AIBU to think I should be able to find English ski school for full days in April?

[skischoolhelp]

Last year the kids had great English ski school 9am to 4pm in Avoriaz with one hour for lunch. A really fun enthusiastic English instructor. We wanted a change of location this year and it obviously needs to be a high resort to be snow sure in April. However we cant find any resorts with English ski school, small classes and 3 hour sessions morning and afternoon. We really want group lessons not private so they are with their own level. They had such fun and made such great progress and am sure it would not be the same in large EDF type group especially with instructor saying everything in 2 languages. They want to ski every minute of the day so we don't want 2 hour lessons and ideally not 2.5 hour although could do that. Surely there must be another ski school somewhere???

I feel your pain !
At both the resort we've been to before and the one we're booked into for Easter, the English speaking ski school for DCs only runs for 2 - 2.5 hrs per day. Annoying because I prefer skiing at my own pace , but I guess they have enough other lessons to make it worthwhile.

Thanks. Maybe the snow conditions so they can just go ahead with private lessons if the snow is good enough.

Sorry that didn't make much sense. I meant maybe they keep afternoons free for private lessons so they only go ahead with them if the conditions are good enough whereas if they have booked group lessons and the snow conditions are poor it is harder to cancel? Anyone know anywhere with lessons all day in April??? Thanks

Have you looked at Canada for skiing or just Europe?

Only Europe as we ski on a tight budget ie self cater taking own food, drive there from UK, stay in poor accommodation etc. The only thing we don't cut back on is the lessons as the holiday is all about skiing and the kids want to ski non stop and I don't want them to ski alone and my health no longer permits me to ski. I will pay for expensive small group English lessons to give them maximum fun ie considerably more than EDF. However private lessons is too much.

It is much more difficult in peak weeks and these vary from country to country./ resort to resort. We tended to have private lessons , whenever available,and then ski with the children for the rest of the day. Many people hire an instructor for a few days or for the week but that is a pricy option.I would ring around and ask for advice eg ring the British ski school in Les Gets and if they can't offer what you want ask if they know who might. There are a lot more smaller schools now and you might be lucky although it is unusual to want that set up. I don't know the answer to this but could you grill some of the specialist companies to see if they have any thoughts? Ski club if Great Britain?

Does it have to be France? Have you looked into SKI2 in Italy. English run ski school lessons generally from 10am - 3pm. Worth a look.

When you go to France you do like the French do...that's why I will not ski there. And I do speak fluent French. Got to Austria, much prefer it and not that much further to drive.

I agree with not limiting yourself to France, we have driven to Switzerland, Austria and via Italy to French border. Switzerland , in particular, is very easy. We found ourselves in a very long traffic jam coming home from Austria that rather put us off that option but it was poor research on our parts as it was the last Saturday of the peak weeks.

Thanks. It doesn't have to be France but we do need to be able to drive there. Havent really looked at Austria or Switzerland and sounds expensive but will look then try costing. Had a little look at Italy so can look more at that. Is there an easier way to find small companies as the great ski school in Avoriaz wasn't even given on their tourist information list?? Any recommendations for drivable snow sure resorts for Easter in Europe outside France.

www.skinewgen.com/ski-snowboard-group-lessons/teen-ski-lessons/ These guys have a teen option which is 4.5 hours per day... Might be worth speaking to them about where they offer this in April.. They cover quite a few of the high resorts in France.

Might be worth reposting this in the skiing section.

There are some very knowledgable people who look int here pretty often who may not see this post.

Tignes esf do a 'stars' programme with only 8 in a group and morning and afternoon sessions. You can put them in for the full day or meet them for a couple of hours at lunch.

Thanks Someone is the stars programme in English only? What I have seen of ESF was big groups in French . Yes I want to meet them for lunch but just want long sessions as they are not happy to just ski for 4 hours a day. I have posted in skiing section.

forgiveness - we were planning on New Generation as they were highly recommended but they said they only do private lessons in the afternoon. Although may go back to them again and just double check they don't have any resorts anywhere with afternoons and see if my eldest could get in a teen group as they were who we wanted to use. Thanks.

Chatel? www.britishskischool.com/content/still-taking-bookings-19th-february-onwards-filling/bass-chatel

Not sure how snow-sure chatel is but have heard the above ski school is fantastic

Oh cobblers - by ski2 do you mean a company offering holidays or a ski school? I can only find a ski company. We need lessons separate as I have a very limited budget for anything other than lessons - we drive, self cater and stay in very cheap accommodation and kids just ski the whole time so no other expenses. Last year they had 9 long full days skiing in Avoriaz in April and it was unbelievably cheap for school holidays (other than the cost of the lessons) which were amazing and from 9 to 4 with 1 hour lunch. It was such a successful holiday I really want to replicate as they were all so happy and enthusiastic for more every day.

Sorry just noticed chatel is 2 hour lessons!

Wherever we have skid in France most ski schools have done morning or afternoons.

I know in Austria the ski school offers a much longer day, although i don't think it goes on as late as 4pm.

I would ask in the skiing section.

*skied!!!

I think Star is in English. If you go to the ESF site and look up tignes Le lac you will see it as one of the options.

I would do it but we're going week before Easter and they aren't running then. Having said that my two DC have always done esf and no issues with language. Good luck!

Someone - I will look thanks. I know many kids are fine with EDF. Unfortunately one of mine has special needs and cant wait whilst instructor gives the instructions in French first and is then unable to focus on the English instructions and couldn't be in a large group however he managed fantastically in small group where only English was used hence my wanting to try to replicate it. It is mornings and afternoons we want. I can meet them for lunch and don't need instructors to keep them all day but they wont want to spend more than an hour on lunch (back to the special needs again). Ski school last year was 9 to 12 then 1 to 4pm which worked fantastically.

Just to clarify DS is extremely gifted/high functioning and manages school unsupported so we are not needing instructors with knowledge of special needs or to make any adjustments for him I just prefer small groups only in English for him. He skied very well last year.

If you do decide to come to France, for ease of transport, then whichever resort you decide on, check out if there is a Facebook page and then you can ask if there are any instructors who will tailor make a programme for you. A good independent instructor will work out cheaper than ESF, Evolution 2 are a really good ski school.

See if Val Thorens has anything available.

Ive just googled and Qxygene Three Valleys does whole day lessons for children in Val Thoren,,,,,,,,,