Lesley McKenna

Lesley McKenna is a 3-time Olympic snowboarder, winter mountain leader, and co-founder of Wander Workshops. She has been a trailblazing figure in the world of professional snowboarding, making a lasting impact, not just through her impressive performances on the slopes but also by advocating for greater recognition and opportunities for women in snowboarding. Lesley is the co-founder of Wandering Workshops, which she set up to help make the outdoors a more accessible space. She now spends her time leading people in the backcountry on skis and snowboards around the Cairngorms whilst working as a coach developer and studying for her Ph.D. at Leeds Beckett University in the area of ethics in sport.

Jens - Stomp It Tutorials

Jens has been helping skiers of all ages develop and learn new skills for over ten years. With his channel Stomp It Tutorials, Jens creates accessible content to encourage people to ski better and step into freestyle skiing.

Jens is from Skellefteå, and now lives and enjoys the mountain life in Films, Switzerland, near to the ski resorts of Laax and Disentis.

Charlie Guest

Gigi Rüf

Christian ‘Gigi’ Rüf is an Austrian professional snowboarder known for his unique style and creativity. He is most famous for his film segments, having filmed extensively with Absinthe films, Kingpin productions and The Pirates. Gigi also has a comprehensive competition record, with podiums in X Games Real Snow, Super- and Ultranatural and featuring in the 2023 Natural Selection Duels.

Gigi’s expertise aren’t just limited to his talent on the board. He has long-term experience working with brands to curate and fine tune the equipment that makes it to the stores. Since 2012, he has been the founder and brand owner of Slash snowboards, creating an award-winning line of snowboards which celebrate the highest-production standards, progression and individuality.

Make sure to stop by the Snowboard Asylum stand to check out the Slash offering.

Darren Edwards

Darren Edwards’s life has been defined by persistence, resilience and change. Few people can talk with Darren’s authority and honesty about how to positively, and successfully, face uncertainty and fear. A gifted storyteller, by turns inspiring, likeable and candid, he explores practical solutions to challenging situations through the lens of his remarkable story.

After a time in the armed forces, and pursuing his mountaineering passion, Darren trained as a teacher. Shortly after qualifying, he was climbing in North Wales when the ledge he stood on fell away, and he plunged over 100 feet. Lucky to survive, he broke his back in two places, severing his spinal cord. Darren was paralysed from the chest down. As well as dealing with the trauma of his new circumstances, he faced a gruelling rehabilitation regime and an uncertain future.

Within days of leaving hospital, Darren found purpose. Determined to return to his outdoor adventures, he bought a kayak and took to the water for the first time. It was the start of a series of adventures that saw him kayak the length of Britain with fellow ex-servicemen and become the first wheelchair user to complete the 777 challenge – seven marathons on seven continents over seven days. Later this year, he will sit-ski across Antarctica to the South Pole,

As well as challenging himself physically and mentally, redefining what he, and others, thought possible, Darren also embraces a passion for entrepreneurialism. Driven by his desire to make a difference and help others, he launched Adaptive Expeditions, a company that organises adventures that encourage disabled people to push their boundaries.

Grounded in the training and mindset acquired in the forces, and illustrated by his own experiences, Darren explains you don’t need to experience extremes to build resilience. That everyday pressures can be just as challenging as tackling any mountain or terrain. He shares the lessons he’s learned from facing the unknown head-on. He considers how to remain positive and focused in the face of difficulties. He delivers real-world examples of how to empower individuals and teams, and how to uncover your own leadership style.

Dave Ryding

Benji Alexander

Benjamin Alexander spent the majority of the last decade on the road as an esteemed international DJ, resident for the quintessential Burning Man brand; Robot Heart. After retiring from nightlife in late 2018 his mind shifted to what challenge would motivate and drive the next chapter of his life. Obviously, it would be ski racing at the Olympics, right?

A late-comer to skiing, starting at the age of 32, Benjamin went full force on his deep dive into the sport. His first lesson on a mountain was in 2016, but it was 2018 where he got the opportunity to ski a dozen mountains on three continents, both hemispheres, and be a spectator at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea when things clicked. Noticing that his father’s nation of Jamaica had only three athletes in attendance for the games, and no skiers, a kernel of an idea was formed.

In January of 2019 Benjamin moved to Revelstoke, BC, Canada for six weeks of training and left that period with a “decade’s worth of skiing under his belt!” Not only did he ski over 1200 miles, over 1.7 million vertical feet, and set a mountain record for the most vertical feet skied in a single day (103,351′) but most importantly he built the confidence in the feasibility of his lofty goal of getting to the next winter Olympics in 2022 as the first alpine skier to represent Jamaica.

Bode Miller

With six Olympic and five World Championship medals, 33 World Cup wins, 79 podiums and two World Cup overall globes, Bode Miller is easily the most successful male alpine skier in U.S. history. Through his career Miller encouraged innovation and inspired generations of fans across the world through his brave, risk-taking style.

Miller is one of only a handful of skiers to have won World Cup events in every discipline, from slalom to downhill. Winning bronze in the super-G at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Miller added to his extensive list of records by becoming the oldest Alpine skiing medallist in the history of the Games.

Outside of his professional ski racing, Bode is a keen sportsman. He is also engaged in supporting youth and adaptive sports programmes, through his non-profit Turtle Ridge Foundation.

Miller was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2018, who recognised his role in revolutionizing the ski world with his unprecedented success.

Neil 'Nine Lives' Campbell

When Neil Campbell was growing up he never thought he’d become a professional snowboarder. Growing up in Luton, he found himself getting into trouble in his younger years and was subsequently sent to prison at just 19 years old. On getting out, Neil vowed to turn his life around and he did just that, thanks to snowboarding.

Known to all as ‘Nine Lives’, Neil needed to fast track his riding to keep up with professional snowboarders and would copy whatever anyone else would do, having skipped the fundamentals along the way. He gained a reputation as the snowboarder with the most unorthodox style and trick list and – most importantly – his uncanny ability to always land on his feet, avoiding crashes that would end a normal person’s season, hence the nickname.

To keep the dream alive Neil would build and shape his local snow park in Milton Keynes and go on to work out in Austria and Switzerland. Last year along with Adidas Terrex ‘How did snowboarding change my life” was released a short documentary of Neil’s Journey.

Iain Martin

Iain Martin is presenter of the award-winning ‘The Ski Podcast’ and founder of the lobby campaign ‘Ski Flight Free’. His parents met in a ski resort, he first skied at 4-years-old and has now been working in the ski industry for over 30 years.

Aimee Fuller

Aimee Fuller is a two-time Team GB Winter Olympian, broadcaster and sport and media personality. As a professional snowboarder she made history at the X Games by becoming the first woman ever to land a double backflip in competition. After years of competing in sport at the highest level, finishing top 3 in the overall World Cup Big Air Standings, Aimee shifted her infectious energy into her broadcasting career.

Aimee hosts regular features for the BBC’s Ski Sunday, presents live TV across sport for the BBC, Red Bull TV, and the Olympic channel. In 2022 she has been one of the lead presenters for the BBC’s Winter Olympic Coverage, fronting shows like Winter Olympics Extra.

Aimee’s zest for life and energy is continually channelled through her work, showcased in the documentary Running in North Korea and as a host for her weekly podcast Monday Mile as well as her very own series with BBC Sounds – The Olympic Mile and Winter Olympic Mile.

Drawing on her broadcasting expertise, Aimee is an excellent Event Host and an inspirational, Motivational Speaker, enthusing audiences, as she shares the secrets that made her a two-time Olympian.

Tim Warwood

Tim Warwood is the current British snowboard slalom champion; due mainly to the fact that they disbanded the event the year after he won!

Tim has been commentating on snowboarding events worldwide since the age of 16! He is a regular contributor to BBC 2’s Ski Sunday show and is also a BBC Olympic commentator and reporter for all the action sports disciplines. He presents the Red Bull snow sports live productions and is a regular voice on Free Radio in Birmingham having been the former breakfast show host.

Tord Nilson

Tord’s years of experience in the British ski industry make him the ideal host for the National Snow Show’s Skills Cabin. Come here for all gear, technique and training queries from our informed guest speakers and omniscient host.

Tord has worked for over a decade in the British ski industry working with brands such as Volkl, Dalbello, Salomon and Atomic with their marketing activations through his company Iconic Agency. Alongside this, he also presents The Ski Racing Podcast Extra on YouTube and is also on the committee of the SIGB, the trade association of the Snowsports Industries in the UK.

Jenny Jones

Jenny is the UK’S most globally respected and successful professional snowboarder. Since bursting onto the scene as a precociously talented teenager in 1999, she has won countless big air and slopestyle competitions – including three x-games gold medals in a row between 2009 and 2010 – and starred in some of the biggest shred movies of the last decade.

Jenny’s success is all the more remarkable given the lack of natural snowboarding terrain in the UK. A gymnast growing up, she learned to ride on a plastic dry slope before heading to France to pursue the sport full time, funding her season by working in a chalet. These days she spends most of her year on the road, chasing the winter from Europe and North America to the Southern Alps of New Zealand.

Jenny is known for pulling off super technical spins over the biggest of jumps, combining an uncanny natural balance with a strong will to succeed (this same determination has seen her come back from several career threatening injuries). But while she is feared as a competitor, Jenny is known for her humble attitude and bubbly sense of humour, making her hands down one of the most loved characters on the women’s snowboard circuit.

Chemmy Alcott

Widely regarded as one of Britain’s greatest ever skiers, 4 x Olympian, and Ski Sunday presenter Chemmy is the perfect person to host the Snow stage. Catch her here all weekend as her and Scott deliver an insane schedule of speakers.

In a time where competing at a Winter Olympics was unusual for a British athlete, Chemmy defied the odds and pioneered a skiing movement that has inspired a generation. Resulting in not just skiers, but British Winter Sport athletes as a whole seeing the Winter Olympics as a realistic and achievable goal.

Since retiring from competing on the world stage after The Sochi Olympics in 2014, Chemmy has immersed herself in the world of TV & media, where she now presents for the BBC on Ski Sunday and commentates on the World Cup Ski Series for Eurosport amongst being a guest on many other show. Furthermore, she competed in ITV Dancing on Ice in 2012, where she finished 5^th.

In addition to her TV commitments and hosting events and despite retiring, Chemmy continues to constantly push her body to the limit, competing in multiple physical challenges including the World’s Toughest Ski Race in Greenland, the 100-mile road race in London and climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, raising over £800,000 for charity in the process.

Charity work is very important to Chemmy, where she acts as an active ambassador for Right to Play, Ski4Cancer, SnowCamp and United Learning. She has visited multiple under-developed countries such as Rwanda and Tanzania, raising money for areas of conflict resolution and also to promote sport and play to educate ‘over one million children in some of the world’s poorest communities.’

Chemmy is an inspiration to all, having broken 49 bones in her life including her neck aged 11. She is no stranger to adversity and remains committed to inspiring the next generation and educating people from all over the world through sport. Most notably, she created the ‘X-Elle’ scheme, which aims to develop girl’s confidence through sport. Part of her passion involves travelling the world, visiting countries such as Dubai and New Zealand, in addition to her travel across the UK, telling her story and inspiring others. From school pupils to businesses, she helps give them the confidence to create big dreams and do everything humanly possible to achieve them.

In 2018, Chemmy became a well-loved BBC Winter Olympic Sport Commentator. She was enthusiastic, empathetic and gave a unique insight into the games that only someone who has been through the experience as an athlete could give.

Currently Chemmy is presenting BBC Ski Sunday, and looking after her two young boys.

Warren Smith

Warren is one of Britain’s leading professional free skiers and an Internationally Qualified Performance Coach and Instructor. He has been a sponsored Volkl freeski athlete for over 10 years and has represents brands such as Scott Sport, Swiss Airlines and Dalbello.

He has spent many years teaching recreational skiers, developing ski instructors and coaching athletes all over Europe. He is one of the most innovative instructors working in the Alps today and has earned a name for himself for the constant research and development he carries out combining Ski Technique, Ski Biomechanics and Ski Physiology.

Here’s what former England Rugby Captain, Lawrence Dallaglio has to say about Warren’s coaching. “Warren’s coaching method is something I really responded to. It was tough but really effective, a bit like a boot camp, but an enjoyable one. I’ve had so much coaching throughout my rugby career that when I met Warren I quickly realised I had struck gold, his philosophy and teaching methods are different gravy”

He has written, directed and produced the best selling ski technique DVDs, Ski Academy – Lesson’s 1, 2, 3 + 4 which have sold over 35,000 copies globally to date. In 2007 he finished writing an international book titled ‘Go Ski’ for DK Books. DK are part of the Penguin Books Group and the book was published in several languages including French, German, Italian and Spanish to name but a few. The book has now had over 100,000 copies printed around the world and has given Warren an international reputation in the world of ski coaching.

His ski technique and coaching methods are viewed all over the world with his online technique live video clips at

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/skiing-videos/10302346/Ski-technique-series-Unlock-your-powder-potential.html