Call for the Euro qualified ski insctructor

The European Commission has put a call in to include ski (and snowboard) instruction in the new EU single market legislation, which could open up more ski school positions to British qualified instructors.

At present the ESF (official French ski school) has a very demanding qualification procedure, with a long list of conditions to be met which even includes proficiency in skiing when applying to be a snowboard instructor.

As result the number of British instructors who have qualified to teach in France makes up a measly 300 out of an estimated 20,000 instructors.

Amongst dozens of other professions involved in the single market, ski professionals are now faced with the tricky task of agreeing on EU-wide standards. A requirement for mountain safety knowledge will of course be paramount, covering such things as avalanches and navigation.

Good news for learner skiers & snowboarders.

Under the European Commission plan, this profession could introduce a European Professional Card, showing that the instructor has reached an EU-wide standard and is qualified to do their job. Which would help to keep fake instructors off the slopes - which is at least one reason the French would be in favour of it.