Possibly our favourite Christmas present at Skipedia was an original 1984 copy of ‘The Sunday Times Guide to Ski and Apres-Ski’ (in association with Harpers & Queen, don’t you know…).
Skiing was in a massive growth phase in 1984
Written by Alastair Scott, who had been appointed skiing editor of The Sunday Times by Andrew Neil only the year before, the book is a fascinating insight to a time when skiing was going through a massive growth phase.
Only a third of companies still in business
Scott’s selection of tour operators (‘not intended to be comprehensive’) that have ‘reasonably good reputations for organising skiing holidays’ is a fascinating read.
By our count, 13 of the 36 listed are still in business, and there are some wonderfully evocative names that have fallen by the wayside over the years.
TOUR OPERATORS:
Activity Travel – now only operate to Les Gets, but principally an agent.
Adventure Holidays – a schools company. No longer operating.
Ski Beach Villas – primarily a summer operator. No longer operating.
Bladon Lines – one of the quintessential 80s chalet companies. Alumni include YSE founders John Yates-Smith and Fiona Easdale, Momentum Ski founder Amin Momen, Alpine Answers owner Simon Hoskyns, as well as Natives & Skipedia founder Iain Martin. Bought by Inghams in 1995, who closed the brand down, then brought it back, before finally dropped it forever.
If you’re interested in Bladon Lines, then you will enjoy this article that Iain wrote for ‘Ski+Board’ Magazine in March 2023:
Readers will also enjoy this interview on The Ski Podcast with John Yates-Smith
Blue Sky Holidays – no longer operating.
Club Mark Warner – ‘definitely for the more sociable skiers’. Now simply ‘Mark Warner’: the largest independent ski company left.
Club Med – the upmarket French company remain a niche operator for British guests.
Crystal Holidays – this ‘relatively downmarket’ operator is now the biggest UK tour operator.
Ski Enterprise – this became the First Choice ski brand, before it was absorbed into Skibound in 1996.
French Travel Service – we think this company is still in business, but they don’t do ski anymore.
Global – no longer in business.
Horizon Holidays – no longer in business (the current Horizon Ski has only been around since 2001).
Inghams – ‘no longer as upmarket as it once was’. Now the UK’s second largest ski company.
Intasun Skiscene – Intasun went spectacularly bust in 1991 after the Gulf War, taking Air Europe with it.
Kuoni – still in business, although does not carry many UK skiers
Made to Measure Holidays – were still in business up to 2008, but don’t appear to be operating now.
John Morgan Travel – well known in the 80s, but no longer in business.
Mountain Lodges – no longer in business.
Neilson Holidays – ‘pioneered the ski guide concept’. Now part of the Thomas Cook group.
Peter Stuyvesant Travel – no longer in business as a tour operator.
Powder Skiing in North America – no longer in business.
Ski an’ Do Holidays – no longer in business.
Ski Club of Great Britain – still operate their ‘FreshTracks’ holiday programme
Ski MacG – no longer in business.
Ski Sunmed – no longer in business.
Ski Supertravel – went out of business in 1989, but the name and mail-list was purchased by the Lotus Group and run as Lotus Supertravel until the old company name Ski Supertravel was more recently revived.
Ski Val – still a popular tour operator in St Anton and Val d’Isere.
Ski West – sister company of Bladon Lines and no longer in business.
Ski Whizz – no longer in business. Not to be confused with SkiWiz.
Skiworld – founded in 1982, Skiworld is the largest independent ski operator in the UK
Small World – no longer in business.
Snowtime – no longer in business.
Swiss Travel Service – still operating a small programme.
Tailor Made Ski Tours – no longer in business.
Thomas Cook Holidays – no longer an operator, although they do now own Neilson Holidays.
Thomson Holidays – part of the TUI group, still operating a reduced programme.
Please feel free to add a comment with your memories of any of the departed…
75 comments
Tom says:
Jan 11, 2012
Ski Whizz was bought by “Ski Enterprise – this became the First Choice ski brand, before it was absorbed into Skibound in 1996.”
Simon Hoskyns says:
Feb 22, 2012
Bladon Lines Alumni also includes Gareth Crump of VIP Ski (formerly of Thomson Ski). We did a season together 1987/8 in Meribel. That same season in Meribel was a certain Henry Druce (now editor of the Daily Mail Ski Magazine) who at the time was a plongeur for Supertravel.
Colin MATHEWS says:
Dec 17, 2012
I started MERISKI in MERIBEL in 1984…..as it happens!?
iain says:
Dec 17, 2012
Clearly Alistair Scott wasn’t digging deep enough!
Sharon Saw says:
Nov 15, 2013
I used to love the Chalet holidays in the 80’s and was a loyal Supertraveller… i just loved the total flight+transfers+catered chalet programme… quite sad to know that they went out of business but i hope the new owners have kept the ethos. I was looking for a similar package but now I guess the packages are all sans flights and transfers… if anyone knows of any company that does the whole package, do let me know 🙂
iain says:
Nov 15, 2013
Hi Sharon,
Supertravel are still in business. The name and list was bought – you can find them here
http://www.supertravel.co.uk/ski/
re package holidays with chalet, lots still offer this. Try
http://www.chaletline.co.uk/
Enjoy your skiing!
Paul Dobie says:
Jan 7, 2014
I worked in isola 2000 all thru the 80s and Neilson were bringing 200 plus clients per week.
Andrew Selby, formally John Neilsons partner created a company called Vacations and was quite successfull for a while.
Goeff Garner Richard Harrison and Emily Lewis were amongst the instructors.
This was a fun few years.
iain says:
Jan 7, 2014
Thanks for that comment Paul. Sounds like great days
ian kennedy says:
Feb 13, 2014
i had a company called splashdown in the 80/90’s , mainly making sailing clothing but we also made ski clothing uniform for bladon lines , inghams , ski club gb , ski macg , ski val ski west , supertravel .. in fact we had most of that market for the boom times of the 80’s .. good days ..
Ian Kennedy
iain says:
Feb 13, 2014
Great contribution Ian. I wore the Bladon Lines uniform – loved those parrots!
Catherine says:
Aug 28, 2023
Ian Kennedy
I wore the pink and blue ski west one – it lasted years.
Nicki Pope says:
Mar 14, 2014
I was a Bladon Lines Chalet Girl in Crans Montana 86 / 87. I still use my Bladon Lines Chalet Girl Cookbook, and my mum still wears my Parrot Ski Jacket! Happy Days 🙂
iain says:
Mar 14, 2014
My mum has my old Bladon Lines cookbook – still loves it. I’d love to see a picture of the jacket – any chance you could mail one to us?
Ian Barr says:
Apr 3, 2014
I used to be the Contracts manager for John Morgan, then went on to work with Mark and Andy at Mark Warner.
Reading through that list of those once GREAT names is kind of sad!
R.I.P. !!
But what good times we had. And the older we get, the better we were.
Haha.
iain says:
Apr 3, 2014
Good to hear your thoughts Ian. Great days indeed.
Linzi Stockdale says:
May 2, 2014
I was a chalet girl for John Morgan in 1984 based in Verbier! This period in my life was one of the best! Certainly up there with the best memories. John Morgan was a great company to work for – fabulous 5* chalets and 5* chalet girls! In my fifties now but still love skiing and being in the mountains. Sad that John Morgan is no more……..
iain says:
May 2, 2014
Great days Linzi – love that feedback.
Rob MOY says:
Aug 21, 2014
Did my first season as a ‘bum’ in ’84 back in the day when you could ‘crash’ in spare chalet beds and on a good week purloin an empty apartment. There was also plenty of ‘cash in hand’ work to be had, unlike today; I made enough money to keep me going all season without having to dip into the meagre savings I had.
Ski Enterprise was part of British Airways Holidays at the time and was the only ski brand for BA, they had three other brands at the time – Sovereign, Flair and the direct sell Martin Rooks. I went on to work for BA Hols for nearly three years doing serial summer and winter seasons.
I left when BA Hols merged with SunMed which became Redwing Holidays, which morphed into the Owners Abroad group (who still kept a whole shelf-full of different brochure brands) before consolidating them all into First Choice.
iain says:
Aug 26, 2014
Great insight there Rob!
Vicky says:
Aug 21, 2014
Q: Why *were* there parrots on the BladonLines brand?! I never knew…
iain says:
Aug 26, 2014
I believe it’s because guests said so often that the red, yellow and blue uniforms looked like them
James Taylor says:
Nov 7, 2018
Why no mention of Ski Lovers , great company . Had my honeymoon in St Johann I’m Pongau in 86
skipresto says:
Feb 8, 2019
I worked as a ski instructor for Skiing Europe, formerly Ski Europe both gone.
But one of the biggest current operators is Interski (Interski.com) that carry 1500 school children per week to the Aosta Valley in NW Italy.
I met a beautiful girl who worked for Beach Villas in Verbier circa 1984
Anyone who wants to meet for a ski? Contact skipresto.com !
iain says:
Feb 8, 2019
Nice one! I worked for Ski Beach Villas in 1994 in Mottaret!
PeeWee says:
Feb 16, 2019
Bladon Lines.
They were based in Putney, just round the corner from Inghams.
I have vague recollections (well, it was a long time ago) that Inghams bought the mailing list, trading name and one or two chalet contracts.
The problem was apparently that Dieter didn’t waant the “risk” of a lot of chalet contracts.
iain says:
Feb 16, 2019
I worked in that office in Putney, but I think it was Supertravel who bought the mail list?
iain says:
Dec 6, 2022
You’re right of course that Inghams bought the Bladon Lines brand (apparently for not very much) in 1995. Lotus (Supertravel) bought the mail list of Supertravel when it went bust
Mary Solomon says:
Jan 15, 2021
I used to work for Ski West as a ski rep in about 1980.I remember somebody called James Parker who used to work for Blue Sky as a ski rep. Anybody know or remember him?
‘Spike’ Johnson says:
Dec 30, 2021
(Bit of an old thread that I found when looking up what happened to Bladon Lines at 5am!).
Having just had a Christmas ski vacation with ‘Le Ski’ cancelled due to Covid/French politics, I can confirm that they too were around back then in Courchevel. I remember as I was a ski guide for them for a season.
Many of the old names I remember well. I also guided for Supertravel the previous year. They had 20+ chalets in Courchevel 1850 alone! Bladon Lines and Ski Whizz, Inghams and later Ski Scott Dunn come to mind from that era.
A few people I knew from back then still live in France now and the more successful of the ones that returned to England now own chalets in the three valleys. Part of that scene never fully left. Good days indeed. Thanks for the memory jog.
Jackie Williams (Brown) says:
Jan 15, 2022
I was just reading through this old thread too! Nice to see a recent comment. I worked for four years as a chalet girl/ski rep/ ski guide for Small World originally, then John Morgan travel. All in the early 80’s – still some of my best memories and the very best of times! Very sad to see how many companies are no longer operating, but it was a long time ago. Sorry to hear your ski holiday was cancelled – and now they’ve opened up again. Very frustrating. Hopefully you will get back in the spring.
iain says:
Jan 16, 2022
Hi Jackie, thanks for your comment. I love hearing about the glory days of British skiing. When I get the time, I will do a special episode of The Ski Podcast (www.theskipodcast.com) on Bladon Lines.
Andrew Johnson says:
Jan 16, 2022
Hi Jackie.
Just read your response. You didn’t say where you worked for those 4 years. That’s a good stretch as a chalet girl. Most only do the one season as you’ll know.
Nice to hear if someone else who didn’t quit.
Spike
Jeff & Jo says:
Feb 3, 2022
I’m in Meribel as I type celebrating my 26th wedding anniversary with my wife. We met in Putney in 1992 on our way out to work for Bladon Lines.
iain says:
Feb 4, 2022
Great story Jeff. I know so many people who met their partners on their seasons. Too late for this year now, but next year I’ll have to do a feature on this in The Ski Podcast (www.theskipodcast.com)
Paul Smith says:
Sep 14, 2022
Chalets were ( and still are) wonderful. I used Bladon Lines for years in Zermatt (1980s): Arnica (A and B), Treize Etoiles, Mazot, Aeschorn. The cheaper chalets meant the ‘girls had far less money for meals, so the wine was rough (but unlimitted), but they always made an excellent meal. Bladon Lines always said they would not make food that could be purchased on the mountain, so no easy spaghetti bolognaise etc. Sometimes I would book the chalet with independent travel, which was never an issue with them.
iain says:
Sep 14, 2022
Great memories. Which years were you going to Zermatt? I worked there as a rep in 1993
Paul Smith says:
Sep 14, 2022
Hi!
In ’93 I was in the Aeschorn gir Christmas and new year.
Juliet says:
Oct 30, 2022
Gosh it’s amazing reading this. I was a chalet girl in Arnica Zermatt some 34 years ago. Great days. Fabulous resort. Bladon Lines days.
Two of the bedrooms were dire and had mini kitchenettes in them. There was never enough hot water for the guests. Normal domestic fridge and cooker and one badly old dishwasher. How we had to improvise on £2.50 per head spend per day all in per guest. The outside balcony served as an extra fridge. The shopping delivery was huge for 24 people every day. I look back and wonder how I did it with a fellow chalet girl who couldn’t cook!
iain says:
Oct 31, 2022
I love all these comments. I worked in Zermatt for Bladon Lines in 1993 and Arnica used to have mice that scurried around between the floors! Horrible sound.
I now present The Ski Podcast (www.theskipodcast.com). I would love to do an episode about Bladon Lines so, if I can find the time, I could be contacting you!
Nicki Fletcher says:
Jan 30, 2023
Came across this thread in a search for Treize Etoiles Chalet in Zermatt where I worked for winter season of ‘93 if I’m not mistaken. Originally from Ireland, flew to London and did my interview with Bladon Lines in Putney! I remember trying to cram all the food into the tiny fridge, the terrible white and red all you can drink plonk, the thermostat that didn’t work properly so the chalet was like a sauna, and the hundreds of baguettes we’d order a week for packed lunches and breakfasts!! My chalet girl colleague Ruth was the best and we’d listen to Bowie’s greatest hits in the kitchen while making dinner. Only did the one season as couldn’t live off the minimum wage and the fact I probably put on 15lbs over the season! Good times though! And the view of the Matterhorn from our window is one I’ll never forget.
iain says:
Jan 30, 2023
Great to hear from you Nicki. You are going to love my article about Bladon Lines, due to come out soon. Will post a link here.
Nicky Campbell (Nicky Anderson now) says:
Mar 26, 2024
Working out when I worked in Zermatt, think was about the same time, maybe in chalet tommy? Just been back for my 30th wedding anniversary, memories around every corner!
Nicky Campbell (Nicky Anderson now) says:
Mar 26, 2024
So I was there season 1988/1989
Punita says:
Oct 6, 2024
Haha I recognize this just all too well.!
I had to use an earthen cellar as the fridge was way too tiny – and I managed to pressure the owners of the Ski whizz company to buy at least a proper freezer..
And how to manage to make a three courses menu when having to make sure to use the little amount of plates, which was a stiff mathematical plan how to manage the different sizes properly as there was no time to wash them between the courses..
Not possible to combine starter and dessert on the same size plates – how to do
And half meter space for preparing all the food – sometimes I had to spread out a clean sheet on the floor to be able to slice the mushrooms..
Did you also have the turkey escalopes with mushroom sauce au gratin?
Seems to have been the standard on the chalet girls menu…
Our poor ski guide had to have it twice a week for half a year – he was crying from having to eat it so often..
But what to do, both me and my colleague couldn’t change our menus due to shortage of plates, and other weekly schedule..
And one of course had to go out every night, as having to spend the night in the crappy bedroom was not an acceptable option, and the chalet was supposed to be just for the guests..
And one still had to be up before 7 o’clock to prepare poached eggs – nightmare..
And I was a vegetarian, and had to cook cordon bleu meat dishes..
I had to become a master of delicious sauces, to get away with it…
But, the skiing, and the night life was worth it all..
John says:
Nov 1, 2022
I believe that I became the world’s first chalet boy at the age of 28. I was at a loose end after returning to Scotland from Australia in the autumn of 1988 when I saw a BLadon Lines’ ad in the Scotsman for “chalet staff”. Bladon Lines knocked me back. They wanted girls but couldn’t say so because of the sexual discrimination act. I called them out and, credit to BL, they created a new position with the unflattering title of “Resort Floater”. This got me to Val d’Isere for the season with a stint in Obergurgl and a lot of fun filling in when crises struck: broken legs, broken hearts, inadmissible activities with the guests, etc.
iain says:
Nov 2, 2022
I love these stories. I really need to do my planned podcast about Bladon Lines!
Lesley Glass says:
Dec 5, 2022
Hello Iain. What A trip down memory lane this thread has proved to be! I hope you do a podcast on Bladon Lines one day. I was a ski guide in La Plagne with them 1984 to 86. I have old brochures, splashdown jackets ( great to see that posting) Tour of the pistes and ski guide programmes etc . Memories of transfer days, and all those different companies mentioned. From there, I carried on in the travel world, segueing into academia with a masters in tourism as a tourism lecturer, eventually a doctorate in education and a position in university academic management for years to date. Interesting where starting as a ski guide can take you. Husband, children and grandchildren all love skiing, and especially in La Plagne. Happy days!
Freddie Bladon says:
Dec 9, 2022
Hi Lesley – great fun reading all these comments from everyone that was involved with Bladon Lines! i always enjoy hearing the stories from my father Simon who started it.
On a side note, i couldn’t tempt you to part with any of your Jackets, marketing material etc. Dad kept very little when he sold, and i always enjoy trying to track these items down.
Lesley says:
Dec 11, 2022
Hi Freddie,
I expect your father had some wonderful stories! Happy to send you photos – couldn’t bear to part with the actual history though.
Very best wishes
Lesley
Stuart Perry says:
Feb 21, 2024
Hi Freddie, I have brochures from the 80s somewhere in my records. I’ll dig out and let you know what I have, might take some time though.
Freddie Bladon says:
Feb 21, 2024
That would be very kind, thanks Stuart!
iain says:
Dec 9, 2022
Hi Lesley. I don’t want to buy your BL kit, but I’d love a photo of it, if that’s possible. Especially the brochures and jackets. Putting together an article for The Ski Club right now! Best email is iain@skipedia.co.uk. Regards Iain
Freddie Bladon says:
Dec 9, 2022
Iain, we have a few bits and pieces. I will send you though some photos on Monday.
iain says:
Dec 6, 2022
Great story John. Groundbreaker for equal rights (for men!)
Peter Hallewell says:
Jul 31, 2023
Very late to this thread!
I worked for Bladon Lines in Avoriaz, 1983/4 and 1984/5. In the summer of 1984 I ran the Blazon Lines operation on Corfu, at Hotel Pyrgi. I still have my Blazon Lines ‘Event’ parrot suit which I can still fit into — just!
I met my wife in Avoriaz. She was working as a chalet girl for Supertravel. She also ran the catering at Hotel Pyrgi in the summer of 1984.
Since 1989 I have been running the TOCC operation at Geneva Airport, but this winter, 2023/4 will be my last full time winter at the airport, but I may continue in some sort of part-time rôle.
iain says:
Jul 31, 2023
Great to hear from you Peter. Welcome to the Bladon Lines appreciation society!
Catherine Lloyd says:
Aug 28, 2023
Late to the thread…
I worked for Ski West in Courchevel for a couple of years. Then found a job in the newsagents in 1850 – have some amazing memories and an old Ski West brochure. The photographer stayed with us for a little while, can’t remember his name. My first season coincided with the Albertville Olympics and Eddie the Eagle also stayed with us.
iain says:
Aug 28, 2023
Great memories!
Andrew Johnson says:
Aug 28, 2023
Hi Catherine.
I was also there that season and remember Ski West well. Do you ever remember a legendary ski bum called Gordon? The Ski West chalet girls used to look after him I believe. He lived in a snow coffin in the woods (because a heavy snowfall ruined his tent) one year somewhere around then.
Spike.
Louise says:
Aug 31, 2023
My 1st ski season as a chalet girl was 1983-84 for Bladon Lines in Crans Montana, I went on to work in La Plagne for John Morgan followed by another in Verbier & Zermatt. I have just returned from a 24 hr visit to Crans & it has changed beyond recognition. Our chalet La Touletta no longer stands, replaced by a multi storied chalet but with the same name! As we approach 40 years since, I consider some of my best friends to still be from those fun seasons working, laughing,& skiing together.
I wore my parrot jacket with pride taking it round the world with me. I remember skiing in Falls Creek, Australia for the season & someone shouting ‘ there’s a parrot from the ski lift’ it was very recognisable!
Too many stories to list, but the love of the mountains has stayed with me & I have been lucky enough to call the french alpes home for 21 years!!
Lesley says:
Feb 13, 2025
Hello Louise- I believe I may remember you from La Plagne 1984 to 1985 season? I was a ski Guide for Bladon Lines working with Kathy and Annie. Other names from that season that spring to mind include Clare and Sheridan from Thomsons, Roger from Crystal, Angela from Peter Stuyvesant travel, Steve from Enterprise, Teleri from Ski TC – there was a whole crowd of reps, ski guides and the like in La Plagne. I write this on the way to a multigenerational holiday to Les Arcs ( yes we’ve been grandparents picking up at ski school for over a decade now) How time flies!
Stuart Perry says:
Feb 19, 2024
Hello Iain, a wonderful read that has bought back loads of memories. For context, I arrived in London in October 1983, a 27 year old New Zealander. I found Bladon Lines, (how?, perhaps from The Sloane Ranger Diary) and booked a three week ski holiday in Jan 1984, L’eau Vive Chalet hotel in Val D’Isere, Chalet Rauch in St Anton, & lastly Budget Chalet Les Glaciers in Verbier. A wonderful introduction to skiing in the Alps. Over the next 7 years i did at least yearly ski trips with either Bladon Lines or Supertravel. Never had a bad experience with either company. Special mention to John Yates-Smith, BL’s major domo who helped me navigate the self transfers between Val, St Anton & Verbier.
Aldo says:
Mar 20, 2024
I did my first ski season with Mark Warner in 89/90, cheffing at the well known Hotel Moris in Val D’Isere. Funny as I remember it being a virtually snowless season. So much for global warming being a new thing! Matt Chilton was my manager and we all know what he went on to become. In 90/91 I worked for Supertravel in Verbier. Snowed virtually every day from start to finish. That was the season they went bust and we all finished with no wages. I remember wondering if it was my fault, as I’d really pushed the boat out on the food budget! 91/92 was Ski Olympic in Les Coches. A great company to work for and nice to see them still going. My last season was with Ski Jeanie in Meribel. Another great little company to work for. It was a fantastic era for the catered chalet. All these years on and the passion never dies. And as we were all skiing on 2metre plus planks, these much shorter carving ski’s are a doddle for an old duffer like me.
Kerrie says:
Aug 9, 2024
I did my first ever ski season and saw snow for the first time (I’m from Perth Australia) in 1988 working as a chalet girl in Les Deux Alpes for Ski McG. I loved it. The chalet was in a complex called Le Village. On a Wednesday (our day off) we could get an early coach to Alpe D’Huez and ski there for the day. I have such wonderful memories of those days and can’t believe how I managed the intensity of the work load plus get out on the mountain to ski daily. I loved it so much that I stayed around Europe to do a second season at Murren with Ski Whizz in a chalet called Haus am Fesli (probaby not correctly spelt. I got to ski the Schilthorn!! If I recall correctly Ski McG ‘folded’ half way through the Les Deux Alpes season and was taken over by Ski Whizz. The biggest issue for the chalet girls was getting the afternoon tea cake to rise. Most of the chalet girls had a yoghurt cake recipe that was a success. I remember having to stretch the budget to feed each guest for under 2.50 a day. Met many great people, some I still keep in touch with.
Fiona says:
Aug 29, 2024
Hi, anyone else here work at Hotel Pyrgi in Corfu in 1985 ?
I’m Fiona and worked in the bar alongside Martin, Steve and Sharky.
Shared a room with water sports instructor Katie. Other water sports team were Gordon and Amanda, Tracey.
Cooks were Foo, Jane, Clare, Caroline.
Hotel manager was Martin.
We had such fun and I still visit Corfu for holidays now with my family. Just a shame that we didn’t have Facebook in those days so we could keep in touch ! Would love to hear anyone’s reminiscences.
Fiona Parkhouse says:
Aug 30, 2024
Iain, do you have any photos/brochures of the Bladon Lines Beach Clubs by any chance ? When I worked at Hotel Pyrgi in Corfu in 1985, I distinctly remember a photographer coming to do a photoshoot for the next seasons brochure, so would be lovely to see any old photos ! Thank you. Fiona – Hotel Pyrgi beach bar 1985
Fiona Parkhouse says:
Aug 30, 2024
Iain, do you have any photos/brochures of the Bladon Lines Beach Clubs by any chance ? When I worked in Corfu in 1985, I distinctly remember a photographer coming to do a photoshoot for the next seasons brochure, so would be lovely to see any old photos ! Thank you. Fiona
iain says:
Aug 30, 2024
I don’t I’m afraid. Maybe someone else who’s commenteed here will. I did recently interview John Yates-Smith, who ran the Valinco in Corsica. That interview will come to The Ski Podcast (www.theskipodcast.com) later this year.
Victoria clay says:
Jan 6, 2025
John Yates smith, now there is a name
I worked for Bladon lines in 1988 for 3 seasons
I also worked in Corsica in the villas under Wendy.
They were the best years.
Loved it
Often look at my photos.
What happened to Jane Thornton?
Vicky Clay.
iain says:
Jan 6, 2025
Love that comment Vicky. Coincidentally, I just interviewed JYS for The Ski Podcast. You can listen here
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hCgY5KUI1vd0aeSOIGTXE
https://theskipodcast.com/resorts/val-disere/231-john-yates-smith-yse-ski-50-years-in-val-disere/
Susie says:
Feb 12, 2025
Does anybody remember a company called Just Ski? I worked for them in Courchevel 89/90ish, they also had hotels in Les Deux Alpes and I think Montgenevre. Towards the end of the last season they were taken up by David Winter Travel which meant we spent many of the weeks of the season in empty hotels with no guests (which was wonderful) the ski suit was pink yellow and grey, it was so cool. I wish I still had it. Anyone remember Just Ski?
iain says:
Feb 12, 2025
I do remember ‘Just France’, which must be the same company. Just shared this on Twitter
https://x.com/skipedia/status/1889665367254990943
Andrew Johnson says:
Feb 12, 2025
Hi Susie.
I did my first season in Montgenevre. And yes, I remember Just Ski. I worked for a company called Schoolplan who did ski trips for schools in a large hotel in the centre. Just Ski staff used to come in to the local bars/nightclubs too.
That was my first season. The next was Courchevel 1850. And again, they were there too along with Ski Whizz, Bladon Lines, maybe Ski Scott Dunn? (But that might have been later) etc. That season I was a ski guide for Lotus Supertravel who were huge in Courchevel at the time.
Good days indeed. We had the best of times back then.
Susie says:
Feb 12, 2025
Great memories indeed!
Jacki says:
Feb 15, 2025
Hi Lesley
I remember all those names well. I worked with Louise Moore for ski west in la plagne at that time. Also worked with you in the summer selling sailing holidays from London. Great times and we are lucky enough to have a place in la Plagne now -can’t tear myself away after all these years!
Great to hear everyone still skiing.
Jacki