Boardercross slopes and snowparks unlimited! Numerous ski resorts offer specific facilities to attract freeriders and freestylers. But nature also has its own temptations…
Snowboarding came about because the nature of the terrain fired the imagination of enthusiasts: a slope of powdery snow for a “rider”, rocks used as spring-boards for jumping. But off-piste boarding and natural obstacles can also mean traps: avalanches or very heavy snowfalls.
For intoxicating speed and amazing tricks (figures), qualifying daring with moderation, snowboard enthusiasts can enjoy the safety of an organised structure specially designed for them…and always with complete freedom.
Snowparks are made up of different modules sometimes supervised by a specialist (since sharing sensations and conviviality form an integral part of the “new board sports”). The best of their kind are in Risoul, Isola 2000, les Sept Laux, Serre-Chevalier, Val d’Isère, Saint-Lary and les Menuires.
www.risoul.com
www.isola2000.com
www.les7laux.com
www.serre-chevalier.com
www.valdisere.com
www.saintlary.com
www.lesmenuires.com
An instruction kit drawn up by the AFS (French snowboarding association, affiliated to the French skiing federation) describes the required shape of the bumps and ramps for beginners or experts (with colour coding for each level of technical difficulty).
Another layout style great for snowboarders (and the many skiers who have joined in this fun trend!): the half-pipe hollowed out of a valley. Maybe you won’t find the perfect layout worthy of an Olympic sport, but there are some suitable sites in Tignes, Avoriaz or les 2 Alpes.
www.tignes.net
www.avoriaz.com
www.les2alpes.com
One last popular trend, permanent boardercross tracks (again open to all and free of charge) offers a descent to be mastered, with amazing banked corners! The best tracks are in Puy-Saint-Vincent, Vars, Méribel, Chamonix or le Grand Bornand…
www.paysdesecrins.com
www.vars-ski.com
www.meribel.net
www.chamonix.com
www.legrandbornand.com
To find out more about snowboarding spirit
www.afs-fr.com: the official website of the French snowboarding association, full of information!
www.skipass.com: A community website, very popular with young people, to get into the habits and jargon of the riders!
To learn
If you can easily learn snowboarding on the spot by sheer tenacity, you can progress more quickly by taking lessons with an instructor (250 licensed French ski schools and many independent schools with qualified instructors, often specialised in “multi-board sport” activities): it’s more expensive but more efficient…
www.esf.net
Safety matters
Outside the snowparks, snowboarders and skiers have to cohabit with one another. Everyone must respect the code of good conduct on the slopes.
www.skifrance.fr: the website portal of mountain resorts publish safety and environmental recommendations.
Several resorts, sports clubs and associations are taking initiatives in risk prevention for off-piste skiing. One example is Chamoniarde (ex-mountaineering office) an association for mountain rescue based in Chamonix. This organisation for example offers free one-day courses about avalanches.
– There is a teaching session on the slopes every Tuesday, from 6 February to 9 April. Conditions: be in possession of a valid ski pass, be at least 16 years old and enrol in advance as groups are limited to a maximum of 12 participants.
La Chamoniarde
tel: 0033 450 53 22 08
www.ohm-chamonix.com
Author: Philippe Bardiau |