Verbier, Switzerland
One of the most prestigious ski resorts in the world, located on a sunny plateau above the picturesque valley of "Val de Bagnes", Verbier has a worldwide reputation for its huge skiing and snowboarding area, fantastic powder, and challenging off-piste terrain. Only an hour and a half's drive from Geneva, Verbier is easy to get to and an ideal place for intermediate to expert skiers and snowboarders.
From the gentle nursery slopes in town, you can progress to the blue runs at Savoleyres, Lac des Vaux and La Chaux. For a great selection of red runs, you can take the routes from Attelas and Ruinettes down to Medran. For the more adventurous skier ,there are the endless possibilities of challenging off-piste terrain. Verbier is lucky to boast a huge range of itinerary routes ,all of varying lengths and difficulties. These are patrolled off-piste slopes and are either bumpy, or after fresh snow, a haven of powder and soft snow! You don’t need all the avalanche safety kit for these runs but you do need to be aware of rocks, trees and cliffs and how the conditions are and might have changed. ‘It’s always best to be with a guide or instructor’ says Jon West of Altitude Ski and Snowboard School. Itinerary runs are a great way of exploring off-piste while being comfortable that you are in an area that is marked from the top to the bottom and controlled for safety. For the expert skier, take a guide and discover the back of Mont Fort or Stairway to Heaven for a truly magical adventure.
If you prefer to watch the off-piste, visit Verbier in March for the final of the O’Neil Xtreme on the Bec Des Rosses. Due to the extreme nature and difficulty of this event, only the very best riders are selected, including Altitude Ski & Snowboard School Director Andre Sommer. The O’Neil Xtreme is an amazing freeride event which offers Verbier skiers the opportunity to witness firsthand some of the best skiers and riders performing in probably the most extreme Ski/Snowboard Competition in the World.
For anyone who wants to improve their technique be guided around Verbier or become an instructor, Altitude Ski and Snowboard School run ski and snowboard lessons, performance clinics, instructor training and off-piste guiding. See www.altitude-verbier.com, or contact them on [email protected] or +41 (0)27 771 6006