Off-Piste Coaching Camp Development Meribel

Develop Your Off-Piste Skills on Our Three Valleys Coaching Camp

France's Trois Vallées is one of the most popular ski areas in the Alps and yet, as an off-piste destination, it is remarkably undervalued and the backcountry remains unskied for days, even weeks after a snowfall. Untracked lines abound, especially if you know where to look! Using the world class liftsystem to access the area, we will guide you to the very finest off-piste for you to learn and improve the skills that will open up the best kept secret in the Alps.

Our Off-Piste Coaching Development Camps are designed for skiers who have previously completed an introductory off-piste course or have already gained some off-piste experience and are ready to progress further. The programme is carefully designed around your goals, allowing your coach to provide personalised feedback and help you make meaningful improvements throughout the week.

At the end of this camp you will be a confident and accomplished skier of most off-piste runs, including steeper lines and more difficult snow conditions. You will also have a greater ability to evaluate risk of avalanches in more extreme terrain and learn the skills to navigate you way around the mountain safely.

The course includes five full days of off-piste coaching with a maximum of six skiers per group. This small-group approach ensures you receive plenty of individual attention, spend more time skiing and benefit from a safer, more rewarding learning experience. Our coaches combine the highest levels of professional qualification with a genuine passion for helping skiers unlock the potential of the off-piste mountain environment.

Why choose our Off-Piste Coaching Development Camp in the Three Valleys?

• Progressive coaching designed for experienced off-piste skiers looking to improve and expand their skills.
• Expert local coaches with in-depth knowledge of the Three Valleys terrain.
• Five full days of coaching allowing time for genuine progression and skill development.
• Small groups of no more than six skiers for personalised feedback and maximum time skiing.
• Development of mountain awareness and decision-making skills for skiing more challenging terrain with confidence.

Ready to take your off-piste skiing further? Join our Three Valleys Off-Piste Coaching Development Camp and spend a week refining your technique, exploring exceptional terrain and developing the confidence to ski more of the mountain.

Please note the route and daily objectives may vary depending on weather, snow conditions, and group experience. 

2027

The price includes:

• 7 nights Hotel accommodation with breakfasts (twin-share)
• 5 days off-piste instruction with BASI 4 (or international equivalent) Ski Instructors
• Private group transfers between Geneva airport and Meribel

The price does not include:

• lift pass
• lunches and evening meals
• equipment hire
• flights 
• insurance

Single rooms are subject to availability and a supplement.

This is an extensive list of the recommended clothing and equipment you will need if you are coming on one of our Off-Piste Coaching courses.  On these courses, you’ll be staying in comfortable catered apartments or hotels. When skiing you need to carry just a small day pack, which contains your safety equipment and any personal items you may need.

• Off-Piste Coaching - Clothing
  This season, we’ve partnered with Ortovox to provide us with the very best safety kit and clothing. Our guides will all be decked out in the latest Ortovox jackets and trousers and will keep warm, dry and comfortable thanks to their technical wool base- and mid-layers. Our guides couldn’t recommend their kit more highly.

   

  • A good quality pair of ski trousers. They must be made from a waterproof and breathable fabric like Gore-Tex or similar. It’s useful to have some venting zips on the legs either inside or outside thigh or full-length side-zips. Integral snow gaiters and some pockets for handy items are good features.
  • An outer shell jacket made of waterproof and breathable material like Gore-Tex or similar with a built-in hood. We advocate the ‘layering principle’ and so a shell is recommended rather than an insulated jacket.
  • Comfortable underwear with good wicking properties. Very popular at the moment are the wool based layers from companies such as Ortovox. They are comfy, breathable, warm when needed and can be worn for days without your friends catching a whiff!
  • Several thin (rather than fewer thick) layers between your skin and the outer shell - an approach that gives better heat retention and good flexibility. These tops are known as ‘mid layers’.
  • Insulation layer like a down or primaloft jacket is a good item to have ready to wear in the event of cold weather, it can live in your rucksack as a spare layer and can come in very handy for sudden changes in the weather.
  • Roll neck rather than a scarf. We use and recommend the ‘Buff¹ ¬ a light, stretchable tube. Excellent despite the name! They do both a fleece/cotton version for warmth or just a cotton one (to keep the sun off).
  • Headwear to include warm hat and sun-cap or wide-brim hat for extra protection from the sun. Mountain Tracks fully supports the wearing of helmets for skiing, although not mandatory for any of our trips we do recommend them.
  • Good quality, ski gloves or mitts if you suffer from cold hands and 1 thinner pair of gloves made from a softshell or fleece material if the weather is warm. These are particularly useful if you do any ski touring or hiking on the trip as thick gloves quickly become too hot.
    Silk inner gloves can be useful if the weather is cold and you suffer from cold hands.
  • Technical Socks - Investing in good quality ski socks will improve fit, warmth and feel when skiing for long periods. Bring along a few pairs.
• Off-Piste Coaching - Ski Equipment

  We continue to see big changes in ski, boot and binding design and technology, which make off-piste skiing and ski touring much more accessible.

  For our Off-Piste Coaching courses, good downhill ski and boot are required.

  Skis

  This winter our lead guides are using Elan skis. Praised by magazine testers and professional skiers alike for its unique blend of lightweight performance, the Ripstick 96 is proven to be the ultimate freeride ski in all snow conditions. The Ripstick 106 is the ultimate freeride ski for any terrain. From boundary line to base lodge, peak to parking lot, and trailhead to tailgate this ski excels in all conditions. The new Ripstick Tour 94 is designed on a wider platform, enabling the skier to float better, ski faster, and turn easier in backcountry conditions.

  It is built to blend high performance at a low weight, for the perfect mix of freeride downhill performance and efficient ascending capability. With Ripstick Tour 94, the confidence to conquer long ascents and charge challenging descents is the name of the game.

  There are many ‘all-mountain/freeride’ skis to choose from and we also recommend skis from Salomon, Dynastar, Movement, Black Crows, Trab Skis, Scott and Volkl.  Look for a ski that is the right size for your height, typically the tip of the ski should be somewhere around your nose height.  As for the width of the ski or “side cut” a mid-fat ski – 90-110mm under the foot is a good place to start; this offers plenty of flotation off piste while remaining suitable for day tours and they should also handle reasonably well on piste and mixed terrain.

  Elan Skis: www.elanskis.com

  Dynastar Skis:  www.dynastar.com

  Movement Skis: www.movementskis.com                                       

  Black Crows Skis: www.blackcrows-skis.com/

  Trab Skis: www.skitrab.com/en-us/

  Scott Skis: http://www.scott-sports.com

  Volkl Skis: http://www.voelkl.com

  There are plenty of other great skis to choose from so if you’re planning on buying skis for ski touring or general skiing and have any questions do not hesitate to call us, or Lockwoods, to discuss the options available.

  
  Boots
  For off-piste performance courses, standard downhill ski boots are ideal, they offer rigidity, responsiveness and flex depending on the snow conditions. If you have ski touring boots or a pair of the hybrid freeride/touring boots with a walk mode, then these are fine too, bring them with you. We do not recommend you come on a trip with brand new boots.
  
  Boot Liners
  These days many manufacturers offer ‘thermo-fit’ liners as standard equipment. You may also want to consider a custom liner. Heated and moulded to your foot and boot for a perfect fit, they can make all the difference especially if you have trouble finding really comfortable ‘off-the-shelf¹ boots. Zipfit liners are a great option for anyone seeking total customisation in fit and comfort. They will replace the original liner.
  
  Custom Footbeds
  Essential kit – to provide additional comfort and ski control. If you want to get footbeds made or a pair of new boots fitted then we suggest you visit somewhere like Profeet for a professional fitting. 
  
  Bindings
  Standard downhill bindings.

• Off-Piste Coaching - Accessories
  • Good pair of ski goggles with a lens for low light is essential in the event of snow and poor visibility.
  • Good quality sunglasses with 100% UV protection
  • 25 – 30 litre rucksack with straps for carrying skis. If you wish to use an avalanche airbag/rucksack you are welcome to, you can now hire these in most resorts.
  • 1 – 1.5 litre water bottle – we don’t recommend hydration systems (e.g. camelbak) in winter as they can freeze.
  • Food – bring some of your favourite hill nibbles (chocolate, energy bars)*
  • Suncream and lip salve
• Off-Piste Coaching - Safety Equipment

  The “Safety Trilogy” - applicable for all our off-piste courses
  Avalanche Transceiver/Beacon 
  Snow shovel
  Avalanche probe

  We recommend Simple and intuitive ORTOVOX AVALANCHE RESCUE KIT 3+

  
  Avalanche airbags/rucksacks – if you wish to ski with one of these on our courses you are welcome to do so, they are not mandatory but we always support the use of available safety items.

  You can hire avalanche rucksacks in a lot of resorts, makes are usually Snowpulse/Mammut, ABS or Ortovox Avabag. Prices vary from shop to shop and resort to resort but a guide line price would be from €30 / CHF 35 per day 

  Remember it is not enough just to carry this equipment; you have to know how to use it.
  How about joining one of our specialist avalanche courses – check out http://mountaintracks.co.uk/discipline/winter-mountaincraft

• Insurance

  It is a condition of booking that you are insured for your chosen activity and the cover must include medical expenses, personal accident, personal liability, third party risks and rescue (including helicopter rescue). You are strongly advised also to take out cover against cancellation and curtailment.

  For UK residents Ski Club Travel Insurance may be a suitable option.

  For more details and to purchase a policy online visit http://www.skiclubinsurance.co.uk/
  If you need assistance arranging your personal insurance please let us know.
   

• Meribel - Geneva Airport Transfers

  We include in the price of the trip 1 shared, group airport transfer from and to Geneva airport.  This is at set times so we ask you to arrange your flights accordingly.  

  On the arrival day the transfer will depart Geneva airport at 1430, you should book a flight that arrives no later than about 1345 so you have time to collect your luggage and make your way to the meeting point.  

  On the departure day the transfer will pick everyone up from the chalet at approximately 0830, this means you will be dropped off at Geneva at approximately 1100; this should be suitable for flight departures from 1300hrs onwards.  So we ask you to book a flight back that leaves no earlier than 1300hrs.  

  If you have to arrive/depart outside of these times then you will need to make your own arrangements to get to and from Meribel.

   

• ETIAS & EES

  What is ETIAS?

  • Starting in late 2026, travelers from 59 visa-exempt countries will need a travel authorization called ETIAS to enter 30 European countries for short stays.
  • ETIAS is designed to enhance security by checking traveler details before arrival. It works similarly to the ESTA (USA) or eTA (Canada).

  Who Needs ETIAS?

  If you hold a British passport or a passport from any other visa-exempt country, you’ll need to apply for ETIAS before traveling to Europe.

  How Much Does ETIAS Cost?

  • The official ETIAS application costs €20.
  • You do not need to pay if:

  You are under 18 or over 70

  You are a family member of an EU national and meet the conditions

  How Long Can I Stay in Europe?

  With a valid ETIAS:

  • You can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the countries that require ETIAS.

  Important: Cyprus counts its stay separately, so check local rules if visiting.
  
  How Long is ETIAS Valid?

  • ETIAS is valid for 3 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
  • You can enter and exit multiple times during this period, as long as you stay within the overall 90-day limit.

  For the latest, up-to-date information, visit the official ETIAS website here. https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias

   

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  EES (Entry/Exit System)

  The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system developed by the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems. Its primary purpose is to register travellers from third countries each time they cross an EU external border. Here are the key points:

  1. What is EES?

     • The EES is an automated IT system designed for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay.
     • It records and stores the date, time, and place of entry and exit when these travellers cross the external borders of European countries using the EES.
     • The system calculates the duration of the authorized stay and generates alerts to EU Member States when the authorized stay expires.

  2. Who Is Affected?

     • The EES applies to non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay (up to 90 days within any 180 days) to European countries using the EES.
     • Exemptions apply; for example, holders of EU or Schengen Area passports or valid visas are exempt from EES registration.

  3. Advantages of EES:

     • Saves time by replacing manual passport stamping.
     • Automates border control procedures for more efficient travel.
     • It helps identify travellers who overstay or use fake identities or passports.
     • Contributes to preventing, detecting, and investigating serious criminal offences.

  • EES Official Website

   Remember, additional information about the EES system will be confirmed by authorities, including application acceptance details. For further resources, check out the ETIAS and the official EES website. 
  
    

• Off-Piste Coaching - Instructors
  This course will be led by our team of Ski Instructors led by Dave Meyer. They are all extremely talented ski coaches who are passionate about off-piste skiing. Our instructors consistently prove they can teach skiers how to hone their technique and confidence in off-piste terrain. They'll ensure you have a fantastic week.

• Meribel - Accommodation

  For our Camps, we stay in the Hotel Les Grangettes, which is the closest hotel in Meribel to the main ski lifts. You can find more information on the Hotel here: Hotel Meribel - Grangettes - Grangettes | HOTEL

  Single room occupancy is subject to availability and will incur a supplement.

• Trip level & Stamina requirements

  To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, all participants must meet the specified skill and stamina levels required for each trip, as outlined on the trip’s page at the time of booking.

  Please keep the following in mind:

  1. Trip Requirements: Before booking your trip, please review and confirm that you meet the necessary skill and stamina levels. These requirements are in place to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants.

  2. Guides' Discretion: Our guides and instructors are dedicated to maintaining the highest safety standards. They have the authority to exclude any participant who does not meet the required skill or stamina levels or whose participation could compromise the group's safety. This decision will be made with the utmost consideration.

  3. Responsibility for Costs: Should you be unable to continue with the trip due to inadequate skill or stamina, any additional expenses incurred will be your responsibility.

  We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Our goal is to provide a memorable and safe adventure for everyone. If you have any questions or concerns about the requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.

  For further information please refer to the Terms & Conditions. 

• Mountain Tracks Benefits Community

  When you book with Mountain Tracks, you’re not just securing your adventure—you’re joining our exclusive benefits community. As part of this community, you'll receive discounts from trusted suppliers, including retailers, transfer companies, rental shops, and more. Ski more, spend less!

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  Knowledge

  • WeMountain: 90% of avalanches are triggered by the victim or someone in their party. WeMountain offers e-learning courses that aim to educate and inform, helping to reduce accidents and save lives in the mountains. Enjoy a 20% discount with our code.
    Use code: SAFEWITHMOUNTAINTRACKS
  • Backcountry Books: Guidebooks and maps for ski touring, off-piste skiing and snowboarding. Please contact us directly for your discount code. 

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  Equipment

  • Lockwoods: Enjoy 15% off store-wide and 20% off avalanche safety equipment at this specialist ski and outdoor store.
  • Profeet: Get 10% off at Profeet, a London-based store known for their BASI certified platinum* boot fitting services.

  Note: For discount codes, please contact us directly. Existing clients will find these in our newsletter.

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  Rentals

  • Intersport: Save 10% on all rentals..
  • Alpy (formerly AlpinResorts). Enjoy 5% off rentals.
  • Skiset: Enjoy 5% off rentals

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  Transfers

  • Mountain Drop-Offs: Get 10% off transfers.
    Use code: MTRKCHX
  • Alps2Alps: Save 5% on transfers.
    Use code: mountaintracks
  • LiftsTo

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  With these exclusive discounts, we make it easier for you to enjoy your mountain adventures. If you have any questions or need more details, don’t hesitate to contact us!