Skiing off piste during lessons.

In my experience, off-piste guides and instructors love to share their 'mountain knowledge' and positively welcome questions on why they deem a certain area 'safe'. It's a fascinating subject and for many skiers the start of a 'whole new ball game.'

I think most insurance policies that exclude off piste really mean they exclude skiing off piste without a qualified guide or instructor when you look at the small print.

If you assume that the ESF instructor knows his stuff (and presumably to qualify in France he must do) he/she will know of many areas that are technically off piste but are safe but not pisted or marked as such. These areas probably aren't at high enough risk of avalanche to merit the full safety kit that is essential for true back country off piste skiing. They can be useful to teach specific techniques or are just quiet.

The trouble I am often reading about the Qualified guides who die in avalanches ….. :(

Sorry guys, been on the slopes all day so haven't had chance to respond to any comments.

As we entered the corridor i did ask about a huge slab of snow above is as i was concerned given all the chat recently of ava risk. I am very much new to anything off piste so have no knowledge myself about what to look for but it did look risky to me.
My actually words were " Is this safe?" as i pointed at the pack. The ESF guy simply laughed and said "No, we all die today" in a sarcastic tone.

The more i think about it the more concerned i am that this really is dangerous. He should, have explained why it was safe and perhaps i should have pushed for such an explanation. What he has done is give a class off off piste newbies a sense that areas that 'look' like this are perfectly safe.

As for insurance, i am covered off piste but it won't provide a new life will it? It did make me wonder though if Ski School students should be covered under a general ESF policy a bit like learner drivers are covered by the instructors policy.

Here is the route we took. A pic paints a 1000 words.

I am glad you have raised this as I was thinking abut it during the Michael Schumacher thread - but it was pointed out it wasn't an off piste/insurance debate!

I have never been asked what level of insurance I have during a lesson when being taken off the marked piste ( even if it's only to the side which was pointed out is considered off piste).

Dids1 wrote:
I have never been asked what level of insurance I have during a lesson when being taken off the marked piste ( even if it's only to the side which was pointed out is considered off piste).

Very pertinent point - I wonder what the situation is legally?
Does ESF have any extra cover for this type of thing I wonder? Other ski schools??

Snapzzz wrote:
Guys, opinions please.

I am currently in the PDS and taking group lessons with ESF, class 3.

Hi Snapzzz

i'm heading to La Plagne sunday and have lloked at the Class 3 ESF lessons although based on your description i wonder if it's perhaps beyond me and i should go for Class 2. What's your level of experience?

Ben

I know my opinions are seen by the majority here as 'old fashioned' but the subject of insurance seems to be becoming obsessional.
If insurance cover issues outweigh the exhilaration of skiing off piste can I suggest that skiing maybe isn't the right sport for you.
There are many 'safer' sports I could suggest.