What lift pass do I need for my lessons?
For all lessons you will require a full Espace Killy lift pass.
Do I need a lift pass if I’m a beginner?
You will not need a lift pass for your beginner lessons until your instructor advises you. This is generally around the third day, but it varies. The beginners pistes and lifts in Tignes and Val D’Isere are free.
Will I have time to buy my lift pass before morning lessons?
Our meeting point is right next to a lift pass office. We recommend allowing 40 minutes to buy your lift pass, especially in peak times. The lift pass office opens at 8:30am
.
Where can I buy a lift pass from?
There is a lift pass office at our Maison de Tignes and Pistemap Val d’isere meeting places. They can also be bought from the Grande Motte, La Daille, and Les Brevieres.
Will my instructor be a native English speaker?
Yes, we guarantee a native English speaking instructor.
What qualifications does the instructor have?
Your instructor will be a BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors) Level 4 ISTD, Snowboard Instructor and current BASI Instructor Trainer and Examiner.
Are we given a contact number for our instructor?
We have one dedicated number in resort that should be used in all instances. This is for our secretary who will relay any messages or answer any queries you may have.
How long into a holiday should I wait before getting a private lesson?
We recommend getting a lesson with us as soon as possible; this means you have less time instilling any bad habits, which we would then have to undo.
Can I start the session from the location of my choice?
All lessons start and finish from a designated meeting point, unless you’ve booked a full day session where we can meet at a meeting point of your choice.
Can we start from Les Brevieres in Tignes?
All lessons start and finish in Le Lac. The piste in Les Brevieres is a busy red run, there is also a poma lift on this slope which isn’t ideal for beginner snowboarders. At certain times of year this slope is not advisable for even advanced snowboarders due to its conditions.
Should I have a day on the mountain before joining your courses?
We take into consideration that it is everyones first day on the mountain and fit our lessons around this. We definitely recommend joining us from the first day of your holiday – this means that you don’t have a chance to practise any bad habits!
Will I be riding with people of a similar standard?
Yes, we arrange groups that will compliment each other to progress and improve.
What will be the focus of the group lessons?
We cover all aspects of snowboarding in our group lessons – piste performance, steeps, off-piste and freestyle. We are flexible to the needs and wants of the groups, as well as the conditions. There are certain times when it is not safe for us to go off-piste or when the park will be closed.
I’m thinking of travelling alone, is it suitable for singles?
Yes. Approximately 70% of our course participants travel alone. One of the attractions of taking our courses is knowing there will be other people of the same level to ride with who are also travelling alone.
Do I have to pay a single room supplement?
Not necessarily. We do our best to slot you into a shared room with other single travellers at no extra charge. If you do want a room to yourself, you will need to book early to secure this, at a supplement. On the rare occasion that we end up with an odd number most accommodation providers a single room supplement. Please ask before booking.
I can link turns indoors, am I still a beginner?
Snowboarding in a mountain environment is very different to snowboarding indoors. On a day-to-day basis snow conditions can change, as well a varying camber in slopes. Also, the main slopes in most indoor centres are equivalent to greens on a mountain. From the outset we teach in a different style to help accommodate these variables.
Do you recommend learning indoors before coming?
No, it's not necessary.
Do your level numbers correlate with those indoors?
Our levels do not correspond to the levels indoors. We advise everyone who has learnt indoors and never been on a mountain to join our level 1 group.
Your courses look too advanced for me?
If you’re an intermediate snowboarder and you maintain a consistent speed turning down blue runs and easy reds, then you’re in the right place. You’re at the perfect level to be joining a snowboard course to support development with conditions as they become more challenging and varied.
I’m an intermediate, but concerned I’m not at the level when I get there, what will happen then?
If you can ride blues and easy reds with good fitness level, then you’ll be fine. If you happen to be below the level of fitness than the rest the group, don’t worry. We always work to the level of the lowest level rider. Most people are happy for breaks anyway.
I’m worried the rest of the people in the group will hold me back?
We will always challenge you. Our instructors are very good at teaching in an ‘inclusive’ style which means they can vary the degree of difficulty of any task to suit all riders in the group.
What if I’m not at the level of the rest of the group when I get there?
As a company we have a policy of screening all bookings to ensure we have the right fit for everyone involved. As a guide, if you can ride up to black pistes, then you’re in the right place.
Where do you meet for lessons?
In Tignes: we meet at the Maison de Tignes, near the Credit Agricole cashpoint on the corner of the building (not the Lift pass office end, the other end). There is a free bus service that runs every 10 minutes between the sub-villages of Le Lac, Lavachet and Val Claret. It takes approx 10 minutes from either end Tignes to get to Le Lac. See below for directions from your sub-village to our meeting point.
TRAVELLING FROM:
VAL CLARET to Le Lac bus route. Get on bus at any stop in lower val claret, you'll go under a tunnel; get off at the next stop after that. Walk to the right towards the large wooden building (the Maison de Tignes); we meet on the corner of the building by the cash machine.
LE LAC - ask anyone for directions to the Maison de Tignes. It’s a big wooden building next to Palafour lift. Looking at the Maison de Tignes from the piste (upper side not the lower, bus station side), we meet at the right-hand corner of the building by the cash machine.
LES BOISSES, take the bus up to Le Lac. Get off the bus when it pulls into the bus station/lane, opposite the ELAN service station. Get out, walk around the other side of the bus and you'll see a large wooden building (the Maison de Tignes). Take the steps on the left-hand side and we meet at the top of those steps near the Credit Agricole cash machine.
LES BREVIERES is a little different from the rest of Tignes as it is about 15-20 minutes away by car. To get to Le Lac, take the passenger chairlift ("Brevieres") from Les Brevieres to Les Boisses. When you get off the chair, turn immediately left and walk down a short slope to the turning circle, where you will see a little wooden shed on your left; this is the bus stop. The bus from Boisses leaves every half hour on the quarter hour in the mornings, from 8:15 to 11:45am. It then restarts every half hour from 12:30pm. Then you take the bus up to Le Lac, which takes approx. 12 minutes. Get off the bus when it pulls into the bus station/lane, opposite the ELAN service station. Get out, walk around the other side of the bus and you'll see a large wooden building (the Maison de Tignes). Take the steps on the left-hand side and we meet at the top of those steps near the cash machine. Please note: “Brevieres” chair opens at 9:00am. Chair takes approximately 12 minutes.
What time do rental companies open?
In Tignes: Blackcats, who we recommend for your rental in Val Claret are open from 8:30am – 7:30pm each day. This gives enough time in the morning to collect rental gear. In Le Lac, we recommend Labo, which is next door to the Carrefour supermarket near the Palafour lift. Alternately, if you are staying in Lavachet, we recommend Tignes Spirit.
Are helmets a prerequisite?
Wearing a helmet is a personal choice. However, we do recommend wearing any safety equipment not only for your own personal protection but for peace of mind as well. A helmet, wrist guards, impact shorts or knee guards can you give you an extra bit of confidence during your lesson.
Can I get hire directly from you?
We do not hire out equipment, but are happy to recommend top quality rental facilities to you.