The French Alps offer fantastic mountains for snowboarding. UCPA was the first in Europe to run snowboard courses, and the expertise of our trained and qualified instructors is still extremely high. We have also managed to keep the playfulness in the riding. UCPA teaches "free ride" – snowboarding with soft boots. In the snowboard programme you can choose courses for all levels, from beginner to expert.
A typical day
The day starts with the snowboard group meeting to go through the plan. Each session lasts about 2.5 hours (2 sessions per day on Snowboard Full-time & 1 session per day on Snowboard Half-time). At some point during the week there may also be a day trip, where you take a lunch break on the mountain or at a nearby centre.
Snowboarding with UCPA
Snowboarding with an instructor is a big and important part of the UCPA concept. On the first day of the programme, a so-called harmonisation takes place. This means that you and your group try out a number of different exercises to make sure that all participants are at the same level. If a group member is above or below the group's average level, they are moved to a group that is judged to be at the same level. This is done both to ensure the safety of the group and so that everyone gets the best possible conditions to develop their snowboarding.
Snowboard Full-time is a professional all-round solution for you who want to focus on improving your snowboarding. Whether you are already a very skilled and experienced snowboarder or a beginner who wants to get better, the instructor helps you reach the next level. On Snowboard Full-time you ride around 23 hours with an instructor (split between morning and afternoon) during your week. Perfect both for you who took up the board a bit later in life and for you who want to improve your technique before trying off-piste. If you are a beginner, you can book Beginner Course Snowboard.
Snowboard Half-time is for you who want more time on your own, but still don't want to miss out on the fantastic instructor. On Snowboard Half-time you ride around 12 hours with an instructor (either mornings or afternoons) during your week. Here too, the snowboarding with an instructor takes place in groomed areas, and the rest of the time you ride on your own. We still always recommend, especially for beginners, choosing Snowboard Full-time so that you get the most out of your snowboard week.
Snowboard Light - gives you the chance to try two sessions of 2.5 hours each with an instructor during your week. This programme is perfect for you who want the freedom to ride on your own but are also curious and want to try the UCPA concept!
Besides great conditions for developing your snowboarding, the snowboard programmes are also a social experience where you ride and hang out with people from all over the world!
Choose the right Piste Snowboarding level
1
2
3
4
5
Where can you go?
Destination
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.
Quick dial
About us
Good to know
Ski Holidays
EPIC Ski StudentSki Beginner CourseSki On-PisteSnowboard Beginner CourseSnowboard On-PisteSki Off-Piste - Level 1Ski Off-Piste - Level 2Ski Off-Piste - Level 3Snowboard Off-Piste - Level 1Snowboard Off-Piste - Level 2Snowboard Off-Piste - Level 3Randonnée - Ski TouringFamily WeeksSenior WeeksSolo WeeksShort Breaks© 2026 UCPA Travel AB.
