Three Valley Piste Map [845kb].
Ski School Contact Details
Ski New Generation
+ 33 (0)4 79 01 03 18www.skinewgen.com
Magic Academy
+33 (0)4 79 08 53 36www.magicfr.com
Parallel Lines
+ 33 (0)4 79 00 32 21www.parallel-lines.com
Cab9 Snowboarding
+33 (0)6 43 15 87 28www.cab9snowboarding.com
David Lindsay
+44 (0)1235 821434+ 44 (0)7525 742035
Alpine Masters
Tel: +33 (0)6 25 56 49 01www.alpinemasters.co.uk
Ski Exclusif.com
+33 (0)6 62 14 16 67www.ski-exclusif.com
Eskilibre
+33 (0)6 09 15 49 87www.eskilibre.com
Ski Lessons
We strongly recommend that you book your ski lessons / guides as soon as possible after booking your holiday to avoid disappointment. Please note that Purple Ski is NOT itself a ski school.
This page gives a description of companies providing ski and snowboarding lessons, also private guides in Méribel and links to pages which summarise the hours and prices for both group and private lessons for the 2012-2013 season.
We are fortunate that Méribel is blessed with several excellent ski and snowboarding schools; we have worked with all the schools listed here and always with excellent results, so have confidence in recommending them to you.
We would be happy to provide advice to all our clients regarding ski lessons and help with making advance bookings; Karen has an intimate knowledge of all the ski schools and lesson options, so please contact her on . Alternatively, you may book these lessons directly with the provider (web links and contact details are given below). NOTE: lessons within 2 weeks of your holiday start date should be booked directly by yourself.
For a chart summarising the types of lessons offered by company and some key characteristics of each company, click here.
For a chart summarising the types and prices of group lessons offered, click here, and for private lessons click here.
Please note that by booking lessons via Purple Ski you agree to the Purple Ski ski lesson reservation terms and conditions, which can be found here
Please book your ski lessons at the earliest possible time to avoid your required lesson being unavailable. This is important for all weeks of the season but particularly at New Year and February half term. Morning sessions tend to be the most popular, so tend to be sold out first.
Please note that even if a lesson is listed here it does not mean it will be available at your particular week, level, discipline or location. All details are subject to change without notice.
NOTE: Helmets are required for all childrens' lessons - and are recommended for adults too!
New Generation - Web Site
Tel/Fax: + 33 (0)4 79 01 03 18 - France
Tel: + 44 (0)1483 205 402 - UK
email:
For bookings click here.
New Generation is a small, independent ski school, founded in 1998 by 4 British ski instructors, that we have worked with very successfully for several seasons.
They have just 8 instructors based in Méribel (another c.20 based in Courchevel); all are selected based on their excellent coaching skills, most are British - but all speak very good English (so can make analogies and explanations that you can more easily understand, encourage questions and discussion to help you progress faster and hopefully have more fun). Their focus is on "coaching" rather than "instruction"). Their instructors base lessons on the key principles of all learning - a combination of doing, watching, thinking, listening and feeling. All their instructors hold the BASI International Ski Teacher Diploma, membership of the International Ski Instructors Association and full entitlement to teach in France.
They run group and private lessons for skiers and snowboarders and, as well as the "usual" 5 day x 2 hour group lessons, they run 2 day specialist "clinics" (group lessons) for adults and teenagers who just want a few hours coaching. Their lessons for children aged 6-12 run for the full morning.
Their meeting point is at the bottom of the Rhodos bubble at the Chaudanne. Their instructors will be wearing green jackets this season.
For details of lessons with New Generation, including 2012-2013 prices, click here for group lessons and here for private lessons. For ski tips by New Generation, go to this link
Magic in Motion - Web Site
Tel: +33 (0)4 79 08 53 36
Fax: + 33 (0)4 79 00 31 40
email:
For bookings click here.
Established in 1992, Magic in Motion is an independent and very popular ski school owned and run by an Anglo-French team, and offers private and group ski and snowboarding lessons, mixing fun and technique. Their team is a mix of British and French instructors (and a couple of more exotic nationalities!) - but they guarantee English speaking instructors and small group sizes. Approximately one third of the team are native English speakers and all have been chosen for their teaching, motivational and communication skills (rather than just their skiing, which goes without saying!).
Their lesson options are, in our view, very well structured, including group lessons for little ones (aged 4-6 years) for 2 hours per day (x 5 days), but also a the very popular "Kids Fun Factory" option for older children which includes 3 x 4hr mornings plus 2 full days skiing, including supervised lunches on the 2 full days, plus games and medals on the final day. And for adults, beginners group lessons have a 4 hour first day (to get you going) plus a 4 hour last day for all levels (2 hours per day in between). They also offer guiding for advanced skiers and boarders - great for those who want to try something different but can't necessarily afford a private guide for the day.
The meeting point for lessons in Méribel is at the bottom of the "Truite" green run so for all but total beginners is accessible for guests staying in Mottaret as well.
For full details of lessons with Magic, including 2012-2013 prices, click here for group lessons and here for private lessons.
Parallel Lines - Web Site
Tel : 0844 811 2779 - UK; + 33 (0)4 79 00 32 21 - France
Fax : 01702 588671 - UK; + 33 (0)4 79 00 31 55 - France
E-mail :
Parallel Lines is a small, independent school that operates exclusively in Méribel. They have a team of 13 ski and snowboard instructors this year, all fully qualified, native English speakers and most of whom have spent many seasons living and working in the Three Valleys.
They offer a full range of adult ski and snowboarding lessons throughout the season, plus performance clinics, off-piste guiding and race training too. In the school holidays, they also offer a full range of children's ski and snowboarding group lessons.
They also work in conjunction with the Cab9 snowboarding school (see below).
Their meeting point is at the right hand side of the entrance to the Rhodos bubble at the Chaudanne area.
For details of group and private ski and snowboard lessons with Parallel Lines, including 2012-2013 prices, click here for group lessons and here for private lessons.
Alpine Masters - Web Site
Tel: +33 (0)6 25 56 49 01 (mobile)
email:
A new school, formed in 2009, Alpine Masters is an association of 6 truly excellent, fully qualified ski instructors, all dedicated to exceeding their clients' expectations.
Targeting already-experienced skiers, both youngsters and adults, they offer tailor-made ski coaching (both shared/mixed group and private) for those who want to develop a flowing performance on all terrain.
For details of lessons and 2012-2013 prices for private lessons with Alpine Masters, click here.
École du Ski Français - Web Site
Tel: +33 (0)4 79 08 60 31 - Méribel or 00 33 4 79 00 49 49 - Mottaret
Fax: + 33 (0)4 79 08 60 80 - Méribel or 00 33 4 79 08 54 45 - Mottaret
The ESF is the biggest ski lesson operator in Méribel, offering group and private ski, snowboarding and cross country lessons, among others. They have some 400 alpine and 10 cross country ski instructors.
Our past experience of group lessons offered by the ESF in both Méribel and Mottaret has not been great (issues mainly with language and/or excessively large group sizes - especially at peak periods). However they have some excellent private instructors and guides and we would recommend them for private lessons. If you wish to book group lessons with the ESF please book direct (click here); we are happy to help book private instructors.
The ESF also operates a creche for children aged 18 months to 3 years (Les Saturnins - Méribel only) and a kindergarten (Les Pt't Loups) for children aged 3 years to 5 years. Here, the children can play and try skiing for the first time in the large, enclosed snow field with inflatable figures, snowmen and a ski tow, or play and rest indoors in the air-conditioned "chalet" complete with toys, books, videos and a rest area. Proof of age required for both.
For details of lessons and 2012-2013 prices for private lessons with the ESF, click here.
-->Cab9 (snowboarding) - Web Site
Tel : +33 (0) 643 158 728
E-mail:
Cab9 Snowboarding is a small team of British snowboard instructors which has been operating since 2006 and is run by Paul Coleman and Jono Stevens, who have many years of snowboard teaching experience behind them.
In contrast to much of the snowboard instruction available in resort, the instructors are dedicated snowboarders, rather than ski instructors who teach snowboarding. They offer lessons for all abilities, from complete beginners to expert riders. They are keen to point out that Cab9 instructors are able to teach to a very high standard - they are qualified to guide clients off-piste, and are also trained to teach freestyle in the park and pipe.
You can choose from the popular 3, 4 or 5 day group lessons, private instruction by the hour or freestyle group sessions.
All lessons meet at the bottom of the RHODOS lift in Méribel.
They work in conjunction with Parallel Lines and so details of snowboarding lessons with Cab9, including 2012-2013 prices is as per Parallel Lines at: here for group lessons and here for private lessons.
British Alpine Ski & Snowboard School - Web Site
Tel: 44 (0)709 2206 321 - UK
Tel : 33 (0)6 79 51 24 05 - France (December to April)
E-mail :
Craig Conkie and Martin Jeffers, two ex-ESF instructors who have been in Méribel for many years, are part of an association called BASS, the British Alpine Ski and Snowboard School. Craig and Martin will be available throughout the season, with other British instructors joining them for busy periods.
All BASS instructors are, at a minimum, of BASI 1 grade, and also have completed their Eurotest (with French equivalence), making them among the highest qualified British instructors available anywhere.
They run mainly private lessons in Méribel, but during busy periods may also be able to offer ski groups for juniors and adults.
They are flexible in the way they set up lessons, meaning that they can often tailor lessons to suit certain parties. If a group has something particular in mind with regards to their ski lessons, they would try to accommodate their wishes if possible.
For details of lessons with BASS, including 2012-2013 prices, click here for group lessons and here for private lessons or call them directly.
Last updated: 18 March 2013 14:32 GMT
This document was printed on Saturday, May 18, 2013 3:32 PM