European Ski Resort Run Times?

The length of ski runs on average around Europe?
What times from top to bottom on beginner runs?
Intermediate runs and advanced?
What level of fitness is required?
I see on Canadian brochures some green runs go for 6-9kms. But no such info on
European brochures.
I have read about the ski areas linked and cross border skiing in one day.
Must passports be carried on such trips across border/
Thanks.

Quite a shopping list there, Vincentus :D

I'll kick off....

Cross Border skiing.
It's advisable to carry ID. It's technically necessary to carry a passport, or ID Card at all times in Europe. With the Schengen Agreement many countries in mainland Europe now have open borders (not UK).

I'm not sure how you could possibly average out the length of ski runs in European resorts. We have lots of resorts with very long runs. I'm thinking of runs like the Sarenne in Alpe D'Huez, around 16km I think IIRC.
Europe also does big vertical. For example the pisted "Aguille Rouge" in Les Arcs, 1 run, 2km or 2000m vertical. The locals race this in April and times are around 7 mins to complete the run.

Most UK Ski Tour Operator brochures carry "longest run" data on their brochure pages, for folks needing to know, suggest you have a browse online.

As for fitness, how fit you are determines how much you can do, of the slopes available for your standard in resort. This can lead to folks gravitating towards resorts that suit their lifestyle, with places like Chamonix and La Grave being perceived to be tough and requiring good skill and fitness (and a big ice axe hanging off your pack) :wink:

Vincentus wrote:The length of ski runs on average around Europe?
What times from top to bottom on beginner runs?
Intermediate runs and advanced?
What level of fitness is required?
I see on Canadian brochures some green runs go for 6-9kms. But no such info on
European brochures.
I have read about the ski areas linked and cross border skiing in one day.
Must passports be carried on such trips across border/
Thanks.

A lot longer than they are at Buller that's for sure. Vertical drop is HUGE compared to your home land so runs are comparatively longer! Of courses all resorts are much different so there would be no point in me saying that they were 5 times longer or something. Today I skied from Switzerland in to Italy and back to Switzerland, no passport checks but had it with just incase :lol:

Thanks for the heads up. Bandit, vertical is mentioned by you.
What are we talking about here, steep or steeper?
I suppose times on average really is what i am after. 1-5mins
or longer depending on the vertical?
I am aware of my abilities and will be honing them in July for 5 days.
I will be timing myself of course. :roll:

Pablo, i see you are on the great examples for me.
You know Mt.Buller?
Give me a rough estimates and i will be content with that.
I suppose I am after times to strive for personal endurance times.
I want to be ready for my European adventure.
I am an old dog, but still capable of some new tricks :lol:

Vincentus, i once completed a run in 30seconds. It also took me 13minutes to go top to bottom in les deux alpes! There really is no estimate on length it will take you, the lengths of slopes vary greatly, but in general they'll probably be longer then those of australia

Thanks Swskier for same time online reply.
Yes, i read a while back some one telling other Forumites not to bother
with Australian fields. What can i say, i am getting my ski legs in OZ,
so it will have to do for now. Until my jaw drops, as it does reading &
looking at the photos of Europe and Canada, for real :-)

Vincentus wrote:Thanks for the heads up. Bandit, vertical is mentioned by you.
What are we talking about here, steep or steeper?
I suppose times on average really is what i am after. 1-5mins
or longer depending on the vertical?
I am aware of my abilities and will be honing them in July for 5 days.
I will be timing myself of course. :roll:

The two runs I mentioned in my post are quite different in character. The Sarenne is graded black, and has a long mellow run out, and the Aguille Rouge, only 7km long, and graded red/black, but is relentless in it's gradient, and pretty tiring at the end of a ski day. :D

Steep is relative to your experience and expectations. In Europe, go much steeper than 30' and the run won't be groomed. A run may also be graded black, because of natural hazards, not the gradient.

Do Australian ski resorts have the same altitude as those in Europe? If they are higher, then you will have no need to become accustomed to thinner air, I live near sea level, so it takes me a few days to stop puffing when I get to the mountains :lol:

If you are coming to Europe to ski, stand on top of the mountains and enjoy the view. There are different ways to ski down every run,and lots of them are not connected with going fast IYKWIM )