Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Skiing The Portes Du Soleil Circuit

The Portes du Soleil is one of the largest ski areas in the world with over 650km of marked pistes encompassing twelve resorts. It stretches between Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva, which creates a microclimate that is excellent for snowfall.

Jean Vuarnet was responsible for developing Avoriaz and then linking it to the surrounding resorts creating the Portes du Soleil ski area. The highest point in the area is 2466m and the lowest is at 1000m and there are more than 200 lifts linking the area, which stretches over 14 valleys. Luckily, for skiers and snowboarders who are keen to explore, most of the Portes du Soleil ski area can be reached in a single circuit. The circuit will take most average skiers and snowboarders a whole day to complete so first lifts are advised!

There are two directions the circuit can be skied; clockwise or counterclockwise. Completing the circuit counterclockwise could mean challenging La Chavanette otherwise known as The Swiss Wall or facing the getting the chairlift down. The Swiss Wall is classified as an orange, as it is considered too dangerous to even be a black. The wall should only be attempted if you are a very accomplished skier and are confident you can complete it safely. For this reason, we are taking a look at completing the circuit clockwise – a little bit more achievable for everyone!

There are many different ways of completing the Portes du Soleil circuit but here’s just one of our suggestions…
From Les Gets head up the Chavannes lift and follow signs to Morzine. Ski down the Pleney slope to the bottom where a bus stop is located. Take the petit train across town to the Super Morzine lift, take this up and then the Zore lift and follow the cat track to the Proclou lift, which will take you up to the top of the Lindaret bowl. From here ski down into the bowl - you can even stop to have a play in the famous Burton Stash park on the way down.

From Lindaret, take the Chaux Fleurie lift up and ski down to the bottom of the Plaine Dranse. Take the Chaux-des-Rosées chair up and ski down to Les Combes. Take this lift up and follow the long run down into Linga. From here you can again get the bus across the town of Châtel, to the Super Châtel lift.
If you are doing well for time, you could get the bus across to the Petit Châtel lift and take this followed by the Barbossine. From here ski down and take the Tronchay lift up. From here you can enjoy some great views across Lake Geneva towards Montreux before heading back towards the Super Châtel lift.

From the top of the Super Châtel, take the Chemillon and ski down to the bottom of the Le Corbeau. From here, you can take the bus across the town of Morgins to the Folleuse or it is actually also possible to walk there and take in the beautiful church.

Take the lift up and then ski to the Bochasses following signs for Champoussin. Ski to the bottom of the Aiguilles des Champeys and take the lift up then ski down to the bottom of the Pointe de L’Au, take this lift and then you can ski down into Les Crosets.

From Les Crosets, take the new Grande Conche lift and ski down to the bottom of the Cuboré, take this up and over lift into the Fornet area. Then ski back down into Avoriaz, take the Stade lift and ski down the Prodains home run.
Again take the A bus back into Morzine and take the Pleney bubble up, from here follow signs all the way into Les Gets. Then enjoy a drink before collapsing after a long days skiing - phew!

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Avoriaz Snowcross Slopes- Legal Off Piste!

The Avoriaz snowcross slopes offer skiers and snowboarders the thrill of off-piste powder skiing but without the extra risks involved.

These pistes are not groomed but are surveyed and kept safe by setting off avalanches and fencing off areas that are deemed too unsafe for the public.
The Combe des Marmottes (2,080m long) is a snow playground that is easily accessible by the Fornet chairlift. There is also the neighbouring slope called The Pschott, which is more technical with its successive natural canyons.
Brochaux (1,340m long) is a naturally bumpy wall that is accessible by the Brochaux chairlift.
The Frontaliére (1,150m) can be accessed from the top of the Mossettes chairlift and is a long and wide route down to the bottom.
The Crozats (3,122m long) starts from the Hauts Forts and joins up with the world cup downhill run into Prodains and is sometimes referred to as the ‘mythical’ Crozats run due to its wild nature.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

The Story behind the Salomon 1080 Ski

A look at how the Salomon 1080 ski started, the people behind it and really, the start of the twin tip revolution.  See..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4A3FfgCRkU

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Who Invented Snowboarding?

ho Invented Snowboarding? Not Jake Burton

By Michael Frank, Adventure Journal on June 7th, 2012
On Christmas Day, 1965, Muskegon, Michigan’s Sherman Poppen’s pregnant wife, Nancy, wanted their two daughters, Wendy and Laurie, to play outside so she could get some rest. When the girls were disappointed they couldn’t safely stand up in their sled to go down the snow-covered dunes in their backyard, Poppen fastened together a pair of kid’s skis and after some tweaking invented Muskegon’s most famous toy, the Snurfer. The rest, as they say, is history. By 1968 Muskegon was hosting the World Snurfing Classic, and Poppen licensed the Snurfer name to Brunswick, which sold over a million of the proto-snowboards by the early 1980s. And even though Poppen didn’t actually bother to take up snowboarding until he was in his late 60s, he’s still considered the father of the sport, honored by the Olympic Committee when snowboarding was inducted into the Games. Poppen is being honored by the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce at a ceremony this week. Via Transworld.
Read more stories like this at Adventure Journal.

Friday, July 10, 2015

Snow-Camp Alpine Challenge is BACK!

morzine-alpine-challenge

Returning to Morzine for it’s 7th year, the Snow-Camp Alpine Challenge is one of our favourite events of the winter. Teams of 4 complete a two day ski or snowboard around the Portes du Soleil, covering a distance of over 150km and passing a collection of GPS checkpoints along the way. The team that clocks up the most KM during the event while visiting the most checkpoints will take the winners crown (and bragging rights) home with them.  Morzine Source Magazine reports..

Monday, July 6, 2015

avoriaz-music-festival

Unless you’ve had your head stuck in the snow for several years, everyone has heard of Snowbombing. The annual musical on snow event held in Mayrhofen each year has welcomed the likes of The Prodigy, Rudimental, Fatboy Slim and Gorgon City, packing out the Austrian resort.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Ride Greener

New Trailer: STEPS - The Ride Greener Film

A must read for any environmentally conscious riders-  RIDE GREENER shows you how to have fun while skiing and snowboarding in an environmentally friendly way!

 Here at Doorstep Skis, we're constantly active in findings ways in which we can provide ski and snowboard hire in Morzine in the most environmentally friendly way as possible. All tips welcome! 

Partying Hard In Morzine and Avoriaz

  Partying Hard In Morzine and Avoriaz ...