-- Worldwide Ski Resorts - Switzerland - Flims --

Situated in the Swiss Alps, it is a little strange that the resort of Flims is not widely visited by the British winter sports holiday makers. In fact not many skiers and snowboarders from anywhere outside of Switzerland and Germany use it, which makes for refreshingly quiet slopes and minimal queues.

It is rather widely spread, with two separate parts to the resort - Dorf and Waldhaus – with the villages of Laax and Falera just a few kilometres away and linked to the main area by bus and ski lift. Accommodation to suit every taste is plentiful and there are some excellent restaurants, bars and clubs to be found.

Flims stands at 1100 m and has a very good snow record on its upper slopes. The lower ‘home' runs back to the town do tend to become slushy because of their south facing attitude. However, snowmaking machinery is in place on the principal pistes. The resort has an excellent range of slopes for all categories of skier and boarder.

Although there are few decent black runs, there is an extensive selection of graded and signed off piste areas at the disposal of the expert slier that do not require the services of a ski guide. Intermediates are spoiled for choice at Flims which has an excellent range of slopes for all standards.

Beginners have two nursery areas to choose from and there are some ideal progression runs that are well within the scope of the improving novice. Snowboarders are also well catered for with what is said to be the best terrain park in Europe at Crap Sogn Gion providing some first class half pipes, a quarter pipe and rails. The local ski schools have a good reputation especially for snowboard tuition and special off piste lessons are also available.

The resort has a range of 220 km of piste extending from 1100 m up to 3020 m. These are predominantly blue and red with only one quarter of the available runs being black grades. There are 29 lifts, all of which are efficient and generally fast. Snow making facilities are in place over 13 km of runs.

Slopes vary from very high, wide open peaks with some lower, wooded runs if the weather closes in. Some of the best runs are the splendid long red Sattel from the top of the glacier and the excellently prepared World Cup downhill piste from Crap Sogn Gion. Cross country skiers have 60 km of marked trails. Mountain restaurants and cafes are plentiful throughout the sectors, although the ones of the lower, wooded slopes have the best reputation.

Flims is generally a fairly quiet resort, although there are some excellent bars that provide live music bands. The most lively area for après ski activity is at Murschetg between Waldhaus and Laax.