European Snowsport

Outstanding, independent ski schools in Verbier, Zermatt, Nendaz, St Moritz and Chamonix

call+41 27 771 6222
Booking enquiry X Close

Booking Enquiry






    Archives for October 2015

    10 Top Tips for Taking Your Kids Skiing

    by

    kids-skiing-lessons.jpg kids skiingSeeing your Kids skiing and enjoying the snow as much as you, can make for the perfect family holiday. However with all the kit and things to remember, family skiing holidays can become a stressful affair!

    Follow these simple tips and ensure you and your kids have the best possible skiing experience

     

    1: BEG, BORROW OR HIRE 

    Children grow fast and ski gear is expensive. Snow suits are warm but are difficult to take off during loo breaks. Only get poles if they can use them, ideally for the more advanced kids, otherwise guess who will end up carrying them…?

     

    2: ONION LAYERS 

    Yes you did read that correctly. Kids get cold on snow and warm in restaurants. Lots of layers are the key.

     

    3: PUT A ‘STRING’ ON IT

    Tie gloves on elastic through their jacket arms otherwise they CAN and WILL lose them. Gloves with zips are much better to use.

     

    Tips for skiing with kids kids skiing4: CHEAP SKI SOCKS?

    No, no, no. Warmth and comfort are key. We all know ski boots aren’t the most comfortable of things , so Its worth spending a little bit more on a good quality pair of well fitting ski socks to keep their feet warm and blister free.

     

    5: SKI SCHOOL IS FUN!

    Kids love ski school and they learn best when they’re having fun. Also handing them over to an instructor saves you the time and patience and frees you up to enjoy your own skiing. At ES all the kids in ski school are equipped with the Flaik system, which enables you to see exactly where they have skied during the day. 

     

    6: LIDS ON KIDS

    Safety first! Enforce the ‘no helmet, no snow’ rule. Protects against falls but also being hit by lifts and other peoples poles and they keep them warm!

     

    7: CHOCOLATE/SNACK

    We all like an extra energy boost and whilst skiing, kids will burn through their breakfast pretty quick! Put some snacks in their pocket and also stop for cafe breaks. They will thank you later for it.

     

    8: ‘ONE MORE RUN, ONE MORE RUN’

    Resist the temptation. Stop before your kids get too tired and miserable, and you will grow the next Freeride Champion.

     

    9: SUN PROTECTION

    Who wants to send their child back to school with a massive goggle tan? Slap on that factor 50. Protecting their eyes from the glare of the snow is equally important; goggles are more comfortable than sunglasses and less likely to fall off too.

     

    10: ENJOY IT

    You’re on holiday! The more you relax the more the kids will, and want to go skiing again. If you get everything organised and planned you will enjoy yourself more and even have time for that Vin Chaud you wanted!

    ES enters a team into the PDG 2016

    by

    The Patrouille des Glaciers (or PDG) is a ski mountaineering* race with military origins between the legendary Swiss ski resorts Zermatt and Verbier.

    Normally when people ski or walk between Verbier and Zermatt, which is part of the original Haute route, it takes them three to four days. However, at the end of April every second year, more than 3000 competitors will race/transport themselves/survive the 53 km and the 4000 vertical metres in somewhere between six and sixteen hours. Our goal is to be closer to six than sixteen…

    The competition first took place during the Second World War and was then a military only event. Eventually the race was opened for civilians and is now extremely popular and the organisers have to turn down more than 1000 applicants.

    During the winter we will keep you up to date with our training progress (hopefully), thoughts and news about the race.

     

    More information on the event can be found here

    * Ski mountaineering is a sport where you put a kind of skins under your light skis and walk up a mountain, when you have reached the summit, you take off the skins and ski down. Sounds easy doesn’t it?

    ES enters a team into the PDG 2016

    ES Opens New Ski School in Chamonix

    by

    Ski School in Chamonix

    We are pleased to announce we will be opening a small ski school in Chamonix for the coming season. We’ll be working with a group of very carefully chosen instructors.  This exciting new presence in the Chamonix valley has a simple aim; To inject a bit of energy and fun in to the Chamonix scene and give that same high level of service that our customers have come to expect in Verbier, St Moritz and Zermatt since 2003. If your visiting Chamonix and you’d like book an instructor do so early, our team will be small and will sell out quickly. Half term is already nearly full! ES Chamonix will be headed up by Jonathan Wilson  a Verbier veteran and big Chamonix fan.

    Julian Griffiths ES founder said

    “Jon is a great guy, he’s got lots of energy and people really warm to him, he’s assembled a great little team and we have a lot of confidence in this as a starting point for ES in France.”

    ES Chamonix will be based in the fun Kitsch Inn Restaurant right at the base of the pistes in Les Houches, just meters from the Bellevue cable car. It’s a great place to start and end the day.  Jon will also be playing a solo gig there each week. Lesson can start at all points in the Chamonix Valley, our team know the resort well and have a passion for seeing you have a great time during your stay in this beautiful french Valley.

    Ski School in Chamonix