On the pistes
The big attraction of visiting Tignes in the winter is obviously the skiing and snowboarding - there are pistes and terrain for everyone - from the total beginner looking for lessons to the experienced rider wanting to check out some of the amazing off piste that this area offers - maybe with the help of a guide. Some people even come just for the apres ski! Throughout the year there are special events and activities going on in the resort , have a read of the news section for the latest updates.
Espace Killy Ski Area
The Espace Killy is located in the Tarentaise area of the Savoie department in the Northern Alps, and is the name given to the combined ski domain of Tignes and Val d’Isere.
Named after France’s Olympic downhill skiing champion, Jean Claude Killy, the ski area offers over 300kms of pisted skiing and some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery. The area remains a firm favourite with both the British and French because of the huge variety of ski terrain available. The Espace Killy is dedicated to all aspects of skiing, and is set to host the World Skiing Championships in 2009.
Due to its location against the peaks of the Italian border, the Espace Killy's record of snowfall is exceptional. Whilst benefiting from the same Atlantic depressions as other French resorts, it often receives heavy falls of snow from the Mediterranean low pressures which dump their snow on the Italian Alps. The snow coverage tends to be one of the best in Europe, and conditions normally facilitate good skiing right to the end of the season (end of May).
The 96 lifts spreading the ten miles across Val d’Isère and Tignes can now carry 149,425 skiers per hour. Most of Val d’Isère’s lifts are long and rapid, travelling vertically more than horizontally, so there’s a lot of skiing back down for a short trip up.
To see the vastness of the ski area take a look at the resort and piste maps. There are different prices for certain sections or you can buy a pass for the whole Espace Killy. Prices are shown in the ski pass section.
