Derek Tate
BASS CHAMONIX
Derek Has always aspired to live and work in the Chamonix Valley.
Principle Author of Parallel Dreams Alpine Skiing and co Author of Ski Instructors Handbook, Teaching Tools & Techniques
BASI ISTD (British Association of Snowsport Instructors, International Snowsports Teacher Diploma) with full French Equivalence
Coach at Parallel Dreams Coaching
Trainer & Tutor for UK & Irish training & award bodies
I began skiing quite late in life, at the age of seventeen but was always a very keen sports person. I grew up in Dublin and in those days skiing was not a big thing in Ireland! Football, Karate and Athletics were very much my sports. However I was introduced to skiing through my school and enjoyed a couple of trips to Bulgaria, joined the Ski Club of Ireland, started skiing regularly at the dry ski slope and never looked back…..
20+ years later I am still totally in love with the sport and “life in the mountains”. During that time I have been involved in racing, race coaching, ski school, instructor training and have taught just about everything from 4 year olds to top level instructors. I have been lucky enough to work in many countries around the world including the USA, France and of course Scotland to name but a few.
During those 20 years of ski teaching I also fell in love with Chamonix and now this has become my home and the base for our ski school. Every day I spend in the Chamonix Valley I like to stop and take in the awesome scenery and I know that I chose both the right career and one of the best places in the world to live and work.
Before starting BASS Chamonix with my wife and co-director in season 2004, I worked in Courchevel for three seasons and before that managed an artificial ski slope in the UK for four years. I love working in all aspects of the sport and have been heavily involved over the years in training and assessing ski instructors. I am currently Head of Training for the Irish Association of Snowsport Instructors, a Tutor for Snowsport Scotland and a Trainer for the British Association of Snowsport Instructors.
I look forward to meeting you this season and sharing with you my passion for skiing and the mountains and where could be better than the home of skiing – Chamonix!
