Sainte-Foy riding guide - World Snowboard Guide

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Freeriding

Sainte-Foy is what snowboards were invented for. There is basically three slow lifts, running one after the other to take you from 1550m to the Col de LAiguille at 2612m. From here, you have a myriad of choices but be careful as each brow you come over leads to another untouched field and the next thing you know, you're ollieing your way over fences and the bottom lift will be a hitchhike away.

On the way up you can look for the line you want to take. Be it a wide open face, rock shoots or into the trees, this place is a expansive mountain with only a few runs winding their way down under the lifts. If you can handle a walk and a long flattish path, then you can drop down over the back side of Rocher dArbine.

WARNING to get the best of this place get a guide, not just to show you the way but to advise on safe routes and snow conditions. If you decide to board here for 6 days then keep your pass and you can get the next 3 days in Espace Killy for ¬55 or a day for ¬21.

Freestylers

Freestylers need to discover how to seek out natural hits, since that's all you're going to get... but that's all you're going to need! Why bother making pipes in a natural heaven - they're better left to the tourist traps. Riding will never be as free or as natural as in this place. Theres loads of drop-offs and plenty of banked walls just waiting to be hit, although novice air heads must take care and ride only with a competent rider who can pre-spot for you, as who knows what may lie under that flat blanket of soft looking snow?

Pistes

Those who want pistes will soon wish theyd headed for nearby Val dIsere or Tignes. Theres only 25km of marked piste her and its often left alone and can get bumpy.

Beginners

Beginners have some fine rolling runs under the first two chairs and wont have the crowds of bigger resorts to contend with, as well as cheaper lift passes.

Resort Statistics

Resort Type: Alpine
Winter: Dec to April
Summer: None

Lifts

Total Lifts: 5
Chair lifts: 3
Drag lifts: 2
Max people per hour: 12,000
Board Leashes required: No

Mountain

Total pistes/trails: 8
Total ride area: 27km
Longest run: 4.3miles (7000m)

Top lift: 2620m
Vertical drop: 1070m
First lift: 1550m

Piste suitability

Green runs: 30%
Red runs: 40%
Black runs: 30%

Lift Passes

	Low Season			High Season
	EUR	GBP	Average	EUR	GBP	Average
Day Pass	19.00	15.53	-50%	26.00	21.26	-37%
6-Day Pass	107.00	87.48	-39%	139.00	113.65	-31%

	EUR	GBP	Average
Season Pass:	468.00	382.64	-20%

Lift Passes:
Half-day 16 euros
1 Day pass - 19 euros
6 Days pass - 105 euros
Season 330 euros
Lift times:8.30am to 4.30pm

Snowfall

Artificial snowmaking coverage: 0%

Facilities

Snowboard Schools: Off-piste guide Jean-Noël Gaidet tel: +33 (0)6 14 62 90 24
ESF run off-piste groups to Le Monal, Les Pigettes, Fogliettaz. Visit www.esf-saintefoy.com tel: +33 (0)4 79 06 96 76
Snowboard Hire: 2 small shops, best to take your own
Night Riding: : No