We based our Ski School in Les Gets because of the excellent teaching terrain but also because we enjoy skiing here too:
happy group in Les Gets
- Beautiful for Beginners
- Inspirational for Intermediates
- Exciting for Experts
Holiday-makers may be more familiar with near-by Avoriaz, which is higher and enjoys a slightly longer winter season. However Les Gets’ ski area benefits from a micro-climate created by its proximity to Mt Blanc which results in good snow from Christmas to Easter, despite the slightly lower altitude. Sceptics are welcome to keep a regular check on Les Get’s webcam or the local snow reports!
There are plenty of great websites with all the statistics. The idea of this article though, is to give readers a general feel for the area and the spirit of the different sub-areas to be found here in Les Gets. It’s all ice cream, just different flavours!
Beautiful for Beginners
The Chavannes which is the main access area to the slopes,provides fabulous ski & snowboard teaching terrain because of the wonderful progression here. Just at the top of the Chavannes Gondola you will find our beginner area with free access to the two tapis roulants and adjacent rope tow. Once this has been conquered, a short ride up Le Croix chair provides access to several short gentle slopes and the excellent children’s terrain park or Indian Park.
Non skiers can sit with cameras at the ready at one of the several restaurant/cafes at the foot of this area – our recommendation would be Le Croix Blanche, but be aware you can’t book a table and the French take lunch early, so be there prompt to avoid disappointment.
Inspirational for Intermediates
With the right instruction, beginners can progress easily into the Ranfolly Bowl. This area has a healthy variety of blue, red & black runs and between the pistes is great terrain for those just venturing into the off-piste to practice in relative safety. For a pit-stop check out the funky & fun Llotty’s or enjoy the view of Mt Blanc as you chomp on a pizza at Le Rozzataz. And off the back of the bowl the runs down La Turche are
just as good with the advantage of being less well known and quieter.
Exciting for Experts
Going in the other direction, from the top of the Nauchettes chair you can reach the Chamossiere area. Although this really only consists of one red run and one black run, they are both excellent skiing and are serviced by a brand new 6 man chair (2010/11).
For more advanced skiers, the black often has the best bumps in the area,whilst the unpisted areas along the side, together with the adjacent powder bowl offer wonderfully playful terrain on the right day (so watch out for avalanche warnings!)
And then there is the People’s Mountain, Mont Chery. So called because this is where locals and seasonnaires choose to ski on their day off. Mont Chery consists basically of a front face and a back face. The front face has some beautifully pisted red runs, often utilised for race training but still open to the public and perfect for those who enjoy fast, carved turns. There is normally a modest fun park for snowboarders and freestylers, this was moved over to the main ski area for the 2010/11 season to make it more accessible.
However locals petitioned to have something of this nature return to Mont Chery as it is so in keeping with the general spirit of the area. This is where you come if you take your fun seriously, as the pilots offering tandem parapente jumps here will testify! Another funky resto with views to die for nestles comfortably half way up the front face, Le Grand Ours.
Whenever ALC have a video session with our more advanced clients we try and deliver it here because the terrain and the facilities provided by The Big Bear are as near perfect as you can get!
The back face, or Chery Nord has a big, long, beautiful black run. This is often left unpisted, which makes it THE place to head for on a powder morning and a great bump run the rest of the time.
As with Chamossiere, there are plenty of little areas all over Mont Chery where you can play in the off piste but you must respect avalanche warnings, or be prepared for the consequences!
Well we hope we have given you an idea of what to find in our back yard but don’t take our word for it, come and find out for yourself! Or better still take a lesson with one of our top qualified British Instructors and they will help you find your special piece of heaven! See you on the slopes!
If you are looking for somewhere to stay check out the recommended accommodation on our links page.
