Freeski Camps Zermatt
ES Freeski is in its second season in Zermatt. This year we have introduced new mornings group lessons for 11-17yr olds aimed at coaching them safely in how to make the most of the mountain.
Of course, we’re still offering the private freeski lessons, so whether you want to work on moguls, grabs or rails we can get you doing it right first time.
ES Freeski Group Lessons (Peak Weeks – 9am-12am Monday to Friday – ages 11-17)
Looking to make the most of the mountain? Keen to hone tricks in the park? Wanting to ski bumps like they do at the olympics? Building on your ski technique in new environments…
Everyone needs to have a secure piste technique, but once you’ve mastered it and you’re ripping around parallel, why not look for the next challenge? ES Freeski
ES Freeski teaches you how to get the most from not just the piste, but from moguls, jumps, rails, boxes, and powder… if it’s there. This is not an off-piste class, but it enables you to be confident landing your opening tricks and starting to build on the fundamentals of piste technique to the freeski arena.
We are offering a Peak Week specialist course, coached by a qualified Freeski coach, that takes 11-17 year olds beyond the piste and into the park and the pipe. An example week could include:
Day 1 – Changing your view of the mountain. Including on piste snow conditions, and how to use the terrain to change your skiing style, including skiing Switch (ie. Backwards).
Day 2 – Skiing the bumps – How to change your technique to ski bumps with confidence, style and speed
Day 3 – Park etiquette and introduction to half pipe – starting small and building up to simple tricks – working balance and co-ordination. Taking your technique into the air!
Day 4 – Introduction to kickers and rails.
Day 5 – Big air bag session, working on balancing the take off, in the air and the landing
Of course a safety is the key concern and everyone is coached individually with no compulsion to do anything. Helmets (lids) are obligatory! And that’s why Tom is our coach – because he is qualified to teach this safely, responsibly and in a way that builds confidence and technique in a controlled way.
Given this we have to ask for an experienced level of skier to be able to take part. This should only be considered for those confident of making parallel turns on black runs, and with a decent edge control on blues/reds. This is essential as we build on piste technique, but give you something different to aim for. If you are uncertain speak to someone in our office and ask their opinion…
ES Freeski Private lessons
If you want to step out on your own and start to get big in the park, then booking a private Freeski lesson is the way forward. Whether you’re a first-timer looking to build some confidence in the park, or you’re looking to stomp your first cork-7 we can help you to start to achieve it.
We work on skiing switch, jumps, rails, boxes and moguls to give you the best coaching possible. And if there’s some powder around, maybe a bit of that too…
It’s all done with a safety-first approach, and we ensure that you’re comfortable doing what you do, but once you’re started you’ll soon be twisting and spinning like a fish on a line.
Private lessons are the fastest way to learn, and you can easily share them with friends.
ES Freeski Coach: Tom Sherrin
Tom is our Freeski coach and it is easy to see why. Not only is he qualified to coach this, but he has been skiing this way for years. He started with ES in the Winter 2009/10 season, where he was our lead teacher for Teen Academy, and he has now dedicated himself solely to Freeski.
Tom has now been competing in Freeski events for the last few years. In that time he has amassed quite a roll of honours, including:
- British National Mogul Championships (6th)
- German National Mogul Champsionship (12th)
- Helly Hanson / Evo 2 Freeride comp (2nd)
- Boss des Bosses (2nd)
He is also BASI qualified as an instructor and now lives in Zermatt all year round, having first arrived in 2005.
Here’s a photo of him relaxing:
Tom Sherrin