 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
hello all,its that time of year where its time to start thinking of booking up,last year i went to belle plagne and i had a great time but my other half found she was a bit limited on blue runs due to lack of confidence but we still had a great time,i have been reading good reports on courchevel and les deux alpes being good for confidence building and just wondered what your opinions are of these places or if you have any better sugestions,we are hoping to be going out the first weekend of feb for a week and have everything crossed for a brilliant season ahead for us all,many thanx
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 15-10-07 20:11; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
notverygoodatskiing,
Thought of Les Arcs? Fantastic combination of blues and anything else you want. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
is there more variety of blues over there,when we where in la plagne people where saying that they where fairly similar places so we didnt go over
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
notverygoodatskiing, a certain Charlotte is going to tell me off, but of your two suggestions i would go for Courchevel. Lots of lovely easy runs for your lady.
Problem with LDA is the runs back down to town are a bit tricky, and going back down by lift is never quite the right way to end the day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Jonpim, would you say courchevel has alot more easier runs than la plagne?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
notverygoodatskiing, hmmm: you do ask tricky questions.
Courchevel probably has a few more easy runs, but not a lot more. But then I reckon La Plagne is pretty well supplied with easy runs.
I presume your lady is taking lessons. The best way to get on quick is forget Ski School and go for Private Lessons. More expensive maybe, but much better value in the end.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
lets be specific - courchevel 1850 is good. 1650 less so for a nervous beginner/intermediate..
also consider Alpe D'Huez - it's got lots of wide green/blues...
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
bertie bassett, looking into alpe D'uez,looks like its got alot of greens to keep her happy,have you much experience there?know of any reasonable accomodation?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| notverygoodatskiing wrote: |
| is there more variety of blues over there,when we where in la plagne people where saying that they where fairly similar places so we didnt go over |
Most definitely. Some very long wide, oh so wide blues and even the reds are wide enough for a begineer to traverse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| notverygoodatskiing wrote: |
| runs arnt really that steep in la plagne, just not very wide so when she got it wrong she thought she was going off the edge |
Ah. It becomes a little clearer. You took lessons together. But you are rather better at skiing? Yes?
I think your lady needs lessons with a nice friendly patient instructor alone. You should bugg@r off for a few hours.
She will get the hang of it eventually. Just let her go at her own pace.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Seconded: Les arcs is fab for the nervous, and imo much better all round the LP. I also took a group of pretty much entirely beginners to Valloire last year and had a great time as everyone could get almost everywhere after a few days, lovely place, very forgiving and flattering and highly recommended for 1-3week skiers. Agree with jonpim though, patient beginner group or private lessons without you will be what she needs...
aj xx
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
notverygoodatskiing, If your lady needs to improve her confidence then I would not suggest LDA in winter (good in summer though). I would add Serre Chevalier into the mix, but ADH is very nice for novices with a big bowl and lots of easy runs near the town and chairlifts ... Go to Stuart Adamson at SKi Masterclass for lessons (but not together). 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Skied ADH, LA Plagne and Courchevel. All 3 should be suitable. La Plagne has a high percentage of suitable runs. Courhevel and ADH also have sufficent greens/ blues. Courchevel 1650 is also fine- not sure I understand the comment above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
We (4 x adults 34, 35, 44 & 51) were 2nd weekers when we went to L2A in April of this year. I would definately say all of our confidence was boosted as soon as we hit the slopes. We were all able to ski from Lauze 3520m right down to Les Cretes 2100m using various blues and greens. Unfortunatley in April we couldn't ski back to the resort but I am reliably informed that beginners and early intermediates are able to do this throughout the rest of the season. Hope this helps in your decision making. Happy skiing!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
thanx for all your help,i think adh is looking really suitable for us both,does any1 have any hotels to recommend/ hotels to stay away from,and the other thing is the green runs,are they long or are they only short to get practising on ,thank you to you all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
has any1 stayed at residence les horizons d'uez in adh?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| dan100 wrote: |
| Skied ADH, LA Plagne and Courchevel. All 3 should be suitable. La Plagne has a high percentage of suitable runs. Courhevel and ADH also have sufficent greens/ blues. Courchevel 1650 is also fine- not sure I understand the comment above. |
Simple really - for a 'nervous intermermediate' then the top of the nursery slope at 1650 is a little steep and narrow - well that's the feedback I got from my 69 year old mum on her 1st ski trip! Progression from their is to the green next door (belvedere) which I found ok as a 1st time skier but again relatively narrow... but from then on you're in the bubble and none of the runs back home are that straight forward for a 'nervous' skier, even the green (praline) as you have to drop onto the blue to get back to the main part of 1650.
IMHO the area in 1850 in Jardin alpin is more suitable as there's wider flatter pistes with more opportunity to delay your turns if you're struggling - plus theres more opportunities to progress to similar runs...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Courchevel 1850.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
bertie bassett, Simple really - for a 'nervous intermermediate' then the top of the nursery slope at 1650 is a little steep and narrow -Nice one....
notverygoodatskiing, just book it and go for it, what's the issue? You know you will love it!
greg
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
notverygoodatskiing,
I cannot comment on LDA but Courchevel is a good option for nervous skiers and IMHO that includes 1550, 1650 or 1850 - choose your budget. If your partner is still struggling with confidence Cotes du Rhones at lunch seems to work miracles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
easiski,thanx for your reply, where would you recommend staying?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Courchevel 1850 would be my choice and an attractive young instructor for a private lesson. The Metro Ski Show opens at Olympia next Wednesday if you are that way.
I stayed with Mark Warner right on the piste. Or you could stay in 1550 and get the gondola up in the morning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
notverygoodatskiing, All my early skiing in involved resorts where lower altitude or v narrow slopes usually meant, getting the lift down, long walks, or a ski bus. Each of those three issues are now on my 'must not be required' list. I've done the CV1850 (Mark Warner thing), i'd recommend it as a resort. Why not the main area at Val Thorens? IMHO, its worth paying the extra and being able to ski a flattering cruisey run back to the resort centre, take skis off and have a 100m walk to the hotel. (via a series of bars of course!). At 1850 you can always ski back the the main lift building Croisette, the slopes are wide and ski traffic usually isnt an issue. Those rich Russian gangster types wouldn't put up with anything else! 
From what ive heared, slopes at La Plagne shoud be able to give you similar experience.
Dont be too focused on run grading, (G, B, R, Bk). Even in the same resort they can differ widely. Theres usually some reason , that may not be apparent at the start. Although its nice to say you went on a blue or red, getting confidence and the basic technique is far more important. When practising turns, I picked the widest, smoothest green run at 1850 (the Altiport area) and repeated the excercises over and over again.
As Jonpim suggests if there is confidence issue, lessons are a must, private even better. If you are a better skier, have seperate lessons. I hope she's having the odd pvt lesson in the UK? Please dont do the 'i'll show you how to' approach, even in the UK. Thats one way to unteach a skier just starting out. Come to the new slope in Manchester that open on Nov 9th, that should be big enough and wide enough to practise. May see you guys there, after my physio is complete. Good luck. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
notverygoodatskiing, I am not an expert on ADH (too far away!) Ask Arno - he knows it well. Katski runs chalets there - try PMing her as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| northantsred wrote: |
bertie bassett, Simple really - for a 'nervous intermermediate' then the top of the nursery slope at 1650 is a little steep and narrow -Nice one....
|
RTFP
well that's the feedback I got from my 69 year old mum on her 1st ski trip!
I know it's each to their own..but when I went down it on skis for the first time I went straight off the edge, into the off-piste and had to get rescued by my instructor - not exactly confidence inspiring. IIRC it's about as wide as tamworth snowdome IIRC, which if you're nervous puts pressure on 'making the turn'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
easiski, We returned to our base by Telesiege du Village which had absolutely no queues coming down all week. In the mornings we had to wait about 60 to 70 seconds for the little ones to go off, so no hardship!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| notverygoodatskiing wrote: |
| has any1 stayed at residence les horizons d'uez in adh? |
don't know this (I'm not v good at ADH accommodation) but as easiski says, make sure this is in Alpe d'Huez rather than Huez. Huez is a little village on the way up to Alpe d'Huez. It is linked to the lift system but it's a bit out on a limb
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
It's not in Huez, it's an apartment block in l'Eclose, which is part of Alpe d'Huez.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Lizzard, Thank you for clearing that up!
Arno, The names Huez and Alpes d'Huez should give everyone a clue, but now they've stopped teaching proper geography how many people do actually know what an alp is????
Lizzard, You're not allowed to answer
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
IMHO the area in 1850 in Jardin alpin is more suitable as there's wider flatter pistes with more opportunity to delay your turns if you're struggling - plus theres more opportunities to progress to similar runs...
|
Would agree with that - the runs up there are huge and gentle.
Vallandry in the Les Arcs area has IMO a lot of good beginner runs, certainly our kids have all learnt to ski there without probs
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
thanx for all your help,im still unsure on where to go though,any new ideas out there for me,cheers?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
notverygoodatskiing, Easiski also mentioned Serre Chevalier, which has excellent nursery areas, wide pistes, and an excellent British ski school (Eurekaski). Cheaper than Cuurchevel too. PM me, or email me via my website if you need anymore information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
To be honest, with most resorts, it's the quality of the instruction that will make all the difference. Nearly all of the resorts listed above will have ideal runs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
notverygoodatskiing, your dear lady isn't alone in being nervous - I am queen of it! We are going to Vallandry and eveyone I've asked says it will suit me well, and has the longest novice run there is - La Foret - leading back to it. To me, a long easy run sounds really good - somewhere I can start to build confidence. Of course there is the whole of Les Arcs behind Vallandry, and the Vanoise express over to La Plagne so there is all you could want if you decide to venture further afield. The lift pass I am going to get is called Discovery - it covers nthe Les Arcs side, with one trip over the Vanoise Express.
I also have considered the quality of lessons - I have booked a course with New Generation in Vallandry as they have a reputation for small groups and for actively considering the needs of the individual, not the fastest learner in the group. Their website has a series of videos you can compare your skills with to help you choose the right lesson level. I've booked level 3.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NewSkier, beats me why you don't go the whole hog and book up some individual one to one lessons? Surely that would bring you on quicker and better?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| notverygoodatskiing wrote: |
| thanx for all your help,im still unsure on where to go though,any new ideas out there for me,cheers? |
Your indecision is painful.
Just book Courchevel 1850 and be done with it.
Enjoy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
northantsred, I had three 1:1 lessons in Tignes back in April, I'm just not a quick learner because I simply have too much fear of injury. I need plenty of opportunity to practise and become confident at each level and I hope that the weather this year might be more favourable for post-lesson practice than last year when the conditions weren't exactly great. I have been to Tamworth for practice and had a few private lessons this summer (my Dad bought me a year's membership for my 50th birthday, which paid for itself inside a couple of trips and so they have been really good value). I am getting there - but have to do so at my own pace!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
