Verbier - Switzerland's Leading Backcountry Resort

 

Ski Area - Coaching - Qualifications - Town - Accommodation - Upgrades - Support Team

 

Verbier - Our pick of the best.

 

• Head to Harolds for a burger and email.

• Rock out in the Farinet to amazing live music.

• Test your nerve in the Couloirs of Mont Gélé.

• Kit up and ski the backside of Mont Fort, all the way down to Siviez – this one’s out there…

• Beat the Funispace down from Les Attelas to Ruinettes.

• Catch the O'Neill Extreme comp as it rolls into town.

• Make yourself at home in the Pub Mont Fort – it sells more beer than any other pub in Switzerland…

 

SKI AREA – The 4 Valleys

 

Verbier is the largest resort in the 4 Valleys network which includes Nendaz, Veysonaz and Thyon, and together they form one of the most awesome ski areas in Europe. The pisted area is impressive - 410 kilometres of ski runs, with three large snowparks, all serviced by 93 modern and high speed lifts, but it is in the off-piste that Verbier really comes into its own.

 

Every year, Verbier plays host to some of the world’s biggest free-skiing and -boarding competitions including Red Bull Extreme and Verbier Ride, which take full advantage of the huge amount of lift accessed vertical and the awesome cliff studded faces of the three peaks of Attelas, Mont Fort and Mont Gélé.

 

The factor that really puts Verbier apart from other resorts of its size is the fact that it not only has incredible advanced and expert skiing and boarding, but that it is all so easily accessed – many of Verbier’s most famous pitches can be accessed after only a short traverse, or even directly from the lift.

 

The sheer variety of terrain makes the mind boggle. From any of the three main peaks you might find yourself in tight couloirs, hidden valleys, glaciers, and even wide open easy going powder fields. And if it’s tree skiing your after, the un-crowded slopes of Bruson offer unparalleled glades and stay untouched for days after a snowfall.

 

Powder Alert - Snow Report - Webcam  

 

 

COACHING

 

• Only CSIA coaches in Europe outside Andorra

• 5 full days per week with 1-to-1 coaching, video analysis and formal feedback reports.

• Specialist off-piste training with pro riders including couloirs, drop offs, steeps and GS styled riding

 

Powder Extreme

 

Powder Extreme have an almost legendary reputation for being one of the best extreme skiing coaching outfits in the world. Powder Extreme’s coaches include European top five extreme skiing professional Felix Tanguay, and Swedish Demo Team skier Anders Fritzon, and between all of them they have a serious amount of experience and time under their belts as skiing and boarding professionals. Many have taught in all corners of the world before settling in the powder heaven of Verbier.

 

Felix Tanguay

 

Felix is famous in Verbier for his phenomenal skiing and his love of dropping large cliffs. Felix is a Canadian level 4 assessor; a qualified park coach and competes in Extreme Skiing competitions throughout the Alps.

 

Felix has a gift for bringing out the best in his clients and helping them find the confidence to ski to new levels. Felix embodies the lifestyle dream and when not coaxing clients into straight lining chutes or making sweeping GS turns on virgin powder he can be found surfing on some obscure beach somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.

 

Anders Fritzon

 

Anders was born in Sweden where he learnt to ski as a child. He has subsequently taught in three continents and some of the most breathtaking off-piste venues that Europe, the US and the southern hemisphere have to offer. Although Anders started life as a racer his strong technique and flair ensured his invitation to join the Swedish Demo Team for which he skied between 2000 and 2005.

 

Despite being a ski professional for over 20 years Anders’ enthusiasm is undiminished, thanks to the thrills of freeriding in Big Mountain terrain which is his current passion. Anders is able to share a wealth of skiing knowledge with clients and his maturity engenders terrific confidence in those who have the privilege to ski with him.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

Exclusive to Base Camp in Switzerland, we offer CSIA Canadian qualifications with coaching from CSIA Level 4 coach and assessor Felix Tanguay.

 

CSIA

 

The Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance, founded in 1938, is an association with more than 20,000 professional skiers located across Canada and is a member of the ISIA. The level of excellence of instructors and ski school directors is internationally renowned and the CSIA is at the forefront of developing innovative and effective skiing techniques and teaching methods. The CSIA system is split up into 4 Levels each one becoming progressively more difficult. On our Verbier CSIA courses we offer Level 2 & 3 courses, for those who have already taken the Level 1 course.

 

CASI

 

Formed in 1994, the Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors trains and certifies snowboard instructors and coaches and ensures that a national standard of safe and efficient snowboard instruction is maintained. CASI has a membership of just over 6,700 instructors and coaches now and is growing rapidly as the industry expands. The CASI system is also split up into 4 Levels, and you can take your Level 1 and 2 on the course.

 

TOWN

 

Since its discovery in the early 20th Century, Verbier has firmly established itself as a world class ski town; but despite it’s reputation as a hangout for the rich and famous, it retains it’s small town charm.

 

Partly thanks to the clientele it attracts, architecturally Verbier is still very appealing, with none of the 60s monstrosities that blight so many other resorts of its size. In their place are traditional chalets, spread across a wide sunny bowl, with the majority of the town’s shops, bars and clubs based on the central Medran road and around the main square.

 

For its size, Verbier isn't overburdened with bars and clubs, but the scene here is near-perfect - ranging from full on, hang-from-the-rafters riot shops to the kind of low-slung, groovy cocktail bar where you can have a conversation without shouting yourself hoarse.

 

Apres Ski is a pretty big deal in Verbier, with bars filling up as skiers and boarders come down off the snow. Head to Pub Mont Fort for an atmosphere that’s hard to beat – it reputedly sells more beer than any other bar in Switzerland, or the Farinet Hotel sun balcony to hear a live band.

 

Verbier’s countless restaurants serve anything from traditional swiss fare, through asian fusion and sushi, to the best pizza and burgers from Harolds. After dinner, Verbier’s varied clubs kick off – hang out with the rich and famous in the Farm Club, or to Techno in the Casbah. Whatever you end up doing, your guaranteed a good night.

 

Town Map - Cafes, Bars and Clubs  

 

ACCOMMODATION 

 

• Spacious apartments  in the heart of Verbier (not at the bottom of the valley 20 mins away in La Chable)

 

Our apartments are located in the centre of Verbier, 5 minutes walk to the high street, where you'll find all the shops, bars and clubs. Verbier's complimentary bus stops right outside the door, and takes you to the Medran lifts in 2 mins.

 

The apartments are comfortable, private and secure. They all have their own entrances within a larger residence that also provides ski lockers, a communal area and staffed entrance foyer.

 

A partments are fully equipped and furnished and have self-catering facilities. Apartments typically sleep 4, with 4 sleeping in 2 rooms with 2 single beds.

 

The kitchenette opens onto the lounge where there are dining and seating facilities and there is a large balcony or sun-terrace in each apartment. Bathrooms have a shower/bath, sink and toilet and there are cupboards and shelves for storage. Water, heating and electricity bills are included as are sheets and bedding. 

 

 Alba 2* Apartments