skiinstructorverbier

Stef Schipper – Sustainable Kitesurfing in Holland

8 November 2023 by Laura Shadbolt

Stef is a ski instructor with ES in Verbier in the winters, and here he tells us about his summers, working with Harlem Kitesurfing, who are based in Holland.

Heading home

As the days grew longer and the snow began to melt in Verbier, it was time to put a storage wax on my skis and head for the Dutch coast. I live in a town called Zandvoort (see photos below), famous for it’s racing circuit. I caught up with some friends and family, but not for too long, since I had a quick transition back to work the following Monday.

Harlem Kitesurfing

In the summers I work for a kite brand named Harlem Kitesurfing. We produce all essential gear that is required for an enjoyable kitesurf session out on the water. I’m in charge of the communication with all the factories where our gear is produced. I also maintain the software and business processes behind the scenes. My work involves making sure we order the right amount of gear, maintain the highest quality possible and stay on top of technological and sustainable innovations. At the same time, I ensure all day to day activities run smoothly in the office.

Our peak season is during the summer, allowing me to teach skiing in Verbier during the winter months.

Surfing, kitesurfing, wing foiling and gymnastics

During my free time, I practice various water sports. Depending on the conditions and company, I either go surfing, kitesurfing, or wing foiling. Given the variable nature of these sports, I find it nice to keep doing regular exercise as well. After many years, I rediscovered my passion for gymnastics, and now every Tuesday evening, I join a training group for 1.5 hours to play around, learn new skills and stay in shape.

One of the most exciting aspects of my summer was my involvement in an ambitious project with Harlem Kitesurfing. Already since November ’22, we were on a mission to transition to the most innovative, sustainable production facility for kites and wings. It is called Brainchild Production and is based in North Macedonia. In March we managed to start producing there, and in August we launched our first product from this new factory. See the photos for the colourful result!

Now that winter is approaching, I’m more than excited to get ready for the ski season again. Summers at home are fun, but winters in Verbier are something else!

Stef was born and raised on the flat terrain of Holland but that didn’t stop him from seeking out and exploring the mountains. Learning to both ski and snowboard at an early age, Stef would originally only go to the snow for one week per year but eventually, after spending a whole season in Revelstoke, Canada he got hooked by the allure of the ski industry for good. As a CSIA and CASI certified instructor Stef is a passionate instructor, more than capable of bringing your skiing to the next level. For him, teaching is about having the right balance between learning and having as much fun as possible.

Stéphanie Mugnier –Surfing, cycling and cheffing in Switzerland and France

5 October 2023 by Laura Shadbolt

Stéphanie is a ski and snowboard instructor with ES in Verbier in the winters, and here she tells us about her summers, growing, cooking and surfing between Verbier and Moliets.

This summer I was based both in Verbier in Switzerland and Les Landes, Moliets, which is a surf spot on the Atlantic coast in France.

Les Landes, Moliets

Moliets is located in the Bay of Biscay, north of the border with Spain and the natural barrier between the 2 countries created by the Pyrénées. To the south you have Biarritz and Hossegor, which are also famous for their surf. To the north, it is about 2 hours drive to Bordeaux.

I love coming to Moliets as I have my home here and have spent the last few years renovating, including putting in a new kitchen, and also completely changing the garden. We had to change the layout and the landscaping completely, and added a wooden deck. We planted lots of shrubs and flowers and now, a couple of years later, the deck and garden are a beautiful space for relaxing. It was a huge amount of work but we have created a very special and peaceful place.

Here are some photos of the garden;

My home is about 20 minutes from the beach, which is a long golden sand beach, with pine forests behind it. The area isn’t as built up or touristic as Biarritz and Hossegor, but it has the same north west swell that makes it great for surfing.

The area is good for beginner and intermediate surfers, as well as experts. However, because the beaches are quite hard to get to (often just on small tracks), the area has remained a bit of a secret. So it doesn’t get too busy even in the holiday weeks of the summer.

As well, there are great hiking and biking trails that take you through to the beach.

Verbier

When not in Moliets, I am also based in Verbier in the summer. I have been in my apartment in Verbier for many years and it is really home now. This summer I made lots of tarts and jams with local fruits.

With lots of fruit farms in the Rhone valley, I love visiting where things are being grown. In the summer, I try as much as I can to get my produce direct from the farm, including picking the fruit from the trees.

When I am hiking, I also love picking berries and this summer I made lots of jams from wild fruit that I picked myself.

I work as a private chef in Verbier, sometimes for families or groups of people who are in Verbier for a while, and sometimes for one-off events. I have been working as a private chef for a long time and over time I have moved to specialise in healthy food from local ingredients.

For me, cooking is a bit like creating my garden. Preparing and presenting food stays interesting when I am always thinking of ways to use colours and textures to create food that is beautiful as well as tasting great.

Hiking, biking and swimming

In my spare time in Verbier, I love hiking and biking. The summers are fantastic for exploring the mountain and forests, and Verbier has some great trails that take you to spectacular views and vantage points. When I am biking and hiking, I am always looking out for flowers and pockets of nature that I can photograph. My other favourite thing to do is swim in the alpine lakes, it is very very cold, but so refreshing!

When the winter comes, I can’t wait to put my skis or snowboard on and get back on the snow!

I miss skiing and snowboarding in the summer. However I really like the balance that my life has between growing and creating in the summer, and passing on my love of nature and being in the mountains in the winter.

Stéphanie was born in the Alps and has always been skiing and snowboarding. She is dynamic, optimistic and fun. Stéphanie is fully qualified to the top Swiss level of Brevet Féderale, which means she can teach both on piste and off piste. She teaches both skiing and snowboarding, and also Nordic skiing.

Stephanie’s clients say ‘Stephanie has been an amazing instructor and it was a pleasure to learn … with her. She’s incredibly patient and always comes up with new ways of improving the technique and breaking down any barriers of fear. I can’t thank her enough. I truly had a fantastic time.’

Helena Sophia Jarlgaard – Matchracing in Denmark

20 September 2023 by Laura Shadbolt

Helena is a ski instructor with ES in Verbier in the winters, and here she tells us about her summers, matchracing in Denmark. This summer Helena with her team of 5 women came second in the national sailing championship.

This summer I was competing in the Danish sailing championships in a special category called match racing. With my team, we ended up in second place, which gave us a silver medal!

This is a picture of me (centre) together with my team. We were all pretty happy at this moment!

Match racing in sailing is where two boats are competing head-to-head, focusing on tactics, strategy, and maneuvering. The two boats are identical so it all comes down to the team on board.

The goal when we are match racing is to defeat our opponent and cross the finish line first. It sounds simple but there is a lot of strategy and tactics to make sure that happens. The boat that is behind works hard to pass the leader and the leader uses blocking techniques to try and stay in front.

The most famous match racing event is the America’s cup, though this doesn’t need the yachts to be identical.

Even before the race starts, there is a battle to try and cross the start line in front of the other boat and in the best position for the race to come. Penalties are given if you break the rules, so for example you aren’t allowed to cross the start line before the race starts.

The boats that we were sailing in are called a DS37, which is a Danish build monohull boat. It was designed in 1991 and is 11.25metres long (almost 37 feet) and was designed for match racing. It has a large rudder for all the manoeuvring that we do.

Wikipedia says that it is “one of the most physically demanding boats found in the international matchracing circuit”.

The racing tends to be really close and competitive, with identical boats. Often you don’t know who will win until right at the end of the race.

I’m sailing in a team that consist of 5 other women who have been sailing together as a team for a few years. In total I have now been sailing for more than 10 years.

Here we are in the middle of a race, trying to stay ahead.

So as soon the ski season ends in Verbier and I’m back home in Copenhagen, I will start training and practicing with my team for the upcoming regattas.

In some way there are some similarities in skiing and sailing and I think they go hand in hand. They are both happening outside in the nature. You get to be together with your friends. You can go exploring, you can compete, its physically demanding. Finally, you get to go challenge yourself in many ways.

I couldn’t imagine spending my winters and my summers in a different way!

Helena loves meeting new people and teaching them different techniques, games and exercises to keep them safe and comfortable in the snow. Most importantly, she wants to make the experience fun, exciting and, for those who want a little bit more, challenging as well. She always makes an effort to end the day with everyone having a big smile on their faces.

Lagom. Just the right amount.

9 February 2019 by Laura Shadbolt

A new accommodation brand has launched with this name in Zermatt and Verbier. Owners of Lagom, (who already have the Bramble Ski and Haute Montagne brands), describe it as a balanced approach to holidays in the Alps, putting you in charge of what you would like included in your holiday. With the new website, you can choose your holiday, leaving out what you feel would be too much, and including the things you want.

Lagom; let it be.

What a fitting idea for 2019, the Swedish concept of Lagom, which means “just the right amount”. Apparently the word comes from the passing round of the mead cup, when you would take neither too much, nor too little, just the right amount and what is your share.

At the launch evening in Verbier recently, the ideas of simplicity and sustainability were at the fore, with a pledge to donate 1% of turnover to local causes. And there was also a test run of the new website, which promises to be simple to use and well designed, very Lagom.

The flagship resort is Zermatt and properties have also launched in Verbier. With its car free status, and train journey to access the resort, Zermatt is an obvious fit. Verbier, where almost all of the energy is generated by the local rivers and meltwater, also has its own sustainability credentials.

The 2 resorts have quite different feels, with Verbier famous for its off piste and freeride skiing, and open and friendly atmosphere. Zermatt is better known for its year round high altitude glacier skiing, and the great day out where you can ski over to Italy and back to Zermatt in a day.

At ES we have had lots of fun coming up with new and interesting ideas that fit with the ethos of the brand. Last weekend we ran split boarding touring for snowboarders and ski touring for skiers. And this weekend it will be snowshoeing, mixed with a spot of skiing as well.

Properties are simple, modern and stylish, located in prime central locations in resorts with good lift access. You choose what you add, and what you leave out.

A perfect way to start 2019.

Winter warmers: How to keep warm skiing.

19 November 2018 by Beth Lloyd

Keep Warm Skiing

So you get cold easily and want to keep wam skiing. It’s to be expected when taking part in a sport thousands of meters above sea level at below zero temperatures. Having the right gear to combat the elements is important. Choosing the right layering system, cosy gloves and woolly socks is on the minds of many at this time of year. It would be a shame after all to book a ski holiday, book lessons and then be unable to enjoy yourself because you can’t feel your hands and toes.

For some though buying a nice warm jacket isn’t quite enough. Long days on the mountain can cool off the hardiest skiers and extra measures need to be taken! Luckily there are lots of ways to warm up with some of these great winter warmers.

Getting your layering system right.

Base layers: Merino

The materials we choose to dress ourselves in matter and so does the way we layer them. With a decent base layer we can keep ourselves dry, regulate our temperature and even manage unwanted odours. There are many natural and synthetic solutions to this out there on the market today and the choice can be a little overwhelming. Keep Warm Skiing

Merino has always been a firm favourite for skiers and hikers. This particularly soft sheeps wool is a great choice for base layers as it is finer than more traditional wool and therefore much less likely to cause irritation. It is highly breathable, wicking away moisture to help you stay dry and yet has anti-bacterial properties that reduce body odour. Even when damp, the material has the ability to both retain body heat as well as release it if you were to get too hot.

Mid layers: Down and synthetic

Having your trusty down jacket can be a saviour on the chilliest of days. Yet they are infamously difficult to look after. Washing, drying, repairing, and conserving a down jacket can be a tough job, so why own one?
Well firstly down’s ability to conserve heat is well established. Couple that with its warmth-to-weight ratio and you’re onto a winner. Down insulation is made from the natural midlayer of geese or ducks, using the fluffy, lofty feathers beneath their outer plumage. It is extremely breathable and packs down easily too, which is great for mountaineers and skiers who may be out in changing weather conditions.

It does however fall victim to wet, humid weather and once those feathers are wet your jacket’s performance will suffer. Which is where synthetic insulation comes in. It aims to do everything down can do and continue to do it when wet. Synthetic fibres dry faster and come with a cheaper price tag too. That said, it struggles to match down’s natural warmth-to-weight ration however, so you need to decide what is more important to you .

keep warm skiing — One of our instructors in their trusty down jacket, out exploring last year’s record snowfall in Zermatt.

Outer shell: Gore-tex

Two of the biggest factors in cooling are wet weather and wind chill. Both on their own and in conjunction with one another, they can do a great deal of damage to your core temperature. So having an outer layer that can protect not only you but your thermal layers below is pretty important. Gore-tex is one of the most well known brands in this area because of its ability to protect from wind and keep you dry. It is also breathable, a problem with most waterproof garments. It’s all very well being protected from wet weather on the outside, but if you are too hot and sweating inside your jacket, you can begin to cool down just as quickly. Keep Warm Skiing use Goretex.

Ski Boots

Getting the right fit with your boots has a big part to play in preventing chilly toes! Too big, and the air space around your feet can cool quickly, too tight and blood flow will be restricted, leading to the same problem. The socks you wear can also contribute to this. You should only wear one pair of thin, technical ski socks. This helps with circulation and allows your feet to breathe. More than one pair of socks can lead to discomfort and overheating, sweating, then cooling.

Adjusting your boots in different situations can also be useful. When you’re on the lift, undo your clips to give your feet a little space. Then, when you tighten them back up to ski, be sure not to over tighten them! Keep Warm Skiing!

Heated clothing

If your layering system still isn’t working quite well enough you can turn to the world out heated ski clothing. Battery powered gloves, socks, and jackets are steadily becoming less bulky and more affordable. There’s no unwieldy battery packs or tangled wires. You’ll just see neatly concealed systems that could leave onlookers completely unaware that you are secretly being kept toasty warm!

For example, once your toes go it’s very difficult to concentrate on working your skis. But in a space as small as ski boots, preserving heat can be challenging. Heated socks and/or foot beds are a great solution.

You don’t need to compromise your custom foot bed and liners either. Many boot fitters will help to build the heating elements into your boots. Then they run streamlined wires along the soles and up out of the liner to small battery packs on the cuffs. Some systems can even be controlled by Bluetooth from your mobile phone. So there’s no need to roll up the bottom of your ski trousers to control them.

So with all that sorted you should be able to head out on the hill insulated, regulated and protected against whatever mountain conditions you may face. If you’re not worrying about numb toes or a bitter, winter wind then you can focus fully at the task at hand -skiing! Keep Warm Skiing.