Marital status (and no. of kids if any): in relationship with a child (with the mother of) Where are you from? Orpington, Kent, England Favorite Drink: ex bar tender so off most things, water and wine I guess Favorite Drinking venue in Chamonix: Le Derapage of course Favorite Restaurant in Chamonix: biverwack Favorite Après-ski: still working Favorite Band/DJ in Chamonix: juggernaut of rock, and charlie bob marlie Do you Ski? Snowboard? Ski/board Touring? Telemark? Monoski? Parapente? Speedride? Rockclimb? Mountaineer? Hike? Any other Sport? ski, hike, bike, run, tennis, golf Approx number of days per year in Cham: 350 Approx number of days per year up the mountain in Cham: 25 How many hours do you work a week? 50-60 Who were you pre-Chamonix? business analyist for BA When did you decide to come to Chamonix and why? 2002, change for a better quality of life How do you describe what you do here? Earn enough money to provide for my family, for today and for their security in the future, When's the last time you've put on a tie? Probably a wedding a couple of years ago What do you do when you don't ski/board? Work/and spend time with my family Have you ever said "I love you" in French? oui Do you know how to say it in Swedish? no but I know how to say, show me you t*ts. Do you take your backpack off in the cable cars before they yell at you? Never Have you ever worn a back protector in the bar? A helmet? Does knee brace count? Most frequent question posed by a tourist? Is that Mont Blanc? Any advice for someone coming to Chamonix for the first time? Be prepared to wait for public transport, queue at the slow lifts, and bring your own lunch to the mountain, (oh and girlfriends) Smelly cheese - Pro or Con. Con Raw meat - Pro or Con. Con Most recent early morning drinking experience. It's been a while since a saw in dawn, and ate a pastry from Brioshe Inn. Favorite Chamonix ski resort: Zermatt Favorite spot to go on a powder day (that you can tell us): Aiguille du Midi What has Chamonix taught you about life? It's easy to be a bum, in a place like this, and rewarding to not be. What has life taught you about Chamonix? There are plenty of free loading bums around What do yo miss most about where you are from? Friends, family, cricket, and loose attractive women. What do you miss the least about where you are from? In general, traffic, vandelism, working for a big corporation What would you miss most about Chamonix if you ever left? Freedom to do and be what you want Have you any plans to leave Chamonix? Not in the next 10 years, probably never. What would you change about Chamonix and how? For Chamonix to invest and move with the times, to make it easier to do business, and become competitive to other mountain towns and resorts What are your plans for next year? Expand, have more time for my family, and skiing Have you ever fallen into a crevasse/been avalanched/witnessed someone else? no Favorite Bakery item? Where? bread, anywhere in france Event in Chamonix that you don't want to miss. My 40th Birthday party Favorite month in Chamonix: May or September Must know French vocabulary: Bar Le Derapage, oui bien sûr je sais que, vraiment cool place Favorite French local expression: Happy hour Have you ever woken up in the morning with your ski boots/board boots on? no Have ever you been up Mont Blanc? Do you have any plans to? no and yes, Have you ever been scared while on the mountain? of course but usually too hung over to realise Do you pop over to Italy for pizza? Yes Courmayeur, I was a ski host there for a winter once, and the food is excellent Do you pop over to Switzerland for chocolate? No Please answer the classic Chamonix joke: What's the difference between God and a Mountain Guide? God lets you make the first fresh tracks??
