The Experts

Below is more information about the experts that I have handpicked to work with during my workshops.

The Snowboarding - Neil McNair, Rhys Jones & Stevo McDonald

Neil McNair, British Snowboard Coach and fully qualified BASI trainer, is someone I’ve worked alongside and learnt invaluable skills from. Neil will be our head coach on the training and mindset workshops providing a custom coaching program focused on progressing ability and confidence in both freestyle and backcountry techniques. 

As Neil is an experienced backcountry coach there will be a chance for some split boarding or snow-shoe adventures and of course learn the most important aspects of mountain safety. During the Sainte Foy workshop, Neil will be assisted by Rhys who is a fully qualified BASI Level 4 snowboard coach and spent several winters in NZ as a NZ snowboard trainer.  He’s been snowboarding all over the world: Europe, New Zealand,  Japan, USA, Canada, South America after starting snowboarding back in 1996 and has been coaching since 2005. Although he coaches in all areas his passion and specialism is in coaching freestyle.

I’m really stoked to have Stevo onboard again this year for my backcountry workshop. Having lived in Sainte Foy, exploring the Tarentaise mountains for over 15 years he has in-depth knowledge of the local terrain. He has been teaching snowboarding since 2006 and leading groups in the backcountry for the past 5 years. A freerider and splitboarder since before it was cool he is also a qualified International Mountain Leader as well as a BASI 4 snowboard instructor.

The Psychology - Louise Jones

Louise Jones is my personal sports psychologist. She guided me to Olympic success and has been supporting athletes, coaches and performance directors within British sport for over 15 years.

Louise will hold a series of sessions through the week to help exercise and strengthen your mind to advance your performance. She will look at fear, dealing with setbacks, visualisation, pushing your boundaries, understanding how you learn, and achieving a mindfulness which can be applied to improve not only your snowboarding but all aspects of work and home life. 

The Yoga - Sian Leigh & Emily Williams

Sian Leigh, one of my favourite yogis, will be holding daily relaxation and recovery yoga sessions to stretch out tired limbs, soothe your body and rest your mind. Having spent 20 years snowboarding Sian knows exactly how you need to move in your yoga practice to really work on releasing tight muscles after a day on the hill.  From New Zealand but currently residing in Verbier, Sian teaches yoga and is a health coach for other mountain lovers in between raising two children. 

Emily's combined love of snowboarding, mountains and Yoga has led her to teach all around the World. Currently living in Morzine in the French Alps, Emily leads classes with an emphasis on finding unity between breath, body and mind. Utilising Yoga as a tool to enable more epic adventures in the mountains, she'll encourage you to release tension in the body, ready for another day on the hill!

The Fitness - Andrew Blake - aka Blakey

I am really excited that Blakey has joined the team of experts for my Snowboard & Training Workshop.  Blakey is a personal trainer, yoga teacher and physical therapist.  He has extensive experience working with a variety of people from professional surfers and Olympic athletes to complete beginners.  After a day’s riding Blakey will run strength and conditioning sessions which will give an insight into the snowboard specific training which we have worked on together for my own fitness when competing.  Elements which include proprioception, plyometrics, upper body and core.