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Premiere Neige Clinics 2016

07-Jul-2016

 









Premiere Neige Le Ski Clinics with Pat Zimmer and Peter Hardy

All new courses
 
It may be summer, but the next ski trip is never more than a matter of weeks away and right now we’re thinking snow once again. For the start of the 2016/17 we’ve created a whole fresh formula.
 
After 20 years of running our personal performance courses in the final days of November on the Grande Motte Glacier above Tignes it’s ‘All Change!’
 
We’ve abandoned Tignes in favour of our home territory in Val d’Isere. Here, whatever the weather, we have the total cooperation of the resort. What this means is guaranteed access to the skiing and a massive amount of extra terrain in which to teach and play.
 

New dates
 
One week course
Six full days of skiing
Saturday, December 3 to Saturday, December 10. Price £1,169 twin room / single occupancy of a twin room £1,439.
 
Mini break
New flights allow almost three full days of skiing
Saturday, December 10 to Tuesday, December 13. Price £669 twin room / single occupancy of a twin room £799. Prices include flights, transfers, chalet half-board accommodation, and lift passes.


New Flight option from Manchester

Those opting for the one week course starting on Saturday the 3rd December can choose to fly from Gatwick or Manchester.

Week Course - Saturday 3rd December
London Gatwick to Geneva                                           Manchester to Geneva
Outbound departs at 08:15, arrives 10:50                  Outbound departs 07:45, arrives 10:35
Inbound departs 15:00, arrives at 15:35                      Inbound departs 16:35, arrives 17:35

Mini Break - Saturday 10th December
London Gatwick to Geneva

Outbound departs 11:40, arrives 14:15
Inbound departs 21:35, arrives 22:05

For full details of these special courses,
           Call +44 (0)1484 548996  
           Visit our website https://www.leski.com/chalet-holidays/clinics
 
          Or e-mail us 

 
The major differences from previous years
 
We’re starting the courses on Saturday, December 3 – a week later than previously. By this date, Val d’Isere should be fully open for business.
 
This winter a new gondola replaces the old Solaise Express chair and the ancient cable car. The lift, along with seven others in Val, provides instant access to the ski area.
 
So, for those of you who have joined us over the past couple of decades: no more 8.30am coach transfers to Tignes!
 
Instead, we’ll be on the snow by 9am when the lifts open. We’ll ski until 4pm and then catch one of the frequent  ski buses home. If you like, you can store  your skis and boots overnight at the foot of the slopes.
 
By all means bring your own equipment with you, but we offer premium boot and ski rental, with the chance to test a range of the season’s new skis.
 
Vast amount of ski terrain
 
We’ll ski largely on the Val d’Isere side of the giant ski area that the resort shares with Tignes. No worries about sufficient snow cover: if nature is being tight with the volume of the natural white stuff, Val has its own excellent glacier – the Pissaillas.
 
Of course, we may choose  to ski over the ridge and play on the Grande Motte and elsewhere in Tignes, but we’ll no longer be dependent upon the operation of the underground funicular.
 
It‘s also worth pointing out that Val d’Isere has the largest snowmaking plant in Europe. It’s so sophisticated that it can pump out enough artificial snow to cover the equivalent of Wembley Stadium to a depth of half a metre in one hour…or the whole mountain here in one week.

 
Video analysis of each day’s skiing
 
This will now take place in your chalet immediately after skiing, allowing more time to relax or enjoy other activities in the late afternoon and early evening.

 
Choice of courses
 
All this extra terrain gives us the chance to expand the clinics. We can now offer:
 
1 Traditional On-Piste Instruction
 
This is crafted around a time-tested basic skill level that provides you with the essential tools for skiing both on and off piste.
 
Ski level required: you can ski comfortably and in control down blue runs,  and confidently on most red runs provided that conditions are good.
 
If you’re a nervous skier, back to skiing after a long lay off or injury, or simply feel that you are stuck on the intermediate plateau and not improving during your annual holiday, this is could be the course for you.
 
However, it’s really important that you give us, in advance, an honest assessment of your actual ski level. If you’re better than you think you are, we can always move you up a group, but it’s not always so easy.
 
2  Advanced Piste and Carving 
 
You’re a strong skier with sound basic technique, but you want to push on to a higher level with general giant slalom and slalom skills. Your aim is to  maintain a high level of skiing even in changeable piste conditions. These  might involve steeper gradients, ice, moguls, and fresh powder.
 
Ski level required: you can ski red runs in control in all conditions,  and black runs with confidence if the going is good.
 
3 Introduction to Off-Piste
 
Naturally, this clinic is dependent upon there being sufficient natural snow cover. This can often be possible in early December, particularly on the Pissaillas glacier.  If cover is insufficient, we’ll run another Advanced Piste and Carving Course (see above) instead, gearing instruction to the level of the group.
 
As well as technique, the course includes essential snowcraft such as the use of transceivers and other safety equipment.
 
Ski level required: you can confidently ski all groomed pistes, including steep blacks runs (except in particularly icy or difficult conditions). You’re able to use short, controlled turns and well as long carved ones. You’ve already had a go at skiing easy off piste runs and enjoyed it.
 

The spirit of the clinic remains unchanged
 
Our  courses are highly intensive, but extremely enjoyable. Small groups, (usually six in number,  maximum seven) are divided according to skill and experience. Precise attention is paid to the individual’s needs throughout the whole course.
 
* The choice of a mini-break
* Flights and dedicated transfers from Geneva
* A high level of cuisine and comfort in Le Ski chalets in Val d’Isere  and an exceptional level of service provided by friendly staff
 
During the full week, Le Ski staff are rightly entitled to a bit of down time and so we’ll eat out on one evening (dinner not included in the holiday price). There’s a wide choice of restaurants and you can either make your own arrangements or join us for a fondue in the outlying hamlet of Le Fornet, easily reached with the regular bus service.
 

Who we are
 
Pat Zimmer is a former French racer who founded the first independent ski school in France. He lives in Val d’Isere and skis mainly off-piste during the winter with private clients.
 
His undiminished enthusiasm for skiing means that he’s equally happy teaching technique to a nervous intermediate as he is guiding a group in the steep and deep.  Pat is recognised as one of the greatest of European ski gurus, with an uncanny ability to read snow conditions and a wicked sense of humour.
 
Peter Hardy is Britain’s best-informed ski journalist and co-editor of the ski information website www.welove2ski.com. He describes himself as a ski gypsy whose travels have taken him to more than 500 resorts around the world. Pat got him back on snow after a serious accident  20 years ago and ever since he’s been extolling the virtues of tuning technique with his guru at the start of each season. The two of them are a bottomless and amusing mine of information on the sport they love.
 
Our team of enthusiastic instructors  
 
The same as usual! They concentrate on teaching a simple, stylish technique that can be used on and off piste in almost any snow conditions. They have the uncanny knack of not only being able to pinpoint what is wrong with someone’s technique, but can also usually provide a simple solution. 



Testimonials from the 2014 pre-season clinic:

The clinic has improved my skiing tremendously, especially last year where I saw a great improvement that was clearly evident when we came back in April. 
PR, Val d’Isère November 2014
 
Having stayed with Le Ski several times before we have always enjoyed the superb food, friendly chalet hosts and excellent service
– but we have really enjoyed the pre-Season training week; we have attended this week for the last 5 years and it has really improved our skiing every time. We really like the 9am to 3pm coaching by expert hand-picked instructors, with the added bonus of
small friendly groups and video feedback at the end of the day – and because it is pre-season, we also get the pistes virtually to ourselves. We think this is a winning formula as it gives us the chance to refine and improve our technique whilst offering really good value for money, as it includes all the associated costs of list passes and full tuition fees. We would definitely recommend this week for anyone who wants to improve their technique but still wants to have a great time skiing with lovely people and enjoying Le Ski’s wonderful service and excellent food. We will definitely be back later this year for our 6th week, to kick-start the next season!
SH, Val d’Isère November 2014

Last November was the 5th ski clinic we have been on. It didn't disappoint! No matter how long you've been skiing there is always something to learn and the video feedback is really useful. After a good day’s tuition, skiing and fun it’s nice to relax and come back to a roaring log fire and three course meal courtesy of Le Ski. We always look forward each year to the November clinic as the start of our ski season, brush up on our technique and have fun along the way. See you in November!
VM, Val d’Isère November 2014

The November ski clinic has been a fantastic pre-season opportunity for me to challenge and improve my skiing technique, whilst sharing the focus and fun experience amongst very friendly, supportive, like-minded, enthusiastic ski buddies. I look forward to meeting up and enjoying their great company and fun on the slopes once again, as well as sharing the warm welcome,good food and comfort provided by Le Ski this coming November.
EK, Val d’Isère November 2014