3-4 Week Revelstoke Off-Piste & Backcountry Course

Course Type Backcountry Course
Dates 17th March-15th April | 23rd March-15th April
Price From £3750
Venue Canada- Revelstoke
Qualifications AST Level 1 | Companion Rescue | AST Level 2
Add Flights? Add flights for £650

About the Trip

It wouldn’t be right to come to Revelstoke and not sample the amazing backcountry terrain that Revelstoke, Rogers Pass and the Selkirk mountains have to offer. We’ve worked closely with one of the best mountain guide outfits and the Revelstoke resort to create an affordable backcountry training programme that will introduce you to the techniques and equipment used to go touring safely. The course has some side-country training and backcountry guided days.

It is also possible to add on a 3-day helihut experience, staying overnight in a backcountry lodge and eating out under the stars in complete stillness and zero light pollution. An experience and memory that you will cherish for the rest of your life. Priceless.

Features

6 x days optional warm up on/off piste.

9 days back country training

Snow safety training

Equipment familiarisation & preparation.

Tours by ACMG accredited guides.

Terrain assessment.

3 days heli assisted back country.

4 Dinners/Breakfasts a week.

Accommodation in catered lodges.

Resort Rep 24/7.

Benefits

Steady progression into Backcountry for untrained individuals or a more in depth  programme for experienced tourers.

The best affordable way to experience safe back country touring in the Selkirk mountains.

Expert guides teaching throughout.

Low environmental impact, ethical exploration.

Energy rich healthy food cooked in house by our chef.

 

Click to see what the fuss is about!

Revelstoke

Revelstoke has that enormous snow energy. With an average of 10.5m (over 34 feet) annually, chances are you’re finding some fresh tracks when you visit. 

Revelstoke is home to the most vertical in North America at 1,713 metres (5,620 feet); It is world renowned for its incredible terrain. Revelstoke’s got everything from wide-open alpine bowls to perfectly spaced glades. But, of course, the real challenge is ensuring your legs can keep up!

SMALL-TOWN CHARM! It doesn’t take long to be seduced by Revelstoke’s charm. Over 120 years of skiing history have become part of the town’s fabric, creating a community that celebrates winter in all forms but watch out, you may become Revelstuck!

“Sheep go to Whistler but G.O.A.T.s  go to Revelstoke.”

Valley Retreat

The house we’ve acquired is probably just as important as the mountain. With multiple lounging areas at opposite ends of the house it has many facets, allowing you to enjoy some beers with your friends and listen to some tunes or find a quiet corner and enjoy some down time with a movie or good book. The house can accommodate you all. Its spacious, it has plenty of entertainment areas and a separate heated garage with all you need, fridge, couch, service benches, boot heaters and everything any discerning pro needs to make this an unforgettable experience.

The all-cozy Valley Retreat is 1.5km from the Resort in Revelstoke, BC and has some fantastic features. Such as a Hot Tub out front; Private en-suites with heated tile floors; Flat screen HD TVs with full cable package, Bike, board & ski tuning stations + gear drying room; a large common area with a fireplace; and complimentary WiFi.

Valley Retreat 

Breakfast and Dinner

Good food, in our opinion, is one luxury we cannot do without on a normal holiday. But on a training course like this? It’s vitally important!

4 breakfasts and dinners per week are included with your course, meaning you’ve got time to relax and concentrate on what’s important.

Our in-house chef is used to producing energy-rich meals ladened with all the goodness you need to wake up and storm the mountain day after day or return to fuel those sore muscles. Otherwise, outside of the meal plan, you will be able to cook yourself or go and sample one of the many eclectic eateries in town. It’s got everything from French, Nepalese, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, and of course, the good old Canadian mountain food. We cater for dietary requirements where possible, but all our meals are built with your health in mind.

About the location
Accommodation
Meal Plan

Training Package

The Warm up Week

For those turning up fresh and needing to get some muscle memory before heading out into the wild yonder, we have just the thing. 4 days of training in resort starting with an easy pace to get everyone settled and enjoy the runs that this magnificent resort has to offer. Slowly but surely your instructors will increase the tasks and see what you need to work on in preperation for the backcountry and catching those dream-like tracks through the gladed runs.

Snow Safety Training & Equipment Familiarisation

Going through the basics and also learning a new thing or two from some of the best in the business. Absorbing everything they have to offer in these first few days is vital to your safety and enjoyment. Learning how your equipment works and optimising it for effective touring. Going through the dangers and pitfalls and how to avoid them or in the unlikely event, deal with them.

Guided Tours

We realise you want to get out there so our guides goal is to accomplish that as soon as possible and take you on some of the most beautiful treks and untouched powder fields. The choice of terrain and summits are accessed without technical ropes or crampon work, thus allowing for maximum skiing time and minimal gear. Zero acclimatisation is required as Revelstoke is only 460m above sea level. Yet its blessed with tons of snow! Whether its bluebird days or dumping snow, there is always somewhere to go even in poor visability. Pristine powder fields, old growth tree runs and some of the best awe-inspiring scenery you’ll ever experience. All powered by you. No fuel, no carbon emissions, no noise pollution, leaving only tracks and taking away only your precious memories.

Terrain Assessment

Finding a route through safe terrain is a huge part of ensuring you and your party have a successful day ahead. The guides will spend time teaching you as much as they can to arm you with the knowledge and confidence to understand what is safe and what isn’t. Understand how to assess the terrain ahead and plan your journey dependent on the current conditions, future weather predictions, the snowpack and of course your teams fitness/skillset.

Heli Assisted Touring

A mornings training to go through the systems and methods used by the heli teams to make sure you are part of a well oiled team and understand your part in the heli-days ahead. Further heli assisted backcountry touring is available for those wanting to explore further afield into some legendary terrain. A perfect blend of adventure and immaculate skiing conditions.

Cat or Heli Skiing

With over 30ft of average snowfall annually its a shame if you don’t experience what the Selkirks have to offer by mechanised means. Whilst our guides encourage people to enter the Selkirks under your own steam, they also understand, those experiencing Revelstoke as a first time pilgrimage,  want to finish their time out here with a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list excursion.  Where better to do this than in the world famous Selkirk Mountains

 

Snow Ready Fitness Plan

One of the most vital elements for your success is fitness. Created for the Winter Sports by a Personal Trainer, Sports Therapist, and Nutrition Coach, this 8-week pre-season programme targets the muscle groups used in skiing & snowboarding. It will make sure you are shredded & snow-fit in time for the start of your course.

Course Schedule
Click to Open
Warm Up Week
  • Orientation, Familiarisation.
  • On Piste technical training
  • Off Piste Tactical training
  • Avalanche Skills training Level 1
  • Companion Rescue
Week 1
  • Introduction to BC. Snow safety training
  • Equipment Familiarisation
  • Terrain assessment
Week 2
  • 4 extra days of Backcountry guided tours
  • Heli warm up, Touring techniques
Week 3
  • Optional Bolt Ons: 1-3 days of Backcountry lodge with heli-assisted skiing | Heli or Cat skiing
  • Final week of FUN!

"Experience of a lifetime!"

James May - 3 Mar 2022

"Can’t go wrong with the winter sports team, extremely helpful, and brilliant at making your time in resort as enjoyable as possible. Just amazing From the minute you get to the airport to the minute you leave for home. I went from being nervous about meeting new people and going on new experiences , to making friends of a lifetime. Cliche but completely honest."

Bolt On Courses

The Bolt-ons are the point where you can turn your already stellar winter season into something truly unforgettable. Whilst some are devised to improve your CV, some enhance your smile. The Heliski experience will have you grinning from ear to ear all the way back home through your front door. So decide what is critical for you, an adrenaline ride, gap year, career-breaking, mid-life crisis-soothing adventure? Or something that will put another few dollars on your wages and make your instructor resume stand out?

These are ancillary offerings to our clients once onboarded. It is a simple, transparent method so you can cherry-pick what you want and, more importantly, not be forced into paying over the odds for something you do not want.

Tree Wells & All Mountain Safety

An absolutely serious must-do, one-day course for all skiers and snowboarders who venture off the groomed runs. In our opinion, everyone should do this course; they are some of the closest dangers and yet the most overlooked. Learn about how tree wells form and safe riding through the trees.  What action to take if you fall into a tree well, and how to rescue someone. Additionally, this course will introduce you to often overlooked hazards that one may encounter, such as cold exposure injuries, variable snow conditions and more.

Intro to Backcountry Skills

During this 2-day course, you will spend time doing both on & off-piste technical training. You will develop a strong understanding of advanced technical concepts and learn about tactics and tools for developing off-piste skiing/riding skills in various environments. You will ski steep terrain, deep snow, glades, un-groomed conditions, bumps, and low visibility, to help gain knowledge in terrain adaptation and awareness in a changing mountain environment. Over the course, you will become familiar with your equipment and will be assessed in terrain analysis, hazard analysis, and trip planning to ensure safety when skiing the backcountry. Equipment (powder skis, skins, snowshoes, split board) are not included. You must have also completed the AST 1 & Companion rescue to take part in this.

NUEC I (Level 2)- Emergency Response First Aid

The two or four-day first aid course will provide the necessary training for those working in remote areas giving them the knowledge and skills to evaluate medical emergencies, decide the best course of action and triage, treat and evacuate the patient. Perfect for those working as instructors, guides, safety patrollers, and forestry. Topics will include but are not limited to life-limb-threatening injuries, CPR, survival skills, critical decision-making, stretcher use and other common scenarios experienced in these industries. Great to have on your CV and a fantastic introductory skill set for becoming a ski patroller or backcountry guide aiming for their NUEC Level 3.

Dog Sledding

The resort and nearby terrains offer an exhilarating dog sled adventure. You will meet the team and learn everything you need to know about dog sledding tours in Canada before heading out for a thrilling experience across beautiful landscapes. All sleds are guided, and the tour allows 30 to 40 minutes of sled time through majestic lodgepole pine trees. In return, you will get to thank the dogs by giving them lots of cuddles and snacks.

Ice Hockey Match

Watching ice hockey is a must for anyone spending significant time in Canada. As the national sport, you'll be hard-pressed to avoid it. It is on screens in bars and restaurants everywhere you turn! So, as a group, we will take a bus trip down to watch the game and get a bite to eat. It will be a fun night out that you won't want to miss! This is organized in the resort, and if you are in Panorama or Revelstoke, it's a weekly event. If you are at Sun Peaks, it's a once or twice a season event. Check out a previous Ice Hockey trip. 

Heli Ski Trip

Heli-skiing is, quite simply put, the ultimate off-piste experience - perfect for freeskiers/riders, thrill-seekers and powder lovers. The adrenaline rush as you board the helicopter is nothing compared to the breathtaking views as you fly over the mountains. 3-5 runs into pristine powder fields. It's enough to put a grin on your face for months. Ultimate bragging rights. Make sure you take a Go-pro or pay for extra footage. Equipment is included, but make sure you have insurance to cover you. Extra insurance can be arranged. Sun Peaks clients must do the Revelstoke trip to do this.

First Tracks & Best Bits

You could spend all season in the resort and still miss these little gems. Your guide for the day knows every nook and cranny of the mountain. This is a non-training day, but by the end of it, you will know all the local knowledge on every section of the mountain. Knowing which slopes are best in certain conditions. Knowing what the local dangers or difficulties are in each area of the mountain. Finding the best runs through the trees. It's best done early in your programme so that you can get the most out of your time in the resort armed with a new sense of your surroundings. There is no better way to start the day than as VIPs and being the first ones up the lift for some First Tracks.

Ski & Board Tech Tips

Learn how to get the most out of your equipment from the pros. An evening in the workshop. Makes a great present for someone and gives them the knowledge on how to look after their equipment, tune it for the conditions and cover the overall safety aspects of your settings.

Off-Piste Tactical Training

This course offers a blend of coaching geared towards boosting your technique off-piste, allowing you to charge through the conditions and terrain confidently. It includes a basic understanding of the terrain's pitfalls and how to choose a successful track, taking into account the local dangers. You will also understand how to alter your stance and commitment when carving a path off the beaten track. We try to run this on a powder day but cannot guarantee this. This often books up early.

Find Out More

A winter in the mountains is an exciting opportunity, and we want to best prepare you for what’s to come. Our blog details past experiences of clients who have qualified as instructors and those who have continued to work in the industry. We also dive into how to best prepare for a season and what to expect when you arrive. After reading, there are so many facets to a season, and we’re sure you’ll want to become a certified ski bum.

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What's Included

WSC 3-4 Week Training Package

Depending on your duration (3 or 4 weeks). Your programme will include a prewarm-up module of 3 days of in-resort/on-slope training, an AST Level 1 and a Companion Rescue course. Alternatively, the final 3 weeks comprise 1 day with the Snowschool and a further 8 days with certified IFMGA or ACMG guides. There is another 3-4 days allowance for you to book an additional heli-assisted backcountry lodge experience at discounted prices.

Discounts

To resort shops and snowsport equipment providers in Canada and the UK.

Season Lift Pass

A Season long lift pass means if you want to come out early, or extend your stay then your lift pass will be valid. You also get extra discounts around the resort and reciprocal deals at other resorts.

Resort Rep

Sometimes overlooked but one of the most important parts of your stay. Reps are knowledgeable and experienced skiers and boarders, often having completed their instructor tickets previously or might even be one of the directors. They support you all the way, making sure everything runs smoothly during your time in Canada.

Certifications

If you choose the warm-up week, you will participate in the AST Level 1 & Companion Rescue and will gain certifications from these two elements. If you wish to complete your Level 1 and then decide on adding your Level 2 AST or venturing into the professional Canadian Avalanche Association qualifications. It may be possible to do your Avalanche Operations Level 1 if booked early enough and have the prerequisites required.

Accommodation for your Entire Stay

Whether you are staying in the fantastic Valley Retreat lodge or have exclusivity to the backcountry lodge within the Selkirk Mountain range, you will certainly be blown away by the stunning locations, prime positioning and versatility of each venue to accommodate you and your new touring friends.

Transfers

Transfers are included with your package when taking a flight with us. If you choose to arrive separately a free transfer is still available, as long as you are at the airport at the same time as the main arrival group. For transfers outside of this there may be a supplement charge.

Meal Package

4 Breakfasts and dinners are provided every week of your stay. Using our in-house chef or the offerings at your backcountry lodge, you will receive energy-rich, tasty food with your health and wellbeing in mind. We are obsessed with ensuring you are properly fueled for undertaking this fantastic endeavour.

Socials

If you want to relax and read a book or watch a movie, then the opportunity is there, otherwise, Revelstoke town has plenty of venues to keep you entertained throughout the season, with live bands, pool comp night, winter festivals and resort entertainment there is plenty for those wanting some nightlife to balance out those big activity days.

Welcome Gift Bag

A goody bag with clothing and gear to make you feel part of the team, and provide you with some extras to help with your stay.

Bolt On's and Extra Qualifications

From extra accreditation to pure fun, the bolt-on covers it all. Sign up for the Heli Day, Ice Hockey Night, Dog Sledding or Paragliding. There’s something for everyone’s budget and everyone’s interests.

Not Included.

FLIGHTS (add flights for an extra £650)
MEALS outside of the Meal Plan (4 breakfasts and dinners)

Insurance (approx £200-400)

Optional bolt-on courses

Equipment & rental if req. (Skins, touring gear)

Dates & Prices

Course Dates Triple Room Double Room Single Flights

3 Week: Back Country Programme

 

23rd March-15th April

£3750

£4100

 

£5450

+£650

4 week Back Country Programme

 

17th March-15th April

£4650

 

£4900

 

£6800

 

+£650

3 week L3 Progression Camp: 3 weeks of L3 training.

23rd March-15th April

 £3750

£4000

£4950

+£650

Hold My Place

If you only have a few weeks to spare and want to do something out of the ordinary and have a different experience to instructor training, then consider getting away from it all with this backcountry course. Designed to allow intermediate to expert skiers to access terrain and epic surroundings that you would never have the chance to explore otherwise. Take a career break and leave the humdrum, repetitive life behind. Once in a lifetime experience not to be passed up. Remember, sheep go to Whistler but G.O.A.T.’s got to Revelstoke.

Hold My Place
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