Snowboarding Blog & Snowboard Reviews » Mountains & Resorts

Verbier, Switzerland Resort Review

Rami — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:09:25 +0000

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

Rami — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:29:11 +0000

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

Mo — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:32:27 +0000

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.

My first day was on Whistler mountain and it was absolutely phenomenal! Conditions were amazing, temperature was just right, sun was out, and there was powder everywhere. I wanted to catch some of the virgin powder on the bowls behind Whistler mountain nice and early, so I took the Whistler Village Gondola, did my first run down to the Harmony Express chair and took it all the way up to the backside of the mountain. From there, I went across the peak on Burnt Stew Trail to the Flute Bowl gate, unstrapped, and start doing the hike up the edge of the bowl. Here’s part of the trail map that shows part of the Whistler backcountry I’m talking about:

Whistler Backcountry Trail Map

The hike to the peak of Flute Bowl will definitely be the workout of your life but it’s a small price to pay for the feeling you’ll get when you plough through meters of snow coming down this thing. I must have spent at least 20-30 minutes S-lining down because it’s hard to not just stop and marvel at the view and scenery around you every once in a while. Looking around you and not seeing anyone, makes you feel as if you’re truly isolated in the backcountry with nothing but you and your snowboard. The bowl ends at a tree line and eventually you have to unstrap and do the hike with other boarders and skiers back to Burnt Stew Trail, which leads you back to the Harmony chair. After a few more times up and down the backcountry of Whistler mountain using the Symphony and Harmony chairs, I had an early lunch at one of the restaurants on the front side before some more riding!

The first half of my day was spent mainly exploring the top half of Whistler’s alpine terrain where most of the bowls and open areas are. With powder on the ground, it’s hard to limit yourself to conventional trails when you can stay up there and do whatever you’d like basically. The bowls on the front face are just incredible to go down, particularly Whistler bowl if you catch it all the way from the peak. Out of all the resorts I’ve been to, nothing has come close to the bowls you can hit up in Whistler without a helicopter or snowcat ride.

Eventually when my quads and calves started to give out a little from all the steep slope action, I found myself funneling down with a lot of other boarders into the highly-acclaimed Nintendo terrain parks. As far as parks go, it’s all here folks. From tiny jumps and rails to ramps leading into 485-foot vertical drops. The Jolly Green Giant lift services this area and you can easily find yourself spending the whole day doing this very varied and impressive park.

Later on into the day, I checked out some of the standard trails on the lower half of the mountain. Even in this respect Whistler outclasses other resorts with wider trails and a lot more features that would appeal to riders. The terrain is a lot more natural and you really get that feeling as if you’re just boarding through wilderness rather than through a resort.

Conditions were very good the second day with some snowfall overnight. I decided to start out the day on Blackcomb mountain even though I prefer Whistler much more. I knew I had the option to go back to Whistler with the resort’s relatively-new peak-to-peak gondola that takes you between both mountains. The name of the gondola may be a little deceiving here since the gondola really takes you closer to halfway through both mountains. I started the day making my way to Blackcomb Glacier, essentially the backside of Blackcomb mountain where all the backcountry action is. The terrain here is a little choppier than Whistler’s backcountry and more difficult to get through because it’s steeper in some areas and more rocky with less open areas. Nice and early on a powder day, you can catch some spectacular riding here though.

Blackcomb Backcountry Trail Map

I didn’t even bother with the lower half of Blackcomb before heading back to Whistler around mid-day. I really wanted to do Whistler bowl again and spend some more time in the gigantic park.

The Other Stuff

The Whistler resort is generally expensive but very comparable to other resort destinations. You can get by here on groceries from some of the stores in the village or on fast food from your typical chain restaurants. Fine dining will cost you but you should try at least one of the specialty restaurants there. There’s always something going on in the village in terms of shows, festivals, parties, and concerts. A lot of the staff and locals will tell you what’s good to do on any particular night.

Overall

When comparing to a lot of the popular destinations in Europe, the U.S., and Canada, it’s hard to say that really anything beats Whistler Blackcomb. With so much terrain for a North American destination, a lot of it has been tailored for snowboarders alongside skiers making sure you get the ultimate experience. Some popular resorts I’ve visited in Europe are much more attuned to the needs of skiers. With the wide open spaces, powder bowls, and features found all over these two mountains, it really is a snowboarding mecca.

The downside to this resort is definitely the cost. Airfare and accommodation will cost you an arm and a leg. A good way to get good prices is to simply book early. Some people I’ve come across had their trips booked for more than a year before their actual visit. That being said, my two experiences have shown me that this resort is something when there’s snow and something else when there isn’t. As much as you might save on booking early, you might end up going in a time with really shitty conditions. An alternative would be to stay in Vancouver and take a shuttle up to Whistler early in the day and back into the city later at night.

Here are some photos from my ’07 trip to Whistler with some friends…

Me on Blackcomb

Slowly making our way to Whistler's peak!

I’m sure you may have a lot of questions about Whistler that I didn’t even touch on here. If you do, please don’t hesitate to contact us!