Ste Foy is a highly-respected but lesser-known ski area surprisingly
near several French mega-resorts in the snow-favoured Tarentaise
Valley. Small in lift number, it is huge on character, peace
and powder. Best of all the base station and main lift are
a mere 100m from the chalet. Three chairlifts rise from 1550m
to 2620m and there are two 'magic carpet' lifts on the nursery
slopes, which end just opposite the chalet. A fourth high level
lift opened in the 2006/07 season opening up
even more skiing in Ste Foy's vast sunny bowl, with new intermediate-graded
runs from one of the highest points in the resort. Both lifts
and slopes are uncrowded and the snow usually stays in excellent
condition on the pistes because of the small number of visitors
and the excellent snow enjoyed by the sheltered north-west
facing bowl.
The marked runs can keep all standards happy. Those who love the pistes will find 35km (23% black including two ungroomed freeride areas, 47% red, 24% blue, 6% green) at their disposal, accessed by three quad chairs and the new fast six-seater. There are gentle, tree-lined greens and blues, wide and fast reds and challenging blacks. Ste Foy is a great place to learn to ski as the quiet pistes funnel back to one point at the base so no-one can get lost.
There are two lovely rustic mountain restaurants at the top of the first quad lift, or you can head back to one of the restaurants at the base - or even the chalet! - for lunch.
Many
find they can't tear themselves away from Ste Foy, but if
you want to venture further afield, with a 6 day Ste Foy pass
you are entitled to a reduced price day pass in each of Val
d'Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs, La Plagne and La Rosiere.
Great value when your Ste Foy pass costs just 105 Euros (£73)
for 6 days!
Off-piste
'It's
an uncrowded gem with some wonderful off-piste slopes for
experts and intermediates' ('Where to Ski and Snowboard 2007').
The pistes are only the start of the Ste Foy experience -
the resort is a freeriders natural funpark. There is nowhere
better for intermediates to start experiencing powder, off
the sides of the runs. And the terrain will also delight experts,
with everything from steeps to wide open bowls and superb
tree runs. What's more, because of the small number of visitors
the snow stays pristine and scenery unspoilt long after the
fresh snow in Val d'Isère has been cut to shreds. You'll
soon understand why so many guides bring groups from neighbouring
resorts to ski in Ste Foy! From the top lift at a height of
2620m, there is access to an area which has the potential
to be larger than that of Ste Foy's more famous neighbouring
resorts. Taking a guide, you can undertake several classic
itineraries which can be tailored to suit different levels
of ability. A gentle trip via the pretty village of Monal
can be done without any hiking. Amazing routes such as the
north facing Fogliettaz, with its challenging slopes and couloirs,
or the 20 km descent from the top of the Ruitor Glacier to
Ste Foy village, are accessible with a short hike. Book a
guide with the ESF and they will organise a bus back to the
resort where necessary and so to the door of the chalet.
Heliskiing (30 minutes away) up to 3,400m and overnight stays
in various refuges are also available.
