Meet This Years Alpe d'Huez Snow Reporters
All new to Alpe d'Huez, they can't wait to get out & start reporting!
The season has started, and our reporters have already been sending in their reports, keeping you up to date with all that's happening both on the mountain and in the resort.
Nicole, Neil and Ollie will be covering snow reports, dump alerts, news and video updates. Neil and Ollie will be producing our nightlife and apres ski reports, so you know where to go and what to do once you get off the slopes, plus what's hot and where to go for the best parties this season. Here is a little introduction from each of them so you find out more about them and say 'Hello' if you see them out and about this winter!
Nicole Afford
Mountains? Reporting? Skiing? Who wouldn’t say no to the dream job of a lifetime working in the beautiful Alpe D’Heuz! From the tiny, flat landscapes of Norfolk moving to the Alp’s is definitely one of the most beautiful places I’ve been and I most certainly can’t wait to get my teeth into some of the reports that I will be bringing to the site.
So a little bit about me… I’m 22, a Lincoln University Media Graduate, a clumsy but enthusiastic skier, I love good grub and snapping away, especially when I’m travelling.
Throughout university and after, I have had a background in the media industry volunteering with the likes of BBC Voices Norwich, Film London, Creative Arts East and working for Transport for London's Press Office. I am an avid skier having been five times over the years so am desperate to get some good skiing underway! I’m also a keen traveler having lived in the US in Fargo Moorhead for 5 months…although it isn’t quite like the film! I have just returned from a three and a half month trip around Asia, however I still have a few places that are yet to be ticked off my bucket list such as India, Tibet, Nepal and Burma; so I still have lots I want to see and do!
As for good grub, scenery, nightlife and slopes, Alpe D’Heuz has it all; visiting a few years back I was instantly drawn back to the slopes here! The great thing about Alpe D’Heuz is that you don’t have to be an absolute ski or snowboard fanatic to enjoy it as there is plenty to do off the slopes. There is everything from ice caving, tours around the Pic Blanc to having a go at curling, some of which my non-skiing family members found when we came on a family holiday here.
My big aim this season is to get down the biggest black run Europe ‘The Sarenne’ as I currently come under the category of ‘all the gear and no idea’ but I aim to make Bode Miller proud by confidently making my way down it...dreams can come true! In preparation to get my energy for this challenge, I am confidently sampling the local delicacies from hot chocolate to pizzas that are incredible, what are ski seasons all about right?
As you might be able to tell I have a slight passion for good, honest food so I hope to bring you some articles that are helpful and insightful from snow reports to where is best to go, so readers know exactly where to head for a break or a good day out.
Not only this, but I hope to keep you all up to date on the latest events and activities around the resort. Enjoy your winter and I hope to bring you many more articles this season. Happy reading!
Neil Rodley
Hi! My name is Neil, I'm 23 and I'm from North Yorkshire, England! I studied Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds and graduated with a 2:1 in 2013. I worked at BT for a year before leaving to travel across South America, Australia and South East Asia. Upon my arrival home, I thought that the prospect of skiing through fresh powder on the longest black run in Europe this winter seemed too good an opportunity to pass up, so I dusted off my skis and caught the next Eurostar to the Alps!
Aside from skiing, I have a passion for music and spend a lot of my time DJing house music. I also love to play football, tennis and squash, amongst other sports. I'm really looking forward to seeing first hand what ADH has to offer both on and off the piste – night skiing La Sarrenne sounds pretty cool!
In terms of food I'm pretty easy going! Give me a carbonara any day of the week but just keep those Salmon fishcakes away from me...
I am a PADI certified SCUBA diver! Something that not many people know about me is that I am an egg and spoon race champion (and I have the picture to prove it!). My biggest achievement in life to date would have to be managing to get from Leeds to Brussels in 48 hours without spending a single penny! I took part in a charity 'Jailbreak' event and used only my powers of persuasion to travel over 400 miles free of charge!
Given the chance, I'd love to go to Norway to see the Aurora Borealis with my own eyes as I doubt pictures alone can fully do it justice!
In my reports I'll be providing updates on the snow throughout the resort from the piste to the park, keeping things light-hearted and packed with lots of great pics and videos!
Ollie Hemsley
Hi I’m Ollie, a 23-year-old graduate from Northallerton, North Yorkshire. I graduated from Manchester Met last year with a degree in Geography (Bsc). Since, I have worked for BT and travelled South East Asia this past summer. I stumbled upon the chance to run my own business, so I can work from my apartment and concentrate on having a good time skiing! I co-run the Alpe D’Huez branch of 3sixtycams, a GoPro camera rental company.
As this is my first season, I’m looking forward to getting out on the slopes when I feel like it, and not feeling guilty missing a days skiing like you get on a weeklong ski holiday! Aside from skiing, sport in general has always been a passion of mine. Whether it is golf, football, cricket or squash. Music of any sort is a big part of me, I’ve been known to dabble in a bit of DJing from time to time!
I don’t have a favourite food, it’s too much of a hard choice; I like to mix things up. My least favourite however has to be celery!
I have a Geography degree, and also I am a qualified PADI Scuba diver
What not many people know is that I can use devil sticks, which is an equilibristic circus art…
Biggest achievement is reaching the base camp of Mount Everest in 2009. In 18 months 15 sixteen to eighteen year olds (myself included) raised £72,000 to fund the expedition, not an easy task by any means!
I would love to visit Argentina, particularly Aconcagua and Patagonia, they are so untouched compared with the Alps.
I think everyone will find my writing style informative, from my geographical background, but also I want to keep it fun and interesting. We’ve got 6 GoPros so I’m sure I can manage to get some decent videos and pictures too!
