Oxygene Ski School

At Capital Orthopaedics, we encourage people to build up strength, flexibility and endurance for several weeks before any winter sports trip: to prevent injury and improve your enjoyment of your holiday – click here for your daily pre-ski exercises.

Even if you have been skiing or boarding for years, booking in with a one-to-one instructor, or joining a class on your first couple of mornings will not only help you ‘find your ski legs’, but having a technique re-boot after a long hiatus is another way to avoid injuries on the slopes.

Simon Moyes is a keen skier, and every year, he books in for at least two mornings’ refresher instruction with Oxygene Ski School. First established in Val D’Isere, Oxygene has now expanded to cover 14 top resorts in the French Alps – offering expert one-to-one tuition, classes for all levels and children’s ski schools. The family-run business has been set up specifically to cater for international visitors, so lessons are in English and nothing is lost in translation.

‘I always try to get lessons with Pierre de Montvallier [one of Oxygene’s founders] when I’m in Val D’Isere or one of his senior instructors. Getting a private lesson when you first arrive at a resort is great – not only does it help to ignite the muscle memory, but it’s also a key find the least crowded, least icy pistes or to discover new off-piste areas,’ Simon explains.

‘I first met Pierre in December 2013, and had one-on-one lessons from him for a week. He is a phenomenal instructor and has managed to achieve so much and runs a brilliant organisation which I cannot recommend too highly. I see him every year, whether as an instructor or just bumping into him on the slopes.’