Once the ski runs have closed for the day, try your hand at
driving these 500cc two seater motorbikes built specially for the snow.
With the rear wheel replaced with a caterpillar track for momentum and
the front wheel swapped for a pair of skis for steering - snowmobiles are
incredibly quick and able machines whether snow, ice or even water is put
in front of them.
.
Whether your a beginner or you've done it several times
before after some expert instruction and tuition your soon be out on an
open country trail enjoying the buzz and adrenalin rush of being in
control of a snow scooter through deep powder (when there is some!) and
speeding up and down the ski runs in the quiet of a late moon lit evening
whilst closely observed by the highly experienced instructors.
Rides every evening
for beginners and experts. Hourly excursions take place everyday from
1730hrs. The first two hourly excursions are the most popular so
pre-booking is essential if you require one of these slots.
The Snowmobiling circuit is based in Courchevel 1850 near
Courchevel Altiport and next to the restaurant Cap Horn. The circuit
consists of a 1.2km track with high bends, embankments, bumps and
sloped corners. The beginning of the Snowmobiling excursion will consist
of a lap around this circuit before being taken off on the excursion
across the mountains.
.
how
to get there FROM Courchevel 1850
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FREE BUS
.
There is a free bus service that will take you from all the
different levels of Courchevel - 1300, 1550 and 1650 to the centre of
Courchevel 1850. The Meeting place for the Snowmobiling activity is
inside the Tourist Information building. From here the Snowmobiling
company will transfer you and your party to the Snowmobiling site.
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WHITETRACKS HOST
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Collected from your chalet you and the other participants
will be transported straight to the Snowmobiling venue for your chosen
Snowmobiling excursion. The Whitetracks host will then walk with you to
the Snowmobiling office where they will introduce you all the
Instructors, answer any final questions or queries that you may have and
make sure that you are being looked after properly.
.
As your Snowmobiling excursion finishes the Whitetracks host
will be at the Snowmobiling office waiting for your return, ready to
escort you back to your chalet or hotel in Meribel. Whitetracks
Host
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Snowmobiling - eXCURSIONS, LEVELS AND cOSTS PER SNOWMOBILE
Before any Snowmobiling excursion commences there is a safety
brief followed by a driving test to make sure that everyone in the group
has understood all the instructions.
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Discovery Trip - €110 with
passenger - €110
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The Discovery trip, as it suggests is to discover
Snowmobiles. It is the Beginner / Intermediate level Snowmobiling
excursion. The discovery trip is the only trip that you are allowed to
carry passengers on your Snowmobile. To drive a snowmobile you need to be
18+ years old but passengers can be as young as 6/7 as long as they hold
on tight!
.
After the driving test you will all follow in a line -
keeping a safe distance between you and the Snowmobile in front -
STRICTLY NO OVERTAKING. The Discovery trip will take you along ski runs,
around mountain restaurants, through gullies and on to a track.
.
When at the track the passenger is told to get off the
Snowmobile and the driver is let loose around the marked out oval. If the
passenger is able to drive this is the time to swap over driver duties.
The passenger can then drive the journey back to the Snowmobiling Office.
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Passenger with Guide - €40
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For those of you that do not want to drive you can ride
behind one of the professional guides, but hold on tight as this is one
of the fastest and most exciting rides available. You are only allowed to
ride behind a guide on a Discovery Excursion.
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Private Outing - EXTRA €100
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For an extra 100€
you can ensure that you have no-one else on your excursion to spoil it
for you.
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SNOWMOBILING COMPETITION AND RACE - 20-50 / 50+
PEOPLE
20
minutes organisation of equipment / Safety Instructions and brief
50-60
minutes driving
5
minutes handing in equipment
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When you arrive at
the Snowmobiling office 10 minutes before your allocated time the
Snowmobiling operator will ask you for a Credit Card. The credit card is
for the operating companies own insurance. They will take a blank swipe
of your card incase you cause damage to their machine, this means that
they have the ability to take payment for it. At the same time they will
ask you if you would like to take out an insurance on the bike that you
are driving. At 10€/bike it will cover damage to the bike in excess of 400€
- it could save a 4000€ bill.
.
It is now time to
get your helmets fitted you will need to grab yourself a hair net for
hygiene reasons and then find a helmet that fits. As soon as you all have
helmets and are all ready you will be transferred to the Snowmobiling
site. When you arrive at the site it will be time for your instruction
and safety brief - Pay close attention to the brief as the operator has
total right to cut your Snowmobiling session short or not let you take
part at all - if you do not obey the instructions.
.
When the safety
brief has finished you will be told to find yourself a Snowmobile. The
Instructor will then perform one final check to make sure that you all
understood how to maneuver and place yourselves over the bike during
different Snowmobile driving situations. When the instructor is ready he
will then call you one at a time and put you all through a driving test.
Once everyone has passed the test it will be time for your chosen
Snowmobiling excursion. Your chosen excursion whether Sport or Discovery
trip will last 50-60 minutes.
.
When the excursion
finishes you will need to hand back the helmets and throw the hair nets
in the bin. If 'NO' damage has been caused then you will need to collect
your credit card details from the operating company and then make your
way home. If you have hired a Whitetracks host they will be waiting for
you upon your return ready to transport you all back to your chalet.
The Snowmobiling
company supplies hair nets for you to wear for hygiene purposes under the
helmet that is also supplied. The wearing of a helmet whilst taking part
in the Snowmobiling activity is compulsory.
Some of the helmets
have visors BUT the majority don't! There are no rules or safety
instructions saying that you need to wear goggles and many people prefer
not to. Please bring goggles if you decide not to wear them you can.
Dress for what could be an extremely
cold evening - its more comfortable being hot that being very cold. In
Mid-Winter, December, Jan and February all the excursions including the
5.30pm (1730hrs) will be in the dark under moonlight and Snowmobile
headlamps. Temperatures could be as low as -35°c with the wind chill
factor. In March and April when the days are getting longer and lighter,
the start of the 6.30pm excursion could be in daylight and much warmer.
12
snowmobiles - discovery trip with passengers 24 people maximum
sport
trip 5/6 snowmobiles maximum - No passengers
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Every Snowmobiling
excursion is accompanied by a Qualified Guide / Instructor the Discovery
trip has 2, one leading the group and one racing up and down the line
making sure that everyone is behaving themselves.
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The instructor
guides are in contact with each other every step of your excursion via
radio headsets
