New snowboarder

I would really appreciate some advice re the best place for a weekend away to learn to snowboard in December, as close as possible to an airport and with good restaurants! Tall order?!

Early December and your choice will be a bit limited - maybe Les Deux Alpes (fly to Grenoble or Chambery - about an hours drive to the resort) as there are good beginners runs up high on the glacier.

Late December will give you much more choice - La Clusaz (less than an hour from Geneva) has good beginners areas on the Beauregard, maybe Les Gets or Morzine if the snow has come good by then.

If you're willing to drive, then you'll have more choice of resorts; otherwise you'll need to think about public transport or a transfer deal with the accommodation.

If you're going out before the peak weekends around Xmas and New Year then definitely don't book anywhere yet - wait and see where the snow falls. Soft snow makes learning to snowboard just sooooo much more fun (i.e. less painful).

Accommodation is easy to find in early to mid-December so just book your flights now and wait and see - bag the best deal you can to Geneva, Grenoble or Chambery and then you'll have a good choice of resorts to choose from nearer the time. Job done. Site back and watch the snow forecasts!

Thanks so much for that. If anyone else feels like chipping in I'd be glad to hear from them

Sorry I can't help you with sugestions for where you go on your weekend trip. I could sugest something that might make it more sucessful.
Snowboarding has a very steep initial learning curve, so anything that you can do to prepare yourself will pay dividends.

If you don't already have one, consider buying a cheap skateboard and pads/helmet. Find yourself a smooth carpark (idealy with a very very gentle slope). Standing sideways on the board and going very slowly, learn to make the skateboard turn by pressing down with your heels or your toes. You don't have to do tricks or anything risky, just learn to make it turn. This skill combined with the balance skills you aquire skateboarding will give you a huge head start learning to snowboard. Even just a few days of doing this will help.

Learning to snowboard is great fun, but having an ace up your sleeve, like a little skate boarding, will make it better.

Trencher

When in Dec, as not all resorts will have great snow cover....

Val Thorens will be poss the best place for early skiing in France due to it's high altitude...

I know at least one very nice restaurant there too.


About 2.5 hours by car from Lyon, a little more from Geneva.


G.

Thanks for all help. Zell am See looks nice.................?

:D We are going to bulgaria to board this december to a place called borovets, weve been told its cheap and a good all rounder.

A forum member was asking me about button/poma lifts. I've used J-bar lifts but not button lifts. this looks like some sound advice though.

http://www.snowboardinghelp.com/using-lifts/poma-lifts-the-pogo-sticks-of-the-ski-hills.php

The best advice imho, is to avoid them. I always check out the lifts as well as the runs befor going to a resort. If enough snowboarders refuse to spend thier money at ski resorts that use poma and J-bars for anything more than the shortest distances, things will change. If you are at a resort that has button lifts, you should politely complain to someone important at the resort. Tell them you are disappointed with thier unfriendly equipment and will not come back or recommend them to others.

I want to devote all my energy to coming down the hill, so lifts that require concentration and energy are not for me. Also on J and T bars, it is very easy for snowboarders especially to get jackets caught up when getting off.

Having said the above, once you have some basic skill, I think it is a good idea to learn to ride all lifts, so you are never limited. If you are boarding every week, tow ropes become part of your fitness training.

Trencher