Abzakovo

The runs get the praise: there are plenty of them, they cover a range of difficulty and, by a good share of reviews, they are well prepared with ice a rare event. The gentle learning slopes and quick drag lifts suit people taking lessons. Polite staff and capable instructors are mentioned, and the logistics are called easy - a train serves the resort and a free shuttle runs to the lifts.

Queues and organisation draw the complaints: ten to fifteen minutes at the lift is common, and when the main flow is funnelled onto one green run it gets crowded too; lines form at the ticket office and the cafe. The chairlift is slow. An opposing camp insists the pistes are not groomed at all, with rocks poking through, no edge netting and ice underfoot. The longest run has been found closed. Nobody calls the place cheap: paid parking and pricey food.