 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
New to this forum to hello to all and a Happy New Year, fresh tracks to all!
I am off with a mixed group to SC at the start of feb (staying in Les Marmottes with hannibals) and was hoping that some of the SC experts could offer some advice. Specifically, which shops are best for ski and snowboard hire (quality of hire gear as much as price - especially for the snowboards), which schools are best for snowboard lessons and are there any operations offering off-piste guiding for snowboarders in chantermerle/villeneuve?
I am also interested in any tips for easy (just) off piste routes and of course recommednations for apres!
Thanks in advance to all!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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any SC experts around to help?
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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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Hi, welcome to Snowheads 
When I was in Chantemerle in Feb I had lessons with a guy called Florent from the Ski Evasion school, I can certainly recommend him. As for rental we used Jules Melquiond but that's just because it was the nearest to where we were staying - my skis were almost new but can't comment on quality of boards. Hope that helps.
Oops, just read that you're after snowboard lessons not skiing, so ignore the above!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hi Jonm, thanks for the welcome and for the suggestions - I'll have a look at skievasion too - some of the skiers in the group might also like some lessons so might be useful afterall!!
how did you find chantermerle? any recomednations for restaurants/apres bars etc?
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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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Some great restaurants, we liked L'Arbre a Pain and Triptyque, and there was another fab one the other end of town but I can't remember its name, I'll try and look it up. Up the mountain we had some fab lunches at cafe soleil, not cheap but great food. We didn't really do apres somehow on that particular holiday so can't help with bars sorry!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Fantastic we'll look out for those on the chefs night off! I think I have heard the soleil mentioned elsewhere for on-slope food so we'll treat ourselve there too one day (only once with the current exchange rate!).
How was the skiing Jon? did you venture off-piste much?
I also wonder about the reputation of the drag lifts in SC - not so good on a board - are they easy to avoid if needs be or are there only a few particular drags that have that fearsome reputation? 
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edit
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Tue 6-01-09 18:36; edited 1 time in total
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lib-banana, the skiing was fab but I only did blue and red pistes, didn't go off-piste. There's definitely one horrible drag, I marked it on my piste map with "NO! NO! NO!" having had to do it one night when we were in danger of getting lost/stranded! I'll try and find the map and tell you which one it was.
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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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Totally avoidable.
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That's good news
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There is one in Villeneuve that I've seen called Pre du Bois. It looks very steep, didn't use it though. As there is a chairlift which takes you from pretty much the same area to it.
I retract that comment about them being completely avoidable. I apologise. There is one above Villeneuve in the Frejus secteur, which is called Cretes. It is useful, long but not difficult. I apologise for misleading you. My memory isnt too good at the moment.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Pretty sure that's the one I'm thinking of. Hellishly steep, very long, and nothing either side if you should fall off. Terrifying!
But I reckon it is indeed avoidable, if you plan your route - which is where we went wrong, it was so late in the day we had to use it to get back home.
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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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Thanks guys, good news about them being generally avoidable - I had heard that they had replaced a lot of the maindrags as you mention Christopher so it sounds as if us boarders should be able to avoid drags for the majority of the time - I don't mind the odd one as long as it is not too fierce but they do get really tiring if you have to use them all the time on a board! Just have to pay attention to the piste map by the sounds of it!
any other top SC tips from anyone - especially on hire/lessons in Chantermerle or off piste ideas/snowboard guiding?
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Hi lib-banana, The only time I have used a drag in about the last 10 visits to Serre Che is the Cretes one over in the Frejus sector. You only have to use it if you want to get over to the Chantemerle Sector from doing the Cucumelle run, though you can avoid it. The lift companies seem to have done a good job at eliminating creaky old chairs and drags. I think there is also a drag to the Isolee black run, but have rarely seen either open. Pre du bois is used to get up to the top of one of the reds above serre ratier I think [which is a fab place for lunch in the sunshine in the caffs.], but there is a perfectly decent chairlift RIGHT next to it that takes you to pretty much the same place, so that one is a no brainer. That drag gets used by the racers who use the piste adjacent for slalom. From the bottom at Chantmerle is the gondola and a sixpack - use the chair if you don't want to queue for hours. The runs but the aiguilette chair are usually pretty quiet - nice reds.
Eurekaski are based in Monetier which is 2 villages up. http://www.eurekaski.com/
They can do ski lessons and guiding, though you might have to get up to Monetier. Ask though as they are really friendly and will do lessons or guiding.
The ski bus is not too bad for getting between villages.
Gosh, the more I type the more I can't wait to go....only another 9 weeks....
M
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You know it makes sense.
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great stuff, thanks MarjMJ, what about some easy of-piste areas - any tips there?
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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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Hi lib-banana, I went to SC (staying in Chantemerle too) last year for the first time and loved it. Another good ski instructor is Darren Turner who we skied with last year (http://www.insightski.com/) after he was recommended on here.
If you're at Serre Ratier for lunch, we really liked the Chalet-Hotel de Serre Ratier.
Have fun!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks Natalie, we'll look out for that and I'll have a look into insightski too. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Off piste not my thing yet...lots of fun to be had between the trees if the snow is good.
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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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Thanks MarjMJ, yep I had heard that the trees in SC were good if there were freshies around - one of the reasons I went for it - can't wait to try the area out (praying for bundle sof snow as ever!)
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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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Based on memories of one week last year: The various blue runs from the top of the Foret and Grand Serre chairs make for a decent warm-up. If you want something a bit more difficult, there are some good longish reds accessible via Prorel: Saludes, Eduits and Aguilette. These are all in the sector above Villeneuve and Chantmerle.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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lib-banana, huge amount of off-piste and plenty of it is within sight of the pistes, so you won't get lost. Very nice, easyish, fun area is in the Bois, serviced by the "Hellishly steep, very long, and nothing either side if you should fall off"  Pres du Bois. Not that bad if your an off- piste type.
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jonm, one of my favourite parts of the mountain. Hundreds of different routes through the trees, from the top of the Casse de B, to the start of that draglift. But like many of the best things in life, over too quickly! Congrats on your 1000th post. 
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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 drkpower, yep I had seen them on the website too and someone elsewhere recommended them as well - its between them and new genration i think - although snow connectiosnseem to start lessons on a monday which might be good for our group - have a day to see who feel slike they need lessons! (one or two have not been for quite a while!)
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huge amount of off-piste and plenty of it is within sight of the pistes, so you won't get lost. Very nice, easyish, fun area is in the Bois, serviced by the "Hellishly steep, very long, and nothing either side if you should fall off" Laughing Pres du Bois. Not that bad if your an off- piste type.
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Thanks Chris, sounds interesting - I am slowly piecing together a few ideas on the not too off-piste areas of which there seem to be lots - I might even tackle a drag lift if its that good! Other ideas I've seen suggest under the Balme chair, around Prorel (through the trees I think) and various other pistes/chairs (les combes?) - as well as the more serious iteineries off Cucumelle etc (presumably a guide very defo needed for those) - we are a mixed group so nothing to crazy required to keep em happy!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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lib-banana, all the places you suggest are good off-piste and also the Cucumelle but you won't need a guide for most of that. Get the most experienced of the group to do the runs first to check out the difficulty.
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FAQ
. There is 15 of us going and staying in Villeneuve so plenty of socialising planned as well!
