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Outstanding, independent ski schools in Verbier, Zermatt, Nendaz, St Moritz and Chamonix

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    Dorian DeRossis – Winter in New Zealand

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    Dorian is a ski instructor with ES in Verbier in the winters, and here he tells us about his summers, still skiing!

    Contact us to book lessons with Dorian in Verbier.

    After finishing the Verbier winter at the end of April, I travelled around Europe to see family and friends. I also tried to catch some sun and warm temperatures.

    At the beginning of June, I travelled at the other side of the world and settled down in Queenstown, New Zealand. It’s a beautiful town next to a lake, surrounded by stunning mountains. And guess what? Those mountains get snow during the Southern Hemisphere winter! The seasons down there are opposite are ours in European, so yes, I travelled here to catch more SNOW!!

    Look at those beautiful pictures:

    So, between June and September, I’m doing the same thing as I’m doing in Verbier; teaching skiing! Queenstown is surrounded by two big ski fields called Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. I spend most of my time at Coronet Peak but I do teach at the other resort when needed. There are a lot of different types of lessons here. We have group lessons for adults or kids, private lessons and different kinds of kids programmes – it’s a lot of fun!

    Here’s some pictures of Coronet peak and The Remarkables:

    Many ski instructors do at least one season down in the Southern Hemisphere in their career. But I’ve decided to keep doing back to back seasons and chase the winter all year around for two years now. The snow is very different to Europe – it’s a shorter and wetter season – but it allows me to keep sharing and living for my passion for skiing.

    When the snow is melting and spring appears I spend most of time hiking, camping, surfing and exploring the Lord of the Rings country.

    New Zealand is just so beautiful. Here’s more pictures of exploring:

    I hope I made you want to travel with those pictures, and I will be happy to tell you more of my travel stories on the Verbier chairlifts.

    Dorian has only one thing on his mind – skiing! Hailing from Lyon, France, Dorian wakes up every morning with a desire to get out onto the slopes. For him, what makes him happiest in life is to share his passion for skiing. Dorian is a believer in all his clients and loves to meet new people and learn about different cultures. He loves travelling to new places to ski and to go touring around as many mountains as he can.

    Contact us to book lessons with Dorian in Verbier.

    Which ES Ski Resort is Right for You?

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    ES Operates in six of the the world’s best and most well-known ski resorts: Verbier, Zermatt, St Moritz, Nendaz, Chamonix and Val D’Isère. But which ski resort is right for you?

    Update October 2019: ES now operates in Val D’Isère. Connected to Tignes, Val D’Isère shares over 300km of slopes with something to suit everyone… Here is our new Val D’Isère Page.

    Our categories:

    • Families
    • Romantic Weekend
    • Corporate Weekend
    • On a Budget
    • Classic Hotels
    • Modern Hotel wonders
    • Cheap Eats
    • Late Season Skiing

    Families

    Verbier – For families learning to ski, the sunny slopes of Verbier are an excellent choice. The main ski area is fairly concentrated meaning it is easy to meet up for lunch or a coffee break. The progression of the terrain can be a little challenging for some first time skiers, so perhaps a better choice for the sporty family!

    Zermatt – With its car free streets and range of off-snow activities, Zermatt is a great choice for families who perhaps aren’t only interested in the skiing. Its wide open, gentle pistes are perfect for working on turns and building confidence. The expansive ski area, does mean meeting up for lunch can take a bit of organising, however many of the mountain restaurants can be accessed via cable cars and trains, so a nice option for any non-skiers in the group.

    Chamonix – A bit too hard core for most families! There are some gentler slopes in Les Houches, but choices are limited in other areas for kids. Short transfer time from Geneva though!

    St. Moritz – Nice wide slopes, classic big hotels, but a long transfer.

    Nendaz – Two great beginner areas with quieter slopes and easy 4 Valleys access.

    Val D’Isère – Both the Solaise and Bellevarde ski areas have wide green runs are reserved for beginners skiing at gentle speeds.

    Winner -Nendaz

    Nendaz ski school European Snowsport
    An example of some stunning Nendaz scenery.

    Romantic Weekend

    Verbier – Verbier is great for the young and sporty who want to be challenged in their skiing, however this might not suit couples where one person is a better skier. Having to talk your other half down a black run is not most peoples’ idea of romance!

    Zermatt – The anniversary or the proposal, classic, old “romantic”. Zermatt could be a better choice for couples; the resort has a lovely atmosphere with small rickety streets lined with mazots and cute, cosy bars and restaurants. A morning ski over the border to Italy for a romantic lunch in one of many family-run mountain restaurants is a great way to escape the crowds.

    Chamonix – Spectacular, but be prepared to encounter the odd stag weekend. Chamonix also has its romantic appeal, but a different kind. Come here if your other half likes hiking and gets turned on by a Patagonia shop or a rack of crampons!

    St. Moritz – Splash the cash, dress up, if he or she can’t see the beauty of this valley then run a mile. For a kids-free weekend I’d also go for St. Moritz; very glam, some great bars, epic wide valley scenery, crazy shopping, its a proper escape.

    Nendaz – Amazing views combined with cute, quaint bars and coffee shops with a local feel.

    Val D’Isère -Enjoy a romantic meal at the L’Atelier d’Edmond restaurant. Or reserve a private bubble for a romantic aperitif with champagne on Valentines day!

    Winner:  Zermatt

    things to do in zermatt winter
    Once you get away from the main streets, Zermatt is full of hidden gems and beautiful architecture.

    Corporate team building weekend

    Chamonix – Chamonix is a great choice for the corporate weekend on a budget; you can splash the cash on lavish, impressive dinners for your team for a fraction of the cost of the Swiss resorts. However, the skiing is challenging and some of the team might chose to duck it.

    Verbier – Verbier is also awesome; great night life, good skiing, easy transfer, cool chalets and boutique hotels. The classic work weekend.

    Zermatt – longer weekend, lots of good team building activities. Zermatt takes longer to get to unless you go by helicopter. That said it can be a fun alternative for the work weekend, with excellent mountain restaurants for a boozy lunch. Spend two nights to make the most of it.

    St. Moritz – St. Moritz is unique. We can organise, at a price, an entire train for your party, branded for your company. That’s right, a branded train. You can also fly your team in direct to the resort in a chartered plane and the nightlife is impressive.

    Nendaz – A bit quieter on the nightlife front but offers access to a massive range of terrain to suit everyone.

    Val D’Isère -La Folie Douce is a famous apres ski location. Not to mention there’s plenty of on and off-snow activities to be getting on with.

    Winner:  Verbier

    Verbier ski school European Snowsport
    Beautiful Verbier

    On a budget

    Verbier– Could be a little difficult. Although there is quite a range of accommodation, places to eat and shop on offer, prices are competitive and luxury is the name of the game. Not the best location for a budget holiday.

    Zermatt – This town on a budget is a task, but not impossible. In low season there are some hotel rooms for as little as 70 CHF or you can choose to spend a night or two at the Matterhorn Hostel! The lift pass is expensive and ancillary purchases like hot chocolates and shopping add up, but if you’re willing to forgo some comforts, you can still experience skiing under the Matterhorn on a budget.

    St Moritz – St. Moritz’s reputation as a destination exclusively for the rich and famous must be brutally contradicted! It is possible to stay in or nearby on a budget, while St. Moritz itself is expensive, there are small family run hotels that are affordable. St. Moritz is the name of one village but in reality the other connecting resorts are equally luxurious: Pontrasina, Sill Maria, Corvatch… In these lesser known spots are some of the Alps’ finest 5 * hotels and are the most authentic alpine villages. They also you’ll find smaller self catering options and family run hotels.

    Chamonix – great prices, France, Eurozone enough said. Obviously, with the strong Swiss Franc, Chamonix will always be the cheaper option. There are also a range of hostels and auberges along the Chamonix Valley enabling access to the amazing terrain and scenery without breaking the bank.

    Nendaz – Our best-value Swiss ES resort. The Printze sector lift pass is also cheaper and offers access to the quieter side of the 4 Valleys.

    Val D’Isère -For France, Val is still on the upper end of the price range, although there are some great self serve restaurants if you want to save money at lunch. On a budget you can get goulash soup and free drinking water at the Cascade restaurant on the Val D’Isère glacier for 5€.

    Winner:  Chamonix

    European snowsport ski school chamonix
    In Chamonix, nothing beats a trip up the Aiguille du Midi.

    Classic Hotels

    St. Moritz – boasts some unrivalled 5 * hotels such as Suvretta House which offers history, views and unbeatable service. The Kennedy boys went there as kids.

    Zermatt -glory in the old style. Hotels that have seen the likes of Queen Victoria, Whymper, Churchill and Roosevelt.

    Val D’Isère -A plethora of choice from traditional alpine to breathtaking modern style, right next to the pistes!

    Chamonix -Chamonix has some impressive new builds worth looking into but for the most part it’s a vibe of faded glory meets French modernism.

    Nendaz -everything from four-star hotel and spa deals to cosy, chalet-style hotels.

    Verbier -Verbier didn’t really hit its stride until the 1970’s so we are afraid it doesn’t have any classics to offer here. However if there were a classic night club category, The Farm would win hands down!

    Winner: St Moritz

    Zermatt to St Moritz
    Glacier Express Linking Zermatt and St Moritz

    Modern Hotel Wonders

    Verbier -the W Verbier is possibly the coolest hotel in the Alps.

    Zermatt -Anything designed by Heinz Julen will turn heads, and in Zermatt there are quite a few, including one hotel with a Jacuzzi that pops out of the roof above your bed.

    Val D’Isère -Look to the stylish La Mourra and Le Refuge at the top of Solaise.
    Also the big surprise of 2019/2020 is Mademoiselle Val D’Isère, the first Palace in Val D’Isère on the snow front with an amazing dedicated children’s area.

    St. Moritz -some of the modern annexes of the classic hotels are a lesson in architectural refinement and interior luxury.

    Nendaz -The 4* Hotel Nendaz 4 Vallées and Spa wins most luxurious hotel in Nendaz.

    Chamoni –Rather tired 5*s with a few boutiques on the cheap.

    Winner: Verbier 

    DSC 0051

    Cheap Eats

    Chamonix –French food will always win when it comes to value and quality. Sorry Switzerland.

    Val D’Isère -On a budget you can get goulash soup and free drinking water at the cascade restaurant on the Val D’Isère glacier for 5€. Etincelle restaurant on the beginners’ area in the village does great quality meat and pizzas, including truffle pizza. CHANGE

    Nendaz -A much cheaper, quieter alternative to Verbier.

    Verbier –The word “cheap” and pretty much anything in Switzerland don’t always go hand-in-hand, but explore and you will find. Le Bec,  the host shop Mountain Air is surprisingly good value and healthy too.

    Zermatt –Home to a pizza delivery company with its own electro vehicle for the car-free resort famous for it’s expense. Or try the Pizza Factory in the Post Hotel.

    St Moritz -The word cheap doesn’t exist this far east but the fish restaurant Murtaröl is worth a visit.

    Winner: Chamonix

    Late season skiing 

    Val D’Isère -closes the first weekend in May…the snow is still amazing. The snow is always good here as most of the skiing is above 1850. In Tignes, 2 Glacier areas operate all summer with runs to suit all levels.

    Zermatt –lifts here are open 365 days a year and the mighty Glacier Paradise area stays open even through the hottest days of July and August. But by May the other areas are closed …

    St Moritz –Depending on the snow year St Moritz has been known to stay open until the first week of May. However most of the hotels will begin to close to their doors earlier than this so getting a bed could be tricky.

    Verbier –Lifts close on the last Sunday in April, there is a great closing party weekend and after that it is just for ski touring, sorry…

    Chamonix –Ski touring at the end of the winter is often great, but for those of us who rely on the ski lifts, sorry again.

    Nendaz -afraid it is all over here by the second half of April.

    Winner: Val D’Isère

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    So, which one takes your fancy? If you would like any more information please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at European Snowsport. We are always happy to help!

    Top 5 Hotels in Zermatt

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    Here at ES we are proud to work with many beautiful chalets and hotels. There’s quite a lot of choice in Zermatt too! Award winning architecture, luxury spas and Michelin starred restaurants. You name it. Here are our top 5 hotels in Zermatt. 

    Cervo

    cervo

    The best on our list for a reason. A beautiful collection of apartments scattered around the woods with truly spectacular views of Zermatt and the Matterhorn. Cervo pride themselves on the finer details whilst allowing you the flexibility to tailor your stay. Every day they provide some of the best après ski in town whilst you watch the sun set behind the Matterhorn on their stunning sun terrace until 7pm, when the music stops you are almost instantly enveloped by the magic of Zermatt at night. Whether the moon is out or not you will be captivated by the lights of Zermatt, the twinkling stars and the almost total silence the location of this hotel provides.
    As well as being able to ski back to your hotel you will be able to sit back, relax and enjoy either of the 2 restaurants on offer, the beautiful design of the buildings and their interiors, the numerous music events and if you are really lucky you might even find their hidden “Speakeasy” called Grapes and Juniper.
    A truly top hotel (winner of best hotel in Switzerland in 2016). We cannot recommend a better place to stay in Zermatt.

    The Omnia

    omnia

    Perched just above the centre of Zermatt, the Omnia offers some of the best views whilst also great access to the fantastic shops, bars and restaurants the town has to offer. The hotel itself is renowned as having the best service in town, striving to make your stay as perfect and relaxing as possible. This added to the great facilities and the Michelin starred restaurant staying here is a no brainer.

    The Firefly

    Hotel firefly Zermatt 1050x700

    Located just 5 minutes’ walk away from the town centre this bespoke private hotel offers something a little different to usual. The Firefly’s owners have designed the hotel to look and feel like the coolest mountain lodge you’ll have been to. The bar in the hotel is a great place to while away those après ski hours before dinner. They serve the best cocktails in town (try a Moscow Mule!!) in a relaxed atmosphere or play pool in a Harley Davidson themed games room or even smoke fine cigars in their smoking room. This is a top-quality hotel that once you have been, you’ll find it hard not to comeback every year.

    The Mont Cervin Palace/Petit Cervin

    mont cervin

    This is one of the more traditional hotels in Zermatt but don’t be fooled by the classic exterior. It hosts a number of fantastic restaurants, the most incredible ski room and also a top-class spa and swimming area. If this hasn’t convinced you then maybe being picked up by a horse drawn carriage and taken to the front entrance of the hotel will! Located in the very centre of town means that your access to everything that Zermatt has to offer is unparalleled. Combine this with probably the best concierges in town and it becomes a true contender for top hotel in Zermatt.

    The Schweizerhof

    61159 01

    Having been refurbished very recently, this is a new arrival on our list. Situated a very short walk from the train station means getting around will be easy and the nearest ski lift is only 200m away. When you enter the hotel, you will be bowled over by the beautiful lobby/bar/reception area. This is a great place to chill and try a number of their tasty cocktails (keep an eye out for the coolest oven/grill spitting out flames by the kitchen). With all the modern amenities of any top hotel, the Schweizerhof tops them with friendly staff, good food and beautiful design.
    I truly think this hotel will continue to rise up our list over the next few years.
    ​

    Top 5 qualities your ski instructor must have.

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    We have been running ski schools in the top resorts in the Alps for quite a while now, and in our view, a successful instructor is one who clients want to ski with. Pretty simple when you think about it.  After all, it is not up to me or anyone else to tell you how to enjoy your time on the snow. Our job is to match you with the perfect person to help you explore what you want and then get it!

    This is not a generic product like a bag of flour: a ski lesson is precious time that you can choose to spend with your instructor to get more out of your holiday. So here are the 5 key factors that we believe make a successful instructor:

    1. Personable: your instructor needs to be someone that you want to spend time with. Not a dour, jaded, fellow in a jacket who wants to show off, but someone who is genuinely interested in people, learning, and their sport. You will find that skiing down also involves taking the lift up and this is time to explore your motivation, goals, and learn more about the amazing mountains and resort you have chosen to visit. The best instructor doesn’t just give you a few tips about your parallel turns, but helps you to understand why and how you learn, and why you are doing it in the best resort in the world (we are all very loyal to our resorts).

    2. Prepared: different slopes are better at different times of day and in different conditions. Different slopes are also appropriate to different levels. Your ski instructor should know the resort extremely well, and will have checked the open lifts, weather report and also know of any regular or special events that are on while you are in resort. In addition to knowing all the pistes, they should also know the restaurants, cafes, specialities, and how to avoid the crowded slopes and lift lines if you are travelling at a busy time.

    3. Punctual and polite: no one wants to waste a second of their holiday time so your instructor should be there before you are in the morning, kitted up and ready to go. They should be sensitive to your needs and design the lesson around what you want to achieve. They should step back when you want them to, and step forward when needed. This sounds simple but in fact if takes years of teaching experience to achieve the right balance between too much and too little, so that you won’t even notice their perfect manners.

    4. Passionate: why do we spend winter after winter in the mountains? It isn’t because of the career progression or the pension plan, but because we love it! The best instructors can share that love so that you feel it too, from introducing you to their favourite views, coffee stops, and tree runs, and bringing you into the life of the resort so that you feel like a local when you are with them.

    when to book family ski holiday

    5. Perceptive: are you a listener or a talker? Do you learn by doing or watching? Are you intuitive or analytical? Do you have other skills that can help your skills on the snow? The right instructor will be aware of all of these elements and more and use them to help you understand and progress. The best instructor will tailor your learning experience to how you learn, and will have a range of exercises, explanations and experiences to help you get there.

    At ES we pick our instructors because of their ski teaching qualifications and experience. We also look beyond that to life experience and the person themselves. We choose people with interesting stories to share, and who have become ski instructors not just because they love to ski, but because they love to teach. If you would like to book a private lesson with one of our carefully chosen instructors get in touch with us here.

    ECO SKIING: Three ways to reduce your environmental impact when skiing.

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    Here at ES we strongly believe in reducing our environmental impact and promoting a more sustainable way of life to help preserve the winters we love. So here are our top three ways to ski more eco.

    A bare winter in Italy

    For that reason it’s time to try ‘skiing eco’. Which, as it turns out, is much easier to do than one might think.
    So here are European Snowsport’s top tips for giving winter a fighting chance, where to ski, where to stay and what products to use, so that we can keep shredding for generations to come!

    1. Where to stay?

    Eco ski chalets are becoming more and more popular in the ever competitive world of attracting winter holiday makers. When before the description of your hotel would boast a Jacuzzi as part of the deal, luxury food and warm, comfortable rooms, now it may well mention that the Jacuzzi is solar powered, the food is locally sourced and the building is ‘well insulated’. Eco is fashionable, desirable and sustainable!

    Monte Rosa Mountain Refuge, Zermatt, Switzerland. This futuristic mountain refuge sits at 2,883m above sea level, waiting to welcome up to 120 guests whether they be hikers, tourers or tourists. It uses local wood in its construction and takes 90% of power from the sun. The hut sources its water from melting glaciers which is collected and stored in a large reservoir 40 meters above the hut.

    Monte Rosa Hut, Zermatt Switzerland

    Lagom. The minds behind Luxury ski brands Bramble and Haute Montagne have something new for us! Lagom, translating as “just the right amount” is a new way to tailor your holiday in a sustainable way. Properties are basic but comfortable and items within them sourced responsibly. 1% of the companies turnover will be returned to local causes. Their first apartments will open in Zermatt and Verbier.

    2. Where to ski?

    Yes that’s right, there are such things as eco ski resorts! Despite their location and close relationship with the outdoors, ski resorts are not typically the most eco places. They require a lot of energy to power their lifts, restaurants and piste keeping machinery. But there are some resorts out there that try hard to respect their snow…

    Zermatt in Switzerland is a car free resort, meaning it has a lot less air and sound pollution. A certain percentage of the town’s energy is also provided through recycled food waist. Verbier’s energy is almost all provided by meltwater and local rivers. Companies in Chamonix have devised a way to evaluate their use of transport, energy, water and waste to get an idea of how they can better their sustainability.

    3. What products to use and wear?

    Picture Organic clothing. “Ride for Future”

    Picture manage to link together great looking clothing and strong morals so you can wear their products with the knowledge that you are doing some good for the planet. As a brand they are constantly pushing to make their product more environmentally friendly. Here are just a few of the measures they go to, to make themselves one of the world’s leading eco companies:
    -Material cut offs from production are integrated into the liners of new clothing which saves them being discarded and burned.
    -They choose more environmentally efficient ways of transporting their goods from factory to the shop floor.
    -100% of the technical products are made of at least 50% of recycled polyester.
    – 100% of the Picture products are made out of biological cotton certified GOTS (Global Organic textile standard) or Organic Exchange.
    -The Picture recycling programme then allows customers to give something back personally. Instead of throwing away your beloved, worn out jacket, take it back into store and Picture will recycle it and give it a new life!

    Butta wax.


    Everyone’s got their favourite go faster solution for their skis or board. A well cared for set of planks will keep you moving and give them a long happy life.
    Butta aim to reduce their carbon footprint and preserve the places we love to shred. Every block of wax is handmade and packaged by them in their office which is 90% solar-powered office.
    Butta Eco is a 100% environmentally friendly wax with no flouro-carbons (nasty chemically things).
    Think about how much rubbish we leave behind with standard, high chemical waxes and cleaners. The chemicals found in these kind of products can be very damaging if consumed so imagine what they could do to the wildlife when it reaches the ground and local water sources when the snow’s all gone. Butta Eco avoids this completely.

     

    Poleplant ski poles.


    Bamboo is one of the most sustainable materials on our planet. Growing at a rate of almost 4 cm (1.5 in) an hour it also absorbs significantly more carbon dioxide and produces more oxygen than any other plant. This is something that the company Poleplant have tapped into. Hand crafted in the French Alps you can customize your own pair of ski poles, choosing the colour of your handles and baskets. You can even get them engraved with a phrase or image of your choice! The pole itself is strong piece of bamboo cane (At least 2x stronger than traditional aluminium poles under constant load). Each one is different from the next so your poles really are one of a kind.

     

     

    So there you have it! Where to ski, where to stay and what to use to make yourself an eco-skier. Just a few changes made could be the difference we need to keep skiing going for generations to come.

    Women’s Ski Clinics

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    “Yes I ski like a girl -try to keep up!”

    We are bringing something new for the ladies at European Snowsport this winter. We have specially selected female instructors with a great range of experience and skills to deliver our new women’s two day ski clinics. Their infectious enthusiasm for all mountain skiing will help you to find confidence and enjoyment on snow.

    Reach your personal best in a safe and motivating environment where ALL women are treated equally as you expand your terrain and develop your skills.

    So why make the move to an all girl group?

    It’s not a hard fact that guys and girls approach things in a different way, but it’s not unusual to see girls evaluating the risks a little more when it comes to skiing. We’ve all been in a situation where we aren’t feeling ready to try the task but others in the group are pushing the pace and putting on the pressure. Everyone learns differently right? You might be a listener, watcher, feeler, thinker, doer. You might be all of the above. But how we process information personally affects the way we learn.

    We take this all into account on the women’s clinic ski days.

    Some people respond well to being pushed and there’s loads of inspirational female athletes out there who are shredding everyday to prove it. Take Mikaela Shiffrin, Lynsey Dyer or Lindsey Vonn for example.

    Mikaela Shiffrin has won world cup races in slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill and alpine combined. At the age of 23 she became the youngest skier (men or women) to win 50 world cup races.

    What is important to realise is that women’s strengths can lie in different places to men’s. In place of height and strength (although of course some girls have this too) technique, tactics and head space all come to the forefront. With these skills any slope can be tackled.

    At the start of each day, enjoy a fresh pressed fruit or vegetable juice. Here the group can discuss goals for the day before heading out onto the hill.

    Then out on the snow you can learn at your pace in a no-ego, non-pressure environment. These sessions are aimed at all levels. Whether you’re looking to improve your piste performance, mogul skiing, or try your hand at off piste and itinerary routes, anything’s possible. Because the camp is based on individual coaching, everyone can improve their confidence and technique, no matter what your level is.

    On the first afternoon, after skiing yoga is included, designed especially for skiers. Gently stretch out those well-used ski muscles so you can head out on the second day feeling refreshed.

    These sessions aren’t just about your technical skiing, they include sessions on reading the mountain terrain, choosing your route, and being prepared for the conditions.  Think coaching, rather than lessons; our women’s clinics will help you master confidence at any level of skiing.

    If you would like to join one of our women’s clinics get in touch! We look forward to skiing with you soon.

    Resorts; Verbier and Zermatt

    Levels; intermediate and above

    Cost; 400chf per person for the 2 days