Ski off-piste - for those who want to go off-piste! There is an incredible sense of freedom in throwing yourself into untouched snow, beyond ski systems and controlled slopes, and with UCPA you get the best conditions for off-piste skiing! This is largely due to the fact that on all off-piste trips you travel with an instructor. The instructor has the best local knowledge, knows where to find the best runs for the day and makes sure you get down safely.
Safety and security
Off-piste skiing is serious business. The terrain is controlled by weather, wind and other factors beyond our control. UCPA is constantly working to improve safety and train guides to help you ski off-piste safely. We always have certified instructors or mountain guides, complete safety equipment and adapted skis.
If you haven't skied with us before, you're in for an extraordinary experience. A week of high class skiing, good food and fun socializing. An adventure many people relive year after year - they just change ski resort and center.
Ski groups that suit you
Skiing with an instructor is included and is an important part of your trip. Here you will have the opportunity to improve your skills and explore the mountains with like-minded people.
Meet new friends
A UCPA trip is a social experience where, in addition to skiing, you can participate in activities around the centers and have the opportunity to meet new friends from all over the world.
Security and safety
Going off-piste always involves a risk. With UCPA's instructors, you will be trained to deal with different situations that may arise when off-piste skiing.
Bad weather professionals
On bad weather days, the instructors are invaluable. If only the lifts are open, you go. Guaranteed!
Focus on skiing
When you travel with UCPA, equipment, food, accommodation and skiing with an instructor are always included. This gives you time to focus and enjoy world-class skiing.
Certified Instructor
Streamline your skiing! UCPA instructors know the ski resort best and know where to find the best runs for the day.
We offer off-piste programs in a dozen destinations in the French Alps. From beginner to expert level. Your level determines which program you can complete. If you are unsure of which level you are at, you can always contact us for questions. If you feel unsure between two levels, we always recommend that you place yourself in the lower of them.
Safety first!
Activity outside the ski system, off-piste, is associated with risks such as avalanches, crevasses and cliffs. It is important to always be informed and plan your skiing according to weather and snow conditions. It is also of utmost importance to wear your safety equipment properly and be prepared for how to handle an emergency situation.
With UCPA, you have the opportunity to undertake this type of skiing with a certified instructor. UCPA instructors undergo years of training and have the expertise to read terrain and weather conditions. Through the instructor, you will be trained to deal with different situations that may arise when skiing off-piste. They also make sure to find the best runs for the day for you and your group. Through their years of training, they will give you technique tips and tools to become a better skier.
Equipment included
All technical equipment is included when you travel with UCPA! On off-piste trips, in addition to skis, boots and poles, this also means avalanche transceivers, probe, shovel and backpack. A helmet is not included in the equipment but this is of course something we recommend you use. In some places there are helmets to borrow, in other places you can rent a helmet during the week for about 10-15 €. NOTE! However, this is subject to availability. If you want to be sure to protect yourself, we suggest that you bring your own helmet.
For more information about the equipment and skis on offer, read the article on UCPA magazine. If you are wondering what other equipment might be necessary to bring on trips with UCPA, you can take a look at our packing list.
Off-piste
For those who are looking for guided skiing outside the slopes. Here the focus is on skiing and you can choose between three different levels. During the week you will have the chance to discover the very best of the area together with our instructors.
Offpist Randonnée
Ski Offpist Randonnée is for those who are already an experienced off-piste skier but who want the combination of going uphill, then trying descents you've never encountered before. Our experienced instructors will show you places far beyond the reach of the ski system, giving you a unique chance to discover amazing places.
The focus is still on off-piste skiing, but you'll get to try hiking (you'll walk about 1 hour per day). If you want to "go on tour" and stay in a refuge instead, check out Randonnée.
Ski safari
This is almost a must for those who are a good off-piste skier looking for the best runs, most favorable snow conditions where both glacier skiing and ascents with skins can be included. You will have the opportunity to explore some of the best ski areas both in the French Alps but also in Italy & Switzerland among others. A high technical level and previous experience in off-piste skiing and in handling safety equipment is required. During these trips you will have access to a minibus as well as extended lift passes that will take you outside the usual ski systems to discover the very best skiing in the area.
Chamonix & Argentière
With lift access to many high peaks and large off-piste areas, the Chamonix valley stands out among many other ski systems in Europe, and the world. Here you'll find Europe's longest off-piste run, Vallée Blanche, measuring a whopping 20 km, and the fabled Les Grands Montets area.
Val d'Isère & Tignes
Espace Killy not only offers a fantastic piste system, but also one of the largest off-piste areas in the world. Challenges await both the beginner and the experienced and adventurous off-piste skier.
Off-piste skiing can be practiced both in winter and spring, depending on your skills, tastes and preferences.
Spring usually means fantastic snow conditions with so-called corn snow. Snow with a hard surface that melts and freezes every day and night. In addition to the pleasant snow, spring has longer days, which means more hours of skiing(!), and milder temperatures.
Winter, on the other hand, increases the chances of finding powder snow, the ultimate surface for ski lovers. Cold temperatures, no wind and a steady snowfall are the best conditions for this type of snow. Skiing on powder snow gives the feeling of floating, but it is not always easy to handle. This surface is only recommended for skilled skiers.
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UCPA - Freely translated to English as "National Federation for Sports and Outdoor Centers" - has a history of over 50 years. It is, in short, a non-profit, all-French organization supported by, among others, the French state. The purpose is to give ordinary people the opportunity to learn and develop in one or more sports together, in pleasant and unpretentious forms. The organization has about 80 centers in France and the West Indies, 28 of them are located at well-known winter sports resorts in the French Alps.
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