Are You A Complete Beginner or First Time Skier? Should You Book A Holiday To Sauze?
We love Sauze d’Oulx so much that we not only chose it as Monsguide HQ, but we live here year round, in winter & summer, too. But, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to give you the unvarnished truth from on the ground. And we’ll give our honest opinion about whether we think it’s the right ski resort for your holiday needs.
While Ash is probably the most confident, playful snowboarder I’ve ever met, after a couple of accidents over the years, I’m far more cautious when it comes to my skiing and snowboarding. And after being under doctor’s orders to stay off the mountain during the 2023/24 winter, I spent all of the 24/25 season regaining my confidence on the slopes of Sauze d’Oulx & the Via Lattea and relearning how to snowboard.
So, between us, we can give you a real, honest overview of the area, whatever your level.
Honest Opinion – Sauze d’Oulx Isn’t the Easiest Place for Complete Beginners to Start Learning.
The main ski school is at the top of the Sportinia chairlift, so you’ll need to take a lift before you even start your first lesson.
If you’re staying in the town centre, this usually means a 10–15 minute walk in ski boots to the Sportinia lift station or you can jump on one of the winter ski busses that do loops of the town.
While you can also get to ski school from the Clotes chairlift in the town centre or the Jouvenceaux chairlift (the best lift to use if you’re staying at The Hideaway Apartments), both routes require you to ski a blue run to reach the ski school area.
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From Jouvenceaux: about 300 metres of blue run skiing
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From the top of Clotes lifts: a longer, narrow cat track blue run
Once you get to the ski school meet-up, the beginner area has a ‘magic carpet’, so you don’t need to keep panicking about getting on and off ski lifts and the English-speaking Ski Instructors are second-to-none.
Pre-Book Your Ski Lessons Now
Ski Lessons can get booked up quickly, especially during School Holidays, Christmas, New Year & Half Term. If you want ski or snowboard lessons, private lessons or group lessons we’ll secure them for you with the best ski school in Sauze d’Oulx.
I can thoroughly recommend learning with Ski School Sportinia.
Last year I had private snowboard lessons with Simone to rebuild my confidence and improve my technique and I honestly couldn’t sing his praises highly enough. I improved so much, so quickly that even though I’m now back to intermediate level, I’m already booking myself in for more lessons next winter!
But, when you’re ready to advance of the baby slopes, it can feel like a bit of a steep learning curve in Sauze d’Oulx. There are some beginner-friendly blue runs up at Sportinia, but many of them are quite narrow.
Once you’ve gained your confidence on Blue 13, I’d personally recommend (especially for beginner snowboarders who want a wide piste to practise turns) taking Red 11 alta from the top of the Rocce Nere chairlift. It’s a wide, gentle red until the final section back into Sportinia.Just before that final, steep & bumpy bit starts, you’ll see La Capanna Mollino bar and the top of the Lago Nero chairlift on your right-hand side. On the right of the Red 11 piste, there’s a narrow entrance through the trees onto Blue 11 bis. This allows you to cut around the hard part of Red 11, and gets you back to the Sportinia plateau without the stress.
Angie K
The Best Places to Ski for Beginners in the Via Lattea
As much as it pains me to say it (because I love Sauze d’Oulx), If you’re a beginner skier or snowboarder, you might want to consider basing yourself in a different part of the Via Lattea ski area.
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Sestriere – wide, open blue runs and easy-to-access beginner areas right by the lift stations. No uphill or long walk to ski school. Blue 3 & 4 are my favourite, wide, gentle runs to take my beginner nieces & nephews, or to spend a day lapping this run to practise my technique.
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Montgenèvre – a brilliant beginner area at the base of the slopes, plus wide, confidence-building pistes higher up. Although you’re still in the Via Lattea / Milky Way, Montgenevre is in France so it also has green runs (the ‘easiest’ slopes) on the piste map.
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Claviere – quiet slopes, great if you’re nervous about crowds of people whizzing around you while you learn.
All these areas are included on your Via Lattea lift pass and are easily accessible by car within 35 minutes.
It takes an intermediate skier around 2.5 hours to get to Montgenevre from Sauze d’Oulx.
Whatever your level, the one thing I do every single week is jump on the Monsguide coach for the Montgenevre Ski Away Day. It leaves on Thursdays from Sauze d’Oulx Tourist Information Office first thing in the morning, gets you to the French pistes in 30 minutes and allows you to spend the whole day exploring Montgenevre and Claviere, rather than racing the clock there & back on the ski lifts.
Sauze Ski & Snowboard Rental at the Best Prices
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The best quality skis, snowboards & boots fitted locally, by the ski rental shops that have been tried & tested by us.
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Expert advice on the best skis or snowboards for the conditions that week.
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24/7 personal support from Ash, who’s on hand in resort to share all his top tips and local knowledge.
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The lowest ski and snowboard rental prices you’ll find anywhere.
Sauze d’Oulx to Montgenevre Ski Away Day Trip
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The best quality skis, snowboards & boots fitted locally, by the ski rental shops that have been tried & tested by us.
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Make the most of your Via Lattea Lift Pass and ski Montgenevre in France for the whole day.
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Low-priced alternative to private taxis to Montgenevre.
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Avoid rushing for last lifts back to Sauze. You’ll be in France for first lifts and we’ll have you home in time for après in Sauze.
Sauze d'Oulx & Via Lattea Piste Map
Take a look at the piste map of the area. Ash at Monsguide has created an interactive ski map for Sauze d’Oulx and the whole Via Lattea, highlighting the best places to stop for lunch, beers and après on the mountain.
Your Guide to the Areas of the Via Lattea / Milky Way
Sauze d’Oulx
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Best for: Long, rolling reds, tree skiing, and atmosphere.
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Best Time of Year: Mid-winter onwards for the best snow, and on days when there’s white out or bad weather in the trees.
Sestriere
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Best for: Altitude, reliable snow, and a variety of easy, cruisy blues and challenging, advanced black runs
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Best Time of Year: Early season, or during warm spells when lower slopes are soft.
San Sicario
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Best for: Wide cruising runs and easy links across the area.
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Best Time of Year: Most of the season, as long as you don’t mind soft snow close to the end of the season.
Montgenevre & Claviere
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Best for: Consistency, snowsure pistes, and wide runs that suit all levels.
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Best Time of Year: From December right through to late March. The skiing in these areas is great. The nightlife and vibe… not so much.
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