Winter Activities: Adaptive skiing, learning to ski, alternative winter sports, dog-sledding, behind the scenes at a ski resort, winter gear.

The pisteurs of Samoens, Grand Massif, French Alps. MountainPassions was given exclusive access
to the teams working in Samoëns and Flaine in the Grand Massif ski domain. The result is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at just how a large ski domain operates. We began by seeing how the snowmaking team provides artificial snow cover to keep the slopes open and safe for skiers. Then it was over to Samoëns to see the inner workings of a state-of-the art high speed gondola installation. By sunset, we were sitting in the cab of a powerful groomer seeing at first hand the art of piste-grooming.
The next day we joined the avalanche teams and les pisteurs, who between them showed us just what is involved in keeping the slopes safe and secure.

New Feature

Short-break Skiing

Geneva offers short transfers to great destinations
Winter Activities

During the winter months Geneva airport becomes one of the major hubs for skiers travelling to the French Alps. With so much skiing easily accessible from Geneva, it's becoming more and more common for people to squeeze in a long ski weekend. Short break specialists Ski Weekender compare major ski resorts close to Geneva by transfer time. Read the feature.

Browse Our French Ski Resort Reviews

Editor's Choice

All About Ice Climbing

An exhilarating and challenging sport
Winter Activities

In the latest in our 'All About' series, the activity holiday specialists Undiscovered Alps lift the lid on ice climbing. If you love a physical and technically demanding challenge, conquering a frozen waterfall in the depths of winter with an ice axe and crampons could fit the bill. Beginners will need some instruction and be reasonably fit but they say that the sheer thrill of it is quite addictive. Read the feature.

Think you can do it too?

Accessibility in resorts raised to welcome disabled skiers
Winter Activities

Sit-skier Taking part in snowsports and experiencing the thrill and excitement of downhill skiing is now a real possibility for virtually anyone, regardless of their mobility. Disabled skiers now have a choice of where to ski, as resorts are upgrading lifts and ski school staff are undertaking specialist training. We aim to help you make the right decisions about getting on the slopes, along with a few ideas about where to go. Read the feature.

Snowshoeing - A Beginners' Guide

A great way to discover a winter wonderland
Winter Activities

Couple snowshoeing Snowshoeing has existed since man searched for a way of getting around in deep snow. It's now a very popular and growing, winter activity. The walking and snowshoe specialists Simply Savoie reveal how much fun it is to snowshoe, how good it is for you, and some of the techniques and tips that will help when you try it out for the first time.
Read the feature.

All About Snow-Making

snow cannon In an increasingly competitive marketplace, top ski resorts now need to offer a lot more than good snow conditions. Without them, though, there’s no skiing, so investment in new and upgraded snowmaking infrastructure is steadily increasing. To find out how it works in a major ski resort we visited Flaine in the Grand Massif, one of the pioneers of artificial snowmaking, for a priviliged look at just what goes on behind the scenes. Read the feature.

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Popular Features

La Grande Odyssee
January 7-18th, 2012
Winter Activities

Husky sled dog

La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc is, since the first edition in January 2005, the toughest international sled dog race in the world. Each year the race brings together 20 of the best mushers in the world. Together with their Alaskan and Siberian Huskies, they stride 900km (about 560 miles) in Savoie and Haute Savoie and climb over 25 000 m. For the first time in 2012, the teams will depart from the Grand Massif then continue to the Espace Diamant and the Haute Maurienne Vanoise. Read the feature.

Where the pros' love to ski
Winter Activities

Graham Bell (pictured) and other pro skiers
talk about skiing their favourite French pistes.

We asked a group of ski professionals to tell us their own favourite ski runs in the French Alps. Some of their responses will surprise you.
“A joy - an undulating, modestly steep roller-coaster which seems to go for ever...."
Another says "on a brilliant, sunny day you can look around you and take in an incredible picture of the whole of the French Alps in all their beauty spread right before you!..." Read the feature.

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Experience complete comfort on SWISS flights to Geneva and enjoy the added bonus of taking your skis at no extra cost.

Pick up and ski this winter

Forget about queuing for a bus at the airport, low cost car hire - with a ski rack if necessary, will get you to where you want to go with a minimum of fuss. See the

Great deals to ski destinations

Flights from Southwest England, Birmingham and the Isle of Man to Chambery or Geneva opens up a wealth of ski opportunities in the northern Alps.
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Roger Moss, Welcome to our winter & ski pages

In France skiing is not merely an interest but a birthright. The mountain areas of France boast literally hundreds of ski resorts, and somewhere out there your pefect ski area is just waiting for you to discover it.
Our independent resort reviews will help you do just that – we’ve skied every single one of them, so we know what works and what doesn’t. And each season the list will grow as we continue our explorations.
We’ll also be bringing you plenty of ideas for non-skiers – you’ll be surprised at how many ways you can enjoy the mountains in winter...

Roger Moss, Editor.

Revealed: what goes on behind the scenes in a major ski resort... Winter Activities