WHAT A HANDSOME BUNCH!
These last few days we've had more than 3 foot of snow! Our instructors have been charging all week, before silly season fully gets underway. With experience in all four corners of the world, we've got a group of real legends working for us this year. We wanted to give you a cheeky little insight into the world of a Winterlab instructor, what makes them tick, and why they love Japan. Here you go :)
Full name & nationality? Milo Octavius Locke - British
Ski or snowboard or both? Both
How long have you been skiing/snowboarding? 6 years
Where have you taught around the world? France, Germany, Japan
Best thing about Japan, so far? Annupuri Back Bowl
What do you do when you’re not coaching/where did you spend your last 6 months? I spend the summer in Cornwall working in a friend’s restaurant and surfing in my spare time.
Favourite place in the world? Cornwall, England
Powder or park? I prefer powder, as it is more rewarding, especially when you hike to reach your spot.
What music are you riding to at the moment? Jungle/Deep House
Funniest/most memorable experience on the mountain? My favourite experience on the mountain is the first time I hiked the peak in Annupuri and the sun came out for the first run of the day.
Tell us a joke! What is Britain’s most common owl? The Teat…
--------------------
Full name & nationality? John Stamp, British
Ski or snowboard or both? More likely to see me on a board but both
How long have you been skiing/snowboarding? Just over 10 years now.
Where have you taught around the world? France, New Zealand and Germany
Best thing about Japan, so far? The People! Everyone is so friendly, also the 100 yen corndogs from 7 Eleven are definitely up there.
What do you do when you’re not coaching/where did you spend your last 6 months? We have just set up our own wood fired food truck business down in Cornwall (South West England), so my last 6 months was spent restoring a 1978 French horse box and then cooking out of it. Check us out.... https://www.facebook.com/ansumfoodco
Favourite place in the world? 7 Eleven just after those corndogs come out the fryer.
Powder or park? That’s a tricky one. In the past it has always been park for me, I love trying to push myself and I love the social side that comes with it. But I have never done a season where being nips deep is normal...
What music are you riding to at the moment? Just the birdsong of the mountain for me. Artificial sounds mess with my chi.
Funniest/most memorable experience on the mountain? Ahhh so many, I love watching people fall, (as long as its not serious)! It’s the main reason I became an instructor.
Tell us a joke! Did you hear about the cheese factory that exploded in France?
There was nothing left but De Brie…
--------------------
Full name & nationality? Juraj Orsagh, Slovakian
Ski or snowboard or both? Mostly ski, sometimes I do try a single ski a called snowboard
How long have you been skiing/snowboarding? Since I was 3 years old
Where have you taught around the world? Slovakia, Austria, Japan
Best thing about Japan, so far? Food and snow
What do you do when you’re not coaching/where did you spend your last 6 months?? Every year is different. I travel a lot if I have a time and money. The last 6 months I spent in WA, mostly in Perth
Favourite place in the world? Where my family and friends are at. And New Zealand.
Powder or park? Powder, park is for kids ;)
What music are you riding to at the moment? R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly. Jokes. I don't really ride to any music
Funniest/most memorable experience on the mountain? Japow bluebird day
Tell us a joke! My bank account balance is not 0. What the hell did I forget to pay?
--------------------
Full name & nationality? Oli John Chalkley, British
Ski or snowboard or both? Both but skiing is the best
How long have you been skiing/snowboarding? 13ish years
Where have you taught around the world? Switzerland & Slovenia
Best thing about Japan, so far? Everyone being super nice and heated toilet seats
What do you do when you’re not coaching/where did you spend your last 6 months? Manual labourer and mountain bike guiding in the UK
Favourite place in the world? Triglav National Park in Slovenia or the west coast of Ireland, can't choose
Powder or park? Powder 'cos you get the best of everything, air, speed, steeps and turns
What music are you riding to at the moment? Jesse James Solomon / Shigeto
Funniest/most memorable experience on the mountain? Friends snowboard being stolen at the top of the hill last winter and giving him a very long piggy back down
Tell us a joke! I was cooking my Hawaiian pizza last night but was a melon and burnt it; I think I should have put it on Aloha temperature.
--------------------
Full name & nationality? Meng Seet, Australian.
Ski or snowboard or both? Both
How long have you been skiing/snowboarding? A few years
Where have you taught around the world? Australia, Canada, Japan
Best thing about Japan, so far? Ramen and sushi
What do you do when you’re not coaching/where did you spend your last 6 months? Skiing in Australia, rock climbing
Favourite place in the world? Anywhere it snows a lot
Powder or park? Pow, it's the best
What music are you riding to at the moment? Indie
Funniest/most memorable experience on the mountain? Shredding with my club kids in Whistler
Tell us a joke! What is the best time to go to the dentist? Tooth-hurty!