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Best early season european resort

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J.G.
Posts: 159 - Karma: 81
sorry if this is a repost. but im kind of newb on NS.

But im sitting trying to plan my early season trip and i just wonder whats the best locations? is it in the alps or in norway or sweden?
And im looking for a big park.
Aug 25 2009 3:05AM
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johnnypsunami
Posts: 5024 - Karma: 221

When I was in Austria two years ago, Kaunertal had a pretty sick park really early in the season.

I would guess Hintertux, Mayerhofen and Laax would also be pretty good.

Aug 25 2009 9:49AM
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johnnypsunami
Posts: 5024 - Karma: 221

When I was in Austria two years ago, Kaunertal had a pretty sick park really early in the season.

I would guess Hintertux, Mayerhofen and Laax would also be pretty good.

Aug 25 2009 9:50AM
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ski-unit13
Posts: 25 - Karma: 10
okay there are several glaciers in austria which have a pretty good park in fall, for example dachstein hintertux and the kaunertal. they all have park opening weekends which normally is a big party. especially the kaunertal opening is good to recommend....
then there are some resorts with no glaciers which have a pretty good park but not really early maybe at the middle of december or something eg. laax, mayerhofen .....
i would recommend the glaciers i never was on the dachstein. but hintertux and the kaunertal are sick
hintertux opens their park earlier i think in the middle of september and the kaunertal more or less one month later
Aug 25 2009 10:59AM
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J.G.
Posts: 159 - Karma: 81
thanks man. i think im going to Dachstein then. Looks sick and sounds sick from what ive heard...
Aug 25 2009 1:04PM
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Steeze-On-Toast
Posts: 679 - Karma: 92
check out a few of their site, laax, mayrhoffen, duex alpes are good bets
Aug 25 2009 1:42PM
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ski-unit13
Posts: 25 - Karma: 10
yeah i think dachstein is a good choise
laax is good during the midseason or in spring but in the early season it is not really good because the main park is on really low attitude it is the same with mayerhofen. in laax the park is on 2200meters and in mayerhofen even lower i think ... i m not sure but... i think so
yeah i heard great thinks from dachstein ..so go there and tell me how it was
i will definitly go to the kaunertal opening

when do you want to go to europe

les deux alps is sick too but its in france...i like it more to ski in austria i dont know why...
parks seem a bit more professional and more modern to me...maybe im wrong but its my opinion
Aug 25 2009 7:23PM
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SuperE
Posts: 20 - Karma: 13
My friends say Tignes in France is the best, good park and they get snow early. I want to go so bad!!!
Aug 25 2009 9:00PM
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michael_bc
Posts: 1317 - Karma: 419
depends what you call early season.

September-October: Zermatt is the best, other good options are Saas-Fee and Stilfserjoch
from mid-October: Schnalstal (Gentlemen park) or Kaunertal
November-December: Les Diablerets (Glacier 3000)
from mid-November: Laax

Someone posted that Laax is not good early season, park at low altitude etc... this is a load of bullshit: if the snow is not sufficient, the park is on the glacier at 3000m. Laax always opens with a decent park. Laax is an excellent early season choice as it guarantees a park from mid-november, and if there is pow you can ride it, unlike most European resorts which are either glacier-only or open mid-December. I've had some of the best powder days of my life in Laax in November.

Les Diablerets is a pretty epic spot to be early season too, stay at the Budokan (www.demonium-mc.com).
Aug 25 2009 11:02PM
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ski-unit13
Posts: 25 - Karma: 10
iin my opinion the park on the glacier in laax ist not to compare with the park on the dachstein or the one in the kaunertal or hintertux. in oktober i would probably go to hintertux or to the dachstein
but hey its your decision and its just my opinion
Aug 26 2009 4:32AM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
maybe define what you mean by "early season". october? december?

in my experience i've found that by early december it's actually decent, at least in tirol where i usually go.

also, a good time to catch the european resorts is the tail end of january, when the snow picks up again, and you still get non-high season prices, quiet slopes, and before the school holidays that keep things very busy in february.

the glaciers are pretty reliable, kaunertal, hintertux, etc.
Aug 26 2009 4:38AM
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ski-unit13
Posts: 25 - Karma: 10
yeah maybe he souhld define what he means with early season ...you are right
and laax is not in tyrol its in graubünden, just a little correction
Aug 26 2009 4:49AM
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zammo
Posts: 15 - Karma: 10

Like lots of people have said, it really depends on what you call early season.

Tignes is lively, decent park and some good skiing to be had across the whole glacier. The guys do quite a good deal: http://www.skiandboardcamp.com/index.html

I'm not wild about Les Diablerets but only because I don't like the cable car. I normally only get there when winter has properly arrived (I come over from Villars) so it just seems such a schlep, but the park always looks in good nick.

Dachstein also has some fantastic touring. You'll need a guide, but early season is when to go.

Aug 26 2009 6:16AM
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.j.Scrilla
Posts: 489 - Karma: 2,436
ok recommend a resort to head to for the last two weeks in November. I love skiing in Austria but its harder for me to get to Geneva has the most flights.
Aug 26 2009 7:48AM
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J.G.
Posts: 159 - Karma: 81

early = late october/ start of november

Aug 26 2009 9:26AM
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J.G.
Posts: 159 - Karma: 81

máybe Saas Fee in switzerland

shit double post...

Aug 26 2009 9:29AM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
Hmmm, early season near Geneva, I think you're going to have to look for a glacier.

From Geneva- Chamonix is 45 minutes by taxi, don't bother with the train. I shared the fare with another stranger who was also headed there.

Tignes / Val- 2.5 hours by bus.

Verbier and the Valais- 2 hours? by train / bus.

You're not going to get the best of the Alps early season, they're stunning to look at, but the high quality snow and skiing is going to be January - March.

Aug 26 2009 9:31AM
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