The Ski Blog

Backcountry Ski Holidays in Ste Foy - try it this winter!

 

Backcountry Snowboarding in Ste Foy with The White Room Chalet

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Are you tempted to head off-piste on your next ski holiday? Do you need a good nudge and a bit more confidence to do it? Then why not try a specialised Backcountry ski or snowboard holiday aimed entirely at getting you safely to the secret stashes that skiers and snowboarders dream of!

The White Room Chalet, based in Ste Foy, have been running snowboarding backcountry weeks for a few years already. This coming winter they have their inaugural backcountry week for skiers which will take place from 16th - 23rd March 2019 and will be run by local guide Patrick Bidwell.

Intro to Backcountry course for snowboarders

If you're new to the backcountry there is an intro week for snowboarders starting 2nd March. This course is aimed at riders who are confident on reds and blacks and have a fairly good technical ability and want to dip in to off-piste riding. It involves a good bit of avalanche training which is taught practically.

The week starts with getting comfortable with off piste and then as the week progresses you will do more and more technical descents.

The Intro weeks also give you some technical training to improve your riding abilities. 

Classic Backcountry Weeks

The classic backcountry courses are aimed at people who already have some experience of off-piste snowboarding or skiing - they are not intended as "intro to off-piste" weeks.

The idea is to do as much good riding as possible, not to spend a lot of time learning the technique. The more confident snowboarder and skier will be taken to far flung parts of the mountain so whilst you don't need to be an off-piste expert, you shouldn't be a total beginner either. You should be happy on the steepest pistes and should have spent at least a few days exploring between the pistes or beyond the resort boundaries.

While the week is based in Sainte Foy, the proximity to the other resorts in the valley means there is always the chance to ride the best terrain and snow to suit the conditions. This could include the Grand Col at Les Arcs, the Fingers or the Col des Vés in Tignes, the Couloir des Pisteurs or the Col Pers in Val d'isere or the Bella Valletta in La Thuile.

There is also a Girls-only backcountry course this year running alongside the BC Intro week.

What's included

These weeks include chalet accommodation, food, drinks and your guide for the week. They are guided from Monday to Friday, and if you don't have your own avalanche equipment you will be able to rent it there.

It's classic chalet board, with afternoon tea and cakes, dinner with wine or beer on 6 nights, and breakfast everyday.

Last year was an epic year for snow in the Alps - check out the gallery from last year's backcountry weeks.  

So why not take the plunge and make this winter the time to try it out? Going with a guide means you'll be sure to find the good spots, and you'll be able to learn a lot about snow conditions, what to look out for and what to avoid. See their Backcountry Weeks section and find out all about dates and prices! Places are limited so book soon!

 

Here's a Top Tip for your first Family Ski Holiday

The children’s book all skiers have been waiting for!

Any parent with children who ski will tell you that the first week is crucial and not without stress and worry. 

Will they take to skiing? How will they cope with the equipment, the cold, the environment? What if they hate ski school and refuse to go back? The first week or two is make or break - it could either mean a future of great family ski holidays or zero family ski holidays.

A trio of British ski instructors, all ex-GB team racers, have come together to tackle this problem and have published a great little book for children called "Jacob's First Ski Holiday".

The book which is aimed at 4 to 8 year olds is guaranteed to bring extra excitement in the build up to a child’s first ski holiday.

Written by the founders of Maison Sport, they have used their experience of ski teaching and love for the sport to create a book that will increase the chances of a successful and enjoyable ski holiday for young children.

The book features illustrations and descriptions of various key techniques the children will learn during their first lesson, in a subtle and exciting way. It also aims to show how much of an adventure the children will go on during their holiday, taking away some of the unknowns that can make the experience daunting for a child.

Nick Robinson, one of the team behind the book explains:

"Sometimes the first hour of a children’s skiing experience can be quite challenging, they often have no understanding of what skiing is and more importantly why they now have to walk around in giant shoes (ski boots), with ridiculously slippy planks of wood stuck to their feet (skis). They then spend the next hour trying to walk around with said planks of wood attached to giant shoes, sliding and slipping everywhere. This can be disheartening and that’s why the book tries to show them all the adventures they will discover once they can ski. 

We have huge passion for the industry and have great memories skiing as a child, we feel this is a great way to pass this on." 

With beautiful illustrations the book helps to paint a picture of what a child can expect on their first ski holiday and helps to get them excited and looking forward to the experience, whilst familiarising them with some of skiing basics. The idea is to give them the book before the holiday so they can start to learn what to expect.

To find out more and how to purchase the book take a look at https://jacobsadventures.com/ !