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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1100m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[5]
Advanced:		[4]
Snowboarding:		[4]

A large but attractive village, La Clusaz, in the Savoy region has been welcoming skiers for more than a century. The resort is surrounded by five inter-linked ski mountains and there is the further option of purchasing the Aravis pass which also includes the nearby ski area of Le Grand Bornand.

La Clusaz is very proud of its heritage and organises a weekly Monday night get together on the village square when local farmers provide regional specialities for tasting. There’s a weekly market if you want to buy some to take home. With 20 working farms and more than 500 cows grazing the ski slopes in the summer, cheese production, particularly Reblochon, is popular here.

Beginners

A holiday in La Clusaz gives a good first impression of traditional Alpine architecture and ambience. The downside is that La Clusaz lacks the altitude and slope-side convenience for first timers which can mean a bit of a walk or bus ride to the slopes.

The village nursery slopes are good and convenient, but low, which may be a problem if the weather is warm, even with all the snowmaking cover. However, higher runs can easily be reached by gondola or chairlift if need be.

Intermediates

Intermediates will probably enjoy the varied terrain of La Clusaz the most, with the majority of the 1309km (78 miles) of runs graded easy or moderate. The terrain is a great mix of fast ‘motorways’, exciting pistes carved through the trees and challenging technical runs.

Night skiing is a fun event each week to 10.30pm on the slope down from the Patinoire gondola (extra cost, not included in your lift ticket). At every full moon La Clusaz stages its popular full moon ski nights when the slopes are open to 1am.

Advanced

Although not always highly rated as a destination for advanced skiers, there are seven black runs to choose from.

More significantly, the resort’s very active ski club has brought forth some of France’s best skiers over the past century, most recently freestyle and freeride competitors of world class, in particular triple X Games champion Candide Thovex who organises an international contest – the Candide Invitational – each year.

All these stars have to train somewhere and the Balme massif is the main attraction with steep, north facing slopes collecting powder in steep gullies like Borderan, as well as providing lots of bumps and jumps.

The Vraille run is one of the resort’s big challenges, descending 1100 vertical metres over its four kilometre length.

If you want to improve your technique, La Clusaz could be the place to do it, as the resort boasts seven ski schools including some specialising in off piste touring and freeride. Dimension Freeride offers a ‘powder hunter’ service and will text you details of where the best powder is to be found each morning.

Snowboarding

Boarders, like skiers who love to freeride, will love the Balme area which is generally described as a ‘natural playground’ mixing steep chutes, powder bowls and great bump runs through the trees. There is a freestyle park with half pipe but this is perhaps less of a draw than the natural terrain that Balme offers.

Other Activities and Facilities

The aqua centre, which incorporates a large outdoor heated pool, is a major attraction. The facility also includes a sauna, jacuzzi, fountain and children’s paddling pool. Other facilities in the village include a large ice rink and a toboggan run. Sleigh rides, ice climbing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, quad biking, dog sledding and paragliding are all available.

Several hotels have spa facilities which are open to the public. The Alpen Roc has a Balneotherapy centre with hydo-massage pools, body wraps, shiatsu sessions, a swimming pool and sauna. The Beauvoir is the place to go for your Dead Sea mud body wrap.

Après Ski and Dining Out

La Clusaz is definitely one of the liveliest French resorts, thanks to its traditional ambience and great selection of bars and other night spots. Le Grenir and Les Caves are both popular choice and the interior of the nightclub L’Ecluse has to be seen to be appreciated.

There are nearly 70 restaurants to choose from, with many serving an array of local dishes such as fondue, pela, raclette and tartiflette. For a special night the Chalet du Lac is more than 300 years old and sits in a unique location by a glacier-fed lake. It serves Alpine food from a bygone era such as pork fricassee and duck hotpot, washed down with regional Savoy wines.

Families

La Clusaz makes a special effort for children and stages the ‘Pestacles du Pere Noel’ Christmas festival all winter long. This is a Santa-centred free weekly theme day with street entertainers, fireworks, circus skills classes and similar. Children will also enjoy the large swimming and ice centres.

Non-ski nursery care is offered by the Club des Mouflets for children aged from eight months to four years.

Young skiers can join the ski school’s Club des Champions for children aged from three to six years. The ski school offers standard lessons for children aged five and over working their way through the French national awards series. Children 12 and over can sign up for special teen classes with the onus on cool snow sports.

Piste Map for La clusaz

Accommodation in La clusaz

• Gai Soleil - 2 star, half board
• Hotel Alpen`roc - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Beauregard - 3 star, half board
• La Residence - 2 star, self catering

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