Introduction

For each of our trips we provide information about the level of experience required to participate in the trip ( 'Skills') and also the recommended fitness level that will allow you to fully enjoy the trip ( 'Stamina'). This information is shown on each trip page.

OFF-PISTE SKIING

Our off-piste courses are split into 2 categories: PERFORMANCE and ADVENTURE

Simply put, PERFORMANCE course are led by Ski Instructors and ADVENTURE courses are led by Mountain Guides.

If you want the emphasis to be on instruction, pick a PERFORMANCE course. If you want the emphasis on guiding, go for an ADVENTURE course.

Where possible we try to run all of our courses with groups of 10-12 participants and 2 leaders. On the PERFORMANCE courses we have found that it works well if the second leader is a Mountain Guide. The mixture of instruction and mountain guiding is particularly successful and one that appeals both to novice and more advanced off-piste skiers alike. In our experience the combination is ideal for skiers who want to develop their off-piste ability more but find the idea of spending the whole week with a Mountain Guide as just a little scary!!! Likewise there are lots of advanced skiers who are keen for intensive instruction to a level that most Mountain Guides cannot deliver. Note: On the ADVENTURE courses the second leader is always another Mountain Guide.

OFF-PISTE PERFORMANCE
These courses are full day, week-long courses led by inspirational Ski Instructors. On these courses the focus will be on improving your technique and style in all types of off-piste conditions.
Courses are offered at 3 levels:

Off-Piste Performance Foundation
Off-Piste Performance Plus
Off-Piste Performance Advanced

PERFORMANCE FOUNDATION
OPPF courses are full day courses suitable for skiers who have never skied off-piste or have limited off-piste experience (less than 2 weeks). All participants need to be competent on-piste, capable of skiing parallel at a steady pace on all red runs whatever the conditions and easy black runs. You need to have a good basic fitness level and be able to ski all day.

PERFORMANCE PLUS
OPP+ courses are full day courses aimed at skiers with a minimum of 2-3 weeks off-piste experience (e.g. completed an OPP Foundation course or similar) and who are looking for further intensive off-piste instruction. You will have a positive attitude to push yourself further and getting to a level where you can ski confidently on all terrain and all snow types in a smooth and fluid manner.

PERFORMANCE ADVANCED
OPPA courses are full day courses aimed at advanced off-piste skiers with at least 4-5 weeks off-piste experience. Suitable for strong all-round skiers with excellent fitness and able to ski off-piste confidently on all but the steepest slopes and the trickiest conditions. The objective of these weeks is to improve your style and technique on all off-piste terrain including couloirs, in the trees, and steep, long descents.

Equipment
For all of our performance courses we recommend that participants use an All Mountain style of ski and downhill ski boots. This enables you to get the most out of the trip and improve your skiing using good quality and suitable equipment. If you have your own ski’s and boots then please bring them with you, if not you can hire in resort. If you are unsure of the suitability of your kit please ring our office to discuss.

Ski suggestions: Salomon X-Wing Fury, Rossignol B83 & B78, Head Monster, K2 Apache Recon, Scott Mission, Dynastar 8000 and Mythic Rider.

Confused about what skis, boots and binding combination to bring with you, then read our Ski Equipment page to find out more.

OFF-PISTE ADVENTURE
These courses will be Mountain Guide-led and the focus will be on off-piste guiding with some general coaching and instruction. These courses are ideal if you are looking for a week of exhilarating and challenging skiing away from the crowds where the focus is on WHERE you ski rather than HOW you ski.

The off-piste adventure courses are full day courses only and are offered at 3 levels:

ADVENTURE INTERMEDIATE
OPAI weeks will be for skiers with 2-3 weeks off-piste skiing. You can ski at least 10 – 15 continuous turns in shallow powder and chopped snow, you have experienced heavy powder and crusty snow, but lack confidence on steeper pitches and in tricky conditions. You are willing to push yourself to improve, have a go for it attitude and are fit and can ski all day. You are happy to try some ski touring for short distances to access different terrain.

ADVENTURE ADVANCED 
OPAA courses are for people with more than 3-4 weeks off-piste skiing. You are a strong all-round skier with very good fitness. You should be able to ski off-piste confidently on all but the steepest slopes and the trickiest conditions. You ski fast and in control and are technically good and love to ski off piste whenever possible. The aim of these weeks is to ski the best off-piste terrain with lots of variety including long descents, couloirs, tree skiing and some skinning/short hikes to access the best snow and terrain.

ADVENTURE EXPERT
These are our most demanding trips suitable for supreme skiers capable of skiing the steepest slopes in the toughest conditions. Participants need to be supremely fit and ski fast and fluently off piste on steep slopes and demanding conditions. For these weeks you will be doing some ski touring and short hikes to access the best snow and terrain.
These weeks will take place in renowned off-piste resorts e.g. La Grave and Alagna and will be led by mountain guides specializing in extreme skiing.

Equipment
For all of our adventure courses we recommend that participants use skis that are of an All Mountain/Freeride type with ski touring bindings and skins cut to fit the skis. This enables you to access the best snow and terrain with some ski touring when necessary. We understand that a lot of our guests bring their own skis but do not have ski touring bindings or skins, in situations where the guide will be incorporating an element of ski touring into the trip, we ask you to rent suitable skis locally in resort. We also suggest that you ski in either downhill ski boots or ski touring boots is you wish.

Ski suggestions: Salomon X-Wing Fury, Rossignol SC86, Movement Source, K2 Apache Recon, Scott Mission, Dynastar Mythic Rider, Volkl Mantra.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TOUR- OUR GUIDE TO THE SKILLS AND STAMINA REQUIRED FOR BACKCOUNTRY SKIING AND SKI TOURING

There are 3 main criteria:

>  off-piste skiing level
>  ski touring experience
>  fitness & stamina

Off-piste skiing level - to join any of our backcountry explorer, ski safari or hut-to-hut ski tours you need to be a competent off-piste skier. This means capable of skiing continuous turns in ungroomed terrain on most slopes. As the tours become more advanced, so your off-piste skiing level – technical ability, speed and confidence on steeper terrain - needs to go up a notch or two.

Ski touring experience is required on some but not all of the backcountry explorer and ski safaris. Basic ski touring techniques - familiarity with using skins and skinning technique, conversions/kick-turns, using crampons and ice-axe – are essential on all the hut-to-hut tours. The more advanced tours – e.g. Haute Route, Bernina Alps – are not recommended as first, multi-day trips as these are more challenging tours with some steep, technical terrain and/or longer ascents.

Fitness & stamina: each of these trips involves several consecutive days of off-piste skiing and ski touring at a steady pace for 6-7 hours each day. If you haven’t ski toured before you’ll find it is hard work and we do find most newcomers are surprised by just how physically demanding it can be! To get maximum enjoyment from these trips you need to be working on your fitness well in advance of the tour which means plenty of aerobic exercise like running, cycling or swimming. For the hut-to-hut ski tours you need to carry a pack with all the kit you need for the week which demands additional fitness and stamina.

More detailed information on the pre-requisites for each trip is provided on the individual trip pages.

If you are uncertain about your eligibility for your preferred trip, don't hesitate to contact our office for help and advice!

We will take every possible step to ensure that you book the programme that is most suited to your experience and level of fitness. However we reserve the right to remove participants from ski tours if the guides consider they are not suitably experienced or fit enough to undertake the tour safely. Any additional costs which may be incurred as a result will be the responsibility of the participant and will not be reimbursed by Mountain Tracks.