If you thought that the inexplicable French ban on ski hosting was a temporary blip in the entente cordiale, and that it would fade quietly away, you’d be wrong.
Today the French Appeals Court in Chambery has upheld last year’s conviction against Huddersfield-based tour operator Le Ski. The appeal was heard in early July and the judge today gave his verdict in open court: appeal dismissed. However, he did substantially reduce the amount of damages awarded to the ESF (Ecole du Ski Francais). It’s expected to be some weeks before he gives his reasons in writing.
Nick Morgan, MD of Le Ski, said:” I’m very surprised and disappointed. We have a strong case and we thought they would consider the appeal in a fair and sensible way. We have lost a battle, but not the war. We will now take the case to the Supreme Court in Paris and, if necessary, to the European Court in Luxembourg.”
Morgan is backed by an alliance of British ski tour operators: Alpine Elements, Crystal Ski Holidays, Esprit Ski, Inghams, Mark Warner, Neilson, Ski Olympic, Ski Total, Skiworld and Thomson Ski.
So what does the ruling really mean for British skiers? Very simply, if you’re one of the tens of thousands of skiers who feel that a tour operator’s free mountain hosting service is an important part of your holiday, don’t holiday in France.
It’s worth noting that Mark Warner, one of the original companies to promote ski hosting, has now started operating in Zell am See in Austria where hosting is accepted by local skis schools. It seems highly likely that other predominantly French operators will follow their lead.
One other option for tour operators is to follow the lead of Crystal. Last winter, it introduced a Sundays-only ski-hosting service in 11 French resorts, in collaboration with the Evolution 2 ski school. In each of the resorts where the new service is offered, Crystal has also made Evolution 2 its main ski school partner, rather than the ESF.
So What’s Behind The Ban?
Article L.212-1 of the French Code du Sport bans ski guiding whether on-piste or off, if the leader is paid for the service, and isn’t a qualified ski instructor or mountain guide.
Le Ski and its allies claim the regulations are discriminatory – because, unlike everyone else, French civil servants and teachers “established in France” don’t need to have ski instructor qualifications to guide on the slopes.
In theory, a maths teacher from Normandy who has never before been to the mountains could lead a group of children or adults on-piste, but not an experienced British skier with a couple of seasons under his belt. This, it argues, makes the ban unjustifiable under EU law.
The most recent casualty in ski-hosting wars is the Ski Club of Great Britain. Its Ski Leader programme came under scrutiny last winter when a leader was stopped and questioned by gendarmes in Val d’Isere.
The Ski Club case is still before the courts, but I now understand that the leader was stopped in Val at the instigation of the ESF. The ski school had made a formal complaint to the police and gendarmes had been looking for the leader for some days before he was found and questioned.
For more on the ski hosting ban, read our features “Are the Happy Days of Ski Hosting Over in France?”, “Is This the End of Ski Hosting in France?” and Crystal Side-Steps the French Ban on Ski Hosting”
Typical of the French, One can only do as they say even when the law is on your side: Follow this all the way up the law ladder to the European Court. In the meantime only ski in France if you really have to. There are so many other countries where we are welcome. Support those and let’s hit France where it hurts, in their pocket. If you have to go to France take as much food and booze in the car so you have to spend as little as possible whilst there. Use the registered English Ski Schools if you need tuition and shun ESF. Make them pay for this action. it is disgraceful.
If enough tour operators will follow Mark Warner and switch operations to Austria and Italy, it will only hurt the ESF in the long run. Sure companies based in France can’t follow that lead, but the majority who use the ski hosting are doing it for company to ski with and are all competent enough skiers / boarders these days to not need or want instruction. Some are probably new to the resort, but most I’ve ever done hosting with (Ski Beat and Le Ski in particular) are / were just singles looking for a bunch of people to tag along with for the day on the slopes. Nothing more nothing less. It’s always made clear at the start of the day that they hosts are not there to teach or coach and everyone is fine with that. Anyone not of a good enough standard is always directed to ski school too. So with the exception of making sure any hosts have suitable first aid training I fail to see what this ban is achieving for the good of anyone.
It’s a shame that the ESF think this approach is going to win them business, quite simply it won’t! Certainly won’t get you business from the people that were only looking for some ski buddies for the day, and probably won’t get you any lessons from others in the chalet or tour ops that now won’t be using your services. Wake up ESF and see the gun you have pointed at your own feet.
It’s an interesting one. If the principle is purely about safety on the slopes (and not protecting French jobs) then it’s hard to argue with it….though how it differs from someone “guiding” a group of mates I’m not sure. Seems a very short sighted approach to me, as it can only have a negative impact on numbers of Brits going to France…….which as someone who enjoys the relaxed charm of the Italian slopes fills me with dread!!
i went skiing in france last year, and the company i went with still did ski hosting, but the leader did it in his own time and unpaid, he was just another member of the group, ski companies like crystal should pull out of france at least for one season, just to show the french what economical damage can be caused, if something like that happened in england all hell would break loose and the french probably declaring war on us. its time the big companies stood up to france and tell them where to go.i”m off to italy next year.
Simple answer, don’t use ESF ski schools since they are the instigators of the witch hunts. Plenty of good if not better alternatives out there.
I am pleased the court has upheld the ski hosting ban! It is not the ESF to blame for the removal of ski hosts, it is the use of unqualified people guiding tourists around the resorts. I have worked as a ski instructor/race coach for over 30 years. Use your common sense and pay for an expert not an anorak!!