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.

Contact us to book ski lessons with Stef in Verbier.

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.

Contact us to book lessons with Stef in Verbier. 

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.

Contact us to book lessons with Helena in Verbier.

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.

Contact us to book lessons with Helena in Verbier.