About the Telemark Ski Company

About us …

JOHN EAMES is a British Association of Snowsports Instructors (BASI) National Ski Teacher (Nordic) and Telemark Teacher and also a member of the International Ski Instructors Association, very significant for our work abroad. John works as a Telemark trainer for BASI and is an English Ski Council Guest Coach.

BONNY MASSON is a BASI Nordic Ski Teacher (Nordic Downhill) and Telemark Teacher (ISIA) with an extensive background in instruction, leadership and sports studies. Bonny is also an English Ski Council Guest Coach.

And when we're not skiing ... we're enjoying being close to the hills in North Wales, off rock climbing and walking in the area whenever we can. And also trying to get a good balance between climbing and updating texts for brochures and websites!

We retain our close links with Jagged Globe and Himalayan Kingdoms for whom we have worked for in past years, leading commercial expeditions and treks to some fascinating and dramatic corners of the globe. During the summer of 2005, John led a very successful expedition to Cho Oyu, the world's 5th highest peak at 8,211 m, getting himself and four clients to the summit on a beautiful day in September. At virtually the same time, Bonny was on the 7048 m Lhakpa Ri, the mountain right next to Everest on the Tibetan side, in rather more dodgy conditions but successfully to the summit nonetheless! Last summer (2006) we enjoyed the drama, hospitality, travel, treks and climbs of the Pakistan Karakoram.

This summer (2007) Bonny and John will be just across the border in the Indian Karakoram, again for Jagged Globe. They will be leading two trips into the untouched mountains north of Leh in Ladakh, crossing one of the world’s highest motorable passes at 5700m into the Nubra valley and then attempting some first ascents of 5800 and 6000m peaks before crossing a high glaciated pass back to the Indus Valley. John did a reconnaissance of the area in 2005, including a first ascent, and saw the huge potential of this unspoilt area for Jagged Globe groups – clean campsites, virgin peaks, hospitable villages, alpine pastures, lakes, waterfalls, etc. It is going to be great to enjoy these trips with several of our skiing clients who have booked to come!

Do get in touch if you would like to know how we got on, more about these trips, or any others.

Above: Cho Oyu (8211m) from base camp. Photo: John Eames

The Telemark Ski Company staff – besides Bonny and John, there are a few other people you may well come across:

Catriona Reid: You will very likely speak to Catriona at some stage as she runs the office and bookings whilst we are away, especially during the winter months when we are instructing and running trips. She actually lives up in Inverness-shire, such is the facility of the internet these days. Besides The Telemark Ski Company she has also got two young daughters and a husband, George, to look after! She is very happy to help with advice about trips, sorting out your booking and making sure you get all the information you need before heading off skiing.

Stefan Janik: Stefan has done spells of instructing with us for the last 6 seasons, doing 2 tours back-to-back in Norway this year and then returning to lead our inaugural 'Tafjordfjella' tour. Stefan has always been well-received by the groups, not only for his skiing and group care but also for the stories from his previous 'incarnations'! Besides being a fanatical Nordic and telemark skier he is also a fanatical kayaker and fanatical anything else that 'grabs' him! He really enjoys instructing and will make sure you develop and enjoy your skiing as much as possible in a week.

Christian Cesa: As an U.I.A.G.M./ I.F.M.G.A. Guide living near Aosta, Christian has led several of our 'Intro to Telemark Touring' summit trips over the last few years. During the 2 Last winter he has led the 'Silvretta' and the 'Gran Paradiso' tours and our new Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route tour, Spring '06. Christian is definitely in the modern idiom of guiding – very professional, very caring, very safe – and very humorous!, ensuring a good time and a good tour is had by all. He is also an awesome telemark skier!

Roger Palin: Big in stature with a heart of gold! Roger is a veritable tower of strength, a man to see you through thick and thin, as was so ably shown in the Trollheim ('02–'03 season) during a storm on the high tops. Working as a freelance outdoor instructor Roger has many other talents, as well as being a very strong telemarker and having a wealth of Norwegian mountain experience. Expect to see Roger in the Cairngorms, the Alps or Norway this season.

Ian Ray: Ian has done the occasional stint for us over the years, he recently moved to Switzerland with his family to work at an international school there (and has been smiling non-stop since!) and has helped out in La Thuile on a number of weeks. Ian was also instrumental in helping us get started in Villars a few season’s ago – as well as showing us where the best powder is to be found!

Tom Higgs: Tom has led several of our Norwegian tours over the years, managing to find time away from his 'real job' – to our advantage! Tom is another person who knows how to really look after a group, to ensure a wonderful experience and to keep them safe. After a sabbatical to New Zealand for the winter of 03–04 he was back in the Jotunheim for us during March, 2005, leading a very successful 'North-West Passage' tour – again! March '06 saw him leading the Teafjordfjella ... to rave reviews! And winter 2006, 2 very successful tours: the Jotunheim again and also to the remote and unvisited area beyond the Hardanger Icecap.

Neil MacPherson: Neil is both Alpine and Telemark qualified and has worked in La Thuile for several weeks in 2006 and 7, on the 'Geilo Nordic' week and also the 'Geilo & Finse' course March, '05, alongside Gerry and again March '06. Client feedback has always been very positive; he is very conscientious, a very good skier and great with our groups – hopefully you will be seeing more of Neil.

Gerry Gosling: A man of many talents, Gerry is BASI Alpine, Nordic and Telemark qualified. Based in Aviemore he is ideally placed for our Tartan Telemark weekends and has instructed on several of these during the last 2 winters – to rave reviews! If you are doing a 'Tartan' weekend this winter, the quality of the weather and snow conditions in Scotland might be a gamble, but the high quality of Gerry's instruction and leadership is a certainty! Easter, 2004, saw Gerry leading the 'Geilo & Finse' week with great success and he was back there again in April 2007.

Lisa King: Lisa has worked for us during the last five winters, alongside Stefan in Norway. It has been great to have these 2 looking after a group – it allows so much more flexibility, catering for different aspirations and needs in a group, which benefits everyone in the end – this is exactly what happened with the Skarvheimen group last March when Stef got a dose of flu. Client feedback has always very positive and appreciative – hopefully more of the Stefan-Lisa partnership next winter.

Tom Sibbald: Tom is a freelance outdoor instructor based in the Lakes and qualified in virtually anything you care to think about to do with outdoor activities, especially Alpine and telemark skiing! Last winter Tom was in Tignes and La Thuile and will be with us in the Alps again this winter. A smooth and skilful skier, he just loves to be sliding! And as an instructor he is highly effective and very empathetic.