 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi- can anyone tell me anything about the Italian resort of champoluc. It is for 3 families in february 1/2 term. -Does it get busy? Any good hotels? We are all intermediate skiers-is this an ideal resort?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks!
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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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CREVASSE _07, It wasn't busy last year.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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CREVASSE _07, Champoluc is a lovely place, and by far the best part of the Monterosa system for intermediate skiers. It's very different from the megaplexes over in France too - and most people who go there think that's in a good way. The only real drawbacks I know are the sketchy snow and the baffling piste map.
We've got a resort report at http://www.welove2ski.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=101&id=134&desc=Monterosa%2C+Italy
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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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CREVASSE _07, probably the guy who knows it best is David Murdoch, his outlaws have a place there. I've been there (well actually based in Gressoney next door) a couple of times, although not at half term (Mid March). The Champoluc slopes themselves were fairly empty during the week, but they get a huge amount of weekend traffic and there are a couple of pinch points where I've waited over half an hour for a lift on a Saturday. Some nice pistes, and some nice stuff in the 10 metres either side of the pistes, but not a huge amount of terrain if you're mainly going to stick on the pistes. The linked resorts of Gressoney and Alagna give a huge amount of great off-piste stuff - but that's mostly advanced/expert country and not really a good idea for intermediates - and a few pistes which are generally pretty empty. If you're mostly restricted to pistes though I would say even a basic intermediate would ski it all within 2 days - so it's all about how you like making the most of the terrain you've got (in which case fair to good), or want to be finding new stuff all the time (in which case not ideal).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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CREVASSE _07,
Agreed that is a nice pisted area.. and quaint Italian resort. PM DaveMurdoch who has relations there
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thanks 4 the link -Sean Newsom- & thanks to everyone else with this info. It sounds pretty good for us, but feb 1/2 term may be busy it seems.
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CREVASSE _07, I wouldn't be too put off by that thought! Feb half term is busy in lots of resorts! The big French areas are heaving.
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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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true
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did u fly to milan?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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CREVASSE _07, great resort, quiet, but ideal for families, the italians do kids really well, worth taking a look at www.ski-2.com as a small independant company who go to the area, i went a couple of years back and although snow was a little thin [end of a bad season] the skiing is great...stayed in the Hotel Relais des Glaciers a short walk for the lifts and excellent service, there are cheaper hotels [ and more expensive ones, the Briethorn] you can fly into Milan, or Turin, or geneva if you don't mind a slightly longer transfer
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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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CREVASSE _07, I'm not sure whether we're ever been in 1/2 term - as we don't pay attention to when we go there (unlike some French resorts I can mention). There is only one UK based T.O. running there now (who seem quite good - "ski2") - they have their own (or at least have ring-fenced off some of the locals) ski school. No idea how good that is. Which means it's not over-run with Brits.
It's not the most extensive area in the world - and Sean Newsom, no idea why you find the piste map baffling as there's generally only one way to go at any point  - but I'm very sure there would be enough there for you for a week. Not much very difficult stuff (at least on piste) but lots of cruisey reds and blues. I'm told that the particular (one might suggest idiosyncratic?) piste design makes it easier to let kids a little off the leash (I do not believe it was designed with this in mind, just a happy circumstance).
Natural snow a little unreliable hence considerable investment in automated snowmaking.
Hotels - check out the "Castor" which is run by Herman and Beatrice. Alternatives: Breithorn or Bellevue. All Googleable.
Food & drink is cheap - although no "fine" dining on the mountain. Plenty of fine in town food though: Tagliata at Le Sapin or pizzas at the Churen for example.
Nightlife not rocking as many bars have been converted to restaurants. One nightclub out of town.
And of course, a friendly Italian welcome and stunning view of the Monterosa massif and the Matterhorn.
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Thanks very much for this info-we have all definately chosen Champoluc
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You know it makes sense.
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| CREVASSE _07 wrote: |
| did u fly to milan? |
I've always gone through Turin. Not too bad a transfer.
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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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| David Murdoch wrote: |
| There is only one UK based T.O. running there now (who seem quite good - "ski2") - they have their own (or at least have ring-fenced off some of the locals) ski school. |
What makes you think that?
Crystal and Momentum go there, and possibly others as well.
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Poster: A snowHead
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alex_heney, You sure? I was under the impression that Crystal had dropped it (again). Had never seen any evidence of Momentum either...(but quite happy to be proven wrong).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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alex_heney, Momentum don't look to operate as Tour Operators in Champoluc - sure, they'll book hotels and flights for you but no in resort presence, no services, no reps etc. At least as far as I can see.
Likewise Crystal I think.
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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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alex_heney, Sorry to answer you thrice, but my rationale is that season before last I saw reps from Esprit and Ski2. Last season I know Esprit had dropped it and I only saw Ski2. In some ways I would be delighted if more Brit TOs went, in others I would be happy if they didn't. If I say anything else I'll get into trouble...
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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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David Murdoch, Crystal have thre hotels listed, although only one of those (Hotel de Champoluc) came up in the results if I do a search for holidays departing 2nd week in Jan 2008. They also show as having their "Ski escort" service in the resort, so must have reps.
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