Friday, July 24, 2020

What’s so good about Morzine?

Ongosa have been tapping into their network of local professionals to find out what makes Morzine such a popular family destination over February half-term.
One of their carefully selected and specially recommended ski instructors, Sally from The Snow Institute, gives advice on how to make the most of Morzine and neighbouring resort, Les Gets amongst the masses of British skiers this half term, as well as her personal tips on lunch spots, and where to ski when.


What’s so good about learning to ski in Morzine?
“There’s a great beginner area, at the top of The Pleney, for everyone who can access it via the Pleney Telecabine in the centre of town. This means that everyone gets to experience the mountain as most ski lessons begin there. There’s a new magic carpet with a nice beginner green nursery slope to learn on too. You’ve also got the penguin run which is great; it has tunnels, obstacles and jumps for kids to enjoy. Then you can ski through the Chemin des Zou Zous route which is great for kids. It has a flat winding road which travels through the trees all the way down to the bottom on the mountain with animals to be seen along the way.

What makes Morzine so popular at half-term?
“Morzine is very much a family-friendly resort. On the slopes there is a lot of cool runs for kids. Off the slopes, there are lots of activities that kids who don’t ski can enjoy. Morzine’s tourist office really make an effort throughout the season, hosting events, theatre shows, and activities in the centre of town for children to get involved in. The result is the resort has a warm, lovely feel to it, with a great mixture of ski terrain for the whole family to enjoy.

READ ON....


Thursday, July 16, 2020

Morzine for Advanced Skiers and Snowboarders

Morzine for advanced skiers and snowboarders

In previous blogs we have talked about how staying in Morzine is great for families and beginners. But what about those of you that are beyond snow ploughing and the falling leaf? Well, Morzine is for advanced skiers and snowboarders too.

Us Brits love Morzine, and it is easy to see why. It is located in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, which is 13 resorts connected by 650km of piste straddling the French/Swiss border. It is about an 1 hour 20 minutes from Geneva airport, so it is really easy to get to. This means that if you are the type of person that can drop everything when the powder comes, Morzine is ideal for that emergency snow fix.

Morzine is probably better known as a family resort, but with all this terrain, there is a huge amount for advanced skiers and snowboarders to enjoy. So grab a piste map and have a look through this blog to to get a good idea on where to go.  READ ON..


Friday, July 10, 2020

Why Do People Go Skiing? – All the answers

Why Do People Go Skiing? – All the answers

why do people ski - cord
The question of why do people go skiing? Is a perfectly valid question. If you were to describe the process to someone that has never heard of skiing, it would sound pretty bizarre.
“We go out in the cold, attach planks to our feet, sit on a chair suspended above the ground that takes us to the top of a mountain. Then we do our best to slide down the mountain as fast as we can so we can get to the bar”.
Of course, there is more to it than that, but in a nutshell it is amazingly great fun! In this post I am going to go through all the reasons why we travel the world to slide around on snow. If you are a skier or snowboarder, you will understand what I am getting at. But, if you have never tried it, I hope that I will inspire you to give it a try, it is potentially life changing.

The Thrill

why do people ski - Miles







Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you will experience the thrill of sliding on snow. Beginners will love the feeling of achievement when they have managed to make their first turns and complete a whole run successfully.

Sunday, July 5, 2020

The Joys Of Off-Piste Skiing In Morzine

The joys of off-piste skiing and snowboarding
Words and photos  from Avoriaz Alpine Ski School.
Les Portes du Soleil ski area is one of the biggest linked networks in the world.  With more than 650 km of marked pistes and about 200 lifts in total, spread over 14 valleys and about 1,036 square kilometres (400 sq mi), this Alpine wonderland is an absolute paradise for skiers and snowboarders.

But There Is So Much More

What I described above is just the groomed pistes and lifts. These cover only a small percentage of the terrain you can ride. Once you start exploring the off-piste, you encounter a lifetimes’ worth of adventure and good skiing and snowboarding.

Why is the Portes Du Soleil so good for off piste?

The joys of off-piste skiing and snowboarding - Avoriaz Alpine ski school
Les Portes du Soleil sits at the northwest corner of the Alps. The prevailing direction of incoming storms is from the northwest, so our local ski area is the first major set of mountains the storms will hit. This creates a microclimate offering more snowfall than other regions of the Alps. One of the best ways to make use of this extra snowfall is to explore the off-piste. The ideal goal is to make the first tracks in untouched powder snow. Whilst this is not always the case, when it does happen, it’s the best feeling ever.

Why go off piste?

The joys of off-piste skiing and snowboarding - Avoriaz Alpine Ski School
Skiing and snowboarding off piste can offer a whole range of snow types and challenges. Using good technique to manage the changing conditions is very rewarding and makes for fantastic memories exploring the mountains.
You can also find more solitude, escaping the traffic of the pistes and experiencing the more wild areas of the mountain. As if stepping back in time, see the mountains as they were sculpted by nature.

What do I need to know?

The joys of off-piste skiing and snowboarding - Avoriaz Alpine Ski Shcool
The backcountry comes with a set of very serious hazards which must be acknowledged and planned for. Cue the fascinating arts of mountain safety and avalanche awareness. Learning about terrain shapes, gradients and aspects, snow pack, the effects of wind and temperature, forecasting, avalanche types, safety equipment and emergency procedures is an enjoyable challenge which must be undertaken to explore off-piste and backcountry environments.
Then there are the joys of Ski Touring and Split boarding. By attaching climbing skins, we can use our skis and snowboards to walk uphill in the snow, allowing us to explore mountains wherever we like. Either tour up to a peak from the top of a lift and access premium snow or explore a completely different mountain or valley, away from the ski area.

Join Us On One Of Our Courses

The joys of off-piste skiing and snowboarding - Avoriaz Alpine Ski School
At the Avoriaz Alpine Ski School, we love skiing and snowboarding off piste and have dedicated much of our lifetimes to exploring and enjoying the Morzine/Avoriaz landscapes, which is why we want to share it with you. In early 2020 we have three courses running designed to get you started in the off-piste.
The joys of off-piste skiing and snowboarding

Friday, July 3, 2020

Why Morzine France should be your next Ski destination


         Why Morzine France should be your next Ski destination



When asked what my favourite ski resorts are around the world, Morzine France is always in my top 5. It is a resort that suits all types of groups from family ski holidays to a bunch of friends flying in for a weekend. It offers a wide range of activities on and off the slopes and also has a large selection of restaurants and pubs to cater for your needs. Not to mention it is part of one the biggest ski areas in the world, Portes de Soleil, with over 650kms of runs and is only around an hour and a half from Geneva airport. Because of this, it is fast becoming incredibly popular with British skiers/snowboarders.

Out of the 12 resorts that make up the Portes du Soleil ski area, Morzine is the largest and probably the most convenient in regards to resort hopping. It is one of the reasons why I have been here on several occasions during the ski season. It is also the only resort, where I have ever experienced extreme weather conditions from -26 with arctic winds to thunder and lighting while skiing.

Partying Hard In Morzine and Avoriaz

  Partying Hard In Morzine and Avoriaz ...