Skip to main content
SeeChamonix

Beginner Snowboarding Review, Chamonix

Feedback from a beginner snowboarder in Chamonix

featured in Activity reviews Updated

My first attempt at snowboarding was 4 years ago - and I didn’t really enjoy it! As we were on holiday for Chris' (my husband) birthday I decided that it was as good a time as any to have another go...

For snowboards and boots we chose a snowboard shop on the main street. We were surprised to find such great people who really took the time to ask about our ability and style, and after a few choice questions soon hooked us up with a beginner board with plenty of flex for me and an intermediate board for my husband which they measured and made up as we waited. A good start so far....

The next day we decided to go it alone, without an instructor, and save a bit of money. We headed up to Le Tour where we had read it was good for a first day. Chris was going to give me some pointers... When we got up there, however, it seemed like I had completely lost my confidence – I stayed up there and took in the fantastic view, but my heart was not in snowboarding and eventually I had to prise Chris off the mountain with a bribe of a beer.

I had already been thinking about having lessons – just to give me some confidence and some help in learning to turn and relax on the board. So, following our return to Chamonix that afternoon, I booked a 2 hour private lesson with Evolution 2 for 12pm at the top of the pistes for the next day. When it came to it we set off in plenty of time at 11am to get the bus up to Le Tour: without checking the bus timetable. Unfortunately this meant we had to wait a long time as we just missed a bus. Finally a bus arrived at about 12.15 – so I was already late for the 12 o'clock lesson and 40 minutes away. We called the school and as they weren't busy we were able to re-schedule for 1pm - but we were quite lucky that they could do this for us.

When we finally got up there Loic was waiting for me, unphased at my being late and we got started. First of all he asked me if I wanted to speak in French or English, which was nice. Although I speak French we agreed on English because he thought it would be helpful if he could practise his English. He also checked with me what I had done and what I wanted out of the lesson – I explained it to him and we went up on the ski lift.

I was quite cheered along by his friendly manner and I already felt more confident. First he explained he would watch me to see what I was like. He soon realised he had quite a challenge!! The reassuring bit was that he said I would be turning by the end of the lesson! The first step, he said, was for me to learn to relax on the board, so knee-bending exercises with some relaxation exercises on the slope. Yes, I did feel and look stupid but it was excellent and I really felt the difference straight away.

Loic then explained the way to turn, step by step, so that it would be easier for me to correct myself at a later date when I would be on my own. We got halfway down and then Loic said that it was time to go for 'The Turn' – he showed me how to do it while I had a quick sit and breather!!

Eventually, with his help and encouragement it gave me the confidence I needed to get the feel of turning. After several failed attempts I made my first turn on my own! Again and again I turned before Loic decided that his services were no longer needed!

All in all it was a terrific experience and I am glad that we learnt from our mistakes - I just thought I would pass this back on to you for other vistors on the site! Find the right shop, check the bus timetable, and have a lesson: it makes the whole thing much more worthwhile. We were a bit unlucky with the snow (there hadn't been any for a while and it dumped on the day we left!) but we had an excellent holiday.

Many thanks to Juliette G for sending in this first hand account of learning to snowboard in Chamonix.