A Ski Instructor interviews another Ski Instructor

To celebrate the launch of the new MH2SKI website recently, I've decided to start a new feature of posts that will help get you all in the mood for skiing in Méribel.

I know you all look forward to your skiing holiday each year, especially having private ski lessons with Michael and I. However I thought that perhaps you might be interested in other people within the skiing industry, the best way of finding out about them is via an interview. So my first victim is a good friend of mine and fellow ski instructor, Slippers Jackson. Although I'm a Méribel Ski Instructor, and Slippers is based over Les Gets and Morzine, we have a similar job and both used to teach together in Courchevel here in the Three Valleys.

Martin: Hi Slippers, thanks for being the first person this winter on the MH2SKI blog. First question, how old were you when you first skied and where did you go?

Slippers: I was thirteen years old, and it was a school holiday to Bardonnecchia in Italy. It was a brilliant trip that I'll remember for the rest of my days, but I hurt my knee and had to take a day off midway through the week.

Martin: How did you do that?

Slippers: I was stupidly skiing too fast, and had a big fall (big grin). However I remember other things about that trip. We went to a disco and I recall pushing some chairs around the dance floor to the music of Gary Numan's record of 'Cars'.

Martin: You sound like you were a right little boy.

Slippers: You could say that. The most poignant thing about that trip was seeing a headline on a British newspaper. It read 'Britain At War'. There I was having a scream of a holiday with my school mates, when Britain declared war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

Martin: Did you have any other school trips? And if so do you remember any of your ski instructors?

Slippers: I had other trips including a visit to Auffach in Austria, Courchevel here in France and Badgastein back in Austria. I must admit I don't remember any of my ski instructors, but I do remember that when we were in the 6th form we were able to free ski.

Martin: When and how did your first full ski season come about?

Slippers: My first season started in December 1990 in Tignes. I decided to leave my job in the HFC Bank in order to ski and improve more. I worked as a ski guide and ski servicing technician for a chalet company. I skied loads and loads, and at the end of that winter returned to Manchester a better skier. I missed the next winter which I found tough. After that I then returned to work as a ski guide again, and had stints all over the Alps in La Plagne, Chamonix, Val d'Isere and Tignes again over the course of a few more winters. All the time I continued working on my skiing and found some great instructors to help my performance.

Martin: So when did you decide to try to make a career out of skiing?

Slippers: It was the summer of 1996. I enrolled in my first of many ski instructors exams in Nov 1996, and it went on from there. I'm sure you can remember Martin because we shared many training sessions and exams together over the following years. In fact I've lost count how many weeks we spent together during those years. Plus the two ski seasons working together as trainee ski instructors in Courchevel La Tania.

Martin: Well remembered, I'd almost forgotten those days. So changing the subject slightly. You've been fully qualified for a few years now, so tell me what question you are most asked on a chairlift? Is it about technique?

Slippers: No it's not technique. The most commonly asked question is "What do you do in the summer?"

Martin: So what do you do in the summer!?!

Slippers: Great, thanks Martin. I now work for a mountain bike shop in the centre of Morzine, renting out downhill bikes and mountain bikes.

Martin: And Morzine is where you live with your wife, also a ski instructor, and your two young children?

Slippers: Yes, I love Morzine both in winter and in summer. It's also a fantastic place to raise our two children.

Martin: I bet. Ok, final question. What was your highlight last ski season, both professionally and personally on skis?

Slippers: Oh, good question let me think. Personally it would have to be skiing with my wife and Eva my daughter at the end of last season. It was when Eva had just used her ski poles for the first time, it was an amazing experience for us all. Choosing a professional moment is tricky because there were so many last year. How about that time we were working together in Val d'Isere last April. One morning we took our groups down the north face of the Borsat together in deep powder.

Martin: Yes, I'll never forget that moment.

Slippers: It was a big call, and one of those that gave us fabulous rewards. Yes, that was certainly the professional highlight last winter.

Martin: Fantastic. Thanks for the interview Slippers. Another glass of wine?

Slippers: Don't mind if I do. Chin chin.