How good is Verbier Switzerland?

[Flakes]

Never been. Just wanting to hear if it goes off or should I look somewhere else. I don't need weather info, accomidation info or anything other than just how good the skiing is there. Hard Core, Mellow, Everything. Is it loose or tight as far as terrain your allowed to ski?

[runethechamp]

You can go as hardcore as you want there, both in skiing and partying.

[tarkman1]

What kind of stuff do you like? Put it this way. If you go with a 'follow the tracks' or 'follow the locals' you could wind up in deep shit. Or you could cruise around on the piste. Anywhere in between is an option.

[TeleAl]

As my buddy Eric T described it to me,
It's some of the steepest resort skiing in the Alpes.

And there is a ton of steep terrain, with a variety of characteristics.
You can ski (pretty much) wherever you like. Plenty of out of bounds options.

The Verbier Extreme Contest is worthy of its name.

I try to get over there every year.

So, yes. I vote yes.

[TeleAl]

Or let me put it this way,
pick the best resort you've ever been to.
Then imagine me asking you about it.
It is one of the best I've ever been to.

It's a world class resort, and it's worthy.

[jskierpx]

Ya you can ski whereever the hell you want there, but its that way in the alps in general, but its easy to remember the comforts of home(in the usa) and then realize you are in deep because the only marks are simply the Piste markers showing you what is groomed and what is not.


IMHO the place gave me the idea of about 10 Squaw Valleys packed into one and twice the vertical.

i ski'd 3 or 4 days there last season, and feel like I managed to ski about maybe ~40% of the 4 valleys terrain. Oh and thanks to its immense-ness(if thats a word) I went there in January 4 days after a storm and was confused how I was tracking cold fresh pow just a short traverse off the lift.


thats my .02 and I will second what Al said as well.



Simply GO THERE, I am researching a place to live in Nendaz for next winter---

[plugboots]

Doug Coombs had his camps at La Grave, Valdez, and Verbier.

[Idris]

The best resort I've lived in for just plain fun skiing. Beats Cham hands down for most stuff. (just I don't want to be a Chalet slave to live there again). Twice the vertical of Squaw? Try 4 to 10 (depends on what you are measuring).

[jskierpx]

Twice the vertical of Squaw? Try 4 to 10 (depends on what you are measuring).

yea yea, Believe me I know, I just didn't want to offend any Tahoe Mags in here.

What the sierras gain in snow they severely lack in fall line vertical rise that the alps just about spank anywhere in the states

(NOTE: I hope I dont start a debate with my words here)

[altasnob]

Strong contender for best lift served skiing on earth.

[IridePow]

It's Switzerland Man....... it must be good !!!!

[Blurred]

now that you guys have my interest, how's the snow?

Verb, Cham, La Grave...any other ones not to miss while in Euroland?

[jskierpx]

JE MANQUE LA SUISSE TROPPPPP!!!


si vous parlez français.... haha

[altasnob]

Spent a season in Geneva skiing mostly Cham and Verb. The snow is kind of a mix of PNW and rocky mountain. The tree skiing in Europe is not nearly as good as North America, so good visibility is all the more crucial. However, the terrain, vastness, and overall experience makes up for any deficiencies in the snow and weather. Too bad the dollar sucks.

[Roo]

now that you guys have my interest, how's the snow?

Verb, Cham, La Grave...any other ones not to miss while in Euroland?

I would add Alpe d'Huez, Andermatt, St Anton and Engelberg if you're road tripping. Possibly Zermatt.

[verbier61]

everyone says we get less snow than st anton and engelberg
everyone says we have longer queues at the lift than dolomites
everyone says we are more expensive than bulgaria and gulmarg
everyone says we have less granite pinnacles than chamonix
everyone says we miss a decent book on our secret spots
everyone says we lack a magnet mountain such as the matterhorn
everyone says it's a shame our mont gele lift opens once a year
everyone says scandi troops track everything in verb in seconds afer lift open

so why don't you stay home or go st anton, eng, dolomites, bulgaria, gulmarg, cham, zermatt.....

;-)

[philippeR]

Never been. Just wanting to hear if it goes off or should I look somewhere else. I don't need weather info, accomidation info or anything other than just how good the skiing is there. Hard Core, Mellow, Everything. Is it loose or tight as far as terrain your allowed to ski?

What they said. The skiing is outstanding and, this is Yurp : you're allowed to ski everything. We think you're a big boy now.
But, less snow than in western US.

OTOH, Verbier Belgium sucks.

[subtle plague]

concerning the dolomites lines: Once you stood in line 1 1/2 hours to get to the mont fort you start rethinking the idea of verbier having good skiing, if skiing at all . Once you made it on top, the descent is really long and good.
so don't go during christmas holidays, even if your friend where you stay lives in lausanne and tells you that verbier is the nearest area. like i did.

concerning precip: i have plenty of interesting papers telling me that the valais (except the nw/w) is not necessarily the place for intense winter precip.

[irbis]

everyone says we get less snow than st anton and engelberg
everyone says we have longer queues at the lift than dolomites
everyone says we are more expensive than bulgaria and gulmarg
everyone says we have less granite pinnacles than chamonix
everyone says we miss a decent book on our secret spots
everyone says we lack a magnet mountain such as the matterhorn
everyone says it's a shame our mont gele lift opens once a year
everyone says scandi troops track everything in verb in seconds afer lift open

so why don't you stay home or go st anton, eng, dolomites, bulgaria, gulmarg, cham, zermatt.....

;-)

so where is this place you are talking about?

[verbier61]

concerning the dolomites lines: Once you stood in line 1 1/2 hours to get to the mont fort you start rethinking the idea of verbier having good skiing, if skiing at all . Once you made it on top, the descent is really long and good.
so don't go during christmas holidays, even if your friend where you stay lives in lausanne and tells you that verbier is the nearest area. like i did.

concerning precip: i have plenty of interesting papers telling me that the valais (except the nw/w) is not necessarily the place for intense winter precip.

exactly! stay away!

[verbier61]

so where is this place you are talking about?

you read my locations are milan, verbier and the isla de pascua

[subtle plague]

exactly! stay away!

If i had a nice million dollar chalet and a family, I probably would think that verbier is the holy grail of skiing resorts too

[TeleAl]

JE MANQUE LA SUISSE TROPPPPP!!!


si vous parlez français.... haha

Are you around this season???

everyone says we get less snow than st anton and engelberg
everyone says we have longer queues at the lift than dolomites
everyone says we are more expensive than bulgaria and gulmarg
everyone says we have less granite pinnacles than chamonix
everyone says we miss a decent book on our secret spots
everyone says we lack a magnet mountain such as the matterhorn
everyone says it's a shame our mont gele lift opens once a year
everyone says scandi troops track everything in verb in seconds afer lift open

so why don't you stay home or go st anton, eng, dolomites, bulgaria, gulmarg, cham, zermatt.....

;-)

As for this laudry list of Verbier shortcomings(?), all I will say is it is worth it.
I've been to Verb at noon on a pow day only to see the place already tracked out. Couldn't believe it was possible.
I've been to Verb on first lift on pow days with no one around town. Paradise.
And I am impressed with the level of riders that frequent Verbier. Pow hounds for sure.

But, no matter how much I ski there, one thing impresses me the most:
Beautiful nordic women in fur and their huge chalets. Rrrrrrrrr.

[verbier61]

If i had a nice million dollar chalet and a family, I probably would think that verbier is the holy grail of skiing resorts too

the dollar is now too weak, one million is not enough

[verbier61]

Verb, Cham, La Grave...any other ones not to miss while in Euroland?

monterosa and dolomiti