Wednesday, February 24, 2021

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...


Sunday, February 21, 2021

The Portes du Soleil App – 650k of pistes in the palm of your hand

 


 


As we all know, there are two types of phone app in the world – those that look pretty and seem like a great download at the time before becoming pointless and occupying vital space on your device, and those that are a damn good idea, full stop. The official Portes du Soleil app for iOS and android is the latter and there are some really handy updates for this winter season.  READ ON...

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

7 Excuses to Visit Les Portes du Soleil

 STORY BY Megan Hughes 


A hugely popular ski area, Les Portes du Soleil is one of the top destinations in the Alps. Here at InTheSnow.com we are giving you a rundown of 7 reasons why you NEED to visit Les Portes due Soleil this year.

1. Size Matters

With over 650km of marked piste and 196 lifts, Les Portes du Soleil is one of the largest ski areas in the world. It boasts over 300 runs, 2/3 of which are either red or blue, meaning that skiers of every level will be able to enjoy themselves with an abundance of runs to ensure good variety throughout your visit. Due to the immense size of the ski area, there are good pre-marked trails and circuits that are often popular with holidaymakers due to the ease that comes with their being well signed. If you prefer to make your own routes however, this is simple too thanks to a free app that creates and plans routes based on your ability level and preferences.

You could spend a whole season there and never get bored, so whether you’re thinking of heading off for a week’s holiday or working a winter season, Les Portes du Soleil will provide you more than enough pistes to play with.

2. Superb Snow Parks....READ ON

Friday, February 12, 2021

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

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

16 Reasons Why Morzine Is the Perfect Winter Holiday Destination for Families

 family-winter-holiday-morzine

It’s always tricky to find the ideal destination for a family ski or snowboard trip. There’s so much information out there and it’s a big responsibility to ensure that the whole family really enjoy their holiday.

This trip needs to be absolutely brilliant… so no pressure!

More Mountain's advice would be to make your search as simple as possible. Compile a wishlist of what you need from your perfect family ski holiday destination. Now look for somewhere that ticks as many of those wishes as possible.

Morzine ticked quite a few wishes for the Telegraph Newspaper. It was given 5 out of 5 for families in their ski resort review of 2016.

What Are the Challenges of Finding a Family Friendly Resort? READ ON...

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Thursday, February 4, 2021

16 Reasons Why Morzine Is the Perfect Winter Holiday Destination for Families

 family-winter-holiday-morzine

It’s always tricky to find the ideal destination for a family ski or snowboard trip. There’s so much information out there and it’s a big responsibility to ensure that the whole family really enjoy their holiday.

This trip needs to be absolutely brilliant… so no pressure!

More Mountain's advice would be to make your search as simple as possible. Compile a wishlist of what you need from your perfect family ski holiday destination. Now look for somewhere that ticks as many of those wishes as possible.

Morzine ticked quite a few wishes for the Telegraph Newspaper. It was given 5 out of 5 for families in their ski resort review of 2016.

What Are the Challenges of Finding a Family Friendly Resort? READ ON...

Monday, February 1, 2021

Family Ski Holidays: The Ultimate Guide

  

Family ski holidays are great fun, but with a little planning and guidance, the experience can be made even better. In this blog we are going to give you loads of top tips and we will be covering the following topics to help you make your next family ski holiday one to remember:

Choosing The Right Ski Resort
When to Go on a Family Ski Holiday
Choosing Accommodation
Advice on Group Holidays
Skiing Holidays With Babies and Toddlers
Skiing Holidays With Young Children
Skiing Holidays With Teenagers
Kids Ski Lessons
Top Tips for Family Ski Holidays
Why Morzine Is Great For Family Ski Holidays

Choosing The Right Resort

Getting There

Sitting on a transfer bus with tired kids for a few hours can be pretty traumatic for everyone involved. Therefore, choose a resort that is less than two hours from from the airport. There are a few benefits of doing this:

– It is much more convenient
– You don’t start your holiday super tired
– There is less chance of being caught out by snow on the roads

Beginner Friendly Resorts       READ ON

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What To Know When Buying New Ski Boots

With so many choices, how do you know what type of ski boots to get?


While few purchases are as exciting as new ski equipment, the act of shopping also comes with a healthy dose of consternation. Nowhere do we get more flustered than trying to figure out how to find the right pair of ski boots.

As a reflection of our many different skiing styles and desires, the industry has produced specific boots to match our ever-segmented world. From fit to style to design to whether or not you want a walk mode and grippy soles, just knowing where to begin can be intimidating. This is true for professionals on down to beginners.

But this issue applies best to those who ski all the time: Boots, which cost a pretty penny, mean a great deal to us. In fact, boots can make or break a season. Since we depend on them all the time, we need them to be comfortable and work as intended. But even those of us who ski regularly have a hard time knowing exactly how a boot should properly fit.

In search of professional advice, I reached out to one of the industry's foremost experts in bootfitting and design. Matt Schiller, 46, has spent the majority of his career dialing equipment for some of the world's best skiers. From the World Cup to big mountain athletes to the X Games, he's been responsible for making sure boots, skis, and bindings are precisely tuned to get every possible advantage on the biggest stage. That includes three years as the service manager for the U.S. Ski Team, six years as Nordica’s race director, and three years as competition director for Atomic, where he helped Mikaela Shiffrin find the best fit for her equipment as she launched her career.

As the saying goes: You don't choose the boot—the boot chooses you. Schiller says finding new boots starts with having an open mind about fit, mechanics, and function. During an appointment, Schiller takes at least a half hour to collect several measurements before he even puts a boot on someone's foot. "I look really hard at mechanics," he says. "That will give them a short list of boots where they can think about fit, stance, and flex, and then they can go pick their top three boots with some guidance. I think that has to happen, no matter if you're a pro or a layman."

READ ON..

Partying Hard In Morzine and Avoriaz

  Partying Hard In Morzine and Avoriaz ...