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Les Arcs Skiing Revealed
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Les Arcs comprises a number of small village resorts, all linked by a network of pistes and lifts allowing you to experience the area at your own pace and enjoy the varied terrain and scenery. By linking through to the rest of the Paradiski domain the Vanois Express cablecar opens up an enormous ski area just waiting to be explored! |
| Ski Areas in Les Arcs |
Arcs 1600 faces south-west and with extensive tree-lined skiing enabling descents to the unspoilt villages below resort level, it is an 'all weather' ski area that holds the snow well. Artificial snow making machines also mean that skiing back to the village is virtually always guaranteed. As with all the Les Arcs villages, Arc 1600 has something to offer every grade of skier.
Arc 1800 is truly a resort which caters for everyone. The runs here are wide and often tree lined ensuring plenty of room for those on their first week. It is best to try to avoid the bottom of the Maïtaz, Villards & Charmettoger runs where they converge at the Transarc gondola, this is usually teeming with people as it is nearly always icy and can catch out even the best of us, try to use the mid station point of the Transarc to get up and over to 2000.
Arc 2000 is more suitable for intermediate to expert skiers, the runs here tend to be more reds and blacks and the off piste around resort is truly amazing. But don’t miss out on Arc 2000 if you are only just beginning to ski or snowboard, there are some fantastic rolling reds/blues which are shallow enough for you to learn on.
Peisey-Vallandry has some beautiful tree lined pistes which are perfect for learners. This tends to be the quieter side of the valley. The lift which links this side to Arc 1800 is the Plan Bois and unfortunately it is not only old, slow and very long but it is also popular pretty much all day long. If you like to ski between the trees then this is the place to do it. When the snow has dumped, Peisey-Vallandry pistes can seem almost heavenly. |
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last updated 12-Feb-2008 |
| Lift & Piste Maps for Les Arcs |
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These maps are useful for printing off and taking up the mountain, allowing you to see how the resort is laid out and which lifts and pistes lead where - indispensable for organising where to stop for lunch! Alternatively paper copies can be found in resort at the Tourist Office, lift pass offices, hotel receptions, etc...
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last updated 11-Feb-2008 |
| Insider's Guide To... |
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With such a big ski area to explore, it's sometimes good to have a little bit of inside information… For your pleasure, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite places for challenging and steep runs, the places to go on bad weather days, and the nicest and sunniest spots for lunch. For those wanting to check out the off-piste, Les Arcs also has vast areas which are easily accessible from the lifts. ... more |
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last updated 12-Feb-2008 |
| Snowparks in Les Arcs |
Les Arcs has very firm roots in snowboarding history as a favourite place to ride and the season destination choice for many of the Pro’s. Back in 1981 Regis Rolland (who later began the snowboard manufacturers ‘A’) was given a snowboard to try out and soon began to break new ground in snowboarding styles and tricks.
The Regis Rolland designed Snow Park and Half Pipe are enough to satisfy most freestyle appetites as well as the natural Freeride terrain found all over the mountain which is great for getting airborne as you cruise around the pistes.
If you are taking your skiing or boarding to a different level, then try Apocalypse Parc which has lots to offer, ranging from blue level jumps to black, it also has rail slides, a spine jump and for the really adventurous - a gap jump. Or if you are into testing your speed, try the boarder cross for both skiers and boarders alike.
Les Arcs is a great place to learn to snowboard. There are good networks of beginner runs and English speaking snowboard schools in good supply. |
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last updated 12-Feb-2008 |
| Cross Country Skiing (Ski de Fond) |
If you fancy a change of pace then maybe cross country skiing is the thing to try. Known as ski de fond in French, it is the perfect way to get back to nature and escape the hustle and bustle of the main ski slopes.
There are two styles of cross country skiing to try; classic (two straight grooves formed side-by-side) and skating (more energetic) which are usually accommodated side by side on specially prepared pistes. For those used to downhill skis, cross country equipment can feel extremely precarious to begin with as the skis are considerably narrower and you are only attached to them by the toe of your boot! The bonus though, is that cross country ski boots are decidedly lighter and more comfortable that alpine ski boots.
Cross country skiing is actually a lot more energetic than you might first believe and there is a definite technique to grasp before you start bowling along the trails. However, it is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon (or longer) and there are some short trails available in each level of the resort. In Arc 1600 – there is a loop starting at Courbaton, the top of the funicular; Arc 1800 – another starts from the top of the Jardin Alpin chairlift; and Arc 2000 – the trail begins near the ESF 2000 office. Each trail is about 5km long and is free to use. There is also a longer trail of 15kms available down in Bourg St Maurice which can be accessed via the funicular from Arc 1600.
For some truly spectacular cross country skiing though, you need to head down the valley to the Nordic area of Peisey-Nancroix, where there are 44kms of well kept trails. Situated on a vast plateau at the entrance of the Vanoise National Park, this beautiful setting also has paths for walkers, snowshoe trails and toboggan routes. In order to use the trails here, you must first purchase a pass from the centre office before setting out, the profit from which goes towards the daily trail upkeep. Prices are as follows:
Half Day - €4.90 (€3.40 child)
Full Day - €5.90 (€4.20 child)
2 Days - €9.20
6 Days - €23.00 (€10.50 child)
Equipment can be hired from the centre for approximately €9 per day (€7 for children) and there are also combined pass/equipment package prices available if you ask at the office. The Nordic Centre office is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm daily during the season – Tel: +33 (0)479 07 92 65. Cross country ski equipment can also be hired from the main ski rental shops in each level of the resort.
The ESF school in Peisey offers tuition in both the classic and skating cross country styles. |
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last updated 8-Feb-2008 |
| Handiski (Skiing for the Disabled) in Les Arcs |
Adaptive skiing for those with disabilities is possible with ESF Les Arcs. The ESF (Ecole du Ski Francais) carries out annual training programmes for its instructors to ensure that they are all proficient in the use of standing (uniski or dualski) and seated (skichair and nordic sledge) adaptive equipment. They are also qualified to guide partially sighted and blind skiers around the pistes. Their aims are to:
Help you to explore the mountain environment
Discover and share the thrills of snowsports
Push back the limits of disability to autonomy
To read more about adaptive skiing and the British Disabled Ski Team please visit Disability Snowsport UK. |
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last updated 1-Apr-2008 |
| Skiing Tips & Techniques |
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We have teamed up with one of our top ski school instuctors to produce guides on ski technique. The articles featured here include learning how to carve and how to conquer moguls. To ensure you get the most out of your time on the piste, check out our Ski & Snowboard School Listings and perfect your skills! ... more |
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last updated 13-Feb-2008 |
| Equipment & Clothing Guide |
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Have you literally got 'all the gear' but have no idea what to do with it?? Unless you want to look like Posh Spice on the slopes, knowing a bit about your skis/snowboards/transceivers etc will help you avoid being any old Wannabe... Having the right equipment for your chosen sport/activity will help ensure that you get the best possible introduction to your sport (if you are a beginner), or speed you along in your learning curve if you are looking to improve. The easier and quicker you learn, the more pleasurable your experience will be! In this section, you will find guides to help you select the most appropriate gear for your sport and your ability. ... more |
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last updated 8-Feb-2008 |
| Video Snow Reports from Les Arcs |
Coming soon!
Video Snow Reports are a free service we are offering, in which we finally reveal the identities of some of our Snow Reporters... well that's assuming they are not wearing balaclavas and aviator shades - just to protect them from the from the same people who are after ‘The Stig’ from the BBC’s Top Gear. |
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last updated 13-Feb-2008 |
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