skiingonskis
Active member
So every summer, hundreds (thousands?)
of kids think about summer skiing to get their fix. Some have it paid for them; some work
themselves, some go to Hood, some go to Whistler. A select few go all out and make the trek to
the southern hemisphere, whether it be South America or NZ. Either way, I feel that there are very few
options for people to choose from. If
you are going to spend large sums of money on skiing in the summer, why not
have more options?
For the past three years I have worked
as a coach at a Danish camp called Freestyle Academy http://freestyleacademy.dk/ in Les 2 Alpes, France. I personally live in CO, but have some Danish
heritage and speak Danish, which has allowed me to make this connection. Over this past summer at camp, I was talking
to the camp director about the American market for summer skiing and we both
thought that it should be addressed, since American kids have very few options
for summer skiing (unless you head south).
So I guess the point of this thread is
to see what kind of interest there is in going to France for summer camp
instead of Whis or Hood.
About the Camp:
If you check out the camp page, you
will realize that it is not in English, so ill explain a little bit about the
camp here instead. But check out the
page anyways, its really not that hard to navigate. Employ some Google translate or some shit if
you need to.. Keep in mind that this is just an idea right now and that we are trying
to see if there is enough interest from you guys to see if it would be
worthwhile. If so, I bet an English version
will get put up before next summer.
Anyways…
DATES: mid july – this year was July 8th
– 24th, including travel etc.
You can do 1 or 2 weeks, mix and match as you please.
SKIING:
You get 6 days per week on the glacier (5 with coaching). The glacier opens at 8 and closes around 1 or
2.
PARK:
The park is pretty legit, although it is all public, so you will be
sharing it with everyone else. This may
be a drawback not having a private park like COC or Windells, but this camp has
a different sort of appeal that ill get into.
Check out the “Kumi Yama” contest from earlier this summer to see what
you are working with… Here is a link to
the Les 2 Alpes summer skiing site: http://www.2alpes.com/pages/en/130/glacier-of-les-2-alpes-3600m.html
COACHES:
Not too hard to find on the page but whatever. Many of the Danish coaches
(incuding myself) you have most likely never heard of. However, past “guest” coaches include: Pep Fujas, Jacob Wester, Phil Casabon, Anders Backe, Alex Aurdal, Julien Regnier, and PK Hunder.
Also, keep in mind that the Danes, who you will be spending most
of your time with, are really good with English, so the language barrier
between coaches and other campers should not really be a problem.
VIBE: I imagine this camp to be very
different from COC or Windells (I have never been to Hood or Whis). But anyways, after following summer camps on
NS and knowing people who have gone for so long, I imagine my perception is
accurate enough to pick out the differences.
This is not a camp where prizes and swag are handed out all the
time, it is more for someone who is looking for an experience and a good time. Yes, there are drawings and prizes, but not
like COC etc. The coaching is not super
intense. If you come to camp wishing to
learn something, you can, but nothing is forced on you and you are not required
to get in the same cookie cutter groups and “train” every day. We basically shred around the glacier feeding
off of each other and having a great time, like skiing should be. Also, this is not a strict camp. Of course there are set rules and things, but
you are essentially responsible for yourself.
You must be 16 years old to drink alcohol in your rooms, 18 to drink at the
bars. SO, if you want to come to Europe,
shred with your friends (new and old) without too much strict bullshit, see
beautiful mountains, and make the whole trip an experience as a whole, then
this camp is for you. Also, this is a
great opportunity to make friends in a different part of the world.
ACTIVITIES: I know this is getting
long, so thanks for sticking with me if you have made it this far.
OK, so L2A (Les 2 Alpes) is located way up in the mountains, which
happen to be some of the most jagged and beautiful mountains I have ever seen
(google that shit). Activities included
in your camp fee are: Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Alpine Slide, Tramps, bow and arrow
shooting, on hill airbag practice and free entry to the local pool (mad babes).
Optional activities for an extra fee include Downhill MTB, bungee
jumping, and beer.
Also, there is a skatepark and LOTS of things to do after
skiing. You will not be bored.
LIVING: You will be living in an
apartment with three other campers of your choice. These apartments are not huge, but they serve
the purpose well, as you probably wont be spending very much time there
anyways. This of course is included in
your camp fee. The apartments are
typically right next to the lift so that your lazy ass doesn’t have to walk too
far in the early mornings.
FOOD:
Three meals a day are provided for the
campers. You will be using a lot of
energy so you will more than likely be buying more food at the store, but the
free meals definitely help. Breakfast is
typically cereal, juice, milk, oats, rolls, etc. Lunch happens on the glacier and is usually just
dogs and burgers served up mid ski day.
Dinner varies from spaghetti to curry to bangers n mash, but is usually
pretty filling and delicious.
PRICE: I’m not trying to
advertise all over NS, so im just going to make a small price comparison
here. PM me if you have questions about
this or anything else. Ill use the
summer 2011 figures for both.
1 week session at Freestyle Academy 2011: $1150
1 week session at Windells: $1700 - $1950 depending on which
session you attend
Of course there is airfare, which runs anywhere from $800 - $1500,
depending on where you are coming from.
Well, thanks for reading
folks, PM me or post in here with any questions or comments you have! Im sure there is lots more for me to say, but
that’s all I can think of at the moment.
of kids think about summer skiing to get their fix. Some have it paid for them; some work
themselves, some go to Hood, some go to Whistler. A select few go all out and make the trek to
the southern hemisphere, whether it be South America or NZ. Either way, I feel that there are very few
options for people to choose from. If
you are going to spend large sums of money on skiing in the summer, why not
have more options?
For the past three years I have worked
as a coach at a Danish camp called Freestyle Academy http://freestyleacademy.dk/ in Les 2 Alpes, France. I personally live in CO, but have some Danish
heritage and speak Danish, which has allowed me to make this connection. Over this past summer at camp, I was talking
to the camp director about the American market for summer skiing and we both
thought that it should be addressed, since American kids have very few options
for summer skiing (unless you head south).
So I guess the point of this thread is
to see what kind of interest there is in going to France for summer camp
instead of Whis or Hood.
About the Camp:
If you check out the camp page, you
will realize that it is not in English, so ill explain a little bit about the
camp here instead. But check out the
page anyways, its really not that hard to navigate. Employ some Google translate or some shit if
you need to.. Keep in mind that this is just an idea right now and that we are trying
to see if there is enough interest from you guys to see if it would be
worthwhile. If so, I bet an English version
will get put up before next summer.
Anyways…
DATES: mid july – this year was July 8th
– 24th, including travel etc.
You can do 1 or 2 weeks, mix and match as you please.
SKIING:
You get 6 days per week on the glacier (5 with coaching). The glacier opens at 8 and closes around 1 or
2.
PARK:
The park is pretty legit, although it is all public, so you will be
sharing it with everyone else. This may
be a drawback not having a private park like COC or Windells, but this camp has
a different sort of appeal that ill get into.
Check out the “Kumi Yama” contest from earlier this summer to see what
you are working with… Here is a link to
the Les 2 Alpes summer skiing site: http://www.2alpes.com/pages/en/130/glacier-of-les-2-alpes-3600m.html
COACHES:
Not too hard to find on the page but whatever. Many of the Danish coaches
(incuding myself) you have most likely never heard of. However, past “guest” coaches include: Pep Fujas, Jacob Wester, Phil Casabon, Anders Backe, Alex Aurdal, Julien Regnier, and PK Hunder.
Also, keep in mind that the Danes, who you will be spending most
of your time with, are really good with English, so the language barrier
between coaches and other campers should not really be a problem.
VIBE: I imagine this camp to be very
different from COC or Windells (I have never been to Hood or Whis). But anyways, after following summer camps on
NS and knowing people who have gone for so long, I imagine my perception is
accurate enough to pick out the differences.
This is not a camp where prizes and swag are handed out all the
time, it is more for someone who is looking for an experience and a good time. Yes, there are drawings and prizes, but not
like COC etc. The coaching is not super
intense. If you come to camp wishing to
learn something, you can, but nothing is forced on you and you are not required
to get in the same cookie cutter groups and “train” every day. We basically shred around the glacier feeding
off of each other and having a great time, like skiing should be. Also, this is not a strict camp. Of course there are set rules and things, but
you are essentially responsible for yourself.
You must be 16 years old to drink alcohol in your rooms, 18 to drink at the
bars. SO, if you want to come to Europe,
shred with your friends (new and old) without too much strict bullshit, see
beautiful mountains, and make the whole trip an experience as a whole, then
this camp is for you. Also, this is a
great opportunity to make friends in a different part of the world.
ACTIVITIES: I know this is getting
long, so thanks for sticking with me if you have made it this far.
OK, so L2A (Les 2 Alpes) is located way up in the mountains, which
happen to be some of the most jagged and beautiful mountains I have ever seen
(google that shit). Activities included
in your camp fee are: Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Alpine Slide, Tramps, bow and arrow
shooting, on hill airbag practice and free entry to the local pool (mad babes).
Optional activities for an extra fee include Downhill MTB, bungee
jumping, and beer.
Also, there is a skatepark and LOTS of things to do after
skiing. You will not be bored.
LIVING: You will be living in an
apartment with three other campers of your choice. These apartments are not huge, but they serve
the purpose well, as you probably wont be spending very much time there
anyways. This of course is included in
your camp fee. The apartments are
typically right next to the lift so that your lazy ass doesn’t have to walk too
far in the early mornings.
FOOD:
Three meals a day are provided for the
campers. You will be using a lot of
energy so you will more than likely be buying more food at the store, but the
free meals definitely help. Breakfast is
typically cereal, juice, milk, oats, rolls, etc. Lunch happens on the glacier and is usually just
dogs and burgers served up mid ski day.
Dinner varies from spaghetti to curry to bangers n mash, but is usually
pretty filling and delicious.
PRICE: I’m not trying to
advertise all over NS, so im just going to make a small price comparison
here. PM me if you have questions about
this or anything else. Ill use the
summer 2011 figures for both.
1 week session at Freestyle Academy 2011: $1150
1 week session at Windells: $1700 - $1950 depending on which
session you attend
Of course there is airfare, which runs anywhere from $800 - $1500,
depending on where you are coming from.
Well, thanks for reading
folks, PM me or post in here with any questions or comments you have! Im sure there is lots more for me to say, but
that’s all I can think of at the moment.
![[J_Gasper]](/data/avatars/m/126/126808.jpg?1745610720){kind=avatar}
