Chamonix Snow Report: 1st March 2011

The parks are in good nick and the pisteuers are keeping on top of shaping them and keeping a wide variety of stuff to hit from first time air to first time 900 there will be something that you can play around on. The jumps in the Grand Montets are looking the best they ever have, however if you are hitting them day after day make sure you still exercise caution.
The texture of the snow can change throughout the course of your week here and even during the day itself. The run ins might be harder and icier in the mornings, making less speed necessary to clear the knuckle. In the afternoons you might find the snow softer and slower. Look at other people hitting the same jump you are; see where they check their speed (skid), how much speed they are running in with and where they are touching down on the landing area. Spend loads of time looking at this till you have it right in your own mind. Even take a couple of practice runs to the side of the jump and imaging your line and how far you will be flying through the air. Look closely at the take-off and landing areas and really visualise your jump. If you find yourself hitting the knuckle you need to go faster not slower, which is hard to deal with psychologically especially if you hurt yourself!
Blue Mile Snowsports offer great sessions where you will be hosted and filmed in HD 1080p and a great value for money it's definitely worth giving them a shout on: info@bluemilesnowsports.com

If park isn't your thing, and for most coming to Chamonix its all about the backcountry freeriding, then this week is looking like some great conditions and fresh snow will be had for those venturing in to back side of the mountains. There is so much to do in the area from really high mountain glacial tours, to nice chilled boot packs off the back of the Brevent and Flegere resorts.
Hiring the services of a local guide will bring you the greatest possibilities for exploring and finding the best snow possible at the time of your arrival. Evoloution 2 and Le Bureau des Guides have a lot to offer with experiences to be had in these superb mountains. However if a guide doesn't quite suit the size of your wallet, and you have a lot of backcountry knowledge then grabbing a map, some local advice and one of the many books available about tours around the valley will help you find some of the best spots to ride. Always make sure you are safe riding with the correct knowledge and gear for whatever you go out to do.

So if you haven't already booked that trip away to the mountains, now is the time to get the credit card out and start clicking, it's going to be a another amazing week here in Cham and we are looking forward to nearly 3 months of epic riding before the horrible dark months of summer arrive and wipe away all this wonderful snow!

Check out our Mountain Guide Listings for contact details of local guiding and activity companies.

Check out what to do around town once the lifts have closed with our Apres Ski Report - a weekly round up of what's hot and where to party in Chamonix!