Les Gets is a great resort for beginners and kids; it’s similar to Morzine in that there is a plateau which has all the terrain you could possibly need as a beginner skier. There’s a dedicated kids’ run with Indian characters, animals and teepees to keep the kids entertained. Nice wide-open pistes and multiple magic carpets and rope tows to help everyone move around. Here’s our guide to the Top 3 beginner runs in Les Gets.
When learning to ski, the general progression is to start off on a magic carpet and get the hang of controlling speed with a combination of snowploughing and turning. From there, we head to longer and more open runs that allow learners to build confidence and speed whilst relying less and less on the snowplough and more on turning to control speed. Once at this stage, the mountain opens up with opportunities as green runs and areas higher up the mountain become accessible.
We will be running through the top 3 beginner runs in Les Gets and the lifts that you need to use in order:
1. Tapis Chavannes and the rope tows above.
2. TS Croix Chair – Piste 64, Bruyere, Gentiane
3. Indian village and the Piste Mauve
Use this link to have a look at the Les Gets Piste Map to get an idea of where everything is.
On your first day, the best place to head to and where almost all of the ski schools meet is the top of the Chavanne bubble. It’s the red bubble leaving from the centre of Les Gets. At the top, there is a cafe called the Yeti Cafe, which is our meeting point for private lessons. On the other side of the cafe, there is the Croix chair and the Tapis Chavannes. This is the first spot to get yourself sliding; once confident here, there is another magic carpet and a rope tow above to explore. Avoid using the drag lift above the rope tow for now, as there are easier runs for learning before using this area.
From the bottom, this can look a little daunting, the bottom section is steep, and without the best snow conditions, it can be a fairly tricky blue run. Don’t worry, though, as that’s not the way we will come down. At the top of the chair, there are two options, right takes you to Gentiane, and this is the best run to do first as it’s slightly easier than Bruyere to the left. Follow this piste almost directly underneath the chair you came up on. It’s flat and wide, flatter than the magic carpet runs for the most part, so a great first run outside the beginner area. At the end of the flat, where it starts to get steep, we need to head right towards a drag lift. There is a nice big white cross at this point; stay above it and head towards the drag lift; the plan is to cross the drag and pass through the gap in the trees beyond. Once through the trees, you can then take a left onto the green run, which is Piste 64. This mellow and wide green run brings you down whilst avoiding the steep part under the Croix chair and finishes at the Chavanne, ready to loop around the Croix chair again.
Looking for an adventure? The Indian and the Cowboy runs are both excellent fun and a great part of want makes Les Gets so good for beginners and kids. Both have gentle and fun terrain, like rollers and ramps, to enjoy. The Indian run has animal images and audio to match them dotted throughout the run. At the bottom, there is a small visitors centre with live animals and a place for picnics where kids can take a break and get their faces painted whilst learning about the animals. All in all, it’s a great spot, fun for both children and adults.
If you are a beginner or just haven’t skied for a while make sure you know these 3 spots and make use of them before heading off around the rest of Les Gets. They are a great starting point to build your confidence whilst keeping you close to the Chavanne and everything you need for the day.
Interested in having one of our awesome instructors show you around these top 3 beginner runs in Les Gets? Pop us an email using our contact form, and we’ll see you soon!