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 year olds to top level instructors. He likes to stop and take in the awesome scenery and know that he has chosen both the right career and one of the best places in the world to live and work.

Derek is the author of Parallel Dreams Alpine Skiing. He is currently Head of Training & Educational Development for the Irish Association of Snowsports Instructors. Derek has recently completed a Masters in Positive Psychology.

Shona was brought up in a skiing family. Her parents were instructors in Scotland and her older brother was into racing. She was soon following my brother around the mountain hot on his heels in all terrain and in all typical Scottish weather! After spending several years in the Scottish Ski Team in the mid 80’s, she gained her first instructor qualification which enabled her to teach on artificial slopes. Loving the sport and loving teaching has now brought her to Chamonix, the centre of skiing history.