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2006–2007 season programme and trip selection help

Click-on the following to help select your trip:
1 Telemark, Nordic or Alpine – what's meant by these terms?
2 Course or tour – what's the difference?
3 Course or tour levels – skiing ability expected for each trip.
4 2007–2008 Season Planner – the calendar for the season.
5 'All Terrain', ‘Off-piste Performance’, ‘Off-piste Performance Plus’, ‘Off-piste Adventure’,
'Track & Telemark'
– what do these mean?
6 Which trip next? Two-week combinations. Weeks for friends at different levels.
   
2007–2008 SEASON PLANNER
When do you want to go away?
Check in the table below for the best dates and click-on that date for a link to the trip description and photos.
Trips in the Planner are colour coded as below:

 Telemark or Telemark/A (‘A’ indicates those courses and tours that are suitable for Alpine skiers).
 Nordic

Date Location Type of skiing and grade
November 2007    
10th –17th Hintertux, Austria new Telemark/A: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
10th – 17th Hintertux, Austria new Telemark/A:
Advanced skills course & Aspirant Instructors (4 – 5)
17th –24th Hintertux, Austria new Telemark/A: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
December 2007  
15th – 22nd Tignes, France new Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (1 – 5)
22nd – 29th Tignes, France new Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (1 – 5)
30th – 6th Jan Cervinia, Italy Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (1 – 5)
30th – 6th Jan Cervinia, Italy Telemark/A: 'Off-piste' Performance course (3 – 4)
January 2008    
5th – 12th Les Crosets, Switzerland Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
5th – 12th Les Crosets, Switzerland Telemark: 'Off-piste' Performance (3 – 4)
12th – 19th Les Crosets, Switzerland Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
12th – 19th Les Crosets, Switzerland Telemark: 'Off-piste' Performance Plus (4 – 5)
26th – 2nd Feb Andermatt, Switzerland new Telemark: 'All Terrain’ (3 – 5)
26th – 2nd Feb Andermatt, Switzerland new Telemark/A: 'Off-Piste Adventure’ (4 – 5)
February 2008  
3rd – 10th Taivalkoski, Finland new Nordic: ‘Track’ and day tours (intro – advanced)
3rd – 10th La Thuile, Italy Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (1 – 5)
9th & 10th Cairngorm, Scotland Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
10th – 17th La Thuile, Italy Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (1 – 5)
23rd & 24th Cairngorm, Scotland Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
24th – 2nd March Celer, Spain new Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
24th – 2nd March Celer, Spain new Telemark: 'Off-piste Adventure’ (3+ to 5)
24th – 2nd March Iso-Syöte, Finland updated Nordic: 'Track & Telemark' (introductory/intermediate)
March 2008  
2nd – 9th Rondane, Norway Nordic: Tour (introductory)
2nd – 9th Taivalkoski, Finland new Nordic: Tour with husky support (intro/intermediate)
8th & 9th Cairngorm, Scotland Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
8th – 17th Jotunheim, Norway updated Nordic: Tour (intermediate/advanced)
9th – 16th Hardanger, Norway updated Nordic: Tour (intro/intermediate)
15th – 22nd Obergurgl, Austria new Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
15th – 22nd Oetztal, Austria Telemark/A: Tour (3+ to 5)
16th – 23rd Skei, Norway new Nordic: 'Track & Telemark' (introductory/intermediate)
21st – 30th Skei & Espedalen, Norway new Nordic: Course/tour (introductory/intermediate)
22nd & 23rd Cairngorm, Scotland Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
22nd – 29th Obergurgl, Austria new Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (2 – 5)
22nd – 29th Obergurgl, Austria new Telemark/A: 'Off-piste Adventure’ (3+ to 5)
23rd – 30th Snohetta & Dovrefjell, Norway Nordic: Tour (intermediate/advanced)
30th – 6th April Skarvheimen, Norway updated Nordic: Tour (intermediate)
30th – 6th April Trollheim, Norway Nordic: Tour (advanced+)
30th – 6th April Cervinia, Italy Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (1 – 5)
30th – 6th April Cervinia, Italy Telemark/A: 'Off-piste Performance' (3 – 4)
April 2008  
5th – 12th Hardanger Crossing, Norway new Nordic: Tour (intermediate+)
6th – 13th The King’s Trail, Sweden new Nordic: Tour (introductory/intermediate)
6th – 13th Cervinia, Italy Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (1 – 4)
6th – 13th Cervinia, Italy Telemark/A: 'Off-piste Performance Plus' (4 – 5)
6th – 13th Cervinia, Italy Telemark:
Advanced Skills & Aspirant instructors course (4 – 5)
13th – 20th Tignes, France new Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (1 – 5)
13th – 20th Tignes, France new Telemark: new
‘Haute Route warm-up’ coaching & day tours (4+ to 5)
13th – 20th Tignes, France new Telemark/A: 'Off-piste Adventure’ (3+ to 5) new
19th – 27th Chamonix – Zermatt Haute Route Telemark/A: Tour (4+ to 5)
20th – 27th La Thuile, Italy Telemark: 'All Terrain' course (1 – 5)
May 2008    
22nd – 27th Hintertux, Austria Telemark: 'All Terrain/Off-piste' coaching (3 – 5) new
September 2008  
4th – 21st Road Trip, Chile new Telemark/A: ‘Off-piste Adventure’ (3+ to 5)

 

Telemark skiing:
On- and off-piste freeheel downhill skiing (i.e. not only Telemark turns) and touring on Alpine terrain (day tours or hut-to-hut). Uplift is used on all courses. Shaped, wide or ‘fat’ Telemark skis and plastic boots are the norm. Skins and other specialist equipment are needed on touring options.

Nordic skiing:
Day tours, coaching sessions or multi-day tours using cambered, metal-edged skis and leather or soft plastic touring boots. Waxes are usually used and skins only for bigger climbs. Terrain is gentle to moderate, depending on the week. Skiing is usually on way-marked routes but sometimes through untracked snow. Only the easiest tours have machine-prepared trails.

For a full explanation of 'Telemark skiing; terrain and equipment' and 'Nordic skiing: terrain and equipment ' click these links to read our articles.

Alpine (Downhill) skiing:
We offer courses for off-piste skiing, coaching in touring techniques and tours in Alpine terrain (day tours or hut-to-hut). Uplift is used on all courses. Shaped, wide or ‘fat’ skis are the norm. Skins and other specialist equipment are needed on touring options.


COURSE OR TOUR?

Courses:

Instruction in Telemark, Alpine or Nordic techniques and skills. Usually held within ski areas, using on- and off-piste slopes or Nordic trails, as relevant to the course. 5 x half days instruction (and 5 x half days 'free'!) with a 6th 'free' day – or as detailed for some specialist courses. Video analysis will be available on most of the courses in the Alps.

Whatever your level, you will be coached only with others of a similar ability. Choosing the correct level means you can maximize enjoyment and progress. Courses of more than one level may run during a week. This allows couples/friends of different ability to come on the same week.

Tours:
Leadership is provided for the full period of day or multi-day hut-to-hut tours, with coaching included 'en route' on an as needed or as requested basis.

We show Telemark/Alpine levels first, you can scroll down or click the link for Nordic levels.

FITNESS: In addition to the ability levels for both Telemark/Alpine and Nordic tours, each trip description gives an idea of fitness required, distances to be travelled and/or height gains expected.

Telemark/Alpine levels:
Remember – 'Telemark' is freeheel downhill skiing (i.e. not only telemark turns), so skiers on freeheel equipment might be on two different levels e.g. Level 3 for parallels and Level 2 for Telemarks.
Level 0 – No previous experience. Ask us which courses are suitable.
Level 1 – You can ski the easiest blue runs but find steeper, icy or awkward sections tricky.
Level 2 – You can ski all blue runs at a good pace and with confidence.
Level 3 – You can ski most reds but find steeper, icy or awkward sections tricky.
Level 4 – You can ski reds at a good pace whatever the conditions and are working on blacks, bumps and off-piste.
Level 5 – You can ski reds and blacks whatever the conditions and at a good pace. Want to further improve on steeps, bumps and off-piste so you can ski anything.

INTERPRETING YOUR ABILITY LEVEL
When deciding your ability level please note that we assume you are linking turns on the level of slope specified.
Linking turns: means joining the arc of one turn directly into the arc of the next turn and so on, forming a series of S-shapes. If one turn is followed by a traverse, whether short or long, before the next turn then these turns are not linked.
'Getting down a slope': we've found that if you use this term, or the following one, with reference to a slope, it usually means you are not able to link turns on it nor ski in control. For example, if you can 'get down' a 'red' piste (as of ability level 4) then you are actually ability level 3!
'Survival skiing': As above, if, for example, you are 'survival skiing' on a 'red' piste (as of ability level 4) then you are actually level 2!

ADJUSTMENTS FOR SPEED AND FITNESS
The levels described assume average speed and fitness. If you are below or above average fitness deduct or add 1/2 to 1 level as necessary. If you ski below or above average speed deduct or add 1/2 to 1 level as necessary.

UNSURE OF YOUR LEVEL?
You may find you are between levels, e.g. 3/4. A rough guess is fine to ensure that you are at or above the minimum standard. On the first day's skiing, we will place you in the best group. If you are unsure of your level give us a call.

If you have not been with us before and/or have not had instruction for a few seasons we would recommend that you are conservative with estimating your ability level. Telemark ski equipment moved on a lot in the last few years, allowing better and more accurate skiing, and the general standard of skiing has improved from season to season. A 'red slope skier' to-day tends to be a better skier than a 'red slope skier' was 4 or 5 years ago. It is far easier for all concerned if you have to move up an ability group rather than the reverse!

MOVING LEVELS
As people may progress at different rates during instruction, we can re-organise the groups during a week, to maximise learning and enjoyment

Nordic levels:
Introductory:
Never done any Nordic skiing before or only a day or so. If you’ve never done downhill or Nordic skiing before, please contact us to check the suitability of particular courses.
Intermediate:
Skiers with previous Nordic skiing experience, able to travel over undulating terrain and to ski down moderate slopes at the most, in a variety of snow conditions. A confident snowplough and the ability to traverse are the minimum downhill technique requirements.
Advanced:
Skiers who have successfully completed at least one, week-long hut to hut tour. Confident downhill using Nordic touring skis on steeper slopes in variable, un-pisted snow, i.e. turning down the slope without need for long traverses and able to control speed and direction. Experienced in Nordic travelling techniques and using waxes, i.e. not just using skins, and able to maintain a reasonable pace.
The '+' suffix:
These tours are at the stated level technically but involve skiing in more remote areas, usually on un-tracked snow and with some 'long days'. An appropriate degree of self-sufficiency and stamina will be expected.

'ALL TERRAIN' COURSES
Our standard telemark instruction weeks based in a ski area but with the emphasis on developing your skiing performance for all snow conditions, slopes and speeds – the all-rounder week for skiing the whole mountain. Our most popular course now has a sharper focus on your skiing versatility and adaptability, whatever the technique and your level.

'OFF-PISTE' COURSES
The focus of these courses is on being able to ski any snow that is not groomed or made from snow cannons, i.e. that snow beyond the piste markers. To quote Sir Arnold Lunn, the inventor of slalom skiing and promoter of lift-served skiing in the Alps in the 1920s and 30s: 'for excitement the piste is perhaps the best, but the beauty and variety and subtlety of skiing is only known to the expert on natural snow'. We’ll show you how to adapt and enjoy 'the beauty and variety and subtlety of skiing' in this challenging but supremely rewarding environment.

These weeks are also perfect for those on Alpine equipment.

This year we have introduced ‘Performance’ and ‘Performance Plus’ courses, suitable for different levels of off-piste ability (see Planner above). These courses focus on technique, skills and tactics for off-piste skiing. We may spend some time on-piste, e.g., to work on a particular skill which is easier to ‘take on board’ in a less challenging environment.

We have also introduced ‘Off-piste Adventure’ weeks. As well as coaching in off-piste skills, these weeks will also include substantial amounts of time skiing relatively remote off-piste itineraries (with short sections of skinning to reach them) and half- or full-day tours. Each of these weeks is slightly different and full details are given in the trip Dossiers.

'TRACK & TELEMARK' COURSES
For many skiers this course is the best option for developing technique, skill and confidence prior to undertaking Nordic hut-to-hut tours.

These centre-based courses focus on TRACK: Nordic travelling techniques for skiing on the flat, uphills and gentle downhills (diagonal stride, double poling, herringboning, half plough in track etc). TELEMARK: using the term generically for all Nordic Downhill techniques, including snowplough, stem, parallel and telemark turns, as appropriate to your ability level.

WHICH TRIP NEXT?
TWO WEEK COMBINATIONS
WEEKS FOR FRIENDS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS

WHICH TRIP NEXT?
Trips that you could consider, having done another TeleSkiCo trip in a previous season or earlier in the '07-'08 season. Many options exist so do get in touch if you would like individual help with this. The suggestions below are not exhaustive, as there are many different paths you could follow, but should guide your planning.

Previous course Next course or tour
TELEMARK  
'All Terrain' levels 1 & 2 More 'All Terrain'
'All Terrain' level 3 'All Terrain' level 4–5
OR 'Off-piste Performance'
'All Terrain' levels 4 & 5 'Off-piste Performance'
OR 'Off-piste Performance Plus'
OR 'Off-piste Adventure
'Off-piste Performance' 'Off-piste Performance Plus'
OR 'Off-piste Adventure
'Off-piste Performance Plus' 'Off-piste Adventure
OR easy hut-to-hut tour in the Alps
Hut-to-hut tours in the Alps e.g. Silvretta & Oetztal (previous seasons) 'Oetztal; The Iceman Tour' Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route
NORDIC  
Geilo, Bjorli or Skei Nordic
OR Rondane Hut to Hut
OR Geilo & Finse, Skei & Espedalen
OR Taivalkoski Nordic
OR Iso-Syote ‘Track & Telemark’
Telemark 'All Terraiin' course
Geilo, Bjorli or Skei Nordic
OR Rondane Hut to Hut
OR Geilo & Finse, Skei & Espedalen
OR Taivalkoski Nordic
OR Iso-Syote ‘Track & Telemark’
Hardanger: 'Vidda Venture'
OR Rondane Hut to Hut
OR Taivalkoski Hut-to-hut
Intro/Intermediate hut-to-hut tour e.g.
Hardanger: 'Vidda Venture'
Skarvheimen Traverse
Telemark 'All Terraiin' course
OR Hardanger Crossing
OR Snohetta & Dovrefjell
OR Jotunheim: The North-West Passage
OR The King’s Trail
Intermediate or Advanced tour e.g.
Tafjordfjella
OR Jotunheim: Peaks, Passes & Glaciers
OR Hardanger: Beyond the Ice
OR Jotunheim: North-West Passage
(previous seasons)
Trollheimen Triangular
OR alternative tours of same level

TWO WEEK COMBINATIONS
Some of our weeks are programmed to make a two week holiday feasible without any great logistical problems and that will make a natural progression from one to the next.

1st week 2nd week
Les Crosets 'All Terrain' 05/01/08–12/01/08 Les Crosets 'Off-piste Performance' 12/01/08–19/01/08
Les Crosets 'All Terrain' 05/01/08–12/01/08 Snohetta & Dovrefjell 23/03/08–30/03/08
Skarvheimen Traverse 30/03/08–06/04/08 Hardanger Crossing 05/04/08–12/04/08
Obergurgl ‘All Terrain’ 15/03/08–22/03/08 Obergurgl ‘Off-piste Adventure’ 22/03/08–29/03/08
Cervinia 'All Terrain' (at level 3–4 min.) 30/03/08–06/04/08 Cervinia 'Off-piste Performance Plus’ 06/04/08–13/04/08
Skei: Nordic Easter 16/03/08–23/03/08 Skei & Espedalen 21/03/08–30/03/08
Tignes Haute Route Warm-up 13/04/08–20/04/08 Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route 19/04/08–27/04/08
Skei & Espedalen 21/03/08–30/03/08 Skarvheimen Traverse 30/03/08–06/04/08
OR any other 2 week possibility that fits your holiday time and aspirations, contact us to discuss

WEEKS FOR FRIENDS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS
These weeks are for couples, partners and groups of friends, who have differing aspirations and abilities but want to enjoy being on holiday together! In addition any course or tour with a wide-ranging ability level stipulation will accommodate those of varying levels (but in separate groups for coaching).

Date Venue Partnered courses/tours
10–17/11/07 Hintertux 'All Terrain' all levels + Advanced skills & Aspirant instructors
30/12/07–06/01/08 Cervinia 'All Terrain' all levels + 'Off-piste Performance'
05–12/01/08
and 12–19/01/08
Les Crosets 'All Terrain' most levels + 'Off-piste Performance'
26/01/08-02/02/08 Andermatt 'All Terrain' most levels + ‘Off-piste Adventure
15–22/03/08 Obergrugl/Oetztal 'All Terrain' most levels + Oetztal: The Iceman Tour
22–29/03/08 Obergrugl 'All Terrain' most levels + ‘Off-piste Adventure
30/03/08–06/04/08 Cervinia 'All Terrain' all levels + 'Off-piste Performance'
06–13/04/08 Cervinia 'All Terrain' all levels
+ 'Off-piste Performance Plus' OR Aspirant Instructors training
13–20/04/08 Tignes

'All Terrain' all levels
+ 'Off-piste Adventure' OR Haute Route Warm-up

 

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