8 thrilling activities to impress your teenagers in the mountains

Nestled in the Aure valley, the resort of Saint-Lary-Soulan has more than 100 km of ski slopes, but its reputation is also based on snowboarding. Home to the De Le Rue family, two of whose sons were champions in the discipline, it is THE freestyle destination in the Pyrenees! Lovers of new sports can enjoy the snowpark at the Col du Portet, which is particularly well stocked at an altitude of 2400 m. With twenty or so modules for all levels, spread over five hectares in a sunny and soundproofed area, it is one of the most renowned snowparks in the massif, enough to delight teenagers who love strong sensations!

To practice snowboarding at the Saint-Lary-Soulan snowpark in the Pyrenees

This winter, in Courchevel, you will feel like you're growing wings! While the 3 Valleys resort is hosting, with Méribel, the Alpine World Ski Championships from 6 to 19 February 2023, the French Ski School (ESF) is offering teenagers (from 13 years old) who have a good level (minimum bronze arrow) a training course of several days to improve and enjoy themselves. On the programme, five to six days to try out alternative disciplines such as skicross, freeride or freestyle, which are very popular with young experienced skiers, while learning about the mountain environment: safety rules, off-piste, analysis of the snow cover, emergency equipment, etc. This is the perfect way to become a real pro and to reassure your parents!

Learn Freestyle Skiing with the Courchevel Ski School in the Alps

Is your teenager tempted by climbing? In Métabief, in the Jura, you can try ice climbing: the aim is to climb with the help of ice axes and crampons, along frozen waterfalls! In winter, the Berche waterfall located on the ski area often freezes into ice: an opportunity to try this unusual activity, supervised by ESF instructors from the Jura resort, and to discover the specific techniques of this climbing in the middle of stalactites, stalagmites and other ice curtains. 2h30 to test new sensations from 14 years old!

Discover ice climbing in the Jura Mountains

What if it was time for your teenagers to take flight... by going back to school? At Les Angles, in the Pyrenees, Parapente Font-Romeu offers first flights and courses for all ages, so you can try paragliding in winter! The ascent is done on foot, by gondola, to reach the departure area, carefully groomed. Once you are kitted out and hooked up to the instructor, it's time to take off for a tandem flight: the landing is in the village. This option of paragliding in the snow, but on foot rather than on skis, is a way of introducing yourself to winter paragliding without requiring an excellent level of skiing. Experienced skiers and thrill-seekers will opt for paragliding on skis.

Learn to paraglide (on snow) in Les Angles with Font-Romeu Parapente

In Val Thorens, two slopes have been specially fitted out to accommodate these large buoys in which you sit to hurtle down the slopes, jump the bumps... and take a few logs! Laughter and thrills guaranteed! The departure is at the top of the Campagnols carpet, near the Cascades chairlift, every day in season and without reservation. Everyone climbs in their own buoy: you can even tie them together! A sensational activity which should please families and teenagers...

Snowtubing on the slopes of Val Thorens

Fatbikes, these electrically assisted mountain bikes with very wide tyres (11 cm!), promise great descents in the snow... especially if it is well packed! Since 2021, several resorts in the Vosges have been offering Fat Bike outings supervised by the MCF school in the Hautes-Vosges. One hour of sporty riding in the snow, on the heights of the Vosges resort.

Pedalling in the snow with Fat Bike bikes in Gérardmer, in the Vosges

There is zip line... and zip line! In Orcières Merlette, in the Southern Alps, the Roll Air Cable stretches over 1,8 km, between the summit of Drouvet (2650 m) and the Long Lake (2500 m). At more than 120 metres above the ground sometimes, the next moment you are skirting the rocky bars. This is already enough to impress the most daring... But you will also have to launch yourself head first, for a journey of 80 seconds with speed peaks of 130 km/h! You can get there on foot (via the Télémix) or on skis: carried in a bag during the flight, they will allow you to continue sliding down the other valley. Practical!

Go zip-lining in Orcières Merlette, in the Southern Alps

Teenagers who love horse riding can now try their favourite winter activity in the mountains: ski-joeranging consists of harnessing themselves behind a horse with skis on. And here we go for the big gallops in the snow! Although experienced riders will have a lot of fun, the activity is also accessible to beginners, both on skis and on horseback. In the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, the Pelaisse horse farm offers an introduction to the discipline for groups of three people or more.

Initiation to Ski-joering at the Pelaisse horse farm, in the Jura