In the snow garden

If your child is aged between 3 and 6 years old and has never skied before, then the snow garden is made for him or her. Intended for young beginners, this enclosed and secure area with a rope-tow is easily recognisable thanks to the inflatables and fun figures dotted around the learners' slope.

In the snow garden, learning is based around games. Taught by qualified instructors, your little one will learn to keep his or her balance, to glide along and to stop... A fun introduction to skiing is the best way to make your child want to continue learning.

In most of the Savoie and Haute-Savoie resorts, it is possible to choose a full day formula, including snow garden, day nursery and midday meal.

Did you know?

- At the ESF, the snow garden is called the Piou-Piou Club.
- Some resorts in Savoie Mont-Blanc offer introductions to Alpine skiing from the age of just 2½ years old.
- Some snow gardens accept children up to 7 years old.
- There are also snow gardens for Nordic skiing.

Lessons at ski school

Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, free-riding, freestyle, tele-marking: all these disciplines are taught at the ski schools.

Every Savoie Mont Blanc resort boasts at least one ski school.

Most often, ski lessons are given as group lessons. As part of a group, your child will develop and progress throughout your stay. If you are staying for a week, he or she will take lessons for 6 days. You have the choice between a programme of half-days (morning or afternoon) or full days. On average, a half-day lesson lasts from 2 to 2½ hours, depending on the resort.

It is also possible for your child to take individual lessons. In this case, the instructor gives one-on-one teaching to your child, with all its advantages. The duration of an individual lesson varies from 1 to 2 hours.

Finally, if you want to discover the ski slopes as a family, you can hire an instructor for a half-day or a full day.

The instructors are qualified professionals, so you can trust in their experience and follow their advice: learning to ski must always be fun.

A useful tip:

Remember to book ski lessons for all the family before you leave, especially during the school holidays.

To find a ski school:
Ecole du ski français/ESF (French Ski Schools) and Ecole de ski internationale/ESI (International Ski School)

Even more ski instructors!
A certain number of the Savoie Mont Blanc resorts offer a broad range of possibilities for ski lessons: Ecole du ski français, Ecole de ski Internationale, but also independent ski schools with independent qualified instructors.

Choose the instructor that best suits your needs. Ask for information from your resort's tourist information office.

Updated information on October 2009