Swiss Snowkiting School

Swiss Snowkiting School is a snowkiting school based on the Simplon Pass (2,006 m) in Upper Valais, where it has been teaching since 2003. It is run by its founder Pascal Nessier, a snowboarder, paraglider pilot and kiter since 2000, who taught kitesurfing in Costa Rica, Spain and Brazil before focusing on snowkiting; the operating company, Kite Rider GmbH, is registered in Ried-Brig. Students meet by the pass road, where the bus stop and car park are, next to the Hotel Monte Leone. Sitting on the weather divide between north and south, the pass often sees pressure differences and therefore wind. Beginners learn on the plain just below the pass, near the Stockalper tower, where the wind is often steadier in the morning; opposite the hotel lies a freeride and freestyle area, while the western side, made of small plateaus and rocky steps, is for advanced riders. When conditions are not right on the pass, the school can move to other spots such as Visperterminen.

Lessons are taught in small groups of two to three students per instructor (except the taster session), with foil kites suited to snow and kite equipment provided; students bring their own skis or snowboard. Progression follows the school's own four-level programme, the Swiss Snowkite Training (SST), from flying a kite on foot to riding independently (weather, snow and avalanche awareness, riding uphill and downhill, jumps); passing it also makes the student a member of the school, with benefits when buying equipment. The offer ranges from a taster session without skis to one- to three-day courses, transition courses for kitesurfers, private lessons, guided backcountry sessions and supervised kite testing. If the wind cuts a session short, only the time actually taught is charged. The team includes VDWS kitesurfing instructors and an IKO level 3 instructor; lessons are given in German, English, French, Spanish or Italian depending on the instructor.

The school also runs a test centre and shop on the pass, and sells online through its store The Kite Shop (thekiteshop.ch, same company): Ozone Explore and Flysurfer Peak snowkites, trainer kites, snowkite bars and harnesses, demo and second-hand kites, as well as Duotone kitesurfing gear (kites, boards, bars) and ION harnesses, wetsuits and impact vests. Packages combine lessons with accommodation at the Hotel Monte Leone. The website does not advertise any summer kitesurfing or wing lessons.