The Ski Club of Great Britain has announced its brand of ski hosting will no longer be available in the 11 French resorts covered by the 30-resort Leader programme.

The future of ski hosting, an informal guiding service provided for guests by UK tour operators, remains in the balance in France, pending a court decision expected in September . Ahead of last season the French authorities declared the service illegal, forcing many operators to suspend or revise their services in the country's resorts.

The Ski Club continued to offer its on-snow Leader programme, including in popular British destinations such as Courchevel and Val d'Isère, believing it did not break any French laws as its leaders were not employees but volunteers. However, a Ski Club leader was stopped and questioned by French police in Val d'Isère last April, and has been called to an investigative hearing in Albertville, also in September.

French law states that anyone paid to lead groups on the slopes must have appropriate qualifications. The Ski Club has appointed the same experienced local lawyer that has been representing UK tour operators to defend its position and has withdrawn the service on his advice.

Frank McCusker, chief executive of the Ski Club, said: "Our leader service is provided by volunteers who are Ski Club members. Last season our advice from French lawyers was that the service complies with Art.L.212-1 of the French Code du Sport, so we continued with it.

"We have a very strict policy on expenses, with spending limits - the volunteers couldn't live on their expenses. We withdrew the service as soon as we received the summons, not wanting to put our leaders in any danger of a brush with the law.

"We certainly hope for a positive outcome from the hearing in September and to be able to restart the Ski Leader programme in France."

The Ski Club of Great Britain was formed in 1903 with the aim of bringing skiers together, encouraging new people into the sport and helping members improve. It first sent reps to the Alps in 1928, and has been organising holidays and leading programmes since the 1930s.

Hundreds of Ski Leaders now volunteer in resorts, billed as “experienced skiers and snowboarders who know the best places to go in the resort”. They undergo a two-week training course that includes on-snow leading, snowcraft (understanding snow structure) and avalanche safety.

In a statement, the Ski Club said: “It is disappointing that we’ve had to temporarily withdraw the on-snow service in our French resorts, but we are committed to protecting the Ski Club Leader service in the long term.”

The on-snow Ski Club Leader programme will remain in place at resorts in Andorra, Austria, Italy, North America and Switzerland.

For the coming season the Club will provide Ski Club Ambassadors in France, who will meet members and suggest itineraries for the day. The reps, who are selected for their local knowledge of an area, also suggest dining and après venues, give updates on snow conditions and can book mountain guides and instructors.

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