© BASS
© BASS Les Deux Alpes
© BASS Les Deux Alpes
© BASS Les Deux Alpes
© BASS Les Deux Alpes
© BASS Les Deux Alpes
Rod Frazer: Director of BASS Les Deux Alpes
It's all about the skiing.. and the odd stop-off for coffee of course
Winter is well and truly here in Les Deux Alpes, snow's been falling thick and fast and many of you will have already booked your ski holiday, or are in the process of planning it and booking in for some ski lessons. As many of you know, finding the right ski school with the right instructors is crucial not only to the enjoyment of your lessons & your holiday, but also how you progress and how you take your skiing or snowboarding forward after you've learnt.
Rod Frazer has spent give or take twenty years in Deux Alpes, and knows all too well the importance of getting the right balance of fun, information, skills and challenges into ski lessons. This year he's joined forces with BASS to offer coaching and lessons to people of all abilities - don't just think that lessons are for beginners, everyone can benefit from refresher courses and learning new skills under the guidance of an experienced instructor!
We've taken Rod away from enjoying a coffee for 5 minutes so he can tell us a bit more about what he gets up to in and out of season and what makes 2 Alpes so special..
Tell us a little bit about your business, how it started out and where you're based...
I have been working in L2A on and off for 20 years. Teaching full time for 12, I wanted to bring a quality brand to L2A so I got involved with the BASS network.
How long have you been in your current role and how long have you been with the company?
BASS is a new thing for me 2013 – 14 will be our first winter.
What makes Deux Alpes a special place to be for someone in your profession?
It’s a friendly relatively inexpensive resort, genuinely high skiing with lots of great north facing snow that means no ice! Also we are connected to La Grave, freeride paradise.
What are the best bits about your job?
Coffee stops.
And the worst bits?
Clients who don’t like coffee stops.
What is in store for the future with your business, any exciting projects in the pipelines that you can share with us?
I don’t have massive plans to expand, I just want to make sure the quality stays high.
What are you personal and professional goals for the future?
I want to try and fit more free skiing into my winter, oh and did I mention coffee stops..?
What's your favourite piste or off-piste area & top tip to go skiing?
North face to Bons; La Grave; Cairngorm in May; Front Face on a powder day, I could go on and be the ultimate ski bore..
Where would send someone who was after that something 'something special' in resort, to stay, eat or drink?
Drinking: Polar Bear and the Kre. Eating out we are so spoilt – pizza: Doumes, Meatfest: Le Cellier Alpine: Crepe a Gogo Tex Mex: Smithies. Lunch: La Fee
Where will we find the best coffee or hot chocolate?
What has been your best ever day in Deux Alpes?
They’re all good.
Do you remember your first trip to this resort?
I turned up in Summer, had a lock in in “Mikes” till 4am, slept in the back of the Land Rover, then got up for 9am skiing on the Glacier. It was the first time I had ever skied outside Scotland!
What's your favourite thing to do in resort when not skiing or snowboarding?
Golf
What do you do in the summer?
Ski on the glacier, scare myself stupid on the downhill MTB then enjoy the golf! Nearly forgot “aperos” at La Casa Nostra - always gets messy.
Where are we most likely to find you for après-ski?!
Skiing or snowboarding? What's your preference & why?
I had to learn to snowboard for my ski instructor qualifications, I have to say I find it a pretty tedious way to get down a hill. Although I have to thank our snowboarding cousins for pushing the ski manufacturers into coming up with the amazing skis we get to play with these days.
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BASS Les Deux Alpes provide private lessons, group lessons, plus clinics for people who can already ski and freeride trips over to La Grave. You can download a handy Ski Performance ebook through their website, and don't forget if you're on a lesson with Rod.. make sure you stop for coffee!!!!
