Meet the Team

Peak Leaders is a family business run by David and Annie Hughes who, between them, share vast mountain, ski and mentoring experience. Over the last five years they have gathered into the Peaks– worldwide team the best people -from top trainers, administrators, coaches, hotel staff, to bus drivers – all there to ensure trainees expectations are met. Other keys to the success of Peak Leaders– courses are the emphasis on mentoring and productive dialogue with trainees before, during and after the courses.

Directors

David Hughes OBE BSc FRGS.

Director of Peak Leaders. International mountaineering expedition leader.

Annie Hughes BA Dip PE FRGS.

Teacher, Education Administrator, Secretary Peak Leaders, BASI 3. She has taught all over the world.

UK Based Staff

Lorna Keighren – Operations Manager

Spent 2 years working in the town of Aosta in the Italian Alps before joining the Peak Leaders team. Away from the PL office she dabbles in skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking.

Mhairi Hughes – Marketing Manager

Spent 3 years in London in recruitment before joining PL full time. Is now based in Verbier year round and responsible for the ongoing marketing of the company as well as running the Verbier course.

Fiona Sellar

Fiona has worked in the outdoor and ski industry since 2003 including 4 winter seasons in Italy and one in New Zealand. Is a BASI qualified instructor and when not answering your calls and emails in the office she enjoys anything which keeps her active in the outdoors.

Camilla Stoddart – Photographer and film maker.

BA Hons from St Martins College of Art in London. She now works freelance and can be found flitting between Wanaka, New Zealand and Verbier, Switzerland, behind a camera of some description. Whiteroom Pictures

Course Leaders

Kaspar Stetler – Zermatt

BASI and Swiss certified Snowboard Instructor with mountain experience from many continents. When I am not skiing or Snowboarding I can be found climbing or mountaineering somewhere in the Alps. BASI qualified through the Peak Leaders programme in Argentina I kept on instructing next to studies in Tourism and Subofficer school.

Claire Hughes – Sponsored Rider and NZ course

Now doing her 7th ski season. Recently winning 2 bronze medal in the Brits 08. 1st placed female skier at the Red Bull Home Run. Previously, Claire won Dark Summer–s –It–s A Girl Thing– Competition and was 5th placed skier in the New Zealand Big Mountain Competition. While at Glasgow Uni she was President of the Ski & Snowboard Club and has used her CSIA Level 2 instructor qualification to teach skiing in Italy, Andorra & New Zealand.

Andrew (Dahj) Purvis – New Zealand/Australia

Full-cert snowboard instructor. Has spent 15 seasons on a snowboard. Director of Snowboard School in Andorra.

Ed Cornfield – Banff BA (Hons) Adventure Tourism Management

An Adventure Guide, Leadership Coach and Professional Kayaker who spends much of the summer in Norway running his own company. Expeditions have taken him from 1st descents at 5000m in Tibet, to the deep canyons of the Zambezi in Africa.

Tom Ewbank

Tom is a group leader for Peak Leaders in both Argentina and Verbier, Switzerland. Tom is a qualified BASI snowboard instructor and freestyle coach with a vast knowledge of the UK snowboard scene. He also runs www.snowboard-review.com with his brother.

Sam Feltham

Sam used to a Website Designer until he decided to go for a career in snowsports. It all started by doing the Peak Leaders course in New Zealand in 2006. Once he gained his SBINZ Level 2 he has instructed in Vermont, Colorado and New Zealand. In November 2008 Sam joined Peak Leaders as a Course Leader and has worked in Austria, Switzerland and New Zealand.

Coaches

Sandy MacLaren

A career ski instructor and is going into his 4th season with European Snowsports. Having skied since the age of two, he is a hugely energetic instructor with a wealth of mountain knowledge. Sandy believes that skiing is for everyone and drives developing skiers to push for that perfect run.

Matt Rivers

This will be my 10th winter season on snow. I have been fortunate enough to work seasons in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and across Europe. I have a great deal to thank to Folkestone Ski Centre where I learnt - was a member of the race club and ended up teaching over 10 years ago. I love passing on my passion for the sport and am excited about this coming season!

Julian Griffiths

Julian draws on 22 Seasons teaching experience to help coordinate the Peak Leaders training program in Verbier.

Rob Norton

BASI Snowboard Trainer, freestyle coach and has excellent experience in running training programmes. Rob has worked with Peak Leaders coaching trainees in Argentina, Verbier, Saas Fee and Japan.

James Brockbanks

James is ISIA qualified, with more than 10 years riding experience all over the world. James has worked with Peak Leaders coaching in Verbier and Saas Fee.

Juan Villar

CASI Level 3 snowboard instructor and ripper on the mountain, Juan–s professional, laid back style is an inspiration for any aspiring snowboard instructor.

Misayo Nakamura

One of Canada–s leading female Level 4 skiers with her effortless style and years of experience running courses, Misayo will build your confidence and turn you into a lean mean mountain machine.

Brent Armstrong

CSIA Level 3 instructor and fountain of freeride knowledge, Brent will take you to the shoots and drops known only to the locals, whilst honing your technical skills and firing it up in the pow.

Kenji Morimoto – Banff

Aspiring CSIA Level 4 ski instructor and technical master of the mountain, Kenji will get you pumped for the steeps and develop your eye for coaching.

Kyle Armstrong - Banff

Freeride legend of Sunshine and apsiring Level 4 ski instructor, Kyle recently picked up K2 sponsorship and will be sure to get you flying!

Mercedes Sahores (Tety)

An ADIDE ski instructor teaching & working with Ivan in Argentina. Tety has a degree in Biology from CAECE University, Buenos Aires. When she is not skiing, Tety is a field project officer working with guanacos in the wild.

Ivan Bonacalza

Director Peak Leaders– Argentine course, Level 4 instructor, Mountain Guide, Mountain Rescue Team member, Ex Olympian, Race coach.

Stu Rea

Examiner / NZSIA Freestyle Coach, Head Examiner for California and Technical Director for Park City, and USSA Coach, Previous Director of Snowboarding for NZSki.

Annie Ernst-Taillefer

Annie is a local resident of Whistler who has been teaching here for many years and knows both mountains like the back of her hand. Always laughing and smiling she is thoroughly professional in her approach to teaching and preparing her students for their examinations.

School Liaison / Finance

Angela Purdon – Schools & University liaison.

She is an experienced, current school & uni parent who offers first hand advice using her valuable knowledge and insight of Course locations and world wide travel.

Mike Beale – Scottish Schools Liaison

Recently retired Headmaster of Craigclowan School and former Chair of the Independent Association of Prep Schools. Mike has a love for skiing, travel, New Zealand & wine–ideally all at the same time!

Ivar Hellberg OBE FRGS

Accomplished Himalayan mountaineer, Co – Patron of Peak Leaders.

Barbara Wardlaw – Finance

When not accounting for her four teenage children she can be found in the Peak Leaders office dealing with all your financial queries. Enjoys swimming, fishing and supporting her local youth rugby team.

Lorimer Gray

Executive Director Abernethy Trust Outdoor Centres Abernethy Trust, Co – Patron of Peak Leaders.

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