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    Off-piste Instructing with ES

    by

    Anthony Voute grew up in the mountains and has been based in Verbier for over 15 years. He has been a fully qualified off piste instructor for 12 years. He teaches both ski and snowboard and is equally happy with his touring skis or splitboard. We interviewed him to find out what life is really like, day to day, as an off-piste instructor.

    Anthons Voute European Snowsport Verbier Ski School, Nendaz Ski School, Zermatt Ski School, Chamonix Ski School St Moritz Ski School
    “There are not many jobs where you can live out your career and your passion in such a beautiful environment. There is a unique energy about being in the mountains and you can share this with your clients.”

    Typical day of an off-piste Instructor:

    Night before – check avalanche report
    7am – team brief about day
    8am –check gear
    9am – brief clients/safety talk

    “The night before I make contact with my clients to find out what they would like to achieve and what their goals are for the day ahead. Are they looking for an introduction to off piste, or to improve their technique, or discover new areas?
    I check different websites for weather, and if I haven’t been to the area I am planning to visit the next day for a few days, or the conditions are changing, I call some friends who work with the ski patrol or someone who went to that area the same day to talk to them about conditions. Usually I visit areas I already know well so I don’t need to check the maps or the slope gradient but I always check the changing conditions.

    On the day, I meet with my clients and talk to them about their goals and expectations. We ski a piste together so I can see how they ski. I check everyone’s avalanche transceiver is working properly and that they have their off piste pack and do a briefing. I check the snow conditions and then we do some easily accessible off piste so I can see how they handle the conditions.
    We then head off. I always have a plan B for if conditions change. For example, if it is cloudy we might stay in the trees for better visibility. I am also looking out for things like whether a member of the group is getting tired.

    Just before we ski an off piste area, I verify the state of the snow and we ski one by one. We establish where to regroup after each ski. On each slope I need to consider what the consequences are if for example someone falls; they might slide, or they might stop safely.

    Our goal is always to have fun safely. So I communicate all the time and check that everyone is comfortable and happy. It is important that the clients understand that I am the leader and respect my judgment and this is one of the things we learn in our off piste training; how to lead the group and also how to turn back when it is the right thing to do.”

    What qualifications do you need to be an off-piste instructor?

    “In the Swiss system there are a lot of courses you need to pass; there are 3 levels of instructor and you need to reach the highest level, the Swiss Federal qualification. The courses include technique, teaching, second discipline, second language (in addition to one of the 3 Swiss languages; German, French and Italian), tourism and law, and off piste and avalanche safety.
    In the off piste course we learn how to plan a route, how to identify dangers, and how to manage a group off piste.
    Finally you need to complete a written project and then be interviewed about your project by a panel. Once you pass all the levels and the written project and interview, you can teach off piste under the conditions allowed by the law.”

    Some quotes from other current Off-piste instructors. 

    “I want to share my love for the mountains with my clients. Away from the pistes, you have a feeling of freedom you don’t get anywhere else and I aim to transmit my love and respect for the mountains.”

    “On the piste you are in a controlled environment but off piste you can’t take anything for granted. You need to stay clear psychologically and not be influenced by a charismatic person who wants to do something, but think about the risks and the right thing to do for yourself and with a clear head.”

    “I always try to ask and encourage good questions and think with a clear head about the best thing to do in each moment. You need to remain humble and avoid doing things from habit. A very experienced guide said that you need to tune in to your “inner Indian” and I agree with this; you need to be connected to the elements and feel the right decision from day to day; it won’t be the same as the decision you made the day before.”

    8 Reasons why Verbier is Europe’s Premier Snowboarding holiday resort.

    by

    Everyone has a different idea of what they want from a Snowboarding holiday. If you’re going to spend your hard earned cash and accumulated holiday time, you want it to be an awesome holiday experience.

    With an abundance of pistes, totalling 56, and the longest being 15km long you can see why Verbier is a world renowned luxury resort. Throw in some epic snow and a crew to shred with, and you’re half way to heaven. From perfect groomers, a freshly shaped terrain park and world quality off-piste terrain, its difficult to see why Verbier doesn’t make all top 10 snowboard resort lists. It’s an absolute undiscovered gem of quality riding that only the few know about.

    Here’s why Verbier is probably Europe’s best snowboarding resort.

    1. WEATHER

    The amazing weather that Verbier offers is second to none. If you want sunny and warm conditions then this resort delivers. The town and a number of slopes are south facing so sunshine is not a problem to find. Perfect for some softer snow on a cold morning or for aprés beers after a long day of shredding.

    2. ENDLESS SNOW

    If fresh snow is what you desire then the slopes around Verbier have this covered. With lifts going up to 3300m, there is no problem finding fresh snow. Verbier town is situated at 1500m, giving a total vertical descent from the top lift to town of 1830m. If you are unsure of where to go and find untouched freshies, why not get a backcountry day. You might even pick up a tip or two.

    3. LIFT NETWORK

    A good lift is essential, and a network of lifts is even better. Verbier has 150km of pistes divided into roughly 45% easy, 45% intermediate and 10% advanced slopes. Verbier has an enormous ride area when joined with Nendaz,(links?)Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, Thyon and Val de Bagnes to create the 4Vallees. 94 lifts and over 400km of pistes all on one pass. It’s hard to see why Verbier is the most underrated for snowboarding in Europe.

    4. FRESH, UNTRACKED SNOW

    The off piste terrain is so incredible they hold the final of the Freeride World Tour here! Verbier is a freeride mecca and has been known as Switzerland’s version of Chamonix, with its high peaks and endless backcountry.

    5. A BIT OF A CHALLENGE

    If you are looking for a challenge then look no further. Verbier has a number of marked and controlled off piste routes for the more advanced rider. If you’re looking for a variety of terrain within one resort, Verbier’s itineraries has it covered.

    6. SNOW PARK

    Verbier hasn’t had the best reputation for its terrain park in the past, but over the last few years even more money has been put into improve the jumps, boxes and rails. There are many new features each year and the freestyle area continues to advance leaps and bounds.

    Here are the stats that are changing Verbier’s freestyle image. Located at 2250m, the La Chaux snowpark delivers guaranteed snow and sunshine. The park is suitable for all levels and is maintained daily. The park includes 2 starts, 5 lines, 1 airbag and a boarder cross race track.
    Features include:
    Green line (woops)
    Blue line consisting of 3 kickers and boxes for beginners.
    Red line consisting of 3 kickers and 9 rails.
    Pro/black line consisting of 2 kickers and 5 rails.

    7. APRÉS SKI

    Verbier has an endless amount of places to party after a long (or not so long) day on the hill. Up the mountain you’ll find Chalet Carlsberg, Bar 1936 and IceCube to name a few, with live music and DJs. To end a long day with a sunset then Le Rouge (Café del Mar Ibiza vibe) is the place to go, and you can ride right to the door.
    If you prefer to sing and dance your heart out then in the centre of town you will find the Farinet Aprés Ski bar. This place will blow your aprés expectations into the next universe. Live bands perform every day of the season with a new band every week. Verbier has 4 night clubs, so partying on until the early hours is possible no matter what your taste. If you are looking to party hard Verbier has got what you need.

    8. LOCAL SNOWBOARD SHOPS

    There are plenty of local ski and snowboard shops. If anything goes wrong, there is always a shop on hand with stock to cover all eventualities, so you can get back to riding as soon as possible.
    If you want to talk about progressing your snowboarding in Verbier, get in touch!
    If you still don’t believe us then Verbier’s British ambassador and BBC snowboard correspondent Ed Leigh will show you. He loves the snowboarding in Verbier so much he moved here with his family!

    By Matt Spragg at es-ride.com