An Unforgettable Experience
Ski Camp is a highlight of the year for many of our students, where they develop their ski skills and resilience as well as enjoying the social aspect.
Residential camps begin in Year 5 with a four-night stay in Champoussin, Valais. The joint camp with Year 6 provides a chance for the year groups to mix on and off the slopes. A week later, Years 7 and 8 enjoy a similar experience together. Each day at ski camp includes four to five hours of skiing with lunch on the slopes and afternoon treats. Evening activities range from swimming and hot tub relaxation to discos, movie nights, quizzes, and even a fun fashion show. Beyond the physical challenge, our ski camps strengthen social bonds and instil independence.
We hope that we sow seeds for a lifelong love of the mountains and snow sports.
Learning from the Ground Up
For younger students, skiing begins with non-residential ski days that offer a structured yet flexible approach to learning. Years 1 and 2, and Years 3 and 4, respectively, enjoy four ski days in Morgins and Le Crosets. Morgins, with its beginner-friendly runs, is ideal for building confidence, while Le Crosets provides more advanced slopes, race pistes, a snowpark, and a snowcross run for students who are ready to progress.
LCIS Ski Club
PE teacher Zoe Svenningson runs the LCIS Ski club and each year we have about 30-40 pupils who attend three full days of ski training. Pupils choose from our freestyle, race or general group and attend three days of training in November, and February. The focus of this club is for students to improve specific aspects of their skiing over the season.
A New Milestone
This year, we are introducing Ski Instructor Training for Year 11 and older students, allowing them to earn the Level 1 Professional Ski Instructors of Europe (PSIE) Award. This optional course marks the last step in our ski curriculum, giving senior students the chance to achieve a professional standard. The qualification enables students to teach ski lessons in Europe and North America, opening doors for holiday jobs and future career opportunities.
Racing for Glory
LCIS takes pride in competing in prestigious ski events, including the SGIS (Swiss Group of International Schools), MLS (Mountain League Schools), and Swiss International Schools Invitational Competitions. While these races take place across Switzerland, we primarily compete in Valais. Events follow the Giant Slalom (GS) format, though freestyle, snowboard, and slalom races are also available. As a lakeside school, we are proud that our teams consistently perform well against mountain-based competitors. We also have our own internal LCIS Ski Championships open to Y3-DP2 pupils. Each year we have between 40-50 pupils compete on the Stade piste in les Crosets.
In 2024 our successes in the SGIS Ski Championships included,
Individual events:
- 1st –Y5/6 Girls
- 2nd –Y10/11 Girls
- 2nd –Y8/9 Boys
- 3rd –Y8/9 Girls
Team events
- CHAMPIONS - Y7/8 Boys
- CHAMPIONS - Y7/8 Girls
- 2nd Place - Y5/6 Girls
- 3rd Place - Y3/4 Boys
New for 2025
To further support student progress, we have launched a nine-level award scheme, aligning with our Year 7-9 assessment system. Each level is named after a big cat, reflecting our sports mascot, the lion. Beginners start at ‘Cub’ level, progressing through Lynx, Snow Leopard, Cougar, Cheetah, Leopard, Jaguar, and Tiger, culminating in the ‘Lion’ level, where students are assessed in freestyle or race techniques.
This year we have made a significant investment in new race suits and race jackets, enhancing our team’s professional appearance. The students love the design, which is extremely striking on the slopes.
Also new in 2025 is our own SGIS Ski Race, being hosting in partnership with SnowPros, at Les Crosets on the Stade piste.
A Great Team
The action-packed ski season at LCIS is only possible thanks to our hard working and committed PE team who not only organise the calendar but accompany the students on all their excursions. Director of Sport, Mark Hendry, leads all our residential camps supported by a team of school staff to help on-piste and off throughout the week. PE teacher Zoe Svenningson leads the ski team, ski club and coordinates the lower primary ski days, and staff of course are present with our teams at their various competitions as well.
The ski season at LCIS is an adventure. Whether through ski camps, ski days, instructor training, or competitions, we ensure every student embraces this essential aspect of Swiss culture. As our program evolves, we remain committed to delivering high-quality skiing experiences, fostering both technical skills and lifelong memories on the slopes.
