guided mountain adventure
The off-piste skiing in Chamonix is world-renowned, so where better to push your off-piste skills to the next level! Chamonix has so many varied off-piste experiences to work on that you are certain to be an accomplished off-piste skier after 5 days of intensive high quality instruction. Chamonix is situated at the foot of Mont Blanc, so not only will your classroom consist of the most amazing scenery, the high altitude means snow conditions are reliable too.
Chamonix has earned its status as an adventure mecca through its concentration of high peaks and the quality and quantity of its extreme skiing terrain. This course takes you into the heart of Chamonix's adventure playground to learn how to get the most out of the endless off-piste lines.
After completing the course you will be a confident off-piste skier, tackling steeper lines and more varied off-piste terrain. You will be confident in assessing the safety of this terrain so as to avoid dangerous areas and avalanches.
The programme includes 5 full days of off-piste skiing instruction. During the week there is 1 'freeskiing' day when no instruction is provided.
The course starts with a welcome meeting on Sunday evening. This is an opportunity to meet the instructors and the rest of the group and to discuss the plans for the week. The skiing will start on the following morning.
The principal aims of this week are:
"Mark was excellent. He definitely challenged and encouraged me in a very professional manner. He also made it fun and interesting. A big smile and thumbs up from Mark after I had done one hard section of a piste towards the end of the week definitely made me feel as though I had made progress!"
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Our Off-Piste Performance Plus courses are ideal progression courses for skiers who have previously participated in an introductory off-piste course (or similar) and want to improve their skills and boost their confidence on an instructional off-piste course. The courses have been carefully designed by our team to help you achieve your personal goals and enjoy a superb holiday!
The courses are 5 full days of off-piste skiing instruction with maximum of 6 in the group. This ensures you get lots of individual attention and time to learn and improve your skiing plus have a safer, more enjoyable experience on the mountain with our instructors who have the very highest level of instructor qualifications and a real passion for teaching off-piste skills.
And the course doesn’t finish when the skiing stops: we do our best to ensure your group will really gel over the week. We use comfortable chalet style accommodation with communal areas where you can gather, relax and socialize and where we eat all meals as a group (as well as one group evening meal out during the week). Plus the courses include video analysis and sessions on avalanche safety and awareness.
The programme includes 5 full days of off-piste skiing instruction. During the week there is 1 'freeskiing' day when no instruction is provided.
The course starts with a welcome meeting on Sunday evening. This is an opportunity to meet the instructors and the rest of the group and to discuss the plans for the week. The skiing will start on the following morning.
The principal aims of this week are:
Itineraries vary depending on the composition of the group and the weather and snow conditions
Chamonix has some of the best off piste skiing in the world. The bustling town sits below the mighty Mont Blanc (4810m) in a spectacular valley surrounded by high glaciated peaks. The Chamonix valley extends over 20km and has 5 main separate ski areas along its length, offering a variety of pisted and acres of off-piste terrain. The legendary Aiguille du Midi cable car, which provides access to the Vallee Blanche, leaves from Chamonix's town centre. From its high glaciated peaks to the lower tree-lined skiing, the Chamonix valley really does give the aspiring off-piste skier the ideal environment in which to learn.
The price includes 7 nights chalet board accommodation, 5 full days ski instruction and in-resort transfers.
The course from the 2nd-6th January is on a course only basis, we can assist with various accommodation options in Chamonix if you wish.
The price does not include lift pass, lunches, personal insurance, equipment hire, travel to/from Chamonix
Single room occupancy is limited and will incur an additional charge. Contact us for details.
Our Off-Piste Performance Intro courses are led by our team of BASI Ski Instructors which includes Dave Meyer, Bryan Hogg, Annie Donovan, Will Evans and Greg Jones. They are all extremely talented ski coaches who are passionate about off-piste skiing. They consistently prove they have the ability to teach skiers how to hone their technique and confidence in off-piste terrain.They'll ensure you have a fantastic week. On our courses you’ll never ski with more than 6 in a group so that everyone receives excellent individual attention. We often run our off-piste performance plus ski courses with up to 12 skiers and on these courses the lead instructor will be joined by one of our team of IFMGA Mountain Guides. You will alternate between skiing with the instructor - with the focus on how you ski - and with the guide, where the focus is on mountain skills and awareness.
Our preferred accommodation is Chalet Les Pelerins, a comfortable catered alpine chalet with accommodation for up to 10 guests. The chalet is conveniently located close to the centre of Chamonix and provides a friendly and relaxed atmosphere ( www.chalet-in-chamonix.co.uk ).
"Mark was excellent. He definitely challenged and encouraged me in a very professional manner. He also made it fun and interesting. A big smile and thumbs up from Mark after I had done one hard section of a piste towards the end of the week definitely made me feel as though I had made progress!"
I can ski red and black runs on piste without a problem. I am new to off piste skiing or maybe I have skied a little on the sides of the piste, or even attended a previous off piste specific course. I would like to ski powder snow with confidence and learn to link turns off piste. Learning to vary turn radius and control speed is an important goal. Gaining confidence in a variety of terrain would move my skiing to the next level.
I have at least a couple of weeks off piste skiing experience and/or received some previous instruction on an off piste specific course. I can link at least 8 – 10 turns together in reasonable control, speed and style, following the fall line in most snow conditions. I would like to improve my skiing in deep powder, heavy crusty snow uneven terrain and trees. I am happy to hike or ski tour for short distances to get to the best snow and terrain. I aspire to ski fluidly off piste and to ski steeper slopes. At this level all ski tourers must have some previous experience of using a touring set up, skinning and kick-turns.
I am confident skiing challenging terrain and steeper slopes. I can sideslip forward and backwards, side-step up and downhill and traverse steep slopes with no problems. I am happy to ski tour and hike for 1 – 2 hrs to reach the best snow and terrain. I aspire to ski the best snow available, push myself to ski steeper slopes and extend my ski touring experience. At this level all ski tourers must have some previous experience of using a touring set up, skinning and kick-turns.
I can ski fluidly and autonomously on all terrain. I often ski couloirs and gullies and seek out steep slopes to ski. I can jump turn in narrow couloirs and have experience of abseiling and side-slipping on steep terrain. I dream of skiing powder snow, I can ski fast, fluid “freeride” style turns, I can jump off small rocks, ski trees and challenging terrain with no fear or problems. I will often hike and ski tour to reach the best snow and terrain. I am familiar with using ice axe and crampons and some basic rope techniques. My aim is to push my skills and challenge myself further.
On all our off-piste weeks you'll be staying in comfortable catered chalets or hotels. When skiing you need to carry just a small day pack, which contains your safety equipment and any personal items you may need.
Possible characteristics might include bib-style front with braces (to keep the snow out), side-openings (useful for when you get hot), breathable fabric (Gore-Tex or similar), stretch knee pads, integral snow gaiters. Bib-style trousers can be too warm in spring in which case waist-cut trousers would be better..
Made of breathable material (Gore-Tex or similar) and built-in hood. We advocate the ‘layering principle’ so a shell is recommended rather than a padded jacket.
Comfortable underwear with good wicking properties.
An approach that gives better heat retention and good flexibility. These tops are known as ‘mid layers’.
We use a 'buff' - a light, stretchable tube. Consider a fleece/cotton version for warmth or just a cotton one to keep the sun off.
To include warm hat. Mountain Tracks fully supports the wearing of helmets for skiing.
Must be good quality. Mitts are good if you suffer from cold hands.
Optional
Optional, but useful if you feel the cold.
Recent years have seen big changes in ski, boot and binding design and technology, which make off-piste skiing much more accessible. Standard downhill equipment is fully acceptable for our off-piste performance ski courses.
There are many ‘all-mountain’ or ‘freeride’ skis to choose from and we highly recommend Movement’s and Dynastar's ranges. Width is good but it is important to choose a ski with the right dimensions for the task. Ideally you want a ski that is in excess of 80mm underfoot but no wider than 95mm. This will give you enough floatation in powder snow but enable you to still carve on the piste and make short radius turns. A wide ski will give stability in soft and powder snow but for inexperienced skiers they can be hard to turn on the piste, through bumps and in narrow spaces.
For examples of skis that fit the profile outlined above check out these options:
We recommend downhill ski boots for our performance courses but if you have ski touring boots then by all means bring these. If buying boots they should be fitted by a professional boot fitter. There are too many boots to make specific recommendations.
It essential you break-in and wear the boots prior to skiing for the first time, even if this is just walking round the house or office.
When buying new boots its imperative you visit a reputable ski boot fitter to ensure the right boot is purchased for your foot and lower leg shape. Not every boot will fit or suit every person and a good bootfitter will be able to select the right boot to suit your foot shape and type of skiing you do. You should always get a moulded insole or “footbed” made to go inside your ski boots. These will help stabilise any unwanted movement and can also correct or help with alignment problems, high or low insteps and other foot related issues.
If you do have skis with ski touring bindings and or ski touring boots you can use these on our performance courses.
You can rent downhill boots and suitable skis in the shops in all of the resorts we visit. If you own your own skis then we do usually recommend you bring them with you but if you are unsure if they are suitable then you can give us a call to check.
Custom footbeds - Essential kit - to provide additional comfort and ski control.
Technical Socks - Investing in good quality ski socks will improve fit, warmth and feel when skiing for long periods.
Useful to have 2 pairs on powder days in case of head plants!
Good quality sunglasses - UV factor category 4 recommended
1-1.5 Litre water bottle/nalgene bottle - or water drinking system like Camelbak (can freeze in cold weather)
The guide will carry comprehensive set for emergencies
carry spare batteries as well
The “Safety Trilogy”
Remember it is not enough just to carry this equipment; make sure you know how to use it. If you have never used this sort of equipment before consider joining one of our Winter Mountain Skills courses.
Most resorts have ski shops that hire ski equipment.
Prices do change by resort/country, but here’s an approximate guide to hire costs:
Our guides also generally have additional sets of safety equipment (transceiver/shovel/probe) which they hire out to clients for €60 for 6 days hire. This must be booked in advance.
The town of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is situated at 1042m (3,396 ft) above sea level. It sits at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe at 4807m (15,770 ft).
Chamonix is considered by many as Europe's mecca for outdoor sports and draws many enthusiasts from all over the world.
Unlike many of the purpose built resorts, Chamonix is a proper working town with a large population of about 12,000 inhabitants. This number can be boosted by as many as 80 - 100,000 during the peak months in summer and winter.
As befits a town of this size there are plenty of shops, hotels, cafes, bars, pubs and nightclubs.
The skiing area of Chamonix is generally considered to have some of the best off-piste skiing in the world. Much of this is accessible from the lift systems and includes descents of over 2,000m.
The Chamonix valley extends over 20km and there are several separate lift systems and mountains which provide enormous variety and all are included on the Mont Blanc pass.
Numerous options including:
The Vallée Blanche
The longest off-piste ski descent in the world (24kms).
Pas de Chevre
Ascend to the top of Grand Montets and ski down to the Mer de Glace and on into Chamonix.
Glacier du Toule
You can ski the Glacier du Toule down towards Courmayeur and then catch the cable car back up to the top of the mountain and ski the Italian side of the Vallée Blanche.
Le Tour
From the back of the Le Tour lift system there is fantastic off-piste skiing towards Vallorcine and Switzerland.
Some of the very best areas can only be reached with an hour's walk from the pistes. The effort expended is more than rewarded with the awesome skiing across untracked terrain.
In addition there are some great new heli-skiing opportunities available in Italy just through the Mont Blanc tunnel, only 20 minutes away from the town. These drops are not included in the price - ask us for more details.
The easiest way to get to Chamonix from the UK is to fly. The nearest airport is Geneva and the transfer time from the airport is about 75 minutes to Chamonix.
Easyjet tend to have the most affordable flights and a comprehensive service that serves many UK regional airports including Bristol, Belfast, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Luton, Gatwick, Liverpool, Nottingham/East Midlands.
Most chalet operators offer inclusive airport transfers from Geneva airport to Chamonix.
Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Western Europe. Its height is 4,807 metres (15,780 feet), but varies from year to year by a few metres, depending on snowfall and climate conditions. The mountain lies at 45°55′N, 6°55′E between the regions of Haute Savoie, France and Aosta Valley, Italy
The first known ascent was made on August 8, 1786 by Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard.
250 York Road, London
SW11 3SJ, United Kingdom
info@mountaintracks.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 8123 2978
Fax: +44 (0)20 7905 0921
