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
.
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.
.
WHITETRACKS
HOST
.
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
.
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.
.
Discovery Trip
- 80
with passenger -
100
.
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.
.
Passenger with Guide -
35
.
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.
.
Private Outing -
EXTRA 100
.
For an extra 100
you can ensure that you have no-one else on your excursion
to spoil it for you.
.
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
.
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
.
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.
.
The
instructor guides are in contact with each other every step of
your excursion via radio headsets
