Serre Chevalier
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Snowboard Off Piste
I visited Serre Chavalier for a UCPA Off Piste Snowboarding holiday in January of this year (13th-20th).
I booked this holiday because I knew from a previous UCPA holiday to Chamonix, that should I be travelling alone, UCPA was the way to go, having a friendly inclusive atmosphere. I was totally right. From the moment I arrived until I left I was never alone, despite having arrived knowing no one! In fact, one of my new friends even gave me a ride to Grenoble after I left, reflecting the friendship made. We are still in touch.
UCPA put me in a dorm with three other girls all who, like me, arrived alone. We were in different groups during the day, as we were all different abilities but nevertheless we met up after for yoga and dinner and met up with other groups of guys at the bar. We were so like minded and got on so well it looked like a set up. Obviously such connections were made in other dorms too and we all met up in the evenings with the group size increasing over the week.
Never an evening went by when there wasn't a social occasion. UCPA had something for everyone..during the days and into the evenings. The food was fantastic and there was loads of it. The relaxed buffet style breakfasts and dinners worked well with our daily schedules and lunches were made after breakfast and brought up the mountains.
The staff on reception were great. One of my room mates who had fallen during the week was looked after professionally and with great care when dealt with by the staff. It was indeed like one big family.
Our group had a wonderful friendly experienced safe and fun instructor. He arranged a programme designed for our ability and we ventured further off piste as the week went on. He encouraged the group to speak English as he knew it was easier for the two english speakers (myself and an english man) to understand technical details in our own language. By the end of the week even the French were speaking to the French leader in english!
We were riding in not only Serre Chavalier during the week but also in Mon Genevre and La Grave. The variety was wonderful, and the fact that the instructor based the choice on our preferences as well as slope conditions, and weather of course, was great. We had our own minibus for our group and great 'Craic' on the journeys to location (and great sleeps on the way home!). The technical advice and training we got from our instructor was ten out of ten.
My only disappointment was that it was too cold for the pool to be open. I think however because in every other way this holiday met or exceeded my expectations I didn't let this bother me too much.
A holiday I would go on again. I totally recommend UCPA to anyone. What a fabulous experience.