 Poster: A snowHead
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When: 5th -12th Feb 2011
Where: Villeneuve, Serre Chevalier
Who: 4 20 something couples - mixed ability skiers
Operator: Zenith Ski
Accomodation: Chalet Ridon (Catered)
Lessons: Ski Connections
Equipment: skidiscount.co.uk -> Sports Mountain Sport2000
Summary:
All Highly recommended - suprisingly enjoyable trip. (Why suprise? Smallish area by my standards, low, lack of snow so our expectations were guarded, but we had a great time)
The Slopes:
SC pisteurs are miracle workers, snow was in great shape considering it handn't snowed properly in weeks. The area was _just_ big enough to keep us happy (we like to travel, and tend to favour huge areas like 3v) - we were impressed and liked the variety although some linking sections got old pretty fast. Signage is MASSIVELY improved since last visit (5+ years ago) and only the occasional problem found when trying for an _exact_ route instead of just 'any old blue to village x'. Excellent resort for a mixed group - something for everyone. Excellent for beginners one of the best choices of greens I've seen, within days our first weeker was able to 'travel' and get a real feel of skiing not just circling nursery slopes. Unbelievably quiet, a real change for the hell of meribel centre or belle plagne.
Briancon suffers with the sun, Charvet run holds up best ime and is a fun blast if not overly long. Chantemerle: Petit Alpe (from Bois Des Coqs drag) and Aguilette very much recommended red cruises which held up well - you'd have believed it has snowed 2 days ago, not 2+ weeks. Villeneuve: Blue Marteau was the best way home , the greens are over subscribed and tracklike and Casse du Bouf black was unpredictable in terms of grip on the steeper sections. Rocher d'enfer recommended for a comedy roller coaster ride, althought the top is very steep - and was icy when we were there. The offpiste under the vallons lift looked like it would be mighty entertaining in better snow. Monetier is shady, super quiet and nice runs, bit of a pain to get to and from somehow thought despite the fast new lift. Do not take the blue pas d'lane run - longest/steepest uphill section I've yet found 
The Village:
Not the cutest due to the main road splitting things in two (and lack of snow) but we were happy enough and there is LOTS to do - great bars, plenty of restaurants, ICE KARTING! Nice spa in monetier (not as nice as the photos look, but nice  )
The Accomodation:
Excellent - ski in out exactly as described, 30m on skis to the aravet gondola. Rooms all fine bar the smallest twin (meercat) which lacks much of a window. Polar bear room was awesome, chalet is really nice - evidently a much loved home at some point with nice touches and individual design (bit 70s in places but nothing too disconcerting). Downstairs tv room great for mixed groups - we used it for any late night socialising to avoid keeping other guest up. Downside for some people might be it's not ensuite but we had no issues.
Tour op: Zenith
Recommended. We hadn't used them before but Zenith were excellent. Very friendly on the phone, talked to rep on mobile and email before leaving uk, not pushy at all and happy to arrange all our random activities and cope with our constantly changing minds/numbers/dates. Transfers included were in private minibus no hassle at all, and on arrival when we preferred an empty (bigger, more expensive) room to one of the ones we had booked they were totally laid back about the switch. Just said the upstairs two floors were ours to do as we will as no one else was in them. Similar story on the way home, kept a room and shower with no stress at all- easiest changeover day I've ever had. Rep even dropped by on 'day off' to offer us a lift to the restaurant for our dinner as they were passing by! Chalet host appeared on day off too to load dishwasher as they didn't like leaving it to get all smelly apparently, which gives you an idea of a pride in their work I haven't often run into. We had no problems at all, although I would note chalet hosts were evidently young - they lacked confidence at times, I suspect they lean on the reps (older) for help when trouble strikes! They were however super sweet and perhaps more competent than they seemed - when we failed miserably to organise a taxi to an evening activity they fixed it for us to use the tour op minibus, so some initiative being shown! Food was fine, not outstanding, although the 'chef' had evidently had some training (own knives, some interesting touches on some dishes). I'd definately use them again.
Ski Hire: Sports Mountain - Sport2000
Recommended - spoke english and absolutely no hassle, took voucher & gave me skis - no quibbling, no random fees, no insurance debate, no discussion about how the skis you want are the 'diamond' level when you know for sure they're 2 years old etc. Skis all good, no bizarre settings/servicing fails/odd choices and when they realised one of us had the wrong voucher with them, they let us use their computer and printer to download the right one. Very impressed. Note as well we used skidiscount.co.uk and bestpriceskirental.com and both vouchers came good no issues.
Ski Instruction: Ski Connections
Recommended - easy to book, friendly, flexible. We booked 4* privates (Olivier) and 2 people onto week long courses. Everyone happy. The long final day trip to monetier is a nice touch on the group lessons, but the real differentiator for me was the friendliness, they were just really easy to deal with and lessons were fun, everyone moved on well.
I'll come back and add more when I remember/have time, but I wanted to give credit where credit is due before I forgot!
aj xx
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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sounds like you also had a great time in the same week!!!
p.s. I'm not a fan of blacks but managed to do casse de beouf on the way home each night! I did have a route on the right under the chair that was always nice and snowy and I was hoping that by the last day I'd do it with a bit of style but in the end had such a long day and my legs were so shattered I think i just about fell down 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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a.j., stayed in the same place with Zenith in the middle of January and I agree everything that you've said.
I also did a few days off-piste with Gavin from NewGen in Monetier. Fantastic instructor and I'd love to go back to SC again when there's more snow to play in. The area has certainly got a lot of variety and something for everyone.
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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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Great trip report. It sounds like you found the area had good variety and suprisingly good snow considering the drought, like me. I think I met one of your group on the first day, I think she was in the beginner lesson on the Sunday with my friend Lindsay, before getting moved up? I agree that ski connections were a great school to deal with.
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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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Hi,
It sounds like Ella made huge progress. She seemed pretty good after her dry slope lessons even at the start of the week.
Lindsay made good progress, although one member of her group was very nervous which did hold up the rest of the group somewhat. We pushed her in the afternoons so she was managing blues confortably by the end of the week, and really enjoyed the blues above Chantemerle.
I know what you mean about CdB, although I quite liked it at the end of the day when it was a little cut up. I took the advice of our instructor to 'caress the snow' and allow the skis to scrape a little on the turns. But then, I learnt to ski on hard pack so my nerves weren't stretched too much.
I am super jealous about the fresh snow they have in resort now, but not feeling too bad as I am off to Italy tonight Fresh tracks here I come!
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Good to hear snow is good in Serre Che. Just booked a last minute deal with Skibound for £249 for 27th Feb. Seemed rude to refuse at that price! Haven't skied there for a few years so its always fun to see how resorts have changed - and to argue with hubby where to go as we think we know without using the piste map then get lost.
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Well, I logged on to this to post something about my experience with Zenith and Chalet Ridon, but a.j., you have hit the nail on the head with everything. The Resort, the chalet and Zenith were all fantastic! Could not fault Zenith, and certainly looking to use them again next year.
I was in the same group as kristof above when I went.
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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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Back out for 5 weeks again this coming Saturday, third year of doing this!
Sort of discoverd SC when I was in La Grave and the guides took us over there when La Meije was shut. And when not on macho boys trips to LG took the family to SC so we could still nick a day in LG. Been skiing in and around SC for over 12 years now!
Great thing about SC is that it's a great location for doing other stuff. Plus you don't get the pretentious British lady's front bottom brigade.
Blog from two years ago http://www.gavinbaylis.com/ski/
Last year http://www.anotherharddayattheoffice.co.uk/daily-mountainblog-home.html
And this year's http://www.anotherharddayattheoffice.co.uk/2011.html plus we'll have the Snowheads OffPiste week March 12th.
Will check out Zenith for my daughter as she wants to do a season in SC after she finished Uni this year.
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FAQ
Like kristof I have my eye on a return another time with more snow, maybe even this year at this rate, as it's snowing nicely now...
but while I CAN get down it, and possibly not even look too bag-of-spanners about it, I didn't enjoy the mass side-slip fest it turned into from around 3pm, proper hardpack is bad for my nerves! Marteau is definately where I would send most folks in less-than-perfect conditions. In good snow I bet CdB is a blast 
