Which ski grade for children?
Skiing before age 5
During your winter sports vacations, your little ones can also enjoy the joys of skiing and make their first experiences on skis thanks to the following grades:
- Club Pioupiou (ages 3 to 5): this club is present in all French winter resorts. Your little one learns to ski in a group lesson with a state-certified ski instructor.
- Ourson level (from age 4) : Ourson lessons teach you to put on and take off your skis on your own, use the lifts, glide with your skis while controlling your speed, and make elementary turns. This level of skiing enables you to ski down green runs.
- Flocon level (from age 5): your child will be able to control speed, brake and stop. They'll start to skid on the slopes like the grown-ups, and will be able to ski parallel to go downhill.
Skiing after 5 years
As your child grows, he or she can take group lessons to progressively reach each of the following ski grades:
- 1st star level: with this level of skiing, your child will be able to glide on light to medium slopes, as well as link simple turns.
- 2nd star level: your child will learn to negotiate bumps and hollows, perform the skater's step and link more turns.
- 3rd star level: with this level of skiing, your child will be able to hurtle down the slopes on varied terrain, ski with parallel skis, pick up speed and brake while skidding.
- Bronze star level: your child learns to make tight turns, stay balanced on all types of snow, and even scull turns.
- Silver star level : the young skier improves his precision to perfect his support and style. They can perform their first simple ski jumping tricks, as well as ski schuss in complete safety.
- Gold star level: the last ski level for children, the gold star level enables skiers to improve their technique, for example to take part in the special children's slalom. Skiers can link turns and sculls on a mini giant slalom.
What grade of skiing for adults?
Adults are not left out! There is also a ski grade to certify your level and progress in skiing:
- Beginner ski grade : get to grips with skiing for the first time and familiarize yourself withAMENITIES. Learn how to use the lifts, glide over prepared terrain and take a snowplough turn.
- Ski grade 1: you'll be able to control your speed, change direction and become increasingly comfortable on skis.
- Ski grade 2: Learn to skid and finish turns with parallel skis. You'll also become more comfortable on all types of snow and terrain (including slopes and moguls).
- Ski grade 3: You're finally ready to do rounded turns, sculls and specific turns.
- Ski grade 4: perfect your level to become an expert skier.
Enjoy the slopes in France's best ski resort and improve your skills over the years with individual lessons, group courses and practice.
Performance levels
Finally, children can also take tests with the ESF (French Ski School) to progress and obtain additional ski grades:
- La Flèche level: 40-second event.
- Le Chamois level: special slalom for the SkiOpen ranking.
- La Fusée level: slalom event for the SkiOpen ranking.
- Level Le Record: mile-throwing event.
- Level Skiercross: a series of modules on a technical course.
- Level Le Saut: long jump with springboard.
- Le Ski level: achievement of at least two identical levels (Arrow, Chamois, Rocket, Jump).
