France is the ideal destination for a perfect ski holiday this winter. Whether you’re travelling solo, with family or with friends, there are several things you can do to make sure you stay safe on the slopes and have the best holiday possible.
Join a ski school
If you’re a beginner or want to ski more difficult slopes than you have done previously, being supervised by a qualified ski instructor is the safest way to get you ready for the mountains. French resorts are home to many great ski schools, we’ve picked out just a few of them:
- ESF: Boasting over 17,000 instructors, ESF is the largest ski school in the world. The vast majority of these instructors are fluent English speakers and are available for tuition at over 250 centres in France. They also offer the successful Piou Piou clubs for children aged 3 and over.
- Evolution 2: With 11 schools in the French Alps, Evolution 2 offer small group sizes for more personalised tuition, as well as multi-lingual instructors and various ski programmes tailored specifically for children.
- New Generation: all of New Generation’s ski instructors are fully qualified and have several years of training behind them, so you can be sure you will be in safe hands. They operate in 15 resorts across the French and Swiss Alps.
- Progression ski & snowboard school: this ski school offers multiple options for children, but also caters specifically for teenagers, knowing that this age group are often fit and wanting to pick up speed, but might need some help with the technical side of things before they hit the black runs with their parents.
Ensure you’re equipped & fit to ski
It’s always a great idea to check the weather forecast before you head out onto the slopes, and make sure you’ve packed the necessary equipment and are wearing suitable clothing. You should also be physically ready for the day ahead, experts recommend that you warm up before doing any kind of skiing. Remember that you need to be focused and alert to ski safely, so don’t consume alcohol before you head out or whilst you’re on the slopes. Many French resorts offer great après ski activity, but do save it for après!
Be prepared for emergencies
If you follow the guidelines for skiing safely, hopefully you’ll have a perfect ski holiday and it won’t come to this! However, it’s always a good idea to cover yourself in case of an accident or emergency. Always purchase travel insurance before you leave for your skiing holiday, and make sure that your policy covers winter sports. Do also pay attention to the small print; for example, some policies require that you wear a helmet and will otherwise be invalid. In the off-chance that you do have a skiing accident in France, you can call the Europe-wide emergency services number 112.
SnowTrex is an international winter sports tour operator, offering ski holidays in up to 1.500 accommodations and 500 resorts around the Alps and other areas.