 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
I am a good beginner/new intermediate. I need wide mellow blue runs to just put the miles in to improve technique/confidence on.
Is Samoems that? Looking at the piste map it does not look easy? Only Dahu back down which doesn't look easy on YouTube and I have seem a couple of comments on it that "it should be a red"?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
Only Dahu back down
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It's often better for beginners or intermediates, even in places with plenty of good blue runs, to take a lift down to base.
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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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Yeah, I would definitely do that - but once up at 1600 ? Still looks a but challenging for someone of my standard?
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(Dahu only goes back down to the Gondola at 1600 (Les Saix) as far as I can see)
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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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It's not an area I know well from skiing point of view but I've visited Samoens village in summer - it's lovely, but it's right down in the valley. You wouldn't generally be able to ski to or from the original village. Someone who knows the area better will be along soon!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@frank_bough, I would not particularly recommend Samoens for beginners/early intermediates. The Dahu blue is narrow (assume it is a road in summer). It is often easier to ski the wide red Marmottes. The run below Samoens 1600 to the Coulouvrier is in the shade/low and can be icy. There is also a Club Med at 1600 so the beginner drag lifts in that area can have long queues. Morillon or Les Carroz would be more suitable bases in the Grand Massif in my opinion. Morillon has the most suitable ski terrain and Les Carroz also has some good blues and more of a range of accommodation. Les Carroz is also a friendly village...not as chocolate box as Samoens but more practical as a base for skiing.
Samoens itself is a pleasant village with lots of nice accommodation but you have to get the gondola up to the ski area and most accommodation will be a bus or walk from that. At the end of the day if you have skied in the wider Grand Massif Samoens 1600 isn't the easiest place to get back to as the top of the Tete des Saix can be chaos at the end of the day with lots of skiers crossing each others paths to return to their villages. It can be avoided if you are going back to Morillon or Les Carroz but you can't avoid it for Samoens.
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| frank_bough wrote: |
| Yeah, I would definitely do that - but once up at 1600 ? Still looks a but challenging for someone of my standard? |
Dahu is OK and I wouldn't rate it red as they've specifically taken a route ro reduce localised gradient.
Marmotte, it shares parts of top end with Dahu (Dahu splitting to the right of a rock ridge to get the gradient down) is OK and generally very wide all the way back to 1600 altitude. Very workable as a piste as you can traverse it easily.
Agree with snowymum though in that you'll need confidence and would help to have local knowledge to best utilise this area at the level you stated. Id be confident of coaching/hand holding early skills down there, but fair to say when standing at the top (Tete d Saix) it can be daunting in sucking confidence away from the immediate view presented.
More recently, the piste arrangement has been developed around the peak to facilitate developing skier approach, this by separating logical routes into the respective classification in helping approach.
Also agree with Morillon (particularly Les Esserts 1100) as much easier and more relaxed approach at this level of ski skills. A very underrated area. Confidence built here could then easily be used in taking a trip to both Samöens and Les Carroz on interconnected piste in expanding your new found abilities.
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If it has to be in Grand Massif the go to Morillons, there's a lovely long piste that would tick all the boxes and can be enjoyed by beginners while still being fun for intermediates: Marvel. And if (when) there's enough snow you can even ski down to the main village at 900m.
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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 do find Dahu challenging then don't go to Samoëns - the only easier pistes would be a bit around 1600 and you'd get bored. Morillons is next door, start there. After which, from Morillons you'll be able to ski m Dahu or even Agile Noir later on once you get the confidence.
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I've just come back from Flaine and I think the runs above Les Carroz and Morillon would be the best for you. Sairon was lovely as was the blue Marmotte. I don't think Dahu blue was really much harder but I did find it a bit difficult to navigate around that area. A number of the blues in Flaine bowl are also lovely but it's quite a few runs to get over to the lift that takes you into Flaine. The Tourmaline run down is slightly trickier in places but that's more to do with the amount of people using it and the snow conditions when we were there.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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What about the Marvel Green in Morrilon? Is it too flat for a early intermediate snowboarder?
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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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| frank_bough wrote: |
| What about the Marvel Green in Morrilon? Is it too flat for a early intermediate snowboarder? |
Marvel: You'll board most of it, but you will be walking/scooting a bit.
On your opening Q, if you're anything towards intermediate, you'll be fine at Samoens. Morillon is a good bet for the blue down to les Esserts though- nice and wide.
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Thu 2-04-26 17:15; edited 1 time in total
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| frank_bough wrote: |
| What about the Marvel Green in Morrilon? Is it too flat for a early intermediate snowboarder? |
No, its absolutely perfect for that use, gradient, topography, convenience, all ideal. There's just a little flat at near the base end that'll get you walking initially if your pace is very slow, that about 100mtrs long around a contour twist that it routes through.
Otherwise, its straightforward back to the chair in returning to the top for another go. Long enough and interesting enough to practice all day if you want.
Le Beu cafe restaurant near bottom end too for excellent food and drink. Family run with great service.
Not only that, the main blue piste in that sector is absolutely ideal too, from top back to 1100 village, very wide with superb width and space for early skills board or ski. Same chairlift again.
Also another chair going halfway up plus another to get to top from 1100 too. You can mix and match these as desired with ease.
Stepping out of that, a very easy step over into Les Carroz (same chair lift) toexplore there to. I spent time gaining skills all across there with just one week previous board experience.
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