Skiing for children: from the Ourson to the Star

Piou Piou level: first steps in the snow

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From 3 years old, your child can learn to ski in the Piou Piou Club in your resort. A protected space, decorated with childish figurines so that he feels comfortable there, and equipped with specific equipment: snow wires, conveyor belt… His first steps in the snow are supervised by instructors from the Ecole du French Skiing whose objective is to make learning fun and fun.

After a week of lessons, a Piou Piou medal is awarded to each child who has not obtained his Ourson, the first of the ESF ability tests.

Ourson ski level: beginners class

The Ourson level concerns little ones who have obtained the Piou Piou medal or children over 6 years old who have never skied. The instructors first teach them how to put on and take off their skis by themselves.

They then begin to slide parallel skis on a low slope, to move in a winding way and to stop thanks to the famous snowplough turn. It is also the level where they use the ski lifts for the first time, failing to patiently ascend the slope “duck” or “staircase”.

The Ourson is the first of the French Ski School’s ability tests and the last level where lessons are given in the Snow Garden of your resort.

Snowflake level in ski: speed control

To get his Snowflake, your child must know how to control his speed, brake and stop. He is able to do seven to eight snowplough turns (V-skis) and put his skis back parallel while crossing the slope.

Last test: a balance test. Facing the slope or crossing, he must be able to jump on his skis, move from one foot to the other, overcome a small bump… while remaining balanced.

From this level, ESF lessons are no longer given in the Snow Garden, but on the green and then blue slopes of your resort.

1st star level in skiing: first skids

After the Flocon, on the way to the stars. To get the first, the little ones learn to chain skid turns taking into account the terrain, other users or the quality of the snow.

They are now able to keep their balance when sliding on even moderate slopes, to leave a straight line with their skis when crossing and to take small steps to turn downhill.

It is also at this level that they discover skids at an angle in the slope.

2nd star level in skiing: mastery of turns

Your child will have reached the level of the 2nd star when he will be able to do ten or so improved elementary turns (with parallel skis), while taking into account the external elements (relief, other users, quality of the snow, etc.).

He manages to cross passages with hollows and bumps without losing his balance and also masters skidding at an angle.

Finally, he learns to use the basic skater’s step (similar to the movement performed on rollerblades or ice skates) which allows him to move forward on flat ground by pushing on one leg, then the other.

3rd star level in skiing: all schuss

To win the 3rd star, you have to be able to string together short and medium radius turns imposed by stakes, but also skids at an angle interspersed with slope crossings (simple festoon), while keeping the skis parallel. Your child must also know how to maintain his balance in schuss (direct descent facing the slope) despite the hollows and bumps, get into position to seek speed and finish with a skid to brake.

Bronze star in skiing: ready for competition

At the level of the bronze star, your child learns to quickly chain very short turns along the fall line (scull) and to descend in slalom with changes of pace. It perfects its skids by reducing them each time it changes direction and passes bumps with a slight takeoff. His level now allows him to ski on all types of snow. After obtaining the bronze star, all that remains is to enter the competition to obtain other rewards: the gold star, the chamois, the arrow or the rocket.