 Poster: A snowHead
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Evening all,
Sorry if this has been covered, I ran a quick search.....
Its time to organise 2012, and I'm looking for a big resort for a mixed ability group. The beginners are confident week 3, and the rest of us like steeps, moguls and in bounds off piste.
We like lots of very lively apres, and are only interested in chalet accommodation.
Ideally some off piste guides would top it off.
We did Val in 2009 which was perfect, and Zermatt this year which was a little tough on the beginners, So I'm thinking St Anton next year - any thoughts, advice??
Cheers 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Not the best of resorts for beginners, but the ski schools there are very good. Having said that, confident week 3 skiiers should be fine (I'd only done 1 week when I first skiied St Anton, 12 or so years previously!). Piste to Powder are well recommended for off piste guides.
Never skiied in either Val or Zermatt so unable compare them.
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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 went at February half term for the first time. Loved the place but I wouldn't think it's ideal for beginners. Home runs get very busy, some are steep and the runs seemed to get scraped (there hadn't been too much snow then) easily.
I've been to Val D'Isere and Zermatt too. I wouldn't class either of them as ideal for beginners either.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Have to agree that St Anton isn't the best for early skiers.
Have you considered the 3 Valleys ? Val Thorens or Courchevel would suit a big mixed group with something for everyone.
Also worth looking at Les Arcs.
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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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Thanks all. Colin B, You are becoming a key advisor! Last year's Zermatt trip was fantastic - everyone had a great time and a great resort, but I have to concede, the actual skiing was tough for the early beginners - mainly due to the difficulty in getting between the small clusters of blue/long way over to easier runs in Cervina. Last year I consulted the forum AFTER I had booked it, so at least this year I'm doing it the other way round! 
SnowMonkey69, Yep, I have considered 3V, it's just we were thinking of Austria this year for a bit of variety....but if we can't find the right thing France may come into the mix. What is Les Arcs like for nightlife?
Key criteria, big ski area and big variety, extensive apres, and really this year, I would like to get everyone to Austria - I like their approach to Apres. Any ideas?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| leedssteve wrote: |
| Thanks all. Colin B, You are becoming a key advisor! |
You should be very worried 
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Confident 3rd week beginners should be fine in St Anton - it's the timid beginners that have issues. If you ski around rendl day one to get the ski legs, there's quiet nicely groomed slopes for the beginners and ski routes for the advanced. Its a great place for groups, especially the apres
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Ischgl.
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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 took some 1st time skiers their last Easter (based at Stuben), they had a great time, they did enjoy Lech and Zurs so don't discount the beginners busing/driving there if necessary....
3 week skiers will be fine IMHO, we had a 2nd week skier who did the White ring and loved it.
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I reckon it's the in between, blue-moving-to-red-run skiers who Anton caters for least, although there's plenty for them at Lech and Rendl. However, as long as they're fairly gung-ho and don't get phased by bumps, they should be OK - sounds like it would be perfect for the rest of you though (although if by 'inbounds offpiste' you mean marked offpiste routes, they'll be tracked and bumped by 11am on a pow day).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Les Arcs not great for nightlife I'm afraid so probably not right for your group.
Val Thorens is though and would offer all members of your group something to ski on.
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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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leedssteve, I'd say give st anton a go. It's not ideal for timid beginners, but with the right attitude the conditions will push you up a level. Other options in Austria that come to mind are Kitzbhuel, Saalbach, Maryhofen, Ischgl - all known for lively apres-ski and probably easier piste skiing for novices skiers. Could try somewhere in ski amade area, where I live (no business interest btw), stacks of skiing, ideal for novice to intermediates, probably a little cheaper than the other Austrian resorts though apres-ski is generally less lively but still good.
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Saalbach isn't all that good for offpiste though, and tbh most of the offpiste I skied in Kitz was pretty mellow (was only there for a week though, I'm sure there's steeps around). Ischgl is the best of the rest, but Anton is Anton.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Hi LeedsSteve - some similar comments from a couple of months ago - http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=73964&highlight=
We've done 30+ family mixed ability groups for a few years - different places each year.
Have you looke at Soll? Not as gnarly as St Anton but we had a great time there. For the aviodance of doubt, I know St Anton can seriously upset some developing skiers....a combination of busy, fast and steep doesn't do anything for people who are trying to build confidence. But it is a must go place at some time.
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Poster: A snowHead
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....but re-reading the op then your confident 3 weekers should love it - I was more thinking of timids (of both sexes and all sizes)...enjoy
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A lot of what is and is not suitable for third week skiers depends on the aptitude of the skiers and the prevailing snow conditions.
Whereas I would think confident third week skiers should be happy at St Anton I would have been more confident that they would be happy in Zermatt in normal conditions. My own opinion is that if Zermatt troubled them I would give St Anton a miss for a couple of years. There are plenty of other great places to ski and St Anton will still be there when they are feeling a bit more confident.
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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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Thanks so much everyone, this is brilliant - I love snowheads!
So I think on balance, St Anton would prob be good - I think particularly for the beginners, resorts with lots of character and a busy vibe is a big plus. One of the party even spends a couple of days each holiday not skiing (I know  ).
I will also check out Sol and Ischgl.
I am getting very excited about the prospect of some good old Austrian apres...Samerberg Sue, I will remember those......
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| clarky999 wrote: |
| Saalbach isn't all that good for offpiste though, and tbh most of the offpiste I skied in Kitz was pretty mellow (was only there for a week though, I'm sure there's steeps around). Ischgl is the best of the rest, but Anton is Anton. |
Cheers for the detailed info - 3 of us are seriously trying to learn off piste properly - you were giving me some advise last year before we went to Zermatt. Unfortunately we couldn't find any courses out there and left it a bit late (hence 'in bounds'). We really enjoyed the itineries, but as you described they were tracked out in no time, and we don't have the skills to risk going further afield yet.
So hopefully St Anton might provide a some proper courses?
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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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Most of the old blacks are now itineraries (not groomed but avalanche patrolled) so don't miss out on those. Loads and loads of off-piste though much of it is quite far from the pistes rather than close to them (which is what I assume you mean by in bounds - though in bounds and out of bounds do not exist in Europe) and it can be as tough as you want.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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leedssteve, Piste to Powder and the Arlberg Ski School run offpiste courses. If none of the courses happen to suit you, book a guide or a Staatliche ski instructor for a few hours.
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as much as I love St. Anton I have to admit, it is terrible for beginners. A few years back, we went there for what my my friend's third week on snow. He really struggled and I actually think it knocked him back at least a week in terms of both confidence and technique - look elsewhere
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They will find it hard and if you have to ski with them you will find it boring as you will be missing out on an awesome ski area!
Send them to Rendl every day and then you guys can head off 
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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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They will find it hard and if you have to ski with them you will find it boring as you will be missing out on an awesome ski area!
Send them to Rendl every day and then you guys can head off
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As clarky999 wrote, try Piste to Powder: http://www.pistetopowder.com/ They specialise in off piste guiding and will put you with a group of the right standard. They are a bit more expensive than similar companies in Val d'Isere but they are good.
I have to admit, though, that there aren't as many easy blues as at Val d'Isere.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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clarky999, snowball, Cheers guys, just checked them out and it looks perfect, just what we need.
Re the beginners - they found Val in their first ever week on snow perfect, and only a little trouble in Zermatt - I think as long as they have lessons while they're out there,it will be fine.
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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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Despite the reputation, it's only the central mountain that is problematic for beginners, and then largely because of ice and crowded pistes. Rendl, Stuben, Lech, Zurs are all included in the pass and have plenty to offer 3rd weekers. If they can't handle it, they're doing the wrong sport and need to take up something less challenging like tiddly winks. More advanced skiers will love it - especially the itineraries.
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My (then) six year old in her fourth week loved St Anton. Last run in can be avoided by coming down the Galzigbahn as I had did a couple of times when my knee gave up. Long walk back to the Mooserwirt then tho.
Mayrhofen might be a good bet as well. Apres almost as good, some would say better, and since you can't ski down the cliff there is no pressure to try and ski an overcrowded run to the village. Tons of ski-ing and a glacier if the weather is a re run of this year. Our boys trip have only done St Anton once, next year is our 8 or 9th trip tp the Hoff, says it all really. Much cheaper too.
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You know it makes sense.
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we went to ischgl this year and st anton last year and for a mixed group learning the ropes then it's ischgl all the way , plenty of skiing to do and there seems to be an easy and a hard way down the slopes all the time, apres is very lively if a little german at times , we stayed here http://www.skitotal.com/ResortDetails.aspx?resortId=62#Chalets and couldn't fault it.
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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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No question Ischgl is better for the whole group, but St Anton is still a big step ahead in the offpiste department (and apres, although Ischgl is better for late night stuff), and having spent a season teaching beginners there, I know for a fact that there is plenty of beginner terrain (timid skiers are another matter though).
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