The increasingly dangerous and inconsiderate behaviour of a minority is spoiling the winter season for many skiers - with many Connexion readers in agreement that the problem is getting worse.
A recent article highlighting the increasingly widespread problems of speeding, litter, drunkenness and lift fraud was met with a response by veteran ski instructor Charlotte Swift.
In her letter, Ms Swift said the problem of speeding in particular was "more and more serious... particularly with regard to young male adults schussing through teaching areas".
She also appealed to Connexion readers to join her in a campaign to address the problem (details at bottom).
Here are some of the many emails we received agreeing with Ms Swift's appraisal of the problem:
'Problem mostly on blue runs'
N.C: I have skied for nearly 40 years and I too think there has been an increase in the number of skiers showing little consideration for others.
It is not just in France. I noticed it two years ago in St Anton and in Soelden this year. It is most prevalent on blue runs. I believe that part of the problem lies in how they are taught.
I had rules taught to me: look behind before setting off: don't stand still in the middle of the slope, slow a little approaching drops to check what is happening below, ski in a manner that allows you to deal with whatever happens in front of you.
I've ripped it up down blue slopes but always when they are empty, early morning, lunchtime, late afternoon.
'French kids have a reputation'
Name withheld: Found your British ski instructors comments quite interesting. Having taught our children at Avoriaz-Morzine we now have a ski flat in a little village in Austria.
French buses started visiting (Austria being a cheaper alternative to France) with French children and youths who completely misbehaved on the slopes.
The local ski schools visited the local hotels in the valley and asked them not to accept the French children as they were endangering lives. We now have occasional French family guests but no bus loads of badly led youths!
'Worrying laissez-faire attitude'
A.G. : I would absolutely agree it is a major issue. I have skied in the Grand Massif area for many years and have seen consistently bad and dangerous skiing year after year.
Despite more and more signage explaining the basics of ski 'rules', such as always checking up the slope for any approaching skiers before setting off, so many still fail to do so.
I think I'm correct in saying that the general response of French Ski Federations is that they cannot - and perhaps do not want to - police dangerous behaviour on the slopes, as the mountains are open spaces where people should be free to enjoy themselves.
Perhaps the most telling comment came from a French neighbour of ours who when asked if he was going skiing last winter, replied that no it was now too risky with less and less respect on the slopes.
For myself, still enjoying my skiing into my late seventies, this laissez-faire attitude is both worrying and, potentially, a licence for possibly serious accidents to happen.
‘Not just in France’
P.T.: I have just returned from four days skiing around the Austrian resorts of Kirchberg and Kitzbuhel.
Late into day two I was hit from behind by a falling skier. I was taken by skidoo then blue light ambulance to hospital for x-rays and CT scan. Nothing completely broken but extremely painful and cracked ribs and heavy internal bruising.
My assassin had fallen on a red steep patch which was icy (neve) and taken me out. He stopped and was extremely helpful leaving his details with the piste responder. I'm putting that down to a genuine accident. However earlier that day a skier clipped my arm and whizzed past. We had also experienced a few near misses.
Skiers (always young men), were not anticipating the actions of those downhill, did not take evasive action by choice or inability, failed to position themselves in a safe line and usually disappeared as fast as they came. I've skied for many years with professionals, taught skiing, and worked in the industry. Resorts HAVE to take action to curb bad behaviour!
'Drunk skiers are a real problem'
J.F.: We have skied for many years and as we spend most of the winter in the Alps we witness what is happening.
It is indeed true there are many skiers (mainly young men) who ski far too fast on slopes being skied by young families and beginners. I was in a lift queue a couple of weeks ago and heard a couple of young Englishmen comparing their speeds for certain slopes on an electronic device.
I am in my 60s and myself and many friends of the same age are actually considering stopping skiing due to such skiers.
Many of them come for a week a year and therefore are not experienced but they think they are “good skiers” which clearly they are not. We have been on the slopes on the Grand Massif for many days this season and have not seen a single ski patrol.
On one occasion three skiers tore through a narrow point of a piste where moguls had formed, there were children and other skiers tentatively making their way down. It was extremely dangerous. I went to the ticket office at the bottom of the slope to report this danger and the person working there was not interested and said nothing could be done.
That day had happened to be a Sunday and bars were full with many people consuming large quantities of alcohol. I think this contributes to the problem.
I support Charlotte in what she is doing as the inconsiderate few are spoiling the whole skiing experience for everyone else.
'I act as a shield for my child'
L.: Hi you ask if I've seen dangerous skiing. Yes indeed and it's getting worse.
Particularly on the blue slopes where poor skiers point straight and go for it, with no consideration or awareness about others or their lack of ability or control.
I have to ski directly behind my 7 year old to be a barrier from these skiers. Several have skied into me and many have actually turned directly into me at speed when they see their friends going in a different direction.
'It is putting people off skiing'
J.: The problem is not only on the Alps, but also in the ski stations on the Pyrénées. I was skiing this weekend in Ax 3 Domaines on a blue graded piste descending slowly and training some turns.
Without any notice, someone just flew past one meter on my right at a speed more than 70km/h, I would say probably 80km/h.
A similar situation happened in the station of Peyragudes about two years ago: I was doing my slalom down the slope, someone didn't expect me to turn and touched his pole on my ski pole.
Situations like this are putting people off skiing.
I now prefer to take a day off and go during the week when possible, rather than go during the weekend and increase the chances of these things happening. I see many first aid interventions where people have collided, there are even articles about people unfortunately dying in collisions.
Something should be done to address this behaviour, whether it is the owners of the ski domains, or part of the French ski federation.
'Even instructors break basic rules now'
J.B.: Just returned from Morzine with a ruptured ACL.
We've skied for 40 years and this year seemed worse than ever for being taken out by people skiing too fast and out of control. Unbelievable that the ski areas do not seem to control this in any way.
It also seems to me that manners and safety are not being taught to new skiers. Look up the slope before setting off, stop on the side not in the middle, and the downhill skier has priority... All simple rules to keep everyone safe but even many of the instructors don't seem to stick by them now.
Do you agree that skiing is getting more dangerous in France? Let us know at letters@connexionfrance.com or if you would like to join Ms Swift's campaign follow her at Easiski on Facebook
