 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All, I'd be greatful for any advice you guys have on early season skiing.
A group of us are looking to go ski on the weekend of 8th/9th December. This is the first week of the season, for many resorts I think (at least as far as the TO are concerned).
We were thinking of going back to St. Anton as we have previously had a great time there and the skiing suits our (pretty advanced) abilities. I am a bit worried that there might not be much snow though.....clearly we're unlikely to be skiing oodles of powder off piste, but does anyone have any experience of the on piste conditions?
I know that it's pot luck but in a given year how would you lot rate me chances of having decent(ish) skiing? I know we would probably have a better chance of good snow in a high French glacier resort, but we really enjoyed St. Anton as a place (including the apres!).
I'd be very interested to hear your views!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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bagfry, First thing to check is whther they are expectong to even open the lifts those dates...
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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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under a new name, OPens 30th November according to tourist info.... and Inghams are selling holidays that start on 8th dec
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I was skiing powder from 23rd Nov in St Anton in 2008, don't rule it out! Obviously coverage offpiste is unlikely to be great, and Rendl may or may not be open by then, but there should still be plenty of great skiing.
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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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bagfry, my view is that in early Dec, even in St Anton, you could be needing to pack the golf bats rather than the planks. As such book late if you can. If some sort of base has been laid down in Nov then go for it.
But I say that as a man who booked Tignes in Dec (17th) in June so I hardly eat my own dog food as it were
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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bagfry, book late ( as per above advice ). I have had some really good skiing in St.A in Dec, and some almost non-existent. Impossible to say at this stage of the game. St. A is not a good place to be when there is no snow!
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bagfry, Solden in Austria may be worth a look. Top lift at 3250m so it may have an edge on St Anton (Top lift 2450m) for early season conditions.
I can't recommend from personal experience as I haven't been yet, but it's on the list. I have heard nothing but good things about Solden.
Definitely agree with the booking late advice mentioned above.
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I've only ever been to St Anton twice. Both times in early December. I think it's fair to say that both times I got some of the best off piste conditions I've ever skiid.
In 2010 we took about 6 hours to get there from Munich behind a snowplough and had the best conditions of that whole winter as far as I remember (which wasn't hard as it was fairly pants by all accounts)
I also went a year or two before that at Krampus or whatever it's called and had amazingly brilliant deep deep fresh snow.
yum
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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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Kaprun or Hintertux are both great early/pre season destinations. Do able for the weekend but just check on connection times and flights?!
Tignes is generally a safe bet if you have to book in advance and easy for a weekend mission.
Otherwise keep an eye on the snow falls and see whats best a little closer to the time.
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bagfry, Book flights but that early there's no point booking accommodation until a few days before. Then you can head for wherever looks best be it a glacier area like Solden, Stubai, Kaprun or Hintertux or your chose St A... mind you the apres there might not exactly be humming then.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Stevio and Cervinia in Italy will both have been long open, Stevio is open now and Cervinia opens this weekend!
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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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I went to Tignes the week before Christmas last year, and it was terrible. Too much snow! Having not snowed until a few days before (which was worrying), it then absolutely threw it down, meaning that much of the area was closed due to avalanche risk etc.
Still had a cracking time - although if you're stuck unable to ski lots. St Anton's apres is a far, far better prospect than Tignes...
This year, I'm going to Lake Tahoe mid December...highly likely to be little snow, but visiting friends in the area and burning up the rest of my annual leave, so not a primary choice iof time nor place for skiing: but will be a nice holiday, binus if good snow.
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Wed 10-10-12 10:11; edited 1 time in total
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holidayloverxx, That's optimism for you.
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the first week of the season, for many resorts I think (at least as far as the TO are concerned)
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I'd suggest that is immense optimism and possibly entirely misleading on a TO's part. For most (non-glacier) resorts I wouldn't expect to ski before Xmas week. Brevent-Flegere (Chamonix) for example not scheduled to open fully until Dec 22.
Last edited by 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  on Wed 10-10-12 10:56; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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bagfry, Ischgl, Solden and Obergurgl should be fairly good options. Same glaciers - Hintertux etc. (already open).
Tignes or Val Thorens in France. Best will be to book just flight and wait with the resort choice.
It is December so you should be able to find accommodations later on. Or if the early snow is good you will have much more choice.
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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 very much everyone for the excellent advice. I will try and hold off booking for a bit.
We're looking for a catered chalet (I know I know....) so we don't massively want to leave it until the last minute, but I guess there will always be some last minute availability so early in the season.
Booking flights now is a good idea, the only problem being we have to decide whether to go to France/ Austria.....so many decicisions (or 'first world problems' as some call them).
I'll let you all know how we get on!
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Poster: A snowHead
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In Austria, specially in places I mentioned, you'll find more half board hotels or pensions than catered chalets.
Again weekend bookings should be ok in December.
Lots of catered chalets in France, but might be tricky for a weekend only.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ah- I've been very unclear. We are looking to go on the weekend of 8/9th but for a week.....sorry. I'm a wally.
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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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bagfry, No problems getting a HB hotel at that time of year in any of the Austrian or French resorts, even last minute you should be able to find some good bargins dealing directly with the hotels.
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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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We went to St Anton the week before Christmas a number of years ago. It was brilliant loads of snow extremely cold (I bought extra layers there as I was too cold). However you can never predict
In Austria you dont need the same altitude for good snow as you do in france.
Personally I would go for it
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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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bagfry, If it is for a week. Don't book any flights for France. You will be better off with last minute TO deal.
You can probably find them also to St Anton or Cervinia/Zermatt etc...
Ischgl, Solden probably better to DIY so book flight in advancem the rest later.
If I were you I would probably wait for last minute deals with TO.
In St Anton, I think Rendl won't be open, not sure about other links.
Ischgl is known for pre XMS skiing so if conditions are good will be open completely.
Not sure about French resorts.
I believe some resorts won't open everything this early in December even if there is plenty of snow.
It is better then to head to places witch are known for early skiing and have enough customers to open completely.
We had brilliant pre XMS conditions in Obertauern and Livigno (second week in Dec). All runs open.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We shall wait and see then.....could be a good opportunity to go on the cheap.
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We've had great trips that time of year in Tignes and Val Thorens, have your lot considered joining the PSB? They have spaces the first 3 days, 1st to 4th Dec - it is very cheap for a trip that includes lift pass, transfers, food and a whole load of other good stuff. Worth contacting admin if it has to be the 8th Dec weekend, he might find some space in apartments etc.
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Went to St Anton 1st Dec last year for the weekend. No Snow until we left and got stuck on the St Anton pass figuring snow chains! However, we drove to Isghl (man made snow) and Solden, Glacier, so skied every day.
If I were you I would go to Solden and book as soon as you like. With full snowfall, would be a blast. If not, two back to back glaciers should keep you smiling.
Apres looks okay, but we did not stay as driving,
Peter
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