Ski Info
Val d'Isere Snow Record/Ski Hire & Schools
It wouldn't be much fun to spend money on a ski holiday only to find there's no snow in resort. Well, Val d'Isere has always been the most snow sure resort you can visit.
With all the talk of global warming, we can only hope that our elevation will ensure we continue to experience great snowfall, year after year. Don’t always believe what you read in the papers. Call us in resort to find out the true story (tel: +33 4 80 985 008 extension 109).
Check out the snow forecast by logging on to www.snow-forecast.com
Beginners
Some say Val is not the best place to start skiing or boarding; it is just for the experts. In fact, it has an easy access nursery slope with free beginner lifts to kick-start your technique. Unlike other resorts, you quickly progress to the top of the mountain (Solaise) where easy beginner slopes await you. This sector offers fabulous mountain views, an abundance of easy slopes and a range of restaurants to meet your more advanced ski friends (instead of them coming down to base station to meet you). This set up gives any beginner the chance to see friends and family enjoy the other, harder slopes around you whilst you practice your turns on the greens. Perfect! Just refer to Vital Stats. to see how many blue and green slopes are actually available.
Ski Hire
We work with several shops in town, all in varying locations that are specifically chosen to help clients staying in our large portfolio of propeties dotted around town.
Snowberry Slope side & Snowberry Rond Point
Snowberry have 2 shops in resort. 'Slope side' at Rond Point (the original shop) and 'Street Side', their newer one not far from our office. They offer a full range of great quality equipment - all top of the range with a huge selection at all levels. You can also store your skis and boots in the Rond Point shop at the end of each day to pick up in the mornings for convenience. They will pick up any group to bring you to the shop, and likewise, at the end of your stay pick you up to return all of your kit.
Our clients get special deals offered by Snowberry using the code 509MRZ when booking equipment on line. The best deals are those that are booked on line at least 6 hours in advance - you won't get the same discounts if you use the code in store on the day.
To book on line go to http://www.snowberry-valdisere.com/booking/client/booking_step0.asp
Hors Limites
This is a small owner operated shop conveniently located in town and close to the slopes. You often get a more personal service from the smaller shops so it is worth considering. It offers a friendly service and quality range of equipmnet with the ski shop downstairs and clothing upstairs. It looks small from the outside but go in and head downstairs for ski hire.
Our clients get 20% off when they book with us and 10% off any purchases in the shop. Email Boris contact@shophorslimites.fr to book or enquire about equipment.
Ski Schools
There are a number of ski schools to consider for group or individual instruction
Supreme Ski School Tel +44 203744 1655
Supreme ski offer small group lessons, with English speaking instructors and a meeting point at the Solaise godola. You can find more details at Val d’Isere Ski School | Snowboard & Ski Lessons in Val d’Isere - Supreme Ski or email info@supremeski.com or we can put you in touch directly with Mike who will help you find exactly what suits your needs
TDC Tel: 06 15 55 31 56
TDC (The Development Centre) offers small group lessons and private development sessions to skiers of all levels. For everything from a blue run Discovery Clinic to off piste and backcountry adventures call TDC or email valdisere@tdcski.com.
Elevation Ski School Tel: 06 13 95 38 90
New for 2024, Elevation Ski School has been set up by experienced British Val d’Isère instructor Simon McCombe, offering private lessons for adults and children, on and off piste. It has a small team of highly experienced British instructors, who get great feedback from their customers. E-mail: info@elevationskischool.com Elevation Ski School | Private Ski Lessons | Val d'Isère
Mountain Masters Tel: 04 79 06 05 14
Mountain Masters is a small company with English instructors with a desk in Killy Sports (downstairs). They specialise in private tuition to a very high standard and off-piste guiding and ski touring. E-mail: info@mountain-masters.com
ESF (Ecole de Ski Francais) Tel: 04 79 06 02 34
The national ski school office is located in Val Village, open daily offering group and private lessons to all levels. They now have a few English instructors and of course other instructors speak English. E-mail: contact@esfvaldisere.com
Prices for lessons will vary according to the ski school chosen. To give you an approximate price:
- Group lessons for an adult for 6 days = €350
- Group snowboarding lessons for adult or child for 6 days = €350
Independent Instructors
Freddie Ribaud;
I have done most of my off piste ski days with this man. He knows the mountain and has taken me to places I would never have dared go. I have learnt to skin with Freddie and continually try to perfect my powder skiing (an ongoing challenge!). He skis & telemarks and knows his way around the entire area, including day trips well beyond Val.
For guiding off piste, call Freddie on +33 (0)614 11 54 74 or email elribo@wanadoo.fr
Laurent Bastian:
Born in the next valley (Maurienne) Laurent grew up in the French Alps and speaks fluent English (with an Australian wife). He has been a ski instructor in Val d'Isére for +20 years plus spent quite a few ski seasons in Australia. Laurent teaches skiing, snowboarding & telemark. He can organise day trips to Italy (La Rosiere- La Thuile).and he knows the best restaurants in both the Italian ski resort of La Thuile and Vald'Isére.
Call him on +33 (0)614 64 06 19 or email him on skippy.atval@free.fr
Herve Klein:
Herve has taught numerous MR&C clients who have all found him a pleasure to be around. He teaches skiing and snowboarding and knows the mountain inside out.
Call him on +33(0)609 26 44 54
Clare Burns:
Clare is the first American woman to achieve the top French qualification- Moniteur Nationale -- 1er degré. She has 10 years teaching experience in Val d'Isere and offers private coaching sessions, video feedback, race training, performance clinics, & off-piste guiding.
Mobile Tel: +33 6 20 34 82 59
E-mail: clare.burns@orange.fr
Website: www.clareburns.com
Valerie Goin:
Highly recommended by one of our English property owners for both on and off piste, Valerie has been teaching in Val d'Isere for 30 years, first with the UCPA and then with Top Ski and now as an independent instructor.
Call her on +33 682238492 or email her goin.valerie@gmail.com.
Clare Angus:
Clare is a fully qualified British instructor with her ISTD (International Ski Teacher Diploma) Level 4 BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors) qualification and full French equivalence. She also holds the European Mountain Safety qualification as well as being a Level 2 Race Coach. Based in Val d’Isere since 2006 she has a passion for skiing that began as a child and she loves to pass this on to others. She enjoys working with all ages and levels and believes that no matter your age or ability, goals and aspirations there is something out there to take your skiing holidays to the next level…
Call her on +33 620 17 33 56 or email her clareangus@live.com www.clareangus.co.uk
Espace Killy
High Speed Gondola
To reach the summit there are 3 possibilities; the Funicular at La Daille, the Bellevarde Face chairlifts or the Bellevarde Face High Speed Gondola. The old cable car was inappropriate for todays influx of skiers so it had to be replaced. The STVI (the lift company), opted for a gondola type 3S Doppelmayr (now we are getting technical!) with two carrier cables and a tractor. Some facts:
- 18 cabins, each seating 24 with 6 standing
- Length of journey is 5 minutes
- Altitude of departure point is 1835m
- Altitude of arrival point is 2689m
- Output is 2600 persons per hour (for the first season in service)
Almost 15 million euros (about 10 million pounds) has been invested by the STVI. It is situated at the foot of the Bellevarde sector. It is amazing!
Espace Killy
is the name of the collective ski areas of Val d'Isere and Tignes. The altitude of 1850m in town reaches 3,550m at the top, which is why we have one of the best snow records in the world. Your lift pass covers you for both areas giving you 130 lifts, 300km of marked pistes and a never ending range of off-piste terrain to enjoy. You will never get bored skiing or boarding the Espace Killy.
The lift system is also described as one of the best in the world moving you quickly and efficiently around the mountain. The links are carefully calculated to give access to off-piste terrain as well as the marked pistes.
Vital Statistics
| Altitude of resort | 1850m |
| Altitude at the top of the lifts | 3550m |
| Number of lifts Val side only | 96 |
| Alpine skiing slopes | 135 (300km) |
| Green slopes | 21 |
| Blue slopes | 65 |
| Red slopes | 35 |
| Black slopes | 14 |
| Cross country slopes | 16 (48km) |
| Snowboard Park | 1 |
| Half Pipe | 1 |
| Free nursery lifts | 7 |
Skate skiing & Cross Country skiing
If Alpine skiing is not for you of your fancy trying something different, you can 'skate' or 'cross country' ski, both forms of Nordic skiing. Skate skiing is hard but so rewarding when you master the technique and the Manchet Valley is one of the beautiful back drops on offer in resort to practice. Cross country skiing is where you ski in the tracks, mostly on flat ground.
We recommend (and have used ourselves) a company called Altitude Biathlon managed by our friend Nicholas. Contact him on 06 87 11 11 64 or Altitude Biathlon - Comme les champions de biathlon - Team building (altitude-biathlon.com)