In my third year as director of the school, I’m at a crossing of the pistes. Now fifty-six, I’m still the archetypal rum English bloke in the Alps. Over the last two seasons, I have overseen (Nick was doing all the real work) the development of ES Zermatt from a cottage industry to a respected institution in the resort. Now Rowena has joined as co-director, and she not only manages better than me, she’s a better skier too. What am I going to do now? Be more elegant than ever: on piste and in the restaurant.
I have worked for eight winter seasons in Zermatt and now hold the top British and Swiss qualifications, one of the very few non Swiss nationals to do this, but I still get really excited when the first snowflakes fall and can’t wait to get up on the slopes. When not on the slopes I spend my time improving my fairly poor windsurfing skills and trying not to fall off my bike cycling in London!
After leaving University, I headed out to the Alps to do “one, or maybe two” ski seasons. Twelve years later I still can’t think of a good reason to head home to the UK and am loving life in the mountains as much as ever! I have many years’ experience, which I hope to bring to every snowboard lesson. As the only snowboarder within ES allowed to meddle in ski affairs, I am now assistant manager at ES Zermatt. When the snow melts, I head to the west coast of France to pursue my other passion – surfing!
I am a CSIA and ISIA qualified skier with years of experience in Italian race clubs, teaching experience in Verbier and Zermatt and a background in personal training. I worked as technical director of skiing last year and look forward to taking the reins in this capacity again this season. I gained my BASI qualifications with Peak Leaders in Verbier, so can understand what it's like to be on the receiving end of instruction!
Jiiiiihaaaa it’s wintertime. As an original Swiss ski addict I have spent nearly my whole life on skis. This will be my 8th winter season as ski teacher in Zermatt, and my first year for ES as a fully certified Swiss ski teacher and sport science graduate. It’s great to be in the team.
To be able to show people from all over the world the fascination of snowsports is pretty much my favourite thing to do. If I’m not teaching, I’m freeriding and if I’m not skiing I’m waiting for wintertime or I am off surfing with my old Volkswagen van.
I first started skiing at the age of twelve when I went to Bormio, Italy. This is my second season with ES and seventh in total. I spent last summer skiing in Australia and spent the autumn in Zermatt doing race and eurotests. I am BASI ISIA level 3 qualified and hope to pass the level 4 by the end of this season. When not skiing I enjoy playing rugby and cricket and the odd beer here and there!
I graduated from Sports University in Prague, specialising in “Outdoor activities”. Since that I have been working as a sport instructor. In winter I work as a ski teacher, in summer as a mountain guide and outdoor activities instructor in the National Park Bohemian Paradise in Czechoslovakia.
During my happy life I have spent three years in New Zealand, two years in France and during the last five years I have spent the every winter season as a ski teacher in Switzerland and this is now my fourth season in Zermatt, and the fifteenth season of teaching skiing. In my spare time I play saxophone (I am a member of two bands) and guitar. I love music in general, but most favourite is country music, blue grass and Dixieland!
I started skiing at three with wooden skis and leather shoes with my father, who was also a ski instructor in St. Moritz.
I consider myself a world traveller and am always trying to live out my dreams rather than just dreaming them! This included owning a watersports marina in Mexico and Venezuela, fifteen years teaching scuba-diving, waterskiing and windsurfing… but I definitely prefer skiing!
After a few years ski instructing in Villars I moved to the most magical resort in the world, Zermatt, which I have known and loved since my childhood and am working for the best ski school around..!
I grew up skiing in a time of one-pieces, zinc sun-cream and skis as long as is possible. Times and technology have changed but my passion for skiing and teaching has not. I've been teaching worldwide since 2004, and I'm one step away from achieving my BASI Level 4, the top British qualification. I still get a huge buzz from seeing the smile on a client’s face, when they make a change in their skiing. I have a degree in Sport and Business, which I've taken into my 'Off-Skis-Life', as I'm a Personal Trainer and run my own Personal Training business in the UK. I have a young family, who love the mountains and we really enjoy spending time in the outdoors whenever we get the chance.
Hi my name's Hannah. I was born in Tunbridge Wells, and moved to Switzerland when I was ten. I started racing with the school team almost straight away, eager to ski as much as possible. I was lucky enough to travel Europe training and racing in FIS races up until the age of seventeen when I decided to go to Warwick University in the UK.
Skiing played an important part of my university life alongside my degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. After graduating I got straight back into the ski industry, this time to pursue a career as a ski instructor, first in Mayrhofen then immediately back to Switzerland to settle here in Zermatt. Having grown up in Zurich, I fell in love with the country then and couldn't stay away for long! I'm very excited about the coming season, meeting and teaching lots of new and interesting people. Fingers crossed for lots of snow!
I became a skier at the age of four. As a child I used to ski in Sestriere in the famous Milky Way ski area with my family. I am now a ski and snowboard qualified instructor with BASI and Swiss Snowsports and after five winter seasons in Zermatt I enjoyed my first summer here pushing the new born baby´s buggy around the resort. I have always been passionate about sport, and expanded my knowledge in London gaining my Personal trainer Diploma, specialising in nutrition.
I love taking the first lift in the morning, enjoying the peaceful slopes over Cervinia, where I can drink a real espresso!
With a background in 6 sigma and lean thinking, a few years ago I decided to swap the boardroom for the slopes and I have not looked back since. I now spend the winter months based in Zermatt instructing and the summer in the UK training for Triathlon and representing Great Britain.
My ski journey began as a twelve year old before taking the sport more seriously when I was twenty-two. I recently gave up my career managing a recruitment firm opting for a life in the mountains. I now spend my time instructing in Zermatt where I enjoy bringing out the best skiing in people especially those who might be a little nervous.
Hi my names Emily, I’m twenty-five this winter and you may recognise me from several ES promotional videos involving a hair flick in front of the Matterhorn :-)
I love teaching adventurous outdoor sports and studied a four year BA honours degree in Adventure Education at Chichester University. I’m a qualified ski instructor having taught in Austria, New Zealand and am now working for a second year for ES in Zermatt. I’m also a qualified windsurf and mountain bike instructor and teach children and adults in Greece and Turkey during the summer. Whether you want to learn carving beneath the Matterhorn or your kids want to learn how to do a worm turn, come and ski with me at European Snowsport Zermatt!
I began skiing in the Scottish highlands, from the age of three and there was no looking back – I was hooked for life! I have skied all over the world, including the Alps, Norway, Japan, Scotland, Canada and USA. I have a huge passion for the mountains and for skiing. Zermatt is by far my favourite mountain. I have been skiing here for twenty years and just can’t get enough! I enthusiastically continue to train and aspire to be the best. I hope to pass this on to whoever I ski with, as I love seeing people improve.
I ran away from the city life in London on a six month sabbatical. Starting my fourth season I have since run a ski school and now have a job working for an Investment Fund focused on sub-Saharan Africa. Ski teaching remains a passion with a benevolent boss willing to let me indulge this profession. Travel is a key part of life so regular trips to Cervinia are a must, especially for the cracking food. And the best runs in resort? Have to be the twin reds under the 6-man chair going down to Valtournenche!
I’m a friendly outgoing person. I love it when people get as excited and are passionate about skiing as I do. For me it’s not only a job but a lifestyle, when I’m not teaching I’m shaping the air bag jump at Blauherd or skiing with friends. I've been in Zermatt since 2005 and think it offers some of the best skiing in the Alps, especially if you go to the right places! I've also managed to arrange it so I can live here in Zermatt all year round and continue skiing 365 days a year as well as riding my downhill bike!
With over ten years snowboarding experience this is my fourth year teaching in Zermatt. Passionate about the sport, I hope to be able to pass on my enthusiasm for snowboarding and knowledge of the resort. I love the feeling of progression whether it's riding off piste or learning new tricks in the park. My favourite resort (apart from Zermatt) is Bariloche in South America and my favourite pizza is a Hawaiian!
I started skiing at the age of six, however after one morning aged ten I hired a snowboard, I have never looked back and now have six seasons under my belt. When I am not teaching for ES, you'll find me riding the huge backcountry or parks of Zermatt and Cervinia with friends. I now live full time in Zermatt and in the summer I spend my days downhill biking and riding the park on the glacier, why would I live anywhere else!
Skiing for me is more than just a hobby or job. It is a passion and a love. I aim to put this across to my clients during any lesson. I would describe myself as an all-round skier, loving the powder, the park, bumps and the pistes. Another passion is bodyboarding in the summer. Living on an island in the summertime I am able to take advantage of nearby beaches and their waves. I can’t wait to start working in Zermatt because of the terrain and opportunities it brings. Let’s hope this season brings plenty of snow and many powder days.
Hi my name is James, I consider myself to be relaxed, fun and passionate about skiing. I have two main passions: skiing and bodyboarding. I am lucky to live in Jersey and can make the most of the waves in the summer. I get a great feeling seeing the progression of all my pupils and the fun we have. This is why I love ski instructing so much. Really looking forward to this season and exploring all the terrains that Zermatt has to offer. Let’s get ready to shred!
Hi Guys, Although I'm British, I qualified as a ski instructor in New Zealand, and I am lucky enough to have been brought up near Chamonix and know the Mont Blanc Massive very well, for both skiing and climbing. French is also nearly my mother tongue, and that’s also pretty handy! My first visit to Zermatt was seven years ago on the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, walking over twelve days and I can't wait to ski and teach in this beautiful, inspiring place that I loved as a child. My passion is for off-piste skiing and I aim to be a primary teacher in the future, and can't wait to have a great time in the snow this season!
My first ski lesson was at the age of 4 in Vaujany, France. Over the years I worked my way through the local ski school kids academy and remember very well the positive influence a good Instructor can have on a learner! Since qualifying in 2008 I have been lucky enough to teach in amazing countries such as Switzerland, Italy, Argentina and this last summer New Zealand where I had the pleasure to train the local junior race team. At university where I studied English and Creative Writing, I worked my way through the I.S.I.A qualification as well as founding and captaining the university ski team. I am now level 3 qualified and can teach in English and Spanish. This season I am working towards my level 4 with the Eurotest being my next goal. I am extremely happy to be working for ES, it is exciting to be a member of such a great team!
Having raced in the British circuit as a FIS racer up until last year, I was interested to become a ski instructor to experience a different perspective of the sport. After training at a high level from a young age I was interested to explore the ways in which instructors teach beginners, considering psychological elements such as fear which are not always apparent in high end skiing. In October I moved to Tignes in France to take part in an intensive eight-week instructors course so that I would be ready for the season! As this is my first season teaching I was quite tentative beginning the season but the team at ES have made me feel incredibly welcome! Alongside working with such a great team I am also lucky enough to be in Zermatt, arguably one of the most picturesque places to ski.