Posts Tagged ‘ Avoriaz ’

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As everyone should know by now, this is Europe’s winter for big snowfall and we have indeed been making the most of it! The latest off-piste snowboard adventure from the Mint team was a hike up the Tête du Géant (2228m), in Pré la Joux, Chȃtel, to ride a fantastic couloir starting just below the summit. The couloir, visible from the ‘Les Combes’ chairlift in Linga, is north facing, about 250 m in length, 45 – 50̊ steep & very narrow in parts… just what we like!

Here are some photos to tell the tale:

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We have had a fun few weeks with some great mini-shredders out in resort. It is great to be getting kids into the sport at a younger age and proving that the old wives tales, preaching that you must be 8 years or older to snowboard, are nothing but false! We have a full fleet of mini kids Burton snowboard equipment, with snowboards starting at 80 cm, and recently we have been making the most of it!

Daisy, age 8, and Mila, age 6,  Blackwell spent a week having lessons with Mint instructor Dave Gladwin (aka Mr Mint), forming the new snowboard posse ‘Team Snowflake‘. This is what their dad David had to say: ‘Amazing job by Dave, the girls had a great time, improved faster than we could have ever imagined (thanks to all Dave’s ingenious tips) and just loved the whole experience. I can’t recommend you guys highly enough, we are very proud and happy parents.’

The next new snowboard team to be formed was ‘Team Shred‘, when Mint instructor Tammy headed over to Chamonix to teach the McNab girls, Manon, age 7, & Loren, age 4, and their friends Izzie, age 9, & Maddy, age 6. The Les Houches ski area is perfect for mini-shredders and a great place to introduce the littler ones to snowboarding! Big smiles all round!

Check out some very cute pictures of mini-shred as well as a funny video clip of 4 year old Loren’s first go on a snowboard!

For more info on children’s snowboard lessons follow this link.

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With the rebirth of splitboarding over the last few years we are getting more and more requests for splitboard backcountry guiding. And we are stoked with this! There have been great improvements in the equipment since the first splitboards were manufactured over a decade ago, making both the ascent easier and the ride down better.

Last Tuesday, Mint Snowboarding coach Tammy and Dev took the easier approach of getting to the summit of the Pointe de Chésery… by splitboard! The Pointe de Chésery, 2251 m, is a peak situated between the ski areas of Avoriaz and Chatel / Linga in the Portes du Soleil and makes for a great half day tour.

Both Dev and Tammy were on new boards, a K2 and a Jones, with Dev testing his out for a splitboarding trip to Norway later in the winter. They got fresh tracks down the narrower left-hand couloir on the NW facing slope into Pre la Joux.  Again a lack of riding shots due to too much fun, but they did get some cheesy summit shots!

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Well, what an epic start to the season we have had with almost a month of continuous snowfall. The sun finally came out a week ago and, although it has been bluebird conditions ever since, it has not stopped us finding great backcountry lines to ride.

Here are some photos from a fun afternoon hike up the Pointe de Chésery which sits between the ski areas of Avoiraz and Chatel / Linga. The group consisted of Tom and Hamish along with Mint snowboard instructors David and Tammy. They got first lines down the left-hand couloir on the NW facing slope of the Pointe de Chésery, with epic snow conditions. As with so many days out, there are no riding shots as everyone was having too much fun!

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Mint Snowboard School are stoked to announce that, new for 2012, we are offering kids snowboard lessons for mini shredders, children aged between 4 and 8. Mint is collaborating with the Burton Kids on Snow / Riglet program to offer unique coaching for ankle-biters, who may be believed to be too young to meet other neccessary age requirements. Lessons are available in the French resorts of Morzine, Avoriaz & Les Gets.

We have a specialised fleet of European Burton Riglet snowboard equipment, designed specifically for young children – so youngsters from 4 to 8 years will be able to take their first steps into the world of snowboarding. Our selection of Burton boards go as short as 80 cm and boots down to a UK size 11 (euro 29).

Our dedicated snowboard instructors will provide a focus on fun through learning, so children will be able to adopt the basics of snowboarding in an exciting and stimulating environment. The initial steps will involve fun learning focused on balance and equipment awareness. As the days progress, children will be taken through a route of progression to include, basic turns and edge control… leading to the final end goal of riding the main slope.

For more information on childrens snowboard lessons follow this link, or send us an email... info@mintsnowboarding.com.

Check out some of the fun our mini-snowboarders have been having with the Mint team: Mint kids snowboarding.

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We’ve had an epic start to the season out here in Morzine… after almost two weeks of non-stop snow, the sun is finally out today, 23rd December. This made for fun times on the December Just Snowboard camps.

Snow conditions were unquestionably fantastic, with everyday being a powder day, although the weather was certainly challenging at times. Strong winds and the huge quantities of snow caused some lift closures, but the team battled on with rosy windswept faces showing huge smiles at the end of run after run of epic powder. The one day that the lifts did shut completely, we were the only ones in town to battle against the elements, turning a potential down-day into a fun day up the mountain building a couple of backcountry kickers as well as doing some transceiver training.

Other than fantastic snow conditions, other highlights of the week included an exclusive showing of the much acclaimed Art of Flight at the Morzine cinema with after party in the Cavern and a great day tearing around the Avoriaz Stash park with James Stentiford, Jamie Trinder & Henry Shackleton of the Quiksilver UK team. Progression in everyones riding was impressive within the 4 coaching groups each headed by one of top qualified instructors from Mint Snowboard School.

Check out some photos from the week:

We have several more snowboard camp dates coming up in 2012:

21th – 28th January 2012 : Just Performance Lab
28th January – 4th February 2012 : ACME Off Piste Snowboard Camp
3rd March – 10th March 2012 : Just Freestyle Camp
31st March – 7th April 2012 : Just 4 Girls Snowboard Camp

Check out www.just-snowboard.com for more info.

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Mint Snowboard school is keen to get the local snowboard community learning & progressing, so we are organising snowboard programs specific for you… whether you are year round residents, seasonaires or kids living locally around Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz or Chatel. So to help you take your riding to the next level we are offering group courses at significantly reduced rates to all locals this winter.

We are will be running the following courses:

Freestyle progression course: Aimed for those who already have a reasonable freestyle level and wish to progress their freestyle skills to the next level. Will include rail riding, jumps, spinning, halfpipe & piste jibbing.

Freestyle introduction course: Aimed at relative newbees to freestyle snowboarding this course will include an introduction to rail riding, jumps, spinning, halfpipe & piste jibbing.

Girls Only Freestyle course: This course is for girls only, allowing you to develop your freestyle skills in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere! Will include rail riding, jumps, spinning, halfpipe & piste jibbing.

Technique progression courses of Learner, Cruiser & Advanced rider levels: Content will depend on level, but focused on improving basic to advanced technical skills to allow progression in areas such as riding steeper terrain, carving,riding variable terrain, off piste, freestyle as well as general confidence building.

When:

Thursday & Friday afternoons, starting Friday 13th January 2012

Cost:
4 x 3 hour lessons = 180€
6 x 3 hour lessons = 270€

Group sizes:
Maximum of 7
Minimum of 5 required to run a group

If you are interested in more information or would like to book on a course then please email us at info@mintsnowboarding.com.

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Do you live in the Geneva area and are keen to progress your snowboarding or skiing this winter… or is it time to learn from scratch and join in the fun? This article gives you all the information you need; from lesson details, how to get to the ski slopes and where to stay.

The extensive Portes du Soleil ski area is situated about an hours drive from the center of Geneva, with the closest ski resorts in the Portes du Soleil network being Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets. These resorts, seen by many as the snowboard capital of Europe, are all high enough to be snow sure and are well equipped with snow cannons if needed. Here is some useful information to help you organise your visit:

Snowboard Tuition

• Mint Snowboard School

Mint Snowboard School is a small team of mainly British snowboard instructors all qualified to the highest level in the sport and providing high quality, professional instruction. Easy to understand techniques are provided with fun focused coaching for all levels, from beginner to pro freestyler! We offer tuition in both English & French. For Information on snowboard lessons & coaching check out our website.

Ski Tuition

• The British Alpine Ski School – Morzine & Les Gets
• The Snow Institute – Morzine & Les Gets
• Freedom 2 Ski – Avoriaz

Transport from Geneva to the Morzine area:

• Car: takes approximately 1 hr
• Bus services from Geneva airport:
  • Altibus
  • Geneva Coach Station
  • MorzExpress

Local accommodation offering short stays (eg 1 or 2 nights):

• Chalet style accommodation
• PRG SKI
• Easiski – short stays offered in Chalet D’amo
• Alpine Ski & Golf - short stays offered at Chalet La Cordee
• Chalet Maneva
• Chalet Neige B&B
• Alpine Adventure – Chalet La Vieille Ferme in St Jean d’Aulps
• Skizeen – La Ferme du Lac
• The Mountain Lodge Company
• The Lodge Morzine

• Hotel accommodation
• The Ridge Hotel & The Rhodos Hotel
• Hotel La Combe Humbert
• Star Ski Chalets – Hotel Starlight

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So the last snowboard camp of the season is over and what a fun week it was! It was cool to have a camp filled with Just Snowboard camp returners who were back for the 2nd, or even 3rd, time and all solid riders. From NYC gangsta Mariesa, surfer Manon, ever-smiley Fi and the original camp legend Glenda there was no shortage of friendly faces and giggles in Morzine that week.

It was a week of soft, slushy snow with even some fresh and spring snow thrown in… so perfect conditions for heading to the park for some freestyle progression. The soft snow was great for learning new tricks and the more and more the boards were flexed the better the jibbing got.

The one bad weather day (and believe you me, it was seriously fogging and dumping with wet snow) was far from being a lost day at the pub and instead turned into one of the best riding days of the week! After a few runs of freestyle jibbery there was time for a quick hot chocolate stop at Avoriaz’s well known Changabang whist Mint coach Tammy got to work taking everyone’s highbacks off and readjusting their bindings! Everyone’s fears of riding without highbacks were quickly thrown out of the window and despite zero visibility the progression in everyone’s riding was insane. Quote “In all my years of teaching snowboarding, I have never seen such massive progression in such a short space of time” Tammy. In the afternoon the gang didn’t bat an eyelid to one of the infamous ‘Olly Challenges’ which involved some rather adventurous off-piste… and all done no-back style! Hellyeah girls!

Mid-week on the camp; tired bodies (even after a stretching session with the fantastic Sarah) and a day off from coaching with Tammy. A day to relax? Not a chance, there is always more fun to be had and new challenges to enjoy. This time the gangsta mob were given a 24 hr challenge to film, produce & edit their own snowboard movie. They were give a tiny Flip video camera and limited instructions or rules… and what an awesome video they came out with! See below. Thank you to Glenda for the editing.

Enough chat, but it is fair to say that the rest of the week continued in the same style: jumps, tricks, adventure, photo shoot, progression, smiles, laughter, cake, mutzig, aching bodies, gangsta moves and much more…!

Thanks to Herd Headwear, Bluebird Wax, the Keep a Breast Foundation, Flip Video & Les Ettes for their support in the Just 4 Girls camps this winter.

Check out some of the photos from the week as well as the video challenge movie:

www.just-snowboard.com

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See below a video edit made by Dan Jesse of the Just Freestyle snowboard camp in Avoriaz, France this March with Quiksilver. Thanks Dan! A great week filled with tons of progression and fun with coaching from Dave of Mint Snowboard School. Official camp photos taken by Damien McArthur coming soon…

www.just-snowboard.com