Villars, SWI

The Villars ski area is made up of four peaks around the 2000m mark. The local’s favourite is Petit Chamossaire which offers stunning views towards Leysin and Chateau d’Oex and offers some tough runs with bumps and steep tree-lined runs back down to base. Other popular areas include Roc d’Orsay and the Chaux Ronde (which hosts the resort’s best snowparks). The link to Les Diablerets (and onwards to Glacier 3000) gives skiers access to the area’s toughest pisted terrain. 

The off-piste possibilities in and around Villars should not be underestimated with many guides bringing clients over from nearby Verbier safe in the knowledge that they will have easy access to many untamed and, importantly, quiet routes.    

But that all said, it is fair to say that Villars does not threaten resorts such as Chamonix or Verbier when it comes to the list of gnarliest free-ride resorts. With 50% of the terrain being suitable for beginners, Villars is a pretty tame resort. But it is an absolutely perfect ski area in which to train and work as a ski instructor because it attracts so many people learning to ski for the first time. And what do beginners need? That’s right…lessons! And who gives lessons? That’s right…instructors! And who’s the instructor? That’s right…you!