 Poster: A snowHead
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Dear All,
Just wondering if there are any British Pisteurs out there who could offer information and advice about how to become a pisteur in France.
As I understand it there is a selection process that happens somewhere in the alps every year where prospective pisteurs are assessed on their skiing down a marked area of off piste terrain. Second to that I understand there is a course which is run in Chamonix which must be passed. Further than that I am unsure how the process works.
Perhaps it will be something I would need to look into further once I am back in resort but if there is anyone out there who can shed any light on the topic I would be really grateful.
Cheers!
Sam
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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sjb1989, There is a fairly senior pisteur in Tignes who is British.
The requirements are on the ENSA website.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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sjb1989, welcome to Snowheads.  Don't know about British ones, but I spent an interesting few hours with a French pisteur last winter (a new tourist facility - open to all and well worth it). I was extremely impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the team. Between them they have a fair few language skills though absolutely fluent French, including complex radio comms with doctors about injuries, would be a primary requirement. And obviously they are all very strong skiers, as well as strong people generally to help with evacuations and rescues. I love the way the pisteurs ski - without poles, obviously, always so poised and relaxed.
In my area (Espace Diamant) they are practically all locals, apparently, but he said that there were a lot more non-locals in the big Tarentaise resorts.
Bonne chance. I imagine that getting on to the training course is highly competitive. The guy I "shadowed" was also a qualified "artificier" though he didn't chuck any explosives around when I was with him.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Way back in the day it was said that the local pupils who sat attentively at the front, learning well became ski instructors, the ones in the middle carried on farming while the ones causing trouble at the back became pisteurs.
A friend was one and they all have legendary ski capabilities. He had done his national service in the Chausseurs Alpin.
Not, sjb1989, that its an impossible goal. I know of one Brit pisteur in training. But there aren't so many of them... If you look at the ENSA site, pre requisites are a first aid certificate which will almost certainly only me set in French and the Fleche Vermeille.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I knew a girl who went thro the system.
She passed but was told that they wouldn't employ a girl.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Neil Wilson is an English (well Geordie  ) pisteur at Les Deux Alpes and has been for many years, not sure exactly how many but he's been out there almost 20 years. If you wanted to contact him I could point you in his direction.
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| jbob wrote: |
I knew a girl who went thro the system.
She passed but was told that they wouldn't employ a girl. |
Shared a lift up from Champagny with a very nice young lady who was a pisteur there 
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| Claude B wrote: |
| Neil Wilson is an English (well Geordie ) pisteur at Les Deux Alpes and has been for many years, not sure exactly how many but he's been out there almost 20 years. If you wanted to contact him I could point you in his direction. |
Claude B, if you could point me in his direction I would be incredibly grateful! It woudl be good to chat to a Brit who has gone through the system!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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sjb1989, just bear in mind that the system 20 years ago will probably not be the system today...
Jbob, I've met quite a few pisteuses.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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sjb1989 The lad who does the pisting at Yad Moss in the Pennines is a bit of a whizz. (They have a proper piste basher!)
I've heard that he is so fanatical that he has been known to give up ski time in the Alps to go out with the pisteurs . He might give you some pointers?!
You could try e mailing Yad Moss?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Once you're qualified as a pisteur work isn't guaranteed. Each area maintains a list and hire downwards. You only move up it (1) if your family are connected or (2) if someone retires or gets injured.
A good friend (French, mountain local) managed to get one and a half seasons as he replaced injured people. He has since given up to do other things as having a mortgage and young child made such employment uncertainty too risky.
Another friend (also a French mountain local) qualified and went straight into work, he's now on his third season. His dad is the chief pisteur.
Good luck, but be aware how things work in the French alps.
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sjb1989,
First things first. Are you fluent in French?
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You know it makes sense.
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The team leader of the young guy I went out with was a woman, and so was another team member.
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FAQ
