French Embassy Issue Statement of British Ski Instructing in France

The French Embassy in the UK have issued a statement on the current publicity about French police action against a British ski instructor.

The statement is headed, referencing the headlines in recent reports in the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph is entitled: "Piste war? No, France loves British skiers and British ski instructors" and begins,

"Recent articles have suggested it was wrong of French officials to arrest Simon Butler, despite his operating illegally as a ski instructor in France. This has led to accusations that France was flouting European law and being protectionist in so doing. This is erroneous and misguided."

It continues, "Under the current French system, any foreign instructor with qualifications that are deemed to fall short of the required standards can rectify this in one of two ways: by taking an examination or undergoing training.

Mr Butler was informed, as acknowledged by the British Association of Snowsport Instructors, that he did not have the appropriate credentials (Eurotest). Mr Butler was offered the chance to take the examination but has to date been unwilling or unable to complete it.

In 2004, the local Criminal Court in Bonneville ruled that Mr Butler could not practise in France, given his inadequate qualifications and subsequent failure to obtain the Eurotest.

He was fined €10,000. In 2005 the Chambéry Court of Appeal confirmed the original ruling.
Mr Butler has nonetheless continued operating illegally as recently as this year, and in doing so he continues to defy French law. In 2013 he received another sentence, against which he appealed.

In February 2014, in order to ensure skiers were protected and in the face of his persistent disregard for the law, the local police placed Mr Butler under investigation for operating without a licence, failing to declare sporting activities and failing to declare the employment of foreign nationals. The investigation is ongoing."

The statement continues by pointing out that although the position is clear, changes to the current system are moving forward across Europe.

The UK, France and nine other member states have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a professional card for European ski instructors. The first professional cards are expected to be issued in 2014/2015. This, the Embassy statement says, will go a long way to helping standardize practice for ski instructors while also helping to guarantee the sort of professional teaching everyone should be free to enjoy.

"It is worth remembering that most British tour operators and ski schools in France have happily adopted the current standards and are thriving. 19 different British run ski schools operate in France," the statement continues,

"We will not allow the regrettable behaviour of one repeat offender to obscure the fact that the vast majority of British ski instructors flourish in France, while respecting the law. We will continue to ensure that British skiers are made to feel safe and welcome in our resorts."

This statement simply illustrates how protectionist the French system is, by highlighting the Eurotest issue.
To pass a driving test a driver does not need to complete a circuit of Silverstone in a comparable time to Sebastian Vettel. And if he did he should be banned from the roads anyway.
French PR desperation I think.

A skier also is not required to pass Eurotest. A ski instructor if he wants to teach in France is.
The French statement illustrates that it's good to read details of the case before starting flag-waving exercises. And it's not tourists who decide what the appropriate teaching standards in a foreign country should be. French system is viable and they design it to suit their needs, to make sure that the standards are high enough to prevent every man(not just British)and his dog obtaining qualifications easily (like you can get BASI 2 for example) but only those who invested considerable time and effort would get them, to ensure that supply meets demand and prices stay competitive and wages at the level that allows people to make a living out of their profession. The plank won't be lowered. This is not how it works, it might be lowered when there is a massive shortage of instructors but there isn't. And the standard of a French recreational skier is very high so it's not surprising that training for instructors is so intense.

Verbier, I agree with most of what you are saying - however - The 'standard of a French recreational skier' is in fact very low. Most don't even take lessons... some do, but most don't.

And the fact that a lot of the French ESF instructors are ol' boys who are getting slightly past their best couldn't pass the Eurotest in it's modern format. The younger generation of French ESF instructors have injected 'new blood' in the way people are taught, but the un-willingness of the French to change means that you still get a lot of middle aged plus French instructors teaching people to slide the backs of their skis around whilst keeping their legs firmly stuck together, leaning back not a bent knee in sight keeping their poles planted behind the body - i see it every day where I live in a VERY popular french resort.

If these French Instructors were to sit in the current test conditions they would fail miserabley, having to race a ex racer to within a very small margin percentage of his time is totally rediculous, and if the test is to be kept in its current conditions then compulsory re-testing should be an industry standard say every 3 years - it's the only way to maintain the high level of instruction of which you speak

Maybe, though I can't see how it helps SB case. He was knowingly breaking the law and now trying to drag his case through all the courts - seemingly to gain time and publicity. I read what was said about doing business in France - easier to do it under the table etc. But if you are doing your business under the table and get caught there is no need to play innocent victim.

The law is what it is - to flout it having already been tried isn't exactly bright!
If the law is flawed then campaign to have it changed and challenge by legal means.

It sounds like the law is changing but until that point the wiser option would be to work in a country where the qualifications are accepted.

That said, as someone with an involvement in in undergraduate & post-grad education, the rules for accreditation as a ski instructor strike me as being more about the individuals ability as a skier rather than the ability to teach someone how to ski.

The F1 analogy is quite good - being a top F1 driver in no way qualifies one to teach people to drive on the roads. You'd hope they have an understanding of the fundamentals but that's not the same as being able to convey it.

Agreed, if the law has been broken he should face the consequences - simples.

However, I think this case should be used to highlight the way the French have a double standard - their ol' style instructors could not pass the test that they are using against SB - if the law is the law it should apply to all and their should be some kind of Industry standard to re - sit the exam to Maintain the high standards the French say they are trying to protect.

Well these people passed all the required tests at the time of their qualifications and they've gone through the French training system and fulfilled all requirements to obtain these qualifications. They've also gone through all subsequent training. I can't see how it is a double standard. Just because many older French instructors won't run through the gates in time required to pass the test now, doesn't mean they should be retired. Many race coaches are also too old to ski as fast as many of their students but they can still coach. I am not required to write a new MS thesis every three years to keep my employment and "maintain standard". If you were admitted to University when the pass grade was lower does it mean that you have to re-enter in the future when the pass grade is higher? This is not how it works. But just because there are no re-sitting of any exams that were already passed it doesn't mean that they should be abolished.


As for driving licenses example. To get a driving license you don't need to be driving at Vettel's standards:) But having a driving license alone and even some driving experience doesn't allow you to teach others how to drive, you need to pass through an approved driving instructors' training program.