 Poster: A snowHead
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I’m a great fan of most things Italian. Culture, architecture, scenery, food, wine, style, relatively good value for winter sports, semi organised way of life.
What’s it got for decent intermediate skiers/boarders, who like to get plenty of kilometres covered, with enough challenging pistes and cruising for a week or two, with a good, well linked lift system to support it?
Obviously there’s the Super Dolomiti area, Val Gardena, Arabba/Marmolada, Val di Fassa, Alta Badia, etc. Amongst the best in the world, IMO.
Arguably the Via Lattea (Milky Way) area, with Sauze, Claviere, Sestriere, etc.
Some might add Cervinia, though it’s on the small side, unless you venture across the Swiss border at great extra cost.
The rest is all a bit pants, I think. I mean compared to the general offerings from France, Italy and Switzerland.
Unless, of course, you know different?  
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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 are making a comparison between big ski areas and small ski areas, not between Italy and France etc. There are plenty of French, Swiss and Austrian ski resorts which would qualify as "pants" for skiers who "want to get plenty of kilometres covered" on a lift linked system. Thankfully we're not all looking for the same thing.
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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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Some in La Plagne and Les Arcs this past two weeks I suspect would have loved some pants skiing in Italy
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Champoluc, Gressony and Allagne. A 3 valleys set up with lift served off piste is superb.
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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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| Duck wrote: |
| Champoluc, Gressony and Allagne. A 3 valleys set up with lift served off piste is superb. |
Ssssshhh. Let the crowds keep thinking it’s pants.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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By the same token, you might want to give Japan, Canada, US and Georgia a swerve as they're all a bit pants too. Wouldn't waste my time 
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@PeakyB, You said “The rest is all a bit pants, I think. I mean compared to the general offerings from France, Italy and Switzerland.”
Seems a bit contradictionary
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Yes, if the number of kilometres of linked piste is the most important feature then you've just about covered it. 250km seems to be your lower limit - if you set the bar a bit lower you could add places like La Thuile or Madonna di Campiglio.
Of course you need to apply the same 250km limit to the other Alpine countries too...
Unfortunately that means Switzerland is also "pants" - it only has the Portes du Soleil, 4 Valleys and Zermatt.
Austria is also pants. Just the Arlberg, Saalbach and Skiwelt.
That just leaves France, with just a handful of ski areas which aren't pants...
...see the point I'm making? 
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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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Im on a lift in a tiny "pants" ski area in Italy right now, had 3 rides so far and have only passed one instructor with a kid.
Pistes are great this morning though getting a bit discoloured in places.
Im about to lap a 1200m blue about half a dozen times practicing my carving. Love it.
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Is that all of Scandinvia "pants" as well?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| BoardieK wrote: |
| Pistes are great this morning though getting a bit discoloured in places. |
Stop weeing on the pistes and use a proper toilet 
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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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| PeakyB wrote: |
I’m a great fan of most things Italian. Culture, architecture, scenery, food, wine, style, relatively good value for winter sports, semi organised way of life.
What’s it got for decent intermediate skiers/boarders, who like to get plenty of kilometres covered, with enough challenging pistes and cruising for a week or two, with a good, well linked lift system to support it?
Obviously there’s the Super Dolomiti area, Val Gardena, Arabba/Marmolada, Val di Fassa, Alta Badia, etc. Amongst the best in the world, IMO.
Arguably the Via Lattea (Milky Way) area, with Sauze, Claviere, Sestriere, etc.
Some might add Cervinia, though it’s on the small side, unless you venture across the Swiss border at great extra cost.
The rest is all a bit pants, I think. I mean compared to the general offerings from France, Italy and Switzerland.
Unless, of course, you know different? |
Is this a "what ever did the Romans do for us" post?
I'm sensing a hint of irony here.
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You know it makes sense.
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Ha, so good others replied while I had my morning coffee. It would have been a grumpy post. Now just smiling at a better tempered humorous replies 
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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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@pam w, well, I might be comparing large area with small areas, but I’m also comparing and contrasting the different major European alpine countries.
I agree also that there are many small ski areas in each country that don’t suit adventurous intermediates looking for lots of kilometres of piste skiing.
I was implying that, compared to the other 3 major alpine countries, Italy has less of an offering in that respect. Or perhaps I was throwing out a question for people who know Italy better than me to prove that assumption wrong?
Agreed also that ‘thankfully we’re not all looking for the same thing’.
But, on this specific thread, that’s exactly what I’m asking about.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Rob Mackley, where, other than the areas I mentioned in my OP?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Duck, thanks.
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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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@element, I enjoyed Japan and much of my USA skiing. Long way for Europeans and, all things considered, expensive (light blue touch paper and retire to a safe distance).
Canada a bit limited, apart from Whistler? A long way and rather chilly.
Must admit, never thought of Georgia and know nothing about it. Where could you recommend and why? Do they have top class cannelloni, goulash soup, cake and beer?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@geoffknight, I’m not sure what’s contradictory in my OP?
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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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@denfinella, I do see the point you’re making.
I’ve skied at La Thuile, linked with La Rosiere. OK but lacking wow factor.
Will take a look at Madonna de C, thanks.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@BoardieK, oh do tell, it must be lonely there.
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@ster, please tell us about Scandinavia, for the type of skier/boarder I outlined?
A…ahem…minor oversight amongst major European alpine countries on my part.
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| PeakyB wrote: |
| @geoffknight, I’m not sure what’s contradictory in my OP? |
Comparing Italy to France Switzerland and er Italy.
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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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@t44tomo, we’ll done, I wondered which of you would be the first to spot that.
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@ElzP, agreed, whatever Vive La Difference is in Italian.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@mooney058, apols if my OP made you grumpy and glad you’re smiley again.
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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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@PeakyB, yup its pants then. Definitely nothing for you there.
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@T Bar, is it invalid to compare the attributes of different countries? I’m not sure if that’s what you’re implying
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You know it makes sense.
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| PeakyB wrote: |
| @mooney058, apols if my OP made you grumpy and glad you’re smiley again. |
no need to apologise, it is not you, it is me
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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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@ster, I never said I AM that person outlined in the OP.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@mooney058, don’t you start, I’ll apologise to whoever I want
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@PeakyB, I think you'd find that the majority of Swiss, Austrian and French resorts fail to meet what you imply are the essential criteria for "decent intermediate skiers and boarders". I don't get the impression that the majority of Swiss, Austrian, Italian or French skiers require hundreds of kms of fast lift-linked terrain. There is a certain type of Brit skier who does, I agree - but it's self-evident that many who post on SHs don't fall into that category.
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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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@pam w, I never mentioned ‘essential criteria’ or anything about what most mainland European skiers want. I didn’t intend to imply those things either.
I merely outlined certain characteristics of a particular type of skier/boarder and posed questions about how much Italy has to meet their preferences, compared to 3 other countries.
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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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@PeakyB, who is this mysterious skier??? Why frame this question if not you, asking for a friend?
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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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@ster, exactly.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| PeakyB wrote: |
| @T Bar, is it invalid to compare the attributes of different countries? I’m not sure if that’s what you’re implying |
Italy is not a different country from Italy that I'm aware of. You were comparing Italy with Italy, I think you meant Austria or maybe Scotland.
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You implied quite a lot about what is required by "decent intermediate" skiers (and that category includes rather a lot of mainland Europeans) , which is nowhere in Italy except Dolomiti Superski or possibly the Via Lattea (though that has quite a few creaky lifts). When that proposition (which excludes some iconic destinations, including Chamonix, Klosters and Monterosa) is demonstrated to be false, you start ducking and weaving. Did you have a sleepless night pondering this question?
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| pam w wrote: |
| You implied quite a lot about what is required by "decent intermediate" skiers |
I think it was just a badly phrased OP (in particular the comma after 'intermediate skiers/boarders' is misleading), and that this particular poster is asking whether Italy has anywhere that would appeal to 'a decent intermediate who likes to get plenty of kilometres covered, with enough challenging pistes and cruising for a week or two, with a good, well linked lift system to support it'.
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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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@PeakyB, definitely agree with you about La Thuile lacking a wow factor.
On the other hand, there are lots of smaller ski areas with I think do have a wow factor. Monterosa being one of the Italian ones.
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@T Bar,
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Italy is not a different country from Italy that I'm aware of. You were comparing Italy with Italy, I think you meant Austria or maybe Scotland.
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I actually wrote...
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I mean compared to the general offerings from France, Italy and Switzerland.
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Of course, I meant Austria 
I don'tthink Scotland is quite in the same league, is it> (light blue touch paper.....)
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