PlanetSKI Verbier Ski Blog

16th January 2023

Last modified on January 23rd, 2023

Our editor James Cove is back in town with the Warren Smith Ski Academy & Helly Hansen. There are loads of memories as he’s been skiing here for more than 20-years. Best of all new ones are being made. And it’s dumping with snow. UPDATED

Now lets make no bones about it – Verbier is the resort I have spent most time in.

I have clocked up over 600 resorts across Europe, North & South America, Asia and Australasia.

But I have spent most time in the Swiss resort of Verbier without any doubt.

I worked as a rep for the Ski Club of Great Britain back in the noughties when it was a force to be reckoned with – my record number of people bowling up to ski with me was 45.

I worked as a part-time ski instructor for the European Snowsport ski school for over a decade.

I did a full season in 2008/09 when I launched PlanetSKI.

I am still going strong and I am delighted to report that so is PlanetSKI.

I’m going to be sharing a few random memories as I am spending two weeks in the ski resort I used to call home.

UPDATED:

Verbier Avalanche Patrol Heading Up at Dawn

Real men & women don’t need windows on their gondola – even when it is 8am and the temperature is -20c.

Step forward the Verbier Piste Patrol.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o PlanetSKI

(Love the logo).

PlanetSKI has spent the day with the Verbier Avalanche & Piste Patrol – from the dawn meeting and avalanche blasting, right the way through to the final sweep of the slopes.

Then there was a bit of powder skiing on Mont Gele in the middle.

It was quite a day.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Do look out for our full article, coming soon…

Seems I took the correct seat on the bus heading to the Medran.

My quest for a decent bowl of soup at a decent price in Verbier continues (see lower down this blog).

The self-service at Ruinettes failed miserably.

12chf (£10.50) for some luke-warm liquid pretending to be goulash.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o PlanetSKI

But the self-service at the top of the Savolyres lift struck gold.

8chf (£7 ) for a mighty tasty meal in itself.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o PlanetSKI

And there was this.

Probably the tastiest and consumed in the new posh restaurant at Attelas.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Soupe du Chalet (lait-creme) croutons au beurre et fromage d’ alpage rape.

It didn’t come cheap at 16chf (£14).

But considering it is 4chf (£3.50) more than the goulash offering at Ruinettes it was worth the money.

Looking good out of the front and back windows of where I ‘m staying this Saturday morning.

Bit of work, then spot of powder.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Each season new shops spring up in Verbier.

But 20-years ago few people would have predicted people would be going to a “co-working space”.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

That was a bit of an early start – but more than worth it.

I was up early to gets some runs in ahead of the slopes opening – First Tracks in Verbier

You can do it every Friday when First Tracks is on and you have the freshly groomed slopes to yourself.

It’s new for this season and costs 40chf.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

See more here as I gave it a go on Friday: First Tracks in Verbier

And a bit later on the same slope?

The Verbier adventures continue…

Guess who was one of the first people I bumped into as I headed to my favourite water hole, the Fer au Cheval, on arrival?

Annabel.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Yes, THAT Annabel – the lady who has provided my road route to Verbier for all this time.

Driving to the Alps for skiing and snowboarding

Q – How many children does it take to completely block a busy ski piste in Verbier ?

A – Five classes from two different ski schools, but why the instructors chose to stop/meet there is another matter altogether.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI

And talking of stupid things on the slopes, did you see this video that I filmed in Bruson last week?

It’s had 275,000 views over on The PlanetSKI Facebook page:

Well, well, well.

It seems I have chosen to come back to Verbier at the right time.

Huge amounts of snow and the best conditions of the season.

Be rude not to hit the powder.

Powder Days in Verbier

James in the Verbier powder. Image c/o Helly Hansen and Craig Paterson.

Pleased to report that these things seem rather redundant at the moment.

Verbier, Switzerland. Image c/o PlanetSKI

I have been updating the PlanetSKI Snow Report on conditions in Verbier.

The snow began falling late morning on Monday and got heavier and heavier.

There was thick cloud at altitude so I stuck to the lower runs first thing on Monday.

In the afternoon I headed to the powder with Warren and the Helly Hansen crew.

Here goes the Warren Smith mob.

An apres beer was at my favourite – Le Rouge.

Even better when snow is falling.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, is set to be much of the same.

I suffer in silence.

But I am not so quiet on my continual 20-year gripe about Verbier – some of the prices.

I have no problem with the expensive restaurants charging whatever they want.

N0-one makes you go into their establishments.

But today at the Ruinettes self-service I was required to pay 11chf (£9.73) for perhaps one of the least tasty ‘soup of the day’ I have ever been offered in a ski resort.