 Poster: A snowHead
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I’m just trying to get other people’s thoughts on this but it turns out the uni games are currently on in bardo and will be when I arrive next week. I have read some reviews that half of the pistes are closed to normal skiers. I booked this holiday as a package from crystal ski for my first family holiday and before I even get there feel
I have been misled. The reviews I have found from people currently there are very disparaging. Is it normal for a tour operator to sell a holiday knowing fine well half of the pistes will be closed? I even checked on FIS web site before I booked but never thought of the student Olympics.
Has any one else had a similar problem or got any recompense from the ski operator.
On another note can any one recommend any thing while in bardo. I was planning on letting the kids on the coaster but anything else there too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Where did you read that half the pistes will be closed? The alpine schedule looks to me like they will just be using one piste each day.
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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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I think it’s melezet Side that’s shut. Review on trip advisor and saw on Facebook too. Its only a small resort and if that is shut it’s more like 1/3rd. I have read it’s also the snow board too. On the web site it’s saying 60% runs open.
Do you think it’s fair for tour operators not to tell you as they obviously know that pistes will be shut
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@jcsb36, I am sure that Trip Advisor and Facebook are more accurate than the event website /s.
What dates will you be there?
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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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Have you been on the web site for the games, It’s terrible hence why I’m posting hear trying to get some more info. From what I can see the snowboarding is there too.
I just want to know
1.whats it’s actually like in resort with the games on
2. Is it fair for a tour operator to sell a holiday knowing pistes will be shut due to an event.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@jcsb36, I don’t know this resort but I would not be happy if a large part of the ski area was shut in a smallish resort.
Last year we were in Tignes Val D’Isere when there were international competitions taking place but hadn’t even realised as it is a large ski area and we happened to ski on the Tignes side that day.
In most resorts there will be a piste or two reserved for ski school/club competitions.
If you think more will be closed than this I would definitely query it with the TO.
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Definitely worth giving the TO a call to see if they can move you to another resort. Crystal is a big operator and should have plenty of availability for that week, given its off-peak. Maybe even check their website of a few similarly priced alternative before calling them.
More generally speaking a different resort might be better for a first family skit trip, as Bardonecchia doesn't strike me as particularly beginner friendly, so moving resort even if it does incur a slight cost might not be a bad idea. (assuming there are some beginners in your group)
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From the resort website:
We inform our esteemed customers that on January 11th and 12th, due to the Universiade competitions, the following lifts and slopes will be open to the public in the Melezet area:
Melezet-Chesal Chairlift, providing access to slopes 21 Alta, 21 Bassa, and the final section of 23 Bassa
Sellette Chairlift, providing access to slope 23 Alta
Bosco Chairlift, providing access to slopes 27 and 28
I have no idea what percentage of runs this means are closed. But sounds like it's ending today anyway (at least the downhill events - most of the sports don't need ski slopes). Besides if it's your first family holiday you probably wouldn't want to be using the kinds of pistes suitable for competition!
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Is it fair for a tour operator to sell a holiday knowing pistes will be shut due to an event.
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I doubt the TO even knew it was on to be honest, let alone how much might be closed. I suspect a TO could choose to say "we successfully provided flights, accomodation, and transfers. We don't run the resort, take it up with them if you want your passes refunded".
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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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I’m going to try and get in touch with crystal today and see, l have emailed them. I’m leaving from Newcastle and it seems everything is a lot more expensive than what I paid on line.
My kids have been skiing in Scotland quite a few times, I have had both of them down top to bottom at the lecht and they can do laps in a snow dome by themselves. They are booked for improver lessons so it looked ok in bardo. I’m just disappointed that the main chain lift in a sector looks like it’s shut to customers. Surely that’s something a TO should tell you. If it was a summer holiday and a pool was shut they would tell you.
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Thanks boarder2020. Where did you find the closed slope info. I have been on the bardo web site but can’t find the info. I have been told there is events on until a week on Thursday. Thanks for the info.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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https://www.bardonecchiaski.com/en/resort-open
Probably events like ice hockey, cross country skiing, curling etc.
Having looked at the map it's hardly 50% closed anyway. More like around 5 runs. So probably just some disgruntled people that had wanted to ski particular runs - also the snowparks are in the closed area. I agree it's not ideal, but it's also not that uncommon to have competitions or pistes closed for race training.
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If it was a summer holiday and a pool was shut they would tell you.
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Yes, but the TO is responsible for accomodation, so it's a bit different. The TO is not responsible for the resort. It's a bit like booking a package tour with a TO to find a local attraction is shut for renovation.
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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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Thanks. I was trying to find a time table of closures in advance. I realise that some pistes may be closed but from what I can see in the program of events go on for 4 of the 6 days we are there. Much appreciated, I’m sure the kids will still love it, just a bit frustrating.
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@jcsb36, You haven't said when you will be there. The alpine events start with the Super-G, which is what takes up most space, it will be finished by next weekend.
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You know it makes sense.
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If it was a summer holiday and a pool was shut they would tell you
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Probably not if it was a public pool. And possibly not even if it was a hotel pool! We went on a supposedly "catered chalet" holiday with Inghams in Austria, years ago. Only when we arrived did we discover that because there was no adequate kitchen in the chalet (!) we would be eating in the adjoining hotel, where we were put on a separate table in a dark corner and served pretty awful food, quite different from what the other hotel guests had. The "chalet boy" was lovely, thankfully. He made us cakes every afternoon, using his grandma's recipe book, and ate with us in the evenings.
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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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| jcsb36 wrote: |
I’m going to try and get in touch with crystal today and see, l have emailed them. I’m leaving from Newcastle and it seems everything is a lot more expensive than what I paid on line.
My kids have been skiing in Scotland quite a few times, I have had both of them down top to bottom at the lecht and they can do laps in a snow dome by themselves. They are booked for improver lessons so it looked ok in bardo. I’m just disappointed that the main chain lift in a sector looks like it’s shut to customers. Surely that’s something a TO should tell you. If it was a summer holiday and a pool was shut they would tell you. |
It is not ideal to find out after you booked. But at the level of skiing you are describing for your kids, they will not feel constrained by the available slopes. To be honest, top to bottom at the Lecht and lapping a snow dome is a country mile away from skiing alpine slopes. It will be a big step up for them, and it is very unlikely they would have used any of the closed slopes anyway.
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Poster: A snowHead
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If you've fixed up ski school for your kids in Bardo I'd hesitate about changing at this point, when ski schools are going to be very fully booked for those busy weeks. It would be a bit of a disaster if they had no class to go to. Instructors are good at finding the right places to take their pupils, even when conditions are less than ideal.
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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 the resort website:
We inform our esteemed customers that on January 11th and 12th, due to the Universiade competitions, the following lifts and slopes will be open to the public in the Melezet area:
Melezet-Chesal Chairlift, providing access to slopes 21 Alta, 21 Bassa, and the final section of 23 Bassa
Sellette Chairlift, providing access to slope 23 Alta
Bosco Chairlift, providing access to slopes 27 and 28
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If it is these lifts and runs that ARE closed (appears to be typo on the resort message), then I can't see it would make that much difference for the level of skier/skiing that you are describing. There's still plenty of other good skiing available for a few days until the Melezet area would be expected to open up again to everyone. Jafferau is a particular favourite of mine, top to bottom of around 1500m descent to repeat over and over again.
To me, Bardonecchia is a great place but the skiing is very much tough red runs (in my opinion). However, as someone else has mentioned the instructors will find the best places for the improver lessons you have booked for your kids, even if/when some of the lifts are not available to you. I'd stick with Bardonecchia is I was you. I'm sure the resort have enough experience of running a competition whilst the resort is open to holidaymakers. The area at Melezet was used for the Olympic snowboarding in 2006 Olympics, and it would make sense that it is being used again. Once the Melezet area is open to you, expect excellent long runs served by a couple of fast chairs lifts - but they are reasonably steep and made my thighs burn.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| YellowAndBlue wrote: |
| If it is these lifts and runs that ARE closed (appears to be typo on the resort message) |
hmmm I think it's not a typo, and my interpretation of the webpage does rather suggest that about half the runs will be closed, including the long blue into Melezet. It's not clear to me which if any other blues are open, but I expect the resort will have full details.
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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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@motyl, I suppose I meant that it is saying that those lifts and runs WILL be open, as opposed to not being open (as one would probably expect if being used for a competition). I mean, I think it meant to say WILL NOT BE open.
But then again, it might be specifying which runs and lifts remain open to the public in that sector. If those lifts and runs are open to you, it gives you good options in Melezet especially as the other three sectors should be open.
I'd be happy to ski on Jafferau for two or three days if required. I enjoy doing the same thing top to bottom, especially when it is good and a big vertical descent (with mostly good lifts to the top). But I appreciate that might not be everyone's cup of cha.
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Whatever piste is going to be used for the Super-G needs to be prepared, there are three options in the homologations for Bardoneccia, they will want to keep the public off it until the last race on Friday.
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And inexperienced kids are better off with an instructor in almost ANY resort than in A N Other resort without one.
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