A request to the forum: do you recommend any clinics offered by any of the ski schools in the Alps for intermediates who are currently skiing red and easier black runs and dabbling in some "off piste" (read: trying the shorter and easier marked off piste runs in resorts such as Zermatt or Obertauern, or going 50m or 100m away from the piste on where the terrain isn’t too steep and doesn’t involve cliffs etc) and would like to learn to confidently ski the entire mountain.  I’m not looking to become an expert freeskier who can jump off cliffs and appear in my own freeskiing video but would like to get to the point where I can feel confident tackling any black run, am not perturbed by the steepness of, or moguls on, marked runs and am able to, with appropriate guidance, take on off piste runs that aren’t considered extreme.  The Dave Murray Ski Camps and the Extremely Canadian clinics at Whistler both received rave reviews from friends.  But I haven’t had any friends take similar clinics in Europe so lack feedback on these.
 
Thank you in advance
 
Florian  

Although I’ve not taken any instruction in the Alps, other than the odd day with a private instructor, I have heard/read really good review on a company Piste to Powder, based in St Anton. Had a look at their website before I went there this year, but as usual when you’re away with the boys nothing other than what pub we go to is agreed upon. The chap who runs it is Britsh - Graham Austick (???). Sounds like this company could do the trick.

If you’ve got a copy of WTSS and an hour to spare to comb the resort chapters you’ll find quite a few schools recommended by readers for this sort of thing.
 
The reader reports going in to the next edition are being held in a structured database, so we could look at pulling out this sort of recommendation for a featurette on the site ... after we’ve finished the book!
 
Chris

Thank you both for your help.  We thought about going with Piste to Powder (one of my friends was part of one of their guided groups and really enjoyed it) but in the end we wanted to save St Anton for when we’re really able to enjoy the terrain there.  After following Chris’ recommendation we’ve booked a private lesson and a 2-day clinic with New Generation in Vallandry (Les Arcs) in early February - I’ll report back with how we go and our views on the school.

Just to complete the discussion on this - we had three private lessons with New Generation.  It was meant to be one private and two x 3 hour clinics but as we were the only people booked into the clinic their policy changes it to a private lesson.  I can thoroughly recommend this school - Ruth was probably the best ski instructor we’ve had.  I filed a resort report including comments on the ski class but thought I should complete this thread.