4-day Courses in Morzine-Avoriaz
December 2025, January & March 2026
ARE YOU:
A skier confident on black run terrain? Physically fit and able to ski full days on challenging terrain?
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DO YOU WANT TO:
Improve your skiing level, technique & confidence? Explore exciting terrain on & off-piste? Improve your mountain & avalanche safety skills? Become the kind of partner you'd like yours to be?
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THESE COURSES:
4 mornings of advanced ski tuition and guiding (on & off-piste) with Mark McKellar (BASI L4 ISTD, IML qualified and BASI trainer).
4 afternoons of formal avalanche and mountain safety training.
Pre-course suggested reading
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2-Day courses also available
An awesome 4 days in the mountains which combines mornings of guided skiing & tuition with afternoons of mountain safety & avalanche training with BASI L4 ISTD Mark McKellar
2025/2026 COURSE DATES
Course # 1: 4-Day Lift Accessed
Monday 15th - Thursday 18th December 2025
Course #2: 4-Day Lift Accessed
Mon Jan 19th - Thurs 22nd 2026 (fully booked)
Course #3: 2-Day Lift accessed with touring (Level 1/2 or Level 3/4)
Mon 26th - Tuesday 27th January 2026
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Course #4: 4-Day Lift Accessed with touring
Mon March 16th - Thurs 19th 2026
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Contact us for other availability
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Highly recommend the OPAC course! 4 very days of very instructive and efficient teaching from George. My skiing and avalanche knowledge have greatly improved thanks to his program, including skiing technique in the morning and avalanche focused, on the ground exercises and observation in the afternoon. There’s a before and after this course for me. Allez-y les yeux fermés. Merci George!
Amélie Bouan - January 2024
Thoroughly recommend the OPAC course with George. It helps provide the necessary foundations for off piste skiing/avalanche safety. The online course complements the in person sessions very well, and is both informative and engaging at the same time. Cheers George!
Robbie Mayhew January 2024
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4 mornings of guided skiing (on & off-piste) with Mark McKellar
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Work on your technique & confidence in steeper terrain & variable 0ff-piste snow conditions
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The course content will be delivered during stunning backcountry adventures if and when conditions allow
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Video analysis & individual action plans
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Afternoon #1: Companion Rescue Training in Avalanche Response
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Afternoon #2: Terrain Analysis Session
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Afternoon #3: Advanced Companion Rescue Session
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Afternoon #4: Field Observation & Snowpack Analysis Session
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Sessions are conducted on the mountain in ski equipment. Read more about the full syllabus here.
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For skiers already confident on all black run terrain
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Good physical fitness and ability to spend full days on the mountain
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No prior avalanche training is require
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Expect fun mornings of skiing black & off piste terrain followed by avalanche training afternoons (which also run on skiing equipment). This can also serve as a refresher course for those who have taken avalanche training in the past.
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Develop advanced skiing technique & confidence to tackle steeper terrain as well as off piste and variable snow conditions.
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Companion rescue skills in avalanche response.
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Avalanche terrain analysis skills
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Weather & Avalanche forecasting
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Mapping & route planning skills
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Understanding Safe Travel & group management
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Skiing equipment and clothing - (N.B. check if your course is lift accessed or on ski touring gear)
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Since the emphasis of the course will be on downhill skiing & avalanche training, downhill orientated skis and bindings are preferable to super lightweight skis and pin bindings. Something like a shift binding would be ideal. If you are on a lift accessed course, there will be no ski touring. If you are on a ski touring course, ensure you have skins & touring bindings. Boots with walk mode are recommended. Feel free to email us if you have any questions.
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Backpacks - approx 25L is ideal. Comfortable. Includes hip and chest straps.
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Helmets are strongly recommended
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Transceiver/shovel/probe (you can borrow ours if you don't have your own - please ask)
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Spare warm layers & gloves
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Water & hot flask with tea/coffee etc
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Packed lunch that we can eat on the go
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Airbags optional
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€675 per person
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Minimum Group size 4
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Maximum Group size 6
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Price does not include accommodation or lift pass
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(in the event that the course does not achieve minimum numbers, a shortened course program will be offered for the same course fee (min. 4 weeks notice)
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LOGISTICS:
We recommend you stay in accommodation in Morzine, near the bus route, for this course. From there we can access the mountains either via Prodains, Ardents or l'érigne (vallee de la manche). If we have enough vehicles within the group we may also use them. Let us know if you wish to stay in accommodation in Avoriaz, as this can also work.
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info@avoriazalpineskischool.com
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Before and during your course you will be invited to a group whatsapp chat with the instructor and other group members. ​
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PLAN A MEETING POINT:
Avoriaz Alpine Ski School hut on Avoriaz Plateau (unless otherwise stated)
You can check availability and book online here.
First choose either the lift accessed or the ski touring 4 day course, then on the next page choose the date.​
Please also email info@avoriazalpineskischool with the following information:
- Name & Course date booked onto
- Age
- Skiing level
- Skiing equipment
- likely accommodation location
- phone number & email address​​
George Treble is a BASI Level 4 instructor and ski touring guide as well as an ambassador for BCA & K2. Having lived and worked in NZ, Japan and Norway, George also has over 10 winter's of experience in the Portes du Soleil.
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Mark Mckellar is a BASI Level 4 ISTD ski instructor and also holds his IML qualification. Mark is also a BASI trainer. Mark has more than 15 years of experience exploring the Chablais backcountry and knows the local area inside out. A passionate skier and backcountry guide, Mark is also the freerider behind the mask in the ski touring film - La Saison Blanche.
The course is made up of 4 full days in the mountains (6.5 hours per day)
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The practical component includes 4 x 2.5hr sessions of ski tuition & guiding time each morning (10 hours total). This may be on or off piste, depending on the current conditions and goals of group members. Expect to hone your skills on red, black and off-piste terrain and have a lot of fun whilst doing so. Video analysis will be offered where appropriate.
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The avalanche training component is made up of 4 x 3.75hr practical training sessions in the field.
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Practical Sessions:
Session 1: Companion Rescue Skills in avalanche response
Session 2: Avalanche Terrain - identification & analysis
Session 3: Field Observation skills - formal and informal tests and tools for monitoring snowpack and red flags.
Session 4: Companion Rescue follow up session
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​You can also expect a daily review of the Avalanche bulletin to learn how to understand and apply.
We will practise risk management tools such as trailhead checks and cover group management and safe travel protcols.
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A suggested reading list of pre-course preparation will be made available once you have completed your booking. This will help you prepare ahead of your time on the snow and will touch on the following subject areas:
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1) Avalanche awareness
2) Off-Piste Equipment
3) Avalanche Terrain Analysis
4) Mountain Weather & Forecasting
5) The Avalanche Bulletin
6) Mapping & Route Planning
7) Human Factors & Heuristics
8) Field Observation skills
9) Safe Travel & group management
10) Companion Rescue
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If you have further questions don't hesistate to get in touch with your queries via info@avoriazalpineskischool.com
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The course content will be the same for both the lift-accessed and ski-touring courses. Attendees on the ski-touring courses will still need to purchase a lift-pass, but having touring equipment will give us greater freedom and opportunity to access suitable terrain.
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