Alpedhueznet.Com Sitemap Alpe d'Huez apartments - Pierre and Vacances apartments in Alpe d'Huez and Vaujany
Alpedhueznet.Com  
  |   Alpe d'Huez time: 11:45  
Alpedhueznet.Com spacer
Quick Links 
Skiworld - Catered Chalet Ski Snowboarding holidays in Alpe d'Huez
Chalets 
Alpe d'Huez & Vaujany apartments and chalets with Ski peak
Real Estate & Rentals 
Pierre & Vacances - Budget to luxury apartments in Alp d'Huez
Ski & Mountain 
SkiSet - Ski & Snowboard Equipment Rental Alpe dhuez d huez
Airport Transfers 
A choice of transfer options to suit all pockets and needs
Alpedhueznet.Com spacer

Alpe d'Huez Skiing for Children

Children's Skiing in Alpe d'Huez 
Most ski teachers wouldn’t recommend starting skiing before the age of three or four at the earliest. The right age will vary from child to child, and depends upon the child’s strength, co-ordination and attitude. For this age group skiing should remain a play activity, so don't expect a young child to ski all day - a couple of hours is ample.
Family Lift Pass Options
If you are on holiday “en famille” then Alpe d’Huez offers special lift pass rates for families. For every four Visalp passes bought (minimum 5 days and for the same duration) you will get a 50% reduction on the 4th and any subsequent passes bought. Please click here for details of lift pass prices.

NB The family pass does not include free passes for under 5’s and over 72’s and all must be members of the same family. Proof of age required.

Children under the age of 5 and seniors over the age of 72 can collect a free lift pass. Proof of age is required as is a photograph for passes of 3 days or more.
last updated 9-May-2008
Ski School for Children
From the ages of 3-4 years onwards, children can learn to ski with several of the local ski schools. Snowboarding lessons usually start at around age 5.

The French Ski School (ESF) take children from 5 to 13 years. They can’t guarantee English speaking classes but almost all of their children’s instructors speak some English; during the UK school holidays it is unusual not to find several English speaking children in each group.

British Masterclass offer family lessons with English instructors.

It is strongly recommended to pre-book ski school for the busy New Year and February school holiday period. Classes are often fully booked many weeks in advance.

The lifts are free for the under 5’s and discounted for 5-13 year olds.
last updated 29-Feb-2008
ESF Childrens Ski School
Ecole du Ski Français (ESF) is the biggest and most well-known ski school in France; if you or your children have taken lessons in France before then it was most likely with them. Every ESF school offers special children’s’ lessons, aimed at kids aged from 3 years and up. The vast majority of ESF instructors speak good English (and most clubs offer instruction in a variety of international languages). Classes tend to be a mix of mostly French and English children, the ratio varying according to school holidays.

Club des Piou-Piou
Aimed at 3 to 6 year olds the Piou-Piou kids club gives little ones their first experience of skiing in the safety of the ‘Jardin de Neige’ snow garden. Here they will find magic carpets to take them gently up the slope and a number of obstacles to challenge them on their way back down. This is all carried out under the careful supervision of qualified and experienced ESF instructors. The half-day sessions are broken up with snack breaks and games to keep children entertained and make their first days on skis fun. Your child will be awarded one of 3 medals at the end of their stay.

Older Children’s Lessons
For children aged 7 years and over the lessons become more focussed; giving them greater challenges yet retaining the element of fun with games, races and competitions. At this stage the children will be split up according to age and ability and medals will be awarded according to what standard they have reached. When registering your child for lessons it is important to inform the ESF of any previous skiing experience your child has, so that they will be put into the most appropriate group.

The Medals
The first 3 medals are gained in the snow garden and demonstrate that your child has mastered the basics of skiing on a nursery slope; this includes slowing down, stopping, small turns and using the magic carpet and the drag lift. To gain the Ourson and Flocon badges your child should first have passed the previous stages.

Piou-Piou: This badge is the first one and is awarded to all children who complete a week of ski school.

Ourson (Teddy Bear): (If your child is over the age of 7 they can go straight to this badge without needing to complete the Piou-Piou). Your child must be able to:
  • Recognise his/her ski equipment

  • Put on and take off his/her skis by him/herself

  • Has used some ski lifts already

  • Control his/her speed and complete snaking turns

  • Move around on skis in different ways over varied but almost flat terrain

  • Ski with skis parallel straight downhill and stop using a snowplough turn


    • Flocon (Snowflake): Your child must be able to:
  • Control his/her speed and cross the fall line using snowplough turns

  • Retain his/her balance while sliding faster with skis parallel both across and down the slope, on both skis or from one ski to the other, over smooth terrain on a gentle slope

  • Brake and stop and is starting to be able to sideslip


    • 1ère Etoile (1st Star):
  • Can complete a series of elementary sideslip turns taking into account external factors (terrain profile, other users, snow quality, etc.)

  • Retains his/her balance when sliding across gentle to moderately steep slopes

  • Is starting to be able to sideslip (uphill swing, at an angle)


    • 2ème Etoile (2nd Star):
  • Can complete a series of smooth elementary turns, crossing the fall line with skis parallel and can complete turns with an uphill swing taking into account external factors (terrain profile, other users, snow quality, etc.)

  • Can ski over hollows and bumps, across or down the slope, while retaining his/her balance


    • 3ème Etoile (3rd Star):
  • Can complete a series of short- and medium-radius basic turns with skis parallel, taking into account and compensating for external factors (terrain, users, type of snow, etc.)

  • Can maintain his/her balance in a schuss over varied terrain (hollows and bumps)

  • Is improving his/her lateral balance using successions of sideslips interspersed with direct traversing lines (garlands)


    • Etoile de Bronze (Bronze Star):
  • Can complete smoother basic turns by reducing sideslip

  • Can ski using high-speed and broad turns taking into account and compensating for external factors (terrain, users, type of snow, etc.)

  • Can maintain his/her balance in a schuss when taking off from rounded bumps, on piste or in a specially prepared area such as a skiercross courses

  • Is getting used to skiing in all kinds of snow


    • Etoile d’Or (Gold Star):
  • Is gaining experience with all forms of alpine skiing

  • Can ski down pistes with a large vertical drop without stopping, on all types of snow, taking into account external factors and respecting the rules of conduct for skiers

  • Can ski in a specially prepared area: skiercross course, halfpipe


    • To find your nearest ESF branch please see our Ski/Snowboard Schools listings page.
    last updated 13-May-2008
    This website and all original content remains Copyright © Powder Blue Ltd 1998-2008 | Terms & Conditions of use | The site is built & maintained by Powder Blue