Earl, Co-founder of Alpine Answers & Partner
- Best Resort: Chamonix
- Star sign: Pisces
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Physicist
- Favourite Sports: Skiing, Tennis & Golf
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons:2
- Where: Bardonecchia and Les Deux Alpes
- Favourite ski terrain: Back country
- Favourite subject at school: Economics
- 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 in the ski industry with operators like Supertravel and Ski Solutions. Earl set up Alpine Answers in 1992 and the rest as they say is history.
Simon, Partner
- Best thing done this year: After a tough winter of too much work and not enough play I have re-discovered road cycling and am busy clocking up the miles.
- Star sign: Leo
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Fighter pilot
- Favourite films: Jaws, Top Gun (either version will do), Saving Private Ryan
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 4
- Where: Sauze d'Oulx, Meribel, St Anton & Klosters
- Favourite ski terrain: Back country (preferably accessed by helicopter)
- Best bit of advice anyone gave me: You can't buy happiness but you can buy a new bike.
- Favourite subject at school: Geography
- Got in to trouble at school for: Joy riding the grounds-man's tractor
After graduating from Exeter University Simon spent four years working in a London advertising agency before realising that skiing was a lot more fun. Several winter ski 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, cooking and road cycling.
Sam, Head of Operations
- Best thing happened this year: Skiing with my children and skiing with friends.
- 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 joined the Alpine Answers team in 2001.
Liddy, Aftersales Concierge
* Star sign: Leo
* Favourite colour: Pink
* Most wanted to be when grown up: Travel Journalist (and getting free stays in luxury hotels!)
* Favourite hobby: Travelling
* Favourite city: Sydney
* Favourite holiday destination: Bali, Indonesia
* Skier / boarder: Skier
* How many seasons: None but I have been lucky enough to visit lots of resorts in the Alps!
* Favourite ski terrain: Freshly prepared piste
* Best advice given to me: Money returns, time doesn't
* Favourite subject at school: English
* Least favourite subject: Chemistry
* Got in to trouble at school for: Never... I was too smart to get caught!
* Favourite book: Any of the Rainbow Magic Fairy books
Liddy graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism, Media and Culture in 2022. Having spent the last year globetrotting she has ended up back in London, where her love for skiing has led her to a job at Alpine Answers.
Charlie, Web Developer
- Star sign: Capricorn
- Favourite colour: Navy blue
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Yachtsman
- Favourite hobby: Sailing
- Favourite city: London
- Favourite holiday destination: Balaeric Islands
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- Favourite ski terrain: Anything so long as I am the first down the slopes in the morning.
- Best advice given to me: Never stop learning
- Favourite subject at school: Physics
- Least favourite subject: English
- Got in to trouble at school for: Who? Moi?
- Favourite book: The last book I read
Charlie graduated from University of York and headed straight for the sea, working on the Isle of Wight for a year as a sail-maker and racing yachts out of Cowes in his spare time. An opportunity to project manage the world’s first Tidal Turbine Array installation lead to a move to London. As the project came to a conclusion the company direction moved away from consultation and towards web applications, enabling Charlie to pursue his passion for web design and development.
Orlando, Data Manager
- Star sign: Virgo
- Favourite colour: Blue
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Racing car designer
- Favourite city: London
- Favourite holiday destination: Thailand
- Favourite hobby: Racing my Caterham (Road Sport)
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Verbier
- Favourite ski terrain: Fresh piste or hilariously deep powder
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: Trying something is never a waste of time because you were probably going to waste that time anyway
- Favourite book: Hector and the Search for Happiness by Francois Lelord
- Favourite subject at school: Biology
- Least favourite subject: English Literature
- Got in to trouble at school for: I was always distracting others
After finishing school Orlando spent a season in Verbier working as a ski instructor. He then studied Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London. Orlando joined Alpine Answers in October 2023 wishing to stay in London but connected with skiing.
Ellie, Marketing
- Star sign: Pisces
- Favourite colour: Red
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Sportswoman (hockey or football)
- Favourite city: Berlin
- Favourite holiday destination: Cape Verde
- Favourite hobby: Hockey
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: None yet – COVID didn't let me!
- Favourite ski terrain: Any red runs
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: Don’t worry about things you can’t control
- Favourite book: Anything with pictures
- Favourite subject at school: PE/Sport
- Least favourite subject: History
- Got in to trouble at school for: Too much chatting!
After leaving school in 2020, COVID stopped Ellie from completing her first ski season and going to university. Once the peak of COVID had passed, Ellie started studying Sport Business Management at Sheffield Hallam University. She is currently completing her placement year at Alpine Answers before returning to university September 2024 to finish her course. Once she graduates in summer 2025, Ellie is planning to complete the ski season she has been longing to do!
David, Senior Sales Consultant (working from home)
- Star sign: Libra
- Most wanted to be when grown up: The next Arnold Schwarzenegger or Nigel Mansell
- Favourite hobby: Travelling or playing football
- Favourite city: Sydney
- Favourite holiday destination: Ibiza, Balearic Islands
- Skier / boarder: Boarder - all the way!
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Courchevel
- Favourite ski terrain: An untracked couloir
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: Do not assume that advice from other people is good advice
- Favourite book: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
- Favourite subject at school: P.E.
- Least favourite subject: Drama
Graduating from the University of Gloucestershire in 2010 David decided not to pursue the London graduate job route and instead opted for a more adventurous path. Feeling compelled to see what the world had to offer, he embarked on a 3 month road trip along the coastline of Western Europe before doing a ski season in Courchevel. Returning from four years overseas which included a summer season in Ibiza, a year in Australia and a decent stint backpacking around South-East Asia he is now working at Alpine Answers.
Chris, Senior Sales Consultant (working from home)
- Star sign: Capricorn, I think
- Most wanted to be when grown up: An explorer
- Favourite city: Rio de Janeiro
- Favourite hobby: Tennis and travelling
- Favourite holiday destination: Jijoca de Jericoacoara
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Tignes
- Least favourite subject: School
Having worked in the skiing sector for several years straight after graduating, Chris pursued a teaching career, mainly abroad, and only came back to the business during the period following the difficult 20/21 season. A love of skiing and the mountains has been rekindled – long may it continue.
Maddie, Senior Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Leo
- Favourite colour: Blue
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Olympic runner (800 metres)
- Favourite city: London
- Favourite holiday destination: Costa Rica
- Favourite hobby: Cooking or eating out at nice restaurants
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Verbier
- Favourite ski terrain: Freshly groomed piste
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: Don't worry about what other people think
- Favourite book: Any good thriller
- Favourite subject at school: P.E. and Geography
- Least favourite subject: History
- Got in to trouble at school for: I never got into trouble at school
Straight after school Maddie headed off to Verbier to complete her ski instructor qualifications and working as a ski instructor and part time nanny. After this winter season she came back to attend Kings College London (graduating in Geography). However, her love for skiing meant she was quick to return to the ski industry and joined Alpine Answers in August 2022.
Hugo, Senior Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Libra
- Favourite colour: Yellow
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Hairdresser
- Favourite city: New Delhi, India
- Favourite holiday destination: Oman
- Favourite hobby: Cooking
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Paradiski region (La Plagne/Les Arcs)
- Favourite ski terrain: Trees
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: Ask for forgiveness rather than permission
- Favourite book: Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi
- Favourite subject at school: History
- Least favourite subject: Maths
- Got in to trouble at school for: I never got caught
Hugo studied Classics at Cardiff University graduating in 2021. Since university Hugo has completed a ski season in Paradiski, working as everything from driver to binman to part time cook. Having finished his second gap year, he now feels the time is right to come to London and has settled in well at Alpine Answers.
Alex, Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Pisces
- Favourite colour: Blue
- Favourite city: Singapore
- Favourite holiday destination: Portugal - Loulé
- Favourite hobby: Skiing
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 3
- Where: 1st season: Avoriaz (VIP Ski), 2nd season: Whakapapa (New Zealand) and 3rd season: Morzine (VIP Ski)
- Favourite ski terrain: A bit of everything
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: Life's too short
- Favourite book: Lord of the Rings by J R Tolkein
- Favourite subject at school: Economics
- Least favourite subject: French
- Got in to trouble at school for: For being too laid back
After finishing school Alex spent a year working in the UK, at a school. He then went on to do his first winter season in Avoriaz, France. This was so much fun that he two more seasons back-to-back, one as a ski instructor and the other as a chalet host. He has now moved to London and joined Alpine Answers in July 2023.
Amelia, Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Pisces
- Favourite colour: Blue
- Most wanted to be when grown up: A vet
- Favourite city: Paris
- Favourite holiday destination: South Africa
- Favourite hobby: Cooking and hosting dinner parties for my friends
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Val d'Isere
- Favourite ski terrain: a long wide red run
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: Be kind to others
- Favourite book: My family and other animals by Gerald Durrell
- Favourite subject at school: Biology
- Least favourite subject: Physics
- Got in to trouble at school for: I wasn’t particularly naughty but I would often get in trouble for chatting after lights out
After leaving school Amelia wanted to do one thing ... a ski season. She headed straight for the Alps and completed a season, working as a chalet host in Val d'Isere for Le Ski. Since completing her winter season, she has been at Bristol University studying Zoology. After graduating she moved to London and, led by her love of skiing and the mountains, joined the team at Alpine Answers.
Millie, Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Leo
- Favourite colour: Blue
- Most wanted to be when grown up: An astronaut
- Favourite city: London or Dublin
- Favourite holiday destination: Anywhere with friends or family
- Favourite hobby: I recently learnt to windsurf so that is my current favourite
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 3
- Where: 1st season: Val d'Isere, 2nd season: Meribel/Courchevel and 3rd season (summer): Lemnos, Greece
- Favourite ski terrain: Through the trees
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: Back yourself!
- Favourite book: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
- Favourite subject at school: English Literature
- Least favourite subject: Maths
- Got in to trouble at school for: I was always chatting
After finishing her degree in Politics (Oxford Brookes), Millie wanted to try something new post-covid so landed in Val D’Isere working for Purple Ski. She loved it so much she did her second season with them too! She has just returned from a summer season in Greece where she balanced being the Sports Administrator with learning how to sail and windsurf. After 2 years working abroad, Millie is very happy to be back in London and working for Alpine Answers.
Minnie, Office Pooch
- Star sign: Pisces
- Favourite colour: My master says I am colour blind but what does he know? My favourite colour is actually cerulean blue
- Most wanted to be when grown up: A big dog
- Favourite city: London
- Favourite hobby: Finding sticks and carrying my ball
- Favourite holiday destination: South Park
- Skier / boarder: Neither
- Best advice given to me: Not sure about advice but people tell me to 'sit' a lot
- Favourite book: I am still learning to read
- Most favourite subject: Stick finding
- Got in to trouble for: Chewing the wallpaper at home
