Forums

Another quick question where's the best for off-piste?

I have been snowboarding in the French Alps and also in America, both places are great for a bit of off-piste action but the trick is getting up a good enough mountain to get some serious action! 

So here's my tips, when you find that perfect run (Not for the faint hearted) 

1. Get in a helicopter and throw yourself out of it, you can arrange this at most of the top resorts and this means they will take you far away from the crowds and you will have the run of your life
2. Okay this one is crazy - I've done it once - and it horrified a near buy crowd on a run - Hire a snow machine / bike and run this to the top of a mountain, once you get to the top, push the bike back down the mountain you came up, the bike's gearing will let it run down the mountain and it will stop by itself when it gets to a flat bit. All you need to do is snowboard down the mountain and go and get it. Just make sure that when you push it off the mountain there are no rocks - or people walking!!!
3. Befriend the locals and normally they know people who know people who can guide you around
4. Chalet guys and girls have normally been there all season and when the lift's stop you can normally bribe your way onto a snow plough going up the mountain, when everyone else is off it. 
5. trek - Get yourself a good shovel, backpack, tell people where you are going and don't forget the snow shoes. (Be prepared for hard trek) but its normally worth it. 

Where ever you go I would recommend you hire a guide (or find one in a bar, look out for the hi-vis ski gear & snow shovels) especially if you are on holiday and don't know the area particularly well, the experience will be far more enjoyable.

What’s this fascination with skiing? It’s boring and cold. If you want to go and break a leg, jump off a short building. If you don’t, have a cherry in a warm pub in front of a log fire.

People paying loads of money to see how gravity pulls them down a slope of snow just don’t make any sense at all.

I won't bother wasting my time replying to Jannie, but if you are after some off-piste action, try Val d'Isere or Tignes in France.

The resorts are linked (they're part of the massive Espace Killy region) and they have some eye-watering off-piste skiing.

And the best bit is you don't have to walk/hike for ages to get to it.

Though I do agree with Unlimited Ted, finding a guide or hooking up with an experienced local is a great idea.