 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
Wondered if anyone could let me know about Champoluc as we've just booked for Christmas.
I've looked at some basic info and I know its intermediate but I'm a nervous intermediate...sometimes get leg wobble on a blue sometimes do easy blacks if I'm feeling confident. (torn ligaments once and think thats made me nervous!)
I'e been to the following if these help for comparisons:
Morzine/Les Gets
Alpe Duez
Les Duez Alpe (Cant remember what it was like much)
Soll/ Ellmau
Verbier
Saa Fee
Val Thorens
Courchevel
Keen to know any runs to avoid etc. I don't ski off piste but willing to learn (subject to fitness)
Any info gratefully received.
_________________
Codie
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You'll be fine, especially on the Champoluc side.
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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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cheers ...feeling better already!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Codie, Just go back from Gressoney. Couple of thoughts - 1) Enjoy the food !  and 2) As far as runs go you'll be fine.... It's quite a small area, just be sure to be on the right part of the mountain when the lifts are closing.
The lift map isn't the best I've seen, and a lot of the chairlifts are quite old and slow, so getting back up the mountain takes quite a while.
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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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ski, agreed, and also enjoy the hot chocolate - never tasted anything like it - tastes like..... well, melted chocolate actually.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I think you will find italian piste grooming second to none (european standards) so if anything your confidence should be boosted. As ski, mentioned enjoy the food and wine; btw you cant go away without a lunch or 2 at Refugio Guglemina (spelling). Alagna village is also worth a visit.
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Codie, avoid the black down the lowest section from Col Bettaforca - basically it's the last run down to Gressoney (called Nera) - from Champoluc. Steep and frequently icy. The piste map claims there's a red alternative but I've never seen it open. I think you can cable car down if you prefer. Conversely the black down from Gressoney towards Champoluc (Moos) should be a red: a couple of short steep pitches but nothing terrible (IMHO). Don't mix them up!
PP suggests the Guglielmina for lunch. I would suggest that you might not like the run down to the returning cable car - it's not that hard a black but in poor weather it can be quite long, bumpy and tiring. The alternative is a 400m climb back up to run to Gressoney.
In Champoluc itself there isn't a great deal to fret about.
Lunchwise however - there's a good barbeque/mixed grill at the hotel almost at the bottom of the Belvedere run (Can't recall the name). Also a nice lunch to be had at the Belvedere restaurant at the top of the run - it used to be called "Max's" but has changed hands. If you like polenta, this year they had a very nice version with the usual spiral sausage nonsense.
We also like the little bar restaurant on the left as you go down Ostafa 1 towards Crest. No idea of the name but tres cosy on a crappy day.
We also like the (I think this is the name) Sant'Anna above Nera.
It doesn't look like you've been to Italy before so try (if you like drinkies like me...) Mandarin Punch, Vov, Grappa, any local wine, and the funny yellow drink like Advocaat the name of which completely escapes me. Bardolino maybe?
If you want a good (very) meal in C itself (and especially if you eat meat) you can do less wrong (or little better) than the Tagliata in "Le Sapin". Le Sapin is just generally very good anyway.
On a more budget basis, the Churen does great pizzas and great steaming slabs of meat. Do not be taken in by the pizzeria beside Pachamama (the bar). Some chums were there last year and paid a ridiculous sum for average pizzas. NSG.
Who are you staying with? Ski2? Hotel?
PS Tagliata =~ Chateaubriand - IMHO exquisite
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Absolutely love Champoluc for its real Italian Village feel, deserted pistes, and all those food stops already mentioned.
Another Fab place for lunch is Susseon, you can ski down to it, but cant ski back out, so the owner gives you a lift in his piste basher, excellent fun, plan for a long lunch and probably best to ring and book. Fantastic Italian food and hospitality. They were planning on opening some rooms, it might be rather quite apres ski! Dont ask me where it is, dont do piste maps well, am a sheep, baa. Sure some other knowledgable will know. Also agree with comment on Guglielmina, and David Murdoch, is right the run down isnt nice if it is icy.
oh and beware of getting stuck in Gressony if the wind blows and they close the chair lift back over to Champoluc 
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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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Fantastic info thanks so much as I'm a virgin Snowhead.
Not lot looking for hard and fast skiing but more of a get away from it all week.
Hoping for skiing without massive lift waits and tussles, traditional places to refuel up the mountain, good restuarants and alcohol! I think i'll just avoid the Nera down to Gressoney unless feeling paticularly bullish (thanks David Murdoch thanks such useful advise) and also feel happy I can skiing back down to the village at the end of the day.
We were going to stay at the Breithorn but have decided to save the budget to spend on eating out so compromising somewhat and staying at the de Champoluc by the Cresta Gondola.
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Codie, you can't be a virgin with 5 posts 
I Don't know the de Champoluc myself unless it's the one with the tres civ bar by the road. If the rest of it is like that then it'll be (nearly) as nice as the Breithorn - which is rather spesh if a little $$$.
Champoluc is a pretty good get away from it place, although the wealthy Milanese will arrive for New Year. Terrible traffic but at least you can laugh at their absolutely terrible ski kit. So much for stylish. If you're hiring skis, then try and PM me and I'll try and remeber what our chum's shops called. I don't think asking for Ivan's will get you anywhere...
PS we'll probably be there for Xmas anyway so drop us a shout and we can do a SHs ,meet!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hi Codie. Two of us have booked with crystal at Le Champoluc for 4January.first time for us as well.usually do French resorts but thought Italy would be good.
Lots of good reports in many reviews.if you're a bit nervous of slopes go to "you tube" postings for champoluc.there's even a video "cresta champoluc" which shows run back to hotel.
Nothing to worry about and very reassuring.Lots of piste videos showing intermediates having fun.
Enjoy,you'll love it.
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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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@lambert, i think you're a little late with your advice... About 8 years late...
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You know it makes sense.
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Whoops !!!
Didn't look at the dates and as it came up on page two google "search Champoluc", I thought it was recent !!
Hey ho..I think the advise is up to date though, as many people now have hand held/helmet held video cameras. Some of the videos of Champoluc are very reassuring for intermediates.
Anyway we'll be there at Le Champoluc 4 January 2015, so anyone want to get in touch with an old out of date git and his mate, who can still ski a bit (loves off piste!!) then we can arrange an "any standard" ski day at Champoluc.
Isn't life great !!
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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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@lambert, you'll love it. Several threads on here with restaurant recommendations etc.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @lambert, you'll love it. Several threads on here with restaurant recommendations etc. |
booked for the 21st december, better check those out then .. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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@Codie, it's great. Not sure about Christmas but it normally only gets busy at weekends.
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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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@jbob, i think you haven't been paying attendtion to dates either.
Ignore that idiot Murdoch above. He knows nothing and is also 8 years out of date.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Perty, we booked back in April I think, took the last room they had.
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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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@lambert, Hi I have booked there on the 4th of Jan too, flying from Bristol so see you there.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We Will be there 18th January . staying at the hotel champoluc again, 5th season there... If you ever stay there ask Bruno for a auger cube in alcohol .. Awesome
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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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@yorkshirelad, I can also recommend bombardinos.
As you're a regular, you should also check out L'Aroula which opened last season if you haven't already. Just off to the left as you come down from Ostafa. Signposted.
Ask Eric for the daily special as he sometimes forgets to mention it leading to us missing out on some rather fine looking lamb chops at the end of last season.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=2580748&highlight=frantze#2580748 f'rinstance |
excellent.
looking forward to it, where would be a good place for xmas dinner?? we are s/c (much easier with two kids) so are looking forward to sampling the local restaurants
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You know it makes sense.
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@iskar, We will be taking NY dinner at Le Sapin. It's one of our favourite restaurants anywhere. Also excellent is l'Essential d'Andreone - he was the chef at our wedding.
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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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Gosh, I would love to go to Champoluc one day.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@iskar, if you want something more child friendly and simpler, there's a pizzeria underneath Lo Bistrot and reports from last night were that the pizzas are very fine.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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@Red Leon, titter
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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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I can recommend the bombardinos ...but only once... proper falling down juice
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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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That, @yorkshirelad, they are.
Personally I prefer a little hot punch - Mandarino, typically.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@yorkshirelad, Hi , we are staying at the Hotel Champoluc too, you must like it there. First time for us.
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Hi Mike west.
We're flying from Bristol too.Don't forget to set the alarm!!
Don't know why I signed in as "Lambert".I'm alan wood.green ski jacket,red rucksack
With Nick Herndon.
How do I change my username? 
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Well I'm not Mike West either, It's Mike SWest which was supposed to be short for "Mike from the South West"
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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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Hi Mike,
Nick's not Nick Herndon either!! He's Nick Herborn !!
Only two months now, and first snow forecast in Champoluc this week.
Need to get the legs moving...see you in the airport !!
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We're staying at hotel du Champoluc from 4th January 2015 - flying in from Manchester. This will be 4th trip to Champoluc & 3rd stay in this hotel!! Can't fault the place!! Looking forward to meeting anyone else who'll be there at the same time
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