Which resorts/companies have ski guiding, or group ski-ing (not lessons)

elovabloke wrote:All the TOs seem to have stopped this now.

Alive and kicking in Soldeu.

Most tour operators have stopped ski hosting in Italy, they were informed in September that it contravened Italian law.

The ESF did not bring the prosecutions, they were brought by the French authorities, under French (and Italian) law ski instruction is defined as paid accompaniment. The ESF is a civil party (partie civile), the French legal system offers people who have suffered injury as a result of another's violation of the law, the possibility to claim compensation. When the victim chooses to take this opportunity in a criminal proceeding, he declares himself a partie civile. The ESF is a cooperative, the local ski school directors and committees are elected annually, if they hadn't declared themselves as a civil party they would have risked losing their positions at the next election.

Some people employ an instructor just to guide them round a resort, make restaurant bookings for lunch etc., you don't have to have instruction if you don't want it. One of my friends works in Zermatt, he spends about 30% of his time doing this http://stoked.ch/en/ski-and-snowboard-school-zermatt/adults/vip-unlimited/

The original post and use of word 'guide' is reason for the whole mess in first place, that is an international qualification. Brits love to throw the dummy but ski instructor qualifications, Mountain Leader, Mountain Guide is no different to a driving licence and various levels of this. Grades of professional qualification which people have invested time and money into and should not be devalued. If you are looking for a ski companion make an APP, worked for non professional drivers who wanted to make some money.

Much of this is a mess.

Swingbeep accurately describes the situation in France.

Ranchero also offers some enlightenment, in how the situation developed, and, to be really fair, it is costly in time and money to gain one of the range of qualifications. One of my Niederau instructor friends, (yes, one of the two that took over my Niederau day run record :cry: ), has this summer completed the Mountain Gude qualification.

But the work he does with clients is a world away from skiing round resorts with a group of people, on well pisted runs, all within capability. Last season, in Wengen, I experienced my first European hosting session. It was little more than a series of social runs.

I can see no reason for trying to legislate for this. If this were to be, then surely I would be in trouble every season, where I am often at the head of a group of skiers. (Or at the back, where good mountaineers ought to be!) A good hosting situation covers the front, middle and back of the hosted group.

One thing is for sure. A group being hosted by good standard season skiers is much safer than some unorganised groups of folk on the mountain.

Ski hosting is predominantly a social event, and, from my only European experience, is wholly enjoyable.

On original topic. Look at Collets and Mountain Sun in the Dolomites.

Thanks for all the replies. I agree, it is a mess. Colletts look great, but flights are expensive for when we want to go.

Will try phoning Inghams, who appear to still be offering ski hosting in Italy and have availabiity from our local airport.

I think Ingams have also stopped ski hosting in Italy
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/skiing-news/11241435/Ski-hosting-cancelled-in-Italy-as-prosecutions-loom.html

If any TOs are still offering ski hosting in Italy they are taking a big risk. According to article 18 of Italian law no. 81 "Legge-quadro per la professione di maestro di sci e ulteriori disposizioni in materia di ordinamento della professione di guida alpine", only qualified ski instructors or mountain guides can provide this service. As in France ski instruction / mountain guiding is defined as paid accompaniment ("l'accompagnamento retribuito di clienti"). As these are regulated professions abusive practice is subject to criminal sanctions. If the authorities catch someone working illegally they are prosecuted under article 348 of the penal code "Abusivo esercizio di una professione", they also use this law to prosecute people who practice medicine without a licence. In April the Senate voted to dramatically increase the penalties (I don't know if they have come into force yet) if found guilty you could be fined 10,000 - 50,000 Euros and imprisoned for up to 18 months, anyone employing an unqualified person can be fined the same amount and imprisoned for up to 2 years. If someone is killed or injured whilst being accompanied by an unqualified person the terms of imprisonment are up to 18 years in case of death and 3-12 years in case of injury.

If that wasn't bad enough, under article 2048 of the Italian Civil Code ski instructors / guides are responsible for any damage caused to third parties by their clients. If it was found that they were working illegally their insurance would most likely be void.

No inghams reps offer this in Italy anymore. A pop up appears when you book a holiday.