OUR TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL SKI INSTRUCTORS

Giles Lewis

Ski Instructor

I’ve been skiing in Val d’Isere since we came as a family when I was a child. 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 over 20 years. Skiing in these mountains gives me a buzz, and teaching others who want to learn this sport is a privilidge. I’ll normally ski in my free time and try to keep up with my children. Oscar is a fearless elite racer in U16s category and Emilie is a French Freestyle champion, flying and spinning off some ludicrous jumps. I still ski for me as much as I can, piste skiing, off piste, touring and bumps, I love it all. Lockdown gave me the chance to do a whole load more ski touring, and since the lifts were shut it was grest to explore other parts of the valley not served by ski lifts.

I coach rugby at the local club in the valley and i even pull on a pair of boots every now and then, hanging on to my youth when I played rugby for the Dark Blues. I don’t believe in getting too old to do things that you love.

I look forward to skiing with you.

Nicko Braxton

Alpine and Telemark Ski Instructor

Nicko started his career in Val d’Isere washing dishes and pulling pints as a Ski Bum over 30 years ago! Following a couple of detours to University, to train as an accountant and after various jobs in finance, the lure of the mountains was just too great to overcome and Nicko returned to Val d’Isere more permanently in the early 2000’s. Nicko qualified as a Ski Instructor with a local French ski school and joined the TDCski team in 2007. Nicko “I love my skiing both on and off piste and helping people improve and achieve their skiing goals. I also love my Telemarking, which I also teach, and a little bit of snowboarding from time to time.” Nicko’s 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. “I caught the ski touring bug many years ago so am always keen to walk for my turns, if you are?”

Nicko has competed 3 times at the Patrouille Des Glaciers in Switzerland (the largest ski mountaineering race in the World) and in 2018 his team won their category.

In the summer Nicko tries to spend as much of my time as possible surfing, kite surfing and swimming in Cornwall where he lives with his family. Nicko also works as a sea kayaking coach and guide and tries to get out on his bike as much as possible when not working as a taxi driver for his children!

Rich Jones

Alpine and Telemark Ski Instructor

Rich has skied since the age of 3 when his parents took him on his first ski trip.

After graduating with a degree in Engineering from Nottingham University, Rich decided it was time to move to the mountains full time. Joining the TDCski team in 2013. Rich had been living in Val d’Isere since 2003 exploring the off piste in the Epace Killy and wider area of the Tarentaise Valley.

Rich “My passions are off-piste, ski touring and general mountain adventuring!Terry and I launched TDC Expeditions in 2019. Since then, we have run adventure ski trips to Kyrgyzstan, Norway, North Macedonia and France.” This winter Rich is very excited to be heading up a new project “TDC Tarentaise”.

Summers are spent in the South West of France, with his wife Sara and their 2 daughters

Ross Sampson

Ski Instructor

Ross has been teaching skiing since 2012 and has been in Val d’Isere since 2014, Ross absolutely loves sharing his love for skiing and the mountains!

Ross - “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. My passion is taking people off piste and getting away from the crowds into the backcountry.”

On his days off you will find Ross Speedriding (flying with a parachute on skis) or in the local Apres bars!

Dave Walker

Ski Instructor

Dave had the bug for skiing from a young age, taking every opportunity to get skis on his feet. After finishing a Maths degree at university, Dave left straight for a season in the Alps. A decade later and Dave is still here. Dave is as passionate about skiing now as he has ever been! For much of the last ten years, Dave has chased winters from European resorts like Verbier and Val d’Isère down to Thredbo in Australia.

Dave - “When it comes to teaching skiing I love variety, from children strapping skis on the first time to experienced adults. From mastering snowplough to carving through race courses or floating through the powder off-piste.”

Due to recent travel restrictions, Dave has taken the last few summers away from Australia and now spends them working in web development. Which makes him that much more excited for the snow to return each year!

Terry Walker

Ski Instructor

Terry’s obsession with snowsports and the Alps started aged 5. As a young man Terry took his passion and participated in freestyle competitions on dry slopes and eventually escaped his management consulting life to become a ski teacher / coach and professional rock climber.

Terry “I absolutely love the mountains, I love engaging with people and taking them on adventures in the same mountains that inspire me”

Terry works for TDCski in the Winter, he is the off-piste manager but also teaches all aspects of skiing from beginners to freeride. Terry and Rich are taking wild expeditions with TDC Expeditions to far away places like Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia and Norway.

Terry also works as a BASI trainer, for the national training body for ski instructors, to train and assess upcoming talent. As well as being a qualified Economics teacher, and having a Master’s degree in Nutritional Science. Watch this space there are always new projects in the pipeline!

Kim Bruce

Ski Instructor

Kim has been skiing in the French Alps since the age of two and loves sharing her passion for the mountains working with TDCski in Val d’Isere.

Elite athlete status was attained at University in Edinburgh due to Kim’s success in International ski racing, which enabled her to work through the BASI system at the same time as completing a Sports and Exercise Science degree.

Kim “I love to connect with people and help them find the same love for skiing that I have, from children to adults, sharing the passion for skiing is what drives me.”

Steve Angus

Ski and Snowboard Instructor

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

Steve “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.”

Skiing has taken Steve all over the world to Japan, Austria, Australia, Canada and New Zealand amongst other places. In the summer months Steve is based in Val d’Isere, where he works in property maintenance and spends time with his two young kids.

Steve’s enthusiasm, knowledge and experience will help you achieve your goals and aspirations.

Kieran Buchanan

Ski Instructor

Kieran grew up ski racing in Scotland, travelling to the snow every weekend, which certainly toughened him up. Kieran started coaching at the age of 16, working with up and coming ski racers on the artificial slopes and Scottish hills.

Family holidays to the alps eventually turned in to working ski seasons and Kieran has taught in Courchevel, Morzine, and has been based in Val d’isere since 2007.

Kieran “I enjoy teaching all levels and I 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 thrill being able to encourage and coach people to ski it well.”

Out of season Keiran works with UEFA as a Signage Manager and installs branding at some of the biggest football venues in Europe, he also runs a holiday let business in the Scottish Highlands.

Dave Tee

Ski Instructor

Having learned to ski in Scotland aged 3, Dave has skied every winter since. Dave hung up his race boots aged 18 and has built up 15 years of ski coaching experience on mountains around the world. Dave has been based out of Val d’Isere since 2017, and his words “Val d’Isere - this place has it all!”

Dave “I’m passionate about sharing the best our mountain has to offer, from your first turns to carving or off-piste. I enjoy working with skiers of all ages and abilities, aiming to achieve your skiing goals whilst having a great time.”

In his spare time Dave is a skydiving instructor and absolutely loves to get out in the mountains, be it flying, hiking or something in between!

Mike Kirk

Ski Instructor

Mike enjoyed family ski holidays to France and Switzerland before starting his career as a ski instructor at The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead in 2009. Since then, he has worked in Canada, Switzerland and France where he was able to refine his technical skills and gain wide-ranging experience. It was in Whistler BC that he developed a passion for off-piste and freestyle skiing. He has spent the last nine winter seasons in Val d’Isère and takes pride in being a versatile instructor accustomed to teachings clients of all ages and abilities.

“Being able to share my passion for skiing and the mountains with new or returning clients has always been incredibly rewarding. I really enjoy seeing my clients progress and achieve their full potential. Helping them learn new skills that they can be proud of and which enhance their love of skiing is extremely satisfying.”

When I’m not skiing I enjoy going to the gym and during the summer i really enjoy water sports particularly spearfishing and surfing.

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…..

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

Colin first started in Val d’Isere in 1994/95 and has worked for Tour Operators, bars, ski shops and for French Ski Schools before setting up TDCski.

After learning to ski in Scotland, Colin’s first season was in Austria working as a rep for a Tour Operator. Absolutely loving the winter life in the mountains meant that the next season he was back for more. Colin’s second season he worked in Val d’Isere and has never looked back.

Colin “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.”

Since 1995 Colin has been spending “summers” in New Zealand winter working for the Coronet Peak Ski school and running a gap-year business based in Queenstown called SITCo Ski Instructor Courses.

In recent years since starting a family, Colin has been spending more time in NZ.