The ski slopes may have all but shut up shop for the season, but outrageous rumours of Russian decadence in Europe's most prestigious winter resorts endure. Forget helicopter drop-offs to Megeve's Michelin-starred restaurants and Kobe beef and vintage Krug picnics on the piste, Russian tastes seem to be somewhat less snowwhite, if the seasonaires - those who attend to the scandalous demands and bear witness to the mischief - are to be believed.

In Moscow, oligarchs assert their status by the number of body guards around them. On the slopes apparently, they do it with ski instructors - one recently apparently hired five instructors simultaneously just for himself. And if you have the skiing prowess of a dyspraxic baby giraffe? Simply hire out the entire slope and the sniggers just won't be close enough to hear.

I recently visited a deluxe Descent Chalet in Davos, Switzerland (the mother town to Prince Charles ' favourite resort, Klosters) - a favourite of the Russians. Its swimming pool room, complete with Jacuzzi, waterfall and giant jet stream, is secretly overlooked by a webcam. 'Does the view ever get x-rated?' I ask the chalet staff, who monitor activities. 'Only when the Russians stay' (well frankly, shame on the rest of Europe).

One waitress told of serving up the main course in one tres cher chalet only to hear a rapid knocking on the dining table. The cause? Only one of the oligarchs  being 'serviced' under the table by his attractive 'student friend' (read: prostitute) in between courses.

Talk about filthy rich.