November snow sports

[dave_in_cw]

I live in London and would like to go snowboarding around November or early December. I'm not keen to travel to Canada or anywhere too far from London. Any ideas on destinations with decent snow at that time of year and not too far from the UK??

[cupra]

To be snow-sure, the best thing to do is go to a high-altitude resort with a Glacier...eg:

France
Alpe d'Huez
La Plagne
Les Deux Alpes
Tignes/Val D'Isere
Val Thornes

Italy
Cervinia

Austria
Hintertux
Kaprun
Schladming
Solden
Stubai

Switzerland
Les Diablerets
Saas-Fee
Zermatt

But..... most of these resorts close for a couple of weeks (normally Nov/Dec) for maintenance - as they are generally open for summer boarding, so make sure you check before you go!

If it was my choice, I'd go to Tignes because of past experience, but you always gamble so early in the season! Have a look at http://www.worldsnowboardguide.com/ for resort guides (sometimes has snow records as well). Fingers crossed that the Euro rates change before this winter or it'll be �6 a pint!

[skelly]

As mentioned by cupra, you'll need to find a glacier. I was in Val Thorens this year ( thats in the three valleys in France) and apparently there is a glacier that you can board on all year round. But if you can hold off till about february, the conditions will be far better. I'm kinda lucky as well being in scotland, I managed to get a day's boarding in October last year, but as usual it rained the next day and that was that.

[j2buttonsw]

If you want a day out try Xscape in Milton Keynes: http://www.snozonemk.co.uk/miltonkeynes/snow/booki
ng/

[Moog]

If you're a beginner of intermediate skiier the I would recommend La Plagne (In particular Belle Plagne) if you're a bit more advanced then I would suggest Tignes. To be certain of decent snow I'd leave it as late into December as possible