Off-piste performance ski course

Advance your off-piste skiing skills with our performance course in Chamonix. Our ENSA-certified ski instructors will help you to transform your skills from good to exceptional.

Off piste progression courses

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5 DAYS OF ADVANCED FREERIDE SKI INSTRUCTION

Chamonix is widely known as the extreme free-ride skiing capital of the world and is the perfect place to improve your off-piste skills. Chamonix’s ski areas of Les Grands Montets, Brévent, Flégère and Le Tour have huge off-piste potential.

Not enough? The Mont Blanc Unlimited ski pass now allows access to Courmayeur and the Helbronner on the Italian side, only a 30 minute drive through the Mont Blanc tunnel, as well as the neighbouring resorts of Megeve, Saint-Gervais and Les Contamines. This large selection of terrain means that you can ski amazing, varied descents all week long.

This course is designed for intermediate off-piste skiers who want to take their skiing to the next level. During the course we will use video analysis to help you to focus on area where you need to improve.

Chamonix Experience’s ENSA qualified ski instructors will help you to become confident in skiing regular turns in powder bowls, uneven terrain and varied snow conditions. You will learn to read terrain and snow surface to become expert in planning ski descents. You will ski over steep terrain and manage occasional cornice or small cliff drops. Fun fun fun!

Off-Piste Safety

Above all, mountain safety is our highest priority, which is why as well as skiing techniques we also teach you how to ski off-piste safely. Avalanche awareness and transceiver search and rescue are essential components of your skill set as a confident off-piste skier, especially when skiing the Chamonix backcountry routes that can often take you far away from the patrolled ski areas.

Off-Piste in Chamonix

Chamonix has incredibly varied terrain, making it the perfect place to learn to ski off-piste. Over the 5 days of this course you will learn how to handle different conditions and types of snow. Much of your training will take place at Les Grands Montets, Chamonix’s biggest ski area, where you will find everything from glaciers to powder bowls.

Chamonix’s unique location on the border of three countries means that you can experience skiing the best of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps; depending on conditions we may take you over the border for a taste of off-piste skiing in one of our neighbouring resorts such as Verbier or Courmayeur.

Your ski instructors will tailor the programme to suit weather, snow conditions and the overall level of the group. Each day your ski instructor will choose the area offering the best off-piste skiing at the moment.

From: 950 €

Price per person for groups of minimum 4 skiers

Advanced

You already have experience backcountry or side country skiing and you can descend in various snow types, without falling (excessively…) or stopping. You’re comfortable on slopes up to 35°. You enjoy off piste skiing and you wish to improve your technique and style.

Fitness level 3/5
Guiding ratio 1/6
Groups of 6 maximum
5 days course
Available January – April

View dates

Dates

Off-piste performance ski course

Start date	End date	Space	Price
Monday 6 January 2025	Friday 10 January 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 13 January 2025	Friday 17 January 2025	Guaranteed	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 20 January 2025	Friday 24 January 2025	Guaranteed	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 27 January 2025	Friday 31 January 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 3 February 2025	Friday 7 February 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 10 February 2025	Friday 14 February 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 24 February 2025	Friday 28 February 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 3 March 2025	Friday 7 March 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 10 March 2025	Friday 14 March 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 17 March 2025	Friday 21 March 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 24 March 2025	Friday 28 March 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 31 March 2025	Friday 4 April 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 7 April 2025	Friday 11 April 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 14 April 2025	Friday 18 April 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry

Dates

Off-piste performance ski course

Start date	End date	Space	Price
Monday 6 January 2025	Friday 10 January 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 13 January 2025	Friday 17 January 2025	Guaranteed	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 20 January 2025	Friday 24 January 2025	Guaranteed	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 27 January 2025	Friday 31 January 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 3 February 2025	Friday 7 February 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 10 February 2025	Friday 14 February 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 24 February 2025	Friday 28 February 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 3 March 2025	Friday 7 March 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 10 March 2025	Friday 14 March 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 17 March 2025	Friday 21 March 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 24 March 2025	Friday 28 March 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 31 March 2025	Friday 4 April 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 7 April 2025	Friday 11 April 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry
Monday 14 April 2025	Friday 18 April 2025	Available	950 €	Make enquiry

Itinerary

This itinerary is an example of type of skiing and terrain you can expect to experience on this course.

Arrival in Chamonix

You will meet with your group and your mountain guide at the Chamonix Experience office in Chamonix Sud on Sunday evening to discuss the programme for the week. Your mountain guide will let you know about the weather and snow conditions in Chamonix, you will have the chance to ask any last minute questions.

Day 1 – Le Tour & Col de Balme

Le Tour is a good place for your mountain guide to assess everyone’s ski level and run through the basics of mountain safety and avalanche awareness. The off-piste at Le Tour is easily accessible and of a gentle gradient. It also offers brilliant tree skiing and long runs to Switzerland over the Col de Balme. The back bowls of le Tour are also perfect for studying how wind, terrain and temperatures affect the snow pack and avalanche risk, so here is where we will do our avalanche awareness training to get the week off to a safe start.

Day 2 – Brevent & Flegere

The south facing ski areas of Flegere and Brevent offer fun terrain with many secrets bowls. When Brévent is good it is maybe the best off-piste in the valley. There is the famous “Hotel face” and ENSA couloirs to mention only a few of the classic itineraries.

Day 3 – Les Grands Montets

Grand Montets’ north facing aspect means that this area holds the snow the best and the latest in the season. This offers excellent long steep pitches. From the top you have access to the Rognon Glacier. Before setting out your mountain guide will brief you on how to safely ski on glaciated terrain.

Day 4 – Aiguille du Midi & Vallee Blanche

No week to Chamonix is complete without skiing from the Aiguille du Midi. This is where the famous Vallee Blanche starts and where off-piste skiing in a high mountain environment is at its best. There are many different ways down with various difficulty and steepness. All routes take you through the most amazing landscape of ice towers and deep crevasses, not to mention the surrounding peaks of the Mont Blanc Massif.

Day 5 – Italy

You will drive through the tunnel to Italy and La Palud where the Helbronner lift will take you in three stages up to Point Helbronner. From here there are various options to descend “Glacier de Toule”. Course ends with debriefing in our office on Saturday evening.

Learning outcomes

The main focus of the week

Improving your off-piste ski technique
Skiing as many of the best descents as possible
Improving your avalanche awareness skills

This course is designed to transform your off-piste skiing from good to excellent. You will have tuition from an internationally qualified UIAGM mountain guide and ENSA ski instructor.

Off-Piste Progression

Throughout the course you’ll be developing various skills that will make you a stronger and more confident off-piste skier, such as how to:

Control your turns on steep slopes
Tackle moguls and uneven terrain with confidence
Make tight turns amongst trees
Improve your balance in deep snow
Increase your strength and stability on your skis

Once you’ve completed your off-piste performance course, you’ll have taken your skiing to the next level and will be ready to explore the endless possibilities that the Chamonix valley has to offer! Continue to develop your skills and become a stronger off-piste skier on our Chamonix Steep Skiing Course.

We use video analysis to help you to:

Find the weak spots in your ski technique and focus your training in these areas
Set achievable personal goals together and tailor your training to help you to progress accordingly

Level requirements

Technical level

You don’t need to be an expert off-piste skier to join the course, that’s what we’re here to teach you! However, you will have to be intermediate off-piste skier with at least a couple of weeks of experience. You can descend in various snow types, without falling (excessively…) or stopping. You’re comfortable on slopes up to 35°.

Preparation and training

The best preparation to get you ready for this course is to complete our introduction to off-piste skiing course first, where you will learn all the basics and develop your strength.

Regular cardiovascular training (running, hiking, biking) is the best preparation for the course. We recommend a couple of days of skiing prior to the course to get your ski legs ready and to dust off your skills.

If you are not sure if this is the course for you, or you would simply like to ask us some questions, please contact us on info@chamex.com and we will be happy to help.

Physical fitness

You are in excellent physical and cardio vascular shape. You can ski a full day, off-piste, in all types of snow. You can link multiple long descents without taking long breaks, over consecutive days, with the proper equipment. (backpack, shovel, probe, snack, water, etc.)

Equipment

Included or not

Additional services

Airport transfers

We can help you to organise your transport to/from Chamonix. We work with well established airport transfer companies using new and comfortable vehicles, which have the capacity and know-how to handle everything from delayed and cancelled flights, to unexpected traffic jams with professionalism and efficiency.

To book your transfer, we will need the following:

Your full name
Mobile phone number
Email address
Your destination address
Your flight details (date, time and flight number)

SHARED TRANSFERS:

This is the most economic and ecologically friendly way of travel. The driver will meet and greet you at the airport, gather you and the rest of the passengers together and then head off to your chosen destination. The door-to-door service means that you will be dropped off and picked up right at your hotel /chalet / apartment. From 40€ per person for one way and 80€ per person for a return trip.

PRIVATE TRANSFERS:

Private Transfers are the quickest way to get to and from the airport. Your driver will meet and greet you at the airport and guide you to your vehicle. There is no waiting for other passengers. Private transfers are available for one to eight person bookings and travelling together and you are guaranteed sole occupancy of the vehicle for your transfer.

Chamonix accommodation

If you need help to find a place to stay in Chamonix, don’t hesitate to let us know! We work with a network of excellent chalets, hotels, gites and B&Bs offering Chamonix accommodation to suit all tastes and all budgets.

Mountain rescue insurance

We don’t include mountain rescue insurance in any of our courses but we strongly recommend that you have it. Mountain rescue may be very expensive, particularly if helicopters are involved. Check with your travel insurance provider if you are covered for the specific activity you are going to do with us.

If not, we can organise the mountain rescue insurance for you with our specialist altitude sports insurance partner. Details of the insurance cover are different for EU and non-EU residents; please contact us for more information.

Lift passes

CHAMONIX LIFT PASSES – FREE BOOKING & COLLECTION SERVICE

You can easily avoid the morning queue for the lift tickets – order your lift passes with us and then just pick them up the day before! We’ll collect your lift passes and have them ready for you, free of charge.

If you have booked a course or a private trip with us, your guide will bring your lift passes along for you. There are two types of lift passes in Chamonix – Mont Blanc Unlimited and Chamonix Le Pass – please don’t hesitate to contact us to find out which lift pass will be the best for you.

For this course you will need the 5 days Mont Blanc Unlimited lift pass, please contact us for further details.

Equipment rental

We highly recommend that you book any equipment with us at least 2 weeks in advance as the hire shops can have limited availability in the busy season.

You can collect your equipment the evening before the start of the course and return it in the evening at the end of your course. We work with the following Chamonix ski hire and mountain shop:

• Concept Pro Shop which is conveniently located directly next door from our office. Open 7/7 08:00-19:00

Clothing

Warm hat

Clothing

Thermal underwear

Clothing

Fleece or woollen layers

Clothing

Light puffer jacket

Clothing

Windproof and waterproof jacket

Clothing

Windproof and waterproof trousers

Clothing

Warm gloves

Technical gear

Climbing harness

Technical gear

Ski goggles

Technical gear

Free ride skis

Technical gear

Ski boots

Technical gear

Ski poles

Technical gear

Screwgate carabiner x 1

Safety Equipment

Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe

Safety Equipment

Ski or snowboard helmet

Included in price

Guiding & Tuition

5 days of mountain guiding and ski tuition by a UIAGM qualified mountain guide.

Avalanche Training

Specific avalanche awareness tuition including assessment of the conditions, correct use of a transceiver and how to carry out a rescue using shovel and probe.

Group Equipment

Ropes, safety equipment, etc will be provided when needed by your guide.

Local Transport

Any local transport that is required during your course.

Office Support

Our team is based at the foot of the Aiguillle du Midi cable car and will be happy to help you with any questions you may have before, during or after your trip to Chamonix.

Not included in price

Skis / Snowboards

The price does not include skis/snowboards, boots or clothing. If you do not have your own we can help you organise rental, please ask us for details.

Personal Equipment

Please see the “Equipment” tab to find out what you will need on this trip / course. For private customised guiding, please contact us directly to confirm your personalised kit list.

Lift Passes

We will advise you on which lift passes you will need prior to your trip. If lift passes are required we can preorder them for you on request.

Insurance

Travel insurance including a mountain search and rescue insurance is mandatory on all our trips (we can organise the mountai search and rescue insurance for you on request). We highly advice to have a policy covering the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

Food & Drink

The price does not include lunch or snacks. You can bring your own food and we can stop for a picnic, or there may be the option to buy lunch at a mountain hut. Please make sure that you are carrying sufficient water and snacks as we will be in the mountains for a number of hours.

Accommodation in Chamonix

Accommodation in Chamonix is not included in the price but we would be happy to advise or organise it on request.

Travel to Chamonix

The price does not include flights, airport transfers or any other travel to/from Chamonix. However, we can organise airport transfers for you on request, please contact us for details.