“If you’re lucky enough to be in the mountains, you’re lucky enough!”

When and where did you first hit the slopes?

Emily: My parents were keen skiers, so I was lucky enough to go annually on family holidays to the European Alps. I have seen pics of me at 6 months old on the slopes … in a pram! I first put skis on at 2 and half, and having an older sister that I idolised, I just wanted to do what she did, so that definitely helped with my progression!

Why did you fall in love with skiing?

Emily: It was something we enjoyed as a family and still do to this day, there is no better holiday than an active one! It’s also about the memories … I don’t think I have laughed so much than seeing my father fall on his skis doing a ‘huge’ jump (actually 20cm). And of course not forgetting the beautiful mountains, I have a sign in my bedroom which I see as soon as I wake up which says: ‘if you’re lucky enough to be in the mountains, you’re lucky enough’. The mountains are mesmerising and the fresh air makes you feel so alive and is a very good hangover cure … so I’m told, haha!

Tell us about your best ski memory.

Emily: There are so many! Powder skiing with friends in Meribel, World Cup top 12 placings, being the first female Brit to win a Europa Cup in any ski discipline, and teaching little 3 year olds the love and art of my favourite sport! Only yesterday I was skiing waist-deep powder in early November when I popped out to Switzerland for the weekend!

What’s your favourtie ski resort and why?

Emily: Meribel in the heart of The Three Valleys, it has so much skiing! You can fit the whole of the North American ski resorts into The Three Valleys!  The pistes are always well looked after and they are constantly building new lifts and new runs every year to keep things moving forward.

Is there somewhere you’ve always wanted to ski but haven’t made it yet?

Emily: It’s not so much a resort, but I would love to go heli-skiing! I love my free-ride and the thought of being dropped into fresh, untouched powder fields to play in sounds perfect!

Do you have any top tips you’d like to share?

Emily: Enjoy it! Don’t worry about skiing every second of the day, enjoy that well-earned hot chocolate at 3000 metres looking out on the most amazing views… you can’t do that in London!

Prepare a little before your trip with some ski fitness, if you have a little bit more fitness you will feel so much better and have enough energy for the après ski! Take a look at my Instagram and Twitter @EmSkiCross for some inspiration!

How has skiing changed your life?

Emily: I can’t imagine life without skiing! But it is so much more than just skiing, it is the mountains, the views, the discipline I have learnt through training, the logistics I have dealt with, the friends I have made, the places I have seen and of course that bouncing feeling on top of champagne powder!