyeres piste rolls and turns down through the forest and back into La Tania. It starts off a piste like any other, but before you know it you’re flying down the run, flying past the pine trees lining the way and approaching the first turn. Hard left, duck down and hit the lip…. take off….. boom, you landed it! Hold your nerve and hunker down for a straight bit. Round to the right you hit another lip, more air time! Varying gradients along the rest of the run keep it exciting, from steep bursts to flat-lining along the straights. It ends in a steep drop down into resort, but any responsible rider would slow down before arrival! Folyeres is quite simply 4 to 5 minutes of the most fun you can have on a piste. It’s as simple as that.

La Sache, Tignes – Championed by Tignes Expert Phil

La Sache is one of the most (in)famous runs in the Espace Killy. The black run starts just below the Aiguille Percée at 2748m and takes you down all the way to Les Brévières at 1550m. It’s long, steep and undoubtedly deserves its black rating. It’s only groomed once a week, so to avoid (often very large) moguls, it’s best to ski it early in the week. In the right conditions it’s a beautiful run, and there are lots of different sections and gradients. You can let rip on the wider, open parts, while the narrower, steeper sections need to be tackled with a bit more care. When you reach the bottom you’ll probably be glad of a break, and there are a couple of lovely cafés in Les Brévières to try out.

Jerusalem ,Meribel – Championed by Harriet Senior Sales Consultant and Val d’Isere know-it-all

Having skied in many resorts across Europe and Canada the Jerusalem in the 3 valleys is still one of my favourite runs of all time. This run is located just down from the Tougnete lift on the right hand side, this rolling hill run is such a lot of fun. It has the feeling of a rollercoaster which goes on forever and ever. This run in my experience hardly ever gets touched and so you often find yourselves being the only ones on these – heaven.  One of the best parts of this run is ending up in the tranquil and picturesque village of St Martin de Belleville, a perfect spot for lunch.

Carella, La Plagne – Championed by our resident La Plagne expert Clairelap

Take the Roche de Mio gondola up from Bellecote and get out at the top. Instead of transferring to the glacier gondola (Bellecote), clip your skis on and head down the Carella piste toward Champagny. Keep left where the piste splits four ways and follow this fantastic, wide and varied blue run all the way down. For the more experienced do the top section off piste beneath the chairlift (called Carella as well) by dropping off to the left after you exit the gondola.

Then just cruise this varied and exciting piste all the way down the back of the La Plagne piste map – you’ll need to straight-line some sections, while other sections offer wide open piste at a great gradient for perfecting your carving. Be careful of people milling about at the foot of the Carella and Quills chairs as you speed through. Carry on down all the way to the Borselliers restaurant enjoying the sunshine on this southfacing area of the mountain. Again good skiers can nip off to the left to explore some deeper but not too steep powder. Stop at the restaurant Borselliers for a hot chocolate served in a bowl or a beer on the huge sun terrace. Then continue on down the home run to Champagny – it’s a red run and can be narrow in places, but do it in the middle of the day and you’ll hardly meet a soul. That’s 2700m to 1250m – a drop of 1450m without a lift!

Coupe du Monde, Avoriaz – Championed by Ex-Meribel Seasonnaire Chris

Starting at the peak which towers above Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil ski area, is a black run called the Coupe du Monde. Not for the faint hearted, this run begins with a steep, often bumpy descent along a mountain ridge with 2 massive fall-aways on either side. For advanced skiers it’s certainly a thrill! Once that’s over and done with the run continues around the side of Avoriaz and down through the trees, where you can either take a chairlift back up towards the town center area or continue down towards the base of the Prodains cable car, at the base of the cliff upon which Avoriaz sits. If you have the leg strength, taking the piste down will see you flying down the mountainside along the ridge then navigating your way through a steep, often quite mogully section, before lining up the home straight and going for it. Tackling the entire stretch non-stop from top to bottom will leave you feeling ready to pass out, heart racing and legs full of lactic acid, but it’s  a great one to cross off the list!

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