 Poster: A snowHead
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Last year I had an accident skiing in Flaine. I ended up in hospital with a fractured skull and broken shoulder. I still cannot remember anything about the accident. (Bought a helmet now in case your wondering).
Anyway, I am (was) an intermediate skier, happy on most reds but lack the skill to cope well with bumps and lumps. I have been skiing 7 times only, (Aime La Plagne, Belle Plagne, Les Arcs, Meribel, Slovenia, Andorra (Arinsal) and of course Flaine.
I do not want to give up on skiing as I have always loved every second of my time in the mountains, and although I am looking forward to going and am also dreading being on a busy piste, frightened and feeling unable to cope (sounds a bit woosy but there you go).
So fellow snowheads, since I cannot afford the uncrowded slopes of north America, where? Have enough airmiles to get us to most places in Europe either by plane or eurostar. Would want a lesson or two or three when I get there.
Looking at anytime from Sat 24th feb onward.
 Please help
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Chris M-J, you are brave to give it another go.
Not sure how helpful this thread will be, but it was on a similar theme... http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=308569&highlight=#308569
I almost only ever go during school holidays so can't really help on choices, but I would think that once the French school hols have finished things will be quieter(early/mid march).
I did go in May to Hintertux and it was lovely weather and conditions and very quiet, but you may not want to wait that long...
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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 know just the place. We have an apartment in Les Saisies, part of a bigger area, but a nice area in itself, 80km of mostly gentle pistes with no hairy great lumps of rock or scary bits. Derided, often, by more expert skiers as being boring. I am not pimping apartments - we have no spare weeks in ours, full of friends and family all season, but I could certainly help point you in the direction of somewhere nice to stay. Private lessons are readily available, and cheap, but you don't want to go till after March 9 as it is peak French season till then. Mid March would be perfect, the pistes will be very quiet. Les Saisies has a superb snow record, wonderful views of Mont Blanc and is a small, French, family-oriented place with a notable absence of boy racers and out of control British package holiday makers. As your confidence improves throughout the week you could venture over to the more challenging, lift-linked slopes of Notre Dame de Bellecombe, some super long red and blue runs (and a steep mogully black or two which I never both with!). Your accident sounds terrible; glad you want to get back to the slopes. Hope it works out. 
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Chris M-J, I don't have any specific recommendations, just wanted to wish you luck and hope you get back your confidence. That sounds a nasty accident you had in Flaine! I'm sure having a couple of private lessons will help with your feeling of security.
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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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Chris M-J, Maybe go back to somewhere you know so you are confident in what / where things are when you first get there, La Plagne I know is quieter at the end of February OR go somewhere smaller but well connected like Les Gets or perhaps a quiet Swiss resort like Chateau d'Oex or the old favourite - Wengen. Whatever, take it easy and don't be afraid to start late finish early or just 'sit this one out'. Good for you for wanting to get back to it
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Bansko?
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Chris M-J, Grindelwald-First has a Very Gentle blue thats speedlimited down to 30kph. There are a few more resorts who have such slopes.
The 30KPH slope is accessed by using the Firstbahn Gondola and then a fast 4 man chair. The slope 'ends' back at the same chair, or just in case you can take a ride down to the village on the Firstbahn.
Go when there's no major school holidays for sure, that helps against the crowd (So after 3rth of March, Well after Midterm and right after the end of Dutch school holidays)
In general I found First pretty gentle (bar a few esceptions, that are very easily avoided) and just in case you pick up your confidence quickly again, its easy to access the less gentle parts of First and if you're Grindelwald based there is still easy access to the larger Kleine Scheidegg/Mannlichen area shared with Wengen.
Good luck regaining the confidence!
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Chris M-J, LA Rosiere 2nd week in March. Snow should be good, the piste very quite, and the slopes quite forgiving. Stay away from the famous names.
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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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boredsurfin, Providing he stays on the perfetly groomed piste then all should be OK 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Chris M-J, today's Telegraph travel supplement has an article about resorts where you can built your confidence, which have easy and uncrowded runs, and courses that specialise in nervous skiers. PamW's Les Saises is one of the resorts mentioned, with plenty of long, gentle scenic runs.
If you'd like a copy of the article, send me a PM and I'll post it to you. And good luck with this season's skiing.
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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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Chris M-J, I'd second Floppy the Snotman's recomendation, we went to La Rosiere last year, my wife is very nervous and had never skied before, abosolutely terrific place, we loved it and we've booked up to go again, I made it to Italy and back in my first week and now my wife and daughters are determined to do the same. I'd never heard of the place before we went there but it was everything we had been told it would be.
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Chris M-J,
Firstly really good luck with your ski trip sounds like a really nasty accident.
A few general ideas and a few suggestions.
Resorts tend to be busy during second half of Feb and first week or so of March if you avoid these times and then the Easter rush you will have a much better chance of avoiding crowds in any resort.
Larger ski areas will tend to generate bigger crowds on some pistes even if not all the way through the ski area so I would tend to avoid the larger ski areas and steer clear of the big names.
Home runs can often get difficult and crowded particularly at the end of the day, most resorts you can download by lift but I would check this.
If you are going in March south facing slopes in particular may get icy at the beginning of the day (and slushy later). I would try and find a resort where you do not have to ski to many south facing slopes if you are nervous about the ice.
A few resorts I have been to which were quiet.
Bonneval in France this is the smallest ski area I have had a weeks holiday at. It is very quiet and very snow sure with good North facing skiing. You may find it a bit too small it only has 25km of piste and one of the best is a black so the actual quantity of gentle skiing is small.
Puy St Vincent in France fairly quiet outside the main French holiday periods on several day trips a smallish resort with a nicely varied ski area.
La Thuile in Italy over the boarder from La Ros in France has the best of the gentler North and East facing skiing the runs back to the resort are a little trickier and can get a bit more crowded in the tighter spots and I would download here till you regain confidence.
St Luc /Chandolin the easiest bit of the Val d’Anniviers skiing in Switzerland beautiful uncrowded skiing but only if you don’t mind T Bars, very few English and possibly not a lot spoken.
Zauchensee in Austria an attractive area with skiing that was varied and quiet on the couple of day trips I made here in high season, I didn’t see to many really gentle slopes though but a lot of straightforward blues.
Gargellen in Austria, quite a while since I visited and then only for a day, I would get more detailed information if considering it but it was pleasant, good skiing reasonably snow sure and not at all crowded in mid March.
Hope this generates a few ideas 
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You know it makes sense.
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Chris M-J, Hi - well done for having another bash. Sound as though your accident was caused by rocks or ice to give you the injuries that you have sustained.
So if you want to stay away from the rocks why not try the grassy based ski slopes of the Ski-Welt (Soll, Scheffau, and Ellmau), or Saalbach. They should have good snow cover at the back end of February.
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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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Chris M-J, I'd think Kitzbuhel might be a good place for you. There's plenty of easy stuff, and if all goes well you can get around the whole area at your level of expertise. There are loads of pleasant mountain bars and restaurants if you want to take it easy, and the town is a lively and attractive. The place doesn't seem to attract many maniacs, and is generally a pleasant and relaxed place to ski. I suspect that there are other similarly pleasant spots in the Tyrol. Westendorf is very gentle and pretty, again well provided with boozers but it's a bit limited and not well connected to the rest of Ski Welt or to Kitzbuhel.
Good luck.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I would recommed Cortina D'ampezzo in the Italian dolomites. It comes up trumps for empty, non-threatening pistes (especially in the lacedel-pocol sector). Most people seem to go there just to pose, the grooming is excellent and of course you have the benefit of italian food.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Chris M-J, Praz Sur Arly and Megeve area would suit fine. Praz is very gentle with chances to progress.
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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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Chris M-J, I would definitely sugges Les Saisies. Any of the little French resorts will be quiet out of holiday time (the end of the French Vacances Scolaire this year is 12th March BTW). Les Saisies links to a bigger area when you are more conifident, so you can feel your way in gently. Anywhere where NO tour operators go is a good idea. Quiet pistes do exist in Europe - just not anywhere you've ever heard of!
Well done for getting back to it, and very good luck.
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Thank you so much everyone for your advice. Am looking into a few via the resort posts in Snowheads and seeing what accomodation may be available.
T-Bar, you make a good point re the south facing slopes and ice, especially if I go later in the season to avoid the French holidays.
Does anyone know if the same holidays apply to Austria? Would I be able to go for an earlier date there, (giving snow record of some Austrian resorts I would have thought may need to be bit earlier??)
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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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Chris M-J, I don't know when it gets quieter in Austria I do know that Feb 17-24 is very busy as I have tried to book it ands failed with my first choice 
One other resort worth considering in Austria is Galtur which is reasonably high by Austrian standards at c1600m I think, the slopes were quiet whenI went in high season some years back and it has a small but varied and interesting area. If you get the confidence back you could go down the road to Ischgl ( Free ski bus) which has a much larger and very enjoyable ski area but the slopes back to resort get very crowded so download here if going
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Chris M-J, plenty of good advice, and just picking up on a few themes, you could look at Serre Chevalier.
1) Mainly North facing slopes to avoid the early ice/late slush
2) Most of the key or main mid mountain bowels have substantial downlift, if avoiding the end of day rush is important.
3) Outside of the main holidays you get a large domain that isn't that well known.
4) There are some excellent tree lined blues in the event of a white out etc, that are wide and confidence building
4) Eureka Ski (no personal involvement) - a british ski school. Ask for John (BASI 1) he's an older, Scottish guy who is incredibly patient, friendly and interesting. He took my skiing apart over the course of a week and put it back together in a very confidence building manner.
5) The area comprises 4 main towns and each has it's own "distinctive" area, making each domain above quite "cosy".
6) If you find your confidence returns, the Serre Chevalier area would be mostly skiable for your pre-accident ability.
For what it's worth, my (now ex) wife had a horrendous experience in Austria quite a few years ago. She re-found her love of skiing at Serre Chevalier for much of the above.
Good luck - hope whatever you do is a success.
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Chris M-J, the second week of March isn't really late, you know. Should be ideal conditions in most places, insofar as you can ever be sure of anything. There should be lots of accommodation available out of school holidays. If you want to go earlier the last week of January and first week in February are low season, and should be snowsure but the four weeks of the French school holidays should certainly be avoided anywhere in France. What kind of accommodation do you like?
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Chris M-J, We are going to Andorra this season because my OH needs to build her confidence on the slopes and everyone I have talked to tells me that this is the place to go for building confidence.
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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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Thanks again.
No spare weeks in PamW's apartment, but am looking at Les Saisies.
Am not too bothered on type of accomodation, though Helen, my wife, fancies a hotel as all our recent trips, snow or otherwise have been self catering.
Mark Hunter - any particular recommendation on where to stay in Serre Chevalier?
Thanks for words on ski season, as a relative newby to the sport I had, as you say, fallen into the marketing trap of when to go.
I must admit I do fancy Austria, partly because I havn't been and also because any country whose national sport is skiing must know a thing or two about how a resort should be. Would also be easy to get a hotel for Helen, as it all seems to be hotel based.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Chris M-J, I reckon that on average (based on a completely non-scientific sample) Austria has more boozers/cafes per km of piste than anywhere else, which may be good news if you want to take it fairly easy.
If SC is getting the thumbs down because of the shopping/cooking element, what about eating out? If you stay HB and don't like the grub, you waste a lot of cash (or eat badly for a week), and even if it's good, it can be a bit samey unless you go pretty up market. We prefer SC or B&B (of which there are certainly plenty in Austria) and feeding out and about. My main experience in Austria is of Kitzbuhel, which has loads of restaurants to suit all pockets and most tastes (as long as you like pig).
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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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I must admit we prefer to eat out, as you say, if the food is bad then you waste money, also I like to choose where we eat, wandering around and seeing what we fancy.
I think Helen fancies the Hotel more for the other facilities, bar/lounge, the traditional view of a ski hotel, open fire etc.
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Chris M-J, and why not?
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You know it makes sense.
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Chris M-J, one for the consideration pot. Obertauern is one of the highest resorts in Austria, and has a season from Nov to May, so the snow should be good there in March. It is bowl shaped so there are slopes on all faces and most accommodation appears to be ski in/ski out.
I haven't been before (but am going in April) but understand that it is a cruising blues/reds sort of place.
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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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I too would back Les Saisies.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Chris M-J, Chamonix, starting with the Rectoligne Couloir should get you back to pre-accident confidence.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Chris M-J, The skiing at Chamonix is acknowledged as easy and dull , but for god's sake dont go into a certain boot shop.
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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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| Chris M-J wrote: |
| Mark Hunter - any particular recommendation on where to stay in Serre Chevalier? |
Chris M-J, my experience has been exclusively Chantemerle. As a village/small town, it's quite traditional, has a few pleasant restaurants and bars and some nice walks around the old part. It's handy for Briancon, reputed to be the highest town in Europe. The old sector is a real treat - well worth an evening visit. There is also a spa which I've heard is also worth a trip.
Above Chantemerle you have the mid station, Serre Ratier, a bowel with about four bar/restaurants each with substantial terraces to bask in the sunshine! This area is accessed by Telecabin, recently installed 6 man chair or bubble lift. Above there is Grand Alpe, another bowel served by one restaurant/bar with some wide open greens, blues and reds. A blue, Les Vallons, runs down through the trees back to Serre Ratier. Here's a link to the Serre Che website FYI.
I've mostly stayed at a catered chalet there, Les Marmottes, which is about 300m from the lifts, has a great atmosphere and stunning cooking. It's owned and run by Karin and Denis Lucas. Karin is English and well known in the area for her culinary skills. Denis is an ESF instructor and wine merchant - always get good plonk with your meals!
There are 3 options to get back at the end of the day; a long winding green, black or lift.
Villeneuve is also worth a look perhaps, as there is an entertaining blue that runs down from its mid station.
There's load's more I could spout on about, so pm me if you'd like any more info. Helen Beaumont, one of our members here, also knows a lot about the region and has a place in Villeneuve, I believe. There's a link to her accomodation in Serre Chevalier in her signature.
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Chris M-J, Les Saisies tends to self-catering, but there is a good 3* Hotel, the Calgary, owned by Frank Piccard (who won his silver medal there). It always seems cosy, and there is a nice small swimming pool, which you can see as you go up one of the main lifts. It is very well situated for the pistes but, being in the middle of town, doesn't have any very special views. it has a website - www.hotelcalgary.com. I don't know what kind of tariffs or arrangements they do. There is a superb new "boutique hotel", if that is the word, down in Hauteluce, but the ski access is by the most tricky, and least snow sure, red run in the resort, so probably not the best choice for you at the moment.
There are some very good and well placed apartments, and quite a lot of basic typically French ones. Some of the nicest are out of town, recent builds by MGM (that includes ours, in a satellite called Bisanne 1500). They would mostly not be well placed for strolling round choosing restaurants in the evening, and not the best choice for a couple on their own, probably. One exception is the "Village des Lapons", available through Erna Low (or direct) and also centrally situated, with a pool etc, typical MGM. The very newest, again with pool, gym etc, is the "Hameau du Beaufortain", very well situated for easy access to the main bowl, but again not close to a variety of restaurants in the evening. Also through Erna Low, I think. There are lots of owner-rented places on various holiday let websites. If you find anything that looks good but would like local knowledge on location etc, PM me (I'm away sailing 15 - 19 Nov). If you decide to visit, and we are in situ and not beseiged by visitors, we could show you some of the nicest skiing and have a vin chaud; we have had quite a few visitors who have been quite new skiers, and/or lacking confidence or worried about injuries and they have all had a great time.
For a very biased view of Les Saisies (even more biased than mine, that is) visit http://lessaisies.chez-alice.fr/site/meteo_pistes/meteo_neige.html
this is a French site, which includes a discussion forum, entirely in French, run by an enthusiast. Lots of nice pictures.
The French school hols are over 4 weeks between the weekend 10 Feb/10 March, and the best time to go is either just before, or just after, those weeks.
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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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Chris
Good to hear your getting back on the slopes. IMHO I would look at the following:
Avoid school holidays.
Avoid large resorts
Look for resort with a gondola back to village, I have found the worst part of any ski holiday is negotiating the route home, just a big funnel of people of varying skils and tired making mistakes.
I have been to Soldeu Andorra, and can recomend, weekends can be a bit hairy though with locals.
Serre Chavalier stayed in Chantermerle in SC, quite a few drag lifts but was very quiet in early March, bit slushy at end of day. There a some very good resturants in the village.
Look at Pila in Italy only skied one day there but it felt like we had the slopes to our selves.
I found Flaine good, not sure about the SC part though.
Hope that whatever decison you take it works out for you.
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Chris M-J,
I know Serre Che pretty well and would endorse most of what Mark Hunter, has to say. But although in off peak season most pistes will be very quiet especially at either end in Briancon and Monetier, there will though still be one or two busy places. Where there is a convergence of runs things can get a little more crowded.
If a few busy bits in amongst lots of quiet stuff doesn't worry you I would completely concur with the recommendation but if you want everything to be quiet a small resort may be more suitable.
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You really need somewhere that is quiet, so that you don't get people rushing past you, while you get you confidence back. So leaving your hols until after the school hols is a good idea the 24th onwards ideal.
We live in La Clusaz and January + March are fab times to ski as the Frenchies are back at school and work and the place is nice and quiet! Especially the long greens and blues which will be ideal for you to get back into it.
The place gets a bit busier at weekends - but then it's the Frenchies with young kids - who will be on the nurseries or the who good skiers so they tend to be higher.
Quite a few of the lifts here go both ways - so if you do get freaked you don't have to ski back down you can take the cable car and avoid any unnecessary angst.
La Clusaz is closest to Geneva airport (only an hou to transfer you) or Annecy for the train (only 1/2 an hour transfer)
Anyway, where ever you end up - good luck!
Dave
www.gravite.co.uk
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Haven't been there for years but I suspect Megeve would be excellent
Lots of cruisy skiing (but some nice long red runs)
Good tree cover for bad weather
The French seem to be there as much for the restaurants as for the skiing and get up late - slopes are very quiet before lunch
Close to Geneva (75-90 mins drive)
Only problems are
Lack of demanding skiing of there would be anyone in your party looking for that
Relatively low - I'd be nervous about booking anything late season
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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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Italy: Madonna di Campglio or any of the Dolomite resorts in early Feb or March. Great easy intermediate skiing, empty pistes during the week, fantastic food and a fun atmosphere
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Thanks again everyone, so much to work through.
Am looking a flight and trains so once worked out that I will narrow down the area and find a hotel.
Thanks again snowheads
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