Chamonix Off-Piste Ski & Mountain Skills
Off-Piste Skiing in High Alpine Terrain
“A ski instruction course designed to improve your technical off-piste skiing, mountain safety awareness and skill, whilst doing lots of good skiing in the process”.
Course Aim
To develop competence and confidence skiing in variable off-piste terrain and to ensure it is something you look forward to rather than fear. To achieve this there are two skill sets that need to be developed; ski technique and safe travel skills. You will come away from this course feeling that you have both.
The course will be run by:
Alison Ski Touring in Arctic Norway |
Rob Ski Touring on the Chamonix to Zermatt 'Haute Route'. |
Ski Technique
Good balance, rhythm and a smile on your face will all help your off-piste ski technique as well as the host of strategies and skills that Alison will help you develop.
Alison will work with you to make the downhill become something you look forward to whatever the snow type. She will give you the tools to float effortlessly through the powder, embrace the bumps, control the hard pack, manage the ice and even enjoy the crust! You will gain tactics to ski smoothly through the trees, feel more confident on the steeps and have a strategy for when snow conditions are so poor you just need to get down the mountain safely.
Alison has experience of delivering these skills to skiers from beginner to mountain guide and other ski instructors. She will analyse your own skiing style and coach the improvements accordingly. Check out some feedback from Alison’s previous ski clients here.
Safe Ski Travel in the Mountains
Avalanche transceiver training with the 'Mammut Pulse'
By ascending on skis, using skins, untracked slopes can be reached or a quiet summit view enjoyed away from the crowded pistes. The pleasures are great but the hazards are real.
During 2 active days skiing Rob will guide you through the mountain practicalities of backcountry ski travel.
- How to use skins and bindings effectively so that ski ascents become an aesthetic and efficient pleasure.
- How to interpret avalanche and weather forecasts alongside actual mountain snow conditions and decide where to ski safe and good terrain accordingly.
- How to become highly skilled in the use of your essential avalanche equipment (shovel, probe and transceiver) and be able to manage an avalanche scenario should one arise.
- How to ski on a glacier, including roped ski travel, will also be covered, ideally during a descent of the Chamonix classic ‘Vallee Blanche’
As an international Mountain Guide Rob will not only deliver these practical skill sessions but constantly ‘drip-feed’ information about the constant decision making processes involved in off-piste skiing and ski touring.
About Us
‘Chamonix Off-Piste Ski & Mountain Skills is a joint venture between ‘High Mountain Guides’ and ‘Off-Piste Performance’ aimed at giving you expert advice and coaching in all aspects of mountain skiing.
Alison Culshaw runs ‘Off-Piste Performance' and holds the BASI International Ski Teacher Award. She has delivered Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to the British Mountain Guides and works as a trainer on the BASI Mountain Safety Courses training aspiring instructors. When not teaching skiing she'll be off ski touring somewhere. Her most recent trip took her to the Lyngen Alps in Norway.
Rob Jarvis runs ‘High Mountain Guides’ and is a full time Mountain Guide based in the French Alps near Chamonix. He has led mountaineering and ski expeditions around the world including skiing to the South Pole and, slightly steeper, Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.
Course Outline
This suggested itinerary may vary considerably according to weather and snow conditions.
Day 0
Arrive at Hotel in Chamonix, Arrange any hire kit required.
Day 1
Introduction to Off-Piste Skiing with Alison looking at the fundamental skills needed for being effective in the off-piste. Feedback will be specific to the individual so that you have personal top tips to take forward into the week.
Day 2
Off-Piste Ski decision making in ‘avalanche terrain’, use of avalanche equipment and Emergency procedures. Efficient use of skins for ascending on skis.
Day 3
During this day you will apply the skills learnt on day 1 to whatever the off-piste conditions are. Whether it is powder, icy or bumpy (or a mixture of all of the above!) you will have plenty of time to put the skills into practice.
Day 4
Weather permitting, this day will be a glacial ski journey covering aspects of safe travel in crevassed terrain. Roping up, route finding and basic crevasse rescue techniques can all be covered whilst enjoying a magnificent journey down one of Chamonix’s famous glaciers like the Argentiere or Vallee Blanche.
Day 5
A full days ski touring in the Chamonix Valley or over in the Valle d’Aoste on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. This is an opportunity to combine all the skills developed throughout the week and quiz Rob & Alison together on any final burning issues.
2012 Dates
30th Jan – 3rd Feb, Monday - Friday Inclusive, Full
27th Feb – 2nd March, Monday - Friday Inclusive, Full
2013 Dates
28th Jan – 1st Feb, Monday - Friday Inclusive, 6 Places Available
25th Feb – 1st March, Monday - Friday Inclusive, 6 Places Available
Price
£525
What’s included in the Price?
- 2 full days ski instruction and off-piste skiing with a ski instructor
- 2 full days instruction & off-piste skiing with a Mountain Guide
- 1 full day with both Alison and Rob to help you combine the skills
What’s not included?
- Accommodation. We recommend that you stay at the Hotel Chaumiere in Chamonix. If this is full or you would like an alternative style of accommodation please see our recommended list for places to stay in Chamonix.
- Lift passes. As we will use the best place for the day depending on the weather and snow we ask you to leave buying your pass until the first morning of the course. Cost of a day pass in Chamonix is C.50 Euros and any other venues we use will be cheaper than this.
- Flights and transfer from the airport to Chamonix.
- Food and drink during the course
- Ski Equipment. Check the ski course kit list.
Course Pre-requirements
Ski Ability
To get the most from this course you will be a strong piste skier, able to get down all groomed slopes. It will be beneficial to have skied in some off-piste before (but not necessarily to have succeeded!).
We have also found that people really enjoy this course when they have done lots of off-piste mileage but never really got the hang of it. Or if you are able to rip it up in the powder but feel you only have “one skill set in your tool box” so struggle to make changes to adapt to the changes the off-piste environment throw at you.
Fitness
You’ll need to be able to cope with 5 full days out on the mountain and have the fitness to go uphill for a few hours (this will feel like hill-walking uphill not running uphill!)
Course Kit List
More Details
For more details on our terms & conditions, to fill in a booking form and make a payment, please visit our booking page via the link below:
Contact
We are always delighted to hear from past, current and future clients so whether you have a booking enquiry, want a conditions report, or some mountaineering advice please do get in touch.
In the meantime, Good climbing / skiing ! Rob.
High Mountain Guides
Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France
Mobile: + 33 (0) 670 819 250
Tel: + 33 (0) 450 53 56 08
Email contact via the form below
Other Relevant Courses
Introduction to Ski Touring in Chamonix
An increasing number of skiers and mountaineers are realising what fantastic experiences ski journeys away from the pistes and in to the mountains can give. Aesthetic and efficient in ascent and fast and stylish (sometimes!) in descent; the ski mountaineer is able to mix the fun... more>
Chamonix Off-Piste
There are few skiers whose pulse does not quicken slightly when they hear the word, Chamonix! The high resorts with massive vertical descents, often glaciated, are renowned throughout the ski world as off-piste classics. Less well known are the easily accessible ski areas in the... more>
Chamonix Ski Mountaineering
Chamonix is a world mecca as a base for ski mountaineering. This 5 day course gives you the opportunity to sample a superb variety of demanding ski journeys. By making use of Chamonix's famous high mountain lifts some spectacular high glacier routes can be completed as day tours... more>
Ski Vallee Blanche
As the most famous off-piste ski run in the world, the Vallee Blanche has a lot to live up to! The 18km journey with 2800m of vertical descent through some of the worlds most stunning glaciated alpine scenery rarely dissapoints. Thanks to the huge height gain (2742m) given by th... more>
The Haute Route
The Haute Route is the most famous ski tour in the world and with good reason. It is a long, tough and highly rewarding ski journey taking an aesthetic line through stunning alpine touring terrain and linking the worlds two best known alpine resorts, Chamonix and Zermatt.... more>
Ski Gran Paradiso (4061m)
An action packed 3 day course designed for ski mountaineers who want to sample a taste of Italy and climb its highest mountain on skis. The ski touring in the famous Italian Valle d'Aoste is as good as the coffee and we aim to give you an excellent introduction to the area with... more>
Ski Summits
Late in the ski season. The valleys have turned to spring and the winter snow pack is stabilising. This is the time for the ski mountaineer to head high in to the mountains. By using the efficiency of ski touring travel with some of the skills of mountaineering we are able to co... more>
Ski Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc. The highest mountain in Western Europe and a true challenge for the dedicated ski mountaineer. A magnificent objective for those with the skills to do it. Late spring often provides the best snow conditions for a ski ascent of the mountain and we offer two 6 day cour... more>