Val Thorens Snow Report : 31st December 2012

Beginner Bliss

featured in Snow report Author Caroline Sayer, Val Thorens Reporter Updated 19 January 2016

Conditions have improved greatly after our disappointingly wet Christmas. The unwelcome rain turned back into fluffy flakes and the slopes are once again covered with lovely, soft, and enjoyable snow, bar the odd scraped hard patch on the lower slopes. This is the busiest week of the season so the pistes are thronged and it’s worth getting out at 9.00 to avoid any queues and to seek out the quieter slopes.

For a change, today’s snow report is all about being a beginner in Méribel. Why? Well, I realise that this page tends to reflect my rather narrow range of interests: off-piste, challenging runs, good restaurants and my search for the perfect hot chocolate. Not everybody is a black run skier and no doubt there are debutant skiers reading this report. Fortunately, two newbie skiers spent the holidays with us, in-laws Amanda and Jim, who had somehow never got around to learning the world’s best sport. They joined Zoe Norton of Parallel Lines ski school for a highly successful week of beginners’ group lessons and were happy to share their experiences. Here then, is Jim and Amanda’s list of Things We Wish We’d Known About Learning to Ski Before We Came to Meribel.

You don’t need to spend a fortune on ski clothing – they just need to be warm and waterproof.
The exception to this is goggles – cheap goggles without an anti-fog film tend to steam up – and you will spend time sweating as a beginner…
Wear a helmet – you can hire this along with your skis. It will give you confidence and protect your head from being hit when you fall over getting off your first chairlift.
You will fall over getting off your first chairlift. And probably the second and third time too, until you remember to stand up when you get off.
Take lessons: it’s essential. Preferably with Zoe, according to Jim.
Never ask an experienced skier how steep any run is – what they think is an easy blue may seem like the wall of death to you. Instead, ask your instructor which runs you should attempt after your lessons.
Don’t worry about the skiers rushing past you at great speed – they are obliged to get out of your way, not the opposite way round. (Read the other ten rules of the piste in our FAQ section)
Stick to the areas between the piste poles – beyond these is “off-piste” where you will fall over in the deeper snow.
Don’t assume you can ski back from the beginner runs at the Altiport back down into Méribel – the blue runs into Méribel are a bit steep for complete beginners. Instead, take the Rhodos gondola lift back down.
Bring Ibuprofen. Your limbs will ache.

Zoe added more excellent advice, as follows:

It’s worth doing some exercise before you come on holiday. The more physical preparation you can do, the easier you’ll find skiing, the quicker you’ll learn and you get more out of your holiday. Pilates, for example, is excellent.
Don’t expect to be as good on the first day of your next holiday as you were at the end as your previous holiday. It’s worth taking some dry slopes/snow dome lessons before you come back for your next holiday.
Keep on taking lessons!

I’m delighted to report that despite sore legs and the occasional moment of wondering why they had chosen to spend their holidays hurtling down icy mountains with rulers attached to their feet, Jim and Amanda are now converts to skiing and are already planning their next trip. They finish by saying that “Méribel is a really lovely place to ski”. Well, I think we’d all agree to that…..