Snowboarding - Val Thorens: Do's & Don'ts

[yorky500]

Winter season is upon us and we have booked a week in Val Thorens in late January.

I have never been to Val Thorens before but have watched countless Youtube vids of the place.

Group of 4, 3 of which are snowboarders and x1 skier. So, what is there to do? What are the decent "runs".

We are self catering so where to eat/drink or are the local stores cheapish?

First time away on a snowboard in "real snow" as I moved over to snowboarding in Jan this year and have learnt on the indoor ski slope here in Dubai.

Advice/suggestions/recommendations would be appreciated from those who have been before.

Thanks

[johnnywb]

I've been to VT every year for about the last 17 years...

do - take layers, it's above the tree line and can get bl00dy cold if the wind kicks in. Late Jan should be warmer though.

do - make sure you check out the Folie Douche and Bar 360 for lively apres.

do - make use of the 3 valleys (if you're feeling confident enough). The snow looks like it's going to be fantastic this season and in late Jan it could be perfect.

Runs to check out - any of the runs off the top of the Funitel are good. The Beranger can be tough but the tete ronde is brilliant. Also, if you make it to the 3 valleys, check out the folyeres run down into La Tania and stop at the Ski Lodge for lunch. Run by Tim Wall an ex-pat, very fun place to stop and very good value in comparison to Meribel and Courchevel.

The skiing is generally excellent, make sure you check out the runs down in the 4th Valley as well (toward Orelle). The good thing about VT is that essentially it's a bowl, do you're never that far from anywhere.

In terms of eating / drinking;
Saloon bar - good fun
The Frog & Roastbeef - good for breakfast, bit of a saisonairre's hang out
Swedish Johns - Very good food, but pricey
American Johns - classic burger joint
La Petit Ferme down at the lower end of town used to be very good.
Cafe Face West - in the middle of town, good food.

[yorky500]

johnnywb said:

Quality Feedback

Cheers johnny, just what I was looking for.

Gonna give the Park a bit of a go too.

[johnnywb]

yorky500 said:

Cheers johnny, just what I was looking for.

Gonna give the Park a bit of a go too.

The Park's really good, although the big stuff is often properly big, i'm sure it will be with all the snow this year!

[yorky500]

johnnywb said:

yorky500 said:

Cheers johnny, just what I was looking for.

Gonna give the Park a bit of a go too.

The Park's really good, although the big stuff is often properly big, i'm sure it will be with all the snow this year!

I shall be leaving the "big stuff" to those who are a lot younger than me and who have big brass cahooners/no fear. My bones are old and would take time to heal.

Yes, I have noticed they have had some decent snow falls so far - roll on end of Jan!

[Gumstabber]

If you're on a bit of a budget then be careful of eating and drinking in courcheval or meribel on the slopes. We paid £9 for a lager and £6 for a can of coke!

Also to reiterate the cold point above. It can get damn cold, -30C odd at the top of the Col a few years ago for us.

Otherwise have fun and stay off the flat routes if you're on a snowboard obviuosly.

[Mr E]

Do this one afternoon.
http://www.valthorens.com/winter-en/val-thorens/ac...

I believe you can run the same thing at night on a rented DH mountain bike with studded tyres, lights and body armour.

Good resort is VT. I remember Cristine being a decent red.

[Raify]

If you happen to go over to the Meribel side, avoid this blue piste like the plague:

"Ours"

It's near the top of the map next to a lake. Flat as a f-ing pancake for miles. The most annoying, painful piste you could ever have the misfortune to snowboard down.

[Busa mav]

Make sure you get to the top of Cime de Caron on a clear day. The view is just unbeatable.

I like to stay in Courchevel every year , but I always make the trip to VT at least 3 times , then hiyt all the peeks and then head back through Les Menuires.

It makes for a great trip and isnt too much of an effort to do in a day.

It is the only place where I have sat outside for lunch and seen the top of a pint ice over.

oh, and be ready for the cost of a 3 valley lift pass .

[Cheib]

don't Snowboard

do Ski

[Busa mav]

Cheib said:

don't Snowboard

do Ski

I think that is the best advice I have seen

[yorky500]

Busa mav said:

Cheib said:

don't Snowboard

do Ski

I think that is the best advice I have seen

To be honest I am enjoying snowboarding a lot more than I enjoyed skiing. It is a bit hard to get used to having both feet strapped to a plank of wood and falls tend to fairly spectacular, but it is a load of fun.

[yorky500]

Cheers for all the replies, much appreciated.

Some very good tips mentioned.

[rex]

There is an itinery route (non piested route) of the back of Masse 2 which is accessed to the right of Les Minuires which is good fun if it has snowed heavily.

Try visiting every Escapade tag point in a day. You get to see all areas and is a bit of a challenge. We covered 50 miles boarding and 30 miles on the lifts in a day with an altitude change of nearly 50,000 feet. Knackered but a great day.

[Cheib]

yorky500 said:

Busa mav said:

Cheib said:

don't Snowboard

do Ski

I think that is the best advice I have seen

To be honest I am enjoying snowboarding a lot more than I enjoyed skiing. It is a bit hard to get used to having both feet strapped to a plank of wood and falls tend to fairly spectacular, but it is a load of fun.

In an ideal world it would be great to be good at both....I think most people find it easier to get to a decent level on a board after that painful first few days. Skiing a much longer process to get good enough to go off piste and ski it properly.

[gingerpaul]

Great place, generally great conditions that time of year but it can be really cold too. From a snowboarding point of view make sure you carry lots of speed into the final stages of getting back into town if you can. There are a lot of flat and slightly uphill sections that will have you walking if you don't.

[yorky500]

Cheib said:

yorky500 said:

Busa mav said:

Cheib said:

don't Snowboard

do Ski

I think that is the best advice I have seen

To be honest I am enjoying snowboarding a lot more than I enjoyed skiing. It is a bit hard to get used to having both feet strapped to a plank of wood and falls tend to fairly spectacular, but it is a load of fun.

In an ideal world it would be great to be good at both....I think most people find it easier to get to a decent level on a board after that painful first few days. Skiing a much longer process to get good enough to go off piste and ski it properly.

Well as I said, I have ever snowboarded on "real snow" it's all been artificial as I learnt on the indoor ski slope here in Dubai however I am doing things I had never even dreamed on doing on skis I.e. switch riding, 180 jumps to switch riding, 180's off mounds, box jumps and other small tricks. I am no expert but I love trying all these things.

Really m looking forward to getting onto proper snow.