With everything included, this is the best value course in Verbier. Combine that with a team of ISTD qualified coaches, Swiss Patente holders and it’s THE course to get yourself qualified as a ski or snowboard instructor.
100% Pass Rate at Level 2 in February 2012! We have achieved the best results in Verbier consistently over the last 5 years! We use a hand picked team of highly qualified and experienced coaches from European Snowsport to prepare you for your Level 1 ski or snowboard exam, which usually happens in Week 2 of the course. This allows you plenty of time to further develop your riding skills in time for your Level 2 exam during the final 2 weeks of the course. Included in the cost is an avalanche awareness course, a ski / board maintenance clinic, freestyle clinic and 2 day first aid course.
We strongly believe in quality over quantity when it comes to hours coaching on the mountain. Our coaching program has been extremely carefully developed to give you optimum learning time on the hill. All day every day does not automatically make you a better rider, and getting too tired too quickly can result in more injuries and demotivation. With 4-5 hours per day Monday to Friday, we are absolutely confident this is the best way to improve at maximum rate.
Work after the course. There is the fantastic opportunity of part time employment following the course, for a certain number of the most dedicated trainees with European Snowsport on passing your BASI Level 2 ski instructor qualification. At this stage, the job opportunity within ES is only available for skiers. Some of our snowboarders went on to work for Les Elfes International Camps in Verbier for the rest of the season If you’ve got the right attitude, enthusiastic and are client facing – this could be you! ES are the most highly regarded British Snowsports School operating in Verbier giving you an excellent opportunity to develop your people skills with a variety of their clients, from the kids clubs to adult private lessons. An excellent skill to develop and extremely transferable to whatever your next step may be.
There’s also plenty of extras that we organise including watching the local ice hockey team Red Ice, spending a night at Cabane De Mont Fort, backcountry and freestyle days. Head down to Lausanne or Montreux on your days off, chill by the lake, or perfect your BS 360 in the park. The choice is yours!
ACCOMMODATION & FOOD
We are delighted to provide the best standard accommodation of any company in Verbier and announce new and higher quality accommodation. Our stunning spacious chalet and apartments are a 10 minute walk to Place Centrale and a 5 minute bus to the lift station. All of our accommodation normally includes twin or triple rooms, and shared bathrooms. It is always luxurious, comfortable and clean accommodation with delicious food and in-house facilities like washing machines (no expensive laundrettes!), wi-fi and UK Cable TV as part of the course. No other instructor training provider in Verbier offers their trainees a 3 course meal cooked by a qualified in house chef. In fact last years trainees enjoyed the accommodation so much that some stayed on whilst they were working part time for European Snowsport and Les Elfes!
Breakfast and evening meals are provided 5 days per week. Here's a sneak preview at a sample menu!
- Tomato and Basil Soup with Creme Fraiche
- Bruschetta of Mediterranean vegetables with pesto and rocket
- Meatballs with tagliatelle and parmesan
- Sausage and mash with onion gravy
- Roast chicken leg with spiced lentils and yoghurt and mint
- Home-made lasagne with garlic bread and hand cut chips
- Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce
- Lemon tart with creme fraiche
VERBIER MOUNTAIN
Verbier is one of the most famous resorts in the world. With the village set at 1500m and the highest peak at 3300m, some of the best lift accessible freeride terrain in the world, and a safe bet for consistent snow throughout the winter season, it is the ideal place to spend a winter on one of our instructor courses.
The main lift station Medran is a 5 minute walk from the centre of town. With epic snow records, miles of pistes, endless back country - it's one of the best resorts in Europe to ski or ride. The new 6 seater high speed lift installed this winter from beside Carrefour up to Ruinettes means that you can quickly access the mountain from the other side of the resort.
The resort attracts a really diverse clientele. From seasonaires in search of the epic freeride, to the brigade in search of cruisy skiing with a boozy lunch! As it is only 2 hours by car from Geneva, it attracts a lot of weekend warriors too.
You’ll get to know the whole 4 Vallees really well on our instructor course in Verbier. We are including a Snow Safari on the course, which will take you to many of the resorts around the Valais region, that you normally wouldn’t be able to access. Crowded in Verbier? No worries, we will take you to find the hidden runs, with untracked powder. It’s an awesome opportunity to train and ride new terrain during the course.
Verbier is a world class resort located in the midst of the high Alps with the Mont Blanc Massif barely 20 miles to the west and the Matterhorn 20 miles to the east. From anywhere in Verbier the views are spectacular. It has some of the most challenging runs in Europe with the steeps of Tortin, Gentianes and Mont Fort to test the most experienced skier or rider. The wide range of itinerary routes allows you to explore further than just the pistes. You’ll get to experience all this on a course with us – we include freeride days as part of your training.
No wonder Verbier is one of the stops on the World Freeride Tour - it usually comes to town in March. Definitely one to watch. It's in the heart of the 4 Vallees area, so during the season you can ride over to Nendaz, Thyon and Veysonnaz. Bruson is just across the valley and is much less crowded. It's ideal when the resort is busy during holiday periods -the perfect place to escape. It's got some epic tree runs. The park is situated in Verbier in the La Chaux area. It's usually got a decent kicker line plus rails and boxes to suit all standards. There's also some decent parks worth exploring for a day out in the 4 Vallees.
VERBIER THE RESORT
Verbier is just under a 2 hour drive from Geneva making it a hugely popular resort with Swiss and foreign tourists. Verbier is home to many world famous events during the winter season, including the Swatch Freeride World Tour, the final destination on the World Freeride Tour which takes place in March. It's normally held on the 55 degree slopes of the north face of the Bec De Rosses. It's an awesome event to watch with about 5000 spectators.
Verbier is a great place to spend a whole or part of a season. The resort is based around Place Centrale and there's a great variety of shops and restaurants for entertainment. Après is big in Verbier, the biggest and best venue is the famous Farinet Apres Ski. Live music from 4pm – 9pm, extensive shot menu, sliding roof – get there early if you want a table…to stand on! If you fancy something a bit more chilled out, you could sip a hot chocolate at Chalet D’Adrien, in front of their log fire, or catch the afternoon rays on the terrace at Le Rouge. No matter where you are there are always plenty of bars and cafes to suit all budgets, loud or quiet to start and finish the evening. The world-famous Verbier night-life of Casbah, Public and the T-Bar, where we have discount cards available. There are many shops selling ski and snowboard gear, but it can be more expensive than at home.
The Sports Center in Verbier is a 5-10 minute walk from all of our accommodation and incorporates a swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and ice hockey rink. (It's worth checking out the timetable to go and watch one of the local teams playing in the evenings). If you think you are a budding Jenson Button, head down to the Karting Extreme track for ice karting on the snow track. We can also arrange yoga classes for you with Chilali and circuits with our coaches.
For a relaxing day out, there's the opportunity to go to Lavey-les-Bains, a thermal pools about 20 mins in the car from Verbier, perfect for easing those aching muscles after a hard weeks' training on the mountain. One of our favourites is heading up to Marmottes Restaurant for a fondue. If you head up in the evening, you can sledge down at night – although probably not the best idea if you are full of cheese and Abricotine!
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
European Snowsport is the premier snowsports school in Verbier and Zermatt. Our highly successful instructor program and recruitment process has lead to trainees being employed at European Snowsport for the last 5 years. Working in Europe means that you don’t have to apply for a working holiday visa as you do if going to Canada – way easier!
Each year, a number of our clients will be employed part-time in Verbier and Zermatt, after the instructor course has finished. Now some of the key permanent roles held by ES staff, including the Operations Manager & Kids Academy Manager are past Peak Leaders trainees. If this is of interest to you, read on and find out how to apply!
(Verbier - Trainees that got a job on completing the course in 2011)
QUALIFICATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS
The Peak Leaders course in Verbier boasts the most highly qualified team of coaches in Verbier. Julian Griffiths (ski) Director of ES is a BASI ISTD. The team know the product inside out having coached our trainees for 3 years. They are all fully qualified to BASI Level 4, and our snowboard trainer holds the Swiss Patente, and aside from being awesome skiers and riders, will ensure that everyday with them is memorable and ensure your time in Verbier is a once in a lifetime experience! The course in February 2012 had 100% pass for skiers at Level 2 and all but one of our snowboarders passed at Level 2. A combination of our excellent coaching and dedicated trainees!
The BASI Ski or Snowboard Instructor level 1 and 2 are offered in Verbier. BASI is a dynamic, forward thinking, members’ association whose Snowsport Qualifications are recognised world-wide. BASI qualifications are amongst the most respected and in-demand qualifications in the world. The BASI Mission is: “To create a National and International reputation for excellence through the provision of the highest quality of training and support services for Ski and Snowboard instructors"
BASI offers a full range of training courses in all disciplines - giving a clearly defined path of learning, leading to some of the most respected and in-demand qualifications in the world. The Leader Training module is designed to help everyone improve their performance either in charge of or with a team. Whatever you choose to do in the future, this module gives you skills to enhance your C.V.
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.
We pride ourselves in offering certification in aspects above and beyond the snowsports qualifications, so whatever your next step is following the course, your CV will look better than before!
Peak Leaders Trainees that got a PT job with ES following the Verbier course. Some trainees also went to Zermatt to work for ES. Winter 2010/2011
AVALANCHE AWARENESS
You will learn to recognise the conditions under which avalanches take place and how to avoid them! You also learn what to do in an emergency situation if an avalanche occurs. This gives the essential knowledge and skills to feel confident with a guide in the backcountry away from marked trails and patrolled areas. This module provides essential training for powder-hungry skiers and riders and covers avalanche theory, snow stability and search and rescue techniques.
FIRST AID COURSE
The Emergency First Aid course covers: emergency action principles; airway and breathing emergencies; cardiovascular emergencies/strokes; CPR; bleeding management; shock and prevention of disease transmission.
INSTITUTE OF LEADERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
Peak Leaders have the amazing opportunity to provide trainees with training and certification through the ILM. It will provide a huge in-site and knowledge into what it takes to be a leader in any profession. Great for the resume!
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