 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello forum,
I'm looking for an ESF English speaking school in France, with instructors available for level 4 skiing group. Ideally, at some place where probability of snow would be higher in late January, and where are an option to do a ski tour / off piste skiing after the school. If it will be closer to Lyon, that would be awesome.
Any recommendations for ski resorts / schools?
I checked ESF website, but they have SO many schools, so I'm a bit lost 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You might want to check out ESF schools in Les Deux Alpes or Alpe d’Huez both have great late January snow, solid Level 4 instructors, and are fairly close to Lyon.
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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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@sherpc, any reason why it has to be ESF?
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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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"Level 4"? On which scale? 
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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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Gen2/Gavin Crosby (he's a  ) in SerreChevalier
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@sherpc, Welcome to SH's.
My understanding is ESF is franchise based and they do vary in terms of customer service. But I don't use them so no personal experience. However, I remember reading on here St Foy is a good one. And it would match your off piste requirement.
Late Jan is peak winter - you don't need to worry about snow cover per se.
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Thanks a lot for responses and references!
> any reason why it has to be ESF?
Main reason is their pricing / instructor quality ratio, as far as I heard about it Around 200 euro per 5 days of group lessons -- sounds super reasonable to me.
> "Level 4"? On which scale? Puzzled
ESF has their scale, see their website: https://www.esf-uk.co.uk/levels-and-tests/adult-lessons/
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@sherpc, hmmm, never heard ESF described as particularly good value before
Any ski school in France would cope. Personal recommendations of more value. Pick a resort then someone might be able to help.
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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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@under a new name, got you! Any other school recommendations then?
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Surely any ski school will cope. If you're looking for a group you don't get to pick instructor so you're left with the lottery of what you get. That said from what I've seen of ESF recently they have a fair ratio of u40 instructors and not so many of the old "follow me" dinosaurs anymore so I'm not so sure the traditional avoid ESF advice holds.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@sherpc, I had a great weekend with a trainer from (iirc) Oxygene in la Plagne. I’d check out Alpine Experience in Val d’Isere, more a guiding company but pretty sure they do courses. Warren Smith’s outfit in Verbier , etc
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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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New Generation have a good rep iirc.
I agree with under that ESF in general are not greatly regarded with Brit skiers/families.
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Thanks heads!
> If you're looking for a group you don't get to pick instructor
I'm actually planning of having my own group of teammates with me, but not sure will get enough guys onboard to have a reasonable price. But, reading your answers, I'm starting to think that maybe it's a better idea. Then I would appreciate any specific instructors recommendations, other than already provided ones
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You know it makes sense.
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I've done the level 4 with ESF in La Plagne, Les Menuires and somewhere else, maybe Les Arc, that I can't remember right now. Tried to do it in Andorra but the group was lucky if it was level 3 so it was slow and no fun.
They were all really good weeks. I get the impression the instructors like it as it's a pretty quick class and they can throw in some other bits like 'piste proximite' or whatever they call all the stuff off the back of the pistes that isn't really off-piste. Every instructor I've had has been really nice and we've had good conversations over the week.
I signed up for an off-piste course in Les Menures with ESF but after 30 mins it was apparent it wasn't really an instructional class it was just guided off-piste. I didn't have the technique to keep up and it was so tiring the little technique I did have fell apart after an hour. I switched back to the level 4 class the next day. That's an advantage of ESF, as they have loads of classes you can swop about to get something the right level. We always go April, I'd say there's usually 6 in a level 4 class. If there's a few folks they'll split it into two classes based on ability or sometimes by age if there's a load of teenagers with zero-self preservation instinct and an itching for the park.
Folks seem to really dislike ESF but for 200 odd euros for the week I meet folks and get to ski with similar ability folks while my kids do lessons. I also see more of the resort than anyone else in the group do as they just ski together and spend a lot of time reading maps. In LM we got out to every corner in the mornings when snow was good, over the week: Orelle, Courcheval, Signal. I say it's more like having a guide that gives you a bit of instruction.
You pays your money and all that. If you fancy it, do it. It's fun.
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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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@sherpc, Why France? Anywhere will be good late Jan. If you're a group and all of similar ability then why not hire a private instructor instead? Here in Austria we have 1 to 5 levels as well as freeride courses , ski guiding and Park. The school will match the instructor to your booking and for a group, the private rates will be similar to individual ski school bookings but with the flexibility to match your programme.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@RedandWhiteFlachau, yeah now I'm thinking closer to hire a private instructor for the group.
France cause logistics to Lyon is the easiest to us, considering Alps And if there no big difference I would prefer simpler logistics.
Anyway, could you please shout some instructor recommendations in Austria?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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French ski schools will be accustomed to somebody "renting" an instructor the day, or half a day. I think the term is "engagement". But at very busy (school holiday) times of the year this won't always be possible and would certainly need booking, and paying for, well in advance.
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