Spotlight on Verbier

Mention the words Off-Piste or Freeride and one resort will always crop up – Verbier. So in 2008 we contracted a hotel and headed off to Verbier for the premier Snoworks Verbier Backcountry ski course. Every year we’ve hit it just about right with some amazing snow.

Verbier is part of the the ski area known as the “Four Valleys”, which includes the ski resorts of Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon, adding up to a total of 410 km marked runs.

Away from all the marked runs and Verbier is renowned for its off-piste opportunities. Vallon D’Arby, Tortin, Gentianes, Mont Fort, Mont Gelé, Backside of Mt Fort, Stairway to Heaven, Highway to Heaven, Rocky Garden, Col des Mines, Couloir des Dix, Col de la Banane, Fontanet and Creblet. It’s a free-riders heaven and home of the 6th stop and finale on the world freeride tour. As always the intimidating Bec de Rosses will host the season‘s Freeride World Tour finals on the dauntingly steep 500 metre face. The 2011 event hosted 10,000 live spectators who were treated to simply the best competitive freeriding in the world.

So why go to Verbier? Two words, Off-Piste. The Snoworks Backcountry course runs with 28 persons. 4 groups of 7 with 2 mountain guides and 2 off piste instructors. Two Snoworks instructors will be joined by Chamonix based mountain guides Dave Cumming and Richard Mansfield.

…as for the apres ski and accommodation, Verbier has some of the best night life in the Swiss Alps. You could book into Richards Bransons own private ski chalet or join us in what has to be the best value for money accommodation in Verbier. Inghams Hotel de Verbier, ideally positioned in the centre of Verbier only 5 minutes walk to the Medran ski lift and into the heart of Verbiers skiing. At £816 including flight, transfers and half board accommodation you’ll be pushed to find a better value for money package in Verbier.

For the past 4 years the snow Gods have been kind to us treating us to exceptional off piste conditions and we’ll be hoping for more of the same this year.

Verbier Photos
Click on one of the photos below and take a look at Snoworks instructors, mountain guides, friends and clients enjoying the Verbier Powder.
Main photo: Lee Townend Snoworks Instructor.

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