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Tignes Skiing Revealed
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Tignes is one of the top ski resorts in the world providing over 150 kilometres of pistes and this, together with vast areas of accessible "off piste", makes it ideal for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. Skiers seem to outnumber the snowboarders a little but there is a comfortable balance of both sports – each taking advantage of the different areas Tignes has to offer. |
| Tignes Ski Area |
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Tignes is approximately equivalent in size to Val d’Isere. During the winter months, it offers 47 ski lifts which include a funicular railway, a cable car, 24 chairlifts and 19 drag lifts, enabling you to ski round the 150 kilometres of pisted terrain. Tignes has a variety of skiing for all levels and can be split into four areas, La Grande Motte Massif, Palet/L’Aiguille Percée, Toviere and Les Brévières. The Grande Motte offers a good choice of wide open blues, but it can often be deceptively cold on the glacier, and not always conducive to learning. There are a number of cruisey intermediate runs and although there’s not a huge selection of blacks, you can try the 'Sache', a long black run from the top of the L’Aiguille Percée to Tignes Les Brévières - it provides some fierce moguls and challenging skiing. There is also a board park at Val Claret giving riders the chance to try their hand at some freestyle jumping, rails and ‘big air’! For the more adventurous, Tignes has access to some of the worlds best off-piste in the French Alps.
... see "Tignes Skiing Area" for more |
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last updated 13-Feb-2008 |
| Espace Killy Ski Area |
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The Espace Killy is located in the Tarentaise area of the Savoie department in the Northern Alps, and is the name given to the combined ski domain of Tignes and Val d’Isere. Named after France’s Olympic downhill skiing champion Jean Claude Killy, the ski area offers over 300kms of pisted skiing and some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery. The area remains a firm favourite with both the British and French because of the huge variety of ski terrain available. The 'Espace Killy' is dedicated to all aspects of skiing, and is set to host the World Skiing Championships in 2009.
Due to its location against the peaks of the Italian border, the Espace Killy's record of snowfall is exceptional. Whilst benefiting from the same Atlantic depressions as other French resorts, it often receives heavy falls of snow from the Mediterranean low pressures which dump their snow on the Italian Alps. The snow coverage tends to be one of the best in Europe, and conditions normally facilitate good skiing right to the end of the season (May 8, 2005).
... see "Where to go in the Espace Killy for..." for more |
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last updated 13-Feb-2008 |
| Val d'Isere Ski Area |
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Val d'Isère is located in a steep valley and it is these steep slopes that have attracted the hard core skiers since the resort opened for downhill skiing in the mid 1930s. There is a vast choice of slopes in the high Alps where intermediate skiers and boarders can sample the stunning views and learn from those on the steeper pitches, on the bumps and in the snowpark. The skiing area in Val d'Isere can be broken up into 3 areas, namely Le Fornet, Le Solaise and Bellvardes,all varying in style and complexity. ... see "Val d'Isere Skiing Area" for more |
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last updated 13-Feb-2008 |
| Cross Country Skiing (Ski de Fond) |
 | | 'Classic' Style |
Get back to nature and explore tranquil cross-country trails at your own pace. There are two different techniques – classic and skating. Classic is the easiest for beginners; you simply place your skis in two parallel groves, push off and glide around the trails. Skating is more energetic and a slightly harder skill to grasp; you push your feet out to either side as though you are ice skating and use your poles simultaneously to gain momentum.
You can hire the comfortable boots and lightweight skis and poles fairly inexpensively from most sports shops and book a group or private lesson to learn the basics from most ski schools or private instructors. For those used to downhill skis, at first you feel precariously balanced and downhill sections are definitely more exciting on narrow skis with no edges! The skis are lighter and slimmer than downhill skis and the boots are much softer and more comfortable.
The tranquility of cross country (also known as Nordic) skiing is perfect for anyone who enjoys peace and quiet, or finds the downhill pistes too crowded or too steep. It is a great form of aerobic exercise and one can be as energetic or slow as one likes, while the relaxed pace makes it a more tranquil way to enjoy the surroundings!.
 | | 'Skating' Style |
Once you have grasped the essentials, head off into the beautiful and tranquil cross-country trails that meander through the Espace Killy. No lift pass is needed, and one can be as energetic or slow as one likes.
The Espace Killy has a total of 44km of tracks for cross-country skiing, approximately half of which are in Tignes and most of the ski schools also offer instruction in this discipline. Cross country circuits are free to use and are shown on the piste map with their level gradings – green, blue, red or black.
Val d'Isère has it's share of cross country trails to be explored, such as:
- In La Daille – To the left of the main road just past La Daille is an easy, green,1.5km long trail
- In the Manchet Valley – There is a 1km track running from the Solaise cable car to the Clochetons restaurant (green) and then a further 3km to the Manchet old hamlet (blue) - this trail is sunny in the morning and early afternoon. There is also a 6.5km long red run – Le Manchet
- At the Ouillette lake – At the top of the Solaise cable car, walk to the Madeleine chairlift and there is a 2km blue trail around the ‘Ouillette lake’ on the right hand side
- In Le Fornet – From the Le Fornet cable car, there is a 5km blue trail out of Val d’Isere to the border of the Vanoise National Park
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last updated 2-Jul-2008 |
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