Verbier: Mont Gele + powder = happy skiers
Posted on April 19, 2012 at 9:03 pm

It’s been a mixed week of weather in Verbier, but there’s been a couple of glorious days of powder and sun.  Here’s Mont Gele, the lift-served but off-piste-only mountain in Verbier.

The views are spectacular.

The pitches vary from steep to very steep, but all come with those great views thrown in for free.

Of course, there are other good and easily accessible off piste areas in Verbier (including Fontaney):

But Mont Gele is easily in our top three.  

Verbier: final phases of training
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 6:00 pm

With only two weeks of training before the big BASI Level 2 fortnight, training has upped to a new level of intensity.  Today the guys have being doing video analysis in the bumps:…

It’s hard to say what top-level instructor, Sandy, is trying to explain here – so we’ll let the photo speak for itself…

All the trainees had different aspects to work on, and it’s fair to say that some have more work than others!  But with two weeks of full-day training to go, everyone’s got Level 2 in their sights.

Here Sandy demonstrates correct pole-planting technique to one trainee, and the amount of knee-flex required in moguls to another…

Overall.  A fun, challenging and sunny day had by all.

Verbier: the new course starts
Posted on February 21, 2012 at 2:16 pm

In a seeming blink of an eye, but actuallly after what was an intensive ten-week course, the first group of skiers all passed their BASI Level 2, and now a whole new group of trainee ski instructors have arrived hoping to tread (ski?) the same successful path.

There’s no rest for the wicked, or the trainees – so the first week saw them plunge straight into to training every day, as well as shadowing actual instructors teaching lessons.

Rest at the weekend?  Not for these trainees, the first aid course beckoned.  As has been typical for Verbier, the snow returned again to fall thickly as the outdoor part of the course took place.  Here the trainees took it in turns to play both victim and rescuers.

On occasion, looking suspiciously like they were just hiding from the falling snow,

But with fun being had by all…

Everyone is a WINNER!
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:47 pm

HUGE week for the skiers & riders on the Banff 2012 course.

Level 1 CSIA & CASI exams dominated the week with everyone working on their technique and delivering lessons under the watchful eyes of the course conductors.

Charlie Valentine who is now a level 3 instructor and originally did his level 1 with Peak Leaders in Argentina several seasons ago was one  of the course conductors assessing the Peak Leaders skiers.

Day 1 on the CSIA level 1 course – meet the course conductors

Weeeeeeeee Billy being assessed on his beginner snowboard teaching

Billy ‘the big face‘ B and Andrea ‘you guys’ teaching snowploughs and developing the art/skill of bending double whilst skiing backwards.

Grace working on her balance and posture

Judgement day came for the riders on Thursday and the guys nailed it with a 100% pass rate.

Judgement day 2 came on Friday for the skiers and matched the riders with a 100% pass rate.

The pass rate is down to the amazing training the guys have had from the Sunshine Ski School but mostly due to the hard work everyone put in on all the sessions.

A celebratory meal at the Elk & Oarsman….. “umm ribs” followed by several lemonades brought a perfect 48 hours to a close.

One of the highlights of Peak Leaders Banff courses is the chance to go and watch a live NHL ice hockey match.

Saturday was national ice hockey day in Canada and the crew were not disappointed in the fierce rivalry between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks in the Olympic Saddledome Arena in Calgary.

In a game that had goals, big hits and fights (which are allowed in ice hockey) the Flames won in a shootout after the scores were level after fulltime and overtime.

Everyone in Canada skates ….. Banff public skating rink on the way to the game.

On the bus to the game

Scott and Rob soaking up the pre game atmosphere

Get your hot dogs and pizzas here……….

The fastest team sport in the world

fight fight fight…… whilst the refs and other players watch on!

Two of the flames newest fans….. Jonny and Anna

Now that everyone is a Level 1 snowsports instructor the training begins for the Level 2 exam.

Bring it on!

Banff F.T.T.P & Q.R.S & AST1 !!
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 4:11 am

This week the Peak Leaders Banff trainees have been honing their technique & teaching skills.  For the skiers it has been F.T.T.P (fast track to parallel) and for the snowboarders it has been  Q.R.S (quick ride system).

Working on posture – “Am I in centred on my skis?”

Snowploughs as far as the eye can see…..
With both the Level 1 ski and snowboard exams starting next Tuesday everyone is on top of their game and all the hours of training are about to pay off!

Kenji using Andrea to demonstrate on the need to have a strong body position

On Saturday and Sunday the guys on the Big Banff programme had AST1 (avalanche safety training) after a day of theory the Sunday was all about transceiver and probe training and how to dig a snow pit and test the snow structure for stability.

Transceiver search
We have had new snow almost every day and to ski and ride fresh powder has been amazing.

Cameron riding in the powder

Billy J “twinkle in his eyes”  and Andy “anyone coming for a drink” have been this weeks leaders on the Banff apres ski tour. Come to think of it Andy is always the leader of the apres ski tour!
Not only known for their nocturnal habits Andy and Billy J can also ski and ride with style and nothing phases them….. as you can see from them dropping in on the Eagles Gully trail.

Bring on the Level 1!!

Banff week 2 – the big chill
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 3:57 am

After the warm weather on week 1 of the course. Mother nature came back with vengeance……. with day time temps of -31 for 3 days running.

In fact for 2 days Sunshine Village could not run the lifts for 2 of the days as it was just toooooo cold.

Most of the team stayed indoors. However, Tony, Natasha and Andrea braved the cold and went to Lake Louise and enjoyed some awesome snow. With wind chill the temp was -47 at the top of the gondola!

Look into my eyes….. it’s cold out there.

With Sunshine Village shivering in the big chill several of the group went to Norquay and had a deserted hill all to themselves

Thursday was 1st Aid training and after a day of learning everything from dealing with a heart attack to someone who has had a stroke the guys all successfully passed the exam.

Billy Bob about to begin CPR practice

Banffs top ski shop- Soul, Ski & Bike ran a ski and board tuning clinic on Thursday night and the guys learnt how to p-tex, edge and wax skis and boards….. no blaming equipment when falling over from now on!

wax on wax off

Friday morning was SNOWPLOUGHING with Kenji for the skiers….. amazing how difficult it is to do a snowplough with the correct technique and make it look natural (Kenji has no problems with either).

snowplough, snowplough, snowplough

Its the weekend……. late breakfast, perfect snow, time to catch some air …….

Cam grabbing it

Emily going loooong

Old skool trick but Andy is going big

Fat skis, steep lines
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 9:54 pm

This weekend the Peak Leaders trainees in Verbier had a rare treat – an entire weekend of free-time, without any addtional training, first aid or avalanche courses to attend.  But that doesn’t necessarily mean rest: with Verbier enjoying its best snow for at least a decade, the mountain beckoned.

Some of the trainees banded together, kitted themselves out with transceivers, probes and shovels, and went up for a full day of itinerary runs and powder.  Here’s the group on the first mountain of the day, full of energy.

And here’s one from the end of the day.  At least one of the group showing the effect of hitting challenging run after run.

There was some hiking…

But not too much, and only for powder reward:

Verbier is famous for its accessible powder runs, and this weekend lived up to its billing.  To finish, here’s a few other shots of the guys having fun that day.

Banff 2012 week 1
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 5:13 am

The Peak Leaders Banff 2012 group arrived to find Banff and Alberta having a mini heat wave…… day time temperatures in Banff were above freezing….unheard of for January.

Banff 2012 crew

This seasons base is the Rundlestone Lodge Hotel with its huge rooms, swimming pool and hot tub and breakfasts and dinners of Canadian size portions. No slumming it for the Peak Leaders trainees!

The group is made up of people from all over the UK and Andrea our USA import (she is getting to grips with the Glaswegian and West Country accents!)

The legend that is Sunshine Village Ski Trainer Kenji is training the Peak Leaders ski instructor trainees again this season and has been working his magic, already transforming some ‘interesting’ skiing styles.

Kenji wearing his new Zaini beanie

Rob was having some equipment issues on the 1st day….(Kenji thought it was down to ‘operator error’) but Rob has now mastered the art of skiing with a ski attached to each boot.

Grace has fallen in love with moguls….. not!

The snowboard trainees are in rotating each week for the first 4 weeks with different trainers. Each trainer will be working on different aspects of riding.

Umm….. what was that the trainer wanted us to do?   Cameron loved riding black diamonds switch all afternoon.

Billy J dropping in

The snow has been either been powder or groomed light & grippy snow…. perfect to get the body back into either skiing or riding mode.

On the apres ski front Andy has been leading the charge to the Dancing Sasquath. Throwing down some very bizarre moves on the dance floor (please see below)

“Look at my guns”

This season the guys who signed up for Peak Leaders Big Banff get the Big 3 lift pass which includes Sunshine Village, Lake Louise and Norquay ski areas.

Sunshine Village living up to its name

So this week we had a tour around…. Thursday Sunshine, Friday Lake Louise and Saturday Norquay….. variety is the spice of life!

Perfect snow

The temperature is dropping and more snow is forecast, bring on week 2.

Safety first
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 7:49 pm

Last weekend saw the Verbier trainees training for avalanche avoidance, survival and rescue.  Expert mountain guide, Graham Frost, spent Saturday and Sunday teaching the trainees some of the basic rules and skills for skiing and riding successfully in the backcountry.

It was an interesting weekend, combining learning with a day spent off piste.  One of the trainees even asked to be buried briefly under the snow to get a taste for how claustrophobic it might be…

Inspired by the training, some of the trainees have now hired a mountain guide for an off-piste day of guiding this Sunday.  The recent heavy snowfall and a forecast of sunshine means it’s a day to look forward to.  Report to follow.

Secret Santa, public powder
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 12:01 am

It’s been a busy few days for the Verbier Peakleader trainees, skiers and boarders alike.  First of all, of course, there’s been a great deal of powder to be skied, ridden, jumped over and fallen into.  And with another 30cm forecast for this Thursday and Friday, the future looks white.

In the meantime, the snowboarders have been enjoying a week of freestyle and jibbing.  Check out this somewhat curious pic of two of the trainees simultaneously starting a tailpress, whilst overlooked by a sinister cardboard cutout figure...

And another two of the trainees demonstrating front and backside 180s, in practice lessons delivered to the rest of the group.

On the other side, occasionally known as the darkside, the skiers had the substantial benefit of skiing with the head of ES Ski School, Julian, for a week that alternated between tree-skiing and serious piste performance / video analysis.

With Christmas Day now behind them, the trainee instructors are currently settling down to a week of shadowing real lessons, so that they can gain the necessary work experience before taking their BASI 2 exams.  Client confidentiality dictates no photos of those events, so in the meantime here’s a picture of two of the trainees getting into the Christmas spirit at the start of the group Christmas dinner…