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Best places to ski in europe

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Dr.Barq
Posts: 720 - Karma: 15
Well I'm studying abroad in London for a semester so I have to do a trip to somewhere for some riding.  I'm wondering where the best places are to ski and stay.  Ideally I would like a place like tremblant with lodging and mountains right there to avoid having to rent a car or play someone to drive us around to the different places.  I'm also looking for a place that is relatively cheap and with alot of what I would consider US backcountry access (I know nothing about european skiing so that means cliffs powder and steep shit).  So if anyone has any suggestions I'd really appreciate it all countries are fair game and person experience would be amazing, thanks
Jan 25 2010 1:09PM
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jibbnsteezy
Posts: 183 - Karma: 8
i have a fbestfriend who is actually from Ukraine. He skis. He said there's awesome resorts in Ukraine, Russia.
Jan 25 2010 1:18PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
It's a 4 hour flight to Ukraine, plus several hours of travel either side.


You can fly to Geneva in 1hr 30, and then its a couple of hours by train right into a number of french/ swiss resorts, which have much better terrain, snow and facilities.
Jan 25 2010 1:22PM
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MagSeven
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 412

You have so much choice, its hard to make any individual recommendations.

Best to go either in the next couple of weeks, or in March. It'll be cheaper as it's outside of European school holidays, and also quieter in resorts.

Classic destinations in the Alps are:

Chamonix, Tignes, Avoriaz, Verbier, Zermatt, Laax, Mayrhofen, St Anton, Les Deux Alpes. But there are so many places. All the answers on this thread will have people's personal favourites, but the good thing about the Alps is there's alot of choice. Alot of resorts are part of larger linked ski areas too, which gives you lots of options.

Most places are classic 'resort' style, in that they have accomodation/bars/restaurants etc at the base of the mountain.

There are alot of Euro NS'ers now, so I'm sure there'll be plenty of good advice coming up. If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to help

Jan 25 2010 1:25PM
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s.g.
Posts: 355 - Karma: 11
Ukraine and Russia is too far from London...
Anyway,you should check out France,chamonix has everything you want and it is a messa of skiing in europe,but not cheap at all.Try with la grave(place where an ep. of salomon freeski tv takes place),it is all deep snow,no groomers.Shouldnt be too expensive,also la grave is close to les 2 alpes,one of better parks in europe.
Jan 25 2010 1:26PM
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shredables
Posts: 647 - Karma: 19
CHAM!!!!!

or make a trip to Japan and get some crazy dry pow in your face
Jan 25 2010 1:30PM
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dan09uk
Posts: 215 - Karma: 108
tignes, val thorens, val disere all have ski to door access and decent back country skiing.
Jan 25 2010 1:34PM
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flexpattern
Posts: 1090 - Karma: 45
France is probably the cheapest place if you are driving there from England, if your french isn't too great then head to val'isere or tignes, everybody there speaks english and its pretty with lots of character. terrain is pretty good, never been "true" backcountry there but have been "lift served" backcountry, theres loads of cliffs to drop, park isn't too bad either... no trees tho, too high for that shit!

also val thorens is good, good night life!

both of those have ski in ski out apartments and stuff that can be pretty cheap

if the snow is good also try some of the smaller lower resorts, a lot cheaper and more french culture

Im guessing you're at university, so join their club, uni snow clubs are the best clubs out of all the societies so get on it! they usually run trips for pretty cheap, over christmas my uni ran a trip for £345 all in which is fucking cheap! and totally worth it. just partying and skiing all week! if you get in with a good crew (like i did) then there will be several people who will want to go backcountry/hit the park with with you ! plus it seems all the hottest girls go on those trips, but thats if you can put up with a 16 hour coach trip!


word of advice before you go backcountry in france:

Have the right insurance! if you set off a avalanche or need a heli evac then you WILL pay for it big time



what institution are you at?


Jan 25 2010 1:36PM
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mightyboosh
Posts: 171 - Karma: 30
In terms of budget and 'backcountry' access, Les Deux Alpes is cheap, also has a great park, and from the top of the glacier you can access La Grave, a little village at the bottom of a 2000 metre drop of unpisted routes all the way down. loads of fun, skied it one day last season. probably best to go to La Grave with a guide/someone who's been there before but it is amazing - loads of different routes depending on what you can ski but the harder ones definitely require a guide
Jan 25 2010 1:44PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
Chamonix, Val D'Isere, Les Deux Alpes, Tignes.


Make a random choice from those, and you won't be disappointed /thread
Jan 25 2010 1:45PM
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Gharf
Posts: 1390 - Karma: 983
meribel and les 2 alpes are awesome and full of english people.

great parks and great skiing.
Jan 25 2010 5:17PM
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Matty_C
Posts: 2598 - Karma: 236

so much choice... where to start?!

i'll start by saying do NOT go to chamonix or la grave. Both are ridiculously rad  and offer without doubt the steepest lift-served off piste skiing in the world. i would not however recommend either to somebody for their 'introduction to skiing in europe' trip. the terrain in both is largely glaciated and lots of people die every year. lots. another couple of downsides are that chamonix really needs a car- it's made up of loads of different areas that don't connect and the bus service licks balls. la grave has no pistes or a park which limits its bad-snow options. basically save these gems until you are in a better position to make the most of them- i.e. can afford guides or are living there for the season and know locals.

now, to recommendations. take your pick from the following. all will blow your mind. all of the following spots are friendly to english-speakers.

avoriaz/morzine: portes du soleil, biggest ski area in the world. about 8 legit parks, close to geneva, good nightlife in morzine, not too expensive.

val d'isere/tignes: stunning lift accessed terrain, huge area, good snow, now excellent park, euro xgames march 10-12? val d'isere better nightlife, nicer town, good tree skiing options. tignes cheaper.

laax:  worldclass park, decent all around terrain, fun village, stay at riders palace.

mayrhofen lots of different mountains. fun town. great park. cheap. full of english speakers.

to be honest, i could go on for ages there's so much more amazing places. if you do a bit more research and pm me with any ideas you think you might have then i'd be happy to help. coming from north america[?] almost anywhere will blow your mind in terms of size.

Jan 25 2010 5:17PM
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Matty_C
Posts: 2598 - Karma: 236
meribel sucks balls, most of the english people there are an embarassment and it is expensive as fuck.
Jan 25 2010 5:19PM
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