Instructors & Admin Staff

Ken Smith

Skiing, Snowboarding, Telemarking, Ski Off-piste

Ken is the founder and director of Progression Ski and Snowboard School. Originally from Scotland he skied many times in Val d'Isere as a child before working a season in 1987. He went on to do a degree in Sports Management before working in a five-star resort for a few years. The allure of the mountains was too much so he returned to Val d'Isere in 1996 and has been living and working there ever since. He became a ski instructor in 1999 and set up Progression Ski and Snowboard School in 2006.

Speaks: English

Neil Woodward

Skiing

Woody has amassed an incredible amount of experience over the years leading to him realize that teaching skiing is not just about technique for many people but more to do with what is going on inside their head. Whether it’s building a young child’s confidence to using a button-lift.  It's about getting that nervous-anxious skier down their first green run or showing one of the world’s best ski resorts to a group of friends.  Woody like all our instructors gets a great deal of satisfaction from his teaching. At home in the powder as he is on the nursery slopes Woody believes that with empathy, patience and encouragement everyone can enjoy skiing.

Speaks: English

Giorgio Apra

Skiing, Ski Off-piste

In recent seasons Giorgio has dedicated himself to off-piste and mountaineering ski activities for Progression customers. Giorgio pays particular attention to those who want the knowledge to approach these activities in a safe and aware way, learning not only technique but safety as well.
If you are looking for an instructor who is specialized in video analysis of skiing on the slopes, both for medium and high level skiers, for the study of movement and the improvement of technique, Giorgio is your go to man!

Speaks: English, French, Italian

Elena Da Campo

Skiing

Elena became a ski instructor after race Carriera in 2006.  She has taught in many countries, having now been in France for 10 years!  She loves to teach people good technique so they are able to ski the mountains around Val d'Isere and enjoy the beautiful views that it offers. Elena enjoys guiding clients around the resort.  This can be alone or with all the family altogether, stopping to get a hot chocolate and have lots of fun!  Elena is great with little children and adults alike!

Elena speaks English, French and Italian!

Speaks: English, French, Italian

Federico Rossi

Skiing

Federico grew up in Torino in Italy, not far from Val d'Isere with an English mother and Italian father.  His passion and love of skiing meant he used to race until he was 18 after which he decided to do his ski instructor course.  He was able to then pass his knowledge on to his clients.

Federico has been working as a ski instructor for the past 9 years here in Val d'isere and Tignes. For the past 5 years in the off season he manages the sales for a brewery and distillery in Indonesia, where he spends the rest of the year.

Federico's hobbies are skiing off piste with friends, playing piano, surfing and reading.

Speaks: English, Italian

Federico Franzini

Skiing, Telemarking

Federico was born in a small village in the Italian Alps. He became a ski instructor as this was his passion.

Every day Federico enjoys providing his best, teaching and imparting his knowledge of the mountains along with his passion for the beautiful world of skiing.

Federico loves the fresh snow, telemark and cycling.

He hopes to see you on the slopes! 

Speaks: English, Italian

Lorenzo Savoldelli

Skiing

Lorenzo is from Bergamo, a city in the north of Italy.

He loves doing outdoor sports: skiing in winter, running and mountain hiking in summer.

He is patient and welcoming. Since he was a child, he enjoyed skiing and he started to work as ski instructor at 20 years old. He wants to share his passion for skiing and love for the mountains. He is ready to live new adventures on the snow.

He is studying Management Engineering at the University of Bergamo.

Speaks: English, Italian

Greta Careddu

Skiing

Born and based in Cuneo, right on the doorstep of the Alps, Greta has grown up with skiing as a natural part of life. As she got older and realised she could turn her passion into a profession, she grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

When she’s not on skis, you’ll still find her in the mountains—climbing, mountaineering or trekking. Simply put, Greta feels most at home outdoors and loves spending as much time as possible in high places.

She’s currently completing her university studies and brings a bright, motivated energy to the team. Greta speaks Italian, English, French and a little Spanish, making her a fantastic addition for our international guests.

Speaks: English, French, Italian, Spanish

Giacomo Pelliccioli

Skiing

Giacomo is a 25-year-old Italian ski instructor who qualified in Lombardy in 2022. He spent three seasons teaching part-time in the Bergamo area before moving to Cervinia, where he worked as a full-time instructor last winter.

Friendly, enthusiastic and passionate about the outdoors, Giacomo particularly enjoys working with children and helping skiers of all ages develop their confidence on the mountain. For him, the most rewarding part of teaching is seeing guests progress, relax on their skis and, most importantly, have fun along the way.

Giacomo has a real love for nature and believes skiing is one of the best ways to experience the mountains and enjoy the outdoors. That passion continues through the summer, when he swaps the ski slopes for an adventure park, working as an instructor and helping others enjoy the outdoors in a completely different setting.

Away from the mountains, Giacomo has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is currently studying towards his Master’s in Energy Engineering.

Speaks: English, Italian

Rok Zadravec

Skiing, Ski Off-piste

With more than a decade of international teaching experience across Austria, Italy and Slovenia, Rok knows that the best ski lesson is one that feels completely personal.

A fully certified Slovenian ski instructor and SKI PRO coach, Rok also studied sports education at the Faculty of Sport in Ljubljana. This combination of technical expertise and teaching experience allows him to quickly understand what each skier needs and adapt every lesson to their ability, goals and learning style.

Whether you are making your first turns, returning to skiing after a break, building confidence on more challenging terrain or looking to refine your technique, Rok’s calm, friendly and encouraging approach will help you progress without taking the fun out of skiing. He explains things clearly, keeps technical advice practical and creates a relaxed atmosphere in which improvement comes naturally. His aim is for every guest to finish their lesson skiing better, understanding more and feeling excited about what they can achieve next.

Away from the slopes, Rok runs a beautifully renovated farmhouse retreat in the Slovenian countryside. He also enjoys mountain biking, sailing and travelling—continuing his lifelong passion for sport, nature and adventure.

Speaks: English, Italian

Aaron Cassells

Skiing

Aaron learnt to ski at the wee age of 5 and has being skiing ever since, in fact he has being skiing in Val for over 30 years.  He became an instructor as he loves to see the joy skiing brings to pupils when they achieve their goals, whether it be skiing down a red run for the first time or just being able to ski from being a beginner.

Kite surfing is another love of Aaron's as well as road cycling and surfing, really, any sport that introduces his daughter to a new sport that she finds exciting.

Aaron is a well known legend of Val d'Isere!

Speaks: English

Matteo Melotto

Skiing

Matteo speaks English and Italian and has been skiing Val d'Isere for many years now. If you need a guide he is your man!

His greatest love is the first tracks in the morning after the slopes have been groomed.  Matteo likes to provide technical advice in his instruction, he also enjoys teaching children to ski. 

Being a mountain bike guide in the summer, he loves to go trekking through the mountains too! You can often find Matteo riding his motorbike in summer as well.

Speaks: English, Italian

Alessandro Pretti

Skiing

Alessandro is from Trento in Italy.  He has been with Progression Ski & Snowboard for 2 years now and is currently doing a masters degree in Innovation Management at the University of Trento.

He became an instructor because it seemed like a natural continuation of his path after years as an athlete and lover of skiing, trying to share his love and passion of the sport.

Alesandro enjoys meeting new people of all ages who come from different places and cultures and he also enjoys teaching them something incredibly fun in one of the most beautiful settings in the world.

Speaks: English, Italian

Alessio Sabbia

Skiing

Alessio grew up in an Italian family who were all ski instructors, he learnt to ski from a very young age and raced in Italy for many years.  He decided to become an Instructor in his early 20’s and in 2023 he joined Progression Ski & Snowboard in Val d’Isere.

When Alessio is not skiing or instructing he enjoys football and all water sports, in fact he works as a skipper on yachts in the summer.  Alessio considers himself a very extroverted and fun guy, he believes this attitude comes from the fact that having always played sports, he has always related to people. 

When Alessio isn’t skiing he is studying having already achieved a degree in economics

Speaks: English, Italian

Filippo Camandona

Skiing

Based in Turin, Filippo feels most at home in the mountains. Whether hiking high alpine trails or exploring new gravel routes, he’s happiest outdoors and connected to nature. In summer, he works as an MTB instructor, sharing the same love for movement, technique, and mountain environments that defines his winter season with us.

Skiing is his greatest passion, and becoming an instructor was a natural step. He brings that enthusiasm to every lesson—helping guests improve their skills, feel safer on their skis, and enjoy the beauty of the landscape around them. His calm, positive approach makes progression feel easy and enjoyable for all ages.

When Filippo's not teaching, he’s back in Turin studying nuclear engineering, balancing academic challenge with the energy he gets from life in the Alps.

Speaks: English, Italian

Filippo Grobbo

Skiing

Filippo is 25 years old, originally from Turin, the famous city that hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006. His passion for skiing started when he was 4 years old, with his parents who took him to the beautiful slopes of Sestriere in Italy for the first time. Over time, he practiced the sport at a competitive level, competing in many races. Filippo's passion for the mountains, as well as the company of friends that he managed to create from the first ski lessons, are the factors that pushed him to continue in the sport, until becoming a ski instructor himself. Filippo hopes to be able to recapture what he has received and pass it on to both children and the adults he teaches. 

In Filippo's day-to-day life, he is a mathematical engineer, so he enjoys talking about technology and computer science but also listening to podcasts to find out about current events. He also likes to travel a lot, especially to treat himself with good food.

Speaks: English, Italian

Manuel Alvera

Skiing, Telemarking

Manu was born in Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites, having grown up in the mountains, this is his love and his passion. He has skied with us in Val d'Isere for 7 seasons now.

In the summer Manu is a mountain bike instructor and guide. He enjoys being a sports educator working the kids and adults all year round.  If you ask Manu what he loves about being a ski instructor the most, he will will say the sport itself and teaching the discipline he has a special love for Telemark.

Speaks: English, Italian

Davide Melotto

Skiing

Davide is from Turin and speaks both Italian and English having been skiing in Val d'Isere for 4 seasons now.

During the summer Davide is a mountain bike and downhill instructor.  He loves all outdoor activities like trekking the mountains and discovering new places in the mountains on his motorbike.

If you ask Davide what he loves most about being an instructor, he will say it's more than just a job; it's a passion! The sport of skiing has given him a lot and now he wants to share his knowledge and love, giving advice to the people he teaches. The technical aspect as well as the enjoyment you can get.

Davide started skiing at just 4 years of age, year by year he enjoyed every aspect as well as the difficulties of the sport.  This is why after some years of racing, it was natural for him to become an instructor turning his passion into  his job!

Speaks: English, Italian

Pietro Ronzio

Skiing

Pietro is an automotive engineer by trade and is from from Torino in Italy. He speaks very good English and of course Italian. He has been skiing in Val d'Isere for 3 years now with Progression Ski.

Becoming an instructor and teaching in the mountains, he gains satisfaction from the people he teaches, seeing them learn and actually enjoy when they manage to reach their goals.

Pietro became an instructor as he wanted a job that he was able to chanel his passion of skiing and have the freedom to enjoy the office environment of the mountains whenever he wanted to.

Speaks: English, Italian

Nicola Savi

Skiing

Nicola grew up in Belluno, a small town nestled in the Dolomites. He has been skiing since he was three years of age and has been teaching for 11 years now.  Nicola grew up fostering a passion for the mountains, dedicating himself to ski racing and later to off-piste skiing and ski mountaineering. The sea is equally important to him; in fact, he spends six months a year on a boat, exploring some of the most remote places in the Mediterranean, practicing freediving and spearfishing. Nicola is a ski, telemark, freediving, and scuba diving instructor. When asking Nicola why he became a ski instructor he responded; to share his knowledge and passion for this wonderful sport. He loves teaching with enthusiasm and fun to his students and witnessing their improvements, this makes him happy. Nicola speaks both Italian and English.

Speaks: English, Italian

Samuele Caldarelli

Skiing

Samuele is from Brescia near Milan.

Samuele is studying Economics and Business Management at University in Italy.  

You will always find Samuele smiling.  This works well with the enjoyment he receives from his job skiing with people watching their happiness on ski's and their technique improve.

Speaks: English, Italian, Spanish

Federico Napoli

Skiing

Federico is from Sicily in Italy.  

When he is not skiing he is a kite-surfer, instructing in kite surfing in summer too. Federico enjoys all kinds of sports including tennis, fencing, cycling, wake-boarding and water skiing. Federico loves working with people, sharing his passion for sports. He became an instructor as he enjoys seeing the improvements in his students and to be able to turn his greatest passions into a job.

He believes he has the best office in the world -- the mountains!

Speaks: English, Italian, Spanish

Ollie Bielski

Skiing

Ollie is from England and has been an instructor for 18 years!

When he is not skiing he likes playing golf, cycling and reading philosophy books.

Ollie loves welcoming people to environments they are not used to. From first time skiers to the experienced he always finds it fun to challenge people appropriately and see them rise to the challenge.

He became an Instructor because he loved the sport of skiing and wanted to pass this on and share his passion of the environment and the mountains.

Speaks: English

Edoardo Gilestro

Skiing

Edoardo loves travelling and is really passionate about wine and good food (being Italian how could he not be?).

He loves gems and jewel and is lucky enough to work in this sector when not working as a ski instructor. 

Speaks: English, French, Italian

Matteo Duchini

Skiing

Matteo is originally from Milan and is currently completing his Master’s degree in Management Engineering.

A lifelong sports enthusiast, he loves both watching and playing a wide range of sports. Football is a particular favorite—matched only by his passion for skiing.

He first stepped into skis at just four years old and went on to race competitively until earning his ski instructor qualification. His love for the mountains comes from his father, who passed on both his enthusiasm and deep connection to the alpine environment.

When he’s not on the slopes, Matteo enjoys travelling and taking part in any outdoor activity that lets him stay active and explore new places.

Speaks: English, Italian, Spanish

Nicolo David

Skiing

Nicolo is from Italy and followed his families footprint in becoming a ski instructor, which is what he wanted to be from a little boy.  He has raced throughout Italy and in Val d'Isere throughout his youth years.

He loves all sports, travelling to new places and studying and has just finished his bachelor in economics and business management degree.  

Nicolo enjoys meeting new people and sharing his passion of skiing with his clients, emparting his knowledge and skills with them.  

Speaks: English, Italian, Spanish, German

Andrea Giordano

Skiing

Andrea has been a ski instructor since 2017. He holds a Master's degree in Economics, graduating with honors.

Skiing has always been a significant part of his life: after several years as an athlete, he decided to share his passion by teaching. In addition to skiing, Andrea is also a mountain bike instructor. In his free time, he enjoys activities such as tennis and motorcycle trips.

Speaks: English, Italian

Andrea Giongo

Skiing

Andrea is from a small city in the north of Italy called Trento.

When Andrea is not skiing he is a student at university in Florence, completing his masters degree in Kinesiology and Sports Science.  He is also the Athletic Trainer of the Falconeri Ski Team which is one of the largest ski teams in Italy.

His favorite thing about being an instructor is the possibility to transmit his infinite passion for the sport along with the possibility to meet people from different parts of the world and different cultures.  

Andrea feels humbled to have the chance to teach his craft to kids and adults from beginners to advanced skiers, and give them memories they will never forget.  Skiing is a sport on it's own, different from other sports and the feelings it can give you.

The decision to become an instructor was easy for Andrea as he gave everything in his life to skiing when he was an athlete and having the opportunity to transform it into a job was a dream for him. In Italy they say "make your passion a job and you will never work a day in your life!"  Andrea totally agrees with this and is happiest working with his ski's on.

Speaks: English, Italian

Lodovic Tamburi

Skiing

Lodo joins us from Italy where he grew up.  

He became an instructor because he wanted to share his knowledge learnt during his years as a ski racer and pass it on to those who are looking at improving their technique and skill on ski's. 

Lodo loves the marvel of sharing a new adventure on the snow with clients and friends and has been skiing in Val d'Isere for a few years now.

When not skiing, Lodo is a private chef and food content creator! 

Speaks: English, French, Italian, Spanish

Paolo Testa

Skiing

Paolo is from a small city in Italy called Bra.  His family own a Sport Shop with a focus on ski materials, so he has grown up with skiing in his blood.

With an instructor as a father, he has been skiing since he was 8 years old.  It was only natural that he followed in his fathers footsteps and became an instructor in 2016. 

Paolo loves the mountains, in particular snowy mountains, his passion is to share his love of skiing and showing people how to enjoy skiing as much as he does.

Speaks: English, French

Francesco Abbate Daga

Skiing

Francesco is a ski instructor, a snow professional, and a mountain enthusiast. He is 32 years old and was born and raised near Turin, where he has been skiing since he was a child, exploring the magnificent Alps. He has had the opportunity to experience this sport in every way possible—through races, adventures, and challenges. The mountains are his home, and in the summer, his focus is on climbing, experiencing the beauty of the peaks in every season.

Francesco's goal is to share his passion for skiing with everyone who chooses to learn or improve their technique with him. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, together he can help you reach your goals, experiencing the mountains safely and with fun, and make every descent a unique adventure.

Join him and discover what it truly means to love the mountains.

Speaks: English, Italian

Denis Ilic

Skiing, Telemarking, Ski Off-piste

Originally from Croatia, Denis is very versatile speaking English, Croatian and German, He has been skiing in Val d'Isere for 32 years and enjoys travelling and developing new holiday tours around the world.

Having been a racer as a junior, when he retired from racing he qualified as a ski instructor. Denis loves helping his guests and students to discover what he firmly believes is the most beautiful sport in the world and enjoys the fulfilment of building skiers confidence from hour to hour.  

Speaks: English, Russian, German

Alberto Panero

Snowboarding

Speaks: English, Italian

Marco Panero

Snowboarding

Marco comes from Turin in Italy.

When he is not snowboarding, he enjoys skateboarding and the gym and in summer he works as a skateboard instructor.  He has a passion for snowboarding which he enjoys sharing with his clients with the aim to get them to love it as much as he does.

Speaks: English, Italian

Fabio Baccon

Skiing

Fabio is a young and enthusiastic ski instructor who has been passionate about skiing since he was a child. He grew up in Pragelato, a small mountain village nestled between Italy and France, where he developed a deep and lasting connection with nature and the Alpine landscape.

After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, Fabio decided to further expand his horizons by living abroad. Spending three months in Canada to strengthen his English and six months in Belgium for a French exchange program, experiences that allowed him to connect with different cultures and perfect his language skills. Always ready for new adventures, he loves sharing his passion for the mountains with his students. When Fabio is not on the slopes, he stays active through his love for sports, particularly golf and running.  He is always looking for his next travel destination to explore.

Speaks: English, Italian

Manu Bonniot

Skiing

Manu was born in the Alpes, in the Chambéry region.  He is a ski instructor most of the year in La Mongie at the foot of the PicduMidi in the Pyrenees.
Manu has been a pro freeride skier for a very long time and still does some freerider contracts.

Speaks: English, French

Lorenzo Bosato

Skiing

Speaks: English, Italian

Samuele Cusin

Skiing

Samuele is 24 years old, from Pordenone in Italy. He has been skiing since he was a child competing from the age of 7.  By the age 20, he was competing in FIS competitions at European level. He has found it has been a wonderful journey, full of sacrifice and satisfaction in which he has grown a lot as a person and as a skier.
In 2020 Covid interrupted his last season as an athlete, and he decided to take the path of becoming a ski instructor in order to pursue his passion for the mountains and the snow. Samuele has already skied more than 1000 hours with clients teaching groups of children and adults. He enjoys bringing his technical background together with his enthusiasm and friendly personality into the lessons.
Last year he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, and is now attending a master's course in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Trento.

Speaks: English, Italian

Francesco Fabbro

Skiing, Telemarking

Speaks: English, Italian

Pietro Gastaldi

Skiing

Pietro is from Padova in Italy and is currently on his final year studying Law at Ferrara University. During the winter he works as a ski instructor and during the summer he focuses on his studies. Pietro started sking at age 3 and when he was younger he spent a lot of time ski racing, so he has a deep passion for this sport and the mountains in general. 3 years ago Pietro became fully qualified as a ski instructor as a natural end of the racing path. He really loves being an instructor and sharing his passion for this sport.  He also likes to play soccer and in general loves sports.

Speaks: English

Alice Lazzoni

Skiing

Alice Lazzoni is from Carrara, Tuscany, and has Czech roots.

Her love for sports and adrenaline began at a very young age.  After 15 years of alpine ski racing, she decided to share her passion for the mountains and skiing with those who wish enjoy skiing, from beginners learning the sport or skiers who wish to improve their technique.

Alice loves travelling, spending time outdoors, and experiencing nature in all its forms.

She is currently studying Naval Engineering in La Spezia, a path that reflects her dynamic and curious spirit.

To sum up Alice, her sunny disposition and determination to enjoy life, she enjoys sharing her energy and passion for the mountains with every student.  For her, the mountains represent energy, freedom, and inspiration.

Languages : Italian , English , Czech and basic Spanish .

Speaks: English, Italian

Mari Pretti

Skiing

Marianna is 21 years old and has lived in Tirento, Italy all her life.

She is currently doing a Bachelor of Communication Sciences at the University of Bolzano in Italy.

Marianna competed in skiing events until just a few years ago, and then, at the age of 20, she passed the instructor exam to become a fully qualified Italian ski instructor.

She loves working as a ski instructor because she enjoys being in contact with people and being able to share her passion for skiing with them. In-parting her knowledge and love of the sport with her guests.

Speaks: English, Italian, German

Nicola Revello

Skiing

Nicola Revello is from Piedmont, he lives close to those beautiful lands known for the Barolo and Barbaresco wines, in Cuneo between the sea and the mountains. He has been a ski instructor since 2004 for NZSIA (New Zealand) and since 2010 in Italy. Nicola has also been a ski patroller for years for slope rescue, specializing in avalanche clearance

Since 2010 he has been an alpine ski coach and ski instructor. He has a love for the outdoors in all its aspects, from competition to ski mountaineering including climbing mountains.  Nicola is also a trekking and cycling guide and is part of the Italian Alpine Rescue Service.

When Nicola is not in the mountains, he works as an osteopath, believing to truly love nature, you have to be in good shape… his motto...long live the mountains!

Speaks: English, French, Italian

Tommaso Sernia

Skiing

Tommaso is only 20 years old, and lives in Turin, Italy. he has been skiing for as long as he can remember and the mountains have always been a huge part of his life. Outside of skiing, he loves going to the gym and playing basketball or soccer with his friends.

He decided to become a ski instructor to pass on his passion for skiing to others. Tommaso truly enjoys helping people reach their goals on the slopes, whether that means improving their technique, gaining confidence, or simply having fun and forgetting about everyday worries for a while. Seeing people smile and enjoy their time on the snow is what motivates him the most.

Speaks: English, Italian

Marta Siccardi

Skiing

Marta is 21 years old and comes from a small mountain village in the Italian Alps.

She started skiing when she was just 2.5 years old, as her father was a ski instructor.  She says she doesn't remember a winter in my life where she hasn't skied.

Marta ha a huge love for the mountains and she frequents it in all the seasons.

She loves working as a ski instructor because she likes to  share her passion for skiing and for the snow, and above all she gets great happiness in making children as happy as she was when she first skied.

Marta speaks Italian, English, French and a little German

Speaks: English, French, Italian, German