TDC Tignes Team

Sarah Musson - Tignes

Sarah started skiing at the age of 15 on a School ski trip. By her second holiday she knew skiing had changed her life forever and her goal was to train to be a ski instructor.

At the age of 18 she moved to Tignes and with a brief year out in Verbier and has been in what she calls home for the last 10 years.

She has the highest BASI Level 4, with French Equivalence and with 10 years under her belt in Tignes knows the resort like the back of her hand. Whether performance skiing, bumps, gates or deep powder she is no happier than when she has skis on her feet.

In the summer Sarah runs a lakeside Hotel and Restaurant in Tignes waiting patiently for the snow to arrive and kick start the new winter season.

Having taught in Tignes for 7 years before, 2012 is Sarah’s first year for TDC. The rest of the team have long been wondering whether the Escape Killy is big enough to contain her excitement and enthusiasm for ski teaching.
We look forward to finding out...

Rorie Scott - Tignes

It was 10 years ago Rorie handed his notice in to his boss at a reputable firm of financial advisers with the dream of becoming a ski instructor in Tignes. With his career pathway written by a friend on a scrap of paper, Rorie attained his goal four years later.

Joining TDC this year, Rorie is delighted to be providing to such high quality and can't wait to see you on the slopes.

Rorie holds the prestigious BASI ISTD with full equivalence, Canadian ISIA and is a level 2 race coach.

Mark Lees - Tignes

2011/12 is Mark's first winter with TDC and he can not wait to ski and coach in the Espace Killy. His passion for skiing started on a 80m plastic slope and gave growth to a 11 year career in ski teaching. This passion and drive for great skiing is something that Mark delivers to his clients with every lesson.

Mark´s time in the mountains has spanned the globe from the Alps, the US and Chile. A fully qualified British BASI Level 4 instructor. He has spent his career working with children, adults, instructors and elite athletes. From teaching under 9yr ski school groups to coaching the British mens senior ski team for 5 years on the European and world cup circuits.

Mark is also a experienced personal trainer and delivers fitness training in his home city of Glasgow and online. He is currently studying a degree in Sport Science, Physiology and sport nutrition at Glasgow University and and is very much looking forward to joining the TDC team this season.

Rab Bickerdike - Tignes

Rab has been skiing since he can remember and was brought up on the "character building" slopes of Scotland. He was told he started with plastic skis and welly boots in Aviemore. So it was only obvious that he'd run away to the Alps as soon as he could.

Since 1999 he's been doing seasons in Pila, Chamonix, Les Gets, Verbier, was based in Aosta, Italy, and now Tignes for it's "good vibe and massive off piste possibilities".

After 12 seasons of teaching and coaching experience under his belt, Rab still loves to pass on his love and knowledge of the sport, whilst respecting and enjoying the mountain as much and as often as possible.

Rab very honestly admits to his park and pipe background, and at any given chance will be upside down or back to front. He is just as happy on the piste or off piste on skis or even one of those snowboard thingies.

In summer Rab is happiest on his Downhill Mountain bike. Racing and coaching his local Italian team, and is currently sponsored by G.T. bikes.

He also finds writing about himself in the third person very difficult and Steve Peat is the man!?

Ben Harris - Tignes

Ben Harris started his skiing at the age of 2 and it was only school and college which kept him away from doing what he lives for. As soon as that was out of the way he headed out to the Alps and has spent every winter since, skiing, teaching, coaching and more importantly making your holiday an experience you will never forget.

Ben has the highest BASI level, Level 4 with French equivalence and has a wealth of experience including 7 seasons in Aosta Valley, Italy where he ran ski schools and trained the British instructor teams in their personal skiing and how to enhance the learning and enjoyment of their clients.

Ben describes the Espace Killy as the best ski area in the world! Whether it's you or your kids' ski lessons or coaching clinics be sure to make your holiday fun packed and ski things that you that you thought were impossible!

Gavin Lewis

Gavin is a fully qualified British BASI Level 4 instructor who has worked and taught in the Alps since 2003.

Having worked in Zermatt, Switzerland he is now bringing his high level, performance focused approach to TDC Tignes.

Skiing since he was 4 yrs old Gavin is a strong all rounder who particularly likes the seat-of-your-pants rush of fast, big mountain skiing. Having passed every exam at the first attempt, his commitment to innovative skiing and the latest techniques ensures his coaching remains at the forefront of the sport.

He has a degree for Durham University and a love of the card table, he enjoys sharking the soft seats, getting out on the football pitch and also his downhill bike whenever he can.

Sadly since Rab's arrival on the team he is no longer the fastest downhiller on TDC's books so is training hard to get 'fast and loose' in an attempt to try to keep up with the flying Scotsman.

James Stewart-Hunter

James (aka JSH) started skiing at the age of three and by the age of 11 he decided he wanted to do a ski season in Val d'Isere. This manifested itself in 2000 and he has been in the Alps ever since. Since then James has worked in Val d'Isere, Nendaz, Zermatt and Coronet Peak (New Zealand). In 2007 James moved to Tignes to set up TDC Tignes.

James is a fully qualified British BASI Level 4 instructor with full French equivalence. He is an all round skier and is simply happy where ever there is snow. James loves to share his deep rooted love of skiing and enthusiasm for its technical aspects with his clients whether on or off piste.

In the summers James spent five years as a white water rafting guide in Colorado and Norway. During recent summers James has worked teaching skiing in New Zealand at the famous resort of Coronet Peak near Queenstown. Outside of work James spends his time travelling, biking, running, climbing, diving and generally doing anything fun that gives him an excuse not to do some work!