Serre Chevalier riding guide - World Snowboard Guide

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Freeriding

Freeriders get to shred plenty of open, tight trees, gullies and deep bowls, as well as some long steeps, where advanced riders can busy themselves for weeks on end. Serre Chevalier is perfect soft boot territory, and those riders wanting wide expanses of powder without having to hike should check out the stuff off the Balme chairlift. When its open, the LEychauda t-bar is the place to head, with plenty of powder spots off the Isolee black run and some huge cliffs. In Le Monetier theres some challenging terrain under the Yret chair that you can access off the Col du Vent black, but watch for slides.

Freestylers

Freestylers should basically session the whole mountain as there are too many hits to mention - it will take most riders at least a season to hit each jump only once. The place is a super-big, natural funpark, with lots of logs to grind,and loads of big jumps everywhere.

Theres a terrain park and an icy halfpipe located in Villeneuve, the halfpipe is located at the foot of the mountain on the Mickey run above the Yeti bar. The terrain park is squeezed into the Plateau de la Rouge, but was moved higher and expanded for the 2006/7 season. Theyve earth-shaped the big booters and the basic layout for the boardercross, so you can expect a permanent intermediate and pro-line of kickers running alongside the Grand Serre chairlift and depending on conditions, theyll be adding the beginner jumps and rails .

Serre Chevalier halfpipe

Pistes

PISTES. Riders are presented with as much alpine terrain as they could possibly need. Theres plenty of top-to-bottom runs that can be taken a mach-1 speed. The black Olympique trail that runs to the base of Chantemerle is a full-on eye waterer when taken at speed.

Although advanced riders and competent intermediate boarders will manage, novices should give this run a miss (unless they have a death wish).

Beginners

Beginners should find the runs around Frejus more suited to their needs, with a number of long, easy runs that bring you back down the mountain into the village of Villeneuve, via some tree-lined trails.

Serre Chevalier has some super-fast drag lifts, often travelling a long way at speeds more suited to riding down, not up. Watch out for the sharp turns that some of the drag lifts make through the trees.

Remember though, if you can master Serre Chevaliers drag lifts, you shouldnt have any trouble in the rest of the world. Thankfully, there are plans to slowly remove them and they can easily be avoided until this occurs.

Resort Statistics

Resort Type: Alpine
Winter: Dec to April
Summer: None

Lifts

Total Lifts: 68
Cable cars: 3
Gondolas: 6
Chair lifts: 20
Drag lifts: 39
Max people per hour: 68,000
Board Leashes required: No

Mountain

Total pistes/trails: 115
Total ride area: 155miles (249km)
Longest run: 6miles (10km)

Top lift: 2850m
Vertical drop: 1630m
First lift: 1200m

Piste suitability

Green runs: 42%
Red runs: 46%
Black runs: 12%

Lift Passes

	Low Season		High Season
	EUR	GBP	EUR	GBP
Day Pass	-	-	-	-
6-Day Pass	-	-	-	-
6-Day Linked area Pass	-	-	-	-

	EUR	GBP
Season Pass:	-	-

Lift Passes:
Grand Serre Che linked area:
1 Day 38 euros, 6 Days 173
Just Serre Chevalier:
1 Day 34 euros, 6 days 153
Lift times:8.30am to 4.30pm

Snowfall

Artificial snowmaking coverage: 25%

Facilities

	EUR	GBP
Days Rental of Board & Boots:	-	-
4hr Group Lesson (full day):	-	-
4hr Private Lesson (full day):	-	-

Snowboard Schools: A number of board schools. Private lessons from 31 euros an hour. Group 4hrs for 6 days 102 euros.
Night Riding: : In Briançon from 7:30-10:30pm the Vauban run is open thursdays & fridays. 10 euros/free for Grand Serre Passes.

The Mickey run & halfpipe in Villeneuve is open 5-9pm tuesdays & fridays

Other activities

Heliboarding: : Yes
Snowmobiles: Yes

Further information

www.serre-chevalier.com/
Email:contact@ot-serrechevalier.fr

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Summary

One of the best resorts in France. Great freeriding with powder and full-on, freestyle terrain. Shame it's pricey and packed with skiiers.

ON THE SLOPES: Fantastic - best in France
OFF THE SLOPES: Very, very good
MONEY WISE: This is not the cheapest of resorts, but it's worth every penny.

Terrain & parks

HALFPIPE: Yes - 2
TERRAIN PARK: Yes - 1
BACKCOUNTRY/OFF-PISTE:Yes
TREE RUNS:Yes