Published in Whitelines Magazine Issue 93, December 2010

Sunshine World

Sunshine Chalet

18B/1 Za Strugiem, Zakopane, Poland / Tel, London office: 0207 581 4736 24h: 07830 138 798 / E-mail: [email protected] / Web: www.sunshineworld.co.uk, www.cheapsnowboardinstructortraining.com, www.sunshinechalet.co.uk

Why Come To Us?

Live, train and party with the Pros for prices so low you’ll think it’s a con! (until you arrive ;)

The Sunshine Chalet is the home of the Sunshine World Pro Team and our professional snowboard and ski instructor training academy. The chalet as an informal and very friendly “18-30s” atmosphere where endless banter is guaranteed but NOT at the detriment of anyone’s personal feelings or comfort. We go to great efforts to ensure that everyone is always welcome to all events and parties and this open attitude ensures we all make great friends every season and have an indescribably fun time.

The chalet is designed entirely for people who are keen to really train hard (and play harder!) either towards their instructor qualifications or just to push your own performance to the next level. We offer customizable courses from just a week to an entire season. Sunshine World is a British, ATOL licensed tour operator and we’ve organised holidays for over 3,000 people so you know you’re in great hands with us. Last year we had a 100% pass rate for all our instructor trainees who took our 10week and full season courses. We do most of our training in Zakopane, Poland and then do a fun road trip to Andorra to take our official exams.

We pride ourselves on the great value holidays and instructor courses which we offer to our guests and are so confident about our low prices that we GUARANTEE that you cannot get the all same elements in your holiday or professional instructor course anywhere else in Europe for less than you can at Sunshine World.

Vital Statistics

Sleeps: 34

Catered: 3 kitchens for self catering

Distance to slopes: 300m to nearest area

Distance to beer: 300m to nearest bar, 1000m to town centre

Transport: ATOL protected flights, airport transfers and transport in resort can all be organised by us.

Rooms: 8 bedrooms

Hot Tub: Yes- including heated stone floor and mountain views :)

Entertainment: 120” HD cinema with Bose speakers and full surround sound. TV/DVD in all rooms. Games consoles, DVDs and 12 player Xbox system link, table football, log fire.

Price: From just 200pp per week (inc. accommodation, lift pass, equipment rental, slope transfers and professional instruction.)

Riders Refuge

Morzine Chalets

Morzine Chalets, France / Tel: 0033 (0) 682 635 591 / Web: www.ridersrefuge.co.uk

Why Come To Us?

Riders Refuge is based in central Morzine we have 2 fantastic chalets. Eterle is recently built in traditional Savoyard style and is fuelled by a renewable green energy source, with under floor heating, a fantastic log fire, en suite bedrooms with full-size baths, balconies, bath robes for when you’re relaxing in the outdoor hot tub. Deffert is a modern chalet at the heart of Morzine with the Pleney cable car opposite and the towns best bars on its doorstep, Deffert has 6 spacious bedrooms, balconies, sauna, drying room and much more. We don’t expect you to share your holiday with families who have children under 14 as we ask them to take exclusive use of the chalet. We offer flexible FREE transfers from Geneva airport, hearty breakfasts, home baked afternoon tea and delicious evening meals with plenty of good quality wine. Both chalets have in-house entertainment, which includes UK HDTV, DVD’s, Wi-Fi & laptop, Wii games console and games.

At Riders Refuge you are perfectly placed to shred the whole of the vast Portes Du Soleil area which expands across 2 countries has650km of pistes, 195 lifts, 10 snow parks including the legendary Burton Stash and the Avoriaz super pipe plus endless free ride terrain. We know that your kit is important to you so we offer a secure equipment store with boot warmers, on site board servicing and new for 2010/2011 we have a Salomon demo centre. Plus we can offer discounts on lift passes and equipment hire.

So contact us now!

Vital Statistics

Sleeps: Up to 13 in Chalet Deffert, Up to 12 in Chalet Eterle

Catered: Yes

Distance to slopes: Deffert: 100m, Eterle: 8 minute walk

Distance to beer: Deffert: 100m, Eterle: 7 minute walk

Transport: FREE return transfers and shuttles to the lifts

Rooms: Spacious rooms twins/king-size with balconies. En suite bedrooms in Chalet Eterle

Hot tub: Eterle Yes, Deffert has a sauna

Entertainment: Salomon test centre, HDTV, DVD, Wi-Fi, Laptop, Wii, honesty bar and board games

Price: from £399 pppw

THE EDGE

Morzine

Le Plan, 74110 Montriond, France / Tel: +33 (0)4 50 04 91 22 / Web: www.TheEdgeMorzine.com / E-mail: [email protected]

Why Come To Us?

The Edge has been designed from the ground up to give you the best snow holiday experience! All the rooms are en suite and have their own private balcony. In the chalet, we’ve got all the extras: outdoor hot tub, incredible views up to the ski area or out across the Morzine valley, sauna, table tennis, Nintendo Wii, wifi/iMac available, hanging fireplace, under floor heating, hot waxing &edging workshop and a well-stocked help-yourself bar!

Our location is ideal for riding, we’re right at the heart of the Portes du Soleil with its 650km of pistes, 195 lifts, 10 snow parks and almost unlimited backcountry! We have an expert rider, Chris, who can guide you round for your first day of slopes to help you navigate on request. He’s also BASI qualified and has a passion for The Stash (www.thestash.com). After several seasons and over 20 years of snowboarding, Chris will be sure to keep you on your feet if you need it.

We’re used to hearty eaters at The Edge. We make sure you have all you need for breakfast, then we’ll drop you at the lifts. When you’ve finished we will come pick you up and prepare an awesome4 course dinner for you. Wine and coffee are included with the meal. Our chef, Lindsay, has over 10 years experience in cooking for guests. She also makes a mean cake for afternoon tea!

Email us at [email protected] or check out our website and blog for more info on life at The Edge.

Vital Statistics

Sleeps: 14

Catered: Breakfast, afternoon tea & 4 course dinner

Distance to slopes: 8-10 min shuttle

Distance to beer: 400m

Transport: To lifts and to airport

Rooms: 7 (en suite)

Hot tub: Outdoor

Sauna: Yes

Entertainment: Table Tennis, Wii, wifi/iMac, Stereo, Board Games, Honesty Bar

Price: £350 – £850pw

SNOW CHATEAUX & DRAGON LODGE

Les Arcs, La Plagne & Tignes

Snow Chateaux: Les Arcs, La Plagne / Tel: 0800 0664 996 / Web: www.snowchateaux.co.uk / E-mail: [email protected] Dragon Lodge: Tignes / Tel: 01273 625455 / E-mail: [email protected] / Web: www.dragonlodge.com

Why Come To Us?

“One of the top places to stay” The Daily Telegraph Ski Guide. Snow Chateaux and Dragon Lodge offer a collection of catered or self-catered chalets in the resorts of Les Arcs, La Plagne and Tignes in the heart of skiing/snowboarding paradises, Paradiski and L’espace Killy.

All chalets are in sought after locations and boast great facilities and are either ski in – ski out, or a very short walk to the nearest lift (and bars!) taking you to the snow sure slopes. Both ski areas boast glacier skiing; Les Arcs has the longest piste run in Europe, Tignes a selection of snowparks and La Plagne, the World’s largest cable car!

Spacious, comfortable lounges with open log fires / wood burners, outdoor jacuzzis, saunas, multiple communal rooms: games rooms with xboxes, pool tables / table football / darts board, Wi-Fi, satellite television, wide-screen TV’s, mp3 media stations and even in-house massage and under floor heating!

Our proven, experienced and qualified chalet teams bring our stunning chalets to life, where the customer comes first and the food is served with a smile. We reckon that if anything helps to add that little extra sparkle, it’s got to be the great food and the happy professionalism of those preparing it and serving you. We put all the provisions in place for your perfect skiing/ snowboarding holiday.

Vital Statistics

Sleeps: 0 – 36

Catered: Catered and self catered chalets

Distance to slopes: Ski in/out

Distance to beer: 2 minutes

Transport: Can be arranged

Rooms: 3 – 15

Hot tub: Yes…..and saunas!

Entertainment: Xbox, plasma tv, pool tables, wifi

Price: From £290 – £760 per person per week

Yeti Lodge Chalets

Chamonix

Argentière / Tel: + 44 (0) 781 801 8700 / Web: www.yetilodgechaletschamonix.com

Why Come To Us?

Nestled high in the Chamonix Valley beneath Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, Yeti Lodge Chalets Chamonix is the perfect base, either for your Chamonix Ski holiday or for a week of Chamonix summer activity. Located in Argentière, Yeti Lodge Chalets are situated in a quiet hamlet overlooking Chamonix’s “Grands Montets” ski lift, offering quick access to over 2000 vertical metres of north facing snow and some of the best skiing in Europe. In summer, Yeti Lodge Chalets offer a base for a range of activities from hiking, biking and climbing to family holidays, golfing and leisure breaks. With a choice of two “Exclusive Chalets “ or three “Chalet-Style Apartments”, Yeti Lodge Chalets can offer you outstanding accommodation, total flexibility and every amenity – at affordable prices. Chalet Grands Montets, Chalet Chardonnet and the Mont Blanc, Flégère and Brévent chalet-style apartments, can be rented individually or combined, for self-catering or with full or flexi catered packages. Accommodation includes:

• Bed linen, towels, hairdryers and complimentary toiletries

• Hot Tubs

• Saunas

• Real Fires

• UK Free view and French TV

• In House computers and free WIFI

• Safe Deposit boxes

• IPOD compatible docking station

Vital Statistics

Sleeps: 4 – 24

Catered: Catered or self -catered

Distance to slopes: 4 mins walk to Grands Montets Lift

Distance to beer: 5 mins walk

Transport: Valley Shuttle Service or free bus

Rooms: 3 chalets from 5-10 bedrooms

Hot tub: x 3

Price: from £400 fully catered

Alpoholics

Chalet Zephyr

Le Petit Dejeuner, 74110 Essert Romand, Morzine, France / Tel: +44 7576033332 or +33 648291222 / Web: www.alpoholics.com

Why Come To Us?

Alpoholics are a rider owned and run chalet company based in Morzine, France. The aim is to provide the chalet experience of a lifetime but at a far more accessible price. They achieve this by doing all the little things well, which in our experience, make all the difference. Chalet Zephyr is a gorgeous property which sleeps 10-12 people in 5 newly refurbished en-suite bedrooms. It’s packed to the rafters with entertainment which ranges from Guitar Hero and UK Satellite TV to Table Tennis, Poker, Darts and even a 14ft trampoline for you to hone your shred skills on. You will be treated to a 3 course meal 6 nights a week (free wine and beer!) as well as a continental breakfast (with hot option) every day.

The founder of Alpoholics, Charlie, will be on hand throughout your stay and will be running things along with Timmy, our award winning chef, and Rose our larger than life chalet maid. Between the 3 of us we have completed over 10 full winter seasons. Charlie has been riding for Bataleon snowboards and SS20 for a number of years and Alpoholics are also the only official test centre for Bataleon snowboards in Europe. This means there will be a range of demo boards in-house for our guests to go have a rip on. Charlie’s business partner Greg has been working at SS20 in Oxford for over 7 years and we work closely with the shop in order to be able to offer special discounts to our guests.

Vital Statistics

Sleeps: 10-12

Catered: Yes

Distance to slopes: 5 mins (minibus)

Distance to beer: 200 yards

Transport: Minibus service to/from lifts and town

Rooms: 5 (all ensuite)

Hot tub: Overrated

Entertainment: PS3 (with guitar hero!), Wifi, Table Tennis, Darts, 14ft Trampoline (weather permitting), 32inch Flat screen TV, DVD with extensive library, Luxury poker set, Bataleon Snowboards Test Centre.

Price: £390- £590 per person per week

Chalet In Chamonix

Chalet Les Pelerins & Chalet Vincent

Chalet Les Pelerins, Chamonix, France / Tel: 0044 203 328 5443 / Web: www.chalet-in-chamonix.co.uk

Why Come To Us?

Chalet in Chamonix is run by us; David and Åsa. We first moved to Chamonix four years ago to pursue our passion for the outdoors. We enjoy accommodating people who share our enthusiasm of the surrounding mountains and everything they have to offer.

Chalet in Chamonix provides two different styles of chalet, each with their own characteristics and specific qualities. Chalet Les Pelerins offers two separate apartments during the summer months, both of which have been carefully renovated with an emphasis on Scandinavian style & comfort. The chalet is eco friendly in design and even has a solar hot water system.

During the winter months Chalet Les Pelerins becomes fully catered. Our Chalet staff will look after your needs but you’re encouraged to make yourself at home. Wine is included in the 3-course meal and there are hot drinks and freshly baked cakes waiting for you each day. It is possible to rent the whole chalet or simply a room.

Chalet Vincent is a perfect choice if you’re a larger group and looking for a luxury ski chalet within a quiet location but still with easy accessibility to the town. Although traditional in design, it caters for people who enjoy both modern technology and simplicity.

Chamonix is our home so feel free to ask about our favourite skiing spots, best crêpe in town or liveliest bar. We are also here to help advise with equipment hire, instruction, guiding, babysitting and generally making sure you have a relaxing and memorable holiday.

Vital Statistics

Sleeps: Pelerins 10-12, Vincent 12-14

Catered: Catered or Self-Catered

Distance to slopes: 500m (shuttle bus service provided)

Distance to beer: 300m

Transport: Airport Transfers

Rooms: Twins, Doubles & Triples

Hot tub: Yes

Entertainment: Free WiFi, Stereo, TV, Film Library, Board Games & Books

Price: From €465

Propaganda Snowboards

Slovakia

Jasna, Slovakia / Tel: +44 (0)208 1234 954 / Web: www.propagandasnowboards.com or www.snowboardslovakia.co.uk

Why Come To Us?

Slovakia offers the best value riding trips in Europe, and here at Propaganda we are proud to be offering our trips to Jasna for our 6th season. We are the original Slovakia chalet offering full service with guiding and rock bottom prices. Whether its trees, park or powder you are looking for, Jasna has it all, and on top of this the beers will set you back a ridiculous €1 a pint. Set in the Demanovska valley close to Jasna resort, our chalet offers 5 large bedrooms, large kitchen and dining area, 2 separate living rooms with games consoles, 42” tv with extensive film collection and a fussball table. On top of that, drop in the aqua parks, spas, dirt cheap go karting and great night life and you have yourself; as Whitelines once said “The most cost effective riding trip you will ever make” (Dec 2005). The resort is perfect for all levels with progression and cheap cheap lessons for beginners, and endless tree runs and off piste for experienced riders. Our team of snowboard and ski guides are on hand every day to show you the piste,park and powder, and as Onboard mag said in Feb 2010 – Our guide Wallace is “the most snowboard stoked guy on the planet”. Slovakia may not be able to offer the Km’s of piste of the Alps, but when it comes to giving yourself the chance of an extra trip a season in a top resort – Slovakia shouldn’t be missed.

Last dates available in Jan & late March for a silly £179 pp.

Vital Statistics

Sleeps: 16 to 18 +6 full season spaces

Catered: B&B, 3 course meals from 8€

Distance to slopes: 5 mins transfer

Distance to beer: 2 minutes walk

Transport: included

Rooms: 3 quads & 2 triples

Entertainment: 42” plasma, 2 living rooms, stereo, games consoles, free wi-fi, board tech room and every issue of Whitelines ever made!

Price: £99 – £245, £950 full season