Choosing the resort to spend the winter season can be a tough decision, and with a whole host of different gap year programmes for instructor training out there all over the world, it can also be a little overwhelming.
Verbier for your Gap year?
We decided to start Altitude ski school and have our Altitude Futures BASI 1 and 2 Gap course based here in Verbier not only because we love it here, but we love introducing the next generation to Verbier and being able to train up our future instructors right here.
So, if you’re interested in coming to Verbier, here are a few highlights of the resort that we thought might help you make up your mind.
First, the skiing
The skiing in Verbier is pretty much world class, famous for freeride and hosting the final of the Freeride world tour every year on the infamous Bec des Rosses. The ski area itself is huge; in the Verbier valley itself there are the areas of Savoleyres, Bruson as well as the main ski area at the top of the Medran gondola, and if you have a few hours or more you can ski over into the 4 Vallees area into the resorts of Nendaz, Siviez, Veysonaz and Thyon.
With this extensive ski area there’s plenty of slopes and ideal for those looking to take their skiing to the next level with long wide pistes for carving, challenging steeps, mogul fields and opportunities for incredible powder days when conditions allow.
Switzerland is also known for its itinerary runs which are avalanche controlled but not pisted, allowing skiers a great introduction to powder and variable snow but in a more controlled environment with lower risk.
Its apres scene is just right!
After a hard days training there’s nothing better than relaxing with your new best friends for life and sharing a drink or two as the sun sets on another glorious day in the mountains. Verbier has plenty of bars that are popular with trainees, instructors and tourists alike, both on and off the mountain. A particular popular amongst our trainees is the Pub Mont Fort, just at the bottom of the ski lifts and with a happy hour from 4pm-5pm. For those fancying a bigger night, there is the famour Farinet Apres ski with live music every day , Wednesdays being a popular day for seasonairres to get their apres on and party.
Not just for the rich and famous
Verbier’s reputation has not changed its ski town feel, it still remains very much a mountain town for those who love everything on offer there. Despite most chalets being worth into the millions or tens of millions and Verbier being a place to be seen for the rich and famous, people come here to ski, party and enjoy the sun snow and good times. There’s a vibrant community of seasonaires as well as those who succumbed to the draw of the mountains and settled here more permanently. Not only does that mean there’s always something to do or someone to meet, it’s a resort that’s easy to navigate and most people will speak English as well as French, meaning it can feel like a bit of a home from home for Brits and other Europeans.
