St Gervais riding guide - World Snowboard Guide

Navigation

Freeriding

Freeriders should check out the huge, wide-open bowls at Les Contamines, where there is varied off-piste riding almost everywhere you look. It's best when visibility and snow are good though, as if it is cloudy you will just get frustrated that you are missing all the best lines and hitting all the hidden cat-tracks.

Mont-Joy has some good steep off-piste riding. It is possible to ride right down to Les Contamines, but taking a guide is highly recommended to avoid accidental cliff drops.

Freestylers

Freestylers have a funpark at Mont Joux, although it is not very impressive and seems to be rather neglected, particularly the halfpipe. The few jumps range from a small tabletop to a 30ft-gap jump.

It also gets very busy at times, especially weekends.

Pistes

Riders will find plenty of wide pistes, yet some of them do tend to get chopped up by the end of the day. There are slalom courses at Mont Joux and across Megeve at Rochebrune if you want to race your mates.

Beginners

Beginners can save money by getting a lift pass for just the Bettex area, which has a few nursery slopes, including one chairlift. However, the slopes on the other side of the mountain tend to get more sun and are less icy. The areas around the Mont d'Arbois and Ideal lifts are recommended as there are a variety of easy runs, as well as some easily reached harder ones for when you start feeling brave.

The low point for beginners are the flat bits on the runs back down to Bettex.

Resort Statistics

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

Lifts

Total Lifts: 36
Gondolas: 2
Chair lifts: 13
Drag lifts: 20
Other lifts: 1 Tram
Max people per hour: 23,920
Board Leashes required: No

Mountain

Total pistes/trails: 71
Total ride area: 130km
Longest run: 1.9miles (3000m)

Top lift: 2353m
Vertical drop: 1543m
First lift: 810m

Piste suitability

Green runs: 17%
Red runs: 70%
Black runs: 13%

Lift Passes

Lift Passes:
Local area:
Half-day 24 euros
Full Day 30.50
EVASION MONT-BLANC (445km slopes)
1 Day pass 33 euros
6 Days 159 euros
Lift times:8.30am to 5.00pm

Snowfall

Artificial snowmaking coverage: 20 cannons%

Facilities

Snowboard Schools: Group 2.5hrs 23 euros, 6 days 94 euros
Private 1 hr 30 euros
Guides:
COMPAGNIE DES GUIDES Tel: +33 (0)4 50 47 76 55
GUIDES DES CIMES +33 (0)4 50 93 52 29
Snowboard Hire: from 90 euros a week
Night Riding: : No