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Job description:
I am the head Ski Trainer for the Cardrona Instructor Training Centre (ITC), we train around 60 skiers each season for their NZSIA level one and two exams. I also run our NZSIA level 3 training for the ski school at Cardrona. Check out www.cardronainstructor.com and www.nzsia.net

Home resort this season:
Cardrona and Winter Park Colorado

History:
I have been teaching and training for 26 seasons, I started in Scotland and have been at Cardrona for the last 12 seasons with 5 off seasons at Winterpark in Colorado. I have been an examiner for the NZSIA for 8 years and am now a senior examiner and member of the Technical Committee. I am also on the NZSIA Demonstration team. This is a team of twelve of the best technical skiers in New Zealand. Our Goal on the team is to raise the standard of our skiing and then pass this on to other instructors working in New Zealand. We also travel to Interski every four years to represent New Zealand and to share our technique with the other ski instructor bodies from around the world.

Why the Fischer Brand:
Fischer is my brand of choice due to their build quality. It is out standing across the whole range. From their mid range recreational skis to the top free ride and race skis they are high performers and built to last.

Skis of choice:
I ski on the Fischer RC4 World Cup SC, RC4 World Cup RC and the RX Cold Heat.

As part of the Demo team we all need to ski on the highest performance skis, The World Cup SC is the tool for the job. It Cuts through the hard pack like a hot knife through butter and has an incredibly versatile flex pattern. This ski is softer than some might think but it is this quality that makes it such an awesome ski.

The World Cup RC I use for the Level 3 training. Its stiffer and longer than the SL and as a result is a better all mountain performer. When the powder has been tracked out this ski comes into its own. Whilst some wider skis tend to get a little flappy the RC is stiff enough to plough through the heaviest New Zealand crud. It's a great ski for those who like to arc them up on the groomers and have the skills to stay centered in the off piste.

The RX Cold Heat is my ski of choice for the Saddle at TC (Treble Cone). This ski is built like a race ski and is not far behind the race skis when it comes to performance. Its 82mm under foot but with its full sandwich construction and 18m radius means it skis like a race ski on the groomers even if a little slower from edge to edge.

This ski however is at home in the New Zealand powder. Enough surface area to float well and stiff enough to charge on. This is the ski that changed my opinion on fatter skis. It rocks!

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