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End to ski hosting in France

End to ski hosting in France

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Started by AllyG in France - 299 Replies

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AllyG
reply to 'End to ski hosting in France' posted Feb-2013

Snapzzz wrote:

This is just about money.....plain and simple.
Whilst in Morzine last week ESF had posters up an flyers around offering a tour of the pistes, no instruction, from 1pm-5pm. 34 euros.
That is what it is all about, they want the exclusive on a blossoming trend. Simple as.


Strangely enough Snapzzz, I noticed something slightly similar on the Tignes ESF website. It appears they are now doing a Sunday afternoon 'warm up' session for 33 euros. I don't remember ever seeing anything like this before (although I may just not have noticed it of course):
Adults Courses > Warm-up

14 years old and up

Warm-up

On Sundays afternoon, come discover Espace Killy to get your legs back and your technique up to par.

- From Class 2: 33€ per person

Warm-up

http://www.esf-tignes.org/ski-school-tignes-le-lac/adult-courses/warm-up-adults;jsessionid=A66FF67011879471D16B374A87F56EB4.esfinter1

Tony_H
reply to 'End to ski hosting in France' posted Feb-2013

AllyG wrote:I think I will write a letter to the French government, explaining that whilst it is very kind of them to be concerned with my safety on the French ski slopes, the British ski hosts are no danger to me at all.

And then I will list what I consider to be the greatest dangers to people on the ski slopes, such as:

1. They should make sure no ski lesson classes have more than 8 pupils, because it becomes very dangerous when ski-ing in large classes.

2. All ski instructors, whatever nationality they are, should have to pass a proficiency test in the language of their pupils. I have had some French instructors with very poor English, and I know they teach Russians etc. when they only have a very rudimentary knowledge of their language. They should make a ski phrase book in several languages so that everyone can understand what their ski instructor says. This is one reason why many British people prefer to go to a British ski school - because the instructor will be English, and speak perfect English.

3. They should make sure the pistes are graded correctly. It is very dangerous to have difficult pistes, like that Santons one in Val d'Isere, graded as a blue. Lots of people fall over on it and they could be seriously hurt. It is no wonder that British people want ski hosts to take them around the French ski resorts when pistes are graded as badly as that.

I am sure I can think of a few more really dangerous things that the French government could sort out in French ski resorts.

Who do you reckon I should send my letter to?


Why don't you try Mme Le Pen and see what she has to say?
www  New and improved me

SwingBeep
reply to 'End to ski hosting in France' posted Feb-2013

As Ian Wickham mentioned earlier this has been going on for years. There was article about the same issue in The Daily Telegraph on 19th Dec. 2001 shortly after the French ministry of sport enacted the current law http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/4180074/British-ski-guides-hit-French-resistance.html

As the law is pretty clear and the penalties are quite severe (up to 1 year's imprisonment and a fine of up to 15,000 Euros) http://www.legifrance.com/affichCode.do?idArticle=LEGIARTI000006547567&idSectionTA=LEGISCTA000006167038&cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006071318&dateTexte=20080208 I'm quite surprised that the TOs offered this service at all and got away with offering it for so long.

Andyhull
reply to 'End to ski hosting in France' posted Feb-2013

I think ESF will be seeing a big drop in referrals from British TOs. The independent ski schools should do very well out of this.

Snapzzz
reply to 'End to ski hosting in France' posted Feb-2013

Just thought i'd post a link to the UK and main ESF facebook pages.
They have kindly let people comment on these pages so if you have any thoughts about any subject *hosting, cough* you can make you opinion quite clear on there.

It would be great to see their pages emblazoned with the thoughts of the british skier.... ;-) ;-) ;-)

http://www.facebook.com/esfuk

http://www.facebook.com/pullsrouges
Skied: Arinsal, La Plagne, Alpe D'huez, Flaine, Les Arcs, Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz, Sauze, Courchevel, Val Thorens

AllyG
reply to 'End to ski hosting in France' posted Feb-2013

What a brilliant idea Snapzzz :thumbup:

I'm too tired tonight. I'll see what I can come up with tomorrow :D

AllyG
reply to 'End to ski hosting in France' posted Feb-2013

SwingBeep wrote:As Ian Wickham mentioned earlier this has been going on for years. There was article about the same issue in The Daily Telegraph on 19th Dec. 2001 shortly after the French ministry of sport enacted the current law http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/4180074/British-ski-guides-hit-French-resistance.html

As the law is pretty clear and the penalties are quite severe (up to 1 year's imprisonment and a fine of up to 15,000 Euros) http://www.legifrance.com/affichCode.do?idArticle=LEGIARTI000006547567&idSectionTA=LEGISCTA000006167038&cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006071318&dateTexte=20080208 I'm quite surprised that the TOs offered this service at all and got away with offering it for so long.


Thanks SwingBeep - I didn't realize that 'leading' was banned in 2001 as well as 'teaching'.

I shall send my letter off to that French politician lady Tony H told me about, and hope for the best :)

Verbier_ski_bum
reply to 'End to ski hosting in France' posted Feb-2013

I am with Ranchero. I think ski instructors should be able to have a viable career. Plus court decision only upheld existing French law which said that for providing on-mountain services for remuneration you need to be adequately qualified - i.e. qualifications should be recognised by the local professional body. Le Ski can appeal, but it will be the same as asking a host country to change the legislation to accommodate the visitors and help foreign TO's to make profit.

The idea of the letter is just silly. There is no British monopoly to French ski slopes. Writing that "Ski hosting is no danger to us, British tourists" is cute, but it's not the tourists that determine what contributes to safety and what doesn't.

Edited 1 time. Last update at 20-Feb-2013

Topic last updated on 22-November-2013 at 00:18