{"id":7534,"date":"2018-11-22T10:48:18","date_gmt":"2018-11-22T09:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/?p=7534"},"modified":"2023-04-13T11:01:15","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T09:01:15","slug":"skiing-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/winter\/ski-features\/skiing-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"Skiing for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Y<\/span>ou want to learn to ski, but where do you start? Information overload can make planning your first ski trip an alarming experience \u2013 but don’t panic. Talk to friends who ski, read resort reviews, decide when you can travel and look at what’s on offer. Here are some tips to help make your first ski trip enjoyable enough to make you want to go again, and again… <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\nOur advice is to avoid the busiest periods and instead take advantage of the quiet weeks, when you could have the pistes virtually to yourself and your accommodation will be significantly cheaper.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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When is the best time to learn?<\/h2>\n

Absolute beginners can learn to ski at any time during the ski season (typically early December until late April) and expect to get tuition with one of the licenced ski-schools which operate in just about every ski resort (or ‘station’) in France. Our advice, though, is to avoid the busiest periods<\/strong> and instead take advantage of the quiet weeks, when you could have the pistes virtually to yourself and your accommodation will be significantly cheaper<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Early Season<\/h3>\n

The weeks before the Christmas and New Year peak time may offer a bargain ski holiday but beware, as snow conditions may not be good until later<\/strong> in the season. If you’re considering a last minute offer, check the live webcam images<\/strong> for the area before deciding. Snow cover can vary enormously between ski areas.
\n Good For<\/strong>: those who can get away at short notice and take advantage of early snowfalls.<\/p>\n

January<\/h3>\n

Until the French schools begin their half-term holidays in early February, January can be an excellent time for learning to ski. Snow conditions are often at their very best and slopes have relatively few skiers, but it can be very cold and the days are short. Lower ski resorts are also more likely to be traditional mountain villages which offer a more authentic French ski experience. Try resorts like Les Carroz<\/a> or Samo\u00ebns<\/a> in the Grand Massif ski area, or Morzine<\/a>, Les Gets<\/a> or Ch\u00e2tel<\/a> in the Portes du Soleil.<\/p>\n

March and early April<\/h3>\n

Avoiding the two weeks around the Easter Holidays, you should still have good conditions. It will be less cold thanks to longer days and the onset of spring. Beware of south-facing resorts<\/strong> at this time of year as their lower slopes can get very slushy in the afternoons, creating difficult conditions for learners.<\/p>\n

Find a resort which is predominantly north-facing <\/strong>such as Valloire<\/a> in the Maurienne Valley or which offers some easy, high- altitude<\/strong> terrain like Les 2 Alpes<\/a>, Tignes <\/a> or La Plagne<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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