Battle of the Ski Resorts: Gressoney
Big descents, majestic views and Italian food aplenty… does Gressoney have what it takes to win this year’s Battle of the Ski Resorts?
Nominated by Dickie
Ease of access 7/10
Turin is within an hour and a half, and there are enough tour operators heading there to give a pretty good choice across the price range.
Sense of scale and epicness 10/10
Short of skiing in the Great Ranges, it doesn’t get any more majestic. Bigger views than Chamonix, and more mountains in a greater sweep than Zermatt. You’re skiing on the shoulders of the second highest mountain in Europe, Monte Rosa, and can see 4000m peaks all around once you head up.
Variety and quality of the pistes 5/10
You’re linked seamlessly to Champoluc on one side and Alagna on the other, so there’s plenty to go at but… you have to put up with a few old chuggers.
Off-piste potential 10/10
Huts to kip in as you string together itineraries are visible from the village, including the highest in Europe creaking terrifyingly on a glacier. All the upper lifts lead to descents that’ll delight or challenge for nearly 2km of vertical, and there’s plenty to poach around the mid-station lifts.
Lapability 5/10
The finest runs come from heading high and dropping almost back to resort level, yet there’s a lot of fun to be had from heading to the intermediate ridges separating the resorts and picking whichever side the snow condition is best.
On-hill grub 10/10
The best food, the best value and plenty of it. We’ve had some of the finest mountain grub ever here, and also the best quick sandwiches. Coffee, water, wine, beer – all properly priced.
Après scene 5/10
Bit quiet. There are some interesting and quirky little bars but nothing much in the way of knees-up accordion jollities.
Base suitability 6/10
As a stop on a road trip, it’s a long way up a valley, but if you’re ski touring it’s one of the best starting points in the world.
Family friendly? 3/10
Do-able, but better elsewhere. Champoluc has better uplift from resort level and more runs near the base, but it is de-cocked by almost any ski-in-out resort, anywhere.
TOTAL: 61
RANK: Joint 18th
