Your Guide to Gstaad - Altitude Ski and Snowboard School in Gstaad

Your Guide to Gstaad

One of the most high-end resorts around, and frequented by the rich and famous, Gstaad is definitely somewhere to be seen on your ski trip. The resort known for its designer shops, extensive ski areas and range of luxury hotels, here is our Gstaad Guide.

With the town located at just over 1000 metres in altitude, it is surrounded by over 200 km of slopes extending up to 3000m. The main season in Gstaad runs from mid-December until the end of March, but the Glacier 3000 area offers the highest skiing in the region from October until May each year.

Gstaad is ideal for beginners, intermediates and families in particular, with the ski areas of Schonreid and Sannenmoser offering a variety of blue and red pistes, as well as dedicated beginner areas in Wispile and Snow-Paradise for children and first-timers.

For more advanced skiers, there are fewer black runs than other resorts but the off-piste is rarely explored by most of Gstaad’s visitors and rather than being tracked out after a fresh-snowfall, if you choose to explore off-piste (we recommend full avalanche equipment as well as a guide), advanced skiers can get some great fresh tracks through the trees.

Again, making it perfect for that family ski trip, there are a myriad of things to do in Gstaad when you’re not skiing. The town of Gstaad also offers a large sports centre, with an indoor swimming pool, curling, badminton and squash, a climbing centre and fitness centres. You can also go bowling, experience a dog-sleigh trip or hire a toboggan and explore the runs on offer in the area.

  • Dedicated beginner areas
  • Perfect for intermediate skiers looking to progress
  • Skiing from mid-December to March
  • Numerous ski areas to explore
  • Ski from October to May in the Glacier 3000 area

Check out our Blue Blog for more Gstaad info and tips!

Level 1 (complete beginners)

  • No skiing or snowboarding experience is required.
  • Don’t worry, everyone has to start at the beginning.

 

Level 2

Level 2 (intermediate beginners)

  • Be able to use the magic carpet and handle tow on the nursery slopes.
  • Some control of speed and direction.

 

Level 3

Level 3 (advanced beginners)

  • Ride all lifts on the nursery and easy slopes.
  • Be able to control speed using turns.

 

Level 4

Level 4 (intermediate)

  • Confident on blue runs, turning comfortably.
  • Skiers should have their skis parallel some of the time.
  • Snowboarders should be confident on both heel and toe side turns.

 

Level 5

Level 5 (intermediate advanced)

  • Confident on red runs when conditions are good.
  • Feel challenged by ice, moguls or deep snow.

 

Level 6

Level 6 (advanced)

  • Confident with red runs in all conditions, get down most black runs.
  • Looking to improve in moguls, off-piste or carving.

 

Level 7

Level 7 (expert)

  • Confident on blacks and be able to safely get down itinerary routes.
  • Working on improving skills and speed in carving, moguls or powder.
  • Be waiting to improve jumps and tricks in the freestyle park.