France

Sixty million French people are the lucky owners of some of the best snowboard resorts in the world, (Chamonix and Serre Chevalier should be on the calling card of all snowboarders) and without doubt, the most extreme and largest areas in Europe.

Resorts vary from the old to the new, but what makes them stand out is the variety of resorts themselves. Some are ugly, semi-modern dumps, whilst others are olde worlde hamlets. What is common however, are the facilities on offer. Fast-food and good bars are plentiful and all help to create a good snowboard scene.

Getting to French resorts is no problem; most are reached by road, although please note that motorways have expensive tolls. Flying to France offers a number of routes, with the principal airports to resorts being Grenoble, Lyon, Chambery and Geneva in Switzerland.

Train services in France are affordable, excellent and fast. Furthermore, during the winter months there is a direct train service from London's Waterloo station to Bourg St Maurice station, a short five minute walk to the funicular that serves the resort of Les Arcs. Most resorts can be reached indirectly by train and bus. EU nationals won't need a visa to work in France, however, France is the worst country in the world to get a job as a snowboard instructor. The authorities are very protective of their own. If you're caught teaching on the slopes and don't hold the French ski instructor's certificate. you will be arrested and jailed. However, more mundane forms of work such as bar work are permitted. Many opportunities do exist, especially at the bigger resorts.

Accommodation in most places consists of apartment blocks sleeping any number from 1-21, which are usually quite easy to overload with floor scammers, provided they pay up with some beers.

On the money side, France is expensive, but you can get by if you eat fast-food or buy in supermarkets (where alcohol is really cheap). Avoid the overpriced discos as late night bars are just as good.

Popular Resorts

Useful information

Population:60 Million
Capital City: Paris
Language: French
Currency: Euros
Highest Peak: Mont Blanc 4808m
Drugs Information: Cannabis is illegal and frowned upon.
Alcohol Drinking 18
Electricity Supply: 240 Volts AC 2 Pin plugs
Driving: Drive on the right hand side
Speed Limits
d Toll Motorways - 130 kph Motorways - 110kph Main Roads - 90kph Towns - 50kph
International Phone Code: +33
Further Information:
French Snowboard Association Route du Parc du Souvenir 06500 Menton France tel+33 492418000 web:www.afs-fr.com Email:afs@afs-fr.com

Resorts
Abondance , Alpe du Grand Serre , Alpes d'Huez , Auron , Avoriaz , Bareges , Bellevaux , Briancon , Brides Les Bains , Cauterets , Chamonix , Champagny en Vanoise , Chamrousse , Chatel , Combloux , Cordon , Correncon en Vercors , Courchevel , Crest Voland Cohennoz , Eaux-Bonnes Gourette , Flaine , Gourette , Gresse en Vercors , Isola 2000 , La Bresse Hohneck , La Chapelle d'Abondance , La Clusaz , La Colmiane - Valdeblore , La Corber , La Foux d'Allos , La Grand Bornand , La Grave , La Joue du Loup , La Norma , La Plagne , La Rosiere , La Tania , La Toussuire , Lans en Vercors , Le Corbier , Le Mont Dore , Le Sauze Super Sauze , Les Angles , Les Arcs , Les Carroz , Les Contamines , Les Deux Alpes , Les Gets , Les Houches , Les Menuires , Les Orres , Les Sept Laux , Limone Piemonte , Megeve , Meribel , Metabief , Molines en Queyras , Montchavin , Montgenevre , Montriond , Morzine , Peisey Nancroix Vallandry , Peyragudes , Piau Engaly , Pra Loup , Pralognan La Vanoise , Praz de Lys Sommand , Praz sur Arly , Puy St Vincent , Risoul , Saint Jean d'Arves , Saint Jean d'Aulps , Saint Martin de Bellevill , Saint Nicolas de Veroce , Sainte-Foy , Samoens , Serre Chevalier , St Francois Longchamp , St Gervais , St Lary , Superbagneres , SuperDevoluy , Thollon les Memises , Tignes , Val Cenis , Val d'Allos , Val d'Isere , Val Louron , Val Thorens , Valfrejus , Valloire , Valmeinier , Valmorel , Vars , Vaujany , Villard de Lans , Villard Reculas
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