Sport and Skiing
An active life in the heart of Switzerland
At Surval Montreux, sport is an important part of school life.
Our aim is to help every girl enjoy an active lifestyle, whether she is already a keen sportswoman or is discovering a new activity for the first time. With our location above Lake Geneva and within easy reach of the Swiss Alps, the opportunities extend far beyond a traditional school sports programme.
Girls can make use of Surval's own tennis court, dance studio, fitness gym and surrounding woodland, while our location opens up opportunities for activities including horse riding, sailing and other watersports, cycling, running and skiing.
Sport within the High School week
Sport is built into the American High School programme.
Girls benefit from two timetabled sport afternoons each week, with a varied programme of recreational and competitive activities designed to offer something for different interests and levels of experience.
Activities can include:
Horse Riding | Volleyball | Sailing | Skiing | Yoga | Cycling | Running
Students who want to pursue a sport at a higher level can also access additional super-curricular opportunities, which may include horse riding, swimming, running, tennis, watersports and ski or snowboard racing.
The sample curricula in the latest Course Guide also show how physical activity sits within the school week alongside academic and creative subjects, with dedicated time for both Physical Education and Sport across Grades 8–12.
From the mountains to the lake
Sport at Surval changes with the seasons.
Winter brings the mountains and snow. As the weather changes, Lake Geneva and the surrounding landscape create a completely different playground.
The school website and prospectus highlight opportunities including watersports, horse riding, cycling and golf, alongside Surval's own facilities and surrounding woodland.
This variety is one of the advantages of studying in Montreux. Girls can experience very different sports and environments during the same school year — from skiing in the Alps to activities on and around Lake Geneva.
From the mountains to the lake
Sport at Surval changes with the seasons.
Winter brings the mountains and snow. As the weather changes, Lake Geneva and the surrounding landscape create a completely different playground.
The school website and prospectus highlight opportunities including watersports, horse riding, cycling and golf, alongside Surval's own facilities and surrounding woodland.
This variety is one of the advantages of studying in Montreux. Girls can experience very different sports and environments during the same school year — from skiing in the Alps to activities on and around Lake Geneva.
Challenge yourself
Sport at Surval is also about what girls learn about themselves.
Trying a new sport, progressing on the ski slopes or taking part in an outdoor challenge can require perseverance and a willingness to step outside a comfort zone.
For some girls, achievement might mean developing their sport at a competitive level. For another, it could be learning to ski for the first time, completing a challenging hike or discovering that she loves sailing.
Our approach is inclusive: there should be something for every girl, at a level that is right for her. That principle is explicit in Surval's latest Course Guide.
Sport, wellbeing and balance
Physical activity is an important counterbalance to academic life.
Surval's programme is designed to encourage girls to develop habits that support their health, wellbeing and lifelong participation in sport and outdoor activity.
Our Swiss setting makes that particularly natural. Fresh air, mountains, woodland and the lake are part of everyday life rather than something reserved for an occasional school trip.
And because Surval is a small community, sport is also highly social — a chance to spend time together, try something different and share experiences outside the classroom.
Sport beyond the timetable
An active Surval life continues beyond curriculum sport.
Weekend activities revolve around Adventure, Culture and Sport, with excursions giving girls further opportunities to explore Switzerland and enjoy its landscape with their friends.
Students can also become involved in sports through clubs and wider school life, while those wishing to pursue particular activities at a higher level can explore additional opportunities with local providers.