I first skied in Méribel in April 1987 and remember learning on the Altiport. From that week on I was in love with skiing, the mountains and the way of life in the valley. In 1991 I was lucky enough to join David Williams in partnership at Chalet Le Crêtet in Mottaret, having holidayed in the chalet in the intervening years. In 1993, after 13 seasons in various ski resorts, David decided that he had had enough and I continued to run Le Crêtet (and "Ski Crêtet") with the aid of various chefs and chalet people. This will be my 21st season!!!

In 1997 (and coincidentally, at the same time as meeting Karen) I took on my second chalet, Crêt de la Neige in La Gittaz. Since then we have grown further, gradually acquiring more lovely chalets that suit the excellent service we provide (and occasionally dropping those that don't..). We have always wanted Purple Ski to stay "small and special" - as some of our guests have described us - and so remain at just 5 chalets, 56 beds and a small and focussed team - and we are, as ever, very confident that we can deliver a very personal and high quality service, and also have some time to enjoy the mountains too! Yes, even after 20 seasons I still love the life here and find the skiing exciting...

Karen joined Michael full time in 2001 from the Dell Computer Corporation, where she was the Director of Audit for Dell Europe. Before that, she worked at Heinz and Mars in various general management, manufacturing/people management and engineering roles. She has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bristol University and is a Certified Management Accountant.

Her first association with Purple Ski was in March 1997, when she was a guest in Chalet Le Crêtet. She has now completed 10 seasons. Karen focuses mainly on operations, primarily recruiting, training and working with the superb team of staff.

We're delighted that Ben is returning to Purple Ski for his 4th season. From West Yorkshire, Ben is a fully qualified accountant and worked as an accountant for 9 years. He got hooked on skiing and mountain life during his first winter season, 2004-2005, when he worked in the Canadian Rockies, but loves the Three Valleys too and so is delighted to be back.

He is highly conscientious with phenomenal organisational skills, but also very outgoing, always cheerful and gets on well with everyone. He has impeccable service standards, so he thoroughly enjoys being part of the service / hospitality industry.

Ben is already back in Méribel, helping Michael and Karen ensure the smooth running of the "back office" operations - the accounting, booking taxis, ski lessons and so on. During the season, he and Fleur will also arrange your lift passes and ski equipment, and support the drivers and chalet people when needed.

Fleur is passionate and enthusiastic about travel, adventure and customer service. She has a flair for languages and has degree in French and Hispanic Studies (she speaks excellent French and good Spanish, also some Japanese as she has recently returned from Kuwana, Japan where she worked as an English teacher for over a year.

Her work experience also includes a placement at a property rental and management company in Paris, where she had administrative responsibilities, and hospitality experience, as bar attendant and receptionist at a hotel in Gloucestershire. Fleur is an outdoors person, enjoying horse riding in particular, but also loves skiing and boarding. She very efficient and a great communicator; Fleur will be helping Ben with the smooth running of the "back office" operations, also arranging lift passes, ski lessons and ski equipment, and supporting the drivers and chalet people when needed.

Now based in Méribel year round, Mark has done 8 winter seasons and been with Purple Ski since 2005, having also worked in the USA and Courchevel. He is a huge asset to the team and we are delighted to have him each season.

Originally from Brighton, Mark has been self-employed in property renovation and construction ever since graduating from The University of Oxford with a Masters in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

Adventure, travel and work are his life: qualified as a climbing instructor, mountain leader and BASI 2 ski instructor, he also works as a professional Expedition Leader, leading a successful traverse of the Cuillin Ridge on Skye in 2010, and leading school teams trekking in 3rd world destinations from Zambia to Borneo and the Amazon. A excellent skier, he is keen to focus on his telemark, ski touring and racing this season. Mark also runs his own French property business www.meribelmaintenance.com, focusing on small chalet repairs in the winter, and luxury end refurbishment in the summer, completing the new steam room in Chalet Varappe this summer.

Mark is responsible for making sure all the chalets have whatever food, drinks and other provisions that are needed, as well as keeping all the buildings and equipment in good order. Though mainly working "behind the scenes" you may meet/see him during the season - probably most likely on changeover day as he often helps with luggage and transfers, or on the rare occasion he steps in as a relief chef.

Catherine, who is from Southampton UK, has just graduated from the University of Durham with a degree in Chemistry and is taking a gap year before starting as a Trainee Accountant with Ernst & Young in London in September 2012. She loves skiing (she has been skiing with her family for over 12 years), takes pride in providing excellent customer service and is very familiar with the Three Valleys, so is delighted to be spending the winter with us.

During all her university holidays (3 years) she has worked at a 4* hotel and country club primarily as waitress, but also as "Customer Liaison Assistant". She is experienced in all types of service, from silver service at functions, including to high profile guests, to providing an efficient service to large numbers (250+) of guests.

She is a competent cook and baker, having undertaken a number of short-duration of courses, assisted the breakfast chef at the hotel where she worked. She has also had lots of childcare experience, incuding regular babysitting jobs. She is very smiley and positive, sociable and quite confident, also calm and focussed. I know she will be an asset to the team.

Catheriene, as Relief Chalet Assistant, will provide cover for the Chefs/Chalet Managers on their days off, cooking, cleaning and babysitting as required.

Henry, from Cheshire UK, has just graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Geography; ambitious, a high-achiever and broad in his interests and talents, he is not yet sure what direction he wants his career to take. So far he has had work experience as as a legal assistant, shadowed a doctor in a major public hospital and most recently, worked as as an analyst (an internship) for Barclays Wealth Management. He also started and ran his own events management company.

He also has some hospitality experience having worked as a barman in a restaurant and also a coffee shop at home, and for 2 summers as cleaner and general maintenance man for a number of student houses. Henry is very personable: smiley, genuine and generous - also a keen sportsman. He enjoys skiing but also rugby (he played 1st team rugby at university and represented Scottish universities at Rugby Sevens)- he and his best friend Jamie Clegg have just returned from watching the World Cup in New Zealand.

Henry will be covering for all 5 chalet assistant/drivers on their day off and will, I am sure, be an asset to Purple Ski.

One of the 4 Scots on the team, Annabel's family have a large arable farm and she plans in future to take this over. She has a diploma in rural management (having switched from Geography) and is thinking of going back to university to complete a degree in the subject. In the meantime though, she is taking a gap year and being a keen skier (she has skied every year skince she was 5 years old), she is very excited to be working with us.

She has some excellent experience, having worked extensively as a waitress for a high end catering company, also as receptionist, waitress and general assistant at a small luxury hotel, as a nursery assistant and also a housekeeper/carer. Sociable and kind, she is also very independent and rational, great with children and a good cook and driver. Annabel will be helping out with housekeeping in the chalets, also driving, covering the chefs (mostly in La Varappe)on their day off, childcare and anything needed to help the smooth running of operations.

Laura is on a gap year before going to univeristy next year. Laura is from a large family (6 children), started working at 14 years old and also is keen on amateur dramatics, so is remarkably confident and independent for her age. She has significant babysitting experience, also as waitress and receptionist at a 4* hotel in her home town in Fife, Scotland, shop assistant, veterinary assistant, and most recently as receptionist and occasional housekeeper for some self-catered apartments in St Andrews.

Positive and friendly, Laura loves meeting new people, is hardworking and enthusiastic. Very sporty, she is a good team player; she was school hockey captain and also represented Great Britain for 2 years in a sport called "Ultimate Frisbee" for the under 20's team in the European and World Championships.

Laura helps mainly behind the scenes with the smooth running of operations - as personal / admin / chalet assistant, but will also help with housekeeping in the chalets at times.

The youngest and definitely the least productive member of the Purple Ski team - Max is a sweetie (a bit of editorial bias creeping in?!). Very good-natured and also very chatty (he takes after his father), so far he is coping well with living and going to school in both England and France. He loves skiing and is getting quite good at it - he will be overtaking Karen very soon....He also loves ice-hockey, which he started last year. We hope some of you will meet him during the course of the season.

Jonathan's interest in food started when he was young - he accompanied his father on travels across Europe and remembers first eating foie gras at the age of 8. After trying jobs in retail and as an estate agent (and not enjoying these), he started as as commis chef in the function room of the famous "The Ivy" restaurant in London, but since then, other than a 2 year break in 2005/6 (working as an English teacher and travelling in Bangkok), has worked at fine dining restarants including the Medcalf (as senior chef de partie),the 5 star Soho House Hotel (as chef de partie, sauce), The Mercer (as sous chef). He also ran a gastropub, The Mercer in London for a year.

He's extremely focussed and passionate when it comes to creating fantsatic food, and particularly enjoys creating fresh seasonal menus with an emphasis on Modern British cooking; however he also takes inspiration from the food of Southern Mediterranean countries and the Far East.

Personality wise, he is easygoing, friendly, honest; he is looking to do something a bit different and while he hasn't really skied (only as a child) it does appeal. In his spare time in the UK, he meets friends for drinks and food, enjoys Tai Chi and movies!

Danielle has already worked 2 winter seasons in Val d'Isere (2007) and Verbier (2008), but apart from this has a wealth of hospitality and events experience; she started working as a waitress in busy restaurants and hotels thoughout the South West of England, but on leaving school, started training as a chef and has an NVQ level 2 in food processing and cooking. She moved to become kitchen manager of an award winning Wedst Country cafe chain, where she was in charge of the kitchen team, ensuring that all staff where trained correctly and making sure that all food prepared and delivered was to an excellent quality.

Since her seasons, her work has included being chef at an a la carte restaurant, cocktail waitress and much more high end service, such as being restaurant supervisor at a fine dining restaurant and events venue Canary Wharf, London and, working for a catering company, supervising events throughout London, catering for the likes of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and for The Brit Awards.

She has just returned from Thailand where she initially taught English as a second language but ultimately was charged with managing her own TEFL training centre and Language school, also training large groups of adult, native English speakers. As part of this, she also organised and ran summer schools, volunteered at orphanages and kindergartens and worked in juvenile detention centres amongst children with behavioural difficulties.

Yes, a high achiever! As well as being a decidated hospitality professional, she is very likeable, a real people person who gets on well with everyone. We are delighted to have her on the team.

Already an intermediate level skier, Lauren has been wanting to do a ski season for years, but until now, other things have got in the way... She graduated in 2009 with a first class honours degree in accountancy from the University of Glasgow and shortly afterwards, went to Qidong in the Jiangsu province, China for 6 months where she taught English as a foreign language.

She also has good hospitality experience having worked for several months full time as waitress (informal and silver service), housekeeper and bar tender at a busy hotel in the Scottish Highlands, also at a busy Glasgow city centre restaurant. During university, she also worked part time as a Customer Services Administrator at Abbey National.

She is charming - with a very warm, friendly and enthusiastic disposition. Confident and efficient, with excellent she is flexible - always willing to help out however and wherever needed, and a great communicator - we know she will be a huge asset to the team.

Will has spent the last 8 years working in an office environment - working mainly as an analyst for Lloyds TSB bank (6.5 years) but most recently for a travel loyalty company - and now would very much like to do something different. As a beginner snowboarder and geology graduate he loves the Alps, and a recent week in La Tania convinced him to apply for the 2011/12 season.

A fan of all things automotive including classic and modern performance cars, Will has over 10 years driving experience, including holidays in the Alps in both summer and winter conditions and professionally as a service (parts delivery) driver and valeter early in his working life. He has limited prior hospitality experience but is very amiable, funny and really hard working. He's also very organised, a perfectionist and extremely conscientious - prepared to do whatever it takes to deliver excellence. His other interests include photography, cinema, the outdoors and health and fitness (mainly running and cycling).

Mike originally dreamed of being a pilot in the Royal Air Force and started training as an engineer, he was also in the Air Training Corps for 6 years, but while at college, first worked as a kitchen porter, then was offered a commis chef position in a reputable hotel in Norfolk. He really enjoyed it and, happily for us, decided to pursue a career as a chef instead.

Since then, he has worked at many excellent restaurants in and around Norwich and also London, perhaps most notably Brasted's of Norwich, a catering and events company comprising a 2 AA rosette-awarded restaurant, 5 star boutique bed and breakfast, weddings and event venue where he worked for 3.5 years, initally as sous chef and for the final 18 months, as head chef. He met Isabel, his girlfriend, here.

His role at Brasted's included running the fine dining resaturant, organising and running functions from weddings and private dinners of 20 covers to events such as the Royal Norfolk Show, catering for up to a thousand people (including Prince Charles and Prince Harry!). He was also asked to provide cookery demonstrations at various high profile events, create a dinner party for Chef Michel Roux, work with Anton Edelman and in 2010, was asked to create and present a dessert for HM the Queen during her visit to Norwich.

He is organised, hardworking, logical and systematic, also a very relaxed and approachable person, enthusiastic and will always go the extra mile. He is very sporty too - he loves snowboarding and surfing, he also represented Central East England in both athletics and rugby. He and Isabel are confident that their season with us will be both challenging and enjoyable!

Isabel graduated in 2010 with a degree in Environmental Earth Science from the University of East Anglia. Throughout university, she worked as a waitress and bar person at a very good public house in Norwich, also as waitress at the award winning Brasted's Restaurant, Events and Brasted's (5*) Lodge, where she met her boyfriend, Mike Wallis 4 years ago, and where she has been working until joining us.

Although she enjoyed her degree, Isabel has loved her job at Brasted's and so decided to put that first. In 2009 she was made Supervisor, and has been responsible for - amongst others - silver service in functions such as weddings (in house and outside catering - she served the Queen in May 2010 and has also worked with other members of the Royal Family), private dinner parties and the fine dining restaurant, bar work, management of staff, administration work and cleaning and breakfast duties in the five star boutique lodge.

She just lovely: confident, very smiley, happy, organised and laid back, also a great team player and excellent leader, good at working under pressure; she and Mike come to us with wonderful references and we are proud to have them on the team. Outside work, she is a keen skier and sportswoman and enjoys travel and adventures. Guests at Lapin Blanc will be in very safe hands!

Rachel, who is from Lincolnshire, has just graduated with a First Class Joint Honours degree in Biology and Chemistry within Natural Sciences from the University of Durham. She has worked in a Golfing Hotel since September 2005, whilst still at school and then in the holidays while ast university, with experience of waitressing in a restaurant (including silver service) and working behind the bar, also some housekeeping.

A high achiever, who always takes a lot of pride in her work and has great attention to detail, she is also a keen skier, having skied for the last 8 years in the Three Valleys (Courchevel and St Martin de Belleville), so was delighted to join our team - alongside her great friend, Catherine Johnston. She is a keen horse rider and in the last few years has produced her own horse from British Eventing Intro level up to International 2* level, completing the British Young Horse 7 year old Championships. While at university, she also coxed regularly for her College boat club.

Kevin trained and qualified as a chef in 1996 in his native city, London and has over 8 years of professional cooking experience in a number of different establishments, including the renowned Arts and Groucho private members club in London, high end French style restaurants in Perth and Melbourne, Australia and the five star Dromoland Castle Estate in Ireland, where he spent around 2 years as Senior Chef de Partie.

In 2006, he decided he to take a break from professional cooking and worked for 4 years as a sales and new business development manager at a speciality food supplier to luxury hotels and restaurants.

Kevin is a keen snowboarder and decided to return to the kitchen last winter, when he was the chef in our Lapin Blanc. He loved his first season in the mountains and so has decided to return, but this time as a chalet assistant/driver (though he has promised to be our emergency chef in case of illness/injury!) He has spent the summer cheffing in a friend's restaurant in Ireland. Charming, conscientious and very much a people person, we think he's going to make a great chalet assistant/driver!

Ben grew up on a farm in Queenstown, New Zealand and always loved food - he started cooking at 12 years and often cooked for his father, brother and the other farm workers. His first job was as a baker's assistant, but then he moved on to be cook at some informal restaurants before being offered an apprenticeship at the celebrated Wai Waterfront Restaurant and Wine Bar. Wai is without doubt one of the best restaurants in Queenstown (the Lonely Planet guide says that it is #4 of 130 things to do in Queenstown); he completed the 3.5 year apprenticeship and loved it, but he wanted to travel, so went to Australia and spent 3 years cheffing in various mid to high end restaurants; he met his girlfriend, Elza Bond while he was in Australia.

In early 2010 he came to the UK and worked at Browns Hotel, in the 3 AA rosette-awarded Albermarle Restaurant as chef de partie for 10 months then moved to Searceys' at the Barbican, a modern European restaurant. He first got interested in snowboarding in New Zealand, and is really looking forward to the opportunity to combine his love of cooking with being on the mountain. Also with being outdoors more! He's hardworking, also sociable and chatty but not hugely extrovert (he used to be quite shy), with a dry (sometimes sarcastic) sense of humour. And he is quite looking forward to the challenge of working in Petite Pia's open kitchen!

Amy has several years experience of high level service, hospitality and housekeeping in positions aboard private yachts in the Mediterranean and world-wide. She graduated in 2007 with a 2:1 in Geography from University College, London (her degree included a winter in Grenoble, France - so she speaks French quite well) and towards the end of her degree, started working in hospitality, working for an agency doing high end events.

She then did some travelling in India but then heard about the world of yachting and decided to give it a try; she has now spent 3 years working on luxury yachts, always on the move but based mainly in the Mediterranean, as a deckhand and stewardess, with responsibilty for waitressing and housekeeping to extremely high standards. She loves it, but is now ready for a change and is looking forward to being land-based for a while! She enjoys snowvoarding and got quite good at it during her winter in the South of France, but would really like to improve, while still working in hospitality to a high level.

She is easygoing, a good leader, very funny, open, hard-working, helpful and kind. She comes to us with superb references... I know she will be a real asset to the team.

Jamie, who is from Northern Ireland, is a charmer! With a lovely Irish accent and a smile on his voice, he is enthusiastic about everything he does (he says his friends would describe him as "annoyingly happy", among other things!) and gets on with almost everyone immediately...

He has just graduated from the University of Edinburgh (where he met his now best friend, Henry White) with a 2:1 degree in Sport and Recreational Management. During his summer holidays and since graduating, he has been working for an animal feed company as delivery driver and salesman and so has extensive driving experience, driving across Ireland in all weather conditions and different kinds of vehicles.

He hugely enjoys interacting with and meeting new people; he's an excellent team player and organiser (for instance, he captained the university 1st rugby team and helped increase membership of the university rugby club and take the club out of debt). He is hard working and conscientious and, while his hospitality experience is limited, he understands the importance of impeccable service and attention to detail (including cleaning!) and I know is going to be an asset to the team.

As well as rugby, his interests and achievements include travel, equestrian sport (he represented Northern Ireland as a junior and senior in the UK Tetrathlon championships - a multi discipline event comprising pistol shooting, running, swimming and horse riding), show jumping and eventing, music (he plays the euphonium) and travel. Oh - and he skies pretty well!

Robert , a Scot, from Berwickshire (not far from Edinburgh), worked for us for 3 seasons (07-08, 08-09 and 09-10) in Chalet Iamato. His love of cooking came from his grandparents, who were cooks at an old country house; he has been cooking since he was 15 and still loves it.

Before first joining us ins 2007, he had completed a year's travels in Asia-Pacific, where among others, he spent most of the ski season in Thredbo, Australia, at a fine dining restaurant, where he helped the new owners establish a great reputation. He has also worked at a 2AA rosette, Michelin recommended country house hotel on the Scottish borders where he spent 4 years, initially as pastry chef but ultimately as senior chef de partie. Since then, he has worked at The Atrium in Edinburgh (also 2AA rosettes) as sous chef, and at several brasseries (including one of Bill Granger's in Sydney) and other fine dining restaurants, in senior - including many head chef - positions.

In the 18 months since he last worked with us, Rob worked at "The Kitchin", Tom Kitchin's Michelin starred restaurant in Edinburgh (as chef de partie, "garde manger"), before going on to help set up his new "rising star"-awarded Castle Terrace as chef de parties and junior sous chef, then spending the summer on the Isle of Mull, where he has worked at an upmarket seafood restaurant, Am Birlinn, as sous chef.

He's a lovely guy: relaxed, enthusiastic, sociable (though not hugely extrovert), highly organised, hardworking, active (as well as snowboarding, he also enjoys climbing, surfing and generally keeping fit, reliable and always upbeat. We are delighted to have him back!

Kate graduated in 2009 from the University of Bristol with at 2:1 in History and since then, has been studying law (she plans to be a solicitor and has a training contract starting in 2012). During and since university, in addition to her legal work placements, she worked for a local restaurant and also a catering agency, learning silver service waitressing and working on events such as weddings, drinks receptions and breakfasts. She now as several years of part time experience of waitressing and hostessing, much of which has been at a high level, for instance major Corporate events, canape parties and a silver service function for the Royal Family.

She has been skiing since a young age, with most of her ski holidays in the Méribel valley, and is relishing the opportunity to live here and share with her guests the great experiences that she has grown up with. Very easygoing, always laughing, loyal and honest, she takes a huge pride in everything that she does and always does her best. Also sporty (as well as skiing, she completed the Brighton Marathon this year, climbed Mount Kilaminjaro (a few years ago - the same year she worked for 2 months as a volunteer in a Ugandan hospital an orphnage) and plays lacrosse. She is going to be a pleasure to have around.

This is Fiona's third season with Purple Ski and as the Chalet Assistant/Driver in Lapin Blanc - and we are so pleased to have her back! She graduated from the Univeristy of Edinburgh in 2007, with a degree in Applied Sports Science and immediately went to work in Courchevel as a chalet assistant in 2007-2008).

Between seasons, she has worked a great deal on yachts - both in yacht delivery and also working as deckhand/stewardess on privately owned yachts; she has also worked as a sailing instructor, multi-activity instructor in children's camps and has been a care assistant in the NHS, nursing the elderly, also patients in psychiatric, stroke and pre-transplant wards. This summer, she has been working at a children's summer camp in Pennsylvania, US (close to her boyfriend, Richard Smith) as Waterfront Director.

A great team-player and a tremendously hard worker, she loves a challenge and is enthusiastic, organised, calm in stressful situations and adaptable. She has plenty of minibus driving experience (from university - she has a degree in Applied Sports Science from the University of Edinburgh and is very smiley and approachable; she is an excellent and very popular part of the Lapin Blanc team. She's incredibly sporty; running is her main sport at the moment but she is an excellent skier and snowboarder. Longer term, she is contemplating studying to become a physiotherapist in Australia..

Adam has over 10 years experience working as a chef, in the UK, Jamaica and Canada. The last position he held was Executive Sous Chef in a fine dining restaurant in the Canadian Rockies, serving 'fusion' food, heavily influenced from Asian style cuisine; he has also worked for 4 years as Executive Sous Chef of the Bath Spa Hotel, Bath England, where he was responsible for a brigade of 18 chefs, catering at a 3 rosette standard. He has also worked as a freelance chef.

Over recent years he has moved into the superyacht industry, however now desperately misses the mountains and snow so we are delighted that he will be joining us this year where he can combine his love for cooking with skiing! He's outgoing and friendly, very personal with a great sense of humour and eye for detail. He also enjoys diving, sailing, tennis, water sports, mountain biking, trekking, climbing, wine and movies.

Elza, who was brought up in Burgundy, France, has a Belgian mother and English father so is totally bi-lingual, but also speaks Spanish well. She initially studied languages at university but then switched to Travel and Tourism (travelling is her real love) in which she now has a degree.

She has travelled extensively but has over a year's experience as a hostess and housekeeper on a luxury barge (where she worked alongside previous Purple Ski chefs, Dan Hughes and Stephen Graham - from whom she heard about Purple Ski), also 6 months as supervisor in a fine dining restaurant in Western Australia (where she met her boyfriend, Ben Mercer - chef in Petite Pia this year). She has also worked as a travel agent, secretary and saleswoman at a boat chandlers... Among others!

She is very hardworking and conscientious, sociable and kind, perhaps a little reserved but fun to have around; we are very pleased to have her on the team this year.

Alice has just graduated from The Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester with a degree in International Equine and Agricultural Business Studies. A high-achiever and very sporty, she enjoys competing my horses in British Eventing and hunting during the winter months: she has competed in the Pony Club Tetrathlon championships for the past eight years and regional championships for the past seven, as team captain for Southern England for 4 of these years!

She has also competed nationally in fencing (Sabre and epee) and internationally in pentathlon. During her gap year (07/08) she completed a ski season in Mont Temblant, Canada where she obtained a ski instructor's qualification and remained in the resort, teaching (mostly in French - which she speaks well) for the rest of the season.

Her hospitality experience includes helping to run the 5 gold star awarded bed and breakfast on her family's farm, also significant high-end (part-time) waitressing experience working with an events catering company, and several months as bar staff and waitress at a small, friendly bistro/bar (where she has also developed a knowledge of fine wines and the Level 2 WSET qualification). Alice has also worked as a general farm worker and tractor driver on the family farm during busy harvest-times.

She is enthusiastic, confident and determined, very hard working and a great team player...and is known for always smiling! Alice will be a great asset to the team.

Richard, who is from Bridlington, Yorkshire, is back with Purple Ski for his 5th season. As usual, he joins us almost directly from Pennsylvania US where for the last 15 years he has worked as an assistant cook and manager in a major children's summer camp. He loves his job there, but it is demanding and stressful, so in the winters he likes to travel, usually working holidays. He loves to ski and so finds that his winter seasons with us are just perfect for him.

His very interesting CV includes 5 years as assistant butcher at his family firm, 2 years in sales at an off-licence retail company, 2 months in Indonesia as part of a volunteer group, building a release site for orphaned orang-utans, and teaching and performing massage to disadvantaged youths in a juvenile institution and elderly groups in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand - 2004 (he has over 300 hours of massage practice and accreditations from the Thai governments)!

A very active individual, Rich is efficient, hardworking and professional, loves new challenges and enjoys working to the highest level. He is kind and considerate and would always go the extra mile; he is sociable and likeable, has a huge smile and a dry sense of humour - oh, and is a big Liverpool football fan! His interests also include skiing, scuba diving, running, reading, films, food and drink, poker and relaxing.

Rosanna decided at a young age that she wanted to go into childcare, and studied for 2 years at the renowned Chiltern College, obtaining her CACHE level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education. Since then, she has been working as a private, in-house nanny/ housekeeper/ cook for c.1 year, looking after 2 boys aged 3 and 4 years, also in other part time and short term (holiday) private nanny positions.

She is also an excellent cook (her mother is a professional chef and Rosanna has learned from her) and has lots of waitressing experience. Rosanna is a really happy person, bubbly, always cheerful, easygoing and down to earth. She has been on many family skiing holidays and enjoys skiing (she hopes to try snowboarding this winter).

Elizabeth, who is from Bolton, Lancashire, started studying childcare at the age of 16, obtaining her CACHE level 3 Diploma in 2003. Since then, she has been working as a teaching assistant and managing an "out of school club" at the same school. She loves her job and is great with children - very hands on, active, creative and resourceful, a real entertainer, but after 8 years at the same school, would now like a bit of an adventure (something to tell her grandchildren!) so is really looking forward to working with us this winter.

She is fun to be around, kind, generous, very smiley, chatty and sometimes a bit "daft"; she loves the idea of being part of a big team, is very outdoorsy and enjoys skiing and snowboarding (she has skied since she was a child, including in the Three Valleys area).

Kerry, who is from Essex, UK started working and training in childcare when she was 16, obtaining her CACHE level 2 diploma in 2007 and NVQ level 3 in 2009. Since qualifying, she has been working at a kindergarten first as assistant then room leader, looking after children aged 2-3 years old. She has also done lots of private childcare and worked as a teacher's assistant in a primary school (6 year olds). During her training, she worked in nurseries and an in pre-schools so has experience with children of all ages.

Kerry is very smiley, generous and has initiative; she's going to be an asset to our team. She has never skied or boarded before, and is very much looking forward to it!

Tamzin started her career in media; she obtained a degree in Media Studies with Drama in 2004 and then went on to work as a production assistant/co-ordinator and marketing assistant for Discovery Networks, ITV, The Disney Channel and the BBC as well as freelance for a short spell.

She wasn't really enjoying her work and, having participated in sport to a high level (county and southern England netball, also lacrosse) she was familar with massage and related therapies treatments to keep in shape, so became interested in masasge. She obtained her Diploma in Personal Training and Sports Massage in early 2009, and since then has been working as part of a tight knit team running a Sports Centre at a Private boys' School in Dorset, whilst also building up her own self employed business. She has treated some high end sportmen/women in her time!

She also has experience working in pubs and bars and as a Chambermaid at a Country Hotel. She has never skied or snowboarded but is very active and sporty (her main hobby is "dog agility" and has competed at Crufts!)

Tamzin is caring and compassionate, sometimes reserved and a little self-conscious - but also very chatty and sociable. She will, I'm sure, be a popular member of our team.

James has worked as a personal trainer and sports masseur for the last 4 years with a wide range of clients ranging from elite sportsmen to 70+ year olds of both genders, looking to improve health and fitness through training and diet.

An athlete himself (he was British U20 Triple Jump Champion in 2005 - among other achievements) he learned about the benefits of massage to keep himself injury free and in top form. He obtained his SMA Level 4 Sports Massage Diploma in 2007 and has a vast amount of massage experience. He also has considerable hospitality experience having worked at a waiter at two high end restaurants in Bath.

Very smiley, he is also entertaining company. He is very focussed, passionate about everything he does and has high standards - of himself and others. Having just completed his degree, and having tried skiing and enjoyed it (his father lives in Munich), he thought that a season in the Alps combining work and skiing would be a great idea! We are pleased to have him on the team.