Private Lessons
Alongside skiing and snowboarding the Magic Snowsports Academy can offer pretty much any discipline including: telemark, snowshoeing, snowblading, cross country and heli-skiing trips as well as other mountain based activities such as paragliding on request. They also have a flexible range of private lessons and guiding for those that want to crack a particular technique or discover the full extent of the skiing area.
Group Lessons
All groups are small to ensure optimum attention and motivation.
7 for adults, 8 for kids and 6 for the little ones.
The group and private timetable is structured to enable adults and children’s lessons to correspond with each other so that everyone in a family, although in different levels and following a different lesson length, can be skiing at the same time. All groups start on either Sunday or Monday according to a clients’ arrival day. As such for most groups there is a 5 day and a 6 day price. It is not however possible to join a group and pay for just a few days. Equally it is not possible to integrate into a group after Monday as the levels have been set for the week. Groups run up until Friday so leaving Saturday free. Private lessons are available on Saturdays for those that want to continue.In addition we have 'special clinics' for those that want extra personal attention such as race and freestyle clubs to keep the teenagers happy dunring the holidays
Children's Groups
Children’s Groups where possible are split not only by ability level but also by age to respect the different physical and mental capacities of youngsters, 4-5, 6 -9, 10-13, 14-17.
4 & 5 yr olds
Years of experience with 4 to 5 year olds has shown the instructors that the optimal time for them to ski is 2 hours per day. Accordingly their lessons are 915 to 1115 or 1130 to 1330. The 11.30 slot is preferable as the snow has had time to soften and it’s generally a little warmer out. These ‘Little Ones groups’ are run with a max of 6 children for levels 0 (beginner) to 2 (strong snowplough. They have a beginners gardens, safely enclosed from passing traffic and with special teaching equipment. If there are 4 or more children in the beginners group there is a qualified teaching assistant present to assist the instructor for the first few days.
6 yrs +
For those children aged 6 and upwards the Magic Snow sports Academy run a ‘Kids Fun Factory’. This 4 hour a day programme with two full days is very popular and is structured with breaks so that the youngest do not get overly tired but are fully challenged with technique, fun and games. This formula is great for every one. Parents get 2 days when they can ski the vast terrain on offer without having to hurry home at lunch time. Equally for the kids, by the Tuesday have made friends (all kids are English speaking) and realise that this is nothing like school. The rest of the week the kids and parents get a chance to ski together… happy families!
The final day, Friday, features a treasure hunt adapted to each level, culminating with a chase to catch ‘our mascot’, the giant orange mouse!
Adult groups
As with all the Magic Snowsports Academy morning groups the adults’ programme is designed so that children are never waiting for parents to return. As such adult’s lessons are 2 hours per day 915 to 1115 or 1130 to 1330. They also offer with a longer session on the last day, allowing you to venture a bit further a field to try out their new techniques. For beginners and level 1 there is an afternoon lesson on the first day, just to give a boost and keep people away from the danger of going off with well intentioned “expert friends”.
LEVELS
Skiing Levels
Ski level
Description of existing ability at beginning of week
Likely previous experience
Kids medals
Beginners
First time on skis or limited dry slope experience.
None
Mouse
1 Basic snowplough, you have probably done 1 week on snow;
1/2 weeks
Crystal
2 Strong snowplough starting to parallel on greens and easy blues
2 to 4 weeks
Bronze
3 Parallel turns on blue slopes
3 to 5 weeks
Silver
4 Parallel turns on blue & red slopes but need confidence to tackle black pistes & off-piste
At least 5 weeks
Gold
5 Go anywhere in parallel
probably skied at least 8 weeks
Diamond
6 Freeride & freestyle
Price Guidlines:
Please go to the Magic Snow Sports Academy website for full details eg start/finish times. (Sterling prices indicated are for guidance only & are based on the exchange rate of 30.04.07)
Skiing
Private Lessions
2hrs am 140E / £95
4hrs pm 280E / £191
3hrs pm 170E / £115
Full day 350E / £272
Adults Group Lessons
level 0-1 Sunday start 205E / £139
Monday start 180E / £123
Level 2-5 Sunday start 180E / £123
Monday start 150E / £102
Childrens Group Lessons
Age 6plus levels 0 - 6
Kids Fun Factory Sunday start 415E / £283
Monday Start 370E / £252
Kids Afternoons Sunday start 270E / £180
Monday Start 225E / £150
Age 4-6 'Little Ones' levela 0 - 2
Little Ones Sunday start 240E / £163
Monday Start 220E / £150
Snowboard groups
All resorts run afternoon groups. These are based on a maximum of 6 per group. They have decided to make the boarding lessons afternoon based as the snow is softer therefore easier on those inevitable tumbles! Making it safer. The Magic Snowsports Academy always recommend wearing helmets and body armour for boarding, particularly for beginners.
Snow Board Levels
Beginers - First time ona board
1 - Some experience but not yet turning both directions
2 - Confident on greens and starting blues
3 - turning on blues and reds and some experience riding switch
4 - freeride and freestyle
Prices
Groups (Min 4 max 6) Levels 0 - Freestyle
Adult
Adult Level 0-1 Sunday start 225E / £154
Monday Start 200E / £137
Adult Level 2-4 Sunday start 200E / £137
Monday Start 180E / £123
Children Age 8 -16
Level 0-4 Sunday start 395E / £270
Monday Start 350E / £239
Freestyle Clinic Sunday start 180E / £123
Monday Start 150E / £102
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ESF
Contact info:
Méribel Cedex
Tél : 33 (0)4 79 08 60 31
Fax : 33 (0)4 79 08 60 80
Internet et email
Bureau du Rond-Point :
Tél : 33 (0)4 79 08 89 42
Bureau de la Chaudanne :
Tél : 33 (0)4 79 08 58 81
Bureau du Mottaret
Tél : 33 (0)4 79 00 49 49
Fax : 33 (0)4 79 08 54 45
ESF Vallée de Méribel
Created in 1945 by locals from the Valley, the French Ski School in Meribel has become one of the biggest ski schools in France.
With 4 offices conveniently located around the resort, and a variety of different types of lessons for skiing, snowboarding, telemark, cross country skiing, and snow shoe walks, the school caters for the variety of needs of its clients’, whether they are French or from abroad. As an important partner in the day to day functioning of the resort, Meribel’s ESF offers a host of modern tools to maximize you and your families’ skiing pleasure: a day nursery for infants and very small children, 3 kindergartens, and 2 slalom courses, one of which is to Olympic standard ; all of which are aimed to ensure you have the most enjoyable and successful skiing holiday possible.
The school’s 450 instructors have all gained professional qualifications from the National School of Skiing and Alpinism in Chamonix (ENSA).
After 5 year’s training they have all decided to come to this magnificent valley to share with clients their passion for skiing and for the mountains. You will find that skiing with them is always a pleasure, whatever your ability, your age, or your expectations.
And what’s more, since they all know the 3 Valleys so well, they will always be able to find the best snow conditions, to share with you their favourite secret ski areas, far from the madding crowds, and to help you experience off-piste skiing at its best, amongst some of the finest peaks the Alps have to offer.
