Whilst Alpe d'Huez is a mecca to freeride and backcountry, if you are just starting out in your snowsports career and have heard that Alpe d'Huez is only for the hardcore, don’t believe it. The whole area is one giant natural fun park, and there is something for everyone here. We give you the inside information on where to find the best off-piste, the best areas for beginners, the steepest and deepest runs, and importantly, the best lunch and sun spots! Also in this section is some information on cross-country skiing in the valley, and features on how to improve your ski/snowboard technique. And if you feel a bit 'all the gear but no idea', our articles on skis and snowboards will help you get a better understanding of the types of equipment available.
Ski Areas in Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d’Huez is home to the longest ski run in Europe – La Sarenne (16km) and the infamous ‘Tunnel’ run for experienced skiers and thrill seekers only! The gentle slopes on the outskirts of the resort provide the perfect terrain for beginners to build their confidence on and intermediate skiers will find plenty to entertain themselves with on the network of blues and reds. Set in a large sunny bowl, the resort is aptly named ‘l’Isle au Soleil’ (‘The Sunny Island’) due to the high percentage of sunny days it enjoys throughout the year. Snow conditions permitting, it’s open from early-December until the end of April.
Snowparks in Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d'Huez suits experienced boarders well - the extent and variety of the mountains mean that there's a lot of good free-riding to be had.
When the snow is good, the off-piste terrain available is vast and varied to entertain the most energetic of snowboarders. It is always recommended that you take a guide.
Unfortunately for beginners, the main nursery slopes are almost all accessed by drag lifts. There are no pistes which are closed to boarders and there are vast areas of fantastic off-piste.
Alpe d'Huez has 2 snowparks; a fairly gentle one just above the DMC lift and a more expert one near Col de Poutran. The beginner snowpark has plenty to build your confidence up on with hips, big airs, tables, quarters, whoops and ramps before you venture onto the expert park. Here you will find slide rails and bigger jumps including a 12m table jump. There is also a boarder cross course, practice ground of the Skicross World Champion Ophélie David!
Night Skiing in Alpe d'Huez
If you haven’t already skied yourself into the ground during the day, then Alpe d’Huez is one of the few resorts that also offers night skiing.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, the slopes on the Signal mountain are re-prepared at the end of the day and then opened again from 5.30 - 7.30pm (6.30 - 8.30pm in Spring due to longer daytime lift operating hours). With mainly blue & red graded pistes, the area is suitable for intermediate to experienced skiers. There is also a slalom course available where you'll often see some of the local ski club kids being put through their paces. Night skiing is all included on your VISALP lift pass or you can buy a one off ticket for €8.50 if you don't have the full ski pass.
The night skiing is open from 23rd December 2008 to 26th March 2009.
Cross Country Skiing (Ski de Fond)
'Classic' Style
Get back to nature and explore tranquil cross-country trails at your own pace. There are two different techniques – classic and skating. Classic is the easiest for beginners; you simply place your skis in two parallel groves, push off and glide around the trails. Skating is more energetic and a slightly harder skill to grasp; you push your feet out to either side as though you are ice skating and use your poles simultaneously to gain momentum.
You can hire the comfortable boots and lightweight skis and poles fairly inexpensively from most sports shops and book a group or private lesson to learn the basics from most ski schools or private instructors. For those used to downhill skis, at first you feel precariously balanced and downhill sections are definitely more exciting on narrow skis with no edges! The skis are lighter and slimmer than downhill skis and the boots are much softer and more comfortable.
The tranquility of cross country (also known as Nordic) skiing is perfect for anyone who enjoys peace and quiet, or finds the downhill pistes too crowded or too steep. It is a great form of aerobic exercise and one can be as energetic or slow as one likes, while the relaxed pace makes it a more tranquil way to enjoy the surroundings!.
'Skating' Style
Once you have grasped the essentials, head off for the 50km of tranquil cross country trails that criss cross Alpe d'Huez. All trails are located around 2000m/6560ft and are consequently pretty snow sure.
ESF offer group cross country skiing lessons every morning throughout the winter season and some afternoons during school holidays. The meeting place is Les Bergers and it is advisable to book in advance.
You can see prices for the Alpe d'Huez cross country ski pass here.
Alpe d'Huez is quite a well-equipped resort for skiers with disabilities. Their ESF instructors are specially trained and have a range of adapted ski equipment; Uniski, Dualski and GMS. Their aims are to:
Help you to explore the mountain environment
Discover and share the thrills of snowsports
Push back the limits of disability to autonomy
Easy access has been created for ski lifts, the sport centre, the swimming pool and shopping areas. For information on adaptive skiing and the British Disabled Ski Team please visit Disability Snowsport UK.
Skiing Tips & Techniques
We have teamed up with one of our top ski school instuctors to produce guides on ski technique. The articles featured here include learning how to carve and how to conquer moguls. To ensure you get the most out of your time on the piste, check out our Ski & Snowboard School Listings and perfect your skills! ... see "Tips and Techniques - Skiing" for more
Snowboarding Tips & Techniques
Improve your snowboarding style with our helpful techniques tips section, brought to you courtesy of Keith McIntosh at Alpinelines. It's often the smallest thing that makes all the difference to your riding! ... see "Tips & Technique - Snowboarding" for more
Equipment & Clothing Guide
Have you literally got 'all the gear' but have no idea what to do with it?? Unless you want to look like Posh Spice on the slopes, knowing a bit about your skis/snowboards/bikes/transceivers etc will help you avoid being any old Wannabe... Having the right equipment for your chosen activity will help ensure that you get the best possible introduction to your sport (if you are a beginner), or speed along your learning curve if you are looking to improve. The easier and quicker you learn, the more pleasurable your experience will be! In this section, you will find guides to help you select the most appropriate gear for your sport and ability, as well as some insider knowledge on the "must have" kit for this coming season. ... see "All the Gear But No Idea...?" for more
With such an extensive lift network in operation both summer and winter, it makes sense that there are a wide range of lift pass options available for the skier or boarder, mountain biker and pedestrian.
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