Q: What is the skiing like in August, September & October?
Q: Do I need to be in “Super-Human” shape to enjoy skiing at this altitude?
Q: What are the accommodations like?
Q: What’s the food like?
Q: Do I need to be a great skier to join in? Is everyone on the trip a ski instructor?
Q: Does the mountain ever close?
Q: Are the C.S.I.A. & C.S.C.F. courses offered recognized even if they are done outside of Canada?
Q: Can I book my own flight with air miles or through my own travel agent?
Q: Are there any hidden expenses I should be aware of?
Q: What is the average age of the participants on the trip?
Q: What is the training staff like? Is this a “boot-camp” or is it quite easy going?
Q: What is the skiing like in August, September & October?
A: The skiing in Zermatt during the summer and fall is very reliable and consistent. The skiing this time of year is all “glacial”, meaning that it is all on a massive glacier at the top of the mountain. Because of the high altitude (over 14,000 feet!), the temperature remains cold enough that the snow stays the same as what you would expect normal “winter” skiing to be like.
Q: Do I need to be in “Super-Human” shape to enjoy skiing at this altitude?
A: No – you don’t need to prepare as if you’re going to enter a marathon. I have not experienced one participant who has had issues (or even complained) about the altitude. Your body does get used to it after a day or two. The typical symptom of skiing at this altitude is that you get tired more easily, which is why the first day of skiing is spent “warming up” and not “over doing it”. The good news is you will sleep like a baby each night! The best advice I can give is to drink plenty of water each day while skiing.
Q: What are the accommodations like?
A: We are fortunate to have a great relationship with a Hotel very close to the base of the ski lifts. The Hotel name is “Hotel Jaegerhof”. The rooms are spacious and the amenities are terrific – it even has a bar right by the dining room! Many of the participants comment on how pleasantly surprised they are at the quality of the accommodations.
Q: What’s the food like?
A: We eat breakfast and dinner right in the Hotel. The breakfast is typical European fare; cereal, yogurt, fruit, and a large selection of breads, croissants and spreads. The dinners are three full course meals offering everything from fondue to pasta’s and soups. There is really too much variety to list! The dining room in the Hotel is spacious yet cozy… dinners are one of the highlights of the trip!
We eat lunch in an Italian restaurant at the top of the Glacier. We are one of the few groups able to sit and eat together at the top of the mountain. We eat pasta most days and also have the option of having sandwiches for variety.
Q: Do I need to be a great skier to join in? Is everyone on the trip a ski instructor?
A: You don’t need to be a “Ski Pro” to participate. Many of the participants are not involved with ski instruction/coaching at all. The “Free-Ski Training” groups range in ability from low-end intermediate to expert. Group sizes are very small – anywhere from two people per Trainer up to a maximum of six or seven. Many course participants bring their wives, husbands and even parents who do not ski that much – there is a group for everyone!
Q: Does the mountain ever close?
A: It is possible that the mountain may close from time to time. The typical reason is that the wind at the very top is too high to run the final tram. In this case, there is plenty to do in Zermatt (everything from hiking to ropes courses), and many enjoy a day to roam through the village of Zermatt to do “touristy” things.
Often when Zermatt is closed due to wind, Saas Fee (which is a ski area one mountain range over) will be open because the altitude is slightly lower than the Zermatt Glacier. There is an extra cost with going to Saas Fee of 100 Swiss Francs a day for transport and lift passes.
Q: Are the C.S.I.A. & C.S.C.F. courses offered recognized even if they are done outside of Canada?
A: Yes there are.
Q: Can I book my own flight with air miles or through my own travel agent?
A: Yes you can. Many of the participants book their own flights – especially those living outside of Canada. When this happens, we simply try to coordinate arrival and departure times in Zermatt to coincide with the “main group” arrival/departure times.
Q: Are there any hidden expenses I should be aware of?
A: The only costs not included on the trip are airport taxes, meals outside of the hotel and restaurant on the glacier, alcohol, non-skiing activities and optional days skiing at Saas Fee.
Q: What is the average age of the participants on the trip?
A: We have had people as young as fifteen years old all the way up to people in their late sixties. I would say the overall average is about forty or forty five years old.
Q: What is the training staff like? Is this a “boot-camp” or is it quite easy going?
A: I have assembled some of the best and most experienced Ski Pro’s from around Canada. All are Level IV CSIA Senior Instructors with many years of experience being Course Conductors. They are hired not only based on their elite skiing ability, but more importantly their teaching/training skills and especially their personal interaction or “soft” skills. They are there to make sure you have a great trip! The trip you take will above all be incredibly enjoyable and something you will look back on with fond memories. |
