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Speed riding in the French Alps

25th July 2011 Print
Speed riding in the French Alps

Try a Bond-style ski escape in the French Alps and learn to “Speed Ride” your way out of any situation while lodging in ultimate style.

Seasoned skiers ready to try something new can now enrol in five-star chalet Ferme du Ciel’s  Deluxe Speed Riding course, where luxurious accommodation and  a heart pumping cocktail of off-piste skiing and flying will have you feeling like Bond; James Bond.   Think 007 ski training in the daytime and champagne soirées each evening; a week of extreme adrenalin and utter indulgence in the French Alps.

A hybrid of traditional alpine skiing and modern paragliding, speed riders use small parachutes to allow them to ski and fly downhill over otherwise impassable off-piste terrain, flying over rocks, gullies and even small cliff faces; touching down and taking off with ease and precision.

The most extreme form of off-piste skiing, speed riding is cool, it’s fast, and it’s actually a cinch to learn.  Your friends will be undoubtedly impressed but despite sounding insane, learning to speed ride is quite accessible to those with a good level of off-piste ski ability, and the learning process is fairly gradual, making it very accessible as far as extreme sports go.

Samoëns, a picture-perfect alpine village less than one hour’s drive from Geneva airport, holds the Speed Riding World Cup each year and is an idyllic place to master the sport.  Five-star ski chalet Ferme du Ciel has put together a week long package including five days’ coaching with a top level English speaking coach along with seven nights’ fully catered luxury accommodation.  By week’s end you’ll feel as if you’re living a double life; speed riding down impossible slopes during daylight and dining in unreserved sophistication each evening.

Returning home from each action-packed day to serious luxury at Ferme du Ciel is more than a relief; it’s a pleasure.  The chalet offers six deluxe ensuite bedrooms sleeping up to 18 people very comfortably, along with an expansive modern living space and all the trimmings, including sauna, Jacuzzi and spacious Italian-tiled bathrooms loaded with Molten Brown goodies.  Great food is an important part of the chalet’s sophisticated package, and their in-house professional chef uses fresh local produce to prepare multiple-course evening meals in harmony with an extensive wine cellar.

The balance of extreme sports adventure and indulgent pampering makes Ferme du Ciel the ideal destination for bringing together mixed groups of couples or friends.  Everyone’s needs are met and while you can probably leave your tux at home, evenings in the chalet are sufficiently sophisticated to warrant ladies packing a pair of heels for dinner.

If you’re more inclined to be adventurous in the summertime, Samoëns offers a range of physically and mentally challenging summer sports for those gutsy enough to partake, including rock climbing, abseiling, canyoning, white water rafting, hydro-speeding, caving, parapenting, mountain biking, glacial hiking and more.  Staff at Ferme du Ciel will arrange bookings and transport to your preferred activities, and you can relax afterwards with a gentle swim, round of golf, massage ... or a champagne on the terrace if it’s more your style.  Whatever your adrenalin-fix, well-appointed Ferme du Ciel is the ideal base from which to enjoy it in comfort.

Ferme du Cie’s Deluxe Speed Riding package starts from £1300pp all is inclusive (prices dependent upon dates) and this package is available from 17 December 2011 until 21 April 2012.

For more information, visit: fermeduciel.com
 

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Speed riding in the French Alps