Introducing the new TDC Coaches for 2012….

TDC are proud to annouce that for the 2011/12 season there are going to be a few new faces in the TDC Jacket….

Jamie – Meribel, Joe – Val d’Isere and Sarah, Rorie, Mark and Rab – Tignes

Jamie Deamer – Meribel

Jamie’s passion for winter sports started at an early age playing ice hockey for his home town team Chelmsford at every level from juniors through to the first team who played their matches in English league division one.

It wasn’t until he was 13 that he first put skis on and he quickly caught the bug. He was a regular visitor to the Alps whilst working as a printer around London in the 1990’s.

A career change was needed to further his passion and in 2001 he set off on a ski trip that saw him work his way around the world via Canada and New Zealand ending up in the Aosta valley in Italy where he met his wife Lucy.

Twelve winter seasons later and Jamie is now a BASI level 4 instructor with full French
equivalence. He spends his summers working at golf courses in the UK as a greenkeeper
struggling to lower his handicap !

This coming winter will be Jamie’s 6th in the 3 valleys and his first with the
all new TDC Meribel.

Joe Harkess – Val d’Isere

TDC are proud to welcome Joe on to the TDC Val d’Isere team.

Growing up in the south of Germany, Joe has been skiing since the age of 6. Driving to the Alps on a Friday after school to squeeze in a weekends skiing was the norm.

It wasn’t until the age of 16, being back in the UK and reduced to one or two weeks a season, Joe realized how much he loved and missed those quick ski trips. Since then a gap year has turned into a lifestyle and career, spending winters in the Alps and summers in the southern hemisphere or the glaciers and snowdomes of Europe.

Competing in Freeride, Freestyle and Giant Slalom events Joe has built up a strong platform and adaptability discovering how the very different disciplines compliment each other and create a well-rounded skier. After spending the past 6 years based in Austria while training towards his qualifications, Joe joins the team as a BASI ISTD with French equivalence and Freestyle coach.

Sarah Musson – Tignes

Sarah started skiing at the age of 15 on a School ski trip. By her second holiday she knew skiing had changed her life forever and her goal was to train to be a ski instructor.

At the age of 18 she moved to Tignes and with a brief year out in Verbier and has been in what she calls home for the last 10 years.

She has the highest BASI Level 4, with French Equivalence and with 10 years under her belt in Tignes knows the resort like the back of her hand. Whether performance skiing, bumps, gates or deep powder she is no happier than when she has skis on her feet.

In the summer Sarah runs a lakeside Hotel and Restaurant in Tignes waiting patiently for the snow to arrive and kick start the new winter season.

Having taught in Tignes for 7 years before, 2012 is Sarah’s first year for TDC. The rest of the team have long been wondering whether the Escape Killy is big enough to contain her excitement and enthusiasm for ski teaching.
We look forward to finding out…

Rorie Scott – Tignes

It was 10 years ago Rorie handed his notice in to his boss at a reputable firm of financial advisers with the dream of becoming a ski instructor in Tignes. With his career pathway written by a friend on a scrap of paper, Rorie attained his goal four years later.

Joining TDC this year, Rorie is delighted to be providing to such high quality and can’t wait to see you on the slopes.

Rorie holds the prestigious BASI ISTD with full equivalence, Canadian ISIA and is a level 2 race coach.

Mark Lees – Tignes

2011/12 is Mark’s first winter with TDC and he can not wait to ski and coach in the Espace Killy. His passion for skiing started on a 80m plastic slope and gave growth to a 11 year career in ski teaching. This passion and drive for great skiing is something that Mark delivers to his clients with every lesson.

Mark´s time in the mountains has spanned the globe from the Alps, the US and Chile. A fully qualified British BASI Level 4 instructor. He has spent his career working with children, adults, instructors and elite athletes. From teaching under 9yr ski school groups to coaching the British mens senior ski team for 5 years on the European and world cup circuits.

Mark is also a experienced personal trainer and delivers fitness training in his home city of Glasgow and online. He is currently studying a degree in Sport Science, Physiology and sport nutrition at Glasgow University and and is very much looking forward to joining the TDC team this season.

Rab Bickerdike – Tignes

Rab has been skiing since he can remember and was brought up on the “character building” slopes of Scotland. He was told he started with plastic skis and welly boots in Aviemore. So it was only obvious that he’d run away to the Alps as soon as he could.

Since 1999 he’s been doing seasons in Pila, Chamonix, Les Gets, Verbier, was based in Aosta, Italy, and now Tignes for it’s “good vibe and massive off piste possibilities”.

After 12 seasons of teaching and coaching experience under his belt, Rab still loves to pass on his love and knowledge of the sport, whilst respecting and enjoying the mountain as much and as often as possible.

Rab very honestly admits to his park and pipe background, and at any given chance will be upside down or back to front. He is just as happy on the piste or off piste on skis or even one of those snowboard thingies.

In summer Rab is happiest on his Downhill Mountain bike. Racing and coaching his local Italian team, and is currently sponsored by G.T. bikes.

He also finds writing about himself in the third person very difficult and Steve Peat is the man!?