Starts 1st December 2012
Probably the most internationally renowned of our resorts, Courmayeur boasts 100km of exciting downhill runs, from easy to challenging. The Baby Bowl is a great beginners area, serviced by its very own (slow moving) button lift, ideal for learning and learning to teach. For intermediates, Courmayeur is a red run heaven - loads of wide pistes of varying gradients.
Internazionale is fantastic and holds some great snow long into the season. Diretta and Bertollini are the order of the day for steeps and bump runs don't come much longer than Competizione. Courmayeur has recently become popular with Chamonix's locals for its quieter off-piste itineraries. The possibilities from Gabba, Pendente Chair, Youla and Arp are endless - trees, bowls, couloirs, spines. All served by a fast, modern lift system.
Nestling comfortably at the foot of mighty Mont Blanc, Courmayeur is a delightful, old traditional Alpine village. Largely traffic-free, it is lined with charming shops. In addition, there are some fabulous restaurants and some great, atmospheric bars - you won't want to miss Bar Roma at apéritif time and the Tennis Bar has built a legendary status amongst British Instructors in the Alps over the last two decades.
Starts 19th January 2013
The regional capital in the heart of the stunning Aosta Valley is crammed full of history. It boasts monuments, prestigious buildings and the highest concentration of Roman ruins outside Rome. Aosta is a vibrant cosmopolitan town, bustling with bars and restaurants. It provides the perfect combination of culture and winter sports.
The après-ski and nightlife is some of the best known in the Alps. Form the lively Geckoo Bar with its in-house gondola, chairlift seating and fantastic cocktails, to the infamous Old Distillery with its beach parties, barrel dancing and friendly bar staff.
Linked by a 16 minute gondola (with mind-blowing panoramas of the surrounding peaks), is the ski area of Pila. With 70kms of perfectly maintained pistes accessed by modern state-of-the-art lift installations and serviced by an efficient system of programmed snow cannons, Pila provides the perfect alpine environment for teaching and learning.
Challenges such as 'The Wall', endless off-piste potential from Couis 1 chair and the ever expanding fun park mean variety is key. Combined with the beginner's paradise known as the Grimod bowl, the area offers everything you need for both learning to teach and improving your personal performance.
