 Poster: A snowHead
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We are considering trying Pila this January....We have a 6 year old who is a fair standard, can happily ski a red and my husband who will ski anything. I prefer a blue or wide easy red. I have seen from the piste map that there are mostly reds. Appreciate it’s down to individual thoughts/level but do you think we’d all get something from visiting Pila? I don’t want to feel stuck on a handful of slopes all week. Also, does anyone have any feedback on the standard of ski school for my son. We’ve mainly done Austria and we find their instructors excellent compared to France...thanks for your help.
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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 think you'd be fine. We stayed in Aosta and found the gondola a bit of a pain, but if you're staying in Pila itself you won't need to queue for that.
It gets busy with locals at weekends.
Aosta is a lovely old town and worth a visit.
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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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Most of the reds are pretty wide and generally very well groomed, with no major surprises. There are a few pistes that are narrower tracks around the mountain, but these are all a pretty gentle gradient
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Pila's reds would be considered blues by usual Austrain standards, imo. They are wide with short steep sections followed by flatter sections.
And the Aosta town is just beautiful.
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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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@Emj_walk, Perfect family resort when you have under 10s. We used to ski there about once a month when based nearby. Interski use it for their UK Schools Trips so plenty of English instructors available. Website for instruction here: https://www.interski.co.uk/Schools/resort.php?rId=3
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@panaga52, any idea how it compares to Champoluc or la Thuile?
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You do need to be aware Pila is the main base for a school ski trip specialist, so there will be LOTS of kids groups around and I mean LOTS. Great little resort with really good well groomed pistes generally. Great mountain restaurants. Not much really challenging stuff for hubby though
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Pila is fairly isolated and not exposed to bad weather fronts like other nearby resorts. We were in Cervinia last January and on day 2 (of 2 bad weather days) decided to drive to Pila. It was cold and clear (unlike Cervinia). I would imagine your 6 year old will enjoy it. its not the biggest ski area though so i wouldn't expect les trois vallees. Good resort, i'd go back.
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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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I really enjoyed pla and thought it a good destination, especially for kids. We stayed in Aosta and loved it. Lived in a couple of lovely restaurants and bars.
We got used to the gondola and found it helped to get there early.
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We have skied Pila many times and would agree the reds are much more like blues elsewhere. The pistes are also groomed beautifully. We have stayed in Pila itself which was quaint but less to do and see compared to Aosta itself. We stayed in Aosta and it is a very pretty town but as reported you are reliant on the the gondola up but we were more than happy to do,that trip. There is a large supermarket in Aosta if you are self catering. Can’t comment on kids ski school sadly but I am sure someone will come along surely with some help. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I would pick La Thuile over Pila
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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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Ski school is generally good - but obviously you could get a duff instructor.
I have assumed you will be in Aosta. Not sure. Not a huge area but it is very handy for Aosta so whilst you would get a day "any other valley resort" we have never bothered to use it.
The Reds are easy only Red4 quite tight. All the rest very wide where there is any steep bit. Red3 very steep bit at the top, but there is a sneak round the steep bit via Red2.
Don't go down to Red2 when you get up the Aosta Gondola, turn right instead and hop on the inter village slow one. Off that and across to Lesse then loads of space with no queues (other than weekends) once everyone up from Aosta you can head down and use the La Nouva (6pack) or Chamole (4pack) goes over Red2.
There is really only 10 runs that you would like that are open and suit you, often have a couple shut for racing. Is that enough? We generally stay on 14 for most of the day. [2,3,4,5,22,23,6,12 (if open) 13,14] 16 is ok but slow lift, 17 is great but often shut in week. 18 Avoid, horrible icy hill normally closed as is 1.
Big pain, most years they do not run the far lift as 17 is a nice run over there.
Go high for the steep stuff off Couis 1 & 2. very slow lifts
All huts are brilliant food and value. Chatelane for best lunch, Society (tricky to find, obvious when done it once off 6) for Hors Douvres free with the prosecco.
If you search there are a few threads with loads of details.
Or shout as there are lots of people go every year.
Yes there are school parties out, but we never see them.
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Tue 12-11-19 12:12; edited 1 time in total
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| vfr4 wrote: |
| @panaga52, any idea how it compares to Champoluc or la Thuile? |
Champoluc is equally popular with British Schools, they ran the BSS Championships there for many years. It has some beautiful tree lined runs and more Kilometres of piste to explore especially if you head over the other parts of the Monterosa Ski Area. The crossovers are quite high up and can be closed in high winds but there's plenty to do. My favourite bit was the Alagna side because of the length of the run down and it was closer to home by about 20 mins.
La Thuile is very different. Deep Valley so can get pretty cold in January and the best runs home are big blacks with some fantastic steep sections. There are other ways down and some lovely restaurants on the side of the piste. getting over to La Roz is often disrupted in Jan by the weather. The town has more to offer than Champoluc but less than Aosta.
Hope that helps.
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You know it makes sense.
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Very helpful thank you
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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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Aosta is a lovely town and IMVHO far better to stay there than in Pila itself the gondola up is fine just avod the peak time, however the skiing is very limited for decent skiers especially if you are used to big resorts, however if you have a car you can visit lots of other resorts on the same pass
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Poster: A snowHead
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We went to Pila last year for Feb half term with an 8 and 5yr old and had a great time. The kids really enjoyed the ski school and private lessons are a lot cheaper than in France so also an option. We stayed in Pila itself so it was virtually ski in ski out. Lovely resort for a family trip.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thank you so much to everyone who has replied! I am new to snow heads but everyone is so helpful!!!! Some great advice and info here!
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