Verbier, Switzerland Resort Review

One of the resorts that I  had the chance of riding this season was Verbier. In fact, I got a chance to go twice and it would be very unfair to both the resort and you if I wait too long to write up this review. My first trip to Verbier was a quick 2 day experience in February as I was passing through Geneva on my way back to Toronto. My second trip to Verbier was a 5 day non-stop riding and partying bonanza with my closest friends, whom I hadn’t seen for almost 2 years!

60 Second Elevator Pitch

Everyone has heard about Verbier at one point or another. Whether it’s epic stories about their nightlife, their ‘drink till you pass out on the hills’ philosophy, or their slopes and backcountry offering, there’s a wicked time to be had at this popular Alps resort. If you’ve never been to Verbier, you have to go. Families, couples, and friends will have an insane time as there really is something for anyone. Everyone is pretty friendly and you’ll have a wicked time exploring the endless terrain – Verbier is part of the Les 4 Vallees ski are which includes the ski resorts of Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon with a total of 410 km marked runs. Just make sure you’re not wallet shy, because this place is not cheap, but well worth it!

What We Love

• Excellent lifts, on-piste and off-piste terrain – it’s endless!
• The nightlife, food, and parties
• It’s the Alps
• Powwwder
• Tuesday nights when the Chalet girls have their night out!
• Old school log/wood chalet and availability of cheaper accommodation close to the center of the resort
• Professional patrol and emergency rescue system
• Insane weather!

What We Didn’t Love

• Expensive (with that said, its worth it)
• The terrain is obviously not beginner/novice friendly
• Limited accommodation for trips less than 7 days

Best For

• Party lovers
• Off-piste and backcountry dare devils
• Anyone looking to marry rich

Worst For

• Inexperienced riders and skiers
• Park junkies (the current park is pretty decent, but nothing you can spend more than a few hours on)

Tips

• You can save money by staying down the mountain in Le Chable now thatthe new evening bus service which runs between it and Verbier is active.
• Make sure you are there at least on a Friday or Saturday night.
• Tuesday night is when the Chalet girls have their night out, so make sure you are ready to shred snow on Wednesday with no sleep at all!
• Wednesday nights are the quietest so plan for Wednesday to be your easy night in.
• Have the fondue at Le Caveau
• If you plan on going off-piste/backcountry, shell out the extra 4 CHF for insurance which includes a free helicopter emergency ride (we got stuck somewhere way off off-piste, and after about 90 minutes of endless exploring, we called ski patrol who sent us a helicopter to get us out from what they called the “late march melting snow trap”.)

Have you had a different or similar experience? Share it with us in the comments!

Mont Tremblant Resort Review

I’ve raked in at least 45-50 days on Tremblant in the past 5 years or so. Having gone up there so many times with all kinds of riders and skiers, I think it’s time for a good ol’ review for those considering Tremblant as a destination.

As one of the largest snowboarding areas in Canada and being backed by the same guys running the show at Whistler Blackcomb, one can only expect great things. The mountain’s layout is excellent and well planned, covering two main sides, the South and the North in addition to two edge sides. The South side gives initial access to the runs which are all carved out of thick forest. The North side is a little smaller, but offers the same degree of cool riding.

Our Elevator Pitch

Mont Tremblant is definitely our favorite North American east coast resort. Very few resorts on the East Coast come close to the variety of the slopes and runs available at Mont Tremblant. The apres-ski atmosphere is pretty good on the weekends, but not so much midweek. For those on a budget, staying at a nearby hotel/hostel is an excellent option as they are all a 3-7 minute bus ride away. The village itself offers all kinds of things to do for just about anyone. Tremblant is definitely a must visit, especially for the family types.

What We Love

• The excellent and well planned slopes and runs. Bombing down from the top to the base as quick as you possibly can will take you about 5-8 minutes. On average it’ll take you about 10-15 minutes to make it down.
• Snowboard/Ski valet right next to the Gondola so you don’t have to worry about carrying your gear to and from the main lift.
• Great village with many dining and leisure options to choose from.
• Excellent line up of accommodation choices. “En plus”, budget trips need not shy away as cheap accommodation is available minutes away from the village. Combine that with Mont Tremblant’s T-Pack offer for 2 day lift tickets for ~$70 total.

What We Don’t Love

• Gets pretty damn cold up there.
• The crowd… but then again this is a problem at most of the popular resorts.
• Subdued night life especially for the younger crowds.
• Terrain park has very limited features and the half pipe is not always available.

Best For

• Families who want that European/French ‘alps’ village feel.
• Groups/families looking to spend and those on a budget.
• Intermediates looking to up their game

Worst For

• Party animals, unless you go during college break week or in big groups
• Backcountry/off-piste lovers – there just isn’t any.
• People who really detest the cold.

Trail Map

Click the above image for an interactive trail map.

Resort Statistics

• Resort Type: Alpine
• Winter: Nov to May
• Summer: None
• Board Leashes required: Yes
• Night Riding: No

Lifts

• Total Lifts: 12
• Gondolas: 2
• Chair lifts: 9
• Drag lifts: 1
• Max people per hour: 27,230

Mountain

• Total pistes/trails: 94
• Total ride area: 602 acres
• Longest run: 3.75miles (6km)
• Top lift: 875m
• Vertical drop: 694m
• First lift: 181m

Pistes Difficulty

• Green runs: 17%
• Red runs: 33%
• Black runs: 50%

Lift Passes

• Half-day ~$50
• Full-Day ~$80
• Lift times:8.30am to 4.00pm

Snowfall

• Average annual snowfall: 3.82 metres
• Artificial snowmaking coverage: 70%

Facilities/Misc

• Snowboard/Ski Schools: Excellent
• Snowboard/Ski Rentals: Yes
• Snowboard/Ski Valet: Yes, about $5 for overnight – right next to the main gondola
• Heliboarding: Not available
• Snowmobiles: Yes

Whistler Blackcomb Snowboarder Review

Specs that Matter

Location: Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
Vertical: Whistler Mountain, 1530 Meters. Blackcomb Mountain, 1565 Meters.
Snowboardable Terrain: Whistler, 4575 acres. Blackcomb, 3414 acres.
Runs: More than 200 combined.
Longest Run: Approximately 11 km/7 miles on each mountain.
Lifts: 38 combined with 4 gondolas, including Peak-to-Peak gondola.
Average Snowfall: 10.22 meters/402 inches per year.

The Mountains

For years, enthusiasts have described Whistler Blackcomb as a snowboarder’s paradise. I had the chance to confirm these claims on a February, 2007 and a November, 2009 visit to the resort. As an east coaster, I’m simply amazed by the mountains and general terrain available for snowboarders in the west and Whistler definitely does not hold back in that sense. The scenery you get to see on the drive up from Vancouver to Whistler is absolutely breathtaking and the closer you get, the more this beast begins to materialize in the distance. Two gigantic mountains, hundreds of crossing trails, powder-covered peaks, bowls the size of small African countries, and enough snow to make you weak in the knees. Seeing all this from a distance, you’re hands are already touching your feet in an effort to buckle up non-existent bindings.

Intrawest didn’t hold back in designing the village either. Tons of hotels, restaurants, shops, and cafes with that special “Christmasy” feel to it all in an effort to get you to spend as much money as possible while you’re there. Whistler has been described by many as one of the most expensive resorts in the world. In many cases that is true depending on when you plan on going and where you stay while you’re there. If you live on the east coast, some European destinations might work out to actually cost you less.

Surf’s Up!

The conditions during both of my visits to Whistler varied drastically. In February of 2008, my week-long stay had been mainly icy due to the lack of snow while we were there and several days before we had arrived. As big as the mountains were, without any snow it was definitely hard to enjoy any of it. Whistler prides itself in giving riders the “backcountry” experience in a way that is safe and accessible but when there’s no snow, you’re limited to groomed paths down the bowls and even in the middle of the runs (most trails are very wide).

My visit this November was a completely different experience. Whistler received record-breaking amounts of snow during this month and there was more than plenty of it during my two-day stay. There was a lot more traffic than what you would expect for November but with the buildup to the 2010 Olympics, you could tell it was only going to get worse and worse. A lot of people I talked to came to get their annual visit out of the way before things got really crazy.

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