Ski hire users in Val Thorens will have an extra reason to travel this winter as a brand new area has opened in the resort designed to help beginners.
Those who are venturing on their first ski trip or anybody who needs to refine their technique will be able to visit the €1.5 million (£1.34 million) instruction area, which is had been created to ensure that ski hire users get the chance to perfect their skills before heading out on the many runs in the resort.
The 40-hectare area has been fitted with two magic carpets named Castor and Pollux, which will give ski hire in Val Thorens users easier access to the top of the mountains before they try out their new-found talents while schussing and slaloming to the bottom.
Meanwhile, SkyScanner recently stated that ski hire in Val Thorens users can view some of the most spectacular sights in Europe, as the region’s ideal weather conditions provide a mixture of deep snow and bright sunshine.
Ski hire users heading to Courchevel this winter are travelling to a resort which is the best in France for glamour, one source has asserted.
The Daily Telegraph recently stated that the four villages which make up Courchevel have an allure which attracts ski hire users in search of glitz and glamour on their holidays.
A firm favourite with the rich and famous, with Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich among the frequent visitors, Courchevel provides ski hire users with luxurious chalets and hotels, as well as some of the finest Michelin-starred restaurants on the continent, the source said.
"The mountain has well-groomed pistes for novices and intermediates, fun areas for children, a supervised terrain park and an avalanche training camp [and] there’s still plenty to explore above Meribel and Val Thorens," the newspaper stated.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Ski Club of Great Britain recently said that it is still possible for ski hire users to holiday in France without breaking the bank.
Those using ski hire in Tignes this winter will be able to see some of the top sports stars in the world perform, after participants in the Winter X Games were revealed.
The list of performers for the March event, which is the first to be held outside northern America, includes Mikkel Bang and Sarah Burke.
Last year, 19-year-old Bang won the New Zealand Burton Open Slopestyle and the 2008 Nissan X-trail Nippon Open ParkStyle, and is sure to provide ski hire users with some spectacular tricks and stunts.
Meanwhile, three-time X Games gold medallist Burke is hoping for a quartet of victories in the freestyle skiing event when she takes to the slopes to dazzle ski hire in Tignes users.
Those not wanting to wait until March to visit the resort can currently use ski hire in Tignes early, as the resort has opened ahead of schedule due to the excellent weather conditions in the area.
Ski hire users are likely to be using resorts close to the popular Val d’Isere region this winter, one specialist has stated.
Vanessa Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Ski Club of Great Britain, said that people will still be travelling to the French Alps in droves, though many may be looking to cut costs this season compared with previous years.
"Resorts that are slightly off the beaten track are going to be popular as they are slightly cheaper," she explained.
Ms Fisher added that ski hire users will be looking for resorts which can provide them with all the amenities they would expect on a trip to the slopes, which is why regions close to Val d’Isere are likely to be high on people’s list of destinations.
According to recent research conducted by the Ski Club of Great Britain, France continues to dominate the UK winter sports market with a 43 per cent share.
Ski hire users looking to cut costs on their trip to the slopes can still save money despite the recession, according to one specialist.
A spokesperson for the Ski Club of Great Britain stated that first timers in particular can benefit from a number of deals on things such as ski equipment hire, making the overall cost of their trip lower and making it more likely that they will return.
"There are plenty of great deals to be had. Get some advice about where to go because if you are skiing for the first time, you want to be in the right resort," the specialist said.
The representative added that some tour operators are beginning to report growth in the sector as more ski hire users are booking a break to the mountains.
Meanwhile, Kid Friendly Vacations recently stated that ski hire users who take their children on holiday can have an "unforgettable" time.
One ski hire user has spoken of how a trip to Les Arcs was a holiday which they "loved every minute of".
Writing on the Snowheads blog, one writer said that they first visited Les Arcs in 2007, a trip which was their first ever break to the slopes.
According to the blogger, the only regret about the holiday was that they did not venture attempt to schuss down more difficult slopes, but they helped to remedy this when next using ski hire in Les Arcs.
"I am fortunate enough to be going back there this coming February. Since my first trip there, my repertoire now includes reds and (very) easy blacks so I hope to see more of the ski area," the skier commented.
Youngsters using ski hire in Les Arcs for the first time can now benefit from lessons to teach them the basics, after the launch of the Adventurers Club, a scheme designed for children between five and eight years old.
