 Poster: A snowHead
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We just can't decide on this one and aside from our main trip, this may be the only other trip we get this year due to holiday allowances.
Its for a short break just after the Feb school holidays and whilst the costs are close (£350 v £450 in LP's favour), which offers the better skiing and boarding for good intermediates (2x boarders, 1x skier)?
Aside from the slopes, is there any other reason you would favour one over the other?
We have been to Les Coches and know it is 'snow sure' and close to the best of La Plagne's white motorway system. What would tempt us to Schladming instead?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Brrr
I need to make a decision in the next day or so. Hoping it doesn't come to a coin toss.
Please help if you can.
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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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bar shaker, do you mean you're going in the second week of March? If you mean February, it's still peak French school holiday time. Otherwise, can't help. Had a week in LP donkey's years ago, never been to Schladming. It sounds a nice place but the ski area is very small compared to LP - if Crystal is right about it having 111kms of piste.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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bar shaker, Don't know the other palce but Les Coches is a great location 
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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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We were thinking late Feb Pam, the websites said their hols end 22nd Feb. Is that right.
It will take a lot to keep us away from LP but good friends are going to Schladming.
A real dilema.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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bar shaker, Schladming is nice and easy for a short break as its about an hour drive from Salzburg. Have never been to La Plagne so can't compare, whilst almost certainly not having as many piste kms it has 4 linked mountains and some really nice tree skiing. Suits intermediates best, that is me, there are no very challenging runs but good skiing on the main hill - north facing so snow stays good though can be a bit icy on bottom of runs back to resort.
I'd recommend it, we really enjoyed it and food and drink was reasonable compared to French resorts I've been too. Great moutain huts too and plenty of them. Also there's the Dachstein glacier about a half hour drive, quite spectacular scenery and v nice snow, only worth it though if you have a hire car I'd say. If you fancy a change I'd certainly recommend giving it a go 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I work for a Danish company in Les Coches so don't deal with Brits any more although I have run a chalet in Les Coches for Brits in the past. Is there anything specific you need to know about the place that would help? Where would you be staying? The French think of Les Coches as a family resort and it can be very busy in the French school holidays. Having said that since the Plan Bois lift was upgraded three seasons ago getting away from the village is never a problem. Boarders particularly seem to like to getting across the Vanoise to Peissey.
http://about-france.com/school-holidays.htm
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e.g., Don't want to criticise Schladming as I have never been but.
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very big snow making system (lift co. quote 99% coverage).
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type of statements from the lift company always makes me worry about why they need so much.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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This might make your mind up:-
Austria - lots of drinking and apres-ski (so I've heard)
Les Coches - limited drinking and apres ski. For Brits it is really limited to The Last One pub run by Phil usually aided by Alex. They are both French but speak very good English. They will show football but rugby is their game of choice. Music can be loud but the occasional live band always goes down well mainly especially with seasonaires because other entertainment is very limited. The old Shooters bar is now owned by Manu from La Poudreuse Skiset and whilst Brits are very welcome it does tend to be mainly populated by French.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Tue 17-11-09 23:55; edited 1 time in total
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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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and worse it's the locals and the parisiennes, so it will be super busy.. not quite as bad as the Marseillans (who can't ski) and the Parisiennes (who think they own the mountain)
Personally I'd go to Schladming just for that reason, although I've not been there and only read about it on this thread.
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T Bar, yeah know what you mean, I included the lift co. statistic so people could make up their own mind as to the validity of the point. I think it's marketing more than anything else as it's not clear 99% of what is covered. Could just be the valley runs or just the Planai mountain or could be because Schladming likes to open as early as possible. Remember most of the snow guns being on the valley pistes and masses on the night slalom piste.
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You know it makes sense.
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Hi gravystuffing, I'll take up your offer for info on Les Coches please , we are booked into a chalet from the 6th of March , all family , so apres not that important for the crowd as the chalet has all the mod cons including a great hot tub , but my brother and I like to have a few beers etc so it sounds like the Last One has two new clientelle for a week. This is the first time we have booked somewhere so low , normally at 1850 or so , so how does the snow hang in when it has either not snowed for a wee while or it starts to warm up in the afternoon, not so much worried about LP (higher) but would be nice to be able to ski home every night in reasonable conditions, especially looking forward to the tree lined runs home.
We have meals 4 nights in our chalet so need a restuarant for 3 - any recommendations.
My daughter (about 8 days skiing) skiing needs ski school in the morning , see Evolution2 are there , she has'nt skied since so a few lessons would be good. Any recommendations.
Also is there a Stade in Les Coches , son races quite a bit , dry mat, snow domes etc so some time on mountian snow gates would be great. Is there anyhting like that there or will it be in LP.
Many Thanks in advance
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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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Schladders.... good beer and a good aprés...
Got a good park sponsored by Atomic and a new chair lift to service it (as last year it was a T-bar... the boarder's friend!)
Some great runs from peak to peak... Haus is a nice boarding mountain... pleanty of pistes available for up to a week.
Schladming links into Haus and Reiteralm. It takes the best part of a day to go from one side ot the other and back again.
There are busses that run between the 3 as well... plus a bus up to the glacier which also has 2 parks... one for the rubbish people (like me) and one silly one! (last week the Slovenien freestyle team were up there training).
Schladming is part of the Ski Amadé area so you can explore other places as well (Flachau Winkl is an amazing to ride - Burton EU HQ is there and they have 1 of the only 5 natural terrain 'Stash' parks.
I wouldn't panic about snow in late Feb or early March... only as much as any other winter holiday!
Oh.. and check out www.snowzen.com - they specialise in breaks for boarders!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Les Coches is a quiet village, Schladming is a small town. Les Coches is very rural and has a nice fell to it but I really liked Schladming when we skied it last year and hence we are returning, en masse, this half term. Very good value on and off the slopes, some very nice and extensive skiing, good lift system, and lashings of cheesy europop.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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RobCrock, It sounds like you staying with Pisteside in Chalet Joie de Vie. Is that right? Don't worry I only have very good things to say about it.
I'm off to Hintertux today for our company pre-season get together. I'll be checking in to the site but might not be able to give full answers until I get back.
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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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I don't know Schladming at all, but I'd certainly try to avoid any big French resort (or even, for that matter, a small French resort) during the Parisian holidays. If you are keen to go somewhere with a bigger ski area (which doesn't necessarily mean anywhere quite as enormous as La Plagne, which I wasn't mad about, the only time I went there) it would be best to wait until the 2nd week of March, when the hols are over.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks for the great advice everyone.
We were in Les Coches last year during half term and it wasn't crowded at all, apart from the cable up to Mio (45 minutes queue). All other lifts were no more than 10 deep. Thanks for the heads up on timings though Pam.
The only thing the advise has done is to make it harder to choose, as they both seem equally popular. A pub meeting is needed, I think.
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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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gravystuffing, yes staying at Pisteside, very happy the reviews I had read match your view 'only have very good things to say about it.' Enjoy Hintertux and maybe see you in the Last One for a beer in March. Let me know about lessons and Stade training if you can. Many Thanks
'
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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RobCrock, your chalet was refurbished for last season to a very high standard indeed. The owners are a fantastic couple. If you are all reasonable skiers you can ski down to Plan Bois in the morning and skiing home is easy along the little road into the car park right at the top of the village then if you are up for it 50 metres off the side of the piste. For kids lessons go with Sebastien's World Ski Class which is now part of ESF. I will give you more info when I get back but never queue for Roche de Mio in Belllecote always go to the mid-station in Belle Plagne because they feed you in to fill up the gaps.
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| gravystuffing wrote: |
| RobCrockbut never queue for Roche de Mio in Belllecote always go to the mid-station in Belle Plagne because they feed you in to fill up the gaps. |
Agreed!!
Or, if coming up from Les Coches, use Inversions to get to Mio.
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| bar shaker wrote: |
| gravystuffing wrote: |
| RobCrockbut never queue for Roche de Mio in Belllecote always go to the mid-station in Belle Plagne because they feed you in to fill up the gaps. |
Agreed!!
Or, if coming up from Les Coches, use Inversions to get to Mio. |
Inversions is to sloooooooooooow, great run but the lift is so slooooooooooow. Why not use the normally empty lift beside the Roche bubble and then the other lift after it  . Its quicker than the Roche bubble.
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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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We never even considered the chair. You can't beat local knowledge!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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RobCrock, check out this link http://www.montchavin-lescoches.com/www-restaurant_station-876-ETE-UK.html
The first restaurant you'll want to book is Les Lauzes. You need to find out what day the Finlays chalets hosts have there day off and avoid that day. It is just under your chalet and the Finlays guests will fill it usually on Wednesday night. Lydia's speciality is her crème brûlée for which she uses hot irons from the stove in the middle of the restaurant. The portions are modest but usually tasty. I usually have the duck and my wife the salmon pasta with grapefruit (pamplemousse) sauce.
None of the restaurants are so good that they are a must but I always take my guests to La Taverne du Monchu for one of the set menus like Salade Savoyarde, Confit de Canard and Tarte Myrtille with a jug of wine for around 25 Euro. Jeff speaks virtually no English and there are two sittings. If you go for the early one you must leave in time for the second sitting to start. Early sitting is 7pm - 9pm as I recall. Book in advance and check which sitting you are on. Don't be late!!!!
If you want a pizza or a raclette use La Poze. They usually have a deal to get two or three courses for a special price on the blackboard outside. We usually share Indienne and Norwegian pizza.
If you want a choice of pizza or a steak then go to L’Origan. Their steaks are better than La Poze.
Don't think about eating in Montchavin at night unless you have your own transport and are not drinking. If you want a big lunch La Ferme de César is excellent but it's rare to be in Montchavin over lunch unless the weather turns bad and in that case most locals head for Le Sauget http://www.le-sauget.com/ Book in advance and make sure you put your hats and gloves in the baskets to avoid the wrath of Madame Pat. It can be expensive but is very atmospheric on a snowy day. watch out for the chicken in the toilet!!!!
If you want some recommendations for La Plagne/Les Arcs lunch and coffee stops let me know.
p.s. Hintertux was great 
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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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Salade Savoyarde, Confit de Canard and Tarte Myrtille with a jug of wine for around 25 Euro
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mmm. sounds good. 
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gravystuffing, thanks for the great info(by the way , my useried has changed) , I had lost track of my post and now less then 3 weeks to go, so getting excited. The info on the restaurants is great , i will investigate and share around. Two bits of info would be great . ski School , daughter (well young lady is 22) and will need lessons as she has skied for only 2 weeks , tried EvolutionII 2 weeks ago but have no-one booked in yet so group lessons not available). Had no experience with ESF so not sure what to do for a number of reasons , the rest of the party are all good skiers and in the past skiing in Val d'isere it has been easy to meet her after ski school(ie, a quick race down le face) , but being in Les Coches , how easy is it to meet up at a top lift in Le plagne at midday or get back to meet her. Secondly , are there any race pistes set up in the area that visitors can access . My son races and a couple of mornings honing GS skills would be great if a race piste and a instructor/ski school were available. Many Thnaks
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FAQ
Schladming has a lot of north facing slopes and a very big snow making system (lift co. quote 99% coverage). Lift linked skiing on the four mountains equals 119.5km according to bergfex, plus another 32km in two areas either end of the area. It's not going to compare to a large French ski motorway network though, they are two different things. Schlad is a large working town with plenty of restaurants, bars and hotels. We like the place and think it would make a good place for short break. On the other hand "go to France you'll hate Austria" and leave the place to us 
