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UK Ski Hosting Banned in France
French Court Rules Against Ski Hosting Service in the Alps
A court in France has banned the ski hosting service that many UK tour operators offer to guests on holiday in the French Alps. The ruling follows a legal case brought by the French authorities against Le Ski - a small UK tour operator offering the ski hosting service to their clients in The 3 Valleys.
Ski hosting or 'social skiing' is where a trained rep from a holiday company skis with guests to help familiarise them with the ski area. The French authorities, supported by the ESF, claimed that the service was illegal due to the ski hosts not being sufficiently qualified to take groups onto the slopes under French law. The laws governing sport in France say that it is illegal to 'teach, lead, guide, animate' without a professional qualification.
UK tour operators are said to be disappointed by the outcome and Le Ski are set to appeal the ruling: "We will be appealing and the case now goes to a court in Chambery. The fight goes on and we will take this all the way," said the co-founder of Le Ski, Nick Morgan, to PlanetSKI shortly after the judgement was given.
The case follows an incident last month in the 3 Valleys that led to several UK tour operators suspending their ski hosting services in the area.
Click here to read the statement issued on behalf of the ESF following the court ruling against Le Ski.
