To motivate children to excel and be proud of their progress, the French Ski School has come up with an excellent idea: reward them with a medal. At Méribel, as elsewhere, what the youngest learn is assessed at the end of each week of esf ski lessons.

The medal award ceremony is a moment the children look forward to, as they can celebrate their efforts in front of their parents and classmates. Ourson, flocon, étoile... find out what each esf medal stands for!

From the age of 4, and an unforgettable experience at the heart of Club Piou-Piou, the youngest ski apprentices can meet Titourson, the emblematic figure of children's first ski assessment.

Depicted on the Ourson medal, with his red scarf around his neck, this character symbolises the beginning of independence on the slopes. Knowing how to take a lift, how to snowplough and how to make turns are just some of the basics at Ourson level.

Once they've earned this medal, children can start skiing as a family on the green slopes of the Méribel resort.

Once children have passed the Ourson level, they can go on to deepen their knowledge and discover some essential skiing techniques in tailor-made group lessons.

To help them earn the Flocon medal, esf instructors teach them how to control speed, sideslip and snowplough turns. These easy exercises are designed to improve their balance and help them gain confidence on skis.

If all these skills have been successfully acquired, the child can receive his or her Flocon medal at the end of a festive ceremony.

By entering the stars category, children begin and end up mastering skiing and its various techniques. Children's courses lead not just to a medal, but to many. 1ʳᵉ Étoile, 2ᵉ Étoile, 3ᵉ Étoile, Bronze Étoile, Silver Étoile, Gold Étoile...

These multiple esf awards are there to refine children's level, right up to helping them take part in their first ski competitions.

Once all the stars have been added to your little skier's collection, he or she will be perfectly up to date with alpine skiing: half-pipe, varied terrain, timed mini giant slalom... Skiing will hold no secrets for them. So they'll have plenty of fun on Méribel's many slopes!