 Poster: A snowHead
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Might offer some ideas for anyone wondering the same, so not always a bad thing when threads are bumped.
@albob, We stay in 1800. It's the biggest so has the most going on in the evenings, and we love that it's the centre of the map so all the other ski areas are easily accessible, not only to get there, but also to get back to at the end of the day. Being in the middle means we have a huge amount of variety available to us. Our children go into lessons that start and finish in 1800 at lunchtime, so we make a decision about whether we want to go left (down 1600, up 1950/2000) or right (Peisey-Vallandry) for the afternoon. Sometimes that decision is driven by what that morning looked like, sometimes it's weather driven (P-V is in the trees), sometimes it's what bar we want to stop at, or if the kids want to go to the snowpark. We're never more than one uplift away from being able to get back to 1800, no matter where we are, and there's lovely skiing back in after that.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Fridge03 wrote: |
| ....Saalbach - you can cruise around the Ski Circus all day on lovely blues and the town has a lovely vibe to it. Austrian skiing is also just so much more "laid back" as well..... |
Although I love the place, I'd argue that Saalbach isn't that cut & dry; lots of blues but a big portion of those have red-like gradients for some or all of their length, and for anyone who is struggling with confidence, it does feel a bit 'do or die' in places. The Azitz area is great, as is much of Fieberbrunn, but there are runs like the top of 56 or 212 where it's just bit steeper and if the snow is a bit thin, can freak someone out easily; I know, my missus wasn't happy at all, and she's a happy plodder on most blue runs.
But saying that, if confidence grows and especially if there's good snow, then Saalbach has a huge amount of choice to go at; if there's a more leisurely bent to a person's skiing where a few stops for drinks and food are on the cards (and not just bashing out as many miles as possible) then it's a faboilues region. The fact you're not scrabbling for air like you are at the top of L2A also helps
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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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yes, original request 4 years old... but I'd answer Corvara. A blues heaven
Agree that S-H blues are quite dark (and some of the reds quite light). A blue and a red will start in the same place, run parallel and end in the same place...
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| buchanan101 wrote: |
yes, original request 4 years old... but I'd answer Corvara. A blues heaven
Agree that S-H blues are quite dark (and some of the reds quite light). A blue and a red will start in the same place, run parallel and end in the same place... |
I think that one of the negatives of having a preponderance of blue runs (140km out of 270km) is that some will be very easy, whereas others will be borderline red. So it’s fairly essential for skiers who freak at the prospect of doing a red run to do their research and ascertain which are the friendliest blues. It’s a mistake to assume that they are all equal in gradient throughout their length.
A good example is piste 2/2a, which is 7 km in total, and graded blue. A local ski instructor once joked that it’s a blue in the morning, a red by midday, and a black in the afternoon.
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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 so much @Owlette for the info, 1800 sounds very promising indeed.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| tatmanstours wrote: |
| buchanan101 wrote: |
yes, original request 4 years old... but I'd answer Corvara. A blues heaven
Agree that S-H blues are quite dark (and some of the reds quite light). A blue and a red will start in the same place, run parallel and end in the same place... |
I think that one of the negatives of having a preponderance of blue runs (140km out of 270km) is that some will be very easy, whereas others will be borderline red. So it’s fairly essential for skiers who freak at the prospect of doing a red run to do their research and ascertain which are the friendliest blues. It’s a mistake to assume that they are all equal in gradient throughout their length.
A good example is piste 2/2a, which is 7 km in total, and graded blue. A local ski instructor once joked that it’s a blue in the morning, a red by midday, and a black in the afternoon. |
2/2a is great first thing - the last part that’s the bit that get tricky later is steep for a blue but early doors is great for wide carving turns. It’s also the best way to get over to Leogang area though the bubble can be busy (though there’s the lift trick
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See, my old thread is still useful. I've been eyeing Corvara recently, so all of this is good to know.
Since starting this thread on our second ski holiday (that was more like ice skating than skiing all week), we have been to (in no particular order): Skimore Olso, Les Arcs x 3, Cervinia (with a day in Zermatt), and Soldeu/El Tartar. Our favourites are Les Arcs and Soldeu.
My husband remains reluctant to ski anything that 'feels like work' and by that he means reds (blacks are not even part of the discussion). I have explained many, many times about piste conditions, and have pointed put that if he can comfortably navigate the blue back into Arc 1800 at Easter, where the top is like the M25, and the bottom manages to be slushy moguls, he can absolutely navigate a wide, quiet red in great condition.
I did mange to get him on a red in Soldeu at Christmas. His feedback afterwards was that he didnt like it, it was too steep. So I think we're getting somewhere with understanding his preferences. I get it. Steep runs are a killer on the thighs and there is the concern that if you fall, you just keep going. However, he is now more open to short red sections, so in France and Andorra, of he can see that it's only numbered 4 or 5, he'll have a crack at it because he knows it'll be over soon.
That all said, he's not one to hold the rest of us back from more challenging runs. He's quite happy to sit with a pint at Les Enfants Terribles in Peisey-Vallandry whilst the kids and I do Ecureuils black, or another time, we all went up Varet. He and Lad2 headed down to Bulle bar for a pint and some Igloo building via the Vallee blue (with Lad2 dropping down the reds that cross it, meeting him at the intersections) and Lad1 and I headed up to Aiguille Rouge and then met them at Bulle. It's all about compromise and none of us ever feel short changed.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sat 10-01-26 9:52; edited 1 time in total
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Corvara is right up your street then. An area of (just about) all blues. A couple of short steeper sections but otherwise all very gentle. Also you can head towards Selva and go on the area above Colfosco - easy blues there plus a fairly easy red. If you really want a long flat blue take the bubble from Colfosco half way towards Selva (to the mid station).
Oh. And the scenery…
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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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@Owlette, I would look further afield for future trips like USA or Canada. With husband still finding his legs it may be useful to be based near various hills and drive to different ones depending on weather and conditions. It may seem like work but it really isn't and he can enjoy a smaller resort with next to nobody around and chill at a bar until the rest of you show up and drive back. The scenery is amazing and the vibe is like so different to Europe. Cost wise it's very affordable if planned and researched early.
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Going to the US seems somewhat excessive when there are so many resorts in Europe that fit the bill
Also, (personally of course) I am not keen on giving the US any of my money at the moment - switched a cruise ex-NYC to a Med one for the coming Sept.
Leaves Canada of course! Always liked the idea of Whistler where you can swim in the sea and ski the same day (in theory)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| HerecomesCarol wrote: |
| Thanks so much @Owlette for the info, 1800 sounds very promising indeed. |
+1 on that - thanks
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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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@albob, @HerecomesCarol,
No problem. Come over and join us on the Les Arcs thread.
On the subject of weather and 1800, today is a classic example of it's strength. The 2000 bowl is closed due to weather. But everything in 1800/1600/Peisey-Vallandry is open, so people staying in 1800 have plenty of options.
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I wouldn’t spend a fortune on transatlantic flights, when you also have to add jet lag into the mix, until he’s shown he can pick reds he likes. Spend that money on private lessons for confidence building!
I got a private where I said I didn’t want to be scared. He basically totally deconstructed my hockey stop (lower, knees more bent, shoulders squared to downhill). Then took me down a steep piste side. As I realized I could stop on a sixpence, there was no fear on steeps anymore. Revelation.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Orange200 wrote: |
| As I realized I could stop on a sixpence, there was no fear on steeps anymore. Revelation. |
Ta, I love reading about experiences like these as it makes me feel slightly better about investing in lessons…the hourly cost for which is eye wateringly high to me. Still I think that a private lesson with a good instructor is worth its weight in gold.
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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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| HerecomesCarol wrote: |
| Orange200 wrote: |
| As I realized I could stop on a sixpence, there was no fear on steeps anymore. Revelation. |
Ta, I love reading about experiences like these as it makes me feel slightly better about investing in lessons…the hourly cost for which is eye wateringly high to me. Still I think that a private lesson with a good instructor is worth its weight in gold. |
Yes. Well worth it. I once had a 4 hour private lesson. Too long. 2 or 3 hours is plenty.
Edge control. Sideslipping/stopping/sideslipping just by rolling your ankles slightly.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| buchanan101 wrote: |
Well worth it. I once had a 4 hour private lesson. Too long. 2 or 3 hours is plenty.
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I quite like a shorter lesson followed by time on my own practising. Well, if I had unlimited means I’d go for a 4 or 5 or even 7 hour lesson where the instructor coaches me as I practice, but as things are I don’t think such a long lesson would be an efficient use of holiday funds.
Out of interest in what way was the 4 hour one too long for you?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| HerecomesCarol wrote: |
| buchanan101 wrote: |
Well worth it. I once had a 4 hour private lesson. Too long. 2 or 3 hours is plenty.
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I quite like a shorter lesson followed by time on my own practising. Well, if I had unlimited means I’d go for a 4 or 5 or even 7 hour lesson where the instructor coaches me as I practice, but as things are I don’t think such a long lesson would be an efficient use of holiday funds.
Out of interest in what way was the 4 hour one too long for you? |
He worked me hard. Non stop! Was diminishing returns. I did have an all day one in Kitzbuhel but that wasn’t quite as demanding. First time skiing after 20 years off. He was quite impressed that i hadn’t forgotten how 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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First time back after 20 years off does seem to merit an all day one - am glad to hear it wasn’t at as intense a pace as the 4 hour one!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| HerecomesCarol wrote: |
| First time back after 20 years off does seem to merit an all day one - am glad to hear it wasn’t at as intense a pace as the 4 hour one! |
It was more a tour round Kitzbuhel with occasional coaching.
Only just found out (12 years later again) that I’ve been skiing most of my life with no/stretched ACL/PCL. So now with new knee fitted I’m sitting in the lounge at T3 waiting for a Salzburg flight…
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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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Congratulations on your possession of said new knee. Where are you off to from Salzburg? Do update us on how skiing feels this time, 12 years later and with new knee!
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| HerecomesCarol wrote: |
| Congratulations on your possession of said new knee. Where are you off to from Salzburg? Do update us on how skiing feels this time, 12 years later and with new knee! |
Obertauern. Chose somewhere that’s quite easy and should have good snow through its height.
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Have a fantastic time  Looking forward to a trip report.
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| buchanan101 wrote: |
Corvara is right up your street then. An area of (just about) all blues. A couple of short steeper sections but otherwise all very gentle. Also you can head towards Selva and go on the area above Colfosco - easy blues there plus a fairly easy red. If you really want a long flat blue take the bubble from Colfosco half way towards Selva (to the mid station).
Oh. And the scenery… |
And the "black" at Colfosco has to be the most wrongly graded run in the Dollies 
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