The snowparks in Savoie and Haute-Savoie offer skiers, snowboarders and snowbladers a wide range of features, with areas for beginners alongside more technical areas for experts, some of which have been built to Olympic standard. So, if you can't wait to catch some big air, race your friends down a boardercross run, or just watch the show from the comfort of a deckchair its time to head to...

The Grand-Bo Park at The Grand Bornand

Thanks to its position at the top of the Maroly Sector, the Grand Bo Park combines unbeatable views of the Aravis Mountains, superb and abundant snow, a very sunny aspect and easy access via two chairlifts (including a 6-seater slow-boarding chairlift) and three draglifts.

Technical characteristics:

Area: top of the Maroly Sector

Summit altitude: 1,800m

Vertical drop: 150m

Length: 800m

Width: 400m

That little extra: Quick and easy to get back to the top using the two Prarian draglifts.

Daily maintenance by two shapers.  

Features: One snowcross and three kick lines: beginner (blue), medium (red) and expert (black) with table, big-air and step-up.

A rail area with a variety of kinked rails and boxes and an area with small rails for snowbladers. A half pipe built to French Cup standard (120m long) and a "cool zone" with a chalet, tables, chairs, barbecue, non-stop music, tuning area.

Tourist office to contact: http://www.legrandbornand.com/

The Arare Snowpark at Avoriaz

Avoriaz's snowpark, opened in 1993, was the first in France and is still one of the best in Europe. With its easy access and daily maintenance, it provides snowboarders with a range of safe and well-maintained features.

Technical details:
Area: Arare, close to the Bleue du Lac run
Summit altitude: 2,200m
Vertical drop: 1,000m
Length: 1,200m
Width: 80m
That little extra: the resort also has a number of other specialist areas:
The Superpipe (Length: 120m, height: 5.60m), four Snow Cross runs, a boardercross run, the "La Chapelle" snowpark , the "Trasheurs" snowpark (for under twelves) and the "Biotop" Snowpark in the Lindarêts area. This 600m-long snowpark in the heart of the forest contains a number of wooden "jib" features, ranging from simple tree trunks at the start and end of the area to a huge, 30-metre tabletop.

Features:
Snowpark features are modified several times during the season but they will always include rails, tables of different lengths, a hip and an 80-metre long by 4.5-metre high half-pipe. New features may include a step-up, a kicker or a spine.

http://www.snowzone.fr/

Tourist office to contact: http://www.avoriaz.com/

The Snowpark at Tignes

For the winter, Tignes has set up an area called the "Spot", which extends from the Col des Vès to the foot of the Grande Motte Glacier. This area houses several facilities, including a snowpark.

Technical details:

Area: Val Claret (at the foot of the "Spot")

Summit altitude: 2,200m

Vertical drop: 100m

Length: 400m

Width: 200m

That little extra: a rope tow will take you up to the "Beach zone", which has deckchairs and music. The "Spot", which includes the snowpark, has been designed to promote a freeride culture, improve safety and raise awareness of the dangers of the mountain environment. The "Spot" has seven different areas: a reception chalet, an avalanche beacon (ARVA) training area, two freeride areas, one boardercross run, etc.

Features:
- 1 expert half pipe: 120m long and 5m high - 1 beginner half pipe: 70m long and 2.5m high, handrails for all levels: flat, S, etc.

Tignes also has a snowpark in summer. Situated on the Grande Motte Glacier, it has a big air, slides and a half pipe.

Tourist office to contact: http://www.tignes.net/

The Moonpark at Méribel, in the heart of the Three Valleys.

Technical details:
Area: Tougnete run (reached from the Plan de l'Homme chairlift or from the Tougnete 1 gondola).
Summit altitude: 1,800m
Vertical drop: 200m
Length: 1,200m
That little extra: possible to buy a one-day pass for the Moonpark. The snowpark has three full-time staff together with its own snowplough and a Snow Turbo (for preparing the half pipe). Getting back to the top of the snowpark is quick and easy using the Arpasson drag lift. Area with a chalet, tables, chairs, barbecue, non-stop music and a tuning area.
A miniature snowpark, called "Le P'tit Moon" has been set up, so even the youngest kids can enjoy the thrills of a snowpark in complete safety. It is below the Altiport area, just past the La Forêt run. It allows youngsters to practice banked turns and series of whoops.

Features:
A hip
A half pipe
Tables of all sizes (green, red or black).
A rail area with several kinked rails and a box.

http://www.moonpark.net/

Tourist office to contact: http://www.meribel.com/

GLOSSARY

The vocabulary used by skiers and snowboarders can sometimes seem bizarre or even incomprehensible to the uninitiated. Here is a short introduction...

B

Big air/Kick: a ramp that allows freestylers (skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers) to perform jumps and tricks.
Boardercross: a motocross-style course where riders (wearing helmets and protective clothing) race together over a series of obstacles (single, double or triple bumps, banked turns and "gaps"). N.B.: boardercross was first invented by snowboarders; the ski version is called skiercross.
Box: a box is similar to a handrail, the only difference being that it is easier to ride, as it consists of a wide cube rather than a metal bar.

F

Features: the constituent parts of a snowpark (bumps, tables, handrails, gaps, etc).

Freestyle: describes tricks performed on the ground, in the air (big air, half pipe) or on rails.

H

Half pipe (or "pipe"): this is a snowpark feature resembling a skateboard ramp (half tube) that allows the rider to perform a series of jumps. It is an Olympic event for snowboarders.
Handrail/Rail: a metal bar along which riders can slide. These bars can take several forms: S-shaped, curved (rainbow), flat followed by a descent and another flat, etc.
Hip: this is a snowpark feature consisting of a bump in which the landing is offset with respect to the kick. As a result, it is necessary to turn slightly in the air in order to land along the fall-line.

J

Jib: adapted from skateboarding and using urban-style furniture. A snowboard discipline consisting of performing tricks on rails or using only the flex of the board.
 

Q

Quarter pipe: this is a snowpark feature consisting of one wall of a half pipe. Take-offs can be face on to the wall or across the wall. Riders have to land on the same wall.

R

Rider: a freeride or freestyle skier or snowboarder.
Rainbow: see Handrail/Rail

S

Shaper: person responsible for creating and shaping the features that make up a snowpark.
Slide: used to designate movement across any surface that is not covered in snow (e.g. a metal rail, a wooden bench, a tree trunk, a wall, etc).
Snowskate: a skateboard that has had its wheels replaced by a mini-ski, such as a snowblade.
Spine: this is a snowpark feature that looks like the roof of a house, with the ridge of the "roof" pointing down the slope. There are two possible landing areas, one on each side of the ridge.
Step Up: an unusual bump in which the landing area is higher than the kick.

W

Whoops: series of jumps, generally found on boardercross runs.