Intermediates will discover there is almost no end to the skiing permutations they can enjoy in Val d'Isère, although some ski runs are under-graded. Solaise, where the women racers compete in major events, has an extensive network of excellent middle-order ski runs, although the famous bumps can be quite a handful for anyone but strong intermediates or advanced skiers. At the top of the Funival funicular From the Solaise side of the ski area you can drop into the Iseran valley (on the new Lessieres Express) and ski down to Le Fornet. At the top of Bellevarde, if you ski to your right (away from the Bellevarde face) , you can chose between the Mont Blanc, Verte, "31" and Diebold pistes for a fairly gentle warm-up run down towards La Daille.
If you feel like something more testing, you could try Orange or the three-mile long OK world-cup run down to La Daille, normally used for the annual "Criterium de la Première Neige" – traditionally Europe's opening World Cup ski race. You don’t need to ski it like a racer – at a gentle pace it’s quite manageable. Again, many of the ski runs in the Col de l’Iseran sector would suit low intermediates. Don’t be put off by the fact that Bellevarde is the location for the Men’s Downhill ski race – this face ski area also has an extensive network of long ski runs for skiers and snowboarders with a few weeks of experience under their belts.
Viewed in its entirety, Val d'Isère as part of the Espace Killy offers huge potential of big kilometer skiing for intermediates, with long ski runs, fast lifts and typically good snow conditions. There are not many other places where you can ski as much distance, if you want to. It is intermediate heaven.
