It has occasionally made international news when some billionaire has paid out so much money that a top resort agrees to close a slope or two for their personal use. Those of us not so financially well-endowed protest loudly that we paid for our day’s skiing and that includes the run that is closed to us – even if we had no intention of going on it and there are dozens of alternatives. It’s the principle that counts!
Thankfully, at St Moritz you are not closing a ski slope to prevent the general public from using it, but having the area open up its famed Corvatsch ski area for your private use in the evening after the regular snow day ends. So not only are you not stopping everyone else skiing, you’re giving some bonus work hours to the centre’s employees – well done you!
Booking the slope for the personal use of yourself and any friends or business colleagues you wish is possible, thanks to the fact that the ski area is owned and operated by the same family that own the world’s original winter-sports hotel, the Kulm Hotel St Moritz, where the first winter mountain guests ever recorded – Brits, of course – checked in for the 1864/65 season even before the winter season had been thought of. The Kulm is now one of the world’s most luxurious 5★ hotels, and the owners this season also snapped up a second of the three St Moritz ski areas, Diavolezza-Lagalb.
For your CHF5,000 you get the floodlit ski area to yourself for three hours from 7 to 10pm (extra hours are available, up to midnight at the latest, at CHF1,500 per hour) and a lot of additional services too.
The family run ski areas and hotel as separate businesses, however, and there are a number of options for renting Corvatsch. The first is the “VIP Snow Night”, priced from CHF5,000, that’s open to all, and the second is the “Rent Your Own Mountain” experience priced from CHF10,000 that is specifically for Kulm guests, has added perks, and normally limits the number of skiers participating to just 10.
For your CHF5,000 you get the floodlit ski area to yourself for three hours from 7 to 10pm (extra hours are available, up to midnight at the latest, at CHF1,500 per hour) and a lot of additional services too.
For your CHF5,000 you get the floodlit ski area to yourself for three hours from 7 to 10pm (extra hours are available, up to midnight at the latest, at CHF1,500 per hour) and a lot of additional services too.
There are the essentials to start with that you might not think about – but along with the lift operators, your slopes will be groomed and ready for you, and the ski patrol are on hand just as they always are.
For the CHF10,000 version, for Kulm Hotel guests you get access for more than twice as long included, right through to 2am, transfer to/from the mountain and from/to the hotel; Swiss specialities including Raclette, Fondue, Fondue Chinoise, dessert, selected wines, coffee/tea and water included and entertainment with a private DJ. All other requests can normally be catered for.
In terms of catering, the ski area has three restaurants on hand and is happy to offer additional ideas just for you:
“Virtually everything is possible: perhaps hors d’oeuvres on the boarding platform and/or in the cable car cabin? You could have a drinks bar on the lift platform or make use of any of the three restaurants for your evening meal: Murtèl middle station, Alpetta and the Hossa Bar,” a Kulm spokesperson suggested.
Three restaurants will fulfil your culinary wishes. Once you have arrived at the bottom, you can make your way directly to the cable car boarding platform. You do not need a lift pass and there is no queueing at the turnstile. Drinks are awaiting you, which you can enjoy at your leisure as you do not have to wait for the next cable car, for it will depart when you are ready. You can decide how many trips up the mountain you make and when you want to stop for refreshments or a bite to eat. In addition, there are three restaurants on the mountain, ready to fulfil your culinary wishes. VIP Snow Night Corvatsch offers everything you could possibly need for an unforgettable night with your friends.
Private slope rental is available any evening of the week except Friday (when it is open to the public) between December and April and takes place on a 4.2km-long piste, which is the longest floodlit piste in Switzerland, with access provided by the Surlej-Murtèl lift after the pistes have been freshly groomed between 5 and 6.45pm.
The Kulm advises that while visibility will be good whatever the weather, wear lenses in your goggles or sunglasses with as light visibility as possible, and be aware that distances and speeds are more difficult to gauge at night than during the day.
It’s up to you just how many people you invite to share your private slope with you. The Kulm notes the minimum number for the slopes to operate is, well, one.
Basic: CHF5,000 (£3,800), Lux Package from CHF10,000 (£7,600).
Information: kulm.com / corvatsch.ch
