Chamonix Valley has a well deserved reputation for
a mecca for extreme skiing and snowboarding. However, Chamonix
is suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced, there is something here
to suit all. If you like to cover vast distances on well groomed runs then Chamonix
will not suit you but if you want to focus on technique then Chamonix has a
huge variety of runs and terrain to challenge every level of skiing and snowboarding.
Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding
Teleski de Savoy nursery slope at the bottom of
Le Brévent is very near the centre of Chamonix
town and ideal for beginners getting to grips with skiing and snowboarding. It
has 2 drag lifts and snow cannons. At the base of
Le Tour there is
La
Vormaine, a huge area of green slopes offering wide runs serviced by drag
lifts; very popular with beginners especially those wishing to learn telemark skiing.
There is also
Les Planards, 5 minutes from Chamonix
centre, with drag lifts and a chair lift great for both skiing and snowboarding
beginners. Another beginners slope is situated at
Grands Montets in
Argentiere; again served by 2 drag lifts.
Intermediate Skiing and
Snowboarding
Le Tour is an ideal ski area for intermediate skiers
and snowboarders to find their legs on the variety of blues and red runs. The wide
pistes are great for developing technique.
LaFlégère and
Le Brévent
are homes for many blue and red runs ideal for intermediate skiing and snowboarding.
Though be warned that some of the reds would warrant black status in other
Alpine resorts. Most strong intermediate skiers and boarders are able to do the
Vallée Blanche with a
Mountain Guide. Strong intermediates
will be able to ski and snowboard all of Chamonix’s
ski areas though not all of the pistes.
Included on the Mont Blanc Unlimited
Pass is
Courmayeur just through the Mont Blanc Tunnel in Italy. There is a free scheduled bus
service and
Courmayeur offers loads
of runs for intermediate skiing and snowboarding. The pizza is great too!
Advanced Skiing and SnowboardingThe legendary
Grands Montets has a gnarly reputation
for advanced skiing and snowboarding. It also has a fun park frequented by some
of the top freeriders. Having said that all of the ski areas offer challenging
adventures for the more proficient especially on a powder day. Overall the
valley has over 30,000 acres of ski-able off piste terrain using the lift
system. If you don touring kit and are prepared to put some effort in the
possibilities are endless. All the ski areas give access to off piste and unlike
some resorts off piste is not a taboo. Chamonix
is also host to the Red Bull Extreme skiing and snowboarding competition as
well as the location for a lot of extreme skiing and snowboarding videos.
The
Aiguille
du Midi and the
Vallée Blanche
offers some fantastic advanced skiing and snowboarding options beyond the “normal
route”. Various options exist for advanced off piste routes which can involve
some steep pitches, couloir skiing plus avalanche and serac danger. The advanced
routes are far more heavily crevassed and change each year as the glacier
moves. A
Mountain Guide is strongly
recommended.