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Seasonaire help Europe - Meribel vs. Val'disere

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jwmwow
Posts: 40 - Karma: 17

Ok this is mainly for people who have done seasons in either meribel or valdisere but any help would be awesome.

Am planning to do a seaon in (yes u guessed it) Val disere or Meribel next winter but cant make up my mind at the moment. Could you guys give me some advice on which one to go for? ive skied in both areas and i know meribel is the biggest resort in the world (3 valleys) but would like to know about the seasonaire life and which is "better". +k

thanks

May 20 2011 2:24PM
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tristanjtaylor
Posts: 31 - Karma: 19
They are both ridiculously expensive places to do a season. I have friends who did seasons there and the cost of living is way higher than a lot of other european resorts and they ended up bankrupt around christmas and had to bail out. Theres plenty of good skiing at both though so you'll have an awesome time if you can afford it, but don't expect to come back with profit, even if you're working 90% of the time.
May 20 2011 2:30PM
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JibbaTheHutt
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,597
i would think that rather than meribel, try like val T, or one of the other esorts(not coucherval) just cos they are more likely to be cheaper, i have only skied meribel so dont know about val d'sire
May 20 2011 2:46PM
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jwmwow
Posts: 40 - Karma: 17
yh ive managed to line up jobs in either with accomadation and meals included  and im gona save up before hand. reli just going out for fun and 2 progress. so  looking 2 find the all round better resort for seasonaires. and i would go to val t but is abit 2 european if u no wat i mean.
May 20 2011 3:10PM
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Matty_C
Posts: 2598 - Karma: 236
val d'isere is the best all around resort in the world. oakley valpark is off the fucking chain, the lift accessed terrain is phenomenal and the nightlife is great. it isn't that expensive as a seasonaire- just gotta get to know the dudes working in the bars and you're set. snow is among the best in the alps too. meribel on the other hand does not even compare. nightlife is tame and most of the seasonaires there are there for the wrong reasons, not remotely interested in skiing or snowboarding. val thorens would definitely be better but yeah, val d'isere is the fucking boss. tignes is a tad cheaper and more laid back though.

pm me for specific questions, i've done seasons in val and have been pretty much everywhere else worthwhile in the alps.
May 20 2011 3:22PM
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Yossarian
Posts: 1078 - Karma: 56
I gotta agree with this guy. I spent a lot of time in both Val D and Tignes this year and both are sick. The Oakley park is incredible and its the same as seasoning anywhere else get to know people and it gets cheaper and is inevitably better.

Also there is La Folie Douce - which is possibly the most ridiculous, most awesome, apres out there (I grant you its not cheap, but there nothing stopping you necking a hip flask of vodka on the 3 man while doing your last few laps of the park and dancing on a table now is there?)
May 20 2011 3:33PM
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jwmwow
Posts: 40 - Karma: 17

ok thanks guys, only bad thing i heard about val d is after a few monts the skiing is pretty limited but in 3 valleys obviously its hard 2 get board. aha thats funny cause they have folie douce in val t aswell and are building one in meribel for this coming season. ah tough choice altho im swaying to val d

May 20 2011 3:56PM
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kingskier
Posts: 1045 - Karma: 11
I have been to both places 3 Valles is the biggest area in the world I think ( i nay be wrong but it is huge) Val thorens valley is probes cheaper and has a good park ( although I didn't park ski when i went there so my judgement may be wack) but I reckon espace Killy. Oakley valpark is sick and both valleys have excellent terrain which is easily accesable
May 20 2011 6:29PM
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-AWC-
Posts: 125 - Karma: 21
haha if people feel limited by the skiing in val d'isere after a few months then their standards must be somewhat screwed up! I could return year in year out after spending a season there. The potential is awesome and I reckon the terrain is better than the 3 valleys - steeper and with a class lift system! It gets my vote.
May 20 2011 7:13PM
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THUGwife
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 303
i would have to say val d'isere but i'm quite biased. the val park gets sicker every year and euro x is there! also the folie douce is always a laugh.
May 20 2011 7:28PM
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vauban08
Posts: 575 - Karma: 119
If you want the 3 valées but avoid the expensive Meribel, go to La Tania. I'd say it is THE upcoming destination in L3V. Relatively small, nice housing, a few pubs/club, a wonderful valley run and very, very friendly staff. I spent a nice week in April and met a few guys working there. Just google it and ask me if you have questions.

In general, both L3V and Val D'Isere are great. I'd prefer L3V because I think the off piste possibilities are bigger.
May 20 2011 7:32PM
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Matty_C
Posts: 2598 - Karma: 236
I'm afraid I can't agree with you there. For the following reasons:

-that L3V is the biggest area in the world is a total myth. Yes, they may have the most km of piste skiing (although I believe Portes de Soleil and Dolomiti Superski might have more legitimate claims here), but I have seen a birds-eye view map of total ski areas and the Espace Killy is bigger in terms of area. This means that L3V just packs more pistes into a similar area, many of which are flat.

-L3V does have some good terrain for sure don't get me wrong, but in terms of lift accessed off piste terrain, I would say the Espace Killy is unrivalled anywhere in the world. Sure, places like La Grave, Chamonix, arguably Verbier might have better terrain on offer, but for the most part you have to either tour a lot to get into it, or fight off hordes of baying Skandis to get there before they do. Espace Killy on the other hand has killer terrain straight off the lifts, a 20 minute hike gets you into even more mind blowing stuff and if you wanna do a 1-hour tour the opportunities are insane.

-L3V as an area has considerably less steep terrain. Huge portions of the area are flat and offer no freeride potential, whereas the vast majority of Espace Killy terrain has high potential.

-The snow is definitely better in the Espace Killy. It is mostly higher and more north facing. Granted Val Thorens gets good snow but it's a disaster in a storm- no trees so you can't see shit. Val D'isere has unreal tree skiing in Le Fornet, some good stuff on Solaise and Tignes les Boisses has some of the best pillows you'll ever see (in Europe).

Meribel and Val Thorens both have decent parks but Valpark is one of the best in europe. The park crew there are freaks, they literally shape the features with a scalpel. Check Henrik, JF, Wallisch etc shredding it last year before XGames. Loads of other vids on the Valpark vimeo page too http://vimeo.com/16962899

In other words, go to Val d'Isere.
May 21 2011 7:02AM
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kingskier
Posts: 1045 - Karma: 11
yeah espace kiily is so sick!

it was gutting this year cause the snow sucked. didnt get to do much off piste.
May 21 2011 7:33AM
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Pete88
Posts: 70 - Karma: 37

I did a season in Meribel and whilst it's good, I'm doing a season in Tignes next year....

Apart from the terrain looking at solely the resorts i'd say both Meribel and Val get fuck loads of people not there for the skiing, they're both filled with the jack wills, English public school lot.  If you want a more skiing focused and slightly cheaper resort go over to Tignes.

Tignes has the better off-piste potential and you can always go over to the Val park for park. But obviously getting over for the off piste from Val is limited early on, on pow days.

May 21 2011 7:44AM
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sagaRIP
Posts: 287 - Karma: 12
Would you say the val d Oakley park or the val thorens park is better? Im planning to do another season after uni and it looks like val d since I haven't been there in ages!! I was in verbier but the awful snow ruined the mid-late season, since the piste skiing is really limited.
May 21 2011 9:11AM
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MagSeven
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 412

Gahhhhhhh, horibble places!!!! Both places have incredible skiing no doubt, but both full of cunts!

If you're gonna work a season somewhere in the Alps, I'd really recommend somewhere that isn't the sloany rahrah chelsea on the piste horribleness of the big name tarentaise stations!

Seriously, by going off the beaten track, you'll get more of a social life with the local folk, better off piste sking that isn't tracked out 2 minutes after a dump, cheaper beers, better food, and fewer range rovers.

for park - les 7 laux, (2 alpes is a big resort, with a sick park, but admittedly quite touristy. less than espace killy and 3 vallees, but still quite full of brits. BUT La Grave is just nextdoor, so you also have the gnarliest big mountain stuff on your doorstep.)

For freeriding, maybe Montgenevre, or Serre Chevalier. Or St Foy if you must do Tarentaise!

Or Portes du Soleil? admittedly alot of seasonaires, but maybe less attitude? but the area is alot lower, so the neige isn't as guaranteed. but hey, last season was utter shite, so maybe the next one will be a good one.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{ORRRRRR -------- Come out to Japan, because its cheap, deep and rad!!!!!!!!! }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} 

May 21 2011 10:13AM
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EMK
Posts: 1632 - Karma: 669
I'm a seasonaire yah, do you like Jack Wills yah? Oh. My. God, it's like SO cool! Yah, Daddy bought me like SO much for my birthday. I love it all SO much!
May 21 2011 11:16AM
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lgbskier
Posts: 160 - Karma: 38
i have been to both places and both are sick but the one problem is you get thousands of posh families but in somehwere like val thorens or tignes you get the same ski areas i personally think a better vibe and more about the skiing then the other resorts.
May 21 2011 12:04PM
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vauban08
Posts: 575 - Karma: 119
No problem. :) Though I talked about off piste, not piste or park. For me, the terrain in L3V is better than in any other French resort in terms of variety and amount combined. If you know where to go, you get some of the best descents the Alps have to offer
May 21 2011 12:05PM
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vauban08
Posts: 575 - Karma: 119
If you want to avoid the English, erase France from your list completely. ^^ If I wasn't living in the Alps and wanted to spend a working season, I'd definately go to Italy. Pretty towns, only friendly people, good and NOT overpriced food/drinks, better way of life. No matter how much effort the French put in their mostly artificial resorts, in my opinion it doesn't even come close to la dolce vita.
May 21 2011 12:13PM
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TheGnarwhal
Posts: 871 - Karma: 49
Didn't realise there were so many european seasonaires on this site...
I just got back from a season in Morzine (Portes du Soliel) It was incredible! Amazing, huge ski area!
May 21 2011 12:22PM
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jwmwow
Posts: 40 - Karma: 17

from what everyones said think im gona go valdisere or tignes. thanks

May 21 2011 4:53PM
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BlackcountryBill
Posts: 955 - Karma: 576
It depends what you want to get from your season really...

You can have awesome seasons everywhere but all for different reasons, what skiing do you want to do, and how much drinking do you want is what it boils down to.
May 21 2011 6:23PM
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jwmwow
Posts: 40 - Karma: 17

main aim is  to have a good all round season with a great party and good skiing with a decent park, so i think valdisere, cause they have both those, and the lure of the x games in tignes is too good to ignore.

May 21 2011 6:30PM
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Jibberino
Posts: 2089 - Karma: 1,346
This. If you have those two to choose from, i'd go with Val D any day.

However, if possible, i'd look into hitting up Austria or Italy instead, much cheaper, just as good skiing, and generally better parks. Go somewhere in the Salzburger sportwelt region, so much skiing within very short drives, check out Zell am See, Saalbach or Wagrain, good party scene and dope skiing, both in the resorts, and in the neighbouring resorts. Dolomiti superski area is also worth a look, same idea as Salzburger land, and some high passes with access to amazing freeride and kicker terrain.
May 21 2011 6:36PM
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Matty_C
Posts: 2598 - Karma: 236
Dude remember the kid is 18 years old (I assume) and isn't a french speaker (I assume). I rode Les 7 Laux all season last year, killer little area but noone lives there, like at all. Sainte Foy? Again, sweet area, but not for 6 months. Serre Che would be fun but not a great park. You gotta think the kid would benefit most from the all-around park-terrain-snow-nightlife package that puts Val d'Isere right on top of the pile.

Yes its expensive, but that can be handled. Yes it has some fairly annoying types of people that go there, but frankly its a lot less bad than it used to be, and that's not really the seasonaire scene either. Sure, there's a few rah chalet girls but who is really gonna complain about a few rich babes cruising about in resort looking for their bit of rough?!

Val has everything, even the new club La Doudoune is the best soundsystem and light show in the Alps, and gets top European DJs on a weekly basis. Go to Val, its the tits. If you can't handle that scene then go to Tignes. Done
May 22 2011 3:56PM
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TheGnarwhal
Posts: 871 - Karma: 49
That's without a doubt the dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life...
May 22 2011 5:31PM
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Matty_C
Posts: 2598 - Karma: 236
It's actually not that dumb, that company is sadly a very real presence in the Alps now. http://www.jackwills.com/seasonnaires/winter/busc2011/blog.aspx But like I said, different strokes for different strokes, you don't gotta let it annoy you. And like I said, upsides...
May 22 2011 5:54PM
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DanThrax
Posts: 128 - Karma: 139
Aye, I've been out the Alps with these kinds of people.  Most of them are cool, but they do rinse it a little with the whole "RahRah" speil.

BUSC is epic though.
May 22 2011 5:58PM
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anematollahy
Posts: 18 - Karma: 66
EMKI'm a seasonaire yah, do you like Jack Wills yah? Oh. My. God, it's like SO cool! Yah, Daddy bought me like SO much for my birthday. I love it all SO much!


Oh yah, For realzies yah! Totes
Sep 30 2014 5:27AM
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