Skiing

snowcard seem good - have been with them a few times - though no need to claim yet.

The thought of touring with the Atris is not pleasant. I'm keen to try the Wayback 106 and Zero-G 105 back to back. Using Soothe ski comparison tool is very useful!

15% discount code if you are looking at clothing / stuff

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I’ll post on snowboarders thread too

Was in Sauze D’Oulx last week, plenty of snow and sunshine, so was very lucky conditions wise.

Wore 3/4 bibs shorts and early winter Assos cycling gloves all week.

Not a fan of this town though, too Leigh-on-ski / Essex for my liking.

We were 80 skiers and snowboarders much bantz and mayhem.. with DJs and partying a little bit too hard, very memorable though.

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Does anyone know if you can get replacement fabric-backed foam for goggles?

Very unlikely because it’s normally glued to the plastic frame and cut to a very specific shape. It’s also normally a few different densities of foam stacked together.

Maybe a bit early for this, but I’m already planning for January next year!

I’m probably going to be skiing on my own and so am considering UCPA, due to the social nature of the trips, low prices, and they run a lot of intro to off-piste skiing.

I’m leaning towards the val thorens resort at the moment, but there’s so many too choose from!

Anyone got any experiences of UCPA or recommendations for off-piste resorts?

I've been to the UCPA in Chamonix, albeit 10yrs ago...it was very nice, great food and atmosphere, and the lessons/guiding (I did an off-piste steeps course) were excellent. The hire equipment they had seemed excellent too, but I was using my own stuff so can't fully confirm. Not been to VT so can't comment on there, but Chamonix is a great resort for off-piste (I'm biased because I lived there for a few years too...) but the usual caveats apply for the resort as a whole - not ski in/ski out - have to get buses everywhere...that said UCPA arranged all their own buses so you didn't have to squeeze on the public ones.

I'm actually off to the UCPA in Flaine next winter with my family, but I've never been there so I'll just take it as it comes!

La Plagne has a UCPA in an ideal location in Plagne Centre, and as a resort has access to incredible off piste.

I'm looking for recommendations for somewhere to go in the alps. Thinking Jan or Feb and somewhere with plenty of beginner slopes as it will be my partner's first time skiing. Low cost (relative) would be ideal.
I've looked at Morzine and flights, hire and lift pass all seem very reasonable but accomodation looks a bit pricey.

Three valleys? We thought it was very beginner friendly last year.

La plagne / les arcs?
Gonna be cheaper than morzine, and lots to ride for all levels, with a decent amount of accommodation.

I was in the same situation last year and we went to Montgenevre. Very cute, cheap lift pass and fast inexpensive transfer from Turin. Good beginner slopes, and if you get bored you can head over the border to Sestriere or Sauze d'Oulx as it's all interconnected.
All in (other than food) it ran us about £650 each (hire/accom/flights/transfer/ski pass).

Thank you guys, I'll look into them 🙂

I always recommend Levi in Finland as an alternative for beginners. Depends if there is enough there to keep the experienced skiers happy. Nice little resort.

When taking someone skiing the first time (especially a partner) I’d recommend looking for somewhere with a traditional village with something to do during the daytime other than skiinge. A couple hours hours doing something else (a swim for example) is a good break from the pressure of learning all the time.

Good suggestion. We're not going to be going super serious, I've only been a couple times myself and am not an expert skier. We'll probably do a couple of morning lessons, do a bit of practice together in our own time in the afternoons and take it easy. I'm happy for a week of blues and greens even if I can just about get down a black in one piece. Some other activities would be good, it's definitely a bit of a slog trying to get a full 8 hours on the snow for 5 days.

I went to Montgenevre in 2022 and really liked it, but there wasn't a huge apres scene if that is important to you. There is however a good wheeled luge track which is pretty long and pretty cool. And a big fuck-off pillar to commemorate Napoleon crossing the Alps at some point

I have always thought Deux Alpes is great for beginners. Nursery slopes are way up out of the resort so have good snow. Then you’ve got loads of lovely wide blues for building your confidence.

Cable car back down at the end of the day unless you’re a VERY fast learner.

Thanks for the info i'm leaning towards La Plagne though they all look good! How bad was the transfer from Geneva to La Plagne is 3.5 hours accurate?

For the executive suite...

https://x.com/profanityswan/status/1854994224196075556?t=QfKG4PIJ3mbSwsLrlhT14Q&s=19

Geneva to la plagne is pretty simple yeah, would you be hiring a car or train etc?

Have done this a ton of times to places across haute savoie so can give you whatever info you need.

I'm booked on a transfer bus from Geneva airport.

Signed up to UCPA in La Plagne, tried to pay the supplement for a twin room, but I couldn't as i'm on my own! Already booked my flights, so i'm going to have to be in a room with 3 others I don't know as a 40 year old which could be interesting lol.

Bringing back memories of St Manton.

Where a rugby tour had sold a place cheap in the chalet as a victim for the week.

Naked dinner on the first night singing 'whats that coming over the hill' while pointing at the poor sod.

#csb

Good luck.

Has anyone done Haute Route and could comment on the level of fitness and skiing required?