Chamonix Off Piste Progression with Off Piste Performance

The aim is to develop competence and confidence skiing in adventurous mountain terrain. You will come away from this course feeling that you have increased confidence in both your ski technique and your mountain skills, on steeper ground and in more remote areas. Ski Technique Although you will already be a good off-piste skier, Alison will work with you to gain more confidence on steeper ground and give you techniques and tactics for when conditions are tough. With low ratios, this tuition will be tailored to your individual needs. Time can be spent working on those individual habits that you have always been trying to break out of. Over the 2 days you will feel your skiing becoming more efficient in challenging situations. 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. Safe Skie Travel in the Mountains Touring classic steeper ski mountaineering terrain, under the supervision of an IFMGA Guide, will help you develop further your technical ski mountaineering skills including efficient transitions, glacier skiing, the use of ski & boot crampons, ice axe and perhaps the rope. Throughout the course, attention will be given to the prevailing snow and weather conditions, and avalanche forecasts. This will help develop your ability for information gathering, planning suitable routes and making good decisions about which terrain to ski; with the two fundamental aims of being safe and having fun. As well as these training & technical elements, at least one of the touring days will be a long & physical ski tour to give the satisfaction of completing a grand high level mountain ski journey.

You need to be competent, and reliable, skiing off-piste in all conditions on slopes up to 35 degrees. You should have done at least 10 days ski touring and be competent doing kick-turns. You will have practiced regularly with your avalanche transceiver and be a competent member of a ski touring team. You’ll need to be able to cope with full days out on the mountain and have the fitness to go uphill at a pace of approximately 300 metres per hour for 3 - 4 hours, and still be able to make a safe and reasonably stylish descent. We strongly recommend that you use the Monday of this week to have a "warm-up day" doing some downhill skiing at altitude. This is a demanding course and you need to be physically and mentally prepared for it. Unless you are a strong ski mountaineer already, this course is most suited to people who are skiing regularly during the season. Basic mountaineering experience with some previous use of crampons & ice axe is useful but not essential. These are group courses and you will need to embrace the important team aspect of off piste skiing and touring. If you are keen to maximise your time in terms of individual ski coaching, or completing longer / more physical tours then private hire is recommended.