Ski school levels

For children aged 3-4 in most resorts. It will introduce children to the mountain environment, introducing them to their skis and snowplough on the nursery slope.

There are 3 levels of Piou Piou:

• Blanchot - your child knows how to put their equipment on and come to a stop unaided

• Sifflote - your child can snowplough in a controlled movement and use their first lifts

• Garalou - your child is starting to learn basic turns

From 4 years old, they have either gone through Piou Piou or may be new to skiing. They will start the week in the nursery slope area and instructors will assess readiness for green slopes as the week progresses.

Your child has never skied before or has completed his ‘Ourson’*. They will start the week at kindergarten, according to their level and then moves on to open slopes. A skipass is normally necessary at this stage but it does depend on resort.

Your child can take a drag lift and has the ‘Flocon’*. They can snowplough on green slopes. They will begin to learn the method of parallel turns.

Your child will have ‘1st Star’. They can ski with ease on gentle slopes. The method of parallel turning will be perfected.

Your child will have ‘2nd Star’. They 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.

Your child will have ‘3rd star’. They will be able to make wide and narrow turns with ski parallel. Comfortable with all kind of sideslipping.

Your child will have their Bronze Star and feel comfortable on all types of snow. You will work on refining sculling practicee and will perform your first simple jumping figures. 

Please note: not all ski schools offer Silver Star level. Please enquire about your chosen resort.

Giant slalom, timed. Use of technical and high speed turns over varied terrain.

Your child will have Gold star. Need a very satisfactory technical level to go for competition.

You can make short turns in mogul fields, steep slopes in all conditions and types of ski area.

You can make short turns in mogul fields, steep slopes in all conditions and types of ski area.

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.

You have skied for one week, can take a drag lift and ski on green slopes. You will learn the art of sideslipping.

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.

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.

You're an accomplished skier, able to ski on most terrain and want to perfect your technique while exploring the limits of the resort.

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.

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.

Two or three 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.

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.