Course types

BY PLANE

Turin is 1 hour 40 minutes away,  Milan 2 hours 20 minutes 
and Geneva 2 hours 45 minutes. If you’re driving and renting a car Turin and Milan are more convenient for this. If you don’t wish to rent a car, 
we recommend flying to one of the Italian airports as it’s easier to arrange private transfers, shared transfers, car shares or use public transport to reach resort from the Italian airports. If you require assistance/information with travel to resort please get in touch.

BY CAR 

Approximatively 10 hours from Calais, either drive through France to Geneva then through the Mont Blanc Tunnel which links Chamonix in France with Courmayeur in Italy. Alternatively, drive through Switzerland to Martigny and through the Grand San Bernado Tunnel into Aosta. Be sure to have snow chains as the town can be very snowy due to the high altitude. Please also note that winter (snow) tyres are compulsory in the Aosta Valley during the winter months; October- April.

PARKING IN CERVINIA

The Hotel Mon Reve has a large covered car park if you are staying there. If not there is a large car park in town and most hotels also have car parks.

There are huge amounts of accommodation options depending on exactly what you’re looking for in Verbier or Cervinia. Le Chable, the town below Verbier also offers some great value options. If you’re looking for any recommendations please check out our accommodation information page here. You can also email us (theteam@warrensmith-skiacademy.com) enquiring about accommodation and we’ll be happy to help and make some suggestions. If you give us an idea on your budget (low, middle or high) that would be great.

You will receive a pre-course info email with a reminder of the meeting point a week or so before the course. You will also be added to a WhatsApp group the night before where all key info for the week will be repeated. If in any doubt about where to meet please message when added to the WhatsApp group.

Generally, in Verbier we meet each morning at 10am outside the Ruinette lift, on the snow near the restaurant. If you are unfamiliar with Verbier you get here by heading up the bottom lift (Medran). This ends at Ruinettes at which is where we will be meeting.

Generally, in Cervinia on the first day we meet at the main lift station at either 7.30, 8, 8.30 or 9 – the times vary depending on the time of year.

The winter in the Alps is obviously cold. However when the sun is shining it can get pretty hot too! Therefore it is good to pack clothing which will help you stay warm in extreme cold, but also clothing that you will not overheat in if the temperature is high. It is advisable to have a look at a 5 day weather forecast before you pack to leave.

The following items are essential to wear to ski in:

• Waterproof ski jacket
• Waterproof ski pants
• Thermals
• Layers (fleece, puffer, Gillet, etc)
• Ski socks
• Warm waterproof gloves
• Ski goggles (1 low light and 1 high light lense)
• Ski boots
• Helmet (very highly advised and mandatory for certain courses)
• Back Pack if you wish to carry snacks or water and mandatory for off-piste courses so you can carry shovel and probe
• Transceiver – mandatory for off-piste courses

Comfortable equipment can make your days skiing a much more pleasureable experience. The fit and comfort of your ski boots is one of the most important things we advise. Therefore we would not advise hiring them.

You can choose either to take all your own equipment with you, or hire when you get to the resort. We would advise taking your own equipment for comfort, fit and for the fact that you would be used to using it. Having your own equipment takes away the need to visit a shop and perhaps also prevent the possibility of having an uncomfortable days skiing with an uncomfortable boot for example, or skiing on a ski that you do not feel good on.
We work very closely with Ski Service in Verbier who hire the very latest and very best equipment if you do plan on hiring. The staff are professionally trained, and will do their best to kit you out when in resort.

Through experience we know that boots are a very specialised personal thing and it is possible that your foot does not fit comfortably in any of the boots available to hire. You may need special footbeds or need to have the boot worked on by a specialist boot fitter beforehand. For this reason we advise that you pay particular attention to your boot and get one that fits well beforehand or book in with Ski Service to purchase some boots and have them custom fitted and aligned for your feet and body.

Essential equipment for skiing includes:

Ski boots
The fit and comfort of your ski boots is one of the most important things in skiing. Therefore we would not advise hiring them if at all possible. We always recommend getting your own boots professionally fitted to maximise both performance and comfort.

Ski’s
A good all mountain ski is preferable if you are only taking one pair of skis (80-100mm underfoot). If you have a powder ski and a piste ski and are driving, then do bring them as snow conditions can vary during the week. Snow and Rock and Ellis Brigham in the UK are both leading specialists in ski equipment sales and have a high standard of professional staff on hand to advise you on the skis that would be best for you. You can find them online or, if you have access, visit one of their UK stores here.

Ski Service in Verbier hire the very best and very latest equipment and offer reduced rates if booked through their website www.skiservice.com.

Ski Poles
If you are taking your own skis and boots, then take your own poles too to save yourself a trip to the hire shop. However, if you do not have poles, these are available at the ski hire shop at a very minimal charge.

Helmet
We strongly advise you wear a helmet. It is not only the ‘extreme’ skiers who wear helmets, but recreational skiers, piste skiers and children alike. There are occasions where another skier may lose control and collide with another skier, so we advise helmets as a precaution. For all our off-piste focused courses a helmet is mandatory!

Off-Piste Equipment
If you are attending any of our off-piste skiing courses* (Supergroup), then the following equipment is essential:

• Transceiver
• Shovel
• Probe
• Back pack

This can be hired in resort through our partner shop Ski Service if you do not already own. Though please book this in advance and if at all possible collect the day before the course starts.

*We do not advise any off-piste skiing without a qualified professional.

Water: You will quickly become dehydrated at altitude, especially if you are active and skiing. It is always best to carry a back pack with a bottle of water and drink frequently to stay hydrated.

Sun Factor: At altitude the sun’s rays are extremely powerful, even if it doesn’t feel hot. You have to be especially careful when in the snow because it reflects ultraviolet radiation onto your skin. It is deceiving when it is cloudy and even snowing, as even then you can get burnt! A high factor is advisable. Try to go for the better products such as Sunsense, Ambre Solaire or Piz Buin. You need to check that the cream has a UVA and UVB rating. To learn more about sunscreens visit www.dermnetnz.org/treatments/sunscreens

Energy Bars: It is always a good idea to carry energy bars or snacks in your back pack. You quickly burn off energy when skiing and until you manage to stop at the nearest mountain restaurant, it is always good to have something at hand to eat.

Mobile Phone: Not to call your friends and waste the day chatting! In case you get lost or have an accident, it is a good idea to have it just for emergencies. We use WhatsApp to create groups so you can chat so please download and install WhatsApp if you haven’t already got it.

An Extra Layer: The weather is ever changeable in the mountains. It is a good idea to have an extra layer in your back pack that you can take off and put on for your own comfort.

Spare Goggles: Not an absolute necessity, but we have found that if you fall and get your goggles wet, it is a good idea to have another set to put on. Goggles tend to steam up if they are wet and can ruin your visibility. A low light lens and a high light lens are good to have in your back pack too so that you can change them if the light changes.

Tissues: Sometimes a good idea, especially if you are prone to a runny nose!

For Verbier, all lift information including lift pass prices, lift timetables and lift maps can be viewed on the Televerbier website here. It is also possible to book your pass online within the same site or to book it through Ski Service. The pass you will need to buy is the ’4 Valleys’ pass.

For Cervinia, all lift information including lift pass prices, lift timetables and lift maps can be viewed on the Cervinia website here. It is also possible to book your pass online within the same site. The pass you will need to buy is the international pass to cover Switzerland and Italy.

All different types of skiers take advantage of the ski courses in Verbier. There are couples, singles, families, ski instructors, early intermediates, students, doctors, farmers, you name it! The skier levels range from Level 1 to Level 6 on the Academy level system.

Ages vary from teenagers to adults. Average age is 38. Youngest age is 10 and oldest is 82, so far….

We have a pretty balanced male/female demographic on our courses with 52% female on average.

We generally recommend being at least 14 years old to attend the group courses. We have taken children as young as 10 years old. Please email first to see if it would be appropriate for that age.

For the majority of courses the maximum number of students per instructor is 6. Certain courses have less (4MAX courses) and some of the seasonal and instructor courses can have a few more. But if not stated the normal running number will be a max. of 6 per instructor.

EVENING ACTIVITIES:In the evenings people on the course generally explore the resort and check out restaurants and bars in town. There is a cinema, which does show English language films, sports centre and numerous watch, cheese, chocolate or ski shops!

BAD WEATHER:Only in very rare circumstances will the lift system be completely closed due to bad weather. Verbier does also have skiing below the treeline, we will usually seek shelter and visibility if needed.

LIFT CLOSURE: In the unlikely event of lift closure, a dry land ski specific training routine is carried out with the course participants.

ABOUT THE RESORT: The village of Verbier lies at 1500m with the lowest lift in the resort starting from the same. The highest lift station is on the Mont Fort Glacier which is at 3300m.

SKI RUNS AND LIFTS IN VERBIER: Number of ski runs: 70 Number of lifts: 38 Length of pistes: 125km Snowparks: 1 Cross Country: 20km Glacier: Mont Fort at 3300m These are within the Verbier area, however Verbier is part of the 4 valleys which encompases Verbier, Nendaz, Thyon and Veysonnaz which are all linked and have the total of: Number of ski runs: 100 Number of lifts: 95 Length of pistes: Over 400km Snowparks: 2

OTHER ACTIVITIES IN VERBIER: Verbier offers a number of activities apart from skiing from paragliding, tobogganing and snowshoeing to spas, swimming and shopping. You can view a complete list of activites on the Verbier Tourism website.

LANGUAGE IN VERBIER: Verbier is in the French speaking part of Switzerland, therefore the 1st language is french. However, Verbier is very popular with a diverse range of nationalities and English is accepted and generally very well spoken by the locals.

WEATHER: As with anywhere in the mountains, the weather can be somewhat unpredictable. The season runs from the end of November until the end of April. Some years the beginning and end of the season have amazing snow conditions and other years there is enough snow for the course to run.

We would advise that you look at a 3 or 5 day weather forecast before you come on your trip. Have a look at the snow reports and weather forecasts on some of the sites below:

www.verbier.ch

www.snow-forecast.com

www.meteosuisse.admin.ch

Cervinia lies at 2,006m (6,581 ft) above sea level, at the foot of Cervino (the Matterhorn) in a valley surrounded by high, glaciated mountains and the sheer rock face of the Jumeaux. Summer skiing is at 3,480m and has been the domain of our Summer skiing for many years. The vast area boasts 23kms of slope including moguls, steeps, several wide open pistes and has the perfect all around terrain for every ability.

The winter ski area is enormous and the international pass covers not only the vast Cervinia ski area but the Zermatt ski area as well. Phenomenal pistes (including one of the longest continuous pistes in the World), excellent snow conditions and great skiing are what attract people to the area year on year.

The courses in Cervinia generally start on Sunday and finish Thursday or Friday (weather dependant). Unless you are planning to take a day or two extra at either end of your trip, you should travel out and back Saturday to Saturday. The main hotel we use (The Hotel Mon Reve in Cervinia) offers a special discount for 7 night’s accommodation – again, Saturday to Saturday.

EVENING ACTIVITIES: In the evenings people on the course may explore the resort and check out some of the many bars or culture. Most generally head to dinner in town as a group just before 7pm a few nights during the week. There is a friendly bar in the restaurant of the hotel which is perfect at the end of a hard day! There will also be video analysis at the hotel at least once during the week. We will often have a weekly quiz and/or BBQ (summer only) as a bit of fun for those interested and most Friday’s there is live music at the Hotel Mon Reve.

LIFT CLOSURE: Occasionally, if there are high winds, or if it rains on the glacier, it may be closed for a morning or a day (more common in summer). If the lifts are closed, we will take this day as the day off and shift the course back by a day. The Academy also has a dry land training programme which can take place if needed, normally in the garage of the hotel. We find the dry land training programme beneficial to the skiing programme. Even if the weather is good, it is worth asking about the dry land training.