Vraiment Sympa! Verbier Ski Weekend 2016

28 February 2016–Brilliant sunshine, sweet reunions with old friends, some tweaking of long-forgotten quad muscles, new discoveries of professional common interests… These were just some of the highlights alumni experienced at the 18th annual INSEAD Verbier Ski Weekend when over 30 alumni and guests ventured to south-west Switzerland in January.

“We had another very international group this year, including Maki Ishiwatari MBA’06D from Japan. She managed to combine her business trip to Europe with the pleasure of meeting her INSEAD friends and ski with us in Verbier,” said Philippe Mauron MBA’95J, event co-organiser.

The event began, as usual, with dinner at the local favourite pizzeria, Al Capone. The next day, two groups set off for freeride-style skiing at Tortin, Mont Fort, Gentianes and Mont Gelé both back and front sides. Another group of more relaxed skiers experienced fun on gentler slopes and sunny terraces.

The Verbier region’s ski runs are long and steep. Many begin at around 3,000 meters. So for those visiting from lower elevations, it was the first time in a very long time that they experienced such challenges. There were reports of muscles soreness, but participants said it only served to make the memories brighter.

For Après-Ski the group gathered at the W open-air bar and Le Bec, followed by a sumptuous gourmet dinner at La Grange Restaurant and some more night-time entertainment in local watering holes, according to Yves Haldemann MBA’94D, the other co-organiser of this year’s event. In the words of one alumnus from France, it was a “vraiment sympa” event, both on and off the pistes!