 Poster: A snowHead
|
Can anyone recommend English speaking kids ski school in Gressoney Saint Jean
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
When are you going ? We are off to GLT in two weeks, I could ask while we are there??
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Would appreciate if you could ask and post recommendations, we're going in three ( shame we'll miss each other ! ) Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
We arrive in GLT on the 17th, so will try and post while we are there, although a look on the internet suggest there is only one ski school in Gressoney St Jean.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
I can't imagine that there's more than one ski school!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
1jmsnow, that's peak French time too - school hols. Ski schools are therefore likely to be very heavily booked, so best book up as soon as possible. If it's anything like our small area there won't be any "English" groups, but the instructor will speak a few words of English, and kids don't need a lot of talking at about skiing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pam w, oddly enough, even though it's only a short hop through the tunnel, Monterosa doesn't seem to suffer as badly from the French.
But i would suggest booking amgood idea anyway. It's likely to be a pretty small school...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
thanks all for your comments - will look into booking before hand , kids are having a few lessons here, so hopefully want be too daunting
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
quick update - called ski school direct - kids classes not arranged yet for the 16th Feb onwards - dependent on numbers ( min 5 ) - will need to call / book nearer the time...next week. They do provide a mixed adults and kids private lesson which might actually suit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We were in Gressoney st Jean last weekend and I do not think there is a ski school there, or any ski hire facilities. There are no lifts or ski runs in the village and it is a 20 minutes bus ride to Stofel (about 10 to Gressoney la Trinte) where the skiing actually starts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@johnE - ok thanks for the update - how was it - powder?, lifts open?, busy?, weather?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
1jmsnow, Have a look at http://www.snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=97491
specifically
10cm of powder day 1 - gone by day 2
Yes the lifts were open except when closed by high winds
Actually quite quiet, even on SUnday
Cloudy at the start of Saturday brightening throughout the day - sunny on SUnday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| johnE wrote: |
| We were in Gressoney st Jean last weekend and I do not think there is a ski school there, or any ski hire facilities. There are no lifts or ski runs in the village and it is a 20 minutes bus ride to Stofel (about 10 to Gressoney la Trinte) where the skiing actually starts. |
Huh? You didn't notice the Weissmatten ski area while you were in Gressoney St Jean? Nice area, some good runs through the trees. We spent a happy day there last year when all the other lifts were closed because of winds. Not sure about ski school or ski hire, but there's bound to be some (there's a bunny slope, for one thing, so there will be instructors).
You can ski from Gressoney La Trinite as well, using the Punta Jolanda lift - you don't have to go all the way to Staffal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
thanks J2R - I had spotted Weissmatten 'near' GSJ - about 5mins away so planned to let the kids have their first taste there on the gentler / quieter slopes ( doubt the french , on their school holidays or local, well informed, will bother with Weissmatten ) then later on hit the Jolanda lift area but thanks for the positives from your happy day there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
The main Weissmatten run is a fantastic top-to-bottom run, used in the World Cup, and is an absolute blast if you like that kind of thing (I do!).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
So, we're back from a week ( 6 days ) skiing in based in Gressoney-Saint-Jean. This thread was initially based around making our own arrangements for the kids first skiing holiday during half term and specifically finding an English speaking ski school for them.
What was I worried about .....the Ski School in the region covers all three valleys and for where we stayed, there is an English speaking school in Weissmatten. Just to be clear,
our hotel (Residenza del Sole - we booked direct) is in-between the main town of GSJ (7 mins in the car) and Weissmatten (3 mins)
The hotel was excellent, could not do more to help us with locating the ski school, ski hire(200euros for three ski sets for the week), supermarket/restaurants and local directions,
however it was very very quiet in the evenings which suited us as we used the swimming pool ( bring ya swim hats for between 16:00 and 19:00-closed on Mondays), games room ( table tennis, table football, pool table ),sauna, bar, restaurant and a laptop loaded with movies for those odd occasions when relaxing back in the room.
Very clean, warm (centrally set at 22c/23c) and very friendly.
After a few days and 3 (Gino, David and Marko) 1 hour 1-2-1 private lessons (45euros for two / 55 for three) in Weissmatten ( one nursery slope, one button lift to a little blue run,
the main chair lift to a long winding blue and of course the world cup red run) we drove to Stafal and took the cable car up to Gabiet - Lago. Oh I should mention that the weekend was a little busy with locals which made the lifts/piste a little busy but nothing too crazy.
At both locations we parked the car with no problems/no cost probably because it was not busy. At Stafal the closer car park was 1Euro for an hour, 4Euros for the day.
Stafal lift (Gabiet-Lago) made up the other half of our trip because the blue run was clear, wide and a good piste to build confidence with
lots of varied 'blue' ways down the mountain. Chair lift also gave access to the snowpark so able to watch the jumps, flips and crashes on our way up.
Drive from GSJ is about 30-40mins, again suited us as we breakfasted ( rolls/croissants, parma ham, local cheese, juice, fruit - cheeky chocolate snack for a mid morning snack) at the only supermarket/spar we found on the main road, opposite the petrol garage, to the resort
After that lot, we lunched occasionally at the restaurant at the top of the Stafal cable car, noting that most of the lifts closed at 16:30 we were back in GSJ by 17:00/17:30 each night in time for the pool / sauna.
In the evenings for dinner we varied our meals between the hotel restaurant which was fine for pizza / pasta and mixed grill / cutlets type and driving to GSJ - Flyinghorse I think was very good - One bad meal - expensive , salty and just bad - Residence Oberteil Restorante in GLT , we only went there because everywhere else was fully booked !!!
We spent a day over at Antagnod. WOW, what a gem. Drive took about an hour but worth it for the open, wide, clear, long blues. Confident enough to even try the red. Probably our best day as we had the resort virtually to ourselves. For us definately worth the diesel for that drive. We used half a tank (60euros) over the course of the week.
Last day, back in Weissmatten after it had snowed all night and both blues were beautifully powdery, previous confidence / knowledge of the slopes gave them a real chance to enjoy our last day before driving back to Malpensa for a night in the Best Western next to the airport ready for the early return home the next day.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
1jmsnow, sounds like a great holiday! Well done for discovering some new spots. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
