With summer already knocking on our doors, you find yourself longing for a bit of cool air in your lungs and some crunchy snow under your feet, or rather under your board. You sigh in frustration, knowing it’s too early to plan for your next winter snowboarding adventure, but one thing it’s definitely not too early for is planning your summer snowboarding adventure in Tignes.
Yep, you read that right. While many an alpine mountain sheds a sizeable mass of their snowy coats in the summer, the resort of Tignes, happily situated in one of the spots with the most favourable summer snowboarding conditions anywhere, firmly clings to its snow. With its splendid vistas, a bouquet of delicious local cuisine and a variety of catered ski chalets, Tignes is a powder-shredding paradise all through the year. Read on to learn why you should shoulder the snowboard and head straight there this summer.
While other Alpine resorts, like Chamonix or Sainte-Foy, cannot guarantee a reliably thick layer of snow all the year round, in this resort snowlessness is not a familiar problem. Its wide variety of graded well-maintained pistes easily earn it the World Snowboard Guide’s rating of “9 out of 10â€, valid in any season.
Perched at a height of 2,100 metres, Tignes is one of the first French resorts to be snowboard friendly. With such an excellent snow record, it is one of the few places you can be sure to dive down real snow whenever you choose to go.
The summer season is between June and August and you should be prepared for lift opening hours between very early in the morning and early in the afternoon. While strict, these hours ensure that you and your snowboard can enjoy firm crunchy snow and save you from the watery slush of the afternoon’s heat.
Skiing and snowboarding in the summer takes place on glaciers, situated at 3,400 metres. In view of the lighter flow of skiers and snowboarders, the summer months offer you the perfect opportunity to practise your technique in excellent conditions virtually undisturbed. The relative solitude also means that you can say goodbye to queuing for the lifts for ages. And, as if purposefully intended to make you disbelieve your own good luck, lift passes are also offered at a considerably reduced price.
If you are an aspiring professional snowboarder, the summer is also a great time to get noticed by professional coaches and snowboard manufacturers who organise training camps here. You are also likely to chance upon a range of skiing and snowboarding events of national and international import.
With its excellent snowboarding conditions, a huge variety of après-ski activities, and comfortable catered ski chalets, Tignes will welcome solo snowboarders and large rowdy parties alike this summer. If you want to spend an unforgettable snowy summer, don’t miss out.
Tim Heal is the founder of Chaletline, a travel agency offering catered chalet accommodation in worldwide ski resorts. With an extensive knowledge of resorts and excellent post booking care, they pride themselves on the personal touch they offer to each and every client. If you're looking for a catered ski chalets, Tignes is just one of the superb ski resorts in which they can quickly and efficiently match you with the perfect accommodation. Catering for individuals, couples and groups up to 50, the knowledgeable Chaletline team will help you choose the right chalet in the right resort.
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