A Week to Remember - Ski Camp at Les Elfes, Verbier - Aishu Fadia

The chilly wind in our faces, excited cheers echoing from above as paragliders soar through the sky, and the satisfying crunch of skis slicing through snow—these are just some of the unforgettable sounds of Les 4 Vallées in Verbier, Switzerland. These familiar sounds never fail to fill me with excitement as I gear up for yet another incredible week of skiing.

 

 

Verbier is a charming little town nestled right in the heart of the Alps. The bus ride there is honestly part of the fun—everyone’s buzzing with energy, noses pressed to the windows, pointing out the snow-covered peaks and picture-perfect valleys. But it’s when we finally pull into the Les Elfes campus, our home for the week, that it really hits us—ski camp is on.

 

 

The cozy wooden chalets look straight out of a postcard, and it's such a shift from the busy city life we’re used to. As we crowd around in the snow, taking in the views, the ever-patient staff start explaining our schedules and how the week is going to unfold. But none of us are really listening, we’re too excited! We stampede down to collect our ski gear, laughing, slipping, pushing past each other, all in a rush to be ready for the slopes.

 

 

I still remember my first time skiing, I must’ve fallen a dozen times then. But now, I’m standing at the top of a tall, bumpy slope, skis parallel, body balanced, and turning with precision. It’s taken years of tumbles and sore legs to get here, but every trip has made me more confident. Skiing isn’t easy, but if you stick with it, it’s unbelievably rewarding.

 

 

And it’s not just skiing! After a long day on the mountain, we still have loads to do. Whether it's heading into town in groups, racing to decorate cookies, chilling with a movie, taking on hilarious challenges, or even dancing our sore legs off at the disco. One of the highlights was the full-day excursion to a cheese factory and a chocolate factory, and it felt like we were living in a real-life Roald Dahl story!

 

 

By the end of the week, though, things start to wind down. The energy that filled the Les Elfes campus slowly fades as we all start packing, not quite ready to say goodbye. But even as we zip up our suitcases, there’s this quiet sense of determination—a dream of coming back, getting better, maybe even winning a race next time. One thing’s for sure: Verbier isn’t just about skiing. It’s about memories, friendships, challenges, and learning to love every part of the ride—bumps and all.