It is very important to watch the weather conditions each morning to dress your kid accordingly. It is better to wear googles rather than sunglasses and mittens rather than gloves. If the weather is sunny, do not forget the sunscreen. If it is windy and snowy, put a neck warmer on him/her and dress him/her warm if it is cold.
This course is intended for teens from 12 and 16 years old, who have already obtained the gold star or equivalent level. There are 5 mornings (Sunday : 10.30am-12:30pm / Monday to Thursday : 9am-12) and 1 full day (Friday : 9am-4.30pm). The instructor will decide the schedule for the week with the teens. On the last day, they will discover the 3 Vallées. For lunch, the instructor will give you instructions the day before. The teens need a 3 Vallées ski pass
It is recommended to give your child a snack as they may get peckish during the morning. In case of bad weather, a break is scheduled in one of the picnic rooms at the ski hill.
Our group lessons are open to children from 5 years old. If the child is younger, it is possible to book private lessons. Please contact us for more info.
The group lessons start on Sunday, at 10.30 am. The price is the same if you choose to take 6 (from Sunday) or 5 days (from Monday). If you have never skied before, you must register from Sunday.
Adult courses from first timer to level 3 take place at the same time than kids courses. On Sunday, lessons start at 10.30am and end at 12:30pm. From Monday to Friday, lessons take place from 9am to 12. Please note : It is not possible to book children courses outside of holidays (red periods). If we have enough requests to make a group of same level in low season, we will open lessons for children.
Wearing a helmet is MANDATORY for children registered in group and private lessons. It is highly recommended for adults.
Taking a private instructor ensures special attention for your needs and a personalized learning that helps to improve your skills quickly. In group lessons, you benefit from learning organized throughout the week, with the energy of the group and at a lower cost.
SKI COOL meeting point is located at the top of the Musaraigne magic carpet. In private lessons, your instructor can come and pick you up from your hotel (ski room exit) if you can ski out from there without difficulty given your level. For more information, you can contact us before your lessons
Equipment rental is not included in group lessons. Please contact us if you want to know th closest ski shop from your accomodation in Val Thorens.
Lessons’ booking does not include insurance. However, we advise you to take out « Carré Neige » insurance at €3.30 per day and per person. Please contact us if you would like to add this option to your reservation.
SKI COOL is already committed to refunding the total amount paid for a reservation if the cancellation occurs up to 48 hours before the start of the first class concerned. Less than 48 hours notice, only 50% of the amount paid for the reservation will be refunded. No refund will be possible once the lesson has started. In the event of an accident or illness during the course, we will not reimburse your bookings, even on presentation of a medical certificate.
We will not refund lessons in the event of bad weather.
To assess your level, you can refer to the list below :
ADULT SKI
• FIRST TIMER : You have never skied before.
• BEGINNER/LEVEL 1 : You have already skied a bit, you can snowplough and stop on easy slopes. Introduction to blue slopes.
• LEVEL 2 : you start to turn with parallel skis, you know how to sideslip and you are comfortable on blue runs. Introduction to red slopes.
• LEVEL 3 : You ski parallel, you are at ease on red runs and improve your skills in short (godille skiing) and long turns. You discover black runs and off-pist skiing.
• LEVEL 4 : You are at ease on every run, you are able to carve and have already tried off-pist skiing.
CHILDREN
• BEAR CUB : You never skied before. You will learn to find your balance and how to turn and stop on easy slopes.
• SNOWFLAKE : You've skied a bit, you can snowplough and stop on easy slopes. You will learn to improve your turn and gain confidence.
• 1ST STAR : You can perform snowplough turns on green runs and start to sideslip with your skis parallel at the end of turns.
• 2ND STAR : You feel confident on blue slopes and you work on your parallel turns. You will try red runs.
• 3RD STAR : You are confident, you master parallel skiing on blue runs and you are able to sideslip on red slopes. You start to improve your skills in short turns.
• BRONZE STAR : You ski down in short and long carved turns with limited sideslip. Discovery of black runs and giant slalom courses.
• GOLD STAR : You are at ease to ski down all around the ski area and you control your speed in all situation. You discover alpine skiing and the timer.
• FREERIDE AND COMPETITION : You start to compete and off-pist skiing. You perfect your technique in all styles of skiing.
SNOWBOARD
• FIRST TIMER : You have never snowboarded before.
• BEGINNER/LEVEL 1 : You can sideslip and turn on both sides (toe side and heel side) on green and blue runs.
• LEVEL 2 : You are comfortable on blue runs, you have already ridden fakie (non-dominant foot forward) and tried a 180. Introduction to red slopes and the snowpark.
• LEVEL 3 : You are comfortable on red runs and riding fakie. You keep learning flat tricks, snowpark rotations and start to go off-pist.
• LEVEL 4 : You are comfortable on black runs and are perfecting your skills introduced in Level 3.
After skiing once, if you are able to turn in snowplough, stop by moving your skis outward, you must register for LEVEL 1.
If you are already able to turn backside (heel side) and frontside (toe side) with both feet tied and have taken the chairlift before, you must register for BEGINNER/LEVEL 1. If you have done just one foot riding, you must register in FIRST TIMER.
On the first day of group lessons, we do our best to create homogeneous groups in order to give the best learning afterwards. Our instructors chat together to help you improve throughout the week. If you progress faster or slower than the rest of the group, you will either level up or drop down to the lower level.
It is easy to take the Plein Sud or Pionniers chairlifts to head up to La Folie Douce even after a few hours of lessons. However, it is not recommended to go up there if you do not control your speed on blue slopes, turning almost parallel. The track down to the resort is not accessible for low levels.
Ski Cool is authorized to organize the medals’ tests and deliver medals. The tests take place on Friday morning :
BEAR CUB / SNOWFLAKE : to the right of the Campagnol magic carpet
1st STAR : to the right of the Campagnol magic carpet
2nd STAR : at the bottom of Chalet Stadium – Les 2 Lacs chairlift
3rd STAR, BRONZE STAR : Chalet Stadium – Les 2 Lacs chairlift
GOLD STAR : Yannick Richard Stadium – Le Lac Blanc chairlift
Our instructors assess your level throughout the week. At the end of the week, your instructor will tell you what level you have achieved and wheter you can register in the higher course next time you take lessons. If you want an evaluation booklet or a medal (paying), you can ask your instructor on Thursday or come to the Ski Cool office.
If you want to ski all week, we recommend that you buy a 6-day ski pass, either for Val Thorens or for all 3 Vallées. It is also possible to buy only a supplement to go skiing in the 3 Vallées one day.
Within our group lessons, you need a 6 days - Val Thorens ski pass.
For the COOL RIDE JUNIOR, teens will need 6 days - 3 Vallées ski pass.
Ski passes for children aged less than 5 years old are free. To benefit from this ski pass, go to the SETAM tickets office with an I.D to collect the ski pass.
You can buy your ski pass online (excluding free ski passes) or go straight to one of the SETAM tickets office (Montana, Street Caron, Forum Joseph Fontanet).
The ski pass is not included in group lessons. You hav to buy a ski pass before coming to the lessons.
In skiing as in snowboarding, you will improve quickly and will go up the chairlifts during the week. You will start skiing in the beginner area which is free. After your first lesson, you can ask your ski instructor if you have to buy a ski pass. Within our group lessons, you must take a ski pass for 6 days in order to take the chairlift from the first day with the rest of the group.
