 Poster: A snowHead
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La Grave has extended their opening until the evening of 11th May. 
Put this in the Piste too as I can't seem to upload any news.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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My boss has been notified.
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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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How good a skier do you have to be to enjoy La Grave - with a guide, naturally? From what I've read, I'd like to try a few days there. I'm just a bit concerned that I might find myself out of my depth and humiliated by some technically brilliant instructor who has no time for people less skilled than himself.
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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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Jonny Jones,
There is radical stuff and fairly gentle stuff. I dont think any guides/instructors are out to humiliate anyone. Most will have seen a spectrum from better than you can possibly imagine to the truly awful. I have skied La Grave several times always on day trips and am not a technically accomplished skier. Realistically anyone who is happy on black runs will probably enjoy La Grave, obviously being off piste conditions may vary a lot. You should make it clear to the guide what standard you are in advance, you don't want to end up in a group with everyone being a lot better or worse than yourself, particularly the former as this can be very dispiriting.
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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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Jonny Jones, I've been there several times with Skierslodge. They run several guided groups each week, so it's likely that there will be someone of similar ability to you.
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out of my depth and humiliated by some technically brilliant instructor
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You won't be. IMV it's the best place to ski in Europe. Enjoy.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Is it somewhere that you could reasonably take kids who ski at a reasonable level? Or would insurance and liability issues wipe you out? My lads (12,11,9 this winter) are very comfortable on North American double blacks - trees, steeps, powder, rocks, etc.
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Jonny Jones, no idea about insurance. LG needn't be more technically difficult than double blacks in terms of terrain but it would be much more physically demanding. there is a huge vertical drop so each run is long and you will be lucky if you don't find some sort of funky snow conditions along the way. there aren't many rest stops and the traverses back to the intermediate station tend to be very bumpy
it's probably about as different from north american resort skiing as you can get in Europe, but that's part of what makes it so cool
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Jonny Jones, I've seen children skiing there (mostly French locals) .... but it is not a place for things to go wrong. Insurance is easy to find.
The most important thing (IMV) when skiing with a guide (anywhere - not just LG) is that you all have to be able and disciplined enough to go where he/she wants you to go, and stop EXACTLY where he/she wants you to stop. As Arno, says, huge vertical drops and long, long runs make it physically demanding.
I would say that 9 is a little young for an English lad for a week LG...perhaps you could do a day trip from Les Deux Alpes, or Alpe D'Huez. Or a Vallee Blanche, see how they get on.
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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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Jonny Jones,
I don't see why insurance issues should be any different from any other off piste skiing. I agree with Arno, that it is pretty physically and mentally demanding. my kids are a similar age and I would guess that a day trip could be great a multi day trip exhausting. I would go for a trip to LDA or Serre Che and look for a good day for La Grave.
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My posts crossed with ski, I hadn't spotted the nine year old.I actually think that at this age unless they are very physically fit a full day at La Grave could be a bit demanding, but I guess it depends on what you are doing and what the aptitude of the child is.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I was thinking of either a long weekend or a couple of days as part of a trip to a nearby resort, so exhaustion from a multi-day trip shouldn't be too severe; in truth, I'd be more concerned about my own fitness! The kids get bored if they spend to much time on groomed pistes, and the reports I've read of La Grave look absolutely fabulous. I was very tempted to book a short trip over Easter, but was worried about pushing the children too hard. It sounds like I should stop dreaming and go for it next year - the youngest will be 10 by then, so he should be able to more than keep up.
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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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Jonny Jones, Yes - you should go for it! I've done the Vallons de la Meije with an 8 year old. the hardest thing is walking back up to the village at the end of the run. there are 2 "easier" routes not involving couloirs and steeps. suggest you look at the LG website and also look back through the LDA threads for photos.
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Jonny Jones, She also did it with me and my mental age isn't much more than 8 
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FAQ
