Chilly Powder Ski School

If you are ready to make a Chilly Powder Ski School request for your children, please click here for our booking form. Please ensure that you have read the information below before you complete your form.

Here's how our ski school works...

What are my options for lessons?

You can share private lessons with other Chilly Powder children, but there are other ski school options here in Morzine and Avoriaz. Prices and times differ between ski schools and you might find the following websites useful:

ESF Avoriaz

Avoriaz Alpine Ski School

Village des Enfants

Mint Snowboarding

You can book lessons independently on all of the above websites. Please be aware however that we can only offer lesson drop-off and pick-up facilities for your children if they are attending our ski school or the Village des Enfants in Avoriaz.

At what age can my children learn to ski?

Children aged 4 and above can attend our Chilly Powder Ski School. Children aged 3 and above can attend the excellent and well recommended Village des Enfants in Avoriaz. This is a 'ski kindergarten' which teaches children the basics of skiing in a fun learning environment. Bookings for the Village des Enfants can only be made directly using the website listed above, however drop-offs and pick-ups can be arranged if your children are spending the afternoon in our creche or fun club. Unfortunately children younger than 3 years of age cannot begin learning to ski. If your children are spending their afternoons in our creche, we will take them out in the snow as much as possible. Our nannies will take them sledging, on the merry-go round in Morzine or building snowmen in our snow garden behind the hotel. It is important that you provide the nannies with lots of warm outdoor clothes for your children during their time in the creche. Unfortunately our nannies are not able to begin teaching your children to ski, in accordance with French law. However, if you wished to try teaching your own children to ski you can hire equipment for them from our list of recommended companies here in Morzine. There is a 'magic carpet' lift on the beginners slop in Morzine, which is great fun for very young children.

Where do your instructors come from?

We book ESF instructors to teach our private lessons. Our instructors all speak brilliant English and are excellent with children. The ESF instructors work together to ensure that your children are always in the correct group for their ability and our group sizes are always 6 or less. Our lessons take place between 9.30am abd 12noon from Sunday to Friday during your holiday. This is slightly different from the standard ski school hours to give you more time for a family breakfast and so we can bring your children back to Chilly Powder in time for their lunch if you have booked our childcare.

Where are the lessons and how do the children get there?

The Village des Enfants is in the centre of Avoriaz, a 15 minute walk from the top of the cable car. Our nannies can drop them off and pick them up from the Village des Enfants if you have booked Chilly Powder childcare for them. If not then we can of course provide you with directions to the Village des Enfants if you wish to collect them yourself. Chilly Powder Ski School lessons start and finish directly outside the cable car station in Avoriaz. Again we can provide a drop-off and pick-up service if your children are booked in to the creche. Unfortunately our instructors are not able to collect and return your children to the chalet. Please be aware however that we cannot take any responsibility for any equipment that your children take to their ski lessons with them.

How safe is the drop-off and pick-up service for my children?

Our nannies will only leave your children with their designated ESF instructors, all of whom are known to our nannies. ESF instructors qill only return your children to our nannies, all of whom carry a Chilly Powder identity card.

Why do you use the French ski school rather than a British ski school for children's lessons?

ESF provide Chilly Powder with the best private lesson prices and instructor availability during the course of each winter season. We are then able to pass this flexibility and these prices on to you with no mark-up at all. The ESF also operate from the best meeting points in Avoriaz, making it more convenient for you to collect your children after their lessons if you wish to do so. Many people have heard bad rumours about the ESF lessons and they wonder why we use them here at Chilly Powder. The group lessons of the other ski schools in both Morzine and Avoriaz tend to be much larger than our lessons and by using ESF we can specify which instructor we'd like to use from our list of favourites.

When do we pay for our lessons and how much do they cost?

If you book lessons independent of Chilly Powder you will have to queue and then pay for your lessons on the first morning of your holiday. If you choose our ski school service, we will pass your credit card details on to the ESF (in a very secure and safe way!) and they will charge your card with the agreed amount in the week before your holiday. Chilly Powder private lessons are charged in a way that divides the total price of each instructor between the eventual number of children in his or her group. We do not add a mark up or an administration charge to the cost of the instructor. The number of children in each group is determined by the ages and abilities of the children in the chalets during your week with us.

Can I be around while my children have their lessons?

Curiosity will probably get the better of you and you'll want to see how your child is progressing in their lessons. If you want to watch from the sidelines, try to do so discreetly. Children sometimes get distracted or upset when they see their parents watching them.

Can I get a refund if my child doesn't like their ski lesson?

This is at the discretion of the ESF and in the very unlikely event that this happens, you will need to discuss your concerns with the instructor and the ESF office.

Can I book adult lessons with you?

We recommend the British Avoriaz Alpine Ski School for adult lessons, either as part of a group or for private lessons. You can also book all of their courses and ski clinics on their website. A representative from the British Avoriaz Alpine Ski School will vusut Chilly Powder on a Saturday evening to discuss any lesson requirements you might have for during your stay, although we do recommend that you book your lessons in advance of your holiday.

Click here to complete our Chilly Powder Ski School booking form.