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Snowboard Areas in Zakopane, Poland which you will be able to enjoy during your course with usSnowboard Areas and Snowboard Resorts in Zakopane, Poland SKI AREAS IN ZAKOPANE, POLANDon this page (Please note that the links below take you to our main Poland site) Overview of skiing and snowboarding areas in and near Zakopane Welcome to our Guide to the Snowboard areas in and around ZakopaneFirstly it's important to note that the snowboard areas in Zakopane are each independently owned and run and thus there are separate lift passes at each area. On their own each area is certainly not anywhere near the size of the gigantic, interlinked areas that you can find in the Three Valleys, France or Whistler, Canada. Having said this, once combined, which is certainly possible to do by visiting a different slope each day (we often visit different slopes during a week on our all inclusive skiing/ snowboarding packages), the total number of lifts, runs and variety of slopes is certainly more than enough to improve to and beyond instructor standard and to have a very exciting time without getting bored. Also by visiting different areas you get to see more of the beautiful town and surroundings and have a greater choice of restaurants.  Photos: At Sunshine World we know how to help you have the most possible fun on the slopes! Of course the most obvious benefit of the skiing and snowboarding in Zakopane is the price- there is no way that you'd ever be able to get away with a £10- £20 lift pass ALL DAY in the established resorts in France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria or North America. Another awesome advantage in Zakopane is that you can ski on certain areas- notably Bialka Tatzanska, one of the most varied resorts, from 9am until 10pm EVERY SINGLE DAY of the season which can often last from late November until Mid to late April (snow permitting of course). An all day unlimited pass at Bialka costing just 70zl you can't go far wrong. Also the fact that from 4pm onwards the slopes become much quieter meaning that even in peak season it is possible for keen sportspeople to get in plenty of quality runs without having to queue too much as long as you choose your times on the slopes wisely. One of the hardest things to organise is often the transport to and from the slopes (which is included in all our "all inclusive" packages). Booking taxis or minibusses can prove very difficult if travelling independently and prices can and will vary wildly depending on your driver. There are public transport options to some of the areas although again information and logistics regarding this solution is very hard unless you are good at speaking Polish. Another advantage of the ski areas in Zakopane is that as they do not currently work well together amongst themselves they constantly try to compete and undercut each other on price which keeps their standards reasonably high (although certainly not on a par with the best resorts in western Europe and north America) while keeping the costs for the consumer to an absolute minimum. Personally I feel as though the quality for what you pay in Zakopane is the very best possible for travellers from the UK and Ireland. While customer services and relations are often not as good as what we are used to back home it is easy to forgive once you check your wallet and make a quick calculation as to how much is still in there compared with choosing a western European resort- A recent news report by the BBC confirmed that a plate of spaghetti Bolognese in one of the big canteen style restaurants on the slopes of Val D'Isere, France cost a whopping 30 Euros for just one portion in 2009! That price will happily feed a family of four on the slopes in Zakopane including at least two courses each plus drinks (even including table service, beer and mulled wine!) NOSAL, Zakopane
Photos: left- view from the top of Nosal ski area, Right- Sunset at Nosal and the floodlights fire up. Located a 5 minute drive from the centre of Zakopane, Nosal is perfect for both first time and experienced skiers and snowboarders. Nosal has 4 easy beginner runs with wide, well groomed runs and a number of cafes at the bottom as an incentive to get down and take a well-earned drink. Once you have mastered the beginner area you can make your way to the top of Nosal where not only will you find a steep and challenging run down to the bottom but superb views of Zakopane and the Tatra mountains, make sure you take your camera. With opening hours from around 9am to 7pm as the sunlight fades on Nosal the floodlights power up allowing you to carry on skiing late into the night. For more information check out: http://www.nosal.pl Nosal is certainly not the best area for intermediate skiiers looking to cruise around on long blue-graded slopes but for this standard of skiier Nosal is a good option for a first day back on the slopes if you're feeling like a nice, easy area to get your legs back in sliding mode. NB: Snowboarders are allowed on the main chair lift to the top of the black run but are not allowed on the steep drag lift which goes half way up the main black run for safety reasons. (Although expert riders would obviously have no problem on this lift the lift company found it was impossible to screen for who was an expert BEFORE they fell off the lift). 1-Person Chair lift: Difficulty – Difficult (Black run)
Nosal Ski Area Sunshine World Day Trip to Nosal: Including transport, lift passes (To a maximum value of 60zl) and a minimum 1-hour lesson with a member of our pro team - From Just £40 per person (Based on a group of 4 people, day trip lasts around 6 hours) All-Inclusive Skiing/ Snowboarding offer Add on – suitable • 6 days ski/ snowboard equipment rental ALL INCLUSIVE and fully customizable 7 night ski and snowboard packages in Zakopane, Poland are available with Sunshine World covering all of these areas! Click here to find out more about our incredible all inclusive packages: http://www.sunshineworldpoland.com/html/allinclusive.htm KASPROWY WIERCH, Zakopane
Photos: The views from the top of Kasprowy Wierch on a clear are arguably as good as any of the most famous resorts in the world. Kasprowy Wierch is located high in the middle of the Tatra Mountains, 1987m above sea level it is the biggest and most challenging ski area in Poland. Not only does it offer superb skiing and snowboarding but spectacular scenery as you are in the heart of the Tatra Mountains. From the bottom of Kasprowy, Kuznice, the brand new Aerial Cable Ropeway, capable of carrying 60 people at a time will take you to the top of Kasprowy in less than 15 minutes. From the top you can ski in either of 2 valleys, to the left in the Gasienicowa valley and to the right the Goryczkowa valley. Each valley is served by a chair lift operating between 9am and 2.45pm - 4.45pm (depending on the time of season). At the top of the cable car there is a large restaurant and snack bars. At the end of the day you can take the cable car back to Kuznice or ski all the way down the 6km long Goryczkowa valley, past the bottom of the chair lift and onto a long winding run that leads you back to Kuznice. New in 2009 Kasprowy Wierch hosted Zakopane's first Red Bull "Zjazd Na Kreche" (Translation- Straight to the Base") race with over 226 male and female skiiers and snowboarders all starting at the SAME TIME down the 6km long extreme slopes from the top! Kasprowy has hosted many international competitions throughout the last 70+ years and is gradually coming back onto the international scene as it's facilities are upgraded. Photos left and right: Two Sunshine World advanced guests taking it to the extreme in Kasprowy's amazing powder snow It is worth noting that while the resort is only serviced by the main high speed cable car and two chair lifts these lifts allow access to two HUGE bowls with hundreds of possible lines down with very little traversing necessary. Skiing and snowboarding off piste is technically illegal on certain areas of Kasprowy Wierch and ducking the ropes may result in an angry park Ranger demanding your ID and maybe even fining you! If you are careful not to stray too far from the ropes they generally leave you alone although we cannot guarantee this so if you duck under the red ropes at any time the day may prove more costly than you had originally planned for (up to 400zl fine per person!)
The general attitude of the last few years does seem to be swinging more in favour of sport and less of unnecessary protectionism of what has so far only seemed to be to "protect the trees from skis and snowboards" which can't possibly cause any real damage to them! Again the main benefit on Kasprowy is that you Pay as you Go which while at first it appears to be inconvenient (it is a little inconvenient after all!) It does mean that you can genuinely relax and enjoy a long lunch or Coffee/ mulled wine break without feeling like you SHOULD be maximising your 50 Euro/ $100 Canadian Dollar Day pass on the slopes. A ride to the top of the cable car in 2009 is currently 30zl and then one ride on a chair lift is just 8zl which means that during a busy day of skiing and snowboarding on Kasprowy Wierch it's very hard to spend more than £25 on your lift tickets and even more savings are to be found in the restaurants and sausage huts located around the mountain and at the base. Also, while there are often queues for the main cable car (mainly "pedestrians" who are sightseeing Poland's most famous peaks), the non skiiers/ boarders are not allowed up after 2.30pm which means a lie in or start of the day on another area can easily be followed by a queue-free trip up Kasprowy for a good couple of hours of blasting! If you get up early you can also avoid the queues by getting to the base at 8am if you're very keen. 60-Person High-Speed Aerial Cable Ropeway: Access to Kasprowy Wierch
Sunshine World Day Trip to Kasprowy Wierch: Including transport, lift passes (cable car plus ten chair lift rides) and a minimum 1-hour lesson with a member of our pro team and guiding around the mountain -From just £60 per person (Based on a group of 4 people, day trip lasts around 6 hours) All-Inclusive Skiing/ Snowboarding offer Add on – suitable • 6 days ski/ snowboard equipment rental ALL INCLUSIVE and fully customizable ski holidays in Zakopane, Poland are available with Sunshine World covering all of the areas on this page! Click here to find out more about our incredible value all inclusive packages: http://www.sunshineworldpoland.com/html/allinclusive.htm SZYMOSZKOWA, Zakopane
Left: Some SW snowboarding guests chilling on the slopes at Szymoszkowa. Right: Our beloved mascots: Sunny and the Little Tree Szymoszkowa is one of Zakopane's most popular ski and snowboard areas due to its location and fantastic facilities. Situated close to the centre of town it sits opposite the Tatra mountain range providing a stunning backdrop. With state of the art snow making facilities Szymoszkowa is rarely without snow. If it is cold and not snowing naturally the snow cannons are turned on and left to build up a big snow base, one of the first places to open and last to close. At the top of Szymoszkowa there are 3 restaurants with another large restaurant and café at the bottom. The wide piste on Szymoszkowa is always well groomed on the lower intermediate area and from the top there is a much more challenging steeper run with moguls appearing naturally through the day. Open from 9am until 10pm you can enjoy skiing by day and night.
Above we have a Sunshine World guest showing off his adventurous new "Butter" skills in 2006 at Szymoszkowa. Below: Happy Sunshine World guests at Szymoszkowa
4-Person Chair Lift: Difficulty – Beginner to Intermediate (Green run)
Sunshine World Day Trip to Szymoszkowa: Including transport, lift passes (maximum value of 60zl) and a minimum 1-hour lesson with a member of our pro team - £40 per person (Based on a group of 4 people, day trip lasts around 6 hours) All-Inclusive Skiing/ Snowboarding offer Add on – suitable • 6 days ski/ snowboard equipment rental ALL INCLUSIVE and fully customizable ski holidays in Zakopane, Poland are available with Sunshine World covering all of these areas! Click here to find out more about our incredible all inclusive packages: http://www.sunshineworldpoland.com/html/allinclusive.htm HARENDA, ZakopaneLocated a short drive from the centre of Zakopane Harenda has skiing and snowboarding for everyone. There are wide beginner areas with a gentle drag lift once you find your feet, steep runs for the more advanced skiers and snowboarders and a snow park (depending on time of season- they don't maintain the park all season unfortunately!) with various jumps, rails and boxes for anybody wishing to learn some new tricks. At the top and bottom of Harenda there are cafes with both indoor and outdoor seating areas, perfect for taking a well-deserved rest and watching people ski. Learning to ski and snowboard at Harenda is that much more fun due to the astonishing views. It really is hard not to smile when you stand up from your first big fall, shake the snow off, wipe the snow from your goggles, open your eyes and see the whole of the Tatra mountain range and the whole of Zakopane. For more information check out: http://www.harendazakopane.pl Harenda also has probably the least expensive altitude cafe in the world with a pint of beer at the little hut at the top costing just 5zl in 2009 (£1!) and wonderful views to go with it. 4-Person Chair Lift: Difficulty – Difficult (Black run)
All-Inclusive Skiing/ Snowboarding offer Add on – suitable • 6 days ski/ snowboard equipment rental ALL INCLUSIVE and fully customizable ski and snowboard holidays in Zakopane, Poland are available with Sunshine World covering all of these areas! Click here to find out more about our incredible all inclusive packages: http://www.sunshineworldpoland.com/html/allinclusive.htm Bania and Kotelnica, Bialka Tatrzanska
Photos: Snowmobiling and of course snowboarding are easily accessible at Bialka Tatrzanska ski area as little as 30 minutes from Zakopane (traffic permitting). One of the best all round ski and snowboard areas, Bialka has recently started to grow and take its ski area to a much more professional level. In the last 2 years one of the drag lifts in the beginner area has been replaced with a new detachable chair lift, a whole new black run created from the top complete with its own detachable chair lift, a new snow park sponsored by Burton snowboard company has been built and is well maintained and at the bottom of Bialka they have created a snow tubing zone (large rubber rings that you sit on and slide down a track in) which is included on your lift pass for the little ones where they get dragged up the hill in a rubber ring by a little lift and then slide down a designated course like a little bobsled run.
Photos above: SW group at Bialka Tatrzanska, Alan posing somewhat and Batman and Yoda in the Bialka car park. If you are a first time skier or snowboarder then there are 3 wide beginner areas served by 2 draglifts and a 4-person chair lift. If you are more an intermediate skier or snowboarder then there are long and wide runs perfect for practicing those turns, which is served by a high speed detachable 6-person chair lift. However, if you fancy yourself as a bit of an expert then there are 2 chair lifts and 2 drag lifts at the top with a choice of steeper runs. The drive to Bialka takes about 30 to 40 minutes (can be more or less than this depending on traffic) but once you are there it is fully equipped to keep you entertained even if you do not want to ski. There are a selection of good and comparatively cheap restaurants and bars with a large decked area at the top of Bialka and at the bottom of the lifts there is not only the wonderful view of the Tatra mountain range but a designated sledging area, restaurants, cafes, bars, games rooms, ski shops and even a local market.
Photos above: Bialka is perfect for all: young and older, good and Dark Side of the Force :) New in 2008-2009 is an extra high speed 4-person chair lift which services two more advanced runs which are certainly at least a red standard and could be classified as and easy "black" when snow conditions are tougher- either mogully, which happens often on this run or icy. I have yet to see a queue on this new lift at any time even in the busiest period at New Year so it's a fair bet that you'll have some great fun on these slopes if you're a more advanced skiier or snowboarder without having to wait your turn :) 3 Drag Lifts: Difficulty – Easy for beginners (Green run)
Sunshine World Day Trip to Bialka Tatrzanska: Including return transport, lift passes (To a maximum 60zl value) and a minimum 1-hour lesson with a member of our pro team -From just £45 per person (Based on a group of 4 people, day trip lasts around 6 hours) All prices are Sunshine World LTDs prices. We reserve the right to change our prices. Your confirmation invoice price will not change. ALL INCLUSIVE and fully customisable ski and snowboard holiday packages in Zakopane, Poland are available with Sunshine World covering all of these areas! Click here to find out more about our incredible all-inclusive packages: http://www.sunshineworldpoland.com/html/allinclusive.htm |
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All Inclusive Snowboard Instructor Course | About Our Snowboard Training | About the Resort: Zakopane