Sainte Foy – Freeriding mecca with guaranteed powder snow Sainte Foy (1550-2620 m)

The ski resort of Sainte Foy is definitely one of the French Alps’ best-kept secrets. Particularly for off-piste fans the small resort is a relatively unknown jewel and is also very popular with traditional skiers due to its unspoilt natural landscape. The ski resort of Sainte Foy is also known to fans of all kinds of winter sports because of the high quality of its snow.

The north-westerly orientation of the network of runs that stretches across the wide snow fields to the edges of the “Pointe de Fogliettaz”, means that skiers can generally enjoy perfect skiing conditions right up to the end of the season. To fit in with the original mountain village of Sainte Foy, around 6 kilometres away, the Sainte Foy ski station (1550m) was built around an old hamlet in a traditional architectural style and therefore creates a unified harmonious picture with the valley station.

A total of 23 groomed ski runs in the Sainte Foy ski resort between 1550 and 2620 metres offer slopes for all levels of skiers. Lower down the mountain are the easier, charming runs through the larch forests. Higher up the mountain you will find the more demanding runs on wide slopes. The ski resort’s 4 chair lifts can take winter sports enthusiasts in Sainte Foy to any of the varied off-piste activities that the ski resort has to offer.

The best off-piste ski resort

For freeriders there are 3 special, avalanche-protected areas. In the Techniride and off-track areas you can make fresh tracks between unmarked obstacles on the ungroomed slopes. The Shaper’s Paradise area has natural obstacles but is reserved for ski jumpers.

If you want to explore the untouched powder snow slopes outside of these areas in the Sainte Foy ski resort, you can choose from short runs through to legendary journeys, like the simpler route to the village of Le Monal or the demanding route to along the north side of La Fogliettaz. It’s even more exciting to go on an off-piste tour with one of the many experienced guides who will accompany skiers in Sainte Foy on request. Real powder snow professionals also have the opportunity of being set down by helicopter in the highest off-piste area and then making their way through French and Italian territory on untouched powder snow.

Another way of experiencing the unique powder snow in the Sainte Foy ski resort is to go on an extensive skiing tour. This little ski resort is well-known for ski touring with suitable routes going from Sainte Foy over the Pointe du Archeboc at 3272 metres and the Ruitor at 3486 metres.

If you’re looking for a wider choice of groomed slopes, just a short distance away are the surrounding large ski resorts of Val d’Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs and La Rosière, all easily reached in between 10 to 25 minutes. There skiers from Sainte Foy will find around an additional 650 kilometres of runs to suit all abilities.

There are also two free carpet lifts for beginners to practise on right next to the ski station at the foot of the runs in Sainte Foy.

In order for skiers to get between Sainte Foy village and Sainte Foy station quickly and easily there is a free shuttle bus throughout the day linking the station with the original village and the two hamlets of La Masure and Le Miroir.