Snowboard revolution at the ESF: new levels, new medals, new style!

This season, the esf is reinventing its teaching methods to better support riders of all ages during their snowboard lessons. With new levels, changes to medals and dedicated bibs, our esf Val Thorens school presents this new system and looks forward to seeing you for an unforgettable season on the snowboards!

Dear snowboarders, we have redesigned your levels, taking inspiration from our famous esf skiing levels. This is an opportunity to review the validation of the skills inherent to your discipline, but also to ensure clearer progression in your learning.

From the Piou-Piou, Ourson and Snow Flocon medals to the Expert Snowboard, via the 1ʳᵉ and 2ᵉ Étoile, snow enthusiasts and beginners alike will now be able to visualise their goals more easily with a fun and stimulating format that will delight young and old alike at the end of the week.

So goodbye to the Goomie Rider, Rookie Rider and Izzy Rider snowboard medals, but don't panic, we've put together a summary of the snowboard equivalents!

Whether you want to discover new sensations of gliding or have an unyielding passion for powder snow, knowing your level allows you to book a snowboarding lesson that is right for you. This ensures that you will be challenged in line with your goals and that you will be able to progress at your own pace and in the best conditions. 

Découverte snowboarding lessons:
First steps in private lessons - Piou-Piou: an introduction for young children in a safe area to discover the joys of snowboarding through games, fun and freedom.
Découverte group lessons - Ourson: from 7 years old, learning to slide for greater mobility, using the ski lifts on a snowboard and taking your first backside turns on a gentle slope.
Découverte group lessons - Flocon: discovering jibs, changing direction in switch and linking several turns on a gentle slope.

Intermediate snowboard lessons:
Rêve d'Étoile - 1ʳᵉ Étoile: front, cab, back or switch, performing different 180° slides, as well as basic turns, and learning tailpress and nosepress movements.
Rêve d’Étoile - 2ᵉ Étoile: introduction to vertical movement to improve pivoting, smoother riding and sliding on modules (jibs) on gentle to moderate slopes in normal foot position.

Snowboard lessons for beginners:
Découverte: sequence of 4 to 6 turns on snow, including flat, fakie and basic stance.

Intermediate snowboard lessons:
1st Snowboard: mastery of basic turns on a course. Here again, fakie, flat and basic stance tests are assessed.
2nd Snowboard: sequence of basic turns on a medium slope and assessment of fakie, flat and freestyle tests.

Advanced snowboarding lessons:
3rd Snowboard: sequence of advanced turns, small or large radii on all types of terrain. The tests are based on your skills in flat, freestyle and basic stance.
Expert Snowboard: free descent in all snow conditions and on all types of terrain, combining speed, trajectories, style and speed.

Good to know: At the Val Thorens ESF, 3ᵉ Snowboard and Expert Snowboard students are often grouped together in the same snowboarding lesson. This is an opportunity to challenge yourself a little more in a friendly atmosphere!

In the 3 Vallées ski area and Europe's highest ski resort, our esf Val Thorens snowboard instructors promise lessons tailored to all levels. As you progress, you can explore the resort's many facilities and snowpark with expert guidance from our team.

And new for this season: young snowboarders will have new bibs designed for a 100% rider style. Fun on the slopes, discovery and progress... as we said, this season promises to be a memorable one for snowboarding!