Interview with Shaggy Thomson

* Why do you choose to teach snowsports?
I have always loved teaching sports from an early age, during my first season courchevel I realised that teaching skiing gave me the same rewards as rugby, hockey and swimming. Teaching diving in the summer and skiing in the winter gives me the perfect break to be just as excited to teach each season as I was 8 years ago. I also teach a few uni-drinking games in après-bar from time to time!!
* What do you do in the summer?
My last 5 summers have been spent managing and teaching scuba diving in Dahab, Egypt, a truly beautiful place both in and out the water. A little quieter than Verbier!! This year I took my RYA power boat licences and eventually nailed a carve jibe on an 80 litre windsurf board, not bad when you weight 100kg!!
* Favourite part of Verbier/Zermatt to ski/ride
When it’s really snowing you can skii all the way down medran, past the lifts down the main road and straight into the fur cheval, brilliant!
* Favourite restaurant or mountain restaurant in Verbier/Zermatt
ostrich steak at Le Carrefour, not many birds out in the middle of the Sinai desert!
* Why did you choose Verbier/Zermatt?
got a bar job, loved it met all the ES instructors, loved them, changed jobs, love the job, the town, the skiing, the people; however i now have to pay for my drinks ;(
* What’s your top handy hint for anyone visiting Verbier/Zermatt
Never ask for free drinks,just tip the barman & the shots will roll in!!