 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Guys,
Can anyone please recommend a good 'English speaking' ski school for my 9 and 5 year old for a DIY ski holiday somewhere in France (8-10 h drive from calais)?
Previously we've gone via tour ops but because we're stuck with Feb half term we're stuck with Feb Half term prices. So...we're quite happy to drive to resort which will save us over £1k in flights alone and then book accommodation independently, perhaps slightly out of resort (since we'll have the car) but really, the key for a happy holiday (for us) is going to be the kids enjoying ski school which also means an English speaking ski school.
So if anyone can recommend a good 'English speaking' ski school suitable for kids that i can book independently within a 10h drive from Calais I'd be very grateful.
We have done the family skiing companies before but, especially for half term, they're prohibitively expensive for us, hence why i'm looking into a DIY trip next year 
Thanks in advance
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Zigzag ski school in samoens are amazing! We have used them numerous times and always had amazing instructors who all speak English and have brought the kids on brilliantly! And one of the closest resorts to Calais as a bonus! Good luck
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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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@The_Mac_Daddy, kind of, sort of, almost any ski school these days “offers” anglophone lessons.
But of course, some are better than others.
Evolution2 in Chamonix have some English folks doing bookings, etc. you could reasonably trust that if you booked anglo lessons, you’d get them.
If it was me - I’d choose resort and accomm first (maybe without confirming) and check with the local schools.
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@The_Mac_Daddy, I can recommend New Generation in Serre Chevalier, based in le Monetier-les-Bains, Gavin is as good as they come. , but couple of things if your kids need separate lessons, i.e. they are of different standards, that migh not be possible. Click the link in my signature for some more info on the area.
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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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Oxygene in la plagne - great school
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Oxygene in la plagne - great school
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Ecorider in Chamonix. Used them a few times and our kids who are of similar age loved them. European instructors but all spoke English well.
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I see El Tarter in Andorra is 11h from Calais. Just to mix things up 
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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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Thanks for the suggestions guys - i'll do a bit of research / check availability see how I go
Many thanks
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Evolution 2 in Montchavin. Great English speaking instructors with maximum size classes of 8. Also smaller family oriented village but part of the La Plagne ski area so likely to be cheaper than the big name resorts popular with tour operators.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The two that stand out for me are Freedom 2 Ski in Avoriaz (Pete Hughes) and ZigZag in Samoens. We've used other good ones too, but those two have been the best and are both within the driving time from Calais you mention.
I would try to book ASAP though, for half term, as they are likely to be very busy.
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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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Info from the Les Deux Alpes thread I keep on here
If you want British instruction there are several options -
- Easiski (Charlotte) has been here a long time and has many SH fans
- Tip top ski coaching, Alex Chapman who's a SH has gone on her own this winter after working for ESS and under this banner for summer skiing.
- European Ski School have Ian Huyton who has been there several years and Craig Nelder who has arrived to teach snowboarding, I've met him, nice guy. Lawrence and Simon Edwards, owner Jeremy's sons run it now and are Brits/Italian. Also one Belgian and many Italians who all speak excellent English
- BASS Rod Frazer who is highly rated.
- all other schools, ESF, ESI and Firstrax, have other English speaking French and Italian instructors. Some I know personally are very fluent.
- for off piste adventures any of the above but Damien Albert is probably the best especially if you want really gnarly.
I would add that some ie ESS are very reasonably priced. I've found that some Brit schools charge a hefty premium.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Claude B wrote: |
I would add that some ie ESS are very reasonably priced. I've found that some Brit schools charge a hefty premium. |
Yup....but (imo) small classes of high quality instruction, given by people who are native English speakers, from bijou ski schools, will generally be dearer but are often worth it. It's possible to get close to this from the big Ski Schools, but much more difficult.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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European Ski School isn't big, just here with perhaps 20 instructors. A 2 hour private (and you can ask for a native English speaker) is only 90E (a bit more for more than one).
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Claude B wrote: |
| European Ski School isn't big, just here with perhaps 20 instructors. A 2 hour private (and you can ask for a native English speaker) is only 90E (a bit more for more than one). |
Sorry, I should have quoted you more carefully. My comment was really aimed at the bigger ski schools; and to some degree, justifying the extra premium of British ski schools, especially for Classes. On Privates, you have a say over who teaches and can suss out the native English speakers.
My kids have had decent "class" instruction from ESI (L2A) and Evo 2. It wasn't as good as the British ones we've used (like Supreme), but was a decent compromise between cost and quality.
In Val D'Isere, Snow Fun used to have an English section in their ski school, where an afternoon private was around 90E (now 130E)...but alas, I think that the English section no longer exists.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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@skimottaret, A good choice for ski instructors but maybe not the best choice for trying to do a family half term week on a budget.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Ski New Generation. Never had a bad experience with these guys. La Plagne, Courchevel, 3V and Val D I think.
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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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To be honest when our kids were young we never had a problem with the French instructors speaking English. We did tend to go for fewer private lessons as they got older rather than the standard classes but even with these they had a good time. Even with ESF 😅. Standouts have been Gavin at New Gen in Serre Che and A Peak in Montgenevre
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@olderscot, Where did the OP say he was looking for a budget holiday? Plenty drive to the 3V's and use self catering apartments over half term and costs aren't too bad plus the skiing is great!...
@The_Mac_Daddy, My kids went through the ESF progression until they finished their badges, then we put them into Magic Academy which they loved ...
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