FAQS
Questions about Planning, Booking & Paying for a Course
Can I discuss the course before booking on the phone/video call?
Of course, we really welcome phone and video calls and do this daily (our office is open Monday to Friday all day UK time and Saturday mornings). Please feel free to call the office anytime or email the team to set up a video call. We recognise that booking an extended ski course is a significant commitment in time and money and we want you to have the opportunity to run through all your questions, concerns etc. We get a lot of guests from Australia and are happy to set up video calls early, before office hours, so that you can talk to us at a convenient time for you too.
Office WhatsApp: +44(0)7739285299
Office Land Line: +44 (0)1794 301 777
Office Email: [email protected]
We will always reply within 1 working day and typically much quicker than that.
How To Book A Course?
Once you’ve decided that you want to go for it, booking on is easy. You need to complete the online short booking form here: https://alltracksacademy.com/book/ and pay the initial deposit (£275 or $500CAD).
What Currency do you use?
Either GBP (British Pounds) or CAD (Canadian Dollars) depending on where you are based.
When is Final Payment Due/Can I pay in installments?
We typically break the course payments down into 3 payments. £275 or $500CAD deposit upon booking and the remaining amounts split into two equal payments. The dates vary depending on course start date. If it is easier for you to pay on a monthly basis right up to departure we can arrange that too.
What is included in the price?
You will find the precise breakdowns of everything that is included for each particular course. These can be found on the individual course pages.
Why are you more expensive than some other courses?
We know that ALLTRACKS is not the cheapest option for a ski adventure. Our aim has always been to be the best value experience, not the cheapest. There are a few key reasons why we are not at the lower end of the market:
- Ski Coaching limited to 6 Max. Many “competitors” operate at 10-12 in a group and we think it is impossible to teach high level skiing in groups that big. It is inefficient and time consuming, and you end up skiing with a much wider range of abilities. Many other companies do not even commit to a specific figure, giving a vague “guide” and enabling them to run larger training groups than you would expect.
- The highest level coaches. Virtually all our coaches are Level 4s. We sometimes use one or two extremely motivated, capable Level 3s on the cusp of their level 4 as we value personality and approach as much as qualifications.
- World class resorts. We operate at arguably the top resorts on earth with huge ski areas and developed lift systems.
- Experienced, capable in-resort director who is an established local. Not inexperienced reps.
- Accommodation – The Tantalus Lodge is very comfortable, premium, central Whistler accommodation. All the units have a full kitchen and sitting room (far better for long term courses than a regular hotel with no facilities), and there is a communal swimming pool, sauna and hot tub. There is also a 24 hour manned reception too.
- Robust financial security through ABTOT and ATOL. See financial protection for more information on this.
Who will I be travelling with?
Arriving on a course on your own may seem a little daunting to some, but the reality is virtually everyone makes a load of new friends during their time with ALLTRACKS. Forged by a love of the mountain lifestyle and skiing, many of your course mates will almost certainly become close friends. What’s more, we typically have large groups with enough people of similar ages so there are others of a similar age and gender. Although it varies from course to course, we generally have pretty even numbers of males and females throughout the season.
Geographically the largest number of guests (approx 60%) are from the UK. Probably because we are a British company and our head office is in the UK. Then usually approximately 20% from Australia and New Zealand and the remaining 20% from all over the world – especially The Netherlands, Scandinavia, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Japan, USA and Canada.
What size are the ALLTRACKS groups?
It can vary from season to season and fluctuates slightly throughout the winter, but we usually have approximately 40-100 people in the resort at any one time (in mid April this goes down to about 20). This makes for a large, fun group with plenty of like minded people to spend time with. Although we have relatively large numbers, ski coaching is only ever 6 per coach max so that you benefit from plenty of individual attention and we have a course director available 24/7.
What sort of support can I expect in Whistler?
At ALLTRACKS we do not rely on seasonal temporary staff new to the resort. Guy Hetherington, our Canadian director, is a long time Whistler local and our coaches are all very experienced. Although we want you, as our guests, to enjoy independence, it is good to know we are contactable 24/7 throughout the entire winter season if you need assistance.
What sort of Course Information is provided?
We have a Guest Intranet Site (you will be given the log in details upon booking) which contains all the administrative information that you will need. Meeting information, kit lists, resort details and a rough course schedule too.
Questions about Accommodation?
Can I come with a partner who is not taking the course?
Yes. Provided that you have booked a single occupancy room, your partner is welcome to join you and we can happily arrange their ski pass, get them involved in off slope socials etc (if they wish, and no problem if they don’t). If the stay is for less than 14 nights there is no charge for accommodation. If it is longer than 14 nights, there is a small weekly charge.
Do most people come alone?
Yes, the vast majority of guests join us as solo travelers and leave with loads of new friends. The social, group dynamic is important on our courses and we find our guests to be keen skiers who are open minded and want to enjoy the mountains with others. You’ll almost certainly make great, new friends and every year we see past guests out in Whistler skiing with others they have met on their course. There have even been a number of marriages…
How does rooming work?
Most of our guests opt to share a room and our standard twin room pricing means that you will share a bedroom with another person of the same gender and we do our best to match you with another person of a similar age/stage of life. However, if you would prefer to book a single room, we have single occupancy room prices too.
Do I get my own bathroom?
If you are sharing a room, then you will obviously be sharing a bathroom too. However, if you book a single room, you will have your own bathroom.
Questions about the Ski Training with ALLTRACKS?
How good a skier do I need to be?
As we generally have multiple ski groups, and ski coaching is limited to only 6 guests, we are able to work with quite a wide ski ability spectrum. There is a defined necessary level for each individual course (most of them are described as AT Level 2 although a few are AT Level 3). AT Level 2 is broadly a recreational resort piste skier and this is our base. However, in each course we usually have a good number of very confident, able, fast skiers who enjoy deep snow and steep slopes. If you are an expert skier already you can still be assured of really pushing on and developing your skiing further.
What is the course schedule?
On the intranet site, we provide a course schedule for each programme. Although occasionally we have to switch the days of exams, training, avalanche skills sessions, we try and stick to them as closely as possible.
Do you offer private bespoke training courses?
Yes we do! In addition to our courses throughout the season, we can curate the perfect customised ski programme for you. Whether you want to train on your own, or with a group of friends/ family we can lay on anything ski related from a couple of days in Whistler perfecting your mogul or off piste technique to full on expeditions into the backcountry of British Columbia and beyond. Call the ALLTRACKS travel experts on +44(0)1794 301 777 to make your ski dreams a reality.
Do you guarantee a job after the courses?
On our regular courses a job is not guaranteed after the course ends. Over the years the majority of people who have wanted to stay on and work have been successful, but you cannot rely on this. In the 24/25 season, there were more applicants than jobs available after the 7 week course. We will do our best to help but please be prepared that you may not be hired and jobs may come at short notice.
Our internships have a guaranteed job immediately afterwards provided you pass the exam and compete the course well. 100% of interns have been hired as ski instructors.
If you are going to be looking for an instructor job for the summer season or following winter season, we are here to help you. If you are considering this, the sooner we know the better and we are happy to advise on a 1:1 basis. Please call or email the office for help. A key thing is to try and gather some experience in leadership/teaching/coaching/volunteering in other areas.
On the Verbier courses, we have job placements following the training course, provided that you have an EU or Swiss Passport.
Still have a question?
If YOUR questions have not been answered here, or you just want to chat through things in more detail, please get in touch! We are here to help and welcome your enquiry – so WhatsApp, call or email our team when you’re ready.
