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To book your ski school we will need to make a note
of your ski/board level in order to confirm your
lessons with the relevant ski school. If you are not
sure what level you are, or just wish to double
check, please have a read of this page. We advise
that you pick the level most relevant to you and
don’t overstate or under compensate, although
sometimes it can be possible to move groups once your
are there, it would be better you were in the right
group in the first place. Below are the level
boundaries set by the Ecole du Ski Francais. 99% of
our lessons are run by ESF; although a couple are run
by European Ski School but the levels would primarily
be the same. Piou Piou & Ourson are awarded at
ski Kindergarten level for the little ones (usually
ages 3, 4 & 5). For older children (normally from
5 or 6 years), they go straight from beginner/Flocon
level to 1st Star level skiing. Adults are usually
from 12yrs old. For snowboard levels, usually the
minimum age is 8-10yrs old depending on resort.
Ski Levels
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CHILDREN
(3-11yrs)
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ADULT
(12+yrs)
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BEGINNERS (from around 4yrs of age)
– your child has never skied before or
has completed his ‘Ourson’*. He
will start the week at kindergarten, according
to his level and then moves on to open slopes.
A skipass is normally necessary at this stage
but it does depend on resort.
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BEGINNERS – you have never skied
before and have never taken a drag lift. You
will learn to become familiar with equipment,
balance, snowplough turn, speed control and use
of ski lifts.
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1st STAR PREPARATION – your child
can take a drag lift and has the
‘Flocon’*. He can snowplough on
green slopes. He will begin to learn the method
of parallel turns.
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LEVEL 1 – you have skied for one
week, can take a drag lift and ski on green
slopes. You will learn the art of sideslipping.
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2nd STAR PREPARATION – your child
will have ‘1st Star’. He can ski
with ease on gentle slopes. The method of
parallel turning will be perfected.
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LEVEL 2 – you can turn parallel on
blue slopes but do not yet feel confident on
red slopes. You will perfect basic side slopes
and high speed turns.
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3rd STAR PREPARATION – your child
will have ‘2nd Star’. He can turn
parallel on blue and red slopes with ease. The
idea of this level is progress with all
situations such as slalom, speed control and
achieve a black run.
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LEVEL 3 – you can turn parallel on
all types of slopes except in powder. You will
perfect high speed turns and experience all
types of snow and terrain.
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BRONZE STAR - your child will have
‘3rd star’. He will be able to make
wide and narrow turns with ski parallel.
Comfortable with all kind of sideslipping.
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GOLD STAR – giant slalom, timed.
Use of technical and high speed turns over
varied terrain.
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INTRODUCTION TO COMPETITION - your child
will have ‘Gold star’. Need a very
satisfactory technical level to go for
competition.
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INTRODUCTION TO GRAND TOURISME - you can
make short turns in mogul fields, steep slopes
in all conditions and types of ski area.
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GRAND TOURISME – you can make
short turns in mogul fields, steep slopes in
all conditions and types of ski area.
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*Ourson – is able to do snaking snowplough
turns, stop using snow plough, put on equipment and
has used some lifts.
*Flocon – holds the ‘Ourson’ and
can control his/her speed, retains his/her balance
while sliding faster with skis parallel both across
and down the slope, on both skis or from one ski to
the other, over smooth terrain on a gentle slope. Can
brake and stop and is starting to be able to
sideslip.
Snowboard Levels (from 8-10yrs)
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ADULTS & CHILDREN (from
8-10yrs)
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BEGINNERS – never ridden a
snowboard before. You will learn changing
direction on both sides of the fall line.
Direct line facing down the slope, normal foot
or fakie.
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LEVEL 1 – one week’s
experience. Linking wobbly front and backside
turns. Has completed the snowboarding starter
level.
Is starting to be able to change direction,
can move along by sideslipping and can get up
off the ground.
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LEVEL 2 – 2 or 3 week’s
experience, attempting first tricks and jumps.
Holds the Level 1 snowboard.
Can complete a series of frontside and
backside turns on a green piste, can stop by
sideslipping and can sideslip diagonally
forwards then backwards and use a ski tow.
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LEVEL 3 – experienced rider,
perfecting skills in the snowpark. Holds the
Level 2 snowboard.
Can snowboard on blue and red pistes and also
in the snowpark, can easily complete a series
of turns on blue pistes with little
sideslipping.
Is starting to be able to complete fakie turns
on green pistes and can do ollies and also
sliding and jumping 180° rotations.
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