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In case you didn’t already know; the Portes du Soleil is the biggest linked ski area in the World. Within the Portes du Soleil there are 13 resorts, of which Morzine is the largest and considered the capital. There are countless reasons why many of Europe’s best professional snowboarders and skiers spend their winters in the Portes du Soleil, but here are just a few; over 650km of pisted runs, 5 world class snowboard parks, one of Europe’s largest and best kept Superpipes, a Burton Stash park, some of the most exciting freeride terrain and a nightlife that rivals any ski resort in the Alps……just make sure you stay away from the Mutzig!
The snowboarders on their Avalanche Awareness training
For our 10 week course Peak Leaders have teamed up with BASS Morzine and Mint Snowboarding, two companies that really stand-out among the ski and snowboard schools in France. Trainees will not only receive all their training from BASI ISTD instructors, the highest level qualification out there, but they will also take advantage of Freestyle clinics from top freestylers and an Avalanche clinic from qualified mountain guides.
Peak Leaders Morzine Ski & Snowboard Instructor Course from Peak Leaders on Vimeo.
Accommodation for the course is, as always, great quality. A delicious evening meal is provided 6 nights a week and breakfast is provided every morning. Rooms are generally shared with one or two other people and you will only be a short walk from the lift station, pubs and clubs. As a Peak Leaders trainee instructor not only will you benefit from quality accommodation but you will also be provided with an ‘all areas’ liftpass which means you will be able to ski or snowboard all over this huge resort, including regular trips over the Swiss border on your skis or snowboard.
BASS/BASI trainer James Crompton doing what he does best
“For over 10 years, BASS have run a very successful Professional Training Programme in Morzine that has supported countless BASI Members as they progress through their Ski Instructor qualifications. We are delighted and very excited to be working in partnership with Peak Leaders. Peak Leaders are recognised as the market leaders in their field with values, standards and philosophies that compliment our own. This relationship makes for an exciting, high quality partnership that will deliver a GAP programme that is second to none!”
Check out the feedback we got from some of our 2013 trainees:
Morzine uncensored from Peak Leaders on Vimeo.
Jaz Lamb, Director BASS Morzine & Les Gets, BASI Alpine Trainer, BASI Demo Team Member
‘We are stoked to be collaorating with Peak Leaders to run the first ever gap snowboard programme in the Portes du Soleil. Morzine, often called the ‘snowboard capital of Europe’ is the perfect place to run a snowboard instructor course. We feel that Peak Leaders are our ideal partners in this project as a well-established, professionally run organisations with a fantastic reputation.’
Tammy Esten, Director Mint Snowboarding, BASI ISTD Snowboard Instructor
Peak Leaders trainees stay in the stunning Chalet Eira which is less than a five minute walk from the very centre of Morzine. As with all Peak Leaders courses the standard of accommodation is exceptional. All rooms are en-suite with plenty of storage and a there is a TV in each room. Generally no more than 2 trainees share a room, unless the the room is much larger and designed for 3 people.
Chalet Eira has great facilities, including a chill-out room with a TV and Pool table for the trainees to relax and study in. The Chalet also has a fully licenced bar and Restaurant. Breakfast is provided every day and a delicious evening meal is provided six nights a week.
Unlike other French resorts that are purpose built and often soul-less, Morzine has grown from a beautiful alpine village into a charming town that thrives year round. Situated an hour’s drive from Geneva it offers an easy transfer straight into a world renowned ski & snowboard area.
Morzine has the perfect balance between places to chill out and places to paint the town red. The peace and tranquility of Lake Montriond is just a five minute drive/bus-ride away. Countless (and we mean COUNTLESS) bars and restaurants provide a great selection from traditional Haute Savoie fair in ‘Le Chaumade’ to elegant and chic dining in ‘Numero Dix’ or ‘Le Chaudanne’. Many bars spill out onto the streets during early evening happy hours proving that European pavement culture does not hiberate in the winter. Settle down for the infamous Mutzig beer in the very French Bar Robinson (THE apres-ski venue, only open 3-8pm) or chill out to the live DJ’s at the Tremplin at the foot of the slopes. Whatever your choice, Morzine has it in abundance with style and atmosphere!
As a big resort that also has a vibrant summer season (mountain bikers take note), Morzine has a large number of seasonnaires and ex-pats. The social scene’s constantly changing with regular parties, clubnights, bands and BBQ’s in its numerous venues.For the more laid back the Coup de Coeur has a superb wine-list and provides a great place the meet for that post-ski shopping. Morzine has a wealth of ski/snowboard stores, gift shops and boutiques.
The Portes Du Soleil, links up 13 resorts in France and Switzerland and offers endless wide cruisey runs (over 650 km) - the biggest inteationally linked ski area in the world! There is tons of stunning off piste, so you’ll be pushed to find a better variety of terrain in Europe.
Training will be split between the smaller ‘Pleney’ side of the mountain and the bigger sector of Avoriaz and the main Portes du Soleil. The Pleney side, spanning Morzine and Les Gets, offers easy access to quiet pistes with a quick turn around, providing condensed training, practice and consolidation time. In fact, from the meeting place at the top of the Pleney gondola you will have a choice of Blue, Red or Black runs for your first run of the day. Further afield (but yet still on this side of the mountain!) are the secret powder days of Mont Chery, the stunning views of the Ranfolly (you can see both Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva from here) and the big mountain adventures that Chamossiere has to offer.
For snowboarders, popular areas to ride are the Linderets slopes as well as the natural hits covering the Linga area. Snowboard training will be held throughout the Avoriaz, Pleney & Les Gets areas making the most of the wide variety of different terrain available.
Morzine has long been know as the heart of the British snowboard scene and there is good reason for it… there are currently 5 snowparks in Avoriaz alone, including the Burton Stash (think picnic tables, wall rides, logs for jibbing – everything is made from wood) and a very well maintained halfpipe with its own lift. There are even plans for a new snowpark on the Super Morzine area for winter 2011/12.
If you’re still not done at the end of the day, there’s floodlit skiing and snowboarding until 10pm on a Thursday evening…. It’s the ideal place to spend a few months becoming an instructor and soaking up the lifestyle of resort style living and being part of two of the most respected ski / snowboard schools in the world. We think, if a certain beer did resorts…
In Morzine we offer the British Association of Snowsport Association (BASI) qualifications, the BASI Level 1 and 2. The qualifications are the first steps in the profession and the BASI Level 2 is recognised Worldwide. BASI Level 2 instructors teach in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina, America, Canada to name a few, as well as Austria, Switzerland and Italy in Europe. In fact there are no better schools than BASS & Mint to train with if you are thinking of skiing or snowboarding as a career and a future as an instructor in France.
BASI level 1 is the introductory level taken early on in the course, with BASI 2 (more advanced) taken towards the end of the course. Other qualifications included in the course fee are a 2 day first aid course, avalanche awareness & backcountry Module, and an optional ILM Leadership award.
The course includes the BASI Level 1 and 2 exams. Weeks 1 & 2 will focus on introducing you to the BASI product and focusing on your personal performance before the Level 1 exam, which is in Week 3 of your instructor course. During Weeks 4 to 8, you’ll focus on working towards your Level 2 exam, working on all areas of your own skiing or riding both on and off piste, and in the park. You’ll also gain vital experience within the ski and snowboard school, which is a prerequisite for your exams and gives you the opportunity to experience a variety of teaching styles.
Our partners, BASS Morzine have been awarded BASI European Business Partner status. Meaning they have met the strict criteria to be able to deliver the prestigious BASI Level 1 & Level 2 qualifications under licence from BASI, this is great recognition of the quality of training they provide, the standards they maintain and the caliber of Instructors in their team – including a minimum number of current BASI Alpine Trainers.
Mint Snowboarding is the only snowboard specific school in Morzine. Mint’s reputation as a leader in snowboard coaching is largely due to its fantastic team of instructors all qualified to the highest level within the BASI system and beyond. These guys are not only the most experienced snowboard coaches out there, but they are also as enthusiastic as ever about their sport… whether it be passing on their knowledge, progressing their own riding or involvement in the industry. Peak Leaders know that only the best will do when it comes to coaching and giving you a once in a lifetime experience on our instructor program.
‘Jaz started teaching skiing in 1984 and has been teaching full time since then. He gained his ISTD Diploma (BASI Level 4) in 1991, and has been on the BASI Training staff since 1996 delivering all levels of courses. He has worked in Scotland, Andorra, Italy and is now settled in Morzine, France. After teaching for many years he went back to college to study Elite Sports Coaching in Edinburgh where he gained the "Diploma in Professional Studies, Sports Coaching", he then went on to coach the Scottish Mogul Team for many years. He is often still drawn back to the bumps!
Jaz is a member of the BASI Demo team and represented BASI at the 2011 Interski Congress in St Anton.
When not skiing he can often be found on the water. His summers are spent working as a sailing coach and he has worked with sailors preparing for National, European and World Championships events and he has won National and European titles amongst many regatta successes’
Tammy started snowboarding back in the days of using ski boots and hard bindings and wearing neon. She immediately got the bug and has done too many seasons to count, with winters in Italy, Canada, France, New Zealand and Switzerland. She started instructing 10 years ago and holds the top British snowboard qualification as well as being qualified through the New Zealand system. Tammy was involved in the popular ‘Go Snowboard’ instructional book & DVD by Neil McNab.
Still as passionate as ever about snowboarding, Tammy is both as an active member of the British snowboarding community and spends every spare minute on the mountain. Her enthusiasm extends to surfing in the summer months as well as a general eage ess to embrace any adventure that comes her way.
Qualifications
BASI ISTD Snowboard Instructor
French Moniteur National (BEES)
NZSIA Snowboard Instructor
Peak Leaders run professional courses which deliver more all mountain technical training and skills than anyone else. After three years of intense assessment, Peak Leaders UK Ltd are members of the exclusive "Year Out Group"; the governing body for structured year out opportunities.
