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Beginner Resorts

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hi all,

I'm looking at taking my Sister and 5 year old niece skiing early next year. So was just wondering if anyone could suggest a good place for beginners to start, as neither of them have skied before. I have been several times, so would also like somewhere with a few challenging runs too. I would also prefer somewhere traditional and quite scenic.

Any ideas?

Thanks
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obergurgl, if budget is not a problem. Not exactly difficult though.
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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?
La Tania maybe. It has a decent nursery slope, and is not too expensive. There are a couple of english-speaking ski schools, friends of mine used Magic in Motion without complaint. The runs back to resort are not the easiest but you can download by gondola. There is a new "green" but it is more like a blue. Word has it they will "improve" it for the coming season.
A good place to take kids as it is small and mainly pedestrianised. Not stunning to look at but no eyesore either. Easy access to the 3V for better skiers/boarders. Apres limited to a few decent bars, but I've been to a lot worse.
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
davejsy, I think Megève would fit your bill, provided you're not going at either extremity of the season, when access to novice pistes is a bit chancey.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
thanks guys, I'm liking the look of Obergurgl
at the mo -any idea where I can find a decent piste map for there?
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.

Puzzled
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Alpe d'Huez - big beginners area served by the main gondola. Good non-skiing for kids as well - skating, swimming, sledging area.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Courchevel 1850 or 1650, or Vallandry (part of the Les Arcs domain) are all very suitable. Good range of terrain suitable for beginners, very good British ski school in each resort, and possible to ski back home to you hotel/chalet at the end of the day which some people think is important.
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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.
would second Alpe d'Huez....or Ellmau in Austria, massive nursery slopes, plenty to do off the snow and scenery is great.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Soldeu would probably fit the bill quite nicely too. Plenty of gentle slopes for the beginners - and the ski school has a very (very) high percentage of native English speaking instructors, which is always a plus when you're learning. The childrens section of the ski school is very good too - and they make use of Disney themed 'parks' to make the learning even more interesting for younger kids.

In addition to all of that, it's in a fairly large ski domain (GrandValira - nearly 200kms) and there is plenty of terrain for yourself within easy reach - ski over to Pas de la Casa via Grau Roig whilst they're in lessons, or just potter around above Soldeu and El Tarter.

Soldeu itself is an attractive little village - and if you stay in one of the Sport hotels, you're right by the gondola (not to mention being in very good accomodation). It's also good value - not cheap, but certainly not the excesses of some places!
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
davejsy, here's what I thought of Obergurgl:

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewpost.php?p=109339

We learnt to ski elsewhere, but from memory it's probably quite a nice place to learn - the nursery slopes are in the village and there's a nice area to progress to once you've moved from the nursery slopes. There are relatively few drag lifts... in fact the only ones on the main slopes are over in Hochgurgl. The village is nothing special, but does have a pretty fine set of ski shops.
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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.
just to confuse things further, ill put my weight behind alpe d'huez.
Spent two of my first weeks there and loved it, some nice wide easy slopes central to the resort so they dont have to go miles up on a lift, which is daunting for some beginners and good craic with the ice rink etc:)
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
davejsy, Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz would all work and give you considerable scope to have your own fun. Easy transfers from Geneva, lots of accomodation espcially in January, Avoriaz not terribly traditional but dramatic and convenient.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
One of the advantages of taking beginners to Andorra is that the Andorran resorts have a lot of ski instructors who speak English as their first language. Some might argue that they're not as good skiers/teachers as someone that's been living in the mountains all their lives but they should have the right skills to get a couple of beginners going.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Alpe D'huez- excellent ski school for little ones!
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I'd back Alpe D'Huez as well. Wide-open, nice, gentle lower slopes. Lots of contented looking families when I was there. Also plenty for other skiers as well. Not "Alpine charm" - but a friendly pace, I thought. Flaine is another French resort which looked good for beginners to me.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
thanks everyone, much will depend on where my Sister can fly to the easiest, as she lives in Gran Canaria, so I imagine its going to be Geneva probably.
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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?
I'd back up the suggestion of Les Gets / Morzine if you are flying into Geneva. Quick transfer and very nice mix of skiing - pretty too. Les Gets may be the easier of the two if you are going to go off and do your own thing and then meet them back at nursery slopes.
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