Don
Winter will soon be upon us, what's everyone planning for their winters this year?
I'm looking at heading to Lake Tahoe, anyone been? Any tips/advice?
I'm looking at heading to Lake Tahoe, anyone been? Any tips/advice?
Snowsports 2023/2024
- Thread starter Jokester
- Start date
Wondering if this winter europe will be good snow as summer has been terrible. Want to take my disabled daughter skiing for first time but would need a private tutor that can work with cognitive needs so no idea where to go currently.
Last year i went to les deux alps which had snow almost all mountain but end of feb was bare in village.
Last year i went to les deux alps which had snow almost all mountain but end of feb was bare in village.
Likely to be an El Niño year for all that can be predicted for its impact on Europe
Soldato
Bump. Tis clear I won’t be able to do anything this year unless I go on my own which I’ve never done before, but hey ho… Any recommendations for a last minute, snow-sure and relatively easy place to go to mid-March in Europe? Early-ish intermediate, started to get some not-pathetic edge angles last year and want to work on my tekkers. Also any help with if there’s anyone who is decent with offers for solo trips.
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Any of the high resorts like VT or Les Arcs will be relatively save options this year. As a solo traveller I tend to just book everything myself, if you can, avoid school holidays would be my recommendation.
Soldato
Yeah avoid Feb in France (French school holidays) and any UK holidays
Off to La Plagne in 3.5 weeks for a week of mid March skiing
Off to La Plagne in 3.5 weeks for a week of mid March skiing
Soldato
Maybe I’ll join you. 
Yeah I’m looking at the weekend starting the 16th of March if we’re going by the usual Sat to Sat thing. Somewhere French in the Northern Alps seems to be a safe bet. I did a last minute March trip to Zell Am See pre-Covid with a friend where I booked everything myself which was a trip after only doing a one-click-and-everything-is-done in Bulgaria and indoor at Hemel, but having been dragged to Bankso several times by my former workmates in the past I’d rather go somewhere new each time now unless it’s truly magnificent. Main two things are:
1) quick-ish and easy to get to from the airport with all my gear (don’t need any equipment hire)
2) big enough to not get bored over a week, but not so big there’s no chance of skiing it all in a week.
Yeah I’m looking at the weekend starting the 16th of March if we’re going by the usual Sat to Sat thing. Somewhere French in the Northern Alps seems to be a safe bet. I did a last minute March trip to Zell Am See pre-Covid with a friend where I booked everything myself which was a trip after only doing a one-click-and-everything-is-done in Bulgaria and indoor at Hemel, but having been dragged to Bankso several times by my former workmates in the past I’d rather go somewhere new each time now unless it’s truly magnificent. Main two things are:
1) quick-ish and easy to get to from the airport with all my gear (don’t need any equipment hire)
2) big enough to not get bored over a week, but not so big there’s no chance of skiing it all in a week.
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Soldato
Maybe I’ll join you.
Yeah I’m looking at the weekend starting the 16th of March if we’re going by the usual Sat to Sat thing. Somewhere French in the Northern Alps seems to be a safe bet. I did a last minute March trip to Zell Am See pre-Covid with a friend where I booked everything myself which was a trip after only doing a one-click-and-everything-is-done in Bulgaria and indoor at Hemel, but having been dragged to Bankso several times by my former workmates in the past I’d rather go somewhere new each time now unless it’s truly magnificent. Main two things are:
1) quick-ish and easy to get to from the airport with all my gear (don’t need any equipment hire)
2) big enough to not get bored over a week, but not so big there’s no chance of skiing it all in a week.
Your a week out bud
I will wave as we head in opposite directions!If however by some fluke you do end up the week before send me a PM
French alps you have Geneva, Grenoble or if you fancy a risk Chambery (we are doing chambery this year as couldnt get our swiss air flights to Geneva when we wanted)
Chambery is closer but it can get foggy or snow and its smaller so less able to cope. But its an hour less on the coach if your lucky
Soldato
Your a week out bud
If however by some fluke you do end up the week before send me a PM
French alps you have Geneva, Grenoble or if you fancy a risk Chambery (we are doing chambery this year as couldnt get our swiss air flights to Geneva when we wanted)
Chambery is closer but it can get foggy or snow and its smaller so less able to cope. But its an hour less on the coach if your lucky
Think I’m just going to YOLO and see what last minute stuff comes up on Crystal etc! There’s a couple on Sno for hotels in Obergurgl/Hochgurgl which seems to tick the boxes for pretty, high altitude, wide/easier slopes and fairly quiet/boring which is sort of what I want if I’m just going to be engaging autist mode and doing lots of drills and feeling-based exercises over and over in an effort to progress to the (unobtainable!) goal of:
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Soldato
Soldato
Crystal last minute you can get some great deals if your flexible on location
Means you can check the snow for the resort in advance as well!
I managed to get to Ruka in Finland in December. It was awesome and nowhere near as cold as Yllas.
Bear in mind it is Finland so the snow was great but the runs are relatively short and shallow: brilliant for my kids but a bit less involved for the more adventurous.
All booked via Crystal Ski...
Bear in mind it is Finland so the snow was great but the runs are relatively short and shallow: brilliant for my kids but a bit less involved for the more adventurous.
All booked via Crystal Ski...
Tahoe tomorrow, tons of snow recently, but looks like it might be wet snow rather than powder so expecting it to be icy.
Actually been way better than I was expecting. Snow is still pretty fresh in the north facing slopes. Was at Northstar on Saturday which was warm but snow held up alright. Had an absolutely awesome day yesterday at Mt. Rose skiing the chutes is fairly fresh powder. For a small hill, would easily go back there again.
Sat in the cafe at Sierra today, too windy for the lifts, this place had bad wild fires a couple of years ago, so there’s a lot of burnt out trees in the piste.
Storm this weekend is forecast for 2-3 feet at the moment.
Sat in the cafe at Sierra today, too windy for the lifts, this place had bad wild fires a couple of years ago, so there’s a lot of burnt out trees in the piste.
Storm this weekend is forecast for 2-3 feet at the moment.
Associate
- Joined
- 20 Mar 2014
- Posts
- 2,361
I have been skiing twice before. Once with school to italy and once about 10 years ago to france. La plange. But I didn't book either myself. I want to go with 3 of my friends next year to probably france. La plange was great. I would be happy to go there again. But with 4 people what is the best thing to book. How much should I expect yo pay for a week? No idea. Thanks for help.
Soldato
Easy to go to La Plagne from UK, many sources, the easiest probably being Crystal (its Tui specialist snow team in effect)
Expect to pay is how long is a piece of string.
Your lift pass is about £250
Ski & boot etc hire, I would budget around £100
Food is expensive, but you can do it cheaper if you make sarnies etc. Otherwise expect a normalish meal with a drink to be like 25 euro each. Upto around 60 euro each if you go for the more expensive stuff plus a sweet, few drinks etc
Lodgings, depends on month, March is amongst the cheapest (and IMO the nicest time to go), at Plagne your almost guaranteed snow then, plus its after the French and UK holidays. Just watch out for easter.
You can probably go from around £350 each upto £2k each in March depending on how little or much space you need etc.
Ideally I think a group of 4 you want a place designed for 6, they are generally small and 2 beds will be the shared lounge so it can make it tricky to get on if someone wants to sleep (or is ill) and others want to be up. hence aiming for 2 rooms on top of the shared one IMO.
Take a look at https://www.crystalski.co.uk/ you can then get a better idea what sort of place you would want.
Oh and my other tip, check the maps carefully so you understand where you are staying. Easy to end up with walks to save a few £ which IMO is not worth it.
Associate
- Joined
- 20 Mar 2014
- Posts
- 2,361
Thank you for your help. I'll get looking.