Best skiing in France?

I've signed up with a program that will place me with a "hospitality internship" for three months, december-february, in France in a place more or less of my choosing (i.e. the Alps). Pretty early on in the process, but I'm trying to figure out where I should try and end up. Looking to ski as much pow as possible in a relatively safe area (this will be my first season using a beacon and actually going OB), some area with good trees for the storm days and the potential for gnarlier zones as well. Chamonix obviously comes to mind first, but seems like more potential for wind-scoured glacier runs than full-on pow. Been doing my research and I'm sure I'll be happy wherever, but always good to have more info. Please enlighten me to any resorts I should look into or TGR threads my jong ass hasn't been able to find. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by joblandaesthetics

Chamonix obviously comes to mind first, but seems like more potential for wind-scoured glacier runs than full-on pow.

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Wrong, jong! ;) :D

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Originally Posted by joblandaesthetics

Looking to ski as much pow as possible in a relatively safe area (this will be my first season using a beacon and actually going OB), some area with good trees for the storm days and the potential for gnarlier zones as well.

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You want to be in the Espace Killy, Paradiski, Portes du Soleil, Three Valleys, or some other lovely French location. Top notch hills, a little more accessible perhaps than here in Cham. Less crowded for the good stuff, too.

Three valleys.

Chamonix is fun but is often considered the 'Vail' or tourist destination for Europe Ski trips. Not much tree skiing there, but still has some great terrain if you know where to go. Chamonix might not be the best place to start OB skiing if you aren't with people who know the area. You'll find yourself at the bottom of a crevasse if you're not careful. Not to say it's not the same for other places in the country.

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Originally Posted by peds

Wrong, jong! ;) :D

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YOU LITTLE WEASEL!

JONGs do not get to call other JONGs "JONG," JONG!

Now, go wash out your mouth. You've got COCKBREATH!

Noted, cheers dude ;)

[gargles]

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Originally Posted by brosia

Chamonix is fun but is often considered the 'Vail' or tourist destination for Europe Ski trips

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No, it's not. At least not in the posh, fat people who don't ski way that Vail is. There's a dozen+ resorts that are much more for richer, posher, and fatter people who don't ski than Chamonix.

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Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

No, it's not. At least not in the posh, fat people who don't ski way that Vail is. There's a dozen+ resorts that are much more for richer, posher, and fatter people who don't ski than Chamonix.

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+1, I've been coming to Chamonix for awhile and I've never thought it was Vail-like.

Well, maybe when I see gumbies staggering down the handline to start the Vallee Blanche. And it attracts lots of Brits with mediocre talent who never leave the pistes.

But otherwise there are places wayyy more Vail-like.

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Originally Posted by JoeStrummer

And it attracts lots of Brits with mediocre talent who never leave the pistes.

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Aside from "Chalet Girl" a British porno shot in Chamonix - nice girl on girl, head in the Brevent gondola - the Brits are a drag, but it's nothing like Verbier Courcheval or the other big stations.

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Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

Aside from "Chalet Girl" a British porno shot in Chamonix - nice girl on girl, head in the Brevent gondola - the Brits are a drag, but it's nothing like Verbier Courcheval or the other big stations.

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Sorry for the behaviour of many of my countrymen dude, I really am. But not all of us are terrible :)


When are you Cham-bound? Pop into the Rusticana for some apres at some point.

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Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

No, it's not. At least not in the posh, fat people who don't ski way that Vail is. There's a dozen+ resorts that are much more for richer, posher, and fatter people who don't ski than Chamonix.

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I was referring to it more as a 'destination/tourist' resort rather than a "posh, fat people" resort. Perhaps another comparison would have been more appropriate. Also, I never said there's not other Europe resorts are the same way, there's just a lot more that aren't that way. Don't get me wrong, I like Chamonix.

3 Valleys seems like a good deal... being the biggest ski area in the world helps too. any of you who've had more experience in Europe think it will be very hard to find some people to shred around with? ill be going solo as none of my friends can seem to pull themselves away from Aspen. peds ill be alps-bound late novemeber or early december, ill have to stop by the rusticana when i get my Cham fill in. thanks everyone for the insight...i cant wait to get my hands dirty in that Francais pow!

Being a retired person and having to watch my expenditure somewhat, I dont care what I spend on going to France.

PS When I get my state pension as well, I shall really be able to lash out

I would counsel against 3 Valleys. Among its faults are: crowds (huge in school holidays); prices ("); (comparitive) lack of epic terrain; lack of snow historically and lastly I wouldn't be too enamoured with the "biggest area" in the world tag. It may or may not be true that it has the highest km of piste skiing in the world, but that really just means that they've packed more pistes into the area. I have no idea where so don't ask, but I've seen bird's eye view ski area maps and in terms of skiable terrain both espace killy and paradiski have more. Plus meribel and courchevel are full of assholes, les menuires is quite hideous and val thorens has no trees and looks like the aborted foetus of a moon settlement.

I would similarly advise against Cham. It may have the gnarliest skiing in france, but it also has the gnarliest crowds competing for it, neither of which makes it an ideal spot to learn about off piste safety.

If you want to be based in resort I would advise one of Val d'Isere, Tignes, La Plagne or Les Arcs. Probably in that order. Each of them certainly has drawbacks but they all have excellent shreddable terrain, are huge, and within easy reach of other little epic shreddable spots.

You may not find being based in resort to be to your tastes... it is fun but perhaps claustrophobic and one-dimensional at times. If you want to live in a city with numerous drive-to skiing options covering all bases, look no further than Grenoble. I'm here for the year and can't pretend I know the skiing here well yet but it has everything:
Ubergnar- La Grave (1hr)
All around shreddable gnar- Les 7 Laux (1/2 hr)
Tree shredding (St Pierre de Chartreuse) (1/2 hr)
Touring options throughout the Belledone massif
Mega Resorts- Alpe d'Huez, Les 2 Alpes (1 Hour)

plus one or two other bits and bobs, including Chamrousse (lifts visible from dt GNB), and france's best flippyspinny parks, not sure if that's of interest.
furthermore it's a charming city with plenty to do to keep things fresh...

PM me for details on anything i've blurted about.

Misty hit the nail on the head. Tignes, Val d'Isere, and Les Arcs are behemoths. Nuff said.

Dunfee, hit up Val d'Isere and be done with it.


Maybe I'll see you there.

Grenoble: best ski city on Earth.

http://perso.neel.cnrs.fr/olivier.fr...-night.all.jpg

Also within hitting distance of Serre Chevalier, which has some of the best tree skiing in Europe. It's all larches, so there are next to no tree wells and there are some very steep lines too.

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Originally Posted by peds

Sorry for the behaviour of many of my countrymen dude, I really am. But not all of us are terrible :)


When are you Cham-bound? Pop into the Rusticana for some apres at some point.

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Yeah, they are all terrible but that's what we love about them!

I am reminded of some brits spearing an irritating euro's binding to release his ski just as he caught a chair. What a laugh!! :the_finge

The Rusticana is THE hang in argentière. Free wifi too!

How about some free TGR pints, John? ;)

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Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

No, it's not. At least not in the posh, fat people who don't ski way that Vail is. There's a dozen+ resorts that are much more for richer, posher, and fatter people who don't ski than Chamonix.

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Megeve is high on that top 12. The McDonalds there would be the nicest chalet in most other alpine towns.
The good thing with Cham & surrounding valleys is the massive amount of gnar that is accessible within an hour drive. Fairly similar to the mega-resorts mentioned above but without then interconnection, which is essentially miles of cat tracks and a more expensive pass. And the resorts themselves are way less of an eyesore if you care about such things.
Chances are when Cham is a shit show and sounds like you're in Britain, when Les Grands Montets is assaulted by poseurs, you could be roaming around les Contamines and skiing freshies days after the storm. And when that's done you can start touring...

If there's a better place in France than La Grave I'm not even sure I'd want to know about it--you could die of happiness.

Of course if you're looking for meeting chicas in the discotheque then you might be disappointed. And with Serre Chevalier down the road, and Les Deux Alpes over the top you have pretty much every possible Euro-option.

No serre chevalier is not the best. I come from Holland skiing all my life. Seen all french top pieces. Best is La grave. From the summit you can take a hike to Les deux Alpes. Truely beautiful and the region is so vast and divers that for every skier, snowboarder there is a challenge. Chamonix is the same league except it's higher.

Les Arcs is good but def. a huge resort experience. I enjoy Sainte Foy more for it's "under the radar" feel to it. Sainte Foy isn't that big compaired to Les Arcs but it has some great terrain.

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Originally Posted by jumpturn

Yeah, they are all terrible but that's what we love about them!

I am reminded of some brits spearing an irritating euro's binding to release his ski just as he caught a chair. What a laugh!! :the_finge

The Rusticana is THE hang in argentière. Free wifi too!

How about some free TGR pints, John? ;)

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Alas, Jumpturn - John has moved on. The new owner, Sven, would be more than happy to quench some thirsts though, I'm sure.

Get some fried chicken in as well. Nosh nosh nosh.

Although I'm a JONG who's only skied one area in France, I did really enjoy Les Arc. Big terrain, small crowds, much snow (when I was there).

My vote goes for Tignes/Val D'isere part of Espace Killy,truly epic place to be,more vert than a north american could ever dream of

I'd vote for 3 Vallees. I've stayed in Mottaret (just up the road from Meribel) and Courchevel 1850 and found them ok. Courchavel 1850 was full of rich Russians lol and the food is rather expensive. Ticks all the boxes for the OP imo!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dennis....g/saulire.html

I spent 9 months in Bourg St. Maurice and have skied 50+ days at Les Arcs and a handful at Cham & Espace Killy. Agree with most of what has been posted, but didn't see if anyone mentioned that Cham is not as interconnected from a resort accessibility standpoint as most of the other areas mentioned. Also Cham & BSM are real towns with year round population (~ 10 K & 8 K) while some of the others are just ski resorts.

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Originally Posted by jumpturn

Yeah, they are all terrible but that's what we love about them!

I am reminded of some brits spearing an irritating euro's binding to release his ski just as he caught a chair. What a laugh!! :the_finge

The Rusticana is THE hang in argentière. Free wifi too!

How about some free TGR pints, John? ;)

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Megeve is high on that top 12. The McDonalds there would be the nicest chalet in most other alpine towns.
The good thing with Cham & surrounding valleys is the massive amount of gnar that is accessible within an hour drive. Fairly similar to the mega-resorts mentioned above but without then interconnection, which is essentially miles of cat tracks and a more expensive pass. And the resorts themselves are way less of an eyesore if you care about such things.
Chances are when Cham is a shit show and sounds like you're in Britain, when Les Grands Montets is assaulted by poseurs, you could be roaming around les Contamines and skiing freshies days after the storm. And when that's done you can start touring...

this site is useful: - http://www.wheretoskiandsnowboard.com/resorts/ having spent a week or two at a lot of the french resorts my advice if you have transport would be to go to one of the central town/cities. every resort has its pros and cons and everyone has there own opinions, make your own. everywhere is great with powder, if you have transport you can get to the smaller resorts when others have been tracked out. even saying that, if you get to know locals they always know where to get fresh tracks in the big resorts, just have to go further and know your way back.the vamos off piste guides which are on this page: - http://www.snowandrock.com/books/sno...etFilters=true are excellent.