Val Thorens: the ideal playground for your budding athletes!

Known as the highest resort in Europe, Val Thorens is also an ideal place to perfect your skiing techniques. With 600 kilometres of pistes, there's plenty to discover on your own, with the family or with an esf instructor.

Children and teenagers who already have a passion for skiing can also take advantage of these snow-covered areas to measure themselves against other budding athletes during a competition course.

Nestling in the heart of the 3 Vallées, Val Thorens rises to an altitude of 2,300 metres. This height, very rare for a ski area, offers many advantages to skiers who come to enjoy the resort for a weekend or a winter holiday: the quality of the snow, the diversity of activities, the views... it's hard to tire of Val Thorens.

If you're planning to come and discover or rediscover these wide-open spaces with your children, it's nevertheless important to choose a winter sports programme suited to their individual desires. An 11-year-old child with a passion for freestyle and speed does not have the same needs as an adult who likes stress-free descents.

From the age of 8 to 17, your children can challenge themselves during a competition course organised by esf. Unlike traditional group ski lessons, these courses focus on the experience of young skiers and their desire to take on new challenges.

To register, children must already have obtained their Étoile d'Or star for the junior course, and the Flèche de Bronze for the second competition course. The level expected is that of a skier used to speed and timing.

At Val Thorens, the competition course has an extremely rich programme. Budding athletes can train in giant slalom, skicross, cross-country skiing and various technical courses.

Accompanied by esf instructors, the children will spend their school holidays on the slopes of Europe's highest resort, with the aim of achieving ever higher goals. The programme is always conducted in a friendly atmosphere, with timed tests to help the children assess their abilities.

Finally, a wonderful prize-giving ceremony will bring this sporting chapter to a close.