Photo: New Generation.
Going skiing but feeling nervous about your first ski holiday? Or is your skiing stuck in a rut? Either way, tuition from one of the many British ski schools will make a big difference to your learning experience.
It always helps to pick a ski school where they speak your mother tongue as a matter of course. It doesn’t guarantee brilliant tuition, of course – though in our experience, British ski schools are usually highly-motivated and painstaking in their approach. But at the very least, booking British means you’ll understand what’s going on – and not just because your teacher can manage a few more words than “Bend ze kneez”.
Idiom and culture can make a big difference too and it’s a great help to be taught by someone who’s on more or less the same wavelength as you. It’s reassuring too: for first timers especially, ski resorts can be strange and confusing places. Signing up with a native English speaking teacher is a great way to get yourself back on an even keel.
Over the last decade, the number of British ski schools in the Alps has mushroomed. Some are one-man outfits. Others employ instructors by the dozen. But nearly all offer a range of private clinics and group lessons from complete beginner to expert. But be warned, many of them book up quickly for the busiest weeks. See our features on how to pick a ski or snowboard school and How to Keep Improving for further advice.
British Ski Schools with Branches in Several Resorts
A number of schools have now branched out into more than one resort and country. New Generation is in Courchevel, Les Arcs, La Tania, Meribel, St Martin de Belleville, Serre Chevalier, Tignes, Val d’Isere, Vallandry – and also Verbier in Switzerland.
In France alone the schools include BASS which is in Chamonix, Chatel, Courchevel, Les Gets, Megeve, Meribel, Morzine and Val d’Isere. The Development Centre is in Val d’Isere, Tignes and Meribel. Ultimate Snowsports is in Tignes and Val d’Isere. LGS is in Les Gets and Morzine.
Specialising in the 3 Valleys is Ski Class in Courchevel and La Tania. The Snow School is in Courchevel, Meribel and La Tania. Momentum Snowsports is based in Courchevel and La Tania. Alpine Masters is in Courchevel and Meribel.
Altitude is in the Swiss resorts of Grindelwald, Verbier and Wengen. Alpine Training Centre is in Hintertux, Verbier, Wanaka in New Zealand, and at Cairngorm Mountain in Scotland.
Resorts with One-Off British Ski Schools
In Espace Killy there’s Alpine Logic in Tignes, whilst Val d’Isere has Mountain Masters, Progression Ski and Snowboard, and Pro Snowboarding.
In the 3 Valleys there’s Marmalade Ski School and Parallel Lines in Meribel and Courchevel is home to Supreme Ski.
Others in France include Masterclass in Alpe d’Huez. Avoriaz has Alpine Ski School and Stance – the latter is not, strictly-speaking a British ski school, but one with French and Kiwi instructors aimed at the British market. Powderama is in Chamonix.
In Switzerland, Verbier has four: European Snowsport, Verbier Ski Academy, Warren Smith Ski Academy (the latter also runs courses in Cervinia and Japan), and Performance Verbier who offer private lessons. Zermatt has Summit Ski and Snowboard. In Saas Fee there’s Optimum Snowsports, and in St Moritz it’s Ski Cool.
In Austria there is Piste to Powder for off-piste skiing in St Anton, and Kaprun has Skivolution. In Italy, tour operator Ski2 has its own ski school in Champoluc. Courmayeur has Interski. Baqueira-Beret in the Spanish Pyrenees has Baqueira British Ski School (known as the BB Ski School).
Snoworks and Inspiredtoski hold courses in a changing selection of resorts.
9 Responses to “Where to Learn: British Ski Schools in the Alps”
August 2, 2013
Alan K HoleHello Sean. A few years ago you mentioned me and Alpine Logic in ST ski article. Thank you. This is just to let you know that I’m still in Tignes,with the next winter being the 14th there. Should you wish to check any Tignes info out, then please get in toutch. Best wishes Alan, Alpine Logic, Tignes.
February 15, 2014
Emma TerleskeI did a 5 day ski clinic with Simon Halliwell from Powderama in Chamonix a few years ago. Awesome instructor, just had two more lessons with him this week, having deliberately chosen to ski in Chamonix to benefit from his tuition again. Can’t recommend him highly enough for really progressing your skiing at any level.
February 15, 2014
Karting Extreme VerbierVerbier ski schools – Isn’t Performance Verbier a British ski school?
February 15, 2014
@welove2skiTry one of the British ski schools in the Alps this half term: https://t.co/NiJf4btUoh
March 12, 2014
@SkiBlancGood to see mentions of all the British instructors ‘doing it right’ in the Alps. #meribel https://t.co/tE7iol6Q16
March 14, 2014
Martin HemsleyThanks for publishing the article. However sometimes it can be confusing in what is quite a complex subject. Some ‘British Ski schools’ employ ski instructors whose mother tongue is in fact not British. Likewise, there are many other ski schools (not British owned) who employ British ski instructors (along with their mother tongue).
The last thing I want to do is stoke yet another xenophobic debate. Good ski instructors are good ski instructors. Finding a good one who speaks your language can be priceless.
I hope you all have a fabulous ski holiday everybody.
July 29, 2014
Ice Karting KevEvery year there are new schools coming and going. Verbier like everyother ski resort has about 15 ski schools.
FB and Trip advisor are always a good place to start looking
December 23, 2016
Roddy WillisAlpinemojo Ski School is run by British Instructors in Verbier – http://www.alpinemojoskischool.com is there any chance we can be listed on welove2ski ? Kind regards. Alpinemojo Team
August 6, 2018
10 Tips for Beginner Skiers Before a First Ski Holiday – TELLACTS.COM[…] only way to learn is to book yourself into ski school. The luxury option is to have private classes. Some people will find the unremitting focus on them […]