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French ski instructors open first school in China ahead of 2022 Winter Olympics

The China Ski Academy has opened on the outskirts of Beijing
The China Ski Academy has opened on the outskirts of Beijing

State-of-the-art dry ski slopes, ginormous indoor resorts, new luxury hotels and now a world-class ski school – it appears there’s nothing China won’t do to ensure it’s on the top of its game when hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics.

In a partnership that spans the globe, all-inclusive holiday operator Club Med and the Ecole du Ski Francais (ESF) have joined forces to open a ski school on the Chinese slopes. The China Ski Academy powered by Club Med and ESF will be based at Beijing Star Mountain Ski Resort, roughly an hour’s drive from the centre of the capital.

The new academy will offer ski and snowboard instruction to the increasing number of keen Chinese skiers and snowboarders.

"Club Med’s partnership with ESF marks a pivotal moment in the development of China’s winter sports market," said Gino Andreetta, CEO of Club Med Greater China, at the opening event.

Beijing is set to host the next Winter Olympics in 2022 and since it was announced the Chinese capital would be flung into the winter-sport spotlight officials have set out to increase the country’s chances of medal success.

china ski academy
China Ski Academy students at the grand opening

Liu Peng, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee projected that the country will have 300 million winter sport enthusiasts by the time the Games come to town – making China the biggest skiing nation on the planet.

Since this objective was set, demand by both the government and public, for quality ski resorts and facilities has been on the rise. Last September plans were revealed to build the world’s largest indoor ski resort in Shanghai. Once complete Wintastar Shanghai will cover a whopping 227,000 square metres, with a ski slope itself spanning 90,000 of those. A month earlier another state-of-the-art artifical ski slope opened, six hours drive from Beijing, which is set to provide training facilities for the Chinese snowboarding team during the summer months.  

In 2016 China’s National Development and Reform Commission revealed plans worth an estimated £169 billion to build hundreds of new ski resorts ahead of the Games, in an attempt to boost the country’s medal prospects. It’s thought that already at least 700 ski resorts have opened across the country.

With this increased interest comes high demand for fully trained instructors. According to a statement from Club Med less than half of all ski instructors in China have official certification.  

But expert instruction isn’t the only stumbling block the Chinese government face. According to reports, non-skiers in the country perceive the sport to be too dangerous and the facilities on offer inconvenient. Only 22 per cent of first-time skiers in China hit the slopes again.

These issues were key drivers for the development of the China Ski Academy. All prospective Chinese ski instructors will be taught by ESF instructors, with on-going coaching throughout the season. Training is due to start this winter. Successful Chinese instructors will receive a China Ski Academy qualification at the end of the winter and a permanent ESF instructor will be based at the resort to give continued guidance and training.

Opened in 2003 following an investment of ¥150 million (£17.2 million) Beijing Star Mountain Ski Resort covers 165 acres of skiable terrain. There are eight pistes, including beginner, intermediate and advanced slopes, six lifts, an equipment shop and a terrain park. Conveniently located on the outskirts of the city the resort is on south side of Liangshan Village and Zhangzhen Town in the  Shunyi District.

opening event
Officials from across the globe open the new ski school

"With this surging popularity [in snow sports] there is a need for top training and the arrival of ESF and Club Med Ski Academy will significantly raise standards to a more professional and sophisticated level for skiers to acquire good habits that guarantee safer and more responsible skiing," said Mr Xue Dongyang, owner and general manager at the resort.

The new ski school isn’t Club Med’s first taste of the Chinese ski market. The all-inclusive operator already has two hotels in the country in Beidahu and Yabuli. Visitors to both resorts have more than doubled in the past two years, from 11,000 in 2016 to 24,000 in 2018.

"Skiing is becoming increasingly popular in China. Within 10 years, China will likely become the biggest ski market in the world and when that day comes, the Chinese will travel to the Alps in impressive numbers," said Henri Giscard d’Estaing, president of Club Med.

"Our challenge will be to ensure that our resorts are providing a product that meets the needs and expectations of the Chinese market. This new partnership will highlight the French savoir-faire and leadership regarding ski sports in China," he continued.

The Ecole de Ski Francais is one of the most reputable ski schools in the world and has 73 years of experience teaching its own methods in over 230 ski school in France. The ESF currently has a staff roster of 17,000 instructors who train an estimated 2.5 million skiers annually – its expansion into China will significantly increase this output, with Chinese instructors trained to cater for the growing market.

"When Henri Giscard d’Estaing came to see us with the ambition to promote the French savoir-faire with a new clientele representing the future of the ski market, we didn’t think twice before getting on-board this adventure into Asia. Learning to ski and developing technique is a huge part of a skiers experience and it is our responsibility to lead and teach through a tailored offering with expert instructors," said Eric Breche, President of l’Ecole de Ski Francais.