Author: admin

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Savognin

About 2-3 hours from Zurich by car or a combination of train and bus, Savognin is a historic Romansh-speaking village, in the Surses valley on the route to the Julier Pass, south of Chur and Lenzerheide and north of the Engadin. It’s a good family-friendly base for visiting other ski areas and attractions in the area (with winter tyres and sometimes snow chains). It has some very good pistes itself, particularly for learners and intermediates, but also with a few challenging runs and off-piste areas. Unfortunately there are only surface lifts to reach all but the main runs from Piz Martegnas down to the village.

Ski Area Savognin
Resorts Savognin
Ski Region Graubünden
Piste (km) 80
Top run (m) 2713
Bottom (m) 1200
Max Drop 1513
Snow’n’Rail
Black (km) 10
Red (km) 37
Blue (km) 33
Lifts (#/hr) 13700
My Rating 4
Alpine 3
SnowPark 2
Nordic 3
Hiking 3
Family 5
Apres Ski 2
Free Ride Y
Snow making Y
Fun park Y
Snow park
Half pipes
Spa Alvaneu (15km away)

In Brief

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Leysin

Although Leysin is a sprawl, it has a reasonable amount going on and some good slopes, particularly for boarders and intermediates. It makes a good base for trying out the runs in neignbouring resorts like Villars.

Ski Area Leysin
Resorts Leysin. Les Mosses
Ski Region Vaud Alps
Piste (km) 100
Top run (m) 1870
Bottom (m) 1445
Max Drop 425
Snow’n’Rail Y
Black (km) 4
Red (km) 30
Blue (km) 66
Lifts (#/hr) 22000
My Rating 4
Alpine 3
SnowPark 5
Nordic 3
Hiking 2
Family 5
Apres Ski 2
Free Ride Y
Snow making Y
Fun park Y
Snow park  
Half pipes Y
Spa  

In Brief

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Obersaxen

I’ve not got to visit Obersaxen yet, so I can’t speak with any authority on skiing or snowboarding there. Not sure how I got to overlook it, but it looks fab on paper. The area seems to be extensive and is conveniently close to other areas like Flims and Brigels, so could well form part of a trip involving multiple locations. Ilanz is close, so a train/bus combination from Zurich is probably do-able. I plan to check the resort out in the 2010/2011 season but any info on it would be welcome.

Ski Area Obersaxen
Resorts Obersaxen,  Mundaun, Val Lumnezia
Ski Region Graubünden
Piste (km) 120
Top run (m) 2310
Bottom (m) 1201
Max Drop 1109
Snow’n’Rail
Black (km) 20
Red (km) 40
Blue (km) 60
Lifts (#/hr) 4000
My Rating 4
Alpine 3
SnowPark 3
Nordic 4
Hiking 4
Family 3
Apres Ski 2
Free Ride
Snow making
Fun park Y
Snow park
Half pipes Y
Spa

In Brief

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Disentis/Sedrun

Sedrun (Muster in Romansh, the local language) and Disentis are two distinct villages east of Andermatt, located in Graubünden but sharing the Gotthard Oberalp lift pass with Andermatt in canton Uri. Both share with Andermatt stations on the Glacier Express route, so it is easy to get around all three resorts if you stay at any one of them. There are some great slopes with good verticals and varied off-piste and both have good beginners areas (although are somwhat limited for early intermediates). Sedrun has fewer drag lifts for boarders but the main lifts are just outside the village at Dieni – which is also the best desination for day trippers.

Ski Area Disentis/Sedrun
Resorts Andermatt, Nätschen, Realp, Gemsstock, Winterhorn, Disentis 3000, Disentis, Sedrun, Sedrun Oberalp
Ski Region Graubünden
Piste (km) 60
Top run (m) 2963
Bottom (m) 1444
Max Drop 1519
Snow’n’Rail Y
Black (km) 32
Red (km) 60
Blue (km) 28
Lifts (#/hr) 21720
My Rating 5
Alpine 4
SnowPark 4
Nordic 3
Hiking 1
Family 3
Apres Ski 1
Free Ride Y
Snow making Y
Fun park Y
Snow park
Half pipes
Spa

In Brief