Holiday in France or Austria

Posted: 01 August 2009 12:09 PM

looking at taking my first snowboard holiday this coming winter. All my mates say that Val d’isere, Tignes and Meribel are the best places to go snowboarding because the areas are really big and the bars and clubs are the best in the Alps. On the other hand I’ve seen Mayrhofen in a copy of Document magazine and it looks great. I’m not very good at boarding but I’d like to try my skills in the snowboard park. Also I finished uni a couple of years ago so I haven’t got a huge amouny of money to spend, I’ve read that Austria is a lot cheaper than France, for lift passes and beer. Has anyone got advice on whether I should go for Austria or France?

Posted: 04 August 2009 02:38 PM

I did two seasons back to back in Courchevel and I’ve done tens of weeks in Val d’Isere, Val Thorens and other big french resorts. Big vertical drop and pretty gnarly faces…but having been to Mayrhofen for a week in March…Austria takes it hands down.

Although the parties aren’t quite as crazy, the locals are pretty friendly…there are lots of British seasonnaires and beer is easily half the price, plus you tie your trip in with snowbombing, which is absolutely bananas! Riding wise, Austria just seems to have better snow and fewer people riding it, you can still ride fresh lines if you wake up a bit late and end up at the top of the mountain at 11am. So I’d have to go with Austria - it’s cheaper, has better snow, is less busy and has much better parks.

Posted: 22 October 2009 09:15 PM

I agree Austria is much cheaper than France and the snow is always much better.

Posted: 20 November 2009 05:22 AM

i havent been to either place but just read an article in transworld snowboarding magazine, december issue , on Austria’s Arlberg… it sounds dope as hell. definitely where i would go if i had the option.

Posted: 20 November 2009 01:07 PM

Yeah the Arlberg is incredible… Gigi and Nico Muller rate it as the best place in the Alps to ride powder. I’m going to a little known place called Serfaus Fiss Ladis which is pretty much next to the Arlberg (St Anton area) in March. It’s where the Pirates film a lot of their stuff and has 6 parks.. yet it’s relatively unheard of in the UK.