Chamonix or Val D'Isere?

M

manifest

New member
I've got a little problem. I'm going to the Alps with a couple of friends, but I dont know where to go. I have been in Chamonix before, and that was really cool. THere were good freeriding opportunities there. But I have heard that Val D'Isere might be just as good. Any suggestions?

 
I hardly ever ski the east coast...the mountains are sooo tiny...mwahh haa ahhhh

Shaaddapp already

-a.k.a. The Flyin' Hawaiian

-Go Huck Yourself

-Friends don't let friends jib and jive.
 
if you go to val'disere you can ski iover to tignes on the same lift pass which is sick and tignes has a sick park setup

Snowboarding is for girls :- Riding with your legs apart
 
infact go to laax in switzerland its the best european resort i have visited

Snowboarding is for girls :- Riding with your legs apart
 
I was in Chamonix over Christmas and the snow was shit all week til the last day, which was awesome. If you go to Val d'Isere then at least you know there's going to be a half-decent park if it's not snowed in a while. Don't limit yourself to just those two though.

 
Val d'Isere is connected to Tignes, so you'll have plenty of opportunities there.

Personnally, a bit before on the road, i like La Rosiere: it has cool terrain and you can make a day trip (skiing of course) to Italy for some awesome pasta de la casa!!!

 
Val d'isere is a great place for skiing and as that other guy said you can ski in tignes too so there is loads of variety. Before you go though you should be aware of the health problems they've been having over the last few years.

I know loads of people who have caught really bad stomach bugs in the town and haven't been able to ski as a result. In fact, I actually know two people who were ill for months after going to val d. One of them had to drop out of school for a year! When it became obvious that they were very ill doctors back in england did loads of tests on them and finally discovered that they had something call para-TB. I can't claim to know anything about it except that it is very rare and can, in extreme cases, be fatal. It seems that you catch this bug from drinking the water from the taps, so if you do go just make sure that you drink bottled water and don't have drinks with ice.

Since discovering this para-TB thing, some people have talked about trying to close the resort down on grounds of safety to the pubic (this bit has nothing to do with my friends) but i dont know how far this will go.

Anyway, just thought you'd like to know. If you don't mind not having such a crazy night life you might be better in Tignes, it's cheaper too.

 
i'm sorry for you friends, pal. But honestly, i've never heard of such a massive public health problem there...

It seems like a rare, isolated event to me.

Maybe they didn't like the French beer? :-))

 
Those 2 guys got ill about two years ago. I think I could give you the names of at least 50 people that either me or friends of mine know that have been ill with a stomach bug in the last 2 years, and I promise that is no exaggeration. I'm not trying to freak people out, or stop them going to Val d'Isere, i just wish more people knew about it. Usually the bug only lasts a couple of days but very occasionally it can become very serious.

Let me give you another example. I was skiing in Meribel last season with a few buddies. 14 friends of ours had taken out a chalet for a week in Val D and we drove over to go out for a night and to ski with them for a day. When we arrived, 5 of the 14 of them were in bed with the bug, by the end of the week 9 of them had been sick and missed at least one day of skiing (the fact that when they got ill was spread out across the week pretty much proves it wasn't food poisoning). This is by no means the only example I have of people getting ill there.

It really pisses me off that there hasn't been more about this in the ski press but I'm sure you'll start reading about it if it's still a problem this year.

 
Val and tignes are awesome man. The terrains practically infinite and its more accessible than a lot of the stuff in Cham. Also they're not overrun with loads ofhardcore skiers and wannabes who track it out too quick. vals got more trees. they both have big parks but don't always open em quick enough.

like the man said the stomach bug was a few years ago and it had something to do with the water but thats old news. the skiin is sick and the bars are sweet. if money is no object hit val otherwise tignes.

.....aaaaahh...want to go now!

went big and went home
 
There is no bug!!! I have been skiing ib Val d'isere since I was a kid. It's the best french resort in myy opinion; the park is becoming iller and iller each year (it was ranked in the french top three last season).

It is just the best compromise between freeride and freestyle out there; night life is as great as chamonix; many swedish and english there make it always possible to party during the season.

Oh and if you don't wanna be sick just avoid English bars

 
Cytane: "Oh and if you don't wanna be sick just avoid English bars"

C propositions a la con on en a pas besoin,Merci.
 
I've skied in Val since I was like 4 and spent last season there. Never had a bug to speak of. It definately is not the water. I would agree that people do get something, but I can't possibly think what it is if it isn't the water (which it def isn't) that would restrict it to val...

Anyway, in answer to your question:

Cham is more hardcore freeride but doesn't connect well. Val/Tignes works better, lift served off piste, bigger area and better park.

In conclusion, unless you are hardcore freerider (willing to tour, climb, and ESSENTIALLY, hire a guide (glaciers everywhere)) go to Val for sick nightlife, great off piste, nice parks...
 
they are both sick, val d'isere is awesome though..spend a few weeks there a couple years ago
 
Thanks buddy. You just gave me my first opportunity to do this on NS:

PWNED (not the theswede but the other doubters in this thread)

Woop Woop, that felt good!
 
^^ what he said.

this thread is fuck old but some reactions.

Cytane at the time of your post the French top 3 parks according to SNOW and SKIEUR MAGAZINE the biggest French freeskiing and snowboarding magazines:

1. Les Deux Alpes

2. Avoriaz

3. Meribel

Val d'Isere got rated somewhere in the middle with a reasonable park and Tignes all the way at the back, obviously. So don't spread bullshit. Past season the French top 3 was divided among Les 2 Alpes, Avoriaz and Les 7 Laux.

As for Les 2 Alpes being only good for park, easy: La Grave. It doesn't get more legendary in France.

If you want Chamonix without the crowds go to Alagna (Monte Rosa Ski) it owns every resort mentioned in this thread for freeriding and the Monte Rosa is the biggest mountain massiv in the alps. And it's in the middle of nowhere.

And there's a shitload more, famous (Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Engelberg, La Grave, St. Moritz, St. Anton) and less famous (Disentis, Les Diablerets, Ovronnaz, Zinal, Grimentz, Blatten, Hoch-Saas...) Don't waste your time zealotting for 1 mountain, just ride as many as you can they all rock.
 
Les Deux Alpes IS only good for park. I hate the mountain, no variety. As for La Grave, you REALLY have to know what you're doing or you'll get yourself killed.

Meribel is the most British place you'll find outside of the UK. Really, it's horrible. The 3 Valleys is nice as a whole though. Stay in Courchevel though, or Mottaret if you want to go cheaper.

Avoriaz is really good though, that's where I'm staying next winter. Check out Tignes too.
 
agreed 100%

however "you REALLY have to know what you're doing or you'll get yourself killed" applies to pretty much all serious freeride in the alps.

From les 2 alpes you get a 3600m high mountain which you can descend on 3 faces, to La Grave, to St. Christophe, and back to Les 2 Alpes. The first 2 offer some of the best terrain in France for sure. It's important to learn the terrain from someone who knows what he's doing before you go on your own, after that, it's heaven..

Avoriaz is def. 1 of the best places to spend a winter.
 
Tigne and Val seem to be better than Cham for you. Esentially as mentionned, the resort in Cham is actually not one and is broken up in many resorts, with not many interconnections-but im sure youll love the mont Blanc.

Tignes and Val offer you great quality snow, long lasting, with many skiing options.

Yea Id say Val is pretty sick and u should def try it out.
 
It's not so far from Chamonix and Avoriaz, also in departement 74 with the best snow in France (basically anything stuck between lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc massif).

The park isn't very good most people just hit up Avoriaz because that's where the park's at. However it has some seriously sick freeriding together with neighbouring resort Le Grand Bornand. This resort has made a major effort past season to have a decent park.

plandespistes.jpg
 
my sister got that. it's noo bullshit.

she was pretty lucky though and got better like a week after she got home. it's pretty isolated and there aren't a but load of cases so i wouldn't take it into consideration.

cham is shawicked i love it. but it's true about it getting tracked out quickly. but tbh most of the alpes is like that. however if you know tignes and val you'll know were to find good snow. if you go tignes/val stay in tignes for sure. nights out at blue girl are second to everything;)
 
Val d'Isere is a great resort. It with Tignes makes a huge ski area which has everything.

Chamonix had no decent park all season this year and the pow is hit and miss. Although when there is a dump, there's not many places better.

I choose Val.

P.S. what the fuck does PWNED mean? Can people just not type or is it an 'in' thing on NS all of a sudden?
 
actually, I was there two years ago, and I had to follow a friend to the doctor cause she broke her ancle, and while we were there, there was a bunch of english people who were all ill and throwing up and stuff. so it's true. but that's about all I know about that. (maybe it's a punishment from the snow gods in val d'isere for skiing in STUPID outfits every day with a different theme for each day)

but skiing in val d'isere is really good! (and everything else too, I didn't get sick and don't know anyone else who caught that stuff either)
 
^^that's why some1 talks about it on may 15 2006 never heard of this. Is it only in Val d'Isière%?
 
i was there over christmas this season just gone and there were some cases.

it's not a disease though. it's like a violent flu bug. upset stomach and flu symptoms, lake of energy i guess similar to glangaler fever. obviously there's varrying strengths. my understanding was that it was due to the water supply in val but i was drinking it the entire time i was there with no problem. my sister was only brushing her teeth with the tap water and she got it. goooo figure.
 
I did a season in Val D'Isere and it was amazing. Chamonix I have been to about 5 times and it has excellent backcountry but for a season I would hit up Val.

I hear that Mayrhofen in Austria is better if you want a good park.
 
i have skiied

chourcheval-good family resort

Mirible-ICE

Tignes-they have this place called the spot where its all BC but patroled

Val-a bitch to get out off in the mornings because the lift lines are so long

Laax-best fucking part iv ever skiied
 
if you are there with your family theres good ski schools and easy runs for younger and not as good skiers, theres a good park and pipe for people like us,lots of steep aswell.
 
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