 Poster: A snowHead
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I have a 10 yr old and 5 yr old who have always skied with ESF - in the school hols it works out Ok as they find a couple of English speaking friends...but out of school hols its not certain. Going in Feb (not half term)...are there English ski school options anyone could recommend or should we stick with ESF?
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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 looked at this as we were planning in taking my little one (5yrs) to Les Arcs with us. The best option I have found is New Generation they are in Vallandry but will come up they offer kids lessons in group and private in your resort. We could not get our little one in and as she had such a terrible time in Morillon with ESF we have left her this year and will book earlier next year.
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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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sorry should have said New Generation is an English Ski School - ooops
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Lou, are you staying/stayed at Robs? I've been worried about you for a while  whats with the helicopter?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Shimmy Alcott, If you are in Arc 1800, getting over to Vallandry with little ones for lessons is a real pain unless the Instructor will come to you. The ESF in 1800 has some good Englsih speaking Instructors. If you make it clear at the start that they need to be taught in English you should be ok, but there will be few English speaking kids about outside the UK school holidays unless you are very lucky. You can also try Arc Adventure, but they are basically the same as ESF. I do have the contact details of some English speaking Instructors that give private lessons if that will help. Send me a PM or visit my Les Arcs Winter page. Hope this helps.
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Thanks guys. Will look into what New Gen can offer group wise - if not it will be good old ESF again.
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Shimmy Alcott, NewGen lessons start at 9.15am and 11.30am (I think). It's not possible to get there for the 9.15am start from my place unless you walk up the piste for about 15 minutes. The later start isn't a problem, and one of the routes there is a very easy ski across the hill on technically a blue, but it should be classed as a green.
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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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Shimmy Alcott, Shimmster, we are at robs place at half term. Booked in with arc adventures who guaranteed me their instructors all spoke English, they are just a little more expensive than esf who couldn't guarantee english speaking instructors, from what I can remember we're quite a bit cheaper than New generation. And operate from 1800.
Only 3 weeks to go, can't wait.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Shimmy Alcott, Never one to miss an opportunity 
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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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Shimmy Alcott, You're right. Someone is between us 
It's looking fantastic out there at the moment. First time in the Alps, for skiing, can't wait. Did I say that before
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You know it makes sense.
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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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guaranteed me their instructors all spoke English
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at half term there should be other English kids about but Shimmy Alcott is right to be concerned about non half-term weeks. It doesn't matter how brilliantly the instructor speaks english. If your kid is the only Anglophone in the group, 90% of the communication is going to be in French, and they wouldn't be able to chitter to the other kids. Which is half the fun! that's the problem we have with group lessons in the Espace Diamant. Unless you're a moderately good French speaker, it's a bit isolating to be the only Anglophone in a group. Luckily private lessons are v cheap in the low season!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Shimmy Alcott, there's something special about those croissants 
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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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Lou, I get accused of pimping lol but they are the best croissants ever!
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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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We spent 2 weeks at in Arcs 1800 and used Arc Adventures both times. Their meet is at their ski garden in 1800 which is not a problem from rob@rar's place once you realise where it is, and their office can be seen from the piste, they are quite happy to meet at the lifts though esp. for private lessons - we tried both group and private lessons with them. They all spoke nice English and my kids never had a problem with them.
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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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Megamum, That's good to hear, where is their Ski garden?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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ricfrench, you can get into it from the bottom (near their ski garden office) by standing at transarc lift standing looking up the mountain at the lift and walking into the bank of tree to you right hand side. You have to find the short small path that goes up at about 2 O'clock from the lift angle and after a very short distance you will come out at the bottom of the ski garden - note though that is an uphill walk and I think easier with skis on shoulders. You can ski into the ski garden at the top where maitaz run meets grands melezes - the busy confluence where several of the ski runs meet to go down the last short section to the trans arc station. if you haven't been to Robs place before skiing down the small slope immediately outside his place and bearing right at the bottom then takes you past the lift office on your right hand side after a further very short distance - keep and eye out for it and ski down the small path to it. There is then a small path through the trees that brings you out to the first set of lifts and the transarc stn is just over the next rise - a small bit of poling/skating is often needed. If you don't need the lift office continuing on the first path without going down to it brings you out in the same place by the first set of lifts.
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Megamum, Nothing too complicated then?
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ricfrench, to get to the TransArc walk up the stairs out of my ski room; put on your skis and follow the piste down through the trees until you come to the lifts; the TransArc gondola is the lift furthest away from you along the snow front and is the only gondola out of Arc 1800 so you can't miss it. The Arc Adentures snowgarden is behind the TransArc, up the hill a bit. Easy to find.
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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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Megamum, We are staying in Chambrey nord F1 on Friday night, a nice early start gets us to Arc 1800 way too early for access to robs place. I think we will just use some time to check the place out, get an extra half days pass and rental sorted.
Never been there b4 so a good look round won't hurt.
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FAQ
Yes it's 1800 but no idea about ski school. I can recommend the helicopter rescue service however 
feel free to leave me a welcome bottle of bubbly in the fridge 
