BASS CHAMONIX TEAM
BASS Chamonix is part of the British Alpine Ski School network which currently covers 10 resorts in France. The network has been in operation for over 25 years delivering quality and professionalism to our enthusiastic English speaking clients.
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All BASS Instructors & Mountain Guides are fully qualified with full equivalence paperwork to work legally in France. All our staff have years of experience delivering at all levels including training other aspirant instructors and guides. The whole team are passionate about skiing and we look forward to sharing this passion with you in Chamonix this season.
Shona Tate qualifications
BASI ISTD (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) Full French Equivalence BEES premier degre ski alpin AIARE Level 1 (American Institute of Avalanche Research Education) UKCP Level 2 Alpine Coach
Shona Tate bio
Having been brought up in a skiing family, it was a given that Shona would later have skiing as such a large part of her life.
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After spending several years in the Scottish Ski Team Shona gained her first ski instructor qualification on artificial slopes. From there she moved on, gained full French Equivalence, and travelled Europe and America teaching clients of all levels. This included being a trainer for the Instructor Associations in both the UK (BASI) and Ireland (IASI).
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As well as ski teaching Shona has run an instructor recruitment agency, was secretary to the Board of BASI and has just completed 2 terms as a Trustee for Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK), the last 3 years being Chairperson.
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Alongside this busy snowsports life Shona is also immersed all year in the Outdoor Industry in the UK being involved with trade events and promotion of outdoor participation.
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“I love teaching all ages and levels and helping my clients experience the mountains in a safe and enjoyable way and developing individual strengths. I now live in Saint Gervais Les Bains, just round the corner from Chamonix and can meet clients in any of the 5 Chamonix ski locations and all the Evasion (Saint Gervais, Les Contamines-Montjoie, Megeve) areas, depending on availability.”
Derek Tate qualifications
BASI ISTD (British Association of Snowsport Instructors) Full French Equivalence BEES premier degre ski alpin IASI Back Country Euro Security Award (Irish Association of Snowsports Instructors) AIARE Level 1 (American Institute of Avalanche Research Education) UKCP Level 2 Alpine Coach Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Diploma Professional Studies Education, Sports Coaching (Heriot Watt University) Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher
Derek Tate bio
Derek began skiing quite late in life, at the age of seventeen but was always a very keen sports person. He grew up in Dublin and football, karate, and athletics were his initial sports. He was introduced to skiing through his school in 1983 and joined the Ski Club of Ireland where he started skiing regularly at the dry ski slope and has never looked back…..
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Over the years he has been involved in race coaching, ski school, instructor training and has taught just about everything from 2-year-olds to top level instructors.
He has been lucky enough to work in many countries around the world including the USA, France, Austria and of course Scotland to name but a few.
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During those many years of ski teaching he fell in love with Chamonix and the Mont Blanc region and now this has become his home and base for his teaching.
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Before starting BASS Chamonix with his wife and co-director in season 2004/05, he worked in Courchevel and managed an artificial ski slope in the UK.
More recently he went back to school so to speak to do a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology, and this has developed his mission to understand how people learn so that he can help his guests experience great enjoyment and meaning in their lives. It has also led to him writing books such as ‘Learn, Enjoy, Flow & Grow’ and ‘Six Steps for Training the Mind’.
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Dee O'Neill qualifications
Full French Equivalence BEES premier degre ski alpin IASI Back Country Euro Security Award (Irish Association of Snowsports Instructors) AIARE Level 1 (American Institute of Avalanche Research Education)
Dee O'Neill bio
Dee was introduced to skiing at a relatively early age and spent winters zipping around the slopes. She quickly became addicted to skiing and being from Ireland this did prove a slight problem – no snow! In order to ski regularly she joined the Ski Club of Ireland where she was able to ski on more regular basis. Getting involved at an early age introduced her to racing and this proved a useful stepping stone in training towards becoming a ski instructor. After receiving her first level qualification she realised that she wanted to develop more as a skier so she furthered her training which led her to gain her professional qualification and enable her to live in the Alps as a professional ski instructor.
She was also heavily involved for a number of years with the Irish Association of Snowsports Instructors (IASI) as Chairperson which is an Irish body responsible for training and assessing ski instructors to international standards. She is still involved now as an IASI Alpine Educator & Examiner..
With such a passion for skiing, ski touring, cycling and running she could not think of a better place to be than Chamonix!
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