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La Plagne |
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Europe offers more lift-served powder skiing than anywhere else in the world. Ski journalists Vanessa Webb and Pat Sharples, authors of The Top 50 Ski and Snowboard Resorts in Europe, pick the five best places to lay down fresh tracks. Click to view Top 5 EU Powder Ski Resorts.
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Best for Off-piste learners (La Plagne) |
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 If you are just learning to ski powder, head for La Plagne. It's the perfect place to practice deep snow turns as there is great off-piste terrain right next to the marked runs. There are also some big open snow-fields and powder bowls to progress to with no hiking required. |
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If you are in a mixed ability group La Plagne and the Paradiski area (combining La Plagne with Les Arcs) is perfect as it caters for everyone from beginners to expert freeriders and freestylers.
As Arnie Wilson says in his book ‘Top Resorts of the World’, “La Plagne has every conceivable permutation of piste and off-piste, from exhilarating descents… to delightful cruising". |
How to perfect your freeriding skills |
Evolution 2 in Monchavin-Les Coches (0033 (0)4 79 07 81 85, www.evolution2.com/plagne) is a great school to take you on your first steps into the backcountry. One 3.5 hour lesson (ski or snowboard) starts at €45 and 4 lessons (Monday –Thursday) costs just €150. When you’ve found your feet you can then take one of their half or full days tours of the Tarentaise region.
Oxygéne in Plagne Centre (0033 (0)4 79 09 03 99, info@oxygene-ski.com, www.oxygene-ski.com) also offer off-piste tuition. They recommend a 3 hour lesson for your first time off piste. Tuition includes all safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel and radio).
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For those discovering off-piste for the first time, it is important that you take a guide or instructor, not only to give you tips on freeriding technique, but also to get the best out of the area and to ensure your safety.
Unpisted runs are a good place to start. The Morbleu black piste is a good place to practice in difficult terrain as it is not normally pisted. Les Etroits is another run marked on the piste map but rarely pisted.
The Mont de la Guerre piste descends all the way from Les Verdons to Champagny. In itself it is simply a nice long intermediate piste, but the accessible powder off the run is the perfect place to hone your skills.
If your guide thinks you’re ready you may be able to try a couloir under the Funiplagne cable car, or set off on a day’s adventure from Aime La Plagne down to Notre Dame du Pre. |
Where to stay |
La Plagne consists of about ten villages, all of varying degrees of attractiveness, from the sleepy, quiet beauty of the small village resorts of Montchavin and Les Coches to the functional and well-placed Bellecôte and Aime-la-Plagne.
Care must be taken, however, as resort charm can be an issue in some areas of La Plagne. Belle-Plagne is the best place to stay - it is very central in the Paradiski area, it’s attractive and has some good bars and the best club.
Plagne-Centre also has great access to the slopes and attractive on-piste restaurants but the run-down indoor centre that contains the bars, restaurants and shops could do with a face lift. |
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| Prices: Not too bad |
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