 Poster: A snowHead
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Three adults visiting SC the first week of February (02 to 09 Feb). We usually ski in Norway but for various reasons this year it’s SC.
We’ll be staying in Chantemerle close to the lifts (hameau de rocher blanc apartments). Skiing wise, two of us like blues and easy reds and one of us likes tougher stuff, but on piste. We like a beer in the evening but will be eating in most nights. Any recommendations or top tips about SC and Chantemerle in particular would be gratefully received.
If anyone could recommend a ski hire shop, that’d be great.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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From memory Riquet Sport was pretty decent, plus they have lockers for hire (if that was a consideration). They’re located in the main square right before the main lift station in the village. Just around the corner, facing the Luc Alphand piste there is (or certainly was) a decent bar without outside terrace for a bit of Apres. A great place to sit and watch some of the not so skilled skiers on ‘the Wall’, the last section of the Luc Alphand before the piste ends at a run out area.
I remember sitting there once, toward the end of the day, watching a guy ski down with his dog bounding along behind him….the skier stopped, and the dog turned around, excitedly running towards the inbound skiers. Carnage ensued….fortunately no one was hurt!
https://www.riquet-sport.com/magasins/chantemerle?ved=2ahUKEwjFoK-_6_mJAxVFnf0HHQSXDOsQgU96BAgsEAQ
There are no shortage of blues and fairly easy reds above Chantemerle and one can get a great sense of travel to the other valley villages without resorting to tougher pistes (no shortage of them either). Pick of the blues would be Les Vallons from above Grande Alp all the way back to Serre Ratier - nice and wide, plenty of piste variety in terms of terrain covered.
The Eftanis - Foret - Marteau - Melezes combination of blues is also a great option.
Myertillis from the Col du Prorel is another belter of a blue with the option of Salludes for a decent red both starting from, and finishing in the same place.
It’s a great ski area and remains an absolute favourite of mine.
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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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@Jäger, thanks for the recommendations. Glad to hear no dogs were hurt 
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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 also see from the piste map that the Pontillas gondola is no longer pointless-it actually terminates somewhere useful
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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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@dobby, yes the new one goes higher. @Jäger, has said most of what I could have said. Make sure you have a trip over to Monetier, and maybe do the Grands Bains one evening after skiing. Buses run along to the baths in the evening.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We stayed in Chantemerle last February and are going back this year. Casse de Bouef running down to Villeneuve is another pisted black, similar to Luc Alphand but longer and bit steeper in places (and can be icy). Most of the reds are pretty easy going but beware of a few that have mogully unpisted sections (especially Echaillon accessed from the top of the Cote Chevalier lift).
We didn't eat or drink out very much but there are several bars and restaurants, but don't expect a raucous apre scene or all-night partying. The Irish bar in the shopping centre by the ski lifts looked quite lively but we never went in.
There are a choice of 4 restaurants at Serre Ratier (top of the Ratier gondola, bottom of the Vallons blue run) which are perfect for lunch if you need a central place to meet up. We mostly stuck with the Relais de Ratier because it has a good terrace and reasonably price food options that kept everyone happy. Cafe Soleil is also popular or Le French, up on the Grand Alpe plateau.
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@Hells Bells, thanks for that. @Snowtunes, I’ll probably get my daughter to preview the red rubs before I try them (mind you, to her they are all easy )
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| Snowtunes wrote: |
| Cafe Soleil is also popular |
Ahhhh, my first ever ski resort mountain restaurant experience. Good to know it is still there, in spite of my best effort to demolish it once  As a 3-week skier, thinking I was the beez kneez, I skied down the Draye red, and got in a right tangle, speeding towards the Cafe Soleil and ended up throwing myself to the ground to avoid their sun terrace.   Much to the amusement of the group I was with, and just about everyone else, in the vicinity.
Incidentally, for the OP - the Luc Alphand piste is a black and certainly used to be FIS rated for lady’s downhill racing. I think the British Army also used to use it for racing, back in the day. Anyway, in reasonable conditions, it’s not massively difficult, except the previously mentioned last section, called “the Wall”, which one can avoid by taking the green piste track that intersects it at various points. If the OP, or daughter of the OP wanted to give it a go, generally best to do so around 10.30/11.00am, IMV. At the end of the day it can be busy and can be quite chopped up/moguled…which really tests one’s ability!
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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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@Jäger,
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@Jäger, that’s a quality story
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@LJMaddog, thx
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@dobby, if you would like a really nice meal on the slopes I recommend La Cabane at Aravet. Service was great, food was excellent and the view back up the piste was lovely. Pick a nice sunny day and sit facing the slope, amazing!
There’s a great Pizza takeaway joint in Chantemerle almost next door to the sports bar. Cracking good pizzas if you don’t fancy cooking.
Other good bars we enjoyed Bar Le Trappeur, La Coquille Rooftop next to the main gondola and the Sports Bar. The Irish bar was ok but not great imo.
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You know it makes sense.
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@jirac18, thx. Will check out those bars
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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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FAQ
Apres was almost on a par with Austria 