 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, I’ve only skied 4 times so far and started in my 50’s - and I’m not the bravest at all when slopes get steep.
Off to Avoriaz and want to note the runs (blue) that are more challenging so I can miss them  . I’m the least experienced of group
of 4 and do have lessons to help. Just want to enjoy and not be stressed. Found quite a few of the ‘blue’ runs in La Plagne quite
challenging last year. Many thanks for any suggestions. J
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sat 25-01-25 15:33; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@jillruss, The obvious answer is to find an instructor who has experience with late-starters and spend some cash on a private lesson. They'll take you where you want to go with the added bonus of helping you minimise your fears. I'm sure someone who knows Avoriaz will be able to recommend the best person.
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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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The run that brings you back from Chatel (Grand Plan) is deeply unpleasant — mainly due to traffic it gets very mogulled. Avoid from lunchtime on. Also the run down to the gondola from Lindarets/Ardent is always shady and gets quite icy with a couple of steep sections. Better to walk back up if you decide to eat at one of the (excellent) goat village restaurants — or just stop at Cafe Mamo before the top of the gondola in the Lindarets bowl! Good luck.
There have been quite a few of these threads before where people gave various feedback on the PDS in response to similar Questions so might be worth searching around.
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Also I’d suggest you change thread title to “nervous skier : which blues to avoid in Avoriaz” or similar as I reckon you will get more feedback that way!
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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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@RedandWhiteFlachau,
Thankyou -
I do take lessons, but also ski with friends and just like to know when to stay put if they’re wanting
to do certain routes that I know I’m best not to.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@abricotine,
Thankyou and have changed title
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As with everything it depends on conditions and all the blues can be lovely - but some can also be unpleasant.
The run to the bottom of the Ardent gondola as already said but also the run down from the Chatel side into the Linderettes bowl can be unpleasant too. The top section can get busy and cut up then the first part of the narrow track can get icy.
Thankfully the bowl above Avoriaz itself is normally lovely regardless of conditions, the only area that can be less fun is the very final section after the Iglu - but only 50m or so.
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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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Crot. Always scraped and full of speed merchants
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Sounds like a good name for it, @DJL.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| DJL wrote: |
| Crot. Always scraped and full of speed merchants |
| Origen wrote: |
| Sounds like a good name for it, @DJL. |
Always been referred to as Grot in our group for good reason.
Top bit is narrow but then opens up and I seem to remember being ok down to Grand Combes. Below Gramd Combes is usually chopped up, slushy, heavy snow with people blasting down to get the bus everywhere.
I seem to recall Blue Velvet off Brochaux being quite steep and bumps formed towards the end of the day as well.
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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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This might be controversial but may I suggest speaking with an instructor and spending every morning of your holiday with them? Skiing is as much about skill as it is about what’s in the head. I wouldn’t want anyone throwing a massive wobble about a run people said was difficult when in reality they might be perfectly capable of skiing it well within their abilities. Speak with an instructor to work out what they think your level is at, work on some basic exit strategies (side-stepping, solid snow plough turns), how to focus on your skiing and how to look at a slope and work out where the grip is.
FWIW, almost all blues are dangerous as they’re full of people who think the runs are safe and have inconsistent skill and others flying down them rather quickly. I’ve just come back from a week in Tignes (yes, I know it’s know it’s not the same) and as someone who’s fairly confident skiing everywhere (on and off piste), I found some of the blue home runs terrifying to ski down at the end of the day.
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@jillruss,
Quite a while since I've been to Avoriaz so no specific advice.
One thing I would point out though is it might be worth working out which runs are likely to be tricky. By and large most runs are made difficult as much by the snow on them (or lack of it) as by anything else if they are blue.
Things which cause runs to be difficult are changing the nature of the snow either by the weather or by the passage of skiers.
Low runs are often difficult because there is less snow fall at lower altitude and they are more prone to freeze/thaw and thus become icy. Narrower runs force skiers into making turns in the same place either creating mounds of snow or scraping them bare. Narrower runs are often runs to resort at lower altitudes.
To avoid these difficulties you are often better sticking to higher runs (providing visibility is good or going low earlier in theday wen there has not been too many skiers over them. I realise it is pretty general advice but if you are unsure about a run do consider where it goes.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
To avoid these difficulties you are often better sticking to higher runs
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Yes, and then downloading in a gondola.
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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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| Origen wrote: |
| Quote: |
To avoid these difficulties you are often better sticking to higher runs
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Yes, and then downloading in a gondola. |
That trick doesn’t really work in Avoriaz because the accommodation is near the top of the mountain. If you’re staying in Morzine then definitely get the gondola down. Prodains to avoid Grot/Crot, Super Morzine and there isn’t even a piste.
But if staying in Avoriaz itself then it’s all chairlifts and you don’t even need to go down low at the end of the day.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'd suggest staying clear of Prolays and Mossettes until you've got your confidence up imo. Maybe Bleue d'Arare as well but the other should be fine.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@jillruss this is something I'm reading about too. I only have a small amount of skiing previously and am nervous, although keen to conquer my fears (at least a little bit). I have lessons booked for my first three mornings, in Lindarets next week, and hoping to find a couple of pistes I like and can just do over and over! I'm yet to do a blue on my own, without and instructor there.
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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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| Biscuit4321 wrote: |
| @jillruss this is something I'm reading about too. I only have a small amount of skiing previously and am nervous, although keen to conquer my fears (at least a little bit). I have lessons booked for my first three mornings, in Lindarets next week, and hoping to find a couple of pistes I like and can just do over and over! I'm yet to do a blue on my own, without and instructor there. |
The Combe a floret blue (or Lindarets Blue as I call it) is a nice blue that should help build confidence. It runs through the trees down to the Lindarets bowl from the Proclou, Lindarets and Tour (kind of) lifts. Though the final stage flattens out quite a bit so some skating/poling will need to be done. It also finishes off with a 50m segment on the red run but its nothing to worry about at all.
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@roscoe thank you. Found a YouTube video of it and it looks great. I like seeing videos of them to know what to expect - especially if the person filming them isn't very fast!
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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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Yes Prolays and Mossettes can be both icy (if there's been freeze thaw) and v busy - not great for nervous learners. My young lad on his first or second trip had a big slide there a few years ago and I had to ski and stop him -he wasn't nervous though, thought it was great fun!!
Probably better off lapping Cases lift down Abrocotine upper section.
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| Biscuit4321 wrote: |
| @roscoe thank you. Found a YouTube video of it and it looks great. I like seeing videos of them to know what to expect - especially if the person filming them isn't very fast! |
No problem.
The Proclou blue run is a very mild blue that you can gain confidence on. Though the lift back up can get busy as it’s a route up from Morzine.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Wed 29-01-25 13:54; edited 1 time in total
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Fully agree with both paragraphs of @Rishie’s post.
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Yes Proclou lift can be rammed....and the lifties don't encourage or enforce any sort of loading to have it running at capacity which is infuriating.
If down there better getting Seraussaix lift and back down the lovely green of the same name for a few loops.
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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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| MHskier wrote: |
Yes Proclou lift can be rammed....and the lifties don't encourage or enforce any sort of loading to have it running at capacity which is infuriating.
If down there better getting Seraussaix lift and back down the lovely green of the same name for a few loops. |
Have been to the Portes du Soleil a few times, once, when based at Morzine, in a particularly warm week in later March, we mostly skied Avoriaz chasing the snow up. Therefore our usual route up was via the Super Morzine lift (stayed very close by it) and a daily commute on that Seraussaix green. After a week I wouldn't describe it as lovely but that's just a personal experience. 
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There is a marked blue from the prolays chair taking you directly down towards Lindarets ( as opposed to skiing to the ridge where Tour/Lindarets/Proclou lifts drop) which can be distinctly ‘purple’…. Also Blue Velvet from Brochaux chair… top half ok (till you get to main Mossette piste)… the bottom bit down into the brochaux bowl can be grim.
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