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October, 2024

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Lausanne/Switzerland people! Holler at me!

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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
I'm gonna live there for a year starting next September. Student exchange program. I am mega stoked.

Where to ski? So many places ... Am I better off with a season pass somewhere or is it just better to travel to different mountains?

I don't give much fuck about park... I am obviously NOT going to the Swiss alps to jib metal and sesh groomed parks. I am looking for: POW and AWESOME TERRAIN.

Also any other info related to shit to do in the Lausanne area apart from skiing would be appreciated.

I hadn't posted in a while here, but I still value you NS! HELP ME!

Thanks y'all.

PS: Budget wise I'm willing to spend 1000 CHF MAX. on pass-tickets. LETS GO.
Jun 15 2010 1:43AM
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Sveetski
Posts: 572 - Karma: 22
Well you like 100KM from chamonix which has one of the best freeride terrian in Europe watch refresh
Jun 15 2010 3:09AM
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Matty_C
Posts: 2598 - Karma: 236
I would start by saying check tgr- there's a lot of guys there that live in Lausanne and know the skiing around there well. Regarding the skiing, Lausanne is close to Chamonix and Verbier which have some of the best freeride terrain in the world, although both are quite crowded and expensive. The Valais region around Lausanne has loads of small areas that are cheap, uncrowded, tend to get good snow, and have decent terrain. In addition theres Les Diablerets nearby which has a glacier park which is rideable most of the year. But yeah, like i said, check TGR for lots of info on little valais areas like leysin.
Jun 15 2010 4:26AM
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vaudois
Posts: 110 - Karma: 12
there are loads of possibilities for amazing freeride skiing out of Lausanne. as said above, Verbier/nendaz, Chamonix, Porte du Soleil are all close by and have great terrain but are expensive, crowded and do not always get the best snow cover (save chamonix). however there are loads of little resorts that are real gems. places like rocher de Naye is only 20-30 mins out of Lausanne on the train and has some really fun terrain with great views on the lake. Les Marecottes is another great place (check the Fallquet borothers films for multiple shots of the resort), Val Ferret is another tiny resort with endless possibilities. all these are about 1 - 1.5 hours out of Lausanne. if you are prepared to travel a bit further you have Ovronaz and Nax which are great (Ovronaz you get the bonus of hot/thermal pools after the day on the slopes). if you are prepared to hike for your turns the possibilities are endless as long as you know what you are doing.
anyway if you want more info on anything feel free to PM
you going to EPFL or Uni of Lausanne?
Jun 15 2010 5:39AM
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exile_ch
Posts: 715 - Karma: 609
I live in Montreux, 10 mins from Lausanne right now but I'll be most likely living in Lausanne next year aswell.

So Welcome to Switzerland dude ! :)

For the skiing, it's been stated above, there are so many places you can go, with less than 1h of driving. Les Diableret, Verbier, Les Portes du Soleil (biggest resort in the world) , and Crans-Montana a bit further away. But those are the big one, and if you're looking for freeride terrain only, I think your best bet it to check the smaller resort in the Valais area, such as Ovronaz. It's not big, it's not expensive, but there is a TON of snow and a TON a free terrain.
You should look for a ski buddy that knows the good spots.

I assume you'll be at Unil or EPFL in Lausanne for studying?  Dude you should be stoked ! Lausanne is one of the best town in Switzerland as far as the party/bar/club scene, it's just a big student small town. Many good places in a small area, so yeah you'll be fine. You have a downhill bike trail downtown aswell. And of course the lake.

Anyway, if you have more question, feel free.
Jun 15 2010 5:42AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
damn man, i might go there next year as exchange student!
what are you following?
Jun 15 2010 5:58AM
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marc_vertesi
Posts: 84 - Karma: 294
Hey there!

I live in Lausanne and with my friends we ski every saturday of the week. I personnaly really like the Portes du Soleil, a huuuge ski resort, and the terrain is just endless. We shred a lot of pow too, got some sick spots that we discovered last season, and can't wait until it snows again!

But you know, there a so many possibilities for skiing, Lausanne is quiet the perfect place, great city, 1-2h from every deam-spot in the country, great train/bus service etc. We got cars, so if you want to hook up with us sometimes, just send me an PM and we'll fix that!

And if you're more the adventure type of guy, I would rather recommend you to NOT buy a season pass, and just go where ever you want to, because it isn't always sunny at the same place. Lots of places have been mentionned, like Verbier which belongs to the "4 vallées" including Tyhon 2000, Veysonnaz and Nendaz which are great places for pow.

Last two resorts would be Crans Montana, with really sick pow spots, and my personnal best one-day experience was Anzère, so many wood, cliffs, fun everywear, really sick.

Anyways, you won't be disapointed! There's an abundance of choices.

Oh and what do you come for? Sick choice you made, coming to Lausanne!


Jun 15 2010 8:07AM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
MERCI!

I assume y'all talk french ... I do to but I'll write in English so other people understand. I'll PM you all.

I'm going at UNIL ... I'm studying in International relations ... I almost went to Geneve because, studying what I'm studying, Geneve is the place to be ... what changed my mind is that I heard a lot that Geneve was boring if one isn't full of cash. I'll maybe go study at Geneve but for postgraduate studies.

I read a couple of TGR threads on Lausanne a while ago ... I read the forums over there more often nowadays but I just don't have an account lol.
Jun 15 2010 11:15AM
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williams
Posts: 3083 - Karma: 9,072
Im headed to geneva from august to december. Stoked!

anybody else rippin out there??
Jun 15 2010 12:54PM
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SketchySwiss
Posts: 393 - Karma: 43
Yo!
I m living there and studying at EPFL (wich is next to UNIL).

It is def right that the nightlife in Lausanne in WAY cheaper than in Geneva. Chicks are hotter too. ahaha just kidding.

I m so stoked to see that we re a bunch of NSers from Lausanne and I m looking forward for some nice pow days in OVRO or anywhere else next year.




Jun 15 2010 5:18PM
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Morginsfreeski
Posts: 129 - Karma: 10
The Portes du Soleil and verbier both have loads of powder, as for passes i would say your best bet would be to just travel around the different resorts and not tie yourself down to one area. The train links are fantastic and there are so many resorts close to you i would definately hit up loads of resorts.. Enjoy Switzerland its awsome!
Jun 15 2010 6:16PM
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flexpattern
Posts: 1090 - Karma: 45
my ex girlfriend is from lausanne, she is fucking awesome at skiing - big ski scene there (pretty obvious really being so close to some sick terrain)
Jun 15 2010 6:21PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
didn't wanna start a new thread, so might as well ask here;
are there any NSers going to the Saas Fee glacier in the second week of July?(12-18july)
Jun 15 2010 7:12PM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
I just arrived in Lausanne! WHAT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!
Sep 16 2010 1:22AM
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*LiNeLover*
Posts: 1224 - Karma: 256
You are going to have the time of your life-well obviously. But seriously! I traveled to various different places in Europe last spring and Switzerland was my FAVORITE place! It was fucking amazing. I didn't want to go back home(MT). I wasn't there during the main ski season but i did go to Mont Blanc Chamonix (in France) on the tram and it was insane. I was literally in heaven and all i wanted to do was ski. Definitely a place i will ski before i die. If you get a chance go and ski that area do it for sure. Switzerland is one of the many places i want to study abroad. Have an amazing time! & one question for you- does the program that you are going through require you to have 4-5 semesters of German? Just wondering because the program im going through does and thats the only thing that is keeping me from being in Switzerland this semester..
I know that wasn't much about "where to ski" but im just stoked for you that you are going and hopefully ill make back it there soon!
Sep 16 2010 2:38AM
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-ShredTheGnar-
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 111
Yo, im living in Nendaz like an hour and a half away on the train and bus from lausanne.
As far as im concerned its the best place i have shredded for pow pow. same ski area as Verbier

Can give you a sofa to crash on and show you around if you want.

My good NS deed of the day 8)

Sep 16 2010 2:59AM
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*LiNeLover*
Posts: 1224 - Karma: 256
ahh so lucky! this thread is killin me..
Sep 16 2010 3:47AM
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vauban08
Posts: 575 - Karma: 119
I know it already got mentioned, but again: DON'T buy a season pass. I know that in the US this is the only way to get discounts and most people have one, but in pretty much all the European resorts, discounts kick in from your second day of skiing. Plus, Lausanne is in the middle of it all, so no worries about distances.
Weather can be a mess in early winter, though. The freeride season usually peaks after mid January.

Oh, and def. go visit the High Fly: www.high-fly.ch

If you get sick of pow and want to shred Europe's best park, come to Laax. ;)
Sep 16 2010 5:50AM
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-ShredTheGnar-
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 111
Biggest tip for skiing in Valais is get a Valais Ski pass

http://www.valais.ch/en/Wallis-SkiCardVS-SkiCardinfoVS.html

It gives you major discounts (if you put enough money on it) at all resorts in valais. That includes zermatt, saas fee, crans montana, 4 vallees and a the small amazing resorts like Zinal.


And a season pass in the 4 vallees is 989-CHF if brought in October. Which would give you discounts in other resorts normally and last year they gave us 2 days free skiing in chamonix.

Just send me a message if you have any other questions.
Sep 16 2010 6:19AM
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marc_vertesi
Posts: 84 - Karma: 294
Tjeah, welcome! Hope you travelled well, if you got any question about the city, don't hesitate, I'm always around on NS!
Sep 16 2010 2:24PM
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jibninja69
Posts: 6 - Karma: 15
i used to live in montreux - just down the lake - and still go ski around there whenever i can. my favourite place is verbier for sure parks getting nicer every year and the pow spots are crazy and you can get the train there super easy if ur not driving. if u are driving avoriaz in portes du soleil has some super nice parks and pretty good pow spots too. but if snows good go to verbier in a heartbeat.
Sep 18 2010 9:36AM
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Christian.Bieri
Posts: 171 - Karma: 856
add me : formatskis@hotmail.com ill show u some sick places
Sep 18 2010 10:34AM
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SketchySwiss
Posts: 393 - Karma: 43
It seems that you re from Quebec so let's go with French.

Ce soir il y a une bonne soirée en ville, Place de l'Europe puis D! Club.  Are you gonna show up ?
Sep 18 2010 11:40AM
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Christian.Bieri
Posts: 171 - Karma: 856
ahah ouais peut etre que je vien c'est la soiree hiphop gratuite ?
Sep 18 2010 12:02PM
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SketchySwiss
Posts: 393 - Karma: 43
exactement. D'abord sur la Place de l'Europe puis au Balcon du D!
Sep 18 2010 12:42PM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
Je ne pense pas sortir ce soir ... je suis mort ... j'ai fait la fête les autres soirs et j'ai encore un peu le décalage horaire dans le corps.... je vient tout juste d'arriver...

J'aimerais ben aller au D club demain ya des bons DJs (que je connais de Montréal) ...


Sep 18 2010 3:57PM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
Also let's all meet up and take a beer somewhere. LETS DO THIS.

PM me and I'll give yuo my email.
Sep 18 2010 3:58PM
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Christian.Bieri
Posts: 171 - Karma: 856
phil tu reste combien de temps ? jdoi te faire visiter
Sep 18 2010 4:55PM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
1 an. j'étudie à l'UNIL.... je compte aussi beaucoup skier et tout. on m'a dit que la passe St-Bernard était un bon deal puisque ca nous laissait aller gratuitement à plein de bons centres et ça donnait des billets moitiés prix à Verbier
Sep 18 2010 6:44PM
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Christian.Bieri
Posts: 171 - Karma: 856
st bernard ? ceux qui ton dis sa ne savent pas du tout ce que Laax et Zermatt est...
Sep 19 2010 5:46AM
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vauban08
Posts: 575 - Karma: 119
Haha...absolument. :D St. Bernard?? C'est barbant, vraiment

Il y a 3 régions supérieures:
Wallis (Saas, Zermatt, Verbier, Portes du Soleil)
Oberland bernois (Saanen, Hasli, Jungfrau)
Graubünden (Laax, Engadine)

Sep 19 2010 6:02AM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
Laax et Zermatt ne sont pas trpo loin de Lausanne? Je n'aurai pas d'auto...

Aussi ... avez vous des endroits à recommander dans la ville (bars, clubs, restos, etc.) ??
Sep 19 2010 7:57AM
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Christian.Bieri
Posts: 171 - Karma: 856
prends le metro juskau flon... ya de bons truc la... si tu a un abo de train tu t'en fous de quelle distance c'est
Sep 19 2010 8:10AM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
J'ai la demi tarif ... pi la distance ça importe si jveux faire aller retour en une journée ... question de pas arriver tard à la montagne non?... (a moins que loger la bas pour une fin de semaine ça coute pas cher)
Sep 19 2010 8:20AM
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Christian.Bieri
Posts: 171 - Karma: 856
moi jfer regulierement 2 heures mais qui passent vite quand tes ak des potes...
de lausanne c pareil tu devrais plrend un abo sa revient moin cher
Sep 19 2010 8:21AM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
un abo puor quoi? toute la suisse? c'est pas 2200?
réponds moi par message
Sep 19 2010 8:34AM
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TheDirtyBaker
Posts: 30 - Karma: 20
yo dude i grew up in switzerland and i just moved to lausanne, i got a job at a bar called the great escape its pretty sick and a small club called buzz is cheapish and fun to get fucked up in at times... if you want a sick place to chill sleep and ski hit up diableret and the glacier 3000 theres a chalet run by some european pros, candide thovex has known to drop by cali p i ve met countless times there, and old school riders seb lounis from rastafaride etc and many others all work there and run the camp its 30 chf a night and its sick mini ramp in the basement, bar on the one floor 40 beds and mad parties a mini jibbing park in the garden and a shuttle bus to the glacier in the morning... the chalet is called budokan or le budok... the camps are called demonium master camps... i know them all really well as they used to work with me when i used to organise comps a few years back...

enjoy the swiss pow

peace
Oct 15 2010 5:37PM
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SketchySwiss
Posts: 393 - Karma: 43
^ working at the great escape and getting wasted at Buzz... We have definitly already seen each other dude.

You should try le "Punk" au flon, le "Darling/Lady" then ending au "Mika" in St-François and "le Loft" (place Bel-air) but only on thursday nights.

And yes we should also def organize a NS week end in Budokan.

I hope that you're doing well in Loz. Enjoy
Oct 25 2010 9:36AM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
^Bumpin this thread but I've been to all these places. Lausanne is fucking great. If you work at the Great Escape I've def. seen you there .. it's one of my fav. places in Loz. I know a girl who works there too ...

I'm getting my avalanche beacon tommorrow. And 3 day tour at Simplon next week!!! BIG SHIT POPPIN LETS DO THIS.

Also meet up anytime soon guys holler at me via pm.
Dec 8 2010 7:35PM
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williams
Posts: 3083 - Karma: 9,072
i lived in geneva for the last 4 months. your gonna have a hell of a time man
Dec 8 2010 7:45PM
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-ShredTheGnar-
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 111
lucky bastard with the 3 day tour haha, we had like 50cm of pow this week then it rained before the mountain opened, fucking gutted D:
Dec 9 2010 7:34AM
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Twig
Posts: 6405 - Karma: 59,976
I'm gonna be in Saas-Fee from January to May. i know the resort well.. anyone else there (i know one guy is). If you wanna meet up and ride I'd be stoked, could prob even hook up a sofa to crash on. I'd also be down to go other places.. Is there any way to reduce train fairs other than a 50% rail card??
Dec 9 2010 8:43AM
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KLovelace
Posts: 2118 - Karma: 289
hey I used to live in switzerland and i'll say this is you have the 1/2 tax wit the gleis7 then you get half price but if you wanna travel anywhere by train after 7 you can do so for free.. of course Switzerland is tiny so you can still get a train almost anywhere with a train station at that time... then a post auto or whatever you need from there.

if you are loaded just get a GA. it's the best.
Dec 9 2010 9:08AM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
Voie 7 is defo worth it.

Lots of partying and school work means I only skied once yet (Zermatt) ... Im done with  (almost) all my papers tho and have no exams in January so yeah, I'll be in ski-mode 100%.

NS meetup in Lausanne this week. Holler via pm. Shit is happening. I havent seen any of you guys in real life yet - well i think so. I'm also considering going to Verbier for the New Year with friends.


Dec 12 2010 5:56PM
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TheDirtyBaker
Posts: 30 - Karma: 20
yo yo yo whats poopin peeps, i m working tonight at the great from 17-23 and going riding at the Glacier 3000 on thursday with some homies, getting the train up in the morning any takers?if you guys are up for riding get to the glacier on thursday!
Dec 14 2010 8:50AM
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dr_phil
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 95
exam tomrrow morning for me ... so no great escape tonight ... for the glacier thursday ill see, shit could be ill
Dec 14 2010 9:35AM
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Maximumsushi
Posts: 7837 - Karma: 3,351
Are you still there? I hung out with your brother a bit when he was doing the Swiss exchange thing.

I spent a season in Laax, Switzerland, and it was amazing. Definitely a bit different than your area, I was living a tiny mountain town rather than a city and only really got to ride a few mountains, Laax, Davos, and Lenzerheide. I'm going back this season though for a little while, can't wait! Yeah!
Dec 14 2010 10:03AM
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marc_vertesi
Posts: 84 - Karma: 294
Hook me up, still here! Would be nice to meet some of you guys! I ate BB Guiness Burger at the Great last friday, maybe saw some of you guys? Anyways, no school on friday for me, so if its snows, i'll be up in Champéry with my brother, otherwise I think I'm going to Glacier3000 shooting a bit with a friend!
Dec 14 2010 10:27AM
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pag
Posts: 3412 - Karma: 69
Hey I'm going to EPFL next autumn
do they have ski trips organized in autumn??
and any hints or tips while I get there?

How difficult is it to go ski all the pre-season glacier and shit without a car?
I know the train is quite good overthere but to go ski in france with train is it easy?
thanks for the info


Dec 14 2010 10:46AM
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disastertourism
Posts: 2402 - Karma: 135
Dude Chamonix is amazing, and head up to Val D'isere/Tignes
:)

I'm going to Chamonix in february sadly for only a week because of education but come ski since I'm going on my own.
Dec 14 2010 10:59AM
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0ggzy
Posts: 123 - Karma: 33
Go to verbier it's got amzing terrain and isn't normally skied out although chamonix has got really good off piste it's nearly always skied out unless you want to hike up to get fresh snow there isn't much un-skied off piste
Dec 14 2010 11:24AM
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