Resort recommendations for timid skier

[nutella8]

We're planning a family ski trip next year, DH (expert), DSx2 (Intermediate). I started skiing late, mostly Austria on and off the last 15 years and I've invested a lot of effort (and money!!) to improve.

DH, DSx2 are all great skiers now and I just can't keep up with them anymore. I find most red runs and some steep blue runs in Austria (6-7 different resorts) challenging and constantly feel nervous and outside my comfort zone. After our last trip I swore I wouldn't go back to Austria again... it just didn't feel like a holiday and I couldn't really enjoy my time on the slopes trying to keep up with the boys.

I'm not looking for resorts with beginner facilities (we don't really need ski schools or magic carpets!) but rather resorts with long winding blue slopes that a not so confident skier can enjoy if that makes sense? It needs to feel like a holiday after all

Grateful for resort recommendations if you've experienced the same.

Thank you

I think you need an Italian resort…they like to pose so there are a lot of big wide cruisey runs.
i loved Cervinia and Sestriere.

some of the big French resorts have a great mix of runs too…Avoriaz and Les Arcs are fab.

Madesimo has exactly what you want. 40% of the slopes are blue.
https://www.skiinfo.it/lombardia/madesimo/skimap and if you pick the hotel La Meridiana , you don't have to walk 1 meter carrying your ski, you ski inside the hotel practically .

Ruka, Finland.

Montgenevre has lots of cruisey blues.

I would suggest the same places!

I think your DH might find them a bit tame, but cervinia is link to Zermatt and that’s got great skiing.

Sestriere is also part of Milkyway and so has other opportunities.

Watching with interest!

La Plagne in France is brilliant for its range of runs. Lovely wide runs, lovely winding runs through trees that aren't steep. It also has some good red runs that link up with the blue/greens, so you have the option of the steep red bits or taking the winding blue /green bit.

Thanks everyone! I'll be checking these out together with the boys... DH is keen on Italy (food, wine, and semi-Austrian efficiency!)

"DH, DSx2 are all great skiers now and I just can't keep up with them anymore. ... it just didn't feel like a holiday and I couldn't really enjoy my time on the slopes trying to keep up with the boys."

Perhaps this is the crux of the matter. Once the boys are skiing more difficult slopes, or skiing fast with Dad, there is no way that you're going to be able to keep up and enjoy it if you "constantly feel nervous and outside my comfort zone."

This is true regardless of whether you're in Austria, Italy, France, Norway or anywhere else, so the answer is to re-think the holiday. What are you comfortable doing and what would you like to spend the holiday doing? If the boys go off for a blast for half a day, would you join a group lesson with people of the same age/ability/gender as you for some social cruising on easier pistes, a coffee stop, and some hints and tips from an older instructor (rather than an 18 year old who thinks he's training ski racers)? Would you like a couple of spa sessions? Could you agree that mornings are family skiing time that happens at your pace, and that after lunch, the boys go for a blast while you chill?

[For resorts with a good mix of runs, there are already some good suggestions. I'd add Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang, Maria Alm or Westendorf in Austria, or Kronplatz over the border in northern Italy.]

It also has a few tough blacks so could be a good mix. Les Arc is nice too which is linked.

Don’t discount Val d’Isere/Tignes. Obviously great for experts but I’m firmly in the same camp as you (blues and reds), and not brave. I had a lovely day skiing from Tignes to the far edges of Val d’Isere and back, and there’s a ski lift down at the end of the day - I hate skiing around slightly tipsy, rushing people.

Other resorts I’ve enjoyed are Morzine and Meribel.

If you can afford it, two days x 2 hours of private lessons does absolute wonders for your confidence.

I found Cervinia really hard work so wouldn’t recommend, it’s also windy as fuck. I do think le plagne, les arcs or alpe d’huez would be much better. Alpe d’huez is my favourite though as it’s so sunny.

Corvara/Colfosco in the Dolomites. Blue paradise, but on the Sella Ronda and linked with lots of other resorts with every type of slope easily available. The Dolomites are skiing heaven.

I didn't find Sestriere that easy going. The blue slopes seemed to have steep and busy run-ins at the bottom. Plus Sestiere itself doesn't have the Italian charm, being purpose built. San Sicario, the next resort over, is fab - runs are red on the map, but are very suitable.
A nervous skier wouldn't make it any further over though, as to get to Sauze you have just a black or blue to choose from and the blue is horrific- much harder than the black.

In France, Les Gets has a good choice of easy runs, and links to Morzine for a bigger choice.

I know what you mean. The plan is to spend a couple of hours in the morning together and post lunch the boys can go thrill seeking while I enjoy a quiet ski/coffee/spa/chill etc. I don't mind that..

I've booked group lessons on numerous occasions and yes they are fun and would also recommend it...I genuinely don't care for challenging red/black runs, I'm in my early 50s and probably not as good (fit and confident!) as I was 8-10 years back...I'd be so happy on long winding blues and just soak up the atmosphere rather than feeling on the edge all the time

Last couple of trips to Austria knocked the stuffing out of me... even on some of their more challenging "blues"...

Some fabulous recommendations thanks everyone! I'm going to check out Italy this week....on the short list:
Kronplatz
Corvara / Alta Badia
Pila
Montgenevre
Cervinia
Sestriere
Sansicario

We are always happy here. Something for all levels. https://www.stubaier-gletscher.com/

Montgenevre is actually in France, but as it's right on the border of Italy it does have a bit of a mixed feel to it and the restaurants have more variety- well pizza and pasta to be fair - than purely melted cheese for the entire week.

@nutella8 keep me posted please! Also 50+, been once 15 years ago, was rubbish! And scared 🤣 Determined to improve and really fancy Italy!

Coming back to really champion Stubaier (2 posts previous) - from long winding reds to very gentle, and short, blues. Love it.

Watching with interest, though my aspiration is to be comfortable on the blues 🤪 I have a few more lessons to go I think.

More expensive because of the flights, but Canadian resorts are great. I particularly love Whistler because as well as skiing you can go out with the mountain guides on flora and fauna trips, they were free when i went and mostly middle aged women on them who didn't/ ski/couldn't keep up. Less melted cheese and more chips with gravy and cheese.

I may be odd but I enjoy joining a group of skiers at my level with an instructor and just enjoy having a bit of away time from the family. Just afternoons for the week. It takes the pressure off to be all things to all people! I chat to new people, see things I wouldn’t see otherwise because instructor is usually v knowledgeable and never worry about level because there is the instructor there all the time. It’s safe, relaxed and I have fun! Let the boys be boys! 😆

I was coming to say colfosco! Boys can go off and do the sella etc and you can pootle locally - lovely long pretty gentle run from not quite the pass to selva (don’t take the last lift up to there), colfosco itself very nice.

alternatively stay in Corvara and ski the alta badia plateau - blue 9 down to san cassiano is absolutely gorgeous and very gentle!

This is interesting. Is it snow sure at all? For end of December?

Any recommendations where to stay?

And for transfers from airport.

We’ve been going to France for years and I’d love to try Italy!

Seconding La Plagne and it's also pretty snow sure early/late season.

Courchevel has amazing greens and blues 💙 😍