Hello,
Young couple trying to decide between Val d'Isère and Courchevel 1650 for a weeks trip
Girlfriend is a beginning skier, most comfortable on wide green and blue runs where she has decent amount of space to practice
Val d'isère looks amazing as a resort, very charming, but in terms of skiing it seems that most runs are very steep ? Ski map is showing green runs up the mountain, but not sure if those are actual pistes, or more kind of connecting paths?
Is Val d'Isère catching a lot of sun? How is the orientation of most of the slopes? I have been in Les 3 vallées very often, and what i liked a lot was the different angles of the pistes, giving you a choice in terms of shade/sun (morning/afternoon)
thanks a lot.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
There is plenty of easy skiing in Val d'Isere but a lot of it is not "on the doorstep", as you note, and it would be important to download in a gondola at the end of the day - not try to ski down. Courchevel 1650 would be fine. Plenty of good tuition available in both places.
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?
Both are fine. I skied in Val d as a beginner and you are spoilt for choice for greens on Bellevarde and Solaise sides. It’s nice to get up and around the mountain and not be skiing the same green runs (I always downloaded). There are some nice blues on Solaise once she can graduate a bit.
Courchevel is also good, I remember 1850 is packed with flattish runs and 1650 has a green over there and quite an easy track back.
I’d say she will be able to keep happily occupied in either. Both good choices.
@Kouemaha, late season (April) VdI will be better due to the height and orientation (North facing) of its easier slopes, mid season, Couchevel will probably be more satisfying overall as you can get around all of the green/blue slopes without needing to download, it possibly has more easy terrain in total as well
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Either would be great. Key thing is probably the quality of instruction you get rather than the resort.
As Pam says, download from the top if you go to Val. Verte, which leads down into la Daille is labelled green but is significantly more challenging, especially late afternoon.
@Kouemaha,
VdI will be fine for her providing she has a good instructor to show her srond the slopes of her ability. Perhaps morning lessons & post lunch practicing on recommended slopes? Ask Steve Angus if he would be available.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Kouemaha, I like both resorts, but I would say that Courchevel 1850 is a great beginner's resort with the Jardin Alpin area initially followed by a few surrounding it (Pralong etc). I think that would keep a beginner happy all week, but there's options furhter afield if need be. I've never stayed in 1650 but skied over there often and that also has some good beginner areas - but the benefit of 1850 is access via gondola rather than chair or drag which can make it more user friendly for beginners.
There is also Courchevel 1500, now renamed as Couchevel Village which is well linked to 1850 by a gondola and is much cheaper. That might be worth considering.
Regarding slope angles and catching the sun, you have all the expected options in Val d'Isere for you and can easily plan a day to be in the right position for the sun either morning or afternoon (just as long as the clouds stay away).
As far as your gf is concerned, my guess is she would mostly stay on Solaise to begin with (once past the basic nursery slope in the village) and maybe progress to the Club des Sports area. She should keep away from La Daille as the runs there are steeper than the grading implies.
After all it is free
After all it is free
I too would choose Courchevel....but if you set your heart on VDI, it is quite doable. Both have access to great ski schools.
IMV. VDI's reputation as not ideal for beginners, is a hangover from the days where it was not so easy/impossible to download. The runs to the valley on both sides should be avoided as a beginner. The other issue is Piste grading, which can't always be relied on....but the instructor will keep you right.
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Quote:
She should keep away from La Daille as the runs there are steeper than the grading implies.
The only time I skied down into La Daille the "green" piste was covered in bumps and fallen over beginners. I went VERY slowly and carefully trying to avoid both. Then had to wait for a wretched bus to get back into central Val d,Isere. Downloading on the gondola watching the intermediate skiers who should have downloaded with us having similar problems with the even bigger bumps on La Face was quite enjoyable in a schadenfreude kind of way.
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pam w wrote:
The only time I skied down into La Daille the "green" piste was covered in bumps and fallen over beginners.
I have also been down there when it was a sheet of ice, as the wind had blown all the snow off the top. It was carnage.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
My son, who was working there and knew the resort well, had tried to persuade me and his sister down the "Piste Perdu" (or something of the kind) which started by dropping into a fog-filled gulley. We declined and he told us we'd have to ski the horrid green run instead. When I much later saw some video of the Piste Perdu I was horrified at the thought that he'd have taken us down it - we were both quite capable of carefully navigating the beginner-strewn green run, but that Piste Perdu was well beyond our capability!
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.
Same is true of Santons and Plan/Piste M into Val. Never a pretty sight at the end of the day and full of people who would have a much more enjoyable experience downloading!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@pam w, The word I would use for Piste Perdu - is "Interesting"....and (certainly in the past) often had the ESF taking their class down it - who weren't really up to the task.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
The Solaise bubble has greatly improved VDI's appeal to the beginner
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Kouemaha, I'm a long time fan of both. For a beginner, overall, I'd say Courchevel 1650 is more appropriate. Other posts above have explained why.
Val D'Isere wouldn't be a terrible place for a beginner, if they're happy to ride up fairly high on lifts to reach the 'ski tranquille' areas set aside mainly for beginners and early intermediates. Then download in the lifts, rather than try to ski some tricky pistes down to the valley.
In the same areas, Tignes and Les Menuires are also suitable. The latter depends how late you go in the season. as it can get a lot of sun and often turn slushy in the afternoons.
Nice choice to have! Took me a few years of 'roughing it' in Andorra, Livigno, Soll and La Toussuire before I graduated to those places.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I used to download on the old Solaise chair in Val d, no problem. Even more comfy in the swish new(ish) gondola. Don’t understand the idea that it is somehow unsatisfying to download. I still nearly always download in certain resorts where I don’t care much for the lower runs (eg Morzine) There’s no shame in it and often the sensible choice when many have had a few beers and are straight lining down to base.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
The green runs up Bellevarde are lovely runs and a good width (definitely not tracks), likewise the blues on Solaise are similar, and you can take the leissieres chair across to the glacier all on blue.
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?
Kouemaha as an instructor here in Val d’Isere please feel free to message me direct if you have any questions and I’ll try and answer them for you. Thanks. Steve ps many sensible points above.
Both have good skiing for beginners and you probably wouldn't be disappointed with either.
The only thing I would say is that they both command premium prices for skiing which as a beginner you can duplicate elsewhere at a lower price. If you can afford it that's great, if moneys a bit tight I might look elsewhere.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Id probably choose Courch with these set of circumstances.
A nicer progression resort and the 3Vs always gives a sense of travel and one big over-riding factor that would make your g/f feel good and confident - you know it, so can take her to suitable slopes for taking her learning forward.
Two top end cost resorts though - you're spoiling her
I had my second and third week skiing at Val D, after Val Thorens in the first week. I would say it gets very crowded and icy at the end of the day going back to resort.
The glacier greens and blues are excellent place for beginners, but you might want to get a lift down at the end of the day unless you are ready for a bit of a challenge and lots of French skiers zooming past you on green runs.
Great variety and good for fast learners as plenty opportunity to test different terrains. I had done la Face by week 2, which is not too bad until you reach the olympic bit which is made deliberately icy.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Quote:
Two top end cost resorts though - you're spoiling her
Maybe she's paying.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Val is fine for beginners, sure there are better resorts for learning but it is fine there are plenty of beginner slopes and Solaise is now great for learning. If a quick learner there are loads of blues to progress onto around the resort and into Tignes where there are even more (can download easy enough to Tignes if they dont fancy the run in) A lot of the blues are near or next to a red so the beginner can then ski with the group and easily meet up.
As said avoid Verte into La Daille in the afternoon or if its generally busy/bad conditions but all the down load lifts are really efficient, its quite pleasant early on when its quiet though so worth a go if you can time it.
Im not sure whey there is an obsession with skiing back to the resort at the end of the day, most home runs are pretty awful in most resorts. Get in a comfy gondola and enjoy the views. I do it now depending on how busy it is and conditions and been going for over 20 years.
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One thing to add - the ski schools are great, highly recommend TDC, New Gen and Progression all used recently and couldn't fault them. Evolution 2 were very good but haven't used them for some time. Loads of choice. Only complaint would be price as they all seem to be a bit more expensive than some resorts but you don't generally go to Val for a cheap ski break.
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pam w wrote:
My son, who was working there and knew the resort well, had tried to persuade me and his sister down the "Piste Perdu" (or something of the kind) which started by dropping into a fog-filled gulley. We declined and he told us we'd have to ski the horrid green run instead. When I much later saw some video of the Piste Perdu I was horrified at the thought that he'd have taken us down it - we were both quite capable of carefully navigating the beginner-strewn green run, but that Piste Perdu was well beyond our capability!
Yes there are gentle slopes higher up and you can download later in the day. Somewhere like the top of Solaise or Bollin are fine on a sunny day, however not much fun in a whiteout particularly for a beginner.
I think a resort with low level gentle slopes would be better.
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.
When are you thinking of going, @Kouemaha?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Just be aware when you look at the piste map for Val that although there are lots of greens etc at the tops of the mountains (Bellevarde and Solaise).... oh and by the way downloading via gondola etc whether to La Daille to town from Solaise / Bellevarde TOTALLY is the way to go.... that there are plenty of stings in the tail... e.g. the first bit when you get out the Olympic gondola to the start of the Verte (nightmare for most people) and then the bit at the top of the Borsat lift etc.... so there are pitfalls out there so just be careful not to scare yourself etc!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@Steve Angus,
Quote:
the first bit when you get out the Olympic gondola to the start of the Verte (nightmare for most people) and then the bit at the top of the Borsat lift etc.
...and the top of Piste Henri. Come to think of it, Tignes/Val D has a bit of a specialism in making the approach to relatively easy pistes tricky...often because there are so many people on them and the snow gets chopped up, mogully, etc fairly early most days.
To grade the Verte as a green run is scandalous IMHO.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
PeakyB wrote:
@Steve Angus,
Quote:
the first bit when you get out the Olympic gondola to the start of the Verte (nightmare for most people) and then the bit at the top of the Borsat lift etc.
...and the top of Piste Henri. Come to think of it, Tignes/Val D has a bit of a specialism in making the approach to relatively easy pistes tricky...often because there are so many people on them and the snow gets chopped up, mogully, etc fairly early most days.
To grade the Verte as a green run is scandalous IMHO.
Yea tend to agree on those points. Keeps us instructors employed somewhat though. But yea less than ideal
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I also agree that the grading the Verte as a green run is wrong.
In this litigious age the resort is surely asking for trouble if there were to be a really serious accident.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Steve Angus wrote:
PeakyB wrote:
@Steve Angus,
Quote:
the first bit when you get out the Olympic gondola to the start of the Verte (nightmare for most people) and then the bit at the top of the Borsat lift etc.
...and the top of Piste Henri. Come to think of it, Tignes/Val D has a bit of a specialism in making the approach to relatively easy pistes tricky...often because there are so many people on them and the snow gets chopped up, mogully, etc fairly early most days.
To grade the Verte as a green run is scandalous IMHO.
Yea tend to agree on those points. Keeps us instructors employed somewhat though. But yea less than ideal
richjp wrote:
I also agree that the grading the Verte as a green run is wrong.
In this litigious age the resort is surely asking for trouble if there were to be a really serious accident.
It's been a while since I've been to the EK but if Melezes has been upgraded to a red, surely Verte should also be a red?
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?
Just be aware Val D'Isere, whilst a fantastic resort, is a convex mountain valley. That is, the slopes get steeper the lower you get!
Meanwhile the reds above Johan Clarey were inexplicably upgraded from red to black, despite not being in any way difficult. Combe Folle for example is quite a benign slope and has a button as an escape route if you don't fancy Johan Clarey.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I’ve long suspected EK piste grading is decided by the marketing people, rather than anyone who skis them regularly.
Not just EK but France generally.
They also make up altitudes in resort names to make them sound higher.
I've skied at both resorts many times from when I first started skiing.
Courchevel 1650 would be a much better place to take a beginner than Val d'Isere.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
NoMapNoCompass wrote:
Meanwhile the reds above Johan Clarey were inexplicably upgraded from red to black, despite not being in any way difficult. Combe Folle for example is quite a benign slope and has a button as an escape route if you don't fancy Johan Clarey.
If the button is open that is.
After all it is free
After all it is free
richjp - litigation in France is a not really a 'thing' yet!
REMEMBER and as PeakyB points out the colouring of runs is a MARKETING thing the world over - its nothing more and nothing less. If a resort doesnt have a black run then the decision maker for the holiday who is often an 'advanced' skier would not want to go to that resort and vice a versa a beginner would not consider a resort if there was no green runs and never go there etc and not grow up used to it etc. Having said that there is a discrepancy in colourings in the EK thats for sure I agree! If I have a 'black run' skier from certain resorts in the world I will note to myself to start them on green runs here etc! Ultimately be careful with the colour of runs the world over!
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CathS wrote:
Courchevel 1650 would be a much better place to take a beginner than Val d'Isere.
Apart from the fact that 1650 is an artificial construct and pretty much dead after 8pm, while ValD is an actual living town with a life and soul to match. There is more to a first ski holiday than green runs.
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@Kouemaha, Courchevel 1650 wins. That's not to say that Val D doesn't have some great beginner, early intermediate pistes, but you need to get up the mountain to reach them and then, for the sake of avoiding confidence sapping tricky runs to the bottom AND your relationship were you to be skiing together, downloading would be advisable at the end of the day. 1650 is far more likely to suit what you are after. It faces north, so the snow keeps well. The pistes are wide, rolling, with good options from the top of the Signal chair and the Pyramides drag lift. It's relatively* easy to ski over to 1850 where there are even more options, but I think there's a good bus service to and from as well. The main piste into 1650 is gentle and wide-not as steep as the piste down to 1550 which I think might be a bit too much for tired legs.
* via a narrow green cat track en route to 1850 which can be a bit bumpy after lunch with a short steeper section at the end.
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