About ESI Châtel

For over 30 years ESI (International Ski School Châtel) Pro Skiing has strived tirelessly to provide a quality learning experience with a personal, friendly touch. With small group numbers, instructors with a sense of fun who are passionate about their profession, ESI Pro Skiing Châtel offers a great opportunity to enhance your enjoyment of snowsports (ski, snowboard, telemark and cross-country)!

We have French, British and Irish ski teachers all with the highest qualifications. They are true mountain professionals able to deliver lessons in French, English, German, Spanish, Romanian, Russian, Dutch and Italian. All levels are catered for in both group and private lessons; these are offered at all times of day. We look forward to seeing you for an all-round, all-mountain experience!

Our meeting point, the larger Pré la Joux area, the true gateway to the Portes du Soleil, is reached by free shuttle-bus. This area forms the link between Châtel and Avoriaz and has absolutely all the terrain that you'd ever need, challenging blacks, relaxing reds, easy blues and tremendous off piste! It is possible to ski all the way to Avoriaz on easy blue slopes. There is also plenty of beginners' terrain for those skiing for the very first time.

Above Pré la Joux lies the small mountain village of Plaine Dranse in which almost all the houses are turned into restaurants - about 15 in all.

Châtel is heavily influenced by the microclimate between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc, which generates very substantial snowfall between November and April making it possible to keep the area open to skiing until late April every year without fail.