Ski Medal Levels: Complete Guide to Understanding and Progressing
Ski Medal Levels: Complete Guide to Understanding and Progressing
October 10, 2025 (12 minutes reading time)
In French ski schools, 12 medal levels structure learning, from Piou-Piou up to competition tests. This progression, implemented by the École du Ski Français (ESF) for 80 years, allows for precise evaluation of each skier’s technical skills.
But how do you navigate this hierarchy? Between children’s medals (Ourson, Flocon, Étoiles), adult classes, and Performance tests, the system can seem complex. Each level corresponds to specific technical criteria and clearly defined skiing abilities.
Whether you want to understand your child’s level or gauge your own progression, this guide details the requirements for each medal, evaluation criteria, and tips to advance toward optimal technical mastery.
Table of Contents
Navigating the 12 ESF medal levels becomes simple with our detailed plan. Each section provides concrete answers: understanding the logic of the French system, identifying the technical criteria for each level, and discovering tips to progress effectively.
Click directly on the headings below to access the information that interests you. Parents will find a full breakdown of children’s medals, while adult skiers will learn about classes and Performance tests.
Why a Ski Medal System?
The medal system has structured technical progression for over 70 years in French ski schools. This educational approach transforms learning to ski into a motivating journey where each completed step provides tangible recognition of acquired skills.
Instructors have precise evaluation criteria to validate each skier’s technical achievements. From mastering the snowplow on green slopes to skiing parallel in all conditions, each medal certifies a specific level of safety and autonomy on the ski area.
This gradual progression allows beginners to visualize their evolution while maintaining motivation. Each success, marked by a medal, strengthens confidence and encourages continuing ski lessons toward higher technical levels.
What Are the Different Ski Levels?
ESF: French Reference for 80 Years
With over 17,000 state-certified instructors across 250 French ski resorts, the École du Ski Français is the largest ski teaching organization in the world. Founded in 1945, it validates technical skills according to precise criteria, from sliding snowplow turns to mogul skiing on all terrains.
ESF instructors assess progression through standardized exercises: straight-line descents, mastery of light bumps, and traversing dips according to level. This French method ensures consistent training across the country, with each medal attesting to identical technical skills from one resort to another.
General Structure of Ski Grades
The French hierarchy organizes 12 distinct levels, divided into three main categories based on age and objectives. Young children start in the playful Piou-Piou Club universe with characters (Blanchot, Sifflote, Garolou) before reaching fundamental medals.
Ourson and Flocon are the first technical levels where the child masters sliding snowplow turns and basic turns on green slopes. The three-star cycle then develops parallel skiing, including rounded skids on all terrains.
Bronze, Silver, and Gold Stars prepare for advanced disciplines, while adult Classes (1 to 3) accommodate late learners. At the top, Performance tests (Flèche, Chamois, Fusée) validate technical mastery through timed events on slalom and giant slalom courses.
This structure allows coherent progression tailored to each skier’s profile.
Evolution of the Medal System
Since the 1950s, alpine skiing practice has profoundly transformed this reward hierarchy. Early evaluations were limited to the Chamois test in the Vosges before stars gradually structured modern learning.
The 2000s marked a turning point with the introduction of Piou-Piou Club characters (Blanchot, Sifflote, Garolou) to ease the transition from the snow garden to Ourson. This evolution met families’ needs, allowing them to ski with their children without abrupt technical gaps.
Recently, Bronze, Silver, and Gold Stars have supplemented the traditional pathway to better prepare for competition categories. This modernization enables young skiers to develop confidence on all terrain types before joining club performance programs.
Children’s Medals: From Snow Garden to Stars
Piou-Piou Club: First Steps on Snow
From age 3, children experience their first sensations on snow in the safe Piou-Piou Club environment. This dedicated ski kindergarten introduces them to equipment: recognizing skis, learning to put them on with assistance, and making initial slides on flat terrain.
Instructors use playful learning with obstacle courses, small bumps, and hoops to navigate. Children learn to move on flat terrain, fall safely, and most importantly, gain confidence skiing independently.
The Piou-Piou medal rewards these first skills: sliding in a straight line on gentle slopes, passing under a hoop, or riding the conveyor belt. Each child progresses at their own pace in this nurturing environment, preparing for Blanchot and Sifflote levels.
Introductory Medals: Blanchot, Sifflote, Garolou
Blanchot the White Rabbit marks autonomy on flat terrain: young skiers can now identify their equipment and complete their first slides facing the slope while maintaining balance. This medal also certifies the ability to use ski kindergarten conveyor belts.
Sifflote the Marmot validates mastery of the snowplow to control speed on gentle slopes. Children begin using simple ski lifts and navigate minor obstacles in the safe area.
Garolou is the decisive stage: putting on and taking off skis independently, performing snowplow turns to avoid obstacles during courses. This medal crowns complete autonomy in the snow garden before transitioning to green slopes.
Classic Progression: Ourson and Flocon
Ourson is the first true technical test on green slopes with ski lifts. Young skiers demonstrate ease on all easy terrain by completing 4–5 linked snowplow turns around gates. This medal validates the ability to ski independently: straight-line skiing with parallel skis and controlled stops.
Flocon is a decisive step toward real skier courses. Candidates perform 7–8 snowplow turns with improved precision, bringing skis parallel between turns. Small jumps, minor bumps, and balance in straight-line skiing are also evaluated on this demanding green-to-blue slope test.
Star Cycle: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Star
No more snowplow: parallel skis are next! The 1st Star revolutionizes young skiers’ technique. On blue slopes, they link skidded turns with parallel skis, navigate mini-slaloms, and master long curved trajectories.
The 2nd Star consolidates these skills with refined skids on varied terrain. Children traverse bumps and dips without losing balance, use the skating step for crossings, and adapt to snow changes.
The 3rd Star introduces first sensations of speed! This medal rewards complete mastery: weaving through gates, controlling skid-braking even at higher speeds, and skiing confidently on all red slopes. Excellence in technique is achieved!
Star Teams: Toward Technical Excellence
Bronze Star: Confirmed mastery. Entry into technical refinement after 3rd Star validation. From age 9, candidates master mogul turns using poles on varied terrain. Basic jumps and simple tricks on arranged modules complete technical evaluation. Equivalent to adult Class 2.
Silver Star: Advanced technique. Emphasis on smooth long turns, precise parallel skiing, and first timed runs to build competitive mindset. Minor jumps and freestyle modules are included.
Gold Star: Pre-competition level. Mastery of advanced mogul turns with personal style on black and varied slopes. Timed giant slalom and freestyle sequences validate excellence. Prepares skiers for Performance tests (Flèche, Chamois).
Adult Ski Medal Order
Adult Classes: Beginner to Expert
Class 1: Beginner slopes with snowplow turns; balance, braking, and direction basics.
Class 2: Parallel skis on varied terrain; introduction of basic mogul turns.
Class 3: Confident on red slopes; controlled parallel turns, refined skids.
Class 4: Expert level; full mastery on all slopes including black, preparation for timed competition courses.
Advanced Grades: Chamois and Flèche
Timed tests Chamois and Flèche are ESF elite levels. Chamois tests 30–40 gate slalom on 120–200 m vertical drop; Flèche is a giant slalom of 25–35 gates with 200–250 m vertical drop. Five performance levels: Cabri, Bronze, Silver, Vermeil, Gold.
Performance Tests: Gold, Vermeil, Silver, Bronze
Five timed disciplines: Flèche, Chamois, Fusée, Skicross, Jump. Medals require achieving the same level in at least two events. Times compared to instructor reference determine medal rank.
ESF Level Summary Tables
Children by Age:
3–5 years: Piou-Piou Club, then Blanchot, Sifflote, Garolou in snow garden.
6–12 years: Ourson (first green slope), Flocon, then three-star cycle.
From 8 years: Star Teams (Bronze, Silver, Gold) based on technical level, not chronological age.
Adult Equivalence (ESF ↔ ESI)
ESI simplifies to 8 adult medals: Cristal International (ESF Class 1), Cristal (Class 2), Cristal Silver (Class 3), Cristal Gold (Class 4). Technical criteria remain the same; group sizes smaller.
How to Progress Effectively
Technical Criteria
Each level is evaluated based on balance, speed control, parallel turns, skids, trajectory precision, and gesture synchronization. Active safety (obstacle anticipation, other skiers, weather adaptation) is also assessed.
Tips for Success
Visualize technical sequences; manage stress.
Maintain proper posture: slightly forward torso, bent knees, eyes forward.
Prioritize technique over excessive speed.
Rest before tests; check equipment.
Equipment by Level (Picture Brand):
Ourson/Flocon: protective, simple technical gear.
Bronze/Silver: breathable, adjustable, technical details.
Gold/Competition: ultra-breathable, performance-focused cuts.
FAQ
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