The Questionnaire

Joanna Yellowlees-Bound, a graduate from Oxford University, has worked with Erna Low for the past 18 years and on Miss Low's retirement in 1994, became her Partner and Managing Director of the company. Having been to school in Brussels, she is bilingual in French and fluent in German. Joanna feels privileged to have learnt tour operating direct from Miss Low - the Doyenne of the travel industry - and it is her mission to continue to promote the hallmark of the Erna Low holiday into the 21st century - 'quality' holidays at affordable prices for the discerning traveller. Joanna is married to a maritime archaeologist and has 3 young sons.

What’s your favourite ski resort and why?
Arc 1950! Because I have known it since its birth when it was just a green field and is now a world leading resort.

What one thing would improve your enjoyment of skiing?
Comfier boots!

What’s your most embarrassing moment on skis?
Giving my friends a ski lesson and wiping out spectacularly on the first green run… the shame!

What trait you most deplore in other skiers?
Selfish speed demons who don’t look out for weaker skiers or children.

Who is your ski hero?
Candice Gilg, the La Plagne local who did the stunt ski scenes for Sophie Marceau in the Bond movie The World is Not Enough. I was lucky enough to have the chance to ski with her one bluebird day in La Plagne – will never forget it!

What fancy dress costume do you wear?
A penguin suit.

How long do you ski/board each season?
On average about 3 weeks per year.

What’s you earliest ski memory?
In Livigno when I was about 4 years old. We stayed in Club Med and I was more interested in the beads to buy my drinks than I was about the skiing.

What’s your top tip?
WEAR YOUR HELMET!

What iPod tune for a chairlift?
Up, Up and Away, 5th Dimension

Best song for après ski?
Without a doubt the Rolling Stones… with maybe some unashamed Abba thrown in.

What  après ski do you prefer – fabulous meal or night on the town?
Both!

Are you a skier, snowboarder or both?
Skier.

What was your best day on the mountains?
I was in Zermatt and it was shortly after Erna Low passed away. I was sitting on a lovely sunny terrace listening to a jazz band reflecting on my life, all I had done and what was still coming for me. I will remember it for as long as I live.

What was your worst day on the mountains?
Taking my best friend Louise down in a blood wagon off the mountain after a terrible accident in Les Arcs.

Who would you most like to spend a day skiing with?
Kiefer Sutherland – does he ski?

Latest you have stayed up in a ski resort?
All night and back straight on the slopes when they reopened the next morning!

Where’s your favourite ski lift?
The Arcabulle in Les Arcs. Cosy soft seats with the bubble cover to pull over you in bad weather. They should all be like that!

Are you a member of the pylon high club?
That mountain is left unconquered!

What’s your favourite bar?
George’s bar in Arc 1950.

What’s your favourite restaurant?
Belliou la Fumée. The old bear hunting refuge now a gorgeous restaurant in Les Arcs.

Gluwein or beer?
Gluwein. (Where’s the champagne choice!?)

What’s been your most dangerous moment?
Caught off piste on the north face of La Plagne with no transceivers…

Favourite cheese?
Mozarella – not French I know!

Do you wear a helmet?
ALWAYS!

Do you prefer park or piste?
Piste.

Are you accident prone?
No… touchons du bois.

What’s your best bit of gossip?
Come back to me on that one.

What’s your favourite piece of ski kit?
Balaclava

When do you plan to stop skiing?
When my legs give up!