Ski Resort with Long, Wide Green Runs

Snubber

Snubber

Snubber

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Joined
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Location
Plymouth, UK
Hi all,

I’ve recently taken up snowboarding and looking for some recommendations for ski resorts which have long and wide green runs where I can practice and really nail my basic skills (wide turns and tight turns etc) before progressing onto blues and beyond. I’m 49 and finding that blue runs are just a little too steep given my current skill level. Falling over far more frequently on the blues and this is taking a toll on the body!

I’ve just got back from a few days in Borovets, Bulgaria, which was OK. However the green runs weren’t particularly long (maybe 400m long) and involved a 25 minute walk, ‘skate’ and chairlift to get to the top again after one short ride down. I felt that they needed to be 2 or 3 times longer. The green runs were also at the top of the mountain and the gondola was often closed due to winds. The green run at the main resort was crazy busy and only 2-300m long.

For my current skill and confidence level a wide green run of 1000+m length with good access (button lift or chair lift) would be perfect ie ride down, hop onto lift to get back to top in 10 mins, rinse and repeat. Any suggestions? Ideally Europe but would consider North America (eg Lake Louise, Alberta looks perfect).

Cheers,
 
From memory, although I've not been for years, Keystone in Colorado has a cracking green called Schoolmarm which is 4 or 5k long.
 
I'm not sure spending a week just doing green runs is going to help you improve much, Morzine might be pretty decent for you as the blue runs there are pretty gentle, wide tree lined routes etc.. and you can head up to Avoriaz too.

I've been skiing quite a few times so maybe I was a bit more confident when taking up snowboarding but it didn't take more than a couple of days (had a day training before hand at the snow dome) before I was OK with blue and red runs.

I guess otherwise you could try Courchevel, part of the three valleys and so a big variety of slopes, plenty of green runs there.
 
Yeah i'm not really sure you'll find much in the way of "green runs" at many resorts because they purely exist for day 1 of learning - understanding the equipment, strapping yourself on, starting/stopping and basic movements.

Most Ski/Board schools are eager to move you off of the green slopes after a day or so. I assume you're taking up tuition rather than learning yourself? If not then i would say you should seriously consider some tuition, at least until you can be comfortable on the blue runs, then it's up to you how you progress.
 
A little bit of gradient is actually helpful on a snowboard after the first few days. No resorts have tonnes of greens really. What you may be better requesting is wide, open, easy motorway blues. The penny will drop v soon and you will fall far less and appreciate that little bit of gradient.
 
Skidder said:
A little bit of gradient is actually helpful on a snowboard after the first few days. No resorts have tonnes of greens really. What you may be better requesting is wide, open, easy motorway blues. The penny will drop v soon and you will fall far less and appreciate that little bit of gradient.
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Tbf it kind of depends on whether you're talking about European or US greens. In the US, greens are often more akin to European blues (as the US doesn't have reds).
 
Before I'd even read any comments my first thoughts were Morzine and Avoriaz. I went there last year and tried snowboarding on the small green slopes (been skiing for 22 years so wanted to try something new). They were really nice slops to start off, but also have the option to skim onto sections of varying blue slope, so testing new skills. I only did it for a day (my arse couldn't take any more beatings) but I'll probably try again next week when I return to the 3 valleys. Also, get snowboard impact shorts. They'll save you endless amounts of pain.
 
Actual greens are rare to find in Europe because they are mostly for day 1 skiiers.

Blues change in difficulty a little within and between resorts, what you probably want is wide open blue runs with a consistent pitch.


Been teaching by daughter at these locations:
Verbier has a few nice blues around lac de Vaux and Chaux. As does Siviez
Crans-Montana have a few runs more like green near the top and 1 at the the bottom near Crans.
There is a nice easy blue from Les Crossets
 
Snubber said:
Hi all,

I’ve recently taken up snowboarding and looking for some recommendations for ski resorts which have long and wide green runs where I can practice and really nail my basic skills (wide turns and tight turns etc) before progressing onto blues and beyond. I’m 49 and finding that blue runs are just a little too steep given my current skill level. Falling over far more frequently on the blues and this is taking a toll on the body!

I’ve just got back from a few days in Borovets, Bulgaria, which was OK. However the green runs weren’t particularly long (maybe 400m long) and involved a 25 minute walk, ‘skate’ and chairlift to get to the top again after one short ride down. I felt that they needed to be 2 or 3 times longer. The green runs were also at the top of the mountain and the gondola was often closed due to winds. The green run at the main resort was crazy busy and only 2-300m long.

For my current skill and confidence level a wide green run of 1000+m length with good access (button lift or chair lift) would be perfect ie ride down, hop onto lift to get back to top in 10 mins, rinse and repeat. Any suggestions? Ideally Europe but would consider North America (eg Lake Louise, Alberta looks perfect).

Cheers,
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If you are boarding, you want to avoid Green runs (and sometimes softer Blues too), as quite a lot of the time they incline which slows the board down a lot (especially if you are not confident enough to carry straight speed). Ideal for skiers, as you would use poles to pull you along, but you don't have that option so you're more likely going to end up unclipping a lot, just to traverse what might only be 20m of slight incline.

Boards travelling straight, where you rely on leaning heavily forward to generate speed and momentum, will catch an edge a lot easier and you'll go down.

We were at 1650/1850 last year and although there was a great Green in length, it was slightly narrow which meant you couldn't carve easily, and found yourself trying to board in a straight line, which just slowed down when the Green hit an incline. It gets old, tiring, and annoying very quickly. We moved to a Blue run straight away as they were a lot wider.
 
Thanks for replies...on reflection the green run that I felt most comfortable on in Borovets was probably steep for a green ie I had no problem maintaining reasonable speed and linking turns. No need to unbind back foot and skate etc. The trouble with the blues was that they were a tad bit narrow and inconsistent both across the run and along the length...plus very busy with more proficient skiers and boarders zooming past.

As D.P suggests...what I probably need is wide open and consistent gradient blues.

Will also check out some impact shorts!
 
Generally when Ive been the greens are long flats which are more difficult for snowboarders

I quite like the blues at les arcs/la plagne (a lift links these) , tignes/val disere (lift links these)

I would highly recommend private tuition

I've also been to bansko Bulgaria and I can confirm French resorts are much wider/open (generally more free space)
 
La Plagne suggested by The Craig is a great area for your needs, loads of big wide, generally not very busy pistes. It's also pretty snow sure.
 
Will echo the Les Arcs/La Plagne comments, just back from there, not a boarder but loads of nice wide open blues for beginners.
 
I rate la Plagne for anyone to be fair. Have been there several times and great with fresh snow. A tonne of decent lift served off-piste.
 
Diddums said:
I've never been skiing or snowboarding. I really should give it a go.
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It's great fun!

I was fortunate to go skiing every year whilst i was growing up. When i first met my misses she point blank refused to give it a go, but about 7 years later she tried one of those taster things, and was eager to give it a proper shot. I partly ended up teaching her how to ski, and 2 years ago she was able to conquer a red run at reasonable pace.
 
My first snowboarding holiday I went to Tignes and absolutely loved it. I've been back another 3 times since. I've been to most of he big European resorts and for me it's up there with the best of them. Great variance of runs for all abilities, easy place to get around, access to Val D'isere. High altitude so has a good snow record.
 
Diddums said:
I've never been skiing or snowboarding. I really should give it a go.
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It is one thing I've never done proper and really should - always seems I'm busiest at work when the best times to go are. We used to have the most fake "Alpine village" and dry slope in my town ever LOL.
 
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