Alpine Courses: Off-piste skiing

Off-piste Adventure: 5 or 6 days full day coaching and leadership, levels 4 and 5; these weeks will include longer off-piste runs, more exploratory descents and day or part-day ski tours as detailed in the descriptions on a separate page.

Off-piste skiing course content:

•	All Off-piste Intro and Off-piste Performance weeks include 5 x half days (out of 6 days) Alpine skiing instruction with plenty of 'free' skiing.
•	All Off-piste Adventure weeks include 5 or 6 full days of coaching and leadership.
•	Small groups guaranteed – 8 skiers maximum, usually 3 to 6.
•	Personalised instruction for best input, best results and most satisfaction and enjoyment.
•	Professional instruction (British Association of Snowsports Instructors qualified or equivalent).
•	Courses are off-piste-based but we will occasionally ski on-piste to learn and develop a new skill or an activity focus.
•	Video feedback available to improve understanding and awareness.
•	Safety equipment (transceivers, etc.) will be needed for all these off-piste courses – full information is available in the Trip Details.

Note: We also include Telemark skiers on these Off-piste skiing courses – we ensure that both Telemark and Alpine/downhill skiers receive appropriate and complete attention and time. Follow this link for more information about how this works.

Alpine off-piste at Tignes

TIGNES: (France)

Dates:

17–24/12/2011

24–31/12/2011

31/12/11–07/01/2012

Levels:

3–4 (Off-piste Intro)

4–5 (Off-piste Performance)

NB Both courses available all weeks

•	Consistently December in Tignes has provided some of our best off-piste powder!
•	Tignes actively welcomes off-piste skiers and offers guaranteed snow, a huge ski area and very efficient uplift.
•	Perfect for developing off-piste skills and experience.
•	Very accessible off-piste with a wide choice of terrain.
•	A good range of accommodation at excellent rates.
•	Save approx £300 on equivalent weeks in Switzerland!

Costs: £305 instruction only; self-catering from £115; ½ board and ski pass from £665

Tignes off-piste terrain

Above: Perfect ‘Intro Off-piste’ terrain.

Left: Untracked off-piste during a busy week in December!

Off-piste at Les Contamines

LES CONTAMINES: (France)

Dates:

07–14/01/2012

14–21/01/2012

Levels:

3–4 (Off-piste Intro)
4–5 (Off-piste Performance)

NB Both courses available all weeks

•	Excellent off-piste teaching and learning terrain at this little-known resort.
•	Enjoy ‘freshies’ at Les Contamines even when Chamonix is ‘tracked out’!
•	The best introduction to off-piste terrain in the Alps.
•	For ‘Performance’ skiers there are steeper bowls, gullies, trees, meadows and faces with big verticals.
•	Easy access from airport, good value accommodation and low-cost ski pass.

Costs: £305 (instruction only); ½ board hotel from £460

Les Contamines Alpine off-piste

Off-piste skiing at Les Contamines - as good as you'll get anywhere!

Swiss powder skiing

ANDERMATT: (Switzerland)

Dates:	05–12/02/2012
Levels:	3–4 (All Terrain/Off-piste Intro) 4–5 (Off-piste Performance)

•	Switzerland’s off-piste ‘El Dorado’ with a big reputation!
•	Plenty of ‘steeps and deeps’ and plenty for those developing off-piste skills and confidence.
•	Long 1500 m vertical runs at Andermatt to aim for.
•	Shorter, off-piste skiing opportunities at Oberalp to consolidate on.
•	Ideal for intermediate/advanced Alpine skiers wanting to develop off-piste skills, confidence and experience.
•	Direct rail access from Zurich airport.

Costs: £305 (instruction only); ½ board from £595

Alpine off-piste at Andermatt

Above: Enjoying steep off-piste skiing 'over the back' at Andermatt.

Left: Swiss powder.

Zinal off-piste

ZINAL: (Switzerland)

Dates:

21–28/01/2012 (Off-piste Performance)

28/01–04/02/2012 (Off-piste Intro)

Levels:

3–4 (Off-piste Intro)
4–5 (Off-piste Performance)

•	Little-known resort up a side valley in the Valais Alps.
•	A dramatic setting and plenty of skiing variety make this a ‘hidden gem’ for off-piste skiers.
•	Linked to Grimentz for plenty of ‘Intro’ level opportunities.
•	For ‘Performance’ skiers: ease of access to so many big itineraries!
•	A quiet resort, with plenty of superb skiing!

Costs: £305 (instruction only); ½ board from £645

Zinal ski area

Plenty of fresh tracks to be had in the ski area and off-piste at Zinal!
Photos: Eric & Penny Kendall, skizinal.com

Austrian powder skiing

KÜHTAI: (Austria)

Dates:	31/03–07/04/2012
Levels:	3–4 (Off-piste Intro)

•	High altitude resort (2000 m) with an excellent snow record and no queues.
•	A small – but perfectly formed! – ski area, with plenty of on- and off-piste variety.
•	Very accessible, safe terrain: ideal for first turns in the off-piste.
•	Linked to Hochoetz for sheltered tree skiing if bad weather.
•	Doorstep skiing from a ski-in/ski-out hotel offering a great deal on accommodation and food.
•	Very convenient for Innsbruck airport and with good links to Munich.

Costs: £305 (instruction only); ½ board from £645

View across Kuhtai ski area

Above: Kuhtai ski area, full of off-piste possibilities.

Left: Austrian powder in March.

Untracked off-piste at Le Tour

CHAMONIX: (France)

Dates:	25/02–03/032012
Levels:	4–5 (Off-piste Performance)

•	Ski in dramatic scenery, amongst the tumbling glaciers and granite spires of Mt Blanc.
•	Revel in some of the longest off-piste runs in the Alps.
•	Discover how to ski those ‘difficult’ snow types.
•	Develop your off-piste skills to new levels.
•	Take advantage of ever-so-easy road, rail and air access.
•	Relax in comfortable hotels, with town life close at hand!

Costs: £305 (instruction only); ½ board from £590; B&B from £330

Vallee Blanche skiing

Above:The fabled ‘Vallee Blanche’ can be in your sights.
Photo above: www.shutterstock.com

Left: Untracked off-piste at Le Tour, a busier Grands Montets beyond.

Monterosa ski area

GRESSONEY: (Italy)

Dates:

10–17/03/2012 (Off-piste Intro)

17–24/03/2012 (Off-piste Intro)

17–24/03/2012 (Off-piste Performance)

Levels:

3–4 (Off-piste Intro)
4–5 (Off-piste Performance)

•	A beautiful area tucked high up under Monte Rosa.
•	Huge variety of easy-access off-piste skiing spread over three valleys.
•	Italy’s premier off-piste/freeride venue for all levells – and no crowds!
•	Ski amongst trees, across high meadows and through sheltered bowls.
•	Comfortable, welcoming hotels at the foot of the pistes.

Costs: £305 (instruction only); ½ board from £545

Gressoney ski area off-piste

Above: 'Freshies' within the Gressoney ski area. Left: Exploring the bowls, faces and peaks of the Monterosa ski area.

Photos: Monterosa Ski Area

Cervinia off-piste

CERVINIA: (Italy)

Dates:

08–15/04/2012 (Off-piste Intro)

15–22/04/2012 (Off-piste Intro)

15–22/04/2012 (Off-piste Performance)

Levels:

3–4 (Off-piste Intro)
4–5 (Off-piste Performance)

•	Excellent snow assured, high altitude, late season skiing.
•	Ski the very under-rated and extensive off-piste of Cervinia.
•	Tackle steeps, bumps and high speed in Zermatt.
•	Typically Spring snow in Italy and powder snow in Switzerland!
•	The perfect introduction to off-piste terrain as well as lots to challenge ‘Performance’ skiers.
•	Enjoy the lower prices of Italy and Italian hospitality.

Costs: £305 (instruction only);½ board from £375

Alpine powder skiing

Arabba off-piste

ARABBA: (Italy)

Dates:	24–31/03/2012
Levels:	3–5 (Off-piste Performance)

•	In the heart of the drama and beauty of the Dolomites!
•	A huge ski area (52 km of slopes), including the ‘Sella Ronda’, with pistes for all skiing standards.
•	Explore the off-piste ski opportunities of the Sella and Marmolada.
•	Ideal for off-piste skills improvement, perfect for confidence building.
•	Offering Austrian standards of accommodation with Italian standards of hospitality!

Costs: £305 (instruction only); ½ board from £545 (3* hotel)

Dolomite skiing terrain

Above: Dramatic Dolomite skiing terrain.
Photo above: www.shutterstock.com

Left: Italian late season powder.