Summer skiing in Europe - worth the effort?

[LooneyTunes]

Harry F's chalet thread has got me thinking about skiing again...

Never really looked into it properly before, but am aware that a few European resorts offer summer skiing (albeit limited to earlier on in the day).

With a while to wait before the first proper trip of the 25/26 season, and kids increasingly addicted, wondered if anyone has anyone tried it?

Clearly it's not going to be as good as the main season but is there anywhere that is actually worth the effort?

[HocusPocus]

My kids used to train in the summer months. Kandahar Club run courses for young GB skiers I believe in Alp d'Huez, and international FIS rated snowboard athletes gathered to train in Hintertux. Both glacier. There are also high performance programs run in Whistler in the summer. Summer skiing is pretty hard-core stuff, blazing sun, crystal snow...a far cry from a fluffy chilled winter snowscape.

The other cross over sport those athletes practise in summer is fast downhill MTB along specially made tracks. Aerial skills, balance, acrobatics, landings etc... Mental!!

Personally I'd rather be on the beach or, better still, a boat.

[AndrewIC]

I did a couple of weeks in Val d'Isere when I was 13/14 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very early starts to get to the Glacier in Tignes and you were water skiing in places by midday and what must have been the ripest toilets on earth at the top of the funicular. As already mentioned there is a lot of race training going on, but they had a snowpark and a couple of other runs on the go. Plenty of MTB activities in Val along with hiking and climbing plus you can get over to Italy relatively easily.

[JQ]

I was mountain biking in Les Deux Alpes last year and there were lots of international ski teams in the town heading up the glacier every morning. I did want to go up and have a look but ran out of time.

If your kids love skiing get them into mountain biking, they'll love it.

[oddman]

JQ said:

I was mountain biking in Les Deux Alpes last year and there were lots of international ski teams in the town heading up the glacier every morning. I did want to go up and have a look but ran out of time.

If your kids love skiing get them into mountain biking, they'll love it.

Agree very good crossover for skills and fitness.

In addition to race training on glaciers, the ski mountaineering the season is still going and might extend into June or beyond on the really cold North Faces. Neither of these are family activities.

[LooneyTunes]

Thanks guys, even with the limitations, we might give it a look.

Zero interest in mountain biking... same child is in the process of selling bike having decided that it’s not for them.