Sainte Foy: Not Hidden Any More, But Still a Gem

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third March 2024 | James Cove, Sainte Foy

PlanetSKI editor James Cove has lastly skied in a resort he first needed to ski in over 25 years in the past. NEW

The resort sits above the street as much as Val d’Isere and Tignes from Bourg-st-Maurice.

The resort opened in 1990 and it stays the final ski resort that opened in France.

It’s more likely to maintain that accolade for a very long time to return.

It was talked about in hushed tones, by these in-the-know again within the 90s.

It was the real ‘hidden gem’.

Now it’s identified to many hundreds, however nonetheless has the sensation of someplace frequented by these with inside data.

Ski instructors from close by Val d’Isere and Tignes nonetheless come right here on their days off.

It has legendary off piste terrain, and I take advantage of the phrase ‘legendary’ fastidiously.

It seemed good for my first go to as I flung open the curtains of the Premiere Neige chalet I used to be staying in.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

The British operator dominates the UK market right here, at the moment with 22 properties and 160 beds, although this fluctuates from season to season.

We posted about Premiere Neige earlier this season on PlanetSKI:

Extra concerning the British success story of Premiere Neige later.

I’m on my very first, and really long-overdue, go to.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

Sainte Foy was not fairly what I anticipated.

In truth it was in no way what I anticipated.

The very good off piste was no nice shock, however others areas of Sainte Foy had been:

The piste skiingThe household skiingThe village itself

First although lets take a look at what the resort is most well-known for.

The Off Piste

It has been a little bit of a bumper season right here with large quantities of snow initially of the season and into January.

The resort is north-west dealing with so doesn’t get hammered by the solar.

The resort itself is a good sufficient peak at 1,550m, with the lifts going as much as, 2,622m.

The Pointe de la Folietta is at 2.930m and folks hike that method to entry the most effective off piste.

Proof stays of the snowfall.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

“General it has been a wonderful winter for snow with the heavy falls earlier on, and very good piste upkeep by the resort,” stated the founding father of Premiere Neige, Fiona Harvey.

“It’s a disgrace we haven’t had any contemporary powder snow not too long ago, however it is going to come.”

Fiona Harvey. Picture © Premiere Neige.

The off piste terrain was not a shock – I anticipated it to be distinctive and so it proved to be.

The simply accessible stuff sits on the primary entrance face bowl, above and in between the lifts.

There may be some wonderful tree snowboarding decrease down.

Ste Foy piste map

Sadly the circumstances weren’t proper for any severe adventures on my swift go to, however we ventured off the marked runs close to the pistes the place there was loads of protection and, although tracked out, there have been a number of pockets of the contemporary stuff.

On the steeps the snow was chalky and grippy

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

Over the again was the true stuff – accessed by booting uphill or traversing around the aspect.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

Although the circumstances weren’t proper to ski it, I may have a look.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

Additional spherical and off the L’Aiguille carry, there’s one other bowl.

Then it was again to the accessible terrain.

Elements of it jogged my memory of Kicking Horse – my favorite resort in Canada.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

The realm is roofed by the castex avalanche detonation system with pylons and wires over the hazard spots.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

“If there’s an incident the entire of the entrance bowl is seen to the pisteurs and the carry operators, so assist could be readily available swiftly,” stated Fiona.

“There may be hardly ever any incident, but it surely does give that added feeling of safety.”

And with that it was again to the primary shock of my go to – the piste snowboarding.

The Piste Snowboarding

The piste snowboarding, for which Sainte Foy is just not maybe reknowned, is nothing short of distinctive in my view.

There isn’t an unlimited quantity of slopes like a few of its neighbouring resorts – Val d’Isere, Tignes, Les Arcs & La Rosiere – however what it might lack in amount it definitely makes up for in high quality.

We had been off.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

The groomed runs are filled with banks & rollers, there’s various steepness, large number of runs/terrain with prime stage grooming.

Oh, and only a few individuals round.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

There’s steep stuff on the prime and nice runs by the timber decrease down.

I’ve simply come over from Les3Vallees the place the queues had been horrendous in locations.

See my earlier report as I tried to ski all of the resorts in L3V in a day:

There have been no queues in Sainte Foy.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

The map does no justice in anyway – it seems considerably restricted, but it surely completely is just not.

Ste Foy piste map

Right here’s my snow report that takes in my views of the piste snowboarding in Sainte Foy

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

And if you wish to unfold your wings and have a day hammering spherical one its neighbouring giant ski areas (Val d’Isere, Tignes, Les Arcs or La Rosiere) then you may decide up a day go for the discounted charge of €39 (£33.50) with a 6-day Sainte Foy lifts go.

That’s Tignes within the distance and a brief drive away.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

Les Arcs is reverse Sainte Foy, throughout the valley.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

And what about lunch on the mountain I hear you ask?

There’s a handful of genuine mountain eating places.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

Household Snowboarding

This was one side of the resort that maybe stunned me essentially the most.

I had not thought it catered so effectively for households and children.

There’s a few magic carpets and a newbie space within the village.

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

Sainte Foy, France. Picture © PlanetSKI.

The nursery slopes are free with well-priced carry passes.

Older youngsters can discover the ski space on their very own as all runs lead again to the village.

“Our shoppers inform us they really feel so comfy after they vacation with us in Sainte Foy,” stated Fiona.

“The children can discover the quiet pistes with out the fear that’s related to the overrun bigger ski resorts.

“There’s additionally plenty of enjoyable, assorted ski terrain for younger youngsters in addition to older youngsters.

“With a improbable number of runs together with nursery learner slopes, plenty of huge blues and reds for the little ones.”

It’s a resort for youths and specialists.

And lets not overlook this:

Appears adults can take part too.

The Village

The primary Sainte Foy village is a purpose- constructed affair, however performed in type.

Picture c/o Premiere Neige

If you’re after full of life apres ski and nightclubs then go elsewhere.

However don’t assume there isn’t good off the slopes ingesting and consuming within the night.

Right here’s the St Germain bar:

And don’t overlook to pattern the nibbles with a neighborhood brew.

A meal in 1580 on the very prime of the village is well worth the stroll.

Don’t overlook to pattern its house brewed beer. In the event you ask the barmaid you get a taster.

There may be all the time three on provide every night time:

Then have a much bigger one together with your meal:

The ribs come really useful.

If anybody can inform me of one other resort that gives actually world-class off piste, very good piste snowboarding, very respectable slopes & services for households and all wrapped up in an excellent village with out crowds then I’d be very happy to listen to.

Premiere Neige in Sainte Foy:

Premiere Neige began with simply two properties.

In addition to first-class ski lodging, the emphasis at Première Neige is on a private first-class service and guaranteeing all friends take pleasure in a memorable vacation within the mountains.

See right here for full particulars: Premiere Neige

Greatest unbiased chalet operator completely in Sainte Foy with 22 properties and appx 160 beds. We pleasure ourselves on nice service, high quality properties and our longstanding intimate data of Sainte Foy.

Oh, and for the file I stayed at Chalet Marigold.