British company does battle in the French courts over ski hosting

In this brief blog, Adam Lovatt considers the ongoing battle in the French courts regarding ski hosting during the winter months.

Whilst many of us plan a February or Easter break on the ski slopes of France to get away from rainy Britain, many British ski operators are concerning themselves with a court case that affects their very livelihoods.

The dispute began in February 2013, when Le Ski, a British company, was told by a court in Albertsville that the practice of ski hosting was contrary to French law and that leaders of organised groups on the French Alps must be qualified ski or snowboard instructors. The practice of ski hosting is not lesson based, rather it is geared towards guiding tourists on the slopes with an employee from a tour operator showing the skiers or snowboarders the slopes and giving tips for enjoying a day on the snow.