FOUNDER

Simon is the founder of Elevation Ski School. He arrived in Val d’Isère for his first ski season in 1994 and has been working as a ski instructor here every winter since 2004.

With a deep passion for skiing ignited when he first came to the Alps as a wide-eyed six-year-old, Simon’s knowledge of skiing was built through racing in his teenage years and leading the ski club while completing a geography degree at Oxford University.

Despite all efforts to steer his life towards a career in law, having been ‘called to the Bar’ in 2001, skiing has won the day. Now, he loves teaching skiing at all levels – from beginner slopes to backcountry. A passionate and patient teacher, Simon's approach is to provide fun and encouraging instruction in the simplest way possible to help you make the most of your time on skis and achieve your goals, whether it's building confidence, reducing physical strain, or simply developing skills to explore more of the mountain and reach the next level.

Simon holds the highest ski instructor qualification in the British system (BASI Level 4, ISTD), with full French equivalence. He worked for 17 years as a trainer and examiner of British ski instructors, placing him at the forefront of global ski instruction.

Away from skiing, he spends his summers in Cornwall working in law. His other passions include road cycling, kitesurfing, and walking his tireless English Springer Spaniel. 

DIRECTOR

James is Co-Director of Elevation Ski School and has been teaching full-time in Val d’Isère since 2012. He first discovered skiing on a school trip to Italy, where his natural talent and love for the sport quickly stood out. Soon after, he was competing on the UK junior dry slope circuit from his home in Hertfordshire, earning regular selections for the England team and ultimately being crowned England Junior Champion. His competitive career continued into adulthood on the international FIS circuit, including mogul competitions.

Away from racing, James has become a highly experienced off-piste skier. With years spent exploring the Espace Killy, he has built an exceptional knowledge of its terrain and thrives on sharing that passion with his clients.

Teaching was the natural next step for James, combining his technical expertise with his supportive and friendly communication style. Whether working with beginners or advanced skiers, his approach is clear, encouraging, and fun – always focused on helping people achieve their goals and enjoy the mountain to the fullest.

James holds the highest British ski instructor qualification (BASI Level 4 ISTD) with full French equivalence.

In the summer, he runs a successful building and renovations company from his year-round base in Sainte-Foy. When he’s not working, he can be found on the golf course, mountain biking, or kitesurfing in Brazil.

DIRECTOR

Nicko is Co-Director of Elevation Ski School and has lived and breathed the mountains of Val d’Isère for more than 30 years. First arriving for a winter season in the early 1990s, his passion for skiing and mountain life soon eclipsed a career in finance, bringing him back permanently to the Alps in the early 2000s.

Since qualifying as an instructor in 2007, Nicko has built a reputation as an outstanding coach with a dynamic and inspiring approach to teaching. Whether introducing beginners to the sport, honing technical skills on the piste, or leading adventurous backcountry tours, he brings energy, expertise, and a deep understanding of the mountains to every session. A specialist in both Alpine and Telemark skiing, he is also the founder of Telemark Tracks, Val d’Isère’s dedicated Telemark ski school, and serves as a Telemark Ambassador for Scott Sports.

An experienced backcountry skier and passionate ski mountaineer, Nicko has competed three times in the legendary Patrouille des Glaciers – the world’s largest ski mountaineering race – earning a gold medal in his age category in 2018. He loves helping clients unlock new experiences and guiding them to discover the hidden terrain of the Espace Killy and beyond.

Nicko holds the highest British ski instructor qualification (BASI Level 4 ISTD) with full French equivalence. Away from winter, he lives in Cornwall with his family, swapping skis for surfboards, sea kayaks, and bikes, while keeping pace with an active outdoor lifestyle.