Gone are the days (for most of us) of just working the winter months – for most ski instructors a summer occupation is also required as we can’t all kick back and chill like this guy …
We took a snap shot of what Sweet Snowsports instructors do in the summer as we kick off another awesome season of snow!
Jon has been and will continue to live his life of endless winters; 12 back-to-back winters and he is still LOVING every minute of it. Jon is also a trainer for the NZSIA (New Zealand Ski Instructors Association) so keeps himself busy training instructors to teach skiing down under too.
Jason took a few years out of skiing before setting up Sweet to complete an MBA (yes, I know, he is totally over qualified). Since then he has spent the summers working hard to grow Sweet as well as holding down a job as a coach driver in his Scottish homeland. This summer saw Jason (finally) take some time out and fulfill some travelling desires – he spent some time in India before heading to Thailand where he rented a hut on the beach and answered all of the emails sent to him over the summer by you!
Les is Alpine-based in the summers. He bought a house a couple of years ago and has since been renovating it. Les, by his own admission likes to spend as much time on his road bike and regularly enters events such as the Etap de Tour, Marmotte and other such long distance, steep, pedal powered escapades. Les is also a BASI trainer and from time to time he can be found in a snowdome in the UK delivering BASI courses to aspiring ski instructors.
Ross works for Sweet part-time and as an engineer in Glasgow where he is currently designing ventilation systems for aircraft carriers. Ross is also a father and is just about to become a father for the second time. He doesn’t need any more past times (although he does manage to squeeze in a bike ride from time to time), but he has enough on his plate, not least because his wife is a very busy doctor!
Andy joined the team this year part-time and is also about to become a dad. He spends his summers between his home in Aoste, renovating his UK base in Merthyr Tydfil and managing the stage construction of some of the UK’s biggest music events. Once Andy is back in Italy you’ll normally find him fettling his 70’s Fiat 127 or classic Audi and taking regular breaks to enjoy the coffee in his favourite bar, La Centrale!
Mark, like Les, stays in the Alps year round. He has spent the last few summers renovating his family home, looking after chalets and working freelance on private yachts. During any free time you’ll probably find Mark tinkering with his car in the garage or trying his hand at some home brewing!
