After the success of our Sestriere courses in 2023 & 2024, there has never been any doubt that we will keep returning to this awesome spot! MINT Snowboarding brings you 5 full days of professional backcountry snowboard guiding, hotel accommodation and amazing Italian food in the epic freeride paradise of Sestriere Italy.
During the week you will get out and explore the backcountry terrain of the extensive ‘Milky Way’ ski area, snowboarding a mix of terrain all easily accessed straight off the lifts, or with a short hike. As with all our courses, throughout the week our coaching will continue to develop your backcountry skills by advancing your off-piste technical riding and developing your knowledge of backcountry safety and avalanche search & rescue techniques. If conditions allow, you will also experience 1 day of splitboard touring to get you even deeper into the backcountry.
continue reading...This backcountry course based in Italy is for advanced level riders with a good amount of previous off piste experience. This should include riding a variety of terrain and snow conditions, including tree runs and steeper slopes. You should have a good level of fitness to ensure that you get the most of the week as well as enjoy the splitboard day (cardio fitness is most important here). No previous splitboard experience is necessary. You are looking to explore challenging and exciting terrain at a fast pace with the safety and knowledge of a professional mountain guide to lead the way.
continue reading...A 6 night stay is included in the Gran Hotel Sestriere, a majestic, 4-star hotel in the centre of Sestriere. The Grand Hotel Sestriere is a large, family-run hotel, offering high-quality comfort and its own spa & wellness centre. Included is afternoon tea for when you get off the slopes, followed by a buffet service meal including appetisers, first & second course and dessert.
Half board accommodation is provided in ensuite rooms, based on two sharing.
Arrival day:Â Informal meeting in the evening.
Day 1: Introductory Freeride Day. Skills to include refinement and improvement of riding techniques. Equipment check & mountain safety skills. Lunch at Raggio di Sole in the Orsiera basin.
Day 2: Freeriding or Splitboarding. Dependent on snow & weather conditions in the Sestriere area and surrounding freeride areas. Max: 300m ascent if splitboarding. Lunch at QB.
Day 3: Lift Accessed Freeriding. Ascent to the San Giacomo Pass from Sestriere using the Cit Roc chairlift. Lunch at Chalet Da Casse.
Day 4: Off-Piste with Alpine Guide. Day with UIAGM Alpine Guide Filippo Colombo and Gigi Lozzi with backcountry itinerary chosen based on snow conditions. Use of mountaineering equipment, adventure in the Lendiniera valley in a high mountain environment. Maximum elevation gain: 600m. Lunch in a mountain hut.
Day 5: Discovering the French Alps. Day to discover the freeride areas of Mongenvre in the French Alps. Lunch in a mountain hut.
The exact itinerary of the week remains flexible to allow for variations with the weather and snow conditions. Each day we will check the weather and snow conditions before deciding where best to go, looking for the best off piste snowboarding for you.