Flaine Snowboarding & Freestyle
Much in keeping with everything else, Flaine is an excellent resort for learning both snowboarding and freeriding – there are few resorts with a whole ungroomed bowl for freeriders and there is a dedicated ski school for those wishing to take up freestyle.The Ecole de Ski Internationale is the place to head if you want to take up freestyle. They have dedicated instructors and mini-park in which they teach and you can practise.
If you are already proficient, an above average snowpark, run by H05, can be accessed on the Calcedoine run over the Aujon ski area. The snowpark has rails and kickers as well as a table and a hip. There is also a boardercross.
For freeriding the Gers bowl is perfect for grizzled veterans and for those taking their first schuss off-piste, but snowboarders should be wary that the Gers draglift is one of the most difficult you will encounter. Flaine has far too many draglifts for any snowboarder and incredibly the Aujon draglift to access the terrain park is pretty tricky also.
Snowboarders are well served by the terrain in the Grand Massif outside the Flaine bowl, where there are plenty of woods and natural walls, pipes and jumps. Inside the bowl, there is a natural half-pipe alongside the Serpentine blue.
For all things to do with snowboarding, Blackside (www.backside.fr) is a specialist shop in Flaine Forum that was set up in 1988 and can pretty much serve all of your needs.