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    Gaston Rossi – skiiing and travelling in Patagonia

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    Gaston is a ski instructor with with ES in Zermatt in the winters, and here he tells us about his summer, skiing, teaching and travelling in Patagonia.

    Contact us to book lessons with Gaston in Zermatt.

    Skiing in Patagonia

    In the summer, I travelled back to my hometown of Bariloche in Patagonia, Argentina. There, I teach skiing in the resort of Cerro Catedral, in the Andes. The ski season opened on the 30th of June and ran until the 15th of October. This is quite a long Southern Hemisphere winter, of 3.5 months.

    Cerro Catedral is 19km from Bariloche and it is within a national park. It has 120km of pistes, so it has the biggest area of lift accessed ski terrain of all the South American ski resorts. From the ski area, you can see the Nahuel Huapi lake, which makes for fantastic views while skiing.

    At Cerro Catedral, we have the most days with snowfalls in all of Argentina. The skiing is between 1030m and 2100m of altitude.

    The snow really motivates me to get up early every day and go skiing. I love skiing fresh corduroy on the slopes, or also skiing the new snow off piste if it has been snowing. 

    I now have over 20 ski seasons of ski teaching experience but I still love every day on the snow. What I love about ski teaching is that I am sharing my passion with others. I enjoy seeing how people improve their skills and get more and more out of the sport as they improve. 

    Hiking in Patagonia

    At the end of the winter season, I enjoy some hiking and the sunsets on the lakes, while I wait and look forward to starting the season again in Zermatt. In this area in the summer you can also go hiking and rock climbing and there are mountain huts and a camping area near the highest point in the resort.

    This October I took a trip to the ocean in Chile. This was a little road trip to Bahia Mansa, Chile, a little fishing town at a similar latitude to Bariloche, to change the mountains for the ocean a few days before coming back to the altitude of Zermatt.

    Gaston is now back in Zermatt already, and back on the snow ready for another great winter. 

    Gaston Rossi

    I grew up in Argentina Patagonia, by the Andes mountains, where I started to ski at the age of 10. Nowadays, after more than 20 years skiing I’m still motivated to keep learning and sharing my knowledge with others. This sport gave me many friends and the possibility to travel a lot, so I will always be grateful for this. I also like any other outdoor activity. Hiking, going to a beach or just walking around to discover new corners in town is always a good plan.

    Contact us to book lessons with Gaston in Zermatt. 

    Stef Schipper – Sustainable Kitesurfing in Holland

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    Stef is a ski instructor with ES in Verbier in the winters, and here he tells us about his summers, working with Harlem Kitesurfing, who are based in Holland.

    Contact us to book ski lessons with Stef in Verbier.

    Heading home

    As the days grew longer and the snow began to melt in Verbier, it was time to put a storage wax on my skis and head for the Dutch coast. I live in a town called Zandvoort (see photos below), famous for it’s racing circuit. I caught up with some friends and family, but not for too long, since I had a quick transition back to work the following Monday.

    Harlem Kitesurfing

    In the summers I work for a kite brand named Harlem Kitesurfing. We produce all essential gear that is required for an enjoyable kitesurf session out on the water. I’m in charge of the communication with all the factories where our gear is produced. I also maintain the software and business processes behind the scenes. My work involves making sure we order the right amount of gear, maintain the highest quality possible and stay on top of technological and sustainable innovations. At the same time, I ensure all day to day activities run smoothly in the office.

    Our peak season is during the summer, allowing me to teach skiing in Verbier during the winter months.

    Surfing, kitesurfing, wing foiling and gymnastics

    During my free time, I practice various water sports. Depending on the conditions and company, I either go surfing, kitesurfing, or wing foiling. Given the variable nature of these sports, I find it nice to keep doing regular exercise as well. After many years, I rediscovered my passion for gymnastics, and now every Tuesday evening, I join a training group for 1.5 hours to play around, learn new skills and stay in shape.

    One of the most exciting aspects of my summer was my involvement in an ambitious project with Harlem Kitesurfing. Already since November ’22, we were on a mission to transition to the most innovative, sustainable production facility for kites and wings. It is called Brainchild Production and is based in North Macedonia. In March we managed to start producing there, and in August we launched our first product from this new factory. See the photos for the colourful result!

    Now that winter is approaching, I’m more than excited to get ready for the ski season again. Summers at home are fun, but winters in Verbier are something else!

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    Stef was born and raised on the flat terrain of Holland but that didn’t stop him from seeking out and exploring the mountains. Learning to both ski and snowboard at an early age, Stef would originally only go to the snow for one week per year but eventually, after spending a whole season in Revelstoke, Canada he got hooked by the allure of the ski industry for good. As a CSIA and CASI certified instructor Stef is a passionate instructor, more than capable of bringing your skiing to the next level. For him, teaching is about having the right balance between learning and having as much fun as possible.

    Contact us to book lessons with Stef in Verbier. 

    Tim Franken – Coaching on the volcano in New Zealand

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    Tim is a ski instructor with ES in Zermatt in the winters. Here he tells us about his summer, coaching skiing on the volcano at Mount Ruapehu in New Zealand.

    Contact us to book lessons with Tim in Zermatt.

    After the winter season in Zermatt Tim travels all the way to the other side of the world to New Zealand. Here the southern hemisphere winter starts late June and ends half way through October.

    Tim lives in a small town called Ohakune at the foot of Mount Ruapehu. Mount Ruapehu is an active volcano in the middle of the North island. The resort has stunning views that reach all the way to the coast. Ruapehu is one of New Zealand’s most active volcanos, with ten eruptions since 1861, the last one being in 2007.

    It is located in a World Heritage National Park. Solidified lava has shaped the terrain and made the mountain an incredible playground for skiing. The resort has everything from gentle learner slopes to advanced freeride terrain.

    Bringing on new talent

    Tim works at the southern side of the mountain at Turoa, training gap year students to become ski instructors during the week and coaching some of new Zealand’s upcoming talent on the weekends. Some of his students have been competing in the junior freeride world tour and in the NZ junior nationals. Its amazing to see how dedicated the youth is to the sport over here.

    This season’s conditions

    This season Turoa had some incredible conditions with a snow base averaging 255 cm. On the 20th of August, NZ records Mount Ruapehu having the deepest snow base worldwide with the groomer’s snow satellite data reporting snow pockets as deep as 8 meters.

    Towards the end of the season the temperatures have been rising fast and a lot of the snow has been washed away by rain on the lower parts of the mountain. Thankfully the deep snow base has kept the upper mountain intact, and has kept the resort going for some epic spring skiing!

    Hiking up to the top of the crater and skiing all the way down to base is an amazing experience!

    While you read this Tim is probably mid flight, making his way back over to the other side of the world, getting ready for another winter in Zermatt!

    Tim Franken

    Tim loves sharing his passion and knowledge about skiing with anyone! It doesn’t matter what type of skiing you are into, Tim does it all with utmost enthusiasm! Skiing bumps, floating in powder, freestyle in the park, racing gates or just a casual ski around enjoying the mountain scenery. Tim has been teaching in Zermatt for many years, and knows every corner of the resort.

    Contact us to book lessons with Tim in Zermatt.

    Stéphanie Mugnier –Surfing, cycling and cheffing in Switzerland and France

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    Stéphanie is a ski and snowboard instructor with ES in Verbier in the winters, and here she tells us about her summers, growing, cooking and surfing between Verbier and Moliets.

    Contact us to book ski or snowboard lessons with Stéphanie in Verbier.

    This summer I was based both in Verbier in Switzerland and Les Landes, Moliets, which is a surf spot on the Atlantic coast in France.

    Les Landes, Moliets

    Moliets is located in the Bay of Biscay, north of the border with Spain and the natural barrier between the 2 countries created by the Pyrénées. To the south you have Biarritz and Hossegor, which are also famous for their surf. To the north, it is about 2 hours drive to Bordeaux.

    I love coming to Moliets as I have my home here and have spent the last few years renovating, including putting in a new kitchen, and also completely changing the garden. We had to change the layout and the landscaping completely, and added a wooden deck. We planted lots of shrubs and flowers and now, a couple of years later, the deck and garden are a beautiful space for relaxing. It was a huge amount of work but we have created a very special and peaceful place.

    Here are some photos of the garden;

    My home is about 20 minutes from the beach, which is a long golden sand beach, with pine forests behind it. The area isn’t as built up or touristic as Biarritz and Hossegor, but it has the same north west swell that makes it great for surfing.

    The area is good for beginner and intermediate surfers, as well as experts. However, because the beaches are quite hard to get to (often just on small tracks), the area has remained a bit of a secret. So it doesn’t get too busy even in the holiday weeks of the summer.

    As well, there are great hiking and biking trails that take you through to the beach.

    Verbier

    When not in Moliets, I am also based in Verbier in the summer. I have been in my apartment in Verbier for many years and it is really home now. This summer I made lots of tarts and jams with local fruits.

    With lots of fruit farms in the Rhone valley, I love visiting where things are being grown. In the summer, I try as much as I can to get my produce direct from the farm, including picking the fruit from the trees.

    When I am hiking, I also love picking berries and this summer I made lots of jams from wild fruit that I picked myself.

    I work as a private chef in Verbier, sometimes for families or groups of people who are in Verbier for a while, and sometimes for one-off events. I have been working as a private chef for a long time and over time I have moved to specialise in healthy food from local ingredients.

    For me, cooking is a bit like creating my garden. Preparing and presenting food stays interesting when I am always thinking of ways to use colours and textures to create food that is beautiful as well as tasting great.

    Hiking, biking and swimming

    In my spare time in Verbier, I love hiking and biking. The summers are fantastic for exploring the mountain and forests, and Verbier has some great trails that take you to spectacular views and vantage points. When I am biking and hiking, I am always looking out for flowers and pockets of nature that I can photograph. My other favourite thing to do is swim in the alpine lakes, it is very very cold, but so refreshing!

    When the winter comes, I can’t wait to put my skis or snowboard on and get back on the snow!

    I miss skiing and snowboarding in the summer. However I really like the balance that my life has between growing and creating in the summer, and passing on my love of nature and being in the mountains in the winter.

    Stéphanie was born in the Alps and has always been skiing and snowboarding.  She is dynamic, optimistic and fun. Stéphanie is fully qualified to the top Swiss level of Brevet Féderale, which means she can teach both on piste and off piste. She teaches both skiing and snowboarding, and also Nordic skiing.

    Stephanie’s clients say ‘Stephanie has been an amazing instructor and it was a pleasure to learn … with her. She’s incredibly patient and always comes up with new ways of improving the technique and breaking down any barriers of fear. I can’t thank her enough. I truly had a fantastic time.’

    Contact us to book lessons with Stéphanie in Verbier.

    Helena Sophia Jarlgaard – Matchracing in Denmark

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    Helena is a ski instructor with ES in Verbier in the winters, and here she tells us about her summers, matchracing in Denmark. This summer Helena with her team of 5 women came second in the national sailing championship.

    Contact us to book lessons with Helena in Verbier.

    This summer I was competing in the Danish sailing championships in a special category called match racing. With my team, we ended up in second place, which gave us a silver medal!

    This is a picture of me (centre) together with my team. We were all pretty happy at this moment!

    Match racing in sailing is where two boats are competing head-to-head, focusing on tactics, strategy, and maneuvering. The two boats are identical so it all comes down to the team on board.

    The goal when we are match racing is to defeat our opponent and cross the finish line first. It sounds simple but there is a lot of strategy and tactics to make sure that happens. The boat that is behind works hard to pass the leader and the leader uses blocking techniques to try and stay in front.

    The most famous match racing event is the America’s cup, though this doesn’t need the yachts to be identical.

    Even before the race starts, there is a battle to try and cross the start line in front of the other boat and in the best position for the race to come. Penalties are given if you break the rules, so for example you aren’t allowed to cross the start line before the race starts.

    The boats that we were sailing in are called a DS37, which is a Danish build monohull boat. It was designed in 1991 and is 11.25metres long (almost 37 feet) and was designed for match racing. It has a large rudder for all the manoeuvring that we do.

    Wikipedia says that it is “one of the most physically demanding boats found in the international matchracing circuit”.

    The racing tends to be really close and competitive, with identical boats. Often you don’t know who will win until right at the end of the race.

    I’m sailing in a team that consist of 5 other women who have been sailing together as a team for a few years. In total I have now been sailing for more than 10 years.

    Here we are in the middle of a race, trying to stay ahead.

    Matchracing

    So as soon the ski season ends in Verbier and I’m back home in Copenhagen, I will start training and practicing with my team for the upcoming regattas.

    In some way there are some similarities in skiing and sailing and I think they go hand in hand. They are both happening outside in the nature. You get to be together with your friends. You can go exploring, you can compete, its physically demanding. Finally, you get to go challenge yourself in many ways.

    I couldn’t imagine spending my winters and my summers in a different way!

    Helena loves meeting new people and teaching them different techniques, games and exercises to keep them safe and comfortable in the snow. Most importantly, she wants to make the experience fun, exciting and, for those who want a little bit more, challenging as well. She always makes an effort to end the day with everyone having a big smile on their faces.

    Contact us to book lessons with Helena 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!