Established before time began, The Development Centre run the finest BASI prep courses in the Universe. If you are looking to develop your skiing towards qualification, then only the barking mad would overlook this intergalactic award winning program.
We use coaches who are chiseled from solid gold and each one must have won at least two Nobel prizes. The terrain in the Espace Killy is second to none, and on top of that we send our coaches up the mountain at night to hand craft each piste that we might use.
Occasionally our candidates explode with delight, but those that survive are sure to have had the most extraordinary and superlative week of their lives.
We’ve teamed up with the fantastic VIP SKI again this winter. VIP SKI are offering an amazing package that includes a 5 day TDCski Early Season Coaching Clinic and a week of accommodation in VIP SKI’s wonderful Aspen Lodge chalet, with the usual VIP SKI service and catering.
Never again will you see a package this good…
Early Season Clinics only €280 for 5 half days. You can book just the Clinic and organise your own accommodation, or you can take up the amazing deal from VIP SKI.
A TDCski 5 day clinic in the full winter season costs 375€ per person. Early Season Clinics are available at a reduced cost of €280 pp, but book the accommodation package with VIP SKI and effectively pay just €150 per person for the ski clinic!
VIP SKI Prices from £599 per person for 7 nights catered chalet accommodation and 5 days ski clinic (3 hours per day)
Get a head start on your ski development and enjoy a pre-Christmas trip to the French Alps. Enjoy the famous TDCski coaches in their ability to improve your skiing whilst delivering a fun and inspiring course. Rather than pre-planned lessons and drills, TDCski’s approach is based around coaching you on your style as an individual, allowing you to really make a breakthrough in confidence and ability.
The snow conditions have been consistently impressive at this time of year and with access to two glaciers (Val d’Isere and Tignes) snow is assured.
Never again will you see a package this good…
With access to two glaciers (Val d’Isere and Tignes) snow is assured
Week commencing 30 Nov
Exclusive package price = £599pp Saving up to £225 (price excludes travel)
Week commencing 7 Dec
Exclusive package price = £649pp Saving up to £225 (excludes travel)
Week commencing 14 Dec
Exclusive package price = £1079pp Saving up to £225 (includes Gatwick flight & transfers)
Package price includes 7 nights accommodation as described and TDCski Coaching Monday to Friday, 3hrs per day. Price on 30 Nov & 7 Dec does not include flight or transfer (this can be arranged for a supplement). For limited period only single supplement is an additional £100. (applies to 30 Nov and 7 Dec only)
Get your skis on before it snows…Hemel Snow Centre
What’s On: Piste performance and All Terrain clinics at Hemel Snow Centre.
What do you do?: 3 hours on snow training plus video analysis time.
When: Clinics run from 4-9pm on Saturday evenings
Saturday 14th September – afternoon / evening
Saturday 28th September – afternoon / evening
Saturday 5th October – afternoon / evening
Saturday 19th October – afternoon / evening
Meet TDC coach Steve from 4pm…. ski from 4.30-6.30pm, coffee break, then 6.30-8pm back on snow. Followed by video analysis then depart for 9pm.
Technical content tailored to individuals needs and wants.
You should be able to ski confidently on a blue run. Equally you could have a high level of performance and still develop your skills and understanding during these sessions.
Cost: £75 per clinic with a reduced rate of £60 if you book a second session. Price includes – slope entry fee, lift pass, equipment hire, coaching.
Min of 2 and max of 4 people a session.
Après-Ski: Video analysis and performance development discussion
Come Ski on the Ski Club of Manchester Dec 2013 Trip
The Development Centre (www.tdcski.com) are pleased to announce that the Ski Club of Manchester are planning to return to the Espace Killy this December.
Ski Club of Manchester Dec 2013 Trip
Last year was the first time that the Ski Club of Manchester had come to the alps for their “Early season Trip”. The club came to see TDC for a brush up on technique and performance.
The 2012 trip was a great success (see the rave reviews below) and the club are coming back again in December 2013.
The club has put together a fantastic package including accommodation, flights, transfers and the best bit… 5 half days of coaching with the development centre. The trip is unbeatable value with like minded, keen and friendly skiers.
There are spaces available for the 2013 trip.
The Ski Club of Manchester welcomes new members and you needn’t come from Manchester!
To enquire about the 2013 trip or to book, simply contact [email protected] for more details.
Read below for the Ski Club of Manchester’s own review of their 2012 trip:
December 2012 saw the Ski Club of Manchester take their early season training with the development centre (TDC) in Val d’Isere, France. Giles Lewis, who heads up TDC, and his team provided excellent coaching to the ski club members over five days. Lessons were in the mornings between 9am and 12 noon, giving everyone the opportunity to either free ski in the afternoon or rest aching muscles.
5 half days of TDCski Coaching
The instruction delivered by TDC was second to none. Group sizes were small (TDC have 6 maximum in group clinics). TDC coach you on your style as an individual allowing you to really make a breakthrough in confidence and performance. They certainly achieved this goal with ski club members receiving focused, personal feedback. Whilst at times the conditions were challenging the style of coaching we received allowed us to improve our skills in an enjoyable and relaxed environment. Each group took an approach suitable for the members needs within it and most groups spent some time enjoying the conditions off the piste (with all the safety equipment provided by the development centre for those who don’t have their own.
The adventure started in Manchester airport with Flybe seeming a little confused over which plane our skis would be on. However all skiers and skis arrived intact at Geneva airport and the three hour bus trip to Val D’Isere was comfortable and complimented by fantastic alpine views.
The Hotel Champs Avalin, situated in La Daille, offered comfortable accommodation in a typically French Hotel with a rustic alpine feel. The rooms were clean, warm and best of all had a bath, something not always available in the Alps. The food served in the pleasant hotel restaurant was excellent with a choice of three options for dinner, including vegetarian, and as much wine as you could drink. A hot option was offered with breakfast or alternatively continental style with plenty of choice.
The service offered by the staff in the Ski Total Hotel Champs Avalin was second to none. Great company, excellent food and free wine with dinner led to a joyous culinary week for all.
A fine evening out was enjoyed by all on the Wednesday at the excellent Le Barillon restaurant in La Daile with fine food, plenty full wine and vibrant conversation with many of the world’s problems being solved in a matter of hours as is usual.
Val d’Isere town is very picturesque especially at night with the trees lit up and the lights glittering in the snow. A relaxed and friendly resort with prices to match most pockets, including the fury collar addicts, but not so exclusive as to put off the more financially conside te of us.
The town is made up of three main areas being La Daille, Val d’Isere and Le Fornet all located along the same straight road. A free shuttle bus service is provided every 5 minutes through most of the day taking you the length of the town.
The food and drink is perhaps a little more expensive in Val d’Isere than some other resorts with a beer at around seven euros and a basic meal sixteen. There are several very friendly bars and restaurants with good food and live music.
The TDC Team look forward to skiing with SCoM
We were fortunate in having the women’s World Cup downhill coinciding with our stay and some of our hotel rooms had amongst the best views of finish line. During the week we could see the amount of work that went into setting the course up. The media camp had located it’s self outside of our hotel together with the team accommodation. The race favourite, Lindsey Vonn, had a rare crash and instead the race was won by Swiss skier Lara Gut. Unfortunately the Super G, due to be held on the Saturday, was cancelled due to a white out, but this did not stop many of the club members who reported the best days skiing of the week no doubt fuelled by the skilful coaching received that week at the hands of the TDC team.
After a slow start that had many of us very nervous about the up and coming European ski season. The snow dances and prayers have been answered and the snow is falling in abundance.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…
Keep in touch with us and we will keep you updated in the latest conditions, in Val d’Isere, Tignes and Meribel.
Whilst the final touches are being made to the renovated chalets and Hotels in Val d’Isere and Tignes, the glacier is being put to good use. Not only are TDC coaches running pre-season BASI prep courses and slalom training, but national teams have been up on the hill making their final preparations for the World and Europa cups.
See how the slalom training is getting on at: http://www.youtube.com/thedevelopmentcentre
All our coaches regularly use video analysis as a tool for teaching and all you need to do is ask you coach. You may even feature on this site!
(You should be able to ski parallel on a blue run in order to take part in these sessions. Equally you could have a very high level and still develop your performance and understanding during these sessions.)
Dessert: Informal Performance Development discussion led by TDC coach…over drinks in the bar.
It was another beautiful day in the Espace Killy today and although we haven’t had loads of snow so far this season the piste conditions are fantastic, there’s barely a rock in sight!
This morning I took the group over to Val d’Isere but unfortunately my favourite La Daille area was closed due to preparations for the World Cup and a fallen cable which was crossing La Verte piste. We spent the morning consolidating yesterday’s technical focusses which were getting balanced over the outside ski early in the turn and improving rotary movements.
SCGB with tdc coach Ben Langridge
As the video footage shows the guys made some great changes notably their turn shape and economy of movements.
After a great lunch in La Datcha, we headed up into the Solaise bowl to work on the inside ski which in the most part wasn’t quite matching the outside ski. The general feedback was really positive with the guys feeling more stable, more smooth, and more efficient, so I took the group down the Matisse piste which I knew would be quite icy and narrow. This was a good test to see if the inside ski focus helped their impulse of rotation and their ability to put the ski flat and be patient through the arc. I was really pleased with the outcome as the team skied comfortably over the varied snow adapting with each turn to the different snow underfoot. We finished the day with another video run before heading back to the hotel bar to review it over a Vin Chaud.
I spend every autumn looking forward to the Ski Club week, it’s a bit like an official start to the season for me, I get to spend six days with some old friends and get royally spoilt by the Mark Warner staff in the ‘Perce Neige’ in Tignes le Lac. Full English breakfast, tea and cake, evening dinner, jacuzzi and the opportunity to ski with two groups of Ski Club members 6 hours a day for 3 days each.
The lesson format is great from a coaching point of view because we have plenty of time to make changes to people’s performance, so I took my time today warming the guys up. I could tell they were all itching to get going as they all beat me on the walk from the hotel to the lifts, but after a warmer to make sure we all knew each others names and a quick physical warm up we headed towards the Gratalu Chair into the sun to sample some of the awesome piste skiing on offer in Tignes. The snow was cold and grippy and perfectly groomed and the team soon found their ski legs.
We started with some balance drills to get everyone over their outside ski and then I filmed the team to use as a benchmark to compare their progress over the three days. We quickly outlined some common threads to iron out, starting with the vertical ‘pop’ to reduce the amount of wasted muscular effort while at the same time improve the skis’ grip at the start of the turn. The session progressed by focussing on active leg stretching and rotating with some free practice before finishing off with another filmed run to assess the changes the guys had made over the course of the day.
I’ve decided to follow the advice of Louise Alison of Bonne Sante Physio and start incorporating a warm down when time permits – after the warm down we returned to the hotel for some video feedback where a few technical hitches caused me a touch of stress as I couldn’t get the t.v. to work. Fortunately for me the Perce Neige bar manager- ‘lovely Lily’ saved my bacon by dropping everything to fix the problem, and we spent probably too long analysing the days skiing, without a doubt this improved everyone’s understanding of the movements we’re making and the changes we need to make.
Tommorrow’s another day and I can’t wait to show off the awesome skiing in Val d’Isere, in the mean time, I must dash, the Jacuzzi is calling before a three course dinner with wine – I feel like I’m on holiday!
