For beginner skiers embarking on their very first trip to the slopes, finding the right spots to build confidence and master those initial turns can feel pretty daunting.
That’s why, we’ve asked our ski school partner, New Generation Ski and Snowboard School, to share the best places to learn how to ski in The 3 Valleys.
Courchevel
Courchevel, is a renowned ski resort and part of the Les 3 Vallées, the world’s largest interconnected ski area. It’s made up of six villages, located a different altitude:
- Courcevel 1850
- Courchevel-Moriond (1650m)
- Courchevel Village (1550m)
- Courchevel-Le Praz (1300m)
- Saint Bon (1100m)
- Courchevel-La Tania (1400m)
Best pistes for beginners in Courchevel 1850
Courchevel 1850 offers a well groomed terrain for beginners including dedicated green and blue runs as well as free beginner lifts, including Jardin Alpin, Bellecote, Biollay and Verdons.
The magic carpets in Jardin Alpin are always a good option to start with. Wide and flat, they offer easy access to a variety of slopes and lifts. The best time to ski it is very early in the morning or around midday.
Another great option is Bellecôte – perfectly groomed snow, trees for visibility and easy gradient (great to rest and practice).
Verdons, is also another green run ideal for progression towards the blue goal.
If you feel ready to try blue runs we recommend Altiport and Biollay.
The Altiport is a fenced slope that gives you the chance to practice parallel techniques. Biollay rolls down the center of the resort and the view is amazing. We also recommend skiing first thing in the morning but also in the afternoon (before the sun goes down around 2pm).
Best pistes for beginners in Courchevel 1650
In Courchevel 1650, one of the best beginner pistes is Petite Bosse. It’s a Green run (the easiest classification on French ski pistes), making it perfect for novices gaining confidence after nursery slopes.
It’s quiet, wide and makes for the ideal location to practice. Access: Petit Bosse drag lift.
You can also try the Mickey Drag Lift which is a great spot for your first snowplough turns. It’s enclosed so you won’t have to worry about skiers whizzing past.
Another great option for beginners is the Wester Ski Part at the top of the Ariondaz Gondola.
Best pistes for beginners in La Tania
La Tania is one of the most beginner friendly resorts in the 3 Vallées.
The Kodiak snow-front nursery is a good option as it has two free covered conveyors, the Brown Bear and the Grizzly magic carpets. It’s fully fenced and right design ski school meeting points.
The Mon Tania ZEN area is a safe, beginner-friendly ski and nursery zone located at the top of the gondola.
Once you feel confident, you can take the La Tania gondola and ski the Plan Fontaine green back to resort.
Meribel
Meribel and Mottaret have 7-8 free lifts, including short draft lifts and carpets. These are great to practice your first snowplough turns.
As a beginner skier you can also try the Inuit run which fun park area.
In the morning you can try Piste de Animaux for smooth corduroy. This run is posted every day. The Yeti park is also reserved for beginners.
The Perdrix is a green run which allows you to reach Mottaret from Meribel Centre via the Tougnete lift.
Another option is Truite, which is one of the main connections between Meribel and Mottaret.
Questions about beginner ski lessons?
If you are planning a ski trip to The 3 Valleys, don’t hesitate to contact New Generation Ski School. Whether you’re carving your first turns or chasing black runs, New Generation Ski and Snowboard School’s instructors offer private and group ski lessons for all ages and abilities. Contact their team to find out more.