Word has it that in Verbier ski destination the sun shines a little bit brighter, the snow settles in perfect champagne powder, and the champagne flows on into the small hours.

First light. Rays of sunshine dance over the Alps and illuminate the towering peak of Mont Fort – Verbier’s pièce de résistance, standing tall at an almighty 3,328 metres above sea level. By 9am, Place Centrale is alive with the vibrant footsteps of skiers and boarders, who have the kind of cool cachet that earns their spot on first lifts from the Médran.

There is no two ways about it – the Quatre Vallées playground isn’t for your average skier. Its undulating descents, rippling couloirs and menu of iconic itinerary runs weave seamlessly together to map out one of Europe’s finest networks of off-piste skiing.

Lift-served off-piste territory is Verbier’s speciality, and it comes in an abundance. The sprawling mogul field of Tortin holds the allure of a backcountry route that would usually warrant a substantial hike to reap its rewards. In Verbier, it is straight to business.

The Chassoure chair whisks skiers to the top. Keep a high traverse to take the link to the Col de Mouches, or drop a skier’s left further down to find fresh potential on the steeper couloir section. Regroup, then head to the Mont Gelé cable to access backside descents that fearlessly unravel in a multitude of lines, mellow traverses, wide open bowls and steep faces. Up next, the dramatic summit of Mont Fort. Monster moguls await from the moment skiers hop off the cable, followed by a series of well-earned, smooth turns that lead harmoniously on to the next itinerary run, Gentianes. All in a day’s work.

Style is paired effortlessly with substance. Mornings filled with anticipation are met by carefree afternoons indulging in one exhilarating descent after another. This kind of skiing is addictive, and the only tonic to the day drawing to a close is the rumbling energy of the town coming to life for an evening of revelry. Après ski takes on its own identity in the legendary Le Farinet bar ski destination and lounge. The atmosphere in the room is electric as the bar’s iconic glass roof slowly slides open, the twang of guitar strings reverberates from wall to wall, and tables take on new form as the base for a foot-stomping party.

This world-famous bar is often frequented by A-Listers and Royals, but even this celebrity endorsement isn’t what gives it its edge. It is the collective adrenaline that is unique to a room filled with skiers who have just reached dizzying heights of ski-fuelled ecstasy.

Parties roll on into the small hours, whether at the Farm Club – the place to see and be seen – or at Etoile Le Rouge, where once worn-out ski legs find new life with the help of a programme of sought-after DJs. This is a party town in its own right, but first and foremost, the revellers are here to ski. Late nights are closely followed by early mornings, where the defining sounds of ski boots stomping on bar tops are replaced by them eagerly squeaking and clipping into position for the day ahead.

Five-star luxury is in no short supply, but this isn’t what is unique about Verbier’s offering. Neither is its choice of exquisite gourmet eateries, its boutique shops that line the cobbled streets or the well-heeled clientele that walk them.

You can rest your head in The Lodge ski destination, Sir Richard Branson’s own luxury ski chalet, and also have one of the world’s most exceptional off-piste playgrounds at your fingertips. A popular option for the hipster chic is the W Verbier ski destination know for their Apres ski gatherings at the Wet Lounge.  There is no need for compromise; this is a place where the world’s greats come to work hard and play harder, and the energy is magnetic.

All eyes are on Verbier each spring as the Freeride World Tour – one of the world’s most iconic ski competitions – arrives for its final stop; the eagerly awaited and much anticipated final. A selection of the world’s best freeride skiers and boarders one by one descend the sheer and seemingly impossible face of the Bec des Rosses, ticking off an awe-inspiring itinerary of playful 360s and backflips as they work their way down through narrow corridors of snow, surrounded by a jungle of craggy rocks and ridges.

For an event defined by the work of the world’s elite, there is no more fitting place for proceedings to culminate. The energy is refined, the focus is contagious and, as an audience of skiers bask in the sunshine taking it all in from the viewing spot at Gentianes, there is a collective feeling that they’ve come to the right place.

There is something special about Verbier, and a piece of the action awaits.