Ski Lessons in Le Grand Massif. Ski Tips and Ski equipment.
There are 3 main Ski schools in Le Grand Massif - Zig Zag, ESF & 360.
Ecole de Ski Francais (Samoens or Morillon) will be able to offer a wide range of options for group and individual lessons for all ability levels. They will also be the most competitive on price as they have many more instructors available. English speaking instructors are available. We would recommend that first week skiers start their lessons in Samoens as the beginners area is much bigger than that in Morillon and therefore progression is likely to be made much quicker. The ESF websites can be found by clicking on the following links:
ESF Ski School Samoens
ESF Ski School Morillon
We highly recommend Zig Zag ski school. Although, they are slightly more expensive than ESF they benefit from smaller group sizes and in our opinion offer better customer service. Again, group or private lessons are available for all levels of ability. The instructors speak very good English and are all highly qualified. Their website can be found by following this link:
Download Zig Zag's prices for the 2009-2010 season here.
Ecole de Ski 360 is another alternative from Zig Zag in that they offer smaller groups and a high level of instruction. Their website can be found by clicking on the following link:
We can help with the booking of all of your lessons requirements. Please contact us with details of what you are looking for and we can liaise with the ski school on your behalf to save you time.
Ski equipment hire
We use a local ski shop based in Samoens village. Our customers receive at least 15% discount. the shop is easy to get to and also has another shop up at Samoens 1600, great if you need to change your boots or skis during the day. Ski Loc Samoens
When booking on the Ski Loc website please note the following:
In order to decide on whether to order junior or children's ski's, this is determined by the height of the ski itself. For children, ski's come in sizes up to 1m20. For Junior's, ski's range from 1m30 to 1m40. Skis should come roughly up to the nose of the person concerned.
Ski Equipment - Find a detailed list of ski equipment with descriptions, types, photos, etc. And some suggestions about where you can buy or rent them.
Skiing Tips and Tricks
The onset of winter heralds the arrival of exhilarating winter pursuits. Skating, snowboarding and skiing are just some of the individual outdoor activities whose popularity surges with the drop in temperatures, together with team sports like ice hockey and curling, or for the truly adventurous, the bobsled, luge and even snow mobiling.
For many, the ideal winter sport is skiing. One of the greatest attractions (après ski aside!) is that skiing is exciting and stimulating for beginners and advanced skiers alike.
When starting out, there are some useful basics to remember. First, skis should never be taller than you ' if they continually cross at the front when you`re skiing, you need shorter ones. Ski boots should be snug - your heel should not be able to move about once done up - but not too tight, especially across the top of your foot, otherwise you`ll restrict blood flow and end up with feet you can`t feel.
Once in your skis, being able to stand up, turn and stop are three of the key skills to learn. Practice these on flat ground before negotiating any slopes. Keep feet a shoulder width apart, to give a solid base, limiting the chances of falling over. When skiing, point your toes in and keep your heels apart to form a V shape with your skis. Keep arms outstretched for balance and bend your knees slightly.
Once on the move, to slow down or stop, simply turn your toes in more and push heels out, accentuating the V shape, making sure that you always keep a small gap between the front of your skis. On a steep slope, the V movement will slow you down, but to stop, you need to turn your skis at a right angle to the slope. Put simply, your skis are an extension of your feet ' so whatever your feet do, the skis follow suit. To turn your skis to the left, turn your feet left and so on. Like most things, practice makes perfect, so take your time. Skiing is a mental as well as physical challenge and you need to build confidence. Taking on too much too soon can dent your self belief, as well as leave some painful reminders.
Once you`ve mastered the basics, you can begin to work on the tricks of the advanced skier, including parallel skiing, the key to which is ensuring you have your weight in the right place. When turning, 90% of your weight should be on your downhill (or outside) foot. Keeping weight forward is much safer and also means you turn quicker. Combined with fluid movements, gently bending the ankles, knees and waist, skiing becomes more dynamic, meaning you can tackle the steepest slopes, bumps and even powder snow with confidence.
Beginner or pro, hiring or buying, having the right equipment for winter pursuits is essential, particularly in the great and sometimes unpredictable outdoors. which tent can help to ensure you are fully prepared, whatever the weather.