Poster: A snowHead
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Having had a frat week away with the family with an adaptive ski group - my eldest rides in a sit ski, I'm planning our first independent ski trip as a family. I've organised several dig trips and not fazed by this. I've found accomodation I like in serre chevalier and plagne soleil/ belle plagne. I love serre chevalier but Easter is later next year and we would be going out on 8th April. On that basis my head says la plagne staying high up. What would you do?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Depends how much of a risk taker you are. We had great Spring conditions in Serre Che a couple of years back at pretty much the same week as you are planning to go. However, we left it late before we booked so it was fairly risk free.
I'm guessing though that your requirements are quite specific so you may be limited to accommodation - therefore conventional wisdom would suggest towards booking a higher area with slopes facing in the right direction. Which is a shame as Serre Che is a cracking area to ski. That said Serre Che is a place where it is possible to have a good holiday even if skiing is limited (but let's face it you're there to ski!)
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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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@dan100, you're fairly familiar with the area, so I won't comment on the resort. We've been in April when conditions have been excellent. Monetier is a starting point for quite a few sitskiers, and there's a chalet in Villeneuve with parking, loo and suchlike, at the bottom of the Casse du Beouf chair. Specialist instructors in both villages if you need them too. http://www.handiserrechevalier.com/chalet-handy/
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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If booking in advance, La Plagne.
If lastminute, and conditions are good, Serre Chevalier.
Right now, mid-Apr, roughly 65% of all lifts remain open in SC and 90% in LP.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks Helen. I was looking at lovely apartments managed/ marketed by Mel in your block. Your link is really useful. Yvret chair would be interesting with a sitski! I saw lots of sit skiers in SC last month. I wouldn't need a ski instructor though I'm working out how to manage as generally you need 2 people to get a sit ski on a chair when bucket riding. A call to arms of the SC snow heads to come out and ski? I like the accomodation in SC and the outdoor pool might be a draw for our kids, but I looked at the webcam for sc and la plagne does have better snow this year.
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@dan100, I suspect it does, but this year has not been great. Mel has some nice apartments with either ground floor or lift access in my residence. Pool is heated so is warm even if the weather isn't.
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@dan100, even now the runs back to resort are fine - that is Frejus and Casse du Boeuf.
I'm not too sure of the exact requirements you need, but the facilities for sit ski by the Chazelet at the bottom of the Casse du Boeuf are popular, especially so after the busy period.
The chair does seem to be the one that many use and there is a base hut just by it.
There are also many a blind skier and helper using the facilities as well, I think Serrre goes out of their way to provide help in this area.
Three weeks or so back, there was the Special UK Olympics trials (might be wrong of the exact detail) going on in Chantermerle.
If you have any specific questions let me know and I can ask a friend who is quite respected in the ESF and should be able to answer
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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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Thanks. I think we were there the week of the special Olympic trials. We saw a group of sit skiers going down one of the black mogul fields with infinitely more style than we managed.
It's interesting that resort resort runs are still open even after a very warm April.
Requirements for a sit ski are easy runs and modern chairs- hence my comment about the yvret chair being interesting.
Lots to think about as al won't ski and some friends may come with us who are new to skiing and one of them won't ski, and SC in my view better for non skiers.
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@dan100, Yret is interesting enough without the sitski. Especially if you're sharing it with someone who failed to get on properly at the bottom, and has got in the middle seat between you and your companion. The anxiety as you reach the top is indescribable.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'd written off yvret anyway, The red run is quite steep and narrow for a sit ski. In terms of the yvret chair, a clutched modernchair can be challenging sometimes.
Picture a scene where you haven't quite dragged the skit ski back on to the chair, so the sit ski and daughter is pushed off down a slight incline with me holding on and my assistant going up the mountain turning back to see where we are as we hadn't made it on to the chair . This happened once in la plagne much to the amusement of our group behind us (and my daughter). Given this was a modern 6 man clutched chair (that in fairness hadn't been slowed down), I shall avoid the non clutched yvret chair. Not sure either about the chair up to the cucamelle, but a bit more room to work with that yvret
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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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@dan100, I've watched people - most ESF - get sit skis on and off chairs. I greatly admire your ability and willingness to do so. Hope you find a suitable apartment.
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You know it makes sense.
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well the heart won back to serre chevalier 8-15th april with the family . just need to book my solo week now. also need to find some volunteers preferably unpaid though I suspect will be paid to ski with me and my daughter to help on off lifts.
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