© Jack Franks
© Jack Franks
© Jack Franks
© Jack Franks
© Jack Franks
Snake Gliss in Meribel
Hop Aboard the Snake Gliss with the ESF in Meribel
Last Wednesday, myself and eight brave friends aged from early twenties up to late fifties put our lives in the hands of a young ESF instructor named Thomas as he led us down the mountain in a way that none of us had ever experienced before… Introducing the Snake Gliss.
New to Meribel this year, the ‘Snake Gliss’ is an après ski activity in which groups of up to 9 people jump on board a string of conjoined sledges, steered by an ESF instructor, and are led wildly down the mountain.
Snake Gliss is like a cross between Luging and Banana Boating and is probably more fun than both combined.
Available every day, participants meet at 4.30pm at the ESF office in Meribel Chaudanne (underneath the Saulire Express lift station) and are presented with a sledge. You then board the Rhodos lift just before it closes and head to the top where your instructor helps you to assemble ‘the snake’.
Once the snake is ready everyone jumps into a seat. The instructor sits at the front of the snake behind an empty sledge, which he steers with his feet.
It’s time to turn the mountain into a rollercoaster!
The faint of heart are advised to sit closer to the front of the snake for a smoother ride and those who are looking for something a bit more extreme are advised to head to the back of the train where they are more likely to get whipped and thrown around as the instructor tries his hardest to toss you out of the snake!
Throughout the ride we stopped several times so we could swap seats and experience different positions.
It was clear the instructor was enjoying seeing us all go flying as he whipped the snake down the mountain and this made for a hilarious, heart in mouth experience. A particular highlight was going past the Rond Point and receiving a cheer from everyone partying on the deck and a huge laugh when the instructor managed to send one or two of us overboard.
At one point we found ourselves heading backwards down the mountain, which left even the guide looking slightly shaken.
If you are looking for something different to do after a day on the mountain, I could not recommend the “Snake Gliss” enough. It took about 40 minutes to get down the mountain and at just €15 per person, it was worth every penny.
Be warned - helmets should probably be worn and expect to wake up the next morning feeling slightly stiff, and possibly with a few new bruises to show off. Despite this, I would board the snake again tomorrow!
Book in advance with the ESF any day of the week either by visiting an ESF office in Meribel or calling them on 04 79 08 60 31.
