About
What we do
Off Piste Performance Ltd provides ski instruction from Alison Thacker (BASI International Ski Teacher Diploma) and ski guiding by James Thacker (IFMGA Mountain Guide). We specialise in private ski tuition and ski guiding tailored to the needs of you, the skier. Based in Chamonix since 2005, Alison and James now split their time between Chamonix, Scotland and Norway. They will help you achieve your skiing aspirations and beyond, whether it making your first turns, want to fine tune your off-piste skills, or join a trip to explore the backcountry.
Off Piste Performance offers the renowned 'Ski Performance Course for Mountaineers' which has been bringing together like-minded people to develop their off-piste skills since 2007.
As a dual discipline team, Alison and James work together on a small number of trips to bring a unique blend of instructional and guiding input, sharing their knowledge of Arctic Norway, Scotland and the Alps.
Alison Thacker
James Thacker
The Rest of the Team
Gillian has a very similar background in skiing to her sister Alison. They were both introduced to it at a very young age, and Gillian was also a keen ski racer having raced internationally for the British Childrens Team. Gillian continued to race for the university team whilst studying at Glasgow University. At that time she developed a passion for climbing. Ski mountaineering is the logical progression from there; an opportunity to combine the activities that you love. Since then she has completed numerous ski tours across the Alps, including an ascent of Mont Blanc. Gillian is equally passionate about exploring the Scottish mountains on ski from her home in Fort William. So much so that she is a well known as a local activist in addition to her ski instruction. She has also recently enjoyed Ski Mountaineering ( Skimo ) racing in Scotland, gaining a number of podium positions. Gillian heads up our
George Reid is a regular member of the Off Piste Performance team, having worked on our Norway programme since 2016. For many years George worked as an IFMGA Mountain Guide at Glenmore Lodge, Scotland's National Outdoor Training Centre. George is based in Carrbridge, Speyside but can frequently be found working in the Alps during the ski season. He's passionate about seeking out ski lines away from the crowds and using the latest tech available to aid his navigation and route finding on the mountain. George and Alison often work together, most commonly delivering BASI Mountain Safety courses. George is a real asset to the team, being dual qualified as a Mountain Guide and holding the BASI Level 3 ISIA (International Ski Instructor's Award). George also has an extensive knowledge of the outdoor environment and will happily share this with our clients, adding another dimension to the trip. In Arctic Norway it's not unusual to ski with reindeer, sea eagles and porpoise! George...
As a dual qualified IFMGA Mountain Guide and BASI Level 3 ISIA Ski Instructor, Andy brings a vast amount of expertise to our team. He has travelled extensively throughout the Alps, for both skiing and climbing. As long as he can tie into a rope, or clip into his skis and share the fun with others, he'll be grinning from ear to ear. With Andy's skills in both guiding and instruction, clients have found that their off-piste skiing goes from strength to strength, whilst getting substantial mileage under their belts. Originally from Northumberland, Andy has enjoyed climbing and skiing adventures of all sizes for 30 years. He now lives with his family in Glencoe, making him an ideal choice for working on our Ben Nevis Ski Weekend . Andy is the Leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team which provides adventures of a different kind, day & night, summer & winter and gives him an intimate knowledge of Glencoe and some of it’s more...
Louisa Reynolds is an IFMGA Mountain Guide based near the Chamonix valley in France. Louisa says she was "fortunate to first put skis on aged twelve on a ski holiday in France. I always consider skiing my first love in mountain sports. It gave me access to a whole world I didn’t know existed and it has taken me to some beautiful, remote, wild places, whilst delivering some of the most memorable days spent in good company skiing untracked snow. This first encounter with the Alps and then further holidays to the alps both in the summer and winter, sparked my career in the mountains now." Growing up in Devon in the south of England, before moving to Scotland aged eighteen, Louisa spent multiple winters teaching skiing at Cairngorm, whilst climbing and mountaineering in her spare time. She always had the dream of becoming a Mountain Guide, but also worked through the British mountaineering qualifications first, where she gathered experience guiding and instructing all climbing and...
Jonny grew up on the West Coast of Scotland, where he quickly developed a passion for the mountains. Much of his youth was spent rock climbing in Glen Coe and Glen Nevis and also on the great ice climbs of Ben Nevis. His love for alpinism and skiing has taken him to the European Alps and onwards and upwards to adventures in the Tien Shan, Pervian Andes, Norway, Greenland, Canadian Rockies, New Zealand and Australia. Jonny now lives just outside Chamonix, Mont-Blanc. Jonny is keen to share his passion and knowledge of the mountains with his clients, and to make it fun - whether it's skiing, ski mountaineering, rock climbing, alpine climbing or winter alpinism. You are sure to find him happy just by being in the mountains. Jonny regularly works on our ski courses for the Eagle Ski Club . He has spent many weeks skiing in the Lofoten Islands and we are delighted that he can share his expertise of...
Neil Johnson is a popular addition to the team having worked on specific courses for the Eagle Ski Club. Neil's avalanche lectures are known for being some of the most informative and engaging around. As an IFMGA Mountain Guide and Mountaineering Instructor (MIC), Neil was previously involved in the training, assessment and mentoring on instructors in a long career at Plas Y Brenin. Originally from Stockport near Manchester, Chamonix has been Neil's home since 2007, where he guides year round. Neil is a member of the British Mountain Guides and his profile can be found here on the British Mountain Guides website . Neil Johnson's Qualifications IFMGA Mountain Guide Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor
Originally from Fort William in the West Highlands of Scotland, Kenny grew up skiing and climbing in his local hills of Glencoe and the Nevis Range. Twenty years (and lots of trips to places such as North America, Canada, Norway and the Alps) later, he remains as passionate about the mountains as ever. Now an IFMGA Mountain Guide and BASI Ski Instructor, Kenny divides his time between Chamonix and Scotland. Winters are spent in the European Alps and Norway ski guiding and working as a Trainer on BASI Mountain Safety courses, while summers are mountaineering and rock climbing. When in Scotland, Kenny is a member of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, and has enjoyed/endured many night time ascents of Ben Nevis! Kenny is a member of the British Mountain Guides and his profile can be found here on the British Mountain Guides website . Kenny Grant's Qualifications IFMGA Mountain Guide Winter Mountaineering and Climbing...
Emma is a classically French trained private chef who is passionate about eating well. Although she is classically trained her skills have developed over the last decade living in the Alps to be focused more on lighter, fresher, healthy, nutritional sound and satisfying food. She has experience working on retreats, training camps and luxury health and well being holidays with top level coaches, athletes and clients, and is no stranger to ski touring trips with clients in Norway. We are looking forward to welcoming Emma again for our 2024 season.
Good fresh food, good friends and fresh air, that’s what I enjoy in life and what drives me. For 25 years I’ve cooked for private clients and big house parties in some of the wildest and most wonderful places in the world from a river hut in Russia to castles in Scotland. Setting some roots down on Dartmoor in Devon, I can hike across the moors with my cocker spaniel, swim in the ocean, and eat fabulous food in some pretty quirky locations. I travel less now as I have a beautiful 1967 Citroen woodfired pizza van where I cook up proper pizzas like you eat on the continent and a bustling café serving up great coffee, cake and brunches. However adventure, great views, fresh air and snow will still tempt me away from Dartmoor with my knife bag packed. We are delighted to have Louella joining the team for 2024 to look after us on our Tromsø Toppturer trip.
Izzy made the move to France in her twenties simply because she loved skiing and the mountains in general. She soon qualified as a BASI Level 4 ISTD instructor and went on to become a BASI trainer. Though she has worked throughout the Alps, she currently divides her winter season between ski teaching and off-piste guiding in the Three Valleys. Her great passion is finding the best snow and giving her clients the skills they need to enjoy it. Izzy Milne's Qualifications BASI Level 4 ISTD (International Ski Instructor's Diploma)
Roy Henderson has been an outdoor professional for 30 years having previously worked for Glenmore Lodge, Plas y Brenin, Joint Services, BASI and freelance in the UK and Alps. He holds the highest international skiing qualifications and delivers courses for the British Association of Snowsport Instructors in Alpine skiing and Mountain Safety. Augmenting this qualification Roy holds the Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor Award (previously MIC) and British Canoe Union Level 5 Coach. Roy is passionate about Scotland, his homeland, having almost completed all the Munro's. He has experience of ski touring extensively in the Alps, Norway and Iceland. Roy Henderson's Qualifications BASI Level 4 ISTD (International Ski Instructor's Diploma) BASI European Mountain Security Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor
Alison first met Shona and Derek Tate in the season of 2002. Derek was Alison's BASI Trainer on her BASI Level 3 teaching course. Shona and Alison trained together for their BASI Level 4 technical exam, and were both delighted to pass in 2003. Derek and Shona established BASS Chamonix in 2004. Alison worked with them from 2005 until 2011. It was during this time that together they developed the "Ski Performance for Mountaineers" courses. They continue to work in close partnership, with BASS Chamonix processing all of the bookings for these courses. Derek and Shona will regularly work on the Ski Performance for Mountaineers courses, along with other members of their team. Derek is totally in love with the skiing and “life in the mountains”. Over the years he has been involved in racing, race coaching, ski school, instructor training and has taught just about everything from 2...
Rob and Alison have worked together since 2013 delivering the popular Chamonix Off-Piste & Mountain Skills course. Rob has worked full-time in mountain training and guiding since 1999, working for most of the major outdoor providers. He has climbed extensively throughout the Alps and UK. He has worked on expeditions to the Greater Ranges and the Antarctic. He spent 18 months living and working on the Antarctic Peninsula, working as a field assistant for British Antarctic Survey. Rob nows lives and works in the Chamonix valley. He is equally as passionate about climbing, ski touring (and road biking!). Through his training, he is able to pass on this enthusiasm to his clients. Rob is a member of the British Mountain Guides and his profile can be found here: Rob Jarvis '
Mike Brownlow is originally from Northern Ireland but has made is home in the Highlands, being a long term resident of Aviemore. Passionate about all activities that involve snow he is often found working close to home in Scotland as well as the European Alps. This year Mike is involved with our Ben Nevis Ski Weekend, where he will be introducing people to the west coast of Scotland's most famous off grid ski location. Mike is a member of the British Mountain Guides and his profile can be found here: Mike Brownlow's profile on the British Mountain Guides website . Mike Brownlow's Qualifications IFMGA Mountain Guide Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor
Kev is based in the Chamonix valley where he lives with his wife. He particularly enjoys ski touring and off piste skiing, as well as technical rock and mixed climbing. Kev is a former teacher and guiding now enables him to pass on his skills and enthusiasm for the mountains to others. Having grown up in Cumbria, the Lake District was an obvious place to take up rock climbing as a young teenager. Kev then quickly developed the skills of alpinism, off piste skiing and ski touring. This year Kev is involved with our Introduction to Ski Touring courses, where he excels at teaching the skills required to break away from the lifts and explore the off piste. Kev is a member of the British Mountain Guides and his profile can be found here: Kevin Avery's profile on the British Mountain Guides website . ...
Rupert Hutchinson joined Off Piste Performance in 2015 as catering manager for the Lyngen-Oldervik and Kvaløya ski touring trips. As a passionate cook and former head chef at Glenmore Lodge, he's good at making sure there's a steaming hot cup of tea and a slice of cake, followed by a delicious, hearty meal for groups coming back off the hill. A keen skier, climber and trail runner, Rupert also holds the International Mountain Leader award and has spent the last 10 years leading trekking trips to the Alps and Greater Ranges. He currently lives in Edinburgh where, with his partner Elle, he runs a small-group adventure company ' Living Alive ', which offers unique outdoor experiences in Scotland and the Pyrenees. Rupert Hutchinson's Qualifications International Mountain Leader (IML) Mountain Leader Winter
For the last 17 years Fran has managed to divide her year between her two favourite spots, Antarctica and the Isle of Jura. Her passion for the remote and the untouched have been readily satisfied in both these destinations. Fran started out as a lodge cook and travelled to Iceland initially for a trekking company and then gravitated to mainland Antarctica and Jura with the odd dash of Arctic thrown in. With her passion for food as fuel, be assured that there will be cake! Obviously her passion is for the outdoors, and allows her in any spare time to cross country ski, enjoy long distance hikes or cycling in the Peak District. Fran will be joining us on our Lyngen - Oldervik and Kvaløya - Senja weeks.
Dee works for BASS Chamonix and runs their very popular Seasonaires programme. She has worked on a number of Ski Performance for Mountaineers courses. Dee O'Neill's Qualifications BASI Level 4 ISTD (International Ski Teacher Diploma) BASI European Mountain Safety
