Better informed to be better prepared

FAQ

Please find below the most frequently asked questions.

Lessons

From what age can children take lessons?

We accept children from 3 years old in the snow garden provided they are toilet trained. It is also possible to book private lessons but we advise lessons of not more than 1h00 to begin with.

Where is the office of the Swiss Ski and Snowboard School (ESS)?

Our office is in the village square, next to the Portes du Soleil bar.
New address: Route de France 2, 1875 Morgins

Where is the Snow garden located?

The Snow garden is located next to the Sports Centre which is at the upper part of the village after the bend in the direction of France.

Where are the meeting places?

Morgins sports centre for Jardin des neiges/Snow Garden, P’tits Cracks/Young Champions and Blue League lessons. Top of the Foilleuse gondola for the Red and Black League lessons. Our meeting places on the village map

Where do the lessons end?

The Red and Black League lessons end at the bottom of the Foilleuse chairlift. The Jardin des neiges/Snow Garden, P’tits Cracks and Blue League lessons end by the Sports Centre grounds. Depending on the progress of the groups, the meeting places may vary during the week, check with the Instructor regarding these.

When are group lessons organised?

The Snow Garden and Young Champions lessons take place from Sunday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Blue, Red and Black League lessons take place Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Thursday all day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Lunch is included in the price on full-day lesson.

What is the number of participants per group?

In the Snow Garden, groups are limited to 5 children per instructor. For group lessons, the maximum is set at 8 in order to guarantee a high level of quality of teaching. During high season, classes can reach a maximum of 10 children.

In which level should we register the children?

If your child has followed the Swiss Snow League and has received the grade "ready for the next level" please register for the next level. If in doubt, communicate this to our instructors. We will carry out a test at the beginning of the week in order to homogenize the levels as much as possible. If your child has not yet followed the Swiss Snow League, you can see the different levels here.

We are not sure of our child's level… What to do?

The Instructors will do an on-site assessment so that the child is in the group suitable for his/her level. It is sometimes better to underestimate his/her level for safety reasons and the child's confidence, particularly if they have not skied for a whole year.

Why do children have to wear a bib?

Children in group lessons must wear a bib according to their level (green, blue, red or black) during the week of lessons. Children wear a bib for safety reasons. In high season it can get quite crowded on the slopes

Do children automatically receive a medal at the end of the course? How is the evaluation done?

From 12 hours of group lessons or on request from 6 hours of private lessons, a medal is awarded to each participant according to their technical level of skiing. The level of the medal received is evaluated over the entire week and awarded according to the required criteria. The instructors are always available to talk about the medals and their requirements.

I have several children. Can they be in the same group?

We favour levels. If your children have the same level, inform our secretary and the instructor so that we can put them together. If the level differs, we advise you to separate them so that they can learn the correct technique for their ability. Otherwise you may book a private Instructor to manage the different levels.

What happens if there are not 4 participants in a group lesson?

The lesson is then similar to a private lesson and ESS reserves the right to reduce the duration of the lesson per day or offer you an alternative of a semi-private lessons.

What is the difference between private lessons and group lessons?

In private lessons, the instructor focuses just on you so you quickly benefit from very precise advice for your individual needs. These lessons can therefore be more intense. In group lessons, attention is given to the whole class so you benefit from the group spirit and atmosphere.

At what time will I have my private lesson?

At the time indicated on your reservation. Your instructor may have another lesson before and will arrive right on time.

My instructor is late, what should I do?

An instructor may have another lesson beforehand and be late due to unforeseen circumstances. The Instructor will then lengthen his lesson by the duration of his delay either on the same day or during the following lesson.

Can we choose a specific Instructor?

For private lessons, you have the possibility of choosing your Instructor (depending on availability). However, it is not possible to guarantee you a certain instructor for group lessons.

What language do the instructors speak?

For private lessons, we offer lessons in French, English and German. Depending on availability, we also offer Instructors speaking Dutch, Spanish, Italian. For group lessons, there are often several languages ​​in a class and the Instructor communicates with every child, by word or gesture. The language barrier is not a problem and the children always have fun.

Lift passes

Is the ski lift pass included in the price of the lessons?

The lift pass is not included in the price of the lesson and each participant must have a valid ticket.

The lift pass for the Snow garden is included in the price of the lesson. A special ski pass is available for the Snowli and Le Géant ski lifts for the P'tits Cracks.

Which pass is best suited for the ski lesson?

For the snow garden, the lift is included.

For the Blue League, Prince/cess level, we recommend a pass for the Snowli and Giant ski lifts (beginner sector). This can be purchased at the Giant lift for 10.- CHF per day.

For the Blue King/Queen and Blue Star, Red Prince/cess levels, we recommend a Swiss domain lift pass.

For the Red King/Queen and Red Star and Black League, we recommend a Portes du Soleil lift pass to enjoy our extensive Franco-Swiss domain.

Swiss domain or Portes du Soleil passes can be purchased online or at the bottom of the Foilleuse chairlift.

Booking

How to book?

The easiest way is to book on our website online. You can of course also reach us by email all year round or by phone in season. If you are already in the village, our office secretaries will be happy to advise you on your reservation.

When to book ?

The earlier the better! In high season, group lessons fill up very quickly and we cannot guarantee availability for everyone in the morning.

Are the lessons refundable in the event of bad weather or accident?

The lessons will not be refunded due to bad weather unless in the event of total closure of the ski lifts and if an alternative activity is not possible. In the case of accident or illness, the lessons will be reimbursed upon presentation of a medical certificate.

Can I modify my lesson reservation?

Your reservation can be changed 24 hours before the start of the lesson at the latest.

Equipment

Is the material included in the price of the lesson?

The material is not included in the lesson price. Our partner store JJ Sport Morgins and their staff will be happy to advise you. They can offer you a discount rate on the daily/weekly rental on the presentation of a lesson ticket from the Ski and Snowboard School. 

What equipment is needed?

The basic equipment required includes skis, boots and poles. Helmet, appropriate goggles and warm gloves/mittens are mandatory for all children's lessons. Dress your children according to the weather of the day and please don't forget the sun cream and lip balm!

Are poles necessary for ages 3 to 5?

In the Snow Garden and in Blue Prince/cess, children ski without poles. From the Blue King level upwards poles are required for the lessons. If in doubt, check with the Instructor according to his program.