I am a freelance travel writer and have been writing about wonderful, interesting places to visit around the world for the past 15 years. I particularly write about ‘cold’ travel and skiing, which is my passion, and I have skied and stayed everywhere, from Are in Sweden to Zermatt in Switzerland.
I have written for all the nationals including the Daily Mail, the Financial Times, The Times and The Guardian, as well as glossies such as Harper’s Bazaar and Tatler, plus leading travel magazines including Conde Nast Traveller.
I’m also a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, an august body of men and women who spend their time flitting around the globe and writing up their experiences for a living. Well, someone’s got to do it!
Here is a list of all my favourite ski stuff, from top resorts to most memorable ski experiences. This list changes all the time – below are just my very latest favourites.
Favourite resort:
Aspen
Favourite mountain restaurant:
A tough choice — either Chez Vrony in Zermatt or La Fruitière, Val d’Isère
Favourite off piste destination:
Jackson Hole
Favourite après ski bar:
Grizzly’s Bar, Tignes, for stylish cocktails and top people watching; the Nederhutte in Obergurgl for a noisy, pear schnapps-soaked, good old ski-boots-on-tables Austrian knees-up
Favourite mountain hut:
The Orestes Hut, in Gressoney, Italy – delicious home-made pasta, slinky tunes, and designer interiors
Favourite ski wear:
Peak Performance, with several toasty Icebreaker layers underneath
Favourite skis:
I’ve just discovered fat skis and am currently loving my multi-coloured Atomic Elysians.
Ski wish list:
Japan – sushi and snow; what’s not to like?
Best ever ski experience:
Finally cracking powder skiing – oh the joy! — one extraordinarily snowy week in Champoluc, Italy; magical cross-country skiing in Ulladalen, Are in Sweden; seeing the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland
Worst ever ski experience:
Worst: Getting blisters on Day 2 of a hut-to-hut ski touring week in the Dolomites. Second worst: Being yanked down the arête at the top of the Vallée Blanche in Chamonix by the fearless guide I was roped to. Third worst: Going ‘skiing’ in Oregon, when there was no snow – and having to write a piece about it for Ski & Board Magazine