 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all was just wondering if anybody has any experiance of either the full time off piste instruction course or the off piste freeride course ? if you have perhaps you could give me some kind of idea of your level before you attended and how you found the instruction level for either of these (I'm fairly sure the freeride course is more guiding with only a small amount of instruction? but I could be wrong!) Thanks in advance for your help.
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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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Extract from Action Outdoors website - Off-Piste Freeride Full-Time Guiding. Hopefully we'll get some replies from practical experience, I think those 2 blokes who posted on the other thread were of a very high standard. On reflection I could easily meet the level requirement below so I am leaning towards guiding now. It might be useful to re-post this on the bend ze knees section.
Personal Skill & Technique – developing your existing off piste skills into steeper slopes, narrow couloirs and heavily glaciated terrain.
Mountain Skills – this is all about being safe on the mountains. How to read snow conditions, assess avalanche risks, how to navigate, make sense of the weather forecasts and what they mean to skiers. You’ll spend time practicing with transceivers, to ensure that if the worst happens you have the skills to deal with it. There is the opportunity to learn about crevasse awareness & rescue techniques.
For many people the best thing about these courses is the local knowledge of the instructor. He or she knows the ski area intimately and will always be able to find the best conditions. You will be very off piste – expect to be on slopes with no other groups in sight. This most often involves a short hike at the start or the end of the run. On some of the routes an abseil (or rappel) may be required to access the slope.
All equipment is provided - Skis & Boots – mostly Rossignol as they are a partner of UCPA. Half of the skis are replaced each year meaning that the equipment is all up to date and in good order. You will also be given a harness, transceiver (ARVA), shovel & probe for the week. Personal clothing is not provided. You will be given a lift pass for the whole week when you arrive.
Levels
You are already a fairly accomplished off piste skier, competent in all snow conditions on moderate slopes. You have a good level of personal fitness and have no problems making a short 45 minute hike to get to the best slopes.
Itinerary
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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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adventureontheriverbank, if you decide to book, use the discount code SP2010 and you'll get £10 off the advertsied price on the Action Outdoors website - I know its not much, but then UCPA holidays are such good value already, but think of the discount as a fellow snowhead buying you a couple of beers 
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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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sarep, are you getting a kickback whenever anyone uses that code?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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a £10 kickback perhaps? 
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adventureontheriverbank, I've been to 3 UCPA centres and did the off-piste course at each one - Chamonix, Serre Che and Flaine. (see the other thread for experience levels and how they choose a group for you.)
I didn't receive any tuition on any of them. Just guiding. I'm not sure what happens in the off-piste beginners groups.
By far the most enjoyable for me was Serre Chevalier where I did a programme called Grandes Traces. (translated as big tracks I think). We were off-piste in Serre Che for the first 2 days then, each of the other mornings, we would jump in the minibus and head off to La Grave, Montgenevre or Puy Saint Vincent looking for the best snow.
Whichever one you choose, there will be a group that's right for you.
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FAQ