No, esf does not provide insurance for its pupils. We recommend checking your existing insurance cover and, if necessary, taking out Assur'Glisse insurance.

Equipment is not provided, even for the youngest children. Please make sure your child has all the necessary equipment for their lessons. Ski equipment can be hired from sports shops in the resort.

Ski poles are not required for children up to and including 1ère Étoile level.

Club Piou Piou welcomes children aged 3 and over who have already started school.

During busy school holiday periods, children under 3 cannot be enrolled in Club Piou Piou. However, you may wish to book a one-hour private lesson to give your child their first experience on skis.

Outside school holiday periods, a trial session may be possible if your child will turn 3 within 15 days to one month of your stay, is fully toilet-trained and is comfortable being in a group with other children. This is subject to availability and approval from the Club Piou Piou manager.

Trial sessions can only be booked on arrival at an esf office and are subject to availability.

If the first session goes well, simply visit the esf office to book lessons for the rest of the week.

The day’s programme is organised to suit the children’s natural rhythms. Apart from the sessions spent learning to ski, the time is divided between snack breaks, toilet breaks, games and exploring the snowy landscape and the mountains…

Friday is the big day for assessments! Depending on their progress, each child will be awarded a medal by their instructor, bringing the week to a memorable close.

The medal ceremony takes place 15 minutes before the end of Friday's lesson, at 11.45 am for morning lessons or 4.45 pm for afternoon lessons.

Ski equipment is not included. You will need to hire skis, ski boots and a helmet:

• Ski boots: choose the correct size and wear them with just one pair of ski socks.
• Skis: when standing upright, the tips should reach approximately chin height. Leave the binding adjustments to the professionals.
• Ski poles: these are not required at Club Piou Piou.
• Helmet: strongly recommended.

Yes, please pop a small snack into your child's pocket for them to enjoy during the session.

We understand that you may want to watch your child, but having parents nearby can disrupt the lesson and may make little ones more anxious. We therefore recommend leaving them in the care of our instructors and asking for a quick update at the end of the session.

Please make sure our reception team has your mobile number. If there are any problems or your child becomes particularly upset, we will contact you straight away.

The instructors at Club Piou Piou have enough experience to recognise separation tears caused by a fear of the unknown. They will do everything they can to reassure and distract your little one. Communication with parents is essential.

What does a typical day at the Piou Piou Club + Lunch look like? The day is organised around each child’s individual pace and needs.

Alongside learning to ski, there is plenty of time for snack breaks, toilet breaks, games and discovering the snow and the mountain environment.

Lunch is supervised by an esf instructor from 12.00 pm to 2.15 pm and is served at the Bonhomme de Neige nursery.

In the days following your order, you will receive an email from SATA, the ski pass provider. This email will contain a QR code, which you can simply scan at one of the resort’s self-service terminals to print your ski pass in just a few seconds.

👉 Tip: Remember to check your junk or spam folder if you can’t find the email from SATA.

If you are unsure of your child’s skiing ability, please refer to the ‘Children’s Ski Levels’ section. Our instructors will then assess your child’s level on the first day and ensure that they are placed in the most suitable group.

Enrol them in the Team Étoiles programme. Our instructors will then organise the groups according to each child’s level, preparing them for the Étoile de Bronze, Étoile d’Argent or Étoile d’Or.

No. Esf does not provide ski equipment, so you will need to bring your own and make sure that it is suitable for your child’s level: skis, ski boots and, from 1ère Étoile level upwards, ski poles.

Please also make sure your child has warm clothing, ski goggles and a helmet, which is strongly recommended.

Groups are formed on the first day of the course. If you would like your children to be placed in the same group, please let the instructor know at the first lesson.

There’s no need to bring a packed lunch. However, it’s a good idea to put a cereal bar in your child’s pocket in case they get peckish, particularly in poor weather.

Meals are available as an optional extra when booking online. We recommend adding them when you book your lessons to ensure availability.

No. If your child is booked in for lunch, a member of staff will collect them after their lesson and look after them throughout the lunch break.

our race number will be given to you directly by your instructor at the meeting point on the first day of your lessons.

👉 There’s no need to visit one of our reception desks when you arrive at the resort.

Please bring:

• Slalom skis suitable for your ability level (ask your ski hire shop for advice).
• A back protector.
• A helmet.
• Slalom-specific protective equipment, as recommended for your level.

Yes. If weather or snow conditions are unsuitable, for example due to poor visibility, esf may have to cancel an event.

If this happens, please visit an esf office to arrange a refund or, if the event has been postponed, to reschedule your booking.

You must have achieved at least Étoile d’Or level or be a confirmed Class 3 skier.

We recommend fairly wide, twin-tip freestyle skis with a backcountry profile, in a size suited to the skier.

Yes. Wearing a helmet and back protector is strongly recommended.

Wearing a helmet is strongly recommended. For beginners, wrist guards and protective shorts are also recommended.

No. For beginner snowboarders under the age of 8, only private lessons are available.

Yes. Skiing and snowboarding are two completely different sports, so you can learn to snowboard even if you’ve never skied before.

There are five levels available for Teen Ski Courses:

• Beginner: for teenagers who have never skied before or have only skied for a few days.
• Class 1: for teenagers who have achieved the Ourson, Flocon or 1er Ski level.
• Class 2: for teenagers who have achieved the 1ère Étoile, 2ème Étoile or Class 1 level.
• Class 3: for teenagers who have achieved the 3ème Étoile, Étoile de Bronze, Étoile d’Argent or Class 2 level.
• Class 4: for teenagers who have achieved the Étoile d’Or, have previously taken part in competition courses or are at Class 3 level.

Groups are formed on the first day of the course. If you would like to be in the same group as a friend or family member of a similar level, simply let your instructor know at the first lesson.

Yes, you can, provided that you have achieved at least Étoile d’Or level or are a confirmed Class 3 skier.

Yes, you can, provided that you are a confirmed Class 4 skier.

Is the ski pass included in the course fee? No, the ski pass is not included in the course fee.

• For children under 5, the ski pass is free and, if required, can be collected from the ski lift ticket offices.
• Only complete beginners should check with their instructor to find out whether they need a ski pass.
• For all other skiers, please make sure you purchase your ski pass in advance.

For 5- or 6-day private lessons, you can purchase a 6-day ski pass, valid all day across the entire ski area, at a preferential rate through esf. Simply visit an esf office when you arrive at the resort to purchase it.

Private lessons are suitable for all ability levels. As each lesson is tailored to your individual needs, you can progress at your own pace, refine your technique and get even more enjoyment from your skiing.

Yes, provided that you are all of a similar ability level. If there is too great a difference in ability, the lesson may not be equally beneficial or enjoyable for everyone.

Yes. Private lessons are available in French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch, Chinese, Hungarian and Czech. Please contact us to check availability for your preferred language.

Yes, subject to their availability.

When booking online, simply enter the first name and surname of your preferred instructor in the ‘Preferred instructor’ box, or specify any particular preferences you may have.

If your chosen instructor is available, they will be assigned to you. If not, we will contact you to discuss the alternatives.

Yes. We provide the sit-ski equipment for your Handiski session.

We have a Dualski and a Ski’Kart, both made by Tessier, and we will select the equipment best suited to your needs.

Please bring a helmet and warm clothing, including ski trousers, a ski jacket, gloves, ski goggles, a neck warmer and snow boots.

No. Esf does not provide insurance for its pupils. We recommend checking your existing insurance cover and, if necessary, taking out Assur’Glisse insurance.

Yes, of course. However, anyone accompanying you must be a confident intermediate or advanced skier who is comfortable skiing red runs.

You must already be an experienced skier, with a minimum level of Class 3.

No. The ski pass is not included in the course fee.

Please check with your instructor to find out whether a ski pass is required, as this will depend on the snow conditions and the route planned for the day.

You must have achieved Étoile d’Or level or be a Class 4 skier.

You must have achieved Étoile d’Or level or be a Class 3 skier.

es. You can leave your skis, boots and poles in the secure esf chalet at 3,200 metres on the glacier, so you won’t need to carry your equipment up and down each day.

Please remember to bring a pair of trainers to wear for the journey back down to the resort.

No. There is no official slalom course on the glacier during the high-altitude skiing season from May to July, so we are unable to offer timed events such as the Flèche or Chamois.

Slalom training is still available as part of our Competition course or through private lessons.

Yes. Private lessons are available in French, English and Italian.

Please contact us to check availability for your preferred language.

Bookings open in early October for the following winter season.

We recommend booking your lessons in advance, ideally at least 10 days before you arrive and, for the February school holidays, no later than mid-December.

• Online: via our website, with full and secure payment by card (simply click on the small shopping basket icon next to the price).
• By post: using the booking form, with payment by cheque, holiday vouchers or sports vouchers.

Once your booking has been paid in full, you will receive an order confirmation by email. You can then download your e-card via the MyESF app or print the confirmation email and show it to your instructor on the first day of lessons.

There is no need to visit an esf office when you arrive, except in special circumstances.

Online bookings are available up to 10 days before the course starts, subject to availability.

After this deadline, please visit one of our esf offices in person to check availability.

Within a few days of placing your order, you will receive an email from SATA containing a QR code. Simply scan this QR code at one of the resort’s self-service machines to print your ski pass in just a few seconds.

👉 Tip: Remember to check your junk or spam folder if you can’t find the email from SATA.

No. There is no need to visit an esf office when you arrive, unless we have specifically asked you to do so.

Simply go to the esf meeting point shown on your booking confirmation on the first day of your lessons. You can download your lesson card via the MyESF app or print it out and show it to your instructor.

To collect your ski pass, simply scan the QR code you received by email at one of the resort’s self-service ski pass machines. Unless otherwise specified, your ski pass will be available from the main esf office.

If you are trying to book less than 10 days before the course starts, online bookings will have closed. You will therefore need to visit one of our esf offices in person to check availability and make a booking.

If you are booking more than 10 days in advance and the course is shown as full, this means that there are no places left. In this case, we recommend choosing a different course or an alternative time slot.

Your browser’s security settings may be preventing you from accessing the payment page. Try adjusting them in your browser’s ‘Preferences’ or ‘Settings’ menu.

Your network may also be using a firewall or other security restrictions that are blocking access to the payment page. If so, try using a different network or device to complete your booking.

We calculate your child’s age based on their date of birth and the course start date to make sure that the course is suitable for them.

The age taken into account is your child’s age on the first day of the course, not on the day you make your booking. This is why the message may initially seem incorrect, but it is not an error.

Please select another course that is suitable for your child’s age at the start of their ski holiday.

There may be no courses available on your selected start date, but other options may be available later in the week.

Try selecting Saturday as the start date of your stay to see a wider range of available courses.

If you are unsure which course to choose based on level, age or time of year, please feel free to contact us.

esf does not provide insurance for its pupils. We recommend taking out Carré Neige insurance, which provides cover in the event of an accident or illness.

For cancellations made before your holiday, you will only be eligible for a refund if you have taken out cancellation insurance (offered when you confirm your booking) and your reason for cancelling is covered by the terms of the policy.

Further information is available on our dedicated ‘Get insured’ page.

Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for full details of our cancellation policy.

Yes, subject to availability. However, during peak periods, we strongly recommend booking online in advance to secure your place.

Yes. Lessons will normally go ahead even in bad weather, unless weather conditions are extreme or the ski lifts are closed.

Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for further information.

No, but wearing a helmet is strongly recommended to reduce the risk of head injury in the event of a fall or collision.

Children have their meals at the Bonhomme de Neige Day Centre or Les Mélèzes restaurant, depending on their age, their esf lessons and the time of day. Meals are supervised by esf instructors and activity leaders.

Please note that we are unable to cater for special dietary requirements, including food allergies.

After lunch, children have either quiet time or playtime, depending on their age and individual needs. Unfortunately, naps are not possible, as there are no beds available.