In message <
ioh9i8hn5tkt747j3...@4ax.com>
Ace <
b.ro...@ifrance.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:15:56 GMT, Mike Clark <
mrc7-...@cam.ac.uk>
> wrote:
>
> >I see the issue of French Protectionism for the ESF raises its ugly head
> >once again
> >
> >
http://www.planetski.eu/news/4683
> >
> >"A court in France has ruled that British Tour companies are not allowed
> >to use ski hosts to show clients round the slopes. It believes skier
> >safety is compromsied. It is a test case and all ski hosting in France
> >is now banned."
>
> Hadn't seen that new result yet. We (Ski Club) were part of the
> earlier proceedings, as one of our leaders was also stopped and asked
> in for questioning at the same time as the incident that sparked this.
>
> In our case no further action was taken, presumably on the basis that
> no financial remuneration takes place for our volunteer leaders. Even
> so, we've changed our expenses system to ensure that (the very low)
> allowances are only paid after the event and on presentation of
> receipts.
It looks like they were after a single case to use as a test case. At
present the Ski Club might be OK but I wonder how long before the
authorities do look to see if they can come up with a trumped up charge.
>
> As it happens, I have some sympathies with the French on this. I have
> seen, and skied with, unqualified ski hosts, and while mostly they do
> a reasonable job, some of them are frankly a menace. I recall one,
> from some years ago, whose idea of leading was - "we're going down
> here, see you at the bottom".
Funnily enough I've had a similar experience in an ESF ski class where
the instructor decided that only those who could keep up with him were
going to get any instruction.
> I don't agree that they need to be qulified ski instructors,
> particularly with the France-only rulng about having to do the 'test
> technique' to teach, but maybe something on a level with the BASI
> level one course (which is itself a lower standard than the Ski Club
> leaders training, for example) could be established...
>
The problem with the French selection system for ESF has always been
that they put too much emphasis on the speed and technique of the
instructors skiing and not enough emphasis on their ability to teach or
empathise with their students. In my early years of skiing I had some
aweful experiences with ESF instructors and it wasn't until I started
taking lessons with some of the international ski schools that things
improved.
Mike