I need some advice regarding the best resort for me and my OH.
I am a novice skier - I have only done a 1 day lesson at an indoor ski slope and I have also done a week in Val Thorens but struggled throughout the week.
My OH is a boarder who can manage red runs and hates drag lifts.
I need a resort which is suitable for our very different requirements. I am wanting to go to ski school (probably just the mornings) and we are wanting to go Mid March and the resort must be a glacier or high enough to be snow sure.
Does anyone have any recommendations??
We would like the resort to be either in France or Austria.
Thanks
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Anywhere will be snow sure at that time. I'd recommend Saalbach - the entire Kohlmais area is full of gentle blues that you can explore with/without your OH in the afternoons. Lots of ski schools to choose from too.
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?
katywhitehead, the quality of the ski school you choose will be critical, given your experience in Val D'Isere. Did you not do lessons there? There are some great ski school in Val D'Isere but it's not an ideal resort for a beginner. Morzine might be a good bet, as suggested by Ricklovesthepowder, as there is an excellent ski school there (BASS) with small classes. Don't just take pot luck in a big group.
Morzine is not very high, and the ski area is not very high, but in mid-March you should be OK. But if you go to France, don't go before 11 March when the school holidays end.
If you want absolute snow guarantees and a glacier, you could do a lot worse than go to Les Deux Alpes - there's an exceptional ski instructor there, called Charlotte Swift, that a lot of Snowheads have skied with (including me). See easiski.com (not easiski.co.uk which is entirely separate). Charlotte is very good working with people who have lost some confidence and her rates for private lessons are very reasonable. LDA is a place where you often take a gondola down from mid-station - for beginners there's little point struggling with the runs down to the valley as they're not easy and tend to get busy.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
get yourself to Montgenevre, the Gontrans area will be good for you both where he can do the red sector and you the blue or green and meet up at the chair together, also some nice long blues back to the village, had a week there in 2010 easter and great snow, also never used a button in the whole week.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
katywhitehead, if you are considering Morzine another option for ski school is The Snow Institute.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Try Obergurgl.
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.
katywhitehead, welcome to snowHeads I'd second/third Morzine - in worst case scenario you will have easy access to Avoriaz for more height.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
cockerhoop, couldn't agree more. The Gondrans area is ideal. It never seems too crowded and off peak it's a great place to build confidence with a big variety of slope all leading from more or less the same return point. There's mostly chair lifts as well. The resort starts at 1800m, and whilst not glacier, has an enviable snow record even when other places can be struggling. That time of year though, as pam has said, you'll generally find snow aplenty no matter where you go.
For what it's worth, this video is a girl that came on her first ever ski holiday with us and had first put skis on only the day before this was filmed. This is the Gondrans area and gives a good idea of how much space and the slope steepness.
Thank you for all the advice. We still need to make up our minds but Morzine looks like a good resort.
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.
katywhitehead, Auron, alp maritime in france. 21 lifts and only one is draglift, rest is chairlift or gondola, 1h30min from Nice Airport, snowsure from mid december to beginning april, a nice place, http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Auron/pistemap
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much