 Poster: A snowHead
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I've just come back from a trip to Panorama and Fernie in Canada, and after that the thought of skiing on piste in Europe seems boring. So my thoughts are turning to off piste in Europe, can anyone recommend a course for off piste skiing with avalanche awareness training in Europe?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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altis, Thank you.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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altis, but which is the best? 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Mosha Marc, Good point.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Mosha Marc, The intro to touring one offpisteskiing ran in December was the best  [/b]
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RPF, So you have been skiing off piste all season, have you not? Can you recomend a good guide in Europe?
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skid & slide, I have indeed. www.offpisteskiing.com who posts here as offpisteskiing or any of the powder extreme guys here in Verbier would be my recommendations. They are instructors who specialise in off-piste rather than mountain guides per se, but they know all the good spots and do their homework to get the best snow. They are all qualified to the highest levels and some are even Freeride world tour competitors (Guilla Monago from powder Extreme won the womens Verbier Extreme 2006). In Switzerland only Swiss qualified instructors can go off-piste, worth bearing in mind.
If you want to ski glaciers and use mountaineering techniques you will have to get a mountain guide. Some of the courses offpisteskiing runs are in conjunction with mountain guides. A number of snowheads regularly ski with him and trip reports are always amazing.
I've only skied with mountain guides on my avalanche training course in Chamonix, with Mountain Tracks. I was very pleased with the training and they have a good reputation, but otherwise can't speciffically comment on guides.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Check out alpine coaching aswell, Pete Gilespie's comapany, best trainer I've ever put turns with!
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Another vote for alpinecoaching.co.uk
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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skid & slide, Hello
I run a number of offpiste and backcountry courses here in Chamonix, I have a new site on the way in the next month or so. Happy to answer any question in the mean time.
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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.
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the Steep and Deep two day course is pretty good in Fernie - did you do that already?
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I'm with RPF, Powder Extreme are awesome. Verbier has the terrain and the coaches I've worked with (Felix, Anders, Giulia and Jeremy) unearth the best terrain and really get you to ski it to your potential. I've done 4 five day camps with them and only skied one pitch twice and that was Rock and Roll
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Kitty wrote: |
| Another vote for alpinecoaching.co.uk |
and another vote
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Poster: A snowHead
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wouldnt most established companies be pretty good? hard to say who is "best" as it would depend on the resort, conditions, do you hit it off with the instructor, others in the group etc etc....
i think rpf advice of instructor vs guide is good.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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skimottaret, I get a 1/2 day coaching each year and find the smaller companies to be more flexible, and with more engaging instructors. New Gen & Warren Smith we're both excellent and I felt it was more about me, rather than the slightly self-important and stiff style of ESF. Booked Ski Marmalade this year for 2 sessions (2 hours and 3 hours), and due to a bout of gastro enteritis (apologies, again, to my room mate) and bad weather I had to reschedule both of them. No problem for Derek, who re-arranged without complaint, met me where was best for me, we did exactly what I wanted to do, and improved by off-piste no end, can't praise him highly enough. Small independents all the way for me in the future.
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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?
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Another vote here for Warren Smith.
All the coaches are good, and the attitude of your fellow course members will be a very positive one based on our experience.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Warrens accademy weeks are very good for off-piste technique and skills, and I enjoyed got alot from the 2 I did at the start of this season.
His April news letter looks very interesting and they have a new course "Supergroups" which it looks like it will focus on bringing more advanced skiers into better terrain.
Here's what it says about it in the news letter http://www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com/newsletters/newsletter_april10.html
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Winter 2010/11 will see the launch of the Academy ‘Supergroup’ Concept. This is a group for Academy Level 4, 5 and 6 skiers that wish to be pushed beyond the normal limits of the Academy 5 day course. The ‘Supergroup’ concept will operate either parallel to the Academy groups or over specific weekends in Verbier. The groups will range from between 4 and 6 people.
Off piste skiing will be the major focus of these groups and skiers will be tested in Verbier and Chamonix’s amazing freeskiing terrain. Also in surrounding smaller resorts that offer excellent off piste. All participants in these groups will receive off piste safety training during and prior to the course. More information on the ‘Supergroup’ concept will be available over the coming weeks. If you are interested to find out more please write to us through ‘Contact’ page of the Academy website. |
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I just got that newsletter. I've pinged them for more details too.
I do like Warrens courses, you just seem to laugh more.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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skid & slide, didn't do the course myself - but a load of people at my hotel in Tignes back in December were on a off-piste course with a company with Snoworks. Everyone seemed to be very happy with the tution and were making positive noises about the instructors.
At the time, I was taking lessons with a different outfit called TDC (The Development Centre) - who were excellent and (I believe) run specific off-piste courses. So might be worth a look.
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hmmm, seriously looking at doing the Saas-Fee summer course. Anyone done it before?
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Dr John, friends of ours have, my daughter did it last summer.
Big thumbs up all around.
Obviously there is less terrain available so it tends to be quite drills and specifics in terms of coaching, but that can be very beneficial.
I've skied there twice in the summer.
The first time it was just like a good winter's day, lovely fresh powder.
The second it was like a nice spring day, icy turning slushy with a lovely mid point in that transition when the snow is just great.
Saas Fee is a lovely town in summer, plenty to do in the afternoons.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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rungsp, thanks for the feedback. My main concern would be the limited terrain, it states just 20k and 2 x t-bar lifts. Would I also be correct in assuming that the later I leave it the better, say into mid-September?
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Dr John, I doubt there will be much more terrain available in September than there will be in the summer.
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