About Summit

Meet
The
Team

About Summit

Meet
The
Team

Nick McKelvey

I grew up in Northern Ireland and learned to ski at a young age on a tiny little dry ski slope near my family home. That dry slope is now a car park, but the love of skiing that it instilled in at least one little guy is still going strong.

I moved on from that small patch of plastic and joined a local race club, where skiing quickly became a pretty big part of my life. I raced for years and got to experience some pretty cool places and things, and even got to represent my country at the Youth Olympics and World Championships.

I eventually told myself I needed to go back to the real world, grabbed myself a degree in History and a post grad in Sports Management, but when I did settle into office life, it didn’t quite live up to the thrills of being in the mountains. Fast forward a few years and the office job is long gone, instead you can find me in Zermatt, working for Summit!

Languages

English

Qualified through

BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors)

Discipline

Ski

From: Northern Ireland

Teaching Since: 2016

In the summer

I head back to Edinburgh, where I get my skis out again and spend the summer coaching the next generation of young rippers at Lothian Ski Racing (LSR). I’m kept pretty busy travelling around the artificial race circuit and getting a few trips to indoor snow centers for training camps and races, as well as working with a number of schools around the Edinburgh area, coaching their race teams.

When I get the chance, I try to get out on my bike as much as possible, making use of the great terrain and trail centers around Scotland. I’m also a pretty big rugby fan, so you can generally find me glued to a TV with a beer in hand at some point over the weekend!

My Zermatt insider tip is:
There’s so much to do in Zermatt, I really doubt you’ll ever be bored. If the weather isn’t looking so good one day, or you fancy a rest from skiing, take yourself on one of the amazing walks around the resort. The paths are well sign posted and offer some amazing views of the town from areas that you might not find on skis. A great way to get the family out for the day, even if skiing isn’t on the cards!
If I wasn't a Summit instructor:
When I was a kid I always wanted to be a fighter pilot… although I haven’t done anything even remotely close to that, so I don’t think I’ll ever be handed the keys to a plane! More recently, sometimes I think I’d be quite a good actor, maybe I’ll take that up if the skiing thing doesn’t work out!
3 reasons to ski with me:
1. I always know the best spot to get a decent beer and burger combo 2. My friends always say I tell too many stories. Luckily there’s plenty of chairlift rides that need some filler chat, so you’re in for a treat! 3. We ski because it’s fun – I try not to lose sight of that, even when I’m teaching