 Poster: A snowHead
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I’d be interested to know which Alpine resorts can offer a high proportion of steep on piste runs, coupled with a decently sized ski area. Any suggestions appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ummm, any large area? Chamonix?
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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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Meiringen, very steep pistes!
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Maybe the Arlberg. A number of the "pistes" are classified as ski routes though many of these ski routes are regularly piste bashed. The Langerzug run above Lech is supposed to be the steepest prepared run in Austria though other places make similar claims.
The Direttissima piste in Kitzbühel has various warning signs up about a 70% slope and it also has the Hahnenkamm downhill course which seems to be the steepest regular downhill course, though it isnt an actual piste but a mixture of a red run and ski routes.
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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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@skidm, I think you need to qualify your question a bit. Anywhere has steep slopes and if you are wanting steep, aren't you wanting offpiste?
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Verbier has by far the best onpiste and nearpiste steeps in the world.
No other resort comes close.
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@under a new name, I’m looking for resorts which have plenty of steep pistes, not just a few. On solo trips I tend to board mainly on piste and more so when conditions are not favourable. Looking for challenging resorts when that scenario arises.
Thanks for the feedback so far. Not heard of Meiringen @Rogerdodger, will check it out.
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@skidm, Verbier certainly a thought. Chamonix certainly. Probs not Italy. No idea re Austria.
www.j2ski.com a useful resource.
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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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Cortina has some amazingly steep pistes:- Faloria, Vertigine Blanca, Canalone, Stratondi. Half way down the Forcella there's a great section where you really don't want to fall. Unfortunately throughout the Dolomites they like to piste-bash their blacks.
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To a certain degree, looking for the steepest runs on piste is a bit like looking for the nicest food in Macdonalds.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Tignes
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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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@skidm, What is your definition of steep?
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@Rogerdodger, I have skied in Meriengen and admittedly it was in the spring but I would not have described it as steep
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You know it makes sense.
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@jellylegs, no it doesn't.
Mind you, maybe it does  . I did tear some scalp off on one of those ones you mention.
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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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Carnt think of a lot of steep piste skiing at Tignes other than Sache and Torviere?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Sorry Rogerdoger I agree with rambotion. I think Meiringen is pretty gentle for the most part. Not where I’d go to seek out steeps. Neighbouring Engelberg is steeper and has more slopes.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Peter S, Leisse, on the bumps? Terrific gradient.
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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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@Kenzie, let’s say black, or red going on black, the pistes where you see many mentally composing themselves before dropping in. You know.... steep!
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Meirhofen has the steepest piste doesn't it? Harakiri or something like that.
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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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+1 for Chamonix although Argentiere has had major problems so access is maybe going to an issue.
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Guys, I think in this case, there’s steep and there’s steep. “Red going on black” is not going to be on the same bit of the spectrum as you freeriders... It’s like for hikers, steep is a scramble, but a climber won’t consider that so until they’re on an overhang.
@skidm, any resort where you look at the map and don’t see a sea of blue and green. St Anton is a good shout.
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| under a new name wrote: |
@jellylegs, no it doesn't.
Mind you, maybe it does . I did tear some scalp off on one of those ones you mention. |
Your beloved Chamonix does have numerous opportunities for steep skiing, but I don't remember it having numerous steep groomed pistes [in close proximity] like Cortina. I believe that's what the OP is looking for?
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@skidm,
Another vote for Cortina d ampezzo in the upper slopes of Tofana area. Very steep for long distances. You need guts and great skill and strength to ski at speed here. Runs you have to fully commit to. Too steep, too long, too icy and too scary for the vast majority of skiers.
The implications of it all going wrong you really don't want to entertain.
Staggering, staggering mountain scenery.
Lower runs above the Tofano area, very shallow and not that interesting.
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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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Maybe you need to go stateside. “Too advanced,” reads a review by Greg from Los Angeles. “I’d heard Snowbird is a tough mountain, but this is ridiculous. It felt like every trail was a steep chute or littered with tree wells. How is anyone supposed to ride in that? Not fun!”
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Mürren. It's all steep.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Chamonix has the best and steepest offpiste in the world.
Verbier has the best and steepest onpiste and nearpiste (itineraries) in the world.
No serious freeriders with cred are hanging out in Cortina, Murren or Tignes. They are for vacationers.
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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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| skidm wrote: |
| I’d be interested to know which Alpine resorts can offer a high proportion of steep on piste runs, coupled with a decently sized ski area. Any suggestions appreciated. |
| Whitegold wrote: |
Chamonix has the best and steepest offpiste in the world.
Verbier has the best and steepest onpiste and nearpiste (itineraries) in the world.
No serious freeriders with cred are hanging out in Cortina, Murren or Tignes. They are for vacationers. |
OP is asking for on piste, not freeride. 99% of people on here are vacationers BTW.
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Agree with the comments about St Anton & Cortina. Silver Star in BC as well. Black "groomed runs" aka pistes in the US are rare. Note that the definition of "piste" in Europe means its been mowed. In NA you must look at a grooming report to be sure they did it. Green runs and roads are reliably groomed; black runs are rarely or irregularly groomed by comparison. (BTW I take your "steep" to mean a run where you must control speed with every turn..you can't just point 'em.)
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You know it makes sense.
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This is a good one if you like moguls!
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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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@skidm, if your concern is to have interesting places to go when you’re on a solo trip, you could contemplate turning that solo trip into a group trip by joining some sort of off piste course. Then you’ve got loads of options to go as steep as you like.
Agreed that meiringen isn’t memorably steep. There was one black run that felt comically steep and icy on a day where there was incredible fog, but it good light it was fine. It’s also not large enough to be considered a ‘decently sized ski area’; not compared with Arlberg, Tignes, or most of the others mentioned here already.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| skidm wrote: |
| @Kenzie, let’s say black, or red going on black, the pistes where you see many mentally composing themselves before dropping in. You know.... steep! |
One person's 'too steep for me' is another's 'had to flat-line it'.
Also, one resort's red will be another resort's black.
The best advice I can give is to choose a large ski area (eg Espace Killy, Paradiski), which will have a large range of steepness amongst its pistes. Then you should be able to find those pistes that are your personal - you know .... steep! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@HotDogger, argentiere is not a major issue.
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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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Glad to hear it. Is it possible to get uplift to Grand Montets without the mid station?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| HotDogger wrote: |
| Glad to hear it. Is it possible to get uplift to Grand Montets without the mid station? |
Nope glacier is out for this season. You’re limited to Bochard or Herse.
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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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@BobinCH, meaning, 99% (could be wrong on number) of pistes are open, Lavanchey is open ...
So no big issue for most people...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Mürren is not steep. At all.
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Why do you want steep piste on a board? Find a bowl & go off piste.
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Corrina has two. The rest is pretty easy.
Resorts with lots of steep on piste?
Zermatt
Tignes
Courchevel has a fair bit
St Anton
Ischgl
Tonale - south side
Val di Fassa - a fair bit
Verbier
Avoriaz
Brenner Pass
Stowe
Whistler
Jackson Hole
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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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The saddle is pretty steep, Dave Murray in sections. Other than that there's nothing that stands out as steep and is groomed regularly. Lower mcconkeys fits the bill but is rarely groomed. Most of the runs marked as blacks are rarely if ever groomed - which seems the norm for North America.
Kicking horse has some nice steep pisted runs, although the quality of grooming can be a little questionable and the real highlights are off piste steeps.
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Kronplatz has 5 black pistes, one of which I remember being quite steep - Piculin - 72% - voted the best black run in Europe in 2016.
If you get your skates on early, you can ski Kronplatz from any of the Sella Ronda resorts via the bus from La Vila and be back in time for a beer at 4:30pm.
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