How did you end up in Verbier?
Having only completed half a season (slight accident with a tree on a snow board cut it short) straight after Uni, I still felt I had some unfinished busiess in Verbier. Whilst sat in a stuffy office looking out of the window one afternoon, I finally plucked up the courage to follow my dreams and do what I wanted to do. It only took me 9 years to do it, but I’m really glad I quit my job and followed my heart.
What skis are you skiing on?
Piste – Fischer PROGRESSOR F19 TI
Off piste – Rossignol Soul 7
What is the best thing you’ve ever done?
Being selected for the Pub Mont Fort ice hockey team. I really missed team sports and the feeling you get after a tough game. I was totally useless at ice hockey when I arrived in Verbier but luckily I had a good friend who would spend hours practising with me on the ice during the summer and winter, eventually getting me to a decent enough standard where I could actually skate without falling over (imagine bambi on ice). It’s great fun and a fantastic way to get to know the locals. They even pass me the puck now!
Your top teaching top?
Confidence. If you can believe in your abilities and have the confidence you can do it then you definitely can. Having been a complete beginner trying to play ice hockey a couple of years ago, and seeing everyone else whizzing past me, I can empathize with new learner skiers or skiers who want to develop a particular skill area but feel they are being blocked for one reason or another. By giving someone confidence you are unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance. Skiing is as much psychological as much as it is physical.
Which one is your favourite slope in the 4 valleys?
Savoleyres airport run. It is perfect for all standards of skiers. Usually well groomed, flat enough for nervous skiers, but steep enough to develop skills of more intermediate or advanced skiers.
Best restaurant?
Cabane Mont Fort for the stunning views and authentic Swiss cuisine and Restaurant Le Bois Sauvage across the Four Valleys in Hérémence for the great atmosphere and fantastic food (my best friend is the patron and Head chef!).
Where is the best place for drinks?
Fer a Cheval. Great spot for people watching and always a great atmosphere with a good mix of locals, tourists and ski instructors. Plus you get a slice of free pizza.
If your clients need to see or do only one thing while they are in Verbier what would it be according to you?
Catch a snow taxi up to Marlenaz restaurant above Patier for dinner and either sledge or walk down. Spectalular whatever the weather, amazing stargazing, and great fun, with the family or with a group of friends.
Thank you Tony and good luck with the hockey this season!
How come you ended up in Verbier?
Ask Toby!! We lived together in New Zealand in 2000 and then in 2005 Jo went to London and I came to Verbier to do some work for ES. Then Met Hannah and Paul and in 2007 and started at the Lodge. That’s it really!!
What is your choice of weapons this year?
Head Supershape Magnum for Piste/Teaching
Black-Crows Camox with touring bindings for playing
What is the best thing you’ve ever done?
That’s tricky, but either have a Baby, set up a Brewery or walk across the top of Victoria Falls!
Let us know your top teaching tip?
I mainly teach kids, so my top tip is to have as much fun as possible, we play a lot of games and talk about a lot of cartoons!!
Favourite slope in the 4 valleys?
Piste de L’Ours in Veysonnaz or if loads of snow Col de Mouche
Best restaurant on the mountain?
Dahu – good hot choc and amazing selection for lunch, best pizza on the hill or Carrefour for the amazing Rosti or hotstone.
Whats your preferred watering hole?
Fer a Cheval more than likely, although maybe VinaBagnes, and definitely Loft in town, otherwise, Cantaloupe or Couloir in Chable……..
What should i not miss when in Verbier?
Visit the Brewery! Or Paragliding if good weather, sledging with kids from top of Savolyeres to La Tzoumaz, or, Snow Shoe up to a Mtn Restaurant for dinner and sledge down afterwards – Marmotte in particular.
Thank you Gareth and we hope you have a great season with loads of sleep…… (Gareth just had a baby girl).
How did you end up in Verbier?
I came to Verbier over 6 years ago to work as a ski instructor. After a career as a professional athlete with limited funding I wanted to earn a living doing what I loved.
Ski Instructing is more to me than just teaching someone to ski, it’s about offering them a lifetime experience and building a safe, fun and exciting environment for anyone and everyone to enjoy the mountains.
Your teaching top tip?
My top tip for anyone coming to the Swiss Alps is to make sure that you keep on smiling, whether you are a beginner or an advanced skier you will come across times when learning becomes difficult, yet it’s important to not stress yourself out.
People learn in different ways and as a disability and able bodied instructor I understand the importance of being adaptable and patient.
But just remember, you will be surrounded with some of the worlds most beautiful views, so when you fall over or forget to change something in your skiing we’ll be here to help you back up or change our teaching approach so that you can understand something a bit easier.
What do you ski on and why?
We have some great in resort specialists who will provide you with some well tuned rental gear but for me I used to choose an all round 170 Salomon ski that would allow me to go anywhere on the mountain. Salomon are a very versatile and forgiving ski, they are not too heavy providing a lightweight feel underfoot. They also tend to be softer allowing you to make a cleaner turn easier without having to but too much weight through the ski.
Now as I am putting a lot more power into my skiing and becoming a lot stronger, I am looking to change over to a stiffer ski, brands such as Rossignol and Head are great for this.
Anything I can’t miss when in Verbier?
Verbier is a great place to be, there’s definitely some hidden gems across the 4 Vallees to visit whilst on a ski lesson. One of my favourite spots has to be saluting the sun from the top of Mont Fort. With it’s accessible ski lifts, you are able to access this 3330m peak on foot or, for the advanced skiers, there’s some challenging unpisted terrain to ski after a hot chocolate at the peak.
Whether you choose to be guided through the Swiss Alps or want a skill-filled lesson, you’ll be sure to build up an appetite and we can definitely recommend some great restaurants wherever you are.
A favourite of mine is Le Carrefour, it’s not only accessible by foot or ski, but any level of skier can get there. It has a great selection of French, Swiss and European food and suitable for people with dietary needs too.
Eat and drink favourites in town?
After you’ve finished a hard day’s ski through the Vallees, head down to the Pub Mont Fort for a drink, with its lively local atmosphere and sun trapped balcony, you’ll definitely be able to relax and enjoy yourselves whilst the sun goes down.
If you’d like to pop out for some evening supper Verbier has some beautiful restaurants from delicious Swedish burgers at Le Shed to beautiful delicately made meals at Chalet Adrien offering a great wine list for people wanting to see what Switzerland has on offer.
The nightlife in this little Village is definitely lively, make sure you head to the centre of town we’re you’ll find a selection of bars to dance the night away.
I hope that my little insight in Verbier gets you excited for Winter and I look forward to seeing you on the slopes!
Thank you Caroline for sharing your knowledge with us!
How did you end up in Verbier?
Like a lot of British instructors I came to Verbier to work whilst training for my final instructor exams. I don’t think I intended to stay more than one season but the place kinda draws you in and the more you get to know Verbier the better it gets.
What skis are you skiing on at the moment?
On piste I mainly ski and teach on Rossignol Hero Masters. Firm and responsive! When it snows Armada JJ’s.
Best thing you’ve ever done
Probably blagging my way onto a heli trip in northern British Columbia for a free days heli-skiing. To this day I have never skied such steep slopes with such deep snow on them (outside Verbier……;).
What is your top teaching tip?
Don’t think too much! Sounds counter intuitive when your trying to learn something new but filling your head with too much information kinda clouds your natural reactions and interrupts the flow of skiing.
Favourite slope in the 4 valleys?
The L’Eteygeon itinerary off the back of Greppon Blanc. Its not the hardest itinerary but it feels like you are secluded and away from the resort when you ski it. The hike to get to it keeps a lot of people away meaning there are usually fresh tracks to be had when the other itinerary’s are turning into bumps fields.
Your favourite restaurant?
Chalet Novelly in Siviez is a great wee spot. It looks unassuming and that’s part of its charm. The food is no frills and tastes great. They also serve massive insulated mugs of vin chaud!
Best place for drinks?
Vin a Bagnes for a bit of class. You can sit here enjoying the last of the sun and watch the crowds head down from the Medran lift after a day on the slopes. Then when the sun disappears stumble down the hill to Loft for some slightly more chaotic and grubby ski bum vibes when a band or DJ are playing.
If you would recommend to see or do only one thing while they are in Verbier what would it be?
Ski in Bruson on a powder day! If your lucky enough to get a proper dump of snow, Bruson is such a great playground to explore. Its always quiet and the tree runs are endless.
Thank you Alex and we will for sure see each other at Chalet Novelly with a cup of Vin chaud in our hands!
Why did you choose to work and live in Verbier?
After teaching skiing for three winters in Sweden me and two girls decided to face the Alps.
A previous coach told me Switzerlands mountains would fit the type of skiing I personally like: pistes that are well looked after and great steep off piste.
I was happily surprised of the amount of sunny days we get here in Verbier and all the moguls you find along the side of the pistes so the choice was very easy in the end.
Choice of weapon this season?
Head Worldcup Rebels i.Speed & Faction Supertonic
What is the best thing you’ve ever done?
In 2006, 19 years old, me and my twin sister decided to get on a train and travel 1700km north in Sweden, to do our first ski season in Riksgränsen. For those of you who’ve never been, Sweden is a big long country and for someone being brought up in the south the differences in the North is huge.
Average temperatures of -20 degrees celsius and 1,5h sunlight/day comes with beautiful northern light and the temptation to go big mountain skiing. This trip turned out to be the beginning of a now ten year career as a ski instructor.
What is your top teaching tip?
Skiing is all about having fun on the mountain! It’s not about achieving top speed or dare to hit the most difficult run. If you have fun i will make sure to take your skiing to the next level.
Favourite slope in the 4 valleys?
Mont-Gelé itinerary taking you down to Tortin, a run between mountains away from the resort buzz and less people also means you are more likely to find fresh tracks.
Where will we find you eating?
Marlenaz, a traditional cute Swiss restaurant on a hidden away mountain side with a spectacular view over the valley.
Where do you stop for a drink?
For a hot chocolate Cabane Mont Fort, for a glass of wine in town, Vinabagnes
If you’re clients need to see or do only one thing while they are in Verbier what would it be according to you?
With or without skis, make it to the top of Mont Fort!
The view from up there is AMAZING, you will see all the way from Mont Blanc in south west to Matterhorn in the east and on a very clear day you will also see the Geneva lake.
Thank you Bea and hope that you have a great winter!
How did you end up in Verbier?
A friend of my mum introduced me to her son who was managing a ski school in Verbier and the rest is history as you say.
What will you be skiing on this winter?
Rossignol Hero Master
Atomic Backland
Best thing you’ve ever done?
It might be a cheesy answer but become a ski instructor. I get to ski all the time, travel to different countries, meet new people and most of them at the end of the day I’m lucky enough to call friends.
What is your top teaching tip?
Try keeping your core strong and stable. This will help you keep your weight more centred in order to not drop back onto the tails of your skis. It will also help to stop you being thrown forward over the front of the skis if you hit a bump or are in deep powder. You will be able to ski faster and more in control over harder terrain.
Favourite slope in the 4 valleys?
Mont Fort, The bumps can be fun and you have the choice of taking the long red down to La Chaux or Gentianes itinerary.
Best restaurant?
Dahu, good food and service with a lovely view.
What is your favourite watering hole?
The loft, great staff and a place where we all hang out and of course the terrace at Vina Bagnes, if it’s nice weather it is the place to be.
If your guests has to do one thing in Verbier before they go home, what would it be?
Go to the top of Mont Fort on a sunny day, the view is amazing.
Thank you Ben, best of luck with the season and we will see you at The loft!
