My question is very similar. That thread has some good information but it looks like it might be outdated. So I though asking again and asking whether someone knows some details that were missing from the last thread.
What is a good place for a beginner to go skiing? I am not looking for lessons at the moment would just like to practice what I learned in the one day of skiing lesson I already had.
The other criteria are as close to Lausanne as possible (by public transport) and as cheap as possible.
Chalet à Gobet seems to fit very well (being very close and very cheap) but I am wondering whether it is at all possible to ski there for an adult. Is there at least some slope? Could one practice basic turning there or is there basically no slope at all? (Not a thrill seeker, but do want to be able to practice.)
Station des rousses also seems a good fit with a special pass that gives access to beginner area's only (Les Pass'1ère Glisse). However it is not clear to me how it can easily be reached by public transport (especially since it seems I don't just need to go to St-Cergue but need to get to the french side. Is this easy to reach? How?
Any other recommendations are also very welcome especially if they are within 1:30 of Lausanne by public transport and less the 25 CHF for half a day.
I am not interested in any difficult pistes so I prefer to also not pay for an amazing place full of pistes I won't be using. I'm okay with repeating the same easy piste the whole day in order to practice.
From Nyon you take the Little Red Train (via St-Cergue) to La Cure. Les Russes is about 3km from there. From the frontier you can catch a bus: https://fr.calameo.com/read/00093492...2662f51?page=1 (Bottom of the page - route Les Russes La Dole. Take your passport or EU ID card.
Not really very practical to have to take train + bus.
Otherwise I'd say 'St Croix/Les Rasses' train to Yverdon, change to the lovely little train up to ST Croix then short bus to Les Rasses- great little resort and fabulous views of the Alps.
Skiing is an expensive sport and requires extensive infra-stucture that needs to be maintained to a very high standard, the costs are correspondingly high.
Yes exactly this .. The local buses are all advertising the Bus+Ski passes..
I was up there last weekend.. Parked at Darbella, took the button lift up to La Dole / Jouvencelle / Balancier etc etc .. Really easy. Great for beginners.
St-Cergue itself would be convenient for the little red train but the two pistes there are pretty rough, not really for a real beginner. However Bass Reuche (spelling?) has a little beginner slope.
St-George also has a small ski area.. There are loads up there..
Also a train to Leysin .. The station is 'up high', what 500m from the beginner slope..(free to use incl the magic carpet) From there you can also join the main piste and head to the chair / telecahin and explore the whole domain, if you buy a pass.
Edit this beginner piste at Leysin is a wide slope, couple of hundred meters, decent for practice. It's where the ski school takes beginners so you can certainly practice turns and stopping and parallel etc .. And at no cost except getting there... There's a little truck for coffee / beer / cakes / crepes etc.. and a plastic porta-toilet
Caveat.. I've only ski'd there at night with the lights on, every-time it's been like skiing down an ice-rink, solid and fast. And god the old button lift, it was like a catapult at some points.
We wake up at the same ungodly hour..we may as well cruise the same slopes. I was going to go this afternoon but gotta get a new helmet with a built in visor also for my kid, it is hustle free. This wknd Crans Montana, but not sure yet - we could stay in St. Cergue, lemi know!
The old button lift is adventurous.
I would hate the community station to go out of business so we keep going.