Verbier gap course options
VERBIER
ACCOMMODATION AND TRAINING PACKAGES
Our Verbier course gives you an amazing combination of top level training and brilliant accommodation in one of the most amazing ski resorts in the world.
The Training is run by a hugely experienced team of BASI Trainers (examiners) and top qualified BASI Level 4 coaches, whilst the accommodation options are hand-picked so that you get the best possible combination of locations and quality.
We also offer the choice of catered package or our training-only package.
So you can book a place in our catered Peak Leaders accommodation – with dinner and breakfast five days a week as well as cleaner and more.
Or you can go training-only and arrange your own accommodation and catering for the season – but still have an amazing Peak Leaders experience plus the full training package and exams.
Crucially whichever option you choose you’ll get the same amazing experience and top level training.
THE TRAINING PACKAGE
We have spent a huge amount of time planning and developing the training package so that you have the best possible chance of developing, making changes to your skiing and passing your exams.
Whichever accommodation option you choose, you will receive 275 hours of coaching across the course – from on-snow performance coaching to specialist freestyle sessions, as well as racing GS in gates plus off-piste training.
There are also weekly video feedback sessions, job advice sessions, a first-aid course and plenty more…
LIFT PASSES
Your lift pass isn’t automatically included with your Verbier Course price.
That’s because lift passes in Verbier vary a lot depending on your age, when you buy them and if you want the additional insurance.
So, to keep things simple, we chose to remove lift passes from the Verbier course prices and we have also reduced our course prices.
It’s easy to buy your lift pass yourself via the lift company website, but if you want we can still buy it for you and just add it to your course fee.
THE OFF-PISTE OPTION
On specific courses you can choose to do both the BASI 1 and 2 exams or you can take the BASI 1 then focus on your technical skiing and off-piste skills – with an off-piste exam at the end.
So you can choose – finish the course training towards your BASI 2 or just shift focus and get some amazing coaching whilst you explore the Verbier terrain and get ready for the BASI Mountain Safety exam.
We ask trainees to specify when you book – but if you change your mind during the Level 1 training phase of the programme (and assuming there’s still space) you can choose to switch package. Just get in touch for details.
THE TRAINING OVERVIEW
275 HOURS OF COACHING
COACHING FROM BASI 4s & BASI TRAINERS
BASI EXAMS
BASI MEMBERSHIP
THE FULL TRAINING DETAILS
275 hours of coaching
Coaching team includes BASI examiners
All coaching from BASI Level 4s
BASI Level 1 and Level 2 exams
BASI membership and resources
BASI Child Protection Module*
Off-piste coaching
Off-snow theory sessions
A day race training in GS gates
Avalanche & Mountain safety training
Training with a pro freestyle coach
Two day First Aid course*
Personal fitness training every week
Video analysis every week
Shadowing included*
Snowsports school experience*
Eight week pre-course fitness programme
*Elements required by BASI
MORE COURSE FEATURES
Job offer after the course (subject to interview)*
CV & employment advice sessions
Career and recruitment advice
French lessons
Mentoring from experienced instructors
Discounts on ski equipment & servicing
Ski service facilities
Training to service and repair skis
*Please remember work is always subject to a work permit. Get in touch for more information or read the latest blogs.
WHAT’S THE AVERAGE WEEK LIKE?
There’s a huge amount of variety from one week to the next – and, of course, for three weeks of your course you’ll be doing BASI exams.
But here’s a sample week to give you an idea of how the training works, how it’s structured, what you’ll do, what the after skiing activities are and when you get to free-ski…
WHAT’S THE COURSE SCHEDULE?
THE BASI 1 + 2 COURSES
A BASI 1 + 2 course in Verbier is nine or ten weeks long, with the BASI Level 1 and BASI Level 2 exams running for three weeks of that.
In addition to the training weeks and the exam weeks, there is also time spent shadowing – which gives you vital ski schools experience and is required by BASI before you can progress to the Level 2 exam.
It’s also a great opportunity for you to help with lessons, watch experienced instructors in action and probably pinch a few lesson ideas so you’re ready for the teaching part of the Level 2 exam…
The schedule can change each year, but it’s normally either 2 (or 3) weeks training and then the BASI Level 1, then 5 (or 4 weeks) training and then the BASI Level 2. The precise schedule depends on when your course runs and how exams fits around the main holidays (when it’s tricky to run exams).
Either way we make sure you are perfectly prepared for your next challenge.
DECEMBER & JANUARY SCHEDULE
FEBRUARY SCHEDULE
THE OFF-PISTE OPTION
If you join us on a course where there is the option to take the ‘Off-piste’ module the structure is a little different.
You have the option to train for the BASI Level 1 and then progress to the BASI Level 2, as usual.
Or you can simply take the BASI Level 1 and finish the rest of the course exploring the Verbier freeride terrain with our expert off-piste coaches and working towards your BASI Mountain Safety exam.
THE OFF-PISTE SCHEDULE
THE ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES
We’ve been ski instructors in Verbier for a long time, so we know how important it is to to have accommodation that’s close to the centre of town, near the lifts – a place you can relax after a hard day on the hill.
We also know that as well as a good location, good food is vital too.
So we make sure you get a good quality home for the winter that’s not far from the lifts (or the bars) and we make sure you get great catering as well as a weekly cleaner and regular fresh linen and fresh towels.
Naturally the training-only packages are cheaper, but of course that means you won’t be looked after by our amazing team.
However, some people find that the flexibility of going self-catered can be better for them – so training-only is perfect. Especially if you already have plans to stay with friends in resort, or if you have dietary requirements that mean it’s easier for you to cater for yourself.
But whichever option you decide on, we will make sure you have a course that you will remember for the rest of your life.
THE CATERED ACCOMMODATION
Catered accommodation for ten weeks
Evening meal five nights per week
Breakfast five days per week
Includes a cooked breakfast one day per week
Discounts on food in town
Extended accommodation packages available
Stay in the heart of Verbier
Twin, triple and bunk rooms
Single occupancy also possible*
Laundry facilities
Close to the main lifts
A couple of minutes walk from all the bars and restaurants
*Get in touch for details and availability
THE CHALETS
We are already planing the accommodation for our courses for the 2023-2024 season.
The contracts aren’t finalised, but here are the details form the 2022-2023 courses to give you a great idea about what to expect…
This season we are going to be running two amazing basses in Verbier – both ski-in and ski-out.
The Mont Gele and Chalet Venus are right in the heart of resort by the Medran lifts.
Our December course and February courses will all be in the Mont Gele.
Meanwhile the January course will be split between the two – with some trainees in the Mont Gele for ten weeks, and some starting in Venus and moving over to Mont Gele half way through. Which option applies to you will depend on when you book and on the spaces available. We will confirm this with you closer to the start of your course.
Our accommodation always feels like home, with a great food, a cleaner and communal areas that make sure you’re comfortable.
The accommodation is always really central – so you will always be just down the road from the lifts and the centre of town and its nightlife.
The package includes dinner five nights per week, as well as breakfast provided five days per week (including a cooked option once a week).
There are a mix of twin rooms, bunk rooms and some triple rooms depending on your accommodation, with the option to book single occupancy if you wish.
STAY FOR LONGER
If you join us on the December or January courses you also have the option to stay in your accommodation after your course ends.
The ‘Schengen Package’ allows you to just use your remaining days in Europe (you get up to 90 in one go – read more here).
The ‘Training package’ is a course extension where you get extra training and can apply for a Student Permit before your course starts if you are British – so you can stay over 90 days.
But if you have an EU passport you can choose a ‘Full extended accommodation package’ that means you can stay until the very last day of the season if you want.
If any of these would be something that might interest you, then get just in touch.
TRAINING-ONLY
AND SELF-CATERED
If you decide that you want to arrange your own accommodation, then we have the option of choosing the training-only package.
This allows you to do all the training and take all the exams in exactly the same way as the catered option – the difference is that no accommodation and no food is included.
This is an option that’s often popular with Trainees who have friends in resort and want to stay with them, or who perhaps have specific dietary requirements and find it easier to cook for themselves.
We also have Trainees who are happier living independently – this can be popular with older trainees.
ADVICE:
If you are thinking about going training-only we can definitely help with accommodation advice (and contacts).
Having lived in resort for fifteen years we know plenty of people and agents that we trust, so we can point you in the right direction.
We can give you advice about which areas of Verbier are best – and which areas are a little too far from the lifts…
We can also make suggestions about renting in Le Chable which is in the valley below Verbier, but connected by the bubble and busses. In fact most of resort’s ski instructors seem to live in Le Chable now.
Almost all options would be for the full season, although if you get in touch early we can often help find a solution that’s just for the duration of the course.
So if you’re keen on our training-only option and want accommodation advice, just get in touch.
EXTENDED
ACCOMMODATION
OPTIONS
We realised a long time ago that too many courses ended leaving trainees scrambling for extended accommodation in the final weeks – just when they should have been concentrating on their exams.
To make it more difficult courses always end just before the expensive half term weeks.
So a number of years ago we decided to arrange extended accommodation packages. That meant if you wanted to stay in resort after the course ended we could take out the stress and the hassle.
We make the package as affordable as we can, and whilst you won’t get full catering, you will get a regular cleaner and the peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that your accommodation is sorted – so you can concentrate on getting up there and skiing.
