 Poster: A snowHead
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I am contemplating booking an off piste holiday and wondered if anyone else had done something similar and could possibly provide some advice. There appears to be a wealth of different providers and I have no idea which ones are worth a more detailed look.
Ideally I am looking to go in January/February so hopefully snow coverage would be good pretty much anywhere by then. Unless I can rope a friend in, it will likely be a solo trip, so I would really like to join up with a group of other solo skiers to spend the trip with (is this normal?)
My off piste skiing is "ok", I have skied a number of weeks and did a season a couple of years ago so am happy to ski off piste, although my technique could do with some work! I think that ideally I would be looking for a course aimed at intermediates that offered tuition throughout the trip?
Equipment wise, I own Scott Punisher skis (86mm underfoot - not ideal offpiste, but I am quite light and they seem to float ok on anything I have skied to date) and don't have any touring equipment so am going to want something lift based. To keep costs down, I don't really want to be buying any new equipment if possible. I also don't own any Avy gear so would ideally want the trip provider to supply these.
Location wise, I would absolutely love to ski Kashmir, but I think that might be a little advanced at the moment!
So... does anyone have any advice? How much should I be looking to spend for 7-10 days all in (the less the better!)? Where would be a good place to go? And who might be good to book with?
All and any input appreciated!
Tom
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Japan is a 'good' place to go, however what's your budget, are you looking Europe only or further afield? Do you want some instruction or just to ski?
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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UCPA, Skier's Lodge in La Grave, numerous "freeride" course providers all have what you are looking for. Someone will also pipe up Snowheads bashes which work for many.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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fatbob, +1 A number of the UCPA centres do off-piste, at all levels, and you won't do it cheaper, with equipment, guides, full board, as part of the package. Plus good company!
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MWG_Thomas, like your idea- let us know what you come up with, would love to do the same.
Esf class 4 available in most resorts will give you all day lift based skiing and (supposedly) instruction, same as specialist OP schools in Val, St. Anton etc., and you have your bureaux des guides if you want to just go one day at a time, but I am sure you know all that
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MWG_Thomas, Have a look at Snoworks , they do a great range of off piste weeks
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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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Club Med ski group 4 Val d' or Tignes most likely, if you have say 1.2K budget.
For less think of Club Med Aime la Plagne, single room less than 1K, group 4 here tends to do some walking up hill on skis or foot to get to pitches some of which are in dense trees. so you must be fit.
Advantages of Club Med you have the instructor all day, he is geared to group 4, the flight, meals, booze entertainment and whatever your luck is in for, all provided; all you have to do is ski. Level 4 club Med is at least BASI 2 standard so will help you. Some French is desirable not many English in Group 4.
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Or UCPA with all gear, full board, guiding/instructing, lift-pass and transport, all for £650 or so.
I think it's right to say that later, rather than earlier, is likely to give better snow cover? Early January might be a bit sketchy.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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pam w, Although can be cheaper
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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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one good thing about UCPA is that they don't seem to load their prices for holiday time - my daughter and BF, both teachers, had an all-in week in flaine for £600 each at half-term. Mind you, the coach did break down twice.... 
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| carbon_copy wrote: |
| MWG_Thomas, Have a look at Snoworks , they do a great range of off piste weeks |
We're doing another course with them this year. Well run courses, using a fun coaching style, with good leaders. I'd certainly recommend them. We fancy their Japan Adventures.
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You know it makes sense.
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Scottish Scrutineer, which one are you doing ?? , i have booked a couple of the new BC access courses which look really interesting 
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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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We're going to Courmayeur in March to do the Backcountry course. We've done a couple of weeks All-Terrain and enjoyed both. Met some folks who had been on their off-piste purses and we felt our ability now needs to be tested with the backcountry.
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Poster: A snowHead
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We're going to Courmayeur in March to do the Backcountry course. We've done a couple of weeks All-Terrain and enjoyed both. Met some folks who had been on their off-piste purses and we felt our ability now needs to be tested with the backcountry.
Apologies for double posting
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 18-07-12 21:55; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Scottish Scrutineer, You'll have a blast , done the st Anton BC course , was great fun
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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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Thanks for the replies guys. I swear I had replied to this post but it doesn't seem to have appeared!
This has definitely given me a lot to look at, and a lot to think about. It all just looks so good...
Tom
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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MWG_Thomas, a huge recommendation for offpisteskiing. Simon caters for a wide range of abilities and provides superb coaching and guiding. He runs a few weeks in the time you're looking at. I went solo and didn't regret it. I did a write up in Feb somewhere in this section of the forum. Steve and Iona at the White Room are excellent hosts and have a very chilled/relaxed atmosphere (although I went in the summer for MTB). Steve posts as Stevomcd on here. Last but not least, the Off Piste Bash is great fun and we had some entertaining guides from the likes of Mountain Tracks. Take your pick 
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