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 (original), Saving Private Ryan, Aliens, Cinema Paradiso and In Bruges
- 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.
Camila, Operations Support
- Star sign: Aquarius
- Favourite colour: Baby pink
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Pop star
- Favourite city: Rio de Janeiro or Rome
- Favourite holiday destination: Anywhere by the sea
- Best advice given to me: Always be kind to others
- Favourite hobby: Painting or swimming
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- Favourite subject at school: Social Studies
- Least favourite subject: Maths
- Got in to trouble at school for: For not being able to sit still
Camila's passions revolve around exploring different cultures, trying new foods, and connecting with people. Having lived in both Colombia and Brazil, she now calls London home. After graduating from UCL, Camila joined Alpine Answers in October 2024.
Håkon, Data Manager
- Star sign: Gemini
- Favourite colour: Blue
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Pilot
- Favourite city: Sydney, Australia
- Favourite holiday destination: Val Gardena, Italy (any time of year)
- Best advice given to me: It may not be a big deal to you, but it may be a big deal to someone
- Favourite hobby: Golf and skiing
- Skier / boarder: Former telemarker but now just alpine skiing
- How many seasons: None. But I have skied 45 resorts in 10 countries across 4 continents.
- Favourite ski terrain: Trees
- Favourite book: Catch 22 by Joseph Keller
- Favourite subject at school: Geography
- Least favourite subject: R.E.
- Got in to trouble at school for: With a friend: turned a working lamp post into a chimney just to prove it had a hole at the top.
Things that rock Håkon's world are tractors, skiing, family and golf (not necessarily in that order). After graduating from high school in Norway, Håkon did a gap year in the USA, before studying and working in Australia (and USA again) and then moving to London in 2008. He worked as an analyst and journalist, both involving lots of Excel, before finding his way to the spreadsheets of 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.
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.
Ernesta, Senior Sales Consultant (working from home)
- Star sign: Gemini
- Favourite colour: Purple
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Archaeologist
- Favourite hobby: DJ-ing
- Favourite city: Hiroshima, Japan
- Favourite holiday destination: Marseille, France
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: None but have visited many, many resorts over the years
- Favourite ski terrain: Powder runs in the trees
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: Do you
- Favourite book: Roadside Picnic by Arkady & Boris Strugatsky
- Favourite subject at school: History
- Least favourite subject: Maths
Ernesta graduated from Newcastle University in summer 2020 after completing her degree in Archaeology. She first joined Alpine Answers in January 2021 and formed an integral part of the recovery process of the business following the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. After two years with AA she joined a tech start up in London. However, in summer 2024 she left the start up to enroll on a MA course in Archaeology at Edinburgh University. She rejoined the Alpine Answers sales team in Autumn 2024, balancing her time between her MA course and helping clients book their holidays. She studies and works from her home in Edinburgh.
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, Brazil
- 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.
Alex, Senior 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.
Georgina, Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Capricorn
- Favourite colour: Turquoise
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Dentist
- Favourite city: Barcelona, Spain
- Favourite holiday destination: Barbados or Iceland
- Favourite hobby: Skiing and après!
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 2
- Where: Les Gets
- Favourite ski terrain: Freshly groomed red runs
- Favourite subject at school: Graphic Design
- Least favourite subject: Physics
- Got in to trouble at school for: For being too chatty
Georgina studied Marketing at The University of Plymouth. After graduating in 2021 she headed straight to the Alps and completed two seasons as a chalet host in Les Gets. She has now made the move to London and joined the Alpine Answers team.
Andrew, Sales Consultant (working from home)
- Star sign: Leo
- Favourite colour: Turquoise
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Stuntman
- Favourite city: Lisbon
- Favourite holiday destination: Sri Lanka
- Favourite hobby: Surfing
- Skier / boarder: Both (but mainly a boarder)
- How many seasons: 15
- Where: Morzine (8), St Anton (5), Chamonix (1), Val Thorens (1), Arabba in the summer (1)
- Favourite ski terrain: Powder fields, pillows and forests
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: If you believe you’ve nothing left to learn, you should probably retire!
- Favourite book: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
- Favourite subject at school: Geography
- Least favourite subject: Physics
- Got in to trouble at school for: Sneaking out to the pub
After a year of barely seeing daylight in a subterranean London restaurant, Andrew on a whim followed some friends to do a season in the 3 Valleys. Enlightened, and with a new passion for all things alpine, he returned to London and joined the Alpine Answers team in the early noughties. A ridiculous number of seasons later, he is back in the Alpine Answers' fold, bringing plenty of first-hand experience along with him.
Philip, Sales Consultant (working from home)
- Star sign: Scorpio
- Favourite colour: Purple
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Ski racer
- Favourite city: Paris
- Favourite holiday destination: Lake Louise, Canada
- Favourite hobby: Skiing, golf and tennis
- Skier / boarder: Telemarker or alpine skier
- How many seasons: No seasons but I have skied all over the world (holidaying in over 60 ski resorts)
- Favourite ski terrain: Piste and off-piste when there's powder
- Best advice anyone ever gave me: Never look back, only look forward
- Favourite book: Catch 22 by Joseph Keller
- Favourite subject at school: History
- Least favourite subject: Chemistry
- Got in to trouble at school for: Talking back to the teachers
Philip has skied since he was 4 years old (and that was in leather boots and on wooden skis). He loves being in the mountains and loves keeping up to date with the latest ski techniques. His mission is to get new clients to new resorts and exploring new skiing possibilities.
Eva, Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Aries
- Favourite colour: Sage green
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Mermaid
- Favourite city: Hoi An, Vietnam
- Favourite holiday destination: Siargao or El Nido in the Philippines, or Happy Hours in Ardent near Avoriaz, France
- Favourite hobby: Painting, or playing 'Just Dance' on the Wii
- Skier / boarder: Skier!!
- How many seasons: 1
- Where: Morzine
- Favourite ski terrain: Freshly pisted blue run
- Favourite subject at school: Art
- Least favourite subject: Physics
- Got in to trouble at school for: "Eva distracts others, and is easily distracted."
Eva studied Criminology and graduated from the University of Sussex in 2022 but decided she didn’t want to settle down into a big girl job just yet so she did a season in Morzine as a chalet host which was lots of fun. Coming back from season, Eva still wasn’t sure what to do with herself so she went travelling round South East Asia for four months on her (extended) gap year. Eva joined Alpine Answers in September 2024.
Ruby, Sales Consultant
- Star sign: Capricorn
- Favourite colour: Red
- Most wanted to be when grown up: Fashion Designer
- Favourite city: Amsterdam
- Favourite holiday destination: Val d'Isere
- Favourite hobbies: skiing, dog walks, tennis and après!
- Skier / boarder: Skier
- How many seasons: 2
- Where: Courchevel Moriond (1650) and Val d'Isere
- Favourite ski terrain: Powder, park, trees
- Favourite book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- Favourite subject at school: Art
- Least favourite subject: English
- Got in to trouble at school for: Asked too many questions & for being a chatter box
After finishing school Ruby did her first ski season in Courchevel. However, was was sent home early on March 20th 2020, due to the 1st Covid travel ban. After completing her degree in Fashion & Communications (at Newcastle University) she contemplated her future. While she had a strong interest in fashion she ultimately decided not to pursue it as a career option. Instead she completed her second season in Val d'Isere, and then afterwards travelled through South America. Upon returning to the UK Ruby realised she wanted to build a career within the ski holiday industry. And here she is!
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: Hyde Park or any sandy beach
- 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
