Travel Content // Top European Ski Runs and Why They’re The Best*

From our lift passes and snow park, to ski lessons and snowboard courses; at Chill Factore there are a range of activities and facilities to help you get into snow sports. But what are their top recommendations when it comes to hitting the mountains for real?

If you’re looking for a great ski holiday then Europe is the place to be as it’s home to some of the world’s most amazing runs and today I’m going to share some of the top of the crops when it comes to beautiful landscapes and adrenaline pumping runs;

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Parsenn in Switzerland
Parsenn is believed to be the ‘birthplace’ of Alpine skiing, and to get there you take the funicular railway, which was built in 1931. This run is a classic in Swiss skiing and offers you a great mix of sights, landscapes and gentle terrain, with a maximum gradient of 26%. First, you go up to the 2,662-metre Weissfluhjoch and begin your amazing descent through forests and quaint huts before reaching the valley in Kublis again for the train home.

Mont Fort in Switzerland
Our second slope in Switzerland, Mont Fort in Verbier. This is a tough challenge for any skier at 3,329 metres. This run provides a 1,300-metre descent and is generally considered the most challenging of Verbier’s pistes. This run remains unmaintained by machinery and has many bumps, It is also extremely steep and requires fitness & experience.

Lauberhorn in Switzerland
The final run in Switzerland that has made our list, Lauberhorn. If you’re looking for somewhere to test your skills and challenge yourself, this is the one for you. You’ll begin from the 2,500-metre apex and descend 4,500 metres in just 150 seconds! Supposedly, the Lauberhorn is the fastest run in the World. So if speed is your thing, definitely check this one out. However, there’s much more to contend with than speed as there is also be a 130-foot jump that catapults you into the air and speeds of nearly 100mph.

Aiguille Rouge in France
France is home to some amazing ski runs, one of which is Aiguille Rouge and this is the tallest peak in the Les Arcs resort. At 3,226 metres in height and with a vertical descent of over 2,000 metres, this run is classified as black at the top and red a third of the way down so make sure you know you can handle it. You do however get beautiful views of the Italian alps from here.

Sarenne in France
If you’re more into running the longest run in the Alps, this is the place for you. It’s ten miles in length and you get around 90 minutes of intense and continuous skiing starting from the 3,330-metre Pic Blanc. This is an exhilarating run where you’ll have the chance to take on a drop of 2,000 metres. Before you begin your descent, make sure to check out the stunning peaks of the Parc National des Ecrins.

The Streif in Austria
If you’re just starting out this is not one for you. The Streif is found on the Hahenkamm mountain and hosts one of the most hazardous races in the World Cup. At the starting gate, get ready to nearly freefall as you begin your 3,300-metre descent at the top of the Streif. In an instant, you’ll have 85% gradients to contend with at a speed of around 84mph! Overall, the course is about 3,312 metres in length with an average gradient of 27%. In fact, The Streif is so famous that a documentary film was made about it in 2015 called Streif: One Hell of a Ride. Maybe save this one for when you’re at a more advanced level.

Harakiri in Austri
Aptly (but unfortunately) named after a samurai ritual for suicide Harakiri must be approached with caution. At 1,500m in length, this run in Austria is found in the resort of Mayrhofen and usually has an icy centre with more easy-to-grip snow at the edge. This Austrian run is supposedly the steepest groomed slope in the world with an average gradient of almost 80%! Plenty of specialist ski lessons are advised before attempting it.

Sella Ronda in Italy
You can find this slope in the Dolomites and it offers potentially the very best views of the Alps. This long-distance circuit is a breath-taking experience for beginner and season skiers, you can view limestone cliffs and open pastures as you make your descent. Essentially, the Sella Ronda run is made up of around 14 miles of runs looping around a huge crag that are linked by lifts. It’s perfect if you’re only just getting to grips with skiing and Italy is a beautiful country to visit.

I hope in this list you find a decent mix of runs that are perfect for beginner, intermediate and experienced skiers. However, there are plenty more European runs you can visit if you look around if nothing here catches your eye. In the mean time why not plan a visit to Chill Factore to make sure you have the necessary skills to make the most of your ski holiday adventure?