The Ski Blog

Honor Clissold retains GB Children's Ski Title with Storming GS Win!

With a gold medal in Giant Slalom, where she was nearly three seconds ahead of the rest of the field, fourteen year old Honor Clissold from Richmond, North Yorkshire, defended her British Children’s Overall Ski Champion title in the face of tough opposition in Meribel last week.

The three part competition was a challenging week for Honor, who is a member of the British Children’s Ski Team and trains with Team Evolution in St Johann, Austria. In her strongest discipline, the SuperG, she missed the gold medal by 0.2 of a second in what was supposed to be the training race. The Championship race, where she had planned a more attacking approach, was cancelled because of poor snow cover. Slalom is Honor’s weakest discipline, however she skied really well and in to third place in the tight technical course of the first run. The second, more open, course was less suited to her abilities so she finished the race in a disappointing sixth position.

On the final day of the championship, the Giant Slalom, which is the most important and technical of the three disciplines, the snow was hard-packed and icy. Several of the stronger skiers in the competition fell or made line errors and others chose a more cautious approach. Determined to retain her title, and putting everything she had learnt in training into practice,  Honor skied a strong and fast line, not fazed by bumps and ruts, and finished the first run two seconds ahead of the field.  With encouragement and guidance from Team Evolution coach Sega Fairweather, she held her nerve and repeated the performance in run two resulting in a clear win in both the Giant Slalom race and Overall Championship points.

Honor has now won three British Children’s titles as she was Children’s Champion in 2011 and was Children One Overall Champion in 2010; this season she also won three titles: the British, the English and the British Schoolgirl’s.  And Honor had a third ‘hat trick’ on the international stage with three silver medals in Andorra in January.

Due to a change in FIS regulations, Honor has one more year in Children’s ski racing. This will be spent mainly working on technique, especially in slalom, and of course, defending her titles one last time. She comments: ‘I have really enjoyed ski-ing this year. My coaches have really helped make it happen and I am fired up to work hard and get results again hext season.’

 

Enter our Panda Eyes Photo Contest to win Super Cool Ray-Bans!

It's one of those tell-tale signs of spring skiing and snowboarding.

Suntanned faces with clear, light strips of sunglasses or goggle lines - commonly known as Panda Eyes.
Caused by turning your face to the sun whilst wearing your protective eyewear, it's a classic ski/snowboard holiday souvenir, a seasonaire's status symbol, and a cool sign that you're an outdoorsy, mountain kind of guy/gal!

At Chalets Direct we'd like to celebrate the spring and pay some respect to the Panda in you. We have 2 pairs of awesome Ray-Ban sunglasses to give away to the best Panda Eyes of 2012!

To enter, this is all you have to do:

1. Post a photo to our Competition area on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ChaletsDirect. You can submit your photo from 6.00am tomorrow, 30th March 2012, until midnight (British Summer Time) on 15th April 2012. 

2. Get all your friends to vote for your photo. Voting opens at 1 minute past midnight (BST) on 16th April 2012 and closes at midnight on 22nd April 2012 (BST). Voting takes place on the Panda Eyes Contest area of our Facebook page. A vote from one of our fans will count for two votes - so get your friends to like us!

3. Our judges will then consider all the photos, count all the votes and make their final choice. We'll judge them according to popularity and quality.

The lucky winner will win not one but 2 pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses - choose from classy gold-rimmed Aviators, cool black Wayfarers or bang on trend black New Wayfarers.

So what are you waiting for? To enter just go to: www.facebook.com/ChaletsDirect from tomorrow onwards!

Please Note: Chalets Direct is in no way recommending or advocating skiing, snowboarding or spending time outdoors in bright sunlight without adequate sun protection.

To see the full competition rules please go to: http://www.chaletsdirect.com/competition/panda-eyes-rules.htm

The final few hundred miles!

This is James Hardiman's latest update from somewhere in the Atlantic aboard Fluke-iGOSKi as he takes part in the AZAB yacht race for Sail4Cancer.

As this was written they were sitting 15th overall, and had maintained their 6th in class, a really impressive effort from a relatively inexperienced Ocean racing crew. They were expected to make the Finish line in the early hours of the 29th - so by the time you read this James could already be on dry land!

"Overall summary is that the sun is out, we are 420 miles west of Brest (no pun intended) and boat is going well with no major problems yet, touchwood, (we sailors are a superstitious bunch) - and certainly no probs such as we had on the outward leg to the Azores. However, we still have a leaky water tank, so no water on board, except bottled, making basic hygiene a toughy! We are completely exhausted - managing 2-3 hours sleep each night. It’s not easy sleeping on board a rolling, banging boat doing 10 kts much of the time - which is fast for us.

Day 1 - Start. Boat is generally going well since leaving Ponta del Garda after a very bad start. We had reaching sails up for a windward start in strong winds and so were way back in the pack.

However ‘Fluke - iGOSKi’ quickly regained her composure and we had a good fight with some of our class equals (‘Lady First’, ‘Fan Fan’ and ‘Comedy of Errors’) along the back of the island where the wind gusted and we had lots of mini broaches (for non sailors - this is where the boat skews out of control)! We then got a good lead (we go well on gusty winds when we are no broaching) and caught up the class in front, passing some of them in the evening's lighter going air to take a great overall position for a short while (so I’m told via Sat phone).

Day 2-3: Had two good days of Spinnaker runs in 22kts, lots of surfing and high boat speeds, a couple of broaches but overall covered quite some miles and, I was told by Sat phone that we were well positioned on the leader board. Not that it means much so early on when boats go in all directions in search of depressions, but it was a good boost to hear. So having made good ground on our chosen course - just west of the Rhumb line (an imaginary straight line from the start to finish lines, we then headed North a 2nd time to avoid some wind holes (no wind) lurking around Biscay. Heading Nor West when home is Nor East is hard to do in the search for wind, especially when it’s all estimated from weather data files you get on board (via Sat phone) and interpret yourself - using your own inexperienced methods!

During the night on day 3 we shredded the No.1 Genoa and spent all of Friday hand stitching a 3 metre tear (no joke!), and two smaller ones. Sorry Pete (at Sailtech), I've killed a brand new Carbon-Kevlar racing sail!

Day 4: We must have slipped quite a lot now because the wind has been light for the last day, and most class 4 and the best class 3 (our class) boats have gone more nor-west than us - where the wind is best. They have had 20kts all day yesterday when we had 14 kts at best. We are bound to have lost a lot of miles with that.

Day 5: Sun is shining and all OK thus far. Only doing 6 kts and wondering if everyone else is screaming past us in 15kts Nor West of us. Got a nasty beat ahead to look forward to in strongish winds. (for non sailors - this is sailing into the wind, and means an angle of 45 degrees and lots of banging, possible breakages, even less sleep and general nausea all day long). Oh well, hopefully we will have pasties and a level bed to look fwd to on arrival in Falmouth, whenever that may be..."

We'd like to congratulate James on what has clearly been a great test - and thanks for keeping us in the loop!

It's not too late to make a donation to Sail4Cancer - you can make a donation and send James a message of support here.

Sail 4 Cancer is a charity based organisation that aims to improve the quality of life for individuals and their families who have been affected by cancer. The charity offers a variety of sailing experiences for individuals and their families affected by cancer, the recently bereaved and carers thereby giving them the opportunity to switch off from the realities of everyday life.

Sail 4 Cancer also awards grants for the provision of equipment within cancer wards and hospices.

Try the Solutions Room - a great way to find your next holiday in the mountains

We're always banging on about our legendary Solutions Room.

It's as old as Chalets Direct - and back when we first started, when people used dial-up to get online, and Facebook wasn't even a glimmer in Mark Zuckerberg's eye, we thought the Solutions Room would be a great way for us to find our ski holidays.

We felt that there had to be loads of chalet owners and companies out there with the kind of holiday we wanted - but it was finding them that was the problem. So the Solutions Room was born.

It's simple. Just say what you're looking for, post it in the Solutions Room and let the replies come back to you.

So if you suddenly hear that there's a big dump of snow in January and you can manage a long weekend, you could put it up there - and holiday offers and options will be posted back to you - usually within a few hours, often within minutes!

Or if you've got to organise the family holiday for next half term, and it's already July and you still don't have a clue, then putting it up in the Solutions Room is a shortcut to finding all the places that would suit your needs.

We know it works because now with well over 16 000 requests for ski holidays, over 225 000 solutions have come back.

It's worked so well that we expanded it and now you can look for summer holidays, seasonaire jobs, long term lets and even property to buy in our range of Solutions Rooms.

So if you want to find next winter's ski holiday or are looking for a summer break in the mountains right now then why not give it a whirl!

Honor Clissold triumphs at the British Ski Champs in Meribel

Chalets Direct sponsored skier, Honor Clissold, was awarded Overall Children’s Champion(female) at the British Ski Championships in Meribel, which took place during the first week in April. Honor’s achievement was all the more amazing as, born in December 1997, she was the youngest competitor in the Children 2 age group which comprises skiers born in 1996 and 1997.

Honor’s championships points were acquired over three events. On the first day of the Championship, she won the SuperG (speed) competition by more than a second, beating off competition from Jessica Mailklem from the Les Arcs Ski Club (second) and GB team’s Darcie Mead (third). Honor, was the only female skier to break through the one minute barrier on the tough icy course; her win was attributed to her good line and feel for the snow – and nerve may have had a lot to do with it!

Slalom has been a challenge for Honor this year as she has made the transition from ski-ing classic (where smaller skiers do not hit the gates) to cross blocking where her size (4’ 10 “) and weight (35 kilos) puts her at a disadvantage; but she skied well with good rhythm to take fifth position in her age group. The slalom was won by Darcie with Jessica in second place.

Competition in girls championships was unusually tough this year with dual passport holders from both the US and France arriving to attract the attention of the British Team selectors. In the Giant Honor skied a gutsy second run to finish a close second to Jordan Richardson from the USA who had the advantage of an earlier bib number at the time when the snow was beginning to soften.

In probably the most contended female British Children’s Championship of recent years a handful of talented and determined skiers fought for the overall title to the last. The final line up was Jessica Maiklem, third, Darcie Mead, second with thirteen year old Honor Clissold taking the championship podium.

In the course of the 2010/11 season Honor also won the Giant Slalom at the British Schoolgirls Races in Flaine in January, the Interschools in Les Houches and the Aiglon Cup in Villars in March and she was second overall at the English Championships in Bormio in February. Based in Flaine for most of the season, Honor now receives coaching from Olympian Sean Langmuir who was with her in Meribel and played no small part in her success. She also trains with Flaine Superski who first noticed her ability when she was eight years old and have been mentoring her ever since.

Honor’s next challenge is to be seriously competitive on international stage and to this end she will be training with Sean Langmuir in the summer. ‘I really want to thank all my coaches and my sponsors for supporting me in what has been a tough but rewarding season’ says Honor.

Honor on the top of the podium, with congratulatory applause from Prince Edward, in Meribel at the end of the British Championships last week.

Sam Clissold in Team GB for the European Youth Olympics

In a few short days a group of the best junior British athletes will be heading out to Liberec in the Czech Republic to take part in the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival. We're extremely proud to announce that Chalets Direct-sponsored Sam Clissold will be amongst them.

Founded in 1990 by Jacques Rogge, current president of the International Olympic Committee, the European Youth Olympic festivals take place every two years, with both summer and winter games. The festivals are regarded as enormously important, and the European games were set up to follow the traditions of the Asian and Panama Games. It is the top event for young athletes aged between 14 and 18 and provides real experience of top level competition. Previous medal winners have gone on to be world class champions in senior events - Janica Kostelic, Anja Paerson and Denise Karbon to name just a few.

For competitors, the Youth Olympic Festivals are as prestigious as the adult versions. The Olympic flame will burn throughout the event, there will opening and closing ceremonies, the Olympic oath is sworn, national anthems are played as medals are handed out on the podium.

The winter festival comprises eight winter sports including Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross Country, Biathlon, Ski Jumping and Figure Skating. This year's event will see over 1500 athletes from 44 European countries. Team GB consists of 15 athletes from 5 wintersports disciplines. You can see the full line up on the British Olympic Association website.

Team GB Chef de Mission, Jan Paterson said: “The European Youth Olympic Winter Festival offers our young winter athletes a unique opportunity to participate in a multisport environment which is very much like the one they would experience at an Olympic Winter Games. I am delighted to be taking such a talented team to Liberec, the EYOWF is a fantastic opportunity for the athletes to experience high-level competition against some of Europe’s leading winter sport nations, and learn more about the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.”

We'd like to congratulate all of these talented teenagers, as well as Sam of course, on getting selected to represent their country at such a major international competition. And of course we'd like to wish them lots of success. Enjoy the experience and do the best you can!

Double Win for Chalets Direct's Sponsored Skier

 
We've just received the latest press release from Team Clissold - some great results for our sponsored skier Sam:

Sam Clissold, Chalet Direct’s sponsored alpine ski racer, has made a great start to his first season as a Junior International racer winning a double title at the at the BARSC Championships National Junior Races in Champoluc, Italy, on January 3 and 4, 2011.

Fifteen year old Sam won Best British skier in his age group in both Giant Slalom and Slalom; and was actually the second fastest British skier overall in GS, despite competing against skiers up to four years his senior.

The BARSC Championships attracted entries from seven different nations and in the final line up Sam was second in slalom and sixth in giant slalom. He scored under 100 FIS (Federation International de Ski) points in each discipline, a considerable achievement for a first year racer, and particularly impressive as Sam suffered a minor injury while training in New Zealand in July so missed out on early season race opportunities.

While unable to compete, Sam used the summer to work on his technique and fitness directed by Olympian Sean Langmuir. Immediately, prior to Champoluc, Sam went to Colorado with the British Alpine Development Team, where he managed strong finishes in four out of six races, including two SuperG. He is currently training in St Johann, Austria, with Paul Telling’s Team Evolution, and waiting eagerly to learn if he is on the short list for the European Youth Olympic World Festival in which will take place in Liberec Czech in February.

Sam says: ‘It is real challenge to move from Children’s racing to the International circuit and I have worked really hard over the past months. I am really pleased with my results to date and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.’

Getting the Best & Most out of Your Ski Trip

There's snow falling in the Alps, and in just a few short weeks all resorts will be dusting off the cable cars and opening their doors for winter 2010-11. Here Claire of AktivExperience in Meribel offers up her top tips for making sure that this winter's ski holiday is your best one yet!

Seeing the mountains, getting that 1st lift of your holiday, clicking in and doing that 1st run of your holiday has to be one of life's greatest feelings; the adrenaline, the breathtaking views, the freedom, in my world there is nothing better.

For me though, I am one of the lucky ones who is a permanent resident of the mountains so instead of just managing 1 week a season I get the whole 18. But what if like the vast majority I could only manage a week a season, how would I get the most from my limited time? Having worked over 19 ski seasons between us (Claire & Ben) we have seen those prepared getting the most from their skiing and those who come unprepared that spend the first couple of days still sorting themselves out.

In an ideal world your annual ski trip should start well before you arrive in resort, unlike a summer holiday where you plan to laze around the pool or relax on white sandy beaches, your ski trip can be and generally is far from relaxing, your body is pushed to its limits and probably your patience too!

Before you head off.
Skiing or boarding, it is going to exercise parts that haven`t been used since the last trip, and if you are anything like me, the idea of hitting the gym 3 times a week all year is great in theory but in practice something more exciting like chilling on the sofa with a bar of Galaxy is more appealing, so your body maybe a little out of shape.

To ensure you don`t pull a muscle on your first day and spend the following 6 sat watching tv in your chalet some pre-ski holiday conditioning is a good idea, a few simple exercises to get the body and the muscles warmed up for the trip ahead.

The exercises are not like that last minute beach diet that you go on a week before you hit the beach, the regime should be taken up as soon as you start thinking about booking your trip, at least this way your body will be fully prepared.

Getting the Gear:
You`ve got the exercise regime sorted, your body is already preparing itself now you need to sort out what you are going to wear, good gear is a must, it protects you from the elements and buy wisely and it will last you years.

In years gone by wool and tweed was the acceptable attire but this was when we skied on wooden planks with leather straps for bindings, long before the invention of synthetic fibres which dry quick, and are used to make a warm dry barrier to protect from the cold.

The demise of C&A many years ago saw the demise in the value all in ones (shame! ha ha ha) but no need to despair, designer outlets are popping up all over the UK, and TKmax always have a good range of branded apparel, that are fashionable, trendy & smart (depending on your approach to slopes style fashion) and sufficiently technical for your ski trip.

Ok only a week to go and you will be hitting the white stuff, the week before you head out do a little pre trip “lunch hour” research into your resort, most companies are now blogging and post weekly if not daily and many keep their blogs updated with the current weather, snow conditions, and what is happening in resort while you are there.

You're in resort what more can you do? Right thats it, you`ve exercised those legs,you`re fully kitted out, you have done a bit of research and your flight is about to take off and you are on your way to the snow. Once in resort the only thing left to do is ski/board and have a wicked time. So here are my final tips to help you get the most out of your trip while you are there 

• Get organised with your ski hire the day/evening you arrive, there is nothing worse than wasting the first 2 hours of your first day faffing around in the ski shop, head there when you arrive or better still arrange for your ski hire to be done in your chalet.
• Pre order your lift passes, again another time saver, and your passes will be delivered to your chalet during your first evening or during breakfast on your first day
• Get out your ski wear the night before, especially if you have kids, get all clothes & apparel ready so that when you rise in the morning you can step into your clothing and you will also have peace of mind that you have brought everything, gloves are like socks in the wash, you are sure you put 2 in there but some how only 1 appears to come out?!
• Regarding clothing on the hill, the best thing to do layer up, better to be too hot with layers than too cold, at least with layers you can remove them, too cold and your heading home early.
• Want to get as much ski time in as humanly possible in 6 days? Then try to get to the lifts 1st thing, from experience there tends to be minimal queues for the 9am lifts but by 9,30am the queues have formed especially during peak dates, and ski till you drop last lifts tend to be 4,30pm so grab that lift and enjoy being one of the last on the snow.
• During your time on the hill you will need refueling, if you have a hearty breakfast before you set out then you should be able to last till 2,30pm which again from experience is a good time to stop off at the restaurants as most people have eaten between 12 - 2 so no waiting for a table and quick service.
• When looking for somewhere to head to after skiing check out the bars with happy hours, many offer 2 4 1 and happy hour beer jugs.
• Can`t ski or very inexperienced? The best advice is get lessons, you may have a friend with you who promises they can show you the basics but lets be honest a professional will be better qualified and there is less chance of a fall out. 
• FINALLY......... HAVE AN EXCELLENT HOLIDAY

Obviously these are just hints and tips that we suggest to our guests that we have picked up along the way, others will have their own feel free to post your own hints and tips, create a review on Chalets Direct and share your thoughts.

The Best Ever Ski Day!

This blog was written for us by Jane Knight of La Maison Fiardiere. It is a great tale of the trials, tribulations and rewards of learning to ski!

The Best Ever Ski Day!

Not sure where the saying “Life begins at 40” comes from, but in my case it started when I was 50.

As a woman who had just reached the half century mark I was determined to have a laugh on this special day with my partner of 14yrs, and my close ski chums. Yes, I am a late developer only being introduced to skiing in the last eleven years… the time when you could get a good deal at C & A for that snazzy cheap jacket!!

Sorry, but to create the scene and put you in the picture, I have to go back to that first day of skiing in Tremblant, Canada ( 1999 ) where the temperatures were -25% degrees centigrade. As a girl who used to follow the sun, used Hawaiian Tropic just to get that lovely glow, and smell like a coconut, this was a major challenge.

John had arranged for me to have a course of one to one skiing lessons with a Canadian ski instructor; “Instructor Bob”, my big ferocious cuddly ski instructor! Not being someone who takes instructions easily, John tells me that he could hear me swearing from the other side of the mountain. Told to go right, I’d go left, told to go left I’d go right and when I was told to go straight and pick up speed that was it, I definitely wasn’t having any of that.

However slowly but surely the message started to sink in and after a few “après-ski” drinks things became a lot clearer. Bob always used to tell me after I had had a few “early après ski drinks” at lunch time during the afternoon session I was always more relaxed. No longer needing that cigarette on the way up on the chair lifts!!! (Very health and safety)

Now, I know today it’s different, and care and attention on the slopes is paramount don’t worry I do not ski that fast just remember I am not too far away from my bus pass!!

We spent the first few days playing helicopters, soaring from left to right, so I could understand what he meant about my downhill ski. No matter what exercise he gave me, poles behind my knees, touching the alternative knee to steer me into that correct line….and worst of all ski with your boot straps undone and with no poles, “Scary or what”. He knew when to push me, and when I was too tired after a full day he would give me a piggy back, and I would squeal with glee, or fear as we sped down the mountain. As the days flew by that first week now seems like a distant memory. But I can remember the incredible feeling of achievement when it all came together and I at last felt that I belonged on skis and on a mountain.

Since then I have had several trips to Canada, France and Austria…taking in the scenery, which before I never could enjoy, because I was too busy concentrating on my feet; I never appreciated the beauty and magnitude of the mountains.

I have experienced staying in self catered chalets in Canada, in St Saveur where Instructor Bob, took us to a different mountain everyday to ensure that we had the best skiing conditions. Once I was comfortable with the pitch and light in one area I was taken out of my comfort zone and given another challenge. Now I can really appreciate “A DIFFERENT MOUNTAIN EVERY DAY”.

Have stayed in resort hotels in Banff (twice in one year) where I became quite a powder hound….it would take 30 to 60 minutes to get to Lake Louise or Sunshine Village but well worth the journey; have been exhilarated, on the Olympic Ladies Downhill run at Innsbruck …. by accident, and being so thrilled went up there twice to do it again. Skied the Stubai glacier at 12,000 ft, been dragged up on my bottom at La Tour in the Chamonix valley and skied all 4 of the 3 Vallees in a day!

So where was I to go with John for my 50th….we decided France, with four of our favourite ski chums Jane & Martin, Gill and Ian,…we were off to La Tania. I have spent 50% of my skiing in “Catered Ski Chalets” and John definitely knew how to push all the buttons to make my day something to remember….a cake, flowers in the room, an upgrade on the wine…..but that was not enough, it was in the hot tub after a great days skiing, whilst still wearing my daughters beenie rastafarian hat that he proposed ….

Well, that’s still not happened yet, we are now in France, and have just completed the renovation of our 1850 farmhouse with its individually designed gorgeous bedrooms!! What an experience, I have spent the last year researching antique auctions in Surrey, and with John’s 20 years in the hospitality industry we are now ready to open our new venture into the wild world of the ski industry!! Now its finished all that’s left is to make sure it is filled with laughter and enjoyment….

TAKE A LOOK AT THE PHOTGRAPHS I HAVE PROGRESSED FROM MY C & A JACKET TO A PAIR OF FUNKY TROUSERS!!!

To learn more about Jane & John's beautiful farmhouse, La Maison Fiardiere, in the French Alps, take a look at their Chalets Direct page. It is available for both winter and summer stays. Winter holidays give you the chance to explore and ski different ski areas such as The Three Valleys, the Valmorel area, Paradiski and Megeve.

Introducing Chalets Direct's technical ski gurus for Winter 2010-11

An ounce of steering is worth a ton of rowing someone once said. This is never more true than in the world of wintersports. One tip from a good instructor can save you hours of pain and help you use your body more efficiently and effectively, and so reduce the risk of straining muscles and possible injury.

Used well, the equipment beneath our feet are fabulous tools which can get you to places you never thought you'd see or experience. Sadly, for many of us, our skis and snowboards are cumbersome planks which can lead to humiliation, frustration and a lot of time spent horizontal on the snow.

Well help is at hand. Last winter we were fortunate to have regular blogs from the two directors of All Mountain Performance, a premier Chamonix-based ski training school which specialises in courses for intermediate skiers and above. During the winter they posted regular bulletins to give you tips and tricks - how to tune back in on your first ski of the season, how to ski bumps and basic guidelines for carving turns for example. Mark and Simon will be contributing again this season.

They will be joined this year by Roddy Willis of Alpine Mojo in Verbier. Alpine Mojo is a team of fun and inspirational ski instructors and coaches who want to help you make big changes to your skiing. Roddy has already written a piece for us this summer on the mental aspect of ski instruction.

Read on to find out more on the Chalets Direct Ski Gurus.

Mark Gear

Director/ coach for AMP  
BASI ISTD level 4 Ski Teacher
Alpine performance coach
Full French equivalence
European speed test holder

Mark made Chamonix his home in 1996 to become the first British qualified instructor to work for a Chamonix ski school. A few years on he is now one of the few holders of the highly regarded French equivalence and is one of the UK’s leading ski instructors.

He has also competed in International FIS ski racing just for fun! and now likes to compete in freeride comps. He has also trained and helped many ski instructors to pass their exams. Mark founded All Mountain Performance in 2004 to offer skiers a fresh approach to modern ski tuition, specialising in all terrain performance courses. His fun and innovative ski teaching philosophies have earned him a renowned reputation for excellent results.

Simon Halliwell

Director/ coach for AMP
BASI Level 4 ISTD
Alpine Performance Coach 1
European speed test holder (Eurotest)
Full French equivalence
BSc (Hons) Science of Sport and Exercise

Simon’s passion for skiing started at the early age of 3 as a result of ski crazy parents. Since then he has skied all over Europe, with two seasons in Park City, Utah, and moved to the Chamonix Valley in 2002.

He has gained a wealth of experience and the highest possible international qualification. His energy and sense of fun on his skis shines through. Simon is gifted with excellent teaching skills and enjoys seeing client’s enthusiasm build as their skiing develops.

Roddy Willis

Roddy tried an office job in the 80's and quickly realised it wasn't for him.

He decided to head for the Alps in 1988 and has never really looked back, working in a number of different jobs from hotel dish washer to ski school technical director, and managing to do nearly three full ski seasons whilst getting a degree in furniture design.

The common thread running throughout the past 22 years is Roddy's love of the mountains and skiing. Roddy is a born communicator and combines this with his love of skiing and vast experience to help his clients achieve goals beyond their expectations.

We're very excited to have these guys on board. They all share a tremendous skill, knowledge and passion for skiing which comes accross the moment you speak to them.

We hope you enjoy reading their bulletins and hope it inspires you to learn and develop your skills on snow.