What to Expect
Course Features
- Ski touring
- Overnight in a mountain hut
- Ice climbing
- Freestyle training
- Race training
- Off-piste coaching
- Avalanche safety training
- Two-day outdoor first aid course
- Off-snow theory sessions
- Video analysis
- Support team on and off snow
- Self-catered accommodation
- Return transfers from Geneva Airport
- Les 3 Vallées, full season lift pass
- Pre-course fitness programme
- Discounts on ski equipment
Where you’ll stay
THE ACCOMMODATION
Apartment Lapierre
Situated in the heart of Le Praz, Courchevel, Apartment La Pierre offers a classic seasonaire vibe with functional, comfortable and warm living. Just a five-minute walk from the apartment, you’ll find yourself at the Le Praz ski lifts connecting you to the vast Les 3 Vallées ski terrain.
The apartment has a fully equipped kitchen with a generous open-plan living/dining area, which leads to a south-facing terrace at the front. The single occupancy bedroom with rear balcony access is also on this level, with a separate WC just outside the bedroom. Downstairs are two twin bedrooms, each with its own access to the peaceful lower terrace at the rear of the building. The main shower room is located on this floor, too.
Ale Marmieri
3 Valleys
Ettore Barbero
3 Valleys
Filippo Jezek
3 Valleys
Book Your Course
What you’ll cover
Course Outline
Weeks 1 & 2
Personal Performance Training
Regardless of the conditions, the first weeks will focus on fun, on-piste technical skiing. You’ll begin working towards building a solid technical base and gradually increase the tempo and practise skiing with more fluidity and style. Towards the end of the second week, you’ll begin to learn about your new avalanche safety equipment and how to ski off-piste safely, including avalanche rescue.
Weeks 3 & 4
First Aid & Off-Piste with Supplementary Skills
During these weeks you will do your 2-day first aid course. This is primarily done in a classroom environment. In addition to the First aid course you will spend the morning skiing Off-Piste, learn the fundamentals of ski touring and learn the rules of Snow Park skiing.
Weeks 5 & 6
Park Skiing and Piste performance
These weeks are all about high-paced, high-energy skiing on the piste. We’ll focus on speed, line and pressure to stay in control when speeds pick up. We’ll also play in the park, developing our tricks. This is a prime opportunity to try a backflip or 360. Our instructors can help you build confidence and break down the movements to help you land perfectly.
Weeks 7 & 8
Mountain Safety Skills
These weeks focus on staying safe off-piste. However, we’re not just focusing on avalanche safety. You’ll spend time ski touring, working on map reading and navigation, refining your avalanche awareness and learning some basic rope work. By the end of the eighth week, you should be happy to lead a group off-piste, safely choose a route and follow it using just a map and perform advanced rescue techniques, including crevasse rescue with ropes.
Weeks 9 & 10
Bringing it all Together
The team will spend time addressing any holes left in your skiing. Our aim in this is to polish all of the work we have done over the last eight weeks, and it’s time to show off and put everything you’ve learned into practice. Your coaches will take you on some iconic off-piste routes and tours to test your new skills. You’ll spend a night in a mountain hut. Ensure your phones are charged, as you’ll want to take plenty of photos.
FAQ’s
We’ve got the answers
Which is the best Airport to fly to?
We recommend that you fly into Geneva Airport.
How do you get from Geneva Airport to Courchevel?
We will organise Transfers for you. We group students based on arrival times, so you may have a short wait at the airport.
Does the course include a ski pass?
Yes, your lift pass is included in the cost of your course for those of you who are less than 30 years old. If you are older than 30, there is a small supplement to pay as your Lyft pass is considerably more expensive. Please add this as an optional extra at checkout.
Do you need to speak a second language?
The course will be primarily run in English so you don’t need to speak a second language. However, the better your language skills the easier it will be to find work immediately after the course and in the future.
Will you get a job after the course?
Possibly, every student has the opportunity to interview to join our instructor team. In order to be offered a job, you need to be successful in the interview, have successfully passed your BASI Level 2 and have the right to work in Switzerland. Successful candidates will definitely get work in the peak weeks, Christmas, Half-Term and Easter.
What Qualifications do our coaches have?
Our coaches are all fully qualified instructors. We use a mixture of BASI trainers and specialist coaches to prepare you for your exams fully. You’ll also spend time shadowing other BASI instructors.
Do you need Avalanche Safety equipment to ski off-piste?
Yes. Our team will take you off-piste during your training and you’ll have to carry at least a transceiver, shovel and probe. These aren’t included in the ski instructor courses but can be added as an optional extra.