My Story
How I became a ski instructor extraordinare.
Early Life
I was born in France and moved to the Pacific northwest at age 7. I skied in the Crystal Mountain weekend program and it quickly became the only thing I looked forward to during the grey, depressing Seattle winters. I always hated school and loathed the idea of blurring the lines between work and play in the form of homework. At age 15 I was eager to put some money in my pocket and start living, I got a job bussing for a local restaurant and another one as an assistant ski instructor at SnowSports NorthWest.
2015/16
At SSNW, I was treated like an adult from day 1. After 4 weekends of training, I was given my first lessons and quickly figured out what it meant to be responsible for the world’s most precious cargo, children!
2016/17
The next winter, I instructed again and coached in the Hyak weekend program. From then, I was hooked.
2017/18
I decided to go study Ski and Snowboard Business at the Colorado Mountain College campus in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I skied my face off for 2 years!
2019
I took a gap course at Mt. Hutt, New Zealand and started my freeride and park progression journey.
Attained the NZSIA alpine 1 cert and failed alpine level 2 by less than a point.
2019/20
Upon arriving in Vail, I was told instructors could only stay in employee housing their first season working there.
2020/21
I was granted employee housing my second year there when COVID changed the rules—but my mind was set. I was going to be a first-year instructor for as many seasons as I could.
Attained the PSIA alpine 1 cert, and failed a freestyle level 1 cert despite attending clinics weekly for 2 years and being told I was more than ready. I promised myself I’d pass all 3 levels of Freestyle certs and moved to Mt.Hood to train myself.
2021/22
I moved to Mt. Hood to work as a bartender in the legendary Ramshead bar and pursue my new passion for park skiing.
2022/23
In November 2022, I moved to Kirkwood to work for Timber Creek Ski School—it was the place to be that year. I won “Certified Rookie of the Year” and “Biggest Send of the Year.” I ended my season where my love of reading re-ignited; I broke my entire lumbar and my right elbow.
Attained the PSIA children’s specialist 1 cert and it changed my life. I also passed the alpine 2 technical and the freestyle 1 cert.
2023/24
I spent the winter coaching racing at Palisades and off-snow extreme sports progression at Woodward Tahoe until I broke 3 bones in my left foot exactly one year after my back injury. I spent my summer in and out of the gym, library, and surgery room.
Attained the freestyle 2 cert.
2024/25
I went back to familiar Kirkwood to finish healing and enjoy the 24/25 season.
2025
I spent the summer teaching at Perisher in Australia and skied my face off in the park. Upon coming home, I built the Instructor Grindset website to help instructors who want to get busy.
Enrolled in the Penn State Snowsports leadership program and attained the alpine 2 cert and freestyle 3 cert.
Future
I hope to share my knowledge and experience with other North American snowsports instructors and show you the tools to uplift your creative willpower and teach consistently magic lessons.
Mission & Vision →