⛷️ ❄️ Skiing and Snowboarding 23-24 🏔️ 🏂

2 trips booked - Sainte-Foy Tarentaise and Morillon (Grand Massif). Self-catered, driving down. Meeting friends for some of the trip. Maybe spend a day or two in nearby resorts to explore. Can't really justify new gear as the stuff we have still works

Not booked anything yet. Summer hols first next week and the week after, so will need to pay that of before thining about winter....

Will probably go to the Alpes or Pyrenees though.

After nearly 20 years of skiing in France, the group I ski with have made the radical decision to go to St Anton, Austria next March.

Thanks for asking.

Taking my wife and little boy to Avoriaz for 10 days over xmas/NY, a bit of a landmark holiday for us so very much looking forward to it.  It's BA's fault, silly flight prices to Geneva so I booked it without realising how expensive accommodation is over xmas but you only live once.

Going again with friends 2 weeks after that which is weird as I don't really like skiing that much so limit it to once every 2 or 3 years

I miss Flashy.

Anyway the hope is for snow (not just at the very beginning of the season Dec or at the very end in  April).

My fear is to 'not' have the fitness I need, get an injury or illness (which always seems to happen).

I'm really hoping to get at least one trip in next season. I had a new hip last December and have just had an ankle operation to repair damage from being hit by a car, so it's all going to be a bit of a test to see what's possible. I'm going to need to get some new boots as well, to accommodate my ankles that are now a somewhat different shape to when my boots were fitted!

Not having skied for about 20yrs, my sister has twisted my arm into going early next year. Probably France. Hoping it's not too dissimilar to riding a bike as I'm no longer 20 something.

I miss Flashy.

He certainly brought a certain je ne sais quoi to this place

My fear is to ‘not’ have the fitness I need, get an injury or illness (which always seems to happen).

I seem to always be ill at Xmas/NY which is making me reluctant to book flights for then even with the hotel reserved. 🙁

The usual Verbier trip for 3 weeks. Flying out on the 2nd Jan. Maybe try for a week in March budget depending!

big birthday this year for me so decided to go (quite) a bit mental

Heading off to Argentina this Saturday for three weeks, with a couple of weeks coaching in that, down to San Carlos de Bariloche.

Joining some ski clinics there, but its okay apparently its wetter than an otters pocket this week and it isnt exactly the largest ski area to begin with so might end up being a complete disaster.

Then late December out to Kitzsteinhorn, for a week - again as likely to be snow-tastic or icy as hell minus double figures and high winds, probably back there early January after the Christmas rush has died down and before it gets busy.

Toying with trying to get a long weekend touring in somewhere if I can get the planets to align.....

Woo, always love this thread. It's a shame the captain is too busy with paperclips to get on it, his knowledge and passion for the subject was always appreciated!

After sticking to France for ages and having a great time last year (with the exception of a failed transfer on the way out) I'm vaguely tempted to look at Italy, but I may end up doing some work on the house and missing out, but I hate that idea!

Morzine in Feb half term with 2 other families.

2 weeks leave at the end of March, so will wait out on the conditions.

Mate is coaching in Verbier next season so probably a couple of 3 day visits to him.

Was very disciplined and stayed with my old battered Rab jacket for skiing last season as I knew Norrona outlet would get stocked at the end of the season. It paid off. Got a Lofoten jacket for £260.

Definite lads long weekend booked for early January though still need to decide on a resort. Probably an Easter trip too given how good April was this year and maybe even a late April trip again too if conditions hold out. Big birthday year so might still swap the two late trips out for one big one, would really like to go back to British Columbia as not been for a long time, Fernie definitely on the list of places to revisit.

Mayrhofen next year. I hope it's good!!

Not sure this year, but it won't be 3 valleys, Les gets or Obergurgl this year, we've done them to death and fancy a change.

Might even just do a fortnight drive to Massif Central and ski Lioran and Super Besse if conditions are any good.

Eldest daughter is going on the School trip this year so it will be three of us for an Easter trip somewhere. Going to leave that to a last minute booking we think. Looking at a Christmas or HT trip but finding it hard to commit either way.
We’re are a bit fed up with the offering that the French resorts have. Not the skiing that’s first class but food wise it’s all just the same everywhere. Pizza and local beige. Looking for a bit if a change. I have a hankering for traditional Swiss or Austrian maybe.

Off to the Dolomites once again

Zermatt is top of the list at the moment. But spendy and doesn’t suit my self drive leanings too well.

Pizza and local beige

When one tires of tartiflette, one tires of life itself 😉

What are the the group opinions of Cervinia, relative to Tignes, Meribel, Les Arcs?

Cervinia is very different indeed to the mega French resorts and generally speaking, will appeal to a different skier.

Local ski area is quite a bit smaller than your French names but with a Swiss mega resort linked on the other side of the hill, you have options.  The Italian side is mellow, the Swiss side still mellow if you're staying in the nearest sector.  Heli-skiing is cheaper than many other sites but should we still be doing that..?

The wine and hot chocolate are great and cheaper than France.  If you want to go over to Zermatt and have a Michelin starred lunch, that's a viable day out though..  But well spendy.

Off to a vet conference in Florida in Jan. Then flying to Salt Lake City and meeting my friend for 10 days of skiing in Utah. Shame it wasn’t this year when they had 75 feet of snow but hopefully will manage to sample the famous Utah powder. Later on hoping to head to the Arctic Circle with the family for more of a road tour but possibly with the odd day or two of skiing…

what is going on with stw at the moment? Weird ‘plugins’ making my text go odd…

Easter is early this year - booked.

Elder son going to Italy at half term. I’m scrabbling round for holidays so the rest of us can go somewhere then too.

Had some lessons for the first time in 20 years last year. Well, well worth it. Knocked 20 years of bad habits and growing risk-averse-ness out of me in a couple of days.

We're trying to ski as 'environmentally green' as possible. Driving not flying to France, self catered, shopping locally, using the refill shop, recycling and reusing, wearing (apart from 4 year old jacket) all my old skiing gear, taking the bus to the actual ski areas (bus service is quite good in Morillon, Samoens and Flaine). The French have been energy saving and don't always run certain lifts and certainly running them at a slower pace.

Looked at Cervinia before, both times I have been to Zermatt, the link to Cervinia has been shut for the whole time. I wouldn't want to be stuck in Cervinia for a week. They are building a new 'tourist' link but not checked when that will be open or if it will be a more stable connection..

5 years since I last went. I'm desperate to go again, but now it would have to be a family trip with a non skiing partner and a (obviously) non skiing 5 year old. I'm just not sure how that is even possible, or workable with Parents and one child.
Mum has skiied before but is effectively a beginner again, and Laddo is a 'slow burner' on anything physical. Someone give me hope!

We are going into the Alps on holiday this summer though so I can heopefully enlighten them in the joy of being in the mountains!

Thanks Highlandman and theDTs might keep looking at a self drive option to France/Tignes then, we loved the hotel this year and I suspect I'd struggle to persuade my wife to go elsewhere this season!

My knowledge of Morzine and the PDS is pretty good but here is something I know little about.

We're a 3 family group staying in Morzine, across the bridge from the super morzine. The kids lessons are up in Avoriaz. Obvious route up is via the prodains. Here's where I'm after any info.

We're a 10-15 minute (not ideal with young kids and ski gear) walk from the bus route so we're planning on driving and parking at the prodains. Are we going to get a parking space at 0830 or will it be rammed?

The lessons start at 0915 at the plateau. Other option could be drive up to Avoriaz and park but then we miss the home run to the top of the super morzine which would be great for the kids.

Ardent bubble doesn't open until 0850 which would be a bit tight.

This is in Feb half term BTW.

Finland just before xmas, and might do a last minute half term trip as our area seems to be a bit off centre with the rest of the country.
Got a new jones mountain twin on order and some nidecker supermatic steep in bindings.
Looking forward to those

Been invited on the school ski trip as a first timer in February half term - any tips?

Why not go up super morzine then zore, ski to proclou up and then down to the plateau? Takes about 45min with an 8yr old learner.

Frankly, I’m envious of everyone with knowledge of skiing holidays.  I’ve never been and always wanted to go, and vowed to go this time round after a truly terrible 2023.  Non-skier, save for a few hours at Xscape but I have no clue where to even start looking for resorts and passes and equipment.  I know what’s going to happen, I’ll dilly dally and that’s another year missed.

Five of us, all non-skiers, if you have any thoughts. Will have to be school holidays*.

*ie, ££££££

Yeh, I'd thought of that but the lesson start time is 0915. Don't think super morzine opens until 0845. Plus that flattish cat track under the road would be hard work with the kids if it's not in tip top condition.

Edit! Just saw the super morzine opens at 0830, sorry! Yeh, could be an option.....

@schmikem

First timer as in beginner?

1) Assuming you are 30+ they advice would be to warm up / stretch/ mobility routine in the morning prior to putting the skis/ snowboard on. You will fall. Being warm you may hurt yourself less

2) It's very very easy to have a big night on the turps when you are out on the snow. So much fun.  Recognise that your ability to operate two slidey sticks on your feet may be impaired.

3) It will be an absolutely awesome time.

@schmikem
If snowboarding then get armour. Shorts, knee pads for definite.
If skiing then just learn to look miserable ;p

Plus that flattish cat track under the road would be hard work with the kids if it’s not in tip top condition

Got my 5 year old down that no problem after just a couple of basic lessons, just carry a block of wax on holiday with you if you have kids hire skis.

Also, with kids stomping around and ski kit - use the ski lockers by the main lifts. I think it's 50 euro for a week in Morzine. Really, really worthwhile with younger children in my experience.

Have done small child ski school in both Avoriaz and over on the Pleney. In honesty, for an easy life I'd drive up and take the snow park drag lift to get to the plateau, if i had to be there and ready for 09.15. It's not like the lower sections of the return to Super Morzine bubble are a load of fun with young/unconfident skiers.

Thanks OwenP, definitely food for thought. Just out of interest, what car park in Avoriaz to use and how would you get to the meeting point?Avoriaz lay out always confuses me!

Thinking of hiring their kit from the ski set at the super morzine. They offer overnight storage. Could start and finish the day there as long as it opens from 8am.

I always just use the open air carpark - just off to the left as you get to the roundabout at the edge of Avoriaz resort. BUT if I have the kids and another adult, I always spin up to the covered drop-off, let them out there and all the kit, and take the car back to the car park.

From the open air car park, you can cross the road and jump on the snow park drag lift for a couple of minutes, and from the top (just above the Folie Douce and Yeti) you can access any part of Avoriaz.

From the covered car drop off, you just follow the resort snow road down and round above the sledging hill, drops you into ski school. Can be a little slow if its churned by the horses, but it's low stress and most direct if you are in a hurry.

For us and driving - car drop off the kids and an adult as above, they head to ski school, driver parks up, grabs their own kit and heads over to meet up, by which time the kids can be sorted and away on the lesson.

Remember coming up Prodains means another chair lift as well, if you need to get to the main ski school area. It's a heck of a uphill walk otherwise.

@rockhopper, for a 1st timer I’d recommend looking at a package deal, takes away a load of stress for your 1st time as they’ll sort out travel, passes, hire and take care if anything goes wrong late flight, missing luggage etc but it will be a little pricier than doing it yourself. We’ve used Crystal who have been ok.

What hols are you thinking of xmas/mid-term/Easter as that may change where folk would recommend.

We drove to Prodain, parked fine, plenty of time to get up.
But it was Easter

It’s great when the kids get to an age when you don’t all need to rush out the door to get to ski school. That never brings out the best in anyone. I remember having to bus up to Tignes from 1800 to get the kids into lessons. Bunch of about 150 trying to get in a 50 seat bus with small kids and kit. Carnage!

New ski family, package option for sure. Don’t buy all the kit, borrow if you can. You won’t all need snow boots, you will need good sunglasses and probably goggles. EBay, FB marketplace and Snowheads are good places for used kit. Also check out you local charity shops we have had loads of good kit from ours.

Thanks for the info. I'll speak to the other families. I think I'll do the prodains the first morning, then have a look at the other options.

Bathgate Ski Club trip to la Thuile in March.

Apart from that hoping for some decent snow on the Scottish hills.

@Earl,

First timer as in beginner?

Yes indeed!

1) Assuming you are 30+ they advice would be to warm up / stretch/ mobility routine in the morning prior to putting the skis/ snowboard on. You will fall. Being warm you may hurt yourself less

Thanks, great advice!

2) It’s very very easy to have a big night on the turps when you are out on the snow. So much fun. Recognise that your ability to operate two slidey sticks on your feet may be impaired.

Not a drinker, so no worries there!

Whistler in March for 3 weeks. Decided to go for a decent amount of time to maximise the chances of really good conditions. It feels like everytime we go for a shorter stay the best snow is always just before or after we leave.

Yes indeed!

Great, it's a lovely experience and a school trip helper is probably a great way to have a first time experience, rather than a stag do or something which isn't focussed on the mountain activity.

I honestly wouldn't worry - mountain resorts are generally incredibly supportive and focussed on first timers or novices in the main.

You don't need to spend mega pounds on anything in advance. Obviously hire the main stuff. As with every other sport, Decathlon is just fine for essentials, but you'll find that waterproof kit from other activities works just fine on skis.

Absolute Snow is basically the Chain Reaction Cycles of snowsports, if you did want to look into "stuff" a bit more.

We are off to the Grand Massif for 2 weeks in Jan, fingers crossed for better weather than this year.

No new kit. I'll still be looking like a short, green frog in my lovely Norrona jacket although I did buy some green replacement lenses for my goggles to complete the frog look

Season passes purchased, before the discount expires. Ouch. Another month before the balance is due for the apartment

Remind me NBT, where did you decide in the end?

Back to Verbier from mid December until end of Feb. Yup @NBT lift passes - ouch indeed!

Stop complaining you two. I’m struggling with jealousy as it is. 🤣. Very much a plan once the kids are packed off to uni. A few years to wait unless I win the lotto though.

Another Q for NBT, what did you do about the 90 days? Stay under or sort visa?

We're doing two trips to stay under the 90 days, coming home for a month in the middle over half term to avoid the high prices / big crowds. Main stay is Morillon in the Grand Massif with a trip to Ste Foy Tarentaise so we can ski with friends

Starting to think about another ski holiday next year. Last time, and the last holiday I've had, was back in early 2020 just before the pandemic kicked off. However, I've got a long term knee injury that needs checked out, so might need an hour on the slope at the chill factor to see if it holds up.

Off to the Three Valleys in February.  Haven't been on a board or skis for 9 years but i'm sure it'll come back to me soon enough.

Ooooh @nbt you're off to Morillon, we spent our honeymoon there.

We had our first experience of a UCPA holiday in Flaine earlier this year and it was fantastic, hotel, 3 meals a day, lessons, ski hire and kids clubs all included in the price.

We enjoyed it so much we're off to La Plange with them for new year.

Looking at going away in Easter with junior750, Any recommendations? Anyone been to Hajfell ?
She is a competent skier but looking to learn snowbaording

We are off to Serre Chavelier for the first time at half term looking forward to a change of resort, driving down again fingers crossed for lower temperatures than last year.

We had our first experience of a UCPA holiday in Flaine earlier this year and it was fantastic, hotel, 3 meals a day, lessons, ski hire and kids clubs all included in the price.

@scaled - would be interested to hear more about ucpa family weeks. I've done some ski touring/off piste with the Argentiere centre so the basic principle of ucpa appeals.

Looking for a recommendation of somewhere to stay in France, normally we just get transfers and stay in a resort.

However this time, one of the group wants to stay out of resort and try visit a few resorts by driving. Any suggestions?

@mlltt the immediate options which spring to mind would be to stay in the Chamonix valley area (maybe somewhere like St Gervais) which means you can access the ski area there but also drive to Contamines (please don’t tell too many people about it as it’s great), up to Les Houches, all of the areas down to Vallorcine and even through the tunnel to Courmayeur. Enough to keep anyone busy for a week.

Alternatively you could try Bourg St Maurice as a base and access Les Arcs on the funi, drive up to La Plagne, drive up to Tignes, Val and Sainte Foy as well as Rosiere. Again loads to go at and more than enough to keep you busy.

 one of the group wants to stay out of resort and try visit a few resorts by driving

Check out Denfinella's trip reports over on snowheads, he's a master at this sort of trip and his reports are REALLY good

https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=162891

Just bear in mind that starting each day with a drive of 30 minutes to an hour (followed by the same trip hom at the end of the day) can quickly become a chore - you need to plan well and be up early to make it to resort and park up (especially on a powder day), and it does limit the idea of having a quick slurp after you finish

Yep the driving to and from the lifts can become a bit of a drag (though pretty much the default for USA and Canada).

Hence my suggestion of a base which still has access to the slopes but is near enough to other areas to mix things up. I’ve done exactly this both from St Gervais and Chamonix in the past which gave enough variety between the ski areas to feel like you’re definitely somewhere new instead of munching up the miles on the piste going from one end of a resort to another.

I’m off for a weeks cat boarding in north macedonia with maverix snow

anyone ridden over in that neck of the woods?

done a back country course with Neil McNair in sainte foy last year which was awesome so hopefully will get some decent powder

Thanks, will have a look into Bourg St Maurice as we've done Chamonix a few times.

Trying to avoid morzine as there last summer and booked for next summer.

Anyone ever fly into Lyon instead of Geneva? Flights and car hire seem much cheaper

yeah last time we flew we did lyon for the tarentaise and hired , no problems with it

Snap(ish) GraemeTheJock!

Off to Kosovo / Albania border with Lynx for a week cat boarding end Feb - something completely different for us.  10+ yrs doing various backcountry offerings from WhiteRoom in St Foy is our normal trip...

Looking fwd to the 'adventure' associated with our trip this year...

I spent a week with lynx last year. Great cat operation and the terrain is pretty special when it’s on.

Just booked my two trips for the year.

Snowheads birthday bash in Arabba in the epic Sella Ronda
Snowheads off piste bash in Serre Chevalier with most of the time spent in La Grave.

Epic trips necessary due to ski buddies having young kids and me not having young kids lol.

Might fit in a sneaky week at the end of the season in Val Thorens depending on the snow.

Hmmmmm. Very much torn on this....
From when the kids were born we've always had one or two ski trips a year, sometimes with a Scotland trip or two thrown in. They've generally been excellent, or better, and we've always managed to keep the cost below about £2.8k all in for four of us.

But we've not really been since COVID, bar a few days last new year in stubaital. And I'm not sure whether to bother booking this year...

Part of the problem is money, as I doubt we'll get any change from £4k for 4. But that's not the real problem...

The lack of decent snow these days is a big issue admittedly. I used to think it was just my bad memory, or a blip but I've realised that there just isn't the conditions so often any more that there used to be. Fair enough there's always enough on the piste, but really, who wants to ride on piste...

Which brings us to the bigger problem. The wean is now 16 and I'm sure he is now more capable on skis and board than me, and hungry as hell for off piste. Which is an issue, because it's dangerous. We all carry probes, shovels and Pieps. We all practice PPS. The kids have airbags. We pay attention to the avalanche warnings, but the fact remains...

I suppose we could cough for guiding, but that'll add another £2k to the cost. And the quality is so hit and miss that I'm not sure it's worth it.

Hmmmm

Hmm, just had my accom out of Geneva cancelled on me for January.

Not tied to a resort but kind of looking for close transfer from Geneva as its only a long weekend - what do people recommend pls?

Quite interested in the thread above about lower towns with a funi but the group has quite a wife spread of wealthy and, erm, me 🙂

Grand Massif is about 1 hour from GVA, got the choice of Samoens, Morillon, Les Carroz and Flaine for accomodation.

Chamonix valley is not much further and both areas have a wealth of transfer companies which operate from GVA.

Villageidiot, Cormayeur is a good option from GVA.

Generalist, I know what you mean. The olden days did seem more reliable conditions. I think that I have had to temper my expectations. Go with what we get and make the most of it. I do like a bit of off piste that’s my real aim, If it’s good. I am mostly skiing with wife and kids and it was great to spend time with them improving their off piste. The urge to ditch them is strong when conditions are good though. I would also say that I definitely do enjoy a good bloody hoon on the pistes though. With the right skis for the conditions that is a pleasure.

Also looking for a bit of advice. I thought there was a recent thread about first time family skiers, but sadly can't find it.

Thinking this might be the season to drag the kids to try skiing. I've done it once before, about 20 years ago, wife has done a bit of boarding also 20+ back. Kids have never done it (x3 from 8-13)

Family has suggested to go down the hotel route, half board, hiring everything for a first time.

We want to go around Xmas time. We've done a Santa trip to Levi in Lapland before and are tempted to re-do that but over 4 nights (clearly before Xmas!) and just doing the core Santa stuff, and skiing. This is going to work out around 6k. Levi's not exactly rad to the max, but it's shortish fun flights, 20m transfer, about -5C to -10C, get winter kit included. For a bunch of beginners getting a couple of days in, I thought it was a decent idea. Particularly if someone doesn't enjoy it or breaks themselves! Wife doesn't like heights or exposure either - she'll do it but veeerry slowly. This is likely to frustrate the **** out of me 😁

The 6k ish price and what leave we can get also leads me to look at departing on 30/31st December for a week.

I've found some deals in Oberau Austria and Gressoney Italy that would work well. 2hr transfers, shortish flights, about 7-7.5k. Hotels are generally well reviewed. One has a pool.

No idea about either of those places though, and finding out about the likely snow over the new year period is tough.

So, any advice would be greatly appreciated! I appreciate I've gone down a path already, but I was just after any insight about what we're thinking of doing.

I wouldn’t be spending anything like that for a first time ski trip. Obviously the Santa stuff is always going to add cost and may be an easy intro to skiing. Just seems like lots of money to me. Each to their own.

So how would you do it keeping it easy and cheap?

Remember I've zero experience of this, so saying that is not particularly useful.

If you DIY (as opposed to a package deal) it can be cheaper but obviously needs a bit more planning.

My tip to save on lift tix is never buy the full family a weeks pass up front. The saving isn’t that great, all it takes is 1 to miss a day and the group to do a half day and the savings for buying a weeks pass disappear. If you can put up with topping your passes up daily then look at that.
my teenagers all ski but get up late, I leave them too it, get out for an early ski with the wife and come back mid morning to do the ticket shuffle. In 1 week I reckon there is on average only 1 day we would have bought 5 full day passes

……i should point out, this requires ski in ski out accom to be near a ticket office, else it would be a pain

Sorry.
We drive, that saves lots for a family.
Timing, Christmas is an expensive week and not as snow sure as other times. Days are short and can be colder. Last year it was warm and very wet in many places, though.
I have an aversion to the whole Xmas in the Lapland thing. So my negativity may have showed in my original post!
Resort and accom, French self catering is cheap by comparison to Austrian hotels ime.
First timers, I would say get a package to a smallish french resort. Try Sunweb.
Hire skis and boots there, get ski clothing that you need here on eBay, fb and have a great time!