VERBIER OR SAAS FEE?

WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

We run courses in two great resorts: Saas Fee and Verbier.

So here’s a comparison of these two amazing resorts.

THE TIME OF YEAR:
AUTUMN VS WINTER

The first and most obvious difference is the timing of the courses.

In Saas Fee we start and finish in the autumn. So you will be pulling on your boots in October.

Verbier, however has three start dates over the conventional winter season.

That means you can start in December, in January or do the cheaper Spring Course in February.

So the big question is when can you go, and what are you doing afterwards?

THE DURATION:
8 WEEKS VS 10 WEEKS

The courses cover the same exams but Saas Fee is a shorter course, with a more intense schedule.

In Verbier the courses are ten weeks long (except the Spring course which is 9 weeks), so you have more time to develop between exams.

We find that the Saas Fee trainees enjoy the focus and intensity of the training, especially as many have a plan about where they are going after the course.

Whereas in Verbier trainees are keen to ski, develop but enjoy the resort and the lifestyle, often staying longer after the course has finished.

THE RESORTS:
CHILLED VS FAMOUS

We often call Saas Fee our favourite secret resort. That’s because it’s not one that’s well known – unless you’re in the ski industry.

That’s because the Saas Fee glacier is used by pro skiers from all over the world for pre-season training. It really is one of the best destinations to get ready for a winter season.

Meanwhile Verbier is world-famous. It’s a hangout for keen freeriders and celebrities alike. So the whole mood of the resort is very different.

That doesn’t mean that Saas Fee has no nightlife – quite the opposite. It also doesn’t mean Verbier is just a party town – there’s much more to the resort than that…

WORKING OPPORTUNITIES:
WORLDWIDE VS VERBIER

Saas Fee has long been a favourite of trainees planning to work.

The fact that you can be qualified before the normal season starts is a massive advantage and allows you to get a job anywhere in the world – something your coaches will really help you with.

Whilst European job opportunities are reduced for British ski instructors, Visas are opening up again for Canada, Japan and other ski nations.

So Saas Fee can be a great platform for a season teaching elsewhere in the world.

Meanwhile in Verbier the focus is very much on teaching after the course in Verbier itself.

Naturally this is harder for British passport holders, but if you hold a European passport the ski schools here are very keen to give our trainees jobs – especially for the busy February holidays that follow the end of the course that starts in December.

But if you are British you can still use the Verbier courses to prepare for a season working in the Southern Hemisphere, with job opportunities in New Zealand and Australia.

SO WHICH ONE DO YOU CHOOSE?

It really depends on you – there are a lot of factors like work, passports and your other plans…

If you want to work straightaway in Switzerland (and if you hold a European passport) then Saas Fee or the Verbier December course are great options.

But if you want to teach but have a British passport, then Saas Fee followed by Canada or Japan could work perfectly.

If you want to get your qualifications and then head off for a completely different adventure, then Saas Fee might well work best.

But if you want to teach a little at Easter but have Christmas at home, then January is a good option for anyone holding an EU passport.

Of course, if you just want to train, qualify and have an amazing time then you can pick any course…

It’s a tricky call for many trainees, so if you want to chat about the options then just get in touch and we would be very happy to work out which course works best for you.