Son (now 12) completed 3 star in February this year and so naturally put him into Bronze for next February.
Not having experience of this level is there significant difference or mainly technique based? I don't want to push him too hard and if not having fun there's no point. He's a good little skier at 3 star and I want him to improve to be confident in any conditions but not at the expense of fun I don't want him worried to death as he's pointed down black after black.
What point did you or children children stop lessons and maybe take the odd private lesson? Did they gain much at bronze or starts to focus on race training, which we're not interested in? He's definitely got room for development but that hopefully will come with age and miles under the skis.
This is not meant to be a lets bash ESF post, I've never had any issues and in Val Cenis options are limited. Just a parent trying to do the right thing.
Thank you.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
My son earned the bronze level last December, and I don't think it was too challenging for him, especially after completing the 3-star level.
I think the biggest leap comes after bronze, whether it’s moving on to silver or gold. I don’t remember the specifics very well, but I believe it was mostly focused on a little bit technical aspects, with a bit of snowpark thrown in (nothing too advanced, though). He didn’t seem to have any trouble with it. In my opinion, the real challenge comes after silver—or maybe even after gold.
Regarding your second question, both my son (and my daughter, who is about to complete the 3-star level) are eager to progress further. My son will join something like the riders club course (or whatever it’s called) and later hei wants participate in competition courses. I’m not pushing them into it or anything—it’s entirely their own motivation.
Let him do it, and if he says that it is too much for him, he could always goes one step back and do the 3* again.
PS my kids made half-day courses always, do not know if this plays a role
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?
We had French neighbours in a much bigger and smarter apartment than ours who put their three girls through all the ESF stages. They were all quite keen, and skied a lot, not just once a year, but I remember several times one of them being disappointed not to "pass" for the next grade up. It definitely wasn't a case of doing one week at each level, as the standards got tougher. Useful info and video here https://www.esf-uk.co.uk/levels-and-tests/children-lessons/
@James77, Mine did ESF all the way through to the Chamois/Fleche race levels.
3* -> Bronze was mainly technique - you have to show appropriate technique on a slalom course (amongst other things), but not deliver a particular time. They were pushed in terms of difficulty, but never uncomfortable, and enjoyed it all the time.
Bronze -> Gold (there was no silver until recently, so mine had to go straight to gold) was a much bigger step. I think it was 2 weeks (20hrs of private lessons) to get from Bronze to gold, whereas the previous steps were 1 week (10hrs private) each. At Gold level, they were happily skiing blacks well, but still struggled off piste. My daughter (turquoise jacket) was 1-yr post gold in this video. My son (green helmet) was Fleche d'Or.
Mine continued to make visible progress in all-round skiing ability all the way up to Fleche d'Or. Our local competition class did a broad mix of skiing - a day of gate training, a day of racing, and 4 days of other stuff - lots of off piste, moguls etc. My kids did it a couple of times and enjoyed it - they got the best instructors and small groups.
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