OUR TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL SKI INSTRUCTORS

Ross Sampson

Ski Instructor

I have been working in the ski industry for over 10 years. I have been teaching in Val d’Isere for the past 5 years and counting and absolutely love it! My passion is taking people into the off piste and getting away from the crowds into the backcountry. I specialise in confidence building sessions for nervous skiers and love helping skiers of all levels achieve their goals, whether that is carving down corduroy pistes or mastering their first turn. On my day off you will find me exploring the off piste or in the local Après bars!

I look forward to skiing with you on the mountain.

Kim Bruce

Ski Instructor

I have been skiing in the French Alps since the age of two and love sharing my passion for the mountains working with TDC in Val d’Isere.

I was given elite athlete status at University in Edinburgh due to my success in International ski racing, which enabled me to work my way through the BASI system at the same time as completing a Sports and Exercise Science degree.

In the summer I spend my time teaching and coaching skiing in New Zealand.

Rich Jones

Alpine and Telemark Ski Instructor

I have loved skiing since the age of 3 when my parents took me on my first ski trip.

After graduating with a degree in Engineering from Nottingham University, I decided it was time to move to the mountains full time. I joined the TDC team in 2013, but have been living Val d’Isere since 2003 enjoying all that the Espace Killy has to offer.

I love teaching and guiding all kinds of clients from tiny children to the most experienced off-piste skier; but I guess you’d say my specialty was off-piste, ski touring and general mountain adventuring! That’s why Terry and I got our heads together to launch TDC Expeditions with our first trip to Kyrgystan this winter.

Summers are spent in the South West of France, with my wife Sara and 2 year old daughter - who I’ve started teaching to ski this winter.

Terry Walker

Ski Instructor

At 5 years old, my obsession started with the Alps. I absolutely loved skiing, snow, the mountains and the fresh air. Later, I took part in freestyle competitions on dry slopes, played lots of rugby, and eventually escaped management consulting for ski teaching and professional rock climbing.

Now I work with TDCski in the Winter and run rock climbing courses around North Wales in the Summer. Fun times!

I am currently studying Nutrition and Exercise Science, and writing my thesis for a Master’s degree.

Joe Harkess

Ski Instructor

I grew up in the south of Germany and I have been skiing since the age of 6. Driving to the Alps on a Friday after school to squeeze in a weekends skiing was the norm.

It wasn’t until the age of 16, being back in the UK and reduced to one or two weeks a season that I realized how much I loved and missed those quick ski trips. Since then a gap year has turned into a lifestyle and career, spending winters in the Alps and summers in the southern hemisphere or the glaciers and snowdomes of Europe.

Competing in Freeride, Freestyle and Giant Slalom events I have discovered how these very different disciplines compliment each other and create a well-rounded skier.

Lena Haurits

Ski Instructor

Since joining the TDCski team Lena has become a well established and well loved member of the team.

Lena’s a seriously talented skier, coach, teacher and all-round sportsperson.

Lena has trained with TDCski and then went on to be successful in all her highest level BASI exams.

Lena holds the BASI Level 4 ISTD with French equivalence.

Ever smiling and happy to be in the mountains, Lena works well with all levels, children and adults.

Steve Angus

Ski and Snowboard Instructor

Since being inspired as a kid on school ski trips, skiing has been my passion in life. After obtaining a degree in Geography from Royal Holloway, University of London, then working in ski tour operations in the UK, I knew I had to get out to the snow full-time.

I believe variety is the spice of life in this job. To that end I love teaching the full spectrum from beginner kids to off piste adventurers! Nothing gives me more pleasure than seeing people enjoy the environment within which we partake this sport and achieve their goals and dreams.

This job has taken me all over the world to Japan, Austria, Australia, Canada and New Zealand amongst other places. In the summer months I do a variety of jobs but mainly enjoy time in Val d’Isere. My enthusiasm, knowledge and experience will help you achieve your goals and aspirations.

Kieran Buchanan

Ski Instructor

My first skiing experience was on a snow covered golf course in Scotland as a kid, with skis twice my size, trying to turn in knee deep powder..! That was when I caught the bug and the rest, as they say, is history.

I grew up ski racing, spending many hours on dry slopes and travelling to the snow on the weekends, Scottish skiing certainly toughens you up. My favourite times were racing on the British Children’s team and travelling to races around Europe.

Many ski racers become ski coaches, and I was coaching the up and coming kids on the dry slope when I was 16 and have been teaching skiing ever since. I have done seasons in Courchevel, Les Deux Alpes, Morzine, Meribel and have been in Val d’sere for the last 10 years.

I enjoy teaching all levels and am in tune with how to develop people’s skills in a manner that is fun, inspiring and motivational. The off piste in Val d’isere also has so much to offer, it’s a real thrill being able to encourage and coach our clients to ski it well.

When I’m not skiing, I work as a Signage Installation Manager and travel to International Football tournaments such as the Champions League, having my work viewed by a tv audience of over 100 million people certainly keeps me on my toes!

Nicko Braxton

Alpine and Telemark Ski Instructor

I started my career in Val d’Isere more than 20 years ago and after a couple of detours to University, to train as an accountant, and various finance jobs, the lure of the mountains was just too great to overcome. I qualified as a ski instructor with a local French ski school and joined the TDCski team in 2007.

My passion is definitely for the off-piste and for taking people into the Val d’Isere backcountry, to places that they will love and to which they wouldn’t normally go.

In the summer I work as a sea kayaking coach and guide living in Cornwall with my wife Rachel and family. I have competed in the Etape du Tour for the last 5 years and also enjoy triathlons.

Hamish Brown

Ski Instructor

After first skiing in Kashmir aged 3, I went on to hone my ski skills at the slightly less exotic Hillingdon dry ski slope! My passion for skiing and the mountains was embedded early - lots of my childhood was spent either cycling up, or skiing down hills of some sort. I was fortunate enough to escape London for plenty of family ski holidays, but even when it snowed locally the whole family would rush up to Hampstead Heath to get some freshies.

During my twenties I managed to do ‘the season’ that I’d always dreamt of - Val d’Isere was the natural choice - the place immediately charmed me and I was hooked. Initially I used to spend winters here and return to property developing in London during the summers. Back then I was working nights in bars & during the days skiing all that Val has to offer. Some years later I decided to move the renovating to Val and I’ve now lived here permanently for about 15 years.

As my desire to be working in a bar until 2am faded, I began my teaching qualifications and have been teaching here since 2007. Coaching skiing has become one of my great pleasures - helping and watching people achieve new skills on the hill is a real joy. I’m currently making the most of coaching my 4 children while - I can still keep up with them…..

Giles Lewis

Ski Instructor

I’ve been skiing in Val d’Isere since we came as a family when I was a little nipper. 30 years later and I still love this place and am amazed by what it can offer passionate skiers.

I’ve been coaching skiing to recreational and professional instructors for 20 years and I think I’m still getting better at it. I also coach rugby at the local club in the valley. I even pull on a pair of boots for the adult team every now and then, hanging on to my youth when I played rugby for Oxford University. I don’t believe in getting too old to do things that you love.

On the weekends you’ll find me on the rugby pitch with the kids, or driving them around to their busy social and sporting engagements. I still ski for me as much as I can, piste skiing, off piste, touring and bumps, I love it all.

Paul Garner

Ski Instructor

As one of the founding members of TDCski I am very proud to have been working and skiing in Val d’Isere for over 15 years. I now live year round in the Malvern Hills in England with my family but still make regular visits to Val to indulge my love of teaching skiing.

I was a relative latecomer to the slopes and had my first taste of skiing aged 14 on a school trip and I caught the bug instantly. A weekly washing up job in a local hotel that I managed to hold down through the rest of my school days funded my annual ski trip until I was old enough to go to the Alps on a year off. Then it was a French and Sport Science degree… with a year in the Alps!

Following my degree I quickly worked out that conventional work wasn’t right for me so I headed back to the Alps and rattled through my BASI exams. Establishing TDC during the 2002/03 season with three great mates was a brilliant adventure that continues to this day.

My ideal day is spent skiing powder in the trees with friends or exploring new off-piste routes with long standing clients, followed by a few early evening beers somewhere cosy. My late drinking days are behind me!

I have the highest BASI qualification (ISTD) with full equivalence and have been teaching skiing in France since 2000.

Colin Tanner

Ski Instructor

I have been based in Val d’Isere since 1994/95 and I have worked for Tour Operators, bars, ski shops and for French Ski Schools before setting up TDCski.

After learning to ski in Scotland, my first season was in Austria working as a rep for a Tour Operator, I thought that the winter life was amazing, so the next season I was back for more. That second season I worked in Val d’Isere and I have never looked back.

The skiing that is available in Val d’Isere is just amazing, everything is there, green runs, bumps, off piste.

I discovered early on in my ski teaching career, that is is not just skiing and the mountains that I love, but teaching and communicating with people.

It is said that I have an insatiable appetite for ski coaching and since 1995 I have been spending my “summers” in New Zealand winter working for the Coronet Peak Ski school and running gap-year business based in Queenstown called SITCo Ski Instructor Courses.

In recent years since starting a family, I have been spending more time in NZ.