Avoriaz has a good mix of ski schools, and an especially enlightened attitude towards the teaching of children. SKiBro, either online or as an app, is an intuitive, user-friendly platform that helps you find the most suitable instructor for your needs – for everyone from families with small children and teenagers to improving intermediates and off-piste aficionados.
The British-run Avoriaz Alpine Ski and Snowboarding School is a long-established presence here, and over the years, we’ve been been impressed by their upbeat and painstaking approach. More recently, top-notch British ski school New Generation has started operating in the Portes du Soleil. Its main base is down in the Morzine, but it’s offering private lessons in Avoriaz too. Take a couple of these, and they’ll make a big difference to the way you ski.
Among the French schools here are Evolution 2 Ecole de Ski et d’Aventure which received favourable comments from reporters, and the ESF. Both schools also teach snowboarding.
A lot going for it for families
“I just can’t imagine a better family resort,” said a visitor. We can – one which is graced by a family-friendly British tour operator, for example. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that just such an outfit, Family Ski Company has a big operation down in Ardent, a quiet, cute and small village within the Portes du Soleil lift system.
Nevertheless, Avoriaz does have a lot going for it – it’s car-free, all the accommodation is ski-in, ski-out, and it’s home to a highly-rated Village des Enfants/Village Snowboard, which cares for children from three years of age, using methods developed by the celebrated French ski champion, Annie Famose. It has over 100 instructors and supervisors working during peak periods. It even has an Ecole des Parents which offers lessons for six parents at a time and that fit in with the childcare hours and meeting places.
Meanwhile, P’tits Loups creche cares for non-skiing children from three months to five years. There is a dedicated snowpark for kids aged five to 12 years.
Dogs, igloos and camp fires
Other activities for families in the resort include special dog-sledding trips for children. These are 10 minutes long and are available for children aged between nine months and 10 years of age. You can also have a ‘trapper evening’ in an igloo or teepee, reached on a 60-minute snowshoe trip. You then have a traditional mountain meal around a camp fire in the open air.
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