Ski Club Freshtracks Brochure 2015-16 by Ski Club of Great Britain

2015 -16

A lifetime of great experiences for people who love the snow.

Ross Woodhall

Ski Club Freshtracks provides inspirational group holidays matching skiers of a similar ability, using only the best instructors, mountain guides and Ski Club Leaders.

04 Season Highlights

Off Piste Powder-filled holidays for all standards

05 The Freshtracks Formula

Touring Adventure with no boundaries

06 Your Ski Standard

Weekend Pack a week's skiing into a long weekend

08 Holiday Types

Development Hone your technique with top instructors

10 All Holidays by Date

Action We'll lead you to the best slopes

13 The Ski Club Leadersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Course

Heli & Cat Skiing An experience like no other

14 Instructors, Mountain Guides and Ski Club Leaders

92 Holiday Information

16 Course Only Holidays

94 Booking Conditions

17 Single Room Holidays

97 Ski Club Insurance

18 Family Holidays 19 Peak Experience - holidays for the over 50s 22 Chalet Freshtracks - Flaine

A product of the Ski Club of Great Britain

3 contents

The ski holiday you'll never forget starts here...

Season Highlights New destinations, new experiences This year we’re straying from the well-worn tracks of the better known resorts, and have included some great new destinations offering exciting terrain and fantastic off piste opportunities. Heli skiing in the Pyrenees, off piste in Slovakia and backcountry touring in Japan should give those looking for a little variety some interesting new options. A strong pound has tempted us over to Norway and this year we will have some weekends in Voss with Club Leaders, a ski touring weekend in the Lyngen Alps and a Peak Experience week in Trysil, so there are plenty of opportunities to combine stunning Norwegian landscapes and skiing with spectacular views of the fjords.

Italian style Once again we’ve expanded our popular programme in Italy to increase the number of existing favourites, and added some great new holidays with a twist, including a freeride weekend in Alagna and off piste in the Sella Ronda.

North American adventures If you’re after a truly epic adventure to North America, you can choose from heli skiing in British Columbia, backcountry skiing in Kicking Horse, a journey along the Powder Highway in Canada, and a USA adventure to Park City and Jackson Hole.

With more than 175 holidays, including over 40 with single rooms at no extra cost, it’s the biggest and best holiday programme Freshtracks has ever offered. The only problem is choosing which one to book!

I came away at the end with only one question: "Where should I book to go away with Ski Club Freshtracks next?" Kevin Iles Lech Long Weekend

Ross Woodhall

The Freshtracks Formula

5 freshtracks formula

With 80% of our members rebooking with Ski Club Freshtracks every year, we’ve clearly got something quite special going on. Over the years we’ve listened to our members to create a formula for the perfect holiday: take compatible skiers of a similar ability and use only the best instructors and mountain guides; choose world-class resorts and ensure your host is an experienced, friendly Ski Club Leader. The result is a holiday that will inspire and thrill you.

Ross Woodhall

How to choose your perfect holiday Define your ski standard

Decide what kind of holiday you want to have

Pick the perfect holiday for you

With so many holidays to choose from, all suited to different abilities, it’s important to identify your ski standard so we can help you find your ultimate holiday experience and ski with people of a similar ability to you.

From off piste exploration to developing your technique, we’ve carefully selected a variety of holiday types for you to choose from, in a wide range of resorts.

Take a look at all of the holidays we’re running for the 15-16 season, and find one that suits you.

For ski standards, see pages 6-7

For holiday types, see pages 8-9

For all holidays listed by date, see pages 10-12

Your Ski Standard 1 To make sure each holiday is an unparalleled success, we rely on accurately assessed ski standards. This way, no one is struggling to keep up, no one is left kicking their boots in the snow and everyone gets an adventure they’ll never forget. We ask you to assess your own ski standard by comparing your skiing ability against the categories that we use, detailed over the next couple of pages. Once you’ve found out which standard you are, it’s time to pick a holiday that’s your perfect match. Full descriptions: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks

Advanced Intermediate Competent to ski most blacks Skis confidently and in control on any red piste and on moderate blacks. May have many years of experience and enjoys skiing the whole mountain on piste. Able to vary turns to cope with more challenging terrain. Happy to ski the mountain all day with limited stops. Able to ski icier pistes or easy bumps, though prefers to avoid larger bumps. May need to stop to rest more frequently in trickier conditions.

Ross Woodhall

On Piste Early Intermediate

Intermediate

Competent to ski all blues whatever the conditions & easy reds

Competent to ski all reds whatever the conditions & easy blacks

Confident to ski blue pistes in all conditions. Skis reds in good conditions.

Enjoys skiing groomed red pistes and easy black pistes in good conditions.

About 4 weeks' or more experience but likes to stick to blue pistes mainly.

Around 8 weeks' or so experience and likes to stick mainly to red pistes.

Able to maintain consistent pace and turns on blue pistes.

Able to confidently parallel ski groomed red pistes with limited stops.

Prefers to ski pistes in good conditions, avoids icy or bumpy terrain.

Enjoys groomed pistes and prefers to avoid bumps or icy slopes.

Advanced Competent to ski blacks whatever the conditions & easy bumps Confident to ski the whole mountain including steep blacks, varying turns to cope with conditions and showing good speed control on steeper or trickier pistes. Several years' experience in a number of ski areas and resorts. Skis top to bottom on all pistes except the toughest blacks regardless of changes in terrain and conditions. Enjoys taking the fall line, skis at a good pace all day. Able to handle a variety of conditions including icy pistes and larger bumps.

Expert Competent to ski the fall line on all blacks and bumps whatever the conditions Enjoys skiing the steepest and most challenging terrain. Will have considerable experience in many ski areas and resorts over several years and would be expected to ski more than two weeks each season. Skis fall line descents of all runs including bumps, fluently and at a fast pace regardless of changes in terrain and snow quality. Can safely and confidently negotiate any conditions they may encounter.

Off Piste

Skis easy off piste in good conditions

Intermediate Competent to ski moderate off piste

Minimum Advanced Intermediate on piste.

Confident and comfortable skiing moderate slopes off piste (blue - red).

Willing to venture off piste on easy slopes (lesser steepness than a blue).

At least a few weeks experience of skiing off piste, possibly with guides / instructors.

Limited experience, from no off piste to a few days or weeks. Relatively fit with the attitude and aptitude to progress.

Able to link several turns in light powder snow (just above boot height) on a uniform base. Will struggle to link turns in poor lighting.

Working on linking turns.

Able to manage easy untracked terrain and chalky snow, though prefers conditions without obstacles.

Able to ski off piste in easy conditions.

Advanced Competent to ski advanced off piste

Fischer

Expert Competent to ski all off piste in all conditions

Confidently enjoys skiing off piste on steeper slopes (red+).

Confidently skis all skiable off piste terrain in a controlled line, in the widest variety of snow conditions, from deep powder, to difficult and varied snow.

Will have several years off piste skiing experience and some knowledge of mountain craft. Well used to spending the whole day off piste in a variety of snow conditions.

Considerably experienced in skiing off piste in many ski areas and resorts over several years and throughout the ski season and in all types of snow. Excellent knowledge of mountain craft and how to ski safely in mountain terrain.

Skis confidently and enjoys powder, able to ski with consistent speed and turn shape in all but the most challenging conditions.

Skis with fluidity and confidence in almost any condition. Actively seeks challenging terrain and snow.

Able to handle a variety of conditions including lightly crusted and wind affected snow.

yOUR SKI STANDARD

Aspirer

Can safely and confidently negotiate any conditions they may encounter including breakable crust and deep snow. NB: We will provide transceivers on all off piste holidays, however please come equipped with a back pack, shovel and probe.

Your fitness is important When assessing your ski standard, one of the key factors to consider should be your current level of fitness. As you know, skiing takes an awful lot of energy and stamina, and it’s vital that you can keep up with the pace over the course of your holiday. As a rough guide, a skier with an average level of fitness can ski all day with an hour’s rest at lunch and may need to stop and rest after 15-20 dynamic turns. You should be at least this level of fitness to consider an off piste holiday. In the run up to your holiday, your best bet is to be doing aerobic exercise for a minimum of 40 minutes, three times a week. If you’re ski touring, you will need to consider your training programme several months before the trip. You can find advice on ski fitness from British ski champions Graham Bell and Chemmy Alcott at skiclub.co.uk/fitness. Alternatively, call our Info & Advice Team on 020 8410 2009.

2 Your Holiday Type Off Piste

Touring

Weekend

Powder-filled holidays for all standards

Adventure with no boundaries

Maximum skiing in minimum time

Holidays for a range of abilities - from those looking to learn the ropes through to expert powder hounds! Experienced mountain guides or instructors will take you to the heart of the mountains and find exhilarating powder skiing. Venture even further from the crowds with day tours on one of our ‘Exploration’ weeks.

Leave the crowds behind and explore breathtaking mountain terrain. You’ll be accompanied by fully qualified guides or instructors and stay in mountain huts or hotels along the way. Your efforts will be rewarded with stunning views and invigorating descents on untouched snow, plus a sense of achievement shared with the other members of the group.

Pack a week’s skiing into an ultimate long weekend. Ski Club Leaders will take you straight to the best snow both on and off the piste. Off piste options include mountain guides, and touring weekends are also available.

Go to page 20

Go to page 46

Go to page 56

Development

Action

Heli & Cat Skiing

Hone your skiing technique with top instructors

We’ll lead you to the best slopes

An experience like no other

Open up a mountain of opportunity by improving your technique. We hand-pick our instructors to ensure you get the best advice. Develop your skills with others of a similar standard.

Maximise your skiing on our action-packed holidays. Our Ski Club Leaders will show you the best snow and resort highlights. Mostly on piste skiing, with some off piste according to conditions.

Go to page 68

Go to page 78

Who needs a chairlift when you have a helicopter? You’re guaranteed to ski on untouched snow far from the crowds, amid truly spectacular scenery. Cat skiing involves transport up the mountain on a piste basher, while a helicopter offers a fast and breathtaking way of accessing freeskiing paradise. Whether it’s cat or heli, it is quite simply an unforgettable skiing experience. Go to page 86

Family Skiing

Peak Experience

Flexible for you

Everyone gets to explore

Age is no barrier

Ski with top internationally qualified instructors and mountain guides, whilst enjoying the flexibility to make your own travel and accommodation arrangements. Go to page 16 for full details.

Ski Club Leaders help everyone in the family make the most from their holiday. While parents have the option to ski independently or with other members of the group, children over six ski in groups organised and led by our Leaders*. Some of our holidays also include time with qualified instructors & mountain guides.

Skiing begins at 50! Our Peak Experience holidays for over 50s are really popular and account for almost 25% of our programme, featuring holidays for all abilities of skier - so these trips don’t necessarily mean you’ll be taking it easy!

Single Rooms Your own room at no extra cost Ski Club Freshtracks holidays have always been popular with individual travellers. If you’re on your own we have a great range of holidays that offer single rooms with no additional supplements. All other Ski Club Freshtracks holidays include a small number of rooms set aside for single occupancy where possible, usually at a supplement. As over 70% of our customers book as individuals, none of our holidays carry a supplement if you’re happy to share a room with another member.

Single room holidays can be identified throughout the brochure by the single room icon. Go to page 17 for full details.

If you have older children aged 16 years and over, you can join any appropriate holiday in the Ski Club Freshtracks programme (except Peak Experience holidays), providing all family members are the right standard for your selected holiday.

9 your holiday type

Course Only

You’ll travel to resorts we’ve chosen specifically for our Peak Experience clients, with great skiing, sophisticated après and groups that all want the same thing from their holiday. You’re also welcome on any of the Ski Club Freshtracks holidays up to the age of 65, after which we recommend you join Peak Experience holidays.

You and your family won’t be held back, nor will you struggle to keep up on the slopes. As with all of our holidays, you’ll be skiing with others of a similar ability and ambition. *Leaders are not qualified instructors. Children must be comfortable to ski on blue and red pistes all day.

Specific family holidays coincide with school holidays. They can be identified throughout the brochure by the Families icon. Go to page 18 for full details.

They can be identified throughout the brochure by the purple colouring and Peak Experience icon. Go to page 19 for full details.

Switzerland Tourism

Date

3 All Holidays by Date Date

Holiday

Resort

Zone

Page standard

November Nov 27-30 Premier Neige Weekend Nov 29-12 Ski Club Leaders' Course

Tignes Zermatt

Weekend 58 Leaders' Course 13

December Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec

05-12 Pre-Season Progression 06-13 Premier Party 06-13 Tignes Development Week 10-14 Andermatt Escape 12-19 Pre-Season Paradiski 13-20 Italian Season Intro 13-20 Arlberg Achievement 13-20 Season Start Up 13-20 Mountaincraft 17-20 Lech Long Weekend 1 19-26 Christmas Off Piste Improvers 20-27 Christmas Ski Instruction 26-02 Families New Year 27-03 Andermatt Adventure 1

Val Thorens Val d'Isère Tignes Andermatt Les Arcs Madonna St Anton Les Deux Alpes Tignes Lech Flaine Les Deux Alpes Flaine Andermatt

Development 70 Off Piste 28 Development 70 Weekend 58 Development 71 PE Action 80 PE Off Piste 28 PE Development 72 Off Piste 28 Weekend 58 Off Piste 22 Development 72 Off Piste 22 Off Piste 29 PE

S S

January Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan

02-09 Engelberg Extreme 1 Engelberg 02-09 Improvers Powder Skills 1 Flaine 02-09 Davos Delights Davos 06-13 Wengen Fun Wengen 09-16 Austrian Achievement 1 Bad Hofgastein 09-16 Italian Off Piste Instruction 1 Passo Tonale 09-16 Sainte Foy Exploration 1 Sainte Foy 09-16 Italian Off Piste Adventure 1 Ponte di Legno 09-16 Austrian Indulgence Obergurgl 09-16 Nendaz Singles Off Piste 1 Nendaz 09-16 Adventurous Powder 1 Flaine 10-17 Off Piste Progression 1 Tignes

Off Piste 29 Off Piste 22 Action 80 PE Action 80 PE Development 75 PE Off Piste 30 Off Piste 43 PE Off Piste 33 Action 81 PE Off Piste 32 Off Piste 22 PE Off Piste 33

S S S S

S S

Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan

Holiday

Resort

Zone

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10-17 Deux Alpes Development 1 Les Deux Alpes Development 72 14-18 Touring Skills Weekend 1 Les Diablerets Weekend 65 16-23 Swiss Bliss 1 Laax Action 81 PE 16-23 Damüls Descents Damüls Off Piste 34 PE 16-23 Sainte Foy Exploration 2 Sainte Foy Off Piste 43 16-23 Ski & Schnapps Zermatt Action 81 PE 16-23 Lötschental Safari Lötschental-Kandersteg Touring 50 16-23 Learn to Ski Powder 1 Flaine Off Piste 22 16-23 Chamonix Off Piste Improvement 1 Chamonix Off Piste 26 16-23 Adelboden Off Piste Adventure Adelboden Off Piste 34 16-23 Andermatt Adventure 2 Andermatt Off Piste 29 PE 17-24 Val d'Isère Off Piste Development Val d'Isère Off Piste 34 17-24 Technique Top Up 1 Courmayeur Development 74 19-29 Hokkaido Backcountry Adventure Hokkaido Touring 53 21-25 Off Piste Weekend 1 La Grave Weekend 59 21-25 Zugspitze Arena Freeride Weekend Garmisch Weekend 66 21-04 Powder Highway Exploration British Columbia Off Piste 44 23-30 Pyrenees Heli Exploration Baqueira Beret Heli & CAT 88 23-30 Virgin Snow 1 Madonna Action 82 PE 23-30 Engelberg Extreme 2 Engelberg Off Piste 29 PE 23-30 Val d'Anniviers Adventure 1 Grimentz Off Piste 35 23-30 Monte Rosa Safari Zermatt Touring 50 23-30 Improvers Powder Skills 2 Flaine Off Piste 22 23-30 Austrian Improvers 1 Lech Development 75 PE 23-30 Adelboden Exploration Adelboden Off Piste 43 23-30 Dolomites Development 1 Folgarida Development 76 23-30 Adrenalin in Alagna 1 Alagna Off Piste 37 23-30 Powder Performance 1 Gressoney Off Piste 36 23-30 Chamonix Off Piste Adventure 1 Chamonix Off Piste 26 24-31 Ski & Spa 1 Bad Hofgastein Action 82 PE 24-31 Trois Vallées Off Piste 1 Courchevel Off Piste 37 24-31 St Anton Adventure 1 St Anton Off Piste 37 24-31 Val d'Isère On Piste Development 1 Val d'Isère Development 74 28-01 Italian Instruction Weekend 1 Madesimo Weekend 60 28-01 Baqueira Discovery Weekend Baqueira Beret Weekend 61 30-06 Adventurous Powder 2 Flaine Off Piste 22 30-06 Mont Blanc Exploration St Gervais Off Piste 43 30-06 Wicked Off Piste 1 Les Diablerets Off Piste 38 30-06 Wengen Off Piste Wengen Off Piste 38 PE 30-06 Pure Gold Alagna Off Piste 35 30-06 Powder Performance 2 Gressoney Off Piste 36 PE 30-06 Dolomites Ski Safari Cortina Touring 50 30-06 Engelberg Extreme 3 Engelberg Off Piste 29

S S

Date

Holiday

Resort

Zone

Page standard

11 Tignes Courmayeur Les Deux Alpes

Off Piste 33 Development 74 Off Piste 38

S S

February Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb

04-08 Norwegian Ski Weekend Voss 04-08 Beaufortain Exploration Weekend Arêches-Beaufort 06-13 La Grave Adventure 1 La Grave 06-13 Learn to Ski Powder 2 Flaine 06-13 Schladming Schuss Schladming 06-13 Crans Montana Off Piste 1 Crans Montana 06-13 Chamonix Off Piste Exploration Chamonix 06-13 Ski & Spa 2 Bad Hofgastein 07-14 Slovakian Off Piste Ski & Spa Jasná 07-14 Deux Alpes Development 2 Les Deux Alpes 07-14 Off Piste Progression 3 Tignes 13-20 Adventurous Powder 3 Flaine 13-20 Families Italian Half Term Instruction Bormio 14-21 Families Half Term Off Piste Engelberg 14-21 Families Austrian Half Term Schladming 20-27 Ski & Spa 3 Bad Hofgastein 20-27 Advanced Powder Skills Flaine 20-27 Monterosa Heli Escapades Alagna 20-27 Chamonix Off Piste Adventure 2 Chamonix 20-27 La Dolce Vita Madonna 20-27 Crans Montana Off Piste 2 Crans Montana 20-27 Piedmont Safari Valle Maira 21-28 Off Piste Progression 4 Tignes 21-28 Learn to Ski Off Piste 2 Les Deux Alpes 21-28 Technique Top Up 3 Courmayeur 25-29 Off Piste Weekend 2 La Grave 25-29 Val de Bagnes Weekend Safari Val de Bagnes 25-10 Colorado Experience Vail / Aspen 26-11 Ultimate Ski America Jackson / Park City 27-05 Learn to Ski Powder 3 Flaine 27-05 Tarentaise Taster Sainte Foy 27-05 Italian Off Piste Instruction 2 Passo Tonale 27-05 Italian Off Piste Adventure 2 Ponte di Legno 27-05 Monte Rosa Circuit Zermatt 27-05 Beaufortain Exploration Arêches-Beaufort 27-05 Sella Ronda Off Piste Canazei

Weekend 61 Weekend 67 Off Piste 39 Off Piste 22 PE Action 82 PE Off Piste 39 Off Piste 26 Action 82 PE Off Piste 40 Development 72 Off Piste 33 Off Piste 22 Development 76 Off Piste 40 Action 83 Action 82 PE Off Piste 22 Heli & CAT 88 Off Piste 26 Off Piste 41 Off Piste 39 Touring 51 Off Piste 33 Off Piste 38 Development 74 Weekend 59 Weekend 67 Action 83 PE Off Piste 37 Off Piste 22 Development 73 Off Piste 30 Off Piste 33 PE Heli & CAT 89 Off Piste 45 Off Piste 41

Great fun. With the Ski Club, I get the opportunity to do the sort of skiing that I would never do if skiing with friends and family. S S

all holidays

Jan 31-07 Off Piste Progression 2 Jan 31-07 Technique Top Up 2 Jan 31-07 Learn to Ski Off Piste 1

Lloyd Dawes Off Piste Progression 1

F F F S

S S

Ross Woodhall

Date

3 All Holidays by Date Date

Holiday

Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb

Austrian Action 1 Zell am See Chamonix Off Piste Adventure 3 Chamonix Stubai to St Anton Safari Stubai / St Anton Adelboden Off Piste Adventure 2 Adelboden Canadian Backcountry Escape British Columbia Austrian Achievement 2 Bad Hofgastein Technique Top Up 4 Courmayeur Val d'Isère On-Piste Development 2 Val d'Isère BC Heli Adventure Red / Whitewater

27-05 27-05 27-05 27-05 27-10 28-06 28-06 28-06 29-12

Resort

Zone

Page standard

Action 84 PE Off Piste 26 Touring 52 Off Piste 34 PE Heli & CAT 90 Development 75 PE Development 74 Development 74 Heli & CAT 91

S S S

March Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar

03-07 Scandi-lous Girls Weekend Voss 03-07 Touring Skills Weekend 2 Argentière 05-12 Improvers Powder Skills 3 Flaine 05-12 Norwegian Peaks Trysil 05-12 Italian Indulgence Canazei 05-12 Chamonix Off Piste Improvement 2 Chamonix 05-12 Adrenalin in Alagna 2 Alagna 05-12 Dolomites Development 2 Folgarida 05-12 Austrian Improvers 2 Lech 05-12 Andermatt Adventure 3 Andermatt 05-12 La Grave Adventure 2 La Grave 05-12 Sainte Foy Exploration 3 Sainte Foy 06-13 Trois Vallées Off Piste 2 Courchevel 06-13 Deux Alpes Development 3 Les Deux Alpes 06-13 St Anton Adventure 2 St Anton 10-14 Italian Instruction Weekend 2 Madesimo 10-14 Argentière Adventure Argentière 11-14 Norwegian Exploration Weekend Lyngen Alps 12-19 Adventurous Powder 4 Flaine 12-19 Virgin Snow 2 Madonna 12-19 Austrian Action 2 Zell am See 12-19 Parsenn Powder and Piste Davos 12-19 Nendaz Singles Off Piste 2 Nendaz

Weekend 62 Weekend 65 Off Piste 22 PE Action 85 PE Action 85 PE Off Piste 26 PE Off Piste 37 Development 76 Development 75 PE Off Piste 29 Off Piste 39 Off Piste 43 Off Piste 37 Development 72 Off Piste 37 Weekend 60 Weekend 60 Weekend 67 Off Piste 22 Action 82 PE Action 84 PE Off Piste 41 PE Off Piste 32

Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar

Holiday

Resort

12-19 Chamonix Off Piste Adventure 4 Chamonix 12-19 Silvretta Safari Ischgl 12-19 Italian Off Piste Adventure 3 Ponte di Legno 12-19 Engelberg Extreme 4 Engelberg 12-19 Sella Ronda Off Piste Canazei 13-20 Off Piste Progression 5 Tignes 13-20 Technique Top Up 5 Courmayeur 15-24 Davos&Lenzerheide Extravaganza Lenzerheide / Davos 17-20 Lech Long Weekend 2 Lech 19-26 Adventurous Powder 5 Flaine 19-26 Val d'Anniviers Off Piste 2 Grimentz 19-26 Swiss Bliss 2 Laax 19-26 Bernese Oberland Tour Lauterbrunnen 19-26 Andermatt Adventure 4 Andermatt 20-27 Deux Alpes Development 4 Les Deux Alpes 24-28 Off Piste Weekend 3 La Grave 24-28 Engelberg Easter Off Piste Engelberg 24-28 Davos Easter Extravaganza Davos 24-28 Argentière Easter Off Piste Argentière 26-02 Improvers Powder Skills 5 Flaine 26-02 Families Easter Italian Instruction Canazei 31-04 Alagna Freeride Weekend Alagna

Zone

Page standard

Off Piste 26 Touring 52 Off Piste 33 Off Piste 29 Off Piste 41 Off Piste 33 Development 74 Action 85 PE Weekend 58 Off Piste 22 PE Off Piste 35 Action 81 PE Touring 53 Off Piste 29 Development 72 Weekend 59 Weekend 63 Weekend 63 Weekend 63 Off Piste 22 PE Development 77 Weekend 64

S S

S S S

April

Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr

02-09 Titlis Exploration Engelberg Off Piste 02-09 Sainte Foy Exploration 4 Sainte Foy Off Piste 02-09 Adventurous Powder 6 Flaine Off Piste 03-12 Haute Route Chamonix / Zermatt Touring 09-16 Strahlhorn&Breithorn Summit Safari Zermatt Touring 09-16 Flaine Exploration Flaine Off Piste 09-16 Final Fling Obergurgl Action 16-23 Vallée de la Clarée Tour La Grave Touring 17-24 End of Season Snowdown Val d'Isère Off Piste 24-01 Finnmark Tour Finnmark Touring 28-02 End of Season Off Piste Zermatt Weekend 28-02 Bank Holiday Blast Tignes Weekend

45 43 22 54 52 22 85 PE 54 41 55 64 64

July

S S S

Jul 02-09 Summer Ski Instruction

Les Deux Alpes

Development 77

Ski Club Leaders' Course

13 leaders' course

Zermatt 29 November – 12 December 2015, £2,899 Anyone wanting to become a Ski Club Leader must take and pass the Ski Club Leaders’ Course, a tailored two-week long training programme run by experienced mountain guides, instructors and Ski Club staff. The course isn’t just the gateway to becoming a Ski Club Leader – it’s a fantastic trip in its own right that will help you develop your mountaincraft and skiing skills. This year the course is running in Zermatt, one of Switzerland’s finest ski resorts, with an excellent early season snow record.

Course contents

Course price includes

On-snow leading – groups of all standards

Return rail transfers to/from Geneva or Zurich Airport

Technique – on and off piste Ski standards – familiarisation with Ski Club standards Snowcraft – understanding and recognising different and changing snow structures Safety – understanding transceivers and avalanche safety procedures Administration procedures – daily and weekly tasks Promoting the Ski Club and resort PR

4* half-board accommodation – twin share basis Performance clinic – three half days skiing/ snowboarding technique instruction by BASI instructors Further training by mountain guides and BASI instructors Leaders’ uniform – blue Ski Club jacket (Peak Performance) Lift pass for duration of course Not included in the price

If you’d like to book a place on the Leaders’ Course, or need more information, email Owen Chapman at leaders@skiclub.co.uk or call 020 8410 2011

Flights Personal insurance Equipment as per Leaders’ equipment list – rucksack and contents Two-day BASP First Aid Course in the UK (prior to Leaders’ course)

Exceeded my expectations. Thorough, highly professional and enjoyable. Leaders’ Course, December 2014

Instructors, Guides & Leaders Getting it right, on every single holiday Whether you’re lucky enough to spend endless amounts of time in resort or you’re just trying to sneak in a few weekends each winter, we can make sure that every moment you spend in the mountains is exhilarating and unforgettable. We do this by selecting the most appropriate Ski Club Leaders, hand-picked mountain guides and world-class instructors. Whichever Ski Club Freshtracks holiday you go on, you’re in safe hands from start to finish.

Ski Club Leaders Our Leaders are a total hit both on and off the mountain. This trained team of enthusiastic volunteers provides a dual function for the Club, by offering a resort skiing programme to members throughout the season and by hosting our Freshtracks holidays. Each Leader will bring their own unique brand of fun to your holiday and we can promise you – skiing is most definitely their number one passion! With the exception of a few tours, all of our holidays are hosted by Ski Club Leaders. They’re experienced skiers who’ll always be on hand to ensure your trip is going to plan.

Mike Truelove

Mountain Guides

If you’re looking to improve your technique or conquer new types of terrain, our Development holidays and a number of our Off Piste holidays are an ideal way to take the next step.

Skiing with one of our mountain guides takes your desire for exploration to a new level. You’ll cover areas of the mountain you didn’t know were accessible, far away from the crowds with someone who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.

Our carefully selected instructors are on hand to analyse your skiing and work with you to iron out any flaws or build on your experience, to give you the skills and confidence you need to take on the mountain.

All the guides we use are internationally qualified and wear the badge of the IFMGA – the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association - the highest professional accolade.

As a minimum, we work with instructors who have reached the international level of ISIA (International Ski Instructors’ Association). We use both local and BASI (British Association of Ski Instructors) qualified instructors to ensure a high level of tuition.

Another fantastic week on the slopes. Great instruction and Leaders. Karl Graham Nendaz Swiss Singles Instruction 2

Mike Truelove

Instructors, guides & Leaders

Instructors

Course Only

Pierre was exceptional; lovely man, great knowledge of the mountains and made you feel that there was nothing he would rather do than ski with you.

Flexible for you

Anthony Ashford

Enjoy the flexibility to make your own transport and accommodation arrangements and still join in with our groups on a course-only basis. We have created more opportunities than ever to give you the chance to ski with other Ski Club members, particularly in France. There are options across all zones, and if a holiday does not appear in the list here then please give the team a call on 020 8410 2022 if you would like to see if another holiday is possible on a course-only basis. The prices below include five or six days with guides or instructors. Please see the holiday pages listed for full details. price

Mountaincraft

Holiday

Resort

Zone

Page

Price includes

All Flaine holidays All Chamonix weeks All Off Piste Progression weeks All Deux Alpes Development weeks All Learn to Ski Off Piste weeks

Flaine Chamonix Tignes Les Deux Alpes Les Deux Alpes

Off Piste Off Piste Off Piste Development Off Piste

22 26 33 72 38

£399 £435 £450 £399 £450

5 5 6 5 6

days days days days days

with with with with with

instructors mountain guides mountain guides/instructors instructors instructors

Premier Party Tignes Development Week Pre-Season Paradiski Season Start Up Mountaincraft Christmas Ski Instruction Val d'Isère Off Piste Development Trois Vallées Off Piste 1, 2 Val d'Isère On Piste Development 1, 2 Mont Blanc Exploration End of Season Snowdown

Val d'Isère Tignes Les Arcs Les Deux Alpes Tignes Les Deux Alpes Val d'Isère Courchevel Val d'Isère St Gervais Val d'Isère

Off Piste Development Development Development Off Piste Development Off Piste Off Piste Development Off Piste Off Piste

28 70 71 72 28 72 34 37 74 43 41

£450 £450 £450 £450 £450 £450 £450 £450 £450 £495 £450

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

days days days days days days days days days days days

with with with with with with with with with with with

mountain guides/instructors instructors instructors instructors mountain guides instructors mountain guides/instructors instructors instructors mountain guides mountain guides/instructors

Ross Woodhall

Single Rooms

Your own room at no extra cost

Andy Godden

Ski Club Freshtracks holidays have always been popular with individual travellers. If you’re on your own we have a great range of holidays that offer single rooms with no additional supplements.

Date

Holiday

Resort

Dec 12-19 Pre-Season Paradiski Les Arcs Dec 13-20 Italian Season Intro Madonna Dec 13-20 Season Start Up Les Deux Alpes Dec 20-27 Christmas Ski Instruction Les Deux Alpes Jan 02-09 Engelberg Extreme 1 Engelberg Jan 02-09 Davos Delights Davos Jan 06-13 Wengen Fun Wengen Jan 09-16 Austrian Achievement 1 Bad Hofgastein Jan 09-16 Austrian Indulgence Obergurgl Jan 09-16 Nendaz Singles Off Piste 1 Nendaz Jan 10-17 Deux Alpes Development 1 Les Deux Alpes Jan 16-23 Swiss Bliss 1 Laax Jan 17-24 Val d'Isère Off Piste Development Val d'Isère Jan 17-24 Technique Top Up 1 Courmayeur Jan 23-30 Engelberg Extreme 2 Engelberg Jan 24-31 Ski & Spa 1 Bad Hofgastein Jan 24-31 Val d'Isère On Piste Development Val d'Isère Jan 30-06 Adventurous Powder 2 Flaine Jan 30-06 Wengen Off Piste Wengen Jan 30-06 Engelberg Extreme 3 Engelberg Jan 31-07 Technique Top Up 2 Courmayeur Jan 31-07 Learn to Ski Off Piste 1 Les Deux Alpes Feb 06-13 Ski & Spa 2 Bad Hofgastein

Zone

Course only / single rooms

A great way of skiing with others of similar ability, especially when travelling alone. Nendaz Singles Off Piste 1

Page

standard

Development 71 Action 80 Development 72 Development 72 Off Piste 29 Action 80 Action 80 Development 75 Action 81 Off Piste 32 Development 72 Action 81 Off Piste 34 Development 74 Off Piste 29 Action 82 Development 74 Off Piste 22 Off Piste 38 Off Piste 29 Development 74 Off Piste 38 Action 82

PE PE

PE PE PE PE

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Date

Holiday

Resort

Zone

Page standard

Feb 07-14 Deux Alpes Development 2 Les Deux Alpes Development 72 Feb 13-20 Adventurous Powder 3 Flaine Off Piste 22 Feb 20-27 Ski & Spa 3 Bad Hofgastein Action 82 Feb 21-28 Learn to Ski Off Piste 2 Les Deux Alpes Off Piste 38 Feb 21-28 Technique Top Up 3 Courmayeur Development 74 Feb 28-06 Austrian Achievement 2 Bad Hofgastein Development 75 Feb 28-06 Technique Top Up 4 Courmayeur Development 74 Feb 28-06 Val d'Isère On-Piste Development 2 Val d'Isère Development 74 Mar 06-13 Deux Alpes Development 3 Les Deux Alpes Development 72 Mar 12-19 Austrian Action 2 Zell am See Action 84 Mar 12-19 Parsenn Powder and Piste Davos Off Piste 41 Mar 12-19 Engelberg Extreme 4 Engelberg Off Piste 29 Mar 12-19 Nendaz Singles Off Piste 2 Nendaz Off Piste 32 Mar 13-20 Technique Top Up 5 Courmayeur Development 74 Mar 15-24 Davos& Lenzerheide Extravaganza Lenzerheide / Davos Action 85 Mar 19-26 Swiss Bliss 2 Laax Action 81 Mar 20-27 Deux Alpes Development 4 Les Deux Alpes Development 72 Mar 24-28 Engelberg Easter Off Piste Engelberg Weekend 63 Mar 24-28 Davos Easter Extravaganza Davos Weekend 63 Mar 26-02 Improvers Powder Skills 5 Flaine Off Piste 22 Apr 02-09 Titlis Exploration Engelberg Off Piste 45 Apr 09-16 Final Fling Obergurgl Action 85

PE PE

Family Holidays

Everyone gets to explore Ski Club Leaders help everyone in your family make the most of their holiday. Your family will ski with others of a similar ability so you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be held back.

Date

Holiday

Dec 26-02 Families New Year Feb 13-20 Families Italian Half Term Instruction Feb 14-21 Families Half Term Off Piste Feb 14-21 Families Austrian Half Term Mar 26-02 Families Easter Italian Instruction

Resort

Zone

Page

standard

Flaine Bormio Engelberg Schladming Canazei

Off Piste 22 Development 76 Off Piste 40 Action 83 Development 77

Families silver/purple is a good combination and allows for older, more advanced children to ski with parents. Claire Rimmer Families New Year

Experience

Age is no barrier Our Peak Experience holidays are specially designed for the over 50s and are suitable for all skiing abilities. Travel to resorts with great skiing, sophisticated après and groups that all want the same thing from their holiday.

Date

Holiday

Resort

Zone

Page standard

Dec 05-12 Dec 12-19 Dec 13-20 Dec 13-20 Jan 02-09 Jan 06-13 Jan 09-16 Jan 09-16 Jan 09-16 Jan 09-16 Jan 16-23 Jan 16-23 Jan 16-23 Jan 16-23 Jan 23-30 Jan 23-30 Jan 23-30 Jan 24-31 Jan 30-06 Jan 30-06 Feb 06-13

Pre-Season Progression Pre-Season Paradiski Italian Season Intro Arlberg Achievement Davos Delights Wengen Fun Austrian Achievement 1 Sainte Foy Exploration 1 Austrian Indulgence Adventurous Powder 1 Swiss Bliss 1 Damüls Descents Ski & Schnapps Andermatt Adventure 2 Virgin Snow 1 Engelberg Extreme 2 Austrian Improvers 1 Ski & Spa 1 Wengen Off Piste Powder Performance 2 Learn to Ski Powder 2

Val Thorens Les Arcs Madonna St Anton Davos Wengen Bad Hofgastein Sainte Foy Obergurgl Flaine Laax Damüls Zermatt Andermatt Madonna Engelberg Lech Bad Hofgastein Wengen Gressoney Flaine

Development 70 Development 71 S Action 80 S Off Piste 28 Action 80 S Action 80 S Development 75 S Off Piste 43 Action 81 S Off Piste 22 Action 81 S Off Piste 34 Action 81 Off Piste 29 Action 82 Off Piste 29 S Development 75 Action 82 S Off Piste 38 S Off Piste 36 Off Piste 22

Peter Sussman Ski & Schnapps

Date

Holiday

Feb 06-13 Schladming Schuss Feb 06-13 Ski & Spa 2 Feb 20-27 Ski & Spa 3 Feb 25-10 Colorado Experience Feb 27-05 Italian Off Piste Adventure 2 Feb 27-05 Austrian Action 1 Feb 27-05 Adelboden Off Piste Adventure 2 Feb 28-06 Austrian Achievement 2 Mar 05-12 Improvers Powder Skills 3 Mar 05-12 Norwegian Peaks Mar 05-12 Italian Indulgence Mar 05-12 Chamonix Off Piste Improvement 2 Mar 05-12 Austrian Improvers 2 Mar 12-19 Virgin Snow 2 Mar 12-19 Austrian Action 2 Mar 12-19 Parsenn Powder Week Mar 15-24 Davos &Lenzerheide Extravaganza Mar 19-26 Adventurous Powder 5 Mar 19-26 Swiss Bliss 2 Mar 26-02 Improvers Powder Skills 5 Apr 09-16 Final Fling

Resort

Zone

Page

standard

Schladming Bad Hofgastein Bad Hofgastein Vail / Aspen Ponte di Legno Zell am See Adelboden Bad Hofgastein Flaine Trysil Canazei Chamonix Lech Madonna Zell am See Davos Lenzerheide/Davos Flaine Laax Flaine Obergurgl

Action 82 Action 82 Action 82 Action 83 Off Piste 33 Action 84 Off Piste 34 Development 75 Off Piste 22 Action 85 Action 85 Off Piste 26 Development 75 Action 82 Action 84 Off Piste 41 Action 85 Off Piste 22 Action 81 Off Piste 22 Action 85

S S

S S S S S S

family holidays / peak experience

PE Peak

The Peak Experience Freshtracks holidays give older skiers the opportunity to ski with members of compatible ages.

Off Piste olidays for a range of abilities – from those looking H to learn the ropes through to expert powder hounds! Experienced mountain guides will take you to the heart of the mountains and find exhilarating powder skiing Venture even further from the crowds with day tours on one of our ‘Exploration’ weeks

Ross Woodhall

21 off piste

Escape the crowds

Enjoy the thrill of off piste skiing

Chalet Freshtracks Amazed at just how good the trip was. Great chalet and hostess. Great guides. Alasdair Macleod Adventurous Powder 2

Our off piste instruction weeks in Flaine are without doubt some of the most popular holidays in our programme, as they really do offer something quite special. The winning combination of first class instruction with Yann, Diane, Alain and their team, and a warm welcome from our chalet staff is the top choice for many of our regular customers who return to Flaine again and again. Our two chalets are very similar in layout and style and are both located in the colourful Scandinavian-style development, Les Chalets du Hameau. Close by, you’ll find a grocery store, restaurant and bar, plus there’s free transport which runs to and from the main resort until midnight. Each chalet has six bedrooms, with a large open-plan kitchen/lounge/diner complete with Scandinavian woodburner, flat screen TV and wi-fi. In true Scandinavian style, a sauna comes as a prerequisite in order to help you relax and refresh ready for another day’s skiing. The chalet staff will be serving up hearty breakfasts, scrumptious afternoon teas and delicious four course evening meals (with one day off). There is also a good selection of wine to accompany the food.

The Chalets

Great holiday. Instruction fantastic, Chalet Freshtracks was a perfect base. Jackie, Barry & Sue were perfect hosts. I will return. Ed Clapham Improvers Powder Skills 6

Bedrooms The bedrooms in both chalets are very similar, a good size and have traditional wooden chalet styling.

Room 1

Room 4

twin/bath/wc – first floor (as kitchen/lounge/diner)

twin/single – shared bath and wc – second floor

Room 2

Room 5

twin/bath/wc – ground floor

twin/single – shared bath and wc – second floor

Room 3

Room 6

twin/bath/wc – ground floor

twin/single/shower – shared wc – second floor

For more information or to book online visit skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks or call +44 (0)20 8410 2022

off piste

With the combination of great off piste instruction, a warm welcome from your hosts, and the added bonus of having a comfortable, homely chalet to return to after a hard day's skiing – we know that we are on to a winner.

The Instructors Staying in the Freshtracks chalets is made even better by the epic on-snow experience that we want to give you. After an exploratory warm up day, you’ll be taught, guided, coaxed, tweaked (and entertained!) by some brilliant instructors. Yann Westercamp Yann is our head instructor in Flaine and has been managing our weeks for the past 19 years. He first arrived in Flaine in 1969, the same year the resort opened, and has returned every season since! His intricate knowledge of the surrounding mountains and leading expertise means that Yann will always take you to the best snow. An ISIA qualified instructor with years of technical knowledge and experience to draw upon, Yann is held in very high regard amongst Ski Club members. Aside from skiing, as an outdoor sports enthusiast, Yann spends his summers windsurfing, road and mountain biking as well as playing tennis – and sharing all of that with his friends.

Diane Moreau

The Resort At the heart of the Grand Massif, Flaine has fantastic, vast and varied terrain for skiers of all levels. As a resort built because of its majestic mountains and generous dumps of snow, Flaine benefits from one of the best snowfalls across the Alps, with an average of almost six metres a year. With its runs being predominantly north-facing, the resort is renowned for maintaining fantastic snow throughout the season. Situated in the centre of a snowy bowl, there’s a wealth of off piste terrain to ski, both within the bowl and also over the top of the mountain ridges, in between pistes, tree runs, couloirs, gullies, powder fields and backcountry routes dropping from 2,500m down to 700m.

Diane is based in Flaine all winter, every winter, and has a tremendous knowledge of the local mountains. Passionate about skiing and extremely well versed in Flaine’s terrain, Diane knows exactly where to take you to ensure you find couloirs, gullies and mountainsides that will always leave you wanting more. Being a patient teacher who’s always open to new ideas makes Diane very popular with Ski Club members. Her husband and young family are often in Flaine too, and Diane enjoys spending time with them when she’s not on the mountain.

Alain Baudoin Many regulars will already be familiar with Alain who has been a key part of our programme for the past couple of years. Previously director of the ESI ski school in Flaine, he is now working with us all season so he can teach what he loves the most – off piste and powder! Alain has been instructing in the Grand Massif all of his career and is an expert at getting the most from each individual he teaches whether skiing, snowboarding, telemarking or ski touring. Off the snow he is kept busy by his young family but if he has time will be found on either a mountain bike or sailing.

Yann is, as always, the perfect instructor and guide who can find untracked powder right up until the last afternoon. He is always a delight to ski with.

25 off piste

Claire Rimmer Families New Year

We also work regularly with some other highly-regarded instructors carefully chosen by Yann. Luc Demontier and Phillippe Clerc are both outstanding instructors, who have been very well received by our members and consistently receive excellent feedback.

Date

Holiday title

Sat 19 Dec - Sat 26 Dec Sat 26 Dec - Sat 2 Jan Sat 2 Jan - Sat 9 Jan Sat 9 Jan - Sat 16 Jan Sat 16 Jan - Sat 23 Jan Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan Sat 30 Jan - Sat 6 Feb Sat 6 Feb - Sat 13 Feb Sat 13 Feb - Sat 20 Feb Sat 20 Feb - Sat 27 Feb Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar Sat 5 Mar - Sat 12 Mar Sat 12 Mar - Sat 19 Mar Sat 19 Mar - Sat 26 Mar Sat 26 Mar - Sat 2 Apr Sat 2 Apr - Sat 9 Apr Sat 9 Apr - Sat 16 Apr

Christmas Off Piste Improvers Families New Year Improvers Powder Skills 1 Adventurous Powder 1 Learn to Ski Powder 1 Improvers Powder Skills 2 Adventurous Powder 2 Learn to Ski Powder 2 Adventurous Powder 3 Advanced Powder Skills Learn to Ski Powder 3 Improvers Powder Skills 3 Adventurous Powder 4 Adventurous Powder 5 Improvers Powder Skills 5 Adventurous Powder 6 Flaine Exploration

Standard

S PE S

PE PE PE S

leader price ref

John Cook John Cook Deidre Phillpott Deidre Phillpott Andy Nield Andy Nield Ian Davies Ian Davies Dave Beecham Dave Beecham Baxter Horton Baxter Horton Matthew Clarkson Martin Yates Martin Yates TBC TBC

£999 £1029 £899 £925 £949 £999 £999 £999 £999 £999 £999 £999 £999 £999 £999 £899 £849

014 017 020 030 039 056 069 085 094 100 114 136 152 166 179 185 189

Course only price £399

Luc Demontier

Philippe Clerc

For more information or to book online visit skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks or call +44 (0)20 8410 2022

Our Improvers Powder Skills weeks are designed to improve your off piste skiing - you must have had some experience off piste to be suitable for these weeks. Price includes – Set transfer from Geneva Airport, seven nights chalet board accommodation, twin share, five days instruction and transceiver hire. Course Only – it’s possible to book these weeks on a course only basis (price £399) – including five full days instruction and transceiver hire. Set transfer details: Arrival day: Meet outside the Jazz Café in arrivals hall by latest 14.15h. Coach to depart airport at 14.30h to resort. Departure day: Coach to depart Flaine at approx. 10.00h for arrival at Geneva airport by 12.00h.

Chamonix

The Freshtracks Way The Resort Perhaps the world's most famous off piste destination. With its reputation as a freeride mecca, Chamonix attracts mountain guides and backcountry addicts from around the globe, both to visit and to settle. It’s an area that’s impossible to get bored of, with new challenges each day from powder bowls to demanding couloirs and impressive glacial routes in dramatic scenery. And the best way to experience this legendary terrain? With Freshtracks of course! Our holidays offer: • The

best mountain guides to find you the best snow

• Exclusive

use of Freshtracks minibus

• Excellent

value hotels

The Chamonix lift system consists of several distinct and very different ski areas high above a steep-sided valley where the town and its villages are located. From one day to the next you can explore the resort’s different ski areas: Brévent & Flégère, Les Grands Montets, Le Tour & Vallorcine (Domaine de Balme), L'Aiguille du Midi / La Vallée Blanche and Les Houches. And if that wasn’t enough, the Chamonix MontBlanc lift pass extends over to Courmayeur and even Verbier! All these different areas could prove a challenge if it wasn’t for our minibus to ferry you around. So no need to check bus times and walk to and from stops and lifts, we’ll collect you from the hotel door and take you direct to whichever area you’re skiing that day. These adventure weeks will explore the furthest reaches of all the ski areas in the Chamonix Mont-Blanc valley. The first day will be a free ski day - destination and lunch stop organised by the Leader – to acclimatise you to the surroundings, check kit and get your legs geared up for the challenges ahead. The mountain guides we work with in Chamonix are second to none; each has their own style and specialities and all are true experts and enthusiasts on the area.

The Hotels

Hotel de la Couronne

This convenient 3* hotel is in a fantastic central location, just a moment's walk from the bustling centre of Chamonix. The hotel has recently been refurbished to a high standard yet keeps its chalet feel from the décor of bare wood and traditional fabrics. Your stay is on a half board basis including a hearty breakfast buffet and four course evening meal. In addition it is also well equipped with a sauna and jacuzzi to help you relax, and all modcons in your rooms including TV and wifi. bestmontblanc.com/hotel-prieure

One of the oldest hotels in the valley, the 3* Hotel de la Couronne is an all-time favourite which our members return to again and again. With a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, located right in the heart of Argentière and at the foot of the Grand Montets, it’s the perfect base for an off piste holiday. You'll be staying on a half board basis, so you can take advantage of the delicious menu at the new hotel restaurant Les Chèserys. hotelcouronne.com

off piste

Hotel Prieuré

Hotel l’Héliopic This beautiful 4* hotel is located at the foot of the Aiguille du Midi lift, facing the Mont Blanc. The room interiors are elegant, modern and cosy and as you’ll be staying on a half board basis, you'll be able to enjoy some great food in the hotel’s two restaurants. Not only is the location fantastic, the hotel has a bar and a wellness area which boasts a big indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna, ice grotto, ice bath, tepidarium and relaxation area to let you unwind after a hard day's skiing. heliopic-hotel-spa.com

Date Holiday title

Standard

Jan 16-23 Chamonix Off Piste Improvement 1 Jan 23-30 Chamonix Off Piste Adventure 1 Feb 06-13 Chamonix Off Piste Exploration Feb 20-27 Chamonix Off Piste Adventure 2 Feb 27-05 Chamonix Off Piste Adventure 3 Mar 05-12 PE Chamonix Off Piste Improvement 2 Mar 12-19 Chamonix Off Piste Adventure 4

Great holiday, great guides and superb Leader. Ben Strutt Cham Slam 2

leader guides/instructors hotel price ref

Gerry Aitken Gerry Aitken Mark Borland Brian Horn Brian Horn David Baker David Baker

Roland Steiger, Matthieu Desprat Matthieu Desprat, Graham McMahon Stuart MacDonald, Kathy Murphy Simon Abrahams, Paul Farmer Graham McMahon, Stuart MacDonald Roland Steiger, Matthieu Desprat Paul Farmer, Simon Abrahams

Price includes – Seven nights half board accommodation, twin share, five days with mountain guides, transceiver hire, and private minibus service. Course only – it’s possible to book these weeks on a course only basis - £435 including five full days instruction.

Hotel l'Héliopic 4* - half board, twin share Hotel Prieuré 3* - half board, twin share Hotel Prieuré 3* - half board, twin share Hotel de la Couronne 3* - half board, twin share Hotel de la Couronne 3* - half board, twin share Hotel Prieuré 3* - half board, twin share Hotel Prieuré 3* - half board, twin share

£1199 £1099 £1099 £950 £950 £1099 £1050

For more information or to book online visit skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks or call +44 (0)20 8410 2022

040 062 088 102 122 139 156

Ross Woodhall

Premier Party

Mountaincraft Course

Val d’Isère | France

Tignes | France

Arlberg Achievement

Our most popular Freshtracks holiday, the Premier Party is for those who can’t wait to get back up on the mountain at the beginning of the season. It’s an excellent way to escape the pre-Christmas hubbub and enjoy all that the Espace Killy has to offer. You’ll be skiing with some of the best mountain guides and instructors in the Alps, renowned for finding incredible early season freshtracks, giving even the most advanced skier ways of improving, and ensuring everyone has a good time. You’ll be staying in the Chalet Hotel Le Val d’Isère, (accommodation provided by Mark Warner) just a short walk from the lifts and in the centre of the village and the thriving après scene.

Spend six fascinating days with mountain guides learning about avalanche awareness, snow structure, transceivers, navigation and route choice, equipment emergencies, survival and weather conditions – all vital skills for skiers who like to venture far from civilisation. Use the lifts to access most of the off piste routes, as well as being introduced to touring equipment and techniques (weather permitting). Aimed at fit and strong intermediate off piste skiers and above, who have experience in varied conditions on and off piste. Accommodation is at the recently renovated Chalet Hotel L’Aiguille Percée, right in the centre of Tignes Le Lac, near the Aeroski and Palafour lifts. Choice of evening meal with wine included, accommodation and travel provided by Mark Warner.

St Anton is a mecca for skiers worldwide and is the perfect place to improve your skills. Watch your skiing progress while you discover the slopes of St Anton, St Christoph, Stüben, Lech and Zürs, which are all covered by one lift pass. The instructors and guides will help you explore the region, develop your technique and enjoy the best early season snow. The village of St Anton is buzzing with life, combining Austrian cosiness with cosmopolitan sophistication. The car-free centre is lined with lively bars, cafés and boutiques. The Chalet Hotel Rosanna and the Sporthotel are in the best location possible, close together in the centre of town.

Course only price: £450 • Six days skiing with mountain guides and instructors • Choice of evening meal and wine included • Book early to avoid disappointment – this trip regularly sells out

7 Nights

Date Ski Club Leader Touring Standard Accommodation Flights Maximum Climb Mountain Guide or Instructor Transfer See pages 6-7 for ski standards descriptions on piste: off piste: Bookings and information: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks | +44 (0)20 8410 2022

£899

Sun 6 Dec - Sun 13 Dec Peter Vicarri, Carole Hussell Severin Marchand, Pascal Arpin, Pierre Liotard, Jean Marc Pic, Olivier Carrere, Patrick Spezialli, Tchenko, Uffe, Alain Vaufrey, Serge Strippentoir, Didier Pointiere, Ben Langridge Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel le Val d'Isère - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF004

Course only price: £450 days skiing with mountain guides learning experience for strong off-piste skiers • Comprehensive

£1199

Sun 13 Dec - Sun 20 Dec Peter Burwood Dave Cummings, Jim Kerr Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel Aiguille Percée - half board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF012

*Regional options available

• Charming

and bustling Austrian resort of Chalet Hotel Rosanna (Mark Warner) or 4* Sporthotel • Choice

• Six

7 Nights

St Anton | Austria

7 Nights £1050/£1360

Sun 13 Dec - Sun 20 Dec Kim Moss Andy Thurner, Arlberg Guides Charter, Gatwick - Friedrichshafen Coach, 2 hrs Chalethotel Rosanna - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF010 or: Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2.5 hrs Sporthotel 4* - half board, twin share • sporthotel-stanton.at REF010a

29 off piste

Andermatt Adventure

Engelberg Extreme

For the more experienced powder hunters amongst you, Andermatt has enormous off piste opportunities and a reputation for generous dumps of snow, making it one of Switzerland’s best off piste resorts. Renowned for its reliable snowfall and exhilarating off piste terrain, Andermatt features a number of ski areas along its valley side and has been a favourite with Ski Club groups for many years. Make the most of six days’ exploration with your knowledgeable mountain guides. Evenings can be spent unwinding in the peaceful village of Andermatt at the charming 3* Hotel Sonne.

Engelberg is a traditional Swiss village with a tremendous snow record and skiing to over 3,000m on Mount Titlis. Nestled above Trübsee, there are sheltered bowls where the snow is deep and light, protected from the wind and perfect for practising powder turns. If you’re adventurous, you could take the opportunity to ski Galtiberg, a local secret that starts near Mount Titlis, crosses glaciers, open powder fields and couloirs, and passes rock buttresses and frozen waterfalls before finishing in the valley some 2,000m lower. After a long day on the mountain, return to the centrally located Hotel Terrace – situated just a short walk from the main cable car – for your five-course evening buffet with wine, also included in the price.

Andermatt | Switzerland

Engelberg | Switzerland

Six days skiing with mountain guides Four separate ski areas to explore • First trip is New Year – start yours as you mean to go on! •

Six day Engelberg list pass included Six days skiing with local mountain guides and instructors • A good level of fitness is required as there may be some skinning

•

• •

LIFT PASS INCLUDED 7 Nights

£1499

Sun 27 Dec - Sun 3 Jan Simon White Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Sonne 3* - half board, twin share • hotelsonneandermatt.ch REF018 PE

7 Nights

£1150

Sat 16 Jan - Sat 23 Jan George Hnatkiwskyi Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Not included Rail, 2 hrs Hotel Sonne 3* - half board, twin share • hotelsonneandermatt.ch REF042

7 Nights

£1150

Sat 5 Mar - Sat 12 Mar TBC Sandro Borini Not included Rail, 2 hrs Hotel Sonne 3* - half board, twin share • hotelsonneandermatt.ch REF143 7 Nights

£1150

Sat 19 Mar - Sat 26 Mar Archie Park Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Not included Rail, 2 hrs Hotel Sonne 3* - half board, twin share • hotelsonneandermatt.ch REF173

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 2 Jan - Sat 9 Jan John Haddon Roger Christen, Fredi Krummenacher Not included Rail, 2 hrs Hotel Terrace 3* - single room, twin share • titlis.ch REF019 S PE

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan Peter Heap Roger Christen, Fredi Krummenacher Not included Rail, 2 hrs Hotel Terrace 3* - single room, twin share • titlis.ch REF052

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 30 Jan - Sat 6 Feb Duncan Spink Roger Christen, Fredi Krummenacher Not included Rail, 2 hrs Hotel Terrace 3* - single room, twin share • titlis.ch REF078 S

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 12 Mar - Sat 19 Mar Andy Monks Roger Christen, Fredi Krummenacher Not included Rail, 2 hrs Hotel Terrace 3* - single room, twin share • titlis.ch REF159

Italian Off Piste Instruction Passo Tonale | Italy

Passo Tonale is tucked up in the Trentino region of Italy on the border with Lombardy. The resort is set relatively high at 1,883m and reaches peaks of up to 3,100m so boasts excellent conditions throughout the winter. There is plenty of great terrain here for those new to off piste. The Paradiso in particular is a fantastic area for improving skills that allows you to return to the piste whenever you want – ideal to build confidence. With the off piste instruction well under way you can then take these new skills on to some of the more challenging itineraries in the area. You’ll be able to soothe your aches and pains away in the Hotel Albergo Angelo's wellness centre before an aperitif in the bar and a delicious Italian four-course dinner to set you up for the following day. Three days with local instructors, three days with your Ski Club Leader Seven nights half board in family run 3* hotel in the centre of the village • Many north facing off piste routes • •

LIFT PASS INCLUDED 7 Nights

£950

Sat 9 Jan - Sat 16 Jan Eamonn Murphy Scuola Italiana di Sci Tonale Presena Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach, 2.5 hrs Albergo Angelo 3* - half board, twin share • albergoangelo.it REF024

7 Nights

£875

Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar Senan Hennessy Scuola Italiana di Sci Tonale Presena Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach, 2.5 hrs Albergo Angelo 3* - half board, twin share • albergoangelo.it REF116

Ross Woodhall

31 off piste

Nendaz Singles Off Piste Nendaz | Switzerland

The ‘4 Vallées’ is known for extensive, challenging slopes with a lot of off piste and long bump runs. From Nendaz you can find some of the world’s most renowned off piste; the routes down the back of the Mont Fort Glacier or the Stairway to Heaven take you into the bowl to the right of Mont Fort, boasting great views of Mont Gelé. Skiing with mountain guides from Neige Aventure you’ll enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Rhône Valley whilst exploring the wide variety of terrain within Mont Fort, Verbier, La Tzoumaz and Bruson. The Alpvision residences offer comfortable apartment accommodation close to the lifts and the benefit of your own room. Breakfast and three course evening meals will be provided at Cantina restaurant. Six days skiing with local mountain guides Centrally located apartments just a short walk from the main cable car • Single room at no supplement • •

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 9 Jan - Sat 16 Jan Harriet Younger Neige Aventure Not included Rail, 3 hrs Alpvision Residences 3* - half board, single room in apartment • alpvisionresidences.com REF028

7 Nights

£1299

Sat 20 Feb - Sat 27 Feb TBC Neige Aventure Not included Rail, 3 hrs Alpvision Residences 3* - half board, single room in apartment • alpvisionresidences.com REF165

Salomon

Off Piste Progression Tignes | France

Sun 31 Jan - Sun 7 Feb Andrew Murphy Patrick Speziali, Serge Strippentoir, Tchenko Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel Aiguille Percée - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF080

7 Nights

• Six days skiing with local mountain guides and instructors • Fantastic and plentiful breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner • A good level of fitness and some experience of skiing off piste is required

7 Nights

£1050

Sun 10 Jan - Sun 17 Jan Per Brunkstedt Pascal Arpin, Tchenko, Remy Schmitt Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel Aiguille Percée - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF031 * Regional options available

£1099

Sun 7 Feb - Sun 14 Feb John Shurmer Patrick Speziali, Serge Strippentoir, Tchenko Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel Aiguille Percée - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF093

7 Nights

Course only price: £450

£1099

£1150

Sun 21 Feb - Sun 28 Feb John Cahill Pascal Arpin, Serge Strippentoir, Fred Baude Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel Aiguille Percée - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF106

7 Nights

£1150

Sun 13 Mar - Sun 20 Mar Robert Greatbach Serge Strippentoir, Tchenko, Valerie Mais Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel Aiguille Percée - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF161

Italian Off Piste Adventure Ponte di Legno | Italy

The Adamello ski area is the new place for freeride skiers. With improved lift systems and access it is swiftly becoming one of the top off piste destinations in Italy – so best get in quickly before the masses arrive! Ponte di Legno itself is just down the valley from Passo Tonale and is linked by a cable car enabling easy access to a vast number of itineraries and routes. The area is snowsure thanks to the number of glaciers and much of the off piste is north facing. Your accommodation for the week is the 4* Hotel Mirella, situated close to the lifts and historic village centre where you can return each evening for a much needed swim and sauna, as well as fantastic Italian hospitality. Six days off piste with mountain guides Seven nights half board in 4* hotel • Swimming pool and sauna • •

7 Nights

£1250

Sat 9 Jan - Sat 16 Jan Darryl Shailes Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Mirella 4* - half board, twin share •hotelmirella.it REF026

7 Nights

£1299

Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar Andy Witterick Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Mirella 4* - half board, twin share •hotelmirella.it REF117

7 Nights

£1299

Sat 12 Mar - Sat 19 Mar Ken Piddlesden Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Mirella 4* - half board, twin share •hotelmirella.it REF158

Excellent for all aspiring off piste skiers especially if their partners don't ski to the same level. Eric Biddulph Off Piste Progression 1

33 off piste

The Espace Killy is one of the greatest off piste ski areas in the Alps; an abundance of valleys, couloirs, powder fields and trees to tackle and conquer for all. Spending six days with local mountain guides and instructors, you’ll be skiing hard all day, taking in the spectacular views and exploring the wealth of terrain at your ski tips. This is an ideal holiday if you want to challenge yourself and really improve your off piste proficiency - the instructors offer excellent coaching to enhance your skiing and technique. Accommodation is at the recently renovated Chalet Hotel L’Aiguille Percée, right in the centre of Tignes Le Lac, near the Aeroski and Palafour lifts. Choice of evening meal with wine included, accommodation and travel provided by Mark Warner.

7 Nights

Val d’Isère Off Piste Development Val d’Isère | France

I've always enjoyed the Freshtracks holidays. This was no exception. All very well organised and good skiing companions. Suzanna Perkins St Anton Adventure 1

The Espace Killy is one of the greatest off piste areas in the Alps - from popular routes like Piste Perdue and the Lavachet Wall, to the couloirs of Pisteurs and Telegraph. Whatever your standard this resort has it all, so if you want to challenge yourself and bring on your off piste proficiency, this holiday is for you. Coaching in off piste technique and how to deal with different snow conditions will be the focus of the week. A good level of fitness will mean you get the most out of this, as hour after hour in the powder can be tiring. Accommodation is in the Chalet Hotel Le Val d’Isère slap bang in the centre of town.

See pages 6-7 for ski standards descriptions on piste: off piste: Bookings and information: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks | +44 (0)20 8410 2022

Damüls | Austria

Damüls ranks among the most beautiful winter destinations in the Alps. According to one study, Damüls holds the record as the snowiest village worldwide – with an average of 9.3m of fresh snow every year there’s sure to be plenty of powder! Spending three days with a local instructor and three days with our Leader you’ll be improving your technique whilst discovering Bregenzerwald’s largest ski area and all its impressive peaks. The resort itself is in a spectacular setting with a lively après scene at the foot of the lifts. Your base for the week will be the beautiful and centrally located Alpenhotel Mittagspitze 4*, known for its fine dining and excellent service.

Adelboden | Switzerland

Surrounded by beautiful scenery at the end of the Engstligenalp valley in the middle of the Bernese Oberland lies the charming resort of Adelboden. Your first day will be an on piste warm up with your Club Leader before venturing further afield with local guides Christian Wäfler and Hans Hostettler. They’ve been a hit with our exploration groups and will take you to the best snow. The mountain restaurants are excellent – although with the hearty breakfasts and delicious evening meals being served up by the 4* Hotel Beausite, you may not have room to enjoy them too much! • Five

days with mountain guides hotel with sauna and jacuzzi • Over 200km of pistes to explore, plus easily accessible off piste • 4*

Course only price: £450 • Six

full days with instructors flight options available • Choice of evening meal with wine included • Regional

Date Ski Club Leader Touring Standard Accommodation Flights Maximum Climb Mountain Guide or Instructor Transfer

Adelboden Off Piste Adventure

Damüls Descents

7 Nights

£1199

Sun 17 Jan - Sun 24 Jan Russ Farn The Development Centre Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel le Val d'Isère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF043 * Regional options available

• Three days with a local instructor, three days with your Ski Club Leader • Hotel in excellent location close to pistes and amenities • Opportunity to explore this lesser known part of Austria

7 Nights

£1250

Sat 16 Jan - Sat 23 Jan Brian Wingrove Helfried Bischof Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2.5 hrs Alpenhotel Mittagspitze 4* - half board, twin share • alpenhotel-mittagspitze.at REF035

7 Nights

£1399

Sat 16 Jan - Sat 23 Jan Lewis Panther Christian Wäfler, Hans Hostettler Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Beausite 4* - half board, twin share • hotelbeausite.ch REF041 PE

7 Nights

£1499

Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar Sally Dunkley Christian Wäfler, Hans Hostettler Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Beausite 4* - half board, twin share • hotelbeausite.ch REF124

Ross Woodhall

Val d’Anniviers Off Piste

Pure Gold

Alagna | Italy

If you’re looking for an opportunity to seek out some supreme powder, why not consider a trip to off piste heaven? A week packed full of powder skiing is on offer, with top local guides giving you a chance to sample the delights of this relatively unknown area. Grimentz, a fairytale village offering magnificent views over the Val d’Anniviers, is charming, authentic and picturesque - all the ingredients are there for an enjoyable and rewarding holiday. days skiing with local mountain guides area so you have the place to yourselves • A good level of fitness is required as it’s likely that there will be some skinning

off piste

Grimentz | Switzerland

An off piste week to remember! This year the stunning and challenging mountains of the Monte Rosa range will be the destination for the expert trip. Lying at the foot of the mighty Monte Rosa, marked runs are few and far between; this is essentially an off piste paradise. With off piste runs of over 2,000m vertical possible, plus scope for day tours and heli skiing it makes a perfect destination for our expert free skiers. Andrea and his team will ensure you cover as much terrain as possible, testing your skills to the max.

• Six

• Little-known

7 Nights

• Six

days with local mountain guides resort and cosy hotel • A good level of fitness is essential – ski touring and heli skiing possible • Quiet

£1399

Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan Caroline Stuart-Taylor Romain Tavelli Not included Coach, 3 hrs Hotel Cristal Grimentz 3* - half board, twin share • cristalhotel.ch REF053 7 Nights

£1499

Sat 19 Mar - Sat 26 Mar Susie Amann Romain Tavelli Scheduled, Heathrow - Geneva Coach, 3 hrs Hotel Cristal Grimentz 3* - half board, twin share • cristalhotel.ch REF167

7 Nights

£999

Sat 30 Jan - Sat 6 Feb Ed Killick Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Scheduled, Gatwick - Turin Coach, 2.5 hrs Albergo Mirella 3* - B&B, twin share • alagna.it REF074

Ross Woodhall

Peter Viccari

Powder Performance Gressoney | Italy

Not everyone has heard of the Monte Rosa ski area but it plays host to some of the best off piste skiing in Europe. If you’re a competent skier in powder then you’ll love the brilliant off piste runs from the high points of the lift system in all three valleys down to the quaint resort villages. Local guides and instructors will show you all the skiing on offer and there might even be the opportunity for a heli drop or two if it takes your fancy (payable locally). The Hotel Dufour is located opposite the chairlift so no time is wasted as you get your adventure underway each morning. • Six days skiing with local mountain guides and instructors • Superbly located hotel • Tranquil, quaint and relaxing resort +

7 Nights

£1150

Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan Joanna Jordan Guide Monterosa Scheduled, Gatwick - Turin Coach, 2 hrs Hotel Dufour 3* - half board, twin share • hoteldufour.it REF061 PE

7 Nights

£1150

Sat 30 Jan - Sat 6 Feb Truda Odor Guide Monterosa Scheduled, Gatwick - Turin Coach, 2 hrs Hotel Dufour 3* - half board, twin share • hoteldufour.it REF075

Adrenalin in Alagna Alagna | Italy

Six days with local mountain guides Quiet resort and cosy hotel • A good level of fitness is essential • •

7 Nights

£999

Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan Bob West Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Scheduled, Gatwick - Turin Coach, 2.5 hrs Albergo Mirella 3* - B&B, twin share • alagna.it REF060 7 Nights

£999

Sat 5 Mar - Sat 12 Mar Kim Moss Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Scheduled, Heathrow - Linate Coach, 3 hrs Albergo Mirella 3* - B&B, twin share • alagna.it REF140

St Anton Adventure

Park City & Jackson Hole | USA

St Anton | Austria

Following the success of our Utah trip last year, this ski safari, which gives the opportunity to ski seven resorts in two weeks across two states, should not only live up to, but hopefully exceed, last year's trip. The trip begins in Park City - your base for 4 days. From here you’ll ski Deer Valley, the Canyons and Park City Mountain Resort. There will be a travel day to Jackson Hole, but rest assured it's worth the 5-hour journey to experience one of the best resorts in North America. You’ll have 6 full days to experience this unrivalled ski area, including a guided day on the Teton Pass and a CAT skiing day at Grand Targhee Resort. You’ll then move onto Alta which allows access to Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude. Here you’ll be staying in the Alta Peruvian Lodge which has welcomed guests since 1948 with its old-world atmosphere and rustic charm.

St Anton’s reputation attracts skiers from all over the world, and the off piste skiing is arguably the finest in Austria. Mountain guides and instructors will provide you with six days of exploring the long and challenging bump runs as well as the extensive off piste opportunities. At the end of each day you can relax in the Chalet Hotel Rosanna, located in the heart of the town (accommodation and travel provided by Mark Warner). Or for those with energy to spare there’s always the legendary St Anton après ski scene!

As part of the Trois Vallées, Courchevel is in a prime location. Sample the quality of liftserved terrain with the guidance of expert instructors to discover the off piste potential the area has on offer. You’ll have six full days with your instructor to get as much snow under your skis as possible and hone your technique. In the evenings you can enjoy the comforts of the Chalet Hotel Dahu, where the Mark Warner team will provide plentiful breakfasts, afternoon tea and a three-course evening meal with wine.

• Six days skiing with local mountain guides and instructors • A good level of fitness is required as there are a number of long, continuous, off piste runs • Choice of evening meal with wine included

Course only price: £450 slope-side chalet full days with instructors • A good level of fitness is required as there are a number of long, continuous, off piste runs

7 Nights

• Experience

seven resorts in two weeks • Spend a day CAT skiing in Grand Targhee Mountain Resort • Explore the Teton Pass with qualified mountain guides 14 Nights

£2299

Fri 26 Feb - Fri 11 Mar Kim Easdale Exum Mountain Guides Not included Private minibus 1hr Park City Peaks - 4 nights B+B / 49'er Suites and Inn 6 nights B+B / Alta Peruvian Lodge 4 nights fully catered, twinshare • parkcitypeaks.com • townsquareinns.com • altaperuvian.com REF113

Courchevel | France

£1299

Sun 24 Jan - Sun 31 Jan Andy Thompson Andy Thurner, Arlberg Guides Charter, Gatwick - Friedrichshafen Coach 1.5 hrs Chalet Hotel Rosanna - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF065 7 Nights

Trois Vallées Off Piste

£1350

Sun 6 Mar - Sun 13 Mar David Sterland Andy Thurner, Arlberg Guides Charter, Gatwick - Friedrichshafen Coach 1.5 hrs Chalet Hotel Rosanna - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF148

• Comfortable • Six

£1199

Sun 24 Jan - Sun 31 Jan Genevieve Lawson Andy Parker, JoJo O'Brien - Ski Marmalade Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 2.5 hrs Chalet Hotel Dahu - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF064 7 Nights

£1250

Sun 6 Mar - Sun 13 Mar Alan Parker Andy Parker, JoJo O'Brien - Ski Marmalade Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 2.5 hrs Chalet Hotel Dahu - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF146 *Regional options available

37 off piste

Alagna has been dubbed by the skiing press as ‘the Italian La Grave’. Lying at the foot of the mighty Monte Rosa, it does have some marked runs but is essentially an off piste paradise. A cable car rises from the quaint village and the skiing links to neighbouring Gressoney and Champoluc, providing a wide variety of off piste terrain for you to explore with your mountain guides. Higher up, you’ll find open bowls and narrow couloirs, some of which are accessed by rope. Return in the evenings to the low-key and friendly resort and hotel to rest up before the fun begins again the following day!

Ultimate Ski America

It must be about my 10th Freshtracks holiday — says it all! Tina Szucs St Anton Adventure 1

Wicked Off Piste

Wengen Off Piste

Les Diablerets | Switzerland

Wengen | Switzerland

Learn to Ski Off Piste

Every year these weeks continue to come out on top with the snow conditions and in an area that’s relatively quiet, powder can last for weeks! Let your guides show you around the ski areas of Les Diablerets and Villars, exploring all of the excellent terrain on offer, especially the steeper, lengthy and challenging off piste runs. Under their guidance and inspiration, and with the Glacier 3,000 guaranteeing snow, there’s much to thrill you in this traditional, unspoilt area. Your base will be the Swiss Historic Hotel du Pillon – an establishment oozing tradition and charm. With spacious bedrooms and excellent cuisine it’s sure to make for a memorable stay.

With skiing alternating between on and off piste during the week, your Ski Club Leader and local mountain guide will ensure maximum levels of skiing and fun. Revel in skiing surrounded by the beautiful scenery and amazing backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains, as you dip off the side of the piste and float down through the trees. Staying at the lovely and conveniently located 4* Hotel Sunstar, after your skiing you can relax in the swimming pool, sauna or solarium before enjoying a sumptuous five course dinner in their charming restaurant.

Les Deux Alpes has over 1,400 hectares of off piste terrain including La Fée bowl, the Vallons Diable itinerary and La Dome Glacier. With six full days of off piste instruction you’ll soon be tackling all of this head on – conquering runs at the end of the week that looked way too scary at the start! Off the snow, the resort’s many bars and pubs offer a warm and fun atmosphere in the evenings, or if you prefer you can return to the chalet and relax in the sauna, steam room and heated indoor pool before a delicious three course dinner. Accommodation and travel provided by Mark Warner.

• Three days skiing with a local instructor, three days with your Ski Club Leader • Centrally located 4* hotel located on main street opposite cable car • Delicious food, relaxing pool, wellness centre and piano bar

Course only price: £450

• Swiss Historic Hotel based on the outskirts of the village • Six days skiing with mountain guides • A good level of fitness is required as it is likely that there will be some skinning

Les Deux Alpes | France

Six days with instructors Single room at no extra cost • Choice of evening meal with wine included • •

7 Nights

£1099

Sun 31 Jan - Sun 7 Feb Bob Dixson Alexandra Chapman Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 2 hrs Chalethotel Bérangère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF082 7 Nights

£1399

Sat 30 Jan - Sat 6 Feb Tim Ingham Andy Perkins, Julie Ann Clyma Not included Set minibus transfer Hotel du Pillion 3* - half board, twin share • hoteldupillon.ch REF072

PE S

7 Nights

£1499

Sat 30 Jan - Sat 6 Feb Paul Whitehead Hano Tschabold Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach / Rail, 3 hrs Sunstar Hotel Wengen 4* - half board, single room • sunstar.ch/wengen REF073

7 Nights

£1150

Sun 21 Feb - Sun 28 Feb Simon Greaves Alexandra Chapman Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 2 hrs Chalethotel Bérangère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF107 * Regional options available

Salomon

Crans Montana Off Piste

La Grave | France

Crans Montana | Switzerland

La Grave is truly a legend among off piste skiers and once you sample its un-groomed, raw terrain you’ll understand why. A three stage gondola takes you from the valley floor to over 3,000 metres, where your local guides help you discover an endless number of routes through couloirs, gullies, powder fields, trees and glacial terrain – the choice is endless. You’ll have some of the best guides in the business to show you round this amazing ski area. The cosy hotel in this quiet resort is the perfect place to rest after a day in the powder. Go on – challenge yourself.

If you’ve always thought of Crans Montana as a resort for the rich and famous you may have been right, but there’s an advantage to this for good skiers – while the glitterati are sipping champers in the bars, you can stake claim to all the off piste terrain you can get your hands on! And you’ll certainly make the most of it with the local instructors, who will be finding you the best snow conditions as well as helping you improve your skiing to better equip you for the challenges ahead. Home for the week is the family run Hotel Olympic, with a convivial bar to unwind after the day's exploits.

off piste

La Grave Adventure

• Six

• Six days with local off piste specialist instructor • Few skiers = no lift queues! • Excellent opportunity to see a different side to a classic resort

days skiing with local mountain guides of charm at the cosy Auberge Edelweiss • Fantastic off piste resort with truly excellent ski terrain • Plenty

7 Nights

£1099

Sat 6 Feb - Sat 13 Feb Andrezj Kowalski Jean Y. Hubaud, Philippe Andre, Maxant Danilo Not included Coach transfer from Geneva, 3 hrs Auberge Edelweiss 3* - half board, twin share • hotel-edelweiss.com REF084 7 Nights

£1099

Sat 5 Mar - Sat 12 Mar Nicholas Stuart-Taylor Jean Y. Hubaud, Philippe Andre, Maxant Danilo Not included Coach transfer from Geneva, 3 hrs Auberge Edelweiss 3* - half board, twin share • hotel-edelweiss.com REF144

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 6 Feb - Sat 13 Feb Ali Ataie Jean-Marc Wyss Not included Rail, 3 hrs Hotel Olympic 3* - half board, twin share • hotelolympic.ch REF087 7 Nights

£1199

Sat 20 Feb - Sat 27 Feb TBC Jean-Marc Wyss Not included Rail, 3 hrs Hotel Olympic 3* - half board, twin share • hotelolympic.ch REF104

Ross Woodhall

Slovakian Off Piste Ski & Spa

Families Half Term Off Piste

Jasná | Slovakia

Engelberg | Switzerland

Have you ever thought of skiing Slovakia before? There are so many reasons why you should visit this spectacular destination. Freeride: there are 12 dedicated freeride zones in Jasná, all within the safety of a ‘North American-esque’ environment, ranging from the easier, safer lines through to the ultra-challenging. Access: a direct flight from Luton to Poprad leaves you with just a 45-minute trip to resort. Freshtracks: whilst the weekends can sometimes get slightly busy, the weekdays are much quieter, leaving the powder all to you. Spa: indoor or outdoor jacuzzi? Finnish sauna or aromatherapy steam? These are the taxing dilemmas you’ll face on this trip! The boutique hotel Tri Studnicky is tucked away into the hillside just a short drive from the main resort. A great value trip at just £799.

This half term holiday is aimed at families who are already experienced skiers – so your children will be 13 years plus. The setting is the town of Engelberg (Angel Mountain) that gets its name from the 12th century Benedictine monastery that dominates the town. This resort is renowned for its reliable snowfall and exhilarating off piste terrain. Discovery is the name of the game as you improve your off piste skiing whilst powder hunting with the qualified mountain guides. Aimed at our ‘aspirer’ off piste level and above, your guides will give you hints and tips to help you stay upright in the deep stuff, and they regulary find untracked snow when it seems no-one else can. • Six

days with local mountain guides at the Hotel Terrace with five course evening buffet and wine included during dinner • Fun resort with plenty of family activities for après – if you have the energy! • Staying

• Six

full days with instructors opportunity to improve and build confidence off piste • Fantastic spa facilities • Excellent

Lift pass included 7 Nights

£799

Sun 7 - Sun 14 Feb TBC Jasná Nizke Tatry Ski School Not included Set transfer from Poprad Tatry, 45 mins Hotel Tri Studnicky - half board, twin share • tristudnicky.sk REF090

7 Nights

£1499

Sun 14 Feb - Sun 21 Feb Andy Dunfield Roger Christen, Barbara Lechner Scheduled, London City - Zurich Coach, 2 hrs Hotel Terrace 3* - half board, twin share • titlis.ch REF096

La Dolce Vita

Canazei, a charming historic village, is a gateway to the famous Sella Ronda with 450 lifts over 12 resorts and 1,200km of pistes. This terrain opens up countless off piste opportunities and the local instructors here know every inch. Some of the most renowned off piste runs are found on the Pass Pordoi and the Marmolada glacier – both areas very close to Canazei. Long since the battles of WWII left their mark on the mountains, it’s now your turn to leave yours – as fresh tracks! The Hotel Italia is well situated and offers you a warm welcome and some hearty Italian dinners to set you up for the following day.

Vast, world class ski area with endless off piste potential? Fantastic local Italian instructors to showcase it? Charismatic resort filled with tempting shops and bars? Lovely well located hotel with super spa facilities? Sounds like the good life! Many of the holiday makers that come to this beautiful area in the Trentino Dolomites do so for the glamour, so while they cruise the pistes looking fabulous you can keep all the off piste to yourselves. This year we have added in more time off piste with the locals so you can really get to explore the full area. Plus if it all gets too much by the end of the afternoon you can join the beautiful people in Chalet Fiat and soak up the sun with an Aperol Spritz!

Canazei | Italy

• Five

full days skiing with instructors value restaurants and bars on and off the mountain • Fantastic public swimming pool & wellness a short walk from the hotel • Good

7 nights

£1099

Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar George Jenkin Scuola Sci Canazei-Marmolada Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach 2.5 hrs Hotel Italia 3* - halfboard, twinshare • hotelitalia.tn.it REF120 7 nights

£1099

Sat 12 - Sat 19 Mar Vanessa Cornborough Scuola Sci Canazei-Marmolada Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach 2.5 hrs Hotel Italia 3* - halfboard, twinshare • hotelitalia.tn.it REF160

Madonna di Campiglio | Italy

• Six

full days with local instructors/guides • Seven nights half board at the well located Hotel Crozzon 3* Superior • Wellness centre with pool, Turkish bath and sauna

Parsenn Powder and Piste

End of Season Snowdown

Do you sit on the chairlift and watch skiers glide effortlessly down pristine powder slopes, or look at the snaking tracks etched into the mountainside and wish you could do it yourself? If so, come to Davos and learn how. Spend six days exploring this huge area, from the long tree-lined runs, which extend all the way down to the valleys below Davos, to the perfect hidden powder stashes on the Pischa and Rinerhorn mountains and in Klosters. Then return to the impressive 4* Sunstar Parkhotel, to unwind in comfort and enjoy an appetising dinner in the panoramic restaurant.

What could be better than empty slopes and glorious sunshine accompanied by top notch mountain guides and instructors, in the world-renowned off piste mecca that is the Espace Killy? Not much! For a combination of seriously impressive skiing and a captivating village ambience, Val d’Isère has it all. You’ll be able to explore a wealth of exciting off piste terrain and improve your technique with the instructors – so with them and the unrivalled liftservice, you’ll cover plenty of ground. You’ll stay at the comfortable and welcoming Chalet Hotel Le Val d’Isère, just a short walk from the lifts, in the centre of the après scene. Choice of evening meal with wine included, accommodation and travel provided by Mark Warner.

Davos | Switzerland

• Three days skiing with local mountain guides, three days with your Ski Club Leader • Piano bar, lounge and wellness centre • Extensive off piste skiing area with a reliable snow record

Val d’Isère | France

Course only price: £450 • Six

days skiing with instructors located hotel situated in the heart of Val d’Isère • Excellent opportunity for late season off piste • Conveniently

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 20 Feb - Sat 27 Feb Chris Hyde Lorenzo Valenti Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Crozzon 3* - half board, twin share • hotelcrozzon.com/en REF103

PE S

+ 7 Nights

£1450

Sat 12 Mar - Sat 19 Mar Elspeth Woolf Walter von Balmoos Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2 hrs Sunstar Parkhotel 4* - half board, single room • parkhotel-davos.sunstar.ch REF155

7 Nights

£899

Sun 17 Apr - Sun 24 Apr Adrian Gardner Patrick Speziali, Serge Strippentoir, Tchenko Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel le Val d'Isère - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF194

off piste

Sella Ronda Off Piste

Our exploration holidays comprise of single day touring trips. Located within the ‘off piste zone’, the focus is very much on skiing off piste, however, for a couple of hours each day you should expect to be skinning uphill to find the perfect pitch. The amount of skinning involved on each holiday will vary depending on the conditions and terrain – some days you may not do any at all, whereas others could involve up to two hours of ascents. You’ll be based in the same hotel for the week, so on a daily basis you’ll only need to carry your usual off piste safety kit. Underfoot, you’ll need touring skis – or more likely, freeride skis with touring bindings, skins and ski crampons (otherwise known as harcheisen or couteaux). You do not need any previous ski touring experience for these trips, however, you’ll be required to be of a certain ski standard before venturing off piste and you’ll also need to have a good level of fitness. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive ski touring experience, take a look at our Touring Skills weekends in the Weekend section of the brochure. Or, if you’d prefer a hutto-hut adventure, don’t miss the safaris and tours section in our Touring category.

Ross Woodhall

Sainte Foy Exploration

Adelboden Exploration

Sainte Foy | France

Six days skiing with mountain guides and instructors Staying in the beautiful Auberge chalet overlooking the valley • A good level of fitness is required as there will be skinning ascents throughout the week • •

Adelboden | Switzerland

St Gervais | France

Every year, snowfall transforms the Adelboden-Frutigen region, nestling at the foot of the towering Wildstrubel mountain, into a spectacular winter arena. Your local guides, Hans and Christian, have extensive knowledge of this little known area and will use their expertise to give you a holiday to remember. Exploring with these two is a guaranteed action packed ski adventure! While there’s an extensive lift system, you’ll also use touring equipment every day to access some of the more remote and hidden caches of untracked snow, ensuring you get your fix of fresh tracks far from the hustle and bustle of the pistes.

Close to the base of Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc, are the three ski areas of St Gervais, Les Contamines and Mégève, which make up the Evasion ski area. At lower altitude than their more famous neighbour Chamonix, they avoid much of the bad weather associated with high mountains and provide some fantastic tree skiing when the higher resorts are lost in cloud. Each day you’ll travel to one of the three areas with your guide, who will find the best snow around – either straight from the lifts or skinning a bit further afield. Your base will be the family run Hotel Regina. Located close to the town centre it’s a great spot to get out each evening to test out the local restaurants (included on a half board basis).

• Six

7 Nights

£1175

Sat 9 Jan - Sat 16 Jan Gillie Revill Willie Todd, Fred Foxon 1-2 hrs Eurostar, St Pancras - Bourg St. Maurice Minibus, 20 mins Auberge sur la Montagne 3* - half board, twin share • auberge-montagne.com REF025 7 Nights

£1075

Sat 16 Jan - Sat 23 Jan Roo Thorncroft Jean Phillippe Tremblai, Didier Pointiere 1-2 hrs Not included Set transfer from Geneva, 2.5 hrs Auberge sur la Montagne 3* - half board, twin share • auberge-montagne.com REF036

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 5 Mar - Sat 12 Mar Luke Hanson Jean Phillippe Tremblai, Didier Pointiere 1-2 hrs Eurostar, St Pancras - Bourg St. Maurice Minibus, 20 mins Auberge sur la Montagne 3* - half board, twin share • auberge-montagne.com REF145 7 Nights

£1050

Sat 2 Apr - Sat 9 Apr Nicholas Steel Yves Astier, Fred Foxon 1-2 hrs Not included Set transfer from Geneva, 2.5 hrs Auberge sur la Montagne 3* - half board, twin share • auberge-montagne.com REF184

days skiing with mountain guides mountain village and luxury boutique 4* hotel • A good level of fitness is required and skinning experience advantageous • Idyllic

Course only price £495 • Six

days skiing with a mountain guide access to short tours combining lifts and skins to get to the best skiing • Private minibus help you get around • Great

7 Nights

£1250

Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan None Christian Wäfler, Hans Hostettler 1-2 hrs Not included Not included Hotel Beausite 4* - half board, twin share • hotelbeausite.ch REF058

7 Nights

£1050

Sat 30 Jan - Sat 6 Feb Mark Borland Bruce Goodlad 1-2 hrs Not included Not included Hotel Regina 3* - half board dine around, twin share • hotel-le-regina.com REF071

43 off piste

Set in the base of the Tarentaise Valley, Sainte Foy is nestled amongst some of the best off piste ski resorts in France, giving you the opportunity to explore them all in just one week. Each morning the mountain guides will take you to find fresh snow, whether it’s in Val d’Isère, Les Arcs, La Rosière, Sainte Foy, La Plagne or the Three Valleys. Once on the mountain you’ll be able to reap the benefits of the fantastic lift systems, with some skinning to explore and experience the more remote, untracked parts of the Tarentaise Valley. With minibuses on hand to take you from resort to resort you’ll be maximising your time on the snow every day. At the end of each adventure you’ll come back to plentiful evening meals at the welcoming family run Auberge sur la Montagne.

Mont Blanc Exploration

Powder Highway Exploration

British Columbia | Canada The Powder Highway is a collection of fantastic resorts in Western Canada seemingly designed for off piste skiing and snowboarding, including steep trees, open glaciers and pillow fields. The first stop on this 14-day trip is Revelstoke, where you’ll have three days to explore the extensive ski area with your Ski Club Leader and find your ski legs. You’ll then travel onwards to the Valkyr Lodge, accessible by helicopter and located on the north end of the range at Naumulten Mountain. This is a unique opportunity to experience a full week ski touring the authentic backcountry of British Columbia with expert guides. Within a short tour of the lodge there are many attainable ridges and peaks, which means each day a different route can be explored. The last stop on the trip is Nelson, skiing at Whitewater Resort. • Experience

three resorts in two weeks touring with heli shuttle to and from lodge • Exclusive use of the minibus • Backcountry

14 Nights

£2499

Thurs 21 Jan - Thurs 4 Feb Jeff Marksz Valkyr Lodge Guides 1-4 hrs Not included Private minibus Sandman Hotel, Revelstoke / Valkyr Lodge / Prestige Lakeside Resort, Nelson 4 nights B+B, 7 nights full board, 3 nights B+B, twin share REF049

Ross Woodhall

Chamonix Exploration

Beaufortain Exploration Flaine Exploration

Titlis Exploration

Flaine | France

Engelberg | Switzerland

Learn the techniques of ski touring and get away from the crowds under the guidance and inspiration of Yann Westercamp and team. They’ll use their extensive ski touring knowledge to find wonderful skiing off the beaten track. Flaine offers some unbelievably good off piste skiing and after a warm up day, you’ll be ready to get away from it all and discover the hidden gems of the area. Skinning can be tiring but you'll be well energized by hearty breakfasts and replenished with scrumptious afternoon teas and a delicious dinner in Chalet Freshtracks – and don’t forget the sauna for soothing your aching limbs.

Course only price: £435

This week is a great introduction to ski touring and a real ‘away-from-it-all’ experience. Thanks to a micro-climate providing an enviable snow record, you can enjoy exceptional backcountry descents to the bottom of the valleys. This beautiful ski area is steeped in history and tradition, and you’ll discover charming villages such as Hauteluce, Beaufort and Arêches which are a far cry from today’s mass-market resorts. Each day you can glory in untouched terrain - within this paradise, you'll have the privilege of being able to leave your tracks on the dazzling slopes, dotted with mountain huts which are hundreds of years old. It’s what ski dreams are made of!

• Five

•

Standing at 3,238m, Mount Titlis is a little too big to be described as a well-known secret. It is however home to a truly inspiring ski area. Start the day with a twist as you’re whisked up to 3,028m in the revolving Rotair cable car. From here, skins will give you access to some of the best snow and descents in Switzerland. Well known for its crevasses, cliffs and stunning landscape, your local guides will lead the way to the most incredible skiing you can imagine. The plan, weather permitting, is for you to do a 'Titlis Round Tour' over the course of the week. After a satisfying day on the mountain, you'll return to the comfortable Hotel le Terrace for a delicious five course buffet to replenish you ready for the next day.

If you’re an adventurous skier who wants to delve even further into the mountains, this touring holiday delivers on every level. Take the plunge and let our expert mountain guides show you the benefits of using ski touring equipment to explore some of the supreme off piste that the Mont Blanc valley has to offer. The lift system will get you as far as it can, and then it’ll be down to you to get away from it all and find your own private skiing paradise. After a warmup day acclimatising to this high-alpine area, you’ll spend five days exploring some of the most exciting off piste terrain in the world.

Course only price: £399 days with a mountain guide • Centrally located 3* hotel half board • Private minibus for the group

Six days with your mountain guide • Cosy 2* hotel in Arêches-Beaufort • No prior touring experience required

Five days with instructors No prior touring experience required • Chalet board including wine • •

• Six

day Engelberg lift pass included good level of fitness is required • Basic ski touring experience ideal but not essential • A

LIFT PASS INCLUDED 7 Nights

£1099

Sat 6 Feb - Sat 13 Feb Mark Borland Stuart MacDonald, Kathy Murphy 1-2 hrs Not included Not included Hotel Prieuré 3* - half board, twin share • bestmontblanc.com/hotel-prieure REF088

7 Nights

£1099

Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar None Didier Pointiere 3 hrs Not included Not included Hotel Les Ancolies 2* - half board, twin share • hotel-les-ancolies.com REF119

7 Nights

£879

Sat 9 Apr - Sat 16 Apr TBC Yann Westercamp, Diane Moreau 1 - 2 hrs Not included Set transfer from Geneva, 1.5 hrs Chalet Freshtracks - chalet board, twin share REF189

7 Nights

£1250

Sat 2 Apr - Sat 9 Apr TBC Roger Christen, Fredi Krummenacher 1 - 4 hrs Not included Rail, 2 hrs Hotel Terrace 3* - half board, single room • titlis.ch REF183

off piste

Arêches-Beaufort | France

Chamonix | France

Touring Leave the crowds behind and explore breathtaking mountain terrain, accompanied by fully qualified guides or instructors, staying in mountain huts or hotels along the way â&#x20AC;&#x2039;Your efforts will be rewarded with stunning views and invigorating descents on untouched snow â&#x20AC;&#x2039;If you enjoy day tours but prefer permanent accommodation, check out our exploration holidays in the off piste section

Reap the rewards

Fran Breslin

touring

Embrace your adventurous spirit

Fischer

Safaris or Tours â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The choice is yours Safaris The emphasis is firmly on downhill powder skiing, using lifts to gain height and skins to get further afield. Safaris tend to use more comfortable huts and hotels and involve one to three hour climbs.

Tours A more authentic ski touring experience with two to six hour climbs, often staying in more rustic mountain hut accommodation. Each safari or tour offers a different experience so read each description to find out more. For more details, call the Freshtracks team on 020 8410 2022

Touring Standards skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks

49 touring

Weekend We also have six touring weekends – see pages 65-67 for more information. holiday name resort dates ski standard price

Touring Skills Weekend 1 Zugspitz Arena Freeride Weekend Beaufortain Exploration Weekend Val de Bagnes Weekend Safari Touring Skills Weekend 2 Norwegian Exploration Weekend

Les Diablerets Garmisch Arêches-Beaufort Val de Bagnes Argentière Lyngen Alps

Thu 14 Jan - Mon 18 Jan Thu 21 Jan - Mon 25 Jan Thu 4 Feb - Mon 8 Feb Thu 25 Feb - Mon 29 Feb Thu 3 Mar - Mon 7 Mar Fri 11 Mar - Mon 14 Mar

£725 £699 £650 £699 £599 £950

Exploration Our Exploration holidays are day touring holidays where you stay in the same accommodation for the whole week. These are featured in our off piste section on pages 42-45. holiday name resort dates

Sainte Foy Exploration 1 Sainte Foy Exploration 2 Powder Highway Exploration Adelboden Exploration Mont Blanc Exploration Chamonix Off Piste Exploration Beaufortain Exploration Sainte Foy Exploration 3 Sainte Foy Exploration 4 Titlis Exploration Flaine Exploration

Sainte Foy Sainte Foy British Columbia Adelboden St Gervais Chamonix Arêches-Beaufort Sainte Foy Sainte Foy Engelberg Flaine

Sat 9 Jan - Sat 16 Jan Sat 16 Jan - Sat 23 Jan Thurs 21 Jan - Thurs 4 Feb Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan Sat 30 Jan - Sat 6 Feb Sat 6 Feb - Sat 13 Feb Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar Sat 5 Mar - Sat 12 Mar Sat 2 Apr - Sat 9 Apr Sat 2 Apr - Sat 9 Apr Sat 9 Apr - Sat 16 Apr

ski standard type price PE

£1175 £1075 £2499 £1250 £1050 £1099 £1099 £1199 £1050 £1250 £879

Lötschental-Kandersteg Safari Lötschental | Switzerland

Very enjoyable tour taking in areas most of us haven't heard of. Great guide, excellent food and good company. Scott Clenaghan Lötschental-Kandersteg Safari

Famed amongst those in the know for its early season powder, the Lötschental promises dramatic and exciting skiing in a classic Swiss alpine valley. Your first day will be spent warming up on Lauchernalp and your guide, Klaus Tscherrig, will show you how to use skins and harscheisen (ski crampons). Outstanding skiing and exceptionally long descents await, as you explore the wilderness with top mountain guide Klaus. This will be an introduction to ski touring, combining relaxing and rhythmic skinning ascents with exhilarating powder runs, so it’s worth every bit of effort you put in!

See pages 6-7 for ski standards descriptions on piste: off piste: Bookings and information: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks | +44 (0)20 8410 2022

Touring Standards skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks

Dolomites Ski Safari

Set off from Zermatt on a five day Swiss/ Italian experience through six glorious valleys. Skiing around Gressoney, Cervinia, Champoluc and Alagna – there’s a lot to take in. Climbing will be kept to a minimum on this holiday as the emphasis is on the challenging descents. On the sixth day you’ll explore Zermatt’s wonderful ski area and there’ll also be an opportunity to try some heli skiing (charged locally, weather dependent). This is an excellent introduction to ski safaris and ski touring and will no doubt give you a real sense of achievement.

One of the most stunning mountain ranges in Europe, the Dolomites offer dramatic skiing to match. Aside from the classic routes, few people ski off piste, which makes this region ideal for those who do! After a warm up day testing equipment, you’ll head up in the cable car to the Rifugio Lagazuoi, then each day you will use a combination of lifts, pistes, skins and off piste to explore this beautiful area, staying in a different hotel or refuge each night where you’ll experience the welcoming atmosphere of the region and savour the excellent culture and cuisine.

• Six

• Explore this fabulous ski region and UNESCO World Heritage site • Mainly lift accessed off piste skiing with some skinning • Accommodation will be a mix of mountain hotels and refuges

Zermatt | Switzerland

days with your mountain guide nights B&B in Zermatt, four nights half-board in mountain hotels • Minimum uphill, maximum descents! • Three

• Six

days skiing with a mountain guide traditional resort and ski area • A good level of fitness is required and some skinning experience is advantageous • Unspoilt

7 Nights

Date Ski Club Leader Touring Standard Accommodation Flights Maximum Climb Mountain Guide or Instructor Transfer

Monte Rosa Safari

£1399

Sat 16 Jan - Sat 23 Jan None Klaus Tscherrig Beginner 1 - 2 hrs Not Included Not Included Hotel Nest-und Bietschhorn / mountain hotels - half board, twin share • nest-bietschhorn.ch REF038

7 Nights

£1250

Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan None Klaus Tscherrig Beginner 2 hrs Not Included Not Included Hotel Jägerhof / Mountain Hotels 3 nights B+B / 4 nights half board, twin share • jaegerhofzermatt.ch REF055

Cortina d’Ampezzo | Italy

7 Nights

£1150

Sat 30 Jan - Sat 6 Feb None Francis Kelsey Intermediate 1 - 2 hrs Not Included Not Included Mountain huts and hotels - half board, twinshare REF077

Völkl

Piedmont Safari

Valle Maira & Valle Stura | Italy

• Six

days with your mountain guide scenery and great off piste descents • You should be experienced in all kinds of snow conditions, able to do uphill kick turns and walk on skins for up to five hours • Stunning

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 20 Feb - Sat 27 Feb None Jean Yves Hubaud Intermediate 5 hrs Not Included Set minibus from Turin Airport Mountain huts and hotels, half board, twinshare REF105

touring

Are you ready for a fantastic adventure in the wild and remote areas of the Valle Maira and Valle Stura? You’ll experience some of the best and least touched skiing in the Alps. Set in the Piedmont region of Italy, the scenery is magnificent and the skiing exhilarating. The area is quite remote with no lift access, meaning this trip is ideal for ski tourers who have some experience, but are looking for something slightly more challenging. You’ll be staying in charming mountain hotels and exploring the area as dictated by the best conditions. Most days will involve four to five hours of skinning, so to enjoy the holiday you should have a good level of fitness.

Stubai to St Anton Safari Stubai - St Anton | Austria

A great week, with like-minded people, and a fantastic guide. Siobhan Gill Monte Rosa Safari

A fantastic adventure traversing the Tirol region, over mountains and down into valleys on your way to the Arlberg valley. You’ll certainly get plenty of miles beneath your feet, starting at the Stubai glacier, crossing through the Ötztal valley to the Pitztal, taking in a summit and some exhilarating descents as you move on to Ischgl and finally St Anton. Along the journey you'll use lift systems to gain height so you can concentrate your energies on the breathtaking descents! days with your mountain guide two hour climbs – the emphasis is on the off piste downhill • A chance to take a real journey across the Austrian Alps

See pages 6-7 for ski standards descriptions on piste: off piste: Bookings and information: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks | +44 (0)20 8410 2022

Touring Standards skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks

Strahlhorn & Breithorn Summits Safari

Ischgl | Austria

Starting in Ischgl, at the foot of the magnificent Silvretta ski area, your six day adventure will take you to spectacular peaks and glacial terrain on skins whilst experiencing some of the best scenery in Austria. This area boasts many 3,000m peaks – and the hard work getting to the top is compensated by long, rewarding descents through deserted snowy valleys. This would be a great intro to hut-to-hut touring, or one for those that appreciate a few creature comforts as the huts in this area are famous for great food and hot showers!

• Six

• Max

+ 7 Nights

Date Ski Club Leader Touring Standard Accommodation Flights Maximum Climb Mountain Guide or Instructor Transfer

Silvretta Safari

£1099

Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar None Andy Perkins Intermediate 2 hrs Not Included Not Included Mountain huts and hotels, half board, shared room REF123

• Great area for ski touring with many route variations and options • Good level of fitness required – 4-5 hour climbs • Hut-to-hut touring

7 Nights

£1099

Sat 12 Mar - Sat 19 Mar None Luca Macchetto Beginner / Intermediate 4 - 5 hrs Not Included Not Included Mountain huts and hotels half board, shared room REF157

Zermatt | Switzerland

If you're an experienced tourer and strong skier with a high level of fitness, this exciting week in Zermatt will be a fantastic challenge for you this spring. The aim? To summit not just one but two mountains higher than 4,000m. The peaks in question are the Breithorn – standing at 4,164m and the Strahlhorn at a marginally higher 4,190m – each climb will be at least five hours, but the views will be worth it, as will the powdery descents. The Mischabel Massif is a fantastic high alpine area – wild stunning scenery, guaranteed snow and superb skiing. • Six

days with your mountain guide night in a mountain hut • Ski touring experience and a fitness level able to cope with five hours climbing at altitude is essential • One

7 Nights

£1499

Sat 9 Apr - Sat 16 Apr None Klaus Tscherrig Intermediate / Advanced 5 hrs Not Included Not Included Hotel Jägerhof - B+B, twin share + 1 night in a hut half board • jaegerhofzermatt.ch REF188

Hokkaido Backcountry Adventure Japan is a mythical place for many reasons, but for skiers it’s all about the powder. Combine this with a fascinating culture, great food and an onsen (hot spring) to soak in after every day’s skiing and you have the recipe for a truly memorable ski trip. This fantastic 10-day trip will explore the spectacular northern island of Hokkaido, mixing lifts and skins to ski as much of this powder mecca as possible. Your guide, Bruce Goodlad has developed the itinerary with local guides to maximise your time in the powder, far off the beaten track. You’ll ski a different area each day, ensuring that you get the most from your time in this powder paradise. The accommodation, mainly in traditional Japanese ryokan, will make this a trip full of local flavour. • Immerse

yourself in Japanese culture includes traditional Japanese ryokan • Predominantly backcountry/touring with some lift accessed off piste • Accomodation

10 Nights

£2460

Tue 19 Jan - Fri 29 Jan None Bruce Goodlad Intermediate 2 - 5 hrs Not Included Private minibus Traditional ryokan and hotels, half board, twin share REF045 Bruce Goodlad

Lauterbrunnen | Switzerland

touring

Hokkaido | Japan

Bernese Oberland Tour This is a great week for ski tourers who have some experience and are looking to take on more. After a warm-up day in Mürren testing kit (and ski legs!), your journey will start with a breathtaking railway journey up past Mount Eiger to Jungfraujoch at 3,466m - the highest station in Europe. Once you’ve had the opportunity to take in the stunning view you’ll be off - navigating the peaks and thrilling descents through glaciated valleys. You’ll move from hut to hut each day before finishing with a long descent into the Lauterbrunnen valley back to your original hotel. • Six

days with your mountain guide most heavily glaciated region of the Alps offering stunning views • You should be experienced in all kinds of snow conditions, able to do uphill kick turns and walk on skins for up to four hours • The

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 19 Mar - Sat 26 Mar None Hannah Burrows-Smith Intermediate 4 - 6 hrs Not Included Not Included Mountain huts and hotels, half board, shared room REF171

Nigel Shepherd

Haute Route

Chamonix – Zermatt | France – Switzerland This is one of the all-time great tours – certainly the most famous and amongst the most popular. After a warm-up day and a chance to test equipment, you’ll depart Chamonix to start the amazing journey over to Zermatt. Along the way you’ll ascend summits and peaks of up to 3,800m and experience some fantastic off piste skiing coming back down. This is not a tour for the faint-hearted, nor the inexperienced, so we recommend that you’ve completed a shorter/easier hut-to-hut tour and are very fit. An extremely rewarding experience. • Eight

days with mountain guides level of fitness and prior experience essential • A ‘must do’ for the ski tour enthusiast • High

Vallée de la Clarée Tour La Grave | France

An exhilarating ski tour through the Vallée de la Clarée - a beautiful protected valley near the French-Italian border. After meeting the group and your guide JeanYves at the welcoming Hotel Edelweiss in La Grave you’ll set out on this stunning journey through the Massif des Cerces. Travelling on skins and skis from hut to hut, passing through areas where traditions are maintained and carried through the generations. While you need no prior ski touring experience for this trip, you should be fit and come prepared for some long ascents - and remember you will be carrying a heavy pack! Your reward will be fresh spring snow descents and welcoming cosy huts. You will begin and end your journey in the welcoming Hotel Edelweiss in La Grave so will be able to leave some luggage there whilst completing the tour. • Great

first hut-to-hut tour prior experience but good fitness and strength essential • Stunning scenery and great off piste descents • No

9 Nights

Touring Standards skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks

£1299

Sun 3 Apr - Tue 12 Apr None Jim Kerr Intermediate 4 - 6 hrs Not Included Not Included Hotel de la Couronne 3* / mountain huts half board, shared room • hotelcouronne.com REF187

7 Nights

£1099

Sat 16 Apr - Sat 23 Apr None Jean Yves Hubaud Beginner 4 - 5 hrs Not Included Not Included Auberge Edelweiss 3* / mountain huts and hotels, half board, shared room • hotel-edelweiss.com REF192

Bruce Goodlad

The Finnmark Tour

Finnmark | Norway

• Explore

new mountains every day are no lifts here so you’ll be climbing 4-6 hours each day • Stunning views of the fjords • Cosy lodge/cabin by the fjords, catered by the guides • There

7 Nights

£1475

Sun 24 Apr - Sun 1 May None Bruce Goodlad Intermediate / Advanced 4 -6 hrs Not Included Private group vehicle Fjord side cabin, fullboard, twinshare REF195

touring

Finnmark lies 200km north of the Lyngen Alps. It’s an area of wild mountains and no people - one of Europe’s last untouched wildernesses. We are one of the few companies offering ski touring trips to this unique area. If you love to venture to remote areas with no one else in sight and enjoy amazing views of the high Arctic fjords then this is the trip for you. You’ll meet in Alta then move to the fjord-side lodge where you will be based for the week. The lodge is newly built with amazing views, and is catered by the guides. This is a great opportunity to extend your season into May, ski touring a new and completely different area.

Weekend Pack a weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skiing into a long weekend â&#x20AC;&#x2039;Ski Club Leaders take you straight to the best snow Off piste options include mountain guides

Stéphane Candé

Minimum time

WEEKEND

Maximum skiing

Premier Neige Weekend Andermatt Escape Tignes | France

Andermatt | Switzerland

Celebrate the start of winter by jetting out to Tignes for the opening weekend. Thanks to the glacier, Tignes can always guarantee some skiing and we’ve got some top instructors with us to ensure that you make the most of your time on the mountain, improve your technique and become enthused, ready for the winter ahead. Your comfortable base for the weekend is the family run Hotel Le Paquis, where you can unwind after your day’s efforts in the wellness area or by absorbing the panoramic views in the cosy bar by the open fire.

Andermatt has a reputation for generous dumps of snow, and with two ski areas to choose from in the immediate vicinity, you’ll be kept busy all day. The ever-efficient Swiss rail system provides access to even more terrain on the Oberalp pass, and the surrounding scenery is simply magnificent. Mountain guides will make sure the pace is right and with huge off piste opportunities on offer, you’ll be hot on their tails all day long. In the evening, you can discuss the day’s highlights over a well-deserved dinner and look forward to the following day.

•

Three days instruction High altitude resort • Transfer from Geneva airport included – ask the Ski Club Freshtracks team for details

•

3 Nights

£499

Fri 27 Nov - Mon 30 Nov Jarvis Goodyear Gavin Lewis, Rab Bickerdike Not Included Set Geneva transfer available, 3 hrs Hotel le Paquis 3* - half board, twin share • hotel-lepaquis.fr REF002

•

Lech | Austria

Four days with mountain guides Cosy and centrally located 3* hotel Evening flights and short transfers

4 Nights

Lech Long Weekend

£850

Thu 10 Dec - Mon 14 Dec Robert Farquharson Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Sonne 3* - half board, twin share • hotelsonneandermatt.ch REF006

The chic resort of Lech is set in a high altitude valley boasting a combination of impressive snowfall and traditional alpine atmosphere. It’s the perfect destination for a long ski weekend with something for everyone – from wide and flattering pistes for cruising to wonderful off piste descents. On snow, your Ski Club Leaders will guarantee you get the best out of the terrain. At the end of each day you’ll return suitably exhausted to the luxurious 4* Hotel Schwarzwand, located right in the centre of this pretty Austrian resort. • Centrally located hotel – cosy bar and fantastic five course evening meals • In-house wellness centre • Only 2.5 hours coach transfer from Zurich airport

3 Nights

Thu 17 Dec - Sun 20 Dec Alban Donohoe, Liam Hourigan None Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Schwarzwand 4* - half board, twin share • schwarzwand.com REF013 3 Nights

£699

£799

Thu 17 Mar - Sun 20 Mar Bridget Cassey, Patience Cooper None Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Schwarzwand 4* - half board, twin share • schwarzwand.com REF164 Ross Woodhall

Off Piste Weekend

La Grave | France

WEEKEND

Accomplished skiers will revel in the dramatic off piste of La Grave, with its legendary north-facing, un-groomed ski area. The three-stage gondola rises to the summit and there’s a seemingly endless variety of routes, from narrow gullies to wide open powder fields, and tree skiing on the lower slopes. Top to bottom the mountain offers a vertical descent of 2,150m through dramatic glacial scenery. Your local mountain guides will be with you making all the right decisions and keeping you safe whilst having an invigorating ski. • • •

Includes three days with excellent mountain guides Accommodation at the comfortable 3* Auberge Edelweiss Option to pay locally for the fourth day of guiding

4 Nights

£850

Thu 21 Jan - Mon 25 Jan Rosie Cow Jean Yves Hubaud, Philippe Andre, Maxant Danilo Scheduled, Gatwick - Turin Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Edelweiss 3* - half board, twin share • hotel-edelweiss.com REF046 4 Nights

£850

Thu 25 Feb - Mon 29 Feb Sandy Mcgilvray Jean Yves Hubaud, Philippe Andre, Maxant Danilo Scheduled, Heathrow - Geneva Coach, 3.5 hrs Hotel Edelweiss 3* - half board, twin share • hotel-edelweiss.com REF109

4 Nights

£850

Thu 24 Mar - Mon 28 Mar (Easter Weekend) Clive Tayton Jean Yves Hubaud, Philippe Andre, Maxant Danilo Scheduled, Heathrow - Geneva Coach, 3.5 hrs Hotel Edelweiss 3* - half board, twin share • hotel-edelweiss.com REF175

Völkl

4 Nights

£699

Thu 28 Jan - Mon 1 Feb Steph Cade Scuola Sci Madesimo Scheduled, Heathrow - Malpensa Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel La Meridiana 3* - half board, twin share • hotel-lameridiana.com REF067

4 Nights

£750

Thu 10 Mar - Mon 14 Mar Susan Leese Scuola Sci Madesimo Scheduled, Heathrow - Malpensa Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel La Meridiana 3* - half board, twin share • hotel-lameridiana.com REF149

4 Nights

£750

Thurs 28 Jan - Mon 1 Feb Colin Mason Kabi mountain guides Scheduled, Heathrow - Toulouse Coach 2 hrs Hotel Val de Ruda 4* - half board, twin share • hotelvalderudabaqueira.com REF068

Italian Instruction Weekend Madesimo | Italy

A weekend for those who want a short, ski-filled break with instruction and relaxation to ensure maximum fulfilment from time in the mountains. We’ve chosen the fantastic Italian resort of Madesimo as the perfect place to combine all three. A beautiful compact resort located close to Milan for an easy transfer, it’s an outstanding destination for a short break. You’ll spend two days tweaking your technique with the local instructors and two days exploring the area with the Ski Club Leader. La Meridiana is a friendly, family run hotel perfectly situated next to the lift, with a warm, traditional alpine feel. With its sunny terrace and fantastic spa you can enjoy après and relax in the wellness area before dinner. • Two days with local instructors, two days with your Ski Club Leader • Excellent wellness area and spa facilities • Bustling and lively weekend atmosphere in resort

Baqueira Discovery Weekend Baqueira Beret | Spain

Baqueira Beret in the Spanish Pyrenees is an ideal destination for a weekend, with convenient transfers and flight times allowing you to make the most of your time on snow. Skiing with local mountain guides from Kabi, you’ll soon discover the variety of exciting terrain on offer with steeps, couloirs, and amazing tree skiing. Kabi is the concept of Edurne Pasaban, the first woman to scale all peaks over 8,000m, who will ensure you’re skiing with some of the best guides. The centrally located four star Val de Ruda offers an ideal location for the lifts and also to sample the local après, Spanish style. • Three

days with local mountain guides boasts excellent location and facilities • Excellent snow record • Hotel

Norwegian Ski Weekend Voss | Norway

• Well located historic hotel with excellent facilities • Opportunity to have a taste of Norwegian skiing • Four days skiing with Club Leaders

4 Nights

£645

Thu 4 Feb - Mon 8 Feb Alastair Ross, Andy Lapham None Scheduled, Heathrow - Bergen Coach, 2 hrs Fleischers Hotel - half board, twin share • fleischers.no REF091

Voss | Norway

Okay so we couldn’t resist the title – but whether you fancy being scandalous or not, Voss makes a super destination for our girls’ weekend. Direct flights from Heathrow get you to Bergen in just two hours, and after a short transfer you’ll be welcomed at the historic Fleischers hotel in the centre of Voss. The skiing area may not be as large as its European counterparts but the terrain is varied, the setting stunning, and you have a choice of two resorts to ski – Voss itself or nearby Myrkdalen. After the Ski Club Leaders have put you through your paces you can return to relax and refresh in the hotel’s pool and wellness area before enjoying some local cuisine in the hotel restaurant. Single rooms available at a supplement Pool and wellness area • Four days skiing with Club Leaders • •

4 Nights

£645

Thu 3 Mar - Mon 7 Mar Ase Baldwin None Scheduled, Heathrow - Bergen Coach, 2 hrs Fleischers Hotel - half board, twin share • fleischers.no REF133

WEEKEND

If you’re looking to experience something a little different to the traditional Alpine resorts then this long weekend is the perfect choice for you. Just a short flight away, Norwegian resorts are full of character and situated within a beautiful landscape of mountains and fjords. Voss is one of Norway’s larger and more historic ski resorts and offers skiing in two destinations - Voss itself and Myrkdalen just 20 minutes up the road. Despite being fairly small, there is a good variety of terrain and some easily accessible off piste. You’ll be staying at the historic Fleischers hotel, a superb base for the weekend, with delicious local cuisine and a great wellness area.

Scandi-lous Girls' Weekend

Ross Woodhall

Argentière Adventure Argentière | France

Argentière is an authentic alpine village, located at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif and Grand Montets. Easily accessed by road, rail and air, it makes for an excellent short break destination. Set out from the charming and traditional Hotel de la Couronne each day to explore the huge ski area, with the local mountain guide. The terrain is vast and varied and the resort is a popular destination with off piste skiers. After your day up the mountain, Argentière plays host to plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained in the evenings. • Includes

three days with mountain guides to pay locally for fourth day of guiding • World renowned off piste skiing destination • Option

4 Nights

£550

Thu 10 Mar - Mon 14 Mar Jules Mountain Hannah Burrows-Smith Not Included Not Included Hotel de la Couronne 3* - half board, twin share • hotelcouronne.com REF150

Engelberg Easter Off Piste

Davos Easter Extravaganza

Davos | Switzerland

Argentière | France

Make the most of the Easter weekend by exploring this renowned off piste ski area with a tremendous snow record and skiing to over 3,000m on Mount Titlis. Nestled above Trübsee are sheltered bowls full of deep, light snow, protected from the wind in all but the strongest storms. The famous challenging off piste runs include the Laub, which offers over 1,000m of consistent vertical drop, and the Galtiberg, which starts over glaciers near Titlis, crosses open powder fields and couloirs, before finishing among the trees some 2,000m lower. Situated in central Switzerland, Engelberg’s proximity to airports makes it an ideal weekend ski destination.

Welcome to the Parsenn ski area - one of the largest in the world. This extensive ski area offers a great range of runs suitable for all abilities. From long rolling reds descending into the valley to easily accessed off piste challenges, there’s something for everyone. Plus, your Ski Club Leader will be with you along the way, so you can leave your piste maps at home! The Hotel Sunstar Davos comfortably earns a 4* rating thanks to its traditional rooms and excellent wellness centre where you can pamper yourself after a day out on the snow. Head down to dinner feeling revived and ready to receive a delicious five course evening meal - where else would you rather be?

• Two days with mountain guides, two days with the Ski Club Leader • Four nights half board including wine with dinner • Make time to visit the town’s 12th century monastery and its cheese making shop!

• Four

days with Ski Club Leaders boasts a superb wellness centre • Excellent five course dinners, lively piano bar, open fireplaces • Hotel

This Easter getaway is the perfect opportunity to snap up four more thrilling days towards the end of the season in the legendary Mont Blanc area. Famed the world over for its challenging slopes and exciting, varied terrain, each individual ski area in the Chamonix valley is a mini resort in itself. If you’re feeling particularly enthusiastic and energetic you may just find time to attempt them all in this action-packed long weekend. Your local mountain guides will make sure that every second of these precious days is filled with skiing adventure and excitement. At the end of the day, return to the comfortable Hotel de la Couronne for a relaxing drink in their new lounge bar before a delicious meal. • Includes

three days with mountain guides to pay locally for 4th day • World renowned off-piste skiing destination • Option

WEEKEND

Engelberg | Switzerland

Argentière Easter Off Piste

Great way for like-minded often single travellers to have a great time, and ski with a group of skiers at a very similar standard. Alastair Drummond Davos Easter Extravaganza

4 Nights

£899

Thu 24 Mar - Mon 28 Mar Marguerite Nice Fredi Krummenacher Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2 hrs Hotel Terrace 3* - half board, single room • titlis.ch REF176

4 Nights

£899

Thu 24 Mar - Mon 28 Mar Derek Buller, Sula Bruce None Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2 hrs Hotel Sunstar Davos 4* - 1 night B+B, 3 nights half board, single room • sunstar.ch/davos REF177

4 Nights

£799

Thu 24 Mar - Mon 28 Mar Helen Kirkland Jim Kerr, Caroline Ogden Scheduled, Heathrow - Geneva Coach, 1.5 hrs Hotel de la Couronne 3* - half board, twin share • hotelcouronne.com REF178

Alagna Freeride Weekend

David Simpson Bank Holiday Blast

Situated at the foot of the Monte Rosa, Alagna is the off piste skier’s heaven. Limited marked runs, combined with impressive snowfall and high altitude makes the area one of the must-visit resorts for any keen off piste skier. Whether it’s powder bowls, narrow couloirs or just the notion of making fresh tracks, Alagna is a great weekend resort. With their local knowledge and expertise your mountain guides will lead the way, finding varied and challenging untouched terrain that will leave you wanting more. At the end of the day, you can head back to the friendly resort, and cosy Albergo Mirella, famed for its warming welcome. • Three

days with local mountain guides accommodation allows you to sample the local Italian cuisine • Quiet resort and cosy, warming hotel • B&B

4 Nights

Bank Holiday Blast

End the winter season on a high in the skiers’ paradise of Zermatt with a total mountain experience. Situated at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn, Zermatt is a picturesque village where electric cars and horse-drawn carriages are the only transport allowed. You’ll spend three days with some of the best mountain guides the region has to offer and they’ll find you the best snow in the area. Staying centrally in the Hotel Jägerhof on a bed and breakfast basis leaves you free to try out some of Zermatt’s renowned eateries.

Why not grab the last of the season’s snow and head high to snow-sure Tignes? Conditions in April can be better than in February or March, often with powder or glorious spring snow off piste. The instructors will get you motoring on the pistes and take you into easily-accessed off piste, making the most of the huge amount of terrain available. Ski hard from the first lift while the snow is at its best, have a late lunch and take it easy in the afternoon. A great way to end the season – but remember this ever popular trip always sells out so book early to avoid disappointment!

Zermatt | Switzerland

Alagna | Italy

Excellent skiing experience.

End of Season Off Piste

£699

Thu 31 Mar - Mon 4 Apr Robert Biggle Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Scheduled, Heathrow - Malpensa Coach, 2 hrs Albergo Mirella 3* - B&B, twin share • alagna.it REF182

Tignes | France

• Spend three days with local mountain guides • Easily accessed by train from either Zurich or Geneva • Why not try a day’s heli skiing if conditions allow? (payable locally)

days with instructors slope side at the 3* Hotel le Lévanna, Tignes le Lac • Large sunny terraces and cosy bar

4 Nights

£750

Thu 28 Apr - Mon 2 May Edmund Omolu Klaus Tscherrig Not Included Rail, 3.5 hrs Hotel Jägerhof - B+B, twin share • jaegerhofzermatt.ch

REF196

• Four • Stay

£699

Thu 28 Apr - Mon 2 May Ian Holt Patrick Speziali, Serge Strippentoir, Tchenko, Fred Baude Scheduled, Heathrow - Geneva Coach, 3 hrs Hotel le Lévanna 3* - B&B, twin share • levanna.com REF197

Nigel Shepherd

Touring Weekends

Touring Skills Weekends

Les Diablerets | Switzerland; Argentière | France Sick of fighting to get on ski lifts? Fed up of skiing tracked out powder? Ski touring could be for you. This weekend will focus on mountain awareness, off piste ski techniques, and the touring skills needed to take on an exploration, safari or tour. It’s important to learn how to climb on skins with touring skis and bindings, and also the different techniques needed to ski on glaciated terrain. Spend two days honing your off piste technique and learning to skin before putting it into practice in a day tour, a night in a mountain hut and some thrilling glacier skiing. Four days with a mountain guide Three nights in a hotel followed by a final night in a mountain hut • No prior touring experience required • •

4 Nights

£725

Thu 14 Jan - Mon 18 Jan None Andy Perkins, Julie Ann Clyma Beginner 1.5 hrs Not included Not included Hotel du Pillon 3* - half board, shared room • hoteldupillon.ch REF033

4 Nights

£599

Thu 3 Mar - Mon 7 Mar None Simon Abrahams, Paul Farmer Beginner 1.5 hrs Not included Not included Hotel de la Couronne 3* - half board, twin share • hotelcouronne.com REF135

WEEKEND

The following ski touring weekends require everyone to be kitted out with touring skis (or freeride skis with touring bindings) and skins. The Touring Skills Weekends and the Val de Bagnes safari require no prior experience, just a good level of off piste skiing, and can be a great alternative to an off piste break. All other touring weekends require some previous ski touring experience and the ability to do uphill kick turns.

Zugspitz Arena Freeride Weekend Zugspitze | Germany

The guides were excellent at finding us the best snow conditions for the weather conditions and took me to places I would not go myself.

Despite not being as popular as the bigger and better known resorts in Austria and Switzerland, Bavaria has, it's claimed by local expert Francis Kelsey, some of the best off piste runs in the Alps. The Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, offers runs of 2,000m+ vertical drops with plenty of challenging lines. You should be a strong advanced level skier with some touring experience and fit enough for the terrain. Each day you’ll set out on a day tour to explore the area and take advantage of the best conditions. • Three

days with a mountain guide ski touring experience necessary • Comfortable three star hotel in the town centre • Some

Frank McGrath Touring Skills Weekend

4 Nights

£699

Thu 21 Jan - Mon 25 Jan None Francis Kelsey Advanced 3 - 4 hrs Not included Not included Atlas Posthotel - half board, twin share • atlas-posthotel.com REF047 Ross Woodhall

Arêches-Beaufort | France

Val de Bagnes | Switzerland

Norwegian Exploration Weekend

Arêches-Beaufort is a sleepy resort in the shadow of Mont Blanc and yet it’s home to one of the craziest ski touring races in the Alps, the Pierra Menta, where athletes race up and down the mountain at mindboggling speed. Whilst we shall leave that to the experts, it gives you a notion of what this place is about and hopefully will inspire you during this weekend. Using the lifts to gain height, you can set out to explore the mountains at your own pace and find some fresh tracks to call your own. You’ll be staying at the Hotel Les Ancolies in the centre of the village. This cosy and welcoming hotel serves great food to get you ready for the next day ahead.

Val de Bagnes is a valley that continues beyond Verbier – full of picturesque villages dotted along the base of majestic mountain scenery. The first couple of days will be spent warming up and day touring, staying in a simple valley hotel. You’ll then tour up to the historic Hospice de Grand St Bernard on the Swiss Italian border for the next two nights. From here there are plenty of options for day tours and summits with great ski descents. Whether you’re looking for a ski weekend with a twist or just have a couple of days to do something different, this weekend has plenty to offer.

If you’ve ever thought of a ski touring trip to northern Norway but didn't want to commit to a full week then this weekend is perfect for you. It’s the chance to sample the area and terrain all in one weekend. March is probably the most stable month for Scandinavian snow conditions whilst also having the benefit of long days and the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights. The cold temperatures and cold snow provide the perfect conditions to get in some powder turns. You’ll spend three days exploring the area with local guides that know all the best spots to make the very most of your weekend, and you'll even spend one day skiing from a boat!

• Four

days with mountain guides level of fitness required for 2-3 hour climbs • Beautiful unspoilt area of the Alps • Good

4 Nights

£650

• Ideal area for those relatively new to ski touring • Easily accessible from Geneva in 2.5 hrs • Magnificent views of the Grand Combin and Mont Blanc Massif

4 Nights

£699

Thu 4 Feb - Mon 8 Feb None Didier Pointiere Intermediate 3 hrs Not included Not included Hotel Les Ancolies - half board, twin share • hotel-les-ancolies.com

Thu 25 Feb - Mon 29 Feb None Hannah Burrows-Smith Beginner 3 hrs Not included Not included Mountain huts and hotels - half board, twin share

REF083

REF110

Lyngen Alps | Norway

• Three

full days with mountain guides lodging including jacuzzi & sauna • Good level of fitness required as there are 4-6 hour climbs • Comfortable

3 Nights

£950

Fri 11 Mar - Mon 14 Mar TBC Ascent Descent Intermediate 4 - 5 hrs Not included Car hire for group included Ascent Descent Ski Lodge dinner only, twin share • ascentdescent.com/ski-lodge-lyngen REF151

67 WEEKEND

Beaufortain Exploration Val de Bagnes Weekend Weekend Safari

Development Open up a mountain of opportunity by improving your technique We use hand-picked instructors so you get the best advice â&#x20AC;&#x2039;Develop your skills with others of a similar standard

69 off piste development

Hone your technique Become a better skier

Ross Woodhall

Pre-Season Progression Val Thorens | France

Get your season off to a flying start with a week’s instruction in the Alps’ highest resort, with guaranteed snow. It’s not only a warm-up before the season gets under way, but also a great way to start the winter as you mean to go on – improving your skiing whilst getting maximum fun and enjoyment out of the mountains. You'll spend five days with top instructors to tweak your technique and get you back on track for the winter ahead, and an extra day to enjoy free skiing with other members. • Five

full days with top BASS instructors located 3* hotel with great wellness facilities • High altitude snow-sure resort

Tignes Development Week

Tignes | France

Set yourself up for the season by getting your ski legs back nice and early! The snow-sure resort of Tignes has some of the best skiing in the Alps and this week gives you the chance to sample its delights before the rest of the world arrives at Christmas. Six full days of instruction will help you iron out old problems and steer clear of new ones, boosting your skiing to new levels and setting you up perfectly for the season. After skiing, head back to the Mark Warner Chalet-hotel l’Ecrin for tea and a swim and spa to soothe your limbs ready for the next day.

• Centrally

Course only price £450 • Six

days instruction afternoon tea and three course evening meals (wine included) • Full on skiing, amazing terrain • Delicious

7 Nights

£1099

Sat 5 Dec - Sat 12 Dec Jerry Crowley British Alpine Ski School Scheduled, Heathrow - Geneva Coach, 3 hrs Hotel le Sherpa 3* - half board, twin share • lesherpa.com REF003

7 Nights

£899

Sun 6 Dec - Sun 13 Dec Tom Jarman The Development Centre Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel l'Ecrin - chalet board, twin share • markwarner.co.uk REF005

Pre-Season Paradiski Les Arcs | France

Course only price £450 Six full days with top local instructors Single rooms at no extra cost • Ski-in, ski-out hotel at the foot of the slopes • •

PE S

7 Nights

£1099

Sat 12 Dec - Sat 19 Dec Susie Llewelyn Eric Berthon, Serge Strippentoir Scheduled, Heathrow - Geneva Coach, 3 hrs Hotel du Golf 3* - half board, single room • golf-hotel-lesarcs.com REF008

We always have a good time, improve, and meet many like-minded people. Jakki Foote PE Pre-Season Paradiski

off piste development

With its high altitude and over 400km of pistes, Les Arcs and La Plagne make up one of the most famous ski areas – it’s no wonder they named it Paradiski! This week will be a great start to the winter as you’ll spend six full days with instructors improving your skills whilst exploring a huge ski area. Les Arcs is a purpose-built French resort and the views from your hotel of the surrounding forest, slopes and mountains will charm any mountain lover. The hotel is in a great location and you’ll enjoy the luxury of your own room.

Season's Start Up Les Deux Alpes | France

Christmas Ski Instruction

Deux Alpes Development

Why not treat yourself to a Christmas getaway and enjoy a snow-filled festive season? Set in the picturesque Dauphiné region, Les Deux Alpes is a great skiing destination. With an area of over 200km of pistes, and an impressive snow record, you can enjoy the versatility of the resort with high glacial skiing and long runs in the trees. You’ll explore all of this with your instructors whilst they push your abilities and take you to the next level. South-facing and situated in a superb position at the foot of the slopes is the comfortable Mark Warner Chalet Hotel Bérangère where you’ll find good facilities, great food and a warm welcome.

Les Deux Alpes is a high altitude, snow-sure resort peaking at 3,600m, which makes it the ideal location for a week of on piste tuition with our excellent instructors. You’ll have five full days of instruction to pick up some hints and tips so that by the end of the week you’ll have banished those bad habits and be feeling like you’ve mastered the mountain! You’ll be staying in the Mark Warner Chalet Hotel Bérangère where you’ll be treated to some great hospitality, food and the privacy of your own room.

Les Deux Alpes | France

Start the season in a snow-sure, glacial resort, with six days of instruction and good value Mark Warner travel and accommodation. Les Deux Alpes has plenty to offer – easily accessible, 225km of pistes and a fun, lively atmosphere. As ever the focus of the holiday is to provide the best possible instruction to iron out problems, learn new techniques, build confidence and take your skiing to the next level. So, if you want to get the season off to the best possible start, look no further! The Chalet Hotel Bérangère provides excellent service, plentiful meals and you’ll also have your own room. Course only price £450

Course only price £450 • Six

full days with top local instructors • Good choice of evening meals and complementary table wine • Travel and accommodation provided by Mark Warner S

7 Nights

£999

Sun 13 Dec - Sun 20 Dec Adam Copeland Stuart Adamson, Alexandra Chapman, Darren Turner Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel Bérangère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF011 Date Ski Club Leader Touring Standard Accommodation Flights Maximum Climb Mountain Guide or Instructor Transfer See pages 6-7 for ski standards descriptions on piste: off piste: Bookings and information: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks | +44 (0)20 8410 2022

• Six

full days with instructors occupancy rooms • Breakfast, afternoon tea and 3 course dinners with wine included • Single

7 Nights

£1250

Sun 20 Dec - Sun 27 Dec Kate Rowe Alexandra Chapman, ESI Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel Bérangère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF015

Les Deux Alpes | France

Course only price £399 • Five

full days’ instruction room at no extra cost • Get past your plateau in a snow-sure resort • Single

7 Nights

£1075

Sun 10 Jan - Sun 17 Jan Bob Dixson Alexandra Chapman, ESI Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel Bérangère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF032

7 Nights

£1075

Sun 7 Feb - Sun 14 Feb Jon Dykes Alexandra Chapman Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel Bérangère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF092

7 Nights

£1099

Sun 6 Mar - Sun 13 Mar Michael Bound Alexandra Chapman, ESI Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel Bérangère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF147

7 Nights

£999

Sun 20 Mar - Sun 27 Mar Hilary Napier Alexandra Chapman, ESI Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel Bérangère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF174 * Regional options available.

Tarentaise Taster

Sainte Foy | France

off piste development

Superbly located within the heart of the Tarentaise Valley, Sainte Foy is one of the hidden gems of European skiing. With the world renowned ski areas of Les Trois Vallées, Paradiski & Espace Killy right on your doorstep, Sainte Foy is the perfect destination to experience the best each area has to offer in just one week. Each day the instructors will take you on a short trip to a different resort so that you can explore new areas and seek out the best snow available. This allows excellent skiing in as many regions as possible whilst honing your on piste skills and receiving a fabulously original introduction to powder ski tuition. At the end of each day you’ll return to the welcoming Auberge sur la Montagne to relax and enjoy the locally sourced gourmet cuisine. 6 full days with instructors Superb standard of hospitality • Private minibus for group • •

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar TBC Fred Foxon, Bryan Hogg Eurostar, St Pancras - Bourg St. Maurice Minibus, 20 mins Auberge sur la Montagne 3* - half board, twin share • auberge-montagne.com REF115

Völkl

Val d’Isère On Piste Development Val d'Isère | France

I totally enjoyed the holiday. The concept is wonderful as it puts same ability skiers together. Everything was excellent.

If you’ve been struggling to push past that performance plateau then it’s time to put this holiday in the diary. Our team of instructors will encourage and push you so you finish the week a giant leap from where you started. Val d’Isère has it all – tree runs, bumps, steeps, wide rolling pistes – so whether you’re practising short jump turns or carving on the corduroy, the huge variety of terrain ensures you have it all to try. You’ll be staying in spacious single occupancy rooms in the Chalet Hotel le Val d’Isère by Mark Warner, providing sumptuous food and wine at dinner. Course only price £450 • Single

occupancy rooms of evening meal with wine included • Six full days instruction • Choice

Kenneth Hanna Season’s Start Up

See pages 6-7 for ski standards descriptions on piste: off piste: Bookings and information: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks | +44 (0)20 8410 2022

£1099

Sun 24 Jan - Sun 31 Jan Rob George Patrick Speziali, Steven Groen Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel le Val d'Isère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF066 S

Date Ski Club Leader Touring Standard Accommodation Flights Maximum Climb Mountain Guide or Instructor Transfer

7 Nights

£1299

Sun 28 Feb - Sun 6 Mar David Morgan Patrick Speziali Charter, Gatwick - Grenoble* Coach, 3 hrs Chalet Hotel le Val d'Isère - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF131

Technique Top Up Courmayeur | Italy

This week is designed to top up your technique whilst offering plenty of fun. Your Ski Club Leaders will be joined by BASI instructors and they’ll show you that Courmayeur has it all: brilliant skiing, amazing mountain restaurants, stylish bars. All this, combined with some exciting off piste terrain, is a recipe for a memorable holiday. The price includes an ensuite room for single occupancy, which means you can relax and recharge those energy levels in the comfort of your own room. The cosy Chalet Hotel Cristallo is well located, with a choice of evening meal with wine included. • Three days with instructors, three days with Ski Club Leaders • Twin/double occupancy also available • Travel and accommodation provided by Mark Warner S

7 Nights

£999

Sun 17 Jan - Sun 24 Jan John Crosse, Franki Crosse Rab Bickerdike, Emma Stocks Charter, Gatwick - Geneva Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel le Cristallo - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF044 S

7 Nights

£999

Sun 21 Feb - Sun 28 Feb Colin Mason, Lindsay Mollinson Rab Bickerdike, Emma Stocks Charter, Gatwick - Geneva Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel le Cristallo - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF108

7 Nights

£999

Sun 28 Feb - Sun 6 Mar Alan Lyons Rab Bickerdike, Emma Stocks Charter, Gatwick - Geneva Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel le Cristallo - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF130 S

7 Nights

£950

Sun 13 Mar - Sun 20 Mar Graham Horn, Rod Edge Rab Bickerdike, Emma Stocks Charter, Gatwick - Geneva Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel le Cristallo - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF162

£999

Sun 31 Jan - Sun 7 Feb Richard Wood, Andy Aitken Rab Bickerdike, Emma Stocks Charter, Gatwick - Geneva Coach, 2 hrs Chalet Hotel le Cristallo - chalet board, single room • markwarner.co.uk REF081

* Regional options available.

Austrian Achievement

Austrian Improvers

Bad Hofgastein | Austria

Lech | Austria

Set in sunny, spacious surroundings, the resort is a quiet spa town with lovely long runs through Schlossalm, a broad open bowl. There are some splendid long reds right down to the valley floor – perfect for tweaking your technique with a local instructor and putting it into practice with your knowledgeable Ski Club Leader. Return at the end of the day to the privacy of your own room before indulging yourself in the hotel spa. Finally enjoy the buffet dinner and live music in the bar if you still have the energy!

The Arlberg ski area is perfect for those wishing to cruise from piste to piste, and by spending half your time with instructors you'll be picking up top tips as you go. From Lech you can ski the ‘Weisser Ring’ to Zürs and back, or even take a short bus ride over to experience St Anton. After your day on the mountain, there are a number of great locations for a well-deserved drink, or head back to the 4* Hotel Schwarzwand where you can enjoy some quieter après-ski.

days with an instructor, three days with a Ski Club Leader • Fabulous spa facilities located within the hotel • Complementary wine and beer with your evening meal

PE S

7 Nights

£1075

Sat 9 Jan - Sat 16 Jan Glyn Taylor Schneesport Schule Gastein Scheduled, Gatwick - Salzburg Coach, 1.5 hrs Kur and Sport Hotel Palace 4* - half board (incl. wine), single room • kurhotelpalace.at REF023 PE S

7 Nights

£1050

Sun 28 Feb - Sun 6 Mar Nicholas Gregory Schneesport Schule Gastein Scheduled, Gatwick - Salzburg Coach, 1.5 hrs Kur and Sport Hotel Palace 4* - half board (incl. wine), single room • kurhotelpalace.at REF129

off piste development

• Three

• Three days skiing with a local instructor, three days with a Ski Club Leader • Cosy family-run 4* hotel with fantastic five course evening meals • In-house wellness centre with saunas, steam baths and relaxation area

7 Nights

£1399

Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan Ruth Marshall, Wendy Laynton Andy Thurner, Arlberg Guides Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Schwarzwand 4* - half board, twin share • schwarzwand.com REF057 PE

7 Nights

£1399

Sat 5 Mar - Sat 12 Mar Jane Billington Andy Thurner, Arlberg Guides Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Schwarzwand 4* - half board, twin share • schwarzwand.com REF142 Ross Woodhall

7 Nights

£899

Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan Garry Hebblethwaite Alessandro Marcolla, Scuola Italiana Sci Azzurra Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Alaska 3* - half board, twin share • alaskahotel.it REF059 7 Nights

£899

Sat 5 Mar - Sat 12 Mar TBC Alessandro Marcolla, Scuola Italiana Sci Azzurra Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Alaska 3* - half board, twin share • alaskahotel.it REF141

7 Nights

£1399

Sat 13 Feb - Sat 20 Feb TBC Anzi Ski School Scheduled, Heathrow - Linate Coach, 3 hrs Hotel Derby 3* - half board, twin share • alberghicapitani.com/derby/ REF095

Dolomites Development Folgarida | Italy

Nestled in the Val di Sole lies Folgarida – your gateway to over 150km of pistes in the vast ski area Campiglio. This intermediate heaven has lots of cruisey blues and rolling reds with a few challenging blacks thrown in for good measure. Over the week you’ll ski every inch, blasting along with your Ski Club Leader and putting your new skills into practice. Three days will be spent with a local instructor who will improve your technique to make you more confident and capable to take on more challenges. At the end of the day you can ski straight into the hotel's slopeside terrace for some well-deserved après. • Three

days instruction, three days with Ski Club Leaders in, ski out 3* hotel • Stunning world heritage site • Ski

Families Half Term Instruction Bormio | Italy

A distinctly Italian spa town, Bormio is a beautiful resort that promises something fun for all ages. The medieval buildings will delight those who long for a unique and historic resort, with natural hot water spas surrounded by snow-capped peaks. The youngsters will revel in the delights of the family friendly spas, complete with children’s pool, water slide and play area. Not forgetting the important part – the skiing! Local instructors will make the most of the varied slopes to burn up your children’s energy as they blast around this stunning scenery. With Santa Caterina and San Colombano recently added to the lift pass, there’s more than enough terrain to keep everyone on their toes. • • •

Six days skiing with Club Leaders/Instructors Well located hotel with pool and wellness centre Fantastic medieval Italian resort with good food Mike Truelove

Families Easter Italian Instruction

Summer Ski Instruction

Canazei | Italy

Les Deux Alpes | France

The Sella Ronda is the perfect destination for intermediate skiers who love to cover miles of piste! With 12 resorts, 450 lifts and 1,200km of slopes, it’s impossible to get bored! There is so much to explore here – both on and off the slopes – as the area is steeped in history. The WWI museum in the Marmolada cable car building is a must see. On the slopes, your Leader and instructor will be keeping you busy - tours of the Sella Ronda, famous downhill runs, the hidden valley… the list goes on. Canazei itself is a charming village with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants. The Hotel Italia is right in the centre, close to the end of the piste and a short walk downhill to the lifts.

Season finished? Not a chance! This summer trip is perfect for those who strongly believe that six months with no skiing is six months too long. Les Deux Alpes is one of the few resorts that can offer snow-sure skiing throughout the summer. You’ll spend your time working on your technique and trying some race training with expert coaches. The west facing Girose and Mont-de-Lans glaciers provide excellent snow even in bright sunshine, meaning there’s always a great selection of runs available. In case the skiing isn’t enough to keep you occupied, Les Deux Alpes is perfect for extra activities. From adrenalin-fuelled rafting and mountain biking, to a relaxing afternoon of hiking or lazing by the lake, there’s something on offer for all tastes. You’ll also have the chance to review video feedback with your ski instructor, Alexandra Chapman, in preparation for the following day’s skiing. • Six

half days of instruction varied afternoon activities • Lovely and accommodating boutique hotel • Amazingly

7 Nights

£1025

Sat 26 Mar - Sat 2 Apr TBC Scuola Sci Canazei-Marmolada Scheduled, Gatwick-Verona Coach 2.5 hrs Hotel Italia 3*, halfboard, twinshare • hotelitalia.eu REF180

7 Nights

£850

Sat 2 Jul - Sat 9 Jul 2016 TBC Alexandra Chapman, Tip Top Ski School Not Included Coach, 3 hrs Hotel de la Valentin - half board, twin share • les2alpesleisure.com REF001

off piste development

• Mix of skiing with the instructor and the Leader for the children • Good value restaurants and bars on and off the mountain • Fantastic public swimming pool with slide & wellness a short walk from the hotel

Action Maximise your skiing on our action-packed holidays Our Ski Club Leaders will find you the best snow and resort highlights Mostly on piste skiing, with some off piste according to conditions

All day, every day

Ross Woodhall

action

The best slopes

Italian Season Intro

Madonna di Campiglio | Italy

Davos Delights

Wengen Fun

Davos | Switzerland

Wengen | Switzerland

Start the season as you mean to go on with a December trip to the charming resort of Madonna di Campiglio. Situated in the heart of the Brenta Dolomites, the outstanding beauty and unspoilt landscape of this region make it a must for every skier’s bucket list. The extensive ski area covers 150km of pistes and links with the nearby resorts of Pinzolo, Folgarida and Marileva so there is plenty of ground to cover. The Hotel Bertelli is a firm favourite with our members and offers a warm welcome, great facilities and delicious cuisine, and is just a short stroll from the centre of the picturesque village with its many shops, cafés and restaurants.

Spend six days exploring the huge Parsenn area. From long tree-lined runs, which extend all the way down to the valleys below Davos, to the ideal wide-open runs on the Jakobshorn mountain, this is a great place to perfect your style. You’ll get to ski with enthusiastic Ski Club Leaders and then recover in one of the many fantastic mountain restaurants this region has to offer. Staying in the impressive 4* Sunstar Parkhotel, you’ll be able to unwind in the comfort of your own single room, before enjoying a delicious five-course dinner in the panoramic restaurant.

Sitting on a sunny plateau above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Wengen retains an old-world charm thanks to the lack of traffic. Take the timeless cog railway up to Kleine Scheidegg and once in the mountains, the views are spectacular and the skiing extensive – Wengen is linked to both Grindelwald and Mürren. After a morning burning the calories why not treat yourself to a traditional and delicious lunch of rösti before tackling the slopes again in the afternoon? Wengen boasts a wide range of activities for non-skiers, making this a superb choice for non-skiing partners too.

• Six

• Single

days with Ski Club Leaders rooms with no supplement • Fantastic Italian hospitality at good value prices • Single

PE S

7 Nights

£1199

Sun 13 Dec - Sun 20 Dec David Coombs, Michael Power None Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Bertelli 4* - half board, single room • hotelbertelli.com REF009

days skiing with Ski Club Leaders boasts an excellent wellness centre • Fantastic five-course dinners, lively piano bar and open fireplaces • Hotel

PE S

7 Nights

£1399

Sat 2 Jan - Sat 9 Jan Malcolm Luthman, David Lonnen None Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2 hrs Sunstar Parkhotel Davos 4* - half board, single room • sunstar.ch/davos REF021

rooms at no extra cost days skiing with knowledgeable Ski Club Leaders • Fabulously located 4* hotel with spa facilities • Six

PE S

7 Nights

£1299

Wed 6 Jan - Wed 13 Jan Tiffany Wainford, Carole Hussell None Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach / Rail, 3 hrs Sunstar Hotel Wengen 4* - half board, single room • sunstar.ch/wengen REF022

Ross Woodhall

Obergurgl | Austria

Ski & Schnapps

Zermatt | Switzerland

Swiss Bliss

Laax (Flims) | Switzerland

Enjoy the ambience of this demanding yet fun Austrian resort. Obergurgl is a fantastic ski area, sitting at the head of the magnificent Ötz valley, boasting reliable snow and an enticing variety of slopes. Spend your time exploring the 110km of pistes with your Ski Club Leaders - and if it’s relaxation you’re looking for then there are plenty of cosy mountain huts with great views for a hot chocolate stop. The luxurious 4* Edelweiss and Gurgl is the original village hotel, which overlooks the main square on one side, and the slopes on the other. Most of the bedrooms have balconies and the hotel prides itself on its extensive wellness area.

Zermatt – the name alone conjures up images of skiing heaven. There’s spectacular scenery, the Matterhorn, superb mountain restaurants and miles of breathtaking skiing – both on and off piste. Your Ski Club Leaders will show you around the extensive slopes in four varied areas, taking you straight to the best snow. You’ll be staying at the luxurious 4* Hotel Sonne with its Roman spa featuring relaxing eucalyptus, camomile and lemon steam baths, the unique outdoor whirlpool and beautiful indoor pool – all contributing to a skiing holiday to remember.

This hidden gem of the Swiss Alps is continually boosting its reputation as an extensive intermediate ski playground offering high, wide and sunny slopes. Hard on the heels of your knowledgeable Ski Club Leaders you’ll sample the Alpenarena to its limits, enjoying the long runs for which Laax is renowned. Stay in the impressive 4* Sunstar Hotel in its delightful setting in the mountain forest at Flims Waldhaus. The hotel’s inviting style and cosy atmosphere are conducive to staying in and relaxing if that’s what you’d prefer to do.

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Austrian Indulgence

• Six

• Enjoy long and extensive runs in a stunning ski area • Six days skiing with Ski Club Leaders • Piano bar, wellness centre and private hotel minibus

days skiing with Ski Club Leaders train ride from Geneva or Zurich Airport • High standard of accommodation in the charming car-free village • Easy

Six days skiing with Ski Club Leaders Ski-in, ski-out hotel • Includes six day lift pass • •

LIFT PASS INCLUDED PE S

7 Nights

£1550

Sat 9 Jan - Sat 16 Jan Dave Davenport, Peter Lewis None Scheduled, Gatwick - Innsbruck Coach, 1.5 hrs Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgl 4* - half board, single room • edelweiss-gurgl.com REF027

7 Nights

£1499

Sat 16 Jan - Sat 23 Jan Chris Evans, David Bintcliffe None Not Included Rail, 3.5 hrs Hotel Sonne 4* - half board, twin share • sonnezermatt.ch REF037

PE S

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 16 Jan - Sat 23 Jan Vanessa Cornborough, Chris Tomlinson None Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2 hrs Sunstar Hotel Flims 4* - half board, single room • sunstar.ch/flims REF034 PE S

7 Nights

£1225

Sat 19 Mar - Sat 26 Mar Tony James None Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2 hrs Sunstar Hotel Flims 4* - half board, single room • sunstar.ch/flims REF168

Ski & Spa

Virgin Snow

Schladming Schuss

If you’re a ski and spa aficionado and it’s the privacy of a single room you prefer then this holiday, in an extensive 4* spa hotel, is the one for you. The vast and varied ski domain is perfect for high mileage intermediate skiers. After the challenges of the day you can return to your own ensuite room and some pampering at the hotel, followed by a buffet dinner and live music in the bar. These weeks normally sell out quickly so book now to secure your place!

If you want a true Italian experience, then Madonna di Campiglio is definitely for you. A beautiful, picturesque village set in the stunning Brenta Dolomites hosts the 4* Hotel Bertelli. Here you will be treated to exquisite, locally sourced cuisine alongside a wine cellar so extensive that it has two sommeliers! The hotel also boasts a superb wellness area to sooth your limbs after exploring the 150km of wide open cruising pistes, which never seem to get busy. The atmosphere of the town is very relaxed and an early evening stroll is a must to take in the incredible views.

After a gap of more than 20 years, Ski Club Freshtracks are returning to Schladming – and with the same leader as 20 years ago! There have no doubt been a number of changes since then – not least the development of the ski area, which now encompasses four mountains and over 230km of pistes. But you’ll still find a warm welcome, traditional Austrian style. There’s a lot to keep you busy here and if you like wide rolling reds and long winding blues dotted with great huts to stop off at you will love it. The charming and traditional Posthotel Schladming is in the centre of the historic town, close to the lifts.

Bad Hofgastein | Austria

Excellent Ski Club Leaders, good company, good varied piste skiing. Charmain Hornsby

Madonna di Campiglio | Italy

• Six

days skiing with your Ski Club Leaders spa facilities located within the hotel • Complementary wine and beer with your buffet dinner

Ski & Schnapps

• Fabulous

Six days skiing with Ski Club Leaders Extensive ski area of over 150km of pistes • Wellness centre and spa •

Schladming | Austria

•

• •

PE S

7 Nights

£950

Sat 24 Jan - Sat 31 Jan Terry Rimmer, John Curnow None Scheduled, Heathrow - Salzburg Coach, 3 hrs Kur and Sport Hotel Palace 4* - half board (incl. wine), single room • kurhotelpalace.at REF054

PE S

See pages 6-7 for ski standards descriptions on piste: off piste: Bookings and information: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks | +44 (0)20 8410 2022

£999

Sat 6 Feb - Sat 13 Feb Peter Beck, David Wylie None Scheduled, Gatwick - Salzburg Coach, 1.5 hrs Kur and Sport Hotel Palace 4* - half board (incl. wine), single room • kurhotelpalace.at REF089

PE S

Date Ski Club Leader Touring Standard Accommodation Flights Maximum Climb Mountain Guide or Instructor Transfer

7 Nights

£999

Sat 20 Feb - Sat 27 Feb John Bennett, Jeremy Frost None Scheduled, Heathrow - Salzburg Coach, 1.5 hrs Kur and Sport Hotel Palace 4* - half board (incl. wine), single room • kurhotelpalace.at REF099

7 Nights

£1199

•

Six days skiing with Ski Club Leaders Historic 4* hotel with wellness centre Charming Austrian resort

Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan John Bennett, Michael Power None Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Bertelli 4* - half board, twin share • hotelbertelli.com REF051

7 Nights

£1199

Sat 12 Mar - Sat 19 Mar Linda Westoby, Kersti Vicarri None Scheduled, Heathrow - Linate Coach, 3 hrs Hotel Bertelli 4* - half board, twin share • hotelbertelli.com REF153

7 Nights

£1250

Sat 6 Feb - Sat 13 Feb David Bintcliffe, Bob Dalziel None Scheduled, Heathrow - Salzburg Coach, 1.5 hrs Posthotel Schladming - half board, twin share • posthotel-schladming.at/ REF086

Colorado Experience

Families Austrian Half Term Your children will enjoy a half-term to remember as they are kept endlessly amused around the 230km of perfectly groomed slopes in the vast Schladming 4 mountain ski area. True intermediate heaven, it’s impossible to get bored with fast blues, fun reds and challenging blacks - these mountains have enough to offer everyone. If they still have any energy left, there’s plenty to do once the lifts are shut – including night skiing, tobogganing or a visit to the local indoor adventure pool. Located in the middle of the traffic-free centre and just a short walk from the lifts, the historic and family run 4* Posthotel is a comfortable base for a great family week away.

• Six days skiing with Club Leaders for children • Excellent value mountain restaurants • Lovely 4* accommodation with local, traditional cuisine

7 Nights

£1499

Sun 14 Feb - Sun 21 Feb Alban Donohoe, Adam Copeland None Scheduled, Heathrow - Munich Coach, 2.5 hrs Posthotel Schladming - half board, twin share • posthotel-schladming.at/ REF098

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Schladming | Austria

Vail / Aspen | USA

Experience two extensive resorts in Colorado in one go with an on piste adventure to Vail and Aspen. Colorado boasts 300 days of sunshine and more than 1000cm of snow a year, so why not sample two of its premier winter destinations in a two-week trip? Spend your first week in Vail, which is one of the largest resorts in the world with 5,289 acres. You'll be treated to a huge and varied ski area with modern and efficient lift systems, great vertical, lots of snow and a vibrant ski town to explore if you have the energy post skiing! Then travel onto the famous Aspen Mountain Resort for a week exploring its long, steep mogul runs and challenging fall lines that the area is known for. It really is worth travelling the extra mile to experience these two fantastic resorts. Ski-in, Ski-out hotel at Vail Cascade Resort Spa and wellness area in both hotels • Private minibus transfers provided by Vailcoach • •

14 Nights

£2699

Thu 25 Feb - Thu 10 Mar Alaistair Ross, Chris Evans None Scheduled, Heathrow - Denver Private minibus Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, Hotel Aspen B+B, twinshare • vailcasade.com • hotelaspen.com REF112 Ross Woodhall

Ross Woodhall

Austrian Action Zell am See | Austria

Imagine a small, traditional Austrian town, picturesque cobbled streets lined with bustling cafés, bars and shops, with a magnificent lake offering stunning reflections of the mountains towering above… sound too good to be true? Well it exists, and what’s more it’s the gateway to a stunning ski area. This is a great place to perfect your style - skiing the varied terrain with our Ski Club Leaders. Refuel at lunchtime in one of the many fantastic restaurants or head further afield to Kaprun where you can enjoy the spectacular views from the Aussichs restaurant. Ski-in, ski-out location minutes’ walk to charming town centre • Relaxing spa area with indoor pool •

• Five

7 Nights

£1175

Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar Jane Billington None Scheduled, Heathrow - Salzburg Coach, 1.5 hrs Sporthotel Alpin 4* - half board, twin share • sporthotelalpin.com REF121 PE S

7 Nights

£1225

Sat 12 Mar - Sat 19 Mar Allen Swift, George Jenkin None Scheduled, Heathrow - Salzburg Coach, 1.5 hrs Sporthotel Alpin 4* - half board, single room • sporthotelalpin.com REF154

Italian Indulgence

New to Freshtracks for 2016, Norway’s largest resort of Trysil is modern and well thought out with over 30 lifts and 68 pistes spread over four interconnected ski areas, all with their own unique characteristics. From the black slopes in Høgegga to the red, blue and green slopes at Skihytta, Trysil Turistsenter and Trysil Høyfjellssenter, there is plenty to explore. The Radisson Park Inn has been designed with ski-in ski-out convenience in mind and has all the modern services you would expect, including on-site ski rental, two restaurants serving local and international dishes, a cosy bar and a swimming pool and spa (payable locally).

For our Sella Ronda enthusiasts we’ve upped sticks and moved resorts to the historic and charming resort of Canazei. From here you are well located for the slopes of Belvedere with easy access to Arabba one way and Val Gardena the other – not to mention the rest of the 1,200km of pistes! A truly stunning and unique ski area, this Unesco World Heritage site has everything on offer from the cruisy blues and long-rolling reds to high altitude skiing on the Marmolada glacier - and all in the most beautiful and extraordinary setting. The 4* Hotel Croce Bianca is well situated, a short stroll from both the lifts and village centre with an extensive wellness area and renowned cuisine.

Trysil | Norway

Canazei | Italy

• Ski-in

ski-out hotel Norway’s largest ski area • Short 2 hour flight from London to Oslo • Explore

days skiing with Ski Club Leaders choice of mountain restaurants with great food and modest prices • Interesting historic area – a good choice for non-skiing partners

Davos & Lenzerheide Extravaganza

Lenzerheide / Davos | Switzerland Double up on your ski holiday this year by visiting two fantastic Swiss resorts in one trip. You’ll start off in Lenzerheide, which has recently been linked with Arosa and now encompasses over 225km of pistes. There’s a great variety of terrain here from relaxed blues, rolling reds and challenging black runs. After four days exploring, hard on the heels of your Ski Club Leaders, you’ll travel over to Davos and the huge Parsenn ski area. The snow reliability in both resorts is good, as are the mountain restaurants. At the end of the day, return to the warm welcome at each of the 4* Sunstar Hotels. Their inviting style gives a cosy atmosphere where you can relax in the spa, or the bar, and enjoy their delicious 5 course dinners.

• Six

• Excellent

Eight days skiing with Ski Club Leaders Opportunity to ski two areas in one trip • Single rooms at no supplement • •

Final Fling

Obergurgl | Austria Squeeze one last week's skiing out of the season with a final fling in the snowsure resort of Obergurgl. This stylish and traditional resort has a loyal following due to its reliable snow and the variety of slopes on offer. Let your Ski Club Leaders do the work as they lead you around the groomed pistes so you can admire the stunning surroundings. The village has a calm and relaxed Tirolean atmosphere with little traffic in the centre, making it the perfect place to escape the day-today routine. The 4* Edelweiss and Gurgl is the original village hotel situated at the top of Obergurgl, next to the church and overlooking the main square on one side and the slopes on the other. You’ll also get to enjoy the luxury of your own room in this fabulous 4* with all amenities on hand: a beautiful pool, sauna, solarium and renowned cuisine in their restaurant. Ski-in, ski-out hotel Single occupancy room • Includes six-day lift pass • •

LIFT PASS INCLUDED PE

7 Nights

£1299

Sat 5 Mar - Sat 12 Mar Dave Davenport, Peter Tomlinson None Scheduled, Heathrow - Oslo Coach, 3 hrs Park Inn Trysil Mountain Resort - half board, twin share • parkinn.com/hotel-trysil REF137

7 Nights

£1299

Sat 5 Mar - Sat 12 Mar TBC None Scheduled, Gatwick - Verona Coach 2.5 hrs Hotel Croce Bianca 4* - half board, twin share • hotelcrocebianca.com REF138

PE S

9 Nights

£1550

Tue 15 Mar - Thu 24 Mar Glyn Taylor None Scheduled, Heathrow - Zurich Coach, 2 hrs Sunstar Hotel Lenzerheide 4* / Sunstar Parkhotel Davos 4* - half board, single room • lenzerheide.sunstar.ch • parkhotel-davos.sunstar.ch REF163

PE S

7 Nights

£1399

Sat 9 Apr - Sat 16 Apr Reg Favall, Robert Anderson, Colin Stone None Scheduled, Heathrow - Munich Coach, 3.5 hrs Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgl 4* - half board, single room • edelweiss-gurgl.com REF190

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Norwegian Peaks

Heli & Cat Skiing For many, heli or cat skiing is the ultimate experience on snow Ski on untouched snow far from the crowds Enjoy spectacular scenery and endless possibilities

Breathtaking descents

Skeena

heli & cat skiing

Spectacular ascents

Pyrenees Heli Exploration

Baqueira Beret | Spain

Andrea was the lead guide, he has great knowledge of the area and found us plenty of fresh snow in varied conditions. Bob Flint Adrenalin in Alagna 1

Alagna, known as the Freeride Paradise, offers traditional Italian alpine charm and incredible skiing which is second to none. With numerous off piste routes and the chance to reach untouched snow by helicopter, this trip is sure not to disappoint. From Alagna you can ski to the neighbouring resorts of Gressoney and Champoluc, providing a wide variety of off piste terrain for you to explore with the aid of your expert mountain guides, so that you’ll be more than ready to get the most from your day of heli skiing. The Monte Rosa range features a variety of terrain and routes, couloirs and steep slopes which makes it the perfect place to test your limits! Return in the evenings to the low-key and friendly resort, where you can relax at the family-run Albergo Mirella before venturing out to sample some Italian fare.

• Two

• Six

heli drops included and well situated family-run 4* hotel in the centre of the resort offering excellent spa facilities and superb local cuisine

7 Nights £1599

See pages 6-7 for ski standards descriptions on piste: off piste: Bookings and information: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks | +44 (0)20 8410 2022

Alagna | Italy

The Spanish resort of Baqueira Beret may not be well known to many UK skiers but it’s an undiscovered gem when it comes to offering an ideal base for exciting and varied off piste terrain, offering steeps, couloirs and amazing tree skiing. Edurne Pasaban, the first woman to scale all the peaks over 8,000m certainly agrees and has set up her own ski guiding operation, Kabi, based in Baqueira. Working with experienced local mountain guides, we’ll take you on daily journeys both near the resort and to more remote corners by helicopter. Two days of Heli Rando using the helicopter and some skinning to find the perfect snow offers endless possibilities. Not only does Baqueira offer a mountain experience to rival the most famous resorts in the Alps, you’ll also have the opportunity to try local tapas with a glass of rioja at the end of the day.

• Charming

Date Ski Club Leader Touring Standard Accommodation Flights Maximum Climb Mountain Guide or Instructor Transfer

Monte Rosa Heli Escapades

Sat 23 Jan - Sat 30 Jan Darryl Shailes Kabi mountain guides Scheduled, Heathrow - Toulouse Coach, 2.5 hrs Hotel Val de Ruda Spa - half board, twin share • hotelvalderudabaqueira.com REF050

days with mountain guides heli drops included • A good level of fitness will ensure you get the most from this exciting week • Two

7 Nights

£1399

Sat 20 Feb - Sat 27 Feb Ian Robinson Andrea Enzio, Sandro Borini Scheduled, Heathrow - Linate Coach, 2.5 hrs Albergo Mirella 3* - B&B, twin share • alagna.it REF101 CMH Heli Skiing

Monte Rosa Circuit Zermatt | Switzerland

• Six

full days with mountain guide nights B&B in Zermatt & 4 nights half board in mountain hotels • Exciting Swiss/Italian safari for advanced skiers • Three

7 Nights

£1599

Sat 27 Feb - Sat 5 Mar None Klaus Tscherrig Beginner / Intermediate 1 - 2 hrs Not Included Not Included Hotel Jägerhof / Mountain Hotels - 3 nights B+B / 4 nights half board, twin share • jaegerhofzermatt.ch REF118

heli & cat skiing

Starting and finishing in Zermatt, this week of border hopping between Switzerland and Italy offers an unrivalled safari experience. Climbing on skins is kept to a minimum so all of your energy will be spent pounding the powder in six magnificent valleys. The highlight will be a helicopter lift, sweeping you high over the beautiful Monte Rosa wonderland and dropping you at the top of your most exhilarating descent. Skiing the narrow gorges and bumpy terrain of Gressoney, Macugnaga, Saas Fee and the off piste paradise of Alagna, it will be an unforgettable trip. On the sixth day you’ll explore Zermatt’s wonderful ski area and there will be a second opportunity to try some heli skiing (charged locally, weather dependent).

Canadian Backcountry Escape British Columbia | Canada

At White Grizzly, the main guide was excellent — communicated clear instructions, helpful when needing advice or assistance and located the best terrain available. Janette Langford Canadian Backcountry Escape

Date Ski Club Leader Touring Standard Accommodation Flights Maximum Climb Mountain Guide or Instructor Transfer

If you’re looking for an unforgettable off piste experience then how about some cat skiing in the powder mecca of British Columbia? To get you started, you’ll spend four full days skiing Kicking Horse Mountain Resort exploring over 2,800 skiable acres and 1,260 metres of vertical varied terrain. Here you’ll be staying at the beautiful Vagabond Lodge. From there you’ll travel onto Meadow Creek, where the White Grizzly Adventures team will look after you for five days of amazing cat skiing with a rest day where you can relax in the lodge, or if you still have some energy, a day trip to nearby Whitewater Resort. White Grizzly offers a vast, steep and consistently challenging backcountry experience which is sure to be the highlight of the trip! You’ll cat ski five days in the spectacular Goat Range of the Selkirk Mountains, which represents more than the area of Whistler/Blackcomb. • Five

days cat skiing – one ‘day off’ – various options available Exclusive use of the minibus • Outstanding backcountry experience, with exhilarating skiing •

12 Nights

£3750

Sat 27 Feb - Thurs 10 Mar John Haddon White Grizzly Guides Not Included Private minibus Vagabond Lodge, Kicking Horse / White Grizzly Lodge - 5 nights breakfast and lunch, 7 nights full board, twinshare • vagabondlodge.ca • whitegrizzly.com REF126

See pages 6-7 for ski standards descriptions on piste: off piste: Bookings and information: skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks | +44 (0)20 8410 2022

CMH Heli Skiing

Red Mountain / Nakusp / Whitewater | Canada

The first stop on this trip is Red Mountain Resort where you’ll have a great warm up with four full days to explore the area. You’ll be staying in the beautiful Prestige Mountain Resort in Rossland. From Red you’ll then travel onto the CMH K2 Rotor Lodge in the beautiful lakeside town of Nakusp, BC, located in the powdery playground of the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges, full of burly bowls, pillow lines and perfectly spaced trees. The K2 Clubhouse will be your base for four full days of heli skiing. To end the trip you’ll stay and ski in Whitewater for four nights at the Prestige Lakeside Resort Nelson. In the summer following the trip you’ll be contacted to choose your K2 skis, which will then be delivered to you in time for the 2016-17 season.

heli & cat skiing

BC Heli Adventure

• Four full days Heli Skiing with 17,500 vertical metres guaranteed • Free pair of 2017 season K2 Skis included! • Exclusive use of a private minibus driven by your Ski Club Leader

12 Nights

£4299

Mon 29 Feb - Sat 12 Mar Mark Borland CMH Heli Not Included Private minibus Prestige Mountain Resort Rossland CMH K2 Rotor Lodge Prestige Lakeside Resort Nelson - 4 nights B+B, 4 nights full board, 4 nights B+B, twinshare. REF132

Holiday Information Please read this information and our booking conditions carefully before you book your holiday. All bookings are made subject to our booking conditions and the information contained below. HOLIDAY PRICE (PER PERSON) INCLUDES: • Group flight arrangements including airport passenger duty and passenger service charge (where specified in the holiday fact box). • Group transfer arrangements (as specified in the holiday fact box). • Accommodation including local taxes, based on same sex people sharing a twin room or triple room (except Touring Zone, where male and female members may have to stay in the same room). • Meals (where provided, as detailed in holiday fact boxes). • Ski Club Leaders, Instructors and Mountain Guides (where specified in the holiday fact box). ADDITIONAL EXPENSES (NOT INCLUDED IN THE ADVERTISED PRICE): • Liftpass – we will advise you of the approximate amount required in local currency with your confirmation of booking. On a few holidays the liftpass price is included in the brochure price and this is indicated in the holiday price details. • Local transport (buses or taxis). • Meals – unless otherwise indicated, holidays are offered on a room only/bed and breakfast/half board/ chalet board basis. Please check the individual holiday price details or ask Ski Club Freshtracks for full details. • Drinks – not included except on occasion where the holiday price includes wine with dinner. • Equipment – if you need to hire equipment in the resort, take advantage of discounts available to Club members (see website). • Snowsports travel insurance. • Evening meal on resort staff’s one day off (chalet hotels only) each week. • Return travel between home and UK departure point. • Shuttle flights from regional airports to group departure point. • Visas for non EC passport holders, where applicable. • Optional excursions booked in resort. ACCOMMODATION Accommodation, either in hotels or chalets, is based on people sharing a room and is selected to suit each individual group. In some cases single rooms are available on request, subject to a supplement. Rooms vary in size and comfort and are allocated on a firstcome, first-served basis. Occasionally a superior grade room will be available at a small additional cost. In

Austria and Switzerland it is usual for hotels to offer “Austrian twins”, which are two separate mattresses within one double bed frame with individual duvets. Please see the individual hotel description for details or call Ski Club Freshtracks. Due to the large variety of accommodation offered in the Ski Club Freshtracks programme, it has not been possible to visit all hotels/ chalets prior to contracting and we should point out that all brochured accommodation and services are in accordance with the hotel/chalet’s own literature. We will do our best to help individuals find a room sharer if we are asked to do so, but if, when rooming lists are finalised, there is an imbalance in numbers so that a sole occupancy supplement is incurred, this cost will be passed onto you. Please note that where individuals have been allocated or have specifically asked to share a room with another/other member(s), and one or more of the individuals in the allocated room cancels their holiday, we reserve the right to resell the cancelled place should we have the demand and you may therefore end up sharing a room with another individual. Safaris and touring accommodation: male and female members of the group may be asked to share the same room. SPECIAL REQUESTS/NEEDS If you have any special requests, they should be clearly stated in writing at the time of booking. We will endeavour to pass all such reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier. However, we cannot guarantee that special requests will be met unless the supplier confirms in writing to us that they will be met. Only in these circumstances will this then become a term of our contract with you. Otherwise, failure to provide a special request will not be a breach of contract on our part. It is the individual’s responsibility to reconfirm these requests to the supplier on arrival. FLIGHTS In accordance with EU Regulation 2111/2005 we are required to advise you of the actual Carrier operating your flight. Most of our flights are scheduled services (predominantly Swiss International, British Airways, Air Canada). However, on a number of our holidays, the flights are charter and this is indicated in the holiday flight details. Please note when booking flights we must have your passport title, first name and surname correctly spelt. Subsequent changes will incur a charge, and please note that airlines normally regard name

changes as a cancellation and re-booking, and therefore any alteration may incur a 100% cancellation charge. Flight details and times are not all finalised at the time of printing and are subject to confirmation. We reserve the right to change the airline or routing where absolutely necessary. Any changes after you have received your tickets will be notified to you as soon as possible and in all cases at check-in or at the boarding gate. Such a change is deemed to be a minor change and we cannot be held responsible for any costs associated with a change in connecting or onward travel resulting in a change to air schedules. Please note, that in accordance with Air Navigation Orders, a child must be under two years of age on the date of the return flight in order to qualify for infant status. Some of our holidays don't include flights in the holiday price so that you can take advantage of the flexibility and/or pricing of other airlines, and arrange your own flight to the destination airport. MISSED DEPARTURE In the event that you miss your outbound flight, you must notify the airline and the Freshtracks office immediately (if necessary via the out of hours contact number provided) if you intend to travel and take the inbound flight. Failure to do so may result in your inbound flight reservation being cancelled. We cannot be held responsible for any additional costs as a result of missing a flight. You should consider making a claim under your insurance policy. If you choose to book flights in order to connect with any of the flights included in our package, please be aware that we cannot be held responsible for missed departure as a result of delay or missed departure to either the flight we have booked for you or any flights you have booked. REGIONAL AIRPORTS Where possible we always try to meet your requests for regional departures. Please ask us about regional flights at the time of booking. Usually there is a supplement payable depending upon departure date and flight, and all flights are subject to availability. BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE/SKI CARRIAGE Please note that the baggage allowance is usually one bag of up to 20kgs (44lbs) including skis and boots. The airlines are becoming very strict and if over this limit, a charge may be made for the excess weight. Ski

carriage is payable on most flights. Charges are usually between £15 and £70 per bag. Please check at the time of booking. Availability of ski carriage is often limited and strictly on request with some airlines, so must be confirmed by us at the time of booking. TRANSFERS Transfers from airports to resorts will be by coach, taxi or rail and are arranged to minimise delays. Please note if your personal travel arrangements are outside those of the group, the resort transfer is not included in the holiday price, unless specified. If you are making your own way to the destination airport but still require the group transfer, we do need this request in writing at the time of booking. On some holidays we arrange a coach transfer to the resort which will leave the destination airport at a fixed time. We will provide you with details of the time the coach transfer will leave the destination airport. The coach transfer forms part of your holiday price. If for any reason, including delays to your flight, you miss the group transfer we will not provide a further transfer for you and you will have to arrange your own transfer to the resort at your own cost. TRAVELLING INDEPENDENTLY We do not insist that you buy a group flight as part of your package with us. If you wish to make your own travel arrangements to the resort, we will give you an appropriate reduction of £50-£100 per person. You must indicate that you do not wish to take our travel arrangements at the time of booking otherwise you will incur an administration charge. Please note: travel costs are not included in the holidays in the Touring section, but can be arranged by us on request. SKIING WITH OTHERS Please remember that you are taking part in a group holiday and whilst we make every effort to ensure that the group is of a similar standard of experience, you may ski in a group with different levels of competence, experience or priorities. Our Leaders, Guides or Instructors will, where possible take into account the needs and requests of the group, however it is not always possible to accommodate the specific wishes of each member. It is expected that members will understand and respect the wishes of the group.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS It is your responsibility to be in possession of a valid passport and any visa which may be necessary. In the absence of valid documentation, you will not be allowed to travel and we shall have no liability to make any refunds or pay any compensation. Please note that the name on the passport must match the name on the ticket, otherwise you may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid. All British citizens, including infants and children, will require a 10-year passport which is valid for at least six months after the date of return. For more information on the passport applications and the length of time the application process takes, please visit: gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports If you are travelling to a non-EU destination, you should check with the Consulate to find out whether you need a visa or whether there are any other additional immigration requirements. If you do not hold a British passport, please check with your own Embassy or Consulate in the UK to confirm the passport and visa requirements of the country that you are planning to visit. FOREIGN OFFICE TRAVEL ADVICE The Foreign & Commonwealth Office issues advice for those travelling outside the UK. You can access this advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit on the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk. For those traveling to the United States you need to check US immigration requirements which can be found on the website for the US consulate at usinfo.state.gov or usimmigrationsupport.org HEALTH REQUIREMENTS Please contact your GP in good time before you travel to check whether there are any health precautions which you need to take. You can also obtain information from the Department of Health leaflet T7. AGE The majority of holidays in this brochure are designed for adults aged between 18 and 65 years. There is an extensive programme of Peak Experience holidays which are open to anyone aged 50 years and over. Members aged over 65 years will be required to join the trips in this category. Additionally some specific holidays e.g. Family, Christmas and New Year (except Off-Piste Skiing) groups are open to all ages. If members aged over 65 years of exceptional skiing standard/fitness/stamina cannot find an appropriate standard holiday on a date to suit them in the ‘Peak Experience’ programme, the following are the circumstances where their booking

may be accepted on a holiday outside the ‘Peak Experience’ programme: • You are at the upper end of the grading for that holiday • You have received this grading on a Ski Club Freshtracks holiday during the previous/current season • The Leader/mountain guide can confirm that your standard, fitness and stamina all appear to be suitable for the chosen holiday • You have not sustained any injury or undergone any surgery or other period of ill health since receiving this grading that may affect your standard/fitness/stamina If members cannot find what they are looking for in the brochure, we offer our Tailor-made service. For groups of four or more, we can organise a Club Leader, instructor or a mountain guide, together with travel and accommodation to meet members’ needs. UNDER 18s The Club would like to point out that parents and guardians of these youngsters must ensure that it is safe and appropriate for them to holiday in these circumstances and that they will not pose a risk to their own safety, or that of others. We must urge parents to let the Club know anything relevant about their children that will help towards the successful and happy running of the holiday. Parents or guardians will be asked to sign a consent form prior to departure.

for more of a physical challenge with turn after turn in deep powder, a good level of physical fitness is required in order to make sure you get the maximum out of your holiday and avoid unnecessary injuries. It is recommended that you participate in at least 40 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week for a minimum of three months in the run up to a skiing holiday. Please be aware that Leaders are entitled to lower members' ski grading, and in exceptional circumstances they can ask members to leave the ski group if they feel their fitness hinders performance and delays other members of the party or they are a danger to themselves or to the group. No compensation will be payable in such circumstances. HIGH ALTITUDE ACCLIMATISATION Some ski resorts are situated at such a high elevation that the humidity and limited oxygen available can cause a variety of symptoms and illnesses. Please read the information below carefully. It will help to explain how to cope with the acclimatisation process and how to deal with altitude sickness should you suffer from it. Symptoms: Shortness of breath, fast heart beat, dehydration, constipation, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, headache.

SIZE MATTERS! We cost our holidays on a variable ratio of Leaders/ instructors/guides to members. On occasions when our bookings are greater than anticipated, we will send additional Leaders/instructors/guides. However, when we have less demand for a trip we may reduce the number of Leaders/instructors/guides or the number of days instruction/guiding included. On Off Piste and Touring skiing holidays, skiing groups will usually be smaller than on other Ski Club Freshtracks holidays.

What to do: Take it easy for the first couple of days, eat lightly and drink plenty of liquids (two or three times more water than usual), avoid alcohol and caffeine, get plenty of sleep, limit salt and increase carbohydrate consumption. Most importantly listen to your body – if you feel unwell DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT A DOCTOR. For most people the minor symptoms of altitude will disappear as your body adjusts. Please remember the use of hot tubs and saunas will accelerate the dehydration process. Please be aware that the sun is MUCH stronger at higher altitudes. Be sure to apply a high factor sun screen to your face, neck and ears at least every four hours, even on a cloudy day.

SKI STANDARDS While every effort is made to ensure that skiing abilities are compatible, the final decision will rest with the Leaders/instructors/mountain guides. There may be occasions when you have to free ski or attend the local ski school to ensure the success of the holiday. We will not be responsible for any such additional costs. At the end of each holiday every member will be issued with a ‘next holiday card’. A Ski Club grading for each member on the holiday will be recorded on the Ski Club of Great Britain membership database.

TIPPING Our brochure prices include all local staying duties and room taxes, but, whilst discretionary, it is typical to leave a tip when paying for drinks and food abroad. With mountain guides and instructors it is usual for the group to buy lunch and offer a tip at the end of the holiday. Most service staff in America and Canada anticipate between 15-20% gratuity, depending on the level of service; this includes bar staff and drivers. It is customary on departure to leave a gratuity in your room for housekeeping staff – a guideline is $5 per day.

FITNESS Skiing is a demanding sport and so it is essential to take into consideration fitness levels when making decisions about your ski grading. Fitness is a key part of skiing ability and so it is important when choosing a holiday to ask yourself how far you can, and are prepared, to push yourself. Whether you are comfortable cruising the reds all day with a long lunch stop or are looking

ATOL PROTECTION We hold an Air Travel Organisers Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL No. 2911) When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. “We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).” ATOL Protection does not apply to all holiday services in this brochure. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. For further information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate visit atol.org.uk ABTOT PROTECTION The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 for Ski Club Winter Arrangements Limited and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following: • Non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK • Non-flight packages commencing and returning to a country other than the UK • Flight inclusive packages that commence outside of the UK, which are sold to customers outside of the UK 1, 2 and 3 provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled. 1 and 3 provides for repatriation. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Ski Club Winter Arrangements Limited.

93 HOLIDAY INFORMATION

Smoking While the Ski Club does not operate a no-smoking policy for the holiday programme, it is expected that members will respect the wishes of the group as a whole. Smokers should conform with each individual establishment’s rules and must refrain from smoking in shared bedrooms and at meal times.

Booking Conditions All contracts in respect of these holidays are made with Ski Club Winter Arrangements Limited (Company Number 02099115, whose registered office is at The White House, 57-63 Church Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 5SB) of which “Ski Club of Great Britain” and “Ski Club Freshtracks”are trading names. All bookings are subject to these Booking Conditions and our “Holiday Information” document. SKI CLUB MEMBERS ONLY 1 It is a condition of booking that you must be a member of the Ski Club of Great Britain to book these holidays. Membership numbers must be provided when the booking is made, as they are required to be stated on the booking confirmation. If you are not a current member at the time of booking, you will be asked to join/renew before confirmation of booking.

HOW TO BOOK

2 Please follow carefully all the booking details and subsequent instructions. We shall not be liable for your failure to do so. You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of booking. The member who makes the booking is responsible for ensuring that these Booking Conditions are drawn to the attention of every person on whose behalf he/she has made a booking. We will only deal with that member in all subsequent correspondence and dealings. When you make a booking you are confirming that you understand these Booking Conditions and have the authority to accept, and do accept them on behalf of yourself and all members of your party. You are also responsible for making all payments due, ensuring the accuracy of all personal details and other information supplied in respect of yourself and your party, notifying us of any changes or cancellations and for receiving correspondence and keeping your party informed of any changes to your booking.

MAKING A PAYMENT 3 We accept, credit and debit cards (except Amex & Solo). This means that you may telephone your requirements for immediate booking. Please note there is a 2% surcharge payable for credit card transactions (Visa/Mastercard) which we will automatically add to your balance. You will be sent a booking confirmation which must be checked carefully. In the event of any discrepancy, please raise any queries with us immediately. A non-refundable deposit of £150 per person will be payable at the time of booking. If you book within 10 weeks of the departure date the total cost of your holiday and that of your group must be submitted immediately. We reserve the right to vary the deposit and balance due date particularly for (though not limited to) holidays that include heli or cat skiing. Receipt of the deposit by us does not imply confirmation of that booking. No booking shall be confirmed or contract come into existence until we issue a written confirmation invoice along with the booking confirmation. We reserve the right to refuse a booking without giving any reason for such refusal and shall in that event return any deposit received to its sender.

4 The balance of the total cost of the holiday as shown on our confirmation invoice must be paid at least 10 weeks before departure. If the balance has not been paid by such a date we reserve the right to cancel the booking within seven days thereafter and to retain the deposit by way of our cancellation charge. Any dispute as to the amounts shown in the invoice must be taken up with us within 48 hours of receipt of the invoice. Thereafter the person who made the booking guarantees payment to us in accordance with these Booking Conditions of the total amount shown on the invoice. For cancellation procedures see Section 5 below.

is cancelled up to 10 weeks before the departure date the deposits paid by you will be forfeited. Since we incur costs in cancelling your arrangements the following cancellation charges will also be payable if the holiday is cancelled by you for whatever reason after the balance due date. Notice of cancellation before departure:

AMENDMENT OR CANCELLATION BY YOU

All cancellations must be received in writing, signed by the person who made the booking and acknowledged by us. Failure to pay the balance by the due date shall also entitle the Ski Club to cancel the booking and retain the deposit by way of a cancellation charge. Failure to pay any other amount by the due date shall entitle the Ski Club to cancel the booking and to retain an amount by way of a cancellation charge as set out in Clause 5 (c). Cancellation charges due on heli-skiing holidays are according to each helicopter skiing operator’s booking conditions. These will be made known to you before you book. (d) Course Only Bookings. These bookings must be paid for in full at the time of booking. All cancellations must be received in writing, signed by the person who made the booking and acknowledged by us. Since we incur costs in cancelling your arrangements, all cancellations are subject to a £100 non-refundable fee. The following cancellation charges will be payable if the arrangements are cancelled by you for whatever reason. Notice of cancellation before departure:

5 (a) If you wish to alter or change any detail in the booking confirmation, or wish to make alternative arrangements to those advertised in the brochure, the request must be made at the time of booking or in writing as soon as possible. We will do our best to make the change but cannot guarantee to do so. Where a change can be made, a minimum charge of £25 per person is payable to cover administrative and other costs we incur in making the alternative arrangements. These further costs could increase closer to the departure date that changes are made. You will also be required to pay any additional costs arising from any alterations. Any transfer of a scheduled flight will also be subject to any charges imposed by the airline. Please note that airlines may not allow transfers on scheduled flights and that a flight booking may have to be cancelled and rebooked, in which event the rebooking will always be subject to flight availability and to payment of any charges imposed by the airline which may, in some cases, be the full cost of the ticket. Please also note that airlines and other transport providers normally regard name changes as a cancellation and rebooking, and any alteration may incur a 100% cancellation charge in respect of their fare. (b) If you are prevented from travelling you may be able to transfer your booking to someone else provided you give us reasonable notice (minimum 10 weeks prior to departure). This person must be able to satisfy all the conditions for the holiday and a change cannot normally be made later than 10 weeks prior to departure. They must accept the transfer and agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. If the transfer can be made we will make an administration charge of £50 plus any reasonable additional costs caused by the transfer. You will remain responsible for ensuring that the holiday is paid for by the balance due date. (c) You or any member of your party may cancel your holiday arrangements at any time. However, if the holiday

70-43 days 42-31 days 30-0 days

70-31 days 30-0 days

Proportion of holiday cost payable 30% 50% 100%

Proportion of holiday cost payable 50% 100%

PRICES 6 (i) We reserve the right to alter the prices and any other information relevant to any of the holidays shown in our brochure or on our website. You will be advised of the current price of the holiday that you wish to book before your contract is confirmed. (ii) The price of your holiday arrangements can go up or down after you have booked due to changes in transportation costs such as fuel, scheduled airfares and any other airline cost changes, which are part of the contract between airlines (and their agents) and the tour operator or organiser. Changes in VAT or other government imposed changes and currency changes in relation to an exchange rate variation can also affect the price of travel arrangements. However, there

will be no change within 30 days of your departure. In the case of any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your holiday arrangements (excluding insurance premiums and any amendment charges), this will be absorbed or retained. For larger variations this 2% will still be absorbed for increases but you will be required to pay any amount over and above that. In the latter case there will be an administration charge of £1 per person together with an amount to cover agents’ commission. If this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your holiday arrangements, you may cancel your holiday arrangements and receive a full refund of all monies paid, except for any amendment charges. We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy. Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 14 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice. Alternatively, you can accept an offer of alternative holiday arrangements from us if we are able to offer a suitable alternative and transfer payment made in respect of the original holiday to the alternative holiday. If the cost of the alternative holiday is less than the original, the difference in price will be refunded. In either case, we will also pay compensation as set out in section 8 below. Should the price of the holiday be reduced by more than 2% of your holiday cost (excluding insurance premiums and any amendment charges) then any refund over and above that amount will be refunded to you after deducting an administration charge of £1 per person. Please note that holiday arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place. (iii) The prices of holidays in this brochure are calculated on the basis of costs known at July 2015.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS 7 The majority of our holidays are priced and sold on a shared room basis and we will do our best to help individuals find a room sharer but this is not always possible. If, when rooming lists are finalised, there is an imbalance in numbers so that a sole occupancy supplement is incurred, this cost will be passed onto you. Please note that where individuals have been allocated or have specifically asked to share a room with another/other member(s), and one or more of the individuals in the allocated room cancels their holiday, we reserve the right to resell the cancelled place should we have the demand and you may therefore end up sharing a room with another individual.

CHANGES AND CANCELLATION BY US

56-29 days before departure 28-15 days before departure 14-0 days before departure

£15 per person £25 per person £30 per person

A significant change includes a change of UK airport to one that is less convenient (excluding changes between any London Airport); a change of accommodation to a lower grade; a change of resort; a change of planned departure time by more than 12 hours (not flight delay). “Force majeure” means unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control or the control of our suppliers, the consequences of which neither we nor our suppliers could avoid even with all due care, including, but not limited to, epidemic or outbreaks of illness, war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity or threat of it, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, flood, drought, technical problems with transport, machinery or equipment, power failure, changes imposed by rescheduling or cancellation of flights by an airline, closure or congestion of airports or ports, and adverse weather conditions. (ii) We reserve the right to cancel any holiday in any circumstances. For example, some holidays operate subject to a minimum number of participants and we may therefore have to cancel where there are insufficient numbers. However, we will not cancel your holiday less than 28 days before departure except for reasons of force majeure or failure by you to pay the final balance. If it is necessary to cancel your travel arrangements, compensation will not be payable by us in the event of force majeure, your late or non-payment or where there are insufficient numbers to operate the holiday. We are not responsible for any costs incurred outside the services included in the holiday invoice. Compensation for cancellation is as follows: 56-29 days before departure 28-15 days before departure 14-0 days before departure

£15 per person £25 per person £30 per person

If we have to cancel your booking in circumstances other than your failure to pay, you can have either a full and prompt refund of all monies that you have paid, or accept an offer of alternative holiday arrangements from us if we are able to provide a suitable alternative of comparable standard and transfer payment made in respect of the

original holiday to the alternative holiday. If the cost of the alternative holiday is less than the original, the difference in price will be refunded. In the event that you choose an alternative arrangement, these terms and conditions will still apply to that alternative booking.

HOLIDAY INSURANCE 9 Our insurance policy is optional but it is a condition of booking that all clients have insurance which provides at least the same level of cover as that of the Ski Club Travel Insurance policy as detailed on skiclubinsurance.co.uk. It is your responsibility to comply with the insurance company’s requirements and if you suffer from a disability or medical condition, you should disclose this to insurers. Your policy of insurance should provide cover for personal injury, death, medical and repatriation costs in the countries which you intend to visit, together with cover for loss of baggage and valuables, personal liability, delay, cancellation, curtailment, missed departure and legal expenses. We also advise that your policy should include skiing off-piste without a guide. Insurance premiums must be paid at the same time as booking the holiday in order for cancellation cover to be effective. Please read the full policy wording carefully. Cancellation cover commences on payment of your premium; other sections of the cover apply during your holiday including the outward and return journeys. Please keep insurance details with you whilst on holiday.

OUR LIABILITY 10 We do not own or manage the aircraft, ships, accommodation, restaurants and other facilities used in conjunction with the holidays advertised in this brochure. We also arrange for other tour operators to run some holidays on our behalf. While we have exercised reasonable care in selecting tour operators, providers of travel, accommodation, restaurants and other facilities, we will not have had the opportunity to inspect and do not by this brochure or by our website represent that we have inspected such aircraft, ships, accommodation, restaurants or other facilities. However, if any part of the holiday arrangement booked with us in the UK is performed improperly and without reasonable care and skill (in accordance with local standards), and this affects your enjoyment of the holiday, we will (subject to the conditions below) pay you reasonable compensation as we accept responsibility for our employees, agents, suppliers and sub-contractors while acting within the course of their contractual duties. This liability (except in matters involving injury, illness or death) is limited to three times the cost of the holiday (excluding insurance premium and amendment charges) of the affected person. If you or any member of your party is killed, injured or becomes ill as a result of transport by aircraft, ship, train, coach or any other vehicle, our liability to pay compensation and/or the amount of compensation we will pay is limited in accordance with the Montreal and Warsaw Conventions (applies to transport by air), the Athens Convention (applies to transport by ship), the Berne Convention (applies to transport by rail) and the Geneva Convention (applies to transport by road). The terms of these conventions are incorporated into and form part of your contract with us. You can get copies of the relevant conventions on request. You should note that these conventions may limit or remove the carrier’s liability to you and the amount which the carrier has to pay to you. Where

the services are provided by air or sea carriers our liability is limited as if we were the carriers within the appropriate international conventions. Our liability will also be limited in accordance with the contractual terms or ‘conditions of carriage’ of any company that provides the transportation for your travel arrangements or supplies other services such as accommodation or activities, including any tour operators that run holidays on our behalf. Copies of these terms can also be obtained on request. These terms are incorporated into this contract and may limit or exclude liability. 11 If you or any member of your party suffers death, illness or injury as a result of any failure to perform or improper performance of any part of our contract with you, we will (subject to clause 10) accept responsibility unless the failure to perform or improper performance was attributable to: (i) your own acts and/or omissions (ii) those of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday and which was unforeseeable or unavoidable (iii) an event which neither we nor the supplier of the service in question could have foreseen or prevented even with all due care. Should any payment be made to you or any member of your party by us in any of the circumstances referred to under clauses 10 and 11, we reserve the right to have you assign to us any rights or claims against the person or organisation responsible for causing the illness, injury or death. You must also assist us and our insurers in pursuing any such claim. All claims must be notified immediately to us and confirmed in writing within 50 days. Any amounts recovered in excess of the payments made by us to you will be passed on to you after deduction of our costs. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits our liability in the event of death or injury that occurs as a result of our negligence. 12 We can accept no liability for: (i) failure to deliver special requests, where these have not been confirmed in writing to you; (ii) extra costs as a result of you missing a flight; or (iii) refusal of travel due to a missing or invalid passport or visa, for more information on passport and visa requirements, please see the Holiday Information documents.

PROBLEMS NOT CONNECTED TO OUR HOLIDAY PACKAGE 13 Should any member of your party suffer illness, injury or death through misadventure arising out of an activity which does not form part of the holiday package we have arranged for you, we cannot accept liability. We will, however, offer general assistance where appropriate. This is another area where it is important to have adequate holiday insurance cover. We may provide you with information on our website, in our brochure or when you are on holiday about activities and excursions which are available in the area you are visiting but which you cannot book with us in the UK and which are not part of your holiday arrangements. We have no involvement in any such activities or excursions which are neither run, supervised or controlled by us. They are provided by local operators or other third parties and we cannot accept any liability in relation to such activities or excursions.

TRANSPORTATION 14 As set out in clause 10 above, transportation on aircraft, coaches, trains or ships is subject to the conditions of carriage of the carrier, some of which may limit or exclude liability. These conditions are often the subject of international agreement between countries and copies of the conditions which apply to your holiday journey and will normally be found on the carrier’s tickets. They are available prior to that time from our office. Under EU Regulation 261/2004 you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from your airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Full details of these rights will be publicised at EU airports and will also be available from airlines. However, reimbursement in such cases is the responsibility of the airline and will not automatically entitle you to a refund of your holiday cost from us. No liability is accepted by us for delays or cancellations of flights. We are also not liable to pay compensation where air, rail, road and other departure times are supplied by carriers since they are subject to air traffic control, passenger check in times, weather conditions and the need for regular maintenance or other safety considerations. You should consider making a claim under your travel insurance policy.

LUGGAGE, SKIS AND EQUIPMENT 15 All luggage, skis, snowboards, boots, equipment and other personal effects shall be at all times and in all circumstances the owner’s own responsibility and taken on holiday at the owner’s risk. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage or delay to your luggage and effects unless directly caused by the negligence of one of our employees. In the event that damage is caused to baggage while in transit with airlines, or at airports this must be reported immediately to the airline or their representatives and a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) form completed by the airline or their representative. This must be completed before leaving the airport. It will not be possible to make a claim against an airline if the damage is discovered after leaving the airport and we cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or damage or delay to luggage.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE 16 (i) We hope you will not experience any problems with your holiday. If you do, however, you must take it up with your senior Club Leader/representative immediately so that we can attempt to solve it at once. If the problem cannot be resolved in a short time your Leader will complete a complaint form, which you will be asked to sign to ensure that it sets out your full complaint properly and which we undertake to investigate as soon as possible and report back to you. If you are unhappy with the outcome of our investigation you must put this in writing to us within 28 days of the end of your holiday. (ii) Your failure to comply with this complaints procedure may deprive us of the opportunity to investigate and rectify your complaint whilst on holiday and may affect your rights under this contract.

GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION 17 These terms are governed by English law. Any claim or dispute arising out of these terms (including non-contractual disputes or claims) is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

95 BOOKING CONDITIONS

8 (i) We are occasionally forced to make changes to holidays and reserve the right to do so at any time. If a significant change is made to your holiday after it has been confirmed, you will be informed as soon as possible. You may either accept the changed holiday, cancel and receive a full and prompt refund of all monies that you have paid, or accept an offer of alternative holiday arrangements from us if we are able to provide a suitable alternative of comparable standard and transfer payment made in respect of the original holiday to the alternative holiday. In the event that you choose an alternative arrangement, these terms and conditions will still apply to that alternative booking. If the cost of the alternative holiday is less than the original, the difference in price will be refunded. Except where the significant change arises due to reasons of force majeure (see below), we will in addition offer you compensation (whether you accept the change or cancel) as follows:

FOR YOUR PROTECTION 18 We provide full financial protection for our package holidays. For flight based holidays this is through our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence No. 2911. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk. When you buy a package holiday which does not include a flight, protection is provided by a bond held by the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Ltd, Membership No. 5064. We will provide you with the services you have bought (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where we are not able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the service you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).

DATA PROTECTION 19 Information about you and members of your party, including your names, contact details and any special needs, disabilities or dietary requirements is collected by us when you request information or make a booking with us. You are responsible for ensuring that other members of your party are aware of our booking conditions and privacy policy and that they consent to your acting on their behalf in your dealings with us. We may disclose this information to our service providers (who may be located outside the UK /EEA ) for the purpose of providing you with your travel and holiday arrangements. Only information necessary for this purpose will be disclosed to them. In the case of air travel, it may be mandatory for us to disclose information for security and anti-terrorism purposes or other purposes imposed on us by governments or airlines. We may use your information for the purposes set out in our data protection registration at the Information Commissioner’s Office. We may disclose your information to companies who act as data processors on our behalf. Some information, for example relating to your religion or health, may be “sensitive personal data” within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 1998. We need this information to cater for your needs, but it is collected on condition that we have your positive consent. If you do not agree to our use of your information, we cannot accept your booking. By making a booking with us, you agree to allow your insurers, their agents and medical staff to disclose relevant information to us in circumstances where we may need to act in the interests of everyone in the group with whom you are travelling. For example, if you contract an infectious illness whilst on holiday, we may immediately need to make special arrangements for you and ensure that you do not return with the group. From time to time we may contact you by post with information about special offers or holidays. If you do not wish to receive such information, please notify us. You have the right to make a data subject access request in writing to obtain a copy of the information which we hold about you. You will be charged a fee for this. Any request should be addressed to the Company Secretary, The Ski Club of Great

Britain, The White House, 57-63 Church Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 5BS.

ACCURACY OF BROCHURE 20 This brochure was planned and produced in July 2015.

Care has been taken in the planning and production of this brochure so that you may obtain an accurate picture of the holiday of your choice and all information published in this brochure has been compiled from up-to-date details. Nevertheless, there may be times when an advertised facility is either modified or not available due to, for example, adverse weather conditions or poor volume of support or other factors beyond our control. We therefore reserve the right to alter or vary the content of the brochure or our website at any time. Wherever possible we will advise you of significant changes prior to departure.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY 21 By booking a holiday with us you undertake to deport

yourself in a safe and orderly fashion and not to disrupt the enjoyment of others on holiday with you nor to prejudice the reputation of the Ski Club of Great Britain with the owners of the accommodation or the suppliers involved in the agreement. Most people go on holiday for rest and relaxation, so if in our reasonable opinion or that of any airline pilot, hotel manager, tour leader, or other person in authority, your behaviour is causing danger, damage to property or persistently affecting the enjoyment of others, we reserve the right to terminate your holiday. Should this happen, we shall not be under any obligation whatsoever to pay compensation or meet any costs or expenses (including but not limited to alternative accommodation and return transportation arrangements) you may incur as a result of your travel arrangements being terminated. Also, we will be entitled to recover compensation for any damage caused from the offending party and/or the person who signed the booking form in the event a resulting claim is made against us by a third party. If the Captain of your flight reasonably believes that you could be a danger or disruptive, he can refuse to let you on the flight. If this means that you are not allowed to board the flight, we will treat your booking as cancelled from that moment, and you will have to pay full cancellation charges. We will not be liable to pay you any compensation. We cannot accept liability for the behaviour of others in your accommodation or on your flight, nor if any facilities are removed as a result of their actions.

REFUNDS 22 We regret that no refund will be made by us on unused coach travel, unused air tickets or on unused sections of other types of ticket, whether travel or otherwise, unless a refund can be obtained by us from the carrier or provider.

IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 YEARS 23 Every member of a holiday under 18 years shall be required to abide by the special Ski Club of Great Britain Rules for such holidays, a copy of which will be supplied with the confirmation invoice. It shall be the responsibility of the person whose name appears on the booking to bring such rules to the attention of each person under 18 on behalf of whom he/she has made a booking. If a member of a holiday under 18 years is sent back to the United Kingdom, as a result of the breach of the Rules, the parents (or guardian, if applicable) of such a member will be responsible for all costs

and expenses arising therefrom including, but not limited to, the provision of an escort by Ski Club Freshtracks as well as his/her travel costs and expenses.

AGE 24 The majority of holidays in this brochure are designed for adults aged between 18 and 65 years. There is an extensive programme of Peak Experience holidays which are open to anyone aged 50 years and over. Members aged over 65 years will be required to join the trips in this category. Additionally some specific holidays e.g. Family, Christmas and New Year (except Off Piste Zone) groups are open to all ages.

OUR HOLIDAY LEADERS 25 The day-to-day organisation of the holiday in the resort is undertaken by the volunteer Ski Club Holiday Leaders and they have been asked to make sure the arrangements made are the best, in their opinion, for the group as a whole. This may mean that one skiing group will be encouraged to free ski while others are being led. Programmes compiled by Ski Club Holiday Leaders are subject to alteration and depend on weather and snow conditions which can change rapidly. The service may alter to conform to changes in local regulations over which we have no control. Any Member wishing to ski/snowboard with a Ski Club Leader agrees to do so under the following conditions: (a)You appreciate that the Ski Club Leader is an untrained volunteer with no formal qualifications as an instructor or mountain guide. (b)You also appreciate that the Ski Club Leader undertakes no obligations to you concerning your safety for which you remain solely responsible. (c)You must ensure that your equipment is in good working order before setting off for the day and that you are suitably clothed for the proposed itinerary and all possible weather conditions. You must decide whether or not a particular run or route is within your competence. (d)It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you are suitably insured for the activities intended to be undertaken Ski Club Leaders are not professional mountain guides, nor ski instructors. They are Club members who have attended a training course with us and who volunteer their services. If you wish to ski with a Ski Club Leader you do so in full knowledge that the Leader will not conduct a professional assessment of your skiing ability. You are responsible for your own safety, and you must be aware of the safety of other group members. Skiing is an inherently risky sport and you must be physically fit and have sufficient skill and experience to enable you to participate without risk to yourself or the safety of others. If you are unable to effect linked snowplough turns competently or if your level of fitness and/or ability does not appear to conform to that of the rest of the group, you will be asked to join the local ski school at your own expense or will be asked to make your own skiing arrangements No refunds or compensation will be paid in these circumstances. At the end of each holiday every member will be issued with a ski grading which will be recorded on the Ski Club membership database.

SAFETY 26 Skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports can be dangerous. When skiing off piste or ski touring there may

be an element of increased risk. You must be competent and fit enough to undertake these sports and you must take all reasonable precautions for your own safety and the safety of any children for whom you are responsible. You must ensure that your equipment is in good working order and that you are suitably clothed for a day’s skiing or snowboarding. Children should wear proper helmets at all times when they are participating in winter sports. When venturing off piste it is advisable to wear an avalanche transceiver. These are provided for and should be worn by every person on every holiday of intermediate standard and above. Anyone joining a holiday in the Off Piste and Touring sections will be required to take their own additional equipment. Unless you are accompanied by a professional mountain guide or ski instructor, you must use your own judgement when deciding which route to follow. When you are skiing under the guidance of a professional mountain guide or ski instructor organised through the Ski Club you should follow their reasonable instructions. In the event that you feel that any route is beyond your capability to ski safely, you must inform the Ski Club Leader, mountain guide or ski instructor immediately. You must accept that Ski Club Leaders, mountain guides and ski instructors have the right to prevent you from participating in any programme organised by the Ski Club if, in their reasonable opinion, you cannot participate safely because your standard of skiing or fitness is inadequate, or your conduct may present a danger to others. Neither the Ski Club of Great Britain nor Ski Club Winter Arrangements Limited has any liability to you in these circumstances. Safety standards in many foreign countries may be lower than those taken for granted at home. While hotels and facilities should meet local safety regulations these rarely match UK standards which are amongst the highest in the world. We do not inspect the safety of ski lifts, ski runs and so on. These are operated locally and do not form part of your package with us.

SNOW AND WEATHER CONDITIONS 27 We cannot accept responsibility for the snow or weather conditions experienced during your holiday with the Ski Club of Great Britain. Where we have used the word ‘powder’ in the description of your holiday, we will endeavour to find the best available snow, but if conditions are such that no powder is available (for weather or safety reasons) we accept no responsibility. Nor do we offer a snow guarantee, but we have specially chosen resorts with good snow records.

DATES OF VALIDITY OF BROCHURE 28 This brochure is valid between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016

CASH DECLARATION 29 Please note that, as part of the fight against terrorism, international crime and money laundering, EU Regulation (EC) No 1889/2005 requires all passengers entering or leaving the European Union through its external control points with €10,000 or more in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies or easily convertible assets – e.g. bonds, shares, traveller’s cheques etc.) to declare the sum to the customs authorities of the Member State which he/she is entering or leaving. If you are likely to need to make a declaration under this regulation please contact the HM Revenue & Customs National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000 or visit www.hmrc.gov.uk for further information on how to comply.

New Ski Club Insurance – launching September 2015 The perfect partner to your Freshtracks holiday The Ski Club has been providing snowsports lovers with insurance for many years. With policies designed by knowledgeable experts, choosing Ski Club Insurance has always meant that you’re getting the specialist cover you need in the mountains. In September 2015, the Ski Club will launch new insurance policies that will continue to provide excellent cover, at even more competitive prices. It’s the perfect accompaniment to your Freshtracks holiday, as well as all of your travel plans throughout the year. • Broad

and comprehensive cover for all holidays, not just skiing trip cover up to the age of 85 • Up to 15% off for Ski Club members • Free children up to the age of 24 on all family policies • New winter sports equipment cover including goggles, helmets, boots, gloves as well as the usual cover for skis, poles and snowboards • Cover for lack of snow, and avalanches • Comprehensive winter sports cover as standard including off piste without a guide, heli skiing, glacier skiing, backcountry skiing and ski touring • All policies include Fogg Medicard (mountain rescue card) as standard • Look out for new Ski Club Platinum membership, including European Annual Multi Trip insurance at incredible prices* • Single

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freshtracks@skiclub.co.uk | skiclub.co.uk/freshtracks Ski Club Winter Arrangements LTD (Trading as Ski Club Freshtracks) Registered in England No. 2099115 The White House, 57-63 Church Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 5SB