Chris Bailey
My first ski season was back in 2003 and I’m now in my 8th year of student snowsports! Having discovered my love of the industry at Bournemouth Uni, I headed straight to a job in sales at Ski Alpine when I graduated before moving to the role of Sales Manager and then General Manager. I took over Off The Piste in January 2012 and since then have decided to combine both businesses to create a super tour operator. I have spent time in all of the Off The Piste resorts and over the years I have been to every snowsports event you can think of! In my role I am in control of the budgets, sales, marketing and operations, as well as overseeing all aspects of the day to day running of the business. Something interesting….I have a fear of chair lifts!
Best Off The Piste memory: Every BUDS I’ve been to
Best trick on skis/board: Switch 540
My party trick: Sambuca + Cinnamon = Party trick
Most looking forward to next year: Being able to combine the best aspects from Off The Piste and Ski Alpine, and offer one great brand.
Contact me: chris.bailey@offthepiste.com
Charlie Fryer
Whilst running my university snowsports club in second and third year of uni I thought there would be no better way to spend my winter season weeks (whilst meant to be studying) but as a snowsports rep for Ski Alpine. After many best weeks of my life and Friday evenings spent on coaches to the Alpes I caught the University Snowsports bug and knew where I wanted to head to after graduating. A quick winter season in Tignes over 2008-2009 I then joined the full time office crew of Ski Alpine. Over the last 4 years I have worked across both Ski Alpine and Off The Piste dealing with UK and French operations, Media and Design and resort managing all the key weeks of each season. I will be heading up the 2013 summer tour and can’t wait to be wearing the OTP flame with pride and working with the best office team yet! Something interesting about me.....my means of transport in London is a Black Italian Vespa!
Best Off The Piste memory: Right now with the OTP office team working under one brand with one vision! Life is better.
Best trick on skis/board: Cab 360
My party trick: Beer barrel + Charlie Fryer = party trick
Most looking forward to next year: Our limited edition Whitelines & OTP magazine
Contact me: charlie.fryer@offthepiste.com
Anne-Laure Supera
Bonjour! I am Anne-Laure (French born but not bred) and I have spent my life travelling to the Alps every summer and winter – skiing, mountain biking and everything in between. I love the mountains because of the sport and the cheese (ski hard, eat loads!) I am yet to take down Joel at the fondue eating competition he challenged me to, I think he is scared of losing... My job here at OTP is to deal with “overseas operations.” I manage all our supplier relations and make sure everyone has a bed to sleep in, something to play on the snow with, have a lift pass to get up the hill and organise lessons so they can make the most of their time on the hill. I will get all this at the best possible price so a trip with us does not break the bank and you have pennies left over for a demi-peche (my favourite!). In other words, I am the link between our passengers and the locals, making sure everyone is safe and happy. Fun fact – I am exactly 46 cm taller than an emperor penguin.
Best Off The Piste memory: Unfortunately I don’t really get to “hang out” when I am in resort so my pals are a bit special to say the least... Best memory is therefore probably to have been called to the gendarmerie to discuss some naughty pictures and leaflets students had left behind. They were a bit annoyed at first but we had a good laugh about it in the end... They even agreed that the British students are not the worst behaved !
Best trick on skis/board: I only skiied 45 minutes in the whole of the last season so my best trick will probably to be on skis full stop!
My party trick: Party? What party? I passed out after 2 beers...
Most looking forward to next year: New Folie Douce in Alpe d’Huez. I look forward to checking it out! (such a tough job I got, I know)... and finally defying Joel at the long overdue fondue eating challenge. You are going down mate.
Contact me: anne-laure.supera@offthepiste.com
Luke Taylor
Since taking up snowboarding at 16, I have done 3 seasons in the French Alps and I set up the Chester Ski and Snowboard Society at Uni. I work in the Graduates and Adults department, which means I organise trips for groups who aren't part of a University but still want the Off The Piste experience. Thanks to our buying power in the Alps, we're able to offer smaller groups the same low prices we offer to students. Drop me an email or give me a call if you're interested in a bargain ski trip! In my spare time when I'm not on the slopes I'm on my bike - I have an absolute passion for cycling....and wearing lycra!
Best Off The Piste memory: Back country hiking in Andorra, 12 years of skiing and I have never seen so much snow.
Best trick on skis/board: B/S 7 Corked
Your party trick: N/A - I am the party!
Most looking forward to next year: Andorra!
Contact me: luke.taylor@offthepiste.com
Pippa Jemmet
My main role in the office is to recruit and coordinate all of the winter season staff. I am also an account manager for University groups and I look after them from contract stage right through to organising and running the trips out in the Alps. I joined the office team full time after repping for a number of years and realising that I couldn't get enough! At Uni I was a member of BRUMSKI and I have also been involved with NUSNOW plus I spent a season in Val D'Isere. I come from a recruitment background, which helps me out when organising the staff as we get around 1,000 applicants every year and it's my job to make sure Off The Piste reps are the best of the best. Three things to sum me up: Passionate, organised and I love my job! Interesting fact: I have yet to make it onto first lifts!
Best Off The Piste memory: Spraying champagne over the Folie Douce VT, from the chairlift, with Exeter ski!
Best trick on skis/board: Getting to après
My party trick: Staying out until 4am and then being bright and breezy by 8am the following day
Most looking forward to next year: Combining the best Reps from Off the Piste and Ski Alpine, giving us the strongest, and most experienced team in the alps
Contact me: pippa.jemmet@offthepiste.com
Joel Plaja
I first started snowboarding at the tender age of 14, which now means I have been on a board for a decade! Those who have seen me on snow will understand that it didn’t take long to realise I wasn’t going to be the next Shaun White and would have to think of alternatives to get my snow fix. During uni I did this through competing for the SKUM freestyle team and going on countless student snow trips where I caught the bug, and haven’t looked back since. After spending a year working for Whitelines snowboard magazine I got the job as Groups Coordinator for Ski Alpine. I am now in charge of the media and marketing for Off The Piste, which means you will most likely find me at the Folie Douce with a GoPro strapped to my head shoving a camera in your face!
Best Off The Piste memory: The infamous Tignes wet room party
Best trick on skis/board: Backside 540
My party trick: I sometimes make it past midnight...
Most looking forward to next year: ANDORRA!
Contact me: joel.plaja@offthepiste.com
Chris Spalding
After I graduated from Edinburgh University where I was a committee member I moved to Fernie BC, Canada to run a rental shop for the season. This was an amazing experience where I gained a real insight into the running of a ski resort, not to mention the bottomless powder and endless tree runs. After this which was possibly the best year of my life I knew I had to work in the Snowsports industry. A few months after getting back to the UK I joined the Office team in London and have now worked the full season. I am now excited to be heading out around the UK on our Summer Tour and meeting all of the new committees. In the office I am heading up our online bookings and I will be in resort for all of our big weeks next year. Interesting fact: I telemark!!!
Best Off The Piste Memory: This has to be the fancy dress folie at the end easter.
Best trick on skis/board: Back flip
My party trick: I once walked over a bed of broken glass for a talent contest.
Most looking forward to next year: Seeing the pictures come back from epic holidays on committee club.
Contact me: chris.spalding@offthepiste.com
Adam Nickelson
I could say I discovered snowboarding but if I am honest snowboarding discovered me. My snowsports career kicked off in my first year at uni where I was welcomed into the kentsnow family. I then continued to race, party and live the club until I began my year at OTP. My role at Off the Piste consists of a daily regime of coffee making, filing and packaging which I would say I am now very confident at doing. At first my lattes were subpar but I am now a fully qualified barista! On top of this I have been attending regular WA meetings to control my addiction to wakeboarding..... Can’t wait for POND 13!
Best Off The Piste memory: Mistajam in Apokalypse Les Arcs January 5th need to re-live this.
Best trick on skis/board: Barrel Roll..... on the airbag!
My party trick: Being invited
Most looking forward to next year: PAS DE LA CASA New year!!
Contact me: adam.nickelson@offthepiste.com