Off Piste Deals

Off-piste skiing is sometimes called backcountry skiing or freeriding ̶ put simply, it means any snowboarding or skiing that’s done on ungroomed terrain outwith the marked pistes in a ski resort.

However, some enthusiasts differentiate between ‘off-piste’ and ‘backcountry’ by defining the former as referring to areas which can be found close to the piste sides, and the latter as referring to areas which are more remote and only accessible after hiking, using snowmobiles or even helicopters (although heli-skiing isn’t permitted in every resort).

However, no matter how near or far it is from the marked slopes, and regardless of the terminology, the main point of off-piste skiing is satisfying your pioneering passion for exploring those parts of a mountain that most others don’t reach and feeling at one with nature in wild, untamed and beautiful landscapes.

There are quite a few factors to consider before you embrace that fabulous feeling of floating across fresh powder, especially if you’re a first-timer ̶ but we’re with you for every twist and turn!

• Is off-piste skiing for me?
  
  If you’re a capable skier who is confident on the slopes and have recently reached advanced level, or an established advanced or expert skier who is comfortable taking on black runs at practically any resort, you’re at the right ability level to add off-piste skiing to your arsenal.

  If you’ve always stuck to the slopes, backcountry skiing can make you fall in love with the mountains all over again, but the techniques, equipment and environmental awareness required vary greatly from downhill skiing ̶ therefore in order to ski deep powder responsibly and safely, you’ll have to relearn the way you make turns, maintain balance, approach moguls and much more.

  Naturally, if you’re already a devoted off-piste skier, we’re preaching to the converted here, but we can arrange the perfect off-piste ski holiday package for you too.

  Whether you’re an accomplished mainstream skier or snowboarder looking for a new challenge or a self-confessed powderhound looking for further adventures, we’ve got you covered!




• Best time of year to go off-piste skiing?
  
  Peak snow conditions vary in different ski areas, and there can even be slight differences between different resorts in the same area.

  Also, while high-altitude resorts can be more snow-sure, sometimes resorts at a slightly lower level are more snow reliable than you might think because they’re nestled in a unique meteorological enclave that’s a magnet for massive dumps of fresh pow. And furthermore, some rare resorts have such an abundance of natural blessings that you can ski there in the summer as well as the winter.

  That said, in popular European ski holiday destinations like Italy, Austria, France and Austria have main winter seasons that run roughly from November through to April, but those that offer glacier skiing can have extended seasons.

  January and February are usually months when the snow cover is reliable in most resorts and while these are popular times to travel, by nature, the slopes are always busier than ungroomed areas, so that need not necessarily put you off.

  Whatever time you’re able to travel, we can advise on where to find a resort with the best conditions, and if you’re open-minded about where you ski, we’re confident that we can find fantastic off-piste opportunities for you at practically any time in the season.




• Why choose Erna Low for your off-piste ski holiday?
  
  As well as having a unique heritage in snowsports holidays, everyone who works at Erna Low is passionate about skiing or snowboarding and most of us have spent at least one season working on the ground at resorts across Europe and beyond.

  Because we want every customer to take the mountains to their heart in the same way we do, we take care to listen keenly to all of your requirements and focus all of our skills and experience on getting every customised component of your off-piste break just right.

  But our in-depth industry experience also means that we’ve got a deep and wide network of connections across every resort, and the insider knowledge and insight necessary to go that little step further in adding those final flourishes that turn a good skiing or snowboarding holiday into a truly great one!