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Places to ski in mid-December


jawillwill
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Right, I want to go skiiing sometime towards the end of the year (around about 10-20th December). Can anyone reccommend any good ski resorts which are almost guaranteed to have ski-able snow at that time of year? Looking mainly at Europe, but if I could find a good place/price in Canada I may consider it.

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Going purely by altitude Cervinia near me fits the bill. This season I skied there for the first time on November 11th and if you have the right pass (and the snow) you can ski over into Switzerland to Zermatt.

 

Here's a link to the webcams to whet your appetite...

 

http://www.cervinia.it/pages/WEBCAM_i_en/453?#ixMainSection

 

Edit: now I feel like popping over there tomorrow!

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I've skied in Åre which has virtually guaranteed snow. It was too cold though, -40 degrees at the top of the slope, and the skiing pretty average. If I were you, which I am, I'd be tempted to choose a well known high altitude Alps resort and keep your fingers crossed. Either that or try Canada. I've never been there so can't comment. Well I could but I won't.

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You need to go high say Val Thorens. Best bet is to leave booking as late as possible as Dec is always a bit of an unknown. Otherwise go for a glacier resort say Sas Fee

 

That is our solution for Easter with it being so late this year. strangely enough our last 3 Easter Skiing Hols ( 2 x VT and last year Tignes) we've had loads of snow fall whilst there, sometimes blizzard conditions - not the fair weather sunny conditions we were expecting!!!

 

Mind you even up at 2300m where the village is the snow certainly needed topping up. Further down in Meribel it was slushy and horrible. There are a couple of bars which have Sky and serve bitter!! The Frog and Roast beef boasts itself as the highest pub in Europe.

 

They actually offer a Snow Guarantee from End of |Nov till May!! http://www.neigegarantie.com/

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You need to go high say Val Thorens. Best bet is to leave booking as late as possible as Dec is always a bit of an unknown. Otherwise go for a glacier resort say Sas Fee

Val Thorens is a good shout. I am off to Courchevel myself this Saturday. The advantage of course to the Three Valleys is near guaranteed snow, although off piste is bloody expensive.

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That is our solution for Easter with it being so late this year. strangely enough our last 3 Easter Skiing Hols ( 2 x VT and last year Tignes) we've had loads of snow fall whilst there, sometimes blizzard conditions - not the fair weather sunny conditions we were expecting!!!

 

Mind you even up at 2300m where the village is the snow certainly needed topping up. Further down in Meribel it was slushy and horrible. There are a couple of bars which have Sky and serve bitter!! The Frog and Roast beef boasts itself as the highest pub in Europe.

 

They actually offer a Snow Guarantee from End of |Nov till May!! http://www.neigegarantie.com/

 

Long way off, I know, but we're thinking of next Easter (2012) for a family skiing holiday (1st week in April). Is Val Thorens good for families/beginners?

 

Me and the missus last went skiing about 20 years ago and got up to a skill level that bordered on competent parallel skiing but the offspring (currently aged 10 and 13) will be absolute beginners (although we do intend some dry slope skiing lessons before we go)

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Yep, it's sometimes frustrating to look out the window up at the slopes above me at the end of the season knowing the lifts and resort are closed but there is fresh powder up there. I'm going to have to buy some light-weight alpine skis and skins so I can get up there on my own.

 

The last two years have been great but this year it hasn't snowed so much. The problem about living here is that you get a bit fussy and don't bother going. Forecast fresh snow on Sunday so I'll be up there next Tuesday/Wednesday.

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Val Thorens is a good shout. I am off to Courchevel myself this Saturday. The advantage of course to the Three Valleys is near guaranteed snow, although off piste is bloody expensive.

 

Make sure you take a few pics of the Runway at The Altiport .... looks like a banana !!

 

0.jpg

 

We watched a few light aircraft take off .... well to say take off is a bit of an exaggeration ... more like fell off the end of the runway and manged to get enough speed up to avoid plummeting into the valley. Amazing!!

 

This one did a bit better ....

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I've been there every year for the last 6 years and never seen the 'airport' used before. At least it looks like it works.

Make sure you take a few pics of the Runway at The Altiport .... looks like a banana !!

 

0.jpg

 

We watched a few light aircraft take off .... well to say take off is a bit of an exaggeration ... more like fell off the end of the runway and manged to get enough speed up to avoid plummeting into the valley. Amazing!!

 

This one did a bit better ....

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15 Saints fans going to Flaine on the 12th of March and thanks to Sky will even make it back for the game on the 19th as its now an eve kick off, snow looking good at last and the temps have come right down. Second time here and can recommend the ski area. Loads of milage and plenty of off piste. My fav resort is Verbier, some of the best off piste ever and great night life but the exchange rate killed it for me to go back there this year. For those that have never been skiing do it and you will be hooked.Give me a mountain or the beach and i would take the mountain every time. You can't beat a sunny day on top of a mountain.

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Right, I want to go skiiing sometime towards the end of the year (around about 10-20th December). Can anyone reccommend any good ski resorts which are almost guaranteed to have ski-able snow at that time of year? Looking mainly at Europe, but if I could find a good place/price in Canada I may consider it.

 

Canada is more reliable for decent snow pre-Christmas than Europe. Would suggest the usual suspects of Banff or Whistler. If you are loaded, try Aspen.

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Years since I've been to Courchevel but I've even seen twins landing (DH Otters possibly). It's pretty impressive.

 

Verbier is just over the border from me and is on my skipass and you even get a refund on the tunnel ticket one way. I'll have to check the snow there: here it's sprinkling up top but there's no off-piste at the moment and the pistes are hard. Nothing much in prospect but you can't always tell about late season.

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Get yourself to Canada, well worth it. Banff gives you Sunshine Village, Lake Lousie and both are excellent and there's Norquay also, Kicking Horse is only 1.5hrs drive from Banff. You'd have to be insanley unlucky not to have good conditions, most resorts have had around 4m of snow this season!!

 

I fly out a week Monday for a few weeks boarding, will try out Fernie which is supposed to be powder heaven and then onto Banff - woohoo, can't wait.

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