ISSC Independent school ski championships

13th – 19th December 2024, Sestriere, Italy

The ultimate challenge for your skiers… Imagine this. It’s just before Christmas. You and your most talented skiers are in Sestriere, ready to take on teams from around Britain in an adrenaline-fuelled week of competition that will build on your racers’ skills, resilience and confidence.

The Independent Schools Ski Championships are an annual event designed to bring together exceptional young athletes for some early-season mountain fun, race training and friendly competitive skiing.

The championships (run by leading school tour operator Halsbury Travel) offer the opportunity to fully immerse students in the excitement of winter sports. Transport, full-board accommodation, race training and an incredible programme of après-ski activities are included.

So, what are you waiting for?

The resort

The ISSC takes place in Sestriere, Italy.
The gateway to the massive Milky Way, Sestriere is always a massive hit with school groups who love the variety of skiing and the ski in – ski out convenience. It’s also home to some impressive racing slopes, making it the ideal setting for ISSC.
Ski area
Sestriere sits at the heart of the Milky Way, one of Europe’s biggest ski areas (offering 400km of piste). The highest resort in the area, this former Olympic resort still regularly hosts FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events.
The town

One of the first purpose-built ski resorts in Italy, Sestriere underwent a huge makeover in 2006 when it was selected as one of the venues for the Winter Olympics in Turin. It now boasts a modern lift system and upgraded snowmaking facilities – and is one of our most popular school ski resorts.

Need something bespoke?

Suggested Itinerary

ISSC is six days of incredible racing and early-season mountain fun. Here’s an idea of what to expect from the week.

Day 1

Morning

Travel and arrival day

Afternoon

Welcome meeting

Ski fit

Day 2

Morning

Race training

Afternoon

Après-ski activities

Day 3

Morning

Race training and racing

Afternoon

Après-ski activities

Day 4

Morning

Race training and racing

Afternoon

Après-ski activities

Day 5

Morning

Race training and racing

Afternoon

Après-ski activities

Day 6

Morning

Race training and racing

Evening

Awards ceremony

Day 7

Morning

Departure day and travel

  • 5 days of race training and racing
  • 6 nights' full-board accommodation
  • Ski hire or carriage
  • Ski pass
  • Prize-giving ceremony
  • Return flights from the UK
  • Return overseas transfers
  • Apres-ski and evening entertainment
  • In-resort representative
  • Event hoodie

Accommodation

4* TH Sestriere Villaggio Olimpico

You’ll be based just 2 minutes from the slopes at the 4* TH Sestriere Villaggio Olimpico. Built as one of the athletes’ villages for the 2006 Winter Olympics, the hotel offers incredible facilities (including ski hire and storage, an indoor pool and meeting rooms) and apartment-style accommodation. The buffet-style meals are served in the on-site restaurant which boasts panoramic views across the slopes.

Race rules

What’s the one thing you need for fair ski racing? A clear set of rules. So, download our guide to the ISSC race rules and share them with your skiers before you head out to Sestriere, so they’re up to speed before they hit the starting gates.

Download the guide

Ski insurance

Another essential when it comes to ski racing is good insurance. In fact, we won’t be able to let you participate unless you have suitable insurance in place. Need more information or advice? Just get in touch.

Contact us for more info

Supporting you
every step of the way

Creating your perfect ski trip

Your quote will be put together by one of our experienced Tour Advisors, who know our resorts inside out. They’ll work with you to create a trip that suits your group’s needs and budget.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and get students signed up. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your ski lessons, ski hire and après-ski activities are all sorted and they’ll take on most of the other admin tasks for your trip (so you can look forward to the trip as much as the kids).

Support while you’re away

While you’re away, you’ll be looked after by a Halsbury rep based in your resort. Plus, our HQ staff will be on available by phone, 24 hours a day. You’ll get a final info pack before you go with all the info you need, plus access to all your trip documents on the Vamoos app.

After
your trip

When you return from your trip, we’ll ask you to complete a detailed feedback survey, so we can continue our service. This is also the perfect time to start planning your next trip, so you can give parents plenty of time to pay for it (and make it easier for you). 

Let's chat!

I would definitely recommend working with the Halsbury Travel Group. They are absolutely amazing! Thank you, Rachel, for being so helpful in any way. The trip was organized to perfection and we had an amazing experience in Montpellier. It was our first time in Montpellier but we worked together before when we went to Rouen for 3 consecutive years and it was equally a big success! So, thank you again for all the details that you provided and for your patience with everything I requested. I am looking to go back to Montpellier next year and I can't wait to be working with you again! Merci beaucoup pour tout!

King Alfred’s Academy

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When choosing between school travel companies, you want someone you can trust. We're fully accredited, so booking with us offers you complete peace of mind that:

Your trip will be fully financially protected

Your group's safety will be prioritised

Your trip will be a quality educational experience

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