Galaxie Ski Area
This is a huge ski area and enables you to ski some fantastic, snow-sure resorts in France and Italy under the one pass. The Galaxie Ski pass will give you access to over 900 kilometers of pistes and if you purchase the six day pass at Puy St Vincent (the local resort) it’ll be cheaper than other resorts.
Buying a Puy St Vincent ski pass (from 6 to 14 days) allows you to ski a full day in Pelvoux-Vallouise, Serre Chevalier, Montgenèvre milky way, Sestrières milky way, Les Deux Alpes, L'Alpe d'Huez and La Grave as well.
Below are the contact details for the ski school:
ECOLE DE SKI INTERNATIONALE 05290 - PUY SAINT VINCENT 1600 04.92.23.30.79 04.92.23.45.06
Email: esi-puysaintvincent@wanadoo.fr
http://puy-saint-vincent.paysdesecrins.com
Puy St Vincent
The Puy St Vincent fans say there's only one word to describe skiing at Puy - FANTASTIC!!!! We tend to agree. Although the resort may at first seem quite limited as it only has 75 km of piste there are so many off-piste opportunities for all standards of skiers that it is just a perfect place to ski. It boasts an excellent snow record (created by its own micro-climate) and Provençal sunshine.
The pistes are well groomed and maintained and there is a good balance of Greens, Blues, Reds and Blacks. The highest point is the Pendine, at 2700m, and there is a run from here all the way down to 1400m. Boarders are well catered for with the 250m long pipe, the boarder-cross zone and all of the unbeatable off-piste.
Voted “family resort of the year” Puy St Vincent has an excellent ski school with English speaking instructors and lots of none skiing activities for families to enjoy, such as husky rides, snow shoeing and sledging.
For a three dimensional map of the Puy St Vincent pistes, click here (opens in new window).
Pelvoux-Vallouise
The Pelvoux-Vallouise ski resort is, above all, a village resort with a snow front at the bottom (at 1200m) near the old villages. In many ways it is the little sister to Puy St Vincent. However, it's the big powder and real free ride opportunities that take this village resort to a majestic level.
Set in the beautiful Vallouise valley at the foot of the prominent mountain of La Blanche, this village resort is another big secret of the alpine world. It’s esoteric and accessible all at the same time. It caters for the big mountain free riders and the beginners under the same pass.
Serre Chevalier
Home of Luc Alphand (who now brews beer in Vallouise!), the downhill world champion from 1995 to 1997. Serre Chevalier has 250 kilometres of piste. The resort itself is very much an intermediates' paradise. More advanced skiers are best advised to head for the top village of Monêtier for some good black pistes, or a considerable variety of off-piste terrain.
The overall impression of Serre Chevalier is one of traditional, almost 'Provencal' charm, particularly in Monêtier. It is an atmospheric venue, is great value and unpretentious. Serre Chevalier also has a strong French feel. The restaurants serve good local fare, but a car is a good option, allowing you to try each village's eateries. Families may be particularly attracted, with a very good ski school and decent childcare provision.
Montgenèvre and the Italian Milky Way
Just two kilometers from the Italian border and 40 minutes drive from Vallouise, Montgenèvre is the only French direct link into the massive Milky Way network, with its hundreds of kilometers of pistes. At 1860m, this resort has a very good snow record and great (and reasonably-priced) restaurants. Queues are absent in the week, but can grow at the weekend. The skiing at Montgenèvre is good for beginners and intermediates, more advanced skiers and boarders just have to head for more challenging skiing over in Italy (a chairlift away!). The advantage of heading to Italy is also one of economics – everything is a fair bit cheaper and the mountain restaurants and refugios serve up some wonderful, authentic Italian mountain fare. Montgenèvre has a lovely old village to explore and benefitted hugely from the Turin Winter Olympics in 2006. We would definitely recommend you make the most of the 6 day Galaxie Ski Pass and ski Montgenèvre for a day.
La Grave
This is cutting edge skiing, no frills and hardcore. It’s the absolute Mecca of easy access off-piste. La Grave offers some of the most extreme skiing and most stunning mountain scenery in the world. It was a favourite of the late, great, legendary Doug Coombs. Only the really top boys and girls should try skiing the mountain, La Meije. Skiing it without a guide is perilous, with hidden crevasses and twisting couloirs waiting to catch you out. There is only one marked trail (which is not pisted), the rest is all off-piste - technical, heart-pumping stuff. If you want to feel the big mountains hire a guide and make the most of your 6 day Galaxie Ski Pass with a trip to La Grave. It will be an amazing experience.
Ski Touring, ski mountaineering and x-country skiing (ski de fond)
The southern French Alps are a perfect area for ski touring and ski mountaineering because there is a huge variety of routes, from technical high mountain traverses including the Tour des Ecrins to short day trips on easy slopes, plus (of course) the advantage of the best sun record in the Alps! You will not suffer crowds or have to ski in someone else’s tracks. The mountains will be all yours!
Within a twenty minute drive you reach the Parc Regional du Queyras which has a great reputation for ski touring and hut-to-hut tours.
Vallouise also offers a vast amount of x-country skiing (ski de fond). There are prepared trails throughout the valley, at Pelvoux-Vallouise, Puy St Vincent and the l’Onde valley. Many of these trails can be accessed directly from Apartment Sabu and the kit can be hired from the ski shops in the village.
