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Skier in a YES Academy jacket carving a tight turn with red poles and a spray of snow, snowy woods behind

Since 2016

Ski lessons in Sestriere

Skiing reached us in 2016 and grew with the merger of 2019. Today we are 20 ski instructors, in the heart of the Vialattea.

How skiing reached us

YES Academy started in 2010 as a snowboard school. In 2016 we opened up to skiing, and in 2019 we joined Northwest Ski Academy, the school on the other side of the road.

Since then skiing and snowboarding have grown together, with the same idea: what matters is who you live the mountain with, not what you come down it on.

Today there are 20 ski instructors, out of around thirty in all. And these are our home pistes: Sestriere sits at the centre of the Vialattea, over 200 pistes linking Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, Sansicario, Cesana, Pragelato, Claviere and Montgenèvre.

Our full story is in About us.

Skiing at YES Academy in numbers

Ski lessons

With an instructor just for you, or in a small group of children at the same level.

  • Skier in a YES Academy jacket carving a tight turn with red poles and a spray of snow, snowy woods behind

    Private lessons

    A lesson built around you, on your own or with friends

    • Adults and kids from 3 years old
    • 1h30 or 3h
  • Ski instructor in a tuck leading a line of children down the piste, with a chairlift and larches behind

    Kids’ group lessons

    Courses over several days in small groups, for kids aged 6 to 13-14

    • From 6 to 13-14 years old
    • 3 hours a day

Clinics and experiences on skis

Three hours on one technical theme, or half a day or a full day between the Vialattea and fresh snow.

  • Snowboard instructor seen from behind, facing a group sitting in the snow with their boards next to a yellow snow cannon
    Early bird

    Starting from zero

    You start from zero, on skis or on a board: the one clinic that doesn’t ask for a level.

    • Ski or snowboard
    • 3h
    • groups of 3 to 5
  • Skier in a YES Academy jacket carving a tight turn with red poles and a spray of snow, snowy woods behind
    Early bird

    Turn with style

    You work on your turns and your style, on skis.

    • Ski
    • 3h
    • groups of 3 to 5
  • Three instructors in YES Academy jackets smiling on the piste in front of a snow-laden tree
    Early bird

    Women in charge

    You work on the Women in charge theme, on skis or on a board.

    • Ski or snowboard
    • 3h
    • groups of 3 to 5
  • Rider in a red jacket riding fresh powder down a wide off-piste slope, throwing up a cloud of snow
    Early bird

    Discover the area

    A guided tour of the Vialattea, from Sansicario and Sauze d’Oulx to Montgenèvre.

    • 4h30 or full day
    • groups of 3 to 5
  • Rider in a red jacket riding fresh powder down a wide off-piste slope, throwing up a cloud of snow
    Early bird

    Freeride

    Lifts to reach the off-piste, slopes chosen by your instructor for the day.

    • Weather window
    • groups of 3 to 5
  • Rider in a red jacket riding fresh powder down a wide off-piste slope, throwing up a cloud of snow
    Early bird

    Ski touring and splitboard

    Climbing with skins, riding down in fresh snow, far from the ski area.

    • Weather window
    • groups of 3 to 5

Before you book

Questions about skiing

How do I know what my level is on skis?
  • Complete beginner: you have never had a pair of skis on before — but don’t worry, everyone starts somewhere!
  • Beginner: you have some experience and you can get down relatively easy blue pistes, though perhaps with a bit of snowplough here and there. You feel less confident when you pick up speed, or on icy snow.
  • Intermediate: you can get down blue and red pistes with your skis parallel and you only occasionally fall back on the snowplough. You still feel uncomfortable on steep, icy slopes, though.
  • Advanced: you are confident on every kind of piste and you can handle all sorts of snow conditions; you enjoy speed and carving your turns.

Read more: Ski & snowboard levels

What age can my child start skiing?

We know how excited you are to get your little ones started on skis, and we are here to make it a great experience from the very beginning. The ideal age to start skiing is around 3 or 4, but every child is different, and you parents know your child better than anyone: you will know when they are ready to start this wonderful adventure!

Our philosophy is to make learning to ski a fun game on the snow, where children can explore, discover and grow in a safe place designed just for them, always at their own pace. We are here to guide them through every stage of their journey on skis, helping them build the basic movement skills, build confidence in themselves and make memories on the snow that last. Together, we will make sure your children fall in love with skiing, joyfully and wholeheartedly. We can’t wait to show you how rewarding it is to introduce your little ones to the wonderful world of skiing!

Read more: Teaching kids to ski

Tell us what you’re after

We’ll find the right instructor for you.