A person standing on top of a snow covered mountain

People skiing down a snowy slope with mountains in the background

A snowy mountain with a blue sky in the background

A group of snowboarders are gathered on top of a snow covered mountain

Chamonix Snow Report: 23rd February 2010

featured in Snow report Author Kieran Sharp, Updated 24 November 2015

February holidays and lots of snow has made all the holiday makers in the valley very happy indeed. There was a nice big dump just before most people came in to town and today the snow gods have just laid another 20cm slab of snow across our wonderful valley and still more is forecast! So if you are trying to decide to come over or not, just get out here the snow is fantastic, the slopes and the town are buzzing with activity and there are many parties going on so don't delay!

Its been pretty easy for most people to find a good patch of powder to ride having opportunities to get some fresh just off the piste, and lots of people are hiring guides to take them a little further a field making an adventure on the way. For some, venturing far in to the off piste can seem a little scary and some of the technical knowledge required to ride the fluffy white stuff might not be up to scratch. You might think lessons are just for beginners and once you have learnt to turn there is no point to take it any further, or you might not realise that there are lessons designed at taking intermediate to advanced riders out to learn about performance riding, freestyle or how to ride the off piste well and in style!

There are a few schools in town that operate lessons for more advanced riding that can take your riding to the next level. For skiers a really good one is All Mountain Performance with some of the highest possible qualified British ski teachers who have had decades of experience riding in the Chamonix valley. They offer a wide range of lessons to suit total beginners to total pros! If you're looking for a lesson that will get you looking good in the off piste, or generally better in what ever way you want to ski, then these are the guys to go for!

If, like me, snowboarding is more your thing and you're looking for a way to really improve your riding, be it in the park or on or off the piste, McNab Snowboarding is the school of choice. With pro rider and ex-British champ Neil McNab leading you through the fine art of snowboarding, you will only find style and improvement come to your riding after a week on one of his specific camps. The camps are aimed at improving general performance as well as off-piste and backcountry riding. Neil has been head of the British association of snowboard instructors in the past and has run his own school for over 20 years in Chamonix as well as summer camps in Les Deux Alps. You can be sure to get good quality instruction if you sign up for a week with him.

So if your coming in to the valley have a look around at what the schools offer you could really push your skiing or snowboarding to new levels if you spend a little time and money enrolling on a course.

Check out what to do around town once the lifts have closed with our Apres Ski Report - a weekly round up of what's hot and where to party in Chamonix!