Poster: A snowHead
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I'm off to the Alps in a couple of weeks with the kids. Since its been such a monumental snow year and we're there in early July I'm contemplating a spot of summer skiing. We're based in Chamonix, so Cervinia (=Zermatt summer ski area) & Tignes are equidistant and LDA an hour further.
The constraint is that my daughter (3) is a green run skier so we need to find the easiest slopes possible for her to enjoy; her 6-yr old brother is a Chamonix-black run skier so no problems there. I've skied the LDA glacier and remember it being quite flat, but Tignes and Cervinia I wasn't paying attention to the gradient. Tignes is my first choice because its nearest and there's lots of other activities included (pool, lake etc.) but if the glacier at LDA is going to be more enjoyable for a green run skier, I'll go for that.
Alternatively, if the LDA glacier is still going to be challenging, then we won't bother dragging my daughter up the mountain, will just got to Tignes and take her on other activities.
So, what do the recommend? Who's skied what, and what do you think would work best...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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snowdave, contact Easiski in lda even if you don't want a lesson . She will be the best person to advise on the suitability for your daughter
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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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snowdave: The lowest summer slopes (served by the Rosolin drag lifts) at Tignes are graded blue - but they are very very gentle and definitely at the greener end of blue. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for a baby green-run skier. In fact I'd go so far as saying that they are just about suitable for nursery slope use. Another plus is that the slopes concerned are massively wide and in summer the snow will be nice and soft too.
Also (as you may know), when you come out of the funicular, you have to take a short chairlift down to reach the snow. At that point, you are on a really gentle section of the glacier which would be perfect for an initial slide about and to get your daughter's ski legs back.
As you've alluded to, there is absolutely loads (for young and old) to do in Tignes in summer season .
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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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From what I can remember the top runs at Zermatt were a big flattish motorway. It was lower down things got more interesting. So you should be fine there. Worth going for the view from the top of Klein Matterhorn alone.
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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 mountainaddict, very helpful, just what I need to know. I think I'll take the punt on Tignes unless anyone else shouts with contradicting advice. Any accomodation recommendations? Val Claret, near the funicular and reasonably cheap are the main requirements!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Remember most of the lifts on all three of these glaciers are T bars which are not ideal for a 3 year old!
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L2A also has a funicular which would be easier. Lift from the restaurant to it, or ski too if the snow is still down that far.
L2A opened at the weekend with skiing down to 2600m which opens up far more gentle green slopes. Whether it will still be open that far down when you go though is obviously down to snow conditions.
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Thanks for the additional stuff bodecia/snowrider/Claude B. T-Bars are actually ok a 3-yr old as she can ride between my legs (liftie permitting) or I can have an uncomfortable ride hanging onto her with the bar round my knees... Taking a steep poma with her on my leg would be tough, but easier pomas she can do on her own. Funicular would be the best tho'!
Zermatt my memory tallies with QB's which does mean I've got to take the kids to a reasonably punchy altitude (the extra 300m does make a difference in my opinion).
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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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mountainaddict, that slope must be flat. I can't tell which is up and which down
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The skiers are at the bottom of the run, skiing towards the camera. The run is fairly gentle - but probably not quite as flat as the photo suggests!
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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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That slope looks perfect, will give it a go!
re accomodation - thanks for the offer, but on the basis that the hotels include the Sport Tignes card with all the free activities, its probably more cost effective to stay in a hotel.
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks! will report back. Kids excited already!
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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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Perhaps the time of day that the 3yr old starts ski-ing is more important than the actual grade of piste. A fairly convincing icy red at 7am can be a soft forgiving, greeny-blue by late morning (thinking specifically here of the main run down from the Tignes telecabin).
Not sure about the Tignes activity card entitlement; two years ago we stayed on the campsite just below Tignes and we were given cards. I think this may have been the first year of the cards and so the rules could have changed.
Looking forward to some updates on this thread as we want some glacier ski-ing in two weeks time and are also trying to decide between LDA and Tignes. To be honest, even though we are ‘middle aged kids’ the range of activities and the SportTignes card will probably sway the decision for us; clever marketing!
Have a good trip Snowdave
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Poster: A snowHead
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