J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dorset Boy

Hi, My son (he was 4 1/2) had ESF group lessons in Flaine last winter (2 weeks) and will do so again this year. They were very good. The first week was his first proper week on snow, and he did his Ourson test. He was in a goup of about 9/10 (it was new year week). His second week he did his Flocon, and was in a goup that varied from 4-7 kids. His instructor spoke very good English and there was a sizeable number of English kids in each lesson (the majority).

He also had two private lessons with Catherine Poupeville who is independant but affiliated to the ESI. She specialises in teaching kids and was brilliant: http://www.skicat74.com/ Well worth the money, but book early as she is very popular amongst regulars.

The ESI is the International Ski School, and most instructors were french, but most pupils were English speaking. TBH I don't think they're any different from the ESF.

You'll need goggles if it's snowing or you're in the powder. Sunnies for non-snowy, non-powder days.

So you sleep with your skis but leave your boots out in the cold, Tony?!!
Suggest you're nicer to your boots in future, it's more important to treat them sweet than your skis!

Definitely take some lessons as all have said before.

As far as skis go, it boils down to how forgiving the ski is. The more advanced the ski, the stiffer it is likely to be and therefore the less forgiving.

Boots are your best investment, and there's plenty of threads about boot fitting on here.

If you're working for a chalet company you'll all end up congregating in a couple of bars, and will have a fantastic time, so don't worry. Who are you working for?

Also, you'll find that you can work, ski and party, but your body will, over a season, only allow you do two of the three well!

The Walls at Tignes is down the end of the glacier - literally the glacier wall.

When I skied the tunnel runs it was powder galore, but it would quickly turn into a mogul field after a few days without snow.

There must be some toughies at La Grave.

Corbetts has two entry points i believe - the drop in route or an easier side route. Once in, the couloir isn't supposed to be that difficult. It's the drop in that makes it difficult and scary.

The Sache is a great fun run, but has in the deepest past been a red IIRC. The 'tunnel runs' off the top of the Pic Blanc in Alpe D'Huez are also great fun blacks.