PlanetSKI Road Trip Hits Sainte Foy

11th January 2025 | James Cove, Ste Foy, France.

The French resort in the Tarantaise is known for its powder skiing, but it has much else besides. NEW

We have visited the resort on our current road trip round a few resorts in the northern French Alps.

First up it was Arc 1950:

PlanetSKI reports from Arc 1950

Next it is across the valley to Ste Foy.

Arc 1950, France. Image © PlanetSKI

We timed the visit to Ste Foy well as I reported in my snow report.

My guide for the morning was Colin Waeckel, the head of the Evolution 2 ski school that shares its office with Intersport in the centre of the Ste Foy village.

Ste Foy, France.Image © PlanetSKI

It may not look much on the piste map, but looks can be very deceptive.

Ste Foy, France.Image © PlanetSKI

As mentioned in the video snow report we had low visibility so much of the off piste was either closed not not safe.

Ste Foy, France.Image © PlanetSKI

No matter, Colin found some powder for us.

Ste Foy, France.Image © PlanetSKI

And down I came.

Ste Foy, France.Image © PlanetSKI

And as the snow kept falling we had a decision mid-morning.

Ste Foy, France.Image © PlanetSKI

Powder or hot chocolate?

It proved to be the correct one as inside I met Jeff, the owner of the Marquises restaurant.

Ste Foy, France.Image © PlanetSKI

It turned out Jeff was the first ski patroller of the resort back in 1991 and he was here in those iconic years.

“It was fabulous and it was just an off piste and freeride area,” he told me with a reminiscent glint in his eye.

“It was wild and new.

“The first winter we studied where the snow build-ups occurred and the next year we started to put in the avalanche control Castex system that is still used today”

Ste Foy, France.Image © PlanetSKI

Avalanche charges are reeled out on the lines and dropped into potential danger zones to trigger avalanches.

“Back in the day most of it was done by simply throwing explosive charges into the snow by hand.

“It was dangerous work but we were well-trained, experienced and careful.

“Those days were fantastic with dozens of people sleeping in vans in the car park waiting for the snow to fall and the lifts to open.”

I was pleased to note there are still such folk in the resort – a measure of its status as a powder resort.

Ste Foy, France.Image © PlanetSKI

But Ste Foy is more than its legendary off piste terrain.

Much more.

It has 6,000 beds and the British make up around 50% of all visitors though the Belgians and Dutch seem to have discovered its delights and their number are rising.

“The British are very, very important to us and hey appreciate what we offer,” a spokeswoman from the tourist office told me.

250 beds in the resort are run by the UK company, Premier Neige, who have been here for …..

It’s founder is Fiona Harvey-Jordan and we made some great turns together in the afternoon as the snow continued to fall.

Ste Foy, France.Image © PlanetSKI

“I love this resort and simply enjoying passing on my enthusiasm and knowledge to our wonderful guests many of whom return year after year,”she told me.

I stayed with Premiere Neige for a few days last winter and there is much more detail about the company and the resort of Ste Foy in my post from the time:

Ste Foy: not a hidden gem anymore but still a gem

Many of its clients are families and there is much on offer with free passes for children under-7 and plenty of beginner skiing and intermediate areas.

It is most-definitely not all about off piste and freeride.

Ste Foy, France. Image © PlanetSKI

This winter I am making a point of seeing which resorts in the Alps are using dynamic pricing for their lift passes.

A growing number are, and many skiers & snowboarders don’t seem to like it.

Dynamic prices for ski lift passes on the rise in Europe

Ste Foy has dynamic pricing, but it seems there are some advantages here.

A day pass normally costs €40 in Ste Foy.

On my visit the weather had put many off, so a day pass was €28.

A bargain for this in my opinion.

The resort has a good snow record and, with many of the slopes north facing, the snow stays.

A good way to judge the snow so far this season is a look at the mountain huts and buildings:

Thank you Sainte Foy.

It has been an utter pleasure.

Again.

See you next year.

See here for full details: Premiere Neige

Biggest independent chalet operator exclusively in Sainte Foy with 22 properties and appx 250 beds. It prides itself on great service, quality properties and longstanding intimate knowledge of Sainte Foy.

Two tier catered service,
1) Full luxury with in house chef, chalet Manager & staff at The Peak which sleeps 15*
2) Catered service option in some of its other chalets including Chalet Marigold which sleeps 12+
Large selection of self-catered properties, carefully curated for high standards, & great locations.
Concierge service for all aspects of your holiday from booking and throughout a stay, with an in resort Concierge office.

And where is PlanetSKI going next on this short road trip I hear you ask?

The resorts near Lake Annecy:

Manigod
La Clusaz
Le Grand Bornand

They make up the Aravis ski area:

Aravis: the other linked French ski area

Watch this space….

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