Advanced Backcountry Course – Zinal, Switzerland

Is this for me?

This course is for advanced snowboarders who can ride fluidly in all snow conditions and on all terrain. You have significant off-piste experience, including riding steep slopes and gullies. You can ride fast and have no problems in tighter areas such as trees or technical terrain. You are happy to hike to reach the best snow and terrain and have a good level of fitness to enable this. Your aims are to continually challenge your snowboarding, whilst further progressing your mountain safety awareness.

A good level of fitness is required for this course. You are happy to snowboard off piste all day with potentially limited stops and able to do this for several days in a row. You fitness level allows you to hike in snow to allow you to reach good lines.

For those less advanced riders wanting a weeks off piste riding then either the Off Piste Freeride or Off Piste Freeride Intro courses would suit you.

Travelling alone? Not a problem! Our snowboard courses are designed with solo-travellers in mind. They are a great way to progress your snowboarding, learning in a small group with others of the same level… and you will end the week with a bunch of new snowboard friends!

Read an independent review of MINT Snowboarding Backcountry Course in the Portes Du Soleil.

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Structure

This course has no set itinerary for the week. Your Mountain Guide, David, will decide on a daily basis where to head depending on weather and snow conditions along with some input on preferences from the group. Between the ski areas of Zinal and Grimentz there is a huge amount of choice in terrain available, with all slope aspects covered, so always somewhere perfect for that days conditions.

Expect a fun and exciting week of snowboarding!

Accommodation

Accommodation is in the fantastic Chalet Edelweiss, well known as THE place to stay in the area! Chalet Edelweiss, run by keen skiers Penny & Eric, is located in the hamlet of Mottec, 2km from Zinal and is served by free local buses to the lifts. This luxurious chalet offers great facilities for your stay with ensuite bedrooms, a ski-room with boot dryers and warm booting-up space. The large living room on the ground floor has a huge fireplace open on both sides and everything you need for a cozy evening. Mealtimes are another highlight of Chalet Edelweiss… you can look forward to fantastic 4 -course evening meals and local wines as well as lavish breakfasts to set you up for the day ahead.

• 6 nights half board accommodation in shared twin rooms
• Three course evening meal for five nights per week
• Choice of house wine or beer during dinner
• Nourishing breakfasts
• Homemade cakes & biscuits ready for your return from the slopes
• Honesty bar with beer

Whats included

• Accommodation

  6 nights half board chalet accommodation

• 5 full days guiding

  With fully qualified BASI ISTD Snowboard instructor & UIAGM Mountain Guide, David Gladwin

• Backcountry skills coaching throughout the week

• Avalanche awareness, search & rescue training

Whats not included

• Travel to / from Zinal

  A 2 hour drive from Geneva airport or 3 hour travel on public transport (we will send you all travel details required)

• Ski pass

• Personal insurance

• Personal snowboarding equipment

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