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Val Thorens for Skiing & Snowboarding
| Skiing & Boarding in Val Thorens |
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Val Thorens is situated in a bowl with ski-in ski-out conditions. Because of the altitude, there are no trees, which makes skiing in bad weather conditions very difficult. The upside is that the snow is always in extremely good condition and off-piste opportunities are endless. The whole area is one giant natural fun park (snowparks and half pipes included!), and there really is something for everyone here. To help you navigate your way around this vast area, we have produced an insiders guide on some of the best skiing and boarding to be had, and where to feed those hungry stomachs whilst your on the mountain. Also in this section you can find articles on how to improve your ski technique. And if you feel a bit 'all the gear but no idea', our articles on skis and snowboards will help you get a better understanding of the types of skis and snowboards available. |
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| Ski Areas in Val Thorens |
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Val Thorens lies at the top of the 3 Valleys, and is the highest ski resort in Europe. With Méribel and Courchevel accessible by ski lift, there really are plenty of pistes to keep you busy all season, let alone one week! The ski areas offer something for everyone, from beginners through to experts. In this section you can find detailed descriptions of each area within the 3 Valleys, along with lift and piste maps. We have also included an insiders guide to skiing the 3 Valleys, where we tell you about our favourite runs, and where to find the nicest mountain restaurants. ... see "Val Thorens Skiing Revealed" for more |
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last updated 22-Oct-2008 |
| Insider's Guide to... |
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With such a big ski area to explore, it's sometimes good to have a little bit of inside information… For your pleasure, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite runs throughout the Three Valleys and suggested some itineries for you to try. There's also sections on how to get around the whole three valleys area using only blue runs, where you're most likely to find the quietest pistes, and where to find the nicest mountain restaurants for lunch. Happy exploring! ... see "Where to go in the Three Valleys for..." for more |
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last updated 14-Oct-2008 |
| Snowparks in Val Thorens |
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A new 70,000 square meter snowpark is now on the Plateaux Pistes. You can access it from the Moutière chairlift, and a drag lift allows you to slide back up to the top once you've jumped and somersaulted (hopefully on purpose) your way through the course! All the runs are colour coded depending on their difficulty : green (easy), blue (medium), red (difficult) and black (very difficult).
The snowpark has five zones; a boardercross (800m long), three freestyle zones classified according to their technical difficulty (beginners, intermediates and experts) and a Jump'Air (a jump with arrival on a "stunt man's" mattress).
The snowpark contains Whoops (a succession of waves), a corner (raised bend), a jump table and big air, a wall ride (extended snow wall), a hand rail and a half pipe.
Val Thorens Snowpark website
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last updated 8-Oct-2008 |
| Cross-Country Skiing (Ski de Fond) |
 | | 'Classic' Style |
Get back to nature and explore tranquil cross-country trails at your own pace. There are two different techniques – classic and skating. Classic is the easiest for beginners; you simply place your skis in two parallel groves, push off and glide around the trails. Skating is more energetic and a slightly harder skill to grasp; you push your feet out to either side as though you are ice skating and use your poles simultaneously to gain momentum.
You can hire the comfortable boots and lightweight skis and poles fairly inexpensively from most sports shops and book a group or private lesson to learn the basics from most ski schools or private instructors. For those used to downhill skis, at first you feel precariously balanced and downhill sections are definitely more exciting on narrow skis with no edges! The skis are lighter and slimmer than downhill skis and the boots are much softer and more comfortable.
The tranquility of cross country (also known as Nordic) skiing is perfect for anyone who enjoys peace and quiet, or finds the downhill pistes too crowded or too steep. It is a great form of aerobic exercise and one can be as energetic or slow as one likes, while the relaxed pace makes it a more tranquil way to enjoy the surroundings!.
 | | 'Skating' Style |
Val Thorens only has 4km of prepared cross country trails, but they accommodate both classic and skating styles and are perfect for beginners or those who just want to spend a few hours trying something a bit different. Best of all, the trails are free to use! You can pick up a guide book and trail map from the Tourist Office.
Go further down the valley to Meribel to find 33km of prepared cross country trails, situated at the Lac de Tueda in Mottaret and around the Altiport area of Méribel. A total of 90km of trails are available in Meribel, Courchevel and La Tania. |
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last updated 2-Jul-2008 |
| Handiski (Skiing for the Disabled) in Val Thorens |
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Val Thorens has made great efforts to ensure that the town and the ski area are welcoming to disabled skiers. The resort has adapted accommodation, and restaurants, toilets and parking have been designed to be accessible for all.
Val Thorens has reduced tariffs for lift passes with up to 50% discount for handicapped skiers and their escorts (NB both passes must be bought at the same time for both people to benefit from the discount). The ski lift company has also undertaken certain measures to facilitate access of handicapped skiers to the ski lifts, by totally redesigning the cable cars, chair lifts and Funitels in the ski area. The Orelle, Funitel, Cairn and Caron lift pass offices all have disabled access facilities such as ramps and escalators. There is also a lunch room with available wheelchairs.
The ski schools Ecole du Ski Français, Ski Cool and Prosneige have specially qualified instructors (tandem ski, dualski, uniski, FSA, long Stabilo) who can offer ski lessons to the physically, visually or aurally handicapped. Use of the adaptive ski equipment is free of charge when booked as part of a lesson with an instructor. Whatever your handicap (tetraplegic, paraplegic, visual or aural deficiency, autistic, trisomic), Val Thorens and its ski schools can help you enjoy every aspect of being in the mountains.
There are a few safety rules that must be observed:
- All sit-skiers must be accompanied by a competent skier who can lend assistance when necessary.
- On arrival the escort must contact the proper authorities in order to be informed of the accessibility of specific runs, lifts and services.
- When boarding a lift escorts must load first in order to position themselves by the emergency stop button at the top of the lift and thus help secure the sit-skiers arrival and unloading.
- On the slopes the escort assists the sit-skier in all situations.
- The safety bar must be down for the duration of the lift ride.
- The resort reserves the right to refuse access to all non-approved equipment.
- The use of a helmet is strongly recommended for sit-skiers.
Please click here for more information from Disability Snowsport UK
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last updated 8-Oct-2008 |
| Equipment & Clothing Guide |
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Have you literally got 'all the gear' but have no idea what to do with it?? Unless you want to look like Posh Spice on the slopes, knowing a bit about your skis/snowboards/bikes/transceivers etc will help you avoid being any old Wannabe... Having the right equipment for your chosen activity will help ensure that you get the best possible introduction to your sport (if you are a beginner), or speed along your learning curve if you are looking to improve. The easier and quicker you learn, the more pleasurable your experience will be! In this section, you will find guides to help you select the most appropriate gear for your sport and ability, as well as some insider knowledge on the "must have" kit for this coming season. ... see "All the Gear But No Idea...?" for more |
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last updated 13-Oct-2008 |
| Skiing Tips & Techniques |
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We have teamed up with one of our top ski school instuctors to produce guides on ski technique. The articles featured here include learning how to carve and how to conquer moguls. To ensure you get the most out of your time on the piste, check out our Ski & Snowboard School Listings and perfect your skills! ... see "Tips and Techniques - Skiing" for more |
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last updated 1-Feb-2008 |
| Snowboarding Tips & Techniques |
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Improve your snowboarding style with our helpful techniques tips section, brought to you courtesy of Keith McIntosh at Alpinelines. It's often the smallest thing that makes all the difference to your riding! ... see "Tips and Techniques - Snowboarding" for more |
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last updated 14-Oct-2008 |
| Lift System & Passes in Val Thorens |
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Val Thorens forms part of the Three Valleys lift system, which is considered to be the most efficient overall lift system in France (200 ski lifts transport 260,000 skiers hourly!). With such an extensive lift network in operation both summer and winter, it makes sense that there are a wide range of lift pass options available for the skier or boarder, mountain biker and pedestrian. ... see "Val Thorens Lift System & Passes" for more |
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last updated 13-Oct-2008 |
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