Wadhurst Brand Store Customer Q&A!

Simon Everitt is a loyal customer of our Wadhurst Brand Store who spends his winters working as a Telemark ski instructor in the Alps. Simon’s job requires kit he can rely on in the very worst of Alpine weather, which is why he chooses Páramo to keep him warm, dry and comfortable on the slopes. We wanted to get to know Simon a little better so please read on for our Q&A with him…

 

How old were you when you first started skiing and was it challenging to learn a new skill?

I started skiing when I was 18 at university. There was a ski club which went to the now closed dryslope at Hilllingdon every Wednesday afternoon.  After I’d finished university I found a job in Middlesex, so started my instructor journey at Hillingdon too.  I started Telemark skiing in Scotland when the local Nordic shop gave a free day’s hire – not instruction, to any instructors who wanted a go.  Leather boots, skinny long skis – it was carnage!  Telemark skiing adds a lunge to everything that you do on alpine skis, so there is never a time to stop learning.

 

What is your favourite Páramo gear to wear while on the slopes and why? Also, how do you look after it?

I really like my Enduro Jacket – it’s light, waterproof and comfortable. Enduro Salopettes are also very durable and easy to keep waterproof. But my favourite item of Páramo clothing would have to be the Cascada Jacket I bought in 1996 – still going strong, if a little shabby now.

To keep them all performing, I use Nikwax® Tech Wash® and TX.Direct® products. All my ski wear gets a couple of treatments each winter.

 

As someone who uses Páramo for their job, can you tell us how important it is to have the right kit to keep you safe and comfortable whilst skiing?

I want to be able to give all my attention to my clients, it’s their wellbeing I want to worry about. So, my clothing needs to be comfortable, waterproof and windproof, and something I don’t have to think or worry about.  One of the great things about Páramo is that it’s very easy to move in.

 

How do you feel about the effects of climate change on the skiing industry?

It’s all too easy in the high mountains to see the effects of climate change. Glaciers are visibly retreating each year, and the weather is becoming less predictable. Last winter, for 7 days, it rained at over 2000m.

 

Where is your favourite place to ski and why?

Easy! My favourite place to ski is wherever I have skis on, be that the dry slope at Bowles Outdoor Centre in Royal Tunbridge Wells or in the mountains.  We did manage a little ski tour on the South Downs Way above Alfriston when we last had snow, and there’s good skiing alongside the sledges at Pell Hill near Wadhurst Church.

 

Have you ever encountered any dangerous moments while out skiing and what advice would you give to people to avoid dangers as much as possible?

I’ve had plenty of exciting moments but right now I worry mostly about the weather and it’s impact on the snow – we seem to have warm, wet and windy weather very frequently, which makes conditions off the piste much less stable than in the past. With less snow coverage, pistes get busier – the FIS code of conduct describes your responsibility as a snow sports enthusiast.

 

You are a loyal customer of our Wadhurst Brand Store, how have you found your experience of it?

The local store is great! Very good choice of Páramo products, with knowledgeable and friendly staff. The village probably has more Páramo wearers than anywhere else in the country!

 

If you are a Wadhurst, Ringwood, London, Keswick or Fort William Brand Store Customer and would like to contribute to a future Loyalty Card Newsletter, please get in touch with your nearest store to express your interest – our Brand Store Managers are extremely helpful and friendly, and they look forward to hearing from you 😊