The British Ski Academy (BSA) which for 20 years has been based in Les Houches in the Chamonix valley in France where it has taught young British Alpine ski racers their trade, has decided to move operations to Italy after it was shut down by French authorities.
“For twenty years the British Ski Academy has brought British youngsters to the Chamonix valley for Alpine race training and competition. The village of Les Houches has come to be considered a home from home by generations of British ski racers. Lasting memories and friendships have been forged,” said Malcolm Erskine, British Ski Academy Director in a statement, which continues,
“In recent years, officers of the French ministry of sports have taken an adverse position towards our coaching activities in France. This despite our safety record, sporting success, excellent local relations, and an accord with representatives of the BSS to ring-fence and protect British ski racing interests. Last autumn, tribunal charges were brought against me on the basis of the BSA’s employment of two (allegedly) unqualified coaches, both of whom, please note, had formerly been coach to their respective countries’ national ski teams. On March 4th, in a draconian turn of events, the deputy prefect of Haute Savoie booted the BSA out of the country by means of an administrative closure enforced by the PGHM (Pelotons de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne), a military force charged with police duties. The cited reasons included our employment of a coach the ministry declared was unqualified to ski with children, but who in fact is highly respected within the sport and who coached the GB team at this year’s world children’s Alpine ski championships.”
The British Ski Academy’s new base will be the Hotel Miage in Ponte Suaz, Aosta, at the foot of the Pila ski hill and close to the gondola station and motorway. This is a flagship location with outstanding training facilities and race pistes up to 2400 metres at the nearest resorts of Pila and Crevacol.
“We love Les Houches and will maintain a foothold for a possible return. But rather than sit out a legal dispute with the French sports ministry, which concerns who we employ to coach our athletes, the decision had to be made to secure a new base of operations. Many thanks to Regional Minister Marguerettaz and colleagues, and to the ski lift company and regional associations, for welcoming the BSA and our coaching team to the Aosta valley,” said Mr Erskine, who explained the situation,
“Although letters of support have been forthcoming from the British and International ski federations and from the Les Houches ski lift company and local ESF, so far we have had an unhappy time of it with French officialdom. Our legal challenge against closure was deemed non-urgent by the judge in Grenoble. When we gathered with other clubs and academies for the British Alpine ski championships in Tignes, a team of PGHM gendarmes arrived from Chamonix and spent three days interrogating coaches and parents. As for the outcome of my tribunal, faced with a request from the state prosecutor for a fine of 1500 euros, the judge in Bonneville spent three months deliberating and imposed a fine of 3000 euros. Ouch!”
The French action against the British Ski Academy is one of four separate but similar high profile actions which are being contended against British ski organisations, all of which are moving through the French court system and may end up in the European Courts for a final decision on whether the French action contravenes European law.
The other three are, firstly, a case against tour operator Le Ski for employing hosts allegedly without adequate qualifications under French law, to show their guests around the slopes. This has led to all British tour operators stopping similar hosting activities. A number of the larger companies are backing les ski in their ongoing court case. Tour operators argue that as the hosts are not teaching they do not need the high level teaching qualifications.
Secondly a case against the Ski Club of Great Britain for offering a ‘leading’ service to its members in several French resorts. The Ski Club argue its leaders are volunteers so do not need the high level qualifications. They recently lost their first appeal against the initial decision and had their fine increased instead, they are now progressing to a higher appeal court.
The third case concerns ski teaching offered by a ski school run by long-established and highly-respected British ski teacher Simon Butler in Megeve. That case is also proceeding through the courts and Mr Butler’s lawyers are sure that once it reaches the European Court he will be exonerated. This case has also caused complication in the UK with BASI (the British Association of Ski Instructors) as it is alleged that Mr Butler should have been provided with certification that does match French requirements by BASI many years ago anyway, so there’s also a legal action in the UK between Mr Butler and BASI. In the meantime Mt Butler has established a new operation at Crans Montana in Switzerland.
Most of the legal actions have started in the last three years and are against organisations which had previously offered the service they are being challenged over for several decades without problems.
“The BSA’s activities have taken place for many years in a quiet corner of the French Alps where the extra commerce was appreciated and where until now we have been made to feel welcome. Our legal appeals continue and if the BSA closure is lifted before next season this will afford us a refuge on the French side of Mont Blanc. For now we are obliged to pack up our bags and say “au revoir” to the BSA’s many friends in France,” concluded Mr Erskine, “Benvenuti in Italia. Aosta here we come!”
