Thierry Ravanel – he’s the big boss, you can’t miss him, he’s the one with the most impressive moustache in Chamonix! Always has a story to tell, so beware if you pop into the shop and you are in a hurry! Thierry is a fully fledged ski and snowboard instructor with the Ecole de Ski Francais (ESF), trekking guide with the Compagnie de Guides. If he has aching knees these days, it’s thanks to his days as an acrobatic/freestyle ski competitor, in which he was something of a pioneer in the valley! So with all this experience, we reckon he does actually know what he is talking about!
Fabienne Ravanel – she’s the other big boss, the one who makes sure we are all organised! Fabienne is also a trekking guide with the Compagnie des Guides and can often been seen heading for the hills in the summer (away from us lot!) with clients to do the famous Tour du Mont Blanc. Her work gives her the opportunity to really test out the products she will advise you on in the shop. In winter, Fabienne is a top class cross country ski trainer who, for 15 years, has trained the young cross country skiers in the Chamonix Club des Sports, often bringing strong contenders for the French national team to the attention of the selectors. Passionate about her sport, Fabienne represented France herself in her competition days.
Both Thierry and Fabienne are available to accompany your groups in summer for hiking trips around Mont Blanc, Switzerland and Italy. In winter, Thierry offers ski and snowboard lessons, whilst Fabienne can guide you around the cross country skiing pistes.
Fred – he looks after our Chamonix store. A complete sports nut, you will often find him queuing for the first lift at 8am if he’s not working, dressed all in black looking like the hardcore off-piste addict that he is! Passionate about his snowboarding, mountain biking and running, he will always offer up good advice on technical products. He is, however, the only Frenchman ever to admit to not liking cheese and is such a health nut he doesn’t even get tempted by patisseries or chocolate!
Laurent – he’s another one of these highly qualified types, being a trekking guide, a cross country ski instructor and an accomplished biathlon competitor (if you don’t know what that involves, pop into the shop and ask him all about it!). Apparently Laurent used to work at a certain, very large sports supermarket called Decathlon..hmmm, but he prefers to forget the error of his ways and he has managed a specialist running shop in Dijon for many years. Often with us to help out during the busy periods, he is super nice and (apparently) the women just love him!
Claire – the baby of the team. Claire is at college in Chamonix, she studies business and commerce by day then studies boys and going out by night! A sporty all-rounder she even finds time for skiing, snowboarding and climbing.
Thom – he’s a lovely bloke who loves his skiing, even if he does have a tendency to break his skis and himself! Usually found working in the Les Praz shop, he always greets you with a smile and will make sure you are kitted out properly. Tom has managed to hone his sense of humour to be much appreciated and understood by our anglo-saxon skier friends. One piece of advice, he smiles even more if you give him cake!
Caroline – has the dubious honour of currently being the only single member of the team. She left Nottingham Castle to come and live in the Chamonix Valley and speaks perfect English – and so she should, as it’s her mother tongue! The French version of this site (which was written by the bosses) then harps on about how she thinks some gorgeous hunky Chamoniard will whisk her off her feet and that boss Thierry is pretty sure it’ll never happen, but I’m not going to stoop that low on the English version! All that nonsense aside, Caroline is always willing to help you get kitted out in the shop and loves a good gossip with clients. She doesn’t touch a drop of alcohol and even has an active side. She loves her snowboarding (although Fabienne is determined she will fall in love with cross country skiing) and Fabienne also reckons she scoffs choc and biccies all day long and doesn’t seem to put on any weight. Caroline is a self confessed lover of Extreme Picnicing and chocolate.
Henrique – another non-native, he is from Portugal but loves life here in the mountains where he can trek in the summer and ski in the winter. For some reason he is a whizz with gadgets and accessories, so if your altimeter goes wrong pop in and see him! Gadgets aside, he has a great knowledge of climbing equipment and he skis, mountaineers and speaks fluent French, English and Portugese!
Sweetie – last but definitely not least, Sweetie is by far the best looking member of the team. But being the official Ravanel & Co cat in Les Praz is a high pressure job, so she can often been found asleep in the shop window or even in the shelves amongst the skiboots.
