I'm thinking about heading out to one of the UCPA centres next January to do one of their off piste courses. Has anybody been on one and got any tips?
Which is the best resort to head to? I was thinking about Flaine, but then I read it's not so good early in the season because the mountain's got loads of big holes in it! I think that leaves Tignes, Argentiere and Chamonix running full time off piste lessons. On piste I can get down pretty much any run, but I've only headed off piste a few times, so am a definitely a novice!
Are the UCPA centres good to stay at, and if so which are the best? What's the instruction like and also what's the equipment like?
Cheers
PJ
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
eversolazy, Mainly there off piste courses are full time wiith 4 days of skiing with an instructor with 2.5 days to yourself on Sunday (day of arrival), Wednesday and Saturday morning.
A reccomended extent of French spoken to be in my opinion. Basic conversational helps a lot as the centres are very French and not all instructors speak English, however in a few centres there are lots of Swedes and English is more commonly spoken. You share a room typically with 5 other people who perhaps won't speak Englisj so it helps if you are outgoing and friendly.
They grade their courses by levels of: Debutant (begginer), Perfectionment (second week skiiers), Maitrise (intermediate), Confirme (mixed between piste/off piste introduction) and Expert (for experienced off piste skiiers). There off piste courses are flexible in regards to offering groups for ranging abilities for both confirme and expert. So if you want an off piste week choose full time (called passion) and then when you arrive you state your ability and they allocate you to a group. Sounds like you will be on the borderline of maitrise and confirme.
Personally love the places with good grub, quality instruction and a spot on vibe.
There are full time off piste in the majority of centres and there are far more than the ones you've stated. Val Thorens and La Plagne are other resorts with a UCPA. Stayed in the Les Arcs, Val d'Isere and Serre Chevalier can reccomend them all highly. The areas all have a reputation for good off piste. The Argentiere centre in the Chamonix valley also has a good reputation.
Equipment wise they are sponsored by Rossingol. Cannot comment on boots, but the skis they provide range from carving skis, freestyle skis and fat enough skis for someone going off piste for the first time. For the off piste week they provide you with ARVA gear and a backpack.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
That sounds great, thanks Christopher. Ten months to get my French up to speed!
eversolazy, been to both Argentiere and Flaine with the UCPA and loved both. If I were you I'd go to Argentiere, as it's more popular for off-piste and offers two levels with multiple groups at each level. At Flaine last Easter there were only two off-piste groups and a reasonable piste skier had to be ditched down into the on-piste as he wasn't up to the quite good level of everyone else, whereas in Argentiere he'd have slotted easily into one of the lower off-piste groups.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
eversolazy, my son in law went to UCPA on his own twice (once to Argentiere - but in summer for different range of activities). His French is next to non-existent, and he's a bit shy about socialising sometimes, but he found it a very good atmosphere, and had no problem having a great time.
pam w, ditto, plus most centres have plenty of Anglophile Swedes in residence too.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Sideshow_Bob, pam w, Interesting. Yeah to add the off piste courses it appears are very popular with the Swedes and often have their own course in English seperate from the French speaking courses.
To maximise skiing time a little tip is to select their option 'Arrivee la vielle' for around €35-45, which allows you to arrive saturday afternoon onwards, staying an extra night with a meal Saturday evening and enabling you to get your gear first thing Sunday morning. I have choosen this everytime getting best quality equipment and being on the slopes by about 9.30 Sunday morning with the course starting on the Monday.
After all it is free
After all it is free
eversolazy, We went to Argentiere January this year. Arrived Saturday evening, collected kit Sunday morning (just transcievers/shovels/probes for us as we have skis and boots, but the provided skis were reasonable Rossi Bandits) Free skiing Sunday with a lift pass provided. Off piste instruction Monday, tuesday, Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday. We were in group with us 4 Brits, others all Swedish except for one young French chap. Instructor spoke and understood excellent english. Food good all week, as much as you could eat. Packed lunch saved lots of money on the hill, accomodation OK. Some evening activities English/Multilingual, some French only. All briefings and safety training seperately in English and French. Lots of good off-piste skiing and instruction, as competent piste skiers with little off-piste experience we found it tough - but we will be back for more. Lift pass did not cover top Grand Montet cablecar, but on the (several) occasions we went up there the instructor just dished out the extra tickets.
Any more questions just ask.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Thanks everybody. Can't believe how excited I'm getting about next years trip already!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
eversolazy, I'm heading out to Tignes on the 8th April for an introductory off piste week with UCPA. Think it is a new course that they are running this year.Will report back and let you know how I get on!
In terms of their levels doing normal lessons I've done both their confirme and expert levels but my off pitse skills are very lacking so went for the introductory option, I don't think all the centres offer it though...
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
VWLP, My instructor in Serre Chevalier (a centre not currently offering an off piste introduction) suggested that next time I have full time off piste course as opposed to part time on piste tuition. My off piste level is very much introductory. The significance is most centres have enough demand to run a confirme level off piste group effectively introducing off piste with basic skills such as the use of ARVA. I have a feeling the off piste introduction week is a marketing ploy by some centres as an introduction appears to be already available for full time off piste courses.
Have a cracking week!
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Christopher, That reflects our experience - we did a "full time off-piste course" rather than introductory, but as well as us half of our group had no real experience off piste prior to the course. On the first morning on the hill the instructors got two groups at this level to ski the same run, and then split us according to ability.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I think you're right, the marketing has worked!! Totally agree, think I'd be able to cope with the full time off piste as they will split the groups but liked the word "introductory" in the title!! 2 weeks to go
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
eversolazy, I stayed at the Argentierre centre in January and can highly recommend it even though the snow conditions were terrible (as they were everywhere this year). I did the full time guiding option but from your description the full time instruction would be right up your street, one of my room mates did it and it sounded very good with good instruction.
The centre is quite old and does look a bit scruffy but it is central, the food was great and it was probably the best ski trip I've ever done. Dont worry about the language barrier, pretty much all the staff spoke English as there are so many Swedes there English is effectively the second language, all instructions and signage is in French and English. Having said that I do think it is polite to be able to stumble through the basics in French.
Be warned though Argentierre is very small and quiet so if you are looking for lots of nightlife you'd probably be better off in Chamonix but I enjoyed hanging out in the bar in the centre (drinking cheap beer from the supermarket) and chatting with the Swedes and trying out my very limited French.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I've been to 3 UCPA centres in the last 4 years, all in the first week of Jan. I did the full-time off-piste course at Chamonix and Flaine, and did the "Grande Traces" at Serre Chevalier. Can't recommend them highly enough.
Chamonix is the most basic in terms of accommodation with 8 sharing 4 bunkbeds. but it's right in the town centre. Bit of a pfaff with buses each day but obviously great terrain. But you share that terrain with ooo's of powder hounds.
Serre Che is the best centre I've been to for comfort and facilities. Also a fantastic location, only a 20m skate to a 4 man chair. The "Grande Traces" course meant we jumped in a minibus on 3 mornings to ski different areas: Puy St Vincent (we were the only people off piste that day, freshies all day); Montgenevre (fantastic through the trees; La Grave.
Flaine. Had a brill week here. Ex-Club Med hotel so all rooms en-suite, 4 sharing a room, great location. V good off piste and no one fell in a hole.
That all sounds great. Loved the video jzBun, glad you all made it back safe and sound! You've got me thinking about Serre Chevalier now too. Is the Grande Traces a snowboarding course? Do you know if they offer off piste skiing lessons?
I reckon it's between Argentiere and Serre Chevalier. The only problem I can see is that I'm going to be 41 by the time it snows again! I'll be going with a few friends in their thirties, but are they strict about the age restrictions? I've seen pictures of people at UCPA who DEFINITELY look the wrong side of forty! Will they let me go? Can I get away with lying about my age???
Cheers
PJ
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
eversolazy, At UCPA there's no age Gestapo. No need to lie. Doesn't matter how old you are, as long as you're happy to fit in then fine.
Serre Che run a number of off-piste cousres. Grandes Traces is at the upper end for skiers, not boarders. I'm sure they have an equivalent for boarders but I only ski so don'y know. If you're going with friends then start at Serre Che.
The Vid is from the Grandes Traces tour - all skiers.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
eversolazy, I heard Argentiere UCPA might be closing for a refurb.
Oldies are said to "blend into the background" but yes, theoretically it's up to 39.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I have skied off-piste/freeride courses at: Tignes, Argentierre, Les Arcs, Chamonix, Tignes and Val D'Isere UCPAs.
Les Arcs is the best ,and largest centre (of the above.) It has just recently been refurbished. It is really excellent, and so was the skiing (this February.) It is also really very easy to get to by train!
They usually run a number of different off-piste groups, with differing skiing levels. They sort the groups early in the week.
Tignes or Val D'Isere have some of the most reliable early season snow conditions (in the French alps.) Both have a nice UCPA. Val D'Isere UCPA is a cosy place, close to the middle of the village. Tignes UCPA is at real altitude in Val Claret, and ideally situated for an early season trip.
My choice (for you) would be Tignes.
Tips - take some good ear plugs (in case of snorers.) You will meet lots of people and have a great time.
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