Alpine Club Châtel
Mountain Sports Holidays in the French Alps

SnoCross   Ski runs

Looking for new challenges?
Need more powder and playgrounds?

 
During the winter, several resorts in the Portes du Soleil area open up a new type of piste specifically for those who cannot get enough powder, playgrounds or wide open spaces -  the Snowcross areas!

Although these runs are not prepared like normal pistes, they have been laid out to allow skiers and snowboarders to experience the thrill of freeriding in safety!  In addition to supervising the snowcross areas, the resort piste security maintain the safety of the snowcross areas by setting off controlled avalanches, marking danger areas, putting up barriers and roping off areas. Obviously these runs are for serious skiers and boarders only.

The entrance to each snowcross zone is clearly signposted and rope barriers will be set up if the zone is closed. If it is necessary to close these runs please respect these signs - they are there for your own safety!

Snowcross routes tend to be more like traditional mountain itineraries, hence you will not find the very clear signage found on normal pistes. Whilst there are signs to help people find there way around, they tend to be small and discrete - so keep your eyes open or try them out with a local guide.

Here are a few of the snowcross areas:-

AVORIAZ

In Avoriaz there is the legendary itinerary of Crozats, which makes its way down a spectacular and rugged combe starting at Hauts-Forts and leads down to the World Cup piste.

Alternatively try Combe des Marmottes, an easily accessible playground reached by the Fornet chairlift.

If you are looking for stunning views and that Kodak moment try the “Transfrontière” which you will find at the top of the Mossette chair – which offers a nice wide run along the mountainside, with a panoramic view overlooking the Lindarets valley, or even the Brocheaux wall.

Whilst the legendary Swiss Wall – which drops down from Chavanette, it’s one of the steepest walls in the world!

MORGINS

In Morgins, after a fair old hike up a few dozen metres from the Col des Portes de l’Hiver, riders can drop into the Combe de la Pierre Plate. This itinerary, leads down to the Cantine de Tovassière and back to the village of Morgins.

For intermediate skiers, the Combe de Bonavau itineray is an easy and pleasant route.

TORGON

The Tronchey snowcross itinerary offers some real challenges. Turn right after alighting from the express chair up from Torgon and then head right onto the narrow ledge cutting back under the chairlift. About fifty metres along the trail stops and you are on your own... in front of you is the worst bit a short five foot drop and traverse on a very steep slope. Once across you scoot past a bank of trees and reach the top of a massive descent into the valley below. This is a really intense route where skiers create several thousand moguls and boarders tend to flatten them out again. Brilliant fun even if the slope means most of the run is on toe edge..  (unless you ride goofy lead).