Ski touring and off-piste specialists We are ski touring and mountaineering enthusiasts at the shop and welcome your enquiries about any aspect of the sport. However, if you want to contact those at the sharp end of ski touring and off-piste skiing, check out the following links below:
Murray is a friend of Paul Braithwaite - do you remember the fantastic Old Man of Hoy TV broadcast in the eighties? Murray and ropemate Pete Whillance were the team climbing the "A Few Dollars More", E3 5c which had previously just seen the first ascent by the pair plus Paul.
Murray is now resident in the Ecrins region of the French Alps and a well respected qualified Mountain Guide. He specialises in ski mountaineering and touring as well as icefall and rock climbing.
The Ecrins area enjoys good conditions for touring although the terrain tends to be quite technical and not as suitable for novices. However, the avid ski tourer will find challenges aplenty in rugged, remote and beautiful scenery.
The Last Resort is owned by Ali and Allen, originally from Mossley!!
Both are experienced paraglider pilots, skiers and boarders. They have been running Paragliding and Alpine activity holidays for over five years and have a reputation for quality and professionalism.
They own the delightful Chalet Pre Fleuri in St Jean de Sixt in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps which is ideally situated for all mountain based activities and has easy access to centres such as Chamonix. Ali and Allen work hard to provide the ideal base for your Alpine sports and Ali's cooking is legendary!!!
It's a fantastic place to thrill out and chill out!
We run a ski touring introductory courses in conjunction with them each winter. Ring or email the shop for information or check our homepage for details when released.
The Aravis area where they are based is superb for learning the rudiments of ski touring and there are an abundance of possibilities for day and multiday tours in beautiful scenery.
If you're skiing in our favourite resort, La Clusaz, then visit our friends Yann and Freddy Quenet. The brothers are expert and accomplished ski teachers who run Aravis Challenge, a ski shop specialising in off-piste equipment and tuition.
Yann runs our introductory ski touring course and is well respected for his expertise and professionalism. He was head coach to the British Olympic Team at Nagano in 1998 and can offer you thrilling ski touring in the fantastic Aravis region.
Alan is a well respected ski teacher of the highest calibre. A mountaineering instructor, qualified teacher and formerly chairman of the British Association of Ski Instructors, he was at one time Si's boss!
Now he owns and runs Alpine Logic, a specialist ski school in Tignes, France. Emphasis is placed on clear, logical tuition but most of all on having fun! Si can vouch for Alan's excellent teaching skills having worked with him for 2 years.
If you are looking for great off-piste skiing and ski touring, or if you want to learn or improve your skills, or do some winter climbing, then why not come to Leysin and meet Roger and Julie Ann. Both are fully qualified IFMGAmountain guides and lead courses on all facets of skiing and mountaineering. They also run courses in avalanche safety.
Jagged Globe is a world leader in the provision of mountaineering expeditions, treks and courses. They specialise in ski touring and mountaineering and offer the classic Chamonix - Zermatt Haute Route amongst even more far flung trips.
If you want a personal recommendation of their professionalism then please contact Si at our shop.
Rick and Isabelle are fully qualified Mountain Guides based in Chamonix and have immense knowledge of many mountain regions of the world. They provide a blend of professionalism and expertise mixed with a completely down to earth and friendly attitude.
Si has skied with Rick on the Haute Route and around the Chamonix area and can testify to Rick's excellence on skis and incredible fitness!
Rick is also one of Jagged Globes team of expert guides.
Formerly residing in Saddleworth and working for the iconic Troll climbing company, Andy is a well known mountaineer and qualified Mountain Guide living in Chamonix.
Andy is a great character to accompany you on ski touring adventure - you'll definitely enjoy some 'craic'!!!
Alpine Experience are professional off-piste specialists based in Val d'Isere where Si has skied extensively. One of our customers and friends, Paul Sydney, enjoyed a superb week of guiding and tuition with them in December 2006 and found his skiing much enhanced and improved. They even wrote a blog which mentioned him!
December 16th.
Being the weekend Chris and I thought they might open the Palafour-side of Tignes, which would give us some options near the pistes. They did and we ended up skiing an excellent Chardonnet from top to bottom and followed by a great run off the Grand Huit and a good Familial to finish. Chris took Paul Sydney (first week off-piste) into the Chardonnet saying, "I might as well give him something to remember me by", and Paul responded with his best turns of the week...
The Eagle Ski Club is the UK's largest and most active ski touring and ski mountaineering club, with over 800 members. It organises up to 40 ski trips a year, ranging from hotel and chalet-based day tours to ski expeditions in the Arctic and the Greater Ranges. Some are led by members and others by professional guides. The tours vary in standard, but for most of them you should be fit and a good intermediate skier.
The club is also a social network, and many members arrange their own ski tours perhaps during a club slide show evening or walking/climbing weekend in the UK.
