 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
Im fairly new to skiing (2 weeks on snow) ,is it too early/am I experienced enough to take a 3 day break. I have some holiday left over from the summer and thought I could sneak in a few days before Christmas. Im going to MYAsHbash so will be skiing this season.
I do have a few questions though.
Where is the best place to go for a beginner. Are there some places to avoid.
Is it best to wait till the snow is there, or book in advance and risk it.
Ive found these people are there any others I should be considering?
http://mountainsunltd.com/
https://www.action-outdoors.co.uk/activities/winter/skiing
I'd be looking at flying out of Gatwick.
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'd recommend Mountainsun for short breaks
Good value and Tignes is about the best bet in France for early season snow. Lots of excellent tuition available - the best way to make the most of it
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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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I second @pam w, on all counts- especially the tuition. The slopes before Xmas week tend to be much quieter so you could get some good experience under your belt before you hit the Bash!
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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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There's always the PSB2015 (if there's a 1/2 week option). That way you could keep your record of only every skiing on bashes.
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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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Agree with @pam w and @Nadenoodlee. Only downside of Tignes is a long transfer which is hard work for just a weekend.
The classic weekend ski break is Chamonix (short easy transfers), but that isn't good for a relatively new skier (and definitely not this early in the season). I was nearly put off skiing for good by a weekend in Cham when I had only a week's skiing experience. I'm still nervous about going back there! Tho I may resolve that this year at some point 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Mountainsun do cheap or free transfers from Geneva. Pretty painless really.
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@pigeondave, Tignes isn't a bad bet, although snow lower down the valley where the MountainSun chalet is may not be plentiful that early in the season. Val Thorens is another "safe" French alternative (as I'm sure you know). Alternatively you could try one of a number of Austrian resorts, if you'd like something more Austrian. Or Cervinia, if you'd like an early pizza fix....
Not too early to take three days, but better still extend it to a week. 
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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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@pigeondave, Dolomites are lovely for a newbie (or indeed anyone), but a base in St Martin isn't ideal as there's only a steep black run down and the linked Kronplatz area isn't a classic early-season resort; it's rather low.
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@pigeondave, if you can find a flight to Innsbruck for a good price, maybe just stay there... You can be skiing in your choice of 3 resorts within 15/20 min bus ride from the city, and plenty more within 45 minute bus ride - all on the lift pass, including Stubai Glacier (already open) for guaranteed snow. 1 hour on the train and you have - literally - hundreds of resorts to choose from.
As it's a city, you'll have absolutely no issues finding accommodation for three days, and the Christmas market is on then, and full of tasty treats.
If you don't want to stay in the city, then somewhere like Axamer Lizum or Schlick2000, just outside Innsbruck, would also be good choices with VERY short transfers.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@Custard the Rabbit is right that there might not be snow down at the Mountainsun chalet in Tignes but, early season. Tignes often has more skiing than many of the alternatives and snow outside the door isn't essential. They will take you up in a minibus if necessary and you'll sleep better at a lower altitude.
I'll be there at the end of the month when there will almost certainly be no snow at the chalet. 
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| pigeondave wrote: |
Is it best to wait till the snow is there, or book in advance and risk it.
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Most years there is good snow in December in the higher resorts. Last year there wasn't until shortly before Xmas. I don't see all that much advantage in booking early, it's quiet season anyway.
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You know it makes sense.
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Cervinia is good place for a beginner and should have plenty of snow in December. Lots of wide open slopes which are great for building confidence.
Get a flight to Turin or Milan and hire a car.
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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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I was in the alps at the weekend and the couple who own the hotel where I stayed in Bourg, have a group this week skiing Tignes.
I wasnt skiing but had a 18.25 flight from Manchester to Geneva and was in the hotel about 11.30 local time via hire car and all motorways down.
That would give a full days skiing on the saturday
The flight back was about 21.25 giving a full days skiing
Not a bad weekend for no time off work and max skiing in October !
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Poster: A snowHead
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I duno if this would suit a beginner, but UCPA having abit of a season opening bash in VT 26th Nov on a 3 day trip (with no lessons though). 11 English speaking booked into it so far through Action Outdoors. Giving it serious consideration here, return flights from Dublin less than 100e, I could do it for very little over 400euro all in.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Tim818, Action Outdoors are on the list and I did the EoSB last year in VT so I know that there are runs that I can do there.
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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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Just back from Tignes with Mountain Sun.....had the most glorious time with blue skies and great glacier snow...get out there and enjoy!!!
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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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Many solo skiiers go with the mountain sun?
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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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@pigeondave, sorry but have to disagree with others with regards to Tignes and Mountain Sun prior to Christmas. There is very little terrain for an early stage beginner in Tignes early season and ski schools will not have much in terms of beginner lessons.
for strong intermediates and beyond it is a great choice, we run a 4 day clinic ourselves in partnership with Mountain Sun in Nov but not sure Tignes would be right for you.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@skimottaret, thanks, the title of too early was more based on my time on snow/skis.Not so much the time date.
I don't really want to negotiate a red or black first thing in the morning to get to the slopes.
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| Quote: |
| Only downside of Tignes is a long transfer which is hard work for just a weekend... |
We once went to Tignes for one night/two days - after driving the 250 miles to Heathrow from home first  . Had a great time.
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Quote:
Only downside of Tignes is a long transfer which is hard work for just a weekend...
But as @mountainaddict, implies, it's a doddle if you leave within an hour (or two) of an airport. A 2.5 hour drive to the skiing from Geneva isn't too bad really, particularly if you have little driving to/from your UK airport.
We've done a lot of one night (Saturday) trips to the Alps from Stansted and Luton, which have included a 480 mile round trip from Durham. A 6.30/7am Saturday flight out and late flight back on Sunday gave us 1.5 days on the slopes, with no time off work - though getting home at 2 am Monday wasn't too much fun.... It was well worth it though!
Similar trips from Manchester/Edinburgh have been much easier however - with half the distance from home to UK airport.
Overall, though, it depends how keen you are and how much you enjoy/dislike driving abroad.
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