 Poster: A snowHead
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Yes, I know they've ocme in for a fair amount of criticism on this forum (from YT among others) but praise where praise is due ...
Last week we were with a group in Courchevel 1650 with a total of 6 children of differing abilities booked into the ESF. I can vouch for the experience of my children as follows:
2** 7 year old - she would probably have been more challenged in the 3*** but on the first morning I did a speed-examination of each of the instructors and the 2** seemed more appealing so put her in that group along with one of her friends. Enormous class, swiftly divided into 2 of about 12 each. Happy child all week, no complaints about going to ski school, quietly consolidated her skiing skills to competent red runs, no tears from her at all during the whole week. OK so the instructor looked me in the eye and told me 'you 'ave a vairy cute daughtairr' but I'm not swayed ... Instructors: Jerome and Fred
Competition class - 9 year old. About 8 children. Very happy boy: spent a week gong up and down the stade skiing gates and doing the fleche on the 2 final days. Day 1: a combination of long journey from the UK, late nights with French cousins and 3 different beds in as many nights meant he could hardly keep his eyes open. feedback not good. Instructor not happy, boy not happy, ' he shouted at me'. Turns out part of the competition class training includes preparation for becoming a pisteur in later life: carting the gates up on the drag lift for the instructor to plant in carefully pre-selected positions on the course. Tired child falls off lift, drops poles - who wouldn't shout at him? I certainly would! By Day 3 the shouting is eliminated, instructor has the measure of his group and elated boy goes on to achieve silver fleche to his immense pride. And guess what? He didn't mind being shouted at 'because it was fair'. Instructor: Pierre.
All the instructors I dealt with were unfailingly charming and helpful, and the ESF gets my vote in Courchevel 1650. The pre-care (we booked in advance and had to change some of the details) was shocking - no replies to e mails, offhand responses on the phone - and the office staff in person only just held it together - but at the sharp end, the instructors, they were great. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It's good to see some positive feedback on the ESF to give a bit of balance.
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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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I'm surprised it was Courchevel but on the whole I think a lot of people tend to have prejudices that were maybe fair 10 years ago but do not reflect the quality of a lot of the younger instructors.
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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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snoflake, Exactly - what I've been trying to point out on several threads. Many of the prejudices are old hat, and not often applicable nowadays - particularly the language bit.
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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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Something that will be become increasingly true as the 'Old Guard' gradually takes retirement. Walking (  ) back down from the top of the Arc 1600 domain a week back, I watched one ancient ESF guy skiing down several hundred metres of piste, followed by a 2* group of mainly under 10s, without looking back at them a single time. The kids were all over the place. A cliché I know, but examples still do exist. He eventually stopped to talk to someone he knew, while the group turned up in dribs and drabs, then set off again without a word. I'm sure he didn't count them!
(To anyone who hasn't followed my posts on similar topics, I've spent a lot of time defending the ESF from stereotyped criticisms!)
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Sun 10-04-05 9:56; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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PG, Exactly - we have some like that here too - but they're getting old and will soon retire. The younger guys are mostly professional ski teachers by choice - not cafe owners who want to earn a bit more. It does seem very unfair to tar the new generation with the sins of the old.
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