School Ski Trips to Alpe d’Huez Resort - By: Catherine McCabe

Located in the southeastern region of France in the commune of Huez, the Alpe d'Huez resort area was founded in 1936 at between 1,860 and 3,330 metres above sea level. In the summer the mountain, L'Alpe d'Huez, plays an important role in the Tour de France: since 1976 almost all of the staged finishes of the tour have taken place in the area.

During the colder winter months, the Alpe d'Huez resort becomes one of Europe’s most prestigious and popular skiing locations and is a perfect destination for a school ski trip. From the village, you can ride up one of the world’s first ski lifts on the Eclose Trail and ski down any of the 237 kilometres of trails that range from green to more difficult blues and reds. Students are guaranteed to find a level of slope that matches their skills.

Ski Lifts — While it may not be an aspect of skiing that is found particularly interesting, the lifts at the Eclose Trail are worth taking note of by students on school ski trips, due to their place in the history of the slopes. In 1936, when the resort of Alpe d'Huez was built, Jean Polmagalski installed the first of his ski lifts to serve this area right next to the main bulk of the village. From this successful first venture, Polmagalski moved on to install them worldwide, and now we cannot imagine skiing without lifts to whisk us away to the top of the slopes.

Easy Runs — The resort area of Alpe d'Huez has 70 easy/green runs that allow for beginner students to develop and build their ski legs on a wide and gently sloping area directly above the village. These gentle slopes are dedicated ‘low speed’ zones, and are the perfect place for students on school ski trips to take lessons before heading up into the intermediate or blue slopes.

Intermediate Runs — There are areas of blue and red, mostly straighter, runs to the west and a mix of intermediate, graded slopes directly above the green runs north of the village. You can take gondolas up to stations at 2,300 metres and 2,700 metres and have your choice of runs that range from the generally quieter red Signal de L’Homme, to the more exciting ones at Vaujany. And, if you want a short break before heading down the slopes, you can visit the Ice Cave at 2,700 metres, which hosts a different ice sculpture every year.

Experienced Runs — For school ski groups who know their way around a slope, the Alpe d'Huez resort has an array of black and off-piste challenges too. The Sarenne black run is the world’s longest, at 16 kilometres; and on the famous Tunnel Run - that leads skiers through a tunnel near its start before dropping away in a steep angle - are two black runs. In addition to this, the numerous areas of off-piste skiing allow for new and exciting ways for experienced skiers to carve their own way down the mountain.

About the Author

Catherine McCabe works for Slopping Off, a specialist winter sports travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups with a specific focus on school ski trips. Sloping Off offer a variety of affordable, good value packages to Austria, France and Italy.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Catherine-McCabe-/213543

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