About me

Meet Lena – Experienced Ski Instructor & Outdoor Coach

Hi, I’m Lena – a Danish ski instructor with over 23 years of experience teaching and coaching in the mountains. I originally studied philosophy in Denmark, but once I discovered skiing, I knew I had found the life I wanted to live. Since then, I’ve taught in places including New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway and, for many years now, the French Alps, where I’ve made my home.

I’m fully certified at the highest international level, with full French and Danish qualifications. I also have a background in sports massage therapy, which has given me a lasting interest in biomechanics, efficient movement and helping people develop skills that are both effective and sustainable.

I live in the French Alps with my family, and we spend our summers on France’s Atlantic coast in Biscarrosse. During the summer months I divide my time between family life, cycling, hiking, learning to surf, and creating handmade ceramics and jewellery under the name Ceramics by Lena. You’ll often find me at local artisan markets or experimenting with new ideas.

I also enjoy being a learner myself. Whether it is discovering ceramics or learning to surf, I like the process of developing a new skill and experiencing what it feels like to start somewhere unfamiliar. It gives me a deeper understanding of the patience, uncertainty and small steps involved in learning — something I carry with me when I teach.

When I teach, I adapt my approach to the individual in front of me. Some people are looking for technical refinement, others want to build confidence, improve their understanding of the mountain, or simply enjoy skiing more. My aim is to create an environment where people feel comfortable exploring what they are capable of, developing sound movement patterns, and becoming more independent and versatile skiers.

Whether you’re taking your very first turns or looking to refine years of experience, I look forward to sharing the mountain with you.

Lena

My Skiing Philosophy

For me, skiing is about more than just technique — it’s about learning to move with awareness, adapting to the terrain, and feeling more confident and capable on the mountain.

I don’t believe there’s one “right” way to ski. Every person comes with their own experience, their own patterns, and their own way of learning. My role is to meet you where you are, listen carefully, and help you develop skills that feel clear, meaningful, and transferable — whether you’re carving clean arcs or navigating trickier snow.

We’ll work on technique, of course — but always in context. I care about helping you understand why something works, how it feels in your body, and how to use it when things aren’t perfect. I also pay attention to things that often get overlooked, like agility, balance, decision-making, and confidence — because these often shape our skiing just as much as the technical side.

My approach is calm, adaptive, and thoughtful. Some days we work with structure. Other days we follow inspiration and let the mountain guide us. I try to create an atmosphere where you can explore, make mistakes, ask questions, and leave feeling more at home in your skiing — whatever your level, pace, or goals.

When we use skiing as more than just a sport — as a tool for learning — we often walk away with much more than just technical progress. We grow as people. We start to notice how we approach challenge, how we talk to ourselves, and how we respond when things feel uncertain or difficult.

Skiing has a way of bringing that inner voice to the surface — and too often, it’s a critical one. I want to help you shift that. To strengthen the voice that encourages rather than doubts, that supports rather than limits, and that helps you move toward the goals you choose to set.

That’s why skiing, for me, is also about life. It stirs up the full range of human emotion — excitement, fear, joy, frustration, freedom — and I believe that’s a big part of why we keep coming back. It’s not just the turns. It’s everything they awaken in us.

Lena