Earl, Co-founder of Alpine Answers & Partner
- Best Resort: Chamonix
- Star sign: Pisces
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Kevin Keegan
- Favourite Sports: Tennis & Golf
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons:2
- Where: Bardonecchia and Les Deux Alpes
- Favourite ski terrain: Back country
- Favourite subject at school: Latin and Pure Maths
- Favourite book: What they don't teach you at Harvard Business School
Having grown up around the world (father worked for an airline) there was only ever going to be one vocation for Earl - travel. After graduating in Economics, Earl began his career in travel working for a Japanese in-coming tour operator, before heading off to the Alps, obviously a lot more fun. On returning to the UK, more valuable experience was gained working for Supertravel and Ski Solutions. Earl set up Alpine Answers in 1992 and has not looked back since.
Simon, Partner
- Best (and worst) thing done this year: I have undertaken a total remodelling of the family house. Currently we are 8 months into the project and there are a further 4 to go. The long suffering family are only just talking to me.
- Star sign: Leo
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Fighter pilot
- Favourite film: The Thomas Crown Affair (orig.)
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 4
- Where: Sauze d'Oulx, Meribel, St Anton & Klosters
- Favourite ski terrain: Back country (preferably accessed by helicopter)
- Favourite subject at school: Geography
- Got in to trouble at school for: Joy riding the grounds-man's tractor
After graduating Simon spent four years working in a London advertising agency before realising that skiing was a lot more fun. Four winter seasons later he headed back to London to start a career in the ski holiday industry. Valuable experience gained at Ski Solutions and Powder Byrne led Simon to Alpine Answers' door in 1995, becoming a partner soon after. Hobbies include: gym, cars and cooking.
Sam, Head of Operations
- Best thing happened this year: The arrival of child A, Leo
- Star sign: Virgo
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Racing driver
- Best holiday destination: Any untried ski resort
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 2
- Where: Alpe d'Huez & Cervinia
- Favourite skiing: Powder
- Favourite book: The world atlas
- Got in to trouble at school for: Falling asleep in Economics lessons
After graduating Sam decided he would rather go skiing than get a proper job, so he headed off for his first ski season and enjoyed it so much he ended up doing a second one. After that he wanted to settle back in the UK and found Alpine Answers. Eleven years on he is still here!
Rhona, Operations and e-marketing
- Star sign: Cancer
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Journalist (I particularly wanted Lois Lane's job)
- Favourite colour: Purple
- Favourite City: New York (although I haven't been there yet)
- Favourite hobbies: Fair weather skiing
- Favourite holiday destination: Thailand
- The best advice anyone ever gave you: There are two sides to every story
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Avoriaz
- Favourite ski terrain: A piste bathed in morning sunshine
- Favourite subject at school: Geography
- Least favourite subject at school: Physics
- Favourite film: Ferris Beuller's Day Off
- Got into trouble at school because: Thinking that a paper-mache volcano was appropriate for a piece of A-Level Geography coursework!
Rhona left school at 18 and escaped Northumberland (a place she now finally appreciates) to travel around Asia and Australia. After four years studying Geography at the University of Glasgow, followed by another year for her Masters Degree, it was time for a much needed break from academia. This lead to a winter season working for Annie Famose, the undisputed 'queen' of Avoriaz. Upon return and with a reignited passion for the ski industry, and the people within it, Rhona was delighted to join the Alpine Answers team.
Paula, Operations and Russian Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Aries
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Marine Biologist
- Favourite colour: Green
- Favourite City: Hanoi
- Favourite hobbies: Travelling
- Favourite holiday destination: Bolivia
- The best advice anyone ever gave you: Always 'think big'
- Skier / boarder: Boarder
- How many seasons: 2
- Where: Meribel and St Martin de Belleville
- Favourite ski terrain: Anywhere away from other people
- Favourite subject at school: Biology and Geography
- Least favourite subject at school: Chemistry
- Favourite book: Book Thief, Markus Zusak
- Got into trouble at school because: I was always talking in class
Paula is from Estonia but went to University here in the UK. After graduating in 2009 she did her first season in Meribel. However, she couldn't bring herself to come back to UK so she travelled on for two more years, working in customer service departments around the World and gaining invaluable experience along the way. Upon returning to the UK Alpine Answers was an obvious choice for work. The team in the London office consists of knowledgeable and enthusiastic people all wishing to help their clients have the best holiday possible - a business ethos that fits perfectly with Paula.
Anna, Sales Manager
- Star sign: Scorpio
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Madonna
- Favourite holiday destination: Antigua
- Got into trouble at school for: Way too many things to cover in just one sentence!
- Favourite City: Sydney
- Skier / boarder: Boarder
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Val d'Isere, France
- Favourite ski terrain: Off-piste. Powder, powder and more powder!
- Favourite subject at school: Art and Design
- Least Favourite subject at school: Maths
- Favourite book: The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
Having recently landed from the sunny shores of Sydney, Australia, Anna returns to the Alpine Answers fold after 4 years of being away!
After Anna's first season with Alpine Answers (2005/6) she went on to work for Powder Byrne before heading off for some serious globe trotting. She journeyed to the awe inspiring Ankor Wat and toured the Mekong delta in Vietnam before settling in Sydney for two years, where she worked for World Expeditions.
Back in the UK Anna returns to her love of all things Alpine Answers and snow related.
Sophia, Senior Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Cancer
- Most wanted to be when grown up: To be a Jillaroo (Australian stock hand)
- Best holiday destination: Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera
- Favourite City: Melbourne, Australia
- Favourite hobbies: Anything sporty esp. horse riding, tennis and skiing
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Morzine
- Favourite ski terrain: The steeper the better!
- Least favourite subject at school: Difficult to choose but probably maths
- Most favourite subject at school: English
- Favourite book: April Fool's Day, Bryce Courtenay
- Got into trouble at school because: Most frequently for stealing food from the boarding school kitchen
Sophia grew up on a sheep and cattle property in western Queensland, Australia... a far cry from any snow! Not wishing to pursue her initial career ambition of becoming a Jillaroo, she hung up the stock whip and spurs and completed a Bachelor of Business in Advertising and Public Relations in Brisbane. Prior to moving to London and immersing herself in the ski industry, Sophia lived in Sydney and worked in the field of lifestyle PR for several years.
Sarah, Senior Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Leo
- Most wanted to be when grown up: A popstar
- Favourite colour: Green
- Favourite City: Venice
- The best advice anyone ever gave you: That things happen for a reason!
- Favourite hobbies: Skiing of course!
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 2
- Where: Meribel and Whistler
- Favourite ski terrain: Trees and groomed runs early in the morning
- Most favourite subject at school: Geography
- Favourite book: Handle with Care, Jodi Piccoult
- Got into trouble at school because: I forged my mother's signature in my homework diary
Sarah graduated from Sheffield University (reading Geography) and went straight to a ski season in Meribel. After having such a good time, she felt she should join the rat race for a few years and worked in sales ... until a year spent in Whistler to experience the 2010 Olympics beckoned. Now she is back and working for Alpine Answers, thoroughly enjoying talking about ski-ing all day!
Alice, Senior Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Sagittarius
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Astronaut, test pilot, fashion goddess, or Kylie Minogue
- Favourite colour: Turquoise
- Favourite City: Rome
- Favourite hobbies: Skiing
- Favourite holiday destination: Thailand
- The best advice anyone ever gave you: You only live once
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Verbier
- Favourite ski terrain: Piste and trees
- Favourite subject at school: English
- Least favourite subject at school: Maths
- Favourite book: The Time Traveller's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
- Got into trouble at school because: For talking too much
After 3 years spent in Leeds studying English, Alice left the North of England for Verbier where she spent the 2008/09 season working in a chalet. Three days after returning from her winter season and because she cannot sit still for long, she flew to the other side of the world to explore Australia and New Zealand. She now finds herself at Alpine Answers and is incredibly pleased to be immersed in the world of skiing once again.
Lucy, Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Sagittarius
- Most wanted to be like when grown up: Sally Gunnell (we presume as she was a fast runner)
- Favourite colour: Plum, or Green, or anything else that doesn't clash with ginger!
- Favourite City: Vancouver
- Favourite hobbies: Anything that involves being outside, preferably also with a choice outfit. Scuba diving is perfect for example
- Favourite holiday destination: Sardinia
- The best advice anyone ever gave you: Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cosy, doesn't try it on his head
- Skier / boarder: Skier until I die
- How many seasons: 2
- Where: Meribel and Val d'Isere
- Favourite ski terrain: Anything covered in powder. Although I have been known to enjoy the odd mogul field.
- Favourite subject at school: Biology
- Least favourite subject at school: Geography and Latin. Last equal
- Favourite book: Puskin the Polar Bear - I still love it to this day
- Got into trouble at school because: I fed my Tamagotchi mid maths class in year 5. I've been an angel ever since however.
Lucy spent her gap year skiing in Val d'Isere and then followed it with three slightly more studious years studying Psychology at Sheffield University. Having decided it would be rude to not do another season, Lucy headed back to the mountains to explore the Three Valleys for the winter season 2011/12. On returning to England, with little desire to move away from the ski industry, Lucy found Alpine Answers and is now exploring London.
Alice-Jane (A-J), Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Taurus
- Most wanted to be like when grown up: Farmer
- Favourite colour: Blue
- Favourite City: None
- Favourite hobbies: Eventing & skiing
- Favourite holiday destination: The Three Valleys. "Whoop whoop Folie Douce!"
- The best advice anyone ever gave you: You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching. Love like you'll never be hurt. Sing like there's nobody listening, and live like it's heaven on earth. William W. Purkey
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 2
- Where: Meribel and Mont Tremblant, Canada
- Favourite ski terrain: Powder or park
- Favourite subject at school: Drama and PE
- Least favourite subject at school: Latin
- Favourite book: Polo, Jilly Cooper
- Got into trouble at school because: Because I liked to day-dream too much
After A-Levels, Alice-Jane spent a winter season after school teaching skiing in Mont Tremblant, Canada. After graduating from agricultural university she then decided to persue a career in the ski industry, firstly another ski season - this time as a chalet manager in Meribel - and secondly, having made the big move to London, here at Alpine Answers.