French Embassy Issue Statement of British Ski Instructing in France

But to penalise someone for not being to pass the same test that these ol' boy French ESFs couldn't pass is a double standard.

If the level of Ski instruction is to be maintained at a high standard then why are a low standard of instructors continuing to be allowed to teach? If the standard is high it needs to be maintained... re-sitting the test every few years is maintenance of said system which the french say they're trying to protect.

An instructors training programme is right, but to race a racer to be able to teach is excessive. I think the system needs standardising.

For example, beat the time of x mins xx seconds to qualify for teaching, not within a marginal percentage of a racer - which isn't even a standard measurement. Given the time will change based on the quality of that racer

The statement doesn't mention that he was also charged with the same offences in 2006, but on that occasion he was acquitted. The 2013 sentence was 6 months imprisonment and a €10,000 fine, I think the appeal is scheduled to be heard some time in April. If the court of appeal upholds the conviction it could increase the sentence. The latest case is set to be heard on April 7th, probably before the appeal. I think he will need a very good defence.

All this seems to be having a detrimental effect on his business; one of his creditors has petitioned the high court to have his business wound up http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/60782/notices/1998385

Like it or not it looks like the Eurotest is here to stay, the MoU mentioned in the statement http://www.uhr.se/Documents/Bed%C3%B6mning%20av%20utbildning/MoU_and_annexes_signed_EN.pdf aims to set up a pilot project for the issuing of professional cards to professional ski instructors in the context of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. This directive allows member states to require that migrant workers take an aptitude test such as the Eurotest. It has been signed by Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain and the UK.

Ski instruction seems to be a job for life, the ESF recently tried to set a retirement age, but some of the instructors affected took them to court for age discrimination and won. All of the instructors of retirement age (62 in France) and over will have qualified before the Eurotest came into being.