A week-long trip with 5 days of guided riding in the mini freeride-Mecca of Sainte Foy Tarentaise. This has been my home resort since 2007 and I'm on first-name terms with every rock, tree and couloir on the mountain. Sainte Foy is rightly famous for great terrain, with easy access from the lifts and minimal crowds. Early February is generally the sweet spot of cold snow, deep base and getting in before the half-term crowds so conditions should be perfect. There is great tree-riding if the weather is bad and long, big-mountain lines with plenty of steeps if the sun shines.
This trip will mix lift and bootpack-accessed freeriding with splitboard days and some steep lines, whatever it takes to ride the best lines and best snow.
While we usually find the best snow in Sainte Foy, we also have Tignes and Val d'Isere on our doorstep should we feel the need to go to higher altitude as well as Les Arcs just across the valley.
Program:
Arrive in resort and check in to chalet on Sunday 1st Feb. The course includes 5 days of guided riding. This will usually be Monday-Friday, giving you Sunday as a warm-up day to get your legs moving but if it makes sense with the weather or snow conditions, we may start right away on the Sunday and take a rest day later in the week. Check out of the chalet on Sunday 8th Feb.
Accommodation:
Chalet-apartment 4 Saisons. A great apartment right by the lifts, with en-suite rooms and a comfy living room with open fire. Accommodation and prices based on twin-sharing. No single supplements as long as you're happy to share with another solo rider.
Meals:
Breakfast included every day. Evening meals 5 nights per week prepared by your chalet chef and host!
TRAVEL:
Sainte Foy is located in the Tarentaise Valley, close to the mega-resorts of Tignes, Val d'Isere and Les Arcs. You can fly to Geneva, Lyon, Chambery or Grenoble. Coach transfers are available with Ben's Bus and Altibus. Private and shared transfers are available from many sources including CoolBus, SnowDrone, Mountain Rescue and White Rides.
Riding level:
This course is for intermediate and up level riders with some backcountry experience. You should have at least 8-10 weeks riding experience and have at least some experience of enjoying turns in off-piste conditions. We will be splitboarding during the week. Splitboard experience is not essential as training will be provided as we go along, but if you're a new splitboarder you should definitely have some backcountry experience and make sure your fitness is reasonable!
fitness level:
You should have a reasonable level of fitness as we will be doing some hiking and splitboaring during the week in order to find fresh lines. Hikes will usually be about 1hr or 300m (vertical) maximum and there will be longer splitboard days with as much as 700m of vertical.
Equipment required:
Avalanche safety equipment loan is included in the course price if you don't have your own. If we need snowshoe or splitboard gear, this can be rented locally.
additional costs (not included):
Travel, Lift pass, 2 evening meals, Lunch & Apres