Morzine & Portes du Soleil for Steep & Deep Runs

Steep & Deep Runs in Morzine & the Portes du Soleil

If you like challenging steep runs that seem to go on forever then Morzine and the Portes du Soleil has got plenty to keep your legs working hard. Morzine although not extending to the high points of some resorts topping out at 2250 meters at the Grand Mossettes does still have a vertical drop of some 1000 plus meters. It is therefore more than possible to take in some huge runs in and around Morzine and the wider Portes du Soleil ski domain.

Steep & Deep Runs in Morzine

From the Point de Nyon at 2019 meters drop all the way down the Aigle Rouge to the Plateau du Nyon continuing onwards down the Chamois red. At this point you could, if your legs do not have sufficient burn, retour to the top of the Pointe du Nyon via the TS Pre Favre and TS de La Point for an encore. Or, continue down the Chamois and Retour des Nantes all the way into Morzine and the foot of the Pl�ney t�l�cabine. Alternatively continue on the blue Lievre to the t�l�ph�rique de Nyon. You�ll have now lost the best part of 1000 meters via either route!

For moguls head for the Aigle Noir under the TS de la Pointe lift.

Chamossi�re is 10 meters lower than Nyon and does not link as well to the bottom of Morzine. However the red Arbis run is one of the best around, its super steep and bumpy near the top making it more of a black for that section slackening in gradient and widening as you progress down the hill making it great for super high speed Super G carve turns. By the time you reach the Grand Pre you�ll be more than ready for a break at one of the three restaurants, particularly if you have gone none stop top to bottom.

For steep runs, try the black Creux from the peak of Chamossi�re or move into the Chavannes bowl above Les Gets for the short but steep and bumpy black runs; Yeti and Myrtilles.

For moguls head for the Creux under the TS Chamossi�re lift. This has particularly long and steep mogul section and will really get the legs pumping.

last updated 6-Feb-2008

Steep & Deep Runs in Les Gets

Over in Les Gets or more precisely the Chavannes bowl the two black runs Yeti and Myrtilles nearly always sport some pretty severe moguls on steeper gradient. For something a little steadier to work on the technique try under the lift line of the Nauchets Express to the skiers� right of Ambresalles.

Mont Chery above Les Gets has a couple of steep long mogul runs down the back of the mountain to Encrenaz; Mouflon and Chevreuil.

last updated 6-Feb-2008

Steep & Deep Runs in Avoriaz

Above Avoriaz the best area for both steeps and long vertical descents is the Hauts Forts. For very steep (and long) black runs try Combe du Machon, Ar�te des Intrets, Combette and the spectacular ridge line drop of Coupe du Monde. All these runs run into either the Gouilles rouges or Le Crot blue taking you right to the foot of the lifts at the head of the Prodains valley; Prodains t�l�ph�rique, TS Verare and TS Combe du Machon. The latter two are preferable to the Prodains t�l�ph�rique as that only takes you as far as Avoriaz and you will need to take the Express Lac Intrets to the top of the Hauts Forts.

Another great option for a super long top to bottom drop from the Hauts Forts is the blue runs Bleue d�Arare and Le Crot. The former is a wide but steep long blue run into Avoriaz. There are often ski races fenced off to the skiers� left, it is easy to get up some super scary speed down here. The latter is the home run and although it does have some road sections these are outnumbered by steep and often quite bumpy sections meaning it�s easy to keep up the speed and fly through the former before you have even noticed. The drop from the Hauts Forts to the head of the Prodains valley is over 1000 meters and if you go quickly enough you�ll be popping your ears at the bottom.

For moguls head for the Combe du Machon under the TS Combe du Machon lift. This is particularly long and very steep mogul section for the advanced skier. Nearer to Avoriaz centre is a great little mogul section under the Express du Stade to skiers� right of Stade du Slalom. The latter generally gets pretty mogulled as a function of rarely being pisted.

last updated 6-Feb-2008

Steep & Deep Runs in Les Crosets/Champery

Les Crosets/Champery boasts the Swiss Wall, I�m never quite sure which Secteur this run sits in, it has possible the biggest, steepest mogul field around, certainly the Portes du Soleil cannot offer anything else to match it in terms of vertical drop, length or steepness and the moguls covering it. From Avoriaz head out towards the Secteur Chavanette and take the Express Choucas lift to the ridge line marking the Swiss French border. Traverse the under the ridge line and head through the tunnel, up the slight incline and turn to the skiers right by the restaurant. The signposts in front of you give an indication of what is in store. So too does the fact that the lift bringing people the other way out of Switzerland allows a downlift, very unusual. So if you hadn�t already realized this run is for expert skiers only you may be getting the idea. The bumps are huge and the drop-in usually is too. If you make a mistake here you will quickly realize that Gore-Tex can slide faster than skies in some cases. You are unlikely to stop anytime soon. On the plus point everyone on the lift will get to hear you scream as you take off backwards on your back, having left your skis/poles/hat/goggles spread out over the hill above you, landing on the next mogul.

last updated 6-Feb-2008

Steep & Deep Runs in Chatel Linga Ski Area

Secteur Linga offers up some great terrain, notable among it is a couple of very steep reds dropping many multiples of meters. The best is the run into Villapeyron from the top of the TS des Combes, the Le Linga. This is super steep at the top for a couple of kilometers before slackening into super fast turns near to the village.

For bumps try the black run Les Renards closer to Plaine Dranse which is accessed via the TS de la Chaux-Ros�es. This is a wide, mostly, and very long run of varying gradient � super steep in places. Best of all is that the moguls are such that you can get a nice rhythm going.

last updated 6-Feb-2008