The Ski Term at LAS makes our school truly special.
Imagine a school where, during the winter season, every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon you are told to go skiing or snowboarding at the local ski resort. At the Leysin American School, this is a reality.
First Class Winter Resort
A first class winter resort, Tele-Leysin is a magical place and the environs offer over 60 km (approximately 40 miles) of excellent downhill skiing, a renowned half-pipe and snow park, and many kilometers of cross-country trails.
From January through March, students spend two afternoons a week skiing and snowboarding on the Leysin slopes. Students of all levels take lessons and our ski and snowboard teams compete against other international schools. Lessons are provided by the professionally trained members of the Swiss Ski School. A school-provided annual pass allows unlimited access to the Leysin and regional slopes.
A Unique Opportunity for Students
The ski season presents a unique opportunity for our students, and has become a long-standing tradition. However, we understand that there are a few people who may not be comfortable with downhill skiing, or who may be suffering from maladies prohibiting them from skiing. While it is not mandated that each student ski, it is strongly encouraged (and very few exemptions are made), given the unique opportunities we have living in an alpine village.
Ski Day!
When conditions are perfect and the skies are sunny, the Activities Department, in consultation with administrative team members, may occasionally call a day off of school to go skiing. "Ski Days" are awarded when the greater school community is meeting expectations, skiing conditions are favorable, weather forecasts cooperative, and there is no inconvenience to institutional functioning.
Winter Sports Teams
The winter Goats form to assemble ski and snowboard teams that attend a handful of events each season. The Alpine Ski Team has four to five races at nearby ski resorts. There are typically a couple competitions for our freestlye teams to show off their tricks. The Swim Team continues to train once a week for two meets during the winter term.
Winter Sports Teams
- Ski Freestyle Team
- Snowboard Freestyle Team
- Alpine Ski Team
- Swimming
Skiing Safety and Avalanche Awareness
Our student body is taught the importance of intelligent skiing and snowboarding and proper etiquette on the ski hill.
In addition, our stronger skiers and snowboarders are enrolled in the Avalanche Awareness Educational Series, instructed by internationally certified mountain guides, Roger Payne and July-Anne Clyma (http://www.avalanchetraining.info/). The series consists of one indoor class followed by one outdoor field session. There are two courses, one for new students and another for returning students who have already taken the first course. The courses are designed to teach students risk management by giving them the knowledge to make educated decisions while skiing on their own.