My Skiing Journey: From Novice to Ski instructor and CarveCast Creator in one year!
My Skiing Journey: From Novice to Level 2 Instructor and CarveCast Creator in Just One Year
My skiing journey began in December 2022 with a two-hour tester session in Grindelwald, Switzerland. At the time, I had no idea that this small taste of the mountains would grow into one of the most transformative passions of my life. That first experience—just a couple of hours on skis—was enough to leave me completely hooked. The beauty of the mountains, the rush of sliding across snow, and the crisp Alpine air planted the seed for what would become a full-on obsession.
Realizing I wanted to do this properly, I planned a full ski holiday to Grindelwald for December 2023 to January 2024, bringing along my wife Jade, our daughter Lyla, and our best friend Holly. My amazing parents joined too—not to ski, but to enjoy the mountain charm from the trains and lifts. Nothing beats having them with us. That trip marked the true beginning of my journey. I was in love with the mountains, the skiing lifestyle, and the community that came with it. It quickly became clear that this wasn’t just a casual interest—it was the start of something much bigger.
Building the Foundation: Chatham Dry Slope & Landgraaf
Wanting to be somewhat capable on skis before our family trip, we began fortnightly practice in October 2023 at Chatham Dry Slope in the UK. It was there I met John and Saskia, who guided us with patience and passion. John, who also owns The Ski Shack, was instrumental in helping us with equipment and technique—especially Lyla, who really grew in confidence thanks to his guidance.
From there, I was relentless. In December 2023, I headed to Landgraaf, an indoor snow dome in the Netherlands, followed by two days in Winterberg, Germany. These early international trips helped me develop a feel for real snow, allowing me to compare indoor practice to outdoor skiing.
I returned to Landgraaf in January 2024, then again throughout summer 2024—June, July, August, and September—with my closest circle: Jade, Lyla, Holly, Molly, Yasmin, Nicole, and Jodie. We trained constantly. No off-season, no excuses—just focused, fun-filled practice sessions on snow every month.
March 2024 – Zermatt & SkiCoachingOnline
A major turning point came in March 2024 when I travelled to Zermatt to train with Steve Jones and Harry from SkiCoachingOnline, a YouTube channel I’d been watching religiously. This week of intensive coaching honed my carving, control, and confidence. Steve and Harry’s coaching style clicked with me immediately—it was analytical, encouraging, and technical.
The very next month, in April 2024, I returned to Zermatt to ski with Jason Wright, another well-known skiing YouTuber. We’d met online and built a great rapport. Skiing together on the expansive runs of Matterhorn Paradise solidified our friendship and pushed my technique to the next level. Jason continued to support me religiously and im extremely grateful for all his positivity and help.
Spring and Summer 2024 – Committed Year-Round
I didn’t stop. In May 2024, I celebrated my birthday week (May 26) with an unforgettable trip to Zermatt—joined by Holly, Jade, Lyla, and my parents. Even in late May, we were blessed with incredible snow and skied across to Cervinia, Italy, down to Plan Maison. That’s the kind of spring skiing that’s nearly impossible to find anywhere else.
In 2024, I took part in early morning sessions at Hemel Hempstead indoor dome, alternating early Sundays with friends and family. We kept up the tradition for months—always ending with a roast or fry-up at Windmill Café. It became one of my favorite parts of the rhythm of life that year.
September & October 2024 – Vows, Glaciers & Training
In September, I renewed my vows with Jade at the English Church in Zermatt. Then, we skied at the top of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise—in our wedding outfits. It was cinematic, symbolic, and just… perfect.
In October, I travelled to Kitzsteinhorn, Austria, to ski the glacier with Andy from Snow Camps Europe. The scenery was epic, but more than that, the technical terrain and early snow offered another step in my development—especially leading into the winter season.
November to December 2024 – A Full Month in Zermatt
From late November to mid-December, I spent a full month in Zermatt doing a Stomp It Training Camp—a well-known program from YouTube. The daily coaching, video analysis, and camaraderie on the mountain made it one of the most rewarding ski trips of my life. In the final week, ten of my friends joined me for a full ski week. It was the perfect way to celebrate how far we’d all come.
After Zermatt, I went to Verbier with Jason Wright again. This time we skied not as student and coach, but as friends. No pressure, just carving and laughs on some of the best snow in Switzerland. We also filmed alot of videos for his online training.
Christmas 2024 – Metabief, Gstaad & Grindelwald with the Family
After Christmas, we packed the Transit van, took the Eurotunnel, and hit the road: Metabief, then Gstaad, and finally Grindelwald for New Year’s. I was joined by Holly, Molly, Jade, and Lyla—plus my parents, my sister Jeni, her husband Mike, and their kids Bobby and Sophie.
It was a milestone trip for many of them—it was their first time skiing. Watching them fall in love with the sport, just like I had, meant everything. We saw in the New Year at après in Grindelwald, and it honestly felt like a full-circle moment.
January & February 2025 – Anniversary & Progress
At the end of January, Jade and I celebrated our 18th anniversary with a trip to Alpe d’Huez and Sainte Foy, followed by a week in Les Arcs. It was our second time in Alpe D’Huez, and we loved every minute. Remembering that the year before we really struggled. Even on greens and now we were flying down reds and blacks. Then onto les arcs. The snow was pristine, the food was incredible, and we bonded over skiing like never before.
March 2025 – My Ski Odyssey Begins
In March 2025, I went all-in. I drove out in my Ford Transit Custom and spent over two weeks skiing across France, Italy, and Switzerland before meeting up with my family and friends.
My March 2025 itinerary included:
• Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz
• Val d’Isère & Tignes
• Les Arcs & Sainte Foy
• Pila for the GB Ski Test – testing new skis and connecting with brands like Ski Exchange
• Courchevel and Val d’Isère again before settling in Brides-les-Bains
• From March 18 to 23, I skied the entire 3 Vallées with Jade, Lyla, Holly, Molly, and Jodie.
That trip was the culmination of everything I’d worked for. Confidence, style, and technique all clicked into place.
April & May 2025 – Level 2 Instructor Exam and Moguls
Coming up in April 2025, I’ll be heading to Hintertux, Austria, to sit my IASI Level 2 Ski Instructor exam. After passing Level 1 in September 2024 at Hemel Hempstead, this is the next step in formalizing everything I’ve learned.
Then in May, I return to Hintertux for a week of mogul skiing with Geri Tumbasz, one of the most respected mogul trainers in Europe. I’ve done some mogul work before with Coach Ali, but real snow, real terrain, and a top-level coach like Geri will take it to a new level.
Warren Smith, Gareth & Coaching Diversity
Somewhere between all this, I also trained with Gareth from Warren Smith Ski Academy. We did focused work on short turns and precision, and his coaching had a massive impact on how I viewed slope tactics. We’ve stayed in touch, and he’s been one of the most influential voices in my journey.
Sharing the Journey – CarveCast & @mrthaibox
Skiing isn’t just something I do now—it’s part of who I am. I wanted to share what I’ve learned and build a community of like-minded skiers. That’s why in February 2025, I launched CarveCast, my very own podcast and YouTube channeldedicated to skiing.
On CarveCast, I cover everything from gear reviews and ski hacks to hidden resort gems and interviews with expert skiers and coaches. It’s grown faster than I expected, and the feedback has been phenomenal. I’ve done episodes with friends like Holly and Jade, and there’s so much more coming.
You can also follow my ski adventures on TikTok: @mrthaibox where I post videos, updates, reviews, and mountain moments as they happen.
From Tester to Teacher
Looking back, it’s hard to believe this all started with a two-hour tester session in Grindelwald. In less than two years, I’ve skied in over 25 resorts across Europe, trained with some of the best coaches, launched a podcast, and prepared to become a Level 2 ski instructor.
Skiing has changed my life. It’s given me confidence, community, and a creative outlet. I can’t wait for what’s next—and I hope my story inspires others to start carving their own paths too.
See you on the slopes!