 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Weird, if anything I’d suggest Norway for minimum fear as I thought the slopes aren’t steep or long and it’s not full of mad drunk teenagers like the Alps!
Get a private lesson or three, tell them exactly your fear and where it might have come from so they can work on it (technique and or counseling). And ask them where are appropriate slopes to practice.
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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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Don't want to put you off Saas Fee as I do really like it and you can't argue with it's snow-sure altitude, but I took a big group at Easter last year and the beginners really struggled to get in the zone. There was only really one long blue run that they liked which was a gondola ride and a long T-bar away. The resort is great but it's hard to avoid the odd bit of steep red tbh. These also tend to be the busier sections where the pistes come together which is never ideal.
Something else to consider is it was quite icy in the mornings at Easter last year. So Ice and potentially steeper sections can really knock people's confidence. My 4 year old found the ice a huge pain as he couldn't really stop himself from sliding down even the most shallow of slopes! We switched to doing afternoons and it was much better then as the sun softened everything up. It may not be like this this Easter of course.
We all had a good week in the end once we'd worked out where to / not to go. I enjoyed the long top to bottom runs and the scenery is absolutely incredible! We stayed in a great chalet the other side of town and rented lockers by the lifts for the week (not cheap but 100% worth it!).
Good luck with your search. Cervinia is good at easter as the super high pistes aren't very steep.
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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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@Orange200, We were hoping to drive on this occasion but Norway is perfect in so many ways not least for avoiding drunk teenagers on the slopes! Although maybe I should try a few drinks on skies as it might help 
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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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@Ryanbakewell52, have you been to Cervinia yourself?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Barnacle, yes. Stayed at the Hotel Mon Reve (and didn't venture in to the town hardly at all if I remember rightly!)
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@Barnacle, Look at Montgenevre, sounds perfect for your needs. Easter is early this year and I was there late March last year. The main part of the resort faces north and the snow was still good there last March. Lots of wide greens and blues which are great for returning confidence and both of the ski schools are excellent. My husband was having a bit of a confidence crisis before we went so booked himself into ski school with ESF and it brought him on no ends. I had a private lesson with A Peak ski school and found them really good too. I've never driven there but it' supposed to be fairly straightforward. Or if you fly to Turin it's just 1 hour 15 min transfer.
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I would advise against Saas Fee for small ones and nervous skiers. In the same area you have the small but perfectly formed Grimentz and Vercorin. The latter very small but great for nervous folk and groms.
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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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If you go for Saas Fee, I know an instructor there that will do you private lessons. Native English speaker (if you count Scottish  ) and i'm pretty confident he'd do a good job for you.
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I am also a Saas Fee fan but agree with @Ryanbakewell52 that it doesn't necessarily offer the easiest progression from the beginner blues at bottom to more slopes higher up. The Langfluh blue is pretty easy and a good slope to move on to higher up though there's a long drag lift to access it. Saas Fee is absolutely beautiful and with good lessons you'd probably be fine and most of the time the snow is in great condition even late in the season.
I'd highly recommend Eskimos ski school if you do go, always had a good experience with them. All round it isn't cheap then nor is Norway (I understand, not been) so hopefully ok for you.
Cervinia is also a good suggestion, lots of long cruisy runs, lovely mountain restaurants and option to get over to Zermatt (skiing harder though) and again beautiful scenery. Long drive mind.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I agree with the posters above. Saas Fee is a fantastic place with stunning scenery and a lovely village.
It is one of the best places in the alps to learn to ski - as the nursery slopes are extensive, separated from the rest of the pistes, and snow-sure. My 4 children all learnt to ski there. But it is not the place for nervous/lower level intermediates. Almost all the runs have steep sections and the blue run skiing at altitude is limited. Once out of the nursery slopes my kids had private instruction (and I am an instructor myself), so progress was rapid enough that this was not a limitation for us.
I would not recommend it at all given your description of yourself. There are many places that will suit you better.
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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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@Barnacle, if you're wanting to go to Switzerland then Wengen would also be worth a look. Again very scenic, less guarantee on good snow late in the season but fairly reliable. Lots of good blues and reds in the Mannlichen area and the lovely train up through the mountain up to the top of the glacier is a good non skiing afternoon. Another beautiful location, see long running thread elsewhere on here.
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FAQ
We were with friends who were complete beginners and they were whizzing by me rather embarrassingly 
