what should i wear?

The ESF advises you

Clothes: speed and wind can surprise us with extremely cold temperatures; be sure to wear warm ski clothes, gloves, a muffler and a hat (have it in your pocket, it can always be useful).

Protection: the sun and the glare are intense in the mountains ; be sure to put on sunscreen and wear sunglasses (or ski mask) that will protect you from UV.
Security: we strongly recommend (even though it is not compulsory) you wear a helmet.
Equipment: modern skis, larger and shorter, are easier to handle for everyone.

Be sure to bring:
Your card of class
Your ski pass
Your good mood

Check your insurance: or, you can always buy E-gloo Protect insurance when buy your ski pass.

Advice for your children

What will be of much help in their pocket

Tissues

A phone number, just in case

A little snack

For the Kindergarten
Dress your child the same way you would yourself, no more, no less.
Cuddly toy in their pocket to reassure the younger ones
Ski poles are not needed in the on-snow playground

snowboard equipment

Our advice

Specific wrist guards can be useful
A board with fixations for your boots

Snowshoes on your feet, you will follow your instructor who will share with you his or her love for the mountains and all of its secrets.

We offer every night a 'Grolle' outing, from 5:30pm to 8pm or a 'Fondue' night at the cascade de Bérard (minimum of 4 people enroled required)

Useful information

So ski lessons can go smoothly

Skiing is an outdoor activity in nature.
Winter can be tough in the moutains.
Change in weather conditions are expected, technical difficulties are part of the deal and it is not the ESF Vallorcine's fault, therefore no refund will be given for this reason.
There is no rule concerning the number of students per class, however, so that ESF Vallorcine can give the best lessons, we have fixed the maximum of students per class to 10.
Homogeneity of lessons is key to success, it is our top priority in front of numbers.
For accidental reasons, an instructor can be unable to give his or her lesson, so students can be dispatched in other lessons of the same level.
A 2-hour group lesson cannot last exactly 2 hours, you have to take into account the welcoming time, the return on experience and the conclusion.
The first and often, the second day are necessary to harmonise the lesson. This is not a waste of time, but a crucial ingredient to your stay.
In his or her interest, it is possible that a student be put in a level that is not the one on the registration form, trust us on this one, we know what we are doing.
Be sure to be at the meeting point on time. It is very complicated to catch up with your instructor afterwards. Be on time to pick up your child.

and also...

To avoid disappointments!

1-week lesson does not insure getting to the following level
It is possible to go from Flocon level to 1ère étoile level in one week for each inbetween level, however it gets harder afterwards and it often takes more than one week to reach the following level.
We also recommend to parents to ski with their children for a family outing, so that they can put into practice what they have learn during the lessons with our instructors.
Ski must remain a pleasurable experience, do not overestimate your child's level, stay on the slopes with them and adapt your level to their capacities.

10 RULES

Good practice guidelines on the slopes

Rule #1
Do not put others in danger.
Rule #2
Adapt your speed and behaviour depending on the slope and the weather.
Rule #3
Choose a trajectory that does not put the downstream skier in danger.
Rule #4
Overtake another skier when you have sufficient space to do so.
Rule #5
Be sure to know when it is safe to enter a slope (Exam on uphill and downhill)
Rule #6
In case you fall, quickly free the slope and always stay on the sides.
Rule #7
Use the sides to go up or down by foot.
Rule #8

respect the signs

Rule #9

Help each other

Rule #10
If you witness or are part of an accident, communicate your identity.