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Verbier Off Piste Clinics 2011
FEEDBACK: "What a week of amazing powder! I love skiing couloirs and can't wait to come back.
Thanks for a great week."
Julie T, Southampton 2008
Courses Overview

Verbier is famous for being the town in the centre of one the biggest ski areas in the world. The Four Valleys have over 400km of runs, with plentiful off piste providing challenging runs for intermediate to expert skiiers. It is the home of free skiing with the off piste made accessible by efficient cable cars or very short walk ins.

During this week you will challenge and enhance your skiing ability, with long descents down steep gullies and couloirs, or through deep powder down into hidden valleys. We run this course on Level 1 & 2 Clinic levels.

For the level 2 course you should be a similar level to those on our Chamonix Off Piste Level 2 course with at least a week's previous off piste experience, such as previously attending the Chamonix Level 1 course.

Your expert IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide will show you some of the most remote regions of the Verbier region, whilst improving your technique and looking after your safety. As with all our courses, you are taught important skills such as avalanche awareness and tranceiver searches, digging snow pits, essential Alpine ropework, route finding over glaciers, and crevasse rescue systems.
The level of the runs is only limited by your previous off piste experience and the conditions. You do not need to be super fit, but good stamina will make the days easier and allow you more breath to enjoy the scenery. Our aim is for you to enjoy a challenging, thrilling, great off piste week.
The group for each course is limited to six people per Guide to ensure that you get good access, and learn as much as possible, as we have found that a small group on the mountain achieves and learns far more.
Dates: 30 Jan - 5 Feb 2011, 13 - 19 March 2011. For current availability on these courses click here.
The course at a glance...
7 days, running from Sunday to Saturday. Price £699pp, includes accommodation.
• Avalanche safety kit (ARVA tranceiver, probe and shovel) is provided for the course.
Top tip... there is also an upgrade option of a day of heli-skiing (see below).
You could also consider... Haute Route or Chamonix Off Piste Clincs


Course Photo Gallery


Brief Course Itinerary
The itinerary of this course is adapted daily to cater for the best snow conditions, and your improving ski level, but these details should give an idea of what you can achieve during the week.
Sun Travel to Verbier to arrive in the hotel for the 19.00 meeting with your Guide and the rest of your group. There is an itinerary briefing and time for equipment checks. Briefings are over by 20:00 and the Guide usually accompanies the group for a drink in the bar. Night in Verbier.
Mon Based from the Savolyres lifts, today is a day to ski the powder on the Northern slopes. It is a day to get your ski legs back, build your confidence, test your equipment, and run through the key safety techniques of avalanche prediction and transceiver searches. Night in Verbier.
Tue For over 25 years the runs from the top of Mont Gele have provided some of the best and wildest skiing in Verbier. The lifts have the highest elevation in the valley at 3030m. From the top there are some exposed ridge sections, but with drops into fantastic powder filled couloirs. Night in Verbier.
Wed Today is a day to experience the hidden gems of the Verbier region. This could be based from Torta or Gentianes, to access the famous runs of Stairway to Heaven or Rock Garden, or to enjoy the deep powder on Marlene. Due to the altitude base at 1500m, powder in the region stays untracked for many days which offers free skiing down challenging chutes and through hidden valleys. Night in Verbier.
Thu The aim of today is to reach the highest summit of Verbier, Mont Fort at 3330m, and to ski the long 2000m vertical descent run via the Glacier de la Grand Desert to Siviez. The cable car takes us up to just 30m below the rocky summit ridge, and from here there is a short exposed climb over the iced up rock which is protected by a fixed rope, and a helpful rope from your Guide! From the summit the panoramic views are amazing, with the towering peaks of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. The long descent down the backside of Mont Fort is adreanaline packed and should not to be missed! Night in Verbier.
Fri This is either a day for more challenging runs in the region, or for the opportunity to upgrade to try a day of heli-skiing (see upgrades notes below) - weather and conditions dependent). There is also the opportunity, if the group would like to try a day of ski touring, of the short climb on touring skins to reach the stunning Col du St. Bernard with its famous Monastery and great views. Final celebratory dinner & night in Verbier.
Sat Breakfast, then depart for home. It is also possible to extend your stay in Verbier for an extra night so you can enjoy a day of extra free skiing unguided, and depart on the Sunday (supplement payable).
ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity that you will attempt.  

Perfect snow conditions above Zermatt
Course Prices
Standard course
5 days guiding, 7 days holiday in total £699
Premium course
7 days guiding, 8 days holiday in total
(Standard course plus Acclimatisation weekend)
LINK
£798
Secure online booking system
Standard Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guides for five days and all their lift passes and fees, 2) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK kit shops, 5) Accommodation in the Verbier ski area (includes linen, bedding & towels), 6) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Verbier, 2) Cable Cars & uplift (ski pass for the week), 3) Ski / boot hire, 4) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 5) Transport outside the Verbier valley, 6) Activities insurance, excess baggage charges.
Notes: The loan of all avalanche safety kit is included (avalanche tranceiver, avalanche probe and shovel). The course requires a minimum number of 4 people. If there are less than minimum numbers, the course can go ahead if you request it, but the price will rise (for 2 people the price is £999). In this situation, should you choose not to continue your booking, you can opt for a full refund or a transfer onto another course or date.
Upgrade options
Acclimatisation Weekend
£99 (throughout the season)
To get the most out your course, acclimatisation is essential so that you minimise the chances of AMS (altitude sickness) later on during your course, details.
Avalanche Skills Day
£49 (throughout the season)
To learn avalanche prediction, reutschblocks and use of avalanche tranceivers. Course is available on any day during the week (includes ARVA), details.