Off Piste Skiing
Introductory Trips
Our Off Piste Skiing courses teach you to ski with confidence away from the busy pistes.
Whether your goal is to learn how to ski deep powder, or you aspire to ski tour and want to bridge the gap from the piste to mountain summits, our courses will help you get there.
Off Piste Introduction - Chamonix
A pure off piste week designed for piste skiers who want to make the transition to skiing off piste. The focus of the week is on the techniques required to ski powder and on improving your performance and turns in all snow types.
Difficulty
Prices
from £1,420.00 Deposit £200.00Duration
6 Nights(6 days skiing)
Region
European Alps
Dolomites Off Piste and Day Tours - Marmolada
A week of introductory and intermediate day tours and great off-piste with the option of some steeper couloir descents if skills and conditions allow.
Difficulty
Prices
from £1,920.00 Deposit £200.00Duration
7 Nights(6 days skiing)
Region
European Alps
Ski Private Guiding
We regularly organise ski tours and instructional ski mountaineering courses for groups of friends. For example, in recent years we have organised private Introductory Ski Mountaineering courses, Haute Routes, a Grand Lui Variation Haute Route, a tour of the Gran Paradiso National Park and a tour of the High Atlas in Morocco.
Difficulty
Prices
quote on requestDuration
2 NightsRegion
European Alps
Off Piste Ski Weekend
Join our Instructors in Chamonix for a 3-day early season ski hit in January.
Difficulty
Prices
from £895.00 Deposit £100.00Duration
3 Nights(3 days skiing)
Region
European AlpsIntermediate Trips
Our Off Piste Skiing courses teach you to ski with confidence away from the busy pistes.
Whether your goal is to learn how to ski deep powder, or you aspire to ski tour and want to bridge the gap from the piste to mountain summits, our courses will help you get there.
Off Piste Improvers - The 3 Valleys
A pure off piste week designed for intermediate-level off piste skiers. On this course you can expect the instruction to be flexible, dealing with what comes up either in the snow, or with each course participants' skiing. Course base: Brides-les-Bains
Difficulty
Prices
from £1,425.00 Deposit £200.00Duration
7 Nights(6 days skiing)
Region
European Alps
Off Piste Improvers - Chamonix
Looking to further improve your off piste skiing technique? The Off Piste Improvers course is all about mileage and making the most of the conditions, whether it is fluffy powder or more challenging snow.
Difficulty
Prices
from £1,720.00 Deposit £200.00Duration
6 Nights(6 days skiing)
Region
European Alps
Ski Private Guiding
We regularly organise ski tours and instructional ski mountaineering courses for groups of friends. For example, in recent years we have organised private Introductory Ski Mountaineering courses, Haute Routes, a Grand Lui Variation Haute Route, a tour of the Gran Paradiso National Park and a tour of the High Atlas in Morocco.
Difficulty
Prices
quote on requestDuration
2 NightsRegion
European Alps
Off Piste Ski Weekend
Join our Instructors in Chamonix for a 3-day early season ski hit in January.
Difficulty
Prices
from £895.00 Deposit £100.00Duration
3 Nights(3 days skiing)
Region
European AlpsAdvanced Trips
Our Off Piste Skiing courses teach you to ski with confidence away from the busy pistes.
Whether your goal is to learn how to ski deep powder, or you aspire to ski tour and want to bridge the gap from the piste to mountain summits, our courses will help you get there.
La Grave and Alpe dHuez Off Piste
A guided off piste week in La Grave, L'Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes. The week is aimed at intermediate-advanced off piste skiers. We will use skins to access the best snow, so a ski-touring set up is required.
Difficulty
Prices
from £1,550.00 Deposit £200.00Duration
7 Nights(6 days skiing)
Region
European Alps
Off Piste Perfection - Chamonix
A week for intermediate to advanced off piste skiers who can ski efficiently and in control on all snow types. This week will be mostly lift-assisted, though we will do some skinning to access the best snow.
Difficulty
Prices
from £1,520.00 Deposit £200.00Duration
6 Nights(6 days skiing)
Region
European Alps
Ski Private Guiding
We regularly organise ski tours and instructional ski mountaineering courses for groups of friends. For example, in recent years we have organised private Introductory Ski Mountaineering courses, Haute Routes, a Grand Lui Variation Haute Route, a tour of the Gran Paradiso National Park and a tour of the High Atlas in Morocco.
Difficulty
Prices
quote on requestDuration
2 NightsRegion
European Alps
Off Piste Ski Weekend
Join our Instructors in Chamonix for a 3-day early season ski hit in January.
Difficulty
Prices
from £895.00 Deposit £100.00Duration
3 Nights(3 days skiing)
Region
European AlpsIntroduction
Jagged Globe Off Piste courses teach you to ski with confidence away from the busy pistes. Whether your goal is to learn how to ski deep powder, or you aspire to ski tour and want to bridge the gap from the piste to mountain summits, our courses will help you get there.
- Check out our Ski Grading table to help you choose the right course.
"If Skiing was Golf this course has just reduced my handicap by at least 6 shots."
PP, Off Piste Introduction
On Jagged Globe Off Piste courses, you can expect experienced Ski Instructors and Guides, who know these areas well and have a proven track record of successful teaching.
Further Information
Find out more about the skiing venues and equipment... read more »Calendar
Trip Full? Please contact us to make a provisional booking (no deposit), enquire about future dates or join a wait list.
January 2027
- Available
- Full
-
Sat 16 – Sat 23 Jan
£1625 (from La Grave)
Early booking offer available
-
Sat 16 – Fri 22 Jan
£1495 (from Chamonix)
Early booking offer available
-
Sat 16 – Fri 22 Jan
£1795 (from Chamonix)
Early booking offer available
February 2027
- Available
- Full
-
Sat 6 – Fri 12 Feb
£1495 (from Chamonix)
Early booking offer available
-
Sat 6 – Fri 12 Feb
£1795 (from Chamonix)
Early booking offer available
-
Sat 27 Feb – Sat 6 Mar
£1995 (from Rocca Pietore)
Early booking offer available
March 2027
- Available
- Full
-
Sat 6 – Fri 12 Mar
£1595 (from Chamonix)
Early booking offer available
-
Sat 6 – Fri 12 Mar
£1495 (from Chamonix)
Early booking offer available
-
Sat 6 – Fri 12 Mar
£1795 (from Chamonix)
Early booking offer available
Details
Off Piste Skiing grading
We offer three levels of off piste coaching courses:
Off Piste Introduction Introductory
For piste skiers, who can ski red runs confidently with linked short turns. The course will mainly make use of lifts to access the skiing, though we may do small amounts of walking to get to the best snow. You should be prepared to ski full days (with a lunch break) at a reasonable pace. For a more detailed assessment of the skiing level required for this course, please read our Ski Grading page.
Off Piste Improvers Intermediate
For those who have some off-piste experience (at least 1 week) or have completed an Off Piste Introduction course. As with the Off Piste Introduction course, the skiing will be mainly lift-accessed, though we may do some walking. A good level of fitness will allow you to enjoy full days of skiing and enable the best progress of your skiing. For a more detailed assessment of the skiing level required for this course, please read our Ski Grading page.
Off Piste Perfection/Freeride Advanced
For intermediate to advanced off piste skiers who are able to ski efficiently and in control on all snow types. On the 'Perfection' week, we use skins on several days and will offer all the tips for easy uphill travel if this is new to you. As this week may involve sections of uphill skinning/walking a good level of fitness will allow you to enjoy the descents and improve your skiing further. A standard Alpine set up is required for the Freeride week. For a more detailed assessment of the skiing level required for this course, please read our Ski Grading page.
The Venues
The 3 Valleyswww.les3vallees.com
Resort altitude 1,800m (Meribel)
Lifts to 3,200m
From our base in Brides-le-Bain, we can access the largest ski area in the world, with 200 lifts and 330 runs with an accumulated length of 600Km. The 3 Valleys includes the Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens ski areas, which we will make good use of throughout the week. It is an excellent area for introducing students to the delights of off-piste, due to the scope of 25-35°, slopes and quiet areas, overlooked by the hardcore off-piste skier. The 3 Valleys is easily reached via Geneva or Grenoble and the transport hub of Moutiers.
La Grave
www.la-grave.com
Lifts to 3,550m in La Grave
Bourg D'Oisans is 77Km from Grenoble, so can easily be reached by coach from Lyon Airport or Grenoble Airport.
Chamonix
www.chamonix.com
Lifts to 3,842m
Chamonix almost needs no introduction. Historically, this Alpine village at the base of Mont Blanc is intrinsically linked with the development of extreme skiing and ski mountaineering. Chamonix is a favourite destination for intermediate and advanced off piste skiers, but there is a lot more to it than the Grands Montets and the Vallee Blanche. Our Instructors know the best spots to get away from the crowds. For après ski, the village has a ‘buzz’ unlike any other ski resort.
Engelberg, Switzerland
www.engelberg.ch
Resort altitude 1,200m
Lifts to 3,028m
Engelberg has a small, village feel to it and the locals are really friendly. There are some lovely little shops, great bakeries and plenty of ski shops too. Above the village the mountains are riven with glaciers and cliffs. This is not a mass tourist destination - the lift-accessed ski area is actually quite small and compact. It's the place that Swiss off piste skiers head to for some searing off piste lines that cut through steep and imposing terrain. If you are willing to do a little bit of skinning, it is easy to find untracked powder. You can travel by Engelberg on the train from Zurich in less than two hours.
Andermatt, Switzerland
www.andermatt.ch
Resort altitude (1,440m)
Lifts to 2,960m
Andermatt is thought by many to be the best off piste skiing venue in Switzerland for intermediate-level off piste skiers. Jagged Globe Guide, Andy Owen, thinks it's the “best ski area in the Alps”! With reliable snow, relatively few skiers and a lift system that provides access to acres of varied terrain, this statement has considerable merit. The sleepy village itself is nestled in the base of the valley and retains its old-fashioned Swiss character. Each day you can expect some fabulous off piste runs, many of which are north facing, including the huge descent from the 2,963m Gemstock all the way to the village. Like Engelberg, Andermatt is easily reached by train from Zurich in just over two hours.
Travel and Accommodation
Detailed travel advice is provided in the PDF notes for each course. A quick run down on how to get to the resort is available on each course 'Venue and Travel' tab. We include airport transfers for the vast majority of our Off Piste/Freeride courses.Equipment
You need to provide your own personal ski clothing and equipment including skis, poles and boots. These can be hired at the course venue. Avalanche safety equipment ('TSP': digital transceiver, metal shovel, 240cm + avalanche probe) is included in the course cost for introductory-level courses and all courses that are based in, or start from Chamonix. An Avalanche Airbag is available to loan on our introductory-level courses.
Buy or hire?
How many weeks a year do you ski? If the answer is less than 2 or 3, then hiring skis may be the best bet. You don't have to travel with cumbersome ski bags, and you will normally be able to hire current models of ski. Boots are another matter, as by buying you can spend time getting the boot fitted perfectly to your feet, which guarantees pain-free ski trips.
Which skis and bindings?
For Off Piste Introduction, Off Piste Improvers and Freeride courses, standard alpine ski gear is fine (ski-touring bindings are not necessary). We would recommend consideration of the following Off Piste/All Mountain skis:
- Black Crows Corvus: Front Rocker 108/109-mm mid-foot.
- Black Crows Camox: Front Rocker 97/98-mm mid-foot.
- Dynastar Chamonix 97/ Chamonix 107 (mid-foot as per the name) - also come in lighter “high mountain variants, which combined with skins and a touring binding could be considered for the Perfection courses to give access to lines away from mechanical uplift.
- Rossignol Soul 7 - 106-mm mid-foot
- Volkl Mantra - 98 mm mid-foot
- LINE Sir Francis Bacon 108-mm midfoot
For those joining the Freeride course, you may want to use a slightly wider and stiffer 'Freeride' ski, to make skiing in powder easier. You must be a decent skier to get the best out of these skis, or else what can be fun can easily become hard work!
For our Off Piste Perfection courses, ski touring bindings and skins will be required as we may use these to access some descents. Lighter, touring skis or 'All Mountain' skis are fine for this course. Of the touring skis, we would recommend consideration of the following:
- Black Crows Ova Freebird: Tip Rocker, 85-mm mid-foot..
- Black Crows Orb Freebird: Standard Camber, 90-mm mid-foot.
- Scott Crus'air.
- Atomic Aspect: tip rocker, 85-mm mid-foot.
- Trab Freedom 84 or 90 - as the name suggests either 84-mm or 90-mm mid-foot
Which boots?
The most important consideration with boots is a good fit. The boots should also be of appropriate stiffness (not too firm, not too soft) to provide support for the ankle while still allowing it to flex under load. For the Off Piste Perfection course, touring or Freeride boots present the advantage of more comfortable “walk-mode”, but are not strictly necessary. In Chamonix, we recommend boot fitters, Sanglard Sports.
Clothing/backpack
Normal ski gear is fine, but should be versatile enough to cater for warm or cold conditions. A small day-pack is ideal for Off Piste and Freeride weeks (20-30 litre). This should be able to hold a shovel & probe, spare layer of clothing, and a water bottle. Black Diamond make some really nice packs, as do Ortovox.
Helmets
They have the advantage of protecting your head and keeping it warm! Fit is everything, so go to a well-stocked shop and try on lots of them.
