Ski and sliding
Ski lessons and ski passes for children: how does it work?
It’s been decided: this year’s spring holidays will be in the resorts! And once you’ve chosen your destination and accommodation, it’s the turn of the ski passes and lessons. The question is simple: what do I need for my children? Full day or half day? If they take ski lessons, do they need a ski pass? Interview with Jérémie Noyrey, Deputy Director General of the SNMSF (Syndicat National des Moniteurs du Ski Français) and a list of the best deals.
At what age can children enrol for ski lessons?
Depending on the resort and the ESF’s capacity, and depending on the day nurseries (often called Chalet des enfants), from the age of 3.
Piou Piou clubs give children aged 3 to 5 the chance to learn to ski in a fun, supervised environment. Children are welcomed into a play area to facilitate changes of scenery, encourage interest and progress gently. The children move around in safe areas suited to their abilities (Blanchot Sifflotte, Garolou) and develop a degree of independence, as they can move around on their own. The aim is to encourage repetition and progress. When children have had a good time, they leave with a smile on their face and look forward to coming back the next day to play and learn to ski!
When I take ski lessons for my children,
do I need to buy a package?
This will depend on the agreements between the ski lifts and the ESFs at local level. Some ESFs offer prices that include ski passes, others do not. Up to a certain level, you don’t need a ski pass either. The best thing is to check with your instructors each time you sign up.
How do you choose ski lessons for children in spring?
At the time of booking, the receptionists ask a number of questions to assess the child’s skiing ability. The easiest way is to refer to the child’s development within our teaching methodology, i.e. the famous Oursons, Flocons, 1ère étoile, etc.
A child who has obtained the 1st star will then move on to the 2nd star preparation course, for example, while a child who is just starting out will start with the Piou Piou club. Groups are then formed as far as possible, taking into account the specific needs of each child (language, height, etc.).
Morning, afternoon, full day… What do you recommend?
For the full day, morning or afternoon, it depends on the parents’ choice and the children’s ‘stamina’. So it’s a personal choice. For example, some children do a lot of sport and skiing all day is not a problem. If that’s not the case, it’s better to opt for a half-day, at least to start with. For very young children, the nurseries are designed to meet their needs as best as possible: skiing, playing, eating and napping.
Should I opt for group or private lessons?
Group lessons are a great way to meet new people and encourage emulation, sharing and team spirit. Private lessons can be used to meet more specific objectives, such as preparing for an event like a slalom, an off-piste race or a rando. They also allow you to progress at your own pace.
At what age can my child start snowboarding?
Snowboarding is attracting younger and younger children. However, 6-7 seems to be the best age to start.
What other activities
can you learn about ESF?
Depending on the skills and prerogatives of each person (alpine or Nordic state diploma), the ESF can offer lessons and supervision for winter sports activities such as alpine skiing, freestyle, freeride, Nordic, snowboarding, telemark, hiking, snowshoeing… and sometimes even activities such as tobogganing.
Are there any courses reserved for families?
Because of the differences in levels, the adult/child mix is often more difficult. That said, once you’ve reached a certain level, it’s perfectly possible to book an instructor for a family. The important thing is to ensure that the group is homogeneous, so as not to push around the less experienced skiers and hold back the best. In particular, this winter we have launched 8 packs, which focus on the idea of creating a group, having fun and discovering new things, without any notion of technique. So the whole family can enjoy it.