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    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!

    ES Zermatt Opening Party

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    Here in Zermatt we’ve had a great week out on the slopes for formation, getting our ski legs back and exploring the mountain. The team have been looking sharp in our new Black Diamond uniforms and we’ve had plenty of snow in resort, setting us up nicely for the winter ahead.

    The Zermatt team out for a ski in their new uniform

    To celebrate we collected the entire team together down at the Cuckoo Club for our annual opening party. Friends and business partners from around resort were also invited to help us get the season started in style.

    We would like to say a massive thank you to Cuckoo Club for hosting us and to our commercial manager Alastair and Director Hannah for organising such a great evening.

    Zermatt instructors Ben, Bryony, Hanna, Jack, Seb and Verbier Commercial Manager and Instructor Charlotte. (From left)

    Here’s a selection of pictures from the night. There’s plenty of familiar faces in the crowd as well as some new ones who we are very excited to welcome to our team this year. Maybe you can spot your favourite instructor?

    To see all the photos have a look on our facebook page HERE.
    We look forward to a great season and seeing you on the slopes!

    Instructors Harry (far left) and Chloe (far right) with ES Zermatt director Hannah and her husband Steve.

     

    Glacier Sport‘s Basti, Verbier’s Assistant Director Martin and Operations manager in Verbier Jonas.

     

    Bramble Ski team members made an appearance!

     

    Alex and Charlotte from Petit Zermatt, ES instructor Beth and boot fitter James.

    The Big Five Challenge

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    Having listened to the feedback from our clients over many years, we know there are a lot of good skiers and snowboarders out there. They often know Verbier well, having stayed here over many years, and are advanced level or expert on the snow.
    So we have developed the “Big 5 Challenge”, a special day out with an ES instructor who will guide you to the best unpisted runs, with the best snow. And we will give you a “Big 5 Challenge” certificate and gift at the end of it, if you complete the challenge.

    Ski the top 5 unpisted trails (“itineraries”) in Verbier, the freeride capital of Europe.
    -The Steepest
    -The Longest
    -The biggest moguls
    -The best tree skiing
    -The most beautiful itinerary runs

    Here is your day;

    1. Start with the itinerary that is the best kept secret in the 4 Valleys, through the trees in the morning on Les Otanes, on the Bruson side. If snow conditions permit, you can go all the way down to Le Chable.

    2. From here, take the lifts back up on the Verbier side, past Lac de Vaux to the top of Tortin.
    This run is legendary for its steepness, length, and bumps! You can dive straight down or, depending on conditions, take the trail off to the side, to tackle the soft moguls that can get as big as cars, with famously good snowholding on the north facing slope.

    3. Three lifts take you back up again to the top of Mt Gele (“Frozen Mountain”), where all of the ways down are steep and unpisted. Depending on conditions there are different options; all of them are steep, empty and wild.

    4. Take the swooping run in to your next itinerary, Gentianes. Play in the natural half pipes and fabulous snow, heading down towards Siviez and the other valleys past Verbier.

    5. Two more lifts take you back up and then you will finish by heading down the narrow track, often with over a meter of snow piled on either side, that takes you into Vallon D’Arbi. This long, steep, wooded itinerary takes you into terrain many Verbier regulars have never seen, finishing in La Tsoumaz. Take lift back out, then be last off the mountain on the long run back to Verbier.

    Instructor Beth Lloyd in the trees! Photo by James Rushforth.

    Depending on mountain conditions, including avalanche risk and run closures, some runs may be replaced with others on the day. For example, Vallon D’Arbi may be replaced with Col des Mines, a beautiful itinerary with spectacular views that takes you back into Verbier in the afternoon sun.

    Worth it for a certificate? Of course not, but this experience will stay with you for a lifetime.

    The “Big 5 challenge” is 595chf for the day. The price does not change if your friends and family join in, so you can invite others to share the experience with you. We guarantee there will be plenty to talk about for the rest of your holiday!

    By Laura Shadbolt

    Competition: Name the Penguin!

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    ES PENGUINS

    New for this season 2018/19 is our group size for ES Penguins at JUST 4 per instructor, our smallest group size. This will make sure that your little one gets the attention they need, whilst learning and playing in a fun, on-snow environment with friends.

    To celebrate, we are asking for your ideas to Name the Penguin. Penguin’s new name will be announced in our next newsletter and the prize for the name chosen will be a lovely cuddly stuffed toy Penguin (with baby Penguins for runners up).

    To enter the competition, send your ideas to [email protected], together with your reasons. Look out for Penguin on the slopes this winter, with their new name! See the story below:

    The Lonely Penguin.

    High up in the snowy mountains there was a dark, mysterious cave. There had been rumours that a lonely Penguin lived in there all alone, never to be seen. The Penguin was curious about the world outside but was shy and nervous to go out and explore. This made the Penguin sad. That was until one day some kids came sliding around on two long planks of wood. What are they doing?  the Penguin thought. They were laughing and having fun, jumping and sliding, and giggling and gliding. Something had to be done.
    The Penguin decided to be brave and ventured outside. Wearing a blue woolly hat the Penguin stepped out in to the fluffy winter wonderland. It was beautiful, the trees were white with snow, as were the little chalets roofs and the mountains were shiny and glittering.
    The lonely Penguin got closer and closer and the children’s laughter was getting louder. Perhaps the Penguin didn’t need to be scared after all.
    When the children saw the Penguin, they stopped and ran over with smiles on their faces. “Come and join us, we are skiing!” they said with excitement in their voices. The lonely Penguin stood and thought for a minute. It would be great to make new friends, and skiing looked fun too! There was just one thing that was in need of fixing… What would the children call the Penguin?

    The Penguin needed a name.

     

     

     

    Ski Fitness with Mountain Beach Fitness Retreats

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    Ski holidays are physically challenging. But that’s part of the fun right? Fret not Emma Bodkin from Mountain Beach Fitness Retreats is here to give you some top, ski fitness tips on how to avoid the burn.

    Underlying all things fitness is movement. At the core of this is Proprioception – this is your ability to sense the orientation of the body in your environment. This feedback loop tells your brain what position you are in. Modern life, lack of movement, age and injury can all impair this. Even if you are fighting fit there are ways to fine tune this as it is so so important when skiing, especially in bad visibility. By practising a few drills you can avoid injury in deep powder, ski like a champ in a white out and hit the moguls like a boss. One way is stand with one eye closed and on one leg and do one leg jumps, then try 2 eyes closed, change legs etc mix it up. Try testing your body and brain by moving in an unfamiliar way, jump laterally over an obstacle in a zig zag with little rest. Then try it with one eye closed, or on one leg… you get the picture.

    “…tool for calmness in the mountains.”

    @mountainbeachfitnessretreats

    Don’t neglect the core or the stretch. Work on your lower back, obliques and abs; try plank variations or suspended plank variations in the TRX. Natural movement patterns that make you unstable are the best. Last but not least is recovery; yoga is great as it will increase your range of motion and help balance your mind and body and also teach you an understanding of your breath which can be used as a tool for calmness in the mountains.

    There is no magic pill, no quick fix and no rocket science. You simply have to move more and vary the movement, pay attention to your movement, move mindfully, stretch, recover, listen to your body. Most fundamentally you should mix it up. Build strength in your glutes, quads, lengthen your hamstrings, try and improve powerful explosive movements (think bounding and jumping). Hit the stairs, downhill is just as important. Boost your overall cardio with some HIIT, 2 mins maximum effort then vary your recovery.

    “…ski for longer without fatigue…”

    @mountainbeachfitnessretreats

    The key is to build on your fitness incrementally and make it achievable and fun. This doesn’t have to be long hours in the gym or a boring prescriptive repetitious programme. Try to fit in some squats while the kettle boils, a plank variation while your running the bath and a few laps of the stairs before work. Little changes in your daily routine will minimise your risk of injury, allowing you to ski for longer without fatigue and enhancing your performance and most importantly fun on the slopes.

    A spot of ski touring! @mountainbeachfitnessretreats

    If you require any personal training, aerial yoga or specific recovery classes while you are in Verbier please get in touch with Emma and Lottie
    https://www.mountainbeachfitnessretreats.com/verbier-winter-fitness/

    [email protected]  +447764742475

    They also run holistic fitness retreats globally. Location include Sardinia, Sri Lanka, Verbier, Iceland, Uk, Tuscany and more.

    By Emma Bodkin

    What’s the Skiing Like in Nendaz?

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    Quieter and more affordable than neighbouring Verbier, what do the slopes of Nendaz have to offer?

    Here at ES, we love skiing in Nendaz, our new ski resort in Switzerland. It may be less well-known than its neighbour, Verbier, but the skiing in Nendaz really has something for everyone, from freeride thrill seekers to first-timers. We caught up with ES Nendaz director, Jamie Kagan, to find out what makes the skiing in Nendaz so great…

    “Situated in the heart of the Four Valleys, between Verbier and Veysonnaz, Nendaz has two distinct ski-pass offers, which means there’s something here for everyone.

    Families and beginners might very well be tempted to stick with the Printze sector, which covers Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon / Les Collons and Siviez (minus the Mont Fort glacier).

    Skiing in Nendaz European Snowsport
    An example of some stunning Nendaz scenery. Photo: Nendez Tourisme

    At 220km it’s big enough, and this sector is much quieter than the Verbier side of the Four Valleys as Verbier folk are less inclined to ski over to this side. There are 50 lifts in the Printze Sector alone, which gives you plenty of terrain to explore.

    The area has two fantastic beginner zones in Tracouet and Siviez. The first is easily accessible from 12-person gondola from the centre of the town which climbs up to Tracouet (2,200m). From here is where intermediates, after perhaps skiing the friendly local runs, can make their way via Plan-du-Fou (2,430m) to the slopes above Siviez, dropping down into the village and up the other side, which leads on to the sector above Thyon and Veysonnaz.

    Skiing in Nendaz european snowsport
    The top of Tracouet has an excellent beginner area. Photo: Etienne Bornet / Nendaz Tourisme

    The other option is to take the short shuttle bus to Siviez from the town. Here, another beginner area opens up to some fantastic intermediate terrain and makes the connection to Veysonnaz, Thyon and Verbier a little quicker.

    The runs over Veysonnnaz and Thyon are an intermediate and advanced skiers paradise with wide open quiet slopes and plenty of accessible off-piste.

    skiing in nendaz european snowsport
    Nendaz also has loads of accessible off-piste and great tree skiing. Photo: Etienne Bornet / Nendaz Tourisme

    Tracouet itself has some hidden gems, with some fantastic areas for moguls and some awesome tree skiing that brings you back down to the town.  The resort being quieter than Verbier means that fresh tracks can still be found days after the snow has fallen.

    The second ski-pass offer, of course, is the full Four Valleys ticket. This adds in the Mont-Fort glacier (the 3,330m high point of the Four Valleys), as well as Verbier, La Tzoumaz and Bruson.

    Skiing in Nendaz European Snowsport
    Nendaz is within a stone’s throw of Chassoure, one oft he most famous itineraries in the Four Valleys. Photo: Sarah Bourne / Nendaz Tourisme

    For experts, the big attraction of this area is the seven marked freeride areas, including Eteygeon, Plan-du-Fou, Mont-Fort, Chassoure and Mont Gele. The front face down from Mont-Fort, especially, is rightly lauded for its intimidating gradients, while backcountry fans while enjoy the deserted valley run down the back of Mont Fort.

    For freestyle fans, Nendaz is also home to the Wood Park. Based on the famous Burton Stash concept, Wood Park is an environmentally-friendly, natural snow park with features made from wood. Features range from small to large so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

    The real beauty of skiing in Nendaz is the ability to ski the Four Valleys and Verbier’s renowned expert terrain without the crowds.”

    If you’d like to book some ski lessons with Jamie and his team in Nendaz, give us a call or an email! We’ll be happy to arrange you some lessons in one of the most interesting corners of the Four Valleys.