We strongly recommend that you book your ski lessons as soon as possible after booking your holiday to avoid disappointment.
This page gives a description of companies providing ski and snowboarding lessons in Meribel for the 2007/2008 season, and links to pages for each company giving details of their lessons and prices. 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 at karen@purpleski.com. 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, click here
To reserve lessons please click here. This will open a new browser window so that you can still refer back to this page if you need to. Please note that in booking lessons via Purple Ski you must 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
New Generation - Web Site
Tel/Fax: 00 33 4 79 01 03 18 - France
Tel: 00 44 1483 205 402 - UK
email: info@skinewgen.com
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 won the "Which" Good skiing and Snowboarding Guide Ski School of the Year award 2004-2005 as well as being voted Best Ski School in the Global Snow Awards in both 2004 and 2005. Feedback from Purple Ski guests who have used them has always been excellent.
They have just 9 instructors based in Meribel (another c.20 based in Courchevel); all are selected based on their excellent coaching skills. In the past, the majority were native English speakers**, so can make analogies and explanations that you can more easily understand, encourage questions and discussion to help you progress faster (focus is on "coaching" rather than "instruction") and hopefully have more fun. (** they now seem to have more French instructors?) They say 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.
New last season was that, after many years of campaigning, the French have now allowed British qualified snowboarders to teach in France and so New Generation now runs a snowboard school in Méribel. They have recruited 2 excellent British snowboarders who have developed an excellent snowboard programme. Group lessons will run in the morning (Mon to Fri) and Freeride and Freestyle Clinics in the afternoon.
Their meeting point is at the bottom of the Rhodos bubble at the Chaudanne, look out for their green jackets.
If you wish to book lessons with New Generation, please contact them directly by phone or email. Note - they are a small company, so have limited places. Book early!
For full details of lessons with New Generation, including 2007-2008 prices, click here.
Magic Academy - Web Site
Tel: 00 33 4 79 08 53 36
Fax: 00 33 4 79 00 31 40
email: meribel@magicfr.com
For bookings click here.
Magic in Motion was established (in Meribel) in 1992 and Ski Academy (in Courchevel) shortly afterwards. They have now merged to become Magic Academy - a large, independent and popular ski school, offering private and group ski and snowboarding lessons, mixing fun and technique. Tthey also run some (limited) group ski lessons and private snowboard lessons in Mottaret. 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.
Their lesson options are, in our view, very well structured, including group lessons for little ones (aged 4-5 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).
The meeting point for lessons in Meribel 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 lessons in Mottaret, the meeting point is in front of the Plattieres lift station.
We have now worked with Magic in Motion and Ski Academy for several seasons and feedback from the many guests who used them has almost invariably been excellent.
For full details of lessons with Magic Academy, including 2007-2008 prices, click here.
Parallel Lines - Web Site
Tel : 01702 589580 - UK; + 33 (0)4 79 00 32 21 - France
Fax : 01702 588671 - UK; + 33 (0)4 79 00 31 55 - France
E-mail : info@parallel-lines.com
Parallel Lines is a small, independent school that operates exclusively in Meribel. They expect to have a team of 10 ski and snowboard instructors in Meribel this year, all fully qualified, native English speakers and most of whom have spent many seasons living and working in the Three Valleys.
Their meeting point is at the right hand side of the entrance to the Rhodos bubble at the Chaudanne area.
They are continuing to offer adult and beginners courses starting on Mondays, also have afternoon snowboard sessions - for skiers who want to have a go but also do some morning skiing...
Relatively few of our clients have used Parallel Lines, so we have had limited feedback about them, but all reports have been excellent. Also, some of our guests favourite instructors have recently joined them from other schools, so we feel even more comfortable about recommending them than before.
For details of group and private ski and snowboard lessons with Parallel Lines, including 2007-2008 prices, click here.
To reserve lessons please click here. This will open a new browser window so that you can still refer back to this page if you need to.
École du Ski Français
Tel: 00 33 4 79 08 60 31 - Méribel or 00 33 4 79 00 49 49 - Mottaret
Fax: 00 33 4 79 08 60 80 - Méribel or 00 33 4 79 08 54 45 - Mottaret
The ESF is the biggest ski lesson operator in Meribel, offering group and private ski, snowboarding and cross country lessons, among others. They have some 390 alpine and 10 cross country ski instructors.
Our past experience of group lessons offered by the ESF in both Meribel 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 strongly 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 To reserve private lessons through us please click here.
The ESF also operates a creche for children aged 18 months to 3 years (Les Saturnins - Meribel 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 full details of recommended lessons/options with the ESF, including 2007-2008 prices, click here.
Meribel Connections - Web Site
Tel : 33 (0)4 79 08 58 07
Fax : 33 (0)4 79 08 59 78
Mob: 33 (0)6 09 26 18 59 (Stéphane) or
Mobile: 33 (0)6 22 49 88 47 (Jane)
E-mail : info@meribelconnections.com
Meribel Connections is a small independent ski school launched in 2001 by Stéphane Prost. He came to Meribel 18 seasons ago and originally worked with various international ski schools, but has been operating independently since 1996. He therefore has extensive experience Meribel and The Three Valleys and an excellent reputation, particularly with ski companies in the luxury market and has now formed a small team of 3 fully qualified French ski instructors, all of whom we are assured, "have excellent teaching and communication skills in both French and English, a thorough knowledge of the resort and a charming sense of humour!"
The Meribel Connections instructors are available for private instruction with individuals or groups up to a maximum of 6 or 7 depending on their levels - however the days can be divided amongst a slightly larger group according to their levels of ability and fitness. In general they work on 'engagement' which is all day as this is generally the best way to get the most out of your skiing day. Prices are 380-430 euros per day; 2, 3, and 4 hour sessions are also available outside peak weeks.
For details of tuition/excursions and bookings with Meribel Connections, please contact Stéphane, or Jane his English wife - who handles most of the reservations and organisation of Meribel Connections - directly. Note - we have only had limited feedback from Purple Ski guests about Meribel Connections, but it has all been very good and we have heard excellent reports of them through others over the years.
Sensations - Web Site
Tel : 33 (0)6 08 74 18 29
E-mail : info.3vallees@ski-sensations.com
Sensations is a small French ski school operating in Méribel and Courchevel, run by Fred Malguy. They have a team of 8 ski instructors and mountain guides from the French National Ski and Mountaineering School of Chamonix Mont Blanc, and provide tailored, "exclusive" ski tuition and guiding, including ski, snowboarding, off-piste, heliski/boarding, snow shoe outings, ski touring, ice climbing and paragliding.
They aim to bring a personal touch to their tuition/guiding and exclusive quality services, so do not run collective group lessons and insist on a maximum of 5 people per instuctor/guide and typically work on an 'engagement' basis (full day or weekly - with weekly bookings only for Christmas week, New Year Week, the February and Easter holidays).
For details of tuition/excursions and bookings with Sensations, please contact them directly (prices are from 350 euros for a full day and 200 euros for a morning or 180 euros for an afternoon (3 hours). Note - we have not had any client feedback about Sensations and so are not able to give any personal recommendations.
Cab9 (snowboarding) - Web Site
Tel : +33 (0) 643 158 728
E-mail:paul@cab9snowboarding.com
Cab9 Snowboarding is a small team of British snowboard instructors led by BASI examiner Paul Coleman. Paul has been a BASI examiner since 1998, and has 17 years of snowboarding experience, from competing internationally to managing snowboard schools. He is currently the highest qualified British snowboard instructor in Méribel.
In contrast to much of the snowboard instruction available in resort, all of 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 or 5 day group lessons, private instruction by the hour or specialist clinics with video feedback.
All lessons meet at the bottom of the RHODOS lift in Méribel.
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 : meribel@britishskischool.com
Craig Conkie and Martin Jeffers, two ex-ESF instructors who have been in Meribel for many years, have now joined 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 say they will be running a complete ski school programme in Meribel this coming season, which includes ski groups for juniors and adults, and also a variety of private lesson options. . Their adult groups are max 6 people, and the junior groups are 6-8 children, apart from the Mini Beginners (aged 4-6); this group only takes 3 people.
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 more details of group and private lessons with BASS, please visit their website or call them directly.
Last updated: 14 July 2008 12:27 GMT