Ride & Learn in The Alps Ski Tour

Overview

The Ride & Learn in The Alps ski tour is an off-piste 'active learning' trip where you are not formally guided, but you have to think as a guide. You will discover incredible off-piste snow & terrain, whilst learning to ride it safely across an extended weekend in the Alps.

Whilst a learning experience, the tour is also about chasing powder. As such, the location will be kept flexible until the last minute (read about 'Locations' below) and decided upon according to current conditions. To get to the goods, a combination of ski lifts & ski touring (60% lift access, 40% ski touring/skinning) will be utilised.

During learning sessions throughout the tour, you will be given all the tools and theory necessary to allow you to prepare tours and make your own decisions. All the while getting constant feedback from a UIAGM guide. With this method, you should learn much more and are then better equipped to pick the best routes & lines by yourself next time you are in backcountry. You will get as much skiing as one would on a usual freeride camp, but the added benefit of improving your own guiding skills.

Make a Booking Enquiry ->

Program

After arriving on a Wednesday evening, over 4 ski days from Thursday to Sunday, participants will take turns in “leading” the group and making decisions whilst riding the best powder lines we can find. The guides will be right behind you, giving you feedback, and questioning your decisions. You will put the knowledge you learn at the lodge into practice on the mountain. By doing, you will learn far more than by passively listening. There will be night presentations and discussions, however during the day, there will as much skiing as on any other tour.

For freeriding the tour will focus on safe line choice, map reading, avoiding terrain traps, and finding the best snow. For ski touring the guide will go through safe ascent, understanding avalanche forecasts, quick and practical snow profile testing, and more.

For more details on the program, see the Itinerary tab.

Locations

Part of guiding is being flexible & finding the best snow conditions. To get the best powder, the location will be chosen according to the best powder conditions closer to the date of departure. Whilst some flexibility is required, the tour location will be in the snowier parts of the Alps in a small area bounded by Vorarlberg Austria in the north, Graubuenden (Grisons) Switzerland & the Alta Valtellina Italy in the south (a distance of only 70km from north to south!). Ski resorts utilised on the tour will include either: Livigno & Santa Caterina Italy; Arosa, Bivio, Diavolezza-Lagalb, Davos Klosters or Lenzerheide in Switzerland; Silvretta Montafon & Gargellen in Austria. Click on the resort links above to find out more about the possible ski/splitboard locations of the tour.

Accommodation & Food

Accommodation will be in a simple, but comfortable local lodge, pension or mountain hut and will include breakfast. Request to have your accommodation booked with the guides.

Food will be self-catered or done within the group as per personal preference. Breakfasts will be included with the accommodation.

Transport

You will need to organise your own transport to the tour start location, however the guides can assist with organising ride-sharing to the start point. The guide will give clear directions as to when & where the tour starts with plenty of time to spare for preparations.

Guiding & Equipment

The tour is operated by UIAGM qualified mountain guides. There will be 2 groups so you can choose between a faster or slower one.

You will need to bring your own ski/splitboard gear and avalanche safety equipment on the trip.

Who is This Trip For?

This trip is for Strong Intermediate to Advanced skiers & snowboarders who should be able to climb with skins & ski /ride powder runs with confidence in variable conditions for an entire day. You should have previous experience with freeriding (off-piste skiing) and ski touring (or splitboarding) and should be willing to push your backcountry and avalanche skills to the next level.

The trip is for both skiers and snowboarders. It is for individuals, couples or bigger groups. If you travel solo – don’t worry, you will get to know fellow skiers/riders and have a good time.

Want to do a private tour? Enquire here.