Flaine, France

Mark from FRANCE writes:

I have never read the reviews page of this site, but am compelled to respond to the description given to Flaine by your snow forecast title page. I would suggest you do your research correctly before putting off potential clients to this incredible resort by calling it ugly. It may not have the panache of La Clusaz, Megeve or Courchevel 1850, but "it has" won awards for it's architecture. The famous Bauhaus designer Marcel Breuer, who taught the architecture dept at Harvard University designed much of the resort and is responsible for its amazing totum poles. Having owned a transport company in the Alpes for the last 10 years, I've snowboarded more than once in almost every single resort in the Alpes - North & South. Admittedly, the concrete structures in the centre of Flaine are not beautiful, but are no worse than anything in Avoriaz or La Plagne.
Flaine is a purpose built resort, hence concrete, and for this reason has the best functionality of any resort in France, and probably some of not only the best off-piste on the planet, but the best untracked off-piste on the planet. As for not challenging, the person who commented on this clearly did not take on the blacks in the Lac Gers towards the sixt section of the Grand Massif. The on-piste skiing is amazing, from the motorway wide reds and blues to the tree lined pistes off the white eggs. You don't get much better than the skiing in Flaine. Believe me I live in Morillon and have lived in Les Gets for 8 years previous to that. When you put this package together then tell people that the transfer time from Geneva is less than one hour during the week, it can't be beaten. It really does irritate me that people in responsible positions like this site bang on about things they know nothing about. I own a 100 person plus business here and irresponsible reporting can affect greatly my business in this part of the Alpes.

[Note from the database editor at SF: Please accept our apologies for any upset caused by information within our summary of Flaine. The content shall be reviewed in order to maintain an honest and unbiased approach.]

2008-03-19