Description
The pre-season camps in Engelberg are designed to optimally prepare you for the coming winter season.
Are you already an experienced skier and would like to take on more challenging ski & freeride tours? Learn new methods, prepare for the winter season and have the time of your life!
The pre-season days are aimed at experienced freeriders and good ski tourers. In addition to training and further education, the focus here is also on pre-winter adventures.
Thanks to the combination of a mountain guide plus a professional freerider, the knowledge and skills of different types of skiing can be brought together to create a brilliant end product.
Levels
The pre-season camps take place in almost all sessions at the following levels:
Mild - Starter
Skiing off-piste is new to you. Maybe you’ve already tried it and you’ve got caught by the virus. You can also ski the black slopes on the piste. Now you want to learn and improve your ski touring and freeriding skills.
Anforderungen
- Solid skiing technique on the slopes. Black slopes are no big deal for you.
- You have good memories of your first taster experiences off-piste on ski tours or freeriding.
- Fitness & motivation for ascents with skins of max. 60min.
- No alpine technical experience necessary. But nice to have!
- Basic knowledge of avalanche prevention and rescue is an advantage but not mandatory.
Anmerkungen
Here we will adjust the programme a lot. You can do all the workshops, but train in terrain where you certainly don’t have to be afraid. As we don’t have so many registrations for the pre-season camp at this level, it is easier if you are already a small group of 2-3 people. More is also possible or you can join a group as an individual.
Spicy - Geniesser
Probably the most common level. You have already been on guided or independent ski tours, but it is not (yet) your greatest passion. You still have time for other things in your life than the mountains. Really?! (Note from the team). You love to go on ski or freeride tours. You are now motivated to improve your knowledge and existing experience and to refresh what you already know.
Anforderungen
- Good technique in skiing next to the piste up to moderately steep terrain. You can “get down” anywhere; if not with easy turns, then with sliding sideways… No grades are given for the stems.
- Climbs up to 800 m with skins are fun, as long as the descent is worth it!
- Alpine technical knowledge is an advantage, but not mandatory.
- Basic experience with avalanche beacon, probe, shovel and avalanche prevention would be desirable.
Anmerkungen
Very grateful level for us as mountain guides. Because you can already do a lot, but we can also show you a lot. Our goal is always that you can later use it independently on easy to medium tours. The transition from the “spicy connoisseur” to the “hot expert” level is very “spongy”. This is where the experience you have gained and your personal attitude come into play.
Hot - Könner
If your grandmother hasn’t just passed away, a wedding isn’t planning the weekend or you have to go to the LUGA with your boyfriend, you’re sure to be found on the mountain. Whether it’s on a ski tour or freeriding, you’re enthusiastic about everything. You enjoy challenging ski and freeride tours. You regularly motivate your colleagues to join you on a tour. You have even planned and “led” them yourself.
Anforderungen
- Very good off-piste skiing technique. You can master steep passages of up to 45°, even if you don’t always feel 100% comfortable.
- Very good ascent technique with skins and hard irons. It doesn’t matter how many vertical metres you climb, the main thing is that it’s worth it to ski down.
- Basic alpine knowledge (e.g. climbing in summer, alpine touring, etc.) is a prerequisite. (Let us know if this is not the case, it can be learned!)
- Regular training in rescue and independent assessment of the avalanche situation is assumed and built upon.
Anmerkungen
A very rewarding level for us as mountain guides. Because you can already do a lot, are ultra motivated to learn even more and we can also show you a lot. The goal is that you can strengthen your ego and regularly go on freeride and ski tours in most levels. The transition from the “spicy connoisseur” to the “hot expert” level is very “spongy”. The experience you have gained and your personal attitude also play a role here.
Hell - Freakshow
Your colleagues call you a freak when you tell them about skiing… You spend almost every free minute on the mountain, when you’re not waxing your skis in the basement. On your toilet you have touring guides and the latest ski magazine of your choice. For several years, you have been out and about in the mountains independently, planning and carrying out tours yourself. Perhaps you are even a tour leader, soon to be an aspirant or simply a down-to-earth feerider You can handle your skis in all types of snow and terrain up to 45° in good conditions is more fun than scary for you.
Anforderungen
- Actually self-explanatory if you want to classify yourself in this level.
- Very good downhill skiing technique. Good means solid ability in all types of snow up to 45-50°!
- TipTop condition. Ascents of up to 1600 m a day are no problem for you. Of course you can be tired in the evening, but not after 90 minutes!
- Knowledge of alpine techniques with rope, crampons, ice axe and crampons.
- Basic knowledge of glaciers
Anmerkungen
At this level it is assumed that 80% of the points of the programe have already been trained/applied. The programe at the camp is based on this knowledge. We show you the latest methods and refresh your existing knowledge. An active discussion and exchange of experiences with the course participants is important to us.
FAQ
What are the requirements for me?
The camp is not designed for freeride or ski touring beginners. You must have experience in these areas, be solid on skis or snowboard and have a good basic level of fitness. We will make different groups according to levels in the different training blocks. This way you can later place yourself (via self-assessment form) and with a mountain guide in a group that suits you. Are you already a very strong tourer, freerider or alpinist? Then please let us know in the registration form so that we can assign you to the right group. (or later by self-assessment form)
Can I also participate as a snowboarder?
Yes, if you have a splitboard this is a good idea. We will make a separate boarder group if possible. (if enough people are interested). The ski technique part can only be adapted to snowboard technique if there are enough snowboarders (separate group). Otherwise you can take part in the same programme as a boarder. How do I organise the overnight stay? If you want to join us for dinner and the evening programme, or if you simply live too far away, we recommend you stay overnight in one of our partner hotels. This way you can have a beer after an educational day.
What if the camp cannot take place because of Corona?
In principle, we work with the protection concept of the Swiss Mountain Guides Association. If the current situation changes and we can’t hold the camp because of the regulations, the whole amount will be credited to you and we hope you can take part at a later date. You can also discuss with us for other solutions.
What if the weather is bad or there is no snow?
It may well be that the camp cannot take place according to the programme due to a foehn storm, lack of snow or similar stupid situations. In this case we are ready with alternative programmes in the valley. For more information see programme.
