Want to Ski the Alps? Here's Help in English.

 

If you’re planning to ski the French Alps this winter, a good time to start planning is now. So I thought I’d let you know about Megeve Mike, who’s something of a legend among Anglos who ski in France. ‘’It’s just ten weeks to Christmas,’’ Mike emailed me recently, ‘’and nine weeks ‘til we ski in beautiful Megeve. And for those who want an ‘Early Bird’ trip to Cervinia or Zermatt, that’s just a few weeks away.’’

Born in Maine, ‘’Megeve Mike’’ Beaudet attended the University of Denver and opened Ski Pros Megeve 20 years ago, to bring an alternative type of ski instruction in both French and English to clients from all over the world. I’ll let him explain: ‘’Ski Pros Megeve is not an 'Ecole de ski' in the traditional sense,’’ he says. ''We're  service-oriented American, French and British fully certified independent ski instructors. Each instructor is bilingual and works hard to make your Megeve ski holiday your best ever.’’

Mike offers a wide range of services in the French, Swiss and Italian Alps. While the bulk of his business has been built on private and small-group ski lessons for all levels and ages (including kids), he’s also called upon for guided daylong ski tours, heli-skiing adventures, full weekend programs, season passes, equipment rental, lodging and restaurant recommendations. ‘’We’re happy to do whatever you need for a great ski day or holiday,’’ he says.

The company is based in Megeve in the French Alps at the foot of Mt. Blanc: a one-hour drive from Geneva International Airport, a one-hour flight from London or Paris. The village lies in the Haute-Savoie region of Southeastern France and was developed as a ski resort in the 1920s by the Baroness Noémie de Rothschild. Megeve offers Michelin-starred restaurants, stylish shopping and a casino—while retaining its inviting old world charm. ‘’Megeve is a truly civilized ski area with a history that goes back more than 1000 years,’’  Mike says.  ‘’Horse drawn sleighs carry tourists all over during the peak periods and the village still has more than 40 working farms, where milk is produced to make local cheeses known all over the world.’’

Meanwhile, Mike tells me the Espace Mont Blanc ski domain covers a whopping 445 kilometers, has more than 100 lifts, is one of top six ‘’longest skiable areas’’ in France—and offers some of the very best views around. He offers ski services in Megeve, Saint Gervais, Chamonix, Les Contamines and Combloux, while day trips are available to Courmayeur and Cervinia.  More info on Megeve is here. Info on airports, airlines, ferries and car rentals appears on Mike’s site here.  

Once again this year, Ski Pros Megeve will be offering its Cervinia-Zermatt "Early Bird" ski trips, between November 1^st and December 15^th.  These are two- to five-day ‘’tune up’’ trips for all levels, on excellent snow, in the Italian and Swiss Alps, at 3,380 meters (11,089 feet). Trips are scheduled around your availability and pick up at Geneva International Airport (GVA) is included. 

Ski Pros Megeve
SkiProsMegeve.com

Tel +33 (0)6 81 61 06 15

mikeskifrance@yahoo.com

mike@skiprosmegeve.com

Skype: mikemegeve
Twitter: @skiprosmegeve

Photos: The Alps surrounding Megeve, photographed by Roger Moss of MountainPassions.com. Megeve from above, courtesy of Internaut.com. Mike Beaudet in his element. Megeve dressed up for the holidays, courtesy of Skiinof.fr. Regional map courtesy of Ski Pros Megeve. Piste map courtesy of Snotels.com.