In 1937 Georges Blanchon, Emile Allais, Charles Diebold, Paul Gignoux and Léo Lagrange founded the Ecole Française de Ski, the forerunner of the Ecole du Ski français. It was Georges Blanchon, general secretary of the French Ski Federation (FFS) who presented the plan for the School and the single skiing technique at the FFS congress in October 1937.

A second proposal by Georges Blanchon regarding ski instruction was also passed unanimously; this was the teaching method known as the "Ecole française" (French School). French world champion Emile Allais was appointed technical director of the Ecole française. Instructor training was linked with this organisation and from then on instructors received a national diploma on qualifying.

The instructors for the ski schools were appointed from among those qualifying through a competitive examination. However, this was not an attempt to create a monopoly. Consequently, any schools that did not want to join the new organisation were perfectly able to continue to operate, without the benefit of the major publicity surrounding the "Ecole française du ski". And they no longer received the patronage of the FFS. It was on 15th October, at the founding general assembly of the Ecole nationale du ski français at the casino in Aix les Bains in the presence of none other than the minister for sport Léo Lagrange, that it was announced that 300,000 francs would be released (the equivalent of 45,735 euros, a considerable amount of money).

Charles Diebold, who set up the first ski school in Val d'Isère (not counting the Vosges ski school), considered that unifying ski instruction in France was an urgent necessity. During the Second World War, ski instruction remained under the aegis of the French Ski Federation. An official regulation issued by the Vichy government on 7th November 1940 fixed the principles and precepts by which instructors were obliged to abide.

Since 1945, only five presidents have succeeded Gaston Cathiard, the founding father of the National Union of French Ski Instructors (SNMSF), demonstrating, according to La Fontaine's adage, that "Patience and length of time are more than strength or that rage "...

Originally from Uriage where he made his first slips, Gaston Cathiard was an undisputed leader, unifier, charismatic and inspired. His various professional experiences, from his father's grocery store to Félix Potin in Paris, then on snow in Chamrousse, Mont-Dore, Villard-de-Lans or even in Chamonix, where he was the guide for two seasons, taught him in particular listening to others.

Director of esf Val d'Isère (1942-1960), sensing the rush for white gold, he succeeded in convincing Avalins, Chamoniards, Mégevans, Chablaisiens, Dauphinois and Pyrenees to unite to create the SNMSF. A year later, he was also at the origin, alongside Armand Charlet and Etienne Livacic, of the National Union of Guides ... For nearly a quarter of a century, he largely contributed to the fame of French skiing before leaving the keys to the red house of which "he made the concrete", says Gilles Chabert, and to start a brilliant career as an industrialist at Poma. Unfortunately, he lost his life in the Himalayas in October 1983.

"Tournier received the best grade in the course. When the prizes were distributed, the jury of which I was a member decided to award him medal n ° 1." But there, the Chamoniard looks at me and says: "He's the one who deserves it, it's not me!" So he gave me the medal, which made me happy, "Emile said quite simply. A great time ...

For posterity, Émile Allais is therefore monitor number 1 (André Tournier being holder of `
the medal n ° 2).

First world ski champion in history with his three gold medals in downhill, slalom and combined won in Chamonix in 1937, pioneer in the development of resorts and the planning of ski areas (first in South America and the North then in France), Émile Allais has inscribed his legend in the epic of skiing and winter sports. If there was only a trace left, it would be his ...

1969: President Gaston Cathiard, founder of the Syndicate, hands over to Germain Coco. Over the next twenty years, the Syndicate developed a network of 150 schools and set up a purchasing group and a contingency fund.