 Poster: A snowHead
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I have just booked a week over the New Year week. I know it will be busy but what is the sking and apres like?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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thank you for raising this important query which has never been discussed on here before
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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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Skiing is like a cluster**** of British punters "just doing a run down to the poo-train" with glimpses of rad dudes like Arno ducking under ropes and climbing over ridges, or possibly sitting around and scoffing pizza.
There is no apres - drinking of alcohol is forbidden in the resort after 3pm under an agreement with the local monastery who still hold the freehold.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Fri 2-10-09 14:42; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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ianwatkins, welcome to 
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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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ianwatkins, as Arno says there's loads of info on ADH if you search this forum. Highly compressed version: many south-facing slopes, many easy slopes in the main bowl above the resort (which is the busiest) but quite a lot of blacks overall, explore Auris, Vaujany etc (all lift-linked) for more variety...as for apres-ski, it's not at Austrian levels but not quiet either: there are quite a few lively bars, plus of course restaurants.
I'll be there myself for the New Year week so it can't be all bad!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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There is ALOT of ADH discussion on here isn't there? I've spent loads of time here in the last half a dozen years and whilst it obviously isn't in the VDI / Tignes, St Anton, Zermatt league it isn't a bad alternative as regards terrain for ALL levels. The rule of the mountain is simple, the higher you go the tougher it gets; the bowl serves an abundance of green runs, a little higher opens up long reds and blues down to OZ, Montfrais, and Vaujany (including a nice and shady black La Fare), higher still gives you the Combe Charboniere, Cloche de Macle, Tunnel and Les Balcon. The glacier is small but offers good snow and is the start of the Sarenne, which is good for skiers less so for boarders as the run out is nearly flat. Elsewhere, Auris, Villard and in good snow years / mid-season Huez are all reachable if you desire a sense of travel. Off-piste wise there's a guides office near the DMC with great itineries from pic blanc / la pyramide down toward montfrais/vaujany to name only a few. Drinking wise, underground is always busy with live music Tuesdays and Thursdays, further down the hill and opposite what was Richard sports (now a building site) is the o-bar where vito and vicki will look after you (great tapas, don't slag Tottenham off! lol). If you've the energy the Igloo stays open v. late and next door the guys at La Spaghette will knock you a kebab together to soak up the booze so you don't end up feeling too lousy in the morning! If you're after top knosh Aux P'it Creux is the best eaterie in town, Le Genepie (also in Veil Alpe) is an option whilst Le Sporting (expensive but nice steaks) and Fleur D' L'Alpe, also on Avenue Des Jeux, is a personal favourite. All in all it's a decent station, there are alot worse!
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ADH to me is a big French resort, same size as Serre Chevalier with 250km piste or bigger than Tignes if Val D is excluded, with everything. It is a nice one that excites the intermediates wanting to become the experts. It hosts the longest black run in the Alps and its "Tunnel" black is also another one not to be sneezed at. Plenty of nice blue and red runs all over the place though.
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| saikee wrote: |
| ... its "Tunnel" black is also another one not to be sneezed at. .... |
It's my benchmark of a tough black. Try and pick a time when there are not to many others on it (but also consider the conditions) there is the thought that you could be taken out by someone falling from above you.
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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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achilles,
You might have added "things" falling from above you as well. Twice now I have been on the tunnel when a lone ski has come flying down, the so called "brakes" seem to have a limit governed by the steepness of the slope/hardness of the snow, and once a snowboard with no rider that was travelling at some crazy speed before it landed in a rock outcrop.
Why you would want to take both bindings off a board on that slope I do not know. To be honest as I am generally skiing with my young children it was a wake up call to keep a better eye on the slope behind.
Anyway Alpe d'Huez is a great resort, especially for mixed groups because it is so easy for you all to ski separately, but still meet more than once in a day without compromising ski time.
But then I do have a vested interest.....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Arno wrote: |
| thank you for raising this important query which has never been discussed on here before |
I feel this kind of comment unneccessary, if you cant be bothered to offer current help or advice at least point in the right
right direction of the forum.
how do you think we get new snowheads if they dont come along and ask things that have been asked before. 
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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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Renry,
I believe it is a joke intended to have a bit of fun with the newcomer. Can be looked upon a novel way to make someone feel welcome. fatbob did it too. I think they are quite funny myself.
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Renry, it depends what you want the board to look like. I'm not sure constantly running over old ground is good for the life of an online community. Furthermore, advice given dozens of times over will likely be less full and helpful the last time than the first. Doesn't mean that the answer to every question has to be "SEARCH FUNCTION JONG" but a little gentle nudging towards the top left of the screen is no bad thing either.
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You know it makes sense.
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Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...done squabbling yet? Ian Watkins asked a question; some thought to answer it, others to berate him for either not checking for earlier posts or seemingly not knowing what ADH is like in the first instance. If you're not helping the guy then you're hindering him and whats the point in that? Hopefully Ian will be able to return the favour to all you helpful souls later, yawn ....sleep...Zzzzzzzzzz 
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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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Thanks for all the info everyone
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Poster: A snowHead
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| millsy13 wrote: |
| Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...done squabbling yet? Ian Watkins asked a question; some thought to answer it, others to berate him for either not checking for earlier posts or seemingly not knowing what ADH is like in the first instance. If you're not helping the guy then you're hindering him and whats the point in that?.... |
Perhaps slowly to get this forum into half decent shape, so that good information is kept together, rather than scattered far and wide?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Forum Search isn't that obvious - I had to have it pointed out to me when I first came on here.
By the way, ianwatkins, was leaving off the H in the title deliberate? If not you can click on the scissors by your first post and edit it.
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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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| saikee wrote: |
Renry,
I believe it is a joke intended to have a bit of fun with the newcomer. Can be looked upon a novel way to make someone feel welcome. fatbob did it too. I think they are quite funny myself. |
Fair point, sorry we are off topic again.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Crunchiepink13, "Othwise I love the Vaujany and Auris areas to get out teh way of people!!"
I willl second that, unless the weather is really, really bad it is so easy to get away from the busy central area, but I gues it depends what you want....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Looking for a nice, traditional restaurant for an evening meal, or perhaps a relaxing lunch in charming, characterful surroundings.
Firstly, does anyone know of these places first hand?
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| Au Dahu is a cosy, bustling restaurant where cheery owner Rodolphe serves up tasty local dishes such as tartiflette as well as great seafood. Round off your meal with homemade Génépi, a traditional alpine digestif |
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| One of ADH’s best restaurants, the P’tit Creux seves gourmet dishes based on seasonal produce in a traditional setting. Reservations are essential. |
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| Located in a rustic old barn, Pomme de Pin serves hearty dishes typical of the region such as tartiflette, fondue and raclette |
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| Chalet du Lac Besson. Located on the edge of a frozen lake and only accessible on foot or skis, this cosy traditional mountain hut restaurant serves vast portions of hot cheese in every form imaginable as well as light omelettes and meat stews. Enjoy the views of the lake from the sun terrace or on a stormy day, warm yourself by the large open fire. |
Or, second, personal recommendations of other places.
Cheers 
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Au Ble Noir, up steps opposite Tourist Office, good food & service at a sensible price and cozy surroundings. On the mountain try Chalet D'Oz on the Olmet (Poutran) on the way to Oz, easy to ski past but worth a stop for lunch and a good home made Genepi!
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Chalet D`Oz excellent. Possibly the most `genuine` of the mountain restaurants. Small, personable and very good food.
Les Airelles towards the bottom of Les Chalet (Montfrais) is under new management and is v good - try and get a table downstairs (downstairs has a roaring fire, low ceilings etc. - upstairs has a distinctly `cafeteria` like feel to it). Be warned - it`s quite expensive.
Passoud (near start of the Alpette run) has a deliberate policy of keeping prices down. Probably 1/3 cheaper than the other mountain restaurant. Food is pretty good - q simple but decent.
Chalet du Lac Besson produces excellent food. Nice setting (albeit not that easy to get to/from). Expensive.
Think you can get a skidoo or something to Besson for the evening. The others mentioned are lunch time places.
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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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For a nice setting for lunch the one near the bottom of the piste at Villard Reculas takes some beating.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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La Causerie at Oz is a pleasant lunch option on greybird days. Good simple French grub and not too expensive. Small though!
La Maronne in La Garde also had great value steak and chips in a nice setting. Excellent service too.
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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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Higs, I have booked with Olivier SPORT 2000 Les Bergers and expect to get some Dynastar Legends or the new Legend Sultans.
I hired the Legends last year from a sport 2000 shop in Le Lac and they were fantastic. If you cant get the K2's give them
a go im sure you wont be disapointed.
My choice of ski would be the Scott Punisher but I dont think I will get some. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Stance (I had Sebastien) very good. Jolly expensive though.
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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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jonty, thanks. They were the more expensive of the three. I've never had a bad experience with ESF, so perhaps that's the call.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Renry wrote: |
Higs, I have booked with Olivier SPORT 2000 Les Bergers and expect to get some Dynastar Legends or the new Legend Sultans.
I hired the Legends last year from a sport 2000 shop in Le Lac and they were fantastic. If you cant get the K2's give them
a go im sure you wont be disapointed.
My choice of ski would be the Scott Punisher but I dont think I will get some. |
I had a pair of Sultan 80s for a week over New Year in Le Grand Bornand. I liked them a lot. I'm interested in trying the K2 for a real comparison (having liked them too in a 20min test in a fridge). If I can't get Recons or Xplorers I'll definitely go for Sultans.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Chasseur, as an extra piece of info, my son joined the ESI (pricewise, between the ESF and Masterclass / Stance) and after a week of morning classes with Marie-Sophie was a much improved skier (technically, but also with much more confidence).
(Her English is good but not "near-native" level. I don't know much about the other instructors though.)
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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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there used to be an English guy called Ben who worked for ESF - might be worth checking if he is still there
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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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horizon, Arno, thanks
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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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Arno, Ben Langridge is no longer there he works for The Development Centre in Val D'Isere now.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| horizon wrote: |
Chasseur, as an extra piece of info, my son joined the ESI (pricewise, between the ESF and Masterclass / Stance) and after a week of morning classes with Marie-Sophie was a much improved skier (technically, but also with much more confidence).
(Her English is good but not "near-native" level. I don't know much about the other instructors though.) |
How was the holiday? Snow conditions hold up OK?
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In addition to the above, I saw a young girl (4 or 5 years old) fall off the Rief Nel Drag Lift and was sat on the track.
The ESF instructor started screaming at her to get up on his way up and then shout at her to sit on the side of the piste whilst he carried on up the drag lift.
Disgraceful behaviour and the poor girl was crying and terrified.
I cant repeat what I said to the instructor when he came back down.
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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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It sounds as if the ESF instructor behaved disgracefully & deserved his b*llocking.
However, do not write off ESF on the basis of one limited experience. My 3 kids spent a no of years with ESF instructors from Oz and ADH and they were all excellent.
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Recomendations are always a good idea when choosing an instructor!
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FAQ
) communicator around fine tuning the more technical aspects - advanced intermediate. Was thinking British Masterclass or Stance.