Skiing, Boarding and Other Winter Activities
SKI INFORMATION
If you dream of endless slopes, with another direction to ski every day, then the 3 Valleys with it's 600km of varied ski runs within one area, then look no further. Just look at some of the stats!
Refer to: www.courchevel.com
Ski Slopes: 600km
Number of ski lifts: 200
Number of skiers transported hourly: 260,000
Number of snow cannons: 1,500
Hectares of groomed runs: 2,500
Number of ski patrollers: 320
Piste bashers: 70
Ski instructors: 1,500
Cross-country ski tracks: 130 km
Beginners
For beginners and children there are small, gentle nursery slopes with a free nursery drag lift at the foot of the ski lifts. There is a lovely long green run cut through the woods backdown to the village making a wonderful long trail to grow your skills on, served direct from the village gondola. There are also a number of easy blues to attempt higher up in the Courchevel valley.
Beginners have a choice of ski schools in La Tania (See ski school section). They operate in special beginner areas and have English speaking instructors that are happy to provide group or private lessons.
Intermediates
Keen skiers will relish the limitless number of exciting challenges that are available to those based in La Tania. You’ll find trails up to 8km long in this part of the world’s biggest ski area. La Tania itself has some excellent intermediate level terrain directly above it. There is an ultra-modern gondola to whisk skiers up to the pistes of Courchevel and a chairlift which links up with Meribel, giving access to the vast 600kms of runs of the 3 Valleys network.
Advanced
Expert skiers will be fully tested with all the outstanding skiing opportunities available; endless off-piste trails, wicked mogul fields, plunging tree-lined descents and awesome couloirs.
The Courchevel Valley has some of the best advanced skiing in the entire Three Valleys and some of it is right on La Tania’s doorstep, with the rest only a lift ride or two away. The nearest advanced terrain includes a black run down through the woods just above the village down to Le Praz. A second black, this time above the treeline, descends from the Col de la Loze served by the Dou des Lanches.
The Courchevel Valley is famous for its steep terrain and off piste trails and the ski schools and mountain guides, knowing the best spots, will be happy to guide you there. Runs from La Saulire are especially challenging with some tough couloirs – dubbed The Ugly Sisters with an official grade of black but blacker than most runs you’ll find elsewhere.
Snowboarding & Freestyle Skiing
The 3 Valleys are superb for freeriders and there is a choice of terrain parks in each valley, although not one specific to La Tania. Instead the closest choices are above Courchevel which has a railpark under the Plantrey chair or popping over to Meribel where the Moon Park is generally regarded as one of the best in the Alps.
In addition a family friendly park was created in the Verdans area recently. Freedriders will enjoy bouncing through the trees above La Tania and will find open powder field below the Dou der Lanches chairs. There are hundreds of "off piste" routes to discover. Both ski schools offer a whole range of snowboarding lessons from beginner to expert level including off piste tours.
Aquamotion (located at the crossroads between Courchevel Village and Courchevel Moriond & 10 minutes drive from the apartment by car or free shuttle bus).
If you fancy going for a dip, lazing around, diving in, swimming, splashing about or surfing, head to Europe’s largest mountain-based aqua-fun centre.
Cross Country Skiing
La Tania is situated on a cross country trail that links Meribel and Courchevel meaning that you can connect to the network of trails at each resort (about 40km at Meribel and 70km at Courchevel) going in either direction. All the cross country trails are free of charge but they sometimes cross downhill ski pistes so caution is sometimes required! One of the closest areas is the Olympic Nordic sports venue for the 1992 Albertville Winter Games located at Le Praz, Courchevel 1300, just along the road from Le Tania.
Walkers
If you're less of a skiier and more of a walker you won't be short of something to do. The 3 Valleys are criss-crossed by a network of small forest roads which in the winter are transformed into a magical walking experience.
Other Winter Activities
Check out the Tourist Office in La Tania, Méribel and Courchevel for details of snow-shoe walks, toboganning, paragliding, indoor climbing, ice skating, 10-pin bowling, ice karting, dog-sledding through the forest etc..
WEEKLY EVENTS & TORCH LIGHT DESCENT
Go and try the free drink 'Green Chaud' every Sunday 5 pm at
the Tourist Office and discover the French Ski School Slalom, the Torch light descent, resort concerts and any other specific activities that week. The full entertainment programme is available from the Tourist Office of La Tania.