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TDC GapSki Tignes vs ICE Val D'isere 10 week course
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead

Hi guys, wondering if anyone has done either the 10 week TDC Gapski course or the ICE Val D'isere 10 week L1 & 2 Basi course and has any opinions about their experience? I'm 27, F, am obsessed with skiing and have decided to take a career break and finally go for my qualification. I learned to ski in Tignes so this is why I'm set on Espace Killy to do my training. However, as I have mostly spent time in Tignes Val Claret over the years -- I was heavily considering the ICE course, as they look just as professional as TDC, but they are in Val which I don't know as well (I've only ever visited for a week or two).

The differences between the two courses seem to be:

1) Accommodation is sharing with 3 with ICE in La Daille and around 60 people on the course (You can pay like an extra grand to room with just one other person I have been informed though so that's an option -- still really pricey for just 10 weeks). With TDC it's max 2 and maybe two groups of 10 for the whole course.

2) TDC gives you a full season lift pass so you can come out early, ICE gives you just a 10 week one.

3) TDC does two meals a day 7 days a week - ICE is dinner 5 nights a week.

If I'm looking at them just as a list, TDC wins big time - but I guess I'm still caught up in which resort has more to do after a day of skiing. I plan on staying in resort after the course ends in March to continue working on my skiing and boarding (I have saved up to ski bum it after my course) -- so I'm just wondering if anyone has any positive or negative experiences of either course to add to the pot to consider.

My gut is to go with TDC because it seems like they are keen to make the program affordable and they have an almost 100% pass rate- but also I'm afraid of missing out on discovering Val. I know from experience that you don't really go back and forth between T and V as it's a pain to get back once the lifts close -- and to be honest I've had a few friends say that Tignes as a seasonaire is not as fun.

Basically I'm looking for someone to give me confirmation bias that I'm not going to miss out by choosing to stick with Tignes!

Thanks guys Very Happy
snow report
snow report
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person

I have not done the course but know instructors on both sides and clients. There is little to choose between the two, when it comes down to brass tacks it depends on your personal relationship between you and your instructor(s). There are a lot of large egos in the instructor network (as well as some really nice guys and gals) and clashes have occurred in the past with both outfits., especially amongst 'alpha male' clients.

As for the two resorts they are different and serve differing requirements in general. To say Tignes is less fun is rubbish - its a different kind of vibe for sure and it's where you fit in. Only you can answer that. I assume its the social side of Val that you are afraid of missing out on, for the skiing you will be going round and round on the slope of the day with little time for seeing the view and you will be tired unless you are super fit (or 18 years old!).

Good Luck!
ski holidays
ski holidays
 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

We did a month performance course with ICESI in Jan 16 (middle aged ski bums). We trained alongside those on the 10 week BASI level 2 course for the first 4 weeks for the most part-mostly the older guys and gals, while the GAP year kids tended to be taught in other groups together.
The quality of the instruction was fantastic. I don't think you could meet a more experienced bunch that Mark Jones, Rupert Tildesley, and Dave Cowell (the most cheerful and enthusiastic instructor I have ever met). They are also great company and we never felt that we were just "punters". Those lucky enough to ski with Rupert Goldring thought he was a god (one of our new ski chums has been out for a course with him since pre season, she thought he was just so good).

As to accommodation-it would be fair to say that we upgraded to a reasonable one bed apartment on the "posh" side of the Pierre et Vacances building. Those older students who were in the standard apartments were less happy, even when they opted for the two person share rather than 3 people. It depends on your own personality. The accommodation was in a great location, just across from the Funival which is you could almost always get up the mountain even first thing on a snowy morning.
Food-out in local restaurants-served relatively early. Some places served better grub than others. It suited us, and we cooked at the weekend. It was easy to get into town and, for those after nightlife, my guess is that Val ticks more boxes.
ski holidays
ski holidays



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