You've seen our red jackets, but do you really know ESF Val Thorens?
Published on 06/03/2025 - Written by Amélie
There are many reasons why ski enthusiasts come to Val Thorens. Excellent snow throughout the season, a privileged location at the heart of the Trois Vallées ski area and a wide variety of activities attract visitors from all over the world to the Alpine slopes.
A stay in Val Thorens is the perfect opportunity to learn all about winter sports thanks to the lessons given by the ESF instructors. Here's a look at the history of a ski school like no other!
Val Thorens: a crazy and ambitious project
Situated at an altitude of 2300 m, Val Thorens is known as the highest ski resort in Europe. Pierre Schnebelen, a property developer with experience of building winter sports resorts, was behind the titanic project.
Despite the many misgivings and fears linked to the scale of the project and the hostility of the environment, he surrounded himself with a team ready to rise to the challenge.
The team included Bernard Reverdy, Director of SODEVAB (Société de Développement des Équipements de la Vallée des Belleville), Joseph Fontanet, Chairman of Savoie General Council, Minister and Mayor of Vallée des Belleville, Pierre Josserand and Ferdinand Martin.
Work began in the late 1960s, and the station gradually took shape despite financial difficulties and setbacks.
Thrilling experiences in Val ThorensA pioneering ski resort in several fields
The most complex phase faded from the 1980s onwards. This decade was marked by the resort's first innovations, including the construction of the Cime Caron cable car.
Inaugurated in the summer of 1982, it took Val Thorens to an altitude of 3,200 m and put the resort on the international map. The resort was also one of the first to install a central reservation system, back in 1987.
In 1990, Val Thorens was equipped with the very first Funitel, a wide-gauge ski lift system that holds up very well in the wind and has since been exported to resorts all over the world.
In 1990, Val Thorens was equipped with the very first Funitel, a wide-gauge ski lift system that holds up very well in the wind and has since been exported to resorts all over the world.
Five years later, the world's longest single-section gondola lift was built to link Orelle in the Maurienne to Val Thorens.
ESF Val Thorens, a prestigious ski school
Alongside its technical and logistical development, the resort has naturally equipped itself with a ski school of excellence to offer visitors the chance to learn or perfect their skills in a number of disciplines.
After more than 50 years in business, the ESF Val Thorens can boast the 3rd largest number of instructors in France. More than 800 instructors have taught at the school!
State-qualified, these winter sports and mountain professionals guide students of all ages and levels with a pedagogical and caring approach. A high-performance team that welcomes you all season long to a site that has been voted best ski resort in the world 9 times at the World Ski Awards since 2013.
State-qualified, these winter sports and mountain professionals guide students of all ages and levels with a pedagogical and caring approach. A high-performance team that welcomes you all season long to a site that has been voted best ski resort in the world 9 times at the World Ski Awards since 2013.
Would you like to find out more about the history of our school? Read Luc Dupont's book, L'école du ski français de Val Thorens - 50 ans d'histoire!
Peaceful progress with our instructors