 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Boredsurfing, As a regular skier of this area, what do you think it means? I have noticed over the years massive investment in new lifts in Verbier however in nearby Nendaz, Veysonnaz, and Les Collons investment has been piece meal at best. So the tourist offices glorify the 4 valleys ski circus which is great but lift standards across the companies that operate in the region are pretty mixed. Verbier has been a bit of a beacon in the area for lift development which one would have hoped that the other companies would have wanted to copy. Thus if Televerbier is suddendly strapped for cash and investment it could affect the whole region. In Nendaz in particular there has been a lot of property development in recent years, but I don't feel that lift development has kept up with the increase in bed capacity there. I thinks that Veysonnaz and Les Collons also have similar problems. In my book it is no good adding extra bed capacity to resorts without matching increased lift capacity and convenience. The Swiss really seem do not seem to have got their head round this properly. I have sent emails to Telenendaz and the tourist offices to this effect to date without any reply.
Any comments?
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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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Televerbier is a shareholder in Telethyon, although I am not sure what the size of the holding is. The lifts over in the Thyon sector are Ok, the Etherola chair upgrade has made a big difference. The major areas that need to be addressed are the links. The Greppon blanc double poma is the lift most in need of replacement in the Printze sector. It needs to be a high speed quad at least. I have been told that there are several reasons that it has not happened, from high winds in that area to the fact that it borders 2 comunes. There are also a couple of very slow 2 man chairs that need upgrading as well.
That said we have had no real issues with queues except the Greppon Blanc and if the large numbers of T bars keep the hordes away Ill be happy.
I had read somewhere else that the reason CdA sold their stake was not because there were concerns with Televerbier but that they were unlikely to be able to increase their stake.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yup - the contrast between the modern lifts in the Verbier ski area and the Printze sector (Thyon / Veysonaz) is obvious.
The 4 vallees is actually made up of totally seperate lift companies (televerbier, telenedaz and telethyon) - which why that side hasnt been developed.
Funnily enough one of my favourite runs in the alps is the 'Masche' ittenary run from the top of Grepon Blanc.
Often one of the last places you can find fresh snow once the main verbier ski area is tracked out - and north facing as well. Then get the free bus back, and work your way home to Siviez on the 'old' lift system. Cracking way to spend an afternoon and get away from the crowds.
Skiing past the cow sheds then back onto an old t-bar isnt something that you can do anymore in most 'big' resorts (like Tignes, Meribel etc). Which is why I like that end of the 4 valless. It's certainly a world away from the busy Attelas -> Ruinettes motorway pistes 
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| Quote: |
Televerbier seem to have done away with all of them now?
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Not in Bruson and long may it stay that way!
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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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DAVID SNELL, Getting to know it more and more. Have not yet bought a 4 vallees pass as there is still plenty to find in the Printze sector ( and the fact that we ski with our boys in the afternoon).
There is another poma lift, Le Meina, in the Printze sector that Mrs GF hast difficulty getting on unaided as its that fast and hard to pull with one hand. Its a good job I have not pimped the apartment on here given the comments about the lifts, but I do love the area and dont mind the Tbars. The boys use them all on their own now with help from the lifties.
Talking of other areas Im sure the 3 vallees is made up of different lift companies as well
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| DAVID SNELL wrote: |
Gilberts Fridge, Good to see somebody else that knows the area well. Personally there are a couple of T-bars, 1 each way over to Veysonnaz which need sorting out. The one up to to Les Collons nearly dislocates one's shoulders on arrival at the top, and on the way back the T-bar is often self help with the attendant sitting in his box doing sweet FA. T-bars are just dangerous bits of kit that should be banned (IMHO). This year in Nendaz it was so different as the link across to Siviez kept open so we only used the Siviez shuttle bus once in a fortnight. Why they cannot get snow canons on to Prarion I'll never understand. I have heard 2 reasons 1) the land owner doesn't want his summer pastures compromised and 2) the environmentalists are worried about disturbing a frog migration route in the area. We are talking about half a dozen snow canons to preserve an important link - where are Swiss tourist and Valais canton authorities coming from. 
Great area but they don't help themselves much!!  |
The reason they cant put in snow cannons is that the trees down there are like 700 years old and Friends of the Earth have had a preservation order slapped on them. The digging required to put in the water and power supply to the cannons would damage the roots potentially.
Televerbier want to take over telenendaz, and got close last year when Alpvision, who were I think 25% shareholders, went bust. Local business people managed to stop that happening so the status quo was maintained.
Personally I would like to see TV succeeding as I think they have more dosh to invest. There is decent potential to develop the pistes at Nendaz, I would like to see a bubble to the top or bottom of Plan de Fou.
Something is going to have to give though as there has been a great expansion in accomodation at Nendaz, tastefully done IMO, but the capacity of the lifts is beginning to be a problem.
As others have said I too am a lover of the Printze ski area. Its amusing speaking to so many folk staying in Nendaz who bomb over to the Verbier side every morning, who have never been in the Printze sector in their lives. Not only is the food and drinks almost half price, and queues virtually unknown, runs like Piste de Lours, Veysonnaz, Etherola (the new 4 man is a fantastic develoment) are some of the best pisted runs in the 4V. In fact the main run down from the top at Nendaz is a cracker also.
I know that the hideous 2 man at Siviez that takes you back to Nendaz is programmed in for replacement, possibly next year.
Like the other 2 guys I know the area pretty well - if anyone wants any advice pm me.
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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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Fifespud, got on that 2 man up to Nadez last year on my own and thought Id entered the twilight zone, worth it for the red back down though, excellent run
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It is a great run, although two of my buddies bashed into each other on the blue bit at the bottom last year resulting in one of them having to get choppered off with a broken leg.
40 something boys showing off on the last run of the last day! That and tightening up his bindings himself.
Not too long till the white stuff comes again, cant wait!
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You know it makes sense.
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| Fifespud wrote: |
I know that the hideous 2 man at Siviez that takes you back to Nendaz is programmed in for replacement, possibly next year.
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The hideous 2 man chair has now been replaced with an 8 man gondela that goes right to the top. The button lift is still there. That changes the local area completely. The Le Masse chair is now also a 4 man over in Les Collons.
http://www.verbierbooking.ch/multimedia/docs/2013/10/plan_hiver_1314.pdf
Not sure if Evolene is still part of the area or if it has just been cut from the PDF map.
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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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GF - thanks for that - that's a relief - I thought they were only going to put it halfway up - like the old chair.
The new Les Masses chair looks great too.
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Poster: A snowHead
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*****This thread was started in 2009*****
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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boredsurfin, a dinnie want tae waist admin's resources wi a new thread yie ken.
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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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Still no improvement in the 'links' though - the joy that is the Grepon Blanc Poma.
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