China Ski Academy

Mr. Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med (2nd L)
Miss. Yehong Tang, Deputy director of Mass Ski Division of Winter Sports Administration Center of China General Administration of Sport (3rd L)
Mr. Eric Breche, President of ESF (4th L)
Mr. Gino Andreetta, CEO of Club Med Greater China (2nd R)
Mr. Gang Han, Vice president of China Chengxin Investment group company limited (3rd R)
Mr. Chenguang Liu, Secretary of the CPC Committee, People's Government of Zhang Town (4th R)

Beijing, China – 15 January 2019 – Club Med today (Jan 15) celebrated the grand opening of a premium skiing and snowboarding school powered by Club Med and the world-leader Ecole du Ski Francais (ESF, French Ski School) at Beijing Star Mountain Ski Resort.

Henri Giscard d’Estaing, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Club Med, Eric Breche, President of ESF and Miss Yehong Tang, Deputy Director of Mass Ski Division of Winter Sports Administrative Center, were on site for the important occasion, invited by Mr. Gang Han (Vice President of China Chengxin Investment Group, owner of Star Mountain).

Leading up Beijing’s hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Liu Peng, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee has projected that China will have 300 million Winter Sports Enthusiasts by the time of the Olympics. In order to support this government objective, there is a high demand for quality winter sports facilities and instruction in China.

Currently, less than half of ski instructors in China have GASC certification. The top reasons in China that deter prospective new skiers are the perception that it’s too dangerous and facilities are not convenient enough. In fact, only 20% of first time skiers in China end up trying again.

The opening of this new Ski Academy in collaboration between Club Med and ESF in China hopes to tap into the evolving demands of Chinese travelers for a high-quality winter sports experience and provide a superior experience for prospective new skiers that will create a love for the sport.

As a renowned global leader in Winter Sports tuition, ESF has 73 years of experience across 230 ski schools in France, ESF has developed and perfected its own advanced teaching method with special considerations for young skiers. ESF teaching methods have been adapted to the China market and will be delivered by experienced Chinese instructors who have undergone extensive training with ESF, ensuring fun, productive and safe ski lessons for all participants willing to learn.

ESF’s 17,000 instructors already train upwards of 2.5 million skiers annually. As the first Ski Academy powered by Club Med and ESF in China, the new venture now promises to take ski and snowboarding instruction in Beijing to a world-class level.

The new opening answers to a high demand in China for Winter Sports facilities. More than 700 ski resorts have opened across the country as Beijing prepares to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. Bookings at Club Med’s two ski resorts in Beidahu and Yabuli alone have more than doubled in just two years – from 11,000 in 2016 to 24,000 this year.