The Ski Club of Great Britain has decided to end its ski guiding service provided by its team of in-resort Ski Leaders in France after French authorities took legal action against one of its guides.
The Ski Club, which has been established for nearly 110 years and runs its ski guiding service in multiple countries around the world, operated 11 of its 30 guiding services in France, the largest single country presence for its service.
The Club issued this statement:
A Ski Club Leader was stopped on the piste in Val d’Isere, France in April and questioned by gendarmes in relation to Art.L.212-1 of the French Code du Sport. Under this article it is a legal requirement to have the relevant and appropriate qualification(s) to instruct, lead or guide skiing (groups) if remuneration is received. Since then the Leader has been requested by the local authorities to attend a preliminary investigative hearing in Albertville. All Ski Club Leaders are non-remunerated volunteers. The Leader will be represented in court in September with the appropriate papers to prove his volunteer status.
The Ski Club is fully behind the Leader and has appointed a local lawyer who is well aware of the challenges involved and is currently representing UK tour operators in relation to the ski hosting ban.
The Club will only ever operate its ski leading programme in the knowledge that it is both safe and also fully compliant with local laws within any of the countries and jurisdictions of its programmes. The Club continues to believe the ski leading programme satisfies both these conditions. However, because the leading service is currently facing legal challenge, specifically in Val d’Isere, we have been advised to temporarily withdraw the on snow Resort Leader programme in France and introduce Ski Club Ambassadors for the 2014-15 winter season.”
Ski Club Members travelling to Leader resorts in France can rest assured the Ski Club will still be on hand to offer information and guidance and help them have the most enjoyable skiing experience possible. Ski Club Ambassadors will continue to meet with members at designated meeting points, make introductions and outline possible routes and itineraries for the day. They will also help organise and meet with members for lunch and apres ski, provide the latest snow updates and book mountain guides and instructors for the group if required. Ambassadors are selected for their knowledge of the ski area and resort they are based in and are full of tips, advice and recommendations that only a local would know. They will continue to bring members together in resort and maintain the lively Ski Club community. Members can also meet up with other members on the Ski Club online forum, arrange to ski together in resort and pre-register to meet the Ski Club Ambassador. They can arrange holidays, events, drinks, lifts out to the mountains or just to chat with fellow Ski Club members. There is a wealth of information and advice available at skiclub.co.uk and members can ask the dedicated information and advice team or local resort Ambassador any questions they may have with the assurance they will receive a prompt and expert reply.
The Club continues to support the Leader and the Leading services and will provide updates on this particular case as it develops. It is disappointing the Club has had to temporarily withdraw the on-snow service in France but it will continue to ensure members can still meet and ski together in resort and enjoy the benefits of being part of the UK’s biggest skiing community.
We believe members will continue to support the Club during these challenges and make the most of the facilities and services available.
The Ski Club Leader service will continue as usual in all other Leader destinations.
