Early Season Ski Club Instruction Holiday to Val d'Isère, France

Get your ski legs and brush up your technique before the main season!

This holiday has proved very successful for the last ten years, based on the excellent instruction offered by the development centre (TDC). As before, the instruction will be for 5 mornings, with sufficient coaches to provide for member only groups with an average size of 4/5 persons. In 2019, based on members' feedback requesting better accommodation, we enjoyed high quality catered chalet accommodation with excellent service in VIP Ski brand new Aspen House building, perfectly located close to the main square at the heart of Val d’Isère. We return there with another excellent offer. As with that trip, no charter flights are available this early in December and Ski Solutions will be buying in flights and arraging the VIP Ski booking. Please read all the details below carefully, as, similar to the 2019 trip, the arrangements do not follow the Club's usual pattern. Please note also the minimum ski standard required.

Why Val d'Isère and why 'the development centre'?

The resort: Val d’Isère, with Tignes, forms the world famous Espace Killy comprising 300kms of pistes, with plenty for all levels and all served very efficiently by over 90 lifts. A ski range of 1850-3456m usually ensures excellent early season conditions.

Instruction: All TDC coaches are fully qualified to level 4 ISTD with full “equivalence”. Many members have skied with TDC in Val d’Isère, Tignes or Meribel. The feedback has always been excellent. Instruction will be in groups exclusive to SCoM — average group size 4/5 persons - for 3 hours per morning for 5 days.

Please note: this is not a holiday for beginners but rather intermediates and above. If in doubt consult Steve Wardle. The minimum standard is confident on blue pistes in all conditions and able to maintain a consistent pace and turns.

Please give an initial indication of your level on the booking form.

1. confident on blues
2. reasonable on reds
3. strong on reds and OK on blacks
4. comfortable on blacks and keen to explore the whole mountain

TDC will qualify the self-certification above on the first morning. You will be asked to take instruction independently at your own additional cost if you do not meet the minimum standard. There will be a preliminary meeting on Sunday evening so any queries, including the organisation of the groups, can be dealt with directly with TDC. For further details on TDC visit the development centre web site.

Previous comment has included: "It was no surprise to hear everyone singing their instructors' praises after day one; they really are on top of their game." "TDC and holiday organisation were excellent."

For some details of previous December holidays read the articles from the Newsletters here and here. Extracts from reports of previous instruction holidays, when we have always been able to ski the entire Val d'Isère/Tignes area and back to our hotel, are below.

The accommodation

The accommodation is in Aspen House, which was brand new at the beginning of the 2019/2020 season. In a quiet location close to the church, it is still close to the town centre and only 150 metres from the Snow Front. We have taken 8 twin, en-suite rooms, in 3 apartments, 1 for 4 persons (Aspen House 2) and 2 for 6 persons (Aspen House 4 and Loft 2). Each apartment has its own lounge and dining areas, WiFi and television with UK freeview in all rooms. There is a concierge service, ski room with individual ski lockers and boot warmers and a spa with sauna, hamman and jacuzzi.

VIP hosts will offer "sumptuous food and fine wine"

• continental breakfast every day with a cooked option on 6 mornings
• champagne and canapés on the first and last evenings, this will be served from two of the chalets to allow club members to socialise
• afternoon tea on 7 days with a selection of fresh cakes, bread and jams, teas, coffee and chocolate
• dinner on 6 nights with 3 courses followed by cheese board and coffee and a choice of red and white wine throughout

Members can arrange to swap between apartments for dinner if they so wish with prior arrangement the day before.

Travel: Ski Solutions will buy in flights from Manchester (or other airports as requested), almost certainly EasyJet, when available, and charge them to us at cost. These will be paid for at that time on a non-refundable basis. The actual flight cost will be included in the final payment request when times etc will be notified. If it should prove that flights are not available the holiday will be cancelled and a complete refund will be made. However, as carriers such as EasyJet will reserve the right, independently of Ski Solutions, to cancel and change flights this risk is not borne by Ski Solutions but by members who should ensure they are adequately insured. VIP will arrange the transfers between the airport and Val d'Isère.

Flight times (provisional): EasyJet EZY 2185 depart Manchester T1 10:55, arrive Geneva 13:45. EasyJet EZY 2186 depart Geneva 14:20, arrive Manchester T2 15:15. Transfer time around 3.5 hours. EasyJet standard hold baggage allowance is 23kg.

Cost: £1,421 per person which includes the accommodation and instruction. This cost reflects the superior quality accommodation, service etc and a general increase in prices. This cost does not include the flights. An initial allowance of £200 pp for the flights is suggested at this time, although Ski Solutions advise and last year's experience suggests this is quite generous. Ski carriage rates for the travel dates are not known at this stage but are currently £74 (and have not changed for some years). A non-refundable (unless the holiday is cancelled) deposit of £475 (or £550 if ski carriage is required) is payable on booking.

An exchange rate of £1.00/€1.11 has been used for the instruction component of the holiday. If the pound has improved significantly when the instruction is paid for a refund on that element will be made. Alternatively, if the pound has fallen significantly the extra cost will be passed on to members.

Limited places are also available without the instruction element at £1090 per person plus flights.
If tuition is not required select "Instruction not required” on the application form drop-down for "Ski level for initial grouping”.

Lift passes: Are not included in the above costs. Details of the options available and any special offers will be provided nearer the time. Over 75s are free and should get their pass locally.

Insurance: You must arrange your own insurance and the name of the insurer is required when booking.

Application forms are located in the "members only" section of the website and require a username and password (published in the Newsletter) for access.

To reserve a place on the holiday complete the online application form and pay the required deposit.

Account details for bank transfers are available from David Shepherd or Phil Jones.

Extracts from the reports on previous instruction holidays:

"Overall, a great start to the season!" "An excellent holiday. We went to learn and I am sure we all benefitted from the instruction we received." "The instruction was second to none." "TDC aim to coach you on your style as an individual allowing you to really make a breakthrough in confidence and ability." "The week's skiing was immeasurably better than I expected. I can't ever remember skiing untracked powder for a week before, mostly in sunshine. TDC are excellent, highly recommended and a really nice bunch. I learned a lot from my time with them, gained more confidence and hopefully am skiing better."