Skier or snowboarder
I’m a skier, although I snowboard too from time to time. I like the different sensations and the way you approach the terrain in a completely different way. Let’s be honest, sliding down a snowy mountain is the best fun ever, whichever way you’re standing.
Ski/boarding history
My first taste of skiing was as a toddler in Whistler in the mid-80s. (Whistler was a very different place back then!) Since then, I’ve been hooked, spending countless weeks on snow as a kid. I then worked seasons in the Alps, washing dishes making beds and baking cakes in exchange for a bed and a lift pass. I trained as a ski instructor in Whistler and competed in freeride and freestyle competitions in the Alps and Japan. Most recently, I lived in Hokkaido, Japan for 5 years, logging 100-day winters on the best snow in the world.
Best mountain moment
Too many to mention! Watching the sunrise from the summit of Mount Yotei above Niseko after spending the night in a mountain hut, skiing scary off-piste lines in La Grave, or hitting the biggest kickers in the terrain park on Blackcomb are just a few. Or, seeing my two young kids on skis together for the first time last year in Norefjell was quite a poignant moment!
Favourite ski safari
The Big Mountain Ski Safari to Jackson Hole and Big Sky is my bucket list trip. Two iconic ski resorts with huge terrain, steep lines and couloirs to make even the gnarliest skier’s knees tremble. Sign me up.
Last resorts visited
Last year I was out in Nagano in Japan, visiting Nozawa Onsen, Shiga Kogen and Hakuba for an incredible spring trip taking in a day in Tokyo at the end. Then it was an Easter trip to Norefjell in Norway, a fantastic family resort.
Next ski trip
I’m hoping to visit some of the Lake Tahoe resorts on the California/Nevada border and then another Easter trip to Norway with the family.
Interesting fact
I don’t just love travelling to ski. I once rode my bicycle for two years from Japan across Asia and Europe back to the UK, and last year I took a 10-month sabbatical to travel around South America in a camper van with my wife and kids.
Top ski trip recommendation
Don’t get too caught up in the trail map and how many kilometres a resort has. Some of my best days have been at tiny ski hills with just a couple of lifts. The best skier is the one with the biggest smile on their face!