This course is designed to improve both your technical off-piste skiing and mountain safety skills, whilst doing lots of good skiing and touring in the process. The course programme has been thoughtfully designed by Alison Thacker (BASI ISTD Ski Instructor) and Rob Jarvis (IFMGA International Mountain Guide) and has been running since 2012. The courses are either run by Alison and Rob, or our small team of excellent instructors and guides, who we are extremely proud to have working with us.
The course aims to develop competence and confidence skiing and touring in variable off-piste terrain, 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.
Full information
Ski Ability
To get the most from this course you will be a strong piste skier and be able to get down all groomed slopes with confidence. You should have skied off-piste before (but not necessarily succeeded!) even if this is just "side country" beside the pistes.
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.
Mountain Fitness
You’ll need to be able to cope with full days out on the mountain and have the fitness to skin steadily uphill for a few hours at an approximate rate of 250m per hour (including stops and transitions) for 2 to 3 hours. This will feel like hill-walking uphill not running uphill.
Team Approach
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.
The BASI Ski Instructor will work with you to make the downhill become something you look forward to whatever the snow type. They will give you the tools to float effortlessly through the powder, embrace the bumps, control the hard pack, manage the ice and even tackle the crust. You will gain tactics to ski smoothly through the trees, feel more confident on steeper terrain and have a strategy for when snow conditions are so poor you just need to get down the mountain safely.
Our instructors have experience of delivering these skills to skiers from beginner to mountain guide and other ski instructors. They will analyse your own skiing style and coach the improvements accordingly.
The skier who ventures beyond the marked runs and on to the open mountain is in adventurous terrain. 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 the IFMGA Mountain Guide will lead 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 ‘Vallée Blanche’.
The Guide 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.
- 2 full days ski instruction & off-piste skiing with a ski instructor.
- 2 full days touring skills instruction & off-piste skiing with a Mountain Guide.
- 1 full day with both BASI Ski Instructor & IFMGA Mountain Guide to help you combine the skills.
- Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe if required.
- Accommodation. We recommend staying at Ski Breezy
- Lift passes
- Travel
- Food
- Insurance (All clients must have their own insurance for skiing off-piste and ski touring)
- Equipment
Maximum of 6 people
This is a sample programme, which may vary considerably. The exact itinerary will depend on the prevailing weather and snow conditions, and the group experience and aspirations. All times are approximate.
Pre-Course Gathering 1815 till 1900
We aim to have an informal pre-course meeting on the Sunday evening in Chamonix. This is optional. It’s a good opportunity to meet the team and chat through objectives for the week.
Day 1 0900 till 1600 – Ski instructor
Introduction to Off‐Piste Skiing with ski instructor 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. This will be based within the Chamonix Valley and is normally at Les Grand Montets or Le Tour, but may vary depending on snow conditions.
Day 2 0830 till 1630 – IFMGA Mountain Guide
Off‐Piste Ski decision making in ‘avalanche terrain’, use of avalanche equipment and
emergency procedures, with IFMGA Mountain Guide. Efficient use of skins for ascending on skis. This may take place outside of the Chamonix Valley, so be prepared for an earlier start than on day 1. Possible venues are Le Tour, St Gervais, Combloux, Les Houches or Le Contamines.
Day 3 0900 till 1600 – Ski instructor
During this day you the ski instructor, 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. Possible venues are Le Tour, Les Grand Montets, Flégère, Brévent or Les Houches.
Day 4 0800 till 1700 – IFMGA Mountain Guide
Be prepared for an early start. 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 on one of the Mont Blanc Massifs glaciers like the Vallée Blanche or Argenietère Glacier.
Day 5 0830 till 1630 – IFMGA Mountain Guide and Ski Instructor
A full day’s ski touring or off-piste skiing in the Chamonix Valley, over in the Valle d’Aoste on the Italian side of Mont Blanc or in Evasion Mont Blanc. This is an opportunity to combine all the skills developed throughout the week and quiz the guide and instructor together on any final burning issues.
The mountain days with IFMGA Mountain Guide can start earlier and go on longer than the times stated above, particularly if travelling outside of the Chamonix Valley. Please communicate any time constraints that you may have in advance of the course.
The ski instructor days and mountain guide days may be switched around.
We can run a private version of this course, which can include the same programme as our group courses, or can be tailored to your teams preferences. For example, previously we have included a night in a mountain hut for private groups, like the Monastery at Grand St Bernard. Please email to discuss your requirements.
‘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 Thacker runs ‘Off-Piste Performance' and holds the BASI International Ski Teacher Diploma. 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. She spends the spring time running ski touring courses in Arctic Norway with her husband James.
Rob Jarvis runs ‘High Mountain Guides’ and is a full time IFMGA 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, a bit steeper (!), Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.
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