Our Sharks Instructor Team

Not been skiing for long but hooked. After a year in the cafe watching Dylan ski with the Sharks, I decided to try the level 1 instructors course so I could help out if needed and hopefully gain a few skills to enable me to keep up on the slopes. The keeping up hasn’t worked but learning a lot and having fun anyway! I spend the week in front of a screen looking after IT contracts and challenges, with a snow capped mountain image on my desktop to keep me going until the next ski adventure.

Through business contacts way back in 2001, I ended up skiing with a former Sharks Chairmman out in Verbier, We got chatting and he suggested I attended Sharks ski club and to be introduced to Norman Gill, The Head Coach. Norman mentored me for many years and we became great friends and our mutual obsession for skiing became stronger. My passion is training and mentoring new instructors, promoting Sharks to the wider ski community and upholding our constitution. I'm keen to show skiers new experiences and expand theor skiing knowledge so they can enjoy the sport I love so much. Skiing is in my blood. I'm a keen moguls coach and run the North of England Futures project for Snowsport England. Qualifications Level 4 Alipine Coach SSE Level 2 Moguls Coach SnowSport Tutor ( Train the Trainer) IVSI Member ( Insternational Federation od Ski Instructors) Member of GB Freestyle Committee

Sharks Instructor

I discovered skiing fairly late when my daughter Tanisha decided she wanted to learn so I learned to ski with her. Since then we’ve both become big enthusiasts. I love skiing and since qualifying as an instructor/coach absolutely love helping to bring the best out of our amazing members too.

Sharks Instructor

I started snowboarding in the late 80’s at Glenshee and only started skiing after taking my kids to Sharks in 2011. I converted to skiing after trying to keep up with the kids, but i’m not sure I will ever catch them. I am a licenced FA coach and referee. I convinced Sharks members to complete Movember 2020 with a tashtastic effort for a great charity.

Sharks Instructor

Sharks Instructor

Achievements- Selected for the England Alpine Squad 1995/96 season. Got 70mph on Ski Tracks app! First Skied- 1980 Started instructing- 2002. Sharks race training at The Ski Village. On or off piste?- Off piste in powder, otherwise I like laying arches on piste. Current equipment- race department Nordica Dobermann boots and Dynastar Omeglass skis Kit wish list- some new Dynastar Omeglass! Favourite resort- Chamonix Favourite ski run- The Goat at Champoluc Ski hero- Glen Plake Last run before I die- main slope at Swadlincote Ski Centre Favourite Food- curry (chicken madras) Favourite band- The Stone Roses, The Charlatans, Nirvana… Personal statement- Although I come from a racing background, I have a great deal of respect for all disciplines of skiing. Great skiers don’t pigeonhole themselves. The best skiers though, are those that enjoy their skiing and, for me, it is those people that make instructing/coaching worth while.

Achievements – No notable awards but I have broken my thumbs three times on various dry slopes trying to get some notable ones. I have also worked at the British Ski Academy in Chamonix as ‘House mum’! When did you first ski? 1990 at Reberty in the French Alps with my family. When did you start instructing? 2004 with Sharks Ski Club at Sheffield Ski Village On or Off Piste? Both, there is nothing quite like a nicely groomed piste to carve up but if there is powder off piste you will most probably find me there. Snow dome or plastic? Plastic fantastic will always have a place in my heart. Favourite ski location/resort Les Grands Montets, Chamonix Valley Favourite Ski run – The Lauberhorn, Wengen Ski Heroine – Mikaela Shiffrin One last run before you die? It would probably take a miracle but I would love to ski down Sheffield Ski Village again. Personal Statement: I discovered my passion for skiing on a childhood holiday and later joined the University of Manchester's snowsports club, SKUM, where I began racing and became chairperson. I organized student trips to various ski locations, including the French Alps. I was then introduced to Sharks, an exceptional ski club offering opportunities for all skill levels. As an instructor, I enjoy helping skiers enhance their confidence and ability.

Skiing has been a part of my life since I was five, but when my family and I joined Sharks, it became a weekly passion. Wanting to give back and push my limits, I trained to become an instructor and have enjoyed assisting others in developing their skills in the sport." Staying active is important to me. I was a keen runner and now channel that energy into swimming, weight training, paddle boarding, power walking, and occasional adrenaline activities like zip lining and skydiving.

As a secondary school teacher, I am certainly not frightened of a challenge. It was through school in 2014 I had my first experience of skiing. I started with a very brief introduction on the dry ski slope and had to progress quickly to the mountains in Italy where I had a ‘crash’ course in skiing. From that point, I joined Sharks and my ski technique has been continually improving along with my social life!

Sharks Instructor

I formed the Sharks Ski Club in 1989 at the request of SSV Management. The Club was initially for children age 4 – 18 years only I was employed by Sheffield Education Authority as a Teacher/Youth Worker therefore had contact with all South Yorkshire schools, colleges and youth service. I am a race official and was on ARC (Alpine Race Committee) and helped organise and officiate at both the British and England Championships both home and the Alps. I am a qualified Ski Instructor and Ski Patrol trainer and Assessor Duties of the Co-ordinator To receive enquiries, and give information to prospective new members. Arrange the introduction and assessment of new members Follow-up of new members The continuous assessment and changing of groups for young people Organise instructors to each group with consultation with Head Coach Organise and mentor new trainee instructors. Monitor the qualifications of Instructors to check they comply with SSE and Sharks Ski Club requirements. ie ‘in date’ licence. First aid, safeguarding and DBS Communicate with Swadlincote Ski Centre Management on the status of our Instructors. Funding applications. Liaise with South & West Yorkshire and Derbyshire Sport councils. Liase with other clubs at Swadlincote Ski centre. Committee of SSE Midland region

Skiing, the ski environment (be it in the mountains or in a fridge!) and ‘skiing people’ are all a constant source of adventure, excitement, exhilaration, fun and pleasure for me. I believe skiing enables an individual to find that ‘something else’ within themselves that equips them with a set of personal skills for life itself! My first experience on snow was in Aviemore, Scotland in 1972; it was on a weekend trip organised by the Sheffield Local Education Authority and Molly and I were asked to go on the ‘Introduction Training’ course for Teachers and Youth Workers. I soon became a bit of a ski fanatic and I looked to getting qualifications so I could use skiing as an ideal vehicle of working with young people. So began a series of training courses and of being involved in skiing: • Alpine Ski Leader 1980 • BASI 1984 • Founder member, along with Molly, of the Sheffield Snow Steelers Ski Club • Worked in the Alps for “Travel Away” Ski Company 1984 & 1985 • Worked in the Alps for “Skibound” Ski Company 1986 -1989 • Did volunteer labouring at Sheffield Ski Village as it was being built 1988/89 • Invited by Molly to be part of the Sheffield Sharks Ski Club • Completed Level 1 and Level 2 through the English Ski Council (now SSE) 1990 and 1992 • Level 4 Development and Race Coach 1995/96. This was a two week training course in the Alps and a full one week examination! • Chief of English Alpine Championships for 1998 and 1999 • Chair of the English Alpine Race Committee 1996 to 1998 • Manager of the England Alpine Race Squad (I was on the selection committee that selected a young Frank Reardon to Ski for England!) • Alpine Race official 1993 onwards and a Race Official Tutor from 1995 • UKSS Level 1 Tutor 1999 and UKSS Level2 Tutor 2008 • Refresher Courses and Revalidation of Level 4 and Tutor Qualifications annually since 1996 • Sharks Coach . . . . . . . . . 1989 onwards! Ski teaching technique and ski equipment in particular has changed, and continues to change, vastly over the years; yet through various training courses, refresher courses and numerous UKSS Seminars and meetings I feel I have kept up to date with developments. I have passed these new approaches, new teaching developments and ideas on to our wonderful team of dedicated Sharks Instructors and Coaches. You will not find a better or more skilful and dedicated set of individuals! My passion for skiing, some might say obsession, and my passion for ski teaching and tutoring Ski Instructor courses has not diminished in any way; in fact it gets stronger as each ski session finishes I cannot wait for the next one!

Sharks Instructor

BA (hons). Dip Arch. PGCE. Dip Arch Prac. 10m swimming and the one you get when you inflate your nylon pyjama bottoms. Cycling Proficiency. • Achievements? Won a few frostbite, Stoke, Pendle, Rossendale & Yorkshire Champ medals, and came joint 3rd in the O19’s female category at The Stomp. Highlight though has to be Miss Wengen 2006. • When did you first ski? Summer 2004 – SSV. • When did you start instructing? Spring 2006 • On or Off Piste? On the. • Snow dome or plastic? Both • Current equipment, skis and boots? Dynastar WC Skis, Dalbello Viper boots. • Kit wish list (what skis do you like the look of etc)? Anything understated & not too bright. • Favourite ski location/resort? Wengen but I’ve not really been to that many! • Favourite Ski run? Lauberhorn • Ski Hero? Too many Sharks to mention but Genevieve if I have to choose as I’d never have even thought about skiing if it wasn’t for her!! But then there’s Molly & Norman too!! Oh and Dave Englert merely for his attire!! • One last run before you die? London Marathon – oh you mean ski one? I’d like to do the Inferno. • Favourite food? Cherry Lips • Personal Statement? That’s my business, keep your nose out!! • Favourite musician / group / band? Do I really have to choose?!! Can’t decide between the Smiths & the Waterboys if I’m only allowed one…. but then there’s the Cocteau Twins, Jane’s Addiction, Pixies, Wonderstuff, Taling Heads, Blue Nile, Joy Division, Human League, Heaven 17, Pistols, The Fall, Bowie, Beautiful South, PWEI, Artic Monkeys etc, etc, etc …. Sade, Dionne Warwick & Aqua