Morzine , Skiing & Snowbo...

Snow conditions permitting there are several nursery slopes at the edge of town below Pleney. Failing that there are more slopes for beginners situated atop Pleney and for improving beginners there is a good choice of long easy blue runs between Pleney, Nyon and Super Morzine. With both British and French ski and snowboard schools to choose from it should be no trouble finding a good instructor who will get beginners going in no time.

Morzine is a good base for intermediate riders who will really get to discover the Morzine Les Gets sector with its large number of blue and red pistes. Given plenty of time you should make it all the way round on the Portes du Soleil circuit to Torgon beyond Super Chatel before having to dash for home. If done as a circuit this route can be approached from two directions but requires a bus journey between the Linga and Super Chatel sectors to make it work. The journey is worth it though as you pass through the pretty Swiss resorts of Champoussin, Champery and Morgins before returning to France in either Chatel or Avoriaz depending on the direction of travel.

The Portes du Soleil boasts 28 black pistes in total. One of these is the infamous ‘Wall’ above Avoriaz, reputed to have the biggest moguls in the world. For off-piste, Les Gets is a good place to head to after fresh snowfall, as is Avoriaz. Both these sectors have areas prone to avalanche so it’s highly advisable to hire a guide – especially in these conditions. Many of the runs in the Morzine Les Gets sector cut through the forest making it a better poor weather riding location than Avoriaz.

Freestylers are well catered for with a terrain park and snowcross track on Mont-Chery above Les Gets. On top of that there are the terrain parks and superpipe in the Avoriaz sector.