Options for a 4 week trip?

derv

I am looking to get away for 4 weeks this coming season. It will most likely be the month February 2012.

I want to do a 4 week coarse to improve my snowboarding, with tuition from a qualified instructor, in a group environment.

Most of the coarses I read about are to become qualified as an instructor.
I am not so sure I am interested in becoming qualified, I just want to do a freeride/freestlye coarse to improve my own boarding.

I've got my heart set on going to Whistler, and I'm looking for a package in Whistler that would include accomodation, pass etc

Anyone got any advice on what to do, or done something like this?

Thanks

robinph

I did a couple of weeks "improver" course in Canada a couple of years ago with NonStop. They also do various other duration courses up to the full season ones for getting the instructor qualifications. Included all the accommodation and pass and instructors, think their base price actually also included the flight from Heathrow, but I got that knocked off mine cost as I wasn't going or coming back direct.

derv

thanks for that , do you have a link?
would you recommend them?

robinph

Here is their page with a few of the different duration courses:
http://www.nonstopsnow.com/ski-camps

I thought they were very good for the course I did in Canada. I actually did my instructor course later that same year with PeakLeaders as I preferred the location and package they had for that.

I am currently thinking of doing something similar next northern hemisphere winter and do a few weeks <something> in North America so may end up going with NonStop again.

derv

thanks for that, will give them a look , i want to book something in the august/september timeframe,


i've been emailing these guys a bit, as they were recommended by a friend.
http://www.nothinbutsnow.com/

their accommodation looks really good in comparison to some others i've seen

rideonwhistler

If you're still looking for something in Whistler, we have just launched our Intro to Backcountry course... if you can already ski/board and want to try something a bit more adventurous check it out!

You do your AST1 qualification (avalanche safety), some basic first aid & go on an overnight trip to learn about navigation, trip planning, where to find the powder and how to survive in a snow cave overnight.

derv

yes i'm definitely still shopping around,

i'm not sure i'm at the right level for your coarse though,
altough i have done some blacks, i would not be very confident on them, or riding very well on them....

i've spent most of my time on reds and blues...

derv

@robinph - couple of Q's for you if you don't mind...

with nonstop, did you do the '4-Week Ski Improvement & Snow Safari combo' ?

what was the standard like
what was the group size
how much did you pay?

cheers

Fattes

For cost effective I would look at Canada, cheaper better exchange rate and your Euro will go further. Lift Pass is pricey though!

robinph

@derv It was a two week course that I did with NonStop. Not certain on the price I paid at the moment, but their list price on the website included flights from Heathrow and I was going elsewhere in north America right afterwards so I think they knocked €500 off the price for me. I did end up actually on the same flight out as the rest of the people on the course anyway.
There was about 10 of us I think, but 50/50 between boarderes/ skiers. There was one guy in the skiing group who was really not up to it, think he had been dragged along by the other half and had only done a couple of weeks previously. Once your happy going down any red in Europe then you'd be fine, they then sorted out the "how" we got down. Not sure what the boarder standards were like, but then they were messing about with jumps and other silly things.

derv

hmmm, my worry is that i'd be the guy that wasn't up for it!!
i've been 4 times (1 weeks each) in europe , but spent the majority of my time on blues,

i've done reds alright, but i wouldn't say i'd be ripping down or anything...
i've also spent very little time in the park...

i'd hate to pay all that dosh and end up struggling!

robinph

I think if you are happy to go down a red then you'll be OK. Nothing about how you get down it, but once they don't scare you overly then you'd be OK. The aim of the improver bit of the trip is to then get you coming down them with a bit more "style".

With only having done a couple of weeks on skis the guy on my trip was just too new to be able to deal with the red kind of level in any kind of way.

derv

cool, cheers for the info,
i've been emailing nonstop, so will see how i get on with that,