The first snow has fallen and the new season is rapidly approaching, but what’s new on the slopes of Europe? Chris Madoc-Jones rounds up the headlines.
From La Rosiere to Les Arcs, here are the latest new pistes in the French ski resorts this season.
New runs: 2 (1 blue, 1 black)
Length: 4km combined
Two new runs will grace Val Thorens piste maps this winter. The headline is undoubtedly a 3.2km blue that snakes its way down from Cime Caron – one of the highest points in the resort. However for those looking for more of a challenge, why not try the new black in the Boismint sector – an area previously home to only blues and reds.
New runs: 2 red
Length: 2km
As part of a major investment into the Cherferie sector above Méribel, a new red (Gypaete) has been carved into the mountainside. Keen to capitalise on the two new lifts built over the summer and to add variety to this popular sector, the new run should shift skiers and boarders away from busy through-routes and offer some great early-morning turns in its own right. A new red has also been marked under the Olympic Express chairlift – look out for signs to Daguet when you’re halfway down the Face run.
New off piste zone
Steepness: Up to 76%
Although the runs are not strictly “new”, access is once again possible to the steep descents off the Leissières ridge in the heart of the Val d’Isère ski area. Head straight there on a powder day to grab fresh tracks and dodge the crowds – but watch out if you’re a snowboarder, the recently reinstalled draglift is steep and the track up can get tricky.
New runs: 1 red
Length: 2.1km
Vertical: 487m
Below Les Arcs 1950 lies the bumpy, ungroomed black run, Comborcière, long a favourite for advanced skiers looking for a backdoor from Les Arcs 1600 to 1950. Thanks to some remodelling and hours of shifting around mud, the quiet zone now contains a new groomed red starting and ending in the same place as the tricky black, aptly named The Secret. Yes, it is still a challenge, but compared to the bumpy, steep black that runs parallel, The Secret will seem achievable for intermediates hoping to explore this secluded corner of the resort.
A couple of new piste updates from the Austrian Alps this season.
Find out about the new off piste area in one of the best freeride resorts in Europe
New off piste itinerary
Length: 2.2km
Over the summer, the link between Andermatt and Sedrun was finally completed, meaning both sides of the Oberalppass are now connected. The final piece in the puzzle also led to the creation of what promises to be a seriously popular run – ski route 30. Yes it will remain ungroomed and many skiers and riders will download the new gondola, but on a powder day – the area’s unique microclimate means that these are frequent – the new trail promises to be an epic descent.
A couple of resorts in the Italian Alps have expanded their piste maps this season.
New runs: 2 reds
Length: 6km
The main headline from the newly-linked Italian Südtirol resorts of Haideralm and Schöneben was the new gondola – a monster constructed by lift manufacturer Leitner. Quite rightly so as it’s the longest lift they’ve ever built. But it is easy to overlook the new runs built into the hillside to complete this major project. Two long, windy reds make it almost the whole way to the lift base, making for an amazing cruise through the woods overlooking the Reschensee, but sadly the final descent into the town requires a short download on the gondola.
The interest in Spanish wintersports has taken off in recent years. Here is a piste update from Spain this season.
New Runs: 3
Length: 8km
Large off piste area
As in La Rosiere, new lifts have opened up previously untouched slopes at the Spanish resort of Baqueira-Beret in the Pyrenees. Not only are there a clutch of new beginner runs beneath a new three-seater chair, but perhaps more excitingly, three long runs have been opened up in the Lacs du Baciver sector. Not only are the runs set to be a hit with skiers and boarders, but a significant area of off piste has also been opened up – let’s hope for another good winter!
Check out this awesome new zone on the Freshtracks’ Baqueira Discovery Weekend this January.
Skiing in Georgia is a relatively unknown to most in Europe but they have grown their top ski resort this season.
New Runs: 5+
Length: Unsure
Many of you may not have heard of the Georgian ski resort of Gudauri, but a huge new project to open up a whole new mountainside has firmly put this hidden freeride-mecca on the map. New runs snake their way down off the back of the summit towards the tiny village of Kobi, buried deep in the wild Caucasus mountains, and new trails have been added to the front of the mountain too. This winter might well be the one to take the plunge and explore this remote resort – the secret won’t last for long!
Read more about skiing in Georgia in the October edition of Ski+board magazine
