 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, on the back of my previous thread on ski lessons...
Has anyone any experience of booking private ESF lessons in Chatel for half term week? The office there seems to be closed at the moment so I can't get an answer!
What I really want to know is if they run private lessons in the morning during half term week, or are they limited to lunchtime / afternoon sessions? I'm looking for something like 90 minute lessons for a 5 year old who has skied before.
Any other reviews / thoughts also appreciated!
Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'm not sure I can be of much help, as I've never been to Chatel....but anywhere I've had a choice between the ESF and ESI, I have chosen the latter with success. Maybe worth checking out what they have to offer.
I see a Brit listed in their team...and they also say they have an Irish instructor.
https://www.esichatel.com/
With luck, someone might come up with a name.
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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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yes, i'd go for ESI too, though I've no experience of Chatel. I've used them a great deal in Les Saisies.
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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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I have used ESI Chatel before (and echo the recommendations, they were very good and brilliantly helpful, we've had three different instructors, all top class), the only reason I'm looking at other options is I'm looking for some private lessons and they can only offer 2pm onwards during half term. The worry is that if I do any skiing with my 5 year old before he'll be too tired for the lesson and after will be getting late in the day with poor snow etc.
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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 had one adult guest last season who booked a two-hour private lesson with them, not realising that I could have just done it for her. She tried to cancel but they wouldn't allow it so she went along anyway, while I skied, not actually 'teaching' with the other three (better) members of her group.
It was terrible. Instructor turned up late, having been in the cafe at Pre la Joux, perhaps 150m from the marked ESF meeting point, and claimed that he was at the right place. Then for an hour and a half, having paid for two hours, he went through the motions but appeared bored, before leving her on the mountain near to where we'd arranged to meet fifteen minutes before the official end time.
Obviously depends on the instructor on the day, but if they've got one bad one like this... well I certainly will be advising my guests to steer well clear in the future.
I do have one personal recommendation, Ross and Rory at Blue Chilli are great.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Chaletbeauroc, I have had some dodgy Group Lessons - but that was years ago.
I have had many Private Lessons - and some were good and some were great....but if that had happened to me, having shelled out for a Private Lesson, I would have had a "Discussion" with the head of the ski school.
I hope your guest made their feelings known and at the very least, I would expect another lesson with a different instructor without further payment...or refunded for that one.
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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
I have had many Private Lessons - and some were good and some were great....but if that had happened to me, having shelled out for a Private Lesson, I would have had a "Discussion" with the head of the ski school.
I hope your guest made their feelings known and at the very least, I would expect another lesson with a different instructor without further payment...or refunded for that one. |
Yes, I encouraged her to do so, she went off with the other lady while I drove the guys back (from PlJ) with that intention but somehow they got sidetracked on the way supermarket shopping, IIRC.
As it happens they all had a great day overall, was really poor vis so I just had them king close behind me most of the time, short turns, pole plants, keep your eyes downhill on me... and the next day it was sunny so we had a great cruise around and a nice lunch n the Swiss side.
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Couple a years ago booked for the Kids 2h für one day...tgey loved it...but that has ro do with the instructor
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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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| sonicdafisch wrote: |
Hi, on the back of my previous thread on ski lessons...
Has anyone any experience of booking private ESF lessons in Chatel for half term week? The office there seems to be closed at the moment so I can't get an answer!
What I really want to know is if they run private lessons in the morning during half term week, or are they limited to lunchtime / afternoon sessions? I'm looking for something like 90 minute lessons for a 5 year old who has skied before.
Any other reviews / thoughts also appreciate
Thanks! |
We mostly use ESF private lessons in Chatal and find them excellent. Half term is normally lunchtime or early afternoon. We find this timing works for us during February as allows kids to get a lie-in as they are knackered from school and need easy mornings. Also less crowded at these times. The instructors are very good as many come from the local valley - our eldest got her gold (from silver) this February from just daily one hour lessons as we left it very late to book. Key for them to progress is to free ski with parents outside of lessons. Super Châtel area will be better for 5 year old as much more chilled during holidays and we normally book our season slots by email in October. The Max Six group lessons are also great as groups are small and well managed.
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| sonicdafisch wrote: |
| I have used ESI Chatel before (and echo the recommendations, they were very good and brilliantly helpful, we've had three different instructors, all top class), the only reason I'm looking at other options is I'm looking for some private lessons and they can only offer 2pm onwards during half term. The worry is that if I do any skiing with my 5 year old before he'll be too tired for the lesson and after will be getting late in the day with poor snow etc. |
I don’t think they will be too tired if you break up the morning session and kids tend to progress well on cut up snow as it works their body position. You will be fine at Super Châtel as much more relaxed for the family. The crazies are normally at PLJ heading towards Avoriaz.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Kids don't much bother about the quality of the snow, in my experience. If he has a decent rest and lunch, he should be good to go. You can take your cue from him as to how much to do in the mornings.
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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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| Ozboy wrote: |
| sonicdafisch wrote: |
Hi, on the back of my previous thread on ski lessons...
Has anyone any experience of booking private ESF lessons in Chatel for half term week? The office there seems to be closed at the moment so I can't get an answer!
What I really want to know is if they run private lessons in the morning during half term week, or are they limited to lunchtime / afternoon sessions? I'm looking for something like 90 minute lessons for a 5 year old who has skied before.
Any other reviews / thoughts also appreciate
Thanks! |
We mostly use ESF private lessons in Chatal and find them excellent. Half term is normally lunchtime or early afternoon. We find this timing works for us during February as allows kids to get a lie-in as they are knackered from school and need easy mornings. Also less crowded at these times. The instructors are very good as many come from the local valley - our eldest got her gold (from silver) this February from just daily one hour lessons as we left it very late to book. Key for them to progress is to free ski with parents outside of lessons. Super Châtel area will be better for 5 year old as much more chilled during holidays and we normally book our season slots by email in October. The Max Six group lessons are also great as groups are small and well managed. |
This is really useful info, thanks!
A few questions from it: The max 6 lessons look interesting, do they group them by ability like the larger classes? Do they do some sort of test run on the first day to check ability? For the private, is the timing because that is what they allocate or it’s what you asked for?
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| Ozboy wrote: |
| sonicdafisch wrote: |
| I have used ESI Chatel before (and echo the recommendations, they were very good and brilliantly helpful, we've had three different instructors, all top class), the only reason I'm looking at other options is I'm looking for some private lessons and they can only offer 2pm onwards during half term. The worry is that if I do any skiing with my 5 year old before he'll be too tired for the lesson and after will be getting late in the day with poor snow etc. |
I don’t think they will be too tired if you break up the morning session and kids tend to progress well on cut up snow as it works their body position. You will be fine at Super Châtel as much more relaxed for the family. The crazies are normally at PLJ heading towards Avoriaz. |
Super chatel doesn’t worry me at all - I learnt there a ‘few’ years ago as a 5 year old (when the gondola was still quite new)! It’s got a better range of learner slopes and is also much nearer to where we stay in the village centre for drop off / pick up by my wife who doesn’t ski. With the Linga link it’s also much easier to get from there to PLJ for me to pick up / drop off / do a few slopes together etc. bit surprised only the ESF seem do their beginner lessons there TBH!
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You know it makes sense.
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| sonicdafisch wrote: |
A few questions from it: The max 6 lessons look interesting, do they group them by ability like the larger classes? Do they do some sort of test run on the first day to check ability? For the private, is the timing because that is what they allocate or it’s what you asked for? |
Super Châtel has had many improvements over the years if you have not been for a while and yeh Linga bubble is currently being replaced to a fast chair lift to make access to PLJ faster.
Privates are always scheduled at this time during peak periods as instructors are all busy in group lessons in the mornings. For Max Six and other groups they have the option to start on Sunday afternoon at no extra cost which is used for grading. They will take a look at kids and have them placed in the correct group, maybe not on the first day but it eventually happens once they are certain which group they should be in - the downgrades are easier to spot and happen quicker. In February we started our niece in Max Six 2 Star (after having shown the ESF office a video) and by Tuesday or Wednesday she was bumped up to 3 Star which she passed and had a massive confidence boost by the way it was approached.
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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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the only negative if find in Chatel and ESF Chatel, is that they do not offer courses above Gold, in Super Chatel, only in PLJ
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Ozboy wrote: |
We mostly use ESF private lessons in Chatal and find them excellent. |
Does your daughter not do lessons with Julien any longer?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@doddsie, We moved on from Julian as daughters wanted medals like their friends and were motivated by the ESF system.
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