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Jeffrey Bonas father of Cressida Verbier 08
I am writing to say how much I have appreciated the care you and your colleagues took in looking after my daughter Cressida. The time she spent in Verbier was both enjoyable and rewarding; not only did she qualify as a ski instructor but also she gained enormously in self confidence. I cannot think of a better foundation for her university life and future career. I do thank you.
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Danno Portsmouth Argentina 2007
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Firstly, I wanted to say thanks to everyone at Peak Leaders who had anything to do with the course. It was a great time and something I'll never forget; and I passed so that was the best way to top it off! I'm not really one for feedback forms and rating the experience with numbers so I just wanted to say a few things about the trip.
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The team out there who ran it were just great. Ed and Lucie were a big help getting out there and always on hand around the hosteria to sort out any problems. The local team (Alvar, Ivan and the instructors) were incredible. In particular Alvar, who seemed to be able to solve absolutely anything, no matter how trivial or big. I think a great deal of credit should go to him for the success of the trip; I spoke to nobody who at some stage didn't require his help and he always went the extra mile to make sure we got what we needed. His knowledge of the way things worked out there was invaluable. It takes a while before you realise how differently people operate out there; we called it T.I.A (This Is Argentina!), a phrase most people used several times a day. Alvar knows what the score is so he was great to have around.
The Hosteria El Retorno was top as well. What a location! The food at night wasn't that great but I can live with that when there was so much other stuff to keep my mind off it. The transport every day was pretty well organised and it was no hassle getting to and from the resort.
Our Argentinian instructors were great fun to ski with and also really friendly and, importantly, cared about us. They got involved with all the events and activities and it was nice having them around the hosteria for breakfast and dinner.
Bariloche is an awesome town, especially at night. I think if you really want to sell the trip better, mention that every week the vast number of clubs are filled with thousands of gorgeous Argentinian and Brazillian students all partying like crazy. That was definately a bonus :-)
It was a fantastic 9 weeks in a beautiful country. I'm definately going back there as soon as I can. I'm working as a guide in Les Arcs this winter, then I'm off to teach in New Zealand in the summer but I'm going to squeeze in a trip to Bariloche in between the two. I've made friends for life over the last 10 weeks! Please pass on my thanks to everyone involved; the course was better than I could have imagined and clearly very well thought out and operated.
Thanks a lot. |
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 Katie Baddams Argentina 06
Why a career break?
Why Peak Leaders?
What next?
Katie Baddams, BASI Ski Instructor, Peak Leaders Argentina 2006 writes:
When I first saw the Peak Leaders course I had been contemplating a career break for about a year at least. For the past eight and a half years I’d been working for The Salvation Army in the UK doing Graphic Design for them. Whilst this was very enjoyable and fulfilling, I felt I needed a break from Design and the only way to do this would be to have a complete change of direction.
In my search for this ‘new direction’ I stumbled across a book entitled ‘Gap Years for Grown ups’ (being thirty-three this seemed quite apt for me!). In this book was a chapter on ‘Specialist courses’, more specifically, skiing, which led me to find Peak Leaders amongst various other companies. I set about researching these companies further and what they all had to offer.
It was in March that I decided to make the break and at that time, the winter seasons seemed a long way off. I then realized that Peak Leaders were offering courses in New Zealand and Argentina in the summer months. This was an ideal opportunity for me as I could train for the BASI qualification in the summer, then be set up to find work in the winter seasons in North America and Europe. Fantastic!
The Argentina course really attracted me as an overall package. Firstly as I’d always wanted to visit South America and secondly, there were Spanish lessons and riding with Gauchos thrown in! The various other trips to Esquel, Trevellin, Bolson and Pampa Linda also were interesting additions to the course. Not forgetting the time spent in Buenos Aires which was a great way of getting ourselves into the swing of Argentina!
Definitely I chose the right place. I don’t think anything could have prepared me for how spectacular the scenery was. Patagonia really is a special place. The people are also so friendly and hospitable which makes a difference when visiting or living in a foreign country. The accommodation and its’ surroundings were also superb. Great to come home after a hard days skiing and relax in the tranquility of our ‘home’ with the beautiful view of lake Gutierrez and the surrounding mountains! You can ski or instruct anywhere at anytime, but to have that experience of training in Argentina was a much better all round experience by far.
So, now it’s all over and I’ve passed the course. Where I go from here I’m not quite sure. For me it was more about gaining a new experience and challenge as far removed as possible from my life up until that point. And for the moment, I’m quite content to hang around in Argentina for a little while longer. But hey, who knows? I’ve always fancied that ski season in Colorado! |
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 Mike Kindred Canada 04
I was 32 years of age and bored to death with the 9 to 5 lifestyle; needed to feel alive again and the plan was to take a season out of work and be a ski bum for a year. Whilst looking through a ski magazine trying to get up to date on what skies I should be looking for I came across an ad for Peak Leaders’ which caught my eye. So why bum in France for a year when I could go to Canada and become a ski instructor. After a couple of calls to Dave and Annie of Peak Leaders I was booked.
With out a doubt it was the best decision I had ever made. Thanks to Dave and Annie I have made some great friends who I will all ways stay in touch with, from traveling around South America, teaching skiing at the same hill, sailing around the Greek islands or just meeting up in London for drinks and to remains about the 9 weeks we spent together. I came away with my level 2 ski instructor, avalanche awareness, back country training I have to say was the highlight of the trip for me, first aid and the most memorable 9 weeks of my life.
To date (Nov 05) this is the start of my second season teaching in Canada. I am now a level 3 CSIA ski instructor and a Level 1 CASI snowboard instructor, (yes, the dark side my friends.) So for the next five months I’ll be sliding down a hill on a tray or I’ll have two planks strap-ed to my feet. I feel so lucky to be part of such a wonderful sport and I intend to carry on teaching each winter for a long time. I hope this little letter may help some of you come to a decision to sign up to Peak Leaders and have the time of your lives. If I can help answer any questions you may want to ask being some one who has done the course I would be more than happy to (mikekindred2004@yahoo.co.uk) or just to say hi that's cool.
Mike Kindred |
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 Pete 2004
Hi David and Annie, Hope the journey homes was good, the last few days were a blast a really good end to an amazing trip... thanks again. Hope your both well, thanks again for a life changing trip. |
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 Joanne Whiteman Argentina 06
Wow! What an experience Peak Leaders has given us all in the past 2 months. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, tiredness of getting used to skiing everyday, stress from the BASI instructors being here and the amazing amount of fun that we experienced every day in the snow. This course has changed my life; before I did not know what to do career wise and the time away in Argentina has shown me my passion more than anything...
That I definitely want a life in the snow…
Joanne Whiteman
Jo successfully completed the Trainee Instructor programme and narrowly missed her full Instructor certification despite breaking her wrist mid-way through the program and skiing the remaining 5 weeks in a cast! |
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 Jemma Knowles Canada 05
Thank-you for all your help prior to Canada. I really did have the time of my life and am so glad that I did it...I met some wonderful people, got my Level 2 snowboarding and had an amazing experience so thank-you! Will be looking for pics of them later...
I was 26 years old and fed up with my job…I decided my life needed a boost of excitement and therefore chose to go on the 2005 Peak Leaders instructor course in Canada. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Throughout my life I have travelled extensively and spent 4 years at university and still my time in Canada will go down as one of the most memorable trips I have undertaken. I was a bit dubious at first that the course would be filled with 18 year olds who had never left home….how wrong I was! There was a strangely perfect balance of ages and backgrounds, on paper you would think ‘mmm, that'll be interesting' but in reality we all got on so well we became a little family!
Everyday on the course was an experience, albeit hard work at times but fantastic, there wasn't a day that went past that I didn't look around at the stunning scenery, look down at my board and the new friends around me and think ‘yes, this is what life is all about'.
I still can't believe how much we managed to fit in such a relatively short space of time and every activity was something to look forward to: the ‘holiday' to Banff experiencing more of the wonders the Rockies have to offer, the skidoo driving, the backcountry phase, disabled skiing course, the ice hockey match, the shopping in Calgary, the theme nights and parties and of course the snowboarding/skiing every day.
I came away from Canada with so many new qualifications. Obtaining my CASI Levels 1 and 2 were an experience in themselves. The nerves were on a par with any exam or test I have taken in my life and the exhilaration and feeling of achievement was almost more amazing than passing a degree!
The ski school was wonderful; we were quickly made to feel like part of the crew and the level of instructing we were given was exceptional. The resort became a home with the perfect bars where many a brilliant night was spent with the staff of both the ski school and the hotel. Our mentors on the course did a truly brilliant job of organising everything and solving our problems at the same time as fitting in with everyone and enjoying themselves.
Leaving Canada, the snow and the people was very hard and the feeling of deflation when I got home was almost unbearable. However, the Peak Leaders course has inspired me to leave my job and go to New Zealand for the season in June, it made me realise that loving life is far more important than how much money I earn.
So to anyone thinking of doing this course I'd say ‘Do it! Do it! Do it!' it's such an amazing opportunity. I have had a wonderful experience and have come away with great qualifications, fantastic new friends and hundreds of happy memories so thank-you Peak Leaders for quite literally changing my life!
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Joanna Canada 05
Just wanted to say thank you for all the help you have given me since I returned from Canada. It wI just wanted to say thank you for all the help you have given me since I returned from Canada. It was especially kind of you to send me a reference. I have a job to go to in New Zealand and Dan also from the Canada trip and I are flying out on Friday.... |
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 Justin 2004
Hi David and Annie, So the course is now over, had a fab last night I think that every one really enjoyed themselves… I have had an amazing past 9 weeks although that it only seemed like 3 as the time just flew by. The amount of new knowledge that has been crammed into my head will get sorted through over the next few weeks and will come in very handy when climbing into the back country in South America and throwing my self down the steeps and deeps. So thanks for a wild and wonderful trip might see you in Argentina!! Take care |
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 Dan 2004
Hope you both had a good trip home. Thought you might like to know that day one of the gap olympics went well, a lot of outrageous and ridiculous outfits, that were caught on film that i'll forward to you. Thanks again for an amazing nine weeks and i hope i can do something this summer with you guys, I'll be in contact again soon. |
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 Susan 2004
Hi David and Annie , You’ve changed my life.. I can’t thank you enough… Make sure you quote me
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 Alistair 2004
Hi David and Annie, I enjoyed the course immensely. It was a great amount of fun and really worth it. Thank you. |
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 Evan Bailey Canada 2004
Peak Leaders made the amazing training we had 6 days a week on an average of 5 hours a day so interesting - I don’t know if I would call it training as I expected it to be! It was definitely one of the best experiences of my life - 9 weeks riding with mates while improving my skills with awesome instructors and riders! Canada was magic, and everyday seemed better than the last. Memories that will last forever. |
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 Vicki Puttergill Argentina 2004
I went to Argentina last summer with Peak Leaders. I can quite honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life so far! I wasn’t a great snowboarder when I arrived, but we had two Argentine instructors, Pety Figola and Vicky who spent a lot of time with me / us in a small group. I had never done off-piste or ridden powder before, but they were always positive and helpful and I really grew in confidence and skill. |
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Jane 2004
Hello Annie & David, I just wanted to say thanks again for looking after David so well on the Canada trip. I had hoped the experience would help David gain some confidence in himself, and it certainly did. I must admit I was a little concerned about him going as he was not an experienced skier, but, after meeting you all in London, I felt Peak Leaders would be the right choice, and I am glad to say we were not disappointed, and everyone on that day made us feel so welcome. I feel David got a lot out of the trip - it has achieved all I, as a mother, hoped it would, thank you all so much. You have given a young man the confidence to push forward in life, thank you. |
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