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untracked, unforgettable – backcountry boarding in Colorado

With your board strapped to your back and snowshoes on your feet, head out into the backcountry of Telluride resort with your local wasabi guide for a few days of extreme deep powder boarding action. Based amongst the majestic San Juan mountain range, in the south west of Colorado you will find acres of untracked fresh powder, both in-bounds and out-bounds, to provide hours of thigh burning pleasure. Away from the crowds, in a beautiful box canyon and with plenty of riding options to keep you entertained all week long, this is the very best of Stateside backcountry boarding adventures!

Flights and Transfers: Flights from the UK into Montrose airport have 1 stopover in a major US city. From there it is a short 1hr transfer up into the resort town.

The Lodge: Stay is Telluride’s newest, oldest lodgings! Originally built during the town’s historic mining days back in 1891, and recently having undergone a full upgrade and transformation, your stay in Telluride will be at a place steeped in history. It is also extremely conveniently located in the heart of the resort town,  just two blocks from the ski lifts and in the thick of the action for the evening entertainment. The bar may be the oldest in town, but don’t worry the rooms are not. Each room has been beautifully restored  and “mod-cons” added in with flat screens and internet access throughout.

Itinerary: From a base in the town you are just a short walk from the gondola which will whisk you up away from the resort, via the mountain village, and then into the wide open expanses beyond. With 2000+ acres to explore and a vertical descent of 1,200 or so metres, you will not run out of places to ride. Enjoy a couple of days of exploring the resort on your own, head over to the Black Iron Bowl, Gold Hill Chutes and Palmyra Peak for some challenging in-bounds sidecountry riding. Many of the best lines are hike to terrain, so the freshies last that much longer. On day 3 your local wasabi guide will meet you at your hotel and from there you will head out beyond the resort boundaries, into the wild mountain terrain for the ultimate in deep powder riding adventures. With an intimate knowledge of the local area and mountains, you will spend the next 3 days exploring the very best the Telluride backcountry can offer. These tours aren’t for the faint hearted, expect to hike for at least 1 1/2 hrs to reap the rewards!

Guide price:  Based on 4 people for 8 nights start from £1639 per person and includes:

• 8 nights lodging
• 3 days guided backcountry riding
• 7 day lift pass
• Return shared transfers to Montrose Airport
• Equipment hire for the duration (backcountry equipment extra)

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip

grand teton touring – backcountry ski and snowboard week

If deep powder skiing and boarding, magnificent Teton views and touring with some of the most accomplished ski guides in the world excites you, then we have the perfect tour to offer. Head out into the heart of the Wyoming backcountry with our epic week long touring session around the stunning Grand Teton National Park. Enjoy some of the most impressive terrain in the country while increasing your knowledge about snow science and terrain evaluation. Improve your technical abilities with tips from PSIA instructors, learn about ski mountaineering or just ride blower powder in the trees, it’s all on offer in this week long trip.

This can be booked either as part of a set week with others, or for your group privately, prices will differ accordingly.

Flights and Transfers: Jackson Hole is remote, but that helps to keep it to the preserve of the true powderhound. Flights from the UK will go via one of a number major US cities, and then onto Jackson Hole Regional Airport. After that it’s a quick 15-20 minute taxi ride up into Jackson Hole itself. For Teton Village it will take about 30 minutes.

The Lodge: For your stay you will be based in a charming Lodge, conveniently located in Jackson and with the bus swinging by every 20 minutes to take you to the tram. The Lodge aims to deliver a European charm in the heart of the US, with soaring fir beams and rustic tile floors for a cosy ambiance and it even has a small spa onsite. Run by  2 ex-US Ski Team Olympians, the Lodge provides an excellent base for powderhounds to soak up the local atmosphere and get set for epic days on the mountains.

Itinerary: Spend your day skinning up striking Teton peaks, earning your turns for the descent. Terrain will be chosen according to the group’s ability, and can range from wide open powder slopes to steep, north-facing couloirs. No matter what, we guarantee it will be memorable. There will be an afternoon of avalanche education taught by some of the most qualified avalanche experts in the country, as well as practice in the field while skiing. On one night of the week enjoy a slide-show at your lodge, where local legends will share slides and stories of their adventures. For when you get really stiff, we’ve even included a 60-minute massage and yoga session to help loosen you up a little!

Set dates: For 2012 are:

• January 22-28
• February 5-11
• March 18-24
• April 1-7

Guide price: For the set week options prices are based on 2 people start from £1300 per person and includes:

• 6 nights lodging
• 3 days guided backcountry riding
• 1 day riding at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
• Breakfast each morning
• A sack lunch each day
• 1 dinner at the Lodge
• 1 evening slideshow
• 1 60-minute massage
• 1 yoga session
• ½ day avalanche education course
• Use of an avalanche transceiver and shovel

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip

Epic Italian Freeride Adventures on a budget

Located just over 90 minutes from Turin, and making up part of the Aosta Valley ski area, are the secret resorts of  Monte Rosa. Remaining relatively unknown to the masses, but a place that should firmly sit as a central plank for all serious freeriders, here you will find  the perfect combination of steep vertical descents,  tight couloirs and wide-open powder fields, all easily accessed by an efficient and quick lift system. The Aosta Valley area is made up of a number of sleepy resorts that offer up to 180 individual pistes, and the Monte Rosa area has within it the small resorts of Gressoney and Alagna. Although the nightlife is never likely to challenge the bigger resorts in the Alps, the riding is what you’re here for and from that extent it is world class. You will also find some great little restaurants and bars that are full of Italian charm and warm hospitality. With a combination of excellent terrain, short transfer time and some fantastic Refuges on offer for stays up high in the mountains, this area firmly sits as one of our favourite European freeride destinations.

Flights and Transfers: There are many flight options into Turin from the UK, and from here it is a quick 95 minute private transfer up into the resorts.

The Lodge: Based in the Italian resort of Gressoney, specifically in the Stafal region, for this adventure you will be located in a warm and comfortable B&B. Recently renovated the B&B offers a warm and comfortable base for those looking to keep the costs down. The ski shop is located right next to the lodge and there is a pub and restaurant below for some evening beers and feed after a hard day in the sidecountry.

Itinerary: The first couple of days you will get to explore the area on your own, exploring the links between the resorts and getting the lay of the land. On day 3 you will be met in the reception of your Lodge by your fully certified local wasabi guide. The next 3 days will be spent exploring the extensive sidecountry and backcountry on offer in the area. Head over to Alagna to enjoy 2000m of vertical descent, all made available from a simple 2 cable car trip. Challenge yourself on the various couloirs and enjoy great lunches in a secret Rifugio located way up on the mountain side. The last day of your holiday will be yours to enjoy as you wish, either hitting the slopes hard or taking it easy after 3 intense days of backcountry adventure. If you’re feeling intrepid this is also one of the best areas in the Alps for great heli-skiing, build in a day of this to enjoy some remote backcountry options.

Guide price: Prices are based on 4 people start from £800 per person and includes:

• 7 nights bed and breakfast lodging on a twin share basis
• 3 days guided backcountry riding
• Private return transfers from Turin
• Breakfast each morning
• Equipment hire for the duration
• Option for day heli-ski tours as an added extra

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip

ultimate canadian powder tour

Looking for the powder trip that has it all? Epic resort riding, coupled with world class cat skiing terrain and even the very best in heli skiing? Then look no further than our Ultimate Canadian Powder Tour. We have scoured the globe to find the very best cat and heli ski experiences as well as one of the ultimate freeride resorts on the planet, and we believe we have found it! Based in the heart of British Columbia, Canada, we will treat to a combination of the world class resort, cat and heli riding in the deepest, fluffiest and freshest powder to be found anywhere. Spanning an area the size of the Portes Du Soleil, but only available to a handful of people at any one time, we can offer you the best fresh tracks to be found in one place anywhere in the world.

Flights and Transfers: Flights into Calgary are direct from London. From here you will pick up a hire car for the a 3 hour self drive option up to Kicking Horse Resort.

The Lodge: Throughout the trip you will stay in a combination of hotels right on the slopes, and warm, comfortable lodges out in the middle of the Selkirk Mountain Range. The lodges are all encompassing and you will stay on a full board basis whilst heli and cat skiing, however in resort you have the choice of eating in your hotel or heading out in the resort for the evening.

Itinerary: Following your initial drive up to resort, you will head out for a day of epic sidecountry riding. Enjoy a few runs on the pistes to help get the legs working again, and then start to explore some of the epic inbounds riding that is on offer here. Challenging terrain and steep ridges, combined with world class gladed descents and lots of lift accessed powder. That evening you all jump in the car and drive the short journey to a heli-plex, from here you will be airlifted to your Cat Skiing Lodge. The next 3 days are spent in 238 sq kilometres of pristine powder filled terrain (reserved solely for the Cat Skiing operation), with vertical of up to 6000 metres per day (depending on how hard you can ride). This is world class Cat Skiing, in terrain that will excite and challenge even the most experienced of riders. Lastly, transfer back to the heli-plex, back into the car and drive the 20 mins to your last lodge. From here you will enjoy 2 final days in some of the best heli-skiing on the planet! Small intimate group sizes, vast ski area reserved for the one operator and UNLIMITED VERTICAL are on the menu! With a record of only 2 downdays a season, we can offer some of the most reliable and enjoyable heli ski days to be found anywhere.

Guide price: Prices are based on double occupancy and start from £5,910 per person including:

• Resort – lift tickets
• Resort – breakfast
• Heli Skiing – unlimited vertical
• Cat Skiing – up to 6,096m daily vertical
• Cat Skiing – up to 12 people per cat
• Cat + Heli Skiing- Avalanche Transceivers
• Cat + Heli Skiing- all meals (not alcohol)
• Equipment Rental (bring your own boots)
• Double occupancy accommodation

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip

planks

Founded in 2007 by British professional skier Jim Adlington, Planks is a skier-only brand aimed at providing skiers with their own identity. As they put it “whether you’re dropping 80 foot cliffs, charging waist deep powder, killing the park or cruising the mountain with your friends – skiing is being.” Over the past few seasons their simple, eye-catching designs have been embraced by skiers,  and they continue to grow as an up and coming grass roots ski company. Through their team of sponsored riders and Ambassadors they’re sharing their passion for skiing and delivering some awesome products for you to wear! So make sure you check them out and get kitted up with their latest gear for the up coming season, it will make you ride better!*

*based on the assumption that if you look the part you’ll then ski the part – no scientific proof exists to show that this is the case!