Why a season in France would be the year of your life!

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Doing a season in France has got to be one of the best winter experiences out there. The Alps offer some of the best terrain in the world it’s the combination of the French Alpine culture, great restaurants, amazing après and world class skiing and snowboarding that make a French season so unique.
 
Basecamp were the first company to offer ski and snowboard instructor courses in France. Our first courses were run in Meribel in 2002. The resort offers so much to those that are looking for a winter experience of a lifetime. Meribel  is the center hub of the three valleys with direct access to Courchevel and Val Thorens making it one of the largest ski areas in the world. The resort is 1400m above sea level and is a picturesque alpine village that hosts an abundance of shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs providing as the ideal place to relax after a long day on the mountain. The resort was founded in 1936 in the hope that the area could provide as an alternative winter playground to the resorts in Austria and Germany that were under threat to the growing strength of the Nazi regime. Since it’s birth, the resort has grown in size and popularity amongst British, European and other international tourists. Having spent 4-5 years skiing in the three Valleys, I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to experience world class riding, amazing night life and true French culture.


Having provided customers with great experiences in Meribel, Basecamp decided to expand operations to Val d’Isere in 2004. For anyone who has been to Val d’Isere you’ll know what I’m talking about when it comes to explaining how epic Val and the surrounding area are. Val d’Isere is set amongst the Espace Killy ski area, which offers over 150 groomed pistes, two world class terrain parks and 90 lifts. Skiing in Val was born in 1930 with it’s first drag lift being opened on the slopes of the Solaise. Since 1930, the resort has expanded to create endless skiing and snowboarding opportunties and with direct access to the town from the slopes it’s no wonder why the resort is so popular.  I have been fortunate enough to have spent time in Val d’Isere and Tignes and it’s got to be my favourite place in the world to ski and snowboard. It’s the long days on the mountains followed by incredible après at the famous Folie Douce (an open air bar on the slopes offering live music on a daily basis) that make me want to go back year after year! It’s an amazing part of the world and somewhere that any aspiring skier or snowboarder should experience.


A season in Meribel or Val d’Isere is most definitely recommended! Basecamp offer a range of ski and snowboard instructor and performance courses that provide as a perfect stepping stone into an exciting industry or simply a great chance to significantly improve your riding.