Ski Zenit prioritises on the success of young athletes both on and off the snow. That's why we have partnered with Haut Lac, an accredited Athlete-Friendly Education Centre (AFEC) recognised by the World Academy of Sport. Haut Lac's flexible timetables for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and IB Diploma Programme (DP) allow student athletes to excel in their academic pursuits while also pursuing their athletic dreams with intensive training schedules.
Ski Zenit's Academy program is designed for student-athletes who compete regionally, nationally, or internationally and are looking to pursue the IB MYP or IB DP. Haut Lac is partnered with the World Academy of Sport and the International Baccalaureate Organisation to offer flexible schedules that allow students to balance their rigorous training regimes with academic success. Whether you're an emerging talent, aspiring athlete, or elite competitor, Ski Zenit and Haut Lac will help you achieve your goals on the snow and in the classroom.
Haut Lac also offers the option to complete the IB Diploma over 3 or 4 years instead of the usual 2 years, giving student-athletes more time to balance their athletic pursuits with academic excellence. Haut Lac's programme eliminates the need to choose between pursuing the IB Diploma and an intensive professional sport regime.
Ski Zenit Academy athletes will take part in regional and national Swiss races and can get their Swiss racing license through us. This applies to all nationalities except at FIS level (Ski Club membership is not available for non-Swiss FIS racers).
Athletes have the opportunity to train with different programs:
Ski Zenit and Haut Lac Racing Academy Year Program.
- Entire school year in Haut Lac.
- Optional boarding accommodation.
- Program for technical, tactical, physical and mental development.
- Pre-season preparation and Racing season performance.
A Year long program with Ski Zenit and Haut Lac Race Academy means a complete training plan designed to help all athletes reach their competitive goals in the snow without compromising in their academics.
Athletes participatin in our program will take part in national and international races, depending on their age. They can compete through our ski club, or can represent their local club.
A year round program includes:
- Whole season personalised training and racing Plan.
- A schooling program of the highest standard adapted to the ski racing program.
- Technical, physical, mental and racing goals.
- Video Analysis.
- Physical training plan.
- Ski Zenit Team Training Jacket.
- Ski Zenit Team Backpack.
- Boot fitting.
- Optional membership in Ski Zenit Club.
Ski Zenit Racing Academy Saas-Fee & Zermatt Full Program / Summer & Autumn.
- 4 July - 22 November.
- U14, U16 and FIS Racers with competitive goals.
- Program for technical, tactical, physical and mental development.
- Pre-season preparation.
A full Summer-Autumn program in Saas-Fee & Zermatt will ensure athletes a sufficient number of days of top quality training before the race season starts. These days will be scheduled during holidays and at weekends and in most sessions there will be other athletes following the same plan. Other racers may join in for some of the scheduled days in the program.
Athletes in the program will receive training and a follow up assessment from a designated Head Coach, who will be their main coach throughout the whole program. They will also be coached by and work with our sports psychologist and condition trainers.
The Summer and Autumn Full Program in Saas-Fee includes 15 training days during Summer holidays, 5 training days during Autumn school holidays and 10 Training days to be chosen from weekends in between the two holidays periods and after them, up until 22 November. It includes a total of 30 days of effective skiing, physical and mental training during the period in question.
It will also include the planning and supervision of the condition training program, both with the trainers in Saas-fee and when at home. The mental coaching program and equipment consultation will also have a follow-up session that athletes connect to via the internet from their homes.
Every athlete enrolled in a full program will also receive a Ski Zenit training jacket and the Saas-Fee Summer season skipass (valid until 30 November).
Ski Zenit Racing Academy Summer and Autumn Full Program in Saas-Fee includes:
- Personalised Pre-Season Training Plan.
- Technical, Mental and Physical Goal setting.
- 30 days of group training in Saas-Fee.
- 60 available dates to choose from between 13 July and 22 November Check calendar
- Max. 7 racers / coach.
- Video Analysis + Workshops.
- Updated Reports.
- Mental and Physical training supervision from home.
- Ski Zenit team Training Jacket.
- 10% discount on any other Ski Zenit training done outside of the Full Program schedule.
Several accommodation options close to the lifts are available. Please enquire.
Check out our Saas-fee Summer Training information for more detailed information about the Saas-Fee training.
Ski Zenit Racing Academy Grimentz-Zinal Full Program / Autumn & Winter.
- 28 November - 11 April.
- U14, U16 and FIS Racers with competitive goals.
- Program for technical, tactical, physical and mental development.
- Racing season performance.
An Autumn-Winter full program in Grimentz-Zinal means multiple days of specific preparation in order to perform at the highest possible level during the race season with top quality training conditions and a high degree of flexibility.
These 40 days of effective training will be available over the 14 weekends between 28 November and 11 April and the 35 days covering the Christmas, New Year, Carnival and Easter holidays. Athletes in the program will train with and have follow up sessions from one of our trainers, who will be their main coach for the duration of the program.
They will also be coached by our sports psychologist and condition trainers. In most sessions there will be other athletes following the same program, but sometimes other racers will join for several days. It will also include the planning and supervision of the condition training program, both with the trainers in Zinal and when at home.
The mental coaching program and equipment consultation will also have a follow-up session via the internet with athletes from their homes.
Athletes in our Autumn-Winter full program can also become members of the Ski Zenit Club and attend Swiss races in the Valais Region or nearby.
Ski Zenit Racing Academy Autumn and Winter Full Program in Grimentz-Zinal includes:
- Personalised Winter Season Training and Racing Plan.
- Technical, Mental, Physical and Racing Goal setting.
- 40 days group training in Grimentz-Zinal or racing in the region.
- 70 dates available to choose from between 28 November and 11 April Check calendar
- Max. 7 racers / coach.
- Video Analysis + Workshops.
- Updated Reports.
- Mental and Physical training supervision from home.
- Ski Zenit team Training Jacket.
- Optional membership of Ski Zenit Club.
- 10% discount on any other Ski Zenit training done outside of the Full Program schedule.
Several accommodation options close to the lifts are available. Please enquire.
Check out our Grimentz-Zinal Autumn-Winter Training information for more detailed info about the training.
Activities and Athlete development:
Top athletes worldwide agree that Saas Fee and Grimentz-Zinal have some of the best skiing in Europe. Both ski resorts are catered for ski racers depending on the time of the year, in the Summer Saas-Fee is the best place for training in the northern hemisphere, and in the Winter Grimentz-Zinal is one of the best training ski resorts in the northern hemisphere.
Our Racing Academy Full Programs allow trainers to plan a step-by-step training schedule through the pre-season, season or full year adapting to each athlete’s needs, goals and pace. This gives athletes a more productive way to improve consistently in technical and tactical areas and in coordination with their physical and mental training plan.
By having a designated Head Coach, they receive constant and consistent supervision which ensures that correct decisions are made at the right time. This enables them to have training schedules and content that adapt to their individual needs.
Every training session will be carried out with the high standards of Ski Zenit Racing that our athletes have come to expect.
Athletes enrolled in our Autumn-Winter and All year plans will have the option of attending races with Ski Zenit trainers in nearby regions. U14 and U16 racers can be licensed through the Ski Zenit Club, allowing them to participate in Swiss races regardless of their nationality. Ski Zenit Club membership for FIS athletes is only open for Swiss citizens due to FIS rules.
Athletes in our Race Academy will be coached and supervised by a highly experienced sports psychologist on our coaching staff who has a special talent for getting athletes to focus on their personal goals, manage their emotions, nerves etc. Athletes really enjoy these sessions which are very dynamic and adapted to the different age groups.
This is a key part of our training philosophy. Sessions are fun, stimulating and teach our athletes how to focus, relax, establish goals and understand their emotions. This activity will be done together with other athletes of similar age.
We have included stretching, yoga and meditation as part of our training to help athletes calm their body and mind. It is an excellent way to relax, stretch and strengthen muscles after a long day of training. It also teaches them how to ease their mind and delve into their inner stillness and peace for full recovery.
Yoga is a great way for athletes to work on physical conditioning, gain the agility that comes from deep stretching and is also highly recommended for muscle recovery. We have fully certified yoga instructors that adapt the difficulty and intensity of each session to the different skill levels and ages.
Meditation is a great way to relax and focus on your inner-self and helps athletes to "get in the zone", that special place that enables competitors to ski to their potential even in the most stressful situations.
All athletes taking part in our full programs will have a medium-term condition training plan designed by our condition trainers. Athletes will follow the plan during training days with Ski Zenit but also at home, with follow up from our trainers. They will be tested frequently to check on progress and performance gains. These workouts will always be age appropriate and based on the condition of each athlete. They are designed to be challenging and demanding as well as fun and creative.
The post-ski workouts focus on recovery from the training sessions and protection against injury; the aim is also to improve strength, coordination, balance, agility and flexibility.
Saas-Fee is the ideal setting to engage in a wide range of sports and physical training. Zinal has appropriate indoor spaces during the Autumn and winter months, though these activities will be reduced as athletes will spend more hours on the snow.
Team sports and mountain treks will also be a part of the activities during the afternoons and non-skiing days. Saas-Fee is the ideal setting to engage in a wide range of sports and physical training. Saas-Fee is a paradise for all these activities, offering amazing paths for all ages and levels as well as many field sports. During the Autumn and Winter in Zinal, these activities are reduced.
Taking good care of ski bases and edges is a must in order to perform during ski training. Every afternoon racers age 12 and older will learn and carry out all the necessary tuning of their skis under the supervision of their trainer.
Video analysis is an important tool for our coaches to help racers understand and improve the areas they are trying to develop while ski training. Technical and tactical concepts that are important to performance will be explained in detail during these sessions ensuring they are clear for the next training day. Video analysis sessions will be conducted after every 2 or 3 days of training.
Children and adolescents who are not accompanied by their parents will have round-the-clock supervision from our camp leaders. Our philosophy is to give children freedom in exchange for showing responsibility. Saas-Fee is an ideal location for this. From September to November, afternoon study times will be set aside for school-aged racers as needed.
Ski Zenit Hotel supervisors are available to receive phone calls every day between 7 pm and 8:30 pm at the phone number that will be provided on arrival to the camp.
During Winter and Autumn in Zinal, one of the trainers will perform supervision duties.
Important
Additional
Information
Just press any "Book Now" button and select the product you are interested in, or send us an email via our Contact page. We will be pleased to assist you.
When booking ski training with us it is very important that we are provided with enough information about each athlete via our online booking form which includes the following:
- Personal information (Name, contact details and date of birth).
- Languages spoken.
- Skiing skills.
- Racing experience.
- Physical condition.
- Allergies or food intolerances.
- Illness or physical limitations.
- Brand, model and length of skis and boots to bring to the training.
- Skiing videos.
Our booking personnel will provide you with all information needed in order to attend training and send you an invoice for the total cost.
Full invoice must be paid within 4 days in order to confirm the booking and secure the place.
Please read our General Terms and conditions carefully before booking.
Feel free to enquire about accommodation in a variety of hotels and apartments or about airport shuttles if you require these.
THE TOWN: Saas-Fee is a pedestrian-only town where only certain electric vehicles are allowed. The atmosphere is very serene, clean, and the town is surrounded by an impressive landscape of forests and glaciers with peaks reaching 4400 metres. It has all necessary services and a wide range of sports facilities. These safe and relaxed conditions make it an ideal place for any athlete to enjoy and have productive training.
THE GLACIER: The Saas-Fee glacier, where the camps are held, is at an altitude of between 3200 and 3600 metres. It has four T-bar drag lifts providing access to 3 free skiing runs, 5 gate training runs and a snowpark. In order to access the glacier in summertime, you must take two cable cars and an underground funicular train. The trip takes a total of 35 minutes.
In a normal year, the vertical skiable area increases by 700 metres by the beginning of November adding many more skiing options.
Weather conditions can vary quite drastically, even during the summer, and we therefore recommend that you pack clothing for both warm and cold conditions.
THE TOWN: Zinal is a small village with a very Alpine atmosphere. It is surrounded by stunning peaks which reach up to 4200m. In the town you can find all services and a variety of accommodation in hotels, apartments and chalets.
THE SKI AREA: Zinal is a medium-sized ski area with a great variety of terrain and reserved training runs. Due to its altitude and orientation, it usually opens in mid-November with the first snowfalls and the artificial snow produced by its powerful snow-making system, enabling high quality training before the start of the winter season and until the very end of it. We consider Zinal a training paradise in which we can benefit from great freeskiing terrain and a variety of training runs for course setting.
We offer single, double, triple and quadruple bedrooms, all with a private bathroom. The hotel is a 1 minute walk from the town centre and 1 minute to the lift (cable car).
The hotel has a restaurant, refreshment bar, living room, wi-fi and a ski room. Rooms are cleaned and sheets and towels changed once per week. Each athlete is responsible for keeping his/her room tidy at all times. The beds have Nordic comforters so bed-making is fast and simple. Towels are included.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are prepared by the hotel staff. Any special dietary needs must be communicated to Ski Zenit in advance.
Collaboration among all participants and teamwork are requirements for successful co-existence in the Hotel.
We can help you find your accomodation in Zinal during the training. Please enquire us. Zinal offers a variety of hotels, chalets and apartments.
Proper water intake is an important factor for all athletes. Athletes taking part in our camps must take even greater care because of the altitude on the glacier and the low relative humidity. For training on the slopes and post-ski workouts, athletes must carry at least one liter of liquid in their training backpack and this liquid must be consumed during the course of the training session.
Sun protection using high factor sun cream is also indispensable. You must also carry quick-energy, salty snacks with you to glacier training (energy bars, nuts, fruit, and sandwiches). There is always a break during glacier training to eat snacks. Athletes staying in our hotel will be offered a variety of snacks to choose from at breakfast time every morning.
A well-balanced and abundant breakfast before training is also of vital importance and we will insist that all our athletes heed this recommendation.
While athletes are training with us, their diet should be varied, healthy and sufficient and must include fruits and vegetables. Our ski camps include instruction on healthy eating habits.
- Race-quality ski boots with appropriate size and flex index.
- GS skis of appropriate length and with good edges and base.
- SL skis of appropriate length and with good edges and base (starting from age 11).
- GS ski poles.
- SL ski poles with slalom hand-guards (starting from age 11).
- Slalom shin-guards protection (starting from age 11).
- Good quality helmet approved for ski racing.
- Slalom chin guard (starting from age 11).
- Back protection.
- Sun goggles.
- Low light/ fog goggles.
- Ski gloves.
- Training backpack with enough space for ski boots, jacket, goggles, helmet, water, snack...
- Water bottle to take up to the slopes.
- High-factor sun cream.
Ski Zenit can provide athletes with Fischer race skis and boots and Komperdell racing poles and accessories at a special price. Equipment must be ordered and paid for at least 10 days in advance. We can assist you in choosing the most appropriate length, size and model.
Athletes who have made purchases will pick up their new equipment at the local Intersport Glacier shop in Saas-Fee or Valsport shop in Grimentz upon arrival.
There they can also find helmets, goggles and other accessories with a 10% discount. The shop also offers professional boot fitting and ski tuning with the most modern machine.
For our younger racers we have several pairs of race skis for rent in different sizes. Limited stock is available, so make sure you reserve well in advance.
- Racing suit (not mandatory).
- Training shorts when using a race suit.
- Training windbreaker jacket.
- Long ski pants.
- Warm ski jacket.
- Thermal base layers.
- Ski socks.
- Neck warmer.
- Underwear.
- Tee-shirts for condition training.
- Sport pants and sweater.
- Street clothes.
- Sport shoes for running.
- Soap and shampoo.
- Bathing suit.
- Suitcase with wheels (pedestrian town).
All athletes participating in the Camp must have current ski accident insurance valid in Switzerland covering at least civil liability, rescue on the slopes (including helicopter), medical treatment and repatriation. We recommend insurance which also reimburses you for services unused due to injury (ski pass, training, lodging, etc.).
Photocopies of participants’ insurance card must be given to Ski Zenit leaders upon arrival or a digital copy can be sent ahead of time.
Switzerland has agreements with EU Member States for medical assistance at public hospitals. In order to take advantage of such agreements, you must have the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You need to apply for this card well in advance at your local medical centre in the EU.
Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Area meaning that travellers from EU countries which are party to that treaty may enter the country with their identity card. However, minors must always travel with a valid passport. Travellers from other countries must check the conditions for entry into Switzerland before embarking on their trip.
Ski Zenit offers its athletes and their chaperones a transfer service in comfortable mini-buses from/to the Geneva, Zürich, Basel or Milan airports. Transfer by motorway takes about three hours. These transfers are organised through a local company with professional drivers. All airport transfer drivers are authorised to check-in all young athletes traveling alone.
