So often when it comes to booking ski and snowboarding lessons in a new resort, you are faced with a long list of providers and it can seem a bit of a lucky dip as to whether you pluck the right one out of the hat. Our guide will make your decision-making process easier and help you find the right team to progress your skiing and snowboarding in Verbier.
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Group lessons
Group lessons in Verbier are the most cost effective way of learning to ski or snowboard, particularly for beginners and children. Verbier has fewer large ski schools than many other resorts, meaning there are fewer large group lessons offered. This has its advantages of course, with class sizes always below eight and often with no more than six. Lessons tend be to half days, usually in the morning, and are a great sociable way of learning to ski.
Private lessons
The ski instruction market in Verbier is much more tailored to small groups and private one-to-one lessons, meaning you have plenty of choice of good schools. If you've a bit more money to spend, private lessons are a great way of receiving focussed instruction to help you improve your skiing and snowboarding quickly. They're perfect for a beginner wanting to rapidly grasp the basics and for intermediates wanting to focus on specific elements of their technique. As most private ski lessons take up to four people, they can actually work out good value for money if you're a small group who are all at a similar level. If you're in Verbier during school holidays, most ski schools receive priority at the ski lifts, meaning you can avoid the hefty queues.
Snowboarding lessons
Perhaps it might seem a bit uncool to be seen following the iconic bright colours of a snowboard instructor in a single line down the blue runs. However, learning to snowboard can be a painful process in the first few days but with some good instruction it shouldn't take long before it ‘clicks' and you are cruising down the slopes comfortably. Lessons are also a good idea because it's quite important not to pick up bad habits at the beginning as these will hamper your boarding as you try to progress. Both group and private lessons are offered by expert instructors at the ski schools in Verbier and La Maison du Sport, Verbier's main ski outfit, has a dedicated snowboard school.
Ski clinics and ski guiding
Verbier offers the intermediate and expert skier some exceptional off piste options in the fresh white stuff. With many smaller ski schools, there are lots of performance clinics and coaching options available to fine tune your technique and get you comfortable with off piste skiing. Guiding is also a great option, allowing you to safely explore runs off the back of the stunning Mont Fort glacier. When there's lots of snow, taking a local guide to explore the secret powder spots of Bruson on the opposite side of the valley is a great option. It's a wooded area, meaning it can work in low visibility and is a good way of avoiding busy powder days in Verbier. The unpisted runs from the top of Mont Gelé at 3,023 metres make for a superb guided day out and offer some challenging routes, even for the most expert of skiers. Guided heliski tours are also offered by a number of companies in the valley and in the surrounding area - a unique treat and a great gift for a special occasion.
Kids clubs
Verbier is unique in that it has a dedicated children's activities school, Les Elfes, offering year round opportunities to participate in sports, as well as to learn languages. In winter, this means a full day of fun-filled ski or snowboarding lessons as well as optional ice climbing, sledging, ice skating and more.
The Ecole Suisse de Ski offers dedicated group lessons for children up to 13, with a hot meal provided for those taking full day classes and morning group classes for teenagers up to 18 years old. La Fantastique offer morning children's ‘Mini-Fantastique' group ski lessons and snowboarding group lessons on request.
Who
There are two main ski schools offering group and private lessons in Verbier, as well as a number of smaller outfits which focus on small groups, private tuition and niche clinics.
The Ecole Suisse de Ski is part of La Maison du Sport and is Verbier's main ski school. It offers group and private lessons focussing on all elements of your technique and also offers racing lessons, télémark lessons and handicapped skiing instruction.
La Fantastique Ski School also offers private and group lessons as well as off piste and heli-skiing. If you're interested in heading on a ski tour, or perhaps even taking on the Haute Route, La Fantastique have ‘The Guides of Verbier' office dedicated to providing professionals to take you to the best spots.
Further details of smaller ski schools and individual teachers can be found on our Ski Schools and Private Instructors listings pages.