Frequently Asked Questions

Q. So what's All Terrain Ski about?

A. All Terrain Ski is a new concept in instructional-guided ski holidays based in Chamonix which encompasses not only 6 days of intensive tuition on and off piste, but also an introduction to mountain skills and avalanche safety to enable the adventurous skier to ski untracked snow and ski the "back-country", "offpiste", whatever you want to call it - away from groomed runs - with style, control and confidence. Crucially, an All Terrain Ski programme is underpinned by the latest thinking in sports psychology, including Reversal Theory, a radical motivational model.

Q. So what's the psychological angle all about?

Sports psychology is used in so many other sports disciplines and there's tons of literature out there but it doesn't seem to be applied to skiing, outside of the racing discipline, as if somehow that makes it too serious and takes the fun out of it! We've been "educators" all our lives and there are many ways in which people learn which we aim to exploit. Also, we want to attract upper-intermediate level skiers that really want to excel but somehow feel they have been left behind or that skiing like a goddess (or god) is beyond them! We'll use Reversal Theory to explore people's deepest and richest motivational drivers that will unlock, unleash and harness their potential to ski the whole mountain better than they ever dreamed of.

Q. So who are you guys?

A. All Terrain Ski is hosted by Barry Roberts, BASI Ski Instructor, ex-Canadian ski patroller and UK athlete sponsored by The North Face, who climbed Everest in May '04 and has co-written www.stayingaliveoffpiste.com, a free online book that aims to save lives! Luc Bellon a noted French mountain guide and qualified ski instructor is the technical director of All Terrain Ski. He has a fabulously relaxed, professional style.

Q. What's different about this approach?

A. Our motto is "ski, eat and sleep", with no kids or ski muppets holding everyone back! All Terrain Ski offers a pure self indulgent opportunity for the upper intermediate skier (and above) who dreams of skiing the whole mountain in any snow conditions. We will have fun and a few beers but this isn't a typical ski holiday. We are athletes, who will treat our clients like athletes in our "Olympic village" type setting. So the week, on and off the snow, is geared towards intensive coaching and both physical and mental development within a powerfully supportive team environment. We'll also have a number of special evening mini-seminars on ski tuning and other topics.

Q. What's the website page "Note 4 Woman" all about?

A. A few female friends who are very keen off piste skiers recommended we clarify that this isn't a radical skiing or steep skiing macho ski clinic! They thought women might be put off joining in if it was a testosterone fuelled event!! It isn't. This is about skiing well, in control and in all conditions. That in itself is a pretty adventurous remit. You DO NOT need any mountaineering experience to take part.

Q. Who, where, when and how much?

All Terrain Ski's target market is the keen intermediate parallel skier, as defined more clearly on the website. This is a strictly exclusive opportunity limited to 8 skiers per week. One All Terrain Ski week is schedule for 24-31 March 2007. The cost per week is £1095, including Geneva airport transfers, full board in a luxury chalet, use of technical equipment and lift passes (basically everything but beer money, skis and excluding flights and insurance). Sorry, no snowboarders!

Q. How do people book?

If you meet the skiing criteria please email us for a booking form. We'll talk to every applicant BEFORE taking their deposit to ensure this holiday is right for you.