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.
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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 company in Meribel is not
officially based in Meribel itself, its further
up the valley in MeribelMotterat.
The exact location of Snowmobiling is in an area of Motterat
called La Hammau which is at the very top of Motterat right next to the Perdix
ski run where the hotel and apartment buildings finish.
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how to get there FROM MERIBEL
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FREE BUS
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The free
bus from Meribel can be caught from the bus
stop outside the Parc Olympic by La Chaudanne - Meribel's main
ski lift area. You will need to catch the Number 3 bus to Motterat and get off at the last stop - Le Hammau. You will know that it is Le Hammau as the bus would have climbed all the way up
the hill through Motterat and come to a final
stop next to a roundabout. Once off the bus if you look up the hill you
will see the Snowmobile office perched at the very end of the apartment
building blocks. From here you need to walk up the road with the wooden
barrier separating the lanes and then into the car park when the road
finishes. Walk to the far end of the car Park and then up the piste on the left hand-side to the Snowmobiling
office.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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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Sport Trip - €120
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The Sport
trip is for those among you that are fuelled by adrenalin! The Sport trip
is the Intermediate / Advanced Snowmobiling excursion that allows a
maximum 6 bikes out at a time, with 'NO' passengers and only one
instructor. As long as all the rules are obeyed i.e. speeds and distances
this excursion is one that you will never forget. Powder snow when we
have some, driving up embankments, flat-out up the pistes
is only a few experiences of driving a Snowmobile that you will
encounter. A MUST if you have Quad bike or Jet Ski / bike experience.
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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.
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.
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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 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.
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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.
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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 from Motterat 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
