Some UK media are getting in a bit of a tizzy about reports in the French newspaper Libération concerning English (the other home country’s are fine!) ski instructors in the Alps. Prompted by EU pressure to come up with a Europe-wide test for ski instructors, the rather closed-shop French instructors are (apparently) up in arms. There’s been a fair bit of mud flinging, and accusations of lesser qualified English instructors on the pistes. The situation has been likened to that of the ‘Polish Plumber Invasion’ in the UK (and France) of a few years ago.

French resorts have seen an on-going battle between the long established ESF school and recent Blue suited upstarts (as well as various Independents). There have been reports of alleged dirty tricks, double deals and other slippery chicanery as the incumbents seek to repel the new arrivals. Interestingly, the Daily Mail thunder that 70% of instructors in the Trois Vallees are English, which is somewhat unbelievable. However, with The Guardian reporting that there are only 180 qualified English Instructors working in the Alps any way the ESF’s actions may be diversionary tactics, or the French making a an Alp out of blind night dwelling hole digger.